Something that hit me this week is, "give us this day our daily bread." In the past, I've used that as a reminder that we are to ask God to meet our needs, not our wants. However, another angle struck me this time. Jesus says to ask today for what we need today. I am not usually satisfied with that. I want to look at our income and budget and be confidant that my daily bread will be satisfied next month or even next year. Not that I expect to have now what I'll need then. I just want to see the path.
Jesus' prayer forces me to let go of that. I am to ask today for what I need today. Then, tomorrow, I'll repeat that - asking tomorrow for what I'll need tomorrow. That requires a lot more faith. Plus, it requires that I keep in constant communication with God. I can't "stock up" on prayer - asking today for what I need for the week and then ignoring God until next week's time to "shop."
May God meet your needs and more, abundantly showering you with His presence and presents!
Sarah
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Psalm 51
I shared much of my thoughts on this Psalm on Sunday, but as I've journeyed with it this week as my prayer, I've found that God's word has opened itself up to me in even new ways. Praying, "Create in me a clean heart," or as the version I read on Sunday says, "Wash me in your Laundry Lord!" has helped me to stay focused on God's presence in my life this week. It's been a week full of ups and downs, but through it all God has been present.
BEcause really, that's what we're asking for when we ask for God to renew us, or to make us new....we're asking that God would help us to feel that Holy Prescence, we're asking God to open our eyes that we might behold and remember his glory.
How has this Psalm spoken to you this week?
BEcause really, that's what we're asking for when we ask for God to renew us, or to make us new....we're asking that God would help us to feel that Holy Prescence, we're asking God to open our eyes that we might behold and remember his glory.
How has this Psalm spoken to you this week?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Psalm 107
One of the themes of this Psalm, obviously is thankfulness. 5 times we see this verse: Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
But there are also other times that the author encourages us to express our thankfulness. This Psalm encourages the people to remember the times that God has rescued or saved them, the times that God has fed them when they were hungry, and given them drink when they were thirsty.
One of the reasons people started praying before meals was because it was an opportunity to remind us to give thanks to God for the gifts of food we had been given....but how manyt imes do we just go through the ropes of saying a blessing, without really being thankful for what we've been given. How many other times a day do we give thanks for our gifts, and remember the times that God has seen us through a dessert?
How many times do we share those memories with others? The PSalmist is not only reminding us to give thanks to God, but to share that thankfulness with those around us so that they too can be reminded of God's faithfulness.
The Psalm ends with these words: "Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD."
The Wise person gives thanks to God. The Wise persons looks back, and remembers that God has been faithful in all things, and will continue to be faithful no matter what we may think our future is.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
and his wonderful deeds for men.
But there are also other times that the author encourages us to express our thankfulness. This Psalm encourages the people to remember the times that God has rescued or saved them, the times that God has fed them when they were hungry, and given them drink when they were thirsty.
One of the reasons people started praying before meals was because it was an opportunity to remind us to give thanks to God for the gifts of food we had been given....but how manyt imes do we just go through the ropes of saying a blessing, without really being thankful for what we've been given. How many other times a day do we give thanks for our gifts, and remember the times that God has seen us through a dessert?
How many times do we share those memories with others? The PSalmist is not only reminding us to give thanks to God, but to share that thankfulness with those around us so that they too can be reminded of God's faithfulness.
The Psalm ends with these words: "Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD."
The Wise person gives thanks to God. The Wise persons looks back, and remembers that God has been faithful in all things, and will continue to be faithful no matter what we may think our future is.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Psalm 19
It is the last verse of this Psalm that has stuck with my heart this week:
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
I know you've probably noticed that i use these words a lot when I pray before preaching. I think it's such a beautiful prayer; we should all desire that the things that come out of our mouths, and the things that we meditate on in our hearts are things that are focused on and pleasing to the Holy One.
If we're honest with ourselves, we know that's not always the case....most of us think about things we shouldn't, and let things slip out of our mouths that are hurtful, mean-spirited, and ungodly.
But what would the world look like if we came to such a place of perfection that even MOST of what we said was loving and pleasing to God and MOST of what we thought about were ways we could love our neighbor, do justice, and were not focused on ourselves? What a beautiful world that would be. That's why I pray this....so that the Holy Spirit might work in me in such a way that I notice when i'm not saying things that are pleasing to God, and help me to change that.
What verse(s) did you get "stuck" on this week?
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
I know you've probably noticed that i use these words a lot when I pray before preaching. I think it's such a beautiful prayer; we should all desire that the things that come out of our mouths, and the things that we meditate on in our hearts are things that are focused on and pleasing to the Holy One.
If we're honest with ourselves, we know that's not always the case....most of us think about things we shouldn't, and let things slip out of our mouths that are hurtful, mean-spirited, and ungodly.
But what would the world look like if we came to such a place of perfection that even MOST of what we said was loving and pleasing to God and MOST of what we thought about were ways we could love our neighbor, do justice, and were not focused on ourselves? What a beautiful world that would be. That's why I pray this....so that the Holy Spirit might work in me in such a way that I notice when i'm not saying things that are pleasing to God, and help me to change that.
What verse(s) did you get "stuck" on this week?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Psalm 22
Our Psalm this week was 22; it is the Psalm that Christ recites part of when he's crucified crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" If you read this same Psalm in the Message, a contemporary version of the Bible, it reads,
"God, God...my God! Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning."
I can understand the Psalmist feeling this way. Aren't there times when all of us feel like God has dumped us in the middle of nowhere and left us? I'm sure there are lots of people who are feeling that now-people without jobs, with no good out-look in the future, trying to make do with what they have while taking care of families. People who've lost loved ones, who feel like life will never be the same and don't understand why these things have happened.
Are there times when you've felt like this?
The Psalmist also reminds us however, that while we might feel like God has left us.....we're wrong. God has been there all along. Something changes halfway through this Psalm....some revelation by God, some reminder of God's presence that changes the mood of the Psalm from one of self-pity and whineyness to one of worship and gratitude.
The truth is God is big enough to take all of that......the anger, the disappointment, and the gratitude.
What do you think?!
"God, God...my God! Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning."
I can understand the Psalmist feeling this way. Aren't there times when all of us feel like God has dumped us in the middle of nowhere and left us? I'm sure there are lots of people who are feeling that now-people without jobs, with no good out-look in the future, trying to make do with what they have while taking care of families. People who've lost loved ones, who feel like life will never be the same and don't understand why these things have happened.
Are there times when you've felt like this?
The Psalmist also reminds us however, that while we might feel like God has left us.....we're wrong. God has been there all along. Something changes halfway through this Psalm....some revelation by God, some reminder of God's presence that changes the mood of the Psalm from one of self-pity and whineyness to one of worship and gratitude.
The truth is God is big enough to take all of that......the anger, the disappointment, and the gratitude.
What do you think?!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Prayer
"Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathing is the beginning of prayer. Beneath every word, beneath every prayer, the breath of life moves in and out and through us. In the Hebrew language of the book of Psalms, the word for breath, ruach, also means spirit. Prayers are spirited words moving in and out and through us. Prayer is breathing deeply in the Spirit of Life."
These are the words found in the introduction to Together We Pray: A Prayer Book for Families, written by J. Bradley Wigger, one of my favorite professors at seminary. This wonderful book is a resource for parents who want/need help in teaching their children how to pray. It offers not only Memory prayer for the Table, but also devotional prayer of joy and care that are all based upon Psalms. One of my favorite table prayers from his book reads,
These are the words found in the introduction to Together We Pray: A Prayer Book for Families, written by J. Bradley Wigger, one of my favorite professors at seminary. This wonderful book is a resource for parents who want/need help in teaching their children how to pray. It offers not only Memory prayer for the Table, but also devotional prayer of joy and care that are all based upon Psalms. One of my favorite table prayers from his book reads,
"God spreads a table
so we will be fed
with the water of life
and heavenly bread."
Brad's book reminds me of the importance of teaching our children to pray and how the prayers we are taught in childhood not only form how we pray as children, but stick with us in our prayer lives as adults. Whenever my mom asks me to pray at home, I use my old favorite,"Come Lord Jesus and Be our guest and let our food and souls be blessed."
She laughs at me asking why I didn't learn how to pray better in seminary; I always tell her that simple prayer says it all, so why should I add anything?
That leads to this weeks question/discussion: What are your favorite prayers from childhood? Is there a certain memory prayer or way you pray now as an adult? Please post your favorites, and any comments on your prayer life!
That leads to this weeks question/discussion: What are your favorite prayers from childhood? Is there a certain memory prayer or way you pray now as an adult? Please post your favorites, and any comments on your prayer life!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Welcome!
This is the place created for you, the members of Salem UMC to speak out! We want you to tell us what you need, what you want from our worship, from our ministries, and from our leaders. We want you to tell us your ideas so that together, we can make our ministry better, our witness to the community stronger, and our community healthier. We invite you to share with us.
In a few weeks, Pastor Tricia will start sending out e-mails and asking for a response to be posted here on the blog. We will start discussions about our faith and our lives and this is the place where that will happen.
We ask for responses to be thoughtful, respectful, and honest. We thank you for participating with us as we dream a vision of God's kingdom in our midst.
In a few weeks, Pastor Tricia will start sending out e-mails and asking for a response to be posted here on the blog. We will start discussions about our faith and our lives and this is the place where that will happen.
We ask for responses to be thoughtful, respectful, and honest. We thank you for participating with us as we dream a vision of God's kingdom in our midst.
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