Once again, this devotion will focus on a simple prayer before meals.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest...
However you may come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. This is acknowledging that we are already transformed into the followers of Jesus...that we will be people who will welcome the presence of guests. What if Jesus does not come as we would imagine? What if Jesus comes and it is not in the shape of the one we expect? We are saying that Jesus will be "our guest." When we sit at the table with people we would rather exclude, how are we to be with them? As though they are our guests. That is we honor them and hold them dear and in the true spirit of hospitality we engage them as a "thou" so that all at the table will be assured of their place no matter who it is that comes.
I'm sure the expectation in the prayer is that the Lord, Jesus, we know from the resurrection scenes will be with us. But what if the Lord, Jesus, who is outside the expected norms of the faith comes to eat with us? What if the Lord, Jesus, who finds the time to spend with others who we think do not deserve his time, comes to the table? What if the one who is ridiculed and push away and spoken of as one who tears down the fabric of our society comes to the table? Well, this one does and will come - that is the promise. So, when we call the Christ "our guest" it is as though we are inviting the world - quite like how we are guests at the Lord's Table. Could it be that we pray that the tables at which we sit will be as joyous and open and welcoming as that banquet to which we are invited each Sunday?
Connection: Let's make a fuss over the people in our lives today. Imagine seeing in the lives of those around us the Lord, Jesus, who is coming to dine with us. Be ready for who that will be!
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
13 September 2006
Once again, this devotion will focus on a simple prayer before meals.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, be...
This might sound like a insignificant addition. We really need the "our guest" part don't we? And yet, what we really need is this Lord of Life to be...be...for us - the Lord who creates out of nothing...making life when there appears to be no life at all. Really exist.
Yes, we know this Lord of Life is indeed with us - that is the promise - but we are sometimes lost in statements and proposition. What we need is that raw existence that is Jesus, Lord of the Dance, Lord of the Resurrection, Lord of even the depths of hell.
We are fed...we are made full - when this Lord, Jesus, is really present. No matter what is in the meal that is put before us on the table, it is a feast of love and transformation when this Lord of life is...is...is...here with us. We can do little with mere words or a notion of goodness. And yet, we can be led into a new reality when the Lord, Jesus, is present completely - just as each of us at the table. I may have many ideas of what is the way of new life...but when the vision and the truth and the life is with us, the possibilities of life expand beyond our greatest imagination. So...be...Lord, Jesus, be...like a promise kept forever.
Connection: Today will be as filled with the presence of our Lord as anyone could possibly imagine. Therefore, go ahead and imagine that presence that has a way of shaping our presence throughout the day.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, be...
This might sound like a insignificant addition. We really need the "our guest" part don't we? And yet, what we really need is this Lord of Life to be...be...for us - the Lord who creates out of nothing...making life when there appears to be no life at all. Really exist.
Yes, we know this Lord of Life is indeed with us - that is the promise - but we are sometimes lost in statements and proposition. What we need is that raw existence that is Jesus, Lord of the Dance, Lord of the Resurrection, Lord of even the depths of hell.
We are fed...we are made full - when this Lord, Jesus, is really present. No matter what is in the meal that is put before us on the table, it is a feast of love and transformation when this Lord of life is...is...is...here with us. We can do little with mere words or a notion of goodness. And yet, we can be led into a new reality when the Lord, Jesus, is present completely - just as each of us at the table. I may have many ideas of what is the way of new life...but when the vision and the truth and the life is with us, the possibilities of life expand beyond our greatest imagination. So...be...Lord, Jesus, be...like a promise kept forever.
Connection: Today will be as filled with the presence of our Lord as anyone could possibly imagine. Therefore, go ahead and imagine that presence that has a way of shaping our presence throughout the day.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
12 September 2006
Once again, this devotion will focus on a simple prayer before meals.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus...
When we invite Lord Jesus to the meal, we expose ourselves. Lord is not a word we use in our every day lives. Lord reveals who we expect to be the one who has power over us - much like the Lord of a land or district or even something as small as a farm. But in this case, because it is Lord, Jesus, we are inviting the one who is Lord for us. This is the Lord who does not merely come to the table, this is the Lord who has been and will be beside us and with us in and through all things. Even if we live within an oppressive system that uses people as instruments to gain more and more power, there is no Lord for us - except Jesus. We invite to the table the one who invites any and all people to share in the table of forgiveness and new life - the Lord's Supper. We invite the one who received invitations to come and eat and talk and live with those people who were not of much value to others - and yet, this Lord, went in and received and was received by those with whom most would not eat. In some ways, our whole meal changes when we say to Lord, Jesus, "Come." Now the table at which we sit becomes a "welcome table." It is no longer simply a table set for me and my own. As we throw open the doors to Lord, Jesus, we throw open the doors to the world. The Lord at the table is our Lord. We therefore reflect the rule or the power of that Lord. It is here - in this simple invitation - that the meal, the conversation, the life around the table, and then...the life we enter full from the meal takes it shape. In this invitation we show our hand to all who hear the prayer. At this table everyone can expect that the rule of our Lord will be the rule of our time together. Here at this table, it will not be of great concern which fork you use first. Rather, we will take great concern that all are fed and all are welcome. So...Come, Lord, Jesus...
Connection: The most simple disciplines can be a part of the building of the day. When we allow ourselves to focus - even for a short time - on the center of our lives, our lives may just reflect that center.
Come, Lord, Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus...
When we invite Lord Jesus to the meal, we expose ourselves. Lord is not a word we use in our every day lives. Lord reveals who we expect to be the one who has power over us - much like the Lord of a land or district or even something as small as a farm. But in this case, because it is Lord, Jesus, we are inviting the one who is Lord for us. This is the Lord who does not merely come to the table, this is the Lord who has been and will be beside us and with us in and through all things. Even if we live within an oppressive system that uses people as instruments to gain more and more power, there is no Lord for us - except Jesus. We invite to the table the one who invites any and all people to share in the table of forgiveness and new life - the Lord's Supper. We invite the one who received invitations to come and eat and talk and live with those people who were not of much value to others - and yet, this Lord, went in and received and was received by those with whom most would not eat. In some ways, our whole meal changes when we say to Lord, Jesus, "Come." Now the table at which we sit becomes a "welcome table." It is no longer simply a table set for me and my own. As we throw open the doors to Lord, Jesus, we throw open the doors to the world. The Lord at the table is our Lord. We therefore reflect the rule or the power of that Lord. It is here - in this simple invitation - that the meal, the conversation, the life around the table, and then...the life we enter full from the meal takes it shape. In this invitation we show our hand to all who hear the prayer. At this table everyone can expect that the rule of our Lord will be the rule of our time together. Here at this table, it will not be of great concern which fork you use first. Rather, we will take great concern that all are fed and all are welcome. So...Come, Lord, Jesus...
Connection: The most simple disciplines can be a part of the building of the day. When we allow ourselves to focus - even for a short time - on the center of our lives, our lives may just reflect that center.
Come, Lord, Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
11 September 2006
For awhile, this devotion will focus on a simple prayer before meals.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come...
This is a common prayer for many of us. It is not the prayer of my youth. The prayer I remember from the table in our home is the prayer used by most Roman Catholic families: "Bless us, O Lord, for these thy gifts..." My journey within the Lutheran movement of the church catholic brought a new prayer - a simple prayer. In many ways, it can roll off my lips without any thought. It is easily treated like a religious "Ready, Set, Go!"...pass the chicken...who wants beans...I need a fork...the plate his hot be careful!
The other night I was in bed not able to fall asleep within the regular bounds of my nightly routine - ,pillow under my knees, head on pillow, cover up....gone. On that night before I fell into my usual deep sleep I thought of this simple table prayer.
"Come" is the first word in the prayer, but it is not the first action or thought or gesture. Before the word is spoken, the meal has taken shape. It is a gift. There is no need to invite the Lord to the table...there is already the presence of the One who abides with us in all things - that is the promise. The Lord has been present in all that comes before the meal and all that makes the meal possible. Could it be that we say "Come" in order to put the whole meal in perspective. This meal is not simply an event in time or a necessary part of our daily routine or a time merely to satisfy our hunger. At the table we say "Come" and we acknowledge whose we are and how something as simple as a bagel or a small bowl of soup is a part of the long history of God's people. This is a people who stopped to eat not merely of the meal set before them...but the fellowship of all who are claimed as God's own. Therefore, even as I eat alone, I say "Come" to remember the fellowship that is unseen but present - the community - the Christ - the Spirit - the Creator.
God provides and nourishes. We are at the table to eat and yet for those who live within the strange world of promise, we are at the table as a people blessed by the gracious presence of our Lord, whose love feeds us before we utter any word of invitation or praise or prayer.
When we say "Come" we set our eyes on the expansive graciousness of our God. This is food before any other food will satisfy us. When we say "Come," it is really as much of an invitation to all who are gathered at the meal as it is an invitation to the Lord of Life - who is already present before the invitation - before our pause to remember - before we smell or see the meal that is to be for us another gift.
Come...
Connection: The mealtime prayer is already being uttered - even now. It is a part of every moment the Spirit reminds us of what it is to be a blessed people - prior to having any evidence of blessing.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Come...
This is a common prayer for many of us. It is not the prayer of my youth. The prayer I remember from the table in our home is the prayer used by most Roman Catholic families: "Bless us, O Lord, for these thy gifts..." My journey within the Lutheran movement of the church catholic brought a new prayer - a simple prayer. In many ways, it can roll off my lips without any thought. It is easily treated like a religious "Ready, Set, Go!"...pass the chicken...who wants beans...I need a fork...the plate his hot be careful!
The other night I was in bed not able to fall asleep within the regular bounds of my nightly routine - ,pillow under my knees, head on pillow, cover up....gone. On that night before I fell into my usual deep sleep I thought of this simple table prayer.
"Come" is the first word in the prayer, but it is not the first action or thought or gesture. Before the word is spoken, the meal has taken shape. It is a gift. There is no need to invite the Lord to the table...there is already the presence of the One who abides with us in all things - that is the promise. The Lord has been present in all that comes before the meal and all that makes the meal possible. Could it be that we say "Come" in order to put the whole meal in perspective. This meal is not simply an event in time or a necessary part of our daily routine or a time merely to satisfy our hunger. At the table we say "Come" and we acknowledge whose we are and how something as simple as a bagel or a small bowl of soup is a part of the long history of God's people. This is a people who stopped to eat not merely of the meal set before them...but the fellowship of all who are claimed as God's own. Therefore, even as I eat alone, I say "Come" to remember the fellowship that is unseen but present - the community - the Christ - the Spirit - the Creator.
God provides and nourishes. We are at the table to eat and yet for those who live within the strange world of promise, we are at the table as a people blessed by the gracious presence of our Lord, whose love feeds us before we utter any word of invitation or praise or prayer.
When we say "Come" we set our eyes on the expansive graciousness of our God. This is food before any other food will satisfy us. When we say "Come," it is really as much of an invitation to all who are gathered at the meal as it is an invitation to the Lord of Life - who is already present before the invitation - before our pause to remember - before we smell or see the meal that is to be for us another gift.
Come...
Connection: The mealtime prayer is already being uttered - even now. It is a part of every moment the Spirit reminds us of what it is to be a blessed people - prior to having any evidence of blessing.
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
Thursday, September 7, 2006
8 September, 2006
Text: James 1:22-25
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act- they will be blessed in their doing.
Everyone hears the word - not everyone does something with what they hear. The emphasis again has to do with making the Good News a living news among us. With the strong emphasis there is on community life, it is no wonder James comes forward with such a call for congruence betwenn hearing and doing. I think it is important to note that the ones who are merely hearers, deceive themselves. In other words, we miss out on the life within the word of Good News when it is among us as word only...word as something we hear instead of word we enter as life. It is obvious that the community would miss out on the call to be God's beloved, but we as individuals miss out on an adventure that claims to be a life of shalom and wholeness. Remember also, that the "perfect law" was good. So to do the law was and is a creative "doing." Don't let the notion of law be merely a negative word that is in contrast to grace - for the law is a grace-filled gift for our living!
Connection: Doing the word does not take special attention nor does it take setting aside time to "do" it. Today we will find ourselves in many situations in which the word we know so well can be the word we live out and share. It could be that in the doing of the word, we will actually come into the place in our lives when we will indeed "find ourselves" as children of God - living as children whose lives praise and honor the one who blesses us. In the Holy Communion hymn, "Now the Silence," the moment at hand is full of opportunity and adventure and life. It ends with: Now the Father's blessing. Now. Now. Now.
O God, how sweet is the word that bathes us in your love. May it be like honey that sticks to us and gets all over everything we touch. May our lives drip with your love for us that becomes our love for the world around us. Empower us by your Holy Spirit that we may be alive with your word. Amen.
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act- they will be blessed in their doing.
Everyone hears the word - not everyone does something with what they hear. The emphasis again has to do with making the Good News a living news among us. With the strong emphasis there is on community life, it is no wonder James comes forward with such a call for congruence betwenn hearing and doing. I think it is important to note that the ones who are merely hearers, deceive themselves. In other words, we miss out on the life within the word of Good News when it is among us as word only...word as something we hear instead of word we enter as life. It is obvious that the community would miss out on the call to be God's beloved, but we as individuals miss out on an adventure that claims to be a life of shalom and wholeness. Remember also, that the "perfect law" was good. So to do the law was and is a creative "doing." Don't let the notion of law be merely a negative word that is in contrast to grace - for the law is a grace-filled gift for our living!
Connection: Doing the word does not take special attention nor does it take setting aside time to "do" it. Today we will find ourselves in many situations in which the word we know so well can be the word we live out and share. It could be that in the doing of the word, we will actually come into the place in our lives when we will indeed "find ourselves" as children of God - living as children whose lives praise and honor the one who blesses us. In the Holy Communion hymn, "Now the Silence," the moment at hand is full of opportunity and adventure and life. It ends with: Now the Father's blessing. Now. Now. Now.
O God, how sweet is the word that bathes us in your love. May it be like honey that sticks to us and gets all over everything we touch. May our lives drip with your love for us that becomes our love for the world around us. Empower us by your Holy Spirit that we may be alive with your word. Amen.
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
7 September, 2006
Text: James 1:19-21
You must understand this, my beloved; let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
In defining the concept "sarvodaya" (the welfare of all...true democracy realized) Gandhi writes that "we would regard the humblest and lowest Indian as being equally the ruler of India with the tallest in the land." A wonderful paragraph follows and it ends with: "(S)He would be ready to lay down his(her) life when occasion demands it, never want to take another's life." The implanted word is said to be the word of our baptism. It is the word of affirmation about out true identity..and the identity of the "other." To begin there is to begin each moment in a creative and blessed manner. So before a situation "blows up," it would be good to pause and remember whose we are and the simple fact that we gain nothing by minimizing or destroying or being violent toward others in our lives. Rather, we have the opportunity to live according to the grace given to us in our baptism - as called and blessed children of God. Some may say "count to ten" before you act or speak. We may also want to say, "Remember you are baptized" and as we let that be the word that defines our character we have a way to live with the ones we may even call our enemies.
Connection: Today we continue to shape our character. Following Jesus is not simply a "spiritual exercise" that is done in solitude or on some personal journey with God. Our baptism in Christ, Jesus, informs our day...each part of it. What is the baptismal character we bring into the real life situations that we will encounter at work and school and play today? Character is made up of all the parts of our day - how are we followers of Jesus when no one is looking at us?
Word of Life, you designate us as you people and you grace our lives with your promise to abide with us. In all we do throughout this day, let you peace reign among us and let our lives reflect the love that you have for us. Ame.
You must understand this, my beloved; let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
In defining the concept "sarvodaya" (the welfare of all...true democracy realized) Gandhi writes that "we would regard the humblest and lowest Indian as being equally the ruler of India with the tallest in the land." A wonderful paragraph follows and it ends with: "(S)He would be ready to lay down his(her) life when occasion demands it, never want to take another's life." The implanted word is said to be the word of our baptism. It is the word of affirmation about out true identity..and the identity of the "other." To begin there is to begin each moment in a creative and blessed manner. So before a situation "blows up," it would be good to pause and remember whose we are and the simple fact that we gain nothing by minimizing or destroying or being violent toward others in our lives. Rather, we have the opportunity to live according to the grace given to us in our baptism - as called and blessed children of God. Some may say "count to ten" before you act or speak. We may also want to say, "Remember you are baptized" and as we let that be the word that defines our character we have a way to live with the ones we may even call our enemies.
Connection: Today we continue to shape our character. Following Jesus is not simply a "spiritual exercise" that is done in solitude or on some personal journey with God. Our baptism in Christ, Jesus, informs our day...each part of it. What is the baptismal character we bring into the real life situations that we will encounter at work and school and play today? Character is made up of all the parts of our day - how are we followers of Jesus when no one is looking at us?
Word of Life, you designate us as you people and you grace our lives with your promise to abide with us. In all we do throughout this day, let you peace reign among us and let our lives reflect the love that you have for us. Ame.
6 September, 2006
Text: James 1:12
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, "I am being tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
James lays it on the line. Many folks asks why God tempts us with the things and actions of the world...others will say "the devil made me do it." And yet, "one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it..." This goes well with the piece on riches from yesterday. We have an opportunity in front of us - we are God's beloved people. At the same time, the day is filled with the many ways to forget that essential word for us. There are more temptations pulling us to be self-indulgent and self-concerned that we can come to believe that those temptations are the true way of life. Do not be fooled! And the temptations don't come from outside of us. Sure there is good marketing and subtle pressures to conform from many parts of our lives...but in the final analysis, we move one way or another - we take the steps within our lives. No one puts a gun to our head to make us do this or that. We act as we act. Blessed, therefore, are those who endure these temptations...they are real and they have power. Blessed are the people who can talk to one another and walk with each other in the midst of these temptations. It takes a willingness to be both vulnerable and available to one another.
Connection: How blessed is our God to bring us to the beginning of this day! How blessed are the opportunities of this day for in them we are given the grace and power to be God's beloved children! In the midst of our temptations, we need to remember the blessedness of this time ahead of us.
Lord of LIfe, you bring the word of truth among us and we are shaped by that word. We give you thanks for the many people around us whose lives touch ours when we are in the midst of temptation and the pulls of the world within us. Amen.
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
James lays it on the line. Many folks asks why God tempts us with the things and actions of the world...others will say "the devil made me do it." And yet, "one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it..." This goes well with the piece on riches from yesterday. We have an opportunity in front of us - we are God's beloved people. At the same time, the day is filled with the many ways to forget that essential word for us. There are more temptations pulling us to be self-indulgent and self-concerned that we can come to believe that those temptations are the true way of life. Do not be fooled! And the temptations don't come from outside of us. Sure there is good marketing and subtle pressures to conform from many parts of our lives...but in the final analysis, we move one way or another - we take the steps within our lives. No one puts a gun to our head to make us do this or that. We act as we act. Blessed, therefore, are those who endure these temptations...they are real and they have power. Blessed are the people who can talk to one another and walk with each other in the midst of these temptations. It takes a willingness to be both vulnerable and available to one another.
Connection: How blessed is our God to bring us to the beginning of this day! How blessed are the opportunities of this day for in them we are given the grace and power to be God's beloved children! In the midst of our temptations, we need to remember the blessedness of this time ahead of us.
Lord of LIfe, you bring the word of truth among us and we are shaped by that word. We give you thanks for the many people around us whose lives touch ours when we are in the midst of temptation and the pulls of the world within us. Amen.
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