By pastordennis, on May 8th, 2012 Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 - Psalm 146; Leviticus 16:20-34; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Matthew 6:7-15
Matthew 6:7-15 – 9“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. 14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
Many of us pray what’s known as the Lord’s Prayer at least weekly, if not more often than that. Sometimes I catch myself just saying the words, not really praying. So today, to refresh ourselves with the Lord’s Prayer, which I believe to be more a model for prayer than a prayer Jesus gave us to pray, but one that certainly does guide us in our prayers, I suggest we pray it slowly, phrase by phrase. I’ll be using the traditional Presbyterian version of the Lord’s Prayer. I invite you to use the version most familiar to you. Pause as long as you are lead at the …..’s, so the words can sink in, being heard by you and by God. What phrase really grabs your attention this day?
Lord’s Prayer – (Traditional NRSV)
Our Father ……. who art in heaven, …..
hallowed ……. be thy name. ……..
Thy kingdom …… come, …….
thy will …… be done, ……. on earth ……..as it is in heaven. ……
Give us this day ……. our daily bread; …….
and forgive us our debts, ……… as we forgive our debtors; ………..
and lead us not ……. into temptation, ……… but deliver us from evil. ……..
For thine …… is the kingdom ……… and the power …….. and the glory, ……. forever. ……
Amen.
What stands out to me today, as it does often when I pray the Lord’s prayer is my need to forgive others. For as I desire to be forgiven, so should I forgive.
Today, you might want to pray the Lord’s prayer often and slowly each time, focusing upon the words and Jesus’ call for us to pray.
Blessings upon your day. Amen.
Psalm 146 – 5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
By pastordennis, on May 7th, 2012 Monday, May 7th, 2012 – Psalm 145; Leviticus 16:1-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 – 1“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. …
5“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Two thoughts come to mind as I think on what Jesus said. The first is, is my sharing these daily devotions with you all a way of practicing my piety, my faith, before others to be seen by them? And the second question is, do I pray over my meals in restaurants to be seen by others?
First question, I don’t believe so. I share my daily devotions with you all (and I’m not fully sure who you all includes, for it can include the person who inquires about the church via the church’s website, to the occasional web-surfer who just happens on my daily devotion) not to show what I know, but to assist you and me in our journey of faith. It’s a way of seeking to be faithful to the God who was and is faithful unto me, unto us. I strive to share what I believe and where I also struggle in the faith.
Second question; no also, for I simply give thanks for the meal set before me. The times that are coming to mind though is when I pray for the meal with the men’s breakfast on Wednesday morning. During this time I do have to use my “pastor’s voice”, and it may disturb some others who are having conversation at Fat Daddy’s. I may have to rethink this and invite each man there to silently thank God for the food of which he is about to receive and end this time with a simple – Amen. I’ll see what I’m lead to do the next time I’m able to attend the men’s breakfast, won’t be this Wednesday as I have another commitment.
I’m also often asked to pray at public gatherings, such as the National Day of Prayer gathering last Thursday. Several people prayed. It was a nice occasion. Our text though says, it might be better for us to hold this service in doors instead of the at the doors to the courthouse, for holding it there might be seen by God as practicing our piety before others in order to be seen by them. Just another thought from our readings.
In our reading today Jesus does encourage us to give our offerings, to pray, to fast but to do these in ways that build our relationship with God, not with others. These are spiritual disciplines that can help us grow in faith, but if done so others can see our faith, they quickly lose their real value for assisting us with our personal spiritual growth.
O Lord, thanks for giving us many examples of your going out to pray alone. For through you we learn how to practice our piety before you, so we can grow in you. Today, may I offer you my very self, for this is what you did for me, for us, for the whole world. Amen.
Psalm 145 – 1 I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever. ..
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made. ..
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down. …
17 The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
By pastordennis, on May 5th, 2012 Saturday, May 5th, 2012 – Psalm 92; Exodus 40:18-38; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 and Matthew 5:38-48
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 – 1Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. ….
9Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, 11to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, 12so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.
In our reading from 1st Thessalonians we hear Paul encouraging the people to keep on doing what they have been doing, but strive to do so even more and more. To do what they are doing even better. They are to strive to live to please God more and more every day.
Then in the Matthew text we hear our Lord saying to us, “You have heard that it was said”, … “but I say to you.”
Matthew 5:38-48 – 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Our Lord, really takes the God’s commandments to new levels. He really lays out how living the Christian life calls us to new and different ways of living the life God has given us.
What all this points out to me is that I have a long ways to go before I perfect being a disciple of Christ. In fact, what it points out is that I’ll never reach that goal, but I can attain the goal of trying to live the life Christ calls me to live better today than I did yesterday.
All committed athletes set new goals for themselves every time they attain a past goal. There is also something they can improve on. So it is with us as Christ’s disciples. There is always some way we can improve upon as followers of Christ. Do we give up because we’ll never reach the goal of being perfect as Christ was perfect. No, we simply strive to do better day by day.
O Lord, I know some days I do better than others at being your disciple, but no day do I perfectly live as you have called me to live. Thanks for the gift of forgiveness. Thanks for your word that calls me to keep on keeping on and to do better than I did yesterday. Each day promises new challenges in being your disciple. Today, may I seek to love others as you have loved me. If I can do just that, I’ll be a better child of God today, than I was yesterday. Amen.
Psalm 92 – 1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night, …
4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep!
By pastordennis, on May 4th, 2012 Friday, May 4th, 2012 – Psalm 96; Exodus 34:18-35; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 and Matthew 5:27-37
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 - 9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?
Day by day I continue to give thanks for God’s call to me to come to Forsyth. I give thanks for the people of the congregation, the spirit of the community to work together (at least in the areas of the community’s life that I’m involved) and the beauty of the area. How can I thank God enough for all the blessings God is giving unto me?
In Exodus 34:18-35 we hear; 26The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God.
First off I can offer the best of my very self. Every day, I can set it as my goal to give God my very best and ask God to use it for his glory. I can also set aside the first fruits of all that God gives unto me and offer it to God. This is one reason I strive to give God the tithe every Sunday after a payday and a double tithe from any honorariums to my seminary. It’s just my way of giving thanks to God for all his blessings and to give thanks for the good people of the church.
Couple of things Phyllis and I have done to show our thanks to God are; we offer our downstairs area to pastors and friends as a retreat space when they need to get away and study, or simply for their rest and renewal of their very self. It’s been a joy to share our home with others. Then when I received my inheritance from my mom and dad several years ago, we set aside 10% of the inheritance and put it in separate funds and then use 4% of it a year to share with charitable organizations as God leads us. It’s been a joy to have special funds to share with others and to assist in building God’s kingdom on earth.
My question today, how can you express your thankfulness to God for all God has done, is doing and will continue to do in and through your life – for how God blesses you?
O God, thank you for this day you did not promise me, and thank you for my continuing call as Pastor to the people of Community Presbyterian Church, and the Forsyth, MO community. Amen.
Psalm 96 – 3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
By pastordennis, on May 3rd, 2012 Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 – National Day of Prayer
Psalm 47; Exodus 34:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 and Matthew 5:21-26
Psalm 47 – 1 Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth. ….
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
Today is the day set aside by many for prayers for our nation. One of my hopes is that at each of the National Day of Prayer events the people present may remember that God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit is King of all the earth as well as our nation. The focus verse for this year’s event is Psalm 33: 12 – “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
Take time today to pray for our president (whether you agree with him or not, whether you voted for him or not, he is President of the United States of America, pray for the different members of his cabinet, pray for your senators and representatives in Washington D. C., pray for all serving in our military who are near and far, who are serving in peaceful areas and areas of war, pray for their safety one and all. Pray for the government officials in your state: governor, his/her cabinet, those serving as state senators/representatives. Pray for your county officials and local officials. Pray also for those running for office. This is an election year, pray for those seeking to be elected as president and on down to your county government. Each and every one is an important position that should seek to serve the people. Pray for all running for office. Then pray for us, all the people of the USA that we can sense God’s very presence and seek as a nation to honor and serve God who is king over all. Give thanks for our nation where we are free to worship and serve God. Pray that we might continue to be a beacon of light unto the world. Take time today to pray. I’ll be a part of the prayer service in Taney County, Missouri. I’ve been asked to pray for our schools; administrators, teachers and students. One thing I’ll be giving thanks for is the mentors who go in and mentor a student, striving to show God’s love through their presence. May we all do the same through everything we do at home, in our community, in our work places, wherever we find ourselves.
O Lord, today be with our nation. May our leaders and all citizens look to you for guidance and direction, and may we seek to do thy will. Amen.
By pastordennis, on May 2nd, 2012 Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 – Psalm 99; Exodus 33:1-23; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and Matthew 5:17-20
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 – 8So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
As I continue to reflect on the celebration of my ten years of ministry here in Forsyth, one aspect that has become clear to me is that people appreciate me. What I mean by that is that they appreciate that I don’t put on a pretense, I strive to authentic. One of the gals who worked next door to the church said; “Dennis, what I appreciate about you is that you are a real person.” I don’t know how I could be anything but a real person, but I do know what she means for I have seen many Christians – not just pastors – who put on the pretense of being more holy. I think this is what the Scribes and Pharisees did in Jesus’ day.
Sunday during the worship service I showed the real me; not knowing the ten commandments, me turning red (from embarrassment from head to toe), Phyllis sharing the story about broken bottles of beer on the preschool parking lot, me squeaking out the benediction that day. I am me and I don’t know how to be anything else but me.
I have not always been comfortable being me. Early in my ministry, I was very uncomfortable being me. I did not know enough. I wasn’t comfortable in the pulpit. I wasn’t as smart as many pastors, nor as eloquent. But over time, and I’d say especially because of Phyllis’ love of me, as me and as the people of Community Presbyterian Church have supported and encouraged me, I’ve become very comfortable in my own skin – comfortable being me.
Part of our being “me”, being you, is that God loves us for whom we are. It is God who created us and God does not make junk. So, enjoy who you are. Yes, strive to grow in Christ, but enjoy the fact that you are who you are and whose you are. Today celebrate your weaknesses as well as your strengths, your mistakes/failures as well as your successes. Today, celebrate that you are you, and that you are a blessing unto God and unto others.
O God, thanks for being able to use me, as me. Thanks for using every member of your body for whom they are. You use our weaknesses, our failures, as well as our strengths and successes. In fact, a lot of the good that you pass on through us comes from our failures more than our successes. Today, O God, I simply say, thank you for creating me as me, and using me as me within thy kingdom. Thanks for forgiving me of all my sins, and using the gift of forgiveness in the lives of others. Amen.
Psalm 99 – 9 Extol the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy.
By pastordennis, on May 1st, 2012 Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 – Psalm 98; Exodus 32:21-34; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 and Matthew 5:11-16
Matthew 5:11-16 – 13“You are the salt of the earth … 14“You are the light of the world.
Hear our Lord saying those words to you; _(name)_, you are the salt of the earth. _(name)_, you are the light to the world. Not the whole world but the world you find yourself in this day – your family, your neighborhood, your church, your city (and if you live in a large city, your portion of your city). That’s a huge responsibility. Yet, as we abide in Christ who was the salt of the EARTH and the light of the WORLD, we can be just those things for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
So how can we be God’s salt to the earth and God’s light unto the world, even our little section of the world? By seeking to do good (the Godly) instead of evil; by striving to love our neighbor as we love our self. Those are great beginning points.
Today, write these words upon your heart and soul. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Ask God to use you to share his love and his good news with others.
O Lord, your word to us today really challenges us, yet we know that as we abide in you we can do all you ask of us. So, use us this day and may others learn of your love through whom and whose we are, and through what we do and say. Amen.
Psalm 98 – 2 The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. …
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
By pastordennis, on April 30th, 2012 Monday, April 30, 2012 – Psalm 97; Exodus 32:1-20; Colossians 3:18-4:6 (4:7-18) and Matthew 5:1-10
Matthew 5:1-10 – 3“Blessed are ….
Blessed am I with a congregation that appreciates me greatly, with a wife who supports, encourages and is proud of me, a family that does all that as well.
For those of you who don’t know, yesterday the worship service of Community Presbyterian Church was hijacked. We were part way into the worship service and instead of me doing children’s time; the youth became the leader. They asked me to recite the ten commandments. Have you ever had one of those senior moments when you just can’t get your mind to function. Reminded me of seminary and the taking of the Biblical Content exam. Only ordination exam I had to retake. You wouldn’t want me on your whatever trivia team. The ten commandments aren’t trivia, but recalling them in the moment isn’t my best suit. John Keith who was chair of the Pastor Nominations Committee that offered me the call ten years ago, opened the sermon and then Phyllis surprised me by coming up the isle and finishing off the sermon by sharing some comical things that have happened over the years. I didn’t really get a chance to get in the last word. Worship was followed by what I thought was going to be a typical pot luck, but at it they honored me with gifts: three scrapbooks of memories from the last ten years, gift certificate for a weekend getaway to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and a gift card, lots of cards and memory/thanks notes. I am blessed and glad the my family and members of the church and friends feel blessed as well.
There is no real way to say thanks, except to so say unto God; thank you for blessing me with the call to Community Presbyterian Church, thanks for blessing me with my family, thanks for blessing me with a home in the Ozarks. Thanks for making me a blessing unto others. And most importantly thanks you for being God who blesses us. Amen.
Psalm 97 – 12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
By pastordennis, on April 28th, 2012 Saturday, April 28, 2012 – Psalm 114; Exodus 25:1-22; Colossians 3:1-17 and Matthew 4:18-25
Colossians 3:1-17 – 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Matthew 4:18-25 – 18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Today, I’ll give you an either, or devotion. You can either imagine yourself being fully clothed in Christ or you can imagine Jesus waking by and saying to you; “follow me.” Your choice.
If you choose to imagine yourself being clothed in Christ then as you put on your clothes for the day, think of how you clothe yourself in Christ. Notice how our text calls for us to be clothed in Christ on the outside but also on the inside. So; “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. .. and with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Then also put on a forgiving heart and be willing to forgive others as they have forgiven you. Read the passage from Colossians several times, as you sense yourself being clothed in Christ.
If you chose to focus upon Jesus passing by and saying follow me, hear him say to you; “follow me, and I will teach you to be fishers of people.” Follow me. Walk with me. Journey with me, and along the way we’ll invite others to follow me, journey with me. And then we’ll invite others and others and even others.
So, this day imagine yourself being clothed in Christ; inside and out or hear Jesus saying unto you, “follow me.” Or if you are like me, both for following him means to seek to be clothed in him.
O Lord, thanks for your abiding presence with us and your word which calls us a new to follow you and calls us anew this day to be clothed by you. May I seek to do both of these throughout my day, throughout my journey which is called life. Amen.
By pastordennis, on April 27th, 2012 Friday, April 27, 2012 – Psalm 138; Exodus 24:1-18; Colossians 2:8-23 and Matthew 4:12-17
Matthew 4:12-17 – 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Colossians 2:8-23 – 12when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
For me life is a perpetual turning towards God revealed unto me through Jesus Christ. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t find something I need to repent of and turn towards God’s holy love and holy way. Today, we hear our Lord saying unto the people of his day and unto us; “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Repentance is about turning from darkness and turning towards God’s light given in and through Jesus Christ.
I participate in a devotional group with a couple of friends of mine and in it we read passages from scripture for a couple of days and then choose a contemporary Christian song that relates to our readings. Presently we’re reading through the book of Philippians. Susan, one of the other participants shared the song recently, “Your Love” by Brandon Heath. It relates well to life being a journey where we seek love and find love only in God’s love given for us.
Enjoy it and may it be a blessing unto you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfc9y7X3zog
Today turn once again towards God light/love given unto us through Jesus the Christ and find real life and real love.
O Gracious God, on this day that I’ll help people remember and celebrate the life of Bertha Smith may you help me reflect upon my life and your call for me to put my whole faith, hope and love in you. You are the giver of real life. May I repent of all that keeps me from fully experiencing your love given me in Christ. Amen.
Psalm 138 – 1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
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