From the First Lesson for this day, Exodus 13:1-16
When I read today's lesson the first thing I thought was how different the modern mind is from the Biblical mind. Three times God reminded Moses and the Hebrews that their deliverance from Egypt was by "the strength of God's hand."
In their deliverance, they saw God at work in miraculous ways - even things that may have appeared natural otherwise were attributed to the hand of God.
It's easy for people to minimize God's hand in things. Things are attributed to 'natural phenomena' or 'circumstances' or chance. Even when circumstances are given a divine source, we tend to think that God gave us good luck rather than showing us the strength of His Hand.
It seems very appropriate to emphasize God's "direct hand" the days after the Resurrection. The days prior to the Crucifixion and Resurrection were filled with 'circumstances':
- the colt and upper room pre-arranged
- the deal with the Pharisees
- the arrangements to meet Caiaphas and Pilate
- Simon of Cyrene in the right place at the right time
- earthquake, dark sky, unused tomb
All circumstances? Good luck? Not at all. Just as God had delivered the Hebrews from Egpyt, He delivered all mankind by the strength of His Hand.
Thank you God for Your mighty Hand. I am unable to live in my own strength. I rely on Yours. When I don't see Your hand, please give me a reminder that Your hand will deliver me, protect me and guide me. Amen.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Christ is risen! And the blog returns!
Christ is risen from the dead
Overcoming death by His own death
And on those in tombs
Bestowing life!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Like many good things that have a good start, my blog had run its course for a while. When Lent came, I simply needed a break. We have been dealing with Karen's mother's health since January 1 and I've had added responsibilities at home so she could spend time with her mother in NewCastle. In addition, I added a few personal disciplines for Lent that took more time, and left less time for blogging.
In addition to that, the blog "Piety and Devotion" was becoming what I didn't want it to be - a Bible study. I love Bible study, but I want the words of Scripture to speak to me from the Holy Spirit to my heart. I want the blog to be a reflection of that.
So I laid it down (to use an old Quaker term) and I'm ready to pick it up again.
This blog follows the daily readings from the lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer of the Reformed Episcopal Church. This is roughly the lectionary of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, but not exactly, but it works for me :-)
Thanks for following along!
Overcoming death by His own death
And on those in tombs
Bestowing life!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Like many good things that have a good start, my blog had run its course for a while. When Lent came, I simply needed a break. We have been dealing with Karen's mother's health since January 1 and I've had added responsibilities at home so she could spend time with her mother in NewCastle. In addition, I added a few personal disciplines for Lent that took more time, and left less time for blogging.
In addition to that, the blog "Piety and Devotion" was becoming what I didn't want it to be - a Bible study. I love Bible study, but I want the words of Scripture to speak to me from the Holy Spirit to my heart. I want the blog to be a reflection of that.
So I laid it down (to use an old Quaker term) and I'm ready to pick it up again.
This blog follows the daily readings from the lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer of the Reformed Episcopal Church. This is roughly the lectionary of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, but not exactly, but it works for me :-)
Thanks for following along!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Sat., Mar. 5 - Fasting with the Heart
From the First Lesson for this day, Jeremiah 7:21-28
I have a love-hate relationship with Lent. As it approaches in a few days, I am again faced with this relationship.
Every year I make overly ambitious vows - no meat, no TV, no Facebook, no this, no that. I've tried fasting Orthodox style - nearly vegan (since I don't like seafood) - to no avail. I've tried fasting Catholic style - no meat, skip a meal once a day, Sundays are a day off, etc., again with no success. I've tried Lenten fasting Protestant style - give up whatever you want (especially chocolate) and don't worry about it if you fudge a little because Lent's a Catholic thing anyhow.
In Lent, I make overly ambitious promises - read extra from my Bible every day, spend more time in prayer each day, take on a service project or cause for extra giving.
Today's reading is a challenge, in a good way. Through Jeremiah, the Lord says, in essence, "If you're not fasting from your heart, keep on eating."
"Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying , Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you."
I'd like to think that in all my efforts to give up things and take on things were from the heart. But I confess that they're not.
Most of the time my Lenten fasts - and failed fasts - have been to meet some unrealistic standard of what I think a fast ought to be.
Thing is, when the people wouldn't hearken to Jeremiah's words, there were consequences - matters of the heart: "This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished , and is cut off from their mouth."
Dealing with the Lord and fasting truly is a matter of Truth.
Just like the stomach, a heart without discipline will snack its way to poor health. Without truth little lies find their way in: "it's OK to watch a little TV even if you're not supposed to watch any."
Refusing the Truth happens the same way: accepting some things in God's Word and not all of it; believing that God can forgive yet denying His means of forgiveness; knowing that the Church includes all Christians yet claiming a special corner of Heaven "just for us."
A lack of Truth leads to a lack of real life. Pretending. Imagining. Not coping with the realities of sin, redepemtion, regeneration and forgiveness. Faith becomes a day dream and the Christian life becomes a pollyanna path.
Fasting with the heart turns this around.
Bringing the heart to Christian discipline means that fasting isn't a matter of doing or not doing - pie crust promises (easily made, easily broken). Fasting from the heart is like being in love. It's inexplicable: it's easy to follow the one I love because my heart is in it.
So it is with fasting: it's easy to follow Christ, Whom I love, when my heart is in it.
I pray for a heart-felt Lent this year. A fast in which my heart follows the way of Truth.
I have a love-hate relationship with Lent. As it approaches in a few days, I am again faced with this relationship.
Every year I make overly ambitious vows - no meat, no TV, no Facebook, no this, no that. I've tried fasting Orthodox style - nearly vegan (since I don't like seafood) - to no avail. I've tried fasting Catholic style - no meat, skip a meal once a day, Sundays are a day off, etc., again with no success. I've tried Lenten fasting Protestant style - give up whatever you want (especially chocolate) and don't worry about it if you fudge a little because Lent's a Catholic thing anyhow.
In Lent, I make overly ambitious promises - read extra from my Bible every day, spend more time in prayer each day, take on a service project or cause for extra giving.
Today's reading is a challenge, in a good way. Through Jeremiah, the Lord says, in essence, "If you're not fasting from your heart, keep on eating."
"Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying , Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you."
I'd like to think that in all my efforts to give up things and take on things were from the heart. But I confess that they're not.
Most of the time my Lenten fasts - and failed fasts - have been to meet some unrealistic standard of what I think a fast ought to be.
Thing is, when the people wouldn't hearken to Jeremiah's words, there were consequences - matters of the heart: "This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished , and is cut off from their mouth."
Dealing with the Lord and fasting truly is a matter of Truth.
Just like the stomach, a heart without discipline will snack its way to poor health. Without truth little lies find their way in: "it's OK to watch a little TV even if you're not supposed to watch any."
Refusing the Truth happens the same way: accepting some things in God's Word and not all of it; believing that God can forgive yet denying His means of forgiveness; knowing that the Church includes all Christians yet claiming a special corner of Heaven "just for us."
A lack of Truth leads to a lack of real life. Pretending. Imagining. Not coping with the realities of sin, redepemtion, regeneration and forgiveness. Faith becomes a day dream and the Christian life becomes a pollyanna path.
Fasting with the heart turns this around.
Bringing the heart to Christian discipline means that fasting isn't a matter of doing or not doing - pie crust promises (easily made, easily broken). Fasting from the heart is like being in love. It's inexplicable: it's easy to follow the one I love because my heart is in it.
So it is with fasting: it's easy to follow Christ, Whom I love, when my heart is in it.
I pray for a heart-felt Lent this year. A fast in which my heart follows the way of Truth.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Feb. 20 - The Pre-Lenten Season Begins Today
Based on the First Lesson for this day, Joshua 1:1-9
The Pre-Lenten Season begins today. You might not have been thinking about Lent yet (right?). That’s why there’s a “pre-Lenten” season. The sobriety and spiritual reflection of Lent isn’t something to jump into cold. Today through Ash Wednesday, I will be reflecting on the Peoria Church theme for Lent: “The Difference Prayer Makes.” Between now and Ash Wednesday, I need to think about a way or ways my life of prayer might be different for the better. For Lent, then, how might I put that change into action?
The Hebrews didn't enter the Promised Land unprepared. In fact, under Moses' leadership they had 40 years of preparation in the wilderness and desert of Sinai. God was ready for with a leader: Joshua the son of Nun.
Lent isn't a desert nor is it wilderness. Lent is usually the most meaningful time of the Church Year for me. It seems to be my pattern that Lent is the time of year that I take living in God's Promised Land most seriously.
In Lent, I hear God say to me, as He said to Joshua: "as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." I know I will fail in my fasting, I will yield to temptation. My discipline will fall short and every morning my prayer will be the same:
"I have left undone those things which I ought to have done and I have done those things which I ought not to have done." In spite of my failures, God will not fail or forsake me.
Three times in today's lesson God speaks these words to Joshua: "Be strong and of a good courage." In preparing for Lent, these are the by-words. In accepting a discipline for Lent, I know that strength and courage are necessary for completing it well.
It's easy for me to try something that is either way too hard or way too easy. Several years I've tried to completely abstain from television or meat or the internet. In all cases I've failed miserably. And the times I've not taken the Lenten fast seriously, I've lost any meaning because my commitment has been to the season has been tepid.
Lord, help me be strong and courageous as Lent approaches. Help me have an honest evaluation of my spiritual life and guide me in the way I should go to follow Thee in the Promised Land of Thy Son, in Whose Name I pray. Amen.
Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)
The Pre-Lenten Season begins today. You might not have been thinking about Lent yet (right?). That’s why there’s a “pre-Lenten” season. The sobriety and spiritual reflection of Lent isn’t something to jump into cold. Today through Ash Wednesday, I will be reflecting on the Peoria Church theme for Lent: “The Difference Prayer Makes.” Between now and Ash Wednesday, I need to think about a way or ways my life of prayer might be different for the better. For Lent, then, how might I put that change into action?
The Hebrews didn't enter the Promised Land unprepared. In fact, under Moses' leadership they had 40 years of preparation in the wilderness and desert of Sinai. God was ready for with a leader: Joshua the son of Nun.
Lent isn't a desert nor is it wilderness. Lent is usually the most meaningful time of the Church Year for me. It seems to be my pattern that Lent is the time of year that I take living in God's Promised Land most seriously.
In Lent, I hear God say to me, as He said to Joshua: "as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." I know I will fail in my fasting, I will yield to temptation. My discipline will fall short and every morning my prayer will be the same:
"I have left undone those things which I ought to have done and I have done those things which I ought not to have done." In spite of my failures, God will not fail or forsake me.
Three times in today's lesson God speaks these words to Joshua: "Be strong and of a good courage." In preparing for Lent, these are the by-words. In accepting a discipline for Lent, I know that strength and courage are necessary for completing it well.
It's easy for me to try something that is either way too hard or way too easy. Several years I've tried to completely abstain from television or meat or the internet. In all cases I've failed miserably. And the times I've not taken the Lenten fast seriously, I've lost any meaning because my commitment has been to the season has been tepid.
Lord, help me be strong and courageous as Lent approaches. Help me have an honest evaluation of my spiritual life and guide me in the way I should go to follow Thee in the Promised Land of Thy Son, in Whose Name I pray. Amen.
Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Feb. 18 - No comment on today's reading
From the First Lesson for this day, Proverbs 8:1-21
There are times when there is simply no commentary to be made. Today is one of them:
Proverbs 8
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
There are times when there is simply no commentary to be made. Today is one of them:
Proverbs 8
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Feb. 11 - The Other Side of God's Glory
From the First Lesson for this day, Ezekiel 44:4-8
Isaiah 6 is one of my favorite passages. It is an awe-inspiring scene of the glory of God. I have been known to spend long seasons of meditation just musing on that glorious time Isaiah spent in the Holy of Holies with God. In many ways, I wish I had seen what Isaiah saw. It makes me long for that time when I fall asleep in Christ to view the Heavenly glory for myself.
There is a downside of God's glory. It also reveals that which is unholy: "the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD... mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. And thou shalt say to the rebellious... let it suffice you of all your abominations, in that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves."
In our house, the same light that makes it safe to walk in the kitchen is the same light that shows that the dishes are undone or the clothes remain unfolded.
So it is with God's glory - the same Light that reveals the One True God is the same light that reveals the deceit, violence, and sin of mankind.
O God, let Thy Light so shine in my life that others may see Thy glory and that I may see my sins; draw me into the Presence of He Who is Light of the world. Amen.
Isaiah 6 is one of my favorite passages. It is an awe-inspiring scene of the glory of God. I have been known to spend long seasons of meditation just musing on that glorious time Isaiah spent in the Holy of Holies with God. In many ways, I wish I had seen what Isaiah saw. It makes me long for that time when I fall asleep in Christ to view the Heavenly glory for myself.
There is a downside of God's glory. It also reveals that which is unholy: "the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD... mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. And thou shalt say to the rebellious... let it suffice you of all your abominations, in that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves."
In our house, the same light that makes it safe to walk in the kitchen is the same light that shows that the dishes are undone or the clothes remain unfolded.
So it is with God's glory - the same Light that reveals the One True God is the same light that reveals the deceit, violence, and sin of mankind.
O God, let Thy Light so shine in my life that others may see Thy glory and that I may see my sins; draw me into the Presence of He Who is Light of the world. Amen.
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