Mission Faithwalk

  Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect. (Song of Solomon 1:6)           As I read comments on social media, one of the things I’m noticing is how overwhelmed people seem to be. Some people blame the pandemic, and I’ll grant you, there are people out there who are gas-lighting the rest of us, telling us we must give up our lives and survive according to their dictates or show ourselves to be heartless, selfish people. Some blame the holidays. Others blame something else. Now, I have a fair number of writer friends, and we may all be being drama queens/kings, but one friend shared how overwhelmed she feels, and that was the inspiration for today’s post. Now, the first three things we need to do when we feel overwhelmed are the good Sunday School answers: Pray. Praise. Give thanks. Those are critical, vital, all-important. I’m not disregard

  Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. (Psalm 106:45) making the most of every opportunity,  because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16)           One of the sources of anxiety that plagues my life is a worry that I am wasting precious time; way too much precious time. Today is a great example. I started out pretty well, mowing my lawn, weeding along the road. But after lunch, I got it into my head that I needed to get whatever else was needed to decorate for the holiday. And then, of course, I had to put up the decorations. Mostly, it’s clear lights. I remember back in December 2001, feeling grateful for everyone who put up lights. We needed lights. This year, we need lights and music. I don’t like to bother my neighbors with music, but this year, I’m tempted to because we need it. The problem is, it’s now after 4 and this blog isn’t done. The decorating I’ve done looks ham-handed to me. I spent more than I wanted to.

  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16)           My father wasn’t fond of cats, and the story goes that cats can tell who doesn’t like them and that’s the person they go to. I’m not a people person. I think somehow people do the same thing. I went to a retreat many years ago that was supposed to be delightfully different from most retreats – it had large chunks of time that was to be spent alone, just God and me. I had a stack of books with me (of course) and went to sit on a porch swing.           And spent the next hour (or more) listening to the trials of someone I had never met. She needed someone to listen to her, and I’m glad I was able to, but not only did she abscond with the time I wanted to spend along with God, she decided that I was her new friend. Don’t get me wrong – she’s a nice person wit

  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, (Hebrews 12:28)           There’s a musical number by Michael W. Smith that I share as part of my Christmas concert. It’s called “It’s A Wonderful Christmas.” It’s a beautiful number that weaves back and forth from the frenzy and chaos of a sort of Toyland Christmas to the simplicity and beauty of the advent of God the Son as the Son of Man. That’s where we are. It’s already started in the stores, but today’s Black Friday, when (traditionally) people lose all semblance of sanity.           In other words, today is life condensed into 24 hours. Like an amusement park ride, the goal seems to be to see how quickly one can move in every possible direction. The whole idea is to be shaken. Every once in a while, we seem to come to a stop at a point with a sublime view. Time seems to stop as the music grows magnificent, and then we’re swept back i

  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him . (Colossians 3:17)   O Lord our God and heavenly Father, which of Thy unspeakable mercy towards us, hast provided meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies. Grant us peace to use them reverently, as from Thy hands, with thankful hearts: let Thy blessing rest upon these Thy good creatures, to our comfort and sustentation: and grant we humbly beseech Thee, good Lord, that as we doe hunger and thirst for this food of our bodies, so our soules may earnestly long after the food of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen. [1]            The second quote above is described as a typical Pilgrim thanksgiving prayer. I don’t think the Pilgrims would mind if you used it as the grace said before your feast today.           Yesterday morning, I finished weeding two places, and have two more that should be done tomorrow mo

  Praise the  Lord . Give thanks to the  Lord , for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1)             Yesterday, someone posted a question about traditions for which we’re thankful. It brought to mind, forcefully, a tradition I began possibly more than two decades ago. Sadly, while I was working retail, I found it almost impossible to bring myself to maintain the tradition. My attitude during this time of year would not let me. Then, when I started travelling with my father, space was at a premium. Now, I can begin it again.           It’s a simple tradition, really. Since I had no presents to put under my Christmas tree, I decided to find things that represented gifts God has given me – usually intangible gifts. I have three ceramic Saint Nicholases representing the traditions of England, Germany, and France. Those are three of my four major ethnic heritages. They’re up north and too large where I am, but they were the inspiration for the idea.           I need to

  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   (I Thessalonians 5:18)           Yes, we’re just a few days from Thanksgiving, so I’m finally going to turn to that topic, and when someone else posted a meme with this verse, I knew it was the verse for the day. As I looked at it, however, my reaction is “Yikes!” We sometimes have people say, “I don’t know what God’s will is for my life.” According to this passage, God’s will for your life and mine is for us to give thanks in all circumstances. All circumstances. All. In Lost jobs                Damaged economies        Pandemics             Lockdowns Masks                   Riots                               Looting                  Racial unrest Verbal assaults       Corrupt elections             Power-grabs           Obesity Not knowing what God’s will is                    Not liking what God’s will is Weak muscles        Deaths of loved ones        Birth defects           Failing me

  The  Lord  is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4)             In Soul-Keeping , John Ortberg asks a scandalous question: “How good are you at doing nothing?” As I think back over most of my days, I think I’m pretty good at doing something. Not a day goes by that I don’t do something. At the same time, I think I’m even better at doing nothing because while I manage to do something, it’s nowhere near the Something that I think I should have accomplished. But the truth is, I’m not good at doing nothing.             In fact, one of the reasons I like to take walks is to escape from the need to be doing something. Yes, I do something in order to not do something. And when I am doing that something

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)              Yesterday’s post was about God’s glory and ours. I suggested that we glorify God by acknowledging God as God and that our best glory comes from acknowledging ourselves as what we are. Jesus knew who he was. The book of John is replete with Jesus’ “I am” claims.           One of the problems is, of course, that we don’t tend to know who are or what we are. The story of the ugly duckling comes to mind, but it would work equally if we told the story of the ugly cygnet. When we misidentify ourselves or are misidentified by others, we end up as a parody of what we th

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the  glory  of God. (Romans 5:2)           The question of God’s glory has been creeping around the edges of my mind for a few days. What is it? What does it look like? Sometimes, we seem to think that His glory is light so bright that we can’t even look at it. I’m not saying that’s wrong, but if God’s glory is a bright light, how do we glorify God? Do we add to the light? How could we? Do we point to the light?           The next round of answers is that we glorify God by praising Him for who He is and thanking Him for what He has done. We point to His glory. We advertise Him for being who He is and doing what He does. In other words, we glorify God for being God. If God were to try to be someone or something other than God, He would glorify that person or thing. If we try to insist that God be someone or something other than what He is and does, we glorify the other an

    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the  Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)             And the pendulum swings. Over the past few days, I’ve been writing about trying to live more healthfully. But one of the books I’m reading brought up the valid question of whether I’m seeking to be obedient to God and follow where He leads, or I am trying to get a grip, get my act together, and take control of my life.             Is exercising self-control bad? No. Self-control is one of the fruit of the Spirit, but am I exercising self-control for God’s glory? Or mine? There’s a sense of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” rolling around my mind today, and part of me wants to stamp my feet and tell God and myself to make up my mind!             You see, it really doesn’t matter that God knows the plans He has for me. I want to know them. I want to approve them. This is a deep seated thing for me, because

  Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (I Timothy 6:17)             At least in the New International Version, there is no Bible verse that includes the word fun . Unfortunately, that’s the word I encountered yesterday, and the word that is on my mind to discuss. The closest I can come is “enjoyment.” The person who mentioned it asked something about what the best fun was. And as happens fairly frequently, I began my answer with “It depends on how you define…”           I explained that I had spent vacations for two decades wandering through cemeteries, taking pictures of tombstones, and sitting in libraries looking for obituaries on microfilm. When at home, I’d spend several hours each week on Ancestry.com. That was fun. Stop that! I saw your eyes roll and that smirk.           Over the past couple summe

  As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One    with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. (Psalm 42:1-4)               Deer pant because they are thirsty, hot, and/or afraid. They pant because they need. John Ortberg discusses the fact that our souls are needy. This passage tells us that our souls thirst for God. Our tears may be our food, but they don’t meet our needs. God does that. Since this past summer, I’ve been exploring the edges of our needs. The needs of the body are sort of easy: oxygen, circulation, shelter, nutritious food, water, exercise (aerobic, strength, and flexibility,) and rest. I’m trying to make some changes in this ar

              Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.   But the angel of the  Lord  called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”   He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:10-12)     And He said to him,  “‘ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind .’   This is the great and  [ a ] foremost commandment.   The second is like it, ‘ You shall love your neighbor as yourself .’ (Matthew 22:37-39)   We’ve been considering how sin separates. It’s doesn’t take much to understand how murder, adultery, rape, and theft can separate. If they were the only things that separated us from God, from others, or from ourselves, it’d be easy. But they’re not the only things. Sometimes, it’s not evil that separates us, It’s