This Love Will Never Leave You

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:25-26 NRSV

Family and friends are great. But, sometimes they are simply not there for you. Sometimes, they do not seem to be able to comprehend what you might be enduring. But, there is one who does understand everything you are going though. He is there for you always. His love for us gives us the strength to endure all things.

We know that He is always there for us. He will always love us. We are never alone. It is difficult not to desire even more of He who loves us so much.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rise and Shine!

Ephesians 5:14

I woke up a bit late this morning. A younger (but, not that young) person in my house got me up about 6:00 a.m.. This is a good thing! A few months ago, it was me waking her up sometime not too long before noon on many days. This morning, she was wide awake and anxious to see if she had work today or not. She is learning.

She is learning that with privilege comes responsibility. She is learning that there is a cost to things that we desire. The cost is that sometimes (no, often) we have to get up and work for those things that we want and need. Even the necessities of life are not a given. Someone has to work for them.

How long will you lie there, O lazybones?
    When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want, like an armed warrior.
                                   Prov 6:9-11

Wake us, dear Lord, that we might serve you most fruitfully, glorifying your holy name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Leave Your Neighbors House To Your Neighbor

The Ninth Commandment.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, and obtain it by a show of [justice and] right, etc., but help and be of service to him in keeping it.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

The ninth commandment goes hand in hand with the seventh: "You shall not steal." Leave your neighbor's property alone. Don't even think about it; unless you are thinking about ways to help him keep his property. Desiring what belongs to someone else can lead to all kinds of evil against him as our desires becomes obsessive thoughts and our obsessive thoughts turn to evils action to get what does not belong to us.

 

We should all have our own hopes and dreams. Pursue your own dreams, not your neighbors. What belongs to your neighbor is your neighbors. What is yours is yours.

 

The second table of the law is summed up like this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22:39; Mark 12:31) :May God grant that our neighbors would love us enough not to craftily seek to obtain our inheritance or home even as we would not pursue obtaining theirs. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 John 5 - Love Does God's Will

1 John 5 NIV

Wow! I find it absolutely unbelievable how some who claim to be Christian can absolutely disregard our Father's will for them and for all of humankind. St. John wrote: "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands." (vs 2) I understand that our human nature is difficult at times. There are many times that we slip and we aren't even really aware we're slipping until we are caught. But, those who love the Lord will at least attempt to not be stealing or lying about or in any way disrespecting their brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and souls and minds. We show this love by loving and respecting His children.

The world throws temptation after temptation at us. The world would tell us we have to look out for ourselves first. "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (vss 5-6)

May God bless us with faith and a desire to do His will; loving and respecting Him and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 John 2:1-2 Strive Not To Sin

1 John 2:1-2 NIV
We would hope that it is not true. But, it is reality that while we are in these mortal bodies we will continue to sin. Our intent may be to put our Father in heaven above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves; but, we often find ourselves falling short.

St. John encourages those whom he considers his spiritual children to strive not to sin even while he reminds them and us that Jesus, the only Righteous One, is our advocate in heaven. Because of his sacrifice for us, we can be confident that our sins are forgiven. The debt has been paid. And... because he paid it for us, we respond with love and a sincere desire to walk with him in his light, avoiding the dark path of sin.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Peter 2:1-3 Crave Spiritual Milk

1 Peter 2:1-3


Arlene and Joe have fed multitudes with spiritual
milk for years with word, song, and deeds....

Babies can be pretty focused on getting what they want. When they are hungry they cry until they get the milk that they desire and which will nourish them. There is very little that can stop their yearning. We might rock them and they might quiet down for a bit; but, it won't be long before they once again let us know that they are hungry.

Christians should be so focused in our desire for spiritual milk. Give yourself a break and desire that which is good for your soul setting set aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander, which will lead you to waste away.

Drink the spiritual milk that the Lord has provided and see that the Lord is good.

God's Peace - Pr. J

James 1:1-18 Perseverance and Tests!

James 1:1-18 NIV
Testing produces perseverance. Without perseverance we will not grow into maturity.

It is that time of year when many of our young people will complete another year of school. Some will graduate from High School or College. There will be using what they have learned throughout the preceding years to establish their lives as adults. Many have rejoiced as each challenge, each test, was conquered. They grew in knowledge and wisdom through perseverance. They matured. They will live full and fruitful lives. 

Others who may not have any desire to face these tests and rather than persevering in their studies just ignored them or ran may well find that they have more growing left than they bargained for. Simply put; they will not be prepared for the day that they have longed for so deeply. They will, one day, realize that there was a reason for all those tests.

James, the brother of Jesus writes, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

When a Christian faces tests, we are to persevere with joy. We accept the challenge. We prepare for it. We don't try to ignore it or try to run from it as we know that it will help us to learn and to grow to maturity; to the fullness of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 Trouble Can Be A Good Thing

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 NIV
There are times when we come to a point of feeling totally helpless; like we have fallen into the most miry pit.

Like Jonah being swallowed by a big fish this helplessness is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, if it had not been for that big fish, Jonah would have drowned. God sent that big fish to save Jonah from death so that Jonah could and would go and proclaim the message as God had directed him to.

It is when we are at our lowest point; when we have no reasonable way of helping ourselves, that we must accept our helplessness and rely on God.  Like Paul, when it feels like everything is lost, our hope remains in God who delivers us. We understand that there are those who wish our hope to die. They would desire that our message of the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus would die. But, it will not die. Our hope, our desire for the Lord, will only be strengthened in the persecution received at the hands of those who reject our faith; by those who reject God.

May the peace of the Lord be with you in all circumstances. God is with you.

Pr. J

1 Cor 7 Marriage or Not?

1 Corinthians 7 NIV
To marry or not to marry, that is the question.

Paul's concern is that whatever it is that we choose that it does not hinder us from serving the Lord. The married person has a family to care for and sometimes that will be the priority. Sometimes, family can be a distraction. Fortunately, most of the time it seems to be a blessing. The unmarried person may be distracted from focusing on service to the Lord by lust or not even always lost; but, just the desire to have someone to share life with.

I have been married for 43 years. And... yes, sometimes my family has distracted me from the ministry to which I am called. But, I was married and had a family long before I accepted that call to serve God as a Pastor in His Church. Paul exhorts us, in such circumstances to remain as we are.

Fortunately, my husband does support me in my call as I try to support him in his call as an administrator at our adult foster care. The main thing is that we both try to be faithful to our call and to the One who calls us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 3 Try Meat! Milk Is For Infants!

1 Corinthians 3:1-23 NIV
I have no major objections to dairy products; but, personally, I prefer some meat and potatoes and maybe a few other vegetables appropriately seasoned. Something that I can sink my teeth into.

Paul addresses the Corinthians, not as mature Christians, but as mere infants in Christ who still need to be bottle fed. No meat for them, yet. Are you ready for meat? Not everyone wants it, you know. Some would prefer to be fed only milk. They are just not ready to sink their teeth into the full gospel of Christ because the full gospel of Christ reminds us that we are to deny ourselves and follow in his footsteps. Some would prefer to follow in the ways of the world. The ways of the world are usually contrary to the ways of God. They involve ego and greed. The ways of the world attempt to build man up. Even while having the pretense of worshipping God, it is often apparent that we are lifting up our own good works; building up our own egos. And... so it is desirous to continue being fed with milk. The stuff of God that you can sink your teeth into can be a bit more of a challenge than many would desire.

Try meat! Milk is for infants.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 7 I Do Not Do What I Desire

Baptized into the Body of Christ
Huron River, MI

Romans 7 NIV
Saints, yet sinners; justified by the blood of Christ, daily we continue to struggle with sin. You and I are not alone in this. Even Paul, who was marvelously converted when he met the ascended Jesus on his way to persecute more Christians, continued to struggle with his sinful self. He wrote:

     "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
     So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (vs 15-25)

The fight with sin is an ongoing battle within us. We confess and ask forgiveness for those things that we have done as well as for those things that we have left undone. We confess and ask forgiveness daily even as we remember our baptisms into the Body of Christ; giving thanks to God who has delivered us from even ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 13:1-17 Serve At The Feet Of Others

John 13:1-17 NIV
Many Christians today are about as enthused about having someone wash their feet as Peter was when Jesus wanted to wash his feet. It is a most humbling experience to be served in such an intimate manner. I wash the feet of young people who are receiving their first Communion on Maundy Thursday. They are not thrilled with this ritual; but, they have come to accept the fact that it is going to happen. I have invited adults to come forward during this service and so far none have. None are willing to have me intentionally sit at their feet to serve them by washing their feet.

However...  As a female pastor who also owns an adult care facility I have been most privileged to be able to kneel at the feet of many as I put socks and shoes on them or otherwise help them to prepare for the day or night. I have also had the extreme privilege of being able to serve some of our members (and members of the whole community) in this manner, as well.

Visiting members and others in the community is one of the special privileges that pastors have. I normally do not call ahead because; when I do, I find that people tend to get nervous about my visits and go to extreme measures to make preparations (clean their homes, prepare food) to entertain and/or serve me. That's not what I go for. So, I surprise them :) When making impromptu visits, all kinds of opportunities to serve avail themselves to me. I have shoveled sidewalks, made the coffee, washed dishes, folded clothes, and all other kinds of household chores for shut-ins who have had difficulty doing these things. I have walked in on people who are going through withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. Yes, on more than one occasion, I have spent hours holding others while they shook and vomited and begged me not to take them to detox. At least one did beg me to take her to detox.

I have visited people in some unusual circumstances and places, including the bathroom of a nursing homes. I remember one woman, years ago, who, when I stopped by to see her in a nursing unit, called to me from the bathroom, and invited me in - that is in to the bathroom. I was a little reluctant to invade that particular space; but, also reluctant to refuse her request as she sounded very desperate. She was very, very ill. I sat on the floor of the bathroom for a couple of hours as we talked about Jesus and about her faith in him; then helped her back to her bed. We prayed together that God would grant her wholeness in his sight. She went to sleep. A few hours after I got home that evening, I received a call from the family informing me that she had died. I will never forget her or her willingness to allow me to sit at her feet and minister to her in her last hours of life here on earth. I will never forget her desire to see Jesus.

One evening, early on in my ministry, I stopped by to visit an elderly lady who was no longer strong enough to walk on her own. She was bound to a wheel-chair and needed assistance to get in and out of it. She had caregivers who lived near by, who came by throughout the day to help her. Her caregivers had gone out for the evening. So, I made coffee for us and washed her few dishes. I ended up staying longer than I had planned to as her caregivers were already late in checking in on her and I did not want to leave her alone just in case they did not show up. Finally, it got so late, she asked me if I would help her prepare and get into bed. I did. We prayed before I left and she cried. She admitted that when the congregation had called me to serve them, she was one of the most adamant that a woman should not be called as their pastor. She had, in the end, reluctantly voted to call me. She said that she would, never in her life, have imagined that she would need a pastor who would be willing and able to serve her in such a manner and now understood that God could send women to serve congregations in ways that male pastors never could. I just smiled. You never know whom God will send to serve you - even a woman!

Peter did not want Jesus to kneel before him to wash his feet. There are a few things that we might not desire; but, need. We all, like Peter, need to humble ourselves and allow Jesus to minister to us. We need to allow him into the most intimate aspects of lives so that we might be made completely whole.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. I remember reading one of Martin Luther's sermons years ago. I can't find it now. But, in it he was talking about who could baptize. He said, if no one else was available, even a woman could. LOL

Micah 7 - Blood Thicker Than Blood

Micah warns that no shall be trusted - all will conspire against the followers of God - even one's family. Throughout my life, I have gone through many changes. At first, I naively trusted everyone. Then, I trusted no one. Finally, as I came to have a closer relationship with God, I was able, once again, to have trust in others. Not that I placed my trust in others, but that I placed my trust in God so that I was once again able to help others. I knew and know that no matter what others might do against me, God is with me for the good.

Sadly, I witness over and over again how true Micah's reminder and warning is.
"For a son dishonors his father,
    a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
    a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear me." (Micah 7:6-7 NIV)

Greed, envy, jealousy; these all affect family relationships. Pride in self is a killer of families. Even among family members, one will put their own desires before another; before the good of family. When I worked at the youth correctional facility, I would warn the young men to please not move home when they were released. Many of their problems came from parents who put their own lives (often addictions) before the children. To move back home because of family blood ties would spell "prison sentence" for them in the end, as I knew that many of their family members would continue to lead them in lives of crime for the sake of their own desires. As the spiritual counselor, as well as the substance abuse counselor, I would remind them: "There is a blood that is thicker than blood and that is the blood of Christ shed for you."  

In Him we can trust.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hosea 3 - Live in the Love of the LORD

Hosea is to take Gomer, his adulterous wife, back as a sign that the LORD will receive back all who are faithless to Him.

We wander and stray, but thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, we are always welcome in His arms. We do not have to be alone. We do not have to be constantly seeking love or acceptance from other sources; sources that never truly satisfy. The LORD love you and desires that you should be His own.

Take a break, already. Live your days in the love of the LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 3 - Judah, Jerusalem, & We Are Warned

Prior to being taken into captivity by the Babylonians, Isaiah warns the people of Jerusalem and Judah of their impending judgement. God will take away their supply and support. They will be hungry. They will be without home. Neighbor will rise up against neighbor. The haughty women who parade about flirting, as they flaunt their beads and bangles will lose it all. Their fine jewelry, their fancy clothes will be no more. There will be no honor anywhere.

"Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the Lord,
defying his glorious presence.
The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!They have brought disaster upon themselves."  (Isaiah 3:8-9 NIV)

 

My son, John, is working on a set of photographs depicting the 7-deadly sins. He has completed wrath. ( http://johnarthurphoto.com/blog/ )  Yesterday, I was trying to imagine what he will come up with for gluttony. Someone stuffing their face? Then I read an interesting article this morning about gluttony being the desire for anything in excess. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/socially-acceptable-sin Gluttony could, in effect, pertain to over-indulging in anything: money, fine jewelry, even cheap jewelry. It could pertain to the many compulsive behaviors and addictions that afflict the world. It appears to me that Jerusalem and Judah had become a bit gluttonous - OK - maybe a lot gluttonous. They were the favored people of God. They had it made and so they indulged in a lot of worldly things and began to forget who it was that had blessed them. If they were going to be over-indulgent, it probably would have been a good thing to indulge in loving and worshipping the God who had blessed them so and maybe they would have avoided captivity in Babylon. 

 

But, they did not. They became haughty, self-centered, helping no one but themselves. Each to their own, as they say. And, they suffered because of it. The children of God (including us today) have a really bad habit of forgetting God, of turning our backs on the one who has blessed us and then out in the wilderness, back into slavery, back aimlessly wandering through the wilderness (from whence the name of this blog comes). Sure enough, there is usually repentance for many of God's children once we've been cast out into the wilderness. We realize our sin and turn back to God receiving the blessings of His presence.  You see, that is a huge part of why we end up in trouble. We fail to recognize our sin when we're so busy enjoying it. Everyone does it so, it can't be a sin. Woe to the people when sin is no longer sin!

 

The circle doesn't seem to end, though. Once we repent and have received forgiveness and multitudes of blessings by this generous God of ours; we begin to overindulge, again, worshipping the gifts rather than the Giver, and then back out in the wilderness we go so that we can remember again who God is.

 

Isaiah's prophetic warning was for Judah and Jerusalem. It was fulfilled with the Babylonian captivity. It was again fulfilled when the Romans toppled Jerusalem. Isaiah's warning is for all God's children, even today. Do not allow your gluttonous desire for things of this world kill your desire to worship and serve the LORD your God, by doing His will among you.

 

What did Jesus ask Peter to do?  "Feed my sheep." It's not about you. It's not about me. It's about us being in relationship with one another, serving one another, so that God might be glorified.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 7 - Love And Lust Not The Same Thing

Ahhh! Love! Or is it lust? Whatever, it is, they are filled with desire for one another. The woman responds to her love: "I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me." (Song of Songs 7:10 NIV)

The Church responds to our beloved, "LORD: I belong to you. I give myself completely to you." That is, the Church (the spouse) does this. But, not all of the church abandons its whole life to our beloved LORD. This gives me a good opportunity to attempt to explain, in a few words, the difference between church and Church. The Church is the Body of Christ, all who believe, in heaven and on earth. The church, with a little c, is the visible church on earth. Sadly, the church on earth includes many who do not believe, many who have not surrendered themselves to love of God and to loving the LORD, God above all others.

As in any relationship, if we truly love, then we will trust our very lives in the hands of the other. We are willing to give our all to be in that relationship. Total commitment....

I have said it before and I think it bears repeating. Love and lust are not the same thing.  Love is eternal. It does not end. Lust is fleeting. Lust will pass.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 4 - Receive Great Passion

My first reaction to chapter 4 of Solomon's Song is that it is about his desire (lust) and her invitation to come and eat of the fruit of his desire.  It is indeed a beautiful love poem, full of vivid description. It is so full of vivid imagery that it is difficult to see it as an allegory for the Christ and the church - the Bride and the Bridegroom.

Since we're way into imagery this morning. Imagine the LORD as the he in this poem and the female as the whole church - everyone in it. The LORD calls us to love Him and reminds us that God love us with such a great passion that He was willing to give His very life for us. And, in return, we the bride open our arms to receive his love, even as He, with great passion, opened his arms in love on the cross for us. So, do we open our arms and our hearts and all that we are that Christ may abide with and in us more fully? Do we welcome His love? Are we willing to receive the love that He gives so freely? This love poem is about the adoration and passion between a man and a woman in love. How great is your adoration and passion for the LORD? Do you love Him enough to worship Him today? Will your love and your passion for Him be evident in your words and actions today and tomorrow and every day after?

I'm trying to put a good construction to this Love Song of Solomon and I'm not sure how successful I can be at that. There are quite a few chapters left to go through. But, I will try. May God help me.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 2 - Internet Dating Is Not Love

Now that I am much older than the last time I read Solomon's Songs of Songs, I realize that all this falling in love stuff and romance is quite disturbing to me, at least the way it seems to be pursued today. It's not that I'm against love. I'm definitely for love. Sadly, this second chapter reminds me of something I'm seeing in many young people today - so focused on the object (person) that they are pursuing while neglecting the things (like education) that they should be focused on.  And, if someone is peeking through the lattice then they are definitely pursuing something or someone and quite inappropriately, I would say. Today, I'd run any young man off that's peeking through anything! But, that is just me...

It is a quite beautiful poem. In it you will find a really good warning: "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (Song of Songs 2:7 NIV)

Do not try to arouse love until it or you or the one you are pursuing is ready! The time will come when true love comes, but this jumping around from love to love is a bit crazy... a new boyfriend or girlfriend every other week! Be for real! It is a waste of time. Live life to it's fullest and I assure you there is more to life than catch and release. And, pursuing true love on facebook is even crazier. Some of you who may be a bit older, may be wondering what I am talking about.

Today, young people don't date like we use to date - you know - where we actually went to a restaurant or a movie.... Today, they connect on places like facebook. They call it dating. They may never even go on a date like we know a date before they are fighting and break up. It sounds safe in a sense - at least we know where they are - in their bedrooms chatting with someone via the internet.
But, there are a few problems with this.

1. They are locked up in their bedrooms not really living life. Go out and play basketball. Go skating or skiing or kayaking or swimming or fishing or with all the toys they have today sno-mobiling or 4-wheeling! There really are a lot of things you can do. If you are bored, it is because you choose to be bored. Get out of your room and talk to your parents and siblings! Really be with them! Live life!

2. They are not out interacting with other people, a social skill which is going to be necessary in adulthood.

3. We really can never know who that person is on the other side of the chat box. Yes, maybe they see their faces. They may even have mutual friends on the social site. But, can they really know who the person is? Will you in the end, after long hours of wasted time find that they're just playing games with you or even worse find out they are actually very dangerous people. From personal experience, I can say that until you can really look a person in the eye, in the flesh; until you can say I C U, then you can't truly know them.

4. It really makes for a lot of wasted and fruitless time as the young people are focused on these relationships rather than relationships that can really bring peace and joy to one's life. It takes the focus away from the things that are good and healthy for the young person; things that are necessary to prepare them for life as adults.

Let love come naturally. It may be that one day you will even meet your life-long partner on the internet. But, don't push it. Let love begin with the people around you, with your family, your friends, your neighbors and one day you will wake up and realize that you have fallen in love. It will come naturally. As Solomon reminds us today, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

Love will come; but, in the meantime, live life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. and by the way, the friends you have made over the years are way more important to your happiness than some boy or girl you just met on the internet!  

Proverbs 12 - Seek Knowledge of What God Has Done

Today is the Sunday that we celebrate the Passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Yes, we also remember Jesus' final entrance into Jerusalem with the waving of palms. There is no sermon today. We hear the whole passion story according to the words of St. Luke. Through the knowledge of who Christ is and what he did (and does) for us, we are moved, we are turned to desire to know the will of God our Father for us. We seek His wisdom, even if it might mean a little (or a lot) of correction and discipline along the way. We seek the LORD's favor. We seek to be in His presence as we gather together to Worship Him, to learn about and remember what He has done.

In short... we come to Worship because we desire and love the knowledge and wisdom of the LORD. You're really not going to find it any place else, except in the Word.

God's Peace - Pr. J