Weekday Devotions for 10/23/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 10/23/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Oct 23, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as Unfolding. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as Unfolding Is challenging. Just as we may be ready to move ahead, we are handed new ways to look at what is - new paths to follow - new takes on an old story. So do we move in new ways or not. Decisions have to be made and actions take. I think that is challenging to everyone - even folks who demonstrated the ability to live into an unfolding future with some ease. There is always the change. There is always the unknown. There is the 'new take' that was not anticipated. There is that for which we hoped becoming something more than our hopes and dreams. The Reign of God as Unfolding always unfolds into the presence of God - something we find to be new - maybe even odd - but always full of life. God of New Life and All Hopefulness, unfold your Reign around and may your Spirit of Life move our lives into the dynamic unfolding of your promises. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 10/22/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 10/22/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Oct 22, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as Unfolding. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as Unfolding never gives up on us. Even as we move away from the vitality of the life of God's Reign and seek out other ways to live out our days, there will always be demonstrations of this Reign unfolding. Our movement has nothing to do with how God's Reign unfolds. It unfolds - endlessly - eternally - without end. I would even say that we are a part of its unfolding even when we are denying that God's Reign comes at all. For within the depths of our humanity, we are drawn to that which is creative - loving - healing - forgiving. So as we make those character traits our own - are we not a part of the promised unfolding of God's Reign? But we just haven't named it or claimed it or thought about it at all. The Reign of God as Unfolding becomes that foundation beneath us as we are moved to embody the vision of God's immortal creativity that continues to change and make all things new. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, thank you for staying alongside and being eternally available. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 10/21/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 10/21/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Oct 21, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as Unfolding. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as Unfolding is full of tension. That is simply the case because we do not know what will be unfolded before us and we do not have control over when - where - how it unfolds. Yes, we know the Reign of God will be unfolded but we do not always have a clear vision of what that means in this time and place. Therefore it is essential that we stay grounded in the vision of that Reign. We will recognize the unfolding of the Reign of God by knowing its character - a character that does not change from age to age. We know, for example, that justice is a vital aspect of God's Reign. But in this day - at this time - how is it made manifest among us. When do we bend and bow - What becomes high on our agenda? The tension is one that inspires conversation and exploration and questions. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, ease us into your coming. Gently prod us and yet keep prodding us to step into your Reign as it comes among us. Amen. Read in browser » Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Oct 20, 2015 09:16 am The Reign of God as Unfolding. Comment to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as Unfolding carries the image of more to come. Even though we see so much of God's glory unfolding all around us each day - it continues to unfold. It is endlessly unfolding and therefore we cannot contain it or own it or claim that we have control over the life it brings. For right when we attempt to control, something new unfolds. Those who have been set aside or sent out become those who are welcome into the midst of the beloved community. I love how the beloved community keeps unfolding. We have a long history in the church and in society of keeping the community closed or limited. The Reign of God as Unfolding consistently takes our lines and boundaries and barriers and moves them to the side to make room for God's Unfolding Reign. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, keep us watchful of how your Spirit continues to unfold your Reign and bids us to enter. amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 10/20/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 10/20/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Oct 19, 2015 08:33 am The Reign of God as Unfolding. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as Unfolding anticipates that there is something coming. That which we see now - like something wrapped up in an large envelope - can change the day - can change our whole life. Yes, this Reign of God and the power of life that comes when we are invited to share in the character of life of that Reign will invite us to experience a new life. The Reign of God as Unfolding points us out into the future. Maybe not far out - maybe just to the moments ahead of us. Within the moments unfolding ahead of us comes the Reign of Peace that is not like the way of the world around us. Therefore, we are taught to anticipate an experience with our God that may simply change the world. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, open our live and our hearts with your love this day. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Weekday Devotions for 10/16/2015

Pastor Al Debelak's Weekday Devotions. View this email in your browser Weekday Devotions Redeemer Lutheran 10/16/2015 edition Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Oct 16, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as opportunity at hand. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as opportunity at hand will take our hand and simply walk along with us through this day. We may not change how we are moving and living - but that Reign in all of its power is with us - an opportunity at hand. We are not condemned for walking away and living contrary to the gift of God's Reign. God's presence stay - abides - remains - is eternally available. There may come a time when we step into it. Maybe we will not even realize we are walking within the life it offers. At other times, we may make an intentional move that seems to be in line with the vision of God's Reign. In those moments, we do need others to tell us that we are in the middle of it all or to tell us we may be missing the mark. I think there is always a bit of a tension in the air when we are handed opportunities to act. Together we prayerfully ask that we will know we are free to move here and there within an embrace of grace and love that holds all of these opportunities for new life.  O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, here we go for another day in your Reign. Walk with us just as you promise. Amen. Read in browser » Weekday Devotions By Redeemer Lutheran on Oct 15, 2015 05:50 am The Reign of God as opportunity at hand. Comments to: adebelak@redeemerluth.com The Reign of God as opportunity at hand is my attempt to say 'now' - grab hold of the life that we have been shown is life within God's Reign as we look at Jesus. If you are at all like me, there can be a list of excuses used to not engage and step into the liberating life of God's Reign. It is such a blessed ride I think we are a bit afraid of it. And yet, it is always an opportunity at hand. By blessed I don't mean pious. I mean full - creative - peaceable - forgiving - and much more. The Reign of God as opportunity at hand never hide from us. We do not have to try to find it - as though it is a secretive place with a secretive entrance plan. It is all a part of that which we might enter at any moment. To list the opportunities in front of us would be useless. We can only prayerfully expect that the life in God's Reign that is beckoning us will win us over into action. Think simple things. Let your heart respond. Move in a way you may not anticipate. There, in that moment, is another opportunity - there it is again. O God of New Life and All Hopefulness, even within this prayer open our eyes and our lives. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotions Weekday Devotion Weekday Devotions Copyright © 2015 Redeemer Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a member of the Redeemer community Our mailing address is: Redeemer Lutheran Church 1555 South James Road Columbus, Oh 43227 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences