Here is the scripture for todays meditation from Celtic Daily Prayer.
But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
for ever and ever.(Psalm 52:8)
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.Isaiah (40:30-31)
...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Here we are after Easter and we are still being reminded of life's difficulties. I think this is a great lesson. For me, at least, there was always this foregone conclusion that with God life will be easier, less things will go wrong. I remember going to a service with one of my friends in sixth or seventh grade. The pastor said something like that...Believe in God and your life will be a better place. This always meant "Bad things do not happen to Christians." Clearly this is not what scripture suggests. Well, actually, the scripture suggests both.
In reading the book about Peter Marshall, one gets the very clear sense that he was the kid of guy to say that God will take care of everything. And he's absolutely right. We can go to God like a small child and say "Fix it, Daddy." But seldom is the "fix" an immediate moment of healing or transformation. It is often a slow and gradual awakening to God's love and will for us. In scripture even the miracle healings are only the beginning of discipleship.
I guess this is what I am wrestling with today. There are times when I do get weary, when I do grow faint. I know that I am not at all unique in this. Slowly I am learning that it is in these moments when I need to let go of my anxiety and rest in God's will for me. If I am to serve, God will make of me a servant.
Some say that discipleship is the gradual turning toward God. That may be so. Discipleship for me these last few months has been about stretching. I can almost feel it in my skin. I am tired, weak and worn, but the hope is still there, the promise is still there. I will wait on the Lord. I will trust God to move in my life as God sees fit to do. And I will pray for the strength to recognise God's hand and reach for it when I am able.
Gitali 33
While following the path all alone,
I see that my lamp has gone out.
The storm has come,
and now I have the storm as my companion.
Every now and then in a corner of teh sky
Destruction lets out a mad laugh.
Calamity revels
on my head.
All this has forced me to lose the path
I had been going along.
Now which way must I go
in the inky darkness?
Perhaps this thunder-clap
will give me news of a fresh path.
Where can I go
so that my night changes to day?
I can smell the lilacs. They are still in bloom. I think we will be able to enjoy them for perhaps another week. Boxes are slowly being packed for our move at the end of May. I am still learning to be a husband (a lifelong task I am told). I will go to the temp job today and work for four hours. Then I will go to the church office and create this weekend's bulletin. Tonight I will help a friend pack for his move. It is that time of year in Chicago.
Peace and all good things to you today. May God lift you up on eagle's wings...
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Here we are after Easter and we are still being reminded of life's difficulties. I think this is a great lesson. For me, at least, there was always this foregone conclusion that with God life will be easier, less things will go wrong. I remember going to a service with one of my friends in sixth or seventh grade. The pastor said something like that...Believe in God and your life will be a better place. This always meant "Bad things do not happen to Christians." Clearly this is not what scripture suggests. Well, actually, the scripture suggests both.
In reading the book about Peter Marshall, one gets the very clear sense that he was the kid of guy to say that God will take care of everything. And he's absolutely right. We can go to God like a small child and say "Fix it, Daddy." But seldom is the "fix" an immediate moment of healing or transformation. It is often a slow and gradual awakening to God's love and will for us. In scripture even the miracle healings are only the beginning of discipleship.
I guess this is what I am wrestling with today. There are times when I do get weary, when I do grow faint. I know that I am not at all unique in this. Slowly I am learning that it is in these moments when I need to let go of my anxiety and rest in God's will for me. If I am to serve, God will make of me a servant.
Some say that discipleship is the gradual turning toward God. That may be so. Discipleship for me these last few months has been about stretching. I can almost feel it in my skin. I am tired, weak and worn, but the hope is still there, the promise is still there. I will wait on the Lord. I will trust God to move in my life as God sees fit to do. And I will pray for the strength to recognise God's hand and reach for it when I am able.
