Psalm 98:4-9

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.” vs. 4

The psalmist is urging the gathered community to burst into joyous song and sing praises, not because they’ve found themselves on the winning side in a hard fought political battle, but because the Lord has not abandoned them and will come to establish righteousness in all the earth. It’s this sense of optimism and confidence in the Lord that drives followers of Jesus to make joyful noises in every circumstance, even when their candidates have lost elections…and it’s an important truth for us to remember today. We may not be happy about last night’s results but we can rejoice that we have a Lord who never stops loving. This is probably one of the biggest challenges in our faith journey. We can get so caught up in the ways of the world that we actually begin to believe that our whole future is dependent on the vagaries of our political system. We forget that in another four years we’ll be going through the same thing we’ve just been through…and in four more years, we’ll do it again. The process goes on and on…sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. But in Jesus all are winners, and it’s in his honor that we sing praises today. Everything is going to be okay…he is the eternal Lord!

Thought for the Day: For whom will a word of love be important today?

Psalm 98:1-3

“O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.” vs. 1

By late this evening there will be shouts of exultation and triumph as politicians claim victory in a multitude of races. Most people will simply be glad that this whole dysfunctional election cycle is at an end. Some will be deeply disappointed and on the verge of despair…and maybe even planning to move out of the country. Others will be feeling joy beyond measure, convinced by results that God has acted and given victory to their righteous cause. Some of these may be Cubs fans and feel doubly vindicated, but the truth is that neither election results or World Series wins can be attributed to God’s gracious interventions. It is true, as the psalmist indicates, that God has done marvelous things, but God’s victories go beyond cultural events or political manipulations. Politicians and athletes come and go, and it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement. But followers of Jesus see God’s influence primarily in the incremental triumph of love in their communities and families. Such followers can be found on both sides of the political debate and can be identified by their humble, gentle, and compassionate behavior in both winning and losing. Thanks be to God for their presence in these divisive and troubling times!

Thought for the Day: How can you tell if a politician is a follower of Jesus?

Malachi 4:1-2a

“But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” vs. 2a

Malachi was not a happy prophet! He was particularly unhappy with the temple priests, who he accused of impious behavior and careless sacrificial practices. In general he believed that God was fed up with the way things were going in the country and he looked forward to what he called the “great and terrible day of the Lord.” There are likely some among us who can resonate with what Malachi has to say. They’re fed up too, and they’ve had enough of corruption and immoral behavior, and they long for the destruction of evildoers. This passion for righteousness comes from our core and reflects a deep desire for justice that seems to be a part of our genetic make-up. But God is bigger than our passions and has a vision for the future that goes beyond retribution and punishment. Malachi got it right when he spoke of the “sun of righteousness” who would some day rise with healing in its wings. He knew that someday the light would dawn in this world of darkness and bring healing to all caught up in these awful cycles of violence. We believe that Malachi’s words found fulfillment in Jesus and the good news of forgiveness and grace, probably not what Malachi expected, but exactly what we needed.

Thought for the Day: What am I fed up with?

Matthew 5:7-12

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” vs. 8

From time to time as we ramble about in the blessed company of Jesus followers, we will occasionally encounter a saint with a pure heart. Now some may wander in circles where such sightings are frequent, often a daily occurrence, but for most of us the experience is less frequent. We live in such degenerate, degrading times that the hearts of most people, even saints, have been hopelessly infected. We’ve gotten jaded and cynical with our constant exposure to scandal and corruption and may have concluded that purity of heart is nearly extinct, wiped out by a combination of television reality shows, internet, and 24 hour cable news. But then it happens! We meet a person exuding purity and holiness with every breath that they take. It’s a truly amazing experience. There’s no hint of corruption in their words or actions. Everything they say is uplifting and kind, with no trace of sarcasm or malice. There is love in their eyes and compassion in their smiles….and of course they will be gentle and humble! That’s just how it is with such folks. Jesus says that the pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. But so are the rest of us blessed, and we remember the presence of the pure in heart with thanksgiving, for in these dear ones we too have seen God!

Thought for the Day: A saint with a pure heart that I’m remembering today.

Matthew 5:1-6

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” vs. 3

As we prepare to celebrate the saints tomorrow and take time today to reflect on the Beautitudes it is so important to remember that these verses are descriptive and not prescriptive. They describe followers of Jesus, those people whose lives have touched our hearts in such deep and profound ways, loved ones who we miss so much, and who now live on in our memories. It’s particularly fitting that Jesus leads off his description with “blessed are the poor in spirit,” a reminder that sometimes we get it all wrong as we look for models of godliness. Too often we reserve our admiration for the spiritually fit, the folks who seem to have it all together as they live out their lives. Their faith is admirable with never a revealed doubt and deeds beyond reproach. They’re never confused or troubled, depression seems far away, and they seem to possess every spiritual gift in abundance. But Jesus reserves his special blessing for the confused and wandering, those who struggle with spiritual emptiness and poverty, and promises that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Chances are that these will be the loved ones closest to our hearts tomorrow, for it’s likely that their story is the closest to our own. What a blessing it is to know that those who didn’t “get it all together in this life” get it all in the life to come!

Thought for the Day: How do I experience poverty of spirit?

Psalm 34:5-10, 22

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” vs. 8

Life has been good for the psalmist. There’s been an occasion of deliverance and whatever trouble he’s been facing has gone away. Most of us know what that is like. There’s a kind of randomness to life and sometimes we run into a stretch when everything works together for good, just like it’s supposed to. These are the best days and we rejoice when the days are extended into weeks and months, and sometimes even years. Often, like the psalmist, we offer praise and thanksgiving to God. But the psalmist does more than say thanks, he also offers an invitation, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” He believes that there’s a relationship between our God-connection and our life experiences, that those who take refuge in God will enjoy an abundance of those happy days. Most of us share that belief and will offer invitations to those who may be struggling. This is evangelism at its best, the “come and see” message that is so integral to John’s gospel. When things are going well, when we’ve discovered important truths, there’s nothing more natural than to invite others to come taste the bread of life.We invite those seekers into our community of faith, the group of believers that will give support and love in every circumstance…and together we discover anew that the Lord is good!

Thought for the Day: What makes a day good?

1 John 3:1-3

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” vs. 3

When the present leaves us crushed and the future seems dismal, the one consolation we can count on is our parentage: we are beloved children of God! There’s no DNA testing necessary and no background checks to pass. By grace, and by grace alone, God loves us and calls us children! And the best news of all is that every person in this world is a much-loved child of God. No one is excluded! From God’s perspective every person of every race, tribe, religion, and even those of no religion at all, are all part of one big family. Amazingly, there are some Christians who’d prefer a bit of exclusivity; they’d at least like to be known as God’s favorites. In their minds love is watered down and becomes less special when it’s spread around so freely. Now it is true that countless millions in this world don’t know or haven’t heard that they are loved by God and a part of God’s family. But it’s absolutely false to say that God’s love is reserved for followers of Jesus. We are not members of an exclusive club. But we are blessed! Not because we are loved more, but because we know we are loved! And the knowing is what brings the peace and security in the presence of uncertainty.

Thought for the Day: How can I help others to know the love of God?

Psalm 34:1-3

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” vs. 1

One of our most cherished values as a country is the freedom of religion, which in practical terms can also be thought of as “freedom from religion.” We’re accustomed to speak of the separation of church and state and generally recognize that it’s not a good idea to mix politics with religion. Many even go a step further and don’t mix anything with their religion. For them faith is deeply personal and private and they wouldn’t dream of speaking publicly about what they believe. As a result God-talk has become rare in secular spaces, except among the crude and foul-mouthed. The psalmist would have found such practices bizarre. In this verse from a psalm of thanksgiving he indicates that blessing and praising God is a part of his regular conversation. It’s puzzling why this isn’t true for more of us. Perhaps we’re fearful of being labeled as a religious zealot…or maybe we don’t want to be offend the sensibilities of the secularists around us. Whatever the reason, the net result has been the marginalizing of our witness. If we truly do love life in this universe, why not thank our Creator every chance we have? When we see scenes of beauty and acts of kindness, why not offer an audible word of praise to Jesus? And if someone hears us all the better. Our God-connections are never meant to be private.

Thought for the Day: How do I use the name of God in my daily conversations?

Psalm 34:1-3

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” vs. 1

One of our most cherished values as a country is the freedom of religion, which in practical terms can also be thought of as “freedom from religion.” We’re accustomed to speak of the separation of church and state and generally recognize that it’s not a good idea to mix politics with religion. Many even go a step further and don’t mix anything with their religion. For them faith is deeply personal and private and they wouldn’t dream of speaking publicly about what they believe. As a result God-talk has become rare in secular spaces, except among the crude and foul-mouthed. The psalmist would have found such practices bizarre. In this verse from a psalm of thanksgiving he indicates that blessing and praising God is a part of his regular conversation. It’s puzzling why this isn’t true for more of us. Perhaps we’re fearful of being labeled as a religious zealot…or maybe we don’t want to be offend the sensibilities of the secularists around us. Whatever the reason, the net result has been the marginalizing of our witness. If we truly do love life in this universe, why not thank our Creator every chance we have? When we see scenes of beauty and acts of kindness, why not offer an audible word of praise to Jesus? And if someone hears us all the better. Our God-connections are never meant to be private.

Thought for the Day: How do I use the name of God in my daily conversations?

Revelation 7:13-17

“for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” vs. 17

Today is All Saints’ Day, the day set aside in the liturgical calendar to recognize our connection to the Church Triumphant, all those faithful departed ones who now have rest and peace with the Lamb. And it truly is for all the saints, not just the famous ones like Catherine, Stephen, or George. Today we remember the saints who were our companions on earth, loved ones who shared our joys and sorrows, and who we miss so very much. For some it’s been less than a year, and we still can’t believe they’re gone. We see them in our dreams and hear their voices through our days. It’s as though they’re off on vacation and will be back soon, and the next time we come home they’ll be there to give us a hug. Those memories are so precious, and so very painful, and we long for consolation. By faith we believe that those loved ones have new life, that their deaths were not the end, and the promises of our scriptures do bring us comfort. We like knowing our companions are safe with Jesus and that God has wiped away every tear from their eyes. Life in this world can be painful and even a burden. We thank God for the perfect peace that now belongs to those we have loved so much.

Thought for the Day: Which memories of my loved ones are most precious?