“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one.Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it?And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”Luke 15:8-10 The MessageParties in heaven, Lord? You say, count on it.Celebrations? Joy? Divine delight?I often wonder what brings you happiness, Lord.One event certainly is when the lost is found.And what is my role? How can I bring you joy?The woman in this parable first lit her lamp.     Cleanse the grime from my heart, Lord so your light shines brightly.Then she scoured throughout her world, looking in every corner. She paid attention to every detail. She didn't give up.     Give me strength to persevere, Lord, eyes to see clearly and the desire to go beyond what I can now see.And she shared her victory with others.     Give … [Read more...]

Refresh my heart in ChristPhilemon 1: 20bLord, I read your words for this Sunday.  Lessons from Deuteronomy leading me to "Choose life...by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways and observing his commandments."Lord, I choose you.I sing praises along with the Psalmist's lyrics and drink in your delight in "the law of the Lord...meditating on God's teaching day and night."Lord, I choose you.The Gospel teaches us the high cost of discipleship. Though it is difficult and I often relapse, I surrender all attachments - house, finances, ego, family, dreams, ambitions - to cling only to you, Lord. Lord, I choose you.In Paul's letter to Philemon, our New Testament lesson this week, Paul prays for Philemon and closes with the words, "Refresh my heart in Christ."In Christ, I find refreshing waters to fill me with strength to persevere on my path.In Christ, his spirit enlivens my spirit and cleanses the dirt from my heart.In Christ, I am restore to God's original beauty and purpose.In … [Read more...]

      Do I not see what happens in secret? Am I not everywhere, filling heaven and earth?  I have heard these prophets who speak lies in My name. They say, “I had a dream, I had a dream,” and claim it was Me speaking to them!  How long will this go on? Will the hearts of these lying prophets ever change? How long will they deceive themselves and all who listen to them? They think they can make My people forget My name with all this talk of dreams—just as their ancestors forgot My name as they worshiped Baal.  If a prophet has a dream, he should tell others of that dream.  But the one who has My word should speak it with unshakable faith. For what is straw worth, when compared to grain?  Does not My word burn like fire? Does it not shatter rock like a strong hammer? Jeremiah 23:23-29 The Voice     Lord, you ask lots of questions this week for me to ponder. Am I only a God who is close by, and not a God of the farthest … [Read more...]

After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I’m your shield. Your reward will be grand!” Abram said, “God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I’m childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?” Abram continued, “See, you’ve given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all.” Then God’s Message came: “Don’t worry, he won’t be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir.” Then he took him outside and said, “Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You’re going to have a big family, Abram!”And he believed! Believed God! God declared him “Set-Right-with-God.”Genesis 15: 1-6 The Message“Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it?"Lord, you set the sun and reveal a silky black backdrop to highlight your shimmering stars.I love your nighttime creations, Lord.I search to find the Big Dipper and Orion's belt.I wait, hungry to see a meteor streak across … [Read more...]

Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’“Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”Luke 12: 16-21 - The Message“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”Forgive me, Lord. I'm stuffed.My self-centeredness occupies my mind and doubts fill up my heart.My mouth is jam-packed with my opinions; my thoughts clogged with what about me?I am a fool, Lord, wanting more and more things of no real value. I thirst for satisfaction trying to fill my emptiness … [Read more...]

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)Mary has chosen the better part.Lord I love this story about your friends, Mary and Martha.Often I feel like I am both of them.I welcome you into my home. I open the door of my heart to you, excited to be with you, then I busy myself with the details of life, ignoring your presence.Sidetracked by my to do lists, detoured by my doubts, focused only on my ego driven wants and desires, and … [Read more...]

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?"He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having … [Read more...]