Outbreak of Grace: Witnessing a Miracle

Good to be with you on this Tuesday in the workshop!   Today we dive deeper into two great Easter texts, John 20:1-3,11-18 and I Corinthians 15:51-58.

As we noted yesterday, even though both texts reflect on the resurrection they come from contrasting perspectives.  The John text is up close and personal.   The Scripture from I Corinthians is cosmic and eternal.  When you put the two together you get a fuller sense of the true majesty and glory of Easter!

John reflects on Mary Magdalene’s experience.  A bit of background on Mary helps us understand the depths of her feeling. Luke in his gospel shares this insight into Mary: “Soon afterwards he (Jesus) went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.”  (Luke 8:1-3)

As the text witnesses Mary had been blessed by Jesus’ healing and freeing ministry. As such she knew the power of the Master in a personal way. Out of that direct ministry of Jesus, she became one of his followers from early on.  She witnessed many of the teachings and miracles Jesus performed.  Of all the followers perhaps she was one of those most connected to Jesus. Maybe that’s why when we come to this scene at the tomb she is the one who comes first and stays last.

As John sets the scene, the darkness of pre-dawn (Mary “came to the tomb early, while it was still dark” (vs. 1) reflects the inner darkness of her grief.  And her assumption that Jesus’ body was stolen (“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him”) (vs. 2), mirrors how any comfort she might find mourning at Jesus tomb was “stolen” by the stone being rolled away. Yes, hers was a situation that seemed to go from very bad to worse!

In this text Mary’s experience at the tomb is contrasted with that of Peter and John (“the other disciple”).  While they came and saw (and the “other disciple” even believed) they did not stay.  They “went away again to their own homes”(vs. 10).   It is Mary, who in her love for her Lord, is led into the Easter encounter.  She is the one who faces into the great Easter questions, asked by the angels and by Jesus,“Why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?”  As with so many of the great questions of our faith, these questions lead to a breakthrough of grace.

As the risen Christ calls Mary by name we sense the intimacy of the Easter miracle. And as she runs to tell the disciples, she becomes the first witness to the resurrection.  She opens the way for all the rest of Christendom to follow, as we too seek to be witnesses of Christ’s resurrection by how we live and lead our lives in love.

The text from I Corinthians was written to a body of believers who were proud of their enlightened faith.  In chapter 1 Paul writes “you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge” (vs.5).  Yet even as they were “enriched”, Paul writes to this church to correct many misconceptions they have about living in faith. 

Perhaps the crowning correction is saved for this final theological thought in the book.  In verse 12 of this chapter he writes, “Now if Christ is raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?”  Obviously there were some In the church in Corinth who denied the resurrection.

This whole 15th chapter is an argument for the resurrection in the grandest of terms.  Starting with the initial experience of the disciples (vs.1-7), he moves into his personal encounter (vs. 8-11), he goes back to Adam contrasting the man of dust with the man of heaven (vs. 21-22, and vs. 45-48), and then finally he sets the resurrection in Creation itself (vs. 36-44,48-50). 

He wraps his discourse up with these final verses 51-58 where he says “Behold, I tell you a mystery…”  And what a great mystery indeed!  And perhaps one of the most “mysterious” things about this mystery,  it’s not simply Christ’s miracle. Through Jesus Christ the resurrection is his miracle for us all.  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Two glorious Scriptures witnessing one wonderful, living giving miracle!  I look forward to how we’ll celebrate that miracle together on Sunday as we rejoice in the resurrection together!

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for your word of Scripture; how it opens to us the fullness of your truth in Jesus Christ.  We pray that as we continue with our study this week you would awaken in us a greater sense of your glory.  And as we know this blessing let it lead us into deeper worship of you and fuller service of our neighbor through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we pray.   Amen.

Outbreak of Grace: Jesus' Final Days

Welcome to Monday of Holy Week in the Pastor’s Workshop.  Holy Week in the workshop is a week of extremes.

On one hand, during the course of the week, we find ourselves spiritually walking through the final days of Jesus’ earthly life.  Highlights of the week including gathering at the table of the Upper Room and, in solemnity, remembering how Jesus joined with his disciples in a final meal.  Then, we move from that evening and turn to the cross.  There we experience how the sacrament witnesses to sacrifice.  We bow with wonder as Jesus gives his life in love.

Even as we are commemorating all of this, we are preparing to celebrate the ultimate victory of life and love that is Easter morning.  We are reflecting upon Jesus rising from the grave.  We hear the Scriptural witness of his resurrection how his resurrection opens the promise of eternal life with God for us all.

I’ve chosen two Scriptures for our focus this Easter.  One is an intimate encounter between a grief-stricken Mary and a gentle Christ.   This Scripture is John 20:1-3, 11-18.  It is Mary’s discovery of Easter.

The other text tells us a “mystery” of cosmic proportions.  It proclaims that death as a principality and a power has been “swallowed up” in victory.  We’ll be reading and reflecting upon I Corinthians 15:51-58.

And so, as invite you to do every Monday, please read each text, silently at first and then aloud.  As you read, listen:  listen for words that capture your attention, the powerful words for you; listen for emotions, the depths, and height of the human experience; listen for breakthroughs, how “Easter emerges”; listen for the glory of the great triumphal announcement, coming in all subtlety and in all majesty.  Listen for how the Holy Spirit would “speak” to you through the Scripture.

And as the Spirit speaks, write it down.  Don’t let your inspirations get away from you.  They are the stirrings of creativity that will make for a message later in the week.  And what a wonderful message it will be, as we proclaim the “mystery” of Easter and the miracle of the Victory of Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Lord, as we begin our work this week, open our ears, our minds, and our hearts.  As we read the Scriptures let us hear with wonder and joy the “word” you would speak to us - a “word” of help and hope.  Minister your “mystery” and “miracle” of love and life to us in ways that we might know a fuller joy this Easter morning.  In your Holy Name, we pray.   Amen

Outbreak of Grace: Lord, Save Now

Welcome again to Saturday!  We’ve come to the end of another week in the Pastor’s Workshop.  And as you know, Saturday is the day we shift from the Work Room to the Prayer Room.

As we prepare for Sunday we understand that a morning message is not just a presentation with a speaker and listeners.  What we believe about worship is that God would be in these sacred moments, blessing the word of Scripture in a way that it would be a helpful, healing, hopeful word – that it might be a holy word for us.  Our prayer is that the word of scripture, read and proclaimed, would comfort our hearts, enlighten our minds and inspire our living as people of love.  Only God can do that!

And so as we prepare for this Palm Sunday with prayer, what will you lift up?

In the midst of all we face In these days, the prayer of Palm Sunday, Hosanna, “God, Save Now” has particular poignancy.  That is part of what I pray for on this Palm Sunday, “Lord, Save Now”.

I pray that as I lift that prayer we would be open to how God would answer this prayer by Christ’s coming to be with us. Just as he rode that donkey into Jerusalem to be with the people of that day, I pray that he would come to us in our day.  I pray that we would have an abiding assurance, a core courage, an inner encouragement that is a reflection of his presence.

I pray that we would know that Christ comes to embrace the Cross; that we would be awed, again and  always, how our Lord makes this choice of ultimate, self sacrificial love so we might have the gift of life in his compassion.

But more than that, I pray that even as Christ comes to be with us in compassion, to join with us In our places of fear and frustration, that we would be with others in that same “Christ spirit” of compassion.  I pray that we would see and seize the opportunities around us to offer help and hope.  I pray that we would pick up our cross in compassion and be God’s blessing to those around us who are crying out, “Save Now”.  I pray this would be part of our Holy Week witness.

What are you praying for this Palm Sunday?  For Holy Week? For your life and our world in this week of all weeks? Jot down your thoughts.  Lift up your prayers!

Prayer:  Gracious God, as we cry out “Save Now”, you come as Christ in all compassion, to embrace the Cross and to be God with us, even in our darkest days.  Strengthen us in this assurance and empower us to live as those who follow you by picking up our cross and being people of compassion in the opportunities these times give us.  This we pray through Jesus Christ, our humble King.  Amen

Outbreak of Grace: The Good Shepherd Leads Us Through

It’s Thursday in the Pastor’s Workshop.  Today we take the work of our week and see how it all comes together in a sermon.  As always, we pray the message will be a story of grace for our lives.

As we noted on Monday we are preparing for Holy Week.  Holy Week is the climax of Jesus’ ministry and the culmination of his saving work.  Palm Sunday, which is this Sunday, is our entry into this high drama of God’s grace.

Our Scripture for following Jesus as he “moves ahead to Jerusalem” has been Luke 19:28-44.  It is the story of that first Palm Sunday “parade”.

On Tuesday we noted how this Scripture reflected the Messianic hope of the people, the opposition of the leaders and the resolute purpose of Jesus in fulfilling God’s saving will.

Yesterday we highlighted how important this message of Palm Sunday is, particularly in our troubling times.  The praise of the people, as they sang “Hosanna”, is also the prayer of our hearts. They hoped for God to “save now” (the meaning of Hosanna), and so do we!

So how might the message of Palm Sunday reflect this hope?  And how might Jesus’s triumphal yet humble entry into Jerusalem fill us with an encouragement of Christ’s unswerving dedication to God’s saving purpose?

For me Sunday’s message begins to come together like this:

The praise and prayer “Hosanna”, lifted by the followers of Jesus on that first Palm Sunday, is a cry of the heart.

The literal meaning of “Hosanna” is “save now”.   That prayer is particularly poignant with all we are facing.  We deeply desire for Jesus to “save now”.  There is an urgency!

Just as with those first followers, we also have our ideas of what “save now” might look like. Often our thoughts have “miraculous overtones”.   “Save Now” might be an incredible breakthrough, an amazing deliverance, a turning of events that immediately lifts the sense of threat and returns life to normal.

When Jesus came on Palm Sunday he entered into that expectation. But he did not embrace the people’s vision of how that would happen.   Instead of God miraculously “lifting us out”, Jesus came in humility to “lead us through”.

What those first followers found, and what we find, is that Jesus enters into life with us.  He is Immanuel – God with us – in the best moments of life, and also in the darkest, hardest, most difficult, “lost” moments of life.  As he rode the donkey, he knew that he would embrace the Cross.  In that ultimate act of grace Christ shows us how salvation is lived out in compassion.  Compassion which means to “suffer with”.

And so when we pray “save now” we realize how Jesus, our Humble King, would be our Good Shepherd.  In embracing the cross Christ walks with us through the valley of the shadow, the shadow of these days and every dark day.   His presence is our strength and our ultimate hope.

In that strength and hope, we seek to follow Jesus, the Cross bearer, by “picking up our cross”.  In these days part of the way we share in “save now” is to connect with each other in Christ’s compassion.  As we share in each other’s suffering we are part of bearing Christ’s hope to others.   

 Our message seeks to move from a plea of “Save Now” to a position of “Stand With”.  As has been said, we will make it through all this – together! Together with Christ and together with one another.  In that faith we would join with the first followers in singing “Hosanna. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Prayer:  Lord, as we get ready for Palm Sunday, prepare our hearts and minds to receive your message so it would be light of truth and a guide of grace for how we would live our lives with you and one another in these difficult days.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Outbreak of Grace: God With Us

Welcome to Wednesday!  This is a day when we find ourselves in the midst of our work in the middle of our week.

Yesterday we explored four “contexts” (or backdrops) reflected in the Scripture.  These helped us understand the events of Palm Sunday from the perspective of the people in Jesus’ day.  Today we look at our world. How does our current context impart modern meaning to these words of Luke?

We all face the growing threat of COVID-19.  As we experience that rising anxiety the word “Hosanna” (a Palm Sunday word) takes on a new and deeper meaning.  The word “Hosanna” means “save now”.   The people of Jesus’ day welcomed him with that praise and prayer. Particularly these days we know that “Save Now” prayer in our hearts.  How are you praying this prayer in these days?  What forms does that prayer take?  Jot down your prayers.

Even as Jesus entered Jerusalem the action he was about to take was unanticipated.  The way that he would answer the prayer “Save Now” was unexpected.  Jesus was not going to miraculously remove their oppression, but rather join them in their struggle in a most profound way – by embracing the Cross.   This was the ultimate expression of  Immanuel - “God with us” -  in our darkest moments.  How is “God is with us” in our hardest times and darkest times an answer to “Save Now” for you? How is inner strength, courage, or encouragement an answer to “Save Now” for you?  What might be some other experiences of “God with us” in these days? Jot down your reflections.

Jesus entered Jerusalem to the “Hosannas” of the people.  He embraced the “Save Now” praise of the people as a “Humble King” mounted on a donkey. His was to be a not so much a “Miracle of Glory” but a “Ministry of Humility” as he embraced the Cross as God’s answer to the need of the people. His was to be an act of selfless, serving sacrifice.   As we lift our prayers to God to “Save Now” how might we join Jesus through our own acts of humility in serving others?  What opportunities do we have to help others know they are not alone?  How through your care and compassion might they know Christ with them?  Jot down your thoughts and your opportunities.

As we experience all that is happening today the prayer of Palm Sunday, “Save Now”, takes on powerful meaning for us as people of faith.  I pray that as we continue to get ready for Sunday we would continue to pray this prayer.  I pray that we experience God’s answers as we welcome our coming Christ into our hearts and lives today. “Hosanna!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you come to “Save Now”.  Open us through our faith to the ways you would be answering that prayer in our hearts and lives in these days.  In your holy name, we pray.  Amen.

Outbreak of Grace: Palm Sunday

Greetings!  Glad to be with you this Tuesday as we continue to get ready for Palm Sunday and Holy Week!

Yesterday we recognized how Holy Week is the centerpiece of the Gospel witness.  We commented on how much attention each of the Gospel writers devotes in leading us to the Cross and the Empty Tomb!

Today we’ll focus on our chosen text for Palm Sunday, Luke 19:28-44.  As we look into Luke’s writing we’ll see how this text is informed by four “backdrops” (or settings) reflected in this Scripture.

First, we see how this text signals that we are about to experience the culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  All his miracles, teachings, and healings have been signs leading us to this greatest work of Christ. Our opening verse (Luke 19:28) says, “After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.”  The phrase “going up to Jerusalem” is a recurrent thread throughout the Gospel.  Tracing back to Chapter 9, when Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ and Peter, James and John went up the Mount of Transfiguration with our Lord, Jesus spoke of “that which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30).  Then again in Luke 9:51 we read, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”  When Luke has Jesus “going up to Jerusalem” we are tipped off that something monumental is about to happen.

A second backdrop for the text is the “Messianic hope”.  Ever since the Davidic Covenant was established (approximately 900 BC), Israel had looked for a king whose kingdom God would establish.  In II Samuel 7:13 we read God’s word through the prophet, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”  This promise fed the hope of God’s people for God’s king for centuries.  Particularly when the Jews suffered oppression, the longing for a Messianic king who would come, rescue and restore glory flamed with fervency.  When we hear the crowds in Luke 19:38 welcoming Jesus with the words from Psalm 118, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”, we hear the hope burning in the hearts and minds of the people.

A third setting for the text was the geopolitical circumstance of the day.   In those days all the known world was ruled by Rome.  The era was called the Pax Romana.   Even though it was a time of “Peace”, this peace came at a huge price.   Taxation was unbearable. Any insurrection was brutally suppressed.   Some of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day were keenly aware of Rome’s oversight and attempted to maintain a balancing act between keeping the people satisfied and Rome appeased.   As these leaders saw Jesus coming into Jerusalem and fulfilling the Messianic hope they worried about Rome’s response.  And so in verse 39 we hear their words to Jesus, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop”.

And then there is a “final framework” for this Scripture.  It is the backdrop of God’s saving act in the Cross of Christ.  Jesus was going up to Jerusalem to fulfill the Messianic hope in the face of heavy opposition, but even as he was on course to complete his mission, it would not be as anyone anticipated.  His was not to be an “earthly glory”, but an “eternal sacrifice”.  And so you see Jesus In this Scripture not basking in the adulation of the crowds, but weeping over the city.  In verse 42 Jesus says, “If only you had recognized on this day the things that make for peace.  But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

As we progress through this Scripture we see how the writer uses all of these backdrops to advance the message.  Are there other observations you make on how the writer structures this Scripture to proclaim the Good News?  If so, jot down your thoughts.  Also, write down any other observations you make about this text.

Tomorrow we continue our exploration, noting the framework of our world and our lives that provide present-day meaning to this Scripture.  I look forward to sharing that with you.

Prayer:  Gracious Lord, as you set your face to go to Jerusalem you fulfill your saving will in ways beyond our expectation.   Help us to always be open to the magnificence of your sacrificial love that is the salvation of our lives.  In Jesus’ holy name we pray.  Amen

Outbreak of Grace: Preparing for Holy Week

Welcome to the Pastor’s Workshop this Monday.  It’s a blessing to be with you in the Scripture!

This week we’re preparing for the most special and central celebration in the life of the church.  We’re getting ready for Holy Week.   The Scriptures will be leading us into the climax of our Lord’s saving work as we draw near to the Cross and the Crown.

All the Gospels reflect the significance of this week In Christ’s life.  Just the sheer amount of “coverage” provided to the events witnesses to its preeminence.  Matthew devotes a quarter of his Gospel, seven of twenty-eight chapters; Mark, five of sixteen chapters; Luke, five of twenty-four chapters; and John, eight of twenty-one to what happens between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.  

As you know Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday.  We’ll be using Luke 19:29-38 as the primary source for our Palm Sunday message.

The story is very familiar.  Jesus made his royal ride from the Mount of Olives at Bethphage and Bethany into Jerusalem.  A lowly donkey carried the humble king.  Jesus’ followers rejoiced, waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna.  The religious leaders fumed with anger.  The crowds of the city wondered, who is this who is coming?

Many of us have heard this story since our childhood.  With Scriptures like this there are times when you wonder, what’s new for me to experience? 

To answer that question it can be helpful to “immerse” yourself in the setting of the Palm Sunday parade .  What do you See? Hear? Smell? Touch? Taste? Feel?  Jot down your observations.

Experience the events of the day from perspectives of different people in the scene.  What it’s like to be the disciples sent to loosen the donkey?  A follower on the way singing Hosanna? A city dweller wondering what’s all the excitement about? Even the leaders plotting how to suppress the surge of support?  Again, write down your experiences.

If you were a playwright (or the Gospel writer) how would you portray this scene?  How would you tell this opening of Holy Week? 

Use your devotional time today to “connect” on lots of levels with the Palm Sunday story.  Out of this time ask God to bring something to your attention, some detail, some new insight, some fresh word of faith that will draw you to experience this “old story” with grace giving power.

Prayer:  Lord, as we start to get ready for Holy Week, as we revisit Palm Sunday, open our minds and inspire our hearts to the ways you would fill your Holy Word with your Holy Spirit to refresh and renew our faith.  We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our coming Lord. Amen

Outbreak of Grace: Put It All to Prayer

Good to be with you today!  And as always, welcome to the Pastor’s Workshop.

We’ve come to the end of the week… but not the end of the work!

Saturday is the most important day of the week, the most important part of the process. On Saturday we “put it all to prayer”.

Worship is not simply about what we do.  Worship is also about what God is doing.  In worship we make ourselves available to what God would be working in us and through us.  That’s why worship is so critical.

So for our prayer on this Saturday, we pray for our worship on Sunday.  We seek God’s presence and power in the midst of our time together.  Particularly we ask God to use the sermon, to use our words, to give voice to a Word from God that would reach minds and impact hearts with the grace of Jesus Christ.

So what is my prayer, what is your prayer, for Psalm 121?

I pray that in these uncertain times we would have an abiding assurance that the Lord is our Keeper.  I ask that in this faith we would know:  God’s creating love never lets us go; in this grace we find a solid footing for moving forward every day; we can count on being covered in God’s Covenant of love today; and that God’s got us – always!

I pray the faith of the Psalmist for us as Pilgrims in these days.

Even as we pray for ourselves and our faith I encourage you to pray for others and our world.  Pray for everyone’s safety and security. Pray for all who are sick and their families.  Particularly pray for medical personnel as they step forward courageously in such selfless service.  Their ministry is amazing!

There is so much and so many to pray for.  What are your prayers?  Who are you praying for?  Jot down your prayer.

Friends, the Lord is our Keeper.  Let us never forget that grace.  Let us always “faith” that blessing.  I look forward to web worshipping with you Sunday (svumc.org – after 1:00 p.m.)!

Prayer:  Gracious God, thank you for the privilege of prayer.  It is such a gift to bring to you all that is on our minds and hearts knowing that you hear our prayers in love.  Moreover, you keep us in your love because of Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you for that blessing. Ground our lives in that grace.  Let us love you more fully and serve you more faithfully today and always!  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen

Outbreak of Grace: Crunch Day

Happy to be with you on this beautiful Thursday in the "Pastor's Workshop."  It's always good to spend time together!

Thursday in the workshop is "crunch day."  It's a day when we bring together all our thoughts, ideas and notes from the first three days see how they connect to "tell a story."  

As I shared with you last week, a good sermon tells a story.  It takes us on a journey, allowing us to explore the truth of the Biblical text and experience the power of God's grace.  It is the Bible's story and your story coming together in the "sermon's story."

So for Psalm 121, this "Pilgrim Song," what story is it telling?  What pilgrimage is it taking us on?

The Psalm starts with a wondering, a questioning (and who doesn't have those in these days).  In troubled times from whom can we seek our help?

Though help may come from many sources, our ultimate Help and Hope is in the Lord our Keeper!  (vs. 5)

We claim that truth as daily stresses and strains mount up, when they get to a point where we feel we're losing solid footing and our sense of life's certainty is slipping out from under us.  (vs. 3)

We hold onto that strength (that holds onto us) when situations or circumstances "heat up," when anxiety and worry "beat down" upon us with seemingly ferocious intensity. (vs. 6)

We give thanks that God's "got us" in all our coming and goings.  And this assurance comes with a lifetime guarantee! (vs. 8)

The overarching blessing is that we have a Keeper who keeps us going!  That is a great story not only to tell but to live!

I look forward to celebrating this story with you in our sermon this Sunday, "Keeping On".  The way to "tune in" is to go to our website (svumc.org), click on “See and Hear” then “Sermons.”  It will take you right to video worship.

Not only will you get a chance to see how the work of our week turned out, you'll also be able to see how the work of Bert's, John's, and Shea's week turned out too!  There will be some beautiful and powerful music and a great Children's message that I guarantee will lift your spirits!

Even as we anticipate a great Sunday worship, I want to invite you back for the final step of preparation on Saturday.  Saturday is when we "take it all to prayer". Prayer seeks the Power and Presence of our Lord in the midst of all we've done.  No message is complete without Prayer. So come back on Saturday and we'll lift our work up to the Lord together!

In Christ,

Paul

Outbreak of Grace: A Pilgrim's Song

Welcome to midweek in the "Pastor's Workshop". It's great to join with you today as we dive deeper into the Word of the week!

This week we're working through Psalm 121. "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord..."

On Monday we "submerged" ourselves in the Scripture. We read, wrote and recorded our initial ideas and impressions. We asked God to inspire us with some "holy imagination". I hope you enjoyed collecting your first thoughts.

Yesterday we studied the structure of the Psalm. How is it designed and written to lead and guide us as the readers and the worshippers into a greater experience of God's grace and truth? Again, I hope you jotted down your ideas in a notebook.

Today we look at the background of this Biblical passage. What is the historical context of this text? What might the world have been like that this word was originally spoken to? What needs are in our world today that this word would address?

Historically this Psalm is referred to as a "Psalm of Ascent" or a "Pilgrim's Song". One interpretation pictures the Psalm as a song or prayer that a pilgrim might have sung or prayed as they set off on a journey to Jerusalem for a religious festival.

Jerusalem was the "holy city" and home to the Temple, the centerpiece of religious life for the Jewish people. Making a regular pilgrimage to observe the high, holy days would have been part of being a person of faith.

Even as this was an expectation, the journey was never easy. Jerusalem was built on a hill in the midst of a whole series of foothills. (vs. 1 - I lift up my eyes to the hills.) The Judean countryside was rugged terrain. The hillsides were very rocky and steep. The pathways were treacherous. (vs. 3 - He will not let your foot be moved - not let your steps slip.) The sun can be blistering hot. Who knows what danger might lurk in the darkness of night? (vs.6 - The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.) To know that the Lord who Created you (vs. 2) and called you to the journey of worship would also keep you along the way (vs. 5 - The Lord is my Keeper) was a reassuring word. To know that God's keeping you meant God would watch over you, guard you, protect and preserve you from all evil as you traveled to and from your home (vs. 8 - The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in...) was a strengthening word of grace.

You can easily see how the Psalm addressed the pilgrim of that day. But how about our day? How about us as we journey through our world?

As we move through this time of the Corona pandemic who has not lifted up their eyes, looked above and wondered, "Where will our help come from?" Who has not needed to hear that the Lord is our Keeper, that God is present to guard and protect. Even as we run our errands and come and go for those essentials of our lives who does not want to do so safely and at the same time have the reassurance that the Lord preserves us, keeps us, in our going out and our coming in!

You can also easily see how the Psalm addresses us and our world in our need today! Jot down additional thoughts you have.

Tomorrow I look forward to being with you and seeing how all our work of this week begins to fit together to tell a "sermon story" for Sunday. In that anticipation I want to join you in a closing word of prayer ...

Prayer:  "Gracious God, thank you for our time together today. We are grateful for the ways your Word would speak to us and to all across the ages. We praise you for how its truth would minister a reassurance to us in our hearts. In that blessing we trust you as our Keeper today and forever! In Jesus name we pray. Amen."

In Christ,

Paul

Claim the Cross - March 15

March 15—third Sunday in Lent

“Claim the Cross: Freedom”

“May I never boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.”                          Galatians 6:14

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe you died to set me free, not only in the future, but here and now. And Lord, I am going to trust you to keep me from falling into the snares or yielding to sin. I turn this poor, weak, foolish heart over to you and I believe you accept that which I present. I trust you utterly, I am yours. Amen.

Scripture readings:

Sunday:             Galatians 6:14-16

Monday:           Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Tuesday:           Psalm 102:18-22

Wednesday: Luke 4:16-21     

Thursday:         Isaiah 58:6-14

Friday:                1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Saturday:         Philippians 3:18-20 

Hear my prayer, O Lord, those I offer for myself and for others.

_________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________,

Lord of all, may we honor you by remembering the great deeds of compassion through which you have released us from the weight of our sin and strengthened us to bless you with our whole being. Amen.

Reflection:

Jesus taught, “whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 10: 37-38). Jesus is using the cross that is an instrument of death as a symbol of total commitment to him. Jesus’ death on a cross then becomes a symbol of God’s love and commitment to us.

 In his letter to the Galatians, Paul had written, “I have been crucified with, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:19b-20).   The Apostle Paul said that he will boast in the cross of Jesus by which the world has been crucified to him and he to the world.  Paul claims that this leads to a new creation.  In Second Corinthians, Paul wrote, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!’ (2 Co 5:17).  Through faith in Jesus Christ a person undergoes a transformation that results in a new being, a follower of Jesus Christ, Son of God.

 So, what does a life that has been crucified to the world look like?  Paul is very clear in this letter that those who belong to Christ are led by the Spirit.  To live by the Spirit is to no longer seek to satisfy one’s selfish desires.  Paul provides a list of self-seeking desires that will separate us from God and from our fellow Christians. (Gal 5”19-21).   It is impossible for anyone to read this list and not say, “Ouch, I have done that.”

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23). These are the marks of the new creation in Christ. Let us also boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us proclaim that we are part of God’s new creation in Jesus Christ.

- Jim Veach

Claim the Cross - March 8

March 8—Second Sunday in Lent

“Claim the Cross: Forgiveness”

“God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”                      Romans 5:8

Prayer:

You are loving, merciful, and forgiving, O God. You pardon our wrongdoing and cover our transgressions. May we forgive and pardon others as you have forgiven and pardoned us, so that we may rejoice in you, O Lord, this day and always. Amen.

Scripture readings:

Sunday:             Romans 5:6-11

Monday:           Jonah 3:1-4:2, 11

Tuesday:           Psalm 103:1-13

Wednesday: Psalm 32              

Thursday:         Colossians 2:8-14

Friday:                Matthew 6:9-13

Saturday:         Psalm 86:1-6

Hear my prayer, O Lord, those I offer for myself and for others.

_________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________,

 The good news that Christians tell one another and the world is that only God can wipe away the failures, errors, and missed opportunities that sometimes plague us. We cannot wipe away or forgive our sins or those of another. But God can, and therein lies our hope, joy, and peace – a message we proclaim to all.                               - Ruben P. Job

Reflection:

Salvation is a gift. All we have to do is accept it. In a recent production of “The Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis, I saw characters faced with choices. Heaven is theirs, but choosing heaven variously means walking away from relationships or habits or possessions. These things bring nothing but misery, but they are familiar and are, therefore, hard to give up.

 What relationships, habits, and possessions should I examine and evaluate and, perhaps, let go of?

 Why do I cling to my stories of how I have been wronged by others, holding oh so tightly to those feelings of anger or injustice?

 What barriers have I erected that prevent me from rejoicing fully in the Lord?

 I welcome this Lenten season as a time for reflection and introspection.

 Dear God,

Thank you for loving us. You know our hearts and our transgressions. Nothing is hidden from you. Teach me to forgive. Help me to be honest with myself and to listen for your voice. I long for the quiet joy that comes from trusting and resting in you.

 Terri Chepregi 

Claim the Cross - March 1

March 1—First Sunday in Lent

“Claim the Cross”

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved.”           1 Corinthians 1:18

Prayer:

Almighty God, I desire to take refuge in you. Keep me from the snares of the world and protect me. Give me faith to trust you as those who have gone before trusted in the knowledge that you were their protector. Amen.

Scripture readings:

Sunday:             1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Monday:           Mark 8:31-38

Tuesday:           1 Corinthians 2:6-13

Wednesday: Psalm 145           

Thursday:         1 Peter 2:4-10

Friday:                Colossians 2:15-23

Saturday:         Psalm 34:1-10

 Hear my prayer, O Lord, those I offer for myself and for others.

_________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________,

 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

                                                                     Colossians 1:19-20

Reflection:

In verse 18 Paul divides the world into two groups of people.

The 1st sentence focuses on “those who are being Destroyed”.  In other translations, the words perishing or headed to destruction are used instead of destroyed.   The point of the 1st sentence is that those being destroyed are destined for eternity apart from God, as an ungodly, unsaved people…

The 2nd sentence focuses on “those who are being saved”.  Implying by God’s word and power that those being saved are destined for an eternity of sharing in God's glory, as Believers…

To the first group—those being destroyed—the cross of Christ is "folly." The original Greek term used here is mōria, the root of the English word moron. Paul is saying that to the unsaved world, those who preach the gospel look like morons. Also, Greek and Roman cultures believed in all kinds of gods. It wasn’t Atheism in claiming the message of the cross to be foolishness. It was because Jesus Christ was rejected by His own people as Messiah and crucified on a cross. From a Pagan perspective, this was no kind of god to worship.

So, let us consider that The Cross of Christ was not foolish.
The second group - those who are being saved – due to their faith in Christ, the cross is understood to be God's most powerful act.  God sacrificed His Son Jesus for all human sin.  Jesus, in spite of limitless power and authority, gave up His life to cover the sins of those who were “being destroyed“.  Those who trust in Christ understand that without that powerful act, we would be lost and without hope.  Those who don't know the power of God are lost if they only rely on themselves or other men… It is those of us that come to know what and who we really are and most importantly, whose we are, that as Believers in Christ, we are destined for an eternity of sharing in God's glory - beginning here and now.  Amen

Robert Blome

Outbreak of Grace - The Lord is My Keeper

It's Tuesday in the "Pastor's Workshop". Glad you're here! I look forward to continuing to explore Psalm 121 with you.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to read and write the Psalm. What did you notice? What captured your attention? How many times was "Keep" or "Keeper" mentioned? (5) How was "Keeper" described? (A Watchman who never falls down or snoozes on the job; Shade in a sunbaked desert; a "Wingman" beside you to make sure you're OK). What images, paraphrases, thoughts did you jot down?

Today we look at the Structure of the Psalm. How is it built? How does its structure carry and convey its message?

Here are a few of my thoughts:

The Psalm starts with a Wondering and a Questioning. I lift up my eyes ... where will my help come from? How pertinent that question is these days!

Then the Psalm moves to an anchor Affirmation. The affirmation is the answer to faith. Our Help is in the name of the Lord. Then the power and majesty of the Lord are underscored as God is portrayed as "Maker of Heaven and Earth".

Following the Affirmation comes three sections with two couplets. Each of the sections details how God helps us as our Keeper. The couplets outline what that means.

For example in verses 3 and 4: Couplet One - The Lord will not let your foot be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber; Couplet Two - Behold, He who keeps Israel will not slumber, nor sleep.

Now see what you can find in verses 5 and 6 and verses 7 and 8. Jot down your answers.

As you go back and look at your answers and look at the structure, how does it not only advance the description of God as Keeper but also, how does it lead you as the reader (the worshipper) into a deeper reassurance of that core truth as it moves along? What do you think? Jot down your thoughts.

The Psalm brings a powerful message of hope to us in days of trouble. As we continue our time in the Workshop my prayer is that we all will experience the strength and peace that this word of faith provides!

Prayer: Lord, you are our Keeper! When we are afraid, when wonder, where will our help, comes from in these difficult times let us hear your Word from your Scripture by your Spirit that would draw us into your heart of love for us and your protective peace of us In Jesus Christ our Lord. In his name, we pray. Amen.

In Christ,

Paul

Coronavirus Update - March 23rd

Dear Spring Valley Church Family,

 As you are aware on Sunday, March 22 Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a ‘Shelter in Place’ Order effective midnight Monday, March 23.

 In accordance with this Order and in support of the health and well being of our congregation, community and staff we will be complying with this mandate.

 Therefore, starting Tuesday, March 24 the church offices and the church will closed.  Additionally, door pass codes will be temporarily disabled so that building alarms will not be a consideration.

 Even as we say this, it does not mean our ministries have stopped.

1.     Every Sunday we will be videoing a full worship service.  These are available on svumc.org, the “Hear and See” tab, the “Sermons” dropdown.  We hope this will bring you the blessing of weekly worship.

2.     Monday through Saturday (excepting Fridays) you will receive a Constant Contact from the “Pastor’s Workshop”.  This daily devotional allows you to work alongside Pastor Paul as he prepares the Sunday message.

3.     You will continue to receive the weekly newsletter, “The Behold”, on Fridays.

4.     On Sundays the Lenten devotional, “Claim the Cross”, will be e-mailed to you by Constant Contact and will also be available on the website in the blog section.

5.     Sunday School lessons for the children will continue to be sent home weekly.

6.     Preschool lessons for the preschool children will be sent home weekly.

7.     If you have a Pastoral Emergency please contact Pastor Paul directly.

Through these means we hope you stay digitally connected and spiritually nurtured during these troubling days.

 As the staff seeks to do its part in the ministry, we all know that you, the laity, are critical to the health and well being of our church.  Because of this essential truth I make these requests:

1.     Please keep in contact with one another.  If you are part of a class or a ministry group make sure you call, text or in some way communicate with other members of your class or group on a regular (weekly) basis during this season.

2.     Enjoy the ITAC (It Takes a Congregation) that comes out in our weekly “Behold”.  I’m grateful to our Lay Leader, Myrna Ridings for her contributions that encourage all our laity in ministry.

3.     Participate in weekly worship through our videos and in devotional time through the blogs on our website.  Keep yourself spiritually nourished.

4.     Keep Spring Valley in your prayers.  We require your ongoing spiritual support to stay strong in our ministry.

5.     As you are able please support Spring Valley with your financial gifts.  We know these are difficult times for all financially, yet at the same time we seek to keep our staff and operations as strong as possible during these days.  You can make your gifts by mailing a check to the office or by donating online on our website.

 Even as we take these steps at Spring Valley we realize that the crisis and the needs are widespread.  We encourage you to be in prayer for all persons, families, communities and countries who are afflicted by the Coronavirus.  We ask you be in particular prayer for all medical personnel.  They are on the front lines in courageous ministry.  Additionally we request you pray for all community and world leaders.   They are making difficult decisions balancing many interests and seeking to insure the safety and well being of all.  Ask God to guide them with wisdom.

 As we move through these days we need to “Be Still and know the Lord is God”.  We need to remember we are not alone, God is with us always.  This is Jesus’ promise. We need to know that God is faithful and that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.   God will give us strength and courage and will lead and guide us through.    In that faith I move into the time ahead with you at Spring Valley.

 In Christ,

Paul

Outbreak of Grace: Psalm 121

Welcome to Monday in the Pastor’s Workshop!

Last week we were blessed by Psalm 46.  This word celebrated God as our Refuge, Strength and Very Present Help (vs. 1).  It called us to “Be Still” and to “Know” deeply and fully that “The Lord is God”. (vs. 10). 

I hope you had opportunity to move through the creative process with us last week.  But more, I hope you were able to experience Sunday morning worship to see how it all came forward as an offering of ministry.  If not, you still can!  Just check out our website svumc.org, the “see and hear” tab and you’ll find this message, “An Outbreak of Grace”!

This week we’ll continue in our “Outbreak of Grace” series.  We’ll be working with Psalm 121.  This is called the “Psalm of Ascents”.  It invites us to “Lift our Eyes”, knowing that where our eyes look our feet often follow.

Monday is an “Immersion Day”.  It’s a day to submerge in the Scripture.  Let it begin to sink into your mind and heart.

Read Psalm 121 silently.  Repeat.  Then read it aloud.  Repeat that too!  As you read and re-read, Listen.  Listen to the words, the images, the phrases, the cadences.  Listen to your thoughts and imagination.  What is starting to stir?  Whatever it is – write it down!

If you’ve got extra time and energy, Copy the Psalm.  In fact, if you really have extra time and energy, copy it from several translations!  Biblegateway.com is an excellent resource to check out additional translations of a Scripture passage.  In the copying, does this open up any additional insights?

A third and final phase – for those who want to go a “third mile” – is Paraphrase the Psalm.  How would you bring forward the meaning and message in your own words if you were the Psalmist?  Again, any fresh ideas?

Monday is always the day where we open ourselves to the moving of the Spirit as it would open the meaning, depth and power of the Scripture.

I hope you’ve enjoyed your time in the workshop today.  I pray it was productive.  I look forward to learning together how “The Lord is the Keeper of our lives, our going out and our coming in, in these days and forevermore. “ 

Claim the Cross: Follow

"Claim the Cross:  Follow"

 "If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me."

                                                                                          Matthew 16:24

Prayer:

Almighty God, you who continually call your people to yourself, draw us by the power of your Holy Spirit into such a warm and binding relationship that we may faithfully follow you all the days of our lives. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scripture readings:

Sunday:            Matthew 16:24-28

Monday:          John 1:35-46

Tuesday:          Luke 9:57-62

Wednesday:    Matthew 10:34-42          

Thursday:         Luke 18:35-43

Friday:              Matthew 19:16-30

Saturday:         John 10:22-30

Hear my prayer, O Lord, those I offer for myself and for others.

_________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________,

 Almighty God, down through the ages you have called out men and women to be your faithful servants. You now call us to join that great company who seek to follow you. Grant us a clear vision and the strength to fulfill our service to you. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Reflection:

 What a crazy way to start a religious movement. In Matthew's gospel, these words of Jesus follow right after Jesus has explained to his disciples that he must return to Jerusalem and Peter, aware of the danger, tries to talk him out of it. They argue and Jesus rebukes him "Get behind me Satan."

Then Jesus goes further and tells his disciples that to be his followers they must deny themselves and take up a cross. Who wants to do that? Talk about a radical, difficult message. With self-denial being a central tenant of Christianity, how did the church ever survive and grow? Is it possible that self-denial and taking up a cross transcends day-to-day life? Is it possible that in those rare moments that my concern for others overtakes my concern for self that something divine is happening? Is it possible that when I take action to help those Jesus seems most concerned about (the sick, the poor, the marginalized), that I am finding life? Are those moments the times that I am actually drawing closer to Christ?

I am going to ponder these questions through the rest of lent and beyond.

P.S. I'm writing this the day after President Trump has declared a national emergency and Sunday corporate worship has been cancelled at Spring Valley for the first time in my memory. My understanding is that this reflection will be circulated a little over a week from now. By then who knows where the current crises will stand. Whatever has transpired my guess is that I will be struggling not to let self-concern prevent me from living true life.

- Paul Ledbetter

Outbreak of Grace - Prayer

Outbreak of Grace – Saturday, March 21, 2020

Welcome to Saturday!  I’m glad to be with you on the final day of weekly preparation in the “Pastor’s Workshop”.

What’s the last step before Sunday? 

The step of Prayer. 

Prayer is what opens us to the Presence and Power of God that is with us throughout the whole process of preparation and in the moments of proclamation.

As I get ready for Sunday my Prayer is 3 fold:

1.     I pray for you and all the listeners.  Specifically I pray that whatever blessing of God I’m seeking to proclaim on any particular Sunday, I pray that blessing for you, upon you, within you. 

2.     I pray for myself as the preacher.  I pray that I would be fully prepared and faithful in my proclamation.  I pray that I go forward as a servant with an offering, trusting in God to be at work as we join in worship together.

3.     I pray that God will be God in great and grace-filled ways in and through the time of worship today.  I pray that something special and spiritual is happening in the hour that will touch and transform our lives and our world today.

So specifically, for Psalm 46 what is my prayer?

1.     I pray that in the midst of everything that is shifting in the world around you and swirling in your heart within you, that in the midst of everything, the Spirit of God would continue to draw you into the unshakeable Center of God’s Love for you in Jesus Christ.  I pray that you would “Know that I (the Lord) am God!”  (vs. 10) I pray that you would experience this solid Core of Compassion as your Refuge, your Strength, your Hope and your Peace.

2.     I pray for myself that I might be more sensitive to the disruption and the fear that is so pervasive and at the same time turn to and draw from that same inner Stability and Strength that I am calling you into.   I pray too that I might be clear and strong in bringing that hope.

3.     I pray God would reveal God’s self as the Refuge, Strength, and Present Help to all the world in these days, that everyone might know in fresh, new ways that the Lord is God.

That’s my Prayer.  What’s yours?  What do you pray for yourself, your family, your friends, our community, our country and world, our church and your preacher?  Jot down your thoughts.  Keep them in prayer in the days ahead as we move into Sunday worship.

Prayer:  Jesus, you have said to ask anything in your name and you would do it. (John 14:14).  And so we ask and pray that You would be working in our lives and our world according to your great and gracious will.  Help us experience afresh and anew, even and especially in these difficult times, that you are God, God of these days and God always, God who is our Refuge and Strength, our Help and Hope, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  In whose name we pray.  Amen

Outbreak of Grace - A Sermon Tells a Story

Glad to be with you today as we continue our time together in the "Pastor's Workshop."

This week we've been working on Psalm 46. Our focus - "Comfort in the midst of Chaos."

Monday, we listened to the Scripture. We read and re-read the whole Psalm, silently and aloud. We listened for words, phrases and images that caught our attention and inspired our "holy imagination". We jotted these down.

Tuesday, we looked at the Psalm. We examined its structure. We tried to discern some of the Psalm's "big pieces" and how they fit together. We noted these.

Yesterday, we looked at the Context for the Text, the World into which this Biblical word was and is being spoken. We received a very brief historical background and reflected on the experiential setting of this Scripture. Again (as always), we recorded our thoughts.

Today, using your thoughts and notes from the last three days, we start to tell a story. A sermon is a spiritual journey that (like a story) has a beginning, middle and end. It has a "from", a "to", a "thru" and a "through."

A sermon starts by connecting with how we experience life. It is vulnerable to and explores some of the deeper, more troubling aspects of that experience. Even as it descends into the tension of trouble, the sermon proclaims a word of faith and hope. In that word of faith and hope, the listener receives (or is reminded) of something/someone (our God) we believe in. More than that, a sermon calls us to do something to live into what we believe.

What might this journey look like for Psalm 46?

Look back into your notes from Wednesday. As we look into our "world", we need to be speaking on our individual and collective experience of the Coronavirus. It truly has been a surreal time in so many ways. Your own notes detail your personal trials.

More than that, the Biblical words of "shaking", "roaring", "trembling", "tottering" invite us to dive deeper into our feelings and our fears. Certainly as you speculate what might be ahead it becomes easy to fall into an abyss.

In the midst of those inner voices of worry and woe, we hear the call and command of faith, "Be Still!" Know who it is who truly holds your life. "Know that I am God!" Let that faith lead you towards an unshakeable assurance that "shall not be moved". (vs.5) 

 Let that faith be your refuge, your abiding place. In that security and stability find inner spiritual strength. This inner strength is God's Comfort. Let it lead you beyond the chaos surrounding the coronavirus into how you can be a blessing to others even in these troubling times.

And as we live into this outbreak of grace we experience over and over the recurring "chorus" and benediction of this Scripture - "The Lord of Hosts (the God of the Angel Armies) is with us, The God of Jacob (an ever- faithful covenant God) is our refuge."

You get a sense of the story as it weaves and moves. The Sunday morning message will take us on this journey with more fullness and nuance.

Tomorrow we'll look into a final step in the "Pastor's Workshop". I think it is the most important part of the whole week. It's the step that brings power to the message. (So you'll have to check back in).

More than checking in tomorrow, I encourage you to turn to our website Sunday at noon (or after) to share in a full hour of sanctuary worship. The music, prayer and message will be a blessing that grounds you in God's grace and provides a foundation of faith for whatever you'll face in the week ahead! I look forward to this time with you. In that blessing, we'll "see" you on Sunday at svumc.org!

In Christ,

Paul

Outbreak of Grace - Pastor's Workshop

Welcome to the "Pastor's Workshop". As I shared on Monday my hope is to welcome you into a creative process which happens each week as a pastor seeks to discern and give voice to a word from God, based in the Scripture as the word of God.

This week we are working with Psalm 46. It is a Psalm of Comfort in the midst of Crisis.

On Monday we Listened to the Text. We read and re-read the Scripture (Psalm 46) silently and aloud, noting words, phrases, and images that spoke to our minds and hearts.   We prayed for spiritual inspiration (a "holy imagination") as we went into this weekly time of creating.

On Tuesday we Looked at the Text. We examined the Scripture's structure. What are the parts of Scripture? How do they fit together? What is the function of each in advancing the overall message of faith?

On Wednesday (today) we look at the Context of the Text. What is the World that the Word is spoken into? How does understanding the Context and the World shape and sharpen the message of the Text and the power of the Word? We seek to look into the Context of the Text and the World of the Word both historically and existentially.

Historically:

As a background for Psalm 46 we need to know that Jerusalem was considered the city of God built on the holy mountain of the Lord. It is the location where Abraham is to have offered up Isaac, where David established the political and religious capital of the united Israel, and where Solomon built the Temple. Yet even as Jerusalem held this supreme status, it endured sieges from many enemies throughout the centuries. The images of "nations raging", "kingdoms tottering" and "wars, bows and spears" mentioned in Psalm 46 were never far from anyone's mind.

Existentially:

Verses 2 and 3 of the Psalm picture a world convulsing with an earthquake. The earth is changing, mountains shaking and waters roaring and foaming. Everything that seemed immovable and certain is now unstable and insecure. The whole of what constitutes life is now in tumult.

In the midst of this upheaval the powers that be are in an "uproar" (verse 6). Nations don't seem to know exactly what to do. "Kingdoms" can't keep up with the demands and they "totter" under the weight of the crisis.

Verses 8 and 9 raise the images of "desolation" and "warfare."

Your Reflection:

As you reflect on the Scriptural images lifted up in Psalm 46 how do they give expression to what you are experiencing in our world and in your life? Jot down your thoughts.

As you find yourself moving through this time of tumult in what ways do you find yourself getting caught up in the crisis? Again, jot down your thoughts.

What "threats" are you experiencing in these days? How do the words of the Scripture give voice to them?

What "fears" are you experiencing these days?   How do the words of the Scripture give voice to them?

As you think about the "threats" and "fears", how do they impact and amplify the call to "Be Still and Know that I am God"? Jot down your thoughts.

As you do all of this, know that as you get more in touch with the trouble and trial a text is speaking into you can experience its power more fully and clearly.

Prayer:

O God of Calm and Peace, who would speak into our every "lifequake" and crisis, fill us with an assurance of your Presence and Power in these days through your Holy Scripture. Let us hear again the call to "Be Still" and know that in your love in Christ we find how faith rises above fear.   And even as we would know your peace, let us be those who pass your peace to so many who are caught up in the anxiety and fear that permeate our world. Lord, we lift this prayer to you, in the name of the One who is our Refuge, Strength and Very Present Help, Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen

In Christ,

Paul