Matthew 18:10 “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.”

There have been so many stories in the news lately about child abductions or attempted abductions.  One family in Colorado recently suffered the loss of their 10 year old little girl.  She was walking to school and was snatched away.  The story ended in tragedy when her body was found a few days later.  Since then, the abduction stories have been rampant.  When I read this verse I was startled.  These little ones have “their” angels?  Oh I wish I could read Greek so I could be sure the translation is true here.  I would love to know with my mind what I already know in my heart.  It would bring me a little more peace if I knew there was a guardian angel looking after each of my children.  In reality that is not quite what this verse says though, and it does not need to.  The message is clear.  God our Father loves each of us; we are all his little ones.  The verses that follow this one are the parable of the lost sheep.  He will go in search for one who has gone astray because it is His will that not even one would be lost.  He sent his Spirit to guide and protect us, He is our guardian.  I do believe in angels and I believe that they can guide and protect us and our children.  The truth here is that God and His Spirit never leave us.  We need to extend that protection and love to his children around us.

Lord,

There is darkness in this world; your word clearly states it and we see it every day.  Help us hear your voice and feel your protection and guidance in light and love.  Give us courage to help others hear you and come to you so not one of your precious ones is lost.  Amen. 

1 John 3:17 “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

My first words to God this morning were a prayer of thanks for the heat and warmth in my home.  I had barely uttered the thought when I pictured the many people living under bridges and in cardboard boxes.  Others are wrapped in tattered layers of old coats or grungy hats and scarves.  We occasionally donate our clothes and coats and nick knacks to some charity that calls.   We give money to church to help the poor.  We buy food for our church food bank and bring food donations to bible study.  All these things are for a brother or sister in need.  What about closer to home?  Do I see the needs of my spouse and children?  As I think more about this I realize I could give more to the brothers and sisters that live with me as well.  They deserve some sacrificial giving on my part.  Could I rearrange my focus a bit and not only cross the things off of my list that make me feel accomplished but also give in love?  I am given a nice home and warm clothes.  I have food in my pantry, my refrigerator and my freezer.  I have no needs that cannot be met with relative ease.  I need to turn my gaze around from looking at my needs and begin giving to meet the needs of those around me.  I need to meet the needs of my family as well as the brothers and sister who do not reside in my home.  In this, I will abide in God’s love.

Lord,

Open my eyes to see my selfishness.  I cling to my needs like a warm blanket and yet, truly my needs are met.  Help me reach out in love; help me give more so all can abide in your love.  Amen.

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Why do I go to church?  Is it the music, or the preaching?  Is it for my friends and catching up with them?  The answer is yes to all of these and more.  Depending on the week I may have different needs that I come to church with.  Sometimes I simply need to hear the word read out loud by someone other than me.  I need to hear the pondering of a learned teacher to stir up the word and help me hear a message that speaks to my heart and soul.  I need to laugh with my friends and sing praises to my Lord.  I need to sit in silence and just feel the Spirit in the sanctuary.  I need to remember the breaking of the bread on the Passover so many years ago and the sacrifice that represents to me each day.  I need to gaze upon that empty cross that hangs in front of the sanctuary to remember that Jesus did die but the cross is empty because he is resurrected.  His resurrection brings grace to the likes of me and you.  It is this grace that allows and compels me to keep coming back.  Do I need to go to a special building to have all this?  How do I know which one is the “right” one?  I know what I need to live in Love and so I go to church each week and I get up every morning to spend time alone with Love.  I share the grace I received and pray for myself, my family, my friends, the list goes on.  All these things help guide my feet in the journey of disciple.

Lord,

Thank you for your apostles and your teaching.  Thank you for bread and fellowship.  Thank you for songs of praise and prayer.  Help each day be a day of worship and learning, a day of fellowship and a day of honoring you.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 30:4, 6 “Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you back...Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.”

When I was young I lived on the edge, on the periphery of life.  I have always been an introvert and when I was a child I bordered on shy.  I still tend to sit back in the wings and watch rather that jump in and join the party with abandon.  It reminds me of swimming.  God gathers us from the very edge where we are dipping our little toes in the water and He plunges us into the deep cool water.  After the initial shock we realize it is refreshing and invigorating.  He wants us to join the party.  Dive into the water; get your hair wet and splash around.  Feel the smooth water gliding on your skin as you move stroke by stroke.  Swim and play with abandon.  Live your life in His love with abandon.  In John chapter ten, Jesus says He came that we may have life abundantly.  He doesn’t want us to be toe dippers; he wants us to take the plunge.  Feel God drawing you back in from the ends of the world.   Feel Him cleansing your heart so you may love and live for him with abandon, in abundance.

Lord,

Help me jump in with both feet even with my introverted personality in tow.  Help me set aside my shy tendencies so I swim deeply in the love and life you call us to.  Guide me into abundant, exuberant life within the person that you created me to be.  Fill my heart and soul to overflowing once more so I may be soaked with love for you and go deep into an abundant life.  Amen.

John 13:34 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

At first glance it seems Jesus is telling his disciples to love each other within their little circle of believers.  Certainly they would need each other as times went on and the persecution became rampant.  It would only be the love of Christ that could pull them back together after his death.  I believe this commandment is much deeper though.  Christ loves everyone.  When He commands us to love one another I believe He means every one.  I start close to home.  How does Christ call me to love my spouse and my children?  I am to love them as He loves me.  How am I to love my family of faith?  He tells me to love them as He loves me.  It is easy to love in Christ when you have a deep and happy bond with someone.  When there are hurts and frustrations in the way it becomes harder.  I know I cause Jesus hurt and frustration every time I sin.  He forgives us in unending grace and that is part of His love for us.  We need to forgive just as He does so that we may love as He loves.  Only through Christ are we able to do this.  It is His love shining in us that brings us the strength and ability to love others in grace as He does.  Seek out one person to love as He loves; someone that will stretch your growth in Christ.  If we each did that, how much more love would there be?

Lord,

Clear our sight of pain and frustration so we can see others in your love.  Give us the courage and strength through your word and Spirit to reach out as love as you love us.  We know you command us to do this, help us follow your command.  As we follow and believe, we are blessed, thank you. Amen.

Psalm 37:4-5 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

When I read this passage it is so tempting to stop at verse four and not continue on.  It is so nice to picture God giving the desires of our hearts to us.  Would he grant anything we wish, like a genie in a bottle?  I even like to skip over the little words – take delight in the Lord, because it changes things.  The truth is when we delight in the Lord our desires change.  Our focus becomes clear and we are looking to the Lord of the Universe rather than at our small little world.  The desires change from what we think we need to what the Lord would give to us.  When we commit our way to the Lord we release control from our grasp and hand it over to the Almighty.  The words in the verses seem so easy.  Give it all to God; praise and delight in Him.  Let Him lead you trusting that your Creator will keep you right.  How hard can that be?  I, for one, find this a challenge.  I turn control over and then my wish for something to happen in my time and my way drives me to take control back.  I delight in the Lord and then I watch the news and it distracts me and weakens my trust.  People get in the way of God all the time yet He promises us His sovereign plan will unfold despite that.  Delight, commit and trust; the God of the Universe is at work and He knows what He is doing.  Praise God!

Lord,

Forgive my arrogance when I try to take over for you.  I release my pretend control back to you knowing you are always in control.  Turn my heart to seek your desires always, for it is there I will find delight.  Help me grow in trusting you, you will act.  Amen.

Psalm 113:2-3 “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore.  From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.”

A fresh blanket of snow covers the bushes and grass at my house.  Yesterday evening is started raining and turned to snow and as I wait for my children to wake up I can already hear their excitement and joy when they see it.  There are so many things each day that bring laughter and joy to the faces of my kids.  The days are getting shorter as we move into late fall and prepare for winter to set in.  The sun rises a little later each morning and sets a little earlier each evening.  If I spent each moment of the day blessing and praising the name of the Lord my smile would never fade.  Even on the shortest day of the year I would be filled beyond overflowing with blessings and joy.  Have you noticed that when you are in a time of praise and thanksgiving that your heart becomes filled even as you are giving from your heart to the Lord?  On the days were the world weighs heavily on your heart, reach out beyond that and sing one song of praise.  Then lift one prayer of thanksgiving to God.  Reach out once more and lift your heart a little more to the adoration of our Lord.  As you do these small things, the weight is lifted more and more.  Before you know it you are relieved, renewed and filled with praise and thanksgiving for the God of grace!

Lord,

We come to you this morning all with different needs.  You know our hearts and I ask that you move within all those things and bring us to a time of praise and thanksgiving.  Lift our hearts and our eyes to see your glory so we may lift our voices in praise to you.  I dedicate this day to you and your glory.  Help me live in praise to you today.  Amen.