Sunday, February 26, 2012

What a promise! Quelle promesse!


Genèse 9:8-17


"What a promise! An eternal alliance between God, mankind, the creation... A symbol, the rainbow, the fusion of water (source of punishment for the wicked men of Noah's time) and light, the first thing God created on the first day of His creation. The purity and power of the Lord. Also a symbol of transcendance: God is always there for us but we can't physically touch Him! A symbol of beauty and perfection that men and women cannot reach, despite all their efforts.
Like when we were kids, let us not be afraid to be thrilled by the wonderful beauty of a rainbow. Let us not be afraid to sign up to the amazing proposition to enter into a covenant with the God of the universe!"

"Quelle promesse! La promesse d'une alliance éternelle entre Dieu, l'humanité, et la création...Un symbole, l'arc-en-ciel, fusion de l'eau (source de chute pour les hommes mauvais de l'époque de Noé) et de la lumière, la première chose créée par Dieu, le premier jour de Sa création. La purété et la puissance de Dieu. Aussi un symbole de transcendance: Dieu est toujours parmi nous mais nous ne pouvons le toucher physiquement! Un symbole de beauté et de perfection que les hommes et les femmes ne pourront jamais atteindre, malgré tous leurs efforts. Comme quand nous étions enfants, n'ayons pas peur d'être enthousiasmés par la magnifique beauté d'un arc-en-ciel. N'ayons pas peur d'accepter l'incroyable proposition qui consiste à entrer en alliance avec le Dieu de l'univers!"
Didier Millerot

Friday, April 10, 2009

Saturday, April 11 (Holy Saturday)


Job 19:21-27a
Psalms 27, 95, 88
Hebrews 4:1-16
Romans 8:1-11

Collect for Holy Saturday

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen


6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

This passage from Romans is not so easy to live by on a daily basis. When it is accomplished, it truly brings great peace and joy. God’s love is so powerful. In all situations, go with love. There are only two reactions to every situation, Love and fear. Stay away from fear and always go with Love. Fill up each day with Gods Love and you will have peace in your life. Today’s chaotic world brings no peace, you must find it within. The Holy Spirit is with us always, to help guide and comfort – a precious gift from God. Center yourself and listen, for you may find the peace that passes all understanding.

Natalie Zeitlin

Meditations for the days between Lent and Advent are usually available on http://thoughts-sian.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Friday, April 10 (Good Friday)


Genesis 22:1-14
Psalms 22, 40, 54,
1 Peter 1:10-20
John 13:36-38

Collect for Good Friday
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
“Simon Peter said to him ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.’” JOHN 13: 36-38

Peter always wants to do the right thing. His desire is to be a disciple who excels, who masters all necessary skills and has a faith only a little less than Jesus. This is not pride or grandiosity but a true and earnest hope. It is the striving in his life as a disciple that defines him and therefore he can only fail. To strive is to determine, to will one’s way into something, and while it may work well in a job, athletics or the arts, it will always fail in matters of faith. God asks that we be led, that we seek humbly His will and that in patience we wait for His way to open before us. Jesus’ response to Peter is clear, “Will you lay down your life for me? No, you will actually betray me three times before day break.” Our calling is to do our utmost but with the truth leading us so that we accomplish nothing except what He wills. It is always when our perfectionist, overly controlling wills get in the way that we experience what Peter did as written in MATTHEW 16: 74-75, “ Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know the man!’ At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”

David Puckett

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Thursday, April 9 (Maundy Thursday)


Jeremiah 20:7-11

Psalms 102, 142, 143,

1 Corinthians 10:14-17&11:27-32

John 17:1-26

 

Collect for Maundy Thursday

 

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 1 Corinthians 10:14-17&11:27-32

As a parent of teenagers, it is easy to see the power that “peer pressure” can have on them. We see the bad choices made as a result of those pressures.  We are outside looking in and it all seems so clear.  But how many times do we miss our own peer pressure – the myriad temptations we face every day.  In 1 Corinthians 10: 14-17, Paul encourages us to “flee from the worship of idols”.  The first step is recognizing them.  Can you identify the idols in your life – money, power, popularity, possessions?  Pray that God will open your eyes to the situations that draw you into evil.  And then pray for the courage to run from those situations.  “Friends” that worship idols instead of God may not be the friends we think they are.  Seek those who love God and can encourage you to make the right decisions.

 

We have to identify the problem before we can solve it.  Look for the temptations in your life and find the strength to walk away.   Then you can begin to avoid those situations to begin with.  Pray for enlightenment and strength.

 

Claire Martin

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Wednesday, April 8 (Wednesday in Holy Week)


Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-17

Psalms 55, 74

Philippians 4:1-13

John 12: 27-36

 

Collect for Wednesday in Holy Week

 

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen

 

Please remember we don't need to be anxious about anything.  This is an especially difficult time in our economy and if we can remember to be content in all situations.  When everything is going well, give thanks to God.  When things are more difficult we should still give thanks to God.  We can do anything with him.  God is the one that can give us strength not worldly things.  Our strength comes from him. 

 

Christy Lock 

Monday, April 6, 2009

Tuesday, April 7 (Tuesday in Holy Week)


Jeremiah 15:10-21

Psalms 6, 12, 94

Philippians 3:15-21

John 12:20-26

 

Collect for Tuesday in Holy Week

 

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior

Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen



Psalm 94     

                          

Psalm 94:19 (KJV)

 

In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

 

On October 9 I had an accident when I fell hard on my kitchen floor and badly fractured my left leg and left wrist.  I didn't spend much time worrying about why it happened to me.  I focused on being thankful for the comforts that God was sending me.  I am thankful for the skill of the surgeon who put my leg together with a metal rod and screws from the top of my femur to my knee, and my wrist with a plate and screws. I am thankful for the skill of therapists six days in the hospital and two and one-half months in a therapy hospital.  I am thankful for all the prayers that have been offered up on my behalf.  And I am thankful for the outpatient therapists who are helping me to become full weight bearing.

 

As we go through Holy Week I am again thankful that God sent his Son to be our Savior and give us comfort through all eternity.

 

In Jesus' Name

 

Nita Garver

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Monday, April 6 (Monday in Holy Week)



Jeremiah 12:1-16

Psalms 51, 69:1-23

Philippians 3:1-14

John 12:9-19

 

Collect for Monday in Holy Week

 

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 John 12:9-19

I wonder what Jesus was thinking as he rode on the donkey into Jerusalem. He heard the shouts of  “Hosanna, rescue us. Do not worry our king is here.” Did they see the end of bondage, a king who had inherited David’s warlike talents and would overthrow the Roman oppressors? They were going to be disappointed. He was not the answer to all their requests for material comforts.

.

The disciples saw Jesus the preacher and miracle worker. To them he was not a warrior king. They enjoyed being with him every day and long may it continue.

 

There was the crowd who had seen Lazarus brought back from the dead after three days in the tomb. They had been there and now they could not keep their mouths closed. They were telling the tale of what they had seen and experienced.

 

And there were the religious leaders. They were at their wits end. Here was a heretic, a blasphemer and he had the popular vote. They did not share in the jubilation of the crowd. God was to be honored, worshipped and obeyed and this man was not. He was leading the crowds astray, touching the dead and working on the Sabbath.

 

I cannot see me. Where was I standing?

 

Jane Brown