Perseverate

Flipping through the pages of my tattered notebook I notice a reoccurring theme…It seems I perseverate on my demise…my death…my passing on to the next life, the eternal life.  There always seems to be some question as to where or how I will spend that eternal time.  Even as I understand the promise of salvation I worry about my mustard seed size faith, which never seems to be enough to reassure me…especially in the light of God’s instructions “love thy neighbor as thy self”.  I’ve got the “love thy self” down pat.  But, that love my neighbor stuff…that’s difficult…especially when he irritates me.  And even more worrisome are the words “Love thy enemy” recorded in Matthew 5:43 and Luke 6:27.  That is really counter-intuitive to my selfish way of thinking.  I have to go through the mental gyrations of “love the sinner not the sin” in order to cope with that.   

Dear Lord Jesus,

I am afraid we are headed for difficult times in this land of the free and home of the brave.  I have enjoyed a prosperous life in a prosperous country and I thank you for that.  But I see troubled times on the horizon and religious persecution around the corner.  My prayer is that you water my tiny mustard seed of faith that it might grow into a large tree.

Amen

Letter To Titus

Today's reading of Paul’s letter to Titus was right on the money.

“Beloved: Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.

They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, exercising all graciousness toward everyone.  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another.

  But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:1-7)

That really sums it all up for me. For it is nothing I've done that has any merit but only by the grace and mercy of God and what Jesus did that I get to enjoy all I have…the least of which is an eternity with my creator and benefactor.

A "Thank You" seems insignificant and insufficient in light of these circumstances but it’s all I have.

Thank you, Lord Jesus

All I have is because of You

My life, my talent, my blessings too

Without Your help I could not do

All the things You want me to.

Amen.

The Day After

After a depressing night of watching TV, I woke up early and pedaled my way to church under a star filled crystal clear sky.  Strangely today’s readings seemed very appropriate and allowed me to refocus on who my leader really is.

          “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?

           The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27

All my fears dissipated because the Lord is my light and my salvation.

Thank you, Jesus.
I needed that.
Amen.

The Reader

     It seems I’m attending a lot more funerals as of late and I find it especially sobering when the deceased is an entire generation younger than I.  But I take comfort in the words from the Book of Wisdom as the reader reads them with such feeling and clarity. 

     My favorite reader, dressed in an elegantly tailored black suit, is a pleasure to listen to…not to mention look at.  I hang on every word as if they came from God's own lips.  Well, I guess the words do come from God…but she really makes it sound as if I am actually listening to the soft, sweet, confident and reassuring voice of God himself.  Yep! She is my favorite reader!  I want her to read at my funeral, but I suppose she will probably be sitting with the family of the deceased.  She will make a good-looking widow in that black suit.

     Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Your comforting word that I heard…and a wife who delights the ear with her soft spoken voice.

Amen.

My Hero

Life can be a bit of a pain

Sometimes even drive you insane

But if I may be so bold

I’ll tell of a story that is so old.

In this story you see a plot unfold

Of one who had no silver or gold

Of one who suffered to set you free

Of one they hung upon a tree.

He did no wrong, he had no fault

But the rowdy crowd they did not halt

How could they do this terrible deed?

By all rights he should have been freed.

Then I noticed the hand that held

The hammer that drove the rusty nail.

Undeniably familiar, the hand was mine

How, oh How could I have been so blind.

To the devil, my soul, I had sold

To God I turned a shoulder cold

But the day I reached my ropes end

That’s the day I needed a special friend.

No longer them, but it was I

This is why he had to die

While I was digging a deep, deep delf

He died to save me from myself.

He set the bar, He pointed the way

He changed the world on that third day

He is my savior, so I am told

He is my hero whom I extol.

I’ve been blessed, this I know

When I consider my tad of woe

So I can stand my pain so small

Because He showed us one and all.

To Him I turn when my back’s to the wall

He is the one who’s ten feet tall

He picks me up when I fall

He is my Lord, my all in all.

Amen

Tile Guy

Today, I am officially removing “Tile Guy” from the list of things that I want to be when I grow up.  Originally, I thought “how hard can it be?”  It looks easy but it is far too much work.  All that thinking involved in the layout and patterns, cutting all those tiles, mixing stuff, grouting, cleaning, wiping, wiping, wiping...it's all just too hard.  And the worst part is that I see all the little imperfections.  I would have never notice any of those imperfections if someone else had done the job.

 

So that's it…I'm not going to be a “tile guy.”

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the talent you gave me.

But I'm going to let the real "Tile Guy" do it next time.

and I will keep searching for the talent I buried.

Amen.

Fritters And Friends

A clear sky and Fall temperatures lured the old men out with their old motorcycles onto the highways and byways.  Lured them out only to be chased by a rising sun up the Farm to Market road to the café.  Once safe inside they dined on apple fritters and cinnamon rolls…enjoying the company of other two wheel enthusiasts.  

Thank you Lord for fantastic mornings

They just appear without warnings

But most of all…for the fritters and friends

Cause they’re the ones that makes me grins.

Amen

Retreat

The Spiritual Renewal Center is a magical place.  Well…that's not the right "M" word...maybe mysterious or mystical place.  It is kind of a place that is far from this world.  It seems to exist in some twilight zone where time and space are suspended...a place where God's finger reaches through the clouds and touches me…leaving a profound mark on my heart and soul.  It is a place where I know that I am loved…a place where my past is forgiven…a place where my future is bright.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this special place

Suspended somewhere between time and space

For it gives me the chance to touch your face

And to feel the warmth of your sweet embrace

Amen

Summer

The hot dry summer has parched the land and dried up the ink in my pen...it has turned my thoughts to dust and I can write no more.

I'm ready for a downpour to lift my spirit and refresh my hope…to float my boat.

I should go out and buy new windshield wipers as an expression of faith. I don’t want to be unprepared…I don't want to be without oil for my lamp.

Thank you, Lord Jesus

For you are the gift that keeps on giving

You are the living water that quenches my thirst

Amen

It Rained In My Field

A little rain fell in my field today and quenched the thirsty ground.  I couldn’t help but feel blessed when I stopped and thought that I was born in a place where I can drink clean water from the tap or go to the refrigerator and eat anything I want…any time I want.   I have a roof over my head and a dry warm bed in which to sleep.  All this is a result of nothing I did.  All this was given to me totally undeserved.  Everything I have from my toes to my teeth to my talent is a result of God’s grace…and then…there is the most gratuitous gift of all…salvation.

Dear Lord Jesus

Please give me a little latitude

When it comes to my attitude

For it’s not just a platitude

When I praise You for your magnitude.

Amen.