let the light shine

One of those scriptures which intrigues me is from Matthew as the wise men have seen the baby Jesus, it reads "they left for their own country by another road." Yesterday I spent the day driving 2 hours to Columbia and then 2 hours coming back home. Even though I literally was on the same road both ways, I traveled by what seemed another route. Going the sky was gray. It felt like one shade of gray and the gray surrounded everything. The trees, the grass, the hills, the valleys, the highway, everything was gray. The mist fell continuously which caused everything to blend together. It was one monochromatic blur with little form.

But on the way back, the sun broke through the clouds. The blue of the sky peeked through with bursts of light shining down. Suddenly the landscape was brillant with colors. Bright red, orange, yellow, gold, and purple leaves were seen on trees among the dark evergreens. Each tree was distinct standing on its own. The fields were shining with late crops and grasses. Even the clouds as they parted for the sun were many hues of gray. There was dark grays and light greys and white. As I traveled I delighted in the beauty of the creation and pondered how different everything looks with the light shining.

How often do we wander through life as if it is one gray blob? How often do we not see clearly each thing God bring before us because a gray mood blinds our eyes? If I understand the scripture, when the light of Christ shines on our lives, our eyes are illuminated to see clearly. We are able to see every person, thing, and opportunity without a veil over them . We are able to distinquish the beauty around us. We are able to travel by another route. I am so glad God took me home by another route yesterday. The path was breath-taking and breath-giving.

sacred places

My devotions lately have been on finding sacred places. Sacred places are those that bring us closer to the Holy. Sacred places are those that focus our thoughts and passions on God. Some of us find sacred places outside in the beauty of creation. Some of us find sacred places inside in church. Some of us find sacred places alone and others find that sacred place in the presence of others. Today I cannot forget the moment my couch became a sacred place. As I watched the television 8 years ago, my couch became a sacred place of prayer longing for God's comfort and strength. I thank God, who is beyond time and space, that every place can be a sacred place when my heart and mind are turned to the Lord.

poetry of life

My spiritual retreat filled me with a poetry of life. God fed my soul with words, sights, and sounds that reminded me that time alone is necessary. We need the ebb and flow, the in and out, the high and low, all the rhythms of life. We need harmony and discord, we need activity and rest, we need noise and quiet. To use a medicial term, we were not created to be flat lines. God has put a rhythm within our hearts, minds, and spirits. When we are all that God desires us to be, it is like dancing with God. When we are dancing, we experience a rhythm that makes life glorious.

Shrines or Talismans

One of my morning devotions referred to Shaun McNeff Earth Angels. He wrote that if aboriginal people came to your house and saw what was on the dresser top or bathroom vanity, they might consider these items a shrine or talismans. That was a whisper from God. What are the little things that are front and center to my day? What are the things that I see upon rising and again at the end of the day? Are the things on the dresser top and the bathroom vanity what I want to speak to me or about me to others? I certainly don't think of these items as things of worship. But if they are the things which start and end my day, if they are the things which speak about me to visitors, then re-evaluating their place in my life is worth time. Do you have shrines or talismans to ponder? If we want to start and end our day with God then the things which surround us make a difference. I think I will take time to build new shrines for the beginning and ending of each day.

quotes to make you think.

Lately God has been sending quotes to make me think. In devotions, in the Bible, in books there have been little gems to stimulate the brain. My favorite though, is a note written on a 3-5 card left in a plant in the house the last time our eight year old granddaughter visited. "If you are reading this card, Holly wrote it to say I love you." God's love and wisdom comes in lots of packages. I am glad when my heart is open to receive them. Is God sending you messages?

"Here I Am"

"Here I Am, Lord" is a favorite song of many in our church. It was sung at my ordination and still gives me God bumps. The song lifts up Isaiah being called and saying, "Here I am, send me." But this is not the only time I have read the phrase, "Here I am." in the Bible. In Genesis both Abraham and Jacob responded to God with "Here I am." In Exodus, Moses said, "Here I am," when the Lord spoke. Samuel kept going to Eli with "Here I am" until finally they realized it was God's voice and Samuel still replied "Here I am." Each person responding to the call of God with the affirmation, "Here I am."
This morning during devotions I read Isaiah 58: 6-9 "Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide your self from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. "
I have read that passage many times, but today what I heard was God saying, "Here I am." God saying, "Here I am," to those who are taking care of the poor and oppressed. God saying, "Here I am," to those practicing mercy and justice. God saying, "Here I am," to those who are shining the light of love and want help to do it. "Here I am" are not only the words of those who are responding to God's call, but God's response to those who are living the life of the Lord's choosing. Never again will I hear those words the same. Never again will I sing that song the same. When God asks who will go for me and we say, "Here I am," God is also saying "Here I am" to those who go.

Journey

During my morning devotions, God spoke. Henri Nouwen's devotion was on a life long journey.
One of the Celtic prayers was on pilgrimage. Bishop Schnase's devotion was on lost things, but began with a story about finding coins while traveling. It seems that God was reminding me to observe each day as a special trek with the divine. Today I will keep my eyes open to moments God has planned. I want to be aware of the times the holy intersects in the ordinary to bring about the extraordinary. Thank God for reminders.

recharging

God does work in unique ways. Bishop Schnase's blog today was "running on empty." I could identify with that. I had a goal that this year I would go on personal retreats each quarter. Each time I thought I would go, something happended and I stayed to give myself away rather than go away to get recharged. This weekend Mike and I took time away. We went to a family reunion and spent some time in the country. I was able to read, pray, and recharge. With hectic schedules and demanding work loads, it is easy to be "running on empty." My goal once again is to take a moment during the day, a day during the week, and some days a quarter to plug in with God and get recharge. With God's help when Jesus asks me to go away to a quiet place, I will go.

Wondering

During morning devotion, I read this poem by Rabi'a, a Sufi mystic.

O my Lord,

if I worship you

from fear of hell, burn me in hell.

If I worship you

from hope of paradise, bar me from its gates.

But if I worship you

for yourself alone, grant me then the beauty of your face.

The question became for me, why do I worship God? Do I worship God because God is or because God does? Do I worship God because God loved first or because God promises? Today I will practice worshiping God for God alone. May I be granted the beauty of God's face.

Everything Old is New Again

We are starting a sermon series on Worship from ancient through the 21st century. While doing the research, it occured to me that many of the ideas consider new are ancient and many of the formats considered traditional came in last few hundred years. Is it possible that the Holy Spirit keeps reminding us that the format can vary as long as the heart is yearning for God? Is it possible that the Holy Spirit creates the openings for adoration as varied as the people who come? Is it possible that we really are not incharge of worship but just participants with the One who enspires, the One who is adored, and the One who is listening to our hearts? Come Holy Spirit, make our worship new again.

Easter happened. Alleluia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote "Earth is crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes." I suppose she was thinking of Moses, but I am thinking of resurrection people who see the amazing things God does everyday and stand in awe. Thanks be to God for the empty tomb. Alleluia!

My prayer for Good Friday

LORD Jesus, there is much in scripture we do not understand. There is much in scripture with which we struggle. Why did You come to die? Why were You willing to die? What did You finish when You died? As we remember Your passion, may tears of sadness fill our hearts. As we remember Your death, may tears of repentance fill our souls. Forgive us, LORD. Forgive all that we have done or left undone that caused You to go to the cross….. Forgive all that we have said or left unsaid that caused You to go to the cross….. Let the love poured out on the cross transform us. By Your Spirit and with Your grace heal us in body, mind, and spirit. From this day forward, may our love for You be as visible to the world as Your love was on the cross. Amen

Today is Epiphany. We are celebrating God's revealing and humans' responding. Unbinding the Heart opens us to recognizing how God is still revealing. We will share how God is made manifest in our daily lifes and how we respond to God's revelation. Epiphany leads to Evangelism. Get your book and start reading. It is exciting to share and grow in faith together.