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Promises, Promises

Lent is the time, that I make promises to God.  I promise to give up meat on Fridays.  I promise not to eat candy until the Easter Bunny brings me an Easter basket full.  I promise to do good.  And most years, all of my good intentions on Ash Wednesday fall apart long before Good Friday rolls around.

Today, I opened up the Bible as I waited in the drive thru line at Chik-fil-A.  (Thankfully it is not Friday, so I wasn’t breaching a Lenten promise.)  Here is where I landed in the Bible:

Moses said to the heads of the Israelite tribes, “This is what the LORD has commanded: When a man makes a vow to the LORD or binds himself under oath to a pledge, he shall not violate his word, but must fulfill exactly the promise he has uttered.”

Numbers 30:2-3.

What struck me today, was not incredible guilt for all the times I have not kept my promises to God, but rather the joy of knowing all of the times He has kept his promises to  me, to us.   And I was struck by the thought, who am I to make promises to God?  Promises that I often do not have the ability to keep.  Promises that are often made in the form of a bribe:  God if you will just do this, I will never do that again.

Promises are often meaningless (as any politician knows).  It is almost as though our normal words are so void of truth, that we have to say we promise to give any effect to our words.  (Even more effective is to lock pinkies or cross our heart when we make these valuable promises.)  Our society seems to “thrive” on promises and the breaking of those promises.  How many times do you click on internet boxes promising that you have read the terms and conditions of whatever new app, device, or website you are wanting to use.  We all know you haven’t actually opened and read the lengthy terms and conditions (that would take several minutes just to scroll though, let alone read).

So why do we promise? I would love to promise not to make any more promises — but that would be just as meaningless.

Father,

Thank you for being so faithful and true to us.  Thank you for keeping your promises.  I know you don’t need or want verbal “promises.”    Grant me a clean heart and steadfast spirit, that I may speak through my actions and true heart rather than settling for words or empty promises.

Amen.

 

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Thirsting for Water, Hope Springs Eternal

Today the Bible opened to Job chapter 14.  And at first, I thought wow, God is really smacking me in the head on the same point as the last two days.  Job said:

But when a man dies, all vigor leaves him; when a mortal expires, where then is he?

But then I reread the verses before and after these words and I saw God’s plan in Job’s words:

For a tree there is hope;

if it is cut down, it will sprout again,

its tender shoots will not cease.

Even though its root grow old in the earth

and its stump die in the dust,

Yet at the first whiff of water it sprouts

and puts forth branches like a young plant.

Job distinguishes us from the tree, stating that when man dies all vigor leaves him, but I think God is reminding us that we are like the tree.  We can be cut down, but we can sprout again.  We grow old and even die, but all we need is a whiff of water.  Of course that water is the living water that Jesus tells us about  in John chapter 4.  Water that will cause us to never thirst, water that will lead to eternal life.

Job appears to lament to God that man has such a short time on earth, God should take pity on him.  He almost seems to chastise God saying He takes away the hope of mortals.  (I picture God laughing a bit at Job here, with a knowing sympathetic smile that says “just wait and see.”)  Job states:

If a man were to die, and live again, all the days of my drudgery I would wait for my relief to come.  You would call, and I would answer you;  you would long for the work of your hands.  Surely then you would count my steps,  and not keep watch for sin in me.  My misdeeds would be sealed up in a pouch, and you would cover over my guilt.

We have the benefit of knowing what comes next.  Knowing that Jesus comes with the offer of living water and the promise of life after death.  But even knowing this, do we still say if only I knew there was life after death, I would wait and be patient through the sometimes drudgery of life on earth.  Even knowing this, do we still say If I knew, I would answer God when He calls?  Its been thousands of years and we have so much more information and “wisdom” than Job (or we certainly like to think we do), but it seems we are sometimes just as clueless.  And I hope that God is looking down at us with the same knowing sympathetic smile, saying silly kids, how much simpler can I make it.

God, I thirst for your living water.  I know that just a whiff of it can cause me to sprout when I feel cut down by the world.  My hope is in you.  Help me to answer your call.

 

 

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Reflect on Your Experience

I think God may be trying to make a point.  Yesterday the Bible opened to St. Paul reminding me that any gains on earth may be meaningless.  And today the Bible opened at Haggai.  (Now I must confess that I have no idea who Haggai is, and only discovered a month ago that there was a book in the Bible called Haggai.  It is a pretty short book.)  But, here is what I read this morning.  See if you hear the same thing that I do:

Now thus says the LORD of hosts:

Reflect on your experience! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not become intoxicated; you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed; And the hired worker labors for a bag full of holes.

Thus says the LORD of hosts:

Reflect on your experience! Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house that I may be pleased with it, and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You expected much, but it came to little; and what you brought home, I blew away.  Why is this?—oracle of the LORD of hosts— Because my house is the one which lies in ruins, while each of you runs to your own house.

Haggai 1:5-9

Reflect on your experience, the Lord says.  We work, we eat, we drink, we have clothes to wear.  But we are not satisfied.  We expect more. (Remember the commercial with the little kids saying they want more — that’s us — or at least its me.)  Why are we not satisfied?  Because we run to our houses (our material things) instead of God’s house.  We are looking in the wrong places, building up the wrong things.

I hear you, God!  But what you are asking is so hard.  I need your help!  I find myself thinking I will worry about that in the next life, right now I need to make it through this life and the pressures and rewards of the world.  I know that is wrong.  But it is so easy to fall into that habit.  I know that focusing on You and Your word and Your love will satisfy me in a way that no instant gratification of this world ever can.  Help me to change my heart and my mind and my focus.  Help me to run to your house and build up your house.

 

 

 

 

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Turn Back

Today I started the Augustine Institute’s Forgiven series.  Powerful.  If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it (at least the first session, which is all I have done so far).

We talked about how sin separates us from God — not earth shattering news, I know.  But it’s not just the sin, but our response to it which separates us.  We separate ourselves from God by doubting his love for us when we sin.  Read more

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St. Patrick and the Good Shepherd

I had no idea that St. Patrick worked as a shepherd for a period of time.  It is true you learn something new everyday and that is what I learned today.

I say that only because of the coincidence of where the Bible opened today.  Today I opened the Bible to Jesus’ description of the Good Shepherd in the Gospel of John:

“I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

John 10: 14-16

I have read or heard this part of the Gospel many times before.  But what I heard today was: we are all one.  Too often it seems we try to split up into teams, sides or folds.  We focus on our differences.  There are so many today who may not feel like they are in the fold.  I suppose we all feel like that at times.  But Jesus’s words are clear.  Whether you belong to the fold or not, He came here for you.  Regardless of your country, your race, your preferences, your religion, we are all one flock.  And Jesus came to shepherd us all.  To lead us to our Father.  To lay down His life for each and every one of His sheep — even when we feel completely lost and left out of the fold. Even when the world tries to separate us.

St. Patrick  found sheep who weren’t in the fold and brought them to God.  He helped Ireland hear God’s voice.

Lord, help me be like Patrick.  Help me reach out to those who may feel outside the fold. Help me to ignore the differences between others and me (all of which truly are minor),  and to not get caught up in the divisions that differences create.  And finally help me listen to You!  Shepherd me O Lord!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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March madness, God’s gladness

I believe that God likes basketball.  He made us in his image and it certainly seems that we like basketball.

I enjoy watching, rooting for the underdog, watching the sweetness of victory — the joy that is shared among the players and the fans — and watching the “agony” and sometimes heartbreak of defeat.  As I was watching tonight, I happened to open my Bible again (a double header day):

You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God, for:

“All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.

1 Peter 1:23-25

I was struck with one thought as I read this, with one eye on the basketball scores (and my bracket that was quickly going down the drain):  March madness is a beautiful microcosm of all worldly things.  Perishable.  Whether your team wins the game, wins the tournament or even experiences the ultimate Cinderella story — the victory is perishable.  The victory is fleeting and will eventually wilt.  Even the worst loss, the humiliating defeat, the broken dreams.  These too are perishable.

Next fall the teams will all start anew.  This year’s victories and losses will be meaningless.  Just memories.  As with most things in life.  Easy come.  Easy go.  Today’s peaks, quickly turn into tomorrow’s valleys.  But one thing remains:

GOD.

All the glory of today will fade away.  All the glory of March Madness will be gone by mid April.  But the Glory of God reigns true.

So cheer your team to victory (as long as they are not playing my team), and remember one team endures forever.

 

 

 

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A little faith…

Today I opened the Bible and my eyes fell on this short verse:

And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Luke 17:5-6

How often I question my faith.  I am counting on the fact that we only need a little bit.  A little bit to grow.  A little bit to start a fire.  A little bit can move mountains.

Dear God, start a fire in me!  Nourish Your tiny mustard seed in my heart.  Keep that seed safe and strong through all of the doubts and temptations of the world.

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First blog post

I have started to do an amazing thing…   I open the Bible.  Once a day.  Sometimes for just two minutes.  Sometimes for much longer.  I do not start at the beginning or pick up where I left off.  I do not select what book I read or what chapter or verse.  I just open it and let my eyes fall where they may.  And more times than not, my eyes fall on a verse or chapter that have incredible meaning to me that day, that moment.  It would be presumptuous to think that God is directing me to something…  wouldn’t it?  I am not the most religious person…  I sometimes struggle to make it to church on Sunday, letting the rest of the world get in the way…  I certainly struggle to put others needs ahead of mine… And the bible was written eons ago…   how could it possibly relate to me …  How could the words on a random page  that I open to make sense in my 21st century life … I don’t know…  Or may be I do and am afraid to admit it.  God is good.  God is all knowing.  And God knows what we need.    So permit me to indulge and share what I read.

Here is today’s “random” Bible opening:

Proverbs 2:1-12:

My son, if you receive my words
and treasure my commands,
Turning your ear to wisdom,
inclining your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you call for intelligence,
and to understanding raise your voice;
If you seek her like silver,
and like hidden treasures search her out,
Then will you understand the fear of the LORD;
the knowledge of God you will find;
For the LORD gives wisdom,
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He has success in store for the upright,
is the shield of those who walk honestly,
Guarding the paths of justice,
protecting the way of his faithful ones,
Then you will understand what is right and just,
what is fair, every good path;
For wisdom will enter your heart,
knowledge will be at home in your soul,
Discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you;
Saving you from the way of the wicked,
from those whose speech is perverse.