NOTHING, NO NOTHING

NOTHING, NO NOTHING
CAN EVER SEPARATE US – from the love of God. Well yes, there is one thing – us. The Bible translation, “The Voice” states the promise this way –  37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!  Throughout Romans 8, as we have seen in the past several days, Paul does not sugar coat the proposition of living in God, and walking on the path God gives us. Then he finishes the chapter in the same way. He states it blatantly. There is no excuse we could ever come up with to come between us and God’s love for us – except us !!!

Our choices are the biggest obstacle we face. Because of the way we make choices, we can create a mountain too high to scale or a gully too big to cross. With our head down to avoid the dangers out there, we can go so far from the path God shows us, that we lose sight of the life we could be living, where love and joy are a part of everything. Instead we can begin to only see the difficult and ugly sides of life. We may forget that there are other choices we can make. Some of us may never have heard that there is another kind of life. When the storms of life are all around, it may become hard to see through the gloom to the brightness of God’s unconditional love for us. No matter what we have been through in the past, there is always the light that Christ has shown the world, and continues to shine down on us. Christ is at God’s right hand, speaking forgiving words of love, without blame. If we choose to accept it, we can walk into the light of Christ’s love, and receive forgiveness already paid for, at the price of his death on a cross, and then unending love for us. But what about the life I have lived in the past? God’s love for us overcomes ANYTHING we have lived, and it will not matter. There is no roadblock we can think of to prevent us from the love God has for each of us. There is no excuse we can conceive of that will keep us from that great and powerful love. God says COME.   Amen.       PEACE

ALWAYS PRAYING

ALWAYS PRAYING
EVEN WHEN WE HAVE NO WORDS – is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The world through countless centuries has given us the idea that we need words to pray. And not only words, but if we have just the right words to say to God, all will be made right. This idea could not be further from the truth. In fact, if we consider what this idea of the right words is saying, we would be praying to a God who has no love for us, unless we come up with the right words. This is NOT a God of love and mercy, and is sinful to think of this coming between us and God. Instead, we have a creator who has conceived us from great love, a redeemer who has transformed any sinful nature, and a Holy Spirit who knows our joys and sorrows from the inside. Romans 8 helps us understand and acknowledge something we instinctively know in our hearts, when we allow ourselves.  26  “The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For we don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit expresses our plea with groanings too deep for words.  27 And God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what the Spirit is saying, because the intercessions for God’s holy people are made according to the mind of God.”  

Even in our deepest despair God is within us, and knows what we are going through. Words are not necessary to express it all to our God, because of the very fact that the Spirit abides in us, and is suffering with us whatever we are suffering. When we allow ourselves to know this secret, it breaks down our walls of resistance to letting God work in us, and help us overcome all the problems we are struggling with. We are not facing anything alone, because the Holy Spirit is in us and by our side, ready to help us figure out the solutions. The words will come to us, so that we can begin to understand what we are going through. The words make things clearer for us, but are not needed for God to know what is in our hearts and minds. God already knows us. The pretense, of showing God that we know the right words to pray, is both silly and unnecessary.   Loving God, who is within our hearts, help us know what that means. Help us understand that we are loved by you, even when we are not doing or thinking what we should. Help us turn from those other paths, and find our true selves within ourselves. Show us the light on the path to follow where you want us to walk. We pray resting in the one who lived that path before us.    Amen.       PEACE

DREAMING

DREAMING
FOR THE TIME – when creation will be made new, and all that God has envisioned will be here. A sweet dream indeed, that is hard for many of us to believe, in light of the conditions in the world today. We know there is too much suffering, more than we would choose, and for many who do not deserve it. So it sometimes makes it hard to have hope for a better world, where there is at least less suffering. No one likes suffering, and it is hard to see others suffer, especially if they have done nothing wrong. It is even hard to go through suffering and realize we have actually learned something and grown from the experience. We are living in an imperfect world, where the brokenness seems to cause suffering. God is not immune to what we suffer, and promises to go with us through it. God is there in the midst of it all, whether we are aware of that or not. From this passage in Romans 8, we can understand some of how this suffering might happen, and the hope that follows.

18 “We have sufferings now, but these are nothing compared to the great glory that will be given to us. 19 Everything that God made is waiting with excitement for the time when God will show the world who God’s children are. The whole world wants very much for that to happen. 20 Everything God made was allowed to become like something that cannot fulfill its purpose. That was not its choice, but God made it happen with this hope in view: 21 That the creation would be made free from ruin, that everything God made would have the same freedom and glory that belong to God’s children.” In the midst of all the suffering, God still is with us, and is urging us on through the suffering with the promise that in the end, all creation will become what it was created to be. Creation itself is poised to be even greater than it is now, because God has a plan in mind. When this comes to be, everything that is less than it should be will be revealed in all its glory, as God has intended it from the beginning. Creator God, who has made everything with love, help us see this vision of what will be. Give us a new view of what your love and glory will bring to the world, transforming all suffering into glorious versions of creation. Show us how to use the gifts you have given to us to support the work you are doing, that we may be a part of this work of renewal, into glory. Amen. PEACE

CHOSEN OF GOD

CHOSEN OF GOD
AND A CHOICE WE MAKE – is the turning point for us all. God has already chosen us as children by creating us. But, as children given free will, we can also choose the path we will walk. The number of choices we have available to us makes our heads spin, and yet once we choose God, it is the best choice we could make. God created us and we are not completely whole until we also choose God. We already have all the love God makes available, but until we choose God, we will not be able to see and feel that love fully and completely. We have gifts from God available to us, and yet we may not know we have them, or we may not be able to make full use of them. We can know joy, but until we accept the invitation to follow the life of the Spirit, as inspired by Jesus in Romans 8, we will wander, and be slaves to lives unworthy of the life we were created to live. 14 “The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.15 The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us God’s chosen children. And with that Spirit we cry out, “ Abba.” 16 And the Spirit speaks to our spirits and makes us sure that we are God’s children. 17 If we are God’s children, we will get the blessings God has for God’s people.  God will give us all that God has given Christ.” 

God is our spiritual home. It is like coming to a place, where we will always be welcomed, and never turned away for any reason. We will be given the exact food we need and at just the right moment. It will be delicious and we will know loving hands prepared it just for us. This food will be nourishing and satisfying, giving us all that we need to do whatever we face. We will wear clothing that imbues us with safety and love, giving us comfort and preparing us for rest to come. Then will come refreshing rest, and an understanding ear. We will face no condemnation for anything we have done, but will be received with open arms, forgiving us of all. When the morning comes, we will be set on the path we need to follow, so that we arrive at the place where we need to be, and be accompanied along the way, by love and grace. We will do what we need to do during the day, in a place full of blessings, as we are directed, and given loving options and ways to use our gifts, making our accomplishments sweeter and the results will be objects of love and beauty. When we have faithfully completed our day, we will again return home, with the blessings that go with us, and more that await us there. Finally, we will know others who are walking this same path, and we will encourage them as they encourage us. The ugliness of the world will still be around us, but we will have all these blessings from God to help us deal with it. Loving God, we are grateful for the love you provide us – love that goes before us, and is behind us, is to the left and right, and is inside us; love that helps us love others, and gives us strength when we need it; love that helps us forgive, and let go of anger; love that moves us to do what we have never done before, and what we need to do every day. Help us share this awesome love with all we encounter, and all we don’t know, so we may be a vital part of your transforming of the world.    Amen.       PEACE

TAKING A NEW PATH

TAKING A NEW PATH
HELPS US SEE – a different world, through new eyes. Praying for new direction from the Holy Spirit will actually change how we look at things and what we actually see, when we do look. How can this happen, and will it feel weird ? This is not a decision we are playing around with. If we are able to make a mature decision where we need to leave our old and unproductive life behind, then whether it is weird or not will not be a concern. When we take this step into a new way of living, we have to turn our backs on the ways we used to react to the world. God will teach us new ways of responding. The world presents us with an environment that is focused on the physical, something that God has created to be temporary for us. Our physical bodies are a convenient way of being here on earth. But they are not a permanent part of us. So then, it makes no sense to focus on the physical as most important. Our spiritual selves is what God has created in us to be eternal, and is therefore much more important and central to who we really are.

Romans 8 rather bluntly gives us a clearer perspective on what is most important. “But if you live your life animated by the Spirit—namely, God’s indwelling presence—then your focus is on the work of the Spirit. 6 A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace. 7 You see, a mind focused on the flesh is declaring war against God; it defies the authority of God’s law and is incapable of following God’s path. 8 So it is clear that God takes no pleasure in those who live oriented to the flesh. 9 But you do not live in the flesh. You live in the Spirit, assuming, of course, that the Spirit of God lives inside of you.” When we pray to God, and invite God to direct us in living a Spirit-rich life, it will begin to happen. Pay attention to how it will affect our thinking and being. The power of the Spirit unleashed within us is exciting, like no drugs and alcohol could ever provide us, and things will begin to change. If we are not living a more exciting life, having invited God’s Holy Spirit to live within us, then we are putting on the brakes. This is from fear of what may happen, and it is not necessary. God is also gentle with us, and loving in the way we will be taught how to live this different life. We will not be dropped into the deep end of the pool, and left to flounder. 11 “If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that God who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you.”    That light shines in the darkness and overcomes it, and our fears along with it.     Holy and loving God, we are ready to be surprised by a new life, lived out with the Holy Spirit. Help our fear, and give us new eyes, to see the way you see others, and your creation. Give us new directions for the path you are giving us. Help us see this exciting new world.     Amen.        PEACE

LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD –

LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD –
WHERE DIFFERENT RULES FROM GOD – have more effect that the world’s laws. In this Bible version called “The Voice,” we hear in Romans 8, about a different way of looking at the world, and our living in it.   “Therefore, now no condemnation awaits those who are living in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, 2 because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death. 3 God did something the law could never do. You see, human flesh took its toll on God’s law. In and of itself, the law is not weak; but the flesh weakens it. So to condemn the sin that was ruling in the flesh, God sent His own Son, bearing the likeness of sinful flesh, as a sin offering. 4 Now we are able to live up to the justice demanded by the law. But that ability has not come from living by our fallen human nature; it has come because we walk according to the movement of the Spirit in our lives.”

We have been given this indescribable gift from God, and THEN we were also created with the freedom to choose. This means we can choose to see life through this lens of a world God has created, and seeing it this way – we can then actually live as if it were true. But do we believe we can do that ?  Most of us, even if we call ourselves Christian allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the realities of the world around us, and forget we have been given a new reality – if we choose to accept it. Yes, it takes work to change our belief of what can be our reality. But God is waiting for us to ask for the help we will need to actually achieve this new perspective. God will make it so, if we allow for it, and ask for it to become so, for us. This is NOT a mind game. When we choose to live in the reality God offers, it can become our reality too. It doesn’t mean the “real world” will disappear, but it will become less influential, and have less power over us. This is a part of what can happen when we say yes to God, and open ourselves to letting God show us a different, better way to live.  Loving and transforming God, we are willing to consider the difference your love and Spirit can make in the world. Show us how to begin walking that new path, toward a world you are making new every day. Give us a vision of what that world could look like, and show us how to get involved in helping it happen.  Amen.     PEACE

SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER

SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
IN THE WORK – of love and grace, as imitators of the Lord. Even when we have a close relationship with our God, the work of love is not always easy, but we don’t need to expect it will always be like that. Sometimes it is so rewarding and joyful that we may forget we have had to be very dedicated in ignoring the world around us, and walking with God in order that a particular thing may happen. Knowing how hard it can be, and knowing just how vital it is to love others for God’s sake, we need to encourage each other, whenever we see an opportunity. It was important enough to Paul, that he specifically told the people in the church at Thessalonica to do just that.  “10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”  I recently heard of someone who passed over, who had lived his life in grace and love and showed that to others. It is not the first time that I realized I counted him among those I think of in gratitude, because they are doing this every day they live. Then God gave me an amazing experience. I have a friend who is gifted in channeling. I started telling her about this man and before I could tell her how gentle and loving he was, she was telling me he was in our midst. He had died suddenly, and was having a hard time, feeling that his life hadn’t counted for much. Then I found myself expressing what I knew of the impact he had had on others during his life. As a Christian, this mattered to him.

We so rarely think to tell others of the profound impact they may have on us, and how they may influence how we live. I know this man was an encouragement to me, because I knew he and others were in the world, and living quiet but loving lives of grace from God. So I ended up telling him what friends had said in comments with his obituary, and on his Facebook page. My friend channeled his tears of gratitude. I have learned from this, that we need to be more open in giving others more encouragement, especially to those we know who are living out the love and grace from God. In the Third Letter of John, an early church leader writes this in gratitude to someone named Gaius, for his way of loving others.   5 “Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God.”   Loving and generous God, we are grateful for the ways in which you support us in living a life of love, for you and others around us. Help us express love and gratitude to those who are also living out your love, encouraging them, and giving them a measure of strength to continue in this path. Help us all understand how much it matters that we do this for you and those who love you.  In Christ’s name, who showed us how, we pray this.  Amen.    PEACE

TO LOVE GOD

TO LOVE GOD
MEANS PUTTING GOD FIRST – each day. Loving God with our whole hearts, body, mind and spirit is a matter of intention. Putting God first means thinking of God first. How are we to actually do this in practice? Here are some suggested ways of how this might become an integral part of our lives. Begin our day by thinking of God first, then allow God in as we consider the coming day, and how we might meet the challenges or goals in different ways, seeking direction from God, and praying for guidance as we begin. Many of us are inclined to proceed in routine tasks and only pray for help when we run into trouble. However when we pray before we engage in all the activities of our day, we are guided around mistakes and still learn to do each job in a better and more effective way. Developing this routine as a habit will strengthen our ties to God, and show our love and honor for God in our lives. First thing in the morning, before we are pulled into life, is the best time to begin to develop this habit. “Be still and know that I am God,” from Psalm 46 may inherently suggest it.

As Madeleine L’Engle, the author of “Walking on Water” says, “We live by revelation, as Christians…” and goes further to caution us, “we must be careful never to get set into rigid molds.” In other words, as we live each day, we need to keep up the connection to God, living with God, not with the patterns we think God wants us to have. Once we start second-guessing what God would have us do, we have lost contact and are off the road we are to travel. Various things can push us off that road – fear or distraction, evil influences or lack of focus. It takes only a simple prayer of opening to God, to get us back on the road, and into communication again. “We fail in the work of grace and love when there is too much of us and not enough of God.” – Suzanne Woods Fisher     Transforming God, we are grateful for your constant and unconditional love for each of us. Help us develop the lines of communication you already have in place, to guide us in our living. Show us how we may best love you and live our lives for you, with honor and embodied devotion.    Amen.      PEACE

JESUS IS REALLY KNOCKING –

JESUS IS REALLY KNOCKING –
WHO WILL INVITE HIM IN? Jesus pushes us to answer this question. Yesterday we looked at this from the perspective of each of us personally opening the door. But the passage in Revelation 3 could lead us to a different interpretation. 20 “Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me.” From the context of this passage, it is about one of the early churches, and how they were doing. So today we might say, it is the church that Jesus is asking to invite him in. By extension, we might say that the church today needs to invite Jesus into the life within it. Looking first at the simplest idea of opening to a stranger and inviting them to a meal was basic and expected hospitality for the culture at the time of this writing. It would be the least one could do. So by this example, we are challenged in the church today, are we willing to do this? If a middle-eastern man came to one of our church buildings, would we even open the door, let alone put on a meal for him? How have we gotten so far from what Jesus asks of the church?

How is Jesus invited to be a part of the internal life of our local churches? Many have completely lost sight of how radical Jesus was in challenging the thoughtless ways of the culture. Fighting for the oppressed is considered much too hard to do today, and so is most of what Jesus called us to do, so it is then ignored. What remains in the life of many churches is not what those looking for a spiritual body will actually find. Centuries ago, membership in the church became a privilege, and so was excluded from those who could not meet certain standards. Once inside the gates, and protected from those less desirable, the church became a sanctuary for the entitled, not sanctuary for the troubled, endangered and unworthy. We have stories of Jesus ministering to all these sorts of people, and yet we somehow think this does not apply to us. The Lord’s Supper is not a meal of privilege, but we have made it so. The good news is that the church is being reformed by God. Those churches who have no vision for what God needs us to do are dying from within. New vision from God is inspiring and equipping others to break out of our strongholds and make a difference in the lives of those who need God’s mercy. Again pairing this passage with John 15, we might consider what this says: 22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”  God of radical hospitality, help us see how you extend this to everyone. Overcome our fear of encountering the poor and others on the fringe, so they may feel the love and grace you provide for them too. May they know the comfort of food and shelter, but also the warmth of love and mercy so needed in their lives.    Amen.       PEACE

GOD HELPS US OPEN THE DOOR

GOD HELPS US OPEN THE DOOR
TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST – a door where Christ stands waiting for us. In the sanctuary in many church buildings is the famous picture of Christ at the closed door, knocking on it. The door has no knob to open it, on the side where Jesus is. The question is, who is on the other side of the door? In Revelation 3 we hear:    20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” One interpretation is that we are the ones who might open the door. Some have further suggested that this is the door to our hearts. Whether it be our hearts or our whole selves, the Holy Spirit is the one who, having worked on our hearts, has facilitated us becoming open to Christ and all that Christ represents. The reference to sharing a meal, as friends suggests both the Communion meal, and also when Jesus calls those who love and serve God friends of his, from John 15. 12 “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. … 15b but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.”

If we do open the door, then what? We are opening ourselves to a life with Christ. The reference in the Revelation passage to being victorious is the victory over sin and death which Jesus has accomplished for us. Our lives have been redeemed and by following Jesus commandment to love each other, we are offered a place at his side, on the throne. I think of all of this each time I look at the picture, and it gives me hope. But we all have a choice to accept Jesus or not. That is why there is no knob on the door. Jesus is asking to come in, not opening the door and coming in, without being invited. It is important that we make this choice, and is a choice we keep making. Each day we invite Jesus in. A relationship takes involvement, and so it is necessary to recommit ourselves to the work of God each day, by inviting Christ inside. Then we remember what we know, and the love we share. In this way we are inspired every day, to do what Jesus asks, in gratitude born from love. If we let this happen, we will never “burn out.”   Gracious Redeemer, who paid the price for us, we are grateful. Guide us as we seek to connect to you each day. Help us open the door, and let your love and mercy flow through us to others. Help us keep the door open and remain connected to you and your grace, that we may continue to serve you all of our days.     Amen.        PEACE