Deuteronomy 5:1-22
The act of writing a shopping list often is enough to help me to remember what I intend buying. Have you ever been in the situation that you had to walk back into the room that you have just left in order to remember why you left the room in the first place?
Moses is giving the new generation of Israelites a reminder of what it was that God said to their parents and grandparents in the Ten Commandments. He wanted them to start their new life in the new country on a right footing with God so that "your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you" (v16).
We know the Ten Commandments, we were taught them as children, particularly the one about parents. I wonder why parents always focus on that particular commandment? As a child I had a problem with that. Today I realized that there are a lot of missing from the Ten Commandments. God leaves many of our choices about our behaviour to our freewill. Moses learnt this to his cost, the cost of not entering the Promised Land.
Help me Father to remember your Law of Love in all my behaviour and that my brother Jesus is a constant playmate. Theoretically I want allow him to influence me in all I do, help me to put this desire into practice.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Joan d'Arc
Psalm 144:1-12
What am I doing here? What next? What has God really equipped me to do? What are my gifts and talents and how do they fit into Our father's plan for furthering his kingdom. I wish I knew the answer. All I can do is live with him. And I wish I really did do this. I want to be attuned to God's desires for my life.
His tasks for me are varied, using my hands for practical things such as cleaning and gardening and praising him with my lips in silence and in witness.
Usually I follow the Daily Lectionary but today I noticed that it is the day to celebrate Joan d'Arc. As a Brit I am not sure that Joan really is a Saint but she was in my mind. Yesterday I used her as an example to describe the meaning of the word siege to a group of francophone students. Joan followed where she believed God was leading her.
What am I doing here? What next? What has God really equipped me to do? What are my gifts and talents and how do they fit into Our father's plan for furthering his kingdom. I wish I knew the answer. All I can do is live with him. And I wish I really did do this. I want to be attuned to God's desires for my life.
His tasks for me are varied, using my hands for practical things such as cleaning and gardening and praising him with my lips in silence and in witness.
Usually I follow the Daily Lectionary but today I noticed that it is the day to celebrate Joan d'Arc. As a Brit I am not sure that Joan really is a Saint but she was in my mind. Yesterday I used her as an example to describe the meaning of the word siege to a group of francophone students. Joan followed where she believed God was leading her.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
The power of the Creator
Deuteronomy 4:15-24
Perhpas I should have left yesterday's opinion until today but I seldom look ahead before writing. My reason is that though there might be a wonderful passage with the germ of an erudite thought glimpsed for tomorrow there maybe another passage that screams "Me, I am the one for today". Yesterday it was the earlier part of Deuteronomy 4 that seemed to press upon me.
Today I am reminded to worship the creator rather than the created. Our God is the Creator of the universe. He is the power behind the beauty of the earth and the raging of the storm.
I need to remember Him and his glory as I travel the peaceful canal this morning. Such times are good opportunities for telling God how wonderful he is.
Monday, May 27, 2013
"You are about to enter"
Deuteronomy 4:9-14
On long journeys we played "First to spot the tower". Well maybe it was a spire or a castle turret or Blackpool Tower. It is exciting coming to the journey's end and seeing a glimpse of the sights to be investigated and pleasures enjoyed.
Moses had journeyed for forty years through the desert leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. Now within sight of the glorious destination and anticipation of a land flowing with milk and honey he knew that he had reached his stopping point. God was forbidding him the reward of the journey. He had weathered rebellion and fear. He had developed such a special relationship with God that his face shone after divine encounters. The Israelites were in awe of Moses. Yet they were going into the Promised Land, he was not.
And why? Not because, as a youth, he has killed a man and hidden the body. Nor for marrying a non-Jew or for not circumcising his sons. Nor was it for sending his wife back to her home because he was too involved with his work to be a husband and father. No it was because of impatience and its allied behaviour that Moses was denied access to the Holy Land.
We expect our political and religious leaders to be beyond reproach with regard to divorce, murder, sexual activity and other 'biggy' sins. We forget that God judges in a different way, a way that I do not want to understand. All I can say is "Thank you Jesus for being my Saviour". This is the only wau that I can come to terms with my lifestyle of petulance and criticism.
On long journeys we played "First to spot the tower". Well maybe it was a spire or a castle turret or Blackpool Tower. It is exciting coming to the journey's end and seeing a glimpse of the sights to be investigated and pleasures enjoyed.
Moses had journeyed for forty years through the desert leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. Now within sight of the glorious destination and anticipation of a land flowing with milk and honey he knew that he had reached his stopping point. God was forbidding him the reward of the journey. He had weathered rebellion and fear. He had developed such a special relationship with God that his face shone after divine encounters. The Israelites were in awe of Moses. Yet they were going into the Promised Land, he was not.
And why? Not because, as a youth, he has killed a man and hidden the body. Nor for marrying a non-Jew or for not circumcising his sons. Nor was it for sending his wife back to her home because he was too involved with his work to be a husband and father. No it was because of impatience and its allied behaviour that Moses was denied access to the Holy Land.
We expect our political and religious leaders to be beyond reproach with regard to divorce, murder, sexual activity and other 'biggy' sins. We forget that God judges in a different way, a way that I do not want to understand. All I can say is "Thank you Jesus for being my Saviour". This is the only wau that I can come to terms with my lifestyle of petulance and criticism.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Uphold widows
Psalm 146
Widow is not a normal word for an infant but it was one that I learnt at an early age. I was taught "My mother is a widow". My father died when I was just over two years old.
My parents were upwardly mobile and ambitious. Not for them was the life of staying, like their parents in the same county. They left Derbyshire for Norfolk and then moved on to Pembrokeshire. With each move my father moved up the chain of command in his business. Then my maternal grandparents did the unthinkable. They decided to move near my parents. It was soon after this unwise move that my father was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later. My mother, not a churchgoer, would then say how God was looking after her by sending help, both physical and financial. We spent a lot of time at my grandparents house. During the remainder of her life, another fifty-one years, Mother increasingly relied on God to provide for her in times of trouble such as when she failed to complete her tax forms and was threatened with imprisonment or needed mortgage payments from an empty bank account.
At the end of her life Mother was a devout Christian who went to church and lost no opportunity to tell if God's goodness to her.
Widow is not a normal word for an infant but it was one that I learnt at an early age. I was taught "My mother is a widow". My father died when I was just over two years old.
My parents were upwardly mobile and ambitious. Not for them was the life of staying, like their parents in the same county. They left Derbyshire for Norfolk and then moved on to Pembrokeshire. With each move my father moved up the chain of command in his business. Then my maternal grandparents did the unthinkable. They decided to move near my parents. It was soon after this unwise move that my father was diagnosed with cancer and died a year later. My mother, not a churchgoer, would then say how God was looking after her by sending help, both physical and financial. We spent a lot of time at my grandparents house. During the remainder of her life, another fifty-one years, Mother increasingly relied on God to provide for her in times of trouble such as when she failed to complete her tax forms and was threatened with imprisonment or needed mortgage payments from an empty bank account.
At the end of her life Mother was a devout Christian who went to church and lost no opportunity to tell if God's goodness to her.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Parental Advice
1 Timothy 1:18-2:8
When I was sixteen, maybe even until I was twenty-two years old I was ready to change the world. My dreams followed those of my grandfather and great grandfather. I wanted to be a politician. As an aside I think that British politics might again be in need of me.
Had I followed this path my life would have been very different. I was advised to become a teacher, which I did. I have no regrets about not following those particular youthful dreams. I believe that God guided me to the college that I went to and consequently to my husband and the experiences that we have had during our almost thirty-nine years of marriage.
I hope that I give my children wise advice. Teaching them to pray is certainly a start.
When I was sixteen, maybe even until I was twenty-two years old I was ready to change the world. My dreams followed those of my grandfather and great grandfather. I wanted to be a politician. As an aside I think that British politics might again be in need of me.
Had I followed this path my life would have been very different. I was advised to become a teacher, which I did. I have no regrets about not following those particular youthful dreams. I believe that God guided me to the college that I went to and consequently to my husband and the experiences that we have had during our almost thirty-nine years of marriage.
I hope that I give my children wise advice. Teaching them to pray is certainly a start.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Family story
Ruth 1:1-18
We chose the names for all our intended children whilst pregnant with the first. The name of the second daughter was to be Naomi Ruth. And that was the name we gave her when she was born ten years and quite a few children later.
The grandparents were anxiously awaiting the telephone call announcing the birth. My mother's immediate reaction was along the lines of "What a peculiar name". Later that morning she told her friends of the dreadful names, particularly Naomi, that we had inflicted on our daughter only to get the response "What a beautiful name" and be directed to this passage and of course the whole book of Ruth.
Ruth deserts her birth family and her country to care for her mother-in-law in a foreign land. She lives an exemplary life of dedication and care. Naomi may not always have been pleased with God but she trusted him in all her adversity.
My mother read the story and realized that even though she might have a bias against names ending in an "i" the Naomi and Ruth of the bible were people to emulate.
We chose the names for all our intended children whilst pregnant with the first. The name of the second daughter was to be Naomi Ruth. And that was the name we gave her when she was born ten years and quite a few children later.
The grandparents were anxiously awaiting the telephone call announcing the birth. My mother's immediate reaction was along the lines of "What a peculiar name". Later that morning she told her friends of the dreadful names, particularly Naomi, that we had inflicted on our daughter only to get the response "What a beautiful name" and be directed to this passage and of course the whole book of Ruth.
Ruth deserts her birth family and her country to care for her mother-in-law in a foreign land. She lives an exemplary life of dedication and care. Naomi may not always have been pleased with God but she trusted him in all her adversity.
My mother read the story and realized that even though she might have a bias against names ending in an "i" the Naomi and Ruth of the bible were people to emulate.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Dad's new clothes
Psalm 102
How many clothes I have that were bought on a Foley's Red Apple Sale or as it now is a Macy's One Day Sale. Great clothes at irresistible prices. Wear them for a season and then discard. I have quite a few garments that are cast-offs from my generous friends who are better than me at discarding unwanted items.
God created the heaven and the earth.
Are the changes that happen to our planet God changing his wardrobe? We use his creation, often abusing it, causing holes in knees and elbows of the ozone layer and depleting mineral reserves. We layer chemicals on fields and gardens not trusting God to produce crops or because we know better.
Our Father can fix and mend, even cause new creations. He is the ultimate designer of haute couture, clothing the lily of the field and the sparrow on the housetop. Now I need to look after his wardrobe and get my tomato plants into the ground instead of leaving them languishig in a plastic bag.
How many clothes I have that were bought on a Foley's Red Apple Sale or as it now is a Macy's One Day Sale. Great clothes at irresistible prices. Wear them for a season and then discard. I have quite a few garments that are cast-offs from my generous friends who are better than me at discarding unwanted items.
God created the heaven and the earth.
Are the changes that happen to our planet God changing his wardrobe? We use his creation, often abusing it, causing holes in knees and elbows of the ozone layer and depleting mineral reserves. We layer chemicals on fields and gardens not trusting God to produce crops or because we know better.
Our Father can fix and mend, even cause new creations. He is the ultimate designer of haute couture, clothing the lily of the field and the sparrow on the housetop. Now I need to look after his wardrobe and get my tomato plants into the ground instead of leaving them languishig in a plastic bag.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Your kingdom come...on earth as it is in heaven
Luke 10:25-37
If a kingdom or country is defined by its laws then I pray that all people on earth will live according to God's law of love. Love for him and our fellow human being - both. I like to think that both the priest an the Levite loved God. They were probably about his business, they wanted to keep themselves clean for God's service. God does not apply what we perceive to be his rules in the same way that we understand them. His God-centred-ness is very person-centred.
If we all lived like this there might even be world peace, and God's kingdom on earth.
If a kingdom or country is defined by its laws then I pray that all people on earth will live according to God's law of love. Love for him and our fellow human being - both. I like to think that both the priest an the Levite loved God. They were probably about his business, they wanted to keep themselves clean for God's service. God does not apply what we perceive to be his rules in the same way that we understand them. His God-centred-ness is very person-centred.
If we all lived like this there might even be world peace, and God's kingdom on earth.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
"In Heaven"
Psalm 101
Our Father in heaven...
Why is it that Revelation, and the last verse of this psalm too talk about "the New Jerusalem" and not the "New Yosemite"? Why streets and not footpaths through open fields. I much prefer the peace of a walk through my local country lanes than working my through the crowds of Rue Neuve in Brussels or even weaving through the groups of tourists in the Grande Place. Yes I like Brussels, and London too but for praying and communicating with my Father give me a lonely country footpath. I prefer green fields and rolling hills, crashing waves and flowing streams to golden streets and pearly gates.
I hope heaven is just where there are no "God Haters", usually when I get to that part of the Lord´s prayer my rephasing is Dear Pops who is with me wherever I am.
Our Father in heaven...
Why is it that Revelation, and the last verse of this psalm too talk about "the New Jerusalem" and not the "New Yosemite"? Why streets and not footpaths through open fields. I much prefer the peace of a walk through my local country lanes than working my through the crowds of Rue Neuve in Brussels or even weaving through the groups of tourists in the Grande Place. Yes I like Brussels, and London too but for praying and communicating with my Father give me a lonely country footpath. I prefer green fields and rolling hills, crashing waves and flowing streams to golden streets and pearly gates.
I hope heaven is just where there are no "God Haters", usually when I get to that part of the Lord´s prayer my rephasing is Dear Pops who is with me wherever I am.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Look Forwards
Luke 9:51-62
The Bible often exhorts us to recount the tale of our journey of faith. Just like the Cleopas and his friend on the evening of the first Easter Day ran back to Jerusalem to tell the news of their encounter with the risen Christ as they had been walking back to Emmaus so we can share our glimpses of Jesus and brief encounters with Jesus. Like Cleopas and his friend we may not, at the time, recognize Jesus but he was there just the same.
Jack Desel was a retired priest who ended his days at Holy Spirit in Houston. He and his wife Dot were members of our congregation. Dot whose main role was pew sitter was pew sitter extraordinaire, why else would I be mentioning her now. Dot almost always wore a hat and a smile, not a general 'I am a happy person smile' but a smile which said ' You are a special person'. Dot also wrote letters. At any opportunity Dot wrote a letter. At her funeral Melvin Gray asked the congregation to raise their hand if they had every received a letter from Dot. Almost everybody raised a hand, and the church was almost full to capacity. I try to write letters and look into eyes when I smile.
But the reson I am sharing the example of Dot today is because I went to a Sunday School class taught by her husband Jack. One lesson was based on this passage. I have written a note in the margin of my bible, 'Don't look back to your previous life'. I think one of the ways that Jack elaborated this was that we should not remember with longing the sins of yesterday but strive towards a closer relationship with God.
I am very grateful that I have a computer again. I hope to be regular in my posting again.
The Bible often exhorts us to recount the tale of our journey of faith. Just like the Cleopas and his friend on the evening of the first Easter Day ran back to Jerusalem to tell the news of their encounter with the risen Christ as they had been walking back to Emmaus so we can share our glimpses of Jesus and brief encounters with Jesus. Like Cleopas and his friend we may not, at the time, recognize Jesus but he was there just the same.
Jack Desel was a retired priest who ended his days at Holy Spirit in Houston. He and his wife Dot were members of our congregation. Dot whose main role was pew sitter was pew sitter extraordinaire, why else would I be mentioning her now. Dot almost always wore a hat and a smile, not a general 'I am a happy person smile' but a smile which said ' You are a special person'. Dot also wrote letters. At any opportunity Dot wrote a letter. At her funeral Melvin Gray asked the congregation to raise their hand if they had every received a letter from Dot. Almost everybody raised a hand, and the church was almost full to capacity. I try to write letters and look into eyes when I smile.
But the reson I am sharing the example of Dot today is because I went to a Sunday School class taught by her husband Jack. One lesson was based on this passage. I have written a note in the margin of my bible, 'Don't look back to your previous life'. I think one of the ways that Jack elaborated this was that we should not remember with longing the sins of yesterday but strive towards a closer relationship with God.
I am very grateful that I have a computer again. I hope to be regular in my posting again.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Our Father
Luke11:1-13
I really want to write today. This is one of my special comfort passages. Until recently it was the last few verses that were so precious but over the last few months 'The Lord's Prayer' has taken on a new significance.
Martin Luther began and finished each day with this prayer. During Lent I tried to do the same and am endeavoring to continue.
Jesus speaking with his disciples says 'Our Father', not my father or even your father. I find this almost incredible. Jesus must be my brother and God, the Lord of the Old Testament, is our Pop.
Wow.
I would like to share some thoughts on the remainder of the prayer, maybe tomorrow I will continue with this topic rather than follow the lectionary.
In the meantime let us share some special time with our Dad.
I really want to write today. This is one of my special comfort passages. Until recently it was the last few verses that were so precious but over the last few months 'The Lord's Prayer' has taken on a new significance.
Martin Luther began and finished each day with this prayer. During Lent I tried to do the same and am endeavoring to continue.
Jesus speaking with his disciples says 'Our Father', not my father or even your father. I find this almost incredible. Jesus must be my brother and God, the Lord of the Old Testament, is our Pop.
Wow.
I would like to share some thoughts on the remainder of the prayer, maybe tomorrow I will continue with this topic rather than follow the lectionary.
In the meantime let us share some special time with our Dad.
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