Daniel 3:19-30

This is one of the most amazing stories in the bible. It has always been close to me ever since I read it for the first time. It was one of the first Sunday School lessons that I taught when I was about fouteen years old. In fact I think this lesson was one of the things which confirmed me in my liking of teaching. 

The amazing heat that the three friends withstood, their clothes were not singed in spite of the fact that those who threw them into the furnace died in the intense heat. The description is so vivid.  And the angel of God was with them and all this in the Old Testament. 

Yes miracles happened then and they still happen. God is still by our side. 

Two faucets

Luke 3:1-14

Our almost new kitchen faucet got sick. It handle behaved in an unusual way and then it spurted water from everywhere except the orifice from which it should flow into the sink. We have now been without a working tap for a week. I say "a working tap" advisedly. We do in fact have four bathrooms and a laundry room which are all complete with working taps, three of which are downstairs and two of them within easy distance of the kitchen. Also the dishwasher is fully functional. 

So what is our problem? We only have to walk to the next room to get our water- hot, cold and clean.

Walking three miles and carrying enough water for a family home on my head. And then they catch typhoid or other deadly disease from that water. No, no, no. It is easier to put the plight out of my mind and bemoan the fact that I do not have a swimming pool.

Lord help me to appreciate the ease of living that you have given me and know how to share the wealth which you have entrusted to me.

Daniel 2:1-16

Psalm 5, 6

1 John 2:1-11

John 17:12-19

John 17:12-19

We go to church. We are different from our neighbors, not by the fact that we go to church and make no secret of it. We are aliens and unfortunately for us we live as aliens, even though we are registered. 

I was shocked when one of my neighbors complained that she had trusted her husband to take their little girl to buy shoes and he had come home with a white pair. "What's wrong with white shoes?" I said. The problem with buying white shoes at the end of August is that one can only wear them for a week or two. I was still not on the same page. It seems that in this area of the world white shoes are not worn after Labor Day. Now I come from a place where children only had one pair of shoes. I am sure that there are many people in the world who aspire to owning one pair of shoes of any color.

Yes my children did have more than one pair of shoes.

"Protect me Lord from taking the wealth that you have given me for granted. Help me to conform to your ways and not those whose examples I see on a daily basis. You sent Jesus as my guide and the Holy Spirit as my protector. Thank you."

John 14:1-7

My Way

I have almost as much sympathy with Thomas as I do with Peter. Peter was an enthusiast who did not always complement his words with the action and faith that he himself expected. He told Jesus that he would follow him to the cross and then pretended that he was not even an aquqintance of Jesus; he jumped out of the boat into the water and  then got cold feeet or was it wet feet. Thomas has the courage to say what we would like to say but are too polite or too embarrassed about our lack of knowledge to voice. 

Jesus says "You know the waqy to the place where I am going."   Thomas says "No we do not." I am  totally with Thomas. We do kn ow Jesus' way, his way of life. That is our map on the way, follow his example, have faith, pray, heal, comfort...

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Dry Bones, dry bones

Dead and lifeless, dry bones rattling around, nothing to hold them together or give them form.God spoke, he nudged  Ezekiel in the direction of the bones. Ezekiel had faith he spoke to the bones. Life seeped in.

Whose dry bones do I need to lead to life?

Jonah 2

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs v 8

Honeysuckle was falling in fragrant cascades over the undergrowth on the bayou banks. Lantana peeped out from underneath the bushes. Here and there a spirea rose and waved it bridal wreath hailing the rising sun. A lonely rabbit nervously twitched but waited for safety after the passing human.

It was a good morning to be walking out early before the sun rose too high in the sky and brightened the light thus muting the natural shades. It was a time to be appreciating God's gifts. A time to mull over his guidance and the plans that he has, to contemplate the route of his way. 

Staying in an misfitting comfort zone is easier than change. 

What do I need to change to leave a welcome gap for God to fill?

Allelulia Christ is risen indeed. 

We celebrate the fact that we are looking forward to eternal life with The Father and the Son.

Early tomorrow, before dawn we shall be worshipping. The Pascal candle will be processed into the darkened space, the light of the world, Jesus is filling us with his presence.

Easter Vigil

 

1.

The light of Christ shine in my heart.

Deepest night of sin

Rend the darkness within.

 

Iron, coal, steel in there part

Selfish use of earth

Generous  gift of birth.

 

Temple curtain torn asunder

Wayward soul of doubt

Cleanse me throughout.

 

Parched desert away from God

Verdent growth

Nurture my spirit

 

Holy Life,

Guiding light

 

 

2.

The light of Christ in shine in my heart

Deepest night of sin

Rend the darkness within.

 

Our God is good, our God is light,

Selfish use of earth,

Gracious gift of birth,

 

Temple curtain torn assunder

Wayward soul of doubt.

Cleasne me throughout.

 

Dessicated soul, shrivelled shell

Living water, refreshing well.

Spirit of life

 

Comforter of mine.