Greetings, Because of a vacation and way too many things going on, I am taking a blog break. I will post again September 20, 2013. During that time, please pick your favorite scripture and read it. Then read it out loud. Then read it a sentence at a time. Think about it. Picture it. Make it personal. Put yourself in the middle of it. Or picture yourself as a news reporter looking for a good story. Oh, that is a good idea. That could be fun!
Enjoy life,
Mary
One of the blessings of summer is fresh flowers. A bouquet on the kitchen counter just brightens the room. A mix of gladiolus and daisies gives a special touch to the living room.
My favorite flower is the white rose. You just cannot improve on the white rose. But --- Other than for my wedding bouquet, a bouquet of just white roses isn't that great. Too sterile. A bit boring. Bland. But -- add in a red rose, a pink tulip, a brown sprig or maybe a weed and you have something beautiful. Vibrant. Bold. Unique. A variety that blends into something amazing.
SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4--7
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
AND NOW
One of the centerpieces for a UMW meeting.
This bouquet is simple but beautiful and each flower adds to that beauty. Yes, each is a unique creation and can stand on its own, but the beauty increases when joined together.
Sorta like the church. Each person has a different gift. That gift is a blessing from God and can stand on its own, BUT when each individual gift is linked to another gift something amazing happens. We become a bouquet! A fragrant bouquet! A bouquet pleasing to God.
LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)
O Lord, make me a fragrant part of your bouquet. Amen
The other day this came across Facebook.
I had to laugh. His mother must be one mean mamma.
Then I got to thinking. Backup. Call for backup. Gee, I do that all the time.
SECRET 1: Being able to admit you need help.
SECRET 2: Knowing where to find backup.
SECRET 3: Using your backup.
Lord, it is me. Again! I am lost and do not know what to do. The devil is poking around looking for my weak spots. The world is frustrating me. I feel like I am pulled in ten different directions. Today I just feel -- Well, I feel like I need backup. Will you do that? Will you be my backup? And walk in front of me? And beside me? Lord, today I need to know I am surrounded and protected. Amen
Do you remember watching Let's Make a Deal? Someone in the audience was given a few bucks and told they could keep it or exchange it for something in another pocket. Then they could trade that for something behind one of the doors. The exchanging went on until either they stopped or until they traded for the last door. Usually, by that time, they had traded something decent or really good for something like a -- goat.
We used to watch that show and even used it as a theme for Terri's birthday one year. It was fun to have her hold a package and then decide if she wanted to keep it or trade it. Would she go for a better deal? What would she end up with? Something really great or a gag gift? (Unlike real life, she got to keep them all but it sure was fun.)
Let's make a deal -- We play that with God all the time. "Lord, let the sevens line up on the slot machine. Let me win really big and I'll go home." "If you will show me a way out of debt, I will go to church every Sunday and read the Bible every day." "Lord, I do not want to be sick. Please heal me and I will sin no more."
Do we try to make deals with God? Does God make deals with us?
SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 2:15-17
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
AND NOW
Sounds like a deal to me. And the Lord God said, "Adam I have a deal for you. See all this. It's yours except for that one tree. You can keep it, don't eat from that tree and you live. You can eat from the tree, get kicked out of the garden and you die. Which deal do you want?" (Paraphrased by Mary)
Abram/Abraham also did pretty good in the deal department. The Lord appeared to Abram. "Abram, do you think you can be faithful now? No more of this having a baby with a maidservant because it is taking too long for Sara to conceive. Abram. Abram. You are just not going to believe what I have in store for you. No children of your own? Abram, I have chosen you to be the father of many nations. When people in the future check your family chart, they will find kings. You, Abram, will have more offspring than there are stars. How does that sound? Oh, and your name is now Abraham." (Paraphrased by Mary)
Need to point out something here. There is a difference between God "making a deal" and us "making a deal." "What is that difference?" you ask.
Would you walk away from the slot machine? Or would you put in just one more quarter, because who says you couldn't hit twice? Do you really think you can go to church every Sunday and read the Bible every day? Or would there be a Sunday when you were too sick to go or a day when life steps in and you go to sleep before you get the Bible read? Would you give up all your sins? Or would you hold onto a few small ones? Would you? Could you?
What is the difference between God "making a deal" and us "making a deal?" Power! God has the power to keep his promises (deals). There is no would or could. God can and does. God has the Power! Admit it. We do not.
LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)
Lord, when I am tempted to make a deal with you, have the Holy Spirit put a big stop sign on my deal making. Instead, bring my Spirit in line with Your Will! Lord, let me never forget that your deals/promises/covenants are backed by the power to keep them. Amen
Our town is having city wide garage sales this weekend and people are just plain nuts. They slam on their brakes, half park their car and jump out without looking. They drive all over town. Up one street and down another. They are ready! They have quarters and ones. They are focused. They just know the exact thing they have been looking for will be on the table. Or maybe the next. They want a bargain!
Of course, all the people having a garage sale just want to get rid of their junk. Stuff they no longer need. Or want. A garage sale is the exact place to pass on that ugly Christmas sweater. Or the skillet that sounded good on the infomercial that did not work. Or all the things you bought at garage sales only to realize they did not match your décor.
Garage sales fit a need. Two really. The seller has the benefit of cleaning their closets, reducing their clutter and making a few bucks. The buyers enjoy the chase of a bargain and the thrill of victory when they find the lid to the replace the one they broke.
Garage sales are an example of --
SCRIPTURE
"Son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'This is what you are saying: "Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?" 'Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?' Ezekiel 33:10-11
AND NOW
Well, will you look at that! God doesn't want us to keep our "junk." God wants us to get rid of the sins that weigh us down. God doesn't want us to waste away. God wants us to have a "sin" sale.
Do you have sins you are trying to get rid of? Are you putting them up for sale hoping someone will take them off your hands?
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father -- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:5-6
GOOD NEWS! Jesus has already paid for our sins!
LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)
Jesus, I am holding onto so many things. Things that do not enrich my life but instead waste it. Things that hold me down. Come and free me. Amen
