January 4, 2015-Do not judge

James 4:11-17

¹¹Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹²There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor? ¹³Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.” ¹⁴Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

The book of James certainly lays it out for all of us.  The writer doesn’t mince words when it comes to telling us what it means to live a faith-filled life.

In verses 13-17, we are told that the wise find satisfaction with God, while the foolish indulge in selfish patterns of material profit.  

How often do we put ourselves in the position of God, the one who gives the law and judges accordingly to the law?  In doing so, we often are able to ignore the failures we have in living according to the law—maybe suggesting or convincing ourselves that at least we aren’t as bad as “they are.”  

I wonder often, what if everyone, EVERYONE were to focus on their lives and their relationship with God.  If we live in the joy and promise of the one creator, what joy would we all experience?  So many people waste time judging others, and this is a waste of time.  

Let us pray: Loving and giving God, you are our creator and our judge, yet we find ways in which to judge others while failing to live according to your plan in our own lives.  Help us to live as you wish, humble, right, in relationship with a forgiving and loving heart.  Amen.

January 3, 2015-Wisdom

January 3, 2015 Devotions

Proverbs 1:20-33

²⁰Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
²¹At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
²²“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
²³Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
²⁴Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
²⁵and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
²⁷when panic strikes you like a storm,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
²⁸Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
²⁹Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
³⁰would have none of my counsel,
and despised all my reproof,
³¹therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.
³²For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
³³but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.”

The book of Proverbs is considered one of the Wisdom books of the Bible, where wisdom is characterized as a woman.  

At the beginning of this proverb, Wisdom is crying out in the street, proclaiming.  “How long…?” she cries.

We know bad things happen to good people. We need to admit though that many of the hard times we go through in life is because of our choices, our decisions to ignore the wisdom of God.  Maybe we think we have chosen better, or that there will be time or forgiveness for choosing what is selfish, that will make us happy for the moment or serves ourselves at the sake of others.  

It isn’t just what we do.  Wisdom also says that complacency will also destroy us.  In confession we often confess what we have done and what we have failed to do?  Why is it that we find ourselves complacent?  We are too busy caught up in our own world and our own life that we are not aware or ignore the lives of others?  Do we not listen to the cries of those in need?  Maybe we think we have done enough in our younger lives and now it is time for the next generation to step up?  Maybe we are too busy with our lives now and when we retire or get our nest egg or the kids are out of college, then we will step up? 
Where is the wisdom of God active in your life?  Are you listening?  

Let us pray:  O God of all wisdom, we generally know what you would ask us to do.  Give us the wisdom to obey, the courage to take a chance, the strength to step forward.  Make us aware of where your proclamation in word and deed needs to be experienced.  Open my eyes and ears.  Amen

January 2, 2015- Praise

January 2, 2015 Devotions

Psalm 148

¹Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
²Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
³Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
⁵Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
⁶He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
⁷Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
⁸fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
⁹Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
¹⁰Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
¹¹Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
¹²Young men and women alike, old and young together!
¹³Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.

¹⁴He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!  We say it all the time!  What does it mean to praise?  Words with similar meaning include extol, magnify, glorify, thanks…

Psalm 148 is clearly a psalm of praise.  It is a very appropriate psalm for the Christmas season.  

For what is the psalmist giving praise?  There is praise for animals, mountains, people-male and female, old and young.  This is a psalm of praise and thanks for the whole of creation, to the maker of all creation!  

As we enter into this new year, remind yourself to be thankful.  Scripture tells us to be thankful at all times, and we are all aware that at times thankfulness is difficult.  Begin today and in your prayers be intentional on giving a prayer of thanks each day.  For what are you thankful for as we being 2015?

January 1, 2015 --The naming of Jesus

January 1, 2015 Devotions

Luke 2:15-21

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Today we celebrate the naming of Jesus.  Names are important—no parent takes naming their child lightly.  There is thought and meaning behind the name chosen.  Sometimes it is a family name.  Sometimes it is the meaning behind the name.  And yes, sometimes, we just choose something we like.  In the Bible, the names often are representative of the character of the person.  Names are important so much so that sometimes names are changed, like Abram to Abraham-the father of many nations.

Eight hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah’s birth:

"For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Is. 9:6)

Matthew helps us with the background of how Jesus’ was named:

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:19-21)

The name Jesus means salvation, saved.  As we enter into the new year, 2015, we do so in the name of the One who came to us, Immanuel, God with us.  

Let us pray:  Lord God, you sent your son into the world as a tiny baby, telling us not to be afraid.  In a world full of fear, sent us into your world, saved and freed for your purpose, that together we will continue to transform the world with love.  Amen

Extra:  What does your name mean?  Julie means youthful spirit! 

Love God=Love self=Love others

Love Thy Neighbor

This is the theme that ten youth and three adults from Ascension (two of the youth are really members at other congregations in town, but they are definitely part of our group!) focused on these last two days.

Tonight as we debriefed the experiences we had, we also looked back on what we were anticipating coming here.  We worried about meeting new people--the youth were broken up into small groups and they didn't know anyone else..... now the one who was the most vocal shared they made two new friends in their small group.  We complained about getting up early, yet when we suggested congregational time early so they could go to bed early, they wanted to hang out with each other.  There was laughter, frustration, singing, games, small groups, time to learn how to survive the zombie apocalypse, talk about love of and from God, love of ourselves and love of our neighbors. 

When working with high school youth, you never really know what to expect, and in all honesty, neither do they.  I saw new sides of some of our youth--all normal, and yet surprising.  We had no real trouble, they were fun and and had fun.  It is interesting to see how what their peers say and do affects what they believe they want to do. Trying to keep the group together could be a challenge and admittedly, if I heard many more I don't knows, I think I would have screamed. 

I thank the people of Ascension for their support.  We have an opportunity to invest in our young people, to step up and give our youth the opportunity to continue their faith journey, to strengthen it.  There is anxiety around money and how we will pay for the gathering.  We have the money, we have the support---we just need to make it tangible.

As Bob and Chris walk the halls of the Radisson tonight between midnight and 2 a.m., I sit and reflect as our young people are in their rooms (hopefully getting ready for bed and sleeping!), I am reflecting upon another wonderful event with our kids.  These young people are created and God said it is good.  God is molding them and shaping them, not without a little attitude, swag, and annoyances for adults--but God is surely at work. 

Love God=Love self=Love others

Much to Be Thankful For

On this evening before Thanksgiving, I am finally sitting down to be thankful. I have taken this week off for the most part, at least that was the plan.  I guess I just didn't go into the office.  I still did a funeral, did some work for the youth gathering, assisted at our joint Thanksgiving service last night, have been pondering and discerning some ministry and mission with the congregation.  I have been saddened, challenged, irritated, frustrated.  I still have a sermon to write and work to be done for some upcoming events.  Oh, and as all of you there is laundry and cleaning.

I start my thanksgiving tonight giving thanks for last nights service with the people of Resurrection, St. John, and Our Saviour.  I was very pleased with the number of people who ventured to St. John to join in the service.  Don and the choir joined members of the other congregations, and the music was wonderful.  Thank you!  And Pastor Connie said something in her sermon that hit me.  I too am proud to be a citizen of this country.  I rarely say that, and probably not for a very good reason.  However, as she said last night, no matter how flawed our system may look, we do live in a country where I can practice my faith openly, I can challenge the norm, I can generally speak out without fear of retribution.  So tonight, I give thanks that I am a citizen of the USA.

I give thanks for my family, though only my brother remains alive from my immediate family.  They taught me to care, my father taught me how to stay strong in the midst of adversity, to keep integrity above all else-even if it meant you would lose something you really wanted.  Losing integrity would be the worst.  My mother taught me that love knows no bounds, and no matter what, it is what it is!  My brother talked to me on the phone the other night when Abbe had got out and I didn't know where she was.  I give thanks I can count on him late into the night to be awake and talk (not so much during the day, then he doesn't answer the phone!)

I give thanks for all the experiences of my life, those that were happy and those that were not.  For the wins and the losses.  For success and failure.  These are part of made me who I am today.  If my life had gone perfect, I'd be a different person.  I don't always get what I want--which annoys me, but it is good.  Every person, every love, every job--these made me grow.  I prefer the happy times, but everything is an experience to be learned from.

I give thanks to friends, the many friends that I have had for years, and the new ones. Without family living near by, the near by friends are my family.  I am so grateful for the love, support and sacrifice you all make for me at times.  Sometimes I am afraid of being alone when I will need someone, but you are there, ready to give me a ride or just listen.  Recently, the doctors found something on the stress test they want to check out.  I haven't really said much about it, because it isn't a big deal.  However, my greatest concern was being a burden and needing a ride, or someone to take care of Abbe.  No worries, I have great friends.

I am thankful to the people with which I serve in ministry.  I love all the people at Ascension.  For all the flack I got for "moving back" to Saginaw, I truly felt this was the call from God and believe it even more so today.  We are moving and shaking in the name of Christ.  I love being bold, and even more making Christ boldly known. 

We all have so many things to be thankful for.  As you watch the news about the brokenness of our country and world, as you struggle with whatever it is you are struggling with, remember to be thankful.  


Psalm 100.

1	Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2	Serve the LORD with gladness;
	Come before His presence with singing.
3	Know that the LORD, He is God;
	It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
	We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4	Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
	And into His courts with praise.
	Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5	For the LORD is good;
	His mercy is everlasting,
	And His truth endures to all generations.