Simply Soul Searching

WEEK SIX: RESPONSE

REVERE

Psalm 8

My sister Janet and I visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral on our trip to New York City a few years ago. Our time there was so sacred and unforgettable. The cathedral rises up on white marble columns to the arched ceiling where the beautiful stained glass Rose window shines. The walls are ornately hewn with marble and bronze. The soft light and scent of candles filled our senses.  A choir quietly assembled and their beautiful voices then resonated throughout the cathedral and into our souls.

Outside, the busy streets, crowds of people, shops and restaurants beckoned for our attention. But a few quiet moments inside the cathedral transported us to a holy place, and we were filled with awe and reverence. Many people visited the cathedral that day, but the quiet prevailed as all of us walked in silence and sacredness. Janet and I sat quietly, only speaking in hushed whispers what was necessary to say.  And, filled to the brim with hope and gratitude, we each lit a candle of thanksgiving on our way out.

I have had these same feelings of awe and reverence under starry skies, across mountain top views, beside ocean waves, sheltered from thunderstorms. These are the moments when I feel so very small. These are the moments when I feel so very privileged to be part of all of this, to even exist at all. These are the moments of humble recognition that God, who is so vast and beyond my comprehension, has chosen to create me…

By far the most wonderfully incredible thing about God, the amazing Creator of the universe, is that God has chosen to become small. Just for us! God first comes to us as humanity in Jesus, then comes to each of us individually as the Spirit Guide within. Vast, limitless God chooses to dwell among and within us! I think of the Disney movie Aladdin, when Genie talks about living in a lamp: “Phenomenal cosmic power!!! Itty bitty living space.”

This is what brings our reverence. We are incredulous that God is so beyond us and our comprehension, and yet God is present here, among one another and within our souls. God is incredibly wondrous, yet chooses to have an intimate and personal relationship with each of us. Why would this infinite God willingly be confined to our human bodies and limited souls? Phenomenal cosmic power. Itty bitty living space.

God is worthy of our great awe and reverence.

How might we best revere God? We begin by recognizing how amazing our whole existence is. We acknowledge how far beyond our understanding God is. We marvel that this God would choose to come to us in a way that we can grasp just a bit of God’s power and love.

And perhaps, like Aladdin, we best revere and honor God by giving God freedom from our limited space. As much as we possibly can, we drop our boundaries and allow God to be ALL that God is. We set God free by opening ourselves and releasing God to work and to move- in our lives and in our world.

Amazing, wonderful God,

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
    mortals that you care for them?

And yet you do. Thank you for coming to us and within us. We honor, glorify and revere you. Help us to set you free in our lives and in our world. Amen.

WEEK SIX: RESPONSE

RESPOND

Psalm 116:12 (NRSV)

What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?

Matthew 22: 37-40 (NRSV)

He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

In this our last week of Lent before Holy Week, we will contemplate our responses to God’s goodness. There is no way we could ever repay Jesus for all he has done for us; this would be impossible, and it is not the goal. But we are compelled to respond to him in love; we respond out of gratitude and obedience, but also for the joy that our response brings. Jesus has lived, loved and continues to lead us. He has healed, helped and gives us hope. He has forgiven, freed and offers his friendship. He has surrendered, suffered and assures our salvation. How could we not willingly and wholeheartedly respond to his calling?

Our first response of gratitude is to heed his two great commandments: love God, and love our neighbor. We actually love God BY loving our neighbor (1 John 4:20-21). This seems easy enough. I am generally a loving person. After all, I strive to be kind, gracious and nice to others. These commandments should be simple to follow- they are just common courtesy!

But I might be a lazy loving person. My love for others is more passive than active, more easily ‘said’ than ‘done.’ My love seems to be more about refraining from harm rather than actively undoing harm. I try to love by not being unkind, not intentionally hurting others, not judging or gossiping, not lying, not being envious, not criticizing… and so on. My not-doing becomes NOT doing! I think Jesus commands us to be more active with our love, don’t you?

Amid these terrible, tragic shootings that plague us, we hear the phrase, “thoughts and prayers are not enough.” This speaks profoundly to us for all of life’s hardships. Prayer is important, necessary and DOES make a difference. Prayers said on our behalf are genuine, helpful, powerful gifts of grace. But if we just pray, are we doing enough? In our loving response to God, how might we more actively love our neighbor, beyond our thoughts and prayers? How might we make God’s love more visible and relevant to others?

We pray for someone who is grieving, AND we send that person a note to tell them so.

We pray for justice and equality, AND we write our representatives, vote, and speak for those who are oppressed.

We pray for those who are ill AND we cook a pot of soup for their families.

We pray for peace AND we march for it, too.

We pray for the poor AND we donate to social and charitable organizations.

We pray for the needs of our community AND we volunteer to help with those needs.

We pray for the lonely AND we visit the homebound.

We pray for our schools AND we help with a school project.

We pray for those in need AND we share our possessions and funds with them.

We pray for those who are discouraged AND we offer a listening ear.

We pray in gratitude for others AND we let them know how they have blessed us.

We pray for those who are addicted or in trouble AND we serve as mentors.

We pray for those who are devastated by natural disasters AND we donate to worldwide humanitarian networks or serve in mission work.

Yes, we are loving people of faith- but how will others know how God has changed us? We are blessed by God’s love for us all- but how will others experience this same love from God?  These visible, loving actions take time, effort, funds, and sacrifice. We may have busy lives but we still can do one kind thing. One act of love from many people can yield great blessings. The world needs more of God as visible love. Our best response to God’s goodness is to live as God’s beloved- and to actively show others that they are God’s beloved, too.

Loving, Ever-present, Caring God,

Today, I pray for …

Show me the AND …

that you are calling me to do.

Amen.

WEEK FIVE: RELIANCE

RESIDE

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NRSV)

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Ephesians 3: 16-19 (NRSV)

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Yesterday we considered the different ways we might receive the Spirit. Today we will ponder the Spirit dwelling within us and filling us with all the fullness of God. Our word for today is reside. Can you IMAGINE being “filled with all the fullness of God?” What would that look like?

When Jesus Moved In: An Allegory of Life and Love

I remember the day Jesus moved in. As a young teen, I responded to an altar call and invited Jesus into my heart, my inner home. At first, I was giddy with excitement because I had never had a famous person stay in my house. I was also quite nervous, as I wanted to make a good impression. I tried to follow every rule of housekeeping etiquette. I cleaned my house often, kept up my appearance, allowed nothing to be out of place, and put on my best front as a cheerful host. I understood that everything had to be perfect for Jesus.

Jesus would smile kindly, nod at all of my efforts, and lift his feet when I vacuumed. But  he didn’t seem impressed; he didn’t acknowledge the work I was doing to please him. He assured me that even if my house was messy, he was here to stay. He encouraged me to quit doing so much and instead spend more time with him. I guess he was getting lonely and bored as I kept up the necessary housekeeping that I felt was needed for Jesus to remain. One time Jesus must have been so distracted that he called me “Martha,” and we both laughed when I corrected him. But he didn’t apologize…

All too soon I did something wrong. Embarrassed, I stayed in my bedroom for a few days, trying to avoid him until he forgot about it. It’s funny… I could tell he knew something was up, but he never changed his countenance toward me. When I eventually came out, he didn’t say a word, but his eyes held a combination of understanding, sorrow and pity. That look overwhelmed me and I blurted out my wrongdoing. Of course he wasn’t surprised. He just said, “Now don’t you feel better telling me?”

After a while, I started to relax around Jesus. I would let him see me when I wasn’t at my best, even before my first cup of coffee. There is something so compelling about him that I wanted to hang out with him instead of doing my housework. We ordered pizza when I was weary; I stopped trying to impress, and instead offered what I had. Jesus was seeing more of the real me and my daily living, and he seemed more at ease, too. He willingly helped with whatever was needful for each day.

The two of us grew closer over time. I was learning more about who he was and what he means for all of us. I became so drawn to him that I wanted to keep my heart/home for just Jesus and me. But Jesus said that I needed to invite others in. There was room enough for everyone, he insisted. So I decided to have a party. But when I asked Jesus to please turn some water into wine, he raised his eyebrow and said that I had missed the point. I have missed the point of several stories, it seems. He has patiently taught and enlightened me along the way.

Years passed and I began opening my deeper self to Jesus. I pulled out my photo albums, memorabilia, and a few journals to share with him. I told him stories about my past and shared my dreams about my future. Jesus would tell me so many stories, too. Some of Jesus’ habits began rubbing off on me- even some of the annoying ones like taking time to pray on very busy days, or trying to honor Sabbath rest, or even walking a lot. 🙂 I will never be perfect like he is, but I started to follow his example more often.

Jesus has been so much more than a gracious boarder. I am sure I must drive him crazy at times, but still, he stays. He has instructed and guided when I am muddled. He has listened and comforted when I am sad or burdened. He has corrected and scolded when I don’t listen. He forgives me, time and time again, when I ignore or forget his ways and my purpose. Most of all, he loves me completely. My imperfect house has been filled with so much love that I am forever changed. I am so thankful and blessed that Jesus moved in, and he has stayed, no matter what.

I hope that as time goes on, Jesus will make himself even more at home. I hope he clears out any of my belongings that have crowded or limited him. I hope he moves in all of his treasures, all of the things he would like to have here in my heart-home. In fact, I hope that my house will begin to look less like “mine” and more like his.  When people come to visit, I hope they believe they are visiting Jesus’ home, not mine.

Loving Jesus,

Please make yourself at home in our hearts. Keep showing us how to give you plenty of space, how to enable you to thrive, and how to be your partner in this, your home. We are just so grateful you are here. To stay. Thank you. Amen.

WEEK FIVE: RELIANCE

RECEIVE

John 20: 19-22 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit…”

Yes, we are getting a little ahead of ourselves with this passage from John, in which Jesus has already risen and is now reappearing before the disciples. He breathes on them and tells them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” But in our week of Reliance, the gift of the Spirit from Jesus is yet another assurance that we can rely on God for everything. In receiving the Spirit, we receive guidance, power, comfort, healing, insight, love, and more. we receive Christ within us! Receive is our word for today.

Merriam Webster’s online dictionary* provides several excellent definitions of receive. These will guide our Receive devotional for today. In what different ways are we to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Receive means…

to “come into possession of: acquire,” such as receiving a gift. Through Jesus and the Spirit, God offers the joy, hope, peace and love of kingdom living to all of us. We have done nothing to earn or merit this gift, but the Spirit is given out of God’s love through Jesus. Let’s receive this gift with wonder, gratitude and glee!

to “act as a receptacle or container for,” such as a cup receives wine. We are to be the vessels for receiving and holding the Spirit. Let’s empty ourselves of anything that would take up space the Spirit is ready to fill.

to “assimilate through the mind or senses,” such as receiving new ideas. The Spirit will bring us to new understanding and awaken our lives. Let’s receive the Spirit with open minds and eagerness to learn. Let’s anticipate the Spirit’s movement with all of our senses.

to “permit to enter, welcome or greet.” I believe the Spirit is already within us, but we can “extend an invitation” as a way of opening ourselves to notice and abide fully with the Spirit. Let’s welcome the Spirit with warm hearts, genuine hospitality, and our deep, comfortable friendship. Let’s quickly move the Spirit from guest to permanent resident in our souls.

to “accept as authoritative, true or accurate; believe.” The Spirit is our Counselor and Guide, our Wisdom and Discernment. Let’s regard the Spirit as such, with trust and obedience. Let’s continuously seek out the Spirit’s wisdom and help.

to “support the weight or pressure of; bear.” When we receive the Spirit, we are to bear what burdens the Spirit, to move where the Spirit moves, to feel what the Spirit feels. Let’s willingly shoulder what the Spirit needs us to carry.

to “take a mark or impression from the weight of something,” such as clay receiving clear impressions. Let’s allow the Spirit to change and impress us; let’s remain sensitive, pliable and impressionable, like the clay in the  Potter’s hands.

to “acquire or experience,” such as receiving an education. The Spirit has much to teach and show us! Let’s receive everything with an open mind, an eager longing to learn new ideas, and freedom from previously held convictions.

to “suffer the hurt or injury of,” such as receiving a broken nose.  May we carry the deep awareness and grief for all that Jesus endured and suffered before giving us his Spirit. Let’s receive the pain of all whom the Spirit leads us to help.

The gift of the Spirit is a wondrous gift; let’s receive this gift with gratitude and joy!

Jesus, Giver of the Spirit,

We do receive your Spirit with deep gratitude and joy! Thank you for this unearned gift of your goodness and grace. We receive your Spirit as best we can- now continue to work and fill us completely with YOU. Amen.

* definitions taken from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/receive

WEEK FIVE: RELIANCE

RECEDE

1 Peter 5:7 (NRSV)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 

“Karen, you are not indispensable.” These are the harsh words I heard from a supervisor years ago. I had grown weary of being transferred to a different department during the busiest times of the month; this was not the position I had been hired to do. I would request not to go, but was repeatedly told that I was desperately needed and there was no one else to help. One frustrating day I finally asked the question, “What would happen if I didn’t show up tomorrow? Who would cover for ME?” The answer was eye-opening, embarrassing and quite humbling. “Well, Karen, you are not indispensable,” she replied. Turns out, she was right. I ended up leaving that job, and the company went on just fine without me! 😀

Here’s the bad news: We are not indispensable. We are actually pretty insignificant.

I believe this passage from 1 Peter is going to be one of my new favorites…

~Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.

Recede is our word for today. Google defines the word recede as “to go back or further away from a previous position; to gradually diminish.” As we continue to deepen in our love for God, our lives become less about ourselves and more about God. Our self-importance recedes under God’s mighty hand while our awareness of God’s wondrous power and love increases.

When we humble ourselves under God, we understand ourselves in the proper perspective. On this, God’s created world, I am but one person among seven billion people.* In God’s vast, infinite universe, I am a tiny speck of dust. In God’s eternal time frame, my earthly life is a fleeting millisecond. Yes, we are dearly loved, chosen, and important to God, more than we can imagine. But when we consider the vastness of God’s infinite love and eternal realm, we are made humbly aware of our insignificance.

~Cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you.

When we humble ourselves under God, we understand our troubles in the proper perspective. Our burdens, worries and anxieties will recede right along with us! Just think… in casting our anxieties on God, we will place them in a kingdom perspective. We will be able to see that the mistakes we have made become forgotten blips in eternity. We will know that any wounds we have caused are healed by God’s infinitely forgiving and restoring love. We can allow our worries to evaporate in the incredible light and peace of God. All of our problems that seem so major and worrisome will diminish (recede) and then disappear if we place them in the perspective of God’s realm. The biggest problems we have caused or endured are but tiny jots compared to this vast eternal joy before us.

Here’s the good news. We are not indispensable. We are actually pretty insignificant.

Indispensable, significant GOD,
Thank you that you are YOU. You are awesome, infinite, wondrous, eternal, universal, powerful, and beyond comprehension. Help me to continue to recede as I allow you to increase in my life. I know that I am just me, dispensable and insignificant. Help me to keep that perspective. Thank you that, even so, you regard and love me as your indispensable, significant and beloved child.   Amen.

*For a dramatic visual of how many people seven billion is, check out http://www.7billionworld.com/

WEEK FIVE: RELIANCE

REQUEST

Philippians 4:6 (NRSV)

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

As we keep learning to rely and depend on God alone, we need these assuring words from Paul in Philippians. We are not to worry- we can always ask God for help! God is here and God wants to help us. Several times throughout the Gospels, Jesus also invites us to ask God for all that we need. In addition, he even gives us his Spirit as our guide and helper. We can rely on God and trust that God hears our every request. Go ahead and ASK!

But if you are like me, you have questions about prayer. Why do the prayers of different faithful people yield completely different results? Are we being greedy when we ask for more, when we have already been blessed so richly? Or why do we bother asking, since our “Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8)? Should we pray for anything more than “Your will be done?”

But perhaps prayer might be like this…

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)

Imagine God’s “every good and perfect gift” on display as an abundant marketplace. SO many of God’s wonderful gifts are arrayed on table after table before us! We begin browsing the market place to discover God’s incredible delights. A variety of colorful treats, nourishing foods, refreshing fruits, comforting bakery items, beautiful artistry, enlightening books, helpful gadgets, and anything else we can imagine. All of these represent God’s gifts for us, such as fruits of the Spirit, guidance, sustenance, and splendor.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine… (Ephesians 3:20)

The display goes on endlessly and never needs replenishing. We cannot begin to see everything or even comprehend it all. In God’s marketplace, everything is free for the asking! God’s abundant gifts are truly more than all we can ask or imagine.

Give us each day our daily bread. (Luke 11:3)

We are free to pick and choose gifts from any and all of the tables. We are only asked that we take just what is needed for today; nothing more. This is practical because we couldn’t possibly carry, use or appreciate everything before us. If we take only the gifts we need for the day, none will go to waste. However, if we find some gifts that would be just perfect for others, we can request those gifts to be sent to them.

So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. (Luke 11:9)

God is providing even without our asking. God is offering strength and help and guidance and comfort and courage and sustenance and healing and more. Everything is here before us. Our asking, searching and knocking are the ways we open ourselves to receive all of these gifts. When we name what we need, our requests become our way of  recognizing which gifts are needed for this day. Our requests are like our grocery lists in God’s incredible marketplace.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

This God in whom we can rely has everything covered. If we forget our grocery list, if we have selected the wrong gifts for the day, or if our requests aren’t the best choices for us, the Spirit intercedes for us. Our requests are heard, understood beyond our understanding, and fulfilled beyond our greatest desires. We will always leave God’s marketplace with full carts and grateful hearts.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)

Reliable God,

Thank you for inviting our requests, hearing our requests, adapting our requests, correcting our requests, guiding our requests, and fulfilling our requests. I give you thanks with my whole heart. Amen.

WEEK FIVE: RELIANCE

RELINQUISH

Matthew 16:24-26

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

If you haven’t seen any of the recent “letgo” commercials, I hope you take a moment to watch a few on YouTube. “Letgo” is a cell phone app in which one can post a photo of an item for local sale. The ads are humorous! One commercial shows a man dangling from a truck that is balancing precariously on the edge of a cliff. He is holding on to the truck with one hand, but also holding his prized bowling ball with the other hand. He won’t let go of the ball, even when his life is in jeopardy! His friend saves him by taking a photo of the bowling ball and posting it letgo. The very next moment, a mountain climber appears who is interested in purchasing the bowling ball, and the man is spared. (All of the letgo  ads show people who are reluctant to let go of their possessions, even when they are in  extreme danger.)

What great parables these commercials could be! People do not want to deny themselves their prized possessions. They continue to hold on to items that are actually hindering them from getting to safety. These possessions are even going to prevent them from living unless they soon relinquish them. I think Jesus would appreciate the commercials in light of his call for us to deny ourselves and follow him (except he would tell us to give those possessions away, not sell them)!

In the verses just before this passage, Jesus tells Peter that he is setting his mind on human things, not on the divine. When our focus is too much on worldly things, we  miss out on the joy of kingdom living now. If you and Jesus were talking together, what would be the one thing he would ask you to relinquish? What might you need to deny yourself in order to more fully rely on Jesus? What things burden and hinder you from following him, freely and unencumbered?

Certainly some of our possessions can be distractions and hindrances that we should relinquish. But Jesus is also telling us to deny ourselves of certain ways of living and being. Our self-centered, self-reliant nature may need to be culled of behaviors and attitudes that are holding us back from truly living. We may need to relinquish such tendencies as our need to control.. our need to be right… our full schedules… our critical nature…  our need to achieve… our worry… our need to be first… our need to have it all… our judgment… our grudges… our guilt…

It’s funny; the characters in the letgo commercials don’t seem to recognize how ridiculous they are being. The man clinging to the bowling ball is told, “You don’t even bowl any more!” Could this be true of us?! What are we hanging on to that is no longer useful, that no longer serves any good purpose, but only weighs us down and holds us back? I wonder how many belongings and ways of being we would relinquish if we took the time to truly examine them for their worth and necessity. What might you relinquish today?

What is your bowling ball?

Loving Jesus,
You have shown us and taught us that the only way to truly live is for us to deny ourselves and follow you. Help us to examine our lives well, and help us to discern those things that hinder us, weigh us down, and hold us back from readily following you. And then, help us to relinquish them- once and for all. Amen.

WEEK FIVE: RELIANCE

RELY  

Psalm 73: 23-26

…nevertheless I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me with honor.
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.

This fifth week of Lent will center around the theme of Reliance. Today we will begin with its root, rely. To rely on God means that we trust, depend on, be certain of, or have faith in God. Jesus has shown us vividly just how much we can rely on God. Jesus’ life serves as an example of his own reliance on God; he trusted in God, no matter where he was led. His complete surrender to God in his death (“into your hands I commend my spirit”- Luke 23:46) was redeemed in his glorious resurrection; thus we can rely on God to make good come from all we endure. And Jesus gave us his Spirit- God as our guide and companion- on whom we can rely in all of our daily living.

But oh, we are so forgetful. We worry and fret, until we remember God’s promises. We rely on ourselves, until we fail and falter again. We become anxious about tomorrow, until we recall God’s restorative and redeeming love for all of our yesterdays. We focus on our worldly concerns, until we are prompted by the Spirit to change our perspective and seek heavenly kingdom living.

In today’s passage, the psalmist completely trusts in God as his constant companion, his hand-holding guide, his counselor, his one-and-only desire, and the strength of his heart. His experiences of God, along with our own, assure us that God IS the One on whom we can rely. But the psalmist also includes God as his “portion forever.” God as our “portion” appears in other passages, too. (For example, Lamentations 3:24 reads, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”) How does the understanding of God as our portion also encourage us to rely on God?

In this instance, the word portion means an allotment or share, such as a portion of an inheritance, land or possessions. We can rely on God to provide our portion, which is always sufficient and enough for the day. But with God AS our portion, we gain so much more! James H. Pence, on “The Christian Pulse” website, writes of God as our portion:

As the psalmist “…looks around and sees how unfair this world seems to be, (he) remembers that he is only a pilgrim on earth. He has an inheritance—a portion—that is greater than any wealth the wicked possess. His portion is God Himself (emphasis mine)… Four times in the Psalms and once in Lamentations, the scripture writers describe God as their portion. Each time it is a reminder that whatever happens in this world, we have a possession that transcends all trial, tragedy, and difficulty.”*

Can we even begin to comprehend this? We have a portion that is far greater than any other worldly portion. We have a share of God! Infinite, incredible, amazing God. One small portion of God is too huge for our comprehension. This IS the God in whom we can put our trust!

One final note. In the verses just preceding these beautiful words, the psalmist writes of his embittered soul, his stupidity and ignorance, and his shameful behavior toward God. “Nevertheless” then becomes such a grace-filled word for us! We can rely on God for everything, no matter how imperfect and obtuse we are. What a gift we have been given.

God, our constant companion, hand-holding guide, counselor, one-and-only desire, strength of our hearts, and our portion,

Thank you for clearly showing us that you are the One on whom we can rely! No one else compares with you and your love for us. Forgive us for not remembering. Forgive us when our trust wavers. Remove our ego-driven self-reliance and strengthen our reliance on you.  Let your Spirit move us to fully trust and rely on you… and you alone. Amen.

*James H. Pence, thechristianpulse.com/2011/03/23/the-lord-is-my-portion—i-shall-not-want/

WEEK FOUR: REFRESHMENT

REDISCOVER

1 John 3:1 (NRSV)

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. 

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6 (NRSV)

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 

Our last word of this week of Refreshment is rediscover. Today’s Bible passages assure us that we are all God’s children, and that God has created us uniquely. Two incredible thoughts! God loves us as God’s own children. And God made each of us creatively, with unique gifts, special talents, and individual interests for serving and sharing with others. Living as God’s beloved children and according to God’s creative design, we can serve others capably, abundantly and joyfully. God delights in our delight!

Today we will explore our childhood a bit to rediscover any dreams and delights that may have been buried or set aside as we matured. We are created to live even ordinary days with childlike, wild abandon. With sheer, unbridled joy. Exuberance. Vivid imagination. Wide-eyed wonder. To see every day as an exciting adventure. To view every moment as a fresh discovery. But for a variety of reasons, we often forget this way of living and being. Today let’s rediscover ourselves in a new light- that of a beloved child of God, ready to learn and listen. Who am I as a child of God? How did God create me to live?

Loving Creator God, as we consider these next questions, please open our eyes and our wonder. Guide us in our thoughts, that we may learn and grow as your beloved children. Reveal to us any delightful hopes that have been hidden in our hearts. Remind us of our gifts. Help us to rediscover what we may need to be the people you have made us to be. Amen.

“We have what we seek. We don’t have to rush after it. It was there all the time, and if we give it time it will make itself known to us.” ~ Thomas Merton

Questions to ponder:

“When I grow up, I want to be a …. ”

Just for fun, I would like to…

When I feel creative, I would enjoy…

I wish I had more time to learn about…

One of my favorite childhood memories is when…

My ideal day would look like this…

I would like to expand my horizons by…

If I had the time, resources and courage, I would…

I regret that I haven’t yet…

I would like to be remembered as…

A person I admire is…      because…

I believe God created me to be…

WEEK FOUR: REFRESHMENT

RETREAT

Psalm 32:7 (NRSV)

You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

Jesus invited his disciples to “Come away and rest” after hearing of the death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:31). He understood the need for them to come away from their pace and people, to rest in the refuge of God, and to regroup, console, and encourage. Today our word is retreat. We retreat to find rest, to abide in safety until we are ready to face our daily challenges, to strengthen, to refresh, and to listen. God serves as our hiding place and shelter- not for us to escape or ignore what lies before us- but to abide in God’s protective embrace until we are rested and prepared to go again.

When I took a course in Spiritual Foundations, I was nervous about attending the four-day silent retreat that was recommended during Lent. I had participated in other retreats and always came away longing for more. But this first silent retreat was intimidating to anticipate and difficult to experience. In fact, I texted my family too often, I only stayed three days, and I couldn’t even keep totally silent. I said, “Good morning!” to a Sister in the hallway, and had the giggles with a classmate. Since I couldn’t do the physical silences well, you can imagine how much I struggled to silence my inner thoughts and just BE with God.

Do you find it difficult to retreat, to take time away from the clamor of life to just be with God? Sure, we have many other obligations or responsibilities pulling at us. Schedules are full, and we tend to put ourselves last when time is limited. But might we also be avoiding something more?

Are you afraid to slow down and bare your soul before God? Have you ever thought, “I am not going to think about this because I don’t have time for tears right now”? Do you like to be busy so you don’t have time to think? Are you afraid of what might be revealed? Have you ever actually arranged and attended a retreat, only to struggle the entire time? If so, know you are not alone…

To retreat is a sign of wisdom, not weakness. To retreat is to choose to pause instead of push. To retreat is not giving up, but giving way for God. To retreat means to allow God to expose your own soul’s wounds and needs with soothing, healing light. To retreat is to simply allow God to love you even when you are feeling unworthy or inadequate. To retreat is to cease from handling everything around you and begin handling what is within you. To retreat is to be able to do these things, all the while feeling fully loved, in the safety and security of God’s hiding place.

Today let’s start with a mini-retreat. Take some time to read the names of God in the list below. (These were compiled from a variety of sources.) Choose the one that describes how you most need God at this time. Which name speaks to your heart? Now spend time in a quiet embrace with the God you have named, allowing God to provide what and all you need for these days and times.

Abba… All-powerful God… Hope of All the Earth… God of Life and Death… Almighty God… Great and Awesome God… Binder of Wounds… Ancient of Days… The Alpha and Omega… God of all Compassion… Living God… Creator of Heaven and Earth… Generous Provider of all Good Gifts… Healer of Our Every Ill… Eternal Might… God of All Being… Giver of Love… Inspiration of Goodness… Everlasting Light… Prince of Peace… God of Truth… God of Radiance… Proclaimer of Justice… Righteous One… God of Unchangeable Power… Dwelling Place… Sustainer of Souls… God of All Comfort… God of Steadfastness and Encouragement… Fountain of All Holiness… God of All Times and Places… I AM THAT I AM… Heart that Inspires in a Vision of Justice and Love… Giver of Peace… Helper of the Weak… Wonderful Counselor… Heart’s Delight… Infinite God… Guide of Humanity… Companion of the Lonely… Creative Source of All Being… God of All Goodness… Judge of All Humankind… Eternal Spirit of the Universe… Giver of Every Good and Perfect Gift… Forever God… Brightness of Faithful Souls… God of the Beginning and End… God of Hope and Joy… God of Light and Sun… Gracious Giver of Knowledge… God of Many Deliverances… God of all Generations… Faithful God… Architect of our Souls… Holy One… Skilled Potter… Consuming Fire… Helper of the Helpless… God of My Song… Spring of Living Water… Tender Shepherd… God of ALL… Gracious and Merciful God… True God… Strong Deliverer… Helper of the Weak… Hidden God… Our Source and Our End… Power that Shields… God of Radiance… Light of the Mind… God of Wonders… God of Freedom and Right… Eternal Source of Knowledge… The God Who Sees… God of All Creatures… All-knowing God… Ever Present God… God of My Salvation… Author of Life… Author of Our Faith… Bread of Life… Bright Morning Star… Cornerstone… Strong Foundation… Everlasting Father… Gentle Whisper… Giver of Life and Health… Living Water… Savior of the World… Teacher… Sustaining Vine… True God… God of the Morning, Noon and Evening of Life… Guide of the Meek… Guardian of Our Lives.