My Soul Longs for You

Psalm 42:1-4 English Standard Version (ESV) Book Two Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul? To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. 42 As a deer pants for flowing streams,     so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God,     for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food     day and night, while they say to me all the day long,     “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember,     as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng     and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise,     a multitude keeping festival. Amen.

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Go Now In Peace

Luke 2:29 The Message (MSG) 29 God, you can now release your servant;     release me in peace as you promised. One of my favorite songs from my church camps days was the round, “Go Now In Peace.” I remember it always leaving with me such a good feeling, a feeling of peace and joy.  When we allow him, God gives us this peace, a release of sorts from our worries, from the stresses of the day.  Take time today to go to him and give him all our worries and concerns and let his peace fill you. Almighty God, Fill us with your peaceful presence.  Let your peace fill us to overflowing.  Amen.

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"Here I Am, Lord"

Isaiah 6:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Isaiah's Commission from the Lord 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Oh, here’s another great hymn! “Here I Am, Lord.”  One of my absolute favorites.  God calls each one of us, each and every day to go for him - to do his work, his ministry and mission in this world.  He’s calling you today!  Will you answer?  Here, I am, Lord!  Send me! Loving God, Sometimes we feel unprepared, ill-equipped to answer your call.  Help us to remember that you are leading the way and that the most important thing to remember is to Love, just as you love us.  Amen.

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Grace Alone

Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Grace.  Have you heard or sung the hymn “Grace Alone”?  It’s a beautiful hymn. You can read the full lyrics here.  It reflects these verses from Ephesians.  Everything we do, every heart we touch, every difference we make is through his grace. We were created to love, to do good works and it by his grace that we are able to do so.  It’s him working through us.  Reminds me of an old country song, “Angels Among Us.”  That’s us when we chose to love, help and serve all his children.  Gracious God, Thank you for your gift of grace. Help us to offer this same grace to all those around us.  Amen.

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Change My Heart

Isaiah 64:8 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father;     we are the clay, and you are our potter;     we are all the work of your hand. Do you know the hymn “Change my heart, O God”?  It’s in The Faith We Sing hymnal that we often use in the United Methodist Church, and it’s one of my favorites.  It’s one of my ‘go to-s’.  You know, I ‘go to’ it when… when I’m struggling with someone and I know it’s MY struggle, I sing this hymn.   “Change my heart, O God, make it ever true. Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.” Then it goes into this verse from Isaiah. “You are the potter, I am the clay Mold me and make me This is what I pray.” Sometimes, I know it’s MY heart that needs to change and this is my prayer.  To be more like him, to have his heart in all things.  That he continue to work on me and my heart until I AM more like him. Holy God, We are clay in your hands, a work in progress.  Please continue to mold us into exactly who you created us to be. Amen.

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Psalm 104

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 24 Lord, you created so many things!     With your wisdom you made them all.     The earth is full of the living things you made. 25 Look at the ocean, so big and wide!     It is filled with all kinds of sea life.     There are creatures large and small—too many to count! 26 Ships sail over the ocean,     and playing there is Leviathan,     the great sea creature you made. 27 Lord, all living things depend on you.     You give them food at the right time. 28 You give it, and they eat it.     They are filled with good food from your open hands. 29 When you turn away from them,     they become frightened. When you take away their breath,     they die, and their bodies return to the dust. 30 But when you send out your life-giving breath,     things come alive, and the world is like new again! 31 May the Lord’s glory continue forever!     May the Lord enjoy what he made. 32 He just looks at the earth, and it trembles.     He just touches the mountains, and smoke rises from them. 33 I will sing to the Lord for the rest of my life.     I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 34 May my words be pleasing to him.     The Lord is the one who makes me happy. 35b My soul, praise the Lord!     Praise the Lord!   Amen.

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Listen Carefully

Acts 2:14-21 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) Peter Speaks to the People 14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles. He spoke loudly so that all the people could hear. He said, “My Jewish brothers and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me. I will tell you something you need to know. Listen carefully. 15 These men are not drunk as you think; it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 But Joel the prophet wrote about what you see happening here today. This is what he wrote: 17 ‘God says: In the last days     I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.     Your young men will see visions.     Your old men will have special dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit     on my servants, men and women,     and they will prophesy. 19 I will work wonders in the sky above.     I will cause miraculous signs on the earth below.     There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke. 20 The sun will be changed into darkness,     and the moon will be as red as blood.     Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come. 21 And everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.’ Peter reminds those there that what is happening was written about by the prophet Joel.  He shares it in a new way, as God’s valuing the entire community regardless of their status, their background, their heritage.  None of it matters anymore.  This message, God’s message, Jesus’ message is for everyone!  We’ve been empowered by a loving God to serve the community, to seek justice and love to all. God of justice and love, We hear your call of love.  Strengthen us to share that love with all, to hear the cry of the oppressed and seek justice for all.  Amen.

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A Skeptic in Every Crowd

Acts 2:11b-13 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 11b Some of us were born Jews, and others have changed their religion to worship God like Jews. We are from these different countries, but we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God.” 12 The people were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, “What is happening?” 13 But others were laughing at the apostles, saying they were drunk from too much wine. There is a skeptic in every crowd, right?  There is always someone who says, this can’t be!  They’d rather believe that they are drunk than believe that God could be working through them!  Many different places and languages are represented here.  The gift of the Holy Spirit and of the languages tears down the borders and boundaries between them all showing us the Spirit doesn’t discriminate. We are all God’s children, we are all meant to receive his love. Holy God, Remove our skepticism so that we can see you, hear you, and follow you across the boundaries we put up even as you are tearing them down.  Amen.

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