But who do you say that I am? Matthew 16: 15 Lord I love sitting with your questions. My ego wants to jump in and give the proper and correct answer. Like a kid in school waving her hand, “Oh – Oh I know that one! Call on me, Master!” But today, I hold your question – “Who do you say I am?” Like Simon Peter I nod quietly – You are the Messiah, the son of the Living God. I believe that. I know that. I long to live each day with those words on my lips. And Lord, you are so much more too. More than I can find the words to describe or the image to imagine. You are Shepherd. You are Rock. You are Creator. You are Father. You are Potter. You are Defender. You are Magnificent. You are. You are. You are God. … [Read more...]

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Roman 11: 29 Lord this verse stopped me cold this morning.  Irrevocable? You mean the gifts you have given me are final, unchangeable? The calling I have experienced from you – they are irreversible and fixed forever in your kingdom. I can’t quit? I can’t stamp them with “return to Sender?” I can’t deny them? In your compassionate benevolence, you give everyone gifts. What an adventure life becomes to discover your hidden treasures and to take them into your world. You call each of us in unique and matchless directions. Others need us to answer that call permanently etched onto our hearts by your fingers and love. Guess this means you can’t and won’t take these gifts and vocation back either. You have deeply and eternally wired us as you designed us. Irrevocable – are your gifts. Irrevocable – is your calling. Irrevocable – is your love.       … [Read more...]

“And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full and those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Matthew 14: 20-21   You fed 5000, Lord? I panic with feeding 10 people at Thanksgiving.          And that is after weeks planning, shopping, stewing over details. The multiplications of loaves and fishes – what a miracle to ponder. My eyes keep falling though, on the phrase “broken pieces."  You tenderly gathered these leftovers, these unused fragments together – to be drawn upon later I am sure. You do the same with our brokenness too. Presently the hurts, mistakes, cruel words pile up – of little benefit. Yet I firmly believe, Lord, you fold them into your heart for future purpose. I don’t know how. I don’t know when. But you will work a miracle again with my broken pieces. I am amazed at this miracle – one that appears in all four gospels – that demonstrates your resourcefulness. How … [Read more...]

That night, there in Gibeon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream: God said, “What can I give you? Ask.” I Kings 3: 5b – The Message   Lord you tell us to ask you.    Ask for our deepest desires.        Come to you and tell you what we think we need.          That we can approach the Creator of the Universe with even our most meager wants.   You say ask.    You listen.        You care.          You respond.   Solomon asked for wisdom.    For clarity to discern the twists and turns of life.      To insight to help others and ourselves.        For understanding that nourished compassion and deepens love.   Our gospel lesson describes faith the size of a mustard seed.    Faith to know for certain in unclear mazes.        Trust to hold onto your hand when all else crumbles.          Believe when doubts and disbelief look triumphant.   Faith and Wisdom – gifts to us only for the asking.      Why don’t I ask?          … [Read more...]

Teach me your way, Lord,
 that I may rely on your faithfulness;
 give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86: 11 (NIV)   Train me, God, to walk straight; then I’ll follow your true path.
 Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear. Psalm 86:11 (The Message)   Lord, you know these verses – in whatever translation – express one of my deepest desires – an undivided heart, living only for you. A heart I cannot mend on my own. I can only offer my tiny, dirty, shattered pieces to you, the great Healer and Restorer. Teach me your ways, Lord. Guide me along your straight path. My faith is weak and inadequate; only through your faithfulness can I live. I am unformed clay in your hands. Shape me. Assemble my brokenness into your creative design. And fear? The Message calls it joyful fear. That wonderstruck witness beyond all comprehension of Who you are. You are God. Yes I should fear – … [Read more...]

He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.   Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.   But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.  Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Matthew 13: 3-8   A farmer went out to plant some seeds. Lord, I do so much want to be good soil. Bury your roots deep within to secure me on solid ground and produce good fruit for you. So often, Lord when I read this parable of yours, I think of the soil. But today my eyes are on the Farmer. You persistently and lavishly scatter your … [Read more...]

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Acts 12: 6-10   Lord, open my eyes and heart to your word this week.   The angel came to Peter and woke him up. The angel released Peter’s … [Read more...]

“And even the hairs of your head are all counted.” Matthew 10: 30 One. Two. Three. Rats, I miscounted or did I already count that one? Lord you amaze me. You tell me you know the exact the number of hairs on my head at any given moment. You carefully watch over all of your loved ones. And we are all your loved ones. You watch each sparrow throughout the world.      Each grain of sand.            Every star in the universe. You have ordered it all within your grasp. You know. You know. Why do I let fear overwhelm me when you see to such minute details? Why does the color of my roots peeking through preoccupy me when you cherish the individual shaft of hair? Why do I think you have left me, can’t hear me, or have forgotten me – when you are so close to know that exact number? You, amazing God, who could scoop all of the oceans up in the palm of your hand, sees to such details such as numbering my hair. You paint the black and white strips on the dragonfly in my … [Read more...]