"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a t chance to eat, he said to them "Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31)
So many things happening, busy schedules that get unexpected (and unwanted) changes, and - sometimes - all of these things mean there are "new" things happening. The time we spend in prayer helps us to feel God's presence but also helps us to know the direction God is wanting us to take. Taking the time to s-t-o-p and be with God is something we need to be doing daily. Sometimes we need to be doing it several times a day! The readings today are about feeling God's presence and guidance. Knowing the peace "that passes understanding" because of KNOWING God IS with us. In Isaiah 41 we read of God holding our hand AND keeping us in "God's righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10 & 13) In Ephesians Paul is reminding Jesus is "our peace" because we have "access to the Father by one Spirit." (Ephesians 2:18) Then we have Jesus calling to us when the things are so busy "they did not even have a chance to eat." Jesus is telling all of us to "come away with me." (Mark 6:31) With all the changes, challenges and storms the schedules are even more hectic meaning sometimes there isn't time to eat. However, with all the things happening, we need to be even more careful to have the time with God. At least a morning - to start the day, and evening - to end the day, but "extra" is also good. When are you taking the time to talk to God about everything happening? Something to think about.........
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"Others said, "It is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."" (Mark 6:15)
We have all done it, do it now and probably will continue to do it. "If I had paid more attention _____" fill in the blank. We have probably also said, or have a number of, "if only I had done ____." What we need to think about is if we can change. IF we can, maybe, turn the "if," and the "if only" into "what if _____." The Scripture readings are about changing the "ifs." David has taken his men and gotten the "ark of God" an are returning to to Jerusalem. "Please note David, his men, and "all Israel," were celebrating. (2 Samuel 6:5) Paul is reminding all of us that we are "marked...with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 1:13) God giving us Emmanuel AND the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us. In Mark we are hearing the story of how John, Jesus' cousin, was killed. The reaction of the people is causing Herod to be concerned. So the question is about our ifs. Is paying "more attention" to what God is asking us to do? Are we we saying "if only I had one what God asked?: Or are we saying "what if I did it"? Are we speaking up, like in the Gospel reading, to say who we know Jesus to be? Something to think about...... "Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him." (Mark 6:3)
When you get excited about something what do you do? What about when you learn something new? What about if it would HELP people? Have you tried to share, to tell people, maybe even your family and friends? Have you tried to show them how it has changed YOUR life? The readings today are about living, and sharing, our faith. David is now king, building (and living in) the fortress he starts calling the "City of David" (2 Samuel 5:9). He also continues to grow in strength as he follows, and shares, how God IS with him (5:10) Paul is telling the Corinthians how important it is for people to show how Christ's power "may rest on me." ( 2 Corinthians 12:9) Jesus is also living his faith as he is, on the Sabbath, in the synagogue. The problem is the people question what he is saying because they think they "know" him. (Mark 6:3) This meant Jesus wasn't able to do "any miracles there" because of their questioning and unbelief. So..... do people question what you are telling them? Do they believe you? One of the sayings we all grew up with is "actions speak louder than words" -- so are people SEEING the change in you from what you have seen or learned? Are they seeing how God IS strengthening you through the crazy, changing, challenging schedules (and storms)? As Caregivers are we taking a few minutes to tell people how we feel God's presence and strength? Are we helping them understand what they are seeing in us? Something to think about....... "Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs." (Psalm 100:2)
Sabbath, and worship, seem to go together. We can even think of the Commandment - remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy. (Exodus 20:8) The question is do we "worship the Lord with gladness"? When we get around to worship -- which sometimes is on a different day than we expect - are we thinking of gladness? Today is a fifth Sunday which for the churches I serve means a hymn sing. Singing songs of worship and praise, (joyful) with gladness. The hymns vary, depending on the church season, including the way we "do" them. Sometimes we try to "stump" the accompanist. Usually, though, we talk about the story, or history, of the hymn. We also have this as a time of joint worship where all three churches can worship (joyfully?) with each other instead of separately. As Caregivers we have very busy schedules, and we get very tired, but we DO NEED the time of worship - Sabbath. Are we stopping to take the time to celebrate God's love? When we DO take the time are we worshiping with "gladness" and "joyful songs"? Something to think about...... “A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.” (Ecclesiastes 3:5 NLT)
Changes are happening all around us. For some of us the changes are the weather – either very hot or a lot of rain. For some of us it is changing jobs - maybe even requiring a move. For some of us it means “leaving" (scattering?) and starting “new" (gathering?). For some of us it is a good time to “embrace” and/or remember. For some of us it is a good time to “turn away” or forget. These verses from Ecclesiastes remind us of the changing times but that God has given us a time for everything. The wonderful thing is how God is with us through all the time, through all the changes, giving us PEACE. Jesus has promised (and God keeps God’s promises) this “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) Yes, especially as Caregivers, we are all going through changes. Yes, some of them are very difficult (and even a little scary) to go through. What each of us needs to remember is Emmanuel. God IS with us, holding us by the hand (Isaiah 41:10 & 13), but also giving us PEACE. My prayer, for all of us, is for us to be FEELING God's PEACE. Something to think about...... "He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"" (Mark 4:40)
Say what?! Do you really believe that? What DO you believe? Do you believe the weather person when you are listening to the weather? Do you believe your kids when they are telling you about something that happened to them? Do you believe what YOU are telling someone? I don't know about you but I don't usually believe the weather person until I "see" what the weather is actually doing. I do watch the radar....but even then it may, or may not, be right. Believing is what the readings are about today. David is telling King Saul how God has protected him (David) from "the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear and will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:37) Paul is reminding the Corinthians, and us, how "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."" (2 Corinthians 6:2) It has been a little busy for the disciples and Jesus. They are crossing the lake, Jesus is asleep "in the stern" when "waves broke over the boat." (Mark 4:36) They wake Jesus up (v. 38) asking Jesus if he cares about what is happening. Jesus stops the storm and then asks about the disciples, and our, faith. (40) We have had a lot happening also. We are facing changes, challenges (and giants?) and storms too. So where is our faith? Do we REALLY believe God IS with us? As Caregivers are we taking time to s-t-o-p and be with God? Do we make sure others see our faith? Do other people know what we believe? Are we living our faith? Something to think about...... "Yet it is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on the earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in the shade.." (Mark 4:31-32)
When we think of seeds and growing we think of plants - right? When we think of "growing" we think of how fast our kids, and grandchildren, grow. The only thing that seems to grow faster is the weeds in the garden we just planted. I remember, from years ago, a song about "Turn Around" starting out with a small child then "turn around and they are a young person going out of the door." I also remember planting the seeds, for a friends vegetable garden, in the greenhouse and then in the garden so we could enjoy the fresh veggies. Seeds are what is being talked about in the Scripture today. Samuel is anointing David - the smallest, youngest of Jesse's sons. (1 Samuel 16:13). Then "the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David." (v. 13) Paul is reminding us we are new in Christ - "the old has gone, the new is here." (2 Corinthians 5:17) And Jesus is pointing out how small the mustard seed is but how big the plant grows. (4:31-32) Something to think about..... What if the seed is the "seed of an idea"? What if what God has been laying on our hearts to try is growing? What if it can grow even more? Earlier in the readings about Samuel anointing David we are reminded God see things differently "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them." (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT) Definitely something to think about..... "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:35)
What do you think of when you hear, say, or read "listen!"? What keeps going through my mind is the "old" commercial - "Can you hear me now?" Or...maybe...someone going "did you HEAR me!?" Then there is the instructor, teacher, professor saying "are you paying attention?" For any, and all, of these you can probably remember looking like you are listening but really you are totally ignoring whatever is being said. The readings today are about paying attention, listening and doing what God is asking us to do. In 1 Samuel God is pointing out to Samuel how the people have "rejected" God as their king, but they haven't rejected Samuel, serving "other gods." (1 Samuel 8:8) Paul is pointing out, to the Corinthians and to us, how the power of God "will also raise us" if we are being "renewed day by day." (1 Corinthians 4:16) And Jesus, himself, is pointing out how we are (like last week) adopted into God's family if we doing "God's will." So.... Back to the beginning. Can you "hear" God speaking to you? Are you listening? If you are listening are you paying attention or pretending? In this busy, crazy, changing schedule and challenging world God's presence, strength and guidance is what will get us through. Something to think about...... "Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and testify to what we have seen, but still people do not accept our testimony." (John 3:11)
I struggle with numbers. Thankfully I have people who help me with them. Maybe the struggle is why I can accept, and praise God for, the Trinity - 3 in 1 and 1 in 3. I can think of several things that are 3 in one - daughter, wife, mother; son, husband, father; daughter, sister, friend. I even have a favorite 3 in 1 recipe for chicken - 3 ingredients into one crockpot. The readings today are telling us about God's call (Isaiah 6:8) and Isaiah's response "send me." Paul is telling all of us about the Spirit bringing about our "adoption to sonship" so we can "cry Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15) Jesus, the Son of God is pointing out what has been seen, known, testified to but people still "do not accept our testimony." (John 3:11) Definitely Scripture references to God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - three in One and One in Three. I would like us to think about this a little differently today. With all the changes, challenges and storms happening we can also think about God's strength, the Holy Spirit's guidance and, especially, the peace Jesus gives. (John 14:27) Something to think about........ "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth." (John 16:13a)
Pentecost! Today is the day we celebrate Pentecost, being FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Today we talk about all the different ways we "talk" because the Disciples were all able to speak to the various people, from all over, in Jerusalem. God gave them the power to be able to speak to each person in the person's language so each person could understand God's loving presence. An awesome way of celebrating God's love, talking about God's love and sharing God's love. Today I want to point out an additional blessing of the FILLING of the Holy Spirit -- God's guidance and strength. On the first Pentecost a sound "like the blowing of a violent wind" filled "the whole house" and "all of them." (Acts 2:1-3) This guided, gave strength to and "enabled" each of them to "speak." (2:4) Paul is pointing out, in Romans, how the Spirit "helps us in our weakness" and how the Spirit "intercedes for us." (Romans 8:26) When we are in pain, confused and worried the Spirit is there for us because "the Spirit intercedes for God's people." (Romans 8:27) Even Jesus is telling us how God WILL BE with us to "guide us." Jesus points out the Spirit "will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you." (John 16:14) Yes, God gives us the words, the way to talk to, someone who is in need of God's loving guidance and strength. But God also gives EACH OF US the strength, and guidance, to get through all the changes and challenges we are each facing. Yes, we are all busy. We are all tired. We are all facing changes and challenges. We can ALL also feel the PEACE that passes understanding as we follow where God is leading. Something to think about........ |
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