Morning Grace

- Re-read the passages from this week's devotions. Choose the one that is most meaningful to you to be your prayer focus for today. They are: Genesis 28:10-17 Matthew 9:10-13 Isaiah 41:6-7 Philippians 1:3 - Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you. - Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation ( biblegateway.com  has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life? - Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward? - Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer? - Recite the Lord's Prayer.

I thank my God every time I remember you. ~ Philippians 1:3 To write is human. To receive a letter: Divine! ~ Susan Lendroth Have you ever gotten a letter that started with such a astounding opening line?  We don't write letters much anymore, and in fact, I've often wished that somewhere along the way, someone had taught me the fine art of letter writing. The art of email just isn't the same. Because it is an art.  And for me, writing a good letter, just as with some other artistic forms, hasn't been something I've ever felt I was able to master. I can write other things, but I admit I can't recall ever writing a good letter. But I've gotten them. And I've gotten them even with such lovingly cherished, soul-baring openings as this.  Friends I've made in Tanzania really know the art of writing a letter. " I thank my God every time I remember you." I thank my God. Every time. Every time. Although it's an

Each one helps the other,      saying to one another, “Take courage!” The artisan encourages the goldsmith,      and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved. ~ Isaiah 41:6-7 Strength lies in differences, not similarities. ~ Stephen Covey One of my favorite things in "buddy" movies or TV shows is when two unlikely heroes - men or women who are completely different - join together to solve the problem at hand.  When their two different types of gifts work in concert to bring about change or hope or justice.  My all time favorites are Mulder and Scully from the X-Files, he, a believer in the power of the supernatural, and she, a scientific sceptic.   But there are others: Murtaugh and Riggs in the Lethal Weapon films; Oscar and Felix in the Odd  Couple; Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson; Kirk and Spock...I'm sure you have your o

And as (Jesus) sat at dinner  in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting  with him and his disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” ~ Matthew 9:10-13 After all, a lot of people are going to think we are a shocking pair. ~ John Prentice in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (played by Sidney Poitier) (clip of film)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXzT7od_aiI The film, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" caused a stir perhaps mostly in late 1960s America because of its portrayal of interracial marriage in a positive light, at a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in more than a few states in the US.  Someone

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran.  He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.  And he dreamed that there was a ladder  set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  And the LORD stood beside him  and said, “I am the LORD , the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring;  and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed  in you and in your offspring.  Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “S

- Re-read the passages from this week's devotions. Choose the one that is most meaningful to you to be your prayer focus for today. They are: I Corinthians 1:18-19 Psalm 133 Romans 14:1-6 Nahum 1:15 - Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you. - Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation ( biblegateway.com  has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life? - Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward? - Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer? - Recite the Lord's Prayer.

Look! On the mountains the feet of one      who brings good tidings,      who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,      fulfill your vows, for never again shall the wicked invade you;    they are utterly cut off. ~ Nahum 1:15 Well I came home Like a stone And I fell heavy into your arms These days of dust Which we've known Will blow away with this new sun But I'll kneel down Wait for now And I'll kneel down Know my ground And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you. ~ Lovett/Dwane/Mumford/Marshall (Mumford & Sons) The Book of Nahum a short little book, only three chapters long, and it isn't one we generally talk about much (or at all!).  But its themes are those that resonate throughout many of the prophetic texts of the Old Testament.  Loss, good news, bad news, being cut off from God, being brought back to God. Waiting for God. The image of the feet of the one who brings good tidings is one of my f

Welcome those who are weak in faith,  but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.  Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables.  Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.  Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord  is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.  Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. ~ Romans 14:1-6 Sometimes I'm right, and I can  be wrong My own beliefs are in my song The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then Makes no difference wha

A Song of Ascents. How very good and pleasant it is      when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head,      running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron,      running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon,      which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing,      life forevermore. ~ Psalm 133 I had a dream when I was young A dream of sweet illusion A glimpse of hope and unity And visions of one sweet union...  ~ Roger Taylor (Queen) I'm having fun finding favorite popular songs that tie in the the readings this week. Yesterday the Beatles' popped into my head, and today I'm thinking of  "One Vision," by Queen.  ( I highly recommend going here to view this entertaining video of Queen performing this live at the old Wembley Stadium:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqnNPfULVI ) One of the influences for this song was Martin Luther King, J