February 2008

7/10/2008

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.  The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.  ~Psalm 145:8, 13b-14

Dear One:  It’s a harsh world we live in:  full of pain and suffering, want and despair.  Our harsh world can be overwhelming in the sorrow and oppression it heaps on its creatures.  Our harsh world is the very world God created and pronounce “Good” so very long ago.  In a world where a person can go weeks, months, even years without a kind word or helpful hand, thanks be to God that God is “gracious and merciful.”  Thanks be to God that God is always near, loving, supporting, “raising up all who are bowed down.”  We are blessed with God’s abounding love, love enough to spread far and wide.

 

And so I wonder:  What are we doing with that overabundance of God’s love.  Hoarding?  Neglecting?  Sharing?

7/18/2008

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,...so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;...For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace.  Isaiah 55: 10a 11a, 12a
 
Dear Ones: How easily we hear these words! How difficult are they to sink in?  Sometimes it seems the GOOD NEWS sits on the surface as the rain sits on a parched and hardened land.  This GOOD NEWS is to be believed and relied upon!  God's Word will go out and accoomplish God's purpose and succeed in God's plan!  And each of us are part of that purpose and plan.  God promises love, salvation, mercy.  What a hopeful, wonderful promise to rely on, to live by!
 
And yet, I wonder:  Do we really place our hopes and dreams - for the present and future - in God's merciful and loving hands, relying on God to help us "go out in joy, and be led back in peace"?

7/25/2008

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.         ~Romans 8:18

Saint Paul went through a lot and he wrote this sentiment to the Romans ‘way back when the Church was young—trying to find its way in a world totally unfamiliar with this new Christian Way.  St. Paul was SO confident in Christ, SO confident in the future, that all his trials on earth were insignificant compared to the salvation promise for which he lived.  His faith was amazing. 

 

And I wonder:  Do we realize how amazing is the gift of faith which we have received?  Do we realize how heavily we can lean on that faith that hopes for the day of fulfillment when all “the sufferings of this present time” are behind us?  Those reassurances are ours, free of charge to us.  Ours to cherish.