Father One-a-Day Monday 11/26/18

A life worthy

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven…(Matthew 6:9)

Not Mighty God

Not Lord of the Universe

Not Holy One

Not Creator

Not Sustainer

Not Giver and Taker of Life

Not Commander of the Heavenly Host

Even though all those names are true

Father

When Jesus taught his followers to pray, he started with Father.

And so should we.

Happy Monday, Beloved

Whole One-a-Day Friday  11/23/18

A life worthy

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Give thanks to the Holy One.

Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

And now let the weak say, “I am strong…”

Let the poor say, “I am rich,”

Because of what the Lord has done for us.

And now let the sick say, “I am whole…”

(Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

God is not bound by time.

Stay with me here.

God created time.  He exists outside of it.  He is simultaneously present at all moments of eternity.

So…..?

So, my body may ache, my soul may weep, my society may be wracked with sin and pain and loss.

but

God sees more.  He sees me as I am, but also as I will be.  He sees the aching, but also the relief. He hears the weeping, but also the rejoicing.  He knows the sin, but also the redemption.

Singing this line is not a denial or what is.  It is a celebration of what also is.

Not just someday, but right now.  Because for God, it’s all right now.

When God looks at you…what does he see?

Wow

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Thanksgiving One-a-Day Thursday  11/22/18

A life worthy

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16: 34).

Busy day today.

You’ve got a turkey to burn, cranberries to sauce, potatoes to mash, tables to set, dishes to break, shards to sweep up, relatives to endure/enjoy…

Beloved, take a moment, right now, before the craziness descends.  Offer your heart and your mind and your day and your life to Him in thanksgiving.  If you don’t do it now…

Breathe deep, and thank him that he chooses to be good

That he chooses to love you

That he chooses to choose you forever, not until he gets bored with you or until you mess up in some way and displease him

Because…no offense…but I’m sure that’s already happened.

He could choose to stop loving you, but he won’t.

It’s in his power, but it’s not in his nature.

His love endures forever.

You are his Beloved.  

Forever

Happy Thanksgiving, Beloved.

Rich One-a-Day Wednesday  11/21/18

A life worthy

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Give thanks to the Holy One.

Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

And now, let the weak say, “I am strong…”

Let the poor say, “I am rich,”

Because of what the Lord has done for us.

(Give Thanks, Don Moen, 1986)

Yes you are.

Rich

Oh, your car may be falling apart and your dishwasher may be dying and you may be checking the sofa for enough change to make a Del Taco run, but you are rich.

First, in this world you are rich. Beloved, there are people out there who pray for shoes so they won’t have to walk barefoot

who pray for clean water to wash the dishes with

who pray for dishes…and food to put on them.

And in the spiritual world…are you kidding?  You’re the beloved child of the King of, you know, Everything.

You are in possession of the greatest treasure the universe has ever known:

the love of God.

Baby, you are rolling in it.

Bask in your wealth today, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday.

So Strong One-a-Day Tuesday  11/20/18

A life worthy

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Give thanks to the Holy One.

Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

And now, let the weak say, “I am strong…”

Context is really important.

This line from Don Moen’s song is found in the Bible in Joel 3:10. Of course, those of you who look it up will find that the Lord is actually speaking to the enemies of Israel, the nations who have plundered and destroyed his people.  God is essentially telling them to “Bring it on,” to prepare to fight, because God is going to turn them to powder.

Not exactly the same feeling Mr. Moen was looking to engender in his song.

Why am I telling you this?  Well, for one thing, I want you to be Biblically literate.  If we’re going to use Scripture, we should at least know what it really says.  

Also, even with the contextual confusion, this remains one of my all-time favorite worship songs.  And the message is true, even if the reference is a bit askew. The Bible is full of the truth that God gives strength to the weak.  He offers–may I be so bold as to say that he longs–to show his strength in our feebleosity.

Do you feel weak?  

Well, you are…you know… in and of yourself.

But in Christ…oh, baby!

In Christ you are mighty.  In Christ, you have the power to do battle with whatever comes against you today.  In Christ, your weakness is transformed into his great strength.

So now, though you are weak, say, “I am strong!”

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Give Thanks   One-a-Day Monday 11/19/18

A life worthy

As we close in on Thanksgiving, I’m going to look at one of my favorite worship songs.  It’s written by Don Moen. Part of it is Scripture; all of it is scriptural. Feel free to sing along!

Give thanks with a grateful heart.                         

Give thanks to the Holy One.

Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

Are you thankful today, Beloved?  Do you even have time to stop and think of all you have to be thankful for? Or are you so busy preparing your food or your house or your travel plans that preparing your heart has slipped down the list? Even worse–has your Christmas to-do list leapfrogged Thanksgiving entirely?  Look, I’m not judging; I know you’ve got a lot to do. Myself, I’m looking at a garage that needs to be cleaned–I’ve been putting it off for eight months now–just so I can get to the Christmas lights, most of which are broken, if I remember correctly. I have a vague memory of an entire string of lights falling from the roof last January, resulting in a barrage of mini-explosions and a decision that I would replace all the lights “Next year,” when finances would undoubtedly be better, except they’re not.  So I’ve probably gotta buy lights, and garland, and maybe a lawn elf–but no inflatables, I’m passionately against inflatables–before I can even start decorating, and some of the neighbors are done already…

Yeah, so I get it.

But, for those of us in Christ, the One we give thanks for this Thursday is the same One we celebrate at Christmas.  It’s pretty much the same holiday; you just have to swap funny hats.

Of course, you know that already…you’re a bright one.

So, hey, take time this week–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

For him

For you and him

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Prayer One-a-Day Thursday  11/15/18

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:5-6).

You know how the prayers you speak in public are different from the ones you say in private?

Yeah, uh, that’s a problem.  It’s not supposed to be that way.  

When we’re in public, too often we pray to impress.  We use our best theological words–sometimes incorrectly–and an impressively earnest tone of voice.  We don’t want God or anybody else to forget who we’re talking to, so we use His name in every sentence:

“Oh Lord, we just come to you Jesus to tell you God that we just, we just love you Lord Jesus, and we just thank you, Lord God, for your sanctimoniosity, Lord…”

We also say, “Just” a lot, though I’ve never figured out why.

The point is, you probably don’t pray that way when you’re alone with Jesus.  Then, you let it all spill out, raw and honest, not worried about how you sound because you know He understands.

That’s the prayer he’s looking for.

No, Beloved, I’m not saying that your public prayers should be rambling and random

just that they should be

real.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Giving One-a-Day Wednesday  11/14/18

A life worthy

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who knows what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:2-4).

Have you ever given an anonymous gift?

It’s a rush.

It’s like Secret Santa on steroids.

At first you enjoy the thrill of being supersneakyspyguy.  You cover your tracks like a CIA operative. You make sure that there is nothing in the gift or delivery of said gift that can be traced back to you.  Even the “God Bless You” note is typed in Times New Roman font and printed after-hours at the local library. You exult in the fact that nobody knows who gave that fabulous gift, nobody knows who did that tremendous thing.

Then it hits you–Nobody knows who gave that fabulous gift.

Nobody knows who did that tremendous thing.

There are absolutely no bragging rights.

And that, Beloved, is the moment when you discover if you are giving for God’s glory…

or yours.

Give well, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday

Acts of Righteousness One-a-Day Tuesday  11/13/18

A life worthy

Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven (Matthew 6:1).

Don’t be a poser.

I know, sometimes that’s easier said than done.  We live in a society that judges you by your social media posts.  It can be difficult to pass up the opportunity to let your friends know how giving and loving and tender-hearted and generous and basically amazing you are.  We want 1000 likes and comments of, “Wow! You’re so awesome! I wanna be like you!” Who doesn’t need a pat on the back from time to time?

But, when it comes down to it–and it always does come down to it– which would you prefer–an “attaboy” from your peers, or one from, you know, the Lord of the Universe?

Thought so.

So, again,

Don’t be a poser.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.