January 31, 2014 - Friday

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3: 10-11 NIV)

As I look back over this past month, I have tried carefully to lay a few bricks of the foundation Paul is talking about!  I am hopeful that there is some wisdom in my building here and that you enjoy reading my reflections.

January has been influenced mostly by the books of Psalms and Job.  While it is not a theme, there is a clear pattern of faith and confidence in a God we can't see, but who we can experience nonetheless, if we open ourselves to him.

Today, I will keep in mind that all I do only matters to the extent that it builds on the foundation of Jesus.

January 30, 2014 - Thursday

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:
“He is good;
    his love toward Israel endures forever.”
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. (Ezra 3:11 NIV)

For many years, Jeremiah and some of God's other prophets were ignored by the Israelites.  So, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon successfully attacked the Israelites, burned and looted their temple in Jerusalem, and the survivors were taken away and held captive for a very long time.

After 70 years in captivity (imagine several generations), they were sent back to Jerusalem by Cyrus, King of Persia, who had come to power, and they began rebuilding God's temple.  After seven months of work, this is their first celebration as they finally begin worshiping God on the foundation of a new temple!  I can imagine how excited they must have been.


Today, I will celebrate my God's love for me as the Israelites did that day.

January 29, 2014 - Wednesday

Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? (Matthew 18:33 NIV)

Double standards.  If I'm honest, I sometimes hold others to one standard, and myself to another (usually lower) standard.  In this case, Jesus is telling a story to his followers to illustrate the point that God forgives each of us regardless of how much we need to be forgiven, as long as we ask.  But we, in turn, are expected to forgive others who owe us a debt..I think this is especially true when they ask us for our patience.

Today, I will be patient with those around me, remembering that God has been more patient with me than I deserve.

January 28, 2014 - Tuesday

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42 NIV)

When something is new, we take special care of it!  In the same way, new relationships get special attention.  And we can learn something about how to keep a long term relationship alive by looking at the enthusiasm and devotion of new partners!

When we first fall in love, it seems we are consumed with thoughts of the other.  We can't stand to be apart.  And just after the apostles told a huge crowd about Jesus, about three thousand of them began a new relationship with their long-promised savior!

And look at what they did.  They stayed together.  They learned everything they could from the apostles, Peter and John and the others, and began to do what Jesus asked them to do:  They encouraged one another in faith, they broke the bread to remember and unite with Jesus, and they prayed.

Today, I will refresh my relationship with Jesus by asking in prayer for a renewal of my spirit and the openness to new ways to encourage others who share this same relationship.

January 27, 2014 - Monday

He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light. (Job 12:22 NIV)

It's common to swallow one's words these days.  We do it all the time, typically in the name of politeness or political correctness.  We don't want to offend anyone, so we say nothing--most of the time.  But every now and then, grief opens a door for us.  Suffering gives us a window to speak.  As the air comes in and goes out in those brief times, we can be honest.  We can speak our truth into the air.  We can cry or scream.  We can revolt loudly against the hand we are dealt.  We can rant.  We can shake our hands in anger and dismay.  And it is ok.

And then we pull ourselves together.

Job, my friend, in your pain you speak wisdom I struggle to understand even in contemplation!  You see the utter grandeur of God in all things, and in your tremendous suffering, you speak them into my heart.

Today, I will feel my real feelings and even if they hurt, I will not forget that God may be bringing them to light so I can heal.  

January 26, 2014 - Sunday

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. (Acts 2:32 NIV)

I remember a dream I had as a boy of eleven or twelve.  In the dream, we were assembling a ping pong table on the front lawn when it began to rain and we had to move the pieces under cover in the garage.  It was very realistic and is still a vivid and familiar scene in my mind.  But the curious and unsettling part of the dream was the way it actually unfolded several months later.  At first, there was the deja vu of a memory happening in the present--the unpacking from the leaning carton, the green and white-lined table top lying on the grass, the unassembled legs, the still-cool late morning, sunshine cut by the shade of the house.  Exactly as I had already experienced it.  Then the otherwise unexplainable knowledge that it would soon rain.  Then the rain.  The drops on the table top.  Very unsettling!  And it seemed, not something anyone was willing to believe.  Oh well.  I knew!

Have you ever encountered something that defied explanation?   Have you ever experienced something you thought was impossible...until it happened?  And have you ever then tried to tell someone else about it?

I've experienced what seemed impossible more than once over the years, but I can't imagine finding myself in the position that Peter does in the verse from Acts!  But I will say based on my experience, his admission to being an eyewitness to this helps me believe!  I know things happen I can't explain, so why would he make up such a ridiculous   story...unless it's true?!

Today, I will remember there were actual witnesses to Jesus' life and resurrection, and they were brave enough to tell others about it because it changed everything for them, and me.

January 25, 2014 - Saturday

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. (Psalm 33:5 NIV)

Signs.  God lives.  He is real.  He is present. And he leaves signs everywhere as reminders for us.

I initially think of children when confronted with the ideas of fairness and doing what is right.  But rightness and fairness affect me personally everyday.  And like the toddler who seems to ask why with every breath, I typically want the reason I should think and act with these qualities.  One big reason is  in today's psalm...because God loves it when I do!

Yet, the really moving part of this verse is what strikes me after considering it for a while.  The Lord wants me to act with respect toward others because when I do, I actually become a sign on this earth of him and of his unfailing love!  Just wow!

And so my eyes can start to see God and his love in all the expressions of respect and fairness that happen around me each day!  A helping hand.  Kind words offered freely.

Today, I will watch for signs and I will be a sign to someone!

January 24, 2014 - Friday

Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. (Psalm 36:10 NIV)

Again, King David asks God for a favor!  He asks for continued love and protection for his people.  What I love most about this is that he isn't asking for himself!  He is asking on behalf of others--such a beautiful and simple prayer, one that shows me so much about how I should pray.  Maybe I need to put myself aside when I ask God for favors, and ask for them on behalf of my people.

Today, I will pray for a special intention, for a friend who is upright and knows God, and who will need God's favor and love in the days ahead.

January 23, 2014 - Thursday

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.  -2 Samuel 22: verse 47

...speaking of favorite songs...I can only laugh when I think of teaching my little girl how to pronounce egg-salted!  She was a foody even in elementary school!  And the song is pure celebration, of God, the living God, the one who gives us strength to overcome the battles of this life and leads us to the next!

Today, I will celebrate my Lord!

January 22, 2014 - Wednesday

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  - I John 1: verse 7

This passage is a theological connect-the-dots!  The short version is I should admit my personal sinful nature so I can draw close to God.  The follow-on to that is, if I won't do that, I can't have that closeness with God which I need.

Today, I will admit to myself and to God that I fall short of what I should think, say, and do, asking for his forgiveness.

January 21, 2014 - Tuesday

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:44 NIV)

One of my favorite church hymns comes from this passage--I Am the Bread of Life!  Reading this verse takes me back to the first time I realized what that song meant.  God opens people to Jesus.  He first opened my heart to Jesus as a young boy--most memorable to me was when I was about ten.  I had begun playing the guitar about seven or eight months earlier when our pastor visited the house to see about baptizing my youngest brother.  As we talked, I remember telling him, possibly speaking out of turn, that I wanted to join the folk group and play music at Mass.  Shortly after that, I remember meeting the group's director and strumming a few chords for her.  She invited me to play, and I did that for 28 years!  If we measure our lives in milestones, I mark much of mine against the backdrop of this ministry, which I was fortunate enough to bring to many parishes through the years.

But the music was never the point.  Praise was always the point.  Helping others worship more deeply was the point.  What a gift this was to me, a happy unblemished gift--being called as a boy to be in my father's house!

Today, I will reach back and try to remember a few more of my first experiences with the Lord. 

January 20, 2014 - Monday

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. (Psalm 31:3 NIV)

Imagine being President.  You have an unmatched military.  You give orders and they are followed or people die.  You are responsible for protecting an entire nation in a hostile world bent on destroying you and your way of life.  And in the few private minutes you get each day you commit yourself, your army, indeed your entire country to a God for protection.  Not a distant deity or a vague idea of protection, but a concrete destruction of your enemies.  In the minute you have before your day begins, you only have time to say/pray/think a few things.  What do you think?

Protection is elusive.  I use locks, alarms, seatbelts, keys, PINs and passwords to protect myself and my family from anyone who would harm us.  But maybe there is more to real protection.  I feel safe at home, but a real refuge provides more than just a feeling of being safe.  A real fortress guarantees safety.

Am I the type of person who can say what David says above?  How completely do I commit my life and my spirit to God's protection?  Where do I put my faith?

Today, I will seek real safety by asking God to guard my heart.  I think I'll also ask him to lead and guide me each hour of the day.

January 19, 2014 - Sunday

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  -Philippians 4: verse 19

Generosity.  This encouraging verse is from the closing of a letter Paul wrote to a young church he founded in which he is thanking them for their generosity--he received their donation to his mission.  He is telling them, and me too, that our generosity toward helping develop God's church on earth has a reward that far exceeds any apparent cost.

And so I am challenged to be fearlessly generous!  To give without thought of repayment.  To give to others who are in need.  And especially to give to the mission of God's church--his institution, his device for teaching this world about the promise of eternal life.  

And perhaps what has become my most difficult spiritual obstacle, I am challenged to be generous to the church's reputation, recognizing that the sins of people, even leaders within, do not diminish the church's divine appointment and its mission to "go and make disciples of all nations."  Instead, Paul's words encourage me that, indeed, I should be generous in giving my time and input to the church in order that it carries on despite the human failings we all know about from the news.  I can even see my generosity toward the church's reputation as standing up against the great enemy of God, and his subversive infiltration of God's church.

Today, I choose to think and speak highly of God's church (not a building or the institution made by men), and I will leave myself open to new opportunities to be generous to it, especially where there is a clear connection to its mission.

January 18, 2014 - Saturday

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. (Psalm 145:5 NIV)

I'll never understand God.  There is no way I can comprehend the extent of him.  But I can look around my little corner of the universe and see a few tiny expressions of his creative artistry, his touch on this Earth of ours.  More than that, I can imagine patterns of beauty extending infinitely in all directions.  And that is just his physical creation!  From the simple daisy to the roaring Atlantic, from the frozen poles to the barren moon, from the peak of Everest to the face of the sun, we can see God's works and make it a habit to notice them.   

And we can enjoy the passage of time!  We can't touch time, but we can sense it, we can see it's effects, and we can make a habit to appreciate it.  As time passes, it gives us experience and memories, it gives us new chances to begin again, and it gives us the precious present.

And we can experience the unseen, spiritual side of creation too.  I can remind myself that even though I do not see it, I believe the wind is really there.  And I can remind myself that I have felt God's wind blow on my life enough times to know it is really there!

Today, I will stand in the breeze of God's spirit and I will smile at how refreshing it feels.

January 17, 2014 - Friday

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  -John 3: verse 3

If you've ever taken a road trip, you know that one of the first things you do is gather up provisions--maps, food, clothes, cash.  Without gathering what you'll need first, you really don't have much chance of reaching your destination.

In the same way, Jesus' words, which come at the very beginning of his teaching ministry, describe how to start a journey toward a better life, most of which will actually be spent in eternity!   Reading the rest of the passage, Jesus explains what he means when he says "born again."  He is talking about provisioning ourselves for this life journey.  He is talking about the Holy Spirit, our main provision for living this life well, and seeing the kingdom of God in the next.

It turns out that it is simple to provision ourselves with the Holy Spirit.  Baptism and Confirmation are sacraments that do exactly that.  Other Christians describe the choice to accept Jesus as the moment of rebirth in the spirit.  To me, it is something worth doing that first time, but so important to keep doing, like refueling the car along the way.

Today, I will stop and refuel with the Holy Spirit, reminding myself of what I believe.

January 16, 2014 - Thursday

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23, 24 NIV)

Thank you Lord for making my steps in this life firm.  I have certainly stumbled, sometimes so badly I'd have sworn I fell!  But truly falling must be something much worse because I take great pleasure in being close to you, and trust that you have held me up during those stumbles!  The most amazing part of that is I was not even aware of it.  If I look back, hindsight sometimes shows me your hand on my life.

Today, I will look for God's hand on my shoulder--thinking back on a stumble of mine from the past, to see if I can recognize how he steadied me even when I lost my balance.

January 15, 2014 - Wednesday

Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.  -Job 1: verse 21

When bad things happen, what do I do?  Do I need to blame someone?  Is my very first thought one of revenge?  Or do I even blame God, especially for the really bad losses I experience?  To be honest, I do try to assign responsibility to someone other than myself.  And while that sounds, oh, so reasonable, isn't it really the same?  Perhaps a better first reaction is the one Job has.  His first thought, and then his first action, upon hearing terrible news is to praise God.  There is no doubt he felt what I feel whenever bad things happen, but he thought first to bless God.  Powerful.

Today, I will try to praise God first, like Job, if something bad happens.  And if nothing bad happens, I will thank him for that too!

January 14, 2014 - Tuesday

Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.  -Psalm 119: verse 111

King David sings Hallelujah (well sort of) because his heart is overflowing with joy!  And for what?  He rejoices because he, as the king of Israel, realizes that he and his people inherited God's book of life, his laws, our Bible.

Today, like David, I will try to recognize what a practical gift for daily living the Bible is; and to let joy fill me like a child at Christmas because of it!

January 13, 2014 - Monday

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36 NIV)

It is so hard for me to picture the almighty God until I remember that Jesus is how God came and lived with us!  So here is Jesus telling his people, his friends, his family, to be at peace.

Today, I will accept the peace Jesus offers me, so if I find myself becoming anxious about anything I will pause and reclaim that peace before moving on.

January 12, 2014 - Sunday

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33 NIV)

Paul again!  This time he is writing to his friends in Rome, telling them that absolutely nothing on earth can come between God and anyone who believes.  That's kind of a big deal especially when you read the other eight sentences around this one--Paul has a ridiculous list of things that could realistically come between God and us, but towards the end he wraps it up saying firmly that nothing at all can "separate us from the love of God."

Today, I'm going to just enjoy being so connected to the creator of all things, and dwell on the knowledge that he personally wants to be close to me.  :-)

January 11, 2014 - Saturday

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3 NIV)

Another completely amazing promise!  God will set up the life plans I need.  God will initiate my plans, for me!  That's what this statement tells me.  My part of the deal is pretty simple too.  All I have to do is dedicate to the Lord what I will be doing.  

Now, as fantastic, and maybe strange, as this sounds, it gets better!  This applies to any and all the things I do.  No exceptions are mentioned!  So, in the little conflicts I face and choices I make every day, as well as in the big decisions of my life (Which I know are his specialty!), in all of these, if I will simply trust him enough to dedicate what I plan to do, God will keep me on the path to the right ending, whatever that is!

Today, I will dedicate to God each thing I do, big and small, and trust as blindly as a little baby that he will lead me to the right end.

January 10, 2014 - Friday

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2, 3 NIV)

We've all seen the baseball player just after his game-winning home run who points to the sky.  And we  know he is, for that brief second, giving credit to God for his achievement.  We've all seen, at least on TV, the new father holding his little baby for the first time, and I can tell you, for that brief second, he too realizes and gives credit to someone for this new little person.

Well, the man who wrote today's verse was named Paul, one of the very first Christians.  He and his friends had travelled to Corinth, Greece (near Athens), met with some connections, told some of the local people about Jesus, and a group of believers sprang up there because of what he taught them!  I can only imagine how that felt!

Long story short, he leaves and writes occasional letters to stay in touch and encourage them.  Today's verse is from the beginning of one of those letters and it shows us how proud Paul was of his friends in Corinth.

What you don't read here, but something I love, is that he actually considers them his spiritual children.  Paul is so proud like the athlete who works so hard to achieve, like the new father who sees new life for its first breath, and yet, like them, he gives God all the credit for his achievement.

Today, I will look at my successes, big and small, and give God credit for them with a simple "Thank You."

January 9, 2014 - Thursday

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  -Matthew 28: verses 18–19

How would you say goodbye to your best friends if you knew you were moving away permanently?  And what if you had just one last chance to look them in their eyes?  Wouldn't you be sentimental?  Wouldn't you tear up a bit?  I think I would.  But Jesus didn't, at least it doesn't get a mention.  Instead, he gives his friends instructions on a job he wants them to do...and this is literally their last moment together!  Why no long goodbyes?  Perspective.  I think Jesus knew something we have to struggle every day to remember:  that this life, what we can see and experience, is not all there is.  I think he knew he would be back together with his friends as soon as they finished this one last job.

Today, I will spend my day as a friend of Jesus. I will look forward to meeting him face to face, and to letting him know I did my little part in his friends' final job assignment.

January 8, 2014 - Wednesday

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.  -Proverbs 14:30

Full disclosure:  Verses like this frustrate me!  My answer?  Compare it with a more recent translation.  And so, I see that, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

Well then, this is Proverbs which was written to teach wisdom.  So I, as a wise-person-in-training, should try to maintain a calm and undisturbed mind, and avoid envy because these are good for my health.

Today, I will pray for calmness of mind even in chaos, and for satisfaction with what has been given to me.

January 7, 2014 - Tuesday

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.  -Hebrews 1: verse 10

What a simple and strong statement of belief!  It is deceptive really.

Occasionally, I actually have to ask myself what I believe.  I have to stop and state it, to myself, that I do in fact find it easier to believe that everything around me--from my little belongings to the planets (even Pluto, poor thing), to the depths of distant space--everything, was created intentionally rather than as a big accident.

Today, I will try and put aside the confusion and concerns of my daily life and remind myself simply that I believe God created everything.

January 6, 2014 - Monday

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.  -Job 36, verse 26

More encouragement from that friend who is talking Job out of his despair!  His point?  I think he is saying that no matter how bad things get, God is always bigger than my problem!  He has always been, and we'll never even be able to understand how that can work.  I am amazed by that!

Today, I will try and remember God is there with me each time I have a little frustration or annoyance.  And if one of life's big problems hits me today, I'll try and do the same.

January 5, 2014 - Sunday

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days forever and ever.  -Psalm 21, verse 4

This verse is from a song that celebrates all the gifts God gives us, especially this life we have!  It is a king celebrating his life and his victories over his enemies because of God's strength, not his own.

Today, I will spend a few minutes celebrating my life and remembering it is God's strength, not mine, that provides for me.

January 4, 2014 - Saturday

Behold, God exalteth by his power:  who teacheth like him?  -Job 36: verse 22

What?  Wow!  Great back story on this one--better than the verse would suggest!    Have you ever lost anything or anyone really important to you , and leaned on a friend, and been so down you couldn't really hold it together?  That happened to this guy named Job.  And after listening patiently to him go on and on about how terrible things had gotten--and they were bad, really bad, his friend noticed that Job was focused only on himself.  This guy was a real friend!  He reminds him that this life is about more than me.  God put us here for a reason.  Not only does that change in perspective help me feel better personally, it gets me focused on what matters most.

Today, I'm going to try and focus on what matters most, and considering my purpose for being here.

January 3, 2014 - Friday

Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say Peace be with thee.  -Psalm 122: verses 7-8

So, here is a king wishing peace in his capital city, for the sake of his family and friends.  Not a bad thing to wish for anytime of year, but especially at the start of a new one!  I would bet that along the way, President Obama, and Governor Malloy, and the Mayors of Newington, New Britain, and Tolland have wish for peace in our cities, for our sake.

Today, I will ask for peace in our towns, in our state, in our country, and in our world.  Silly?  Maybe.  But if real peace is in the heart, maybe not as silly.

January 2, 2014 - Thursday

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden though mayest freely eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt note eat of it.  -Genesis 2: verses 16 - 17

How amazing would it be to have God himself speak to me!  At first, it wouldn't even matter what he was saying to me, just the idea that he would even bother to speak to me is overwhelmingly fantastic!  I can imagine Adam walking in the garden with God, talking and enjoying each other's company.  I can just as easily imagine myself walking with God in the back yard, on the bluff at McCook Point, or even in the parking lot at work!  I wonder what he'd say to me as I'm walking from the car into my office?

Today, I will have that conversation as I walk across the parking lot, but mostly I'll just try and listen to what he has to say.

January 1, 2014 - Wednesday

Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.  They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness:  and the little hills rejoice on every side.  -Psalms 65: verses 11-12

A different translation is easier for me to understand.  This verse is part of a longer song about how God provides us with all we need in this world.  This passage seems to make sense as we start a new year because we often look forward and make new resolutions to improve on things.  I like this reminder that I have everything I could need.

Today, I will spend a few minutes here and there during the day thinking about just how awesome that is!