Scripture: Luke 12: 8 – 12
And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he ho denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rules and the authorities, do not be anxious how for what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Reaction: Recently one of the women who will participate in our prayer group suggested that even before we officially begin in the fall, we each can start praying individually that the Holy Spirit will be the guiding factor in our group and that we will move where the Spirit leads us. So today as I was leafing through my Bible I caught the words Holy Spirit in the above passage, and decided to use it for my meditation.
My reflections were twofold. First, I know I must continue to have faith in the presence of God in my life. I don’t think that I would ever deny or blaspheme the Lord, but I know that at times my faith does waver, and I must not give into these doubts and lapses. Second, I need not worry what I will say in our group or how it will be organized. I can pray now for guidance and inspiration, but I need not plan out how we will structure the group. Our basic idea was for each participant to read the upcoming Sunday’s gospel reading and then share our reflections with the rest of the group. Many other ideas were proposed, but perhaps starting with a simple reflection is all we need to do for now. When the time comes, I believe the Spirit will show us what to say and how to proceed.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Trust in the Lord
Scriptures: Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Reaction: I enjoyed reading Proverbs yesterday, so today I looked through some other chapters of the book, and came across the above passage. Even though it’s only two verses, it really spoke to me. I have thought quite a bit lately about putting more trust in God and turning over all things to Him. Therefore, the directive to Trust Him with all my heart was very meaningful. At first I was surprised at the admonition not to trust my own understanding, but two things occurred to me: first, that my understanding of all things comes from the Lord, so as I continue to pray for his wisdom and guidance, it will really be the understanding the He grants me that I can use; and second, that I should LEAN on God (depend on Him, go to Him for support, get strength from Him), instead of thinking that I can do it all on my own.
The next verse was also very powerful, and built on yesterday’s reflection: not only will the Lord direct me, but he will show me a straight path to lead me to where I He wants me to go. Yesterday I noted that I can plan my way, but He might send me on a detour, so it’s interesting that today I’m learning that the way to following Him might be more straightforward than I imagined.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Reaction: I enjoyed reading Proverbs yesterday, so today I looked through some other chapters of the book, and came across the above passage. Even though it’s only two verses, it really spoke to me. I have thought quite a bit lately about putting more trust in God and turning over all things to Him. Therefore, the directive to Trust Him with all my heart was very meaningful. At first I was surprised at the admonition not to trust my own understanding, but two things occurred to me: first, that my understanding of all things comes from the Lord, so as I continue to pray for his wisdom and guidance, it will really be the understanding the He grants me that I can use; and second, that I should LEAN on God (depend on Him, go to Him for support, get strength from Him), instead of thinking that I can do it all on my own.
The next verse was also very powerful, and built on yesterday’s reflection: not only will the Lord direct me, but he will show me a straight path to lead me to where I He wants me to go. Yesterday I noted that I can plan my way, but He might send me on a detour, so it’s interesting that today I’m learning that the way to following Him might be more straightforward than I imagined.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Planning One's Way
Scriptures:
Proverbs 16: 1 – The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16: 9 – A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord.
Reactions: I read all of Proverbs Chapter 16 today, but the three verses above resonated with me the most. They are all saying the same thing in slightly different ways, which I really liked. And since I do like to plan things out in my mind, I got a very applicable message from these verses: Go ahead and plan if you want, but remember that God is the master planner, the director of all.
I especially liked verse 9, because it reinforces God’s presence as a guiding force in my life. I do have a general plan for me life, but I also need to be aware of when God is directing me to take a little detour, or perhaps a different path altogether. During my meditation I became a little distracted with my plans for a fitness class I’m going to teach, and I was a little disappointed in my distraction. But then I had the notion that the Lord had a role in these thoughts, and was helping to direct me to a solution. So I thanked Him for His guidance, and continued repeating verse 9.
This prayer session also raised a question that I’ve pondered many times in the past. Just how much does the Lord intervene in our daily lives? Verse 33 implies that His involvement is quite active, so that result of a dice roll is decided by Him. I know that we have a free will, and I believe that most circumstances in life are influenced by an all-powerful God. Yet I do believe in the power of prayer, and I am certain that God is with me when I ask for his strength and grace. Though I really don’t have a feel for “how much” the Lord intervenes, I think the question is irrelevant. I know that He does on occasion whisper to me the ways of wisdom and truth, and often guides me along paths that are safe and sure. I just need to be attuned to His guidance, and know that if He does have an ultimate goal for me, that I will be compliant enough to follow His plan, and not my own.
Proverbs 16: 1 – The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16: 9 – A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord.
Reactions: I read all of Proverbs Chapter 16 today, but the three verses above resonated with me the most. They are all saying the same thing in slightly different ways, which I really liked. And since I do like to plan things out in my mind, I got a very applicable message from these verses: Go ahead and plan if you want, but remember that God is the master planner, the director of all.
I especially liked verse 9, because it reinforces God’s presence as a guiding force in my life. I do have a general plan for me life, but I also need to be aware of when God is directing me to take a little detour, or perhaps a different path altogether. During my meditation I became a little distracted with my plans for a fitness class I’m going to teach, and I was a little disappointed in my distraction. But then I had the notion that the Lord had a role in these thoughts, and was helping to direct me to a solution. So I thanked Him for His guidance, and continued repeating verse 9.
This prayer session also raised a question that I’ve pondered many times in the past. Just how much does the Lord intervene in our daily lives? Verse 33 implies that His involvement is quite active, so that result of a dice roll is decided by Him. I know that we have a free will, and I believe that most circumstances in life are influenced by an all-powerful God. Yet I do believe in the power of prayer, and I am certain that God is with me when I ask for his strength and grace. Though I really don’t have a feel for “how much” the Lord intervenes, I think the question is irrelevant. I know that He does on occasion whisper to me the ways of wisdom and truth, and often guides me along paths that are safe and sure. I just need to be attuned to His guidance, and know that if He does have an ultimate goal for me, that I will be compliant enough to follow His plan, and not my own.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Love for the Father
Scripture: 1 John 2: 15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not of him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Reactions: The first part of my meditation dealt with a common theme, rejecting the lure of the worldly. In addition to wanting and loving the temporal, I also take great pride in them, both material possessions such as my home and wardrobe as well as my own my abilities, works and accomplishments. If I take pride in what I am, what I do, or what I own, I am not giving glory to the Father. I am crediting myself instead of crediting the creator of all.
I have been praying for many months to know the will of the Father, and in the second part of my reflection I got a clearer sense of what it is God wants of me. In the past I have felt that what I AM is more important than what I DO; today I felt that it’s also crucial to understand WHY I do what I do and am what I am. Basically, my motivation should be one of pleasing God, not myself. Previous meditations, readings, and conversations reinforce the idea that everything one does can be a form of prayer if it is done for the glory of God. I don’t think I internalized those words until today. I have been offering up what I do to God, but I am still trying to get something out of my actions for myself (pride, sense of accomplishment, sense of righteousness, joy, personal gratification). Instead, I should be doing these things simply because they are pleasing to God, because my efforts will make Him happy and will reflect my love for Him. Thus, even if I don’t always get satisfaction, praise or recognition from my volunteer efforts, hobbies and employment, I will be living out God’s will by seeking to do what is pleasing to Him.
It’s like when I do little things for my husband or children that I wouldn’t necessarily enjoy except for the fact that they appreciate them so much. It makes me happy to make them happy. That’s how I need to start thinking about doing things to make the Lord happy.
Of course, my family can express to me what they like and what they don’t like. How do I know if it makes God happy to see me dance well or cook a nice meal for a friend? I believe that just saying “I hope this brings you great pleasure, Lord” is a good start. I can also think of some actions that would not be pleasing to the Lord, such as when I dress too provocatively or overstate certain aspects of my life (telling little white lies). It should not be too hard for me to tell the difference between what is pleasing to God and what is not. My motivation is the key, though in a sense that can be a bit tricky. For example, I believe it pleases God when I use the talents He gave me for the good of others, but being too boastful or self-important detracts from His pleasure. If I pursue various avenues with the purpose of showing my love for God, pleasing Him, and glorifying Him, then I believe I am doing His will. Any recognition or satisfaction I get for myself is secondary.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not of him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Reactions: The first part of my meditation dealt with a common theme, rejecting the lure of the worldly. In addition to wanting and loving the temporal, I also take great pride in them, both material possessions such as my home and wardrobe as well as my own my abilities, works and accomplishments. If I take pride in what I am, what I do, or what I own, I am not giving glory to the Father. I am crediting myself instead of crediting the creator of all.
I have been praying for many months to know the will of the Father, and in the second part of my reflection I got a clearer sense of what it is God wants of me. In the past I have felt that what I AM is more important than what I DO; today I felt that it’s also crucial to understand WHY I do what I do and am what I am. Basically, my motivation should be one of pleasing God, not myself. Previous meditations, readings, and conversations reinforce the idea that everything one does can be a form of prayer if it is done for the glory of God. I don’t think I internalized those words until today. I have been offering up what I do to God, but I am still trying to get something out of my actions for myself (pride, sense of accomplishment, sense of righteousness, joy, personal gratification). Instead, I should be doing these things simply because they are pleasing to God, because my efforts will make Him happy and will reflect my love for Him. Thus, even if I don’t always get satisfaction, praise or recognition from my volunteer efforts, hobbies and employment, I will be living out God’s will by seeking to do what is pleasing to Him.
It’s like when I do little things for my husband or children that I wouldn’t necessarily enjoy except for the fact that they appreciate them so much. It makes me happy to make them happy. That’s how I need to start thinking about doing things to make the Lord happy.
Of course, my family can express to me what they like and what they don’t like. How do I know if it makes God happy to see me dance well or cook a nice meal for a friend? I believe that just saying “I hope this brings you great pleasure, Lord” is a good start. I can also think of some actions that would not be pleasing to the Lord, such as when I dress too provocatively or overstate certain aspects of my life (telling little white lies). It should not be too hard for me to tell the difference between what is pleasing to God and what is not. My motivation is the key, though in a sense that can be a bit tricky. For example, I believe it pleases God when I use the talents He gave me for the good of others, but being too boastful or self-important detracts from His pleasure. If I pursue various avenues with the purpose of showing my love for God, pleasing Him, and glorifying Him, then I believe I am doing His will. Any recognition or satisfaction I get for myself is secondary.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Live for the Praise of His Glory
Scripture: Ephesians 1:9-11
For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him, according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things, according to the counsel of His will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory.
Reaction: Today’s passage was listed under the topic of Purpose, and I thought that perhaps it would bring me closer to understanding my mission in life. What I gleaned from my reflection was that the purpose of everyone’s life here on earth is to live for the glory of God. This echoes an impression I had several months ago, that God does not care so much what I do, but what I am. As I reflected earlier, I don’t need to DO so much as to BE. And what do I need to be? Faithful, thankful, and praise-filled were three words that came to mind. By believing in God and in Jesus as His son, by being aware of all that God has created and by offering my appreciation and adoration, I will truly be living to praise God for all of His glory.
When I read the first few verses of this passage, I was thinking that God really has not made known to me the mystery of His will, or if He has, I haven’t been paying attention! But upon further contemplation, I see that His will is not that mysterious; He simply seeks to have all people be united in Him, to know Him and love Him, and to love each other. And it will all come about according to His will, His purpose, as the being who accomplishes all things. This is the Lord’s purpose; I believe that my part (and everyone’s part) in His plan is to become closer to Him through prayer and praise, and to draw others to Him by word and by deed.
For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him, according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things, according to the counsel of His will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory.
Reaction: Today’s passage was listed under the topic of Purpose, and I thought that perhaps it would bring me closer to understanding my mission in life. What I gleaned from my reflection was that the purpose of everyone’s life here on earth is to live for the glory of God. This echoes an impression I had several months ago, that God does not care so much what I do, but what I am. As I reflected earlier, I don’t need to DO so much as to BE. And what do I need to be? Faithful, thankful, and praise-filled were three words that came to mind. By believing in God and in Jesus as His son, by being aware of all that God has created and by offering my appreciation and adoration, I will truly be living to praise God for all of His glory.
When I read the first few verses of this passage, I was thinking that God really has not made known to me the mystery of His will, or if He has, I haven’t been paying attention! But upon further contemplation, I see that His will is not that mysterious; He simply seeks to have all people be united in Him, to know Him and love Him, and to love each other. And it will all come about according to His will, His purpose, as the being who accomplishes all things. This is the Lord’s purpose; I believe that my part (and everyone’s part) in His plan is to become closer to Him through prayer and praise, and to draw others to Him by word and by deed.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
You Enlarge My Heart
Scripture: Psalm 119:23-32
My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, for You enlarge my heart.
Reaction: In today’s meditation I focused on the phrase “You enlarge my heart”. I imagined that my heart was opening wide so I could receive all sorts of wonderful gifts from the Lord: energy (revive me), enlightenment (you answered me), instruction (teach me), wisdom (make me understand), power (strengthen me), forgiveness (remove from me), and oneness with Him (I cling). I was also profoundly aware of the gifts I’ve already received from Him: peace, joy, and a burning desire to be closer to Him. Of the many searching questions I’ve had, I know that some have been answered, and other revelations are yet to come. Of all the graces I’ve needed to carry out my goals, I know that the Spirit has already blessed me in many ways, and will continue to grant me the strength to do whatever He wills of me. Of all the flaws I’ve sought to overcome, I know that I have been fortified to turn away from many transgressions, and will continue to be molded to become the person God designed me to be. All will be granted if continue to keep my heart open to the Lord.
My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, for You enlarge my heart.
Reaction: In today’s meditation I focused on the phrase “You enlarge my heart”. I imagined that my heart was opening wide so I could receive all sorts of wonderful gifts from the Lord: energy (revive me), enlightenment (you answered me), instruction (teach me), wisdom (make me understand), power (strengthen me), forgiveness (remove from me), and oneness with Him (I cling). I was also profoundly aware of the gifts I’ve already received from Him: peace, joy, and a burning desire to be closer to Him. Of the many searching questions I’ve had, I know that some have been answered, and other revelations are yet to come. Of all the graces I’ve needed to carry out my goals, I know that the Spirit has already blessed me in many ways, and will continue to grant me the strength to do whatever He wills of me. Of all the flaws I’ve sought to overcome, I know that I have been fortified to turn away from many transgressions, and will continue to be molded to become the person God designed me to be. All will be granted if continue to keep my heart open to the Lord.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Recurring Themes
Scriptures:
Matthew 19: 20-22: The young man said to Him, ‘All these I have observed; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, “if you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ When the young man heard this he want away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 20:25-33: But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crow rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
Matthew 21: 22: If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Reactions: Today I read several chapters of Matthew’s Gospel as I pondered various issues in my personal life. My readings evoked several themes I've encountered in past scripture meditations. I reflected on them today to see how I might apply them to my everyday life and the decisions I’m facing.
The first theme was that of rejecting material wealth. While I don’t think I’m being called to sell all of my possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, I do believe that monetary concerns should not play a major role in my decision-making process.
The next themes were those of humility and service. These go hand in hand, because as I evaluate where I will devote my time and energy, I often ask myself these questions: Am I doing this for my own benefit (pride, bragging rights, righteous feelings), or for the benefit of others? Who is being served by my activities? Am I effective in being a compassionate, constructive, and positive force through my volunteer and work activities, or am I just going through the motions to build up a list of accomplishments?
The last recurring theme from the scriptures was that of asking, or seeking. I feel that I’m in the same situation as the blind men: I’m crying out to Jesus for sight into my own soul. Throughout my retirement I’ve often thought that what I need to do is find my ‘passion’, and though I’ve found some activities I certainly enjoy, I don’t know that I’m passionate about any of them. In thinking about this, I also realize that seeking to find a passion that brings me utter joy and fulfillment could be considered contrary to doing things out of humility and service. So is it right to ask Jesus to grant me this sight? And if so, how do the themes of poverty, humility, service and personal fulfillment fit together?
As I meditated upon these themes, I gained a little bit of insight, and I came to a couple of decisions. I realized that I really don’t enjoy teaching relationship classes (even though I thought I would), and I don’t think I’m very effective in my attempts. That leaves my only motivation a financial one, so I have decided to drop this pursuit. On the other hand, I do enjoy subbing at the schools, and I think that sometimes I do bring something positive to the job. So even though my primary goal is to earn a little extra income, I see other benefits and will probably continue subbing in the fall.
Regarding my volunteer work, I feel that at times I am somewhat successful in assisting the disadvantaged. I have to admit that at times I don’t enjoy my tasks, and that happens mostly when I haven’t done a particularly good job in dealing with the issue at hand. But that’s where humility comes in. I don’t have to be the best counselor or advocate, just someone who tries her best, seeks to improve her knowledge and skills, and occasionally does something worthwhile to help ease another’s burdens. As my skills improve, and as I get better at hearing how the Holy Spirit is guiding me, I think I will become a more valuable resource for the poor. Whether or not I eventually become passionate about these activities, I know that I do get great satisfaction when I’ve truly provided information or aid that makes a difference in someone’s life, so that’s the best of both worlds.
And what of finding a passion that might not relate to charitable work? In contemplating the request of the two blind men, I believe that there’s nothing wrong or selfish in asking for this revelation. I am continuing to explore different opportunities, and I appreciate the fact that I have the time to search for my passion. It might be teaching a fitness class, becoming a better ballroom dancer, participating in a new prayer group, or something else entirely. But I have faith that if I continue to ask the Lord to help me find it, I will receive an answer.
Matthew 19: 20-22: The young man said to Him, ‘All these I have observed; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, “if you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ When the young man heard this he want away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 20:25-33: But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crow rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
Matthew 21: 22: If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Reactions: Today I read several chapters of Matthew’s Gospel as I pondered various issues in my personal life. My readings evoked several themes I've encountered in past scripture meditations. I reflected on them today to see how I might apply them to my everyday life and the decisions I’m facing.
The first theme was that of rejecting material wealth. While I don’t think I’m being called to sell all of my possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, I do believe that monetary concerns should not play a major role in my decision-making process.
The next themes were those of humility and service. These go hand in hand, because as I evaluate where I will devote my time and energy, I often ask myself these questions: Am I doing this for my own benefit (pride, bragging rights, righteous feelings), or for the benefit of others? Who is being served by my activities? Am I effective in being a compassionate, constructive, and positive force through my volunteer and work activities, or am I just going through the motions to build up a list of accomplishments?
The last recurring theme from the scriptures was that of asking, or seeking. I feel that I’m in the same situation as the blind men: I’m crying out to Jesus for sight into my own soul. Throughout my retirement I’ve often thought that what I need to do is find my ‘passion’, and though I’ve found some activities I certainly enjoy, I don’t know that I’m passionate about any of them. In thinking about this, I also realize that seeking to find a passion that brings me utter joy and fulfillment could be considered contrary to doing things out of humility and service. So is it right to ask Jesus to grant me this sight? And if so, how do the themes of poverty, humility, service and personal fulfillment fit together?
As I meditated upon these themes, I gained a little bit of insight, and I came to a couple of decisions. I realized that I really don’t enjoy teaching relationship classes (even though I thought I would), and I don’t think I’m very effective in my attempts. That leaves my only motivation a financial one, so I have decided to drop this pursuit. On the other hand, I do enjoy subbing at the schools, and I think that sometimes I do bring something positive to the job. So even though my primary goal is to earn a little extra income, I see other benefits and will probably continue subbing in the fall.
Regarding my volunteer work, I feel that at times I am somewhat successful in assisting the disadvantaged. I have to admit that at times I don’t enjoy my tasks, and that happens mostly when I haven’t done a particularly good job in dealing with the issue at hand. But that’s where humility comes in. I don’t have to be the best counselor or advocate, just someone who tries her best, seeks to improve her knowledge and skills, and occasionally does something worthwhile to help ease another’s burdens. As my skills improve, and as I get better at hearing how the Holy Spirit is guiding me, I think I will become a more valuable resource for the poor. Whether or not I eventually become passionate about these activities, I know that I do get great satisfaction when I’ve truly provided information or aid that makes a difference in someone’s life, so that’s the best of both worlds.
And what of finding a passion that might not relate to charitable work? In contemplating the request of the two blind men, I believe that there’s nothing wrong or selfish in asking for this revelation. I am continuing to explore different opportunities, and I appreciate the fact that I have the time to search for my passion. It might be teaching a fitness class, becoming a better ballroom dancer, participating in a new prayer group, or something else entirely. But I have faith that if I continue to ask the Lord to help me find it, I will receive an answer.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Cast Out Your Nets
Scripture: Luke 5: 1-12
“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and cast out the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
Reaction: In today’s meditation, I had several different impressions and images. First was the idea of Jesus coming into my boat (my home, really) – the place where I spend my day-to-day existence following a somewhat mundane routine. Then He told me to cast out my net, which is not a typical activity for me. By this, He meant that I should open up myself to others, simply throwing out my experiences with prayer and spirituality for those who might be seeking a closer relationship with God. Those who are interested will swim into the net, and perhaps they too will be scooped up into our boat. I got the impression that I need not do anything extraordinary as I follow Christ’s lead, that just be willing to cast my net of fellowship a little wider would suffice. The phrase “Don’t be afraid”, present in so many other scriptures I’ve contemplated, brought me great comfort, reminding me that the Lord is always by my side. I again felt that I only need to take small steps as I witness to others, and that through it all, the Holy Spirit will be there to guide me into deeper waters and to keep me from sinking.
“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and cast out the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
Reaction: In today’s meditation, I had several different impressions and images. First was the idea of Jesus coming into my boat (my home, really) – the place where I spend my day-to-day existence following a somewhat mundane routine. Then He told me to cast out my net, which is not a typical activity for me. By this, He meant that I should open up myself to others, simply throwing out my experiences with prayer and spirituality for those who might be seeking a closer relationship with God. Those who are interested will swim into the net, and perhaps they too will be scooped up into our boat. I got the impression that I need not do anything extraordinary as I follow Christ’s lead, that just be willing to cast my net of fellowship a little wider would suffice. The phrase “Don’t be afraid”, present in so many other scriptures I’ve contemplated, brought me great comfort, reminding me that the Lord is always by my side. I again felt that I only need to take small steps as I witness to others, and that through it all, the Holy Spirit will be there to guide me into deeper waters and to keep me from sinking.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
A Time to Plant
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 -8
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
Reaction: I found this reading under the topic of Trust, and it fits in very nicely with my meditation from yesterday. The room being prepared for me is not yet ready; it is not yet the season.
The phrase I keyed into today was ‘a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.’ The seeds of my faith, my gifts, and my purpose are still being sown. It is not yet time to harvest them. But I can still water them and nurture them. I can do this by continuing to pray, study, read, volunteer, and witness as the Spirit leads me. For me, it is now a time to plant.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
Reaction: I found this reading under the topic of Trust, and it fits in very nicely with my meditation from yesterday. The room being prepared for me is not yet ready; it is not yet the season.
The phrase I keyed into today was ‘a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.’ The seeds of my faith, my gifts, and my purpose are still being sown. It is not yet time to harvest them. But I can still water them and nurture them. I can do this by continuing to pray, study, read, volunteer, and witness as the Spirit leads me. For me, it is now a time to plant.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Many rooms
Scripture: John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Reaction: Today’s reading came from a list of suggested scripture passages titled ‘Where do you live?” This sheet was part of some retreat materials that were still in my Bible. Even though I hadn’t looked at them for a month, I turned to this reading from John today.
My impression of the Father’s house was one of belonging and acceptance. I felt that God had picked out a room just for me, where I would be accepted, useful and complete. Though I believe Jesus was speaking of heaven in this passage, today it had a different meaning for me. Christ was telling me that He wouldn’t have called me to the place He was preparing for me if He didn’t have something special in mind. This place is here on Earth, and the something special is a task I haven’t even envisioned. The ‘many rooms’ represent different functions that people might serve, and the room where I’ll be assigned is still a mystery. But this room is still under construction, and when the time is right I will go there.
These reflections came right at the perfect time for me. I had been feeling somewhat inadequate because of an event that took place earlier in the week. Where I had hoped to be eloquent, I’d been tongue-tied; where I had wished to appear flexible, I came across as rigid. I felt I had few talents and little to offer to the group. And the fact that I was so self-absorbed as to worry about how I looked to others just made matters worse.
Now I feel that despite all of my inadequacies, both real and imagined, I still have a useful role to play in service to the Lord. The first phrase of today’s reading, ‘Let not your hearts me troubled’, told me to quit feeling sorry for myself and to continue believing in God’s power and presence. He will guide me to the room He has prepared for me when I least expect it.
“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Reaction: Today’s reading came from a list of suggested scripture passages titled ‘Where do you live?” This sheet was part of some retreat materials that were still in my Bible. Even though I hadn’t looked at them for a month, I turned to this reading from John today.
My impression of the Father’s house was one of belonging and acceptance. I felt that God had picked out a room just for me, where I would be accepted, useful and complete. Though I believe Jesus was speaking of heaven in this passage, today it had a different meaning for me. Christ was telling me that He wouldn’t have called me to the place He was preparing for me if He didn’t have something special in mind. This place is here on Earth, and the something special is a task I haven’t even envisioned. The ‘many rooms’ represent different functions that people might serve, and the room where I’ll be assigned is still a mystery. But this room is still under construction, and when the time is right I will go there.
These reflections came right at the perfect time for me. I had been feeling somewhat inadequate because of an event that took place earlier in the week. Where I had hoped to be eloquent, I’d been tongue-tied; where I had wished to appear flexible, I came across as rigid. I felt I had few talents and little to offer to the group. And the fact that I was so self-absorbed as to worry about how I looked to others just made matters worse.
Now I feel that despite all of my inadequacies, both real and imagined, I still have a useful role to play in service to the Lord. The first phrase of today’s reading, ‘Let not your hearts me troubled’, told me to quit feeling sorry for myself and to continue believing in God’s power and presence. He will guide me to the room He has prepared for me when I least expect it.
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