We have been through raising four children, and seeing them grow up and each contribute to the world around them.  Then, we’ve been blessed with six beautiful grandchildren.

We’ve had to face many years of heart problems, aneurisms, and one cancer.  When this second cancer, a blood cancer, came up, it became even more scary.  In Disciple I, a year ago, we asked for prayers to help us through the new challenge.

We have been surrounded by love and caring from our church family, and the treatments have been easier on Don than we thought possible.  He just goes into the cancer center with lots of love and humor, and he brightens the nurses’ and patients’ day.

Even now, sometimes the fear of the future is frightening.  So when we were singing one morning in church, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” suddenly the words stood out, “all that we’ve needed the Lord has provided – Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto us.”  Then I knew that He would be there with us, for the rest of our lives, and we’ll get through whatever we have to face.

However, after reading this passage in Matthew, it’s very clear that that’s exactly what God doesn’t want us to do.  “…do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret…”  Matthew 6:6

St. Mark’s is definitely listening to God and living into this Bible passage.    Everywhere you turn there are servants doing whatever it takes to make great things happen at St. Mark’s.   From children’s events to youth retreats to adult workshops and worship every Sunday, people are giving their time, gifts and resources to change the lives of others.  I remember my surprise during the Ministry Parade at the number of ministries, as well as the number of people involved in each area.  Many work behind the scenes, stepping up with little notice, willing to do whatever needs to be done, expecting nothing in return.

I’m inspired by these folks and I thank God for each and every one of them.  They are responsible for the wonderful programs we have. They are responsible for the wonderful worship services we experience.  They understand that it doesn’t matter if anyone else knows what we do.  There will come a time when we will be recognized.  ”…and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 And then let the horns blow!

Dear God, thank you for all those around me who give of themselves to help others. Please help me to serve others with a generous heart. Amen

Exploring righteousness is an exercise of the Lenten Journey. What exactly is the righteousness of God to which we are called?

Paul gives expression to the work of reconciliation done in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Christ, who existed from the beginning with God, was sent among us, incarnate in sinful, mortal flesh. He who was without sin took on sin that he might know us and meet us eye to eye, shoulder to shoulder.

Surely we acknowledge the gift both of Incarnation and of Resurrection, but in the meantime of Christ’s life among us, he not only taught, but revealed in flesh and blood, a vision of the Kingdom of God and God’s Righteousness. This is the life into which we are called. It is more than an ascent of the mind or even the heart. Rather it is the gestures of heart and mind lived in real time among real people in real places. This is more than a virtual faith.

Paul is known for the lists he writes. In Chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians his list is of the outward signs of righteousness that give witness to Christ alive in the world: Strength in hardship, patience, kindness, truthful speech, holiness of spirit, genuine love. Christians are called to be joyful and generous even in the midst of sorrow and poverty. These are the outward signs of the inward relationship with Christ. This is the righteousness of Christ that the world is hungry to know.

When we know and live the right relationship with Christ, with one another, and with all creation, we live the righteousness of God. When we live the  righteousness of God, we are living the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Small gestures of righteousness make a greater difference than grand but empty words. Faith is real in the ways we treat one another and the ways we respond to the ways we are treated.

As we walk this Lenten Journey, may we get real in examining how our lives must look to the world. Is our love visible in kindness and goodness? Does joy mark our lives? Would the world know us as generous? Perhaps we have some work to do!

Dear God, Thank you for the offering of Christ that sets me right again and again. In this Lenten Season, may I find anew your righteousness. Set a mirror before my face that I may know the ways I need to be different, until I see your face looking back at me. Amen.

Wow – what a powerful message from David on repentance, salvation, and forgiveness. I know I struggle every hour of every day, every hour, with the temptations of sin. Don’t we all? Sins can be very different but they are the same in the fact that when we sin, we go against God’s wishes for us and we harm our personal relationship with Him.

But our God is a loving God and wants us to be in a good and right relationship. What a joy it is to know that when we accept Jesus Christ, we know that we will always be forgiven –we just have to ask for it! I especially like verse 10 of this passage, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. What a beautiful example of how to ask.

When we truly repent, we make a pact with God to try and change our behavior. I know the Holy Spirit is there to keep me in check, but it is up to me to make that change. Constantly engaging in the same bad habits and then   asking for forgiveness over and over kind of defeats the purpose. It just doesn’t work that way!

As God has blessed us with the gift of forgiveness, we as Christians should   offer the same gift to those who sin against us. I think that the act of forgiveness can be as healing as being forgiven. By forgiving someone, we are cleansing our own heart of the anger and ill will we feel toward that person. Just as we know that God will forgive us, we must always be willing to forgive others.

Dear Lord, thank you for the powerful gift of forgiveness. I pray for you to truly and deeply, cleanse me of my sin and to sustain in me a steadfast spirit of faithfulness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Missing Persons

Through the ages people have wondered about the nature of God. In the Old Testament, God is often thought to be vengeful, punishing, stern and jealous. Certainly the first two verses of Joel 2 might appear to confirm that notion, “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near—a day of darkness and gloom…” but that portrait isn’t accurate as the latter verses of this scripture affirm. In verse 12, we see the true nature of God: gracious, merciful, slow to anger, a God abounding in steadfast love, full of grace and reluctant to punish, consistent with the description of God in the New Testament.

This is good news about a God who wants to have a relationship with us and with whom we want to be in relationship. God is compassionate, forgiving and loving, a God of second and third and even twenty chances. No matter how hard I might try to do otherwise I am going to sin, separating myself from God. When that happens it is comforting to know that even at my worst God is ready to restore the relationship, forgive me and welcome me back into a state of a right and loving relationship. God is ready when I am.

This season is an ideal time to quietly reflect on our relationship with God and others, a time to seek relational healing. Just as God is ready to restore us to full relationship we can strive to make right our relationships with others. Then we can truly become Easter people, filled with joy in the risen Christ and right relationships.

God, I long to know you better and give thanks in the knowledge that you are merciful and abound in steadfast love. Help me to live into a deeper loving relationship with you and with those you have given me.

Have you ever thought about someone who was separated from God? What that person looks like?  Physically this person may look gloomy, worried, or have a low posture. Mentally this person may have a negative or distant personality.  Have you seen a    person who has felt or feels the love of God? Who has returned to God? Physically that person usually has a glow, a smile, a relaxed or straight posture. Mentally this person may be positive, loving, accepting.  It is just amazing the physical and mental transformation. 

To be that person who has those experiences of feeling lost and then found or have   returned home to God, in my case sometimes more than once, it is the most amazing feeling.  (Now if I could just stop taking that feeling away from myself.  I have to remind myself that God is the constant not me.) If you are in the position of feeling lost, know that God is with you and has more grace and love than you can imagine. If you are in the position of feeling the return home, share that with someone.  Someone you know or even someone you might not know.  Remember that There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 

Father of us all, watch over us as we act like children, your children. Sometimes rebellious, sometimes loving, sometimes suffering.  I praise you for being filled with enough grace and love for all of us, even when we feel like we don’t deserve it. Thank you for reminding us that you do not condemn us, you are the only one who brings blessings from the ashes. In your son, Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen

There have been times in my life when I did not have the relationship with Christ that I would have liked.  There have been times when I have been angry with God or have questioned God on why things have transpired the way they did.

This scripture reminds me that when I act in such a way that I hurt those who love me, I also hurt God.  It reinforces for me that I need Christ to help me on this journey.  For as much as I would like to, I cannot do this on my own.  I need God to be that guiding force in my life.

Finally, this scripture reminds me that no matter how far from the path we have ventured; God is always waiting for us to come home.  Nothing feels   better than being washed and being cleansed of our sins!  I am comforted by knowing that I am now intentional about traveling the road with Christ and that no matter what may come to pass He will always be with us.

Gracious and Heavenly Father, please do open our lips and mouths and give us strength and endurance in order to spread your word and love throughout our community.  Help us to live lives so that all may know we are followers of Christ.  In His holy name we pray.  Amen.

The most important time to “listen” is when we are praying.  We can grow our Christian faith and nourish our Christian life by regularly studying the bible and attending Church services.  But the way to pull it all together is to “listen” as we talk daily with God in prayer… “I need help”…“Why am I here?”… ”What should I do with my life?”… ”Which path should I choose?”…”Will you forgive me for what I did?”….”What is the right thing for me to do?”

In this busy world of ours, it is hard to filter out the constant distractions and concentrate on what we want to accomplish.  How should we talk with God?

Matthew offers this advice:

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret; and your father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6

Before we pray, we need to eliminate distractions and find a private location.  So next time you want to talk with God, just shut the door and listen.

Father, we thank you for listening to our prayers. Help us to hear your reply. We want to learn your plan for us.  Amen

As a younger person I used to think those words had a much different meaning than I do now. When I was young I thought that there were some people who had a lot more wealth than I did and therefore were required to do more for other people. As I got older, I realized that wealth can be found in  different forms. I am lucky to be wealthy with wonderful relationships with my family, my friends, my work colleagues and my church.

It is through my church that I really began to realize that I was one of those people that much more is required. Through God’s grace I have been allowed to live a life of plenty while so many others struggle with basic necessities. Who am I if I do not heed the call that is demanded in Luke 12:48?

I have been fortunate to witness the act of giving in the most unselfish ways through my work as a Preschool Director and a Youth Mission Advisor. It is truly remarkable to watch our children and our Youth who have been given so much, give so much of themselves. Children have the unique ability to see what is important and act selflessly. I have witnessed a high school boy get a cheeseburger for a dying man in a hospice center, watched an entire youth group provide a dance party for the residents of an adult disabilities facility, and seen a 3-year-old child place a bag of food in a box for the needy. Much has been given.

Lord, please give us the strength to realize what we have been given and to meet our requirement. Amen