Romans 8: 1-11
When my dad asked me if had ever heard the song I looked it up. I liked the lyrics
and the reason Tim McGraw wrote the song immediately. My favorite lines from
the song:
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
"Well, I finally read the Good Book,
"And I took a good long hard look."
Small cell lung cancer has very unfavorable odds. The oncologist (Dr. Ritter if anyone needs a wonderful, to the point, oncologist) told my dad at his very first appointment to live each day, be present in each moment, don't wait to take a trip
that you've been wanting to make. Live like you are dying. Most of the time in life
we are completely unaware that our time on earth is nearing the end, but that
does not mean that we can't live like we are dying!
Romans 8:1-11 is overflowing with hope. It depicts exactly how we can begin to
live like we are dying. Although we are still physically in the flesh, we are also in
the spirit, since the spirit of God lives in us. This passage is the solution to our
sin. "2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has
set you[a] free from the law of sin and death." In order to authentically live our
life, we must feed this spirit living within us and starve the flesh that offers a life
full of sin and death. Love deeper, speak sweeter, forgive freely, read the Good
Book and take a good long hard look. Feed the spirit living within you! Live a life
full of peace. Don't wait until the doctor reads the test results or the drunk driver
decides to drive in the wrong lane. Live like you are dying.
Submitted by Laura Strong
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Good Friday, April 22
Genesis 22: 1-14; I Peter 2: 10-20; John 13: 36-38
How can we have the courage to face the unknown? Abraham’s complete commitment is what God wants -- the unshakable faith to accomplish the work God
must set before him.
The dilemma faced by Abraham, and by John, as well as Peter at two different
stages of his life, demonstrates the power of holding fact to out faith in God, whos
love for us never fails no matter what life’s challenges may be.
We can depend on Him in all things, at all times. Troubles faced and endured
with God’s help will encourage our faith to grow!
Do you see in these readings someone else whose faith must have blossomed
through this experience? Holding on in faith, we share experiences of the People
of God through the ages. We grow in nearness to God! All thanks to HIm!
Submitted by Margaret Edwards
How can we have the courage to face the unknown? Abraham’s complete commitment is what God wants -- the unshakable faith to accomplish the work God
must set before him.
The dilemma faced by Abraham, and by John, as well as Peter at two different
stages of his life, demonstrates the power of holding fact to out faith in God, whos
love for us never fails no matter what life’s challenges may be.
We can depend on Him in all things, at all times. Troubles faced and endured
with God’s help will encourage our faith to grow!
Do you see in these readings someone else whose faith must have blossomed
through this experience? Holding on in faith, we share experiences of the People
of God through the ages. We grow in nearness to God! All thanks to HIm!
Submitted by Margaret Edwards
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thursday, April 21
John 17:1-26
What a glorious chapter! The whole chapter is the prayer-of
what I like to think of as conversation- that Jesus said before
he was arrested. It is so full of wonderful thoughts that William Barclay devoted 16 pages to the chapter in his commentary about John. It illustrates so clearly the relationship
that Jesus has with God and how we can strive to have that
very same relationship. To realize that we have the same
thoughts, the same human failings and the same questions
that the original disciples had is to know that we also have
the same opportunity to be a disciple also. It's not always
easy but what a wonderful challenge.
Prayer: Thank you God for your Son, Jesus, and the help
You give us to face the challenges we have to pattern our
lives after His life.
Submitted by Wilma Obermyer
What a glorious chapter! The whole chapter is the prayer-of
what I like to think of as conversation- that Jesus said before
he was arrested. It is so full of wonderful thoughts that William Barclay devoted 16 pages to the chapter in his commentary about John. It illustrates so clearly the relationship
that Jesus has with God and how we can strive to have that
very same relationship. To realize that we have the same
thoughts, the same human failings and the same questions
that the original disciples had is to know that we also have
the same opportunity to be a disciple also. It's not always
easy but what a wonderful challenge.
Prayer: Thank you God for your Son, Jesus, and the help
You give us to face the challenges we have to pattern our
lives after His life.
Submitted by Wilma Obermyer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, April 20
Philippians 4:1-13
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 6-7
These verses have been a source of peace and blessings to me
throughout my life. So many times I have felt overwhelmed and not
known how I could go on. Then, I think of these verses and give my
worries to the Lord.
I think sometimes, we are so caught up in what is going on, and how
we can make it better. Such a blessing that whatever the circumstances,
He will see us through. All we have to do is to ask His will be done, and
have faith that He will see us through.
Submitted by Marilyn Smith
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 6-7
These verses have been a source of peace and blessings to me
throughout my life. So many times I have felt overwhelmed and not
known how I could go on. Then, I think of these verses and give my
worries to the Lord.
I think sometimes, we are so caught up in what is going on, and how
we can make it better. Such a blessing that whatever the circumstances,
He will see us through. All we have to do is to ask His will be done, and
have faith that He will see us through.
Submitted by Marilyn Smith
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 19
John 12: 20-26
I can understand why some people would want to skip over this week and just go
straight to Easter. Holy week is serious, dark, and penitential. It forces us to
think about suffering and death. Most people prefer not to spend their time thinking about death, but let’s be honest . . . we will all die. It is inevitable, and the
sooner we come to terms with that, the sooner we can live our lives in a way that
is genuine, honest and appreciative.
I read John 12:24-26 at Committal services. Standing outside next to a hole in
the ground and usually a casket above it, looking into the teary eyes of loved
ones I say “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this
world will keep it for eternal life.” I wonder what people think of that. Does it
bring them comfort? Does it raise questions? Are they even listening as their
minds are still processing the fact that they will never again look upon or touch a
person they loved so dearly?
As unpleasant as it may be to think about death sometimes, it is necessary that
we face the reality that there is more than just our earthly existence. Otherwise
we cling tightly to our lives- to our things, money and time. We avoid ever thinking about God’s calling in our lives, God’s eternal presence and the state of our
souls. And we find that in the end all those things that we thought would bring us
comfort and meaning will fade, rust and decay.
Do not miss the opportunity Holy Week brings to not only reflect on Christ’s suffering and death, but also to reflect on our own, and how our lives fit in to a larger
story of God’s saving grace and eternal presence.
What then will our own teary loved ones think when these words are read at our
own committal services? Will they smile, knowing that we lived our lives at peace
with our own mortality and when our final breathes came moved with joy into the
eternal arms of God?
Submitted by Pastor Jen Williamson
I can understand why some people would want to skip over this week and just go
straight to Easter. Holy week is serious, dark, and penitential. It forces us to
think about suffering and death. Most people prefer not to spend their time thinking about death, but let’s be honest . . . we will all die. It is inevitable, and the
sooner we come to terms with that, the sooner we can live our lives in a way that
is genuine, honest and appreciative.
I read John 12:24-26 at Committal services. Standing outside next to a hole in
the ground and usually a casket above it, looking into the teary eyes of loved
ones I say “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this
world will keep it for eternal life.” I wonder what people think of that. Does it
bring them comfort? Does it raise questions? Are they even listening as their
minds are still processing the fact that they will never again look upon or touch a
person they loved so dearly?
As unpleasant as it may be to think about death sometimes, it is necessary that
we face the reality that there is more than just our earthly existence. Otherwise
we cling tightly to our lives- to our things, money and time. We avoid ever thinking about God’s calling in our lives, God’s eternal presence and the state of our
souls. And we find that in the end all those things that we thought would bring us
comfort and meaning will fade, rust and decay.
Do not miss the opportunity Holy Week brings to not only reflect on Christ’s suffering and death, but also to reflect on our own, and how our lives fit in to a larger
story of God’s saving grace and eternal presence.
What then will our own teary loved ones think when these words are read at our
own committal services? Will they smile, knowing that we lived our lives at peace
with our own mortality and when our final breathes came moved with joy into the
eternal arms of God?
Submitted by Pastor Jen Williamson
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, April 18
Isiah 42:6
Isaiah 42:6 "I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by
the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations . . ."
When all is said and done, what we must learn above all is to offer ourselves- imperfections and all-to God. If we keep waiting until we are "worthy" of God, we will move
farther rather than closed to God. It is through our broken, vulnerable, mortal ways of
being that the healing power of the eternal God becomes visible to us.
We are called each day to present to the Lord the whole of our lives- our joys as well
as sorrows, our successes as well as failures, our hopes as well as fears. We are
called to do so with our limited means, our stuttering words and halting expressions. In this way we will come to know in mind and heart the unceasing prayer of
God's Spirit in us. OUr many prayers are in fact confessions of our inability to
pray. But they are confessions that enable us to perceive the merciful presence of
God.
Prayer- Lord, instead of worrying about the times when I can't pray and when I'm discouraged, I will try to turn them into opportunities to trust you alone.
By Henri J. M. Nouwen in Renewed for Life edited by Mark Neilsen published by Creative Communications 2011
~Pastor Jen Williamson
Isaiah 42:6 "I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by
the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations . . ."
When all is said and done, what we must learn above all is to offer ourselves- imperfections and all-to God. If we keep waiting until we are "worthy" of God, we will move
farther rather than closed to God. It is through our broken, vulnerable, mortal ways of
being that the healing power of the eternal God becomes visible to us.
We are called each day to present to the Lord the whole of our lives- our joys as well
as sorrows, our successes as well as failures, our hopes as well as fears. We are
called to do so with our limited means, our stuttering words and halting expressions. In this way we will come to know in mind and heart the unceasing prayer of
God's Spirit in us. OUr many prayers are in fact confessions of our inability to
pray. But they are confessions that enable us to perceive the merciful presence of
God.
Prayer- Lord, instead of worrying about the times when I can't pray and when I'm discouraged, I will try to turn them into opportunities to trust you alone.
By Henri J. M. Nouwen in Renewed for Life edited by Mark Neilsen published by Creative Communications 2011
~Pastor Jen Williamson
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Saturday, April 16
John 11:28-44
As background, Mary's brother, Lazarus, has died. Mary
had faith that Jesus could have cured him had he been
there, however, I think Mary lacked enough faith that Jesus could raise lazarus after he had been dead for four
days. Thus, we must continue to have faith under all circumstances.
I have an out of town friend whose two wives and a
daughter died. He also has had several serious illnesses. Yet he is able to proclaim his faith in God and say
that he has had a good life. His faith has strengthened
my faith.
~Bill Obermyer
As background, Mary's brother, Lazarus, has died. Mary
had faith that Jesus could have cured him had he been
there, however, I think Mary lacked enough faith that Jesus could raise lazarus after he had been dead for four
days. Thus, we must continue to have faith under all circumstances.
I have an out of town friend whose two wives and a
daughter died. He also has had several serious illnesses. Yet he is able to proclaim his faith in God and say
that he has had a good life. His faith has strengthened
my faith.
~Bill Obermyer
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