(Inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:20-27.)  Dear God, Saint Paul describes the body as having many parts but being one body. We might think it comical to imagine the eye saying to the hand “I don’t need you!” or the head saying to the feet, “I don’t need you!” You, God, created and designed us so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. We are all members of the body of Christ, and each one of us is a part of it.  Show us how to help each other.

This week my sermon with be on the stretcher bearers in our lives—the people who come to our aid when we face difficult times.  Rev. Hamilton says we all have times when we need stretcher bearers in our lives, as well as times when we are called to be stretcher bearers.

Last Saturday morning I got a call from my sister that my dad had been rushed to the hospital with internal bleeding.  After a few calls back and forth, Andy and I decided to fly to Massachusetts to be with my family in support.  Upon arrival my father was receiving his 4^th unit of blood.  I learned that the medication my dad had taken to regulate his irregular heart beat had caused internal bleeding.

Everyone in our family played a role.  My brother-in-law Scott had taken my dad to the hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday morning and stayed with him through the night.  My sister Jody, a Nurse Practitioner, is he family medical expert, and she is the one who interfaces with the doctors and nurses.  We gathered in support taking turns visiting with him and praying.  Every one of us was needed, and every one of us cared deeply for dad and each other.

What amazed me was how many people were affected by this event. My colleague, Pastor Eric Song, stepped in to preach.  The crew at Chesterbrook that was gathered on Saturday for clean-up day, stopped to pray.  My Facebook friends sent prayers of support from all over the world.  Our daughter, Rachel, rallied to get plane tickets and a rental car.  I am very appreciative of the help we received this weekend.  Thank you to everyone for holding my family in your prayers.

Scripture Response is from Mark 2.15:

¹ A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ²They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

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The Great 50 Days After Easter (Week 4)

Inspired by Colossians 3:13: Dear Lord, St. Paul advises us to bear with each other and forgive one another even if we have a grievance against each other. He reminds us to forgive as You have already forgiven us.  Grant that we have hearts open to such graceful responses. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

This Sunday we will examine what the Rev. Hamilton has labeled “Six of Life’s Most Important Words.” Our memory verse for the week is Colossians 3:13.  C.S. Lewis describes the difficulty and spiritual importance of forgiveness this way:

“I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality (unless I watch myself very carefully) asking Him….not to forgive me but to excuse me.  But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing.  Forgiveness says ‘Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology; I will never hold it against you and everything between us two will be exactly as it was before.’  But excusing says ‘I see that you couldn’t help it or didn’t mean it; you weren’t really to blame.’  If one was not really to blame then there is nothing to forgive.  In that sense forgiveness and excusing are almost opposites.  Of course…there may be a mixture of the two….There usually is some amount of excuse, some ‘extenuating circumstances.’  We are so very anxious to point these out to God (and to ourselves) that we are apt to forget the really important thing; that is, the bit left over, the bit which the excuses don’t cover, the bit which is inexcusable but not, thank God, unforgivable.  And if we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses.”

Have you ever thought about why we are called to forgive?  C.S. Lewis says, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”  Hamilton asks us to dig deeper by asking ourselves, “Am I willing to do the hard work of killing ‘every taste of resentment,’ ‘every wish to humiliate or hurt’ a person who has hurt me inexcusably?  Am I willing to honestly accept that God ‘has forgiven the inexcusable’ in me?”

We talked about the Golden Rule last week, and we will explore what true forgiveness is this week. What do you think about these first two life lessons?  What do you think the six most important words are?

Let us pray: God of all forgiveness, Help me to forgive with ease, to see when I am wrong, and to seek forgiveness when I am.  Help me to know I am forgiven by You and to understand truly what that means.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

The Great 50 Days After Easter (Week 3)

Inspired by Matthew 7:12 and Colossians 3:8-10:  Loving God, You ask us to do to others what we would have them do to us, and to rid ourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.  You caution us not to lie to each other, since we have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of our Creator. Nurture that new self in us until we are only comfortable when we reflect who You are through who we are. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

This Sunday is the first of our sermon series inspired by Reverend Adam Hamilton’s Seven of Life’s Most Important Lessons. We will begin by talking about how “Life Has a Gold Standard.”

It is helpful to examine what triggers anger in us, and then to look at how that anger escalates to the point of rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.  Recently, I reread some of my prayer journal entries to discover what causes me to feel angry and most often it was because someone was being deceptive, hurtful to another person, or openly cruel.  It was all about expectations.

Then I asked myself if my angry responses were ever helpful.  This led me to reflect upon an incident where people “reported” to me about a person they felt did not do what they expected.  Interestingly, the person everyone was judging harshly was quite generous toward them even though he knew they were blaspheming him.  While he did not do his job the way others wanted him to do it, and while he was saddened by people’s rejection, he treated his attackers with grace and mercy, even though they continued to speak ill of him. This realization gave me pause.  Jesus wants us to live into the Gold Standard where we refuse to let the trigger of anger push us into hurtful behavior.  These scriptures will be the focus of Sunday School at 10 am and worship at 11 am.  Come join us if you would like to explore this concept further.  As always your responses are welcomed.

Let us pray:

Dear Merciful God,

Help me to see in myself the new person I am becoming when I listen to Your Word.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Blessings,

Kathleene Card

Pastor, Chesterbrook UMC

703-356-7100

703-309-5221 cell

May 4, 2011 The Great 50 Days After Easter (Week 2)

Scripture focus: Matthew 7:12, ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

On May 15, 2011, we will start a seven week sermon series on what The Reverend Adam Hamilton calls, Seven of Life’s Most Important Lessons. The first sermon will present the assertion that “Life Has a Gold Standard.”  British Bible Scholar William Barclay sees a powerful difference between saying negatively, “Don’t do things to others you don’t want done to you” and saying positively, as Jesus did, “do to others what you would have them do to you.”

Have you ever thought about what it means to move from not doing anything to harm another to doing all you can to be kind?  Barclay claims it is easier to go about our business “not doing any harm” than it is to go out of our way to be kind and helpful.

In preparation for this series would you ponder with me these questions that Rev. Hamilton asked his congregation?  Ask yourself: “How can I shift from only avoiding negative behavior toward others to actively carrying out positive behavior toward them?  Where do I already do this in my life, and what are some of the good results I see?”

Let us pray:

Dear Merciful God,

Help me to live more lovingly toward others, to think of others first, and to set aside my own self-centeredness.  Help me to understand more clearly the amazing example of Jesus Christ in whose name I pray.  Amen.

Blessings,

Kathleene Card

Pastor, Chesterbrook UMC

703-356-7100

703-309-5221 cell

Pastorcard@verizon.net

kathleenecard@gmail.com

Beware the Roaring Lion Adapted from I Peter 5:6-10. Help me, Lord, to humble myself under Your mighty hand, that You may exalt me at the proper time. I cast all my anxiety upon You, because You care for me like no one else can. I ask to be of sober spirit on the alert. I know that my adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But with Your power I can resist him, firm in my faith, knowing that all Christians in the world are experiencing temptation and suffering. Even if I must suffer for a little while, I know that You, the God of all grace, who calls us to Your eternal glory in Christ, will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish me. I claim all of this with a joyful heart in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Focus:

“You care for me like no one else can.”

Background:

Basil, Prudentius, and Oecumenius told the ancient world “to depend upon God for everything and to be aware that the real enemy is the devil always trying to get the better of us.”[1] We live in a time that wants empirical evidence for all beliefs.  The dilemma for us is to discern what it is that we can know for sure.  The assumption that everyone sins seems to be the one given that most people would accept.  They may not use the word sin—but most people understand that no one is perfect.  But something that Hilary of Arles said has literally sparked my heart at 5 o’clock in the morning.  She writes that, “There is a world of difference between God and the devil.  If you resist God, he will destroy you, but if you resist the devil, you will destroy him.”[2] Have you ever thought that in humility and dependence on God we are taking the teeth out of the arrogance of evil?

Wednesday’s Invitation:

Join us for dinner (6:30) or class (7:30) tonight!

Be blessed this day,   Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

_____________________________

[1] Ancient Christian Commentary, New Testament, V. XI, 2000, p. 124.

[1] Op. Cit., 125

Blessings,

Kathleene Card

Pastor, Chesterbrook UMC

703-356-7100

703-309-5221 cell

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Today is Day 7, “Joyful Fruit—Spiritual Gym,” of our On-line Class for Lenten Study From Pray.  Act. Pray Again (page 25)

( If you get daily emails please email Pastor Card here.  Also, tonight is our first Lenten Bible Study—everyone is welcome.  We will have a light dinner at 6:30 p.m. of soup and salad.  Class will begin at 7:30 p.m. and finish promptly at 8:30.  As we continue to exercise in our spiritual gym—stretch your mind and heart this day!)

Today’ Focus:

“I asked to be clothed in love, the prefect bond of unity. . . . Let Your word richly dwell within me with all wisdom, so that I may be filled with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs and singing with thankfulness in my heart.”

Background:

Yesterday Psalm 25 asked for God to help us forgive others as you have forgiven me. Today the focus for the prayer in our book is inspired by Paul’s letter to the Colossians 3.12-17.  Paul asks for the same help when he describes what the new life of following Christ will look like.  Many ancient theologians (Origen, Basil, Athanasius, Ambrose, Aphrat, and Babai) remind us that “a new life in Christ is always a matter of new perceptions, of seeing through earthly things to heavenly things.”  Augustine adds that this new life “happens in the inner person, such that while sin always continues, progress in virtue is possible.”

Augustine describes the new person this way: “Put off the old man and put on the new man.”  He describes how this will happen, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak the truth.  But where is lying put away, except inwardly, in order that he may dwell in the holy mountain of God who speaks the truth in his heart.”

Chrysostom says “nothing is wiser than the person who lives virtuously.”  He goes on to describe the wise person as someone who knows “that he shares a common human nature with others.”

Wednesday’s Question to Ponder:

Have you ever pondered that your perception of others is very different if you see that you have a common human nature versus that you have nothing in common?

Be blessed this day, Kathleene

Today is Day 7, “Joyful Fruit—Spiritual Gym,” of our On-line Class for Lenten Study From Pray. Act. Pray Again (page 25)   Prayactprayagain.org

Sorry the prayer is late—Jiyeon Kim, our Seminarian Pastor, and I celebrated a service this morning at 6 a.m. with Sam Askew, Leslie Hayes, Elaine Cherry and John Cherry.

The church is open for prayer all day and services are at noon and 7:30.  If you are following along in Pray. Act. Pray Again., please read the prayer for Day 1 on page 9 and focus on what it means to know you are completely known and loved by God.

Prayer for March 9, 2011

This prayer was inspired by Luke 22.44-46. Loving God, The Scripture describes how Your son, Jesus, was in agony when He prayed earnestly the night before He was taken away to be crucified.  It describes how His sweat poured out like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.  When He found His disciples sleeping, He asked, “Why are you sleeping?  Wake up and pray that you enter not into temptation.”  Today, on this Ash Wednesday, awake in us a desire to see You more clearly, follow you more nearly, and love you more dearly. In the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

The early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration there should be a forty-day season of spiritual preparation. During this season converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins and had separated themselves from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to participation in the life of the Church. In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need we all have to renew our faith.

At Chesterbrook United Methodist Church we invite you to observe a Holy Lent.  Today we have Ash Wednesday services at 6 a.m., 12 noon, and 7:30 p.m.

We also will have three new opportunities to learn more about Prayer and Scripture.  Starting next week we will have a Lenten Prayer group at 10:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary led by Jan Harrod; Sunday School at 10 a.m. before church; and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for a light soup and salad supper followed by a 7:30 p.m. study.  We are using the book Pray. Act. Pray Again as our Lenten Guide, and books are available at the church or can be ordered on amazon.com. Please let me know if you would like to participate on-line by emailing me at pastorcard@verizon.net.

Loving God,

As we seek to prepare for the season of Lent, keep our hearts awake and aware of your love for us.  Show us how to respond to that love by blessing others.  In Jesus’ name we pray.   Amen.

Prayer for February 23, 2011

This prayer is inspired by Matthew 6.19-21: Dear Lord, We are warned not to store up treasures on earth. We are told that moths and vermin destroy earthly treasures and thieves will break in and steal them. Rather, we are told we should store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. So where do we find this kind of treasure? In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

This week we end a sermon series called From Multitasking to The Master Tasking with a focus on Is Less Really More? The key Scriptures come from Chapter 6 in Matthew. Most people will recognize them because they are frequently used texts. This is the chapter where Jesus tells the disciples to give to those in need (without seeking any recognition); to pray (with words we call the Lord’s Prayer); and to fast (with a smile on our face and with nobody knowing.)

Jesus then describes how our treasures rot or are stolen and end up being our masters. He ends with those famous words, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

This is the day. Yesterday is a completed past action. Tomorrow is a mystery of sorts. May we treasure this day.

Dear Lord,

Help me to be fully alive this day: giving where a need is seen, praying the prayer you taught me to pray, and fasting from anything that prevents me from seeing you. In Jesus’ name I make this plea. Amen.

Prayer for February 9, 2011

This week I am wondering when to “untie the ropes” so to speak.   I want to borrow an image from John Ortberg’s book, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box.   He tells about a friend who co-owns a plane and likes to log as many hours as possible.  This friend offers to take Ortberg for a scenic plane ride.  The pilot goes through an extensive checklist of safety issues but forgets one very important factor—he forgets to untie the ropes that hold the plane down!  My prayer for the week is that we can discern the places in our lives where something is tying us down so that we miss what God truly wants us to do.  Hebrews 12.1 says this quite clearly.

Dear Lord, help us this day to throw off everything that hinders us and leads us into the sin that so easily entangles us. Amen.

The images in this chapter of Ortberg’s book center around knowing what to cast off.  His grandmother was a champion canasta player chiefly because she seemed to know which cards to throw away.  I think immediately of Moses who needed to step out of his comfort zone to follow what God was calling him to do, or of David who had to take off the armor that did not fit him to fight Goliath.  Modern vernacular for this action is “detachment” from encumbrances that prevent us from doing God’s work.  The problem is that we become immune to seeing the “attachments” that hold us back.  Think of the “invisible fences” that people use to train dogs.  The dog is “shocked” enough times to teach it not to approach the perimeter—so to avoid pain it stays neatly within its border.

We live in a time where many things compete to hold our attention.  Each thing that pulls us back from our real purpose is like a tether that holds us back.

Today I would encourage us to seek God’s guidance in identifying ropes that hold us back, and then helping us to act.  A man who finally admitted he was a workaholic knew he could not quit work, but also knew his family needed more attention.  He made a boundary for himself—and decided go home earlier.

Whatever action you choose will be between you and God.  New behaviors do not have to be large to have a significant impact.  But staying tied to old habits will prevent us from truly becoming what God has planned, and God’s plans are always the best for us!

Dear Lord,

Help me to see the ropes that hold me back, and show me how to untie them with dignity and grace.   In Jesus’ name I pray.   Amen.

Prayer for January 26, 2011

This prayer is inspired by the word “stop.”

Snow and ice have stopped school and many other activities today.  I looked in the Scriptures to find out when God calls us to stop.  The word is used quite a bit, and I picked out a few examples to consider today, as we are called to slow down to let the ice and snow melt before we venture out.  When and where are we called to “stop” what we are doing in our lives and perhaps listen more intently to God?

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.  Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.” (Mark 9.38-39)

¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16)

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. (John 6:43)

²⁴ “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” (John 7:24)

²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27)

“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5.39)

Dear Lord, We forget that You sometimes call us to stop what we are doing and to go in a different direction. Help us to reorient ourselves this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for January 19, 2011

This prayer is inspired by Matthew 5.4: Dear Lord Jesus, You have taught us that those who mourn will be comforted.  We come to you this day mourning the death of a young man from cancer, and we seek comfort for his family and friends, and we extend this prayer to all who suffer loss and grief this day.  Amen.

The brevity of life on earth is ever so obvious when disease or disaster strikes a person down in his or her youth.  This week we lost a brave young man to cancer and the hurt is real.

There are no words to explain, and while we embrace his eternal life, we all did not want to let him go.  Will Stephenson was 23 and one half years old exactly when he went to the church invisible yesterday.  He lived every minute of that life fully.  He lives in the hearts of those who loved him, and they will celebrate his life at Trinity United Methodist Church in a memorial Service on Saturday, January 22, 2011, at 2 pm.

Today we pray for his parents, Barb and Al, and for his family and friends who mourn.

Dear Lord, we seek comfort and healing as we mourn.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for January 5, 2011

This prayer was inspired by Hebrews 11:10

Dear Lord, we look forward in this New Year to seeing the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is You, God. Amen.

The Gospel Scripture recommended for the first week of the year is always the one about Jesus coming from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John says it would be better if Jesus baptized him. Jesus assures John that it is proper for him to baptize Jesus. Then Jesus comes out of the water and the heavens open up. I would love to hear from those of you who attend other churches—if your pastor does follow this pattern.

It is an appropriate text for the New Year when people think about making changes. The problem, it seems to me, is that we think we can make changes on our own power. If we just “set an intention” we can refocus.

Maybe we can. But conventional wisdom is that human beings don’t make changes easily. Not only that, even when we do—we easily fall back into old patterns after a while—totally unaware of exactly how it happened.

In the scripture we will read this Sunday, Matthew 3.13-17, we will hear how John resists baptizing Jesus and suggests that Jesus ought to be baptizing him. Theologians struggle with why did Jesus—who is sinless—need to be baptized. But over the years I have found this text to be comforting and instructional. Think about it, even Jesus knows he needs God’s foundation before he ventures out into the world on his mission.

We need to be sure that the architect of our lives is God. This year at Chesterbrook United Methodist Church we will be asking where it is that God is taking us in ministry. That will require each of us to ask where God is leading us personally and cooperatively. So the first resolution I suggest we might want to make is to open our minds and hearts to seeing where God, the architect and builder of each life, might be leading us.

Hope to see you Sunday, or to hear from you about what your resolutions for this year might be.

Dear Lord, show us a blueprint for our lives that will lead us to a greater love for You and Your people, and enable us to be in service on earth as in heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,      Kathleene Card

Pastor, Chesterbrook UMC

Prayer for Dec. 29, 2010

This prayer was inspired by 2 Corinthians 4:6 — Dear God, you make the light to shine out of darkness, and you make your light to shine in our hearts so that we might have light of the knowledge of Your glory that is displayed in the face of Christ! As this year comes to an end help us to see the places where You have taken us out of darkness and into the light. Amen.

How do you feel at the end of a year? Is it one of those years you let go easily? Have struggles frustrated you or have you celebrated some milestones? When I look back I see things that taught me hard lessons—and then I remember the birth of a grandchild. On balance it has been a good year for us at Chesterbrook United Methodist Church. Christmas Eve Service was exceptional. Denise Taplin and her group provided superb music, the Worship Committee decorated the church and 101 people joined us in worship! Then Jiyeon Kim delivered a wonderful sermon on December 26, 2010 while I took time to be with my family in Maine.

God brings light out of the darkness and God’s light shows us the truth.

What truths have you learned this year?

What have you discovered in your walk with Jesus Christ?

I can think of many things that I have learned this year—but the most profound message for 2011 for me has been that the light of God casts out fear. So as the days grow longer after the winter solstice, I invite you to explore what God is revealing to you personally and to us corporately at CUMC.

As you inventory 2010 in these last few days of December and as you plan for 2011, let the light of Jesus Christ reflect in your heart. See where God is calling you to shine forth goodness.

Lord God, Your light is radiant, your truth is empowering and your strength is without limit. We approach the New Year with sincere excitement. As you light our way, please give us knowledge and vigor to do your work. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Blessings, Kathleene Card

Prayer for November 24, 2010

This prayer is inspired by Mathew 24:42.

Dear Lord, St. Matthew warns us to keep watch, because we do not know on what day our Lord will come. So we pause to reflect on your second coming,ever aware we do not know the time, but equally filled with hope, joy, peace and love that the world you are building is a future blessing.

We have a terrific Advent Season Planned. Our Sunday School Class and Sermon Series begin this week. This Sunday, at 10 a.m. John Richardson will lead the study in the Social Hall under the church. At 11 a.m. we will have our regular Sunday service. Everyone is invited. The class will also be available on line-please let me know if you would like to join us. We are using the series called Blessings of the Manger, and we have student books available. (If you are planning to do this from a distance, the booklet is available at amazon.com or I can send you one.) The study examines both the past in Bethlehem as well as the present need to look ahead to Christ’s return. Throughout history people have made bold claims about the return of Jesus-but Scripture is very clear that only God knows the time. Living in the unknowing is not meant to be frightening-God’s love for us is real.

Come join the celebration that will focus on staying awake and aware of all of God’s blessings. In this season of waiting let us be reassured that all of God’s plans for us are good; that we can repent of our sins; that God rekindles our faith daily, and that rejoicing in God’s eternal presence is our thankful response to God’s promises.

Holy God, we do not know the time when Jesus will come again, but we are filled with hope, joy, peace, and love because we know that the world you are building is a future blessing, and for that we are eternally thankful.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for November 10, 2010

This prayer is inspired by 1 Corinthians 1.4 and Luke 5.20.  The themes are  thanksgiving and friendship.

Dear Lord, I thank you for the friends you have brought into my life, remembering our best friend is Jesus who cautions, that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.  Help us this day to understand how dear friends are and what it means to sacrifice for a friend.

I woke up this morning with two words on my heart-thanksgiving, (as the holiday is coming soon) and friends (not sure why.)  So I did a search of  the Scriptures and thanksgiving was used most often in conjunction with the words friends or friendship.  Then I remembered we celebrate Veterans Day this week.

Putting all of these random thoughts together I see a pattern.  To be  thankful or to show gratitude usually means we have been blessed in some  way.  Blessings usually flow from God and people.  A friend or an ally is  someone we can count on in both good and difficult times.  The connections  we have to others are critical for each of us.

So this morning I want to thank God for all of you who receive this prayer. I want to thank all of those who are in the service of protecting us, teaching us, healing us and celebrating with us.  To understand that we are interdependent-that we need each other-and that we  may be required to sacrifice for each other is humbling.

Holy God, You give us many gifts.  You bring friends into our lives who bless us beyond expectations.  You sent Your Son to show us how to be a  friend.  Let us remember and be thankful.  Let us show appreciation this day  to our friends in honor and thanksgiving to You.   In Jesus’ name we make  this plea.  Amen.

November 3, 2010

This prayer is inspired by Hebrews 13.1-3; 5-8:

Dear Lord, Saint Paul teaches us to keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters and to show hospitality to strangers, (because by so doing we may have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.)  Paul also says we must continue to remember those in prison as if we were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if we ourselves were suffering.  And he cautions us to keep our lives free from the love of money being content with what we have.  He reminds us that you, God, have said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “You are our helper; we will not be afraid. We will remember our leaders, who spoke the word of God to us. We will consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Amen.

Yesterday this was the assigned scripture at our 6 a.m. Morning Prayer Service, and we were (all three of us) struck by the call to pray for leaders on Election Day.  We talked about the people whose faith helped us in our journeys and we talked about the courage and ability those people elected would need to govern.  We prayed for everyone involved in the election process.

The call to love is important for us to remember.  Paul’s letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of people who were being persecuted for believing in Jesus Christ.  They knew what it meant to be imprisoned for their beliefs.

Our devotional yesterday asked these questions and I think they are appropriate to examine today, too.  Let us examine if our behavior is aligned with our beliefs.  Do we love all of God’s people?  Do we suffer when we see another person in pain?  Do we show kindness to strangers?  Do we welcome newcomers into our group?  Do we show trust in leaders?  Do we live in the knowledge that God will never abandon us?

Dear Lord, you will never leave us, of that we are certain.  Forgive us when we do not show love to all of your children.  Give us pure hearts to trust and follow you.  Let us say with confidence that you are our God; we will not be afraid.   Amen.

Prayer for September 29, 2010

This prayer is inspired by Matthew 9, Mark 1, Luke 7 & Philippians 2.

Dearest Lord Jesus,

When You saw the crowds, You had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

When a man needed healing, You reached out and touched him and because he was “willing,” You said. “Be healed!”

When Lazarus died your heart was overflowing with compassion. You told Martha not to cry and You raised Lazarus from the dead.

Paul cautions us to adopt Your attitude and to keep our hearts tender and compassionate.  Show us this day how to love each other with deep compassion.

Last night as we did the work of the church and adopted a budget for the year 2011, we started with our usual time of meditation.  I read some quotes from the book Abounding Grace by Scott Peck on compassion.   The last quote I read, (which was entirely unplanned but I believe Spirit sent) was from Mother Teresa.

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat…. We must find each other.

After that reading we retreated into a moment of silence before saying the Lord’s Prayer; I was struck by the group of people around our table—all of whom have been working tirelessly to do the work of bringing God’s word into the world.  Each person there is critical in working toward God’s mission of spreading the compassion of Jesus through our little church.  Adopting a budget was detailed, but coming together as people of faith was awesome, and I am filled with thanksgiving this morning for the people who are forming this team of compassion.

Dear Lord, help us share your compassion this day and always to everyone we meet.  Amen.

Tips for Praying at Home

Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Preparation

O Lord, open our lips
All And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

1Bless the Lord, O my soul, •
and all that is within me bless his holy name.

2Bless the Lord, O my soul, •
and forget not all his benefits;

3Who forgives all your sins •
and heals all your infirmities;

4Who redeems your life from the Pit •
and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;

5Who satisfies you with good things, •
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

6The Lord executes righteousness •
and judgment for all who are oppressed.

7He made his ways known to Moses •
and his works to the children of Israel.

8The Lord has established his throne in heaven, •
and his kingdom has dominion over all.

9Bless the Lord, you angels of his, •
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.

10Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, •
you ministers of his who do his will.

11Bless the Lord, all you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; •
bless the Lord, O my soul.

Psalm 103.1-7, 19-22

All Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Opening prayer

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
All Amen.

The Word of God

All Spirit of God, teach us your ways, that we may walk in the paths of peace.

1Come, let us go up to the mountain of God, •
to the house of the God of Jacob;

2That God may teach us his ways, •
and that we may walk in his paths.

3For the law shall go out from Zion, •
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4God shall judge between the nations, •
and shall mediate for many peoples.

5They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, •
and their spears into pruning hooks.

6Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, •
neither shall they learn war any more.

7O people of Jacob, come: •
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 2.3-5

All Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

All Spirit of God, teach us your ways,
that we may walk in the paths of peace.

Scripture Reading

Acts 22.22 – 23.11

Up to this point they listened to him, but then they shouted, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.’ And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air, the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him. But when they had tied him up with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who is uncondemned?’ When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, ‘What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.’ The tribune came and asked Paul, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ The tribune answered, ‘It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.’ Paul said, ‘But I was born a citizen.’ Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

Since he wanted to find out what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, ‘Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.’ Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth. At this Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?’ Those standing nearby said, ‘Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?’ And Paul said, ‘I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.” ’

When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’ When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.) Then a great clamour arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?’ When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.

That night the Lord stood near him and said, ‘Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.’

Open my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.
All Open my eyes, O Lord, that I may see the wonders of your law.
Lead me in the path of your commandments
All that I may see the wonders of your law.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
All Open my eyes, O Lord
that I may see the wonders of your law.

from Psalm 119

Gospel Canticle

All In your tender compassion, O God,
the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

1Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, •
who has come to his people and set them free.

2He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, •
born of the house of his servant David.

3Through his holy prophets God promised of old •
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,

4To show mercy to our ancestors, •
and to remember his holy covenant.

5This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: •
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

6Free to worship him without fear, •
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

7And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, •
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

8To give his people knowledge of salvation •
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

9In the tender compassion of our God •
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

10To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, •
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1.68-79

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Refrain:

All In your tender compassion, O God,
the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Prayers

Intercessions

¶ for the day and its tasks
¶ for the world and its needs
¶ for the Church and her life

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence

The Collect

Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

All Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

The Conclusion

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.
AllAmen.

Let us bless the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.

© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000-2005
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.
The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Prayer for September 22

This prayer is inspired by Ecclesiastes 4:7; 16 and a simple morning experience.

Dear Lord, your Scripture warns that it is “better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.  Endless crowds stand around us, as another generation grows up, and we continue to chase the wind.”  Help us Lord, to be this day aware, alive and attentive.

Has this ever happened to you?  I was walking out the door to go to work yesterday and I noticed two little girls waiting for the school bus.  They were, of course, my next door neighbors.  The older daughter I have waved at frequently in the past as she waited for the bus.  But who, I wondered, was the girl beside her?  Then I realized she was the little baby sister I had met when we first arrived—only she was now old enough to be going to school.  The problem is—I could not remember a time I had seen her between 2006 (when we had moved to McLean) and now.  The pace of my life has been so hectic that I have missed watching her grow and she lives right next door to me!

How did I get so busy that I missed seeing a little girl who lives right next door?  Her dad and I exchanged greetings—and I commented on how long it had been since I had talked to them.  They are wonderful neighbors who help everyone in our neighborhood.   Do you ever feel like you are chasing the wind?

Dear Lord, help us to be more aware, alive and attentive to the lives of our neighbors around us.  In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Prayer for September 14, 2010

This prayer is one day early as I will be on a renewal retreat with other pastors in the Arlington District of the United Methodist Church.  I am inspired this morning by Paul’s words from Acts, 16: “On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.”  Paul was searching for a congregation—and a group of women praying helped him out!

My favorite definition for the church is “God’s grace poured into the world, to create dynamic lifesaving relationships with Jesus Christ which leads people to loving, honoring and serving God in this world and the next.”

Please pray for the pastors who will gather in West Virginia today so that they may be inspired by the Holy Spirit to hear God’s word for their churches.

Dear Lord, in our fast-paced world of everyday life we can neglect setting aside time to listen quietly to You.  We lift up this retreat and the pastors who will attend it, and we ask You to renew their hearts.  Additionally, if possible, help each of us to find a time of stillness today that will feed our souls so that as members of churches we may pour abundant grace into the world. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Prayer for September 8, 2010

This prayer is inspired by reading The Path of Celtic Prayer: An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy. The Bible study I attend on Tuesday mornings is studying this book by Calvin Miller.  He posits that we are “trapped in the busy empty now,” which can leave us “convinced that there must be—or must have been—a day when God seemed nearer and more accessible.”

Miller stresses two purposes for writing this book.  First, he wants to highlight how the Celtic people keep their devotion on Jesus as the Savior.  Second, he wants to show how “these ancient lovers of God were able to strip away institutional business and empty religiosity that can separate Christians from Christ.”

Miller describes six forms of prayer that can help us to bridge the gap of separation and allow us to move into oneness with God.

Let us pray the words of a Celtic woman who “has risen in joy to rebuild her fire, praying as she stirs the gray ashes of the night before and looks for the bright embers of warmth.

O God, enkindle in my innermost heart the flaming spark of love for my enemy, my relative, for my friends, for the wise person, for the foolish person, for the unfortunate person.  In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

____________________________

Prayer for September 1, 2010

As we approach the beginning of the school year, I am suggesting that we pray the popular Serenity Prayer, and I am including the author and the full ending of the prayer that is not as well known.

When we attended services at Minot United Methodist Church in Minot, Maine, last week a senior citizen was asking for transportation to and from school—so she could finally get her GED.  Let’s pray this week for all of those returning students as they face new challenges and meet new classmates and teachers.

Full Original Serenity Prayer
by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

______________________________________________________

Prayer for August 25, 2010

Scripture inspiration Genesis 33:10 (New Living Translation)

Dear Lord, when Jacob and Esau were reconciled, Jacob insisted that Esau accept his gifts when he said, “If I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. What a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God.”

How often do you smile?  Try it right now.  Smile. Let the muscles in your face relax.

A good friend sent me a book to read on my vacation entitled, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. The editor, Arnold Kotler, has gathered the work of Thich Nhat Hanh in such a way that brings to life what it means to live “mindfully, slowing down, and enjoying each step and each breath.”

Nhat Nanh is very specific about the need to be more intentional about everything we do—he even addresses “sitting in traffic” as a place to “practice conscious breathing.”  As I read through his suggestions to “Think less and to stop being possessed by sorrows of the past and worries about the future” so that we can be fully aware of the present moment, I am convinced that it is sad to miss the present moment because we are stuck in the past or projecting a future that might not even happen.

This past week has been very good for me—I am away with my family trying to slow down and relax in preparation for a busy fall and winter with lots of exciting plans for ministry at all three United Methodist Churches—Chesterbrook, Charles Wesley and Trinity.  A simple act of remembering to smile and to cherish the present moment is good counsel.

Nhat Nahn suggests that breathing in we calm the body and breathing out we should smile.  I take it one step further, breathing in we take in God’s amazing grace and breathing out we smile knowing by the grace of Jesus Christ we are healed.  Two simple acts—breathing and smiling—can remind us that this present moment is to be savored.

Prayer:

Dear God, the scripture of 2 Peter 3:9 teaches us that you are not really being slow about your promise, as some people think.  Rather you are being patient.  You do not want anyone to be destroyed, but want everyone to repent.  Show us how to breathe in your grace then to breathe out a smile that blesses every moment of every day.  In Jesus’ name I make this plea.  Amen.

Seek God in Time of Trouble, Adapted from Psalm 143. Hear my prayer, Oh Lord. Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness and in Your righteousness. I feel crushed and persecuted by the enemy. He has crushed my life to the ground and made me dwell in dark places. Therefore, my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart is desolate within me. I stretch out my hands to You, my soul longs for You. Answer me quickly, Oh Lord, as my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me…Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. For the sake of Your name, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble…For I am Your servant. In all things, Your will be done, Amen.

Today’s Focus:

Hear my prayer, Oh Lord.

Background:

Last night at Maundy Thursday service one participant told me of the sadness she feels on Holy Thursday and Good Friday until Easter morning.  She remembers that her church focused on the seriousness of Holy Week.  I have the same kind of memories, which included a period of silence from 12:00 noon on Good Friday until 3 p.m.  It was the only time in my large family when silence was enforced.

Jerome emphasizes that God’s perfection does not change but that we as creations of God can change as we understand god more fully.  We live with the constant tension in our lives of choosing between virtue and vice.  When Christ went to the cross for us, he took on the punishment we deserve for all the times that we make wrong choices.  Sometimes people ask—why did He have to do this?  But my question is why would He do it?  What is motivating God and God’s Son and the Holy Spirit to endure such pain on behalf of people who hardly acknowledge this gift? Then I read Basil’s advice that says, “Do not return hurtful words, but tolerate them.”  Bede adds, “Believers should ask God for the Holy Spirit so that He might enlighten their minds, give them joy and promises and entrust them to Jesus Christ.”

Bede gives us this prayer which I feel is entirely appropriate for us to say throughout this day remembering what Jesus did on our behalf because He loves us.  “Loving God, Let you  good Spirit lead me in the right way.”

Good Friday’s  Question to Ponder:

Would you benefit from a period of silent reflection today?

Be blessed this day,   Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

The Lord Is My Keeper, Adapted from Psalm 121. I lift up my eyes to the mountains, from whence shall my help come? My help comes from You, Lord, who made heaven and earth. You do not allow my foot to slip; You who keep me do not slumber…You are my keeper, You are the shade on my right hand. The sun does not smite me by day or the moon by night. You keep me from all evil. You keep my soul. I know that You keep my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forever. Amen.

Today’s Focus:

My help comes from You, Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Background:

Psalm 121 is called “A Dialogue of Confession and Assurance.”  According to Augustine, all help on earth and in heaven comes through Christ.  He warns that we need to be careful to worship the Creator and not the creation.  Cassiodorus explains that when the psalmist says “lift up my eyes” he or she means “raise to a higher level.”  Paul’s letter to the Corinthians describes well that “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”  During the upcoming Holy Week let us focus on the reality that all help comes from the Lord.

In truth, we can be lazy and unobservant.  The psalmist knows this and wants us to remember that while we go through periods of sloth, God is always there waiting for us to ask for help.

Saturday’s Questions to Ponder:

Where do you need help this week?  Have you ever asked the Lord for guidance, support and protection?  What has been your experience in those times?

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

(Good morning!  I thank Arlin Honaker for accompanying me to Arlington Temple UMC last night where we participated in their Lenten Study.  ATUMC is one of our sister churches in Rosslyn.  It is growing and flourishing with the gentle leadership of their pastor, Cathy Abbott.  They told us they have been praying for CUMC!  Praise the Lord!  Just before our meeting, their Staff Parish Team had affirmed Kyungsuk Cho as a candidate for Ordination.  The atmosphere was truly one of celebration.  Our Staff Parish Team affirmed Jiyeon Kim in the same way on March 27, 2011.  We will vote for her candidacy at our called Charge Conference on April 12, 2011.)

Bear One Another’s Burdens Adapted from Galatians 6:1-9. Dear Father, I pray for a spirit of gentleness that I may help to restore those caught in trespass, at the same time examining my own faults, lest I too be tempted. Give me the heart to bear the burdens of others and thus fulfill the desire of Christ. Help me not to be deceived into thinking I am something; help me not to be boastful in regard to myself, but give me the wisdom to share the good things I have learned through You. Help me to keep the faith and not to lose heart, knowing in Your good time, that having sowed to the Spirit, I will reap eternal life. In the meantime, help me to do good to all men, especially to those in my household of faith. I ask for the grace of Jesus Christ to strengthen my spirit and me. Amen.

Today’s Focus:

“Give me the wisdom to share the good things I have learned through You.”

Background:

Chrysostom and Augustine emphasize that the Spirit-led person is gentle when helping to restore a sinner.  Origen, Jerome and Ambrosiaster remind us that we are all imperfect, subject to temptation, sharing common weaknesses and in need of forgiveness.  Love draws us closer to God and to each other, while pride separates us, leaving us powerless to share to good things we have learned.  When learning to spell “separate” our teacher told us “pa” puts a “rat” between the “e’s.”  Last night a young man described how he keeps a sign posted in his office of the serenity prayer, and when someone on the phone gets contentious—he reads that prayer over and over.  What a great way to stay connected in gentleness.  Chrysostom explains how the Galatians were proud of being first to recognize sins in the other.  Driven by a desire to please themselves, they harshly corrected each other.

I was encouraged last night by the way in which we were connected by sharing the good things we have learned through God.  So my prayer for us is that we keep affirming what it means to be a church sharing the good things we learn through God.

Wednesday’s Questions to Ponder:

What do you do to keep a gentle spirit in your heart?

Be blessed this day, Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

(Good morning! We have been dwelling in some of the prayers from Scripture for 32 days now.  Has that discipline either ignited a fire or turned up the heat in your heart for loving God and God’s people?)

Cry to God, Adapted from Psalm 119:145-152. I cried with all my heart, answer me, Oh Lord. I will observe Your statutes. I cried to You, save me, and I will keep Your testimonies; I rise before dawn and cry for help. I wait for Your words. My eyes anticipate the night watches that I may meditate on Your promise. Hear my voice according to Your loving kindness. Revive me, O Lord, according to Your ordinances. Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law. But You are near, Oh Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. Of old I have known about Your truths, that You established forever. I put all of my trust in You and claim the power of Your salvation. Amen.

Today’s Focus:

I put all of my trust in You.

Background:

Origen writes about how the Holy Spirit inflames the hearts of believers.  Athanasius explains how God defends believers while helping them to withstand any trouble.  Prayer is the necessary connection that keeps us aware of God’s work in our lives and prevents us from hurting our brothers and sisters.

In Luke 24.32, after Jesus has spoken to Cleopas on the road to Emmaus Cleopas asks his friend, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”  James Luther Mays describes how Psalm 119 “establishes certain points that are crucial for Scriptural piety. These ideas are taken from Interpretation: Psalms, on pages 384-385:  (a) God’s instruction taken from Scripture depends upon God’s actions and should never become a separate idol in itself, (b) obedience and faith are one response—devoutness should not be legalistic,  (c) understanding the Word of God becomes a part of the DNA of the believer where faith is seeking understanding and  knowledge is never an end in itself, (d) ultimately this process of  trusting God sets the heart on fire allowing us to be whole and devoted to God in a way that is reflected in all that we do.

Thursday’s Questions to Ponder:

What does it mean to say faith is always seeking understanding? Have you ever seen instruction taken from Scripture become an idol?  What does it mean to “put all trust in God”?

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

(Good morning!  This is the day the Lord has made.  Rejoice in it!)

Day 27. Heavenly Treasure Adapted from Colossians 1:3-15. I give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for greater faith in Jesus Christ and greater love to be shared with others. I do this full of the hope laid up in heaven, according to the word of truth and the grace of God freely given. I ask to be filled with the knowledge of Your will, spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that I may walk in a manner worthy of You, to please You in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in knowledge of God. Strengthen me with all power according to Your glorious might to become more steadfast, patient, joyful, giving thanks for my share of the inheritance in Christ’s kingdom. I ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, the first-born of all creation and the image of the invisible God. Amen.

Today’s Focus:

“I ask to be filled with the knowledge of Your will, spiritual wisdom & understanding.”

Background:

Eugene Peterson describes the Colossians as “people, [for whom] Jesus is important, but not central; his prestige is considerable, but he is not preeminent.”   Paul writes this letter as a clarification of who Jesus is, but while there are those at the time who would do this with an arrogant spirit and physical force—Paul was not arrogant or violent.  As Peterson says, Paul used “a brilliant and uncompromising intellect with a heart that is warm and wonderful.”  We certainly could use more people like this in 2011.  Paul is arguing against “false apostles, who were teaching them to accept the notion of the divine powers in nature, by which life is supposedly governed, and thus he urges them to accept nothing beyond Christ himself.” (Ambrosiaster)

At the time this letter was written, some Colossians approached God “through angels; . . . “follow[ing] many Jewish and Grecian observances.”  Isaac of Nineveh describes the kind of hope that comes when we trust in God alone as a “discipline of the mind that humbles the soul.”  Hope in God alone produces the kind of life where people hear the gospel and respond with a praiseworthy life that is humble and without violence.  In a world that is increasingly violent and arrogantly proud of its achievements—giving little credit to God—Paul’s letter to Colossians is on target for us.  So the challenge, it would seem for us, is to remain humble yet firm in our commitment to following Christ’s way, and to be loving and non-violent when we articulate what we believe.

Friday’s Questions to Ponder:

Which modern theologian is most like Paul to you?  What kind of mental, spiritual and physical discipline do you practice?

Be blessed this day, Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

(Good morning!  Please pray for the wedding of Zach Fleming and Beth Bharwani that will be celebrated on Saturday at Wesley Theological Seminary.  Beth is the daughter of Joan Bharwani—who chairs our Preschool Board at CUMC.)

Spiritual Grief Adapted from Psalm 119:25-32. My soul cleaves to the dust, revive me according to Your word. I have admitted my ways to You, and You have answered me. Help me to better understand Your truth as I meditate on Your wonders. My soul weeps because of grief over my past actions; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove the false way from me and graciously grant me Your law. I want to choose the faithful way; I want to put Your will before me. I cleave to Your testimonies. Oh Lord, do not put me to greater shame than I have put myself! I will run to You so that You will enlarge my withered heart with Your great love. I claim total spiritual healing in the name of Jesus. Amen

Today’s Focus:

“I claim total spiritual healing in the name of Jesus.”

Background:

Psalm 119 has 176 verses.  It praises God’s law and calls many times for God’s protection.  Verses 25-32 highlight how keeping God’s law revives the soul.  The overview of this long psalm stresses that blessed happiness (Bede) follows when we obey God.  Ambrose posits that we are “always at the crossroads between good and evil;” and   Jerome and Chrysostom point to the fact that God must enable us to understand the  Word of God and we must meditate on God’s Word—not just hear it once.  What is becoming increasingly clear to me is what a privilege it is for us to have God’s Word and to be able to dwell in it.  Everything else pales in comparison.

Yesterday a group of us met by chance at The Giant Supermarket.  Earl Griggs, Kay Walker, Arlin Honaker and I marveled at the power of God’s Word in the vegetable and fruit section.  We connected by talking about God’s call to keep our hearts and minds listening to God.  This reminds me God’s law is meant to enable us to see the world through the eyes of God.  Yesterday I shared how a 12 year-old girl wrote that she avoids anger at someone when she recalls Victor Hugo’s words, “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

Thursday’s Questions to Ponder:

God’s laws are all about loving God and each other. What does it mean to see the face of God in the people we love? A comment from the morning editor of these prayers regarding chance meetings has led me to ask another question.  He writes: “Maybe it is not chance after all. Maybe we are being connected with people we know by a higher power!” So I ask, is the person you run into today someone God is putting into your life?

Be blessed this day, Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

Bear One Another’s Burdens Adapted from Galatians 6:1-9. Dear Father, I pray for a spirit of gentleness that I may help to restore those caught in trespass, at the same time examining my own faults, lest I too be tempted. Give me the heart to bear the burdens of others and thus fulfill the desire of Christ. Help me not to be deceived into thinking I am something; help me not to be boastful in regard to myself, but give me the wisdom to share the good things I have learned through You. Help me to keep the faith and not to lose heart, knowing in Your good time, that having sowed to the Spirit, I will reap eternal life. In the meantime, help me to do good to all men, especially to those in my household of faith. I ask for the grace of Jesus Christ to strengthen my spirit and me. Amen.

Today’s Focus:

“Give me the wisdom to share the good things I have learned through You.”

Background:

Chrysostom and Augustine emphasize that the Spirit-led person is gentle when helping to restore a sinner.  Origen, Jerome and Ambrosiaster remind us that we are all imperfect, subject to temptation, sharing common weaknesses and in need of forgiveness.  Love draws us closer to God and to each other, while pride separates us, leaving us powerless to share to good things we have learned.  When learning to spell “separate” our teacher told us “pa” puts a “rat” between the “e’s.”  Last night a young man described how he keeps a sign posted in his office of the serenity prayer, and when someone on the phone gets contentious—he reads that prayer over and over.  What a great way to stay connected in gentleness.  Chrysostom explains how the Galatians were proud of being first to recognize sins in the other.  Driven by a desire to please themselves, they harshly corrected each other.

I was encouraged last night by the way in which we were connected by sharing the good things we have learned through God.  So my prayer for us is that we keep affirming what it means to be a church sharing the good things we learn through God.

Wednesday’s Questions to Ponder:

What do you do to keep a gentle spirit in your heart?