Dearest e-votees-
I thought we might use the appointed psalm verses of this week to shape our time together.
The Old Testament lesson appointed for this week is Jonah pouting east of Nineveh because God’s judgment has relented (the Hebrew said that God repented). The gospel lesson is vineyard workers upset because all got paid a day’s wage even though some started early and some started quite late.
All of these verses call us to consider how we respond to God’s enormous and undeserved saving grace towards us and towards others. May you remember and experience and reflect that grace today.
Peace,
Karl
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Psalm 145:1-8, NRSV
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
If God is indeed God and sovereign in our lives than we are not. Blessing God’s name and God’s purposes may well mean that our name and our purposes might be cursed. This was Jonah’s struggle and part of why he resisted the call and pouted when God was merciful. This is part of why the vineyard workers felt slighted. How well do we get off the throne and bless God’s holy name?
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
Blessing God every day is quite the spiritual discipline. Often we bless God through how we bless others. With the eyes of faith we can see every day as an opportunity to meet God and see Jesus. Rather than partition our week to holy times and secular times we can allow every moment to be both holy and have its secular portions. Mother Teresa seemed to get this when she talked about seeing Jesus in the face of those dying in Calcutta.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
Allowing ourselves to allow God to be mysterious and unsearchable. We humbly come to Christ from below rather than dissecting God with scalpel and microscope from above. We don’t need to work as hard as some well-intentioned Christian authors to explore and explain every nook and cranny of God. We can be putting praise before understanding. We can be entering into the relationship in addition to an academic understanding.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
This is the work of confirmation and fulfilling the promises made at the baptismal font. This is really the thrust of what youth ministry should be all about.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Individual devotion time can be spent pondering God’s majesty and the wonder of God’s works. Time in the beauty of nature (particularly here in the Pacific Northwest) can be part of that discipline and joy. Time in Bible study and group interactions can serve that purpose as well.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
Giving testimony is part of the calling on all of us Christians. “Preach the gospel, use words if necessary” (St. Francis of Assisi) “They are necessary, tell them about Jesus” (Jim Burtness of Luther Seminary). Looking for opportunities to declare God’s greatness. This is a growth point for many mainline Christians.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Rather than seeking fame and recognition for ourselves we can celebrate the abundant goodness of God. We can duck the spotlight that it might shine brightly on God’s gracious and righteous ways. We can join the choir singing praises rather than seek the diva/aria moment.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
This is the refrain of our lives: of Lent, of our dropped promises, of our remorseful turnings, of our hopeful new beginnings. This is how we know that when God’s mind changes (as it did in Jonah’s case) it is sure to be towards mercy from judgment. This is the good news with which we assure ourselves and others. Thanks be to God.
God, help us to abide with you this week. Speak to us and through us all to your glory. Shape us and continue to love us. Amen.
I thought we might use the appointed psalm verses of this week to shape our time together.
The Old Testament lesson appointed for this week is Jonah pouting east of Nineveh because God’s judgment has relented (the Hebrew said that God repented). The gospel lesson is vineyard workers upset because all got paid a day’s wage even though some started early and some started quite late.
All of these verses call us to consider how we respond to God’s enormous and undeserved saving grace towards us and towards others. May you remember and experience and reflect that grace today.
Peace,
Karl
--------------
Psalm 145:1-8, NRSV
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
If God is indeed God and sovereign in our lives than we are not. Blessing God’s name and God’s purposes may well mean that our name and our purposes might be cursed. This was Jonah’s struggle and part of why he resisted the call and pouted when God was merciful. This is part of why the vineyard workers felt slighted. How well do we get off the throne and bless God’s holy name?
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
Blessing God every day is quite the spiritual discipline. Often we bless God through how we bless others. With the eyes of faith we can see every day as an opportunity to meet God and see Jesus. Rather than partition our week to holy times and secular times we can allow every moment to be both holy and have its secular portions. Mother Teresa seemed to get this when she talked about seeing Jesus in the face of those dying in Calcutta.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
Allowing ourselves to allow God to be mysterious and unsearchable. We humbly come to Christ from below rather than dissecting God with scalpel and microscope from above. We don’t need to work as hard as some well-intentioned Christian authors to explore and explain every nook and cranny of God. We can be putting praise before understanding. We can be entering into the relationship in addition to an academic understanding.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
This is the work of confirmation and fulfilling the promises made at the baptismal font. This is really the thrust of what youth ministry should be all about.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Individual devotion time can be spent pondering God’s majesty and the wonder of God’s works. Time in the beauty of nature (particularly here in the Pacific Northwest) can be part of that discipline and joy. Time in Bible study and group interactions can serve that purpose as well.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
Giving testimony is part of the calling on all of us Christians. “Preach the gospel, use words if necessary” (St. Francis of Assisi) “They are necessary, tell them about Jesus” (Jim Burtness of Luther Seminary). Looking for opportunities to declare God’s greatness. This is a growth point for many mainline Christians.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Rather than seeking fame and recognition for ourselves we can celebrate the abundant goodness of God. We can duck the spotlight that it might shine brightly on God’s gracious and righteous ways. We can join the choir singing praises rather than seek the diva/aria moment.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
This is the refrain of our lives: of Lent, of our dropped promises, of our remorseful turnings, of our hopeful new beginnings. This is how we know that when God’s mind changes (as it did in Jonah’s case) it is sure to be towards mercy from judgment. This is the good news with which we assure ourselves and others. Thanks be to God.
God, help us to abide with you this week. Speak to us and through us all to your glory. Shape us and continue to love us. Amen.
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