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A God-ward Bent

9/30/2019

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3: 5-6


In 1755,  Robert Robinson was a gang leader, focused on dissolute living. In a drunken stupor he heard the famous preacher, George Whitefield speak.  Whitefield’s message touched his conscience for three years until he came to faith in Jesus Christ.  He penned the powerful hymn, "Come Thou, Font of Every Blessing" to capture the struggles of his life.  Robinson struggled to be faithful.  He struggled to live as Jesus taught us. He understand that we need to recommit to Jesus' teaching every day.

"Come Thou, Font of Every Blessing" was one of the first "Protestant" hymns I was introduced to.   It speaks of our need of God -- but of our struggles with the forces of the world.  How easy it is to forget God in the course of our daily life. We need help to be Christ-like.

The hymn  asks us the question: why is it that we need to preach the gospel to ourselves?  That we need to teach what we most desperately need to learn?   Why is it that we earnestly  need to live the gospel anew on a daily basis? Every day we need to learn anew.  Robinson captured this reality of ours  so well “prone to wander Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” Augustine and Martin Luther both spoke of it as the state of living incurvatus in se -- which is Latin for the human person living bent in on himself.  Through the gospel, that bent is changed from oneself to God.  It is like a bone being set, everyday.  The Holy Spirit must lead us to conform our lives to the gospel -- in the face of human frailty and daily temptation. .
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May our spirits acquire  a" Godward" bent through the transforming power of the gospel -- and find the glory of Jesus -- in the face of our neighbor, and deep in the recesses of our hearts, find its home.




Listen to:  Tobymac,  "Me without You"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL8DpxDQij0&feature=related






PRAY:  "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing"
O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.


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"First Things First"

9/24/2019

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"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118:24  

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  Mark 1:35



"I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day. I had so much to accomplish that I didn't take time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me and heavier came each task. "Why doesn't God help me" I wondered, He answered: "You didn't ask." I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on gray and bleak. I wondered why God didn't show me, He said "But you didn't seek." I tried to come into God's presence. I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, "My child, you didn't knock." I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray."

If you're anything like me, the minute I'm up I'm dashing to throw on clothes, run a brush through my hair, and get the dogs out for their walk.  Then of course they need to be fed and watered, not to mention our now recently deceased Bobbie Cat, when she would sit by her bowl, patiently waiting for her 9-Lives. Is there coffee to gulp down? Glance at the New York Times and see the latest calamities in the world. Then fire up the computer to see the latest emails, Face Book postings..

What's wrong with this picture?!

Like many, I forget:  Put First Things First.  The morning is precious time.  Just rested from sleep, not yet bombarded by the demands of the day,  our brains and spirit are open.  That's when we need to connect spiritually with God. Maybe I need to consciously turn that dog walk into a "walking prayer," asking God to bless my neighbors, and all who have asked me for prayer.  Maybe I need to review a "gratitude list" as Gracie and Betty Boo are busy chasing the squirrels. Maybe I need to have a devotional ready with a scripture, to read with my cup of coffee.  Maybe before I read my emails, I can read spiritual postings from the many sites on line. 

The point is: Put First Things First.  That's what Jesus did. He got up early, went away to a quiet place to pray. We need to pray, ideally have some quiet time -- it doesn't have to be long  -- but the intention and focus need to be there. Then it can grow, as we develop the right habits to sustain our spirit.

We need to charge up our day with spiritual  energy, so we can be positive, engaging people who can minister to others just by our presence. Our presence can bring peace to others -- if we are adequately prepped. That's the best witness we can give to Jesus Christ -- to be a people whose spirits are open, ready to listen and minister, because we are nourished by prayer, and because we are in conscious contact with our God from the time we open our eyes. 

Have a wonderful day.  Remember:  First Things First.

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"Finding a Home in the World"

9/17/2019

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One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.  Psalm 27:4 


     
     The poet  Maya Angelou wrote: "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."  We need a place in the world and in our hearts when we can be ourselves.  Where we are loved for who we are, warts and all.  Where we are loved.

Christians live in the tension:  we call heaven our home and surely that is were we belong.  Yet Jesus proclaims "The kingdom of God is in our midst" (Luke 17:21).  We have dual citizenship: in heaven and earth.  That's why we need to take seriously the saying "don't be so heavenly-minded that you're no earthly good."  We need to detach from worldly values that promote selfishness, rampant materialism and greed.  We are to care for the world, be active in its healing and movements for justice, peace and righteousness. In doing so, we are living out the heavenly values, and witnessing to the "kingdom of God in our midst."  
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     As we face the hurts of our lives, and go about the work of mending others, we are reminded over and over again that  we belong to an eternal home that can never be taken away from us.  We are sojourners on this earth -- and we need to remind ourselves we are just passing through.  This is not a morbid thought.  It frees us from the traps of judging ourselves and others by worldly standards, and guides us to to see ourselves, and others, through God's everlasting, loving eyes.  
Let us find the kingdom of God, our home, in our hearts, and carry that piece of heaven wherever we go.


Listen to:   Building 429  "Where I Belong"
Cf. Eph. 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usAwtKwICzs&feature=related

PRAY: " Your home is in our hearts. Help us keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we work to make a home of the world for all people and creation "        















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"A Holy House"

9/10/2019

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 "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8"




Yesterday I received a hand-addressed letter with this opening message:  "We've become so engulfed with saving our planet, Gay Rights Parades or who has the best church service that we've lost our way.  Please remove all unholy things from HIS House and your heart."
I agree with Pastor L-C.  Let's remove all unholy things from God's House and our hearts. But I happen to think that healing our planet, caring for the poor and needy, making the church a welcoming place for ALL people, including the LGBTQ community --are all Holy healing acts.

 Pastor L-C adds a PS.  "If you disagree with scripture, you're fighting against God..  Don't be lukewarm...Stand in the gap."  Again, I agree.  Moses wrote: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18)  "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12."

​  There are over 1453 verses addressing wealth. 446 about  the poor, over 100  about the widow and orphan. Prayer is mentioned over 500 times. Justice is mentioned 1576 times.  

Love is mentioned 232 times in the New Testament alone.

So where should our attention be placed? 

Stand in the gap with Jesus. The gap between love and indifference. The gap between meanness and kindness.  The gap between self-centeredness and God-centeredness, other-centeredness.  Don't be lukewarm about loving others, caring for others, prayer,  standing with Jesus as he proclaims good news in word and need.   

Listen to: "It Could Happen to You."   Let us not be indifferent to suffering, no matter what shape it takes .
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR9gyloyOjM

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Coming Home!

9/3/2019

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Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23


Homecoming is this September!  Homecoming is a special time in the life of a congregation.  It's usually the day that marks a return from summer vacation and the choir usually starts up again.  Homecoming is a day of celebration.  It's a reminder to us that no matter where we go in life, we always have a place in the body of Christ. We belong to God, and we belong to each other -- and we also belong to the world. So Home is not a static place. Home in God's kingdom grows and changes as we open wide our arms and serve our neighbors.  

Home is not the brick and mortar of our building. Home is us --  our beating hearts. Just as the Buddha says: “You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself"   So we must be made into home where the world's weary, fearful and lost can find rest -- and find Christ in us. As God makes God's home in our hearts as we follow in Jesus' footsteps, we make a home in each other's heart as we love and care for each other. 



So come back to worship this month-- bring a friend or two -- and welcome home!




Listen to:  Switchfoot, "This Is Home"    http://www.youtube.com/watch?=uK2WIFdeJ8E&feature=relmfu


PRAY: "God, may my heart be your home, and make my heart a home to all the homeless in this world"2



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    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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