Today's devotion is written by Redeemer member Katie Kent.
… whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
When I was in college I participated in a Christian fellowship group. We would meet once a week to sing praise songs have a Bible study. Sometimes we'd have a speaker come in. It was at one of these meetings that I heard this story.
An old woman had a job cleaning toilets for a big corporation. She always was singing or whistling while she cleaned. Every day she would clean the toilets and no one paid her any attention. Finally, one day a scowling executive asked the old woman why she was always in such a good mood. Surely, the executive said, she could not enjoy cleaning toilets. It is such dirty work, and it is never ending. Didn't she ever get tired of doing the same thing every day? The old woman smiled as she explained, "I don't pretend to be a smart woman. I never graduated from school. I can't sing, or paint a picture. I don't have any special talents that I can think of. But, I do a pretty good job at cleaning toilets. And so, every day I do my best and I clean my toilets to the glory of God."
I have no idea if this story is based on an actual conversation that happened in a corporate bathroom somewhere. But does it matter? I'm sure there are lots of people just like the old woman. They are hard-working, honest people that get taken for granted or are overlooked. However, I know that God never takes them for granted. And I'm sure that whatever they do to glorify His name will be acceptable to Him.
Connection: I find this story incredibly humbling. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in having the best job, best car etc. But the scripture tells us to do EVERYTHING to the glory of God. If we let this dictate our daily decisions, then we can truly say that we live our lives to the glory of God. I can't think of a better way to live than that!
Dear Jesus, thank you for our varied skills and talents. We pray that we can find new ways to give glory to your name each and every day. Amen
Monday, November 1, 2004
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Friday, 29 October, 2004
This week's devotions are written by Redeemer member Katie Kent.
When life gives you lemons……..
I assume we can all finish this phrase. Optimists love to share it with you when you're having a rough way to go. I confess that most of the time I like to see the glass as half full too. However, the lemon into lemonade thing really gets on my nerves. It's so cliché. I favor a different approach.
When life gives you manure…… you make fertilizer.
Yes, I know it is a little gross. But let's face it- when you're having a really bad day you don't want to think about citrus fruit. Lemons by themselves are not inherently bad. They smell nice, they look nice, and they have a multitude of uses. Manure on the other hand… well let's just say I don't think we'll be seeing a manure scented dish soap any time soon.
Connection: God created this universe. He knows everything about everything. He knows that bad things happen, and that sometimes it seems everywhere we step there's another pile of unpleasantness waiting for us. But the key is to remember everything happens as part of a bigger picture. Think back to your biology classes. One thing's waste is an integral part of another thing's livelihood.
The same theory applies in our lives. I have seen it in my own. I found myself in an absolutely horrible situation, and at the time I could not possibly imagine that anything good could come of it. Yet God has a plan, and with time all is revealed. Looking back, I can see how he used my unfortunate set of circumstances to enable me to help others with similar problems. So if you find yourself going through hard times… just remember the more fertilizer you have now, the bigger and more beautiful your garden will be later.
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Dearest Lord, we ask for strength and comfort during our difficult times. Help us to always remember you have a plan. Give us patience as we wait to see the glorious garden our hardships will produce. Amen.
When life gives you lemons……..
I assume we can all finish this phrase. Optimists love to share it with you when you're having a rough way to go. I confess that most of the time I like to see the glass as half full too. However, the lemon into lemonade thing really gets on my nerves. It's so cliché. I favor a different approach.
When life gives you manure…… you make fertilizer.
Yes, I know it is a little gross. But let's face it- when you're having a really bad day you don't want to think about citrus fruit. Lemons by themselves are not inherently bad. They smell nice, they look nice, and they have a multitude of uses. Manure on the other hand… well let's just say I don't think we'll be seeing a manure scented dish soap any time soon.
Connection: God created this universe. He knows everything about everything. He knows that bad things happen, and that sometimes it seems everywhere we step there's another pile of unpleasantness waiting for us. But the key is to remember everything happens as part of a bigger picture. Think back to your biology classes. One thing's waste is an integral part of another thing's livelihood.
The same theory applies in our lives. I have seen it in my own. I found myself in an absolutely horrible situation, and at the time I could not possibly imagine that anything good could come of it. Yet God has a plan, and with time all is revealed. Looking back, I can see how he used my unfortunate set of circumstances to enable me to help others with similar problems. So if you find yourself going through hard times… just remember the more fertilizer you have now, the bigger and more beautiful your garden will be later.
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Dearest Lord, we ask for strength and comfort during our difficult times. Help us to always remember you have a plan. Give us patience as we wait to see the glorious garden our hardships will produce. Amen.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Thuesday, 28 October, 2004
This week's devotions are written by Redeemer member Katie Kent.
In 1995 a Christian Rock band named DC Talk released a single entitled "Jesus Freak". The Chorus of the song is as follows:
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find out it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak.
There ain't no disguising the truth.
This upbeat mix of rap and heavy metal took the Christian Pop music world by storm. The album's first week sales were the highest in history for a Christian band. I remember I was in college and a bunch of my friends were proudly wearing t-shirts that simply said "Freak". Though I didn't have a t-shirt, I did put a line from the song on my email signature. It said "People say I'm strange. Does it make me a stranger that my best friend was born in a manger?"
Our society has a tendency to put negative labels on people because they are different from the norm. If you are considered a "freak", more often than not it's a bad thing. Something about you makes you strange or weird. You can become an outcast.
Connection: Our world today seems ruled by violence, deceit, and empty promises. These things completely contradict what it means to be a follower of Jesus. So, it is possible that when we share the Good News, and when we promote peace and truth, we are in fact separating ourselves from those that do not share our point of view. To them, we can be considered strange, weird, or even freaks.
It is very hard to stand up for what you believe in when that view may not be the popular way to think. By doing so, you may subject yourself to name calling, ridicule, and/or intense debate. But if you think it is difficult today to speak out, think about what the early Christians had to face.
There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
The Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak
Heavenly Father, embolden us today. Help us to gladly accept the label of Jesus freak, and continue spreading Your Word. Amen
In 1995 a Christian Rock band named DC Talk released a single entitled "Jesus Freak". The Chorus of the song is as follows:
What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find out it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak.
There ain't no disguising the truth.
This upbeat mix of rap and heavy metal took the Christian Pop music world by storm. The album's first week sales were the highest in history for a Christian band. I remember I was in college and a bunch of my friends were proudly wearing t-shirts that simply said "Freak". Though I didn't have a t-shirt, I did put a line from the song on my email signature. It said "People say I'm strange. Does it make me a stranger that my best friend was born in a manger?"
Our society has a tendency to put negative labels on people because they are different from the norm. If you are considered a "freak", more often than not it's a bad thing. Something about you makes you strange or weird. You can become an outcast.
Connection: Our world today seems ruled by violence, deceit, and empty promises. These things completely contradict what it means to be a follower of Jesus. So, it is possible that when we share the Good News, and when we promote peace and truth, we are in fact separating ourselves from those that do not share our point of view. To them, we can be considered strange, weird, or even freaks.
It is very hard to stand up for what you believe in when that view may not be the popular way to think. By doing so, you may subject yourself to name calling, ridicule, and/or intense debate. But if you think it is difficult today to speak out, think about what the early Christians had to face.
There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
The Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak
Heavenly Father, embolden us today. Help us to gladly accept the label of Jesus freak, and continue spreading Your Word. Amen
Tuesday, 26 October, 2004
This week's devotions are written by Redeemer member Katie Kent.
"Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise." Psalm 66: 1-2 (NRSV)
Joyful Noise
Those two words seem curiously put together. When I think of something that is noisy- I more often than not will think of something that is unpleasant to hear. For instance, that clicking, squealing, ka-chunking sound that tells you you're about to spend a small fortune to fix your car. Or that all too familiar Boom, ba-boom of the bass that's turned up too loud in car next to you at the stop light. Or maybe a few barks, followed by a cat's hiss, then the thunder of many 4-legged creatures running across a tile floor, and finally the crash when all kinds of things fall off tables in the middle of the night… or maybe that last one's just at my house.
But these same sounds when heard by someone else may not be unpleasant. The mechanic earns his living when our cars make weird sounds. The person with the obnoxious bass obviously likes it, and it probably lifts his/her mood to listen to it. Though the animals may act out occasionally, a happy bark or a purring ball of fur does bring happiness to our lives.
Connection: The words of the psalmist tell us to make a joyful noise to God and give him glorious praise. Many people might do this by using the musical talents God has given them. But what if you don't have any musical talent? IT'S OKAY!!! The psalm doesn't say make a melodious, perfectly harmonized and orchestrated operetta to God. It says make a JOYFUL NOISE. It doesn't matter if you couldn't carry a tune in a ten gallon bucket, or if the idea of clapping on the off beat completely confuses you. To God, any and all noise we make in praise to Him is beautiful. He will never tell us we're too noisy!
Gracious Lord, thank you for our varied talents and skills, and help us to find new ways each day to make noise and to praise You. Amen.
"Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise." Psalm 66: 1-2 (NRSV)
Joyful Noise
Those two words seem curiously put together. When I think of something that is noisy- I more often than not will think of something that is unpleasant to hear. For instance, that clicking, squealing, ka-chunking sound that tells you you're about to spend a small fortune to fix your car. Or that all too familiar Boom, ba-boom of the bass that's turned up too loud in car next to you at the stop light. Or maybe a few barks, followed by a cat's hiss, then the thunder of many 4-legged creatures running across a tile floor, and finally the crash when all kinds of things fall off tables in the middle of the night… or maybe that last one's just at my house.
But these same sounds when heard by someone else may not be unpleasant. The mechanic earns his living when our cars make weird sounds. The person with the obnoxious bass obviously likes it, and it probably lifts his/her mood to listen to it. Though the animals may act out occasionally, a happy bark or a purring ball of fur does bring happiness to our lives.
Connection: The words of the psalmist tell us to make a joyful noise to God and give him glorious praise. Many people might do this by using the musical talents God has given them. But what if you don't have any musical talent? IT'S OKAY!!! The psalm doesn't say make a melodious, perfectly harmonized and orchestrated operetta to God. It says make a JOYFUL NOISE. It doesn't matter if you couldn't carry a tune in a ten gallon bucket, or if the idea of clapping on the off beat completely confuses you. To God, any and all noise we make in praise to Him is beautiful. He will never tell us we're too noisy!
Gracious Lord, thank you for our varied talents and skills, and help us to find new ways each day to make noise and to praise You. Amen.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Monday, 25 October, 2004
This week's devotions are written by Redeemer member Katie Kent.
"Can you imagine dying for your friends?
Can you imagine dying for your enemies?
Jesus lived it, and he did it,
Yes he did it just for me.
Can you imagine dying for the future?
Can you imagine dying for the past?
Jesus lived, and he did it,
Yes he did it just for me.
I can't imagine anyone who'd do what he has done.
But Jesus wasn't anyone,
He was God's only son.
Can you imagine dying for your Father?
Can you imagine dying for your faith?
Jesus lived it, and he did it,
Yes he did it just for me.
Yes he did it, for you and me.
Can you imagine?"
These are the lyrics to a song my mother wrote. (If you know her, encourage her to get it published please! I've been trying to get her to do it for years.) If you've been a member of our church for some time, chances are you've heard the children's choir sing this song a time or two. She wrote it specifically for the season of Lent because the world of sacred music for children seems lacking in material that actually deals with Jesus' death before the celebration of Easter. I wanted to share it because the words may be simple, but the message is powerful.
When was the last time you used your imagination? Use your imagination to put yourself in the place of Jesus. How does it make you feel? How does it impact your faith?
Connection: Have you ever tried to talk to a good friend and they tell you "I understand", but you know they really don't? They love you, and so they try to sympathize with your situation. They may imagine what it would be like for them in that same situation. Sometimes we may think that God does the same thing. We may tell ourselves that talking to Him is pointless. How could He possibly KNOW how we're feeling? God is a deity; a supernatural, omnipotent, intangible entity. He could only imagine what we're going through… right?
That's where Jesus comes in. God doesn't have to imagine anything about us. He knows exactly how we feel because He was human. He knows what it feels like to have sorrow, joy, jealousy, and I bet he even knows what it feels like to be tickled.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your son Jesus. Help us to deepen our understanding of Your Word by using our imaginations. Amen
"Can you imagine dying for your friends?
Can you imagine dying for your enemies?
Jesus lived it, and he did it,
Yes he did it just for me.
Can you imagine dying for the future?
Can you imagine dying for the past?
Jesus lived, and he did it,
Yes he did it just for me.
I can't imagine anyone who'd do what he has done.
But Jesus wasn't anyone,
He was God's only son.
Can you imagine dying for your Father?
Can you imagine dying for your faith?
Jesus lived it, and he did it,
Yes he did it just for me.
Yes he did it, for you and me.
Can you imagine?"
These are the lyrics to a song my mother wrote. (If you know her, encourage her to get it published please! I've been trying to get her to do it for years.) If you've been a member of our church for some time, chances are you've heard the children's choir sing this song a time or two. She wrote it specifically for the season of Lent because the world of sacred music for children seems lacking in material that actually deals with Jesus' death before the celebration of Easter. I wanted to share it because the words may be simple, but the message is powerful.
When was the last time you used your imagination? Use your imagination to put yourself in the place of Jesus. How does it make you feel? How does it impact your faith?
Connection: Have you ever tried to talk to a good friend and they tell you "I understand", but you know they really don't? They love you, and so they try to sympathize with your situation. They may imagine what it would be like for them in that same situation. Sometimes we may think that God does the same thing. We may tell ourselves that talking to Him is pointless. How could He possibly KNOW how we're feeling? God is a deity; a supernatural, omnipotent, intangible entity. He could only imagine what we're going through… right?
That's where Jesus comes in. God doesn't have to imagine anything about us. He knows exactly how we feel because He was human. He knows what it feels like to have sorrow, joy, jealousy, and I bet he even knows what it feels like to be tickled.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your son Jesus. Help us to deepen our understanding of Your Word by using our imaginations. Amen
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Friday, 22 October, 2004
This week's devotions are written by Vicar Steve Bond.
And now, the last installment drawing from Marva Dawn's Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God…
Prayer is the root of all our faithfulness. In the weakness of prayer, God visits-and stays.
I have been wrestling, especially over the last six months, with why we bother to pray, and particularly why we bother to ask for things in prayer. The recurring arguments go something like this: if God already knows everything, including what I and others need, why do I need to pray for those needs? For that matter, if God is so good and gracious, will God not do something unless I poke and prod with petitions and prayers? I still think these are valid questions, and I have come up with no satisfying answers (although I am increasingly wary of any theological question that starts with "if God is _________, then…" rather than "since God…").
That said, I continue to pray, without having come close to understanding why or how it works. The questions don't stop me from praying, any more than my ignorance of human biology keeps me from breathing or my lack of knowledge of psychology keeps me from talking honestly with people whom I trust and love. My logic tells me that it is inefficient and redundant to pray; in some ways, it surely is. But it is simply a part of who I am-and even more a part of who God is-that I, that we, should be led to pray. There is something wonderfully humbling about praying without understanding the inner workings of doing it. And it is wonderfully humbling to be led in prayer to let God show me myself honestly-weaknesses, warts, and all. It is all I can do-it is all any of us can do-to lift up these fragile, empty hands trusting that they will be held by God's.
Connection: Today, find a moment to pray in the freedom of humility. Be honest about who you are, and let yourself be held-simply be held-by God.
Lord, take us as we are, speak your love to us again, and make us to hear it amidst the sound of all our questions. Amen
And now, the last installment drawing from Marva Dawn's Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God…
Prayer is the root of all our faithfulness. In the weakness of prayer, God visits-and stays.
I have been wrestling, especially over the last six months, with why we bother to pray, and particularly why we bother to ask for things in prayer. The recurring arguments go something like this: if God already knows everything, including what I and others need, why do I need to pray for those needs? For that matter, if God is so good and gracious, will God not do something unless I poke and prod with petitions and prayers? I still think these are valid questions, and I have come up with no satisfying answers (although I am increasingly wary of any theological question that starts with "if God is _________, then…" rather than "since God…").
That said, I continue to pray, without having come close to understanding why or how it works. The questions don't stop me from praying, any more than my ignorance of human biology keeps me from breathing or my lack of knowledge of psychology keeps me from talking honestly with people whom I trust and love. My logic tells me that it is inefficient and redundant to pray; in some ways, it surely is. But it is simply a part of who I am-and even more a part of who God is-that I, that we, should be led to pray. There is something wonderfully humbling about praying without understanding the inner workings of doing it. And it is wonderfully humbling to be led in prayer to let God show me myself honestly-weaknesses, warts, and all. It is all I can do-it is all any of us can do-to lift up these fragile, empty hands trusting that they will be held by God's.
Connection: Today, find a moment to pray in the freedom of humility. Be honest about who you are, and let yourself be held-simply be held-by God.
Lord, take us as we are, speak your love to us again, and make us to hear it amidst the sound of all our questions. Amen
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Thursday, 21 October, 2004
This week's devotions are written by Vicar Steve Bond.
More from Marva Dawn's Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God. Here, Dawn quotes French Archbishop Cardinal Suhard:
"To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda or even in stirring people up, but in being a living mystery; it means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist."
I think I'm within the bounds of sound Lutheran theology to say that the point of evangelism, of witnessing to the faith, is not to win or convert souls by getting people to make a decision for Jesus. Awakening hearts to the grace of God in Jesus Christ-who is the way, the truth, and the life-is the work of the Holy Spirit, for whom I can only be at best a cracked and leaky vessel. At the same time, evangelism is always more than mere hospitality to the strangers who wander into church. My witness is more than being generically nice to people and knowing that if they twist my arm, I'll reveal that I'm-secretly-a Christian.
Beyond both of those options, being a witnessing community means, as one writer puts it, being "God's counter-cultural option for the world." It means living with such a joyful and sure trust in being embraced by God that people are led to question why they are still trying to earn each other's approval and God's mercy. It means radiating such a reckless compassion for others that people cannot help but to stop and to stare and to look for the God who has loved us first. Being a witness means taking the rest of letting people see the ways God has embraced us in our weakness and loved us freely.
Connection: What are the ways that we still act as though we had to earn God's love? How do we declare by our lives that we are still bound prisoner by sin? What would it look like instead if we let grace take complete hold of us? After all, we can't help but be a witness-the question is to what or to whom we will witness.
Lord, let your love seep into us. Make your mercy so real, your grace so strong, that we cannot help but live it out.
More from Marva Dawn's Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God. Here, Dawn quotes French Archbishop Cardinal Suhard:
"To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda or even in stirring people up, but in being a living mystery; it means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist."
I think I'm within the bounds of sound Lutheran theology to say that the point of evangelism, of witnessing to the faith, is not to win or convert souls by getting people to make a decision for Jesus. Awakening hearts to the grace of God in Jesus Christ-who is the way, the truth, and the life-is the work of the Holy Spirit, for whom I can only be at best a cracked and leaky vessel. At the same time, evangelism is always more than mere hospitality to the strangers who wander into church. My witness is more than being generically nice to people and knowing that if they twist my arm, I'll reveal that I'm-secretly-a Christian.
Beyond both of those options, being a witnessing community means, as one writer puts it, being "God's counter-cultural option for the world." It means living with such a joyful and sure trust in being embraced by God that people are led to question why they are still trying to earn each other's approval and God's mercy. It means radiating such a reckless compassion for others that people cannot help but to stop and to stare and to look for the God who has loved us first. Being a witness means taking the rest of letting people see the ways God has embraced us in our weakness and loved us freely.
Connection: What are the ways that we still act as though we had to earn God's love? How do we declare by our lives that we are still bound prisoner by sin? What would it look like instead if we let grace take complete hold of us? After all, we can't help but be a witness-the question is to what or to whom we will witness.
Lord, let your love seep into us. Make your mercy so real, your grace so strong, that we cannot help but live it out.
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