Monday, May 25, 2015

2 Thessalonians 3:16"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you."

On this Memorial Day, this day of remembering the people who sacrificed their lives so that I might live in peace, I share this verse of peace with you.
Take time today to thank the Lord for the blessing of freedoms we have in this country. Take time today to pray for our country and its leaders as well as the leaders of countries around the world.  We do not live in a world of peace but we can live with hearts of peace.  I echo the beautiful words of Paul.  May the Lord of peace give you peace; the Lord be with you all.

Lord,
Thank you for the blessings I so often take for granted.  There are so many people suffering in so many ways but even in those I ask for your peace to be given and instilled in their hearts and souls.  Let all who suffer find peace and rest in you.  Let those of us who do not suffer so be agents of your peace to others.  I pray this in your holy name and to the glory of your kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

Friday, May 15, 2015


I ask myself this morning, who is my neighbor?
I have visited this message before; it is written in many books of the bible and in the depths of my soul.  Occasionally I am nudged to reconsider who my neighbor is.
I just finished attending a spring bible study, yesterday was the last day.  A few times during the year I would pass a young mom with spiky red hair and a few piercings.  She was a reminder to me to consider who my neighbor is.  I am humbled when I think of the judgment that enters my mind.  Who am I to say what is in the heart of another person?  Who am I to think I know what message they seek to portray in their dress, body language, speech?  I am not called to put them in a box or label them in any way.  I am called to love them.
What about the people who seem like me?  I cannot know their heart of hearts either; I am only called to love them.  What about my family and dear friends; are they easier to love or easier to overlook completely?
As I move into this day, I lift a prayer that I would not only be able to love the purple-haired, tattooed, body pierced person as God loves me but that I would also love my own children with the heart of Christ.  I pray I would love my spouse with Christ’s love.  I pray the love of God will permeate all of our souls this day.

Lord,

You call us to love; why is that so hard for us?  This morning I ask you to open my eyes and open my heart to see clearly and love more deeply.  You know the hearts of all; give me a spirit of love for all.  I want to be a light in the darkness, a warmth in the cold, love in the midst of hate.  Use me to bring your love to those hurting souls in this world.  Amen.