Choice

We are in the midst of selecting
Our next President.
How do we know who to choose?
Study.
Pray.
While I may feel
My choice is God's choice,
My neighbor may feel likewise,
But vote for someone else.
Jesus said to love your neighbor:
Republican or Democrat.
When we demonize the other,
We break Christ's command.
Forgive us our political passions
As we forgive the political passions of others.
Deliver our nation from evil.
Let this nation's choice be yours.
Remember God can use anyone.

Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Praise Prayer

Our Creator who envelopes us in love,
Praise you.
Praise the Word of God.
Praise the Lamb of God.
Praise Christ the Lord.
Praise the Deliverer.
Praise the Light of the World.
Praise Lord of Lords.
Praise the King of Kings.
Praise the Good Shepherd.
Praise the Morning Star.
Praise the Prince of Peace.
Praise the Everlasting Father.
Praise the Mighty God.
Praise "I AM."
Let your presence fill our hearts
And your will be ours.
Feed us the Bread of Life
That we may never hunger.
Forgive our evil deeds.
Give us the will to forgive
The evil deeds of others.
Protect us in this world of deception.
For you are existence.
Without you, there is oblivion.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Photo by hoyasmeg

The People

In the multitude of people is the king's honor; but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

These words from Proverbs speak
To the world of today.
We know that the fortunes of the ruler
Should be tied to the fortunes of the people.
The ruler needs people to support him.
Without people the ruler cannot exist.
Those that seek power today need the people.
But they should remember
That once they have power,
They still need the people.
Do those that run today's businesses
Respect those that work for them?
Do those that head our government
Respect the people that voted for them?
Not always.
We, the people, must choose wisely
When we vote.
We, the people, must demand that those that toil
Are rewarded justly.
Christ told us we will be judged
By how we treat
"The least of these my brethren."
We, the people, must remember.

Photo by scubadive67

David's Firstborn

Today, I read about David
And his sin with Bathsheba.
The Bible says their first born died
As punishment for David's sin.
Let me understand, Lord,
Why the baby suffered when he had not sinned.
Where were you, Lord, for that child?
I know the answer:
With that unnamed baby,
As you are with us when evil comes.
I know Jesus' answer that bad things happen,
Not because we are good or evil,
But because that is the way of this World.
David's sin did not cause the infant's death.
Even so, David's story is so difficult,
But I must remember that through all his tribulations,
David remained your faithful servant.
Let me remain yours, Lord,
For now and for eternity.

Photo by Raphael Goetter

Much Is Given

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.

These words from Luke are haunting.
We live in a nation of great wealth.
Have we shared our blessings?
Have we squandered our talents
And fallen far short of what God wanted?
Do we use the correct measures?
Do we help those around us,
Friends and family,
But fail to look beyond?
We trust God to care for us.
Do we seek those in need of care?
We can only ask for forgiveness,
If we have sinned.
We can only ask
That our talents be of use
In whatever time remains.
It is never too late
To do God's will.

Photo by Jeff Belmonte

Sun and Rain

Jesus tells us that
God cares for all.
Whether someone is evil or good
God provides warmth and light from the sun.
Whether someone is just or unjust
God provides life giving rain.
We wish to be the chosen,
Set apart by God.
We need to remember
That to be chosen
We cannot be apart.
We must be more like Christ
And love the unlovable.

Photo by Demion

Time and Chance

...the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

The words of Ecclesiastes
Do not bring comfort.
They are not the words
Of the gurus of this modern day,
But they still ring true.
We live in a capricious world.
We want to believe that
We control our destiny.
We do not.
Only God is in control.
We must trust his purpose,
Though for us the path is difficult
And the world is filled with pain.
Christ did not promise ease.
Christ promised to be with us.

Photo by fancycanoe

Image of God

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

When I consider the creation,
These words of Genesis rise first.
We are created in God's image.
Both men and women are created
In the image of the Almighty.



What is this image that we reflect?
Not our physical aspect;
God is not matter.
Through the centuries,
Great Christian thinkers
Have understood God's image to be
The mind.
Our thoughts contain
Glimmers of the Creator.
Remember that when thoughts stray.
Ask for forgiveness for the evil
That we create within our minds.
Pray.
Let our minds connect with God.

Photo by *L*u*z*a*

Living Water

Jesus stopped to drink at a well in Samaria.
There he met a woman
Who had come to do a daily chore:
Draw water.
Christ offered this woman of a scorned race
Living water.
She was not a perfect being.
She had sinned and Jesus knew it.
But to her, Jesus said,
"I AM."
We seek God's presence in edifices of faith.
Perhaps we need to seek God
Where we do our daily chores.
Perhaps "I AM" seeks us
Where we pursue our daily tasks.
Perhaps we need only
Pay attention to those around us
To meet the great "I AM."

Photo by IJsendoorn

Heart Unafraid

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Christ's words echo through time.
Do we hear them?
We worry more about this world
Instead of God's will.
Our possessions possess us,
So there our hearts lie.
Let us focus on the gifts of the Spirit,
So that our hearts can be free.
Fear fills our world.
There is war, illness, and disaster.
We fear to lose our possessions.
We fear to be thought a failure.
We fear to speak about God
Lest we be thought a fool.
Let us focus on the gifts of the soul
That cannot be lost,
So that we can be the heralds of God's kingdom.
Let us embrace the Comforter
Who always holds us.
Let us set our hearts to do God's will.
Fear not.
God's gift:
Heart unafraid.

Photo by pixie

Generations Passing

"I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses."

Another friend died.
Another funeral.
Grief for his family,
He will be missed.
Grief stirred by memories
As "In the Garden" echoed.
February has become
A month of loss.
Friends and family gone,
Generations passing.
Those born in the rural past
Die in the urban present.
Christ's words echo:
"Blessed are they that mourn;
For they shall be comforted."

Photo by *clarity*

The Danger Outside

My cats are confined within my home because the house next door has been sprayed for termites. Poison is all around. The cats stare in longing out the window, then pace and plead with me for freedom. I know that such freedom would be dangerous, perhaps fatal.

Are we like my cats,
Uncomprehending of the dangers outside,
Outside of God's commands?
Do we tread God's will with impatience,
Sure that life would be better if we were released?
I believe that I must answer yes.
What seems like freedom
Leads to death.
The poison of the world
Steals our soul
Little by little
Until we are dead inside,
Until there is no love for others,
Only for ourselves.
Our prayers are pleas
For what seems to us the best.
God knows to answer as we want
Would place danger in our path through life.
Let me act as one made in the image of God.
Let me understand God's will.

Photo by Vieux bandit

Renew Your Mind

And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Paul's words speak to me this day,
But how difficult his command is to fulfill.
We all wish to be surrounded by admirers,
Be a success in our work and play,
Have house, car and the latest electronic gadget.
Is that how we conform to this world?
Rather seek the knowledge of God,
Read the Bible,
Pray,
Study the writings of Godly thinkers,
Grapple with the truths of faith,
In order to
View the world from God's perspective and
Act in accordance with God's will.
Use material blessings to help others
And demonstrate God's love.
Use the advances of this age
To further the kingdom.
Be part of this world in body,
But not in soul.
Remember there is an eternity with God,
This life is but a moment.

Photo courtesy NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Follow Me

Jesus called a tax collector
To follow him
When the religious of that day
Condemned such men.
What does that say to us today?
Are there tax collectors among us
That God would choose as followers?
Let me remember that question
Before I condemn.
Let me see beyond the facade
To the person within.
Help me to be more like our Redeemer.

And as Jesus passed forth from there,
he saw a man, named Matthew,
sitting at the receipt of custom;
and he saith unto him,
Follow me.
And he arose, and followed him.

Photo by En Ami

Old Hymns

Great old hymns surge through my soul,
"Rock of Ages,"
"Amazing Grace,"
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,"
"In the Garden,"
"I'll Fly Away."
Hymns that not only remind me of God,
But also of people and their times,
Of celebration times
Of funeral times.
The words of such hymns
Have the power to evoke feelings
I often choose to suppress.
Let me free my emotions
If that is God's will.
Let me feel the presence of the Comforter
In the songs of worship.
Thank you, Lord,
For the gift of music.

Photo by Jonathan Assink

Closeness

Sunshine fills the morning.
The gray rain of yesterday is gone.
The sun is far away in miles,
Yet close in warmth and light.
The Almighty governs infinity,
Yet cares for me every day.
God stands outside of time,
Yet journeys with me as I grow older.
The Prince of Peace can sound the trumpet of eternity,
Yet listens to my daily prayers.
Creator, Love, and Word.
Past, Present, and Future.
Trinity.

Dance

Last night I watched a ballet.
Dancers swept across the stage
Like drops of wind blown rain,
Then poured themselves
Like iridescent rivulets flowing
In time with the music.
What beauty man can create!
What greater beauty God creates!
Thank God for creation.
Thank God for the beauty in dance.
"Praise him with the timbrel and dance..."
Praise God.

Definitions

What is wealth?
Who is rich?
Man's answer to these questions is easy.
Wealth is an abundance of things desired.
A man is rich when well supplied
With land, goods or money.
God's definitions are harder.
Wealth is an abundance of love from others.
A man is rich when well supplied
With family, friends, or loved ones.
Which definitions would I choose?

Two Men Went to Pray

Two men went to pray,
One a Pharisee,
One a tax collector.
The Pharisee told God
How good he was,
How he obeyed God’s law.
The tax collector asked for mercy.
He knew he was a sinner.
Jesus tells us that the
Tax collector was forgiven,
Not the Pharisee.
Do we follow the rules,
But not God?
Do we realize how sinful we are?
I fear the answers.
I know that I minimize my sins
In comparison to others.
Let me acknowledge how I fall short,
What a poor example I am.
Today may I try to be a better demonstration
Of God's love.

Prayer to Creator, Love, and Word

Creator, Love, and Word,
Who has been, is, and will be,
Wonderful,Counselor,The Mighty God,
The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace
Blessed is your name in all its forms.
Bring your peace to all the world.
Reign on earth as well as in heaven.
Nourish our souls with your breath.
Ignore our failures
As we ignore the failures of others.
Guide our steps to the paths of righteousness,
Keep us from destruction
Because you are love in action
Through time and eternity.
Amen

Winter into Spring

Another gray day
As winter fights
The coming of spring.
I must fight
The grayness in my soul
As hopelessness fights
The eternal love of God.
The Comforter is always with me,
But sometimes I still feel all alone.
Wrap your loving-kindness around me.
"Because thy loving-kindness is better than life..."
Let me know your presence.
Forgive my sins.
Walk with me this day.

Thorn in the Flesh

Paul asked for healing
Three times,
That the thorn in the flesh be removed.
Three times,
God answered, "No."
Paul believed that in weakness
He was strong.
Can I follow Paul's example?
Can I be strong in weakness?
Only with God's help.

Sadness

I am filled with sadness today.

Memories of the past haunt me.

Too many loved ones are gone.

I am alone.

The Psalms bring comfort.

"Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy cometh in the morning."

Let my night be over.

Let morning come.

Lord, be with me.

Preface to Eternity

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,the evidence of things not seen.

I think of myself as logical,

Trained in science,

But I am a believer.

When the world around me is filled with shadows,

I pray.

I depend on God.

Reality fills me with fear.

Faith gives me courage.

Today may be full of pain and suffering.

Tomorrow is a promise of eternal peace.

I know with a certainty that I cannot justify,

That God is with me,

That life is but a preface to eternity.

Lost Sheep

Dusk falls.

I miss the light

I have heard it said

That like sheep

We nibble ourselves lost.

Does grayness envelope our soul

When we wander away from God,

Just as grayness surrounds us

When the sun sets?

Will the darkness of the soul follow

If we do not seek God's will?

No.

The light always seeks us,

Just as the shepherd

Leaves the ninety and nine

To find the one lost sheep.

Let me greet the light

And know the shepherd.

Seek Me

Last night I gazed into the sky
And beheld the miracle of the light:
From the moon,
From the planets,
From the stars.
I marvel at the vastness of space.
Where in this infinite emptiness do I find You?
I remember Your promise.
To be with us always.
I will keep that in my heart,
And not feel so alone,
So insignificant.
When I gaze into the heavens
I will remember that throughout history
God sought us.
Seek me.

Love Your Enemies

Christ told us to love our enemies.

Do we heed his words?

Do we love terrorists?

Do we pray for them?

We need to protect ourselves from evil deeds,

But remember that human beings are the perpetrators.

Those caught in the net of hatred and revenge

Need our prayers

That they may be released.

Christ met violence with submission.

The Lamb of God,

He had no fear.

Maybe that is the answer.

If we trust God,

We will not fear,

So we can love even those that hate us.

Always

"I am with you always,

even unto the end of the world."

Matthew 28:20

Lord, I'm impatient for spring,
But winter continues to battle on
With gray days and damp skies.
I need to know that spring will come
Just as I need to know that you will come.
Lord, I thank you for your promise
To be with us always.
Let me know the reality of that promise
As I try to be your follower.

Blessed Are the Meek

Blessed are the meek;

For they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

We have come to equate meek with weak,

But that was not Jesus' meaning.

Being meek meant being controlled,

Having great spirit and energy,

But channeling both to good purpose.

Like a great stallion that has been trained

To obey a rider and does it superbly,

We must be meek

And allow God to command our spirit.

If we yield our will to God

And obey,

We will inherit the earth.

Time

We seek to trap God in time with us.

We are bound to experience existence

With the flow of time.

For us, there is no going back.

For us, there is only the future.

Is God so ensnared?

I think not.

God stands outside of time

And beholds all of creation:

Past,

Present,

And future.

For God, all is now.

Through God's grace, we escape

The chains of time

And experience

The Eternal Now.

What Does God Require?

What doth the Lord require of thee,
But to do justly, and to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with thy God?

These words come from Micah,

But still command us today.

I must remember to treat others

As I would be treated,

Better yet,

How God would treat them.

Our society is not geared toward mercy.

We are too eager for an eye for an eye.

Let me choose leaders that know mercy.

Let me show mercy.

Remember always that I am but a servant

In God's kingdom.

I owe all to God's mercy.

My talents are God's gifts.

Let me use my talents to honor God

And tell others that all is God's doing.

Prayer for Wisdom

Dear Lord, Master of the universe,
Giver of life,
Praise you above all.
May your will be accomplished,
Now and through eternity.
Give us understanding;
Give us wisdom.
Forgive our foolishness,
As we forgive the foolishness of others.
Drive away the grip of ignorance.
Give us the gift you gave Solomon,
A tiny sliver of your wisdom,
So that we can be your useful servant.
Amen

Deborah and Barak

I turn to Judges
And the story of Deborah and Barak.
She was the fourth Judge;
He was the fifth.
Together they saved their people
From the Canaanites.
Is there a message for today?
I do not know.
Clearly, a woman then a man
Led the nation.
So, today a woman or a man
Could lead our country.
Which would be best?
That answer does not lie in Judges.
We must pray that we choose wisely,
But remember that God can use
Anyone.

Deborah

Choosing our Leaders

As a roaring lion,

And a ranging bear,

So is a wicked ruler

over a poor people.

The prince that lacketh understanding

is also a great oppressor...

Proverbs 28: 15-16

Words to remember as we choose
The person to lead this nation.
Who is wicked?
Overt acts make for easy judgment.
Few who reach for power
Have made such blatant mistakes.
Evil disguises itself.
Our duty is to look deeper,
To know the soul of the power seeker.
How do they treat those around them?
Who are their friends?
Listen to their words,
But hear their meaning.
People of faith
Must pray for guidance.
Remember Christ's words:
"And ye shall know the truth,
And the truth shall make you free."
Pray to know the truth.

Wait for God

This day I pray that your kingdom comes
And comes quickly.
Almost two thousand years have passed
Since you walked this earth.
You sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us,
But sometimes I feel so alone,
I must remember to
"Wait for the promise of the Father."
I will still my thoughts,
Focus on your love and sacrifice.
And pray that I will know your will.
I will wait.

Submission

My thoughts turn to the passage in Ephesians

That deals with relationships.

How do I understand submission?

My Southern Baptist brethren emphasize

A woman's duty to submit.

But Paul tells us that as Christians

We should submit to each other.

I believe that is the truth.

Jesus told us the last shall be first.

Can I humble myself before others?

Only with great difficulty.

Our society teaches achievement,

No matter the cost.

Christ tells us we must always

Count the cost to others

In our actions and our words.

Lord, give me the strength to obey you.

Love and Service

"And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love."

Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians,

But do we really hear his words.

Are we so eager to be better than others,

That we forget that we are commanded to love above all?

Do we desire judgment for others,

But not ourselves?

I fear the answers to these questions.

Christ told us we must be servants,

Not masters.

He washed his disciples feet

To remind them of the grandeur of servitude.

Perhaps we should realize that

The people we pay the least often do the most:

Care for our children; care for our elderly.

Let us love them.

Prayer: God's Will in the Presidential Race

Author of all creation, I praise you in all your aspects,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I acknowledge you as supreme and
Hope that all will know your loving kindness.
Help me as I face the decisions of daily life.
Help me to choose wisely and with your Spirit in my heart.
Our nation must choose candidates for President.
I have only one vote,
But I want to cast it in light of your will.
Guide me to see these people as you see them
And to choose wisely.
I know that others will not vote as I do,
But feel just as I do that they voted in accordance with your will.
Help me to understand how that can be.
Help me not to let my emotions drive
My reactions to those who choose differently,
The temptation is so great.
Let me remember that in your creation
You can use whoever wins the Presidential race
To guide and protect this nation.
You are master of all,
The past, present, and future.
Always let it be thy will, not mine.

Amen.

The Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Words you spoke.
Words to live by.
But can I?
If I turn the other cheek,
Will I only receive more abuse.?
If I allow someone to steal from me,
Will I be able to care for my family?
What is the answer?
I know.
We must show to others the mercy you have given us.
It is not so much that we forgive ill behavior toward us,
But that we remember how you forgive our bad behavior.
Let me show mercy, Lord.
Let me be merciful in my heart.
Forgive me.

Coveting

Ahab coveted another's land.
Jezebel ordered the death of an innocent man,
So that Ahab might have what he wanted.
God punished them both.
Do I covet what others have?
I say no to that question
But in my heart is doubt.
Doubt that I am as pure in heart and mind
As I should be.
Oh, I would never murder or condone murder,
But would I put my well-being before others?
I fear that answer.
Let me remember that in your kingdom,
The last shall be first
And we must be servants of all.

Hearing and Speaking and Anger Control

James tells us to

"Be swift to hear,

Slow to speak,

Slow to wrath..."

Words to live by.

How often do we truly listen?

Listen, not only with our ears,

But with our hearts?

Do we hear the anguish in our brother's words?

Do we understand what underlies words of cheer?

We must think before we speak,

Understand before we answer,

Feel before we offer a solution,

Share our love if nothing else.

Remember that anger for our own benefit

Is wrong.

Remember we are to be in control.

Remember that wrath because another has been harmed

Is justified.

Remember we may be the only glimpse of our faith

That another sees.

Let me heed the words of James.

God of the Living

"For he is not a God of the dead,
but of the living;
for all live unto him."
Luke 20:38

Jesus spoke these words.
For me, they are enough.
I do not worry about the rapture.
I do not worry about a thousand years.
I do not worry about Christ's reign on earth.
I know that I will live in Christ forever.
I know that time is not a shroud for God.
Time only fetters us, not God.
We are with God now.
We will be with God through the infinity of time.

Laodicea

Today, I contemplate the lesson of Laodicea,
One of the seven cities of Revelation.
You found the people of that metropolis lacking,
Not because they were evil,
But because they were not good.
Lukewarm, you called them.
Is that the problem with me?
Am I neither hot nor cold?
Lord, show me how to be on fire for you
And yet not alienate those
I would seek to show your love.
Let me not be tepid.

A Jesus Prayer

Jesus, who came to us,

To save us from ourselves,

Praise for your sacrifice;

Praise for your love.

May you return soon,

To rescue this world at last.

May your love fill us.

May we love our brothers as ourselves,

And know your everlasting love.

We owe you are very existence;

Let us not squander that gift,

But use it wisely.

For you are the Word made flesh,

God in action.

Amen.

The Vineyard Workers

My thoughts turn to the parable of the vineyard workers.
Some were hired in the morning,
Some just before quitting time,
But all were paid the same.
I know that means that no matter when we find God,
Early in life or in our fading seconds,
Our reward is the same:
Eternal life, eternal love.
But still I wonder about fairness.
Should not those that work longer and harder be paid more?
Perhaps in God's kingdom the work is the reward itself.
Help me to know I labor in God's vineyard,
And be satisfied with whatever reward God gives.

Worry

Be therefore,not anxious about tomorrow;
for tomorrow will be anxious for the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34

When my life is full of worry,
I turn to this verse in Matthew.
We need only face one day at a time.
Dr. Gerald Mann said, "Wait to worry."
I must take that advice to heart.
Worry drains my initiative.
Worry makes me afraid.
God tells us to "Fear not."
Let me walk unafraid today.

Right Hand of God

James and John sought to sit
At the right or left of Jesus
Without knowing what that meant.
In time, they drank of his cup
And understood.
Who sits at the right hand of God?
Some mighty prophet?
Some lowly peasant
Who welcomed all into her home,
Fed the hungry,
Gave clothing to the poor,
Visited the sick
And thought of others first?
Only God knows who sits beside Him,
But within me is a small flicker of hope
That it is a woman.

This is the Day

This is the day the Lord hath made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24

My mother's favorite verse.
She had it posted on her bathroom mirror.

Photo by Pierce Place

God is the Creator;

He speaks and existence begins.

Every day he renews that speech.

We must remember that apart from God

There is nothing.

Our time on earth is brief;

Let us savor the moment.

Joy comes from everywhere;

We need only pay attention.

Gladness, like a firefly,

Wings in and flashes for the moment.

If we try to trap gladness,

It will die.

Gladness must be free

To find another.

Rejoice,

For that is God's command.

Mary and Martha

Martha tended to the physical needs of those around her

While Mary chose the spiritual and sat at Christ's feet.

Jesus tells us Mary's choice was better.

Am I a Mary or a Martha?

Do I exclude Jesus by staying too busy?

Has work become more important than God?

I need to sit at Jesus' feet.

I need to be still and listen.

I need to pray.

Strength

"I can do all things through Christ,

Who strengtheneth me."

I try to think of this verse from Phillippians

When life is difficult.

This verse is a reminder that

We need not struggle alone.

Too often I use my puny resources

And forget to rely on God.

I believe modern society

Teaches individualism to the Exclusion of God.

I need to remember that

God is with me

And so too, His strength.

To Die Is Gain

Someone dear to me died last week.
A committed Christian, he is with God.
His minister quoted Paul:
"For to me to live is Christ,
To die is gain."
My favorite verse:

Phillippians 1:21.

"To live is Christ" should be our motto.
Every day should bring us closer to God,
Every day, we should try to follow Christ's example,
Every day, we should pray,
Every day, we should wait in silence to know his will.
Every day, we should count our blessings.
"To die is gain" should echo in our hearts.
Death is nothing to fear.
Death is a portal to eternity.
Death is the doorway to God.
Death is a threshold we all must cross.
Death is God's first embrace.
Live every day for Jesus and
Fear not.

A Prayer to I Am

God, the great I Am,

Your name signifies being,

You are existence for all.

Give me the means to survive.

Forgive my sins,

Let me understand the failures of others

And forgive them.

Remove the desire for riches,

Let me be satisfied with what you give me.

For you are the universe, eternity,

And infinite.

Apart

I feel adrift.
I go to church, but I am a spectator,
Not a participant.
I want to feel part of the Body of Christ,
To know the warmth and security
I have experienced in the past.
Why do I feel separate?
I do not know.
I will follow your words:
"What doth the Lord thy God require of thee,
But to fear the Lord thy God,
To walk in all his ways,
And to love Him,
And to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart
and with all thy soul."
Whether I feel your presence or not,
Whether I feel part of the fellowship,
I have committed my soul to your care:
There is no other way.

God, Three in One

"In the beginning was the Word,

And the Word was with God,

And the Word was God."

"And the Word was made flesh,

And dwelt among us..."

So does John introduce Jesus.

"I AM" speaks creation into existence.

God in action is the Word.

Christ is God in action.

Between "I AM" and the Word

Is Love, the Holy Spirit.

God, Three in One.

I AM Love in Action.

Commandments

I turn to Jeremiah
As he scolds the religious leaders of his day.
Why is it so easy to believe that we have the answer,
That our way is the only way?
Rules are easy to write but hard to follow.
Perhaps that was why Christ gave us such a simple ones.
Love God and love each other.
Help me not to caught in the mesh of rules woven by man.
Help me to follow your two comands.

Justice and Care

Today, I contemplate the words of the prophets,
Amos and Jeremiah.
What was their admonition?
To do justice and care for the needy.
How do I do that, Lord?
I give my money to the church
And other charities.
But is that enough?
Show me how to personalize your words.
Show me how to love others and do justice.
In the words of Amos:
"Let justice run down as waters,
And righteousness as a mighty stream."

Fruits of the Spirit

Lord, let me harvest the fruit of the Spirit
Not the wealth of Humanity.
I know that
"The fruit of the Spirit is
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."
Let me pick just one this day to nourish my soul.
Help me to choose wisely and understand your Word.
Because of your sacrifice, eternity is open.
We need only to dwell with the Spirit
To partake of the Fruit.
I pray that I can walk with the Comforter
For now and always.

Repentance

The words of Job haunt me this day.
"I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes."
How often I find my ways are wicked
And my soul darkened by evil.
Forgive me.
I do repent and seek your will.
I will make reparations to those I have wronged.
I will not seek revenge for wrongs done me.
I will forgive.
Help me for I am too weak to succeed
Without your grace.

Warming the Soul

Winter's cold embraces us.
I long for summer's warmth.
I will turn my face toward you, Lord,
And feel your warmth in my soul.
I pray that others may know your tenderness,
Your lovingkindness.
When the north wind howls,
May I remember the words of the psalmist:
"He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles,
Who can withstand his icy blast?
He sends his word and melts them;
He stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow."
Let your Word reach my soul
And melt my heart.

Renewing New Year's Resolutions

Dear Lord, we start a New Year today.
This is not a time for new resolutions,
But a time for renewal of old ones.
To love God and love others as ourselves.
Only you can give us the strength to love like that,
Thank you for your power and grace.
Give us the wisdom to know that every day is new,
That we can rejoice and be glad in it.

A Prayer for the End of the Year

Spirit of God that surrounds us,

Praise to you, Creator, Action, and Love.

In the coming year,

Let this world know your love through us

As we do your will.

Provide for your people.

Give us the power to overcome our weaknesses,

So that we can help others

And love the unlovable.

Keep us safe annd protected

As this year unfolds.

You are core of all life.

Above all, you are.

Your Kingdom Come

This day I pray that your kingdom comes
And comes quickly.
Almost two thousand years have passed
Since you walked this earth.
You sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us,
But sometimes I feel so alone,
I must remember to
"Wait for the promise of the Father."
I will still my thoughts
Focus on your love and sacrifice.
And pray that I will know your will.
I will wait.

A New Years's Resolution from Philippians

"Finally, brethren, what ever things are true,

Whatever things are honest,

Whatever things are just,

Whatever things are pure,

Whatever things are lovely,

Whatever things are of good report:

If there be virtue, and if there be any praise,

Think on these things."

These words from Philippians

Form a ready-made New Year's Resolution.

I resolve to cleanse my mind this year

By focusing on the

Honest,

Just,

Pure, and

Lovely.

I will refuse to

Read smut,

View the vile or

Contemplate evil.

Blessed are they that Mourn

"Blessed are they that mourn;

For they will be comforted."

These are the words of Jesus

In the Sermon on the Mount.

Are they true today?

I believe so.

Those that mourn are those

That have cared for another.

They feel the pain of separation.

Their comfort comes because

Having loved once,

They can love again.

Holiday Sadness

Dear Lord, I feel sad today.
The holidays are over.
Family and friends have departed.
I am alone.
What did you say, Lord?
"I am with you always."
I must remember that;
Hold those words for comfort
As I face the the coming year.
You are the great "I am."
Thank you for my very being.

God's Color

Kittens tumble across the floor.
Black, white, and orange.
They see no difference in color.
Why cannot we be more like cats
And see only the humaness is all of us,
Not the color of the skin?
What color were you, Lord?
Not the pale hue of northern climates.
In a land scorched by the sun,
You were dark-eyed,
Skin neither white nor black.
We cannot choose the color of our skin,
But you could.
Why do we forget?

Happy Birthday Jesus

Dear Lord, we have much to thank you for:
For a baby born two thousand years ago,
For the man, Jesus, that baby became,
For his sacrifice on the cross,
For the resurrection,
For the Holy Spirit that dwells with us.
Thank you for the food, family and fellowship
We will share this day.
Let us not forget why we celebrate this day,
Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Advent Christmas Tree

A
Star
On top of
A tree trimmed
With objects held dear.
Erected in remembrance of God,
Festooned not with glitter and glitz
But with hope and the promise
Of

Love

Advent: Hallelujah Chorus

Christmas carols fill the air.

The Hallelujah Chorus rouses us from our seats

As we follow a tradition set by an earthly king.

Christians say we acknowledge no king but Jesus.

Do we really know Christ as our sovereign?

Does God govern our lives?

Let me understand the sovereignty of God,

And understand that in His kingdom

No one is diminished who bows before Him.

Mark's Advent

"And it came to pass, in those days,

That Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee,

And was baptized by John in the Jordan."

So in the Gospel of Mark we encounter Jesus

For the first time

At the start of his ministry,

A man grown.

And God speaks:

"Thou art my beloved Son,

In whom I am well pleased."

Jesus always knew he had God's love,

But how wonderful to have it confirmed.

My wish at Christmas is that we all

Know God's love

And have that love confirmed.

The Word at Advent

"In the beginning was the Word,

And the is Word was with God,

And the Word was God."

"And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us..."

These quotes from the Gospel of John

Speak the message of Advent to me.

Christ is God in action,

The instrument of creation,

And the instrument of salvation.

He shed his majesty to experience

the World He created

As one of those made in His image,

And to know death as we do.

Resurrected, He showed us there can be

Everlasting life.

What greater gift can there be?

How many wise men?

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea

In the days of Herod, the king,

Behold there came wise men from the east..."

The Bible does not count the wise men,

But we do.

Why?

Are we so determine to quantify the world

That we fail to know the quality of our surroundings?

Is a person's worth counted in dollars or

How well they serve others?

I fear the answer, so I pray.

"Lord, make me a servant in your image,

today, tomorrow and eternity."

There were three gifts:

"Gold, and frankincense,

And myrrh."

As Christmas comes,

Let me offer gifts to God:

Generosity,

Faith,

And mission.

Simeon Speaks on Advent

"Simeon was devout and righteous,

Waiting for the consolation of Israel..."

Can anyone claim that today?

Christ promised to return,

But do we believe He will?

Are we devout and righteous,

Waiting for the Second Coming?

I can only pray that it be so,

And remember the joy of Simeon

As he held the baby Jesus in his hands.

"For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light to lighten the Gentiles,

And the glory to thy people, Israel."

These are the words of Advent for me:

Christ comes for all.

Advent Today

"And the angel said unto them,

Fear not; for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

In the city of David

A Savior,

Who is Christ the Lord"

The words of Luke's gospel echo through the ages.

In this season do we hear that echo?

I fear not.

Carols fill the halls and malls of commerce

Until we no longer comprehend the words.

Today,

I will listen with my heart to Luke,

And know the Christ excludes no one from his love

For he came "to all people."

That is the message of Advent.

A Baptist Advent

Christmas approaches.

The city is covered in glitter and lights.

We search for gifts amid the crowds.

Shouldn't we search for the Bethlehem babe?

Shouldn't we listen for the angel's message?

"Peace on Earth."

Let us remember that a child born two thousand years ago

Changed the world.

His message is simple and unadorned.

Love God

And Love your neighbor.

Fear of God

I do not understand God's ways.

I pray for relief, but receive no answer,

So I wrap myself in aloneness and fear.

Then like today, I pray,

and the answer comes so clearly that

I am afraid.

Thank you God for your answer this day.

Take away my fear.

I know you said,

“Fear not,”

But I still shrink in terror.

Give me strength to walk without fear

When I do not hear God's answer

And when I do.

Spiritual Healing

I hold a purring cat in my lap.

A cat that looks to me for life and love,

As I look to you for life and everlasting love, Lord.

Let me feel Your healing touch upon my soul

As this cat feels my stroke,

So that I may raise my voice in praise

As did the Psalmist.

“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion:

Slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The Lord is good to all:

And his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord;

And thy saints shall bless thee.”

A Prayer for Today

Our Mother who lives in all and is all,

Thank you for your lovingkindness.

May your Word be manifest.

May all on earth know your love

As those with you already know it.

Set your bounty before us.

Teach us how you love us in our weaknesses,

So that we may love others in their weaknesses.

Guide our faltering steps

As a mother guides her toddler,

So that we may not fall.

For you are the light within us

Nurturing forever.

Amen

Deceit

The world around me seems built on deceit.

No one speaks the truth, only half-lies.

How do I survive in this place?

I know I must honor God

If I claim to be Christ's follower.

I will trust in God's lovingkindness

To deliver me from evil

As did the psalmist.

"The Lord is my rock,

And my fortress,

And my deliverer;

My God,

My strength,

In whom I will trust."

Fruit of the Spirit

Let me harvest the fruit of the Spirit,

Not the wealth of humanity.

I know that

"The fruit of the Spirit is

Love,

Joy,

Peace,

Longsuffering,

Gentleness,

goodness,

Faith,

Meekness,

Temperance."

We only need dwell with the Spirit

To partake of the fruit.

Let me pick just one fruit this day to nourish my soul.

Help me choose wisely and understand Your Word.

So that I can walk with the Comforter today and always.

Prayer for Today

Dear God, Master of Infinity,

May all humanity raise their voices in your praise;

May your glory abound,

And your will be manifest

In all dimensions.

Nourish our souls with your presence.

Let us know our weaknesses,

And understand those weaknesses in others.

Let the Comforter be a barrier to the evils of this world,

For you are Existence.

Amen

Ancient Hymns

Hymns bring memories and a sense of hope.

Old ones remind me of my childhood

With family gathered around the piano to sing together.

New ones make me part of today and the future,

Part of the ever woven fabric of Christianity.

The greatest hymns are very old:

The Psalms.

I shall read a Psalm today

As I listen to a hymn,

So that the music in my ears

Is echoed in my soul.

Christian Exclusivity

We had an enlightening discussion in Sunday School last week on whether belief in Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Most of my classmates stated that belief in Jesus Christ was the exclusive prerequisite for eternal life. They took literally Christ's words: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the father but by me." So do I.

I believe that Jesus was not imparting a message of exclusivity, but one of mechanism. Jesus was telling us that no matter how we as humans describe God or what we believe about who God is, we will reach the after life by one conveyance. All will come to God after death through the manifestation of God that is God's word in creation, that is God in action in our dimensional reality, and I believe, is most clearly revealed in Jesus Christ. All have the opportunity to know God and life after death. God doesn't care how we find him, what we call him, only that we do.

As to atheists, I think they are closer to God than they believe. Atheists actively protest the existence of God, but in doing so they confront the concept of God. I think this brings them closer to God than those who are indifferent. In the end, I believe everyone will know God and will be able to choose or reject a relationship with God.

For me, Jesus represents the truest revelation of God and the mechanism by which we reach God no matter what we believe.

The Great Banquet

Today, I read the parable of the great banquet.

How those that were invited did not come,

While the lame, the blind and the poor did.

Is that the problem of this world?

Has God invited us to the banquet,

Only to find that we are too busy with our own lives

To partake of the everlasting repast?

Let me heed God's invitation,

That I might sit at the Almighty's banquet table

And feast my soul in God's presence.

Lost Sheep

"The Lord is my Shepherd..."

Those words echo in the soul of every Christian.

There at too many times when I feel

Like a sheep that has wandered astray:

Alone,

Lost,

Afraid.

Let me be a sheep in God's fold:

Warm,

Secure,

Surrounded by others.

If that cannot be,

Then let me remember

The parable of the lost sheep:

That the Shepherd will leave the ninety and nine

To look for the lost one.

Look for me, O Lord.

The Gladness of the Moment

"This is the day the Lord hath made.

Let us be glad and rejoice in it."

I quote these words as I rise each morning.

But can I follow this biblical command?

Sometimes I find it difficult to be glad,

Sometimes I find it impossible to rejoice.

Was it difficult for Jesus

When He stood on the hill over Jerusalem

And contemplated the tragedies to come?

"Jesus wept," the Bible says.

Did God weep that day for Jerusalem

Or for all humanity?

Where was gladness that day?

I know the answer to that question:

With Jesus as He entered that great city,

And palm fronds fell at His feet.

Let me feel the gladness of the moment,

Even if I know the sorrow of tomorrow.

Loving Others

Some days I find it difficult to follow God's Commandment

To love others as we love ourselves.

When I am not lovable, how do I then love others?

Perhaps a start is the simple courtesy of Colossians:

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,

That ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

I shall strive to be courteous to everyone I meet today,

So that I can truly say

Thy will be done.

God's Portrait

How do I picture God?

As the great figure in the Sistine Chapel?

As Father?

As Mother?

We personify our Creator to make him more reachable,

But when we do, we lose the sense of God's power and glory.

Jesus is the only personification of God that I can understand.

For a portrait of the Creator, I must turn to the words of John:

"God is light and in him is no darkness at all."

God is light...

Lord, let me embrace the Light.

Holy Spirit

My thoughts turn to the Holy Spirit,

The Comforter Jesus promised.

Does that Holy Spirit dwell in me?

The Bible tells me it must be so.

Let me feel the Spirit

And know that God's promise is fulfilled.

What is that Spirit,

But the Love between the Creator and the Son.

Let me bask in the Love of God

And be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Listening for God

Lord, I need to know Your will.

I pray, but do not hear Your voice.

Perhaps I am so busy babbling

That I do not hear You.

I will try to listen for Your answer.

I know that it may not come in words of fire

Or even in whispers of smoke,

But through the actions of those around me

Or chance encounter with a stranger.

All I ask is that I know when I receive that answer.

Fear of the Lord

These words from Proverbs echo in my mind.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

Is that the answer to the problems of our age?

Have we lost our fear?

Not soul-wrenching terror that drives out reason,

But the awe of God's power and glory,

The knowledge that all life flows from God

And would not exist without God.

Help me to know the fear of the Lord

And so gain understanding.

Forgiveness

I ask for God's forgiveness often,

For my sins, for my omissions.

Do I offer forgiveness to those who wrong me?

Seldom, I fear.

Forgive me for my inability to follow in Jesus' footsteps

And to obey the words of the model prayer:

"Forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us."

I know that alone I cannot forgive,

So I ask God not only for forgiveness,

But for the power to forgive.

Friends

I contemplate the story of the healing of the paralytic.

How his friends tried to bring him to Jesus,

But were blocked by the crowds.

How they made a hole in the roof of the house that Jesus was in,

And lowered the paralytic to Jesus who healed him.

I would have such friends,

Friends of faith and of deeds.

But more I would ask of God:

Give me the strength to be such a friend.

The Trinity

Christians speak of God as One

And yet as Three.

How can this be?

Perhaps we are like some two dimensional creature

That beholding a cube sees only a square.

Is that the answer?

We perceive only part of You

Confined as we are by space and time.

When we die is that barrier removed?

I pray that it is so.

Heaven

Where is heaven?

I have studied the grand emptiness of space,

And I see not the face of God,

But only the miracle of Creation.

Where do You dwell?

I know that question has many answers.

I seek only the answer that brings me closest to You.

For now, I must be satisfied with the words of Your Book,

And the knowledge that You are present everywhere,

In every moment of my life,

I must trust that death is the gateway to heaven,

And someday I will hear You say,

"Welcome home."

Baptist or not to Baptist?

I was sprinkled as a baby because my paternal grandmother was Presbyterian. She thought that was sufficient water in one's religious life. However, my mother was raised Baptist and at age 10, I was attending a Southern Baptist church with her. I had a conversion experience. The problem is I do not remember much about that event. I do remember that my paternal grandmother did not approve. The Baptist minister proved to be very astute and won my grandmother over with the words "A little more water won't hurt her." I was duly baptized, then walked away when I became a questioning teenager.

Fifteen years later, I began to search for some meaning in my life. By that time I had a Ph.D. in chemistry and a thirst for knowledge. I studied other religions, then encountered a book by C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, which led to another of his books, Mere Christianity. I decided to try organized Christianity once more. This time I chose that rarest of Texas churches - a liberal Baptist church.

I joined and so did my mother. She was only too happy to have her wayward child back in church. The senior minister invited us to meet with him and another staff member after we indicated that we wished to join by letter. I do not remember much about that meeting except that the semior minister was a good deal more complex than his sermons. Years later, I would know how much work went into each message. Oh, some may not know what "by letter" means. If you are member of a Baptist church, you are a member for life or until you transfer to another church. If you join another Baptist church, then the new church requests "a letter" from your prior church indicating you are a member in good standing.