The Reign of God as going for it. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as going for it steps up and takes the day as though the love of God is the power of the day and will be forever and ever. That is the place in which we are place by the power of the Holy Spirit. And now - we are invited to live - to go for it - to embrace this Reign and to enter into the life that blossoms when our God rules and leads us. The Reign of God as going for it is meant to shake us up and therefore we are the instruments that shake up the world around us. The biases and prejudices of the day are no longer the life that exists among us. Rather, we stand up and say 'what's that?' - 'that is not the life' - 'that is what was an what wants to take over again.' The Reign of God as going for it steps up to say 'no' to some things and a very strong 'yes' to others. The yes will always have the face of an unbounding forgiveness and love. O God of love and new life, help us say put to life the "yes" of your Reign. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as going for it. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as going for it does not give ground to fear or anxiety. Too often, the things we fear and the situations of our lives that cause us to experience anxiety will be those episode that lead us around as though we have a leash being pulled - a leash that restricts movement - a leash that directs movement. The Reign of God as going for it is the end of the leash having a hold on us. Rather, we are to be free from such restrictions so that stuff like the forgiveness of sins really brings new life - with no hooks or conditions. The Reign of God as going for it is a forgiveness full domain that puts an end to all the powers that love to spread around shame - and blame - and revenge - and retribution - and every other power that does not let us be the beloved children of God. We are invited into this Reign because our God does not give room to such powers - they are to be powerless among us. O God of love and new life, we are present and waiting for your Reign to come down upon us. But also, we pray that we will be able to see how it is already at hand and you welcome us with open hands even as we keep waiting for something else to happen. Touch our hearts again this day. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as going for it. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as going for it is always the present. It is now that we are able to participate in the healing peace of the promise of God for new life. There are many reasons not to go for it - and yet, God's Reign continues to spread out in front of us and invite us to live anew. Those many reasons not to 'go for it' are the reasons we have been dragging around with us so that they become the things that drag down our lives and make it next to impossible to venture beyond what is - into that which is promised. The Reign of God as going for it may simply be the touch that happens to us - like a gift. At times we all need to be touched by the presence of our God that assures us or reminds us of other ways of living the daring lives of God's people in this time - in this place - in the situations of the day that we enter. The Reign of God as going for it may begin with a hesitation - because hesitation comes quite easily to many of us - and yet God has promised to send the Spirit to help us to breathe in the air of God's Reign and taking it to heart. O God of love and new life, as we hesitate, hold us and be present with us so that new life may be touched. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as going for it. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as going for it means there is something there that is worth taking the leap and - going for it. I find that the promise of justice for all and peace even when division rules and forgiveness at times of what seems to be unforgiveable is still a power - a vision - a reality at hand, that is able to grab me and pull me. This happens even when there is no evidence that this kind of a reality is making any headway in the world. The Reign of God as going for it is that never-ending attraction that is able to make the faint of heart become courageous and move out of our boxes and go for it. O God of love and new life, lead us on into this day and show us signs of your gracious Reign breaking in among us. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as going for it. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as going for it is the power handed to us to become something new. There are so many things in our lives that seem to be able to hold us down and keep us just as we have always been. Therefore, too often we do not take the steps into new life. The Reign of God as going for it is the movement brought into our lives by the Holy Spirit. This is not a wild, do-anything-you-desire action. It is the kind of life action that is drawn out of us by our God who is beckoning us to enter into the vision of God's peaceable Reign. Therefore, as we are 'going for it', we are going for the life of promise in which we partake in the healing of all things. The Reign of God as going for it may be the way we take on the moments of this day. Rather than letting the powers of the world that try to own us - lead us, we will take that leap into the way of life that God has been holding out to us all along the way. O God of love and new life, inspire us again to go for it. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | After 14 or 15 months of looking at God as, this week begins a new ride: The Reign of God as all new. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as all new is the challenge of a lifetime. We are invited to move out in a new way into a new day with a vision that has changed the meaning of everything we thought we knew to be true. The Reign of God as all new makes us look at what we heard in the past with new ears and that which we have seen with new eyes. Many times, we heard and saw exactly what the Reign of God revealed - but we would not or could not go there. With the tomb empty and Jesus already down the road ready to greet us, the Reign of God is ready to receive us as participants along the way. Therefore, we are invited to listen again - see again - fling wide the door and watch how the Reign of God of old is still the Reign of God - and yet it is more available and more accessible as Jesus says "follow me" or "come and see" or "I will meet you - out there." Even in a world that we claim to know so well - routines we have come to expect - days that keep rolling along the way, there is this newness that is a part of the promise of God's Reign offering us a wonder-filled imagination for life. O God of love and new life, fill us with the wonder of your Reign. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | After 14 or 15 months of looking at God as, today begins a new ride: The Reign of God as - all new. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as all new is like two women arriving at a tomb expecting to finish a ritual burial with spices and it turns out there is no body to 'spice up'. Instead, their lives receive a bit of spice that sends them off running and full of joy. The Reign of God as all new are those Roman soldiers who probably thought their job at the tomb was a waste of time or a good way to simply rest for a few days - and then - what now!?! That kind of shake-your-head-in-disbelief day is the day in which we find ourselves right now - right now. The Reign of God as all new throws open our lives when we feel entombed or dried out or left to rot or simply forgotten. O God of love and new life, help us anticipate your loving presence calling us out into new relationships and new life. Amen. |
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