Thursday - Lent 5

In the hustle and bustle of bringing the pieces together for our Museum Vimy Night,  it is so important to take time away during the day to be centred in God.  And amazing how sitting in a rocking chair in the living room or sitting outside for a few minutes and praying refreshes the heart and soul.  

It was delightful to stand in the 26 Fd Regiment Orderly Room yesterday and hear the laughter that permeates the office.   Good laughter is a sign of health and happiness.    

Thank You God for laughter and great sense of humour!

Devotional....

Father of mercy,  God of all consolation,  strengthen us in our very lives to adore and to serve You faithfully.  We give ourselves to You this day open for Your Word and Your Work.   This we ask in Jesus’ name.    Amen.  

Read:  St. Matthew 10: 40 – 42

Jesus says to the disciples and to us today that we are all intimately linked in the work of the Harvest (the sharing of the Good News of Jesus).    It is a large work that Jesus has called the disciples (and us!) to do. 

If someone offers to help,  accept the person’s offer!  This is something we have forgotten in our Church’s  today.  To accept a person’s offer.   Have you ever offered to help out and been told, “Oh no thanks,  this is easier to do myself”.   So how does that share the Good News?  It doesn’t.  That skreetches the Good News to a stand-still.   Always remember the Sharing of the Good News begins even with the smallest task.

 

Or have you been on the other side and the task given to you seems HUGE and you seemingly have no help?    Well,  says Jesus,  ask people to help out.   In Churches this means either phoning people directly and asking for their help or putting an announcement in the Church bulletin.   Communication is so important.    And so is prayer.    When any new program or idea or event begins in the Church,  we not only need people to help carry out the program but most importantly,  we need people to carry this program in prayer.     And we have to be specific in the prayer. 

Do not be overwhelmed by the large work.  It is best to start small.   The smallest act of giving or receiving is an awesome example of  how to share the Good News of Jesus.

Thus day,  phone your Elder and ask how you can help with Sharing the Good News of Jesus for your Church.

God Holy, God strong and Holy,  God Holy and Immortal  grant us peace so that we may live this day in Your joy and praise.     Help us to remember that we are Your hands and the aid of Your Work.   Give us the strength and delight to serve You forever.  Amen. 

Wednesday Retreat

Good Morning on Wednesday.  Yesterday ended up being only half a day at the Museum.   Every once in a while my diseases catch up with me and "announce" themselves quite loudly.   Yesterday afternoon was such a time as well as today too.     Hurrah for rocking chairs and fleecy blankets.   Why does everything feel better when one is in a rocking chair and covered by a fleecy blanket?    Today will be a day of saying prayers,  snoring,  looking at the pile of paperwork still to be accomplished, and reading.
Husband is off on another seven day road trip.  This time he will be in Winnipeg,  Kenora,  Thunder Bay,  and Geraldton.   He absolutely loves what God has given him to do.... Synod Guy for Manitoba and North Western Ontario.  His vocation means a lot of travelling and a lot of meetings.   Early in Husband's  ministry,  I kidded him that he spent so much time at Church and visiting others that we needed a secret password phrase so I could identify him when he came through the door to home late at night.  The phrase is "Do you do windows?"   With Husband answering, "Nope,  not at all!"    And that is true.  Husband does not clean windows :)    We've been married for 26 years and I have to admit,  God certainly knew that putting Husband and I together would be a wonderful thing!

Daily Devotional--  

Prayer:  Great God,  we thank You that You call us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  May we carry Your glory as we walk through our day.   Amen.

Read: St. Matthew 5: 13-16

Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.”  In the time of Jesus,  salt was extremely important for life.  Salt was used for flavouring food,  to preserving food (and body),  to offerings,  to being an illustration of the Torah.   The point here is that Jesus is instructing the disciples that they have a very important role in the community and world.  The disciples are to set an example to others by loving God,  behaving morally,  doing good deeds, and sharing the love of Jesus with their friends.  If the disciples forget these taskings,  they loose their saltiness and are as useless as the salt from the Dead Sea.  The salt of the Dead Sea had chemical impurities that could decompose and cause anyone who ate this salt to loose their taste.   Never forget God.  

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world”.     Here Jesus is instructing the disciples to always learn and be a moral compass in the community.   In the darkness of light,  one match set afire can be seen for miles.   So too are we called to be the light of the world.  If we attend Church on Sunday and then do nothing,  we do not share the light of the world with our community.  Our family and friends need to see our good works and our joy in worshipping God.

By being “salt” and “light” we are called to be witnesses of the love of Jesus.  If we loose our saltiness or hide our light, we are no witness at all.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father,  help us to be a witness of the love of Jesus Christ.  May our light shine before others so that everyone may see Your glory.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!