The Life that Is Really Life--May 25, 2013

 Great Spirit of Creation, you renew the face of the ground.

Renew us, that we may resume our journey,

climbing up into the hill country.

Make us good, rich in good works,

generous--ready to share with those who cannot

repay us, that we may take hold of the life that is really life.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98

Deut. 1:1-8

1 Tim. 6:6-21

Luke 14:12-24

Selected Verses

Ps. 104:30

 When you send forth your spirit, [your creatures] are created;
          and you renew the face of the ground.

Deut. 1:6-7a

The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain.  Resume your journey, and go into the hill country of the Amorites as well as into the neighboring regions…"

1 Tim. 6:18

[Those who in the present age are rich] are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Luke 14:13-14

"…But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.   And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."  [Jesus to the one who invited him for dinner]

Restore the Joy of Your Salvation--May 24, 2013

 Blessed be your name, Lord Jesus!

You restored to health those who were ill;

when we persist in sin, be to us a restorer of life.

Restore to us the joy of your salvation,

and sustain in us a willing spirit,

and send us on our way.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65

Ruth 4:1-22

1 Tim. 5:17-25

Luke 14:1-11

Selected Verses

Ps. 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
          and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Ruth 4:14-15

Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may [your son's] name be renowned in Israel!  He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him."

1 Tim. 5:20

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.

Luke 14:3-4

And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?"  But they were silent.  So Jesus took [the man who had dropsy] and healed him, and sent him away.

We Seek Security--May 23, 2013

We seek protection, security, for ourselves and loved ones.

Lord Jesus, you sought no protection when told

that King Herod wanted to kill you.

But you give us hope in the living God,

the Savior of all people--

and our refuge.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62

Ruth 3:1-18

1 Tim. 4:1-16

Luke 13:31-35

Selected Verses

Ps. 16:1

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Ruth 3:1

Naomi her mother-in-law said to [Ruth], "My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you.  …"

1 Tim. 4:10

For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Luke 13:31

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to [Jesus], "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you."

What Your Kingdom Is Like--May 22, 2013

 I know not what your kingdom is like,

or to what I can compare it, O God;

but this is what I have gleaned today,

to this I hold fast in the mystery of faith--

that the earth is full of your steadfast love

and you love righteousness and justice.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 89:1-18; 147:1-11; 1; 33

Ruth 2:14-23

1 Tim. 3:1-16

Luke 13:18-30

Selected Verses

Ps. 33:5

[The LORD] loves righteousness and justice;
          the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

Ruth 2:19a

Her mother-in-law said to [Ruth], "Where did you glean today?  And where have you worked?  Blessed be the man who took notice of you."

1 Tim. 3:9

[Deacons] must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Luke 13:18

[Jesus] said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like?  And to what should I compare it?  …"

You Set Free from Bondage--May 21, 2013

[From May 24, 2005 archive]

My soul thirsts for you, for the living God. 

When shall I come and behold your face? 

There are times when I cannot find you,

when I want to say with Naomi that you,

the Almighty, have dealt bitterly with me;

but, without regard to times or days or seasons,

you, Lord, are the one who sets free from bondage.

Set me free from the bondage of despair and self-pity;

give me strength to follow your teachings, that I may fight

the good fight, that I may have faith and a good conscience.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133

Ruth 1:19-2:13

1 Tim. 1:18-2:8

Luke 13:10-17

Selected Verses

Ps. 42:2

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God.

When shall I come and behold

the face of God?

Ruth 1:20

[Naomi] said to [the women of Bethlehem],

“Call me no longer Naomi [that is, “Pleasant”]

            call me Mara [that is, “Bitter”],

            for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.

1 Tim. 1:18-19a

I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience.

Luke 13:16

"…And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"  [Jesus to the leader of the synagogue]

We Plead Our Case--May 20, 2013

[from May 23, 2005 archive]

O LORD, in the morning you hear our voice;

in the morning we plead our case to you, and watch. 

Sometimes our pleading seems for naught; what we see

is tragedy and loss, even the death of those we love.

Is our suffering a sign that we are worse sinners

than others?  Surely it is not, even though we

have every reason to repent.  Teach us love

that comes from a pure heart, a good

conscience, and sincere faith—

we plead our case.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29

Ruth 1:1-18

1 Tim. 1:1-17

Luke 13:1-9

Selected Verses

Ps. 5:3

O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;

            in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

Ruth 1:5

…both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

1 Tim. 1:5

But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.

Luke 13:1-2

At that very time there were some present who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?  …"

As the Waters Cover the Sea--May 19, 2013

[from June 12, 2011 archive]

Let your steadfast love be upon us,

even as we hope in you:

even as we hope for the time when no one will hurt or destroy,

and the whole earth will be full of the knowledge of you,

as the waters cover the sea;

even as we hope for what no eye has seen,

no ear has heard, nor the heart conceived—

what you have prepared for those who love you;

even as we pray for the peace you give to us,

the peace that takes away the trouble in our hearts,

the peace that replaces fear with hope and steadfast love.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 104; 150; 29; 33

Isa. 11:1-9

1 Cor. 2:1-13

John 14:21-29

Selected Verses

Ps. 33:22

Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,

            even as we hope in you.

Isa. 11:9

They will not hurt or destroy
          on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
          as the waters cover the sea.

1 Cor. 2:9

But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
          nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him”  …

John 14:27

“…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.  …”  [Jesus to his disciples]