“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 The Message

I follow many devotionals, as I’m sure you do too. Two have spoken to me and I continue to go back and reread them. Both of these devotions have resonated deeply to my soul and as a reminder that God is always with us, cares about what is happening in our life and cares how we handle it all. I hope they bring peace, understanding and meaning to your daily life as well.

~ There is a little story about a man who is desperation called out to God “let me see you” and a star shined brightly, but the man did not see.

The man shouted, “God show me a miracle” and a baby was born, but the man did not notice.

So the man cried out in despair “touch me God and let me know you are here” were upon God reached down and touched the man, but the man brushed the butterfly away from his shoulder and walked on.

As time goes by in our spiritual journey we will intuitively realize where isn’t God? God is in the breeze that cools you, in the sun that warms the body and gives nutrients we need, God calls you through the sweet song from a morning bird. God is in the friend that advises and comforts you, God’s in the smile from a strangers eyes that recognizes Godself in you.

St Francis de Sale reminds us, “There is no place or thing in this world where God id not truly present. Just as were birds fly they always encounter the air, so also wherever we go or wherever we are, we find ourselves in God’s presence.”  Conor Mc Court – Living An Easter Life

~ Grab onto this present moment right here before you, child, and then grab the next and the next. Let them carry you, usher you, into the peace and calm freedom of life right now. Be no slave to the past, no captive of the future. Be free in this moment in My presence, in My loving care. This is the only reality there is. All the rest is either past or not here yet. Why be troubled by either? Why subject yourself to living in unreality? Rein your mind in child, to all that is right before you. A challenge – can you do this for just today? Can you live today in the present? Moment by moment? See how it feels? When tomorrow arrives we will tackle it then. I long for you to know this peace and freedom!  Pamela Steinke – Contemplative Soul

Loving God, we come to you in solitude and silence. Waiting, waiting for Your whispered words to fill our hearts with love and desire to share all that we are and all that we have with your beloveds. May we gently rest this day and through the night within the consciousness that God is with us always. Amen.

Brenda

“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.” – 1 John 3:18-22

My son is finishing up his final year of Middle School. Next Fall he will begin his High School career. Pretty soon I will be forced to acknowledge that I do not, in fact, know everything. I am certain both kids have already discovered this, but the admission will come in the way I help them with homework. I will have to go from teaching how I would get the answer to inviting them to teach me how to find the answer, and then using that understanding to check their answers. I will have to go from being the source of answers to being with them as they refine the questions and seek the sources necessary to develop their answers.

So many of us want to prove that we know the most. We want to have all of the right words, and be able to use them to prove that we are the smartest person in the room. And even more are ready to try to prove themselves smarter than the experts by exploiting any correction of information or development of understanding.  We see this frequently, but it has been intensified in the past year of pandemic. For example: this week the CDC will likely update their recommendations on wearing masks while outside and not in large groups. Watch what happens.

I continue the discipline of wearing a mask (except when I am speaking in worship). I do so, not because I have studied all of the research, not because I am afraid of getting in trouble, not because I am the smartest person, not because I worship any one virologist; I do so because it is a very simple action I can take to demonstrate my care for, and commitment to, the people I meet.

God is not afraid of science. God does not hate knowledge. God doesn’t want for us to be ignorant. Still, as important as it is to understand – to have the words – it is even more important to employ that understanding in our actions. Sometimes this means we have to humble ourselves to the truth God  reveals through scientific endeavor, even as it continues to develop. We do this so that we can act in this received truth.  And this gives us the boldness to act in truth and love. For each of us comes the time when we are forced to acknowledge that we don’t know everything; but there is no limit to God’s love working in and through us as we, in community, learn together.

Humble us, O God, that we might be aware of our own limitations. Then raise us up, O God, on the eagle-wings of your truth and love. Move in us that we can act in mercy, compassion, justice, and love. Help us to follow the example of Jesus, who humbled himself to walk with us, shows us the way of strong and gentle truth in action. As we continue to celebrate his victory over death, help us to continue to grow in grace and wisdom, that we might be your channels of light and life for the world. Amen.

Your questions for Sunday morning’s message:

1. What does it mean for your life that Jesus is the “Cornerstone.”
2. What seems “out of order” in your world?
3. What do you need in a community of faith?

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Psalm 23:5

Throughout scripture there are many references to events happening around a table.

Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple while turning  the tables over.  He went to the home of a Pharisee to have lunch and found himself in the company of those who might be considered the least in society.  Another time he was reclining at the table when a women came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume and poured it on His head.  And finally, Jesus called the disciples together on the night He was betrayed to have a final meal around a table in the upper room.  Approximately 76 references to tables can be found throughout the bible. 

Many lessons can be learned  at the table as they were in the days of Jesus. Conversations at the table can lead to better understanding.   Perhaps  it is time to get back to basics. There are two basic principles  that can be found throughout the great spiritual writings of history. The first, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:  for this is the law and the prophets.” The second, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  You can’t get anymore basic than these laws and commandments.  I pray that every parent and grandparent will take the time to have a conversation around these life sustaining principles. Our society is filled with so much vitriol, prejudice, racism and hatred. The time has come to turn it around, just as Jesus did when he turned the tables over on thE thieves and robbers. The time has come for us to turn the tables on violence, racism and hate. We can do it!!!!!!!!!!

You may ask yourself, what is the blessing in this writing?  Well, the blessing is that you and I have another chance to be the hands and feet of  the God of the universe, who exalts valleys, brings mountains and hills to a low place, makes the crooked straight, and the rough places plain.   It’s not too late, yet.  Thanks be to the God of second, third, fourth, ………….. chances.

Dr. James Calhoun

As We Gather At Your Table (FWS 2268) (Carl P. Daw, Jr.)

As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word,
help us know, O God, your presence;  let our hearts
and minds be stirred. Nourish us with sacred story till
we claim it as our own; teach us through this holy
banquet how to make Love’s victory known.
Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life; 
send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace
where there is strife. Give us, Christ, your great compassion
to forgive as you forgave;  may we still behold your
image in the world you died to save.

Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share
that feast where triumphant Love will welcome those
who had been last and least.  There no more will envy
blind us nor will pride our peace destroy, as we join with
saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy.

Amen

                                                                                                           

Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
   You gave me room when I was in distress.
   Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. 

How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
   How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
   the Lord hears when I call to him. 

–Psalm 4:1-3 NRSV

Speaking truth is vital for our spiritual health.
Hearing truth is required for our spiritual development.
Both are essential to building community.

When we think about our communication with God, whether individually or in a congregation, we often think of expressing our love and praise for God and expressing our desires of God. We are less comfortable with confession to God, but we know that it is necessary, in order for us to be relived of the burden of guilt and shame, and in order that right relationships might be restored. This is a matter of “speaking the truth.” Indeed, these are also required for the maintenance of any relationship.

All three of these are found again and again in the Psalms, which is the primary worship book of the Judeo-Christian tradition. But something else is found in the Psalms; something which is absolutely essential for this moment in time. It is this: speaking the truth of our experience. It is crying out in our pain. It is calling out injustice done to us or another. And it is knowing that our truth is heard.

Look at that first line of Psalm 4: “You gave me room…”

God gives us the space and the time to tell our story. Without judgement. Without correction. Without minimizing. Without gaslighting. And usually without “should-ing” on us (telling us what we should do). God gives us room to be in distress and pain. And God calls us to hear others together in the same way.

Then the miracle happens. Again and again in the Psalms, expressing our experience, and knowing we are heard, we feel validated and empowered to move through the experience. We are able to remember who we are, and the ability we have to allow God’s work of justice and restoration to happen in and through us.

Collective confession is difficult, so we often share unison prayers of general confession. Corporate expressions of hurt can and do happen, but it is similarly difficult for each person to tell their own story in a large worship setting. This is why small groups and caregiving settings are so important. But even more important is for each one of us, as individuals in the body of Christ, to be good listeners in all of our relationships.

God gives you space. God hears you.

Let’s give each other attention and space. Let us listen to each other.

Loving God, here is where I am hurting today…
help me to be like Jesus: to listen and love. Amen.  

This Sunday is UMW Sunday. Be sure to join us in worship online or in-person at 8, 9:30 and 11 AM

Blessings, Pastor George  

Taste and see how good the Lord is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! Psalm 34:8

A few days ago I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days in Palm Springs with my aunt and uncle, who live in Michigan, and my cousin and his wife and their two young children. They rented a home with a beautiful backyard and a pool. We were able to come together because all of us are fully vaccinated. A blessing in itself.  My uncle’s health is failing and I knew that this trip might be one of the last times we will be together. I felt blessed they invited me to join them. 

I had recently been doing some work with the youth’s confirmation curriculum. It talks about how to really know God we most often have to experience God. While in Palm Springs I really became intentional on this idea of experiencing God. I was able to experience God’s presence in many different ways. I heard God’s presence in the laughter while playing games and swimming in the pool. God’s presence was heard in the birds singing in the morning. I saw God’s presence in the beautiful trees with their green trunks and bright yellow blossoms and every time the hummingbirds quickly darted around I could see God. I felt God’s touch when our conversations offered support to each other and through the physical hugs that were exchanged. This weekend with my family God’s presence was abundant and I feel blessed to be able to have had the time together with them as well as to be fully aware of God’s presence. 

God is always with us. We sometimes fail to take the time to take in the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells so that we can fully experience God working in our lives. But when we do we are able to truly see how good God is….all the time!

Blessings, Marty Drake

God,

You are a constant in our lives, you never stray away from us. Forgive us for those times when we stray from you. We give thanks for our senses that help us to experience You in a multitude of ways. Thank you for times we get to spend with those we love. 

Amen