Friday, April 26, 2013

Devotional 4-26-13

I want to share some words from one of my most valued teachers (in print only). Howard Thurman was an African American professor, theologian, and pastor one generation before Martin Luther King Jr. In fact he and Dr. King’s father were good friends. There is some speculation as to the extent of his influence upon the younger King that will probably never be quantified, but the following reflection from Thurman certainly foreshadows Dr. King’s way of thinking about the significance and power of love. Enjoy…

“There is a profound ground of unity that is more pertinent and authentic than all the unilateral dimensions of our lives. This a man discovers when he is able to keep open the door of his heart. This is one’s ultimate responsibility, and it is not dependent upon whether the heart of another is kept open for him. Here is a mystery: If sweeping through the door of my heart there moves continually a genuine love for you, it bypasses all your hate and all your indifference and gets through to you at your center. You are powerless to do anything about it. “

“It is impossible to keep another from loving you. True you may scorn that love, you may reject it in all ways within your power, you may try to close every opening in your own heart – it will not matter. This is no easy sentimentality but it is the very essence of the vitality of all being. The word that love is stronger than hate and goes beyond death is the great disclosure to one who has found that when he keeps open the door of his heart, it matters not how many doors are closed against him.”

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And so the Lord says to his disciples, “Love one another as I have loved you”. Jesus have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Lord it is again and again a present temptation, to close the door of our hearts upon one person or another. Again and again we are tempted to bar the door, to turn the lock. Jesus can we even find the courage to ask you to break the bar, to strip us of our locks, to oil the hinges? Have mercy upon us Lord, that we might love as you would have us to love; for anything less is not truly love at all. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Rev. Joseph Hill

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Devotional 4-19-13


A Little Rough on the Climb Out

I seem to be flying a lot lately.  I can’t say that I like to fly, but I can say that I DO like getting where I am going with two hours of travel time invested in air vs. 10 hours of driving. I certainly do not enjoy the security lines, the delayed flights and the checking of my carryon bag because the overhead bins are full. I also do not enjoy the anticipation of what the flight might be like. Motion sickness and I aren’t strangers. I have yet to “share” anything with a seat mate but – geesh – the anticipation. Traveling in the winter and as the days change from 75 degrees one day to 35 the next creates potential turbulents that are horrendous. I know I’m in for a ride when the pilot comes on the speaker, greets the passengers, thanks us for flying with them and then ends with, “It’s going to be rough on the climb out.” The airport and the runway may be experiencing fine weather and the weather at 30,000 feet also may be fair – it’s that area in between that has me rethinking my last meal choice. It’s that area where the climb out happens.

We are Easter people. It is the very corner stone of our faith. Easter is the most wonderful season. Everyone dresses up, the flowers are beautiful and smell so good, and the pews are full. That’s the tarmac and the weather is fine. Now Easter is ‘over’ -- not Easter the story of the resurrection and the core of our belief but Easter the day. The baskets are half full of candy, the flowers have been set aside and have begun to wither.  Now it’s time to get on with the work of Christianity – the climb out. And it’s going to be a little rough.

The disciples had a rough climb out. Once they finally got hold of the idea that Jesus really was, well, Jesus and that what he said was true, they went on an evangelism spree. It was not easy and everyone they encountered was not happy to see them. Even at 35,000 feet, the air may be calm but at that distance from the ground if you have a problem, the fall is most certainly going to be an issue.  Risk no matter. I haven’t done the research and have never heard anyone apply a percentage figure to it, but suffice it to say a fair number of Paul’s letters were written from prison or while under duress. Although not one of the charter members, Paul had seen and believed and was on a mission to proclaim his Messiah as king.  We too are there. We leave when everything is in our favor (church on Sunday is super), we ‘climb out’ through the turbulence (reaching out to someone in need), and then we hit the calmness of cruising altitude (the person seems to respond to our witness) but we always have our eye on the risk. What if we don’t get through or that person hurts us? (remember the 35,000 foot drop).  But we know in the end there is a smooth landing at our Father’s house.
 
The 23rd Psalm is part of today’s lectionary reading:
 
The LORD is my shepherd I shall not want   
He makes me go to the terminal where the weather is great
He assure s me that all will be ok
Even though it’s a little rough on the climb out
I am not afraid
Your love and your grace, they cover me
You make me get on the plane
I am apprehensive – but
You say “I am with you > always’ 
Absolutely blue skies and calm winds will find me
I will land at your house – every time - forever

Friday, April 12, 2013

Devotional 4-11-13


"He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." John 14:21

Several years ago I found the following poem in a Church Women United newsletter. I cut it out and it has haunted me since. I have posted it, typed it in Works on my computer and have found it in a file I keep with quotations. I guess I do not want to lose it! All Christians desire to be Christlike, but how do we achieve it? What a challenge! As I reflect on this poem, I hope as I live day by day, others "can see God's love expressed" and that God will lead me to do his work.

I am thankful that in this church and in others of which I have been apart, I have seen seen "God's love expressed" many times over.

I BEHOLD THE CHRIST IN YOU
I behold the Christ in you.
Here the life of God I see.
I can see this as you walk.
I can see this in all you do.
I can see this as you talk.

I behold God’s love expressed.
I can see you ever blessed.
See Christ in you hour by hour.

I behold the Christ in you.
I can see that perfect one
Led by God in all you do.
I can see God’s work is done.
L. Z. Cole

Dear Christ, help us to embody you in our lives and in the world. Help us to listen and find what you are calling us to be and do.

Martha Casey

Friday, April 5, 2013

Devotional 4-5-13

 Umbrellas at Easter
It was Easter morning.
The Sanctuary was holding its breath in anticipation.
It was prepared for the amazing.
Flowers perfumed the altar,
and God stood, waiting.

All of God’s Children entered in their finery,
Dressed in new clothes out of respect for where they were,
In celebration of the risen Lord.
They filled the pews, talking, chatting
Every age, from youngster to elder
Enjoyed the fellowship.

"What day is this?"
They answered, "A day the Lord has made."
"Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

The service began with a trumpet fanfare,
A choir processional;
Grace poured into the room,
raining down on the Children as a gift.
Abundant. Overflowing.
The living water of eternal life.

Some turned their faces to heaven
to enjoy the downpour.
Other put up their umbrellas.

One woman, sitting alone,
Sheltered herself under her flowered umbrella.
She tucked her purse closer to her side,
pulled back her high heels,
and hunkered under the cloth.
Dry, in the rain of grace.
She was a widow, her children had moved away.
She felt lonely, afraid, and not ready for redemption.
The choir sang, and she cleared her throat.
Parched.
The children sprinted forward for their moment.
Happy and joyful.
One said, "Jesus Christ is Risen Today,"
in a sing-song voice.
The woman peaked out from her umbrella.
"He lives!" said another.
She slowly reached up, and pulled the mechanism,
lowering her umbrella.

Rain fell.
Quenching her thirst.
Soaking her spirit with living water.
Her skin absorbed it as grace filled her.
Washing away her tears and loneliness.

A man sat in another pew, his golf umbrella held straight.
On his mind were taxes, paychecks, and dwindling supply lines.
He was not alone, but he might as well have been.
Dry, in the rain of grace.
The rain beat on his umbrella, but he held it powerfully still.
The trumpet blasted; the liturgy was read.
The wind started.
Some rain landed on his sleeve, but he brushed it away.
The voice of the minister swept through the room,
And the spirit of God blew.
It blew so hard and strong that the man lost his grip.
The umbrella flew out of his hands,
and somersaulted down the aisle.
A baby saw it bounce by, and giggled.
The man sat in the pew, getting drenched.
His clothes were ruined, his mind had lost his focus.

None of it mattered.
Grace filled his soul,
Enlivened his spirit.
The torrent plastered his hair to his face.
He laughed.
The minister joined in, joyful in the rain,
grateful for the laughter of a man
who had never laughed before.

Two teenagers sat together in the balcony.
One held up his black umbrella,
Not even looking toward the front of the church.
He was dry.
Bored.
The congregation stood up,
honoring the glory of the Hallelujah Chorus.
Because he knew his mother was watching,
the teenager stood up, too,
but stayed under his umbrella.
He leaned over to his friend,
whispering, "Are you going to watch the game tonight?"
The friend looked at him in exasperation,
"Just listen!"
She snatched the umbrella out of his hand,
and dropped it off the balcony.
It landed at the foot of an usher,
who calmly folded it up and put it away.
Sometimes this happened.
He had come to expect the extraordinary.

The teenager stood in awe
as the rain came down in buckets.
Soaking him.
Drenching him.
Filling his tender, new spirit with grace overflowing.
He reached over and held the hand of his friend,
Speechless for once.

God smiled,
One of those big, joyful smiles.
He loved to surprise his Children.
He rained grace and love down on them.
Giving in abundance.
He held nothing back.
He never did.

Dream for our church:
May God rain down his love and grace on us this Easter;
May we put away our umbrellas, and be drenched in the downpour;
May we be so certain of the coming rain that the women wear waterproof mascara,
and the men refrain from washing their cars.
May we be prepared for the rainbow,
And may our hearts be filled to overflowing.
Bring it on.

Kim Matthews