Wednesday with Rain and Sunshine

A couple of months ago,  one of the Synod Ministers went to Africa on a Tour of Missions and Churches.  He came back enthused with wanting to donate Theological books to  the Ministers of one of the African nations.  Upon Graduation,  most Ministers of this African nation do not have theology books nor commentaries.  Most Canadian Ministers rely on good commentaries and theological books for their ministry.      This is a great project and monies were donated.  Yet,  months later the hospitality and sharing has fizzled.    And that is so sad.    Monies were donated and all the Synod thought this to be the end of their responsibility.      I think not.    We should be keeping the new Ministers in our prayers.... we should be writing letters of encouragement to the new Ministers.... we should be making sure that the books purchased are excellent books that are truly needed and not just someone's old cast-offs.... we should be inviting the new Ministers to Canada to show them our Missions and Churches and learn more about their Missions and Churches.    Mission and Ministry is more than just giving money.    Mission and Ministry is about opening ourselves to hearing the call of God to do God's work in the world.  

Retreating in God's love....

Prayer:  Healing God,  help us to be a shining example of who You are this day.  Help us to lead by example in Your Word. Help us to lift other’s burdens so that they may see Your love.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 23: 1 – 12

This portion of Scripture begins with Jesus saying to the Disciples and the crowd that they must obey the Laws and the Pharisees and the Lawyers but do not do what the Pharisees do as they do not practice what they preach.

While the Pharisees have all the right laws,  they have gone overboard with the Laws and the rules.  Instead of helping people to understand the Word of God,  the Pharisees have created too many rules  and have placed these rules into bundles and place these bundles on people’s shoulders.  The bundles of rules then weigh heavy upon people’s shoulders but the Pharisees do not help to unload the burden.

Jesus says that the Pharisees have all the right stuff to show that they are devote yet their finery does nothing to bring themselves nor the people closer to God.     While they wear the scriptures around their arms and head,  they have not brought the scriptures into their hearts.  While they wear beautiful prayer shawls,  they do not pray.   While they like the head places at any dinner table and to be called Rabbi or Master,  they have not earned their title through keeping the Word of God alive in their hearts nor in the people’s hearts.

Instead of wearing all the right clothes and accessories to be a teacher or Master,  each should be a servant first.  

What about our Churches today?   Have we gone overboard with all the right clothes and   accessories   but have forgotten the basics of teaching the scriptures so that each of us have the living Word in our hearts?

Something you should check out this week at your Church.   Are there Bibles in the Church pews?   And if there are not Bibles in the pews and this is the Word of God,  where is the Church’s priorities?   Learning the Scriptures so the words become alive in our hearts is our priority.       If there are no Bibles in the pews,  you should be asking the Minister and Elders why there are no Bibles.  

   

Prayer:  Great God  we come into Your presence asking for Your healing upon our weary souls.   Great God we come into Your presence asking for Your healing upon our troubled minds.  Great God we come into Your presence resting in Your glory.  And we say thank You! This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Wednesday Aaaah

Yesterday we ended up with 16 Students and Leaders and Teacher from Keeseekoowenin School,   a Canadian-Ukrainian family,  a fellow looking for Irish musicians, a Museum Volunteer's  Brother-in-law from Red Deer Alberta,   a Condo Board Director,  a Cap Badge enthusiast,  a Reservist,  and an Officer coming into the Museum.   At the end of the day,  Mr. Neale (Curator Emeratus of 87 years of age) said, "I think I need a seat!  I am tired!"   Indeed.  Yet his enthusiasm never waned.   How neat is that!  Joyous Occasions.


Wednesday Retreat....
Prayer:   Holy God,  as we go out into the world this day, may we know Your presence as we give witness to Your love and grace.   Help us to know the peace of Christ in times of trouble, doubt, and sorrow.  Help us remember that You are with us in our life’s journey.  For this and all things, we give You thanks and praise.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 22: 1 - 14

Jesus tells the Chief Priests and Elders another Parable.   Jesus begins by saying,
“The Kingdom of God is like a King who threw a wedding banquet for his son.” 

Everyone likes a wedding!  It is a time of great joy!   Yet this was a wedding were all of the invited guests would not attend.  WHAT?  Who wouldn’t want to attend a wedding?

God’s love is open to all but many ignore God’s love.   

Then  the King tells his servants to go out into the streets and invite anyone to come to the wedding.    People came to the wedding in droves.  It was a joyous occasion.

Yet the King looks out over the guests and spots a man who wasn’t properly dressed. 

In Jewish culture,  guests donned a “wedding garment”…this garment was not an everyday piece of cloth but something saved for special occasions.   This man was not wearing a wedding garment.    But to be asked at the last minute to attend a wedding and then get all upset because a last minute guest isn’t wearing the proper clothes seems to be nit picking.     In fact the King says to the man, “Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that!”  The man was speechless.  Then the King instructs his servants to tie up the man and throw him outside into the horrors of life.

Huh?   Does that make any sense?   Why did the King get upset with a guest who was invited at the last minute and then wasn’t dressed properly?  Two reasons.  First  God’s invitation is one of grace. God’s invitation is open to anyone.   Christ dined with tax collectors and sinners.   Yet this one guest at the wedding stands out and then gets tossed out.   Here Jesus is stating that sometimes those who accept God’s grace end up abusing God’s grace.  And that is not acceptable.  There is more to this story than merely wearing the wrong cloths.  This man had the wrong attitude!  Second reason was even at the last minute when one is invited to a wedding and knows that one needs to wear special clothes,  this man decided to be lazy and not take the extra two seconds to find and wear the special wedding clothes. 

Jesus then says that many are invited but only a few make it.   

Prayer:  Great God,  we pray that we may grow together in the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.    Strength us by Your Spirit so that we can share Your love and purpose with everyone we meet this day.  This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.