Psalm 23:4-6

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” vs. 6

We frequently hear the 23rd Psalm at funeral or memorial services…it’s the default scripture choice for people looking for comforting passages. And it’s a good pick! There’s something about its familiar verses, especially in the King James Version, that soothes troubled souls. What’s ironic is that the psalmist is not writing about death at all…his focus is actually on life and the blessings of the journey. When he talks about dwelling in the house of the Lord he’s not talking about heaven…he has earthly habitations in mind. He wants his readers to put their trust in the Lord so that they can have a good life in this world! Jesus focused on that same idea in his preaching and teaching. The kingdom of heaven was something to be experienced now…there’s no need to wait for the life to come! In other words, life in Christ is about the journey and not the destination. What the psalmist teaches is that the Lord will take care of us, comfort us in times of darkness, and provide security from our enemies! His dream is that every person would be able to enjoy the good life on this earth! Of course reality tells us that this doesn’t always happen…but that’s no reason to stop hoping! After all, some of our days are exceptionally fine! Praise God!

Thought for the Day: What scripture verses give me the most comfort?

Psalm 23:1-3

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” vss. 2-3

The 23rd Psalm is arguably one of the best-known and most appreciated portions of our scripture. Large numbers of people, even non-believers, are familiar with its verses and, in a pinch, could join in saying it at a worship service. The writer had an eye for the comforting qualities of creation and a good sense for what people are looking for in the chaotic and confusing circumstances of life. While there is a desire for freedom and independence in our youth, by the time middle age rolls around we’re glad to be directed, especially when our lord has an eye for what we need. The psalmist describes a bucolic setting, one that quietly offers peace and rest and that will restore our frazzled souls. But our shepherding God has more in mind for us than a pleasant vacation setting. There’s also the promise of direction on the journey that lies ahead. There’s more to life than comfortable beds, good food, and casual walks down plush fairways beside a meandering stream. We’ve been gathered by the shepherd for a purpose and our call always involves righteous action. We have choices to make as the journey continues and it’s not ever easy to see beyond the fork in the road. Oh, how we need direction! Oh, how we need to hear the whispered guidance of the indwelling Christ! What a blessing it is to feel the joy of being on the right path! It’s what we crave more than anything else!

Thought for the Day: Where have I found restoration for my soul?

Acts 9:40-43

“Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.” vs. 40

The book of Acts tells the story of the exciting spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. The ministry of Jesus was continuing…apostles and disciples were caring for the poor, healing the sick, and announcing the coming Kingdom of God. Peter’s visit to the home of Tabitha sounds like something that Jesus would have done…and the result was similar. The woman was literally on her deathbed and was restored to health. This wasn’t a resurrection…Tabitha would have to wait for that. But this was healing of the sort that has always been a part of the church’s story. When people grow ill or are at the point of death, the word goes out, healers are summoned, and prayers begin. Many times health is restored, whether through the prayers or medicine we can’t be certain, and there is always celebration and joy. Ultimately, with every person there comes a time when aging and illness seem to have the final word and death occurs. It’s at this point that resurrection replaces resuscitation as our source of hope and comfort. As some have said, “However things turn out, we’re always winners.” Whether in the flesh or in the spirit life does continue and joy abounds.

Thought for the Day: The most amazing healing that I have experienced.

Acts 9: 36-39

“Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” vs. 36

Periodically in scripture we see glimpses of what life in those tumultuous years following the resurrection of Jesus must have been like. We don’t get a lot of detail, just some names and tidbits of information that whet our appetite for more. Here we encounter an early disciple whose name seems familiar, both to fans of Bewitched, an old television sitcom, and to members of the ELCW (Evangelical Lutheran Church Women). Tabitha or Dorcas in the Greek was an active and involved disciple living in the coastal city of Joppa. Evidently she was a widow who had devoted her life to making clothing for the poor and other acts of charity. Along with many other women, including the first witnesses to the resurrection, she was an active follower of Jesus and well-known in the early church. As such she was the forerunner of a vast multitude of women who have given their time and energy to serving and loving in the name of Jesus. These women have been the backbone of the church and have consistently lifted high the light of Christ. Often unappreciated they have been the source of life and energy…and we can rejoice that in recent years they’ve been able to move out of the sewing rooms and into seminaries and positions of pastoral leadership. With strong women as leaders the future of the church is in good hands.

Thought for the Day: What special gifts do women bring to leadership?

John 21:15-19

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” vs. 17

On the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion Peter had denied his Lord three different times. Following the resurrection he needed rehabilitation…somehow the relationship had to be restored. To be sure, Peter was deeply sorry for his denial and he had remained connected to the rest of the disciples and was even functioning as a leader. But trust is fragile and not easily restored…so Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Each time Peter reaffirms his love…and the third time is even a bit offended to be asked again. But talk is cheap and Jesus wants to be sure of Peter’s commitment. Ultimately words will not be enough…Jesus requires action. There’s work to be done…precious sheep and lambs need to be fed, and sacrificial love is the only way forward. According to the tradition Peter was successfully rehabbed and took his place as a dominant leader in the early Christian community. Some ancient traditions wrapped in many layers of legend even say that he was the first pope. His story shows the power of love, not just the love he expressed for Jesus, but the forgiving and restorative love that rests in the heart of the Christ.

Thought for the Day: How many “I love you’s” does it generally take to restore trust?

John 21:1-14

“Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” vs. 4

There was nothing about the appearance of the man on the beach that reminded the disciples of Jesus but when their nets were filled with fish after following his instructions, one of them shouted out, “It is the Lord!” When they came ashore and found the man preparing breakfast they were still uncertain. They felt like asking “Who are you?” but none of them dared…they just knew that it was the Lord. The resurrection is like that…we know that it happens but there’s always transformation. Some of us have had that experience with loved ones who have died. We’ll be going about our regular activities and then all of a sudden we sense a familiar presence. It’s mysterious, yet regularly reported. It could be wishful thinking of course. Even though we say we believe in the resurrection of the dead it’s hard for us to wrap our minds around something that defies logic and scientific inquiry. For the disciples the experience was enough to propel them into ministries for which many gave their lives. And it’s really not any different for us. We cherish the lingering presence of our beloved ones and look forward to our own new resurrected lives. What happened with Jesus is a foretaste of our own breakfast on the beach, a feasting in paradise with all those we’ve laid to rest.

Thought for the Day: What messages have I received from someone who has died?

Revelations 5:11-14

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” vs. 13

We who pride ourselves on our rational thinking and scientific view of the universe don’t quite know what to do with the visions found in the book of Revelations. To some they seem bizarre and difficult to understand. Others take them literally and have devised quite remarkable predictions about future events. What we sometimes miss in our reading is the beauty and majesty John was intending to communicate. In the picture painted in these verses he imagines every creature in the universe offering a song of praise to the Lamb who is the Christ…not just humans, but fish and puppies and birds, all singing in a majestic unnumbered chorus before the throne of God. It’s a vivid reminder that the entire creation is the incarnation of God and that all things bear the stamp of their Maker. What’s even more spectacular is that the song they sing is heard regularly in thousands of our congregations as a part of worship. It’s a beautiful song of praise…and it comes to our liturgies from the portion of scripture that we least understand. It’s just another indicator that the wisdom of God is beyond human understanding!

Thought for the Day: What can we learn about God from a dog?

Psalm 30:6-12

“What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?” vs. 9

It seems that the psalmist was dealing with some sort of calamity in his life, a situation that could lead to death. Perhaps it was some dread illness, we really don’t know. But like us, he was not above doing a bit of bargaining with God, and in his prayer reminds God that there is nothing to be gained from his death. If he dies, he tells God, God will lose a faithful witness. There’ll be one less person to sing God’s praises. That petition resonates with us, not just as an example of our bargaining, but as a reminder of a universal truth, namely that life is infinitely precious and is worth nurturing and preserving. It’s natural that we would cling to it with as much tenacity as we can muster. Now the psalmist believed that death had the last word…a person died and was buried and that was it. By faith we who are followers of Jesus maintain that something so precious as life simply can’t be snuffed out. We dare to believe that the natural cycle of the universe is death and resurrection…we see it all around…death is always followed by new life. So even as we fiercely hang on to life we know that it’s okay to let go…there’s a new adventure coming! And even our dust will offer God praise!

Thought for the Day: What bargains have I tried to make with God?

Psalm 30:1-5

“For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” vs. 5

The psalmist loved his relationship with the Lord. And because he felt so personally connected, there were times he believed that his actions had angered God. Sometimes that’s how it is when we love someone deeply…we assume that our careless words and actions will produce anger…and like the psalmist we rejoice when the anger is but for a moment. What a blessing it is to know that our feelings of alienation from God are temporary, that the dark night of the soul will give way to joy and gladness! There really is nothing that can separate us from the unconditional love of God and grace will be with us until the day we die and beyond. We may indeed feel at times that God is angry with us, but that’s only from our side of the relationship. From God’s side there’s nothing but mercy and love. That’s how it is with loving parents. While children may perceive that there is anger, they’re only seeing another aspect of deep and abiding love. The relationship is solid and our periodic foolishness will never threaten its permanence. We carry God’s DNA and nothing can possibly erase God’s presence from our lives.

Thought for the Day: When have I felt God was angry with me?

Acts 9:4-6

“He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’” vs. 5

Luke tells us that as Saul was traveling along the road to Damascus there had been a flash of light and then the words, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” It was quite an introduction! Saul hadn’t known Jesus of Nazareth…there’s no record he ever met him or heard him preach…but now he’d had a face to face encounter with the Resurrected Jesus, that one he would come to know as the Christ. Those few words tell us that the word was already out…the followers of Jesus were his presence in the world…and that’s still how we think of ourselves. We’re made members of Christ’s body in our baptisms and we are called to continue the mission of Jesus. As has been said so many times we are his hands and feet in the world…Saul as Paul would even say that we actually embody the Christ! It’s not that much of a stretch to say then that God has become incarnate in every single one of us. We make this claim not to exalt ourselves but as a reminder that everything we do and say has significance and importance. We’ve not been called to look to our own needs but to the needs of others. Through us the world itself is being transformed and changed. It might take a while…but one day the kingdom of heaven will be present on earth!

Thought for the Day: If God is incarnate in me, why am I so screwed up?