John 3:1-10

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” vs. 8

Nicodemus was a seeker and he sought out Jesus by night to get insights about the Kingdom of God. He was hoping for some clarifying word of wisdom but instead hears confusing words about being born of water and the Spirit. Modern seekers have that same desire…they’d like to hear some theological perspective that would help them make sense of the universe, maybe some system of belief that wraps all knowledge up into some tidy package. But the life that Jesus offers isn’t something that can be codified or even rationally understood. It only comes from above, an experience with God that touches our hearts and souls. This Christ encounter comes when we least expect it, a gift from the Holy Spirit that defies expectations and expands consciousness. It’s not a set of rules or commandments, but a radical reimagining of our lives as we’re pushed and prodded by the Spirit to open our hearts and minds to new ways of thinking and believing. It’s what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus, an unexpected meeting with the Risen Jesus that completely changed his life. From that point on he was guided by the Spirit from one adventure to another, and never quite knew how it was all going to turn out. Life in the Spirit is resurrection life at its best!

Thought for the Day: What happens when we reimagine our lives?

Romans 8:12-17

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” vs. 14

Paul believed that the Holy Spirit played a decisive role in the lives of those wished to become followers of Jesus. It was by the Spirit that they would be transformed and made holy. Not only would they have faith, their entire lives would be different. Instead of having a narrow and small existence, they would produce bountiful fruits…their daily routine would be marked by an abundance of peace, joy, love, and patience. Countless people would be touched by their presence…all who knew them would marvel at the hope they had with regard for the future. But none of this would be their own doing…everything would come through the Spirit, the Continuing Presence of the Christ in their lives. And they would be known as the children of God. That’s still how it works for us. We can not imagine that it doesn’t make any difference what we say and do…our words and actions will be precise indicators of the Spirit’s presence. To continue to live according to the flesh would be a denial of the resurrection, it would be to deny the living Christ. Periodically it’s wise for us to conduct a searching inventory of the way we are living…and if we believe that we are backsliding, to turn things over to the Spirit. As heirs with Christ repentance or change will be a part of our daily routine…and our fruits will make us whole.

Thought for the Day: What are my actions revealing?

Psalm 29:8-15

“May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” vs. 11

The psalmist closes his hymn of praise to the majesty of the Lord with a special blessing for God’s people, namely that they be given strength and peace for daily living. Many centuries have passed since he prayed those words for the gathered community in Jerusalem but they’re still remarkably fitting. Life even at its best is fraught with challenges that test our resolve and convictions. There are illnesses and broken relationships…often our work is less than satisfying and we can begin to feel trapped in our jobs. Family pressures can be overwhelming and we hurt for our loved ones. In those moments it feels good to know that God cares and is a source of strength. It’s that power from outside ourselves that often gets us over the hump. Just when we’re the weakest those reserve power supplies kick in and we’re recharged, at least until the next challenge. Many would say though that the greatest gift that comes from God is peace, the serenity that calms our spirits and prepares us for an uncertain future. It’s when we realize that we can’t control everything and that we’re not in charge that we can begin to relax about life. In that moment peace flows into our lives like a gentle stream, our God connection is restored, and the great Lord of the universe stoops down to give us rest…and life is good!

Thought for the Day: How peaceful do I feel today?

Psalm 29:1-7

“Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.” vs. 1

The psalmist didn’t have to tread carefully in his hymns of praise to God. He didn’t have people with a scientific bent parsing his words and looking for inadequate and primitive descriptions of the Lord. His God was as big as he could imagine and he didn’t hesitate to use his imagination in describing God’s glory and strength. For him heaven was like a royal court and was filled with angelic beings who spent their days extolling the Deity. Even now his images help us give voice to our own exultations and praise. He used all the wonders of the creation as a jumping off point for describing the Lord of the Universe, and so should we. Our advanced knowledge only expands the glories of God and we can scarcely find words to contain our awe and thanksgiving. The power we see unleashed in nature: the towering summer haboobs of Arizona, the explosive volcanoes of Hawaii, the devastating hurricanes of the Caribbean…all this energy is nothing when compared to the all-encompassing majesty of God. As humans we struggle to find our place in the immensity of existence…we’re dwarfed by the enormity of the universe and lost in the seemingly endless stretch of space and time. Perhaps someday we’ll even be able to put aside our pathetic little struggles for dominance and power and simply rejoice in the sheer wonder of our lives.

Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite image for God?

Isaiah 6:6-8

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’” vs. 8

When Isaiah felt the guilt erased and the burden of his sin removed he was like an eager child waving his arm in the air even before the teacher’s question came. “I’ll do it! I’ll do it! Send me! Send me!” If he had any apprehension about the task ahead he saved it for later. For now he was eager to pass on the good news of a loving, cleansing God to any who would listen. It’s a great call story, and we love to sing its refrain in worship, singing out with joy, “I will go, Lord, if you lead me; I will hold your people in my heart.” It’s a reminder that God doesn’t wait for us to “get good” before offering a call to serve. God takes us we are, cleanses us from all sin, and then issues the invitation to wipe away tears and bind up the brokenhearted. God has heard the cries of the hurting and the lost and chooses us to bring comfort and relief. It’s a magnificent calling! Of course it’s a lot easier to volunteer than it is to actually go. We have many excuses…for many it’s like trying to get out of a jury summons. Praise God for all those who gladly and willingly have taken up the challenge! Isaiah was the first, but he certainly wasn’t the last!

Thought for the Day: What’s my excuse?

Isaiah 6:1-5

“And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’” vs. 5

Isaiah’s vision of heaven was overwhelming, and at the center of it all was the Lord sitting on a throne with six-winged seraphs singing praises. The ground shook at their voices, the whole temple was filled with holy smoke, and Isaiah was filled with terror. All this holiness had exposed his sin and filled his soul with a deep sense of unworthiness. If we’re honest, that’s how it would be for any of us in the presence of God’s radical righteousness. None of us could measure up. We get a taste of this from time to time when we’re blessed by the presence of some person who exudes goodness. Everything about them is beautiful…their smile and effervescent joy…their deep and profound faith. They treat all persons with love and affection and kindness is obvious in all they say and do. In an instant we realize our own inadequacies and imperfections. We might aspire to be like them but in our hearts we know that there isn’t a chance. We’ll never attain that kind of purity no matter how hard we might try. Mostly we don’t even have to compare ourselves to anyone…we know innately that our holiness is lacking. Thank God that our faith rests not on our own worthiness, but on God’s goodness. In the Lord there is hope for us all.

Thought for the Day: Someone whose goodness I admire.

John 16:7-15

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” vs. 7

If the disciples’ fervent prayers had been granted and Jesus would have been able to escape the cross, return to Galilee, and continue his teaching and healing ministry, we would never have heard of him. He wouldn’t have even been a footnote in the pages of history and there wouldn’t have been a Christian church. It’s only because Jesus died a martyr’s death that was followed by a unfathomable resurrection that we know his story at all. In fact if weren’t for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, what Jesus called the Advocate or Counselor, there would have been no Church. But in fact the Spirit did show up and under the guidance of the Spirit emboldened disciples continued the ministry of Jesus in a spectacular fashion. Within a few decades of Jesus’ death there were little pockets of believers in all the major cities of the Roman Empire. So just who was this mysterious Advocate who showed up on that day of Pentecost? Obviously, it’s the Spirit of God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, but it was also the Spirit of Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, and under the Spirit’s leadership Jesus’ liberating message of forgiveness and hope has continued to transform the lives of all who believe. No wonder Pentecost Sunday is such a big deal for Christians!

Thought for the Day: Which day should be a bigger deal: Easter or Pentecost?

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-6

“You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” vs. 27

After Jesus had departed from this earth, it’s likely that the disciples were regularly questioned about his life and ministry. And as Jesus had predicted they had opportunity to testify about what he had said and done. It’s unlikely that any of them had been taking notes so they were forced to rely on their memory…and since they’re were like us, it wasn’t always easy for them to remember what had happened. Frankly, there were times when they likely weren’t paying that much attention…Jesus seems to have had to tell them some of the same things over and over again. They needed help to be sure that the right things became a part of their testimony. And that’s where the Holy Spirit proved to be their most reliable Advocate or Counselor. Often they didn’t know what to say…but the Spirit gave them the words. That continues to be how it works with us. Often we can’t remember the proper verses or stories as we talk to people about the good news. Our memories aren’t that good. But that’s no reason for silence! The promised Holy Spirit continues to be a part of our lives and when the opportunity to speak arrives, the Spirit of Truth will give us fitting words. Many times we’ll even surprise ourselves by saying things that we didn’t even know that we knew. Once we start to talk, the words mysteriously appear…and blessings abound!

Thought for the Day: Times the Spirit has given me words!

Romans 8:22-27

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” vs. 26

Most people pray at one time or another. With some it’s occasional and almost spontaneous, a blurting out of some deep concern in a moment of crisis. Others are more intentional in their prayer life and take time nearly every day to offer up their deepest thoughts and concerns to God. We could assume that a practice that so widespread would be well understood, but that’s not the case. Instead there’s a cloak of mystery wrapped around prayer and we’re frequently puzzled about what it is and how it should be done. We know that Jesus prayed regularly and spent some time teaching his disciples about prayer, and that he encouraged them to be diligent in making their requests known to God. But often we find ourselves agreeing with Paul; we really don’t know how to pray as we ought…and those moments can be disconcerting and confusing. Paul tells his readers not to worry about it. Even if our prayers are indecipherable, they do get through to God through the intercession of the indwelling Spirit of God. Even when words desert us and only sighs emerge from our troubled souls…it will be just fine. God is intimately connected to our hearts and will give us strength in our times of weakness. God is the prayer partner who always understands and who never stops giving!

Thought for the Day: What is my most frequent prayer?

Psalm 104:31-35

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” vs. 33

The psalmist felt a calling to continually praise God for the wonder and majesty of creation. Everywhere he looked, from dawn to dusk, he saw the signs of God’s creative and renewing spirit. How often we miss out on the joy of that kind of living! We tend to get so immersed in the mundane details of work and family that we miss the beauty that’s all around us. Blessed are those whose senses are alert to the nuances of God’s presence. For them the entire world is a garden of delight and every bird, flower, and person evokes a song of joy. Instead of being sucked dry by the tedium and repetition of daily routine they are constantly renewed and invigorated. In them we see the constant presence of the spirit of God and our own lives are enriched. Their zest for life is contagious and we long to be their companions. In their company the scales of blindness fall from our eyes and we are drawn to join their songs of praise. Daily living ceases to be a grind as we awaken each morning to another day of grace. What a gift such persons are in the community of believers! Their enthusiasm is magnetic and lifts the entire body…and the world becomes a more joyful place!

Thought for the Day: Who is the most joyful person I know?