This week: God as fire. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Does the flame of Pentecost push us or pull us? Often, people run from fire. They
see the fire 'over there' and they run in the other direction. In some cases, they
run away from everything in their lives that may be lost - burned up - never to
be seen again. I think God as fire is like that sometimes. Pushing us out and away
from everything that is consuming our lives so that our lives are not truly full
of the wideness of God Reign. Then again, those flames pull us out of ourselves
to see what is burning - what is hot - what is the power - where is it going. God
as fire ignites within us a desire to run to the flames. This God brings out the
best in us. Knowing how fire can destroy - we are drawn to the fire to repair and
to heal and to help others see the sweetness of new life that comes when we are
grasped by the reality that our God does not need what we have or what we have accomplished
or what we can claim to be. God is always trying to help us unveil that sweet love
that abides with all of us and will continue to bring about new life for all.
O God of love and new life, push us - pull us, please. Come, simply come and take
us into your embrace and ignite new life among us. Amen.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 30, 2013
This week: God as fire. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]How many crispy coatings can you make from one marshmallow? Let the outside brown
or burn - peel it off - do it again - do it again - until that soft center is just
too small to use another time. Yes we get burned in our lives. In many and various
ways we get burned-up, burned-out, set on fire, even totally consumed - at least
we think. But there is always some little bit of sweetness left. God as fire always
sees the sweetness that is at our center. That is the beloved one - that is me and
that is you. No matter what has happened or how we have had to face the fires of
our lives our God as fire always sees something left - something worthy - something
delightful. I would have to agree with Pope Francis - even sweetness in the atheist!
Yes. I find that something to grasp and never let go. Through all the fire that
I think does me in or makes me turn away and run or simply drip off the stick into
nothing - there is our God as fire who has a love for sweets - that is you my friends
and me. Our core never changes - it is what our God always sees - and always will.
This is the truth that goes beyond our bias knowing - our preferences - our idolatry
- all that stuff that can be burned off to expose the beauty of God's beloved children
- all of us.
O God of love and new life, I am so thankful that you see in the midst of the burning
stuff around me and the goo within me - a beloved child. Amen.
or burn - peel it off - do it again - do it again - until that soft center is just
too small to use another time. Yes we get burned in our lives. In many and various
ways we get burned-up, burned-out, set on fire, even totally consumed - at least
we think. But there is always some little bit of sweetness left. God as fire always
sees the sweetness that is at our center. That is the beloved one - that is me and
that is you. No matter what has happened or how we have had to face the fires of
our lives our God as fire always sees something left - something worthy - something
delightful. I would have to agree with Pope Francis - even sweetness in the atheist!
Yes. I find that something to grasp and never let go. Through all the fire that
I think does me in or makes me turn away and run or simply drip off the stick into
nothing - there is our God as fire who has a love for sweets - that is you my friends
and me. Our core never changes - it is what our God always sees - and always will.
This is the truth that goes beyond our bias knowing - our preferences - our idolatry
- all that stuff that can be burned off to expose the beauty of God's beloved children
- all of us.
O God of love and new life, I am so thankful that you see in the midst of the burning
stuff around me and the goo within me - a beloved child. Amen.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 28, 2013
This week: God as fire. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Fire can hurt. When I'm lighting a candle at home and I have to hold the match as
I long as can because I don't want to waste another match - I want to be in control
- I want to be successful - I just want to do it, I often hold onto to what I want
just a moment too long. Ouch! God as fire is not out to burn us. God as fire is
handing us the power to turn and face a new life. Let go! God will supply another
match - things do not have to go as we want them to go. God as fire does not hurt
- our holding on too long is what hurts. We do it to ourselves. God as fire keeps
beckoning us to come and follow and live a new life but as long as we hold on to
the way we think is best, we may find that things get all burned up and we are
left with nothing. That, though, is not true. For when it appears as though all
things are burned up - God begins to help us see what is now about to come to life.
Before the fire, we may have been so involved in holding on to what is and what
we want - we are not able to see the fresh and vibrant life that comes after some
things have been burned off.
O God of love and new life, by the power of your Spirit of new life set us on fire
and let your glory shine among us like a lamp that brings your love to light in
the world. Amen.
I long as can because I don't want to waste another match - I want to be in control
- I want to be successful - I just want to do it, I often hold onto to what I want
just a moment too long. Ouch! God as fire is not out to burn us. God as fire is
handing us the power to turn and face a new life. Let go! God will supply another
match - things do not have to go as we want them to go. God as fire does not hurt
- our holding on too long is what hurts. We do it to ourselves. God as fire keeps
beckoning us to come and follow and live a new life but as long as we hold on to
the way we think is best, we may find that things get all burned up and we are
left with nothing. That, though, is not true. For when it appears as though all
things are burned up - God begins to help us see what is now about to come to life.
Before the fire, we may have been so involved in holding on to what is and what
we want - we are not able to see the fresh and vibrant life that comes after some
things have been burned off.
O God of love and new life, by the power of your Spirit of new life set us on fire
and let your glory shine among us like a lamp that brings your love to light in
the world. Amen.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 28, 2013
This week: God as fire. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Fire will burn things up. Some things need to be burned up. Something find new life
after they have been burned up. God as fire is always creative. Even when we think
that fire takes away what is, we must wait sometimes - wait and see what remains
or what has been created when fire sweeps through. Most of us have been warned
at least once - to stay away from the fire - we will get burned - hurt - scarred,
etc. That' quite true. And yet, those are not all bad things when we are talking
about God as fire. This fire may just burn up the excess - the heavy loads we carry.
Those folks who traveled into the wilderness were told to get out and get out quickly.
The 'stuff' they carried out didn't last long. In fact they burned it up themselves
in order to make a golden image they could worship. God as fire burns up all that
'stuff' that cannot bring life and cannot sustain us. God as fire is not a 'hell-fire
and damnation' message. It is a fire that brings life and makes it more full than
we could ever imagine. Think about a forest that burns down - in years - it thrives
like never before. And yet, when we see the fire coming we can only see destruction
and not new life.
O God of love and new life, ignite a love among us that will burn away the temptation
to become cold-hearted and distant and trusting in what we have rather than who
love and holds us without end. Amen.
after they have been burned up. God as fire is always creative. Even when we think
that fire takes away what is, we must wait sometimes - wait and see what remains
or what has been created when fire sweeps through. Most of us have been warned
at least once - to stay away from the fire - we will get burned - hurt - scarred,
etc. That' quite true. And yet, those are not all bad things when we are talking
about God as fire. This fire may just burn up the excess - the heavy loads we carry.
Those folks who traveled into the wilderness were told to get out and get out quickly.
The 'stuff' they carried out didn't last long. In fact they burned it up themselves
in order to make a golden image they could worship. God as fire burns up all that
'stuff' that cannot bring life and cannot sustain us. God as fire is not a 'hell-fire
and damnation' message. It is a fire that brings life and makes it more full than
we could ever imagine. Think about a forest that burns down - in years - it thrives
like never before. And yet, when we see the fire coming we can only see destruction
and not new life.
O God of love and new life, ignite a love among us that will burn away the temptation
to become cold-hearted and distant and trusting in what we have rather than who
love and holds us without end. Amen.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 24, 2013
This week: God as welcome. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as welcome means there will be risk if we follow in God's way. To welcome -
make someone a part of our lives - invite them into our community - treat them as
though they are one of us, is risky. When we follow the way of our God as welcome,
it means we will need to step out of our comfort zone. That's a risk because we
all tend to built a world that we like to keep 'just as it is.' It is also a risk
because we cannot control the world when the door is open and we say 'welcome y'all'.
God as welcome demands that we take time in the midst of everyday to remember our
baptism - or to simply remind ourselves of God's love that knows no end. This may
be a small prayerful moment. At the same time, in that prayerfulness, we are promised
that the Spirit of God is already pulling us into the realm of God as welcome. Before
we hold out our lives as a living welcome, the ground for that welcome must be at
hand. That simply means we are already welcomed into God's Reigning embrace and
now we extend that welcome to others. Yes, it may begin with a few words, but in
time a welcome grows into relationships and relationships are where the world is
transformed. Transformation is always a risk.
O God of love and new life, lead us into the risky business of your Reign. Yes,
we may hesitate - but we expect your Spirit to move us along your way. Amen.
make someone a part of our lives - invite them into our community - treat them as
though they are one of us, is risky. When we follow the way of our God as welcome,
it means we will need to step out of our comfort zone. That's a risk because we
all tend to built a world that we like to keep 'just as it is.' It is also a risk
because we cannot control the world when the door is open and we say 'welcome y'all'.
God as welcome demands that we take time in the midst of everyday to remember our
baptism - or to simply remind ourselves of God's love that knows no end. This may
be a small prayerful moment. At the same time, in that prayerfulness, we are promised
that the Spirit of God is already pulling us into the realm of God as welcome. Before
we hold out our lives as a living welcome, the ground for that welcome must be at
hand. That simply means we are already welcomed into God's Reigning embrace and
now we extend that welcome to others. Yes, it may begin with a few words, but in
time a welcome grows into relationships and relationships are where the world is
transformed. Transformation is always a risk.
O God of love and new life, lead us into the risky business of your Reign. Yes,
we may hesitate - but we expect your Spirit to move us along your way. Amen.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 23, 2013
This week: God as welcome. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]When a door is open, we can go out that door and engage the world or we can stay
inside and greet those who come in. That is our life when we follow God as welcome.
The door never shuts - never. It is like forgiveness - it is never-ending - it begins
again just when we thought 'enough with the forgiveness already.' God as welcome
puts into a place in which we are exposed to whatever may come. Yikes. We must
remember that this God as welcome is also the God when we were the 'whatever-may-come'
and we were greeted and embraced. God as welcome comes like water splashing in the
font - water thrown around a room of saints (sometime welcome - sometime not) -
water poured over us with words of promise that will be the way we are reminded
that in and through all times, we are welcome - no, we are now a part of the welcome
that will make the world new. God as welcome opens up a can of worms.
O God of love and new life, open up our hearts so we may be moved by your Spirit
and begin to find delight when the doors of our life are open to others. Amen.
\
inside and greet those who come in. That is our life when we follow God as welcome.
The door never shuts - never. It is like forgiveness - it is never-ending - it begins
again just when we thought 'enough with the forgiveness already.' God as welcome
puts into a place in which we are exposed to whatever may come. Yikes. We must
remember that this God as welcome is also the God when we were the 'whatever-may-come'
and we were greeted and embraced. God as welcome comes like water splashing in the
font - water thrown around a room of saints (sometime welcome - sometime not) -
water poured over us with words of promise that will be the way we are reminded
that in and through all times, we are welcome - no, we are now a part of the welcome
that will make the world new. God as welcome opens up a can of worms.
O God of love and new life, open up our hearts so we may be moved by your Spirit
and begin to find delight when the doors of our life are open to others. Amen.
\
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 21, 2013
This week: God as welcome. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]We don't welcome everyone. If we are honest - we just don't. That is one of the
many reasons we are sent to the Scriptures. There we read stories of God as welcome
- Jesus making a fool of himself - the eunuch attached to the community - the lost
coin found - the wounded healed and made a part of the whole again. God as welcome
is the God who inspires us to do something more than talk. We are invited to turn
the 'we welcome all' into a reality that refreshes folks who may not be welcomed
very often - but long for a place and a people that will treat them as ones who
are welcome. God as welcome is always stretching those of us who attempt to listen
to the story of God in the flesh and really long for that life to be ours. God as
welcome is the power that will turn our heads to see the stranger in the middle
of worship or at an event and then pull us to greet the stranger so that s/he will
have a real place among us. Isn't it strange that the followers of Jesus - when
we gather for worship - have a way of leaving the strangers to fend for themselves
or stand alone or walk out of the building without a simple yet blessed 'welcome'?
O God of love and new life, as you bring us home to life with you, remind us to
bring along our neighbor and maybe a stranger who has recently been touch by our
welcome. Amen.
many reasons we are sent to the Scriptures. There we read stories of God as welcome
- Jesus making a fool of himself - the eunuch attached to the community - the lost
coin found - the wounded healed and made a part of the whole again. God as welcome
is the God who inspires us to do something more than talk. We are invited to turn
the 'we welcome all' into a reality that refreshes folks who may not be welcomed
very often - but long for a place and a people that will treat them as ones who
are welcome. God as welcome is always stretching those of us who attempt to listen
to the story of God in the flesh and really long for that life to be ours. God as
welcome is the power that will turn our heads to see the stranger in the middle
of worship or at an event and then pull us to greet the stranger so that s/he will
have a real place among us. Isn't it strange that the followers of Jesus - when
we gather for worship - have a way of leaving the strangers to fend for themselves
or stand alone or walk out of the building without a simple yet blessed 'welcome'?
O God of love and new life, as you bring us home to life with you, remind us to
bring along our neighbor and maybe a stranger who has recently been touch by our
welcome. Amen.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 20, 2013
This week: God as welcome. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]At a preaching conference last week, Walter Brueggemann said, "Welcome vetoes speech."
God as welcome is that parent who does not need to say anything to his child who
has been away from home - pretty much considering his father dead. The child is
a loser - trying to make the world his own - so turned-in-on-self that all things
are lost in that far away place. So the child goes home expecting to make a planned
speech that may do him some good. But the speech cannot be completed - no planned
rise out of the dumps is able to occur as the child had envisioned. Instead there
is welcome - a overwhelming welcome - and "I'll do anything for you dear, anything"
welcome. God as welcome acts boldly and without any pulling or persuasion. God as
welcome is able to restore worth and heal all that has been broken. This welcome
is meant to be the face of the church for all and any who gather up the courage
to come and worship or come and take part in any aspect of the life of a congregation.
God as welcome is a people who make fools of themselves to welcome home the stranger.
Not to 'get them' to join. Rather, to give them the homecoming - the welcome - that
all God's children need after we have been beaten up by the world and when we have
take part in beating up others. God as welcome vetoes speech. Therefore we become
the welcome that is too often left to words and never becomes life.
O God of love and new life, we are reborn when we are brought close into the embrace
of your love. Blessed are you for acting and grabbing hold of us when we are longing
for a place to call home. Amen.
God as welcome is that parent who does not need to say anything to his child who
has been away from home - pretty much considering his father dead. The child is
a loser - trying to make the world his own - so turned-in-on-self that all things
are lost in that far away place. So the child goes home expecting to make a planned
speech that may do him some good. But the speech cannot be completed - no planned
rise out of the dumps is able to occur as the child had envisioned. Instead there
is welcome - a overwhelming welcome - and "I'll do anything for you dear, anything"
welcome. God as welcome acts boldly and without any pulling or persuasion. God as
welcome is able to restore worth and heal all that has been broken. This welcome
is meant to be the face of the church for all and any who gather up the courage
to come and worship or come and take part in any aspect of the life of a congregation.
God as welcome is a people who make fools of themselves to welcome home the stranger.
Not to 'get them' to join. Rather, to give them the homecoming - the welcome - that
all God's children need after we have been beaten up by the world and when we have
take part in beating up others. God as welcome vetoes speech. Therefore we become
the welcome that is too often left to words and never becomes life.
O God of love and new life, we are reborn when we are brought close into the embrace
of your love. Blessed are you for acting and grabbing hold of us when we are longing
for a place to call home. Amen.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 17, 2013
This week: God as a new born. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as a new born is our God who longs to be embraced and held close. God as new
born is like a promise that is brought to life and yet we cannot see how full the
promise will be. Therefore we are invited to treasure the promise - not by keeping
to ourselves -like hidden treasure - but more as treasure that is freely given and
treasure we long to share. God as a new born frightens us with the vulnerability
that is displayed and yet it encourages us with the life that is yet to unfold.
We are handed that which is not yet full and complete. We are handed that which
must become relational in order to gain a more full encounter with the life God
as a new born puts before us. It is not always easy to take a new born into our
arms. Sometimes there is that feeling or thought that we might break it. But God
as a new born invites us - pleads with us - to reach out and take hold of the responsibilities
and gifts that come with being a part of the unfolding character of our God in the
midst of us.
O God of love and new life, open our arms to the world so that our arms will always
be open to you as you are born into the life around us. Amen.
born is like a promise that is brought to life and yet we cannot see how full the
promise will be. Therefore we are invited to treasure the promise - not by keeping
to ourselves -like hidden treasure - but more as treasure that is freely given and
treasure we long to share. God as a new born frightens us with the vulnerability
that is displayed and yet it encourages us with the life that is yet to unfold.
We are handed that which is not yet full and complete. We are handed that which
must become relational in order to gain a more full encounter with the life God
as a new born puts before us. It is not always easy to take a new born into our
arms. Sometimes there is that feeling or thought that we might break it. But God
as a new born invites us - pleads with us - to reach out and take hold of the responsibilities
and gifts that come with being a part of the unfolding character of our God in the
midst of us.
O God of love and new life, open our arms to the world so that our arms will always
be open to you as you are born into the life around us. Amen.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 16, 2013
This week: God as a new born. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]I remember when my daughter was born. One of the first things I did was exactly
what a nurse said I would do. I reached out with one finger and touched her face
- her head - her neck. It was like I was drawn into the newness of that life and
I knew how fragile it is and also how much we need to be touched by one another.
God as a new born is that desire to touch with hands and lives and voices and emotions
- those who are so vulnerable. It is then that we will be pulled into contact with
all others. God as a new born is the power that overcomes any distance between us.
Last week when I held that baby I noticed how I kept touching and stroking the top
of her head. Even when we had a prayer, I laid my hand gently on her head and continued
to lightly stroke her head during the prayer. I find that same kind of energy when
we move through the healing rite in worship each month. The two hands laid upon
a person head - the two hand placed on the upper back by another. We are drawn into
each others space to heal and comfort and hold. The distance is meant to be eliminated
then - and always. God as a new born is full of an invitation to heal and bring
life.
O God of love and new life, remind us to be a witness to the sweetness of your Reign
that is revealed in those around us. Amen.
what a nurse said I would do. I reached out with one finger and touched her face
- her head - her neck. It was like I was drawn into the newness of that life and
I knew how fragile it is and also how much we need to be touched by one another.
God as a new born is that desire to touch with hands and lives and voices and emotions
- those who are so vulnerable. It is then that we will be pulled into contact with
all others. God as a new born is the power that overcomes any distance between us.
Last week when I held that baby I noticed how I kept touching and stroking the top
of her head. Even when we had a prayer, I laid my hand gently on her head and continued
to lightly stroke her head during the prayer. I find that same kind of energy when
we move through the healing rite in worship each month. The two hands laid upon
a person head - the two hand placed on the upper back by another. We are drawn into
each others space to heal and comfort and hold. The distance is meant to be eliminated
then - and always. God as a new born is full of an invitation to heal and bring
life.
O God of love and new life, remind us to be a witness to the sweetness of your Reign
that is revealed in those around us. Amen.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 15, 2013
This week: God as a new born. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]There are so many changes that will take place. Imagine looking around at others
you encounter during the day and seeing a new born. The round faces with skin as
soft as a (get this) baby's butt, become the faces that we usually see. The faces
of angles and varied complexions and hair and weathered skin. Those same faces of
a new born become - over the years - one of 'them' and often people we at whom we
point or about whom we whisper. God as a new born calls on us to see others unrealistically.
But as we age, we begin to see differences and make judgments and learn to turn
our backs and refuse to touch and hold. Think about all the weight we add to our
lives just by how we see others and with that see ourselves in relation to them.
I am always amazed at how much judgment and prejudice and fear and condemnation
exists in the life of a child in confirmation (7th and 8th grades). Sometimes I
can see that these children have had quite a bit of stuff dumped on them. That dumping
of 'grown-up' biases and prejudices takes hold quickly and they are hard to dismantle.
God as a new born is the power we are given to help one another be relieved of all
the weight put upon us. We are invited to take on one primary identity - beloved
of God. This is when we hold and guard and give ourselves away for the sake of
the other - rather than push the other away. This is not a heavy load.
O God of love and new life, remind us of how life can be so fragile and we are all
shaped by your Spirit to honor the weak and offer ourselves as kind and gentle hands
that will protect and serve other - endlessly. Amen.
you encounter during the day and seeing a new born. The round faces with skin as
soft as a (get this) baby's butt, become the faces that we usually see. The faces
of angles and varied complexions and hair and weathered skin. Those same faces of
a new born become - over the years - one of 'them' and often people we at whom we
point or about whom we whisper. God as a new born calls on us to see others unrealistically.
But as we age, we begin to see differences and make judgments and learn to turn
our backs and refuse to touch and hold. Think about all the weight we add to our
lives just by how we see others and with that see ourselves in relation to them.
I am always amazed at how much judgment and prejudice and fear and condemnation
exists in the life of a child in confirmation (7th and 8th grades). Sometimes I
can see that these children have had quite a bit of stuff dumped on them. That dumping
of 'grown-up' biases and prejudices takes hold quickly and they are hard to dismantle.
God as a new born is the power we are given to help one another be relieved of all
the weight put upon us. We are invited to take on one primary identity - beloved
of God. This is when we hold and guard and give ourselves away for the sake of
the other - rather than push the other away. This is not a heavy load.
O God of love and new life, remind us of how life can be so fragile and we are all
shaped by your Spirit to honor the weak and offer ourselves as kind and gentle hands
that will protect and serve other - endlessly. Amen.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 14, 2013
This week: God as a new born. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as a new born is an invitation to reach out and touch one another as a gentle
and caring power. Holding a new born is like holding the future -seeing the future
face-to-face but still not knowing where it will go - where it will take us - how
it will be transformed. In the present, we have a new born - like a new day. It
if fresh and open to life as never before experience. God as a new born invites
us to dream and imagine what will be. This is not an imagination that seeks to control
what will be - it is an imagination filled with freedom to become a child of God
each and every day. Within that freedom to become me and for you to become you
- comes the invitation to become a part of a community. God as a new born is life
that comes into being within the arms of others who are beloved of God. Those arms
are meant to shape the new born into the fullness of God's image. That is a community
endeavor. Just as we love to pass a new born from one person to the next so that
everyone can go 'ahhh', the beloved of God are given the task of wrapping the new
born up with a love that will become that same love - unconditional, eternal, deep
and wide.
O God of love and new life, come and hold us and then send us and then open our
hearts to the wonder of new life that awaits the fullness of our participation.
Amen.
and caring power. Holding a new born is like holding the future -seeing the future
face-to-face but still not knowing where it will go - where it will take us - how
it will be transformed. In the present, we have a new born - like a new day. It
if fresh and open to life as never before experience. God as a new born invites
us to dream and imagine what will be. This is not an imagination that seeks to control
what will be - it is an imagination filled with freedom to become a child of God
each and every day. Within that freedom to become me and for you to become you
- comes the invitation to become a part of a community. God as a new born is life
that comes into being within the arms of others who are beloved of God. Those arms
are meant to shape the new born into the fullness of God's image. That is a community
endeavor. Just as we love to pass a new born from one person to the next so that
everyone can go 'ahhh', the beloved of God are given the task of wrapping the new
born up with a love that will become that same love - unconditional, eternal, deep
and wide.
O God of love and new life, come and hold us and then send us and then open our
hearts to the wonder of new life that awaits the fullness of our participation.
Amen.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 13, 2013
This week: God as a new born. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Last week I had the opportunity to hold Kathryn Margert during her first day of
life. God as a new life is vulnerability. It is the unfolding story of people whose
lives must be held in the hands of others and whose lives also become the hands
that will hold others. No one fears what a new born will do next - although a poopy
diaper is a bit of a surprise. God as a new born draws us close to one another so
that we will be able to see the child in one another - the new born - the helpless
- the one waiting to be held and comforted and honored. This is all easy to do when
we hold a new born. This child needs us in order to make it through another day.
Imagine caring for the world around us as though we were facing a new born. There
is a good chance that we would look differently at our world. We would also look
differently in regard to how we would interact with the world. Maybe we would be
pulled into a gentleness that promises to do no harm. Who would harm a new born?
Well, who would harm the people you will encounter today? God as a new born insists
on people caring for others - even when the day may be filled with nothing more
than a bunch of poopy diapers.
O God of love and new life, gift us with the ability to see the new born in those
around us so that even our enemies will be re-viewed within the gentleness of your
Reign. Amen.
life. God as a new life is vulnerability. It is the unfolding story of people whose
lives must be held in the hands of others and whose lives also become the hands
that will hold others. No one fears what a new born will do next - although a poopy
diaper is a bit of a surprise. God as a new born draws us close to one another so
that we will be able to see the child in one another - the new born - the helpless
- the one waiting to be held and comforted and honored. This is all easy to do when
we hold a new born. This child needs us in order to make it through another day.
Imagine caring for the world around us as though we were facing a new born. There
is a good chance that we would look differently at our world. We would also look
differently in regard to how we would interact with the world. Maybe we would be
pulled into a gentleness that promises to do no harm. Who would harm a new born?
Well, who would harm the people you will encounter today? God as a new born insists
on people caring for others - even when the day may be filled with nothing more
than a bunch of poopy diapers.
O God of love and new life, gift us with the ability to see the new born in those
around us so that even our enemies will be re-viewed within the gentleness of your
Reign. Amen.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 9, 2013
This week: God as lively. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as lively rises from the dead. God as lively is that part of the story when
we are leaning forward to see and hear if anything else will happen - if life will
go on - if the person in the story will make it out. God as lively is the and then
that opens up the story and leads us on another adventure. Our God if forever opening
up the day to help us see or imagine what might be next or around the corner or
present with us even when we are feeling utterly alone. I know that I do not always
hear that 'and then' right away. Sometimes I am too stuck in what is and what can
be seen and that which I am feeling. Once again, it takes some breathing - some
time when the creativity of the Holy Spirit is able to expand my life vision. It
is odd how that works. There are times when I am able to acknowledge the 'and then'
while I am facing the moment of death or despair or disappointment or fear. Other
times it takes me a moment - an hour - the rest of the day, 'and then' possibilities
begin to set me free. There are also times when weeks pass - maybe years - too,
too long of a time, 'but then' God as lively helps me breathe in the freshness of
grace that has a way of opening my heart.
O God of love and new life, make us a patient people as we attempt to walk within
this day knowing that your grace will bring the action of creation right into the
middle of every moment and then....again. Amen.
we are leaning forward to see and hear if anything else will happen - if life will
go on - if the person in the story will make it out. God as lively is the and then
that opens up the story and leads us on another adventure. Our God if forever opening
up the day to help us see or imagine what might be next or around the corner or
present with us even when we are feeling utterly alone. I know that I do not always
hear that 'and then' right away. Sometimes I am too stuck in what is and what can
be seen and that which I am feeling. Once again, it takes some breathing - some
time when the creativity of the Holy Spirit is able to expand my life vision. It
is odd how that works. There are times when I am able to acknowledge the 'and then'
while I am facing the moment of death or despair or disappointment or fear. Other
times it takes me a moment - an hour - the rest of the day, 'and then' possibilities
begin to set me free. There are also times when weeks pass - maybe years - too,
too long of a time, 'but then' God as lively helps me breathe in the freshness of
grace that has a way of opening my heart.
O God of love and new life, make us a patient people as we attempt to walk within
this day knowing that your grace will bring the action of creation right into the
middle of every moment and then....again. Amen.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 9, 2013
This week: God as lively. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as lively is the power that flips the switch. That switch is the 'on' switch.
It is the one that greets me where I am and turns on the light. The light is the
life of the Reign of God that enables me to see the world around me with new eyes.
It is often with those eyes - given light and sight by Go as lively - I come to
take note of the world that is outside the world as I am trying to make it for myself.
It is the world that is constantly being renewed and recreated by a God so lively
we really do need to be pulled along. It is too easy to stay back in the world as
I know it and want it. And yet, as the hymn goes: Here comes Jesus, see him walking
on the water. That is God as lively taking us out of the boat of comfort and safety
as we like it and bidding us to dance in places we usually would never consider
possible. I want to dance on water - I want to reach beyond my world and investigate
you world and the next. I also know that I can be such a coward - so turned-in-on-myself
- that I do not 'go for it.' God as lively flips the switch not just to see what
seems out of my ballpark - but to also step forward and start being a part of a
new game.
O God of love and new life, call us out onto the water today. Remind us that there
will be life outside the boat and it will be life eternally new. Amen.
It is the one that greets me where I am and turns on the light. The light is the
life of the Reign of God that enables me to see the world around me with new eyes.
It is often with those eyes - given light and sight by Go as lively - I come to
take note of the world that is outside the world as I am trying to make it for myself.
It is the world that is constantly being renewed and recreated by a God so lively
we really do need to be pulled along. It is too easy to stay back in the world as
I know it and want it. And yet, as the hymn goes: Here comes Jesus, see him walking
on the water. That is God as lively taking us out of the boat of comfort and safety
as we like it and bidding us to dance in places we usually would never consider
possible. I want to dance on water - I want to reach beyond my world and investigate
you world and the next. I also know that I can be such a coward - so turned-in-on-myself
- that I do not 'go for it.' God as lively flips the switch not just to see what
seems out of my ballpark - but to also step forward and start being a part of a
new game.
O God of love and new life, call us out onto the water today. Remind us that there
will be life outside the boat and it will be life eternally new. Amen.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 8, 2013
This week: God as lively. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]When I think of God as lively, I wonder if I will be able to follow along that way.
God as lively will never allow for a world of us and them. Such a world is contrary
to this God who will always reach across the line and sit with the other side and
eat at the same table and walk alongside so no one will be out there alone as an
easy target. God as lively engages 'them' just as I hope God engages 'us.' That
is the making of a whole new world. That is the making of a peaceable Reign. That
brings about the end of scapegoats and demonizing. God as lively is the power that
pulls all of us across the line that we were told never to cross. I don't know if
I can always follow along that way and cross over those lines. It is in those moments
that I must remember that God as lively has a lively Spirit that will assist us
- convince us - grab us and pull a bit. I need that Spirit to enliven my life quite
a bit of the time.
O God of love and new life, once again amaze us with your loving presence and disturb
us with your gracious love that is meant to be a part of the very fiber of our live
this day. Amen.
God as lively will never allow for a world of us and them. Such a world is contrary
to this God who will always reach across the line and sit with the other side and
eat at the same table and walk alongside so no one will be out there alone as an
easy target. God as lively engages 'them' just as I hope God engages 'us.' That
is the making of a whole new world. That is the making of a peaceable Reign. That
brings about the end of scapegoats and demonizing. God as lively is the power that
pulls all of us across the line that we were told never to cross. I don't know if
I can always follow along that way and cross over those lines. It is in those moments
that I must remember that God as lively has a lively Spirit that will assist us
- convince us - grab us and pull a bit. I need that Spirit to enliven my life quite
a bit of the time.
O God of love and new life, once again amaze us with your loving presence and disturb
us with your gracious love that is meant to be a part of the very fiber of our live
this day. Amen.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 7, 2013
This week: God as lively. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as lively brings the expectation that at any time and in any place we may experience
the invitation to be a part of this lively life. God as lively pulls us into a existence
in which we become a people who do not sit back and watch. We enter in - we question
- we doubt - we wholeheartedly jump in - we argue - we call for clarification -
we add our 2 cents - we respectfully become a part of the whole. God as lively is
the God who hangs from the cross to let us know that God will hang around with us
no matter what may come of this day. It is often that willingness to hang around
that gets folks killed, martyred, betrayed and accused falsely. That must be why
it is so easy to pull back and not be engaged with others. There is always a risk
that stuff will happen. God as lively - lets it all happen - grace knows no 'approved'
or 'acceptable' manner of going forward with truthfulness and hopefulness and mercy
- and all that good stuff. God goes for it and enlivens our lives with new ways
to be a part of the fullness of our blessed humanity.
O God of love and new life, bring us into a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, and saint-celebrating
day and let the world have a look at real presence - up close. Amen.
the invitation to be a part of this lively life. God as lively pulls us into a existence
in which we become a people who do not sit back and watch. We enter in - we question
- we doubt - we wholeheartedly jump in - we argue - we call for clarification -
we add our 2 cents - we respectfully become a part of the whole. God as lively is
the God who hangs from the cross to let us know that God will hang around with us
no matter what may come of this day. It is often that willingness to hang around
that gets folks killed, martyred, betrayed and accused falsely. That must be why
it is so easy to pull back and not be engaged with others. There is always a risk
that stuff will happen. God as lively - lets it all happen - grace knows no 'approved'
or 'acceptable' manner of going forward with truthfulness and hopefulness and mercy
- and all that good stuff. God goes for it and enlivens our lives with new ways
to be a part of the fullness of our blessed humanity.
O God of love and new life, bring us into a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, and saint-celebrating
day and let the world have a look at real presence - up close. Amen.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 6, 2013
This week: God as lively. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Quoting someone in the sermon yesterday I said that 'sanctification means being
lively'. When I first read that, I smiled. Yes! I then thought that this is our
God - lively - animated. How could God be anything else? This is the God who enters
into all that God's people must endure. God as lively bring life - a fullness of
life even when there appears to be little life left in the room. God as lively
is like someone who jumps down from a tree right in front of someone on a walk in
the woods. Bam - wham - interruption. There may be a moment of fear - that's why
angels in Scripture keep telling folks 'do not be afraid' - but this doesn't last.
God as lively quickly engulfs us in something more that is possible in the midst
of what is. Lively already notes that God is moving active a verb that moves through
our lives making us a lively people.
O God of love and new life, move us again, O God. Amen.
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lively'. When I first read that, I smiled. Yes! I then thought that this is our
God - lively - animated. How could God be anything else? This is the God who enters
into all that God's people must endure. God as lively bring life - a fullness of
life even when there appears to be little life left in the room. God as lively
is like someone who jumps down from a tree right in front of someone on a walk in
the woods. Bam - wham - interruption. There may be a moment of fear - that's why
angels in Scripture keep telling folks 'do not be afraid' - but this doesn't last.
God as lively quickly engulfs us in something more that is possible in the midst
of what is. Lively already notes that God is moving active a verb that moves through
our lives making us a lively people.
O God of love and new life, move us again, O God. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Friday, May 3, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 3, 2013
This week: God as unfolding story. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]When I am afraid or anxious about what might unfold before me, I'm not much of person.
I can be creative - but my creativity has a controlled edge to it. That is, control
what is unfolding and make it fit into my plans. God as unfolding story gives us
everything at the beginning: You are beloved. There is my present and there is
what will be. The story of my life that is to unfold is to be within the realm of
that truth. God as unfolding story does not mean that there will be times when the
world gets turned upside down or it appears as though I am at the end of the road
or the day is about to explode. Rather, God as unfolding story gives me the pick
up line to enter full steam ahead as though I am truly beloved and that will be
enough to sustain me and comfort me even if I am in what appears to be a stone
cold tomb. I have days and weeks when I need to remember that. It is still to easy
to be so stuck in my story line that I do not rest in God's unfolding story - drives
me nuts.
O God of love and new life, help me to ride within this day on the wave of your
story unfolding in and through all things. Amen.
I can be creative - but my creativity has a controlled edge to it. That is, control
what is unfolding and make it fit into my plans. God as unfolding story gives us
everything at the beginning: You are beloved. There is my present and there is
what will be. The story of my life that is to unfold is to be within the realm of
that truth. God as unfolding story does not mean that there will be times when the
world gets turned upside down or it appears as though I am at the end of the road
or the day is about to explode. Rather, God as unfolding story gives me the pick
up line to enter full steam ahead as though I am truly beloved and that will be
enough to sustain me and comfort me even if I am in what appears to be a stone
cold tomb. I have days and weeks when I need to remember that. It is still to easy
to be so stuck in my story line that I do not rest in God's unfolding story - drives
me nuts.
O God of love and new life, help me to ride within this day on the wave of your
story unfolding in and through all things. Amen.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 2, 2013
This week: God as unfolding story. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]Some days it is too difficult to see any other story but the one in which I want
to be. On those days, I expect the world to go my way. Truth is - my way is a world
of its own. I am the center and all things must somehow fit into the story I am
trying to create. Then again, on some days my world as I want it runs into walls
or trips over any number of things that can cause my world to be crushed or simply
damaged. God as unfolding story includes me in the unfolding. Therefore, my world
will keep running into the gift of life that our God constantly makes available.
Folded into the life I want are surprises that will unfold in front of me. Most
often, I'm too involved in my story to see or hear them. But our God as unfolding
story keeps putting into the unfolding of the day - opportunities to hear and see
this story of mercy and hopefulness and unbounded love that is always folded right
into the fabric of all the good and bad days of life. God as unfolding story is
as close as the turning of a head or the voice of another or a sound or silence
that helps disrupt our way and take note of how else we could be living.
O God of love and new life, this day unfolds and we step into that which we do not
know the ending, keep us mindful of how your love is sown into the very fabric of
life around us and we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to catch a glimpse of
it and begin to unravel more of your bountiful life and enter it wholeheartedly.
Amen.
to be. On those days, I expect the world to go my way. Truth is - my way is a world
of its own. I am the center and all things must somehow fit into the story I am
trying to create. Then again, on some days my world as I want it runs into walls
or trips over any number of things that can cause my world to be crushed or simply
damaged. God as unfolding story includes me in the unfolding. Therefore, my world
will keep running into the gift of life that our God constantly makes available.
Folded into the life I want are surprises that will unfold in front of me. Most
often, I'm too involved in my story to see or hear them. But our God as unfolding
story keeps putting into the unfolding of the day - opportunities to hear and see
this story of mercy and hopefulness and unbounded love that is always folded right
into the fabric of all the good and bad days of life. God as unfolding story is
as close as the turning of a head or the voice of another or a sound or silence
that helps disrupt our way and take note of how else we could be living.
O God of love and new life, this day unfolds and we step into that which we do not
know the ending, keep us mindful of how your love is sown into the very fabric of
life around us and we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to catch a glimpse of
it and begin to unravel more of your bountiful life and enter it wholeheartedly.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Redeemer Devotions for May 1, 2013
This week: God as unfolding story. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as unfolding story sometimes means things may be coming apart. Lives that are
coming apart are lives in which God's Spirit takes hold of us and begins to unravel
that which we so often consider our sacred cows. The unraveling makes us look at
the stuff that makes up our lives - and look more closely at all the elements.
God as unfolding story makes us dig down deep into the way we are shaped as God's
people from the heart out. The stories of our God help us to look at our own lives
and face the many layers of fool's gold that have been caked around our lives. This
kind of unfolding is to open us up so that we are not afraid to experience the pulling
of God's Spirit that longs to take our hearts and transform us. As our life stories
unfold, we will be exposed to more than what is seen when we are so neatly packaged
as we want the world to view us. That packaging often becomes the way we see and
value our own lives. And yet, God as unfolding story presses us to see more than
just the stuff we want to see and to trust more than the few stories we think we
need to keep us just as we are.
O God of love and new life, it is when our lives are unraveling that we so often
need a story to remind us of the power for life that is available to us and able
to define and be refitted with new threads of life - for this we give you thanks,
O God. Amen.
coming apart are lives in which God's Spirit takes hold of us and begins to unravel
that which we so often consider our sacred cows. The unraveling makes us look at
the stuff that makes up our lives - and look more closely at all the elements.
God as unfolding story makes us dig down deep into the way we are shaped as God's
people from the heart out. The stories of our God help us to look at our own lives
and face the many layers of fool's gold that have been caked around our lives. This
kind of unfolding is to open us up so that we are not afraid to experience the pulling
of God's Spirit that longs to take our hearts and transform us. As our life stories
unfold, we will be exposed to more than what is seen when we are so neatly packaged
as we want the world to view us. That packaging often becomes the way we see and
value our own lives. And yet, God as unfolding story presses us to see more than
just the stuff we want to see and to trust more than the few stories we think we
need to keep us just as we are.
O God of love and new life, it is when our lives are unraveling that we so often
need a story to remind us of the power for life that is available to us and able
to define and be refitted with new threads of life - for this we give you thanks,
O God. Amen.
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