Thursday 28 February 2013

Thursday - being a disciple

Prayer:  You called us into Your Church to be Your servants in the world in the name of  Jesus Christ.  You promised to be present among us,  to direct and defend Your people by the power of the Spirit.  And now we give You thanks, for Your faithfulness to us.  By the power of Your Spirit  continue in all of us the good work You have begun so that we may willingly serve You in love and joy with courage and truth in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen 
(The Book of Common Worship.  The Presbyterian Church in Canada,  1991.  pg. 141).

Read St. Luke 9:  22 – 27

Phew.  Difficult words to read.   What,  do you think,  the Disciples thought when they heard Jesus saying these words?     Do you think they were surprised and astonished?   

Today read this portion of scripture through again and ponder  these things:
1.  how does  Jesus calls the Disciples (and us)  to be  disciples of Christ
2.  what is our daily duty
3.  what is the example of Jesus and how do we example this same life in our lives today
4.  what does the word “serve” mean for us today

Read through this portion of scripture again and  jot down any word or phrase that leaps out at you.   Ponder why these words or phrases are important for you as a Christian.
Prayer:    Great God,  we now go out into the world in peace.  We go out in good courage.  We hold fast to that which is good.    Strengthen those who are faint of heart.   Support the weak O LORD,  and help the afflicted.  May we love and serve You each and every day of our lives.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday

Monday  February 25
Prayer:   Great God  may the peace which passes all understanding keep our hearts and mind in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Read St. Luke 9:  10 – 11

When the  Disciples return from their journey they,  together Jesus,  withdrew to Bethsaida.    Jesus knew that those who share the Good News need times away to centre themselves,  share their  work,  share their calling,  and to spend much time in prayer.  

This verse is so important,  yet we frequently zoom over the words to get to what we think is the real story of Jesus and the Disciples. 

Bethsaida was a city to the east of the Jordon River and on the north end of the Sea of Galilee. 

When one has completed a time of serving God,  one needs to spend much time in prayer. 
Today we call these times a  Retreat.   A Retreat is a scheduled time away so that we can become aware of God’s loving presence.
As Jesus took the disciples away to spend time in prayer and meditation,  how  important then,  is it that our congregations provide the Minister with a Retreat?   Hugely important.
When was the last time that your Minister went on a Retreat?

Frequently people think that Retreats are just a holiday…. a time away from the congregation and the ministry.  But this is not what a Retreat is at all.   Retreats are times spent centring oneself in God through prayer and meditation.   Retreats are times giving the burdens that one tends to carry around in ministry to God through prayer and meditation.     Retreats are actually hard work but Retreats are so important for re-balancing those who minister to others. 

Then in the midst of the Retreat,  the crowds followed them.   What did Jesus do?  Did he tell the crowds he was too tired and couldn’t respond to their needs and requests?  Nope,  not at all.  In fact,  Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God and healed those who needed healing.  

Jesus welcomed them!  Wow!  Hospitality and serving others without whining.   We indeed need to follow Jesus’ example.

Today,  ask your Minister  or Elder when was the last time they went on a Retreat.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,  instill peace, clarity,  fulfilment, and love within our hearts.   We lift up to You those things that block the way for Your love.  May You change our disappointments into Your strength.  May You change our whining into Your joy.   May You change our selfishness into Your hospitality.  This we ask in Your name.  Amen.

Tuesday  February 26
Prayer:    Divine Healing God,  we thank You that You feed us through our daily bread and through our daily reading of Your most Holy Word.    May we take what You have given us and share it with others so that everyone may eat of Your Word and be filled.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Luke 9: 12 – 17

Feeding the Five Thousand.  This is a beautiful story.  The crowds are still listening to the words of Jesus and it gets to be meal time. 

The Disciples first thought is to send the crowds away so they can find their own food and lodging.  Wow.   The Disciples who had just been out sharing the Good News and discovering the hospitality of each town are suddenly being poor party poopers and not sharing their hospitality with others.     

Hospitality was first and primary importance in the Middle East and still is today.   When one visits a family in the Middle East,  one is offered food and drink and shelter.    But here are the Disciples not offering these three basic things to the crowd.

How does Jesus respond?  He gently reminds them of their hospitality obligations and says, “You give them something to eat”.    The Disciples look at their resources and find that they have five loaves of bread and two fish.   Now the loaves of bread, made of barley,  were probably flat breads like our Pita breads of today.   And two fish…. Probably fish that Peter had in his bag J    There is no way this small amount can feed so many people.

Jesus says to the Disciples to have the crowd sit down into groups of fifty.

Jesus then takes the food,  blesses the food,  gives thanks for the food,  broke the food and then asked the Disciples to distribute the food to everyone.     

Everyone ate and was satisfied…. and there were twelve basketfuls of food left over.    A miracle.       Some Biblical Scholars suggest that the twelve baskets of left over food is to remind the people of the twelve tribes of Israel.   God still continues to feed and nourish the twelve tribes of Israel.

Ponder today this miracle.  Jesus took the bread and fish,  blessed it,  gave thanks for it,  and then shared the food with others so that they could be satisfied.  How does this relate to the work we do in the Church?

Prayer:    Great God,   Holy God,  Holy Immortal,  have mercy upon us.   We thank You that You feed us through our daily bread and through our daily reading of Your most Holy Word.    May we take what You have given us and share it with others so that everyone may eat of Your Word and be filled.   May we, as Your Church,  serve all Your people with unending enthusiasm and love.    This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Wednesday  February 27
Prayer:     Gracious God,  we praise You for calling us to be Your people, and for gathering us to be the Church,  the Body of Christ.  May we live in Your Spirit,  grow in faith,  hope, and love, and be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, we give honour and glory, now and forever.  Amen.
(The Book of Common Worship.  Presbyterian Church in Canada. 1991,  pg 141)

Read  St. Luke 9:  18 – 20

Peter’s Confession.

Jesus had been spending time in prayer.    Suddenly he looks up and says to the Disciples, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

The Disciples respond that the crowds say John the Baptist,  Elijah,  a prophet.    

Then Jesus asks them, “But what about you.  Who do you say I am?”     Peter says, “The Christ!”  Some Bible translate this phrase as “The Messiah”.       Peter knew that Jesus was the long expected One of God.

In the Presbyterian Church in Canada we have a  rite called “Confirmation”. Sometimes it is called an “Affirmation of Baptism”  or  “Affirmation of Faith”.    This is a time when people have taken classes and  studied about the Bible,  the two Sacraments,  Worship,  Prayer,  Meditation,  our denomination… and then they stand in front of the whole congregation and say, “I believe in God the Father Almighty,  in Jesus Christ His Only Son our Lord,  and the Holy Spirit”.  Confirmation is a public declaration that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.     A Public Profession of Faith.

Back in the day,  we used to have to memorize the Shorter Catachism of Faith and  the Apostle’s Creed.    While some people say that memorizing a document means nothing,  frequently  memorizing a document means we can put what we believe into words.

Ponder today what you believe.   Can you put what you believe into easy words and phrases?      

Throughout the day today,  repeat the Apostle’s  Creed.    Let the words flow over you and be aware of how these words have influenced  your life lived in Christ.

Prayer:    I believe in God the Father Almighty,  Marker of Heaven and Earth.  And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord,  Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,  born of the Virgin Mary,  suffered under Pontius Pilate,  was crucified, dead, and buried.  He descended into Hell.  The third day He rose again from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.  He is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty and will come to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost,  the Holy catholic Church,  the communion of saints,  the forgiveness of sins,  the resurrection of the body,  and the life everlasting.  Amen.   

Sunday 24 February 2013

Sunday - Lent 2

Lent is always an interesting time.   While it is a time of repentance and returning to God,  it also is a preparation for Easter.    The Glorious Resurrection.     Soon in our house we will be making Ukrainian Eggs called Pysanky.   We are not experts by any means but we make pysanky each year to remind us of  the joy of the Resurrection.  The eggs take a long time to create as one waxes over one colour and then dyes the egg and then waxes over the other colour.    Getting the wax to flow over the egg is a skill all on it's own.  The kiska (wax writer) is filled with a bit of wax and then heated over a candle.  The wax is beeswax.  Often when one is creating a design,  a blob of wax will suddenly make a change on one's design.   Pysanky are created by saying prayers at each step of the creation. Pysanky really makes one slow down and focus upon not only the wax and the design and the colours but also on the time of Lent... the time of preparing for Easter.... the glorious Resurrection.  When the Pysanky are completed,  the egg is totally black with wax and with dye.  Then comes the time of holding the Pysanky over the candle and wiping off the black wax.   A single swip unveils colour.   This is Easter.    From the darkness of our sins comes a time of repentance and then when all seems dark and hidden,  the Glory of Easter is revealed.   

  
Prayer:  Lord God of Hosts,  we pray for all who are lonely and sorrowful,  who bear heavy burdens ,  who face hardships and suffering.  Grant that they may know the love of Christ which never fails,  and be strong for Your sake.    Hear us O Lord.    We pray for every family.  May the love of husbands and wives embody the love of Christ.  May the care of parents for their young be the instrument of Your disciple and tenderness.  May the young have a greatful,  loving and obedient regard for those who have borne them.  And may all be quick to forgive one another failings and glad to help one another in faith and obedience.  In the name of Your Son,  who loves us and gave Himself for us.  Amen.
(Book of Common Order of the Presbyterian Church in Canada,  1964.  pg. 177).

Saturday 23 February 2013

Saturday - Preaching the Gospel

You will need a Bible,   comfy chair,     paper  and a pen/pencil.

 Before we begin today’s  Lenten Retreat,  settle yourself into a comfy chair.   Once you are settled  take a slow breath inward.   As your breath inward,  think of this breathe as the love of Jesus.    When you breath out,  think of this breathe as the love of Jesus being shared with everyone. 
Breath in the love of Jesus.
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone
Breath in the love of Jesus
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone.

Prayer:  Here I am Lord Jesus Christ.  I am here in Your presence.   You have brought me to this moment.   Speak Lord  for I am listening to You.

Picture Jesus sitting beside you and  Read  St Luke  9: 1 - 9
Breath in the love of Jesus.
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone
Breath in the love of Jesus
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone.

Meditate upon St. Luke 9:  1 - 9 with these questions
* I see or contemplate each person in those events, especially Jesus himself.
*  I listen to the words, spoken or implied. I ask myself what they might mean. Do they apply to me?
*  I ponder   the actions, gestures and emotions of Jesus.   Ask Jesus how I can share His hospitality.
  *   What touched my heart about this scripture?   What did I find difficult?
   *   Was there something I would like to return to?
   *   Was there a phrase of verse that I would like to remember?

Jesus,  you shared with me today hospitality.   Help me to share Your hospitality this day.  Help me to share the Gospel.

Breath in the love of Jesus.
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone
Breath in the love of Jesus
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone.

Closing Prayer:   Thank you Lord for the time spent in meditation and prayer.  May I come to see You more clearly.  May I  come to love You more dearly.  May I come to do Your work You have set for me to do.  Amen.

Friday 22 February 2013

Friday - hospitality

Prayer:  Diviner Healer,  move through every part of our body and our mind dissolving all feelings, thoughts, frustrations.  Sweep away all impatience,  struggle and suffering that reside in our soul.   With Your Great Love,  turn our frustrations into inspiration and enthusiastic action.   Help to steer us in the direction where our actions will be actualized to Your Glory.  Amen. 

Read St. Luke 9: 1 – 9

Jesus sends the twelve Disciples to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Jesus gives the Disciples very specific instructions:
1.  take nothing for the journey
2.  whatever house you enter,  stay there until you leave that town
3.  if people do not welcome you,  shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town
as a testimony against them.

The important part of these verses is the Disciples were instructed to go and preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.   They were to take what Jesus had taught them and share with those who did not know about God.     

Yet,  in our life today  we get stuck at the first instruction…..take nothing for the journey.  Take nothing for the journey?     In this day and age when we move,  we take our furniture and all our treasures and books and clothes and so much more.   So why did Jesus tell the disciples to not take anything for the journey?   Probably for two reasons.  If one was travelling with a bag of money and two garments,  they were at risk for robbers.   Second reason was for hospitality.    If people in a certain city would  invite you into their homes freely,  such people who would provide hospitality would be far more open to hearing the Good News.   

Today ponder what “hospitality” means to you.  How can you the hospitality of Christ with others?  How does your Church show the community the hospitality of Christ?

Prayer:   Divine Healer,  embrace us with Your radiant love.  Allow us to move in the direction of our lives that give You glory and praise.    Help us to recognize and celebrate all the wonderful things we have accomplished in our lives and with all the amazing people we have connected.    Help us to share Your hospitality continually each and every day.    We are truly blessed.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Thursday 21 February 2013

Thursday - the Messiah

Prayer:  Jesus,  Son of God,  You are the joy of loving hearts.   You are the fountain of our life providing us with life-giving love and joy.   Our restless spirits yearn for You.  Help us this day to be Your hands and Your feet in serving others so they too will know of Your life-giving love and joy.  Amen.

Read St. Luke  8:  49 – 56

Now we come back to the story of Jairus and his ill daughter.   Between the time that Jairus had come to Jesus asking Jesus to come heal his daughter and the woman touched Jesus’ garment and was healed,  Jairus’  daughter had died.   Someone from the house of Jairus came and said that Jairus’ daughter was dead so Jesus didn’t need to come anymore.

Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Don’t be afraid.  Just believe and she will be healed”.  
When Jesus arrives at the house of Jairus,  there were already mourners in attendance.   The daughter was dead and the mourners were sitting and wailing with the family.  

Jesus says to the mourners, “The girl is only asleep” and enters the home and takes with him Peter and John and James.    When Jesus made that statement,  the mourners laugh.   They have seen the girl and they know she is dead. 

Taking the hand of the Jairus’ daughter,  Jesus says, “My child, get up!”    At once she got up.   Jesus asks the family to give her something to eat.  This is confirm that the daughter is alive.   Jairus and the family are astonished.  Yet  Jesus tells the family and the mourners not to tell anyone.  

Not to tell anyone.  In a small town,  “not telling anyone” means the event spreads quicker.    Why did Jesus say this?   Healing is one thing,  like the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years,  but to bring someone back from death means to the people that Jesus could be the Messiah.  And Jesus was not yet ready to announce that he was the Messiah.  Remember that the Romans were always on the look out for those who would be trying to overturn their rule.    For the Romans,  the “Messiah” was a political and rebel figure of someone coming to eliminate the Romans from Israel.    

Ponder today what the word “Messiah” means to you.

Prayer:   Messiah,  Holy Lord,  giver of life eternal.   We thank You that we can come to You  anytime of day or night.  Be with us in our studies and meditations this day.    Through reading Your Holy Scripture  may we come to see You fully,  love You dearly,  and see You in our life clearly. Amen.

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Wednesday - Go in peace

Prayer:  Almighty God, You are our heart’s delight.   Kindle in our hearts and minds and souls,  Lord most holy,  Your lamp within us so that we may shine the light of Your love.  Amen.

Read St. Luke 8:  40 –  48

This is a two part story that almost seems interrupted.    A man named Jairus, a ruler/president of the synagogue in Capernaum,  falls at Jesus’ feet and asks him to heal his only daughter.    Jairus’ tasking at the synagogue was to supervise the conduct of worship.  This is a man who knew how important worship was to the life and breath of people.       

As Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus’ daughter,  a woman who had been unclean with a flow of blood for twelve years,  touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment. The garment that  the woman touched was probably the sacred tassel which was tied by a blue thread to each of the four corners of an outer garment.  This garment was both coat and blanket
(Numbers 15:  37 – 41).  And something that isn’t part of our culture is,  the woman had a flow of blood for twelve years.   She was unclean.  Which meant that she had to stay away from everyone.  If she touched anyone,  she would make them unclean too. (Leviticus 15: 19 – 30).   But this woman was obviously desparate.  Who would have been taking care of her?  She would have been kept either in a separate part of the house or in a totally different place on the outskirts of town.   

As soon as she touches the fringe on Jesus’ garment,  immediately the flow of blood stops and the woman is healed.      According to the laws,  she must wait seven days to make sure there is no more discharge.  Then on the eighth day,  she would take two doves to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of meeting.   The Priest would sacrifice the offering  and the woman would be declared clean. 

Yet,  Jesus stops suddenly and says, “Who touched me?”   Peter responds that there are people everywhere crowding him … how would Jesus know someone touched him?  Jesus responds “Someone touched me,  I know that power has gone out of me.”

The woman comes forward and falls at Jesus’ feet.   She acknowledges that she touched Jesus AND how she was healed.  The woman made a public confession.    And how does Jesus respond?   Does he say “tsk, tsk”?      Jesus then says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace.”  

Go in peace.   This blessing was given by Priests to send the people off  with the reminder that God is with them always.    Only Priests and Ministers and those Ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament can bless others. 

What one thing will you take from what you’ve read and meditated about today and share with others?  Or if today is an inside day for you,  who will you pray for today with the knowledge you have learned from today’s  reading and meditation?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father,  we travel in Your peace.  We walk in Your love.   We step in Your joy.  We sleep in the comfort of knowing that in all things,  You are with us.   May we take one thing from our reading and meditation today and share it in Your name.  Amen.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Tuesday - making us whole

Prayer:  Immortal God,  where ever we are today,  we know that You are with us.   What ever we say today,  we know that You are with us.  What ever we do today,  we know that You are with us.  We thank You.  Amen.

Read St. Luke 8:  26 - 39

The healing of the demon-possessed man.   This story is  also known as the madman and the pigs.     With the mention of pigs  we know that we are not in a Jewish area.  In Leviticus 11: 7-8,  God says not to eat pigs nor to have anything to do with pigs.   This is why we immediately know this was a Gentile area where Jesus travelled.

Jesus and the Disciples sail across the Sea of Galilee to a place on the other shore.  There Jesus is met by a demon-possessed man from the town.   St. Luke describes the man as not wearing any clothes nor living in a house but instead lived in the tombs.   Tombs were dug out of the rock or mud in the area and not only provided shelter but was thought to be the area where demons and bad things lived.     

The demon-possessed man shouts out to Jesus, What do you want with me Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”       He recognizes Jesus as God’s son.   Jesus proceeds to heal the man but the demon-possessed man shouts “I beg you,  don’t torture me!”     

Instead of continuing healing the man,  Jesus asks, “What is your name?”    Names were what distinguished one person from another person as well as telling what kind of person he is.  Sometimes people were named after an event or religious experience.      The demon-possessed man responds that his name is Legion.

Roman Legions were 6000 infantry and 120 cavalry (men on horses).  Roman Legions were definitely in the area where Jesus and the demon-possessed man are having their discussion.   But Legion was also a name of the vast number of angels or demons in the local belief.

Which ever one the demon-possessed man is calling himself,  he is one troubled man with 6000 plus problems.   

The demons ask Jesus if they can go into the pigs.   Jesus agrees and the pigs suddenly dive over the cliffs to their death.

Those looking after the pigs are amazed and run off to find out what had happened to their pigs.   What they find is the demon-possessed man sitting with Jesus.  The man is clothed and speaking coherently.     Then the keepers of the pigs and the town folk are afraid and ask Jesus to leave.

The healed man wants to go with Jesus but Jesus says, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you”.  And the man began telling others about Jesus who had made him whole.

This day,  tell others about Jesus, the Son of the Mighty God who has made you whole.

Prayer:   Jesus,  Son of the Mighty God,  You have made us whole.   In Your love and knowledge we live and grow and blossom.   We abide in Your great care.  Amen.

Monday 18 February 2013

Monday - a passage of faith

Prayer:   Lord Jesus Christ,  calm the storms of our life.  Lord Jesus Christ,  calm the heartaches of our life so that we can carry on Your work in joy and peace.  Amen.

Read St. Luke 8: 22 – 25
Jesus calms the storm.     Do you remember the Sunday School posters that used to be used in the 1950’s and 1960’s?   The Sunday School poster was of a tiny boat surrounded by huge waves ready to crash into the boat.  Jesus was asleep near the stern and the Disciples looked scared beyond belief.  The background of the Sunday School poster was painted in greys,  blacks, and white.   This was an image of the Disciples shrinking in fear and the calmness of Jesus that taught many Sunday School children.

But what did we learn from this poster?  We learned that Jesus can sleep anywhere… and then eventually we learned that Jesus calmed the storm because his Disciples asked him.  
In Sunday School we were taught that when we get into the “storms of life”,  to ask Jesus to help us.

As we get older and read this story again and again,  we discover anew that after Jesus had the wind subsided and the waves calmed,  Jesus turned to the Disciples saying, “Where is your faith?”   Jesus is not asking them to tell him their faith level on a scale of 1 to 10,  but telling them to trust Jesus…. Jesus fell asleep in the boat and wasn’t worried so why should they be worried.

We aren’t told the rest of the story  but can’t you imagine the Disciples saying to Jesus, “But you should have seen the waves!  They were huge. But you should have seen the turbulent sea!  But you should have seen the fierceness of the wind!”    

Jean Vanier,  in his book Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus  states that “crossing the lake is a passage of faith,  a passage of faith we all have to make…..  Jesus calls his disciples to move from a faith based on a very visible miracle that fulfilled their physical needs to a faith that is total trust in him and in his words.    This can be a difficult passage for us all, like an inner storm.  It can represent the passage from childhood, where we feel secure with our parents,  to adulthood, where we become responsible for our lives…. The disciples,  who were confused and upset in the boat are telling us something about ourselves.  How easily they seem to have forgotten the blessedness of Jesus.  How easily we forget!   We can live blessed moments of the presence of God in prayer or through an encounter with someone where we sense God’s presence.  Then something happens and we are plunged into the depths of sadness and despair.   We forget the moment of blessedness.  Doubt, anger, and anguish surge up within us.  We have short memories!  …. So this crossing of the lake was a physical reality,  but it also symbolizes our growth in faith,  our passages of faith.  We all have to go through times of confusion and doubt.  This is all part of the journey of faith.  It is not an easy journey since we have to die to ourselves,  die to the desire to control situations, to control the Spirit of God, to control Jesus in order to abandon ourselves to the Spirit of Jesus leading us.”    (Vanier, Jean.  Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus.  Novalis,  2004  pg 123 - 124)

Prayer:  Great God,  we thank You for our journey of faith.    Great God,  we thank You for the work we have accomplished in Your Church.    Great God,  remind us of Your presence when we go through times of confusion and doubt.  Remind us that You are our every present love.  We thank You.  Amen.

Sunday 17 February 2013

Sunday - Lent 1 - A time of Meditation

You will need a Bible,   comfy chair,     paper  and a pen/pencil.

 Before we begin today’s  Lenten Retreat,  settle yourself into a comfy chair.   Once you are settled  take a slow breath inward.   As your breath inward,  think of this breathe as the love of Jesus.    When you breath out,  think of this breathe as the love of Jesus being shared with everyone. 
Breath in the love of Jesus.
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone
Breath in the love of Jesus
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone.

Prayer:  Here I am Lord Jesus Christ.  I am here in Your presence.   You have brought me to this moment.   Speak Lord  for I am listening to You…..

Picture Jesus sitting beside you and  Read  St Luke 8: 19 - 21
Breath in the love of Jesus.
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone
Breath in the love of Jesus
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone.

Meditate upon St. Luke  8: 19 - 21 with these questions
* I see or contemplate each person in those events, especially Jesus himself.
*  I listen to the words, spoken or implied. I ask myself what they might mean. Do they apply to me?
*  I ponder   the actions, gestures and emotions of Jesus.   Ask Jesus how I can put my faith into action as He did every day.
  *   What touched my heart about this scripture?   What did I find difficult?
   *   Was there something I would like to return to?
   *   Was there a phrase of verse that I would like to remember?

Jesus, how can I put my faith into action for You this  day.  
I am  aware of the love Jesus has for me. 

Breath in the love of Jesus.
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone
Breath in the love of Jesus
Breath out the love of Jesus being shared with everyone.

Closing Prayer:   Thank you Lord for the time spent in meditation and prayer.  May I come to see You more clearly.  May I  come to love You more dearly.  May I come to do Your work You have set for me to do..... Almighty God, You have taught us to pray not only for ourselves but for all people.  Help us to look with compassion and understanding upon the needs of others.  We pray for the Church catholic,  gathered all over the world for prayer this day.  may we ever more and more visibily become the one great family of Christ  for all, uniting all in peace and concord for Your sake.  We ask You to hear our prayers, O LORD.
We pray for all who suffer at the hands of those who bear prejudice and pride and who bear patiently the burden of bitterness and hate.  Grant them the peace Christ brings which the world cannot take away, that they may be peacemakers for Your sake.  We ask You to hear our prayers, O LORD. 
We pray for all who suffer from hunger or disease and who do not know what the future holds.  Quicken the concern of all who possess an abundance of good things that they may have mercy on the poor.   Crown the skill and wisdom of doctors and nurses and of all who are endowed with healing power,  for the sake of Christ.   We ask You to hear our prayers,  O LORD.  Amen
(Book of Common Order of the Presbyterian Church in Canada,  1964.  pg 176-177).

Friday 15 February 2013

Friday - putting your faith in action

Prayer:  All our hope is founded in You,  Great God.  In You we put our trust anew.   Work through us Your change and Your love.  Guide us in Your path of love and truth.   You are our hearts desire.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Luke 8:  19 – 21

Jesus’ mother and brothers come to see Jesus.  They are not able to get anywhere near Jesus because of the crowd.    Someone tells Jesus that his Mother and brothers are outside wanting to see Jesus.   “Brothers” in Jewish understanding frequently meant bothers and male cousins as well.  

Does Jesus immediately say, “excuse me” to the crowd and go visit with his Mother and brothers?  Not at all.  Instead Jesus replies, “My Mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”   What?   This seems like an odd comment.   In actual fact,  Jesus is praising his Mother and brothers for hearing the Word of God and then putting their faith  into action.    Some Biblical Scholars state that the Greek used here means all Mothers and all Brothers who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.   
How do we put our faith into action?  It means taking what we have learned in Worship,  in Bible Study,  in meditation  and getting out into our community to heal the sick,  cloth the poor,  feed the hungry,  and care for the widow.  We must take what we have learned  in Worship,  Bible Study,  prayer, and meditation  and go share this wonderful Good News with others.

Winnipeg Inner City Mission and Kenora Fellowship Centre are always looking for people to put their faith into action,  not only monetarily but also through items to help heal the sick, cloth the poor, feed the hungry, and care for the widow.

(Anamiewigummig) Kenora Fellowship Centre is currently looking for help with finding the following items:
1.  New Commercial Dishwasher
2.  Underwear for men and women
3.  Winter coats for men and women (large sizes preferred)
4.  Long underwear and socks for men and women
5.  Shampoo and Conditioner
6.  Playing Cards
7.  Blankets
8.  Winter boots size 10 or 11
9.   Hats and Mitts
10.  Any non-perishable food items

When people get together to help bring God’s Word into the community,  great things happen.     

 First Presbyterian Church, Portage La Prairie has run a Soup Kitchen for the many        years.    Helpers are not only from the congregation but also the community.   Wow!  What a great way to share the Good News with others!    

Today what one thing will you do to put your faith into action? 

Prayer:    Almighty Giver of love and life,   we lift up to You in prayer the work done by the Winnipeg Inner City Mission,  the Kenora Fellowship Centre,  and First Presbyterian Church,  Portage la Prairie.   Strengthen their workers so that they can serve You with boundless joy.   Call us O LORD  to respond to the work and mission of these houses of prayer.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Thursday - Valentine's Day

Prayer:  Divine Healer,  You have provided us with hearts made for love and to share Your love.  May we remember this day to share Your love as Valentine was an example to all those within the Church. May Your love always shine out of our hearts into the eyes of everyone we meet this day.     Amen.

Read St. Luke 8: 16 – 18

This is the perfect scripture for Valentine’s Day.   Jesus tells the Disciples and the crowd that no one lights a lamp and then tries to hide the light.  Instead,  he puts the light on a stand so that those who come into the house can see the light and not trip over obstacles. 

Here Jesus is telling the Disciples and the crowd,  that those who listen to Jesus’ teaching are not keeping secrets – they aren’t hiding anything.    Jesus then warns them to be careful that they don’t become misers of what they hear.   Share the stories with everyone.  Don’t keep the stories of Jesus to themselves.   Share the stories and the love of Jesus with everyone you meet this day.

Interesting.   Today is Valentine’s Day.    In 496BC,  the Church decided that today would be the day to celebrate the faith of Valentine.     During the life of the Church there were many Valentines – some priests,  some monks,  some Bishops.  But the common thread to all of the Valentine’s  was they kept their faith through trial and tribulation.     While we don’t know which of the Valentine’s  today is in celebration of,  we do know that the example of Valentine is amazing.  Even in discouragement or frustration or tribulation – keep the faith.  Keep praying to God.  Keep sharing the Good News of Jesus.   

So,  today wish everyone you meet a Happy Valentine’s  Day!   You will know that you are sharing the Good News of Jesus to them in a very simple and easy way.    Then this evening,  remember all those whom you wished a Happy Valentine’s  Day and uphold them in your nightly prayers.

Prayer:   Love Divine.  Almighty God place Your loving hands upon us so that we continue to share Your love and hope with joy and praise.    Love Divine,  lift up our weary hearts so they become hearts filled with enthusiasm and deep love.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Ash Wednesday

Prayer:  Loving God,  we know that You have already forgiven us of all our sins through the death and resurrection of Your Son.  But today we bring to You all our sins that are creating a burden upon our hearts of love.   Please forgive us Lord of all the things we have left unsaid.  Please forgive us Lord of all the things we said and then wished we didn’t.  Please forgive us Lord of all the things we have left undone this day.  But in everything,  we know that we are forgiven.   We know that each day we are made new in Your love.   In Christ’s name.  Amen.

Read St. Luke  8:  1-  15

Today is Ash Wednesday… the day when we ask God to forgive us from our whining and complaining and short vision and turn again to God’s love.  Lent is forty days long, not including Sundays.    Lent is a time to do seriously looking at ourselves… our actions… our thoughts… our vision and then turn to God,  asking for forgiveness and newness of God’s joy.

Sin.   That leads us directly into Ash Wednesday.   In the Middle Ages and still today,  people go to Church and ask God for forgiveness.   They hand God their sins and say, “Please forgive me”.  Then as a visual sign that they are forgiven,  the Minister draws a cross on their foreheads using ashes.    Usually the ashes are the burned remains of  last year’s palm branches.  As Presbyterians we don’t usually have Ash Wednesday Worship nor do we place the sign of the cross on our foreheads.  Instead  we spend time in prayer and reflection asking God for forgiveness.

Some Denominations take Lent as a time of fasting or giving up something special (like chocolate).   As Presbyterians we do not give anything up but instead we add.    We add more time for prayer and mediation upon the scriptures and worship.   

Today we will be reflecting upon the Parable of the Sower/Story of the Seeds.  Jesus,  the Disciples,  and some other followers are  travelling from town to town preaching God’s kingdom.   At one point,  Jesus stops and tells everyone the Story of the Seeds  (read St. Luke 8: 4 – 15).   

The Disciples are stumped and ask Jesus, “Why did you tell us this story?”   And Jesus responds, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom – you know how it works.  There are others who need stories.  But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it.”  (The Message,  NavPress,  2005).

How do we share God’s kingdom today?  How do we share the stories of Jesus?  Through Worship and Bible Study.    This means that our Worship must be the focus of our Church.   Those who read the Scriptures must practice during the week reading the Scriptures out loud.    There is nothing worse than sitting in a pew cringing over some’s poor reading because they didn’t pre-read out loud the Scriptures for the day.  Or cringing over hearing Biblical names and places being incorrectly spoken.     Please,  those who read the Bible each Sunday – pre-read your Scriptures out loud early in the week,  dig into the text,  know how to pronounce all those Biblical names and places,  and most importantly keep the Scriptures and your reading in your prayers.    The sharing of the stories of Jesus begins with you.  Do it well so that our sharing glorifies our Lord and Saviour.

Prayer:  Loving God,  we know that You have already forgiven us of all our sins through the death and resurrection of Your Son.  We know that each day we are made new in Your love.  And through Your love,  help us to recognize how to share Your Kingdom.    In Christ’s name.  Amen.