ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: The other night in our Choir Zoom we talked about forgiveness, and this got me to thinking about that strange and difficult topic. In C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity he calls it a “terrible duty,” and gives the even more horrific example “I wonder how you would feel about forgiving the Gestapo if you were a Pole or Jew.” This got me to thinking – Christ was taken, ridiculed, scourged, mocked, and ultimately executed, and then turned around and forgave and loved those that did it? That’s a heck of a model. I’m sorry – I would rather hold a grudge, but that’s the irony of it all. Christ shows the example that no matter how far down and how awful people are to us, that we are called to love others just the same. I deeply appreciate that – I do. Unfortunately, it shows that though God through Christ can forgive me, love me, and always present me with unconditional love, my flawed, funny, neurotic, quirky mind is not always first-to-forgive. How do we forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us? This is the “terrible duty” that we say every week. This is the turning point that separates the spiritual from the spirit-talkers. Just to be clear, some days I’m spiritual. Other days I’m a good talker. You figure out the rest. I think the more important part is not that I forgive everyone who wrongs me along the way today. More importantly is to realize that these other people (notice it’s never me…) are children of God too, and if I can’t forgive them, then I have to ask God to use his great power to help. Ultimately, that healing only takes place when I accept his love, his power, and allow it in. Prayer: God help me to love others as they are. Not as I want them to be. Not for what they may have done or left undone, for usually they are just doing things, making their way as best they can, just as I am, and just as the other people on this planet are. Allow your unconditional love to seep into my conditional mind. Allow your eternal forgiveness to break through an unforgiving heart. Allow your peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding to be the peace that we cannot leave behind. SUNDAY WORSHIP via WordPress https://ift.tt/2XHIdlX
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: The Apostle Paul is sharing some important information in the scripture above. He is admitting that life is not always easy, however even during difficult times we need to look for the blessings in our lives and remain faithful through prayer. We are living in some of the most difficult times we have ever known. Between learning ways to cope with the pandemic, being in the midst of an active hurricane season, making decisions as to whether or not our children will return to school or study from home, so many people losing their jobs and those having to worry about being evicted or having their homes foreclosed on. In Texas alone we have had over 432,000 reported cases of Covid 19 with almost 7,000 deaths. Can we remain hopeful in times such as these? I believe the answer is yes, with a lot of work on our part. Be mindful throughout your day to look for those glimpses of God in your life. They are not always easy to see, however if you look each day you will see these God moments easier over time. A glimpse of God could be seen in another person doing a good deed for another; a child coming up and giving you a hug and saying they love you for no apparent reason; an unexpected card or email saying someone is thinking of you or praying for you. Perhaps it is sights we see in nature or the love our pets give to us. I’m not going to say that I never become hopeless, I will say that I don’t allow myself to remain in that state for long. My faith tells me to lift up my concerns to God, to share my struggles with him and know that he is with me. I hope you will also give this a try. Write your God moments or glimpses in a journal and look back every now and then. Prayer: God of love and hope, remind us to share our struggles and concerns with you. Our burden is lessened when we share the yoke with you. Allow us to have eyes wide open when looking for glimpses of God in our daily lives. We know that when we are hurting, you are right here beside us, that you will never leave or forsake us. We find hope in this O Lord, we find hope in You and your love for each of us. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2XWUnYr ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: This Psalm is hands down my favorite Psalm, and actually, will always be a favorite Scripture. When I was upset as a kid I would play Bible “Magic 8 Ball” with myself. When I wanted an answer, when I needed guidance, when I felt alone, I would open up my Bible and see what verse my eyes were drawn to and see what God might be saying to me. Now, it didn’t always “work” in the sense, I didn’t always find an immediate answer or the perfect answer for what I was feeling. However, I remember the night I found this verse was the comfort I was aching for. I was a teenager and this Psalm reminded me God cares about me. God wants to help me. I am not alone. I also find comfort that this Psalm, though deeply personal and just a Psalmist thought and prayer, is universal and this truth is extended to all. God cares about you. God wants to help you. You are not alone. So, it may seem hokey to you, but I would invite you to play a game of Bible “Magic 8 Ball.” Who knows what God is anxious to tell us! Prayer: via WordPress https://ift.tt/3abF6b2 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Each of us has received blessings we did not seek. We have found strength when our own reservoir was empty. We have experienced new life when we felt trapped in the tomb. Grace is a gift, and it comes again and again to set us free from all that would bind us to that which is void of life, love and hope. Today, remember that your baptism was your commission to be one of God’s agents by which God delivers those blessings. Prayer: Provide me an experience of your grace, O Giver of Life, that I might enter the good work by which your blessings of life and love our shared. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/30Cuwqt ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: This scripture speaks loud and clear to me about the last 5 months or so of this Pandemic. I have been without hope, scared of getting sick, not just sick- because I have been ill four times in the last 3 months, but thankfully COVID negative. With an immune disorder that lowers my defenses, my fear overwhelms me through this time. I have been afraid. Afraid of going places, afraid of stepping outside, overall afraid. Depressed, unmotivated, scared to do ministry to help others. SAD, but truthful. I don’t know if any of you can relate to this in this time, but I am being honest and I think a lot of honesty is what we all need at this time. Yes, I am a minister and I should get my strength from God and pull up my bootstraps and carry on, yet I have not been able to do that. My escape is reading novels all day. Not listening to the news or anything too heavy, totally devoted to self-care to get me through. I have not been able to visit my mother with dementia for 4 months. Going to my counselor and getting help, having someone listen to me- yes that helps. Rebuilding broken relationships with my sons and grandchildren a step at a time has really helped. Going to the horse barn and watching my 13-year-old granddaughter ride her horse, getting to feed him carrots and realizing I am not afraid of horses anymore is terrific! Prayer: Gracious God, continue to provide the HOPE found in this scripture that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have all of us in their arms. They (3 in one) are providing HOPE and praying for us when I or you do not know or cannot pray for ourselves. God will provide the HOPE in any and all] situations. Each of us is saved by his grace and intercessory prayer. And even though we might not have the patience needed, God does. HOPE with God never fails. In Christ’s Holy Name, AMEN via WordPress https://ift.tt/2DkUbeg ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Jesus, the man who cared about the needs of others, also recognized the need for self-care. In the story, after the disciples returned from a mission, Jesus was conscious of their need for rest. Of course, after setting out to a deserted place, the crowds soon followed. What’s the old saying, “No rest for the weary,” and that’s the way it appears for the twelve in this story. Just because Jesus was unsuccessful in this moment doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. I appreciate Anne Lamott who wrote, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Now some of you might be thinking, “Because of this pandemic, I feel unplugged and disconnected all the time.” Yet what I am finding is that many are alone and detached from their usual activities, but that is not the same as self-care. It might be a bit more challenging right now, especially for extroverts, to do what is healthy and life-giving. That doesn’t mean we should put it off, for if Jesus felt it was important, so should we. Prayer: Provide me with some respite, O Lord who declared the Sabbath day, and might it begin with some time set aside with you. Help me to determine what feeds my spirit and nourishes my life. Even if it is just a few hours of some self-indulgence, you have shown how rest is necessary for the faithful. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/30qIOKr ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS via WordPress https://ift.tt/33mZ5lM ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: These words come shortly after this morning’s sermon text. I doubt the last line is entirely accurate as I’m sure there were others who put the business of Jesus ahead of their own. Yet don’t you think Paul was trying to make a point, trying to convey his appreciation and admiration for Timothy. I can think of many compliments I’d be honored to receive, but this one might be right there at the top. Paul gets to the heart of the matter with these honest words, for the human soul is constantly grappling with whose business is it going to do. And as human beings, we have become exceptional at confusing our own business with the business of Jesus, making it easy to justify giving our business priority. I got into a tense conversation with someone by email who had read one of my blog posts and wanted to disagree. I invited him to tell me who Jesus was to him, and he went directly to the scriptures and quoted four Old Testament passages about the anger of God and heroic violence. Those words came from the Bible, but I was really interested in Jesus – you know, the guy who continually said, “You’ve heard it said, but I say unto you…” The Old Testament is still very important, and there is a lot of amazing examples of grace and mercy, but don’t you think that starting with the Gospels (the stories of Jesus) would be a good place to learn business of Jesus Christ? Prayer: Continue to put before me, O Merciful God, the life and teachings of Jesus. I know there will be discomfort, and moments when I’ll want to go look elsewhere. Help keep me centered, especially in the challenging moments, for it is there that I need to wrestle most with the Jesus-life. Amen. ONLINE WORSHIP via WordPress https://ift.tt/2DrFJRk ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Has anyone else noticed that today is August 1? I might say, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” but this hasn’t been a lot of fun. Two days ago, I read these words for my own morning reflection, and I heard Jesus offering a contrast between what is and what is. I know that sound strange, but so often we defer Jesus to some other time or realm, placing him on the shelf until that other moment makes an appearance. Yet for Jesus, the time has come. Maybe not in its full manifestation, but those who know Jesus recognize what has come and are choosing to live as if it has fully arrived. We are all living in a pandemic, but it is not the only reality. Jesus does not wish his followers to be oblivious to the world and what is happening, but we can live fully present in the world while also being fully present to God, the One we encounter in spirit and truth. It is not escapism or some unhealthy denial. It is choosing to embrace the abundant life God desires for all, and using our lives as a way of bringing this God-life into the current reality where fear and scarcity appear to have a vigorous hold. Prayer: Once I have seen and experienced the abundant life of love and mercy, O Giver of these gifts, invite me to be a conduit by which your dream is made real in the world today. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/39LZPSj |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
April 2024
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