Saturday, April 5

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 Psalm 118:24

It was early Thanksgiving morning.  Everyone was still asleep, but it was time to go downstairs and get the dressing fixed, the turkey ready and start checking off the list of things to do before the eleven of us sat down to a Thanksgiving meal together.

Facing so much to do that morning, I think I was suffering from “agendacitis” – that overwhelming feeling of needing to get so much done in such a little amount of time.

In all the preparations I hurriedly opened up a new carton of eggs.  I was startled to see what was inside.  Someone had printed on the inside top of the carton those  timeless words of wisdom:  “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

What a gift to be reminded that our times are indeed in God’s hands. It was a blessing to become aware that this day of Thanksgiving is a day to pause and be attentive to all the gifts that God would provide in those  next 24 hours.  Time with cherished family and friends.   Time to enjoy a meal together and be mindful of others who are wondering where their next meal would come from.  Time to remember people who would give anything for that empty place at their table to be filled.  Time to consider all the behind the scenes people who make our meals possible: the grocers, the transporters of our foods, the growers and especially the egg producer who chose to share a strong faith by printing scripture inside an egg carton.

That gift from an unknown egg producer did cast a special glow to the day. Later at our Thanksgiving table we shared what we were grateful for.  And I shared that story. And you could sense a collective sigh of wonder and gladness.

Later I cut that verse out of that egg carton and placed them over the sink. Even on those days when the last thing I am prone to do is rejoice, those words are good reminders:  “This is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Prayer: Loving God, Thank you for your gentle blessings in our lives each day. Help us to be attentive to your love in action where-ever we are. And by your Holy Spirit, empower us to be vehicles of your love as shown in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Kate Thoresen (2014)

Friday, April 4

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matt. 10: 29-31

THE GARDEN

A kitchen window looks out on our bird and squirrel feeders.  We provide our yard creatures, our Wild Yard Babies as we call them, with corn cobs, peanuts, assorted seed, cranberries, and thistle.  We cannot tell you all the kinds of Yard Babies that dine at our backyard table.  There are pine and fox squirrels, cardinals, jays, two kinds of woodpeckers, and an assortment of small birds including the ever-present, ubiquitous sparrow.

For years these lovely creatures have lightened our dish washing load and made coffee drinking and conversation ever so much more enjoyable.  Without exception, guests marvel at the antics of woodpeckers plucking nuts out of feeder tubes; squirrels hanging upside down on corn cobs; blue jays fighting them for a place in line; and countless sparrows coming and going.

Matthew has something to say about the sparrow, as noted in the passage quoted above.

Years ago we realized that gardening was good for our physical health.  And not just working in the garden, but looking at it and thinking about it.

Another verse suggests that it is also good for our spiritual health:

         The kiss of the sun for pardon..

The song of the birds for mirth.

One is nearer God’s heart in a garden,

Than any where else on earth.
 

A garden is a place of beauty and contentment and relaxation. Because it is also a place of birth and growth and struggle and winning and losing, it is also a microcosm of life.   God never promised us a rose garden, as another lyric proclaims.  What is promised is that sparrows are part of God’s plan and by golly, so are all the rest of us.  Indeed, all creation is part of His plan and as we enter the Lenten Season of 2014 we can know that we are playing our part in that plan.

Prayer: O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; That, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve Thee with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Mary Kay and Paul Sparre (2014)

Thursday, April 3

Commit your way to YAHWEH; Trust on God who will act.

Psalm 37:5

Sometimes it's hard for us to jump in with both feet. We come wanting to serve you, our relationships, and jobs 100%. But in the back of our minds it is sometimes easy to say, "Well, if this doesn't work we can try something else." We can always get divorced, change churches, change jobs, send the kids off to a babysitter or even to boarding school. Prenuptial agreements are now a common occurrence, the divorce rate continues to rise and church memberships continue to decline. A commitment to anything that causes stress, emotional discomfort or pain can easily be left behind.

That was not so for a sixth century missionary named Columba. He was called to go to the Scottish isle of Iona to spread the Good News. This was of much danger to him and his colleagues.

When they arrived at the shore they buried their boat deep beneath the sand,  stone and rock. They knew that the boat on the shore would be extremely tempting when the going got tough. They were committed to what they were called to no matter what the consequences would be.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to trust in you, our relationship, our jobs, and churches without looking for loopholes and setting conditions. Help us to utter the words for better or for worse' even if things don't go our way. Let us be committed and know that you are with us and supporting us when the going gets tough. Amen.

Gretchen Lima (1991)

Wednesday, April 2

(Jesus answered) I am the vine, you are the branches. You - who abide in me, and I in you, it is you that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing.

John 15:5 (freely translated)

 

ABIDE WITH ME
HYMN No. 278, THE RED HYMNAL

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
 

I need your presence every passing hour.

what but your grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who like yourself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
 

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

~ Henry Francis Lytle, 1847

Listen

 

Virginia Spurr (1990)

Tuesday, April 1

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge God, and God will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3: 5-6    

Gratefulness

During this past year my sister-in-law, was multitasking her way through her volunteer hospital, Emergency Room job and also being the primary care-giver to my brother who had been having some complications with his health.

As she found, there is no time like the present to give.  And that particular time was through last spring and summer.  As Gandhi said long ago, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  She imagined some things she would never want to happen to her.  Then she quickly discovered those kinds of things were happening to patients she encountered at work.   So she gave as much help as she could to that cause.  Then following that time, in the fall my brother was hospitalized in the intensive care treatment center there in the same hospital.  The excellent coordinated care he received during his five day stay there brought him through his acute illness.  We were all so grateful for the specialized treatment that he received and the way he responded so quickly to their continued encouragement.  We felt that God was guiding the hands that provided the expert care.

This was truly thought to be a gift that gave back.  Thank God for that special blessing.

       

Prayer: Gracious God, you who created the breath of our bodies, and the Spirit, we glorify you.  We celebrate special women who have used these gifts you have given them to help transform the lives of others.  Amen.

Carol Morrill (2014)

Monday, March 31

Not a sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

Matthew 10:29 (New Living Translation)

Faith and Courage

Late this summer I learned something about tragedy.  This Christmas I learned about faith and courage.

A special young couple I know endured fertility treatments and weeks of bed rest before finally welcoming beautiful, healthy twin sons one year ago.  We celebrated with baby shower gifts and thanksgiving to God.

Eight months later they woke to find that one of their precious boys had died in his sleep.  SIDS.  An unthinkable loss.  Our hearts broke at the news.  I could not even tell my closest friends...why distress strangers? I thought of this dear little family every morning, every night.  I wrote them a letter, hoping my words could somehow express our shared grief and deep sympathy.

I chose my Christmas card to them carefully.  I knew their Christmas would be shadowed by their sorrow.  And then their own beautiful photo card arrived at my house.  Six panels of photos and text, sharing their deep love for their dear sons, acknowledging their grief and loss, remembering their little one but still celebrating life, cherishing the son who continues to brighten each day, closing with "Bring on the New Year!"

What a lesson in faith and courage!  We never know why such tragedies occur, but their faith in God and the loving support of their family and friends have enabled them to face each new day and embrace the future with amazing courage and strength.  

Prayer: Thank you, God, for the example of this brave young family. Please help me be an example of faith to those I meet.  And especially be with any who have suffered the loss of a child.  Amen.

Diane Falconer (2014)

Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 30

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Luke 2:41-52

I find it comforting that Luke should have chosen this one incident from Jesus' childhood to illustrate the special quality Jesus had, even as a boy (Biblical Authorities place his age at about 12). I suspect, however, that Luke has glossed over what REALLY happened. Mary and Joseph were probably furious as well as "astonished." In my house, he might have been grounded for his response alone: “Why did you have to look for me?” (translation "How could you have been so stupid?") Yes, Jesus was as human as a 12-year-old, a 12-year-old who was just beginning to define himself as an individual separate from his family. It's there in the Bible! Teenagers are teenagers across the ages!

This story helps me as I raise my children, to see in each of them a person IN THE PROCESS of becoming what God intends. It is my duty to nurture and guide them, but they belong to God and His will for them may not be mine. An itinerant rabbi is probably not what Jesus' parents would have chosen for him. God had other plans.

 

Charlotte Fischer (1990)