How Willing are We to Admit Our Limitations?

Every paragraph of Psalm 46 speaks to God’s love and ever present care for us…protection, strength, refuge, help, fortress. Three times we are reminded that he is with us. 

This week, as I relaxed into the mystery that is God, into that with-ness, I felt the comfort of knowing that the overwhelming events of the world are no match for the God-of-Angel-Armies. 

He reminded me to step back from the situation, to 

Step out of the traffic! Take a long,

    loving look at me, your High God,

    above politics, above everything.

This is the MSG translation of my favourite Bible verse, Psalm 46:10. We usually know it as Be still, and know that I am God. Other translations say Cease or Stop striving instead of Be still. 

Rev. Donna often adds a phrase to the verse - we hear “I am God and you are not”.  If we stop striving AND remember that God is God and we are not, I wonder if we could accept our limitations and admit that there are lots of things we can’t do simply by trying harder?  I wonder if we could relax into God’s love and transformation?  

This Sunday we will sing a lot of different names for God…reminding us of so many wondrous qualities of God.  The mystery of God is one of those things I’m going to have to admit that I will never understand…no matter how many Google searches I do.

Psalm 46 (edited) NIVUK and MSG

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.

  God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.

    Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
        he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.’

 “Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything!

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

All That is Made

"If you are a spiritual seeker, if you are undergoing suffering, or if you are interested in contemplative living, may I prescribe All That Is Made for you? I believe it will do your heart good and lead you to fuller wellness, wilder love, and deeper joy."

So Brian McLaren writes in his Foreward to this book, and I couldn't agree more.  As a chronic pain sufferer, I am finding this book relatable and relevant.

Although I had heard of Julian of Norwich I wasn't deeply familiar with the writing.  Karen Dibbens-Wyatt introduced me to her fascinating story in a readable way. I immediately sought out an accessible translation to refer to as I read this book.  She explains Catholic and historical differences to a modern lay (and even Protestant!) reader.

As someone looking for an introduction to the contemplative life, I am finding her experience and insights valuable.  She defined mysticism for me and introduced me to modern mystics as well as some additional historical, traditional writings.

As well as these introductions, the author concentrates mainly on Julian's vision of a small round thing, "the size of a hazelnut" in this book.  It is a book to savour, so I haven't finished it, but I'm thoroughly enjoying grazing my way through it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book.

Have You Ever Been Excluded From Anything?

 Have you ever been excluded from anything?  

The Last Supper- John August Swanson

Perhaps as a child you longed to be a member of the “in crowd”, like I did.  Or maybe you were excluded from a gathering of friends or family, or you were thought to be ineligible for a job.  We probably have all been excluded from something in our lives, and rejection can leave a deep and long lasting scar that we may not be aware of.

In this powerful painting of the last supper, we see Jesus with his arm around one of the disciples, probably John.  John may have been the only disciple who realized how much Jesus loved him, mentioning it several times in his gospel.  Do you realize how much Jesus loves you?

Who invites us, again and again, to return to his table, excluding NOBODY?  Jesus…the man who often dined with society's outcasts. Why does he invite us again and again?  Does it have something to do with love?

If you can join us around the table this Sunday, you will hear new words and also read traditional words. We will hear together just why we are ALL invited again and again.  The message may astound you, and it will certainly bless you. 

To prepare, you may want to pray one of our scripture passages for this week. It summarizes what we do in communion and includes some strong words from Paul about its importance:

1 Corinthians 11:23-26  msg

Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:

This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.

Open My Heart Lord

Open my eyes Lord

Help me to see your face

Open my eyes Lord

Help me to see

 

Open my ears Lord

Help me to hear your voice

Open my ears Lord

Help me to hear

    

Open my heart Lord

Help me to love like you

Open my heart Lord

Help me to love.

     - Jesse Manibusan

Open my heart Lord

Help me to feel your love

Open my heart Lord

Help me to feel.

Will We Let Jesus Transform Us?

Blessed are the rich, for they own the best stuff.

Blessed are the sexy and glamorous, for everyone desires them.

Blessed are the powerful, for they shall control the realms of the earth.

Blessed are those who get everything they ever wanted; they alone will be satisfied.

Blessed are those who are famous, when you are pursued and stalked by the paparazzi. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is eternal branding on Instagram. 

- Diane Butler Bass

Jesus’ message is counter-cultural and personal at the same time. I may think that I am too small to transform the world, but I can let Jesus transform me.  And so I pray scripture. 

This week's passage is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, found in Luke 6:20-49.  He opens the sermon with these words, a very different set of blessings than we see in our celebrity culture: 

You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all. God’s kingdom is there for the finding. You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry. Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal. You’re blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning.

Some days I feel like I have lost it all. Jesus tells me that I am blessed, and his kingdom is there for the finding. And so I keep praying the sermon, watching for phrases that stand out for me today. 

Later in his Sermon, in our passage for this week, he says, Love your enemies. 

I stop, wondering who my enemies might be… perhaps those who annoy or frustrate me..something comes to mind. 

I keep praying Jesus’ words, hungry for what he wants to say to me.

It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.

I stop again, wondering if I do the very things that annoy me in others.  Oh, I do, I now see. 

The kingdom is there for the finding. Thank you, Jesus. 

Will we let Jesus transform us?  If we let Jesus transform us, I wonder if we can transform the world?  Which world do we want to live in and pass on to the next generation? 

Here is Sunday's scripture passage:

Luke 6:35-38; 41-47  (MSG)

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it.

Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst.

Our Father is kind; you be kind.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way.

Generosity begets generosity.”

 “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt?

It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part.

Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

 “You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

 “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you?

These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.

Where Do You Go for Protection from Unhealthy Fear?

When my spiritual director suggested I pray the psalms, our loving God soon gave me a new meaning for “enemy “... and a place to go for protection from my enemies. 

The psalms are filled with enemies, and although I may not have enemies in the same way the people and kings of ancient Israel had them, I have them in my head. Those Falsehoods Experienced as Reality, that Rev. Donna spoke of during Lent, are everywhere…and they are heavily armed.  

Remembering Donna’s teachings, I'm referring to unhealthy fear, of course, not the healthy fear that causes us to take action to protect ourselves against speeding cars and food poisoning. When Jesus advised us not to worry, I'm pretty sure he wasn't referring to healthy fear. 

I wonder if the very human Jesus experienced unhealthy fear and worry? If so, where did he go for protection? Where do you go for protection? 

Perhaps Jesus prayed Psalm 27.  On Sunday, we will sing and read some excerpts from Psalm 27:

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
    yet I will be confident.

One thing I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
    and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will set me high on a rock.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
    be gracious to me and answer me!
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, do I seek.
    Do not hide your face from me.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

If we seek his face, the Lord who loves us and is always present with us and our fear, hides us in his shelter.

Why Does God Want to be Present With Us?

I’ve been thinking this week about one of God’s promises to us - his promise to be always near.  It’s an amazing promise, really, this idea that no matter where we are or what we are doing, he is always with us, always present…with all of us at the same time! 

You might remember one of the songs we sang last week - it mentions his presence four times!

You are holy, you are whole.

You are always ever more

than we ever understand.

You are always at hand.

Blessed are you coming near.

Blessed are you coming here

to your church in wine and bread,

Raised from soil, raised from dead.

 

You are holy, you are wholeness; 

you are present.

Let the cosmos praise you, Lord!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, our Lord.

What is God doing when he is present with us, I wonder?  Why does he want to be present with us?  How does this promise make you feel?  Have you ever wanted to be with someone all of the time?  If so, why?

Our scripture reading for this week (Romans 8. 22-28 MSG) also mentions God’s presence:

All around us we observe a pregnant creation.  The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us.  But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter.  He does our  praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.  That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

I hope to see you on Sunday (at 10AM in the Dogwood Room) for worship on Sunday - in the presence of our Lord.