Meditation Journey

SEARCHING FOR SAINTS

God is on a saint search, and it’s not only perfect people who are going to be found. Sure, there may be some who are born with the natural ability to love the Lord with the totality of heart, soul, mind and strength, nonstop. But for most of us, this passion and power come only after we discover that God has always loved us, and that his love precedes our own.

Fact is, most of us find the Lord only after we have been found by him.And all God asks is that we respond with that same level of passion … loving him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength … and showing a willingness to love our neighbors as ourselves.

MEDITIATION by Carl Skorepa

God’s Unlikely Economics

            With the economic problems looming over us the following story from God’s word give us guidance on how to react and in turn be blessed:

So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the entrance of the village, he met a woman, a widow, gathering firewood. He asked her, “Please, would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink.” As she went to get it, he called out, “And while you’re at it, would you bring me something to eat?”

She said, “I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don’t have so much as a biscuit. I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. After we eat it, we’ll die.”

Elijah said to her, “Don’t worry about a thing. Go ahead and do what you’ve said. But first make a small biscuit for me and bring it back here. Then go ahead and make a meal from what’s left for you and your son. This is the word of the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought.’”

And she went right off and did it, did just as Elijah asked. And it turned out as he said—daily food for her and her family. The jar of meal didn’t run out and the bottle of oil didn’t become empty: God’s promise fulfilled to the letter, exactly as Elijah had delivered it! (I King 17:10-16)

Here are some other examples of God’s Unlikely Economics: Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:2-4; Matthew 26:7-13; Mark 14:3-9.

 The Paradoxes of Life

When I spend myself — body, soul and strength — I find replenishment within.

When I feel at peace with God, I discover I am at peace with the world.
—Charles Ferrell

MEDITATION by Carl Skorepa

“Don’t give up; even Moses was a basket case.” This saying posted on a church marquee caught my attention and the play on words caused a chuckle. Remember as a baby Moses’ mother placed him in a wicker basket and floated it down the Nile River to protect him. Yet in God’s providence Moses was miraculously return to his mother by pharaoh’s daughter who found the basket.

We have all gone through periods of great discouragement or frustration during our lives. In some cases there are ongoing discouragements that last for years. Often these challenges relate to job, relationship, and/or health issues that cause us to feel like basket-cases. How do we cope with life’s challenges that make us feel like we are floating down a river in a basket?

We are implored through out God’s word to press on. Paul shares these words of encouragement to the church in Corinth. “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” II Corinthians 4:8-9.

Recently, I heard a sermon which implored the listeners to reach out to others when we ourselves are perplexed and confused and in turn serve them. This is so contrary to what we think is correct or logical to help ourselves. Paul once again offered these words of encouragement to the Galatians: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10

MEDITATION by Carl Skorepa

“It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand,” states Mark Twain. This quote by the famous American humorist describes a major conundrum in leading the Christian life. Deep down we all struggle with the high calling the Bible directs us to follow.

How we handle the verses we do understand? Often times I know that I tend to ignore it or gloss over it with the hope it won’t reappear. Frequently, the yabuts spill out of my mouth. “Ya, but that was only true back when it was written.” Or, “Ya but we can’t be expected to follow that kind of thinking today.” And, yet another one is “Ya but in another part of the Bible it says….”

“For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart,” Hebrew 4:12 (New American Standard). Maybe because the Bible does quickly discern the intents of the heart we often times want to feign ignorance and thus recoil from obedience.

Here are my top ten verses that I “do understand”: #10 Matthew 5:44, #9 Luke 6:29, #8 Matthew 18:22, #7 Proverbs 3:5, #6 Hebrew 6:15, #5 James 1:19, #4 Roman 12:19, #3 Isaiah 55:8 , #2 Psalm 34:3, and the # 1 verse of the Bible I do understand yet bothers me 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

MEDITATION by Carol Wilcox

Meditation Journey

So! We go to worship, and there we find God’s grace and his loving kindness. We then go out into our worlds to serve our neighbors with love.(Gal.5:13)

What does it mean to love? First we are to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. (Mat. 22:37-39). O.K.,so far. But then, we are to love our enemies, as well as our brothers.(Mat.5:43-480, “without hypocrisy”(Rom.12:90, in deed and truth (I John 3:18). Love is the bond uniting all Christian virtues (Col.3:14).

In Cor.13 (another favorite ),if we have all kinds of gifts and understanding, speak eloquently, and indeed, all faith, feed the hungry, but have not love, we are nothing. We are to have patience, enduring kindness and no envy or pride . No self centeredness, have an even temper and not think evil. Then, and only then, do we truly love.

Wow! Some task for us frail beings. Sure, we’ll fail along the way, being human, but

what it requires, as I see it, is for us to constantly renew our closeness to God -in worship, prayer and in studying His Word.

A former minister at my previous church, who had accomplished much, in missionary work, in founding this church and in many other involvements in God’s work, said the time he spent tending to his dying wife was the most blessed and loving act of his life.

(For further renewal, read Cor.13)

MEDITATION By Carol Wilcox

Shepherd and sheep

The Twenty-third Psalm is one of my favorite passages in the Bible, whether it is spoken or sung. God as a shepherd is a powerful idea; he leads us and all we have to do is follow.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.

When we become anxious over a situation, when the world presses its problems on us, when situations seem to overwhelm us, he invites us to be still and look to Him for comfort and peace.

He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

If our bodies and minds betray us, causing us to be weary, or down, or frustrated, we can turn to him for renewal.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I wil fear no evil; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Every good shepherd carried these to protect his sheep from dangers. So our Lord, while not always keeping us safe from earthly perils, will comfort us with His peace.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Years ago, when the Presbyterian minister, BenjaminWeir, who was kidnapped by the Islamic Jihad in Beirut, Lebanon and thrown in prison, spoke about his experience, he said that as soon as he was put in his cell, he prayed . After a while, he looked around and up and saw the dangling wire of an empty light socket above him. He said, “I imagined it was the finger of God reaching down to touch my finger, just like the image so beautifully painted by Michaelangelo.” He knew that God was in that cell with him.

Likewise, when the imprisoned John McCain was bent over and tightly bound in an excruciating position each night, someone would creep into his cell and loosen the rope, then return towards morning and retighten them. One day while outside in the prison yard, the guard standing next to him stretched out one leg and with his boot drew a cross in the dirt, indicating that he was a Christian. God was in that prison with McCain.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

More reading: John:10,11, 14 to 16, 27,28

MEDITATION

By Carol Wilcox

Paul advises us in Rom. 12:4-6,”For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.”

Gifts of the spirit to equip us for the service of the Church are:

The ministry of the Word of God, and The ministry of practical service.

So, we are each born with different talents and gifts, ranging from what you might consider “small or not important” to “impressive leadership or talent”.

Those who can preach, teach, the singers, leaders in worship and study, those who can act or write, can add so much to our life of the church.

“Small” gifts can be baking a loaf of bread for a shut-in, or giving a grieving friend a warm hug and understanding words of comfort, or working in the church (or home) kitchen to prepare a meal or serve at coffee hour. One of our church members told me she felt that this is a ministry. When we choir members sit in our loft, we can notice all manner of events. One time during Communion I watched as a man struggled, trying to grasp the cup so he could drink, determined to succeed, and he did. Tears came to my eyes as I thought, “this is one soul who Jesus would consider his most beloved servant.” Franz Kafka said,” Even the merest gesture is holy if it is filled with faith”

In Matt. 25:40, Jesus says,” Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.”!

MEDITATION

By Carol Wilcox

Paul advises us in Rom. 12:4-6,”For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.”

Gifts of the spirit to equip us for the service of the Church are:

The ministry of the Word of God, and The ministry of practical service.

So, we are each born with different talents and gifts, ranging from what you might consider “small or not important” to “impressive leadership or talent”.

Those who can preach, teach, the singers, leaders in worship and study, those who can act or write, can add so much to our life of the church.

“Small” gifts can be baking a loaf of bread for a shut-in, or giving a grieving friend a warm hug and understanding words of comfort, or working in the church (or home) kitchen to prepare a meal or serve at coffee hour. One of our church members told me she felt that this is a ministry. When we choir members sit in our loft, we can notice all manner of events. One time during Communion I watched as a man struggled, trying to grasp the cup so he could drink, determined to succeed, and he did. Tears came to my eyes as I thought, “this is one soul who Jesus would consider his most beloved servant.” Franz Kafka said,” Even the merest gesture is holy if it is filled with faith”

In Matt. 25:40, Jesus says,” Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.”!

MEDITATION by Carol Wilcox

On worship and service

There is a church near our home which has two driveway signs. As you enter, a sign invites you to “Come and Worship”, and as you leave, a sign bids you to “Go to Serve”. I thought, you know, that says it all. We come together to praise God, receive his Grace, and renew our spirits, and then we go out into our worlds to serve others. In Eph. 2: 8-10 Paul promises, “For by Grace are we saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Then, Eph.6:6-8 reminds us, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord”.

Years ago I attended a women’s retreat where Protestant and Catholic joined together to share their faith. I heard a Vatican II, young, spirit-filled nun say, “I believe that marriage is a joining of a man and a woman in love and commitment, who then both look outward to serve others in love.” For those who do not marry, each member of the Church body joins each other in love, then serve others.

Col.3:16, 17 exhorts us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Come and worship, then go to serve!