20th Anniversary!

Twenty years ago today I posted my first entry on this blog.  I had already started a blog for my knitting (what is now Sandpiper Creates), but I wanted to have a place to share thoughts about faith and life.

At the beginning I posted something every day. I don't do that anymore. There have been sabbaticals from the blog, but my rhythm now is three posts a week, one of which is usually an image.

For me, the blog has become one of my spiritual disciplines - a way to explore what I am reading, what I am thinking, and what I am avoiding. It has been enriched by the books, sermons, and classes, as those have all enriched me. 

I'm grateful for these past 20 years, and hope to continue for many more.

Advent in Scripture, Week 1

On the Fridays in Advent, I'll be posting an Advent in Scripture passage, looking at one or two of the Revised Common Lectionary passages for the coming Sunday, along with questions to consider and a couple of short prayers.  I pray you have a blessed Advent.  (PS - I know this is Wednesday, but Saturday is a special day this week for the life of the blog, so my third post for the week will be on the 29th).

Centering Prayer

O God, our God, my God, light a candle in my life to bring light. May the light illuminate the path you want me to see.  May the path lead to you.  Amen.

Please Read

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Romans 13:11-12

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…

Questions to Consider

1. The last verse of the Isaiah passage above says, “O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord!  We are  not part of the house of Jacob; what does this verse mean in your life?
2. The verse right before the last one, Isaiah 2:4, give an image of swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Does this verse shine light on your own relationships? One relationships we have within our community?
3. What does it mean to you that salvation is closer than when we became believers?

Closing Prayer

O God, may we be bringers of peace and people who shine a light in the darkness.  Help us. Amen.

God Saved the World

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

A few weeks ago, this was part of the basis of the sermon in our church. As I was listening, and it may have been because the preacher pointed it out, I noticed that the passage is about God saving the world.

We often hear that and are thankful God has saved us - you or me. We don't often hear it as God saving the world, not individuals. Don't get me wrong, I believe God has by grace given me (and you) eternal life. But I think it's more.

What difference does it make that God has saved the world, not just individuals?

• If God has saved the world, then we're not judging who is saved and who isn't.
• If God has saved the world, then even that person we hate is saved.
• If God has saved the world, then God loves all of us - ALL OF US.
• If God has saved the world, then maybe God has also saved the planet, and we need to get our acts together so that we don't destroy what God has saved.
• If God has saved the world, then when we hurt someone, we are hurting who God loves and has saved.
• God has saved the world because it is God's nature to love. The world is not loved because of what it has done, but because God is who God is.

Thank God that God has saved the world.

 

Perspectives: Clendenin Window

 

Perspectives: Sprocket and his carrot

 

Bring the Light

I'm reading a book called Between a Rock and a Holy Place by Rev. Tom Nolan.  Tom is a retired elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference. In his retirement, he and his wife chose to be a part of our church. We are blessed periodically to hear Tom preach. He's a wonderful preacher; his book is a collection of his sermons. 

I just finished the first sermon called "Keep an Eye on the Acolytes."  In it he says, "I'm glad we have candles in churches. The flames remind us that we are not alone here. It isn't just us. Somebody else is with us. Jesus, the light of the world is here in God's house. His presence lights our way and ignites our hearts with his love."

I remember in 2008 that a member of our church died. Jim Ray was a man of service - involved in practically everything in church, but more than that, in service to the community. People who rode the bus with him came to his funeral to remember him. He spread the light of Christ, all the time. You can read about him here.

We realized at his funeral that the altar candles were lighted. Why? Because he was the one who lit them for funeral, quietly, just in service.

Bring the light.

Prayers in Worship

I take notes during the sermon. I do it because it keeps me focused.  I recommend it.  Sometimes I write a small prayer at the end.  Here are a few:

March 16

O, God, our God, help us to see the safe space under your wings. Help us to be that safe space for others. Help us to love. Amen

March 30

O God, our God, may we live our lives in hope, sharing mercy, kindness, and love with others.  In a new day. Amen.

September 14

O God, help us to make room for you in our very full cups.  Thank you for loving us and for the certainty that love is your nature, and out of our control.  Amen.

Perspectives: Memorial Fountain

 

I am your God

Inspired by Psalm 46.

I am your God.

Take shelter in me.

Gather strength from me.

I will help you when you are in trouble.

I am your God.

You are mine.

Don't be afraid,

even when the foundations of your world are shaken,

even when everything is changing,

even when it feels like the mountains and the sea are slipping away,

Don't be afraid

I am your God

You are mine. I love you.

The rivers flow to my creation,

I live in the cities,

I live in the sunrise,

I live in the nations, even when they are in crisis.

I live here.

If you listen, you can hear my voice.

I am your God.

You are mine.

I love you.

No matter what happens.

I am with you.

Open your eyes and see what I am doing.

I bring peace.

I am your God.

You are mine.

I love you.

Stop the shouting in your mind.

Be quiet, and listen.

Know.

I am your God.

You are mine.

I will help you when you are in trouble.

Gather strength from me.

Take shelter in me.

I am your God.

 

God's Love in Isaiah

Read Isaiah 65:17-25. Here are verses 17-19:

For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating, for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress.

This passage is part of the lectionary readings for next Sunday. I haven't done any research on the passage, but I imagine it was directed to the exiled kingdom of Judah to offer them hope. As I read it, what struck me is the excitement of the vision. I read it as if hearing it from what God might say. The passage is full of this wonderful vision of a time without mourning or death, a time without war or tears.

Verse 25:

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, but the serpent--its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.

As I read it, I could hear God's hope and excitement in a new heaven and a new earth for his creation. How wonderful it would be for God if we were able to live into that vision?

Imagine when you are thinking about your children and the future of goodness and hope you wish for them - how you yearn for it. You love them so much, and you want the best for them. You want happiness and peace for them. I was struck with how in this vision that God is sharing with Isaiah, I can hear how much God wants this to be true for his people.

Don't you think seeing it like that makes you feel loved?

 

Perspectives: Bubbles

 

Prayers in Worship

I take notes during the sermon. I do it because it keeps me focused.  I recommend it.  Sometimes I write a small prayer at the end.  Here are a few:

January 26:

O God, May we remember in the water and in the descending dove, That we are your beloved children. May it make a difference in our lives. Amen.

February 9

O God, Give us teh courage to step into the deep. Grant us the boldness to beleive in you. to believe in abundance, to see the possibilities. Help us to say, "if you say so, I will do it." Amen

February 16

O, God, My mind turns today to David, Penny's husband, and to Sarah Marcia'e daughter. Today, strengthen and encourage those who mourn, and may we bring them hope. Amen.

Not on our Own

Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.  Here are verses 17-19:

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

I'm not against goals.  I set them every week - or I try to.  I am not against working to improve ourselves or trying to be "better" than we were before.  I remember reading the Benjamin Franklin (was it him?) who would set a positive characteristic that he wanted to achieve.  He would work on it until he felt he had reached it, and then he would move onto another one.

That said, I think this passage helps us to understand that while we can do "better" - maybe - it is God who transforms us.  it is God who makes us a new creation.  That is not self-improvement, but moving onto perfection through God's sanctifying grace.

Verse 21: For our sake God made the one who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Through Christ, we can have a clean heart. That is not something we can do on our own.