Worst Enemy

Worst Enemy “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalm 51 vs. 2 & 3) Self-forgiveness is always a challenge. My worst characteristic is holding on to my transgressions and errors, feeling bad about things that happened 50 years ago! I believe most people are that way, but I pray they are not. In twelve-step recovery programs making amends to people you may have harmed is part of the process. Working with people over the years has shown me that at least half of those contacted do not remember the offense! That has always intrigued me. If my first statement is a fact, at least half of our internal remorse is unnecessary. We hang on to things that do not matter; we are our own worst enemy. That is not the case written by the Psalmist above. David talks about his affair with Bathsheba, and his conscience is bothering him deeply. He is praying for cleansing and forgiveness and will receive it. The question is, can he accept it? We are very hard on ourselves in our human world and need to develop more robust spiritual growth to find acceptance. Thought for Today: Today, let’s move on with our activities unencumbered by our internal memories. Let’s leave remorse behind and generate some positive memories! Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, like David, we have been holding on to past transgressions. Today, we pray that we may let them go and escape so that they do not affect the work we can do for you in the future. We know you will forgive us, and that is not our issue. Amen

Saint Patrick's Day!

00317 St Patrick’s Day “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5 vs. 1) Growing up in Boston, there was always a large St Patrick’s Day parade and celebration. It was great, mythical fun without a grain of truth. There were stories about a saint who drove the snakes out of Ireland, green beer, and buttons that said everyone was Irish today. Wikipedia does not mention green beer or parades but describes a great man who converted a country. St Patrick was an Irish saint who lived from 387 to 461. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. He allowed the Irish to become free of their demons (maybe snakes?) and experience the grace of Christ. We need to honor him for that today. Thought for Today: Today, let us honor a person who spread our faith and the grace of Jesus to the heathen population. Ok, let’s do it by drinking a toast with green beer. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, we thank Saint Patrick and the many saints of the first millennium. They brought the grace of Christ to the world and made our lives special. We pray that, in some way, we carry on their work. Amen

Hope Through Prayer

 

Hope Through Prayer 

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

(Romans 12 vs. 11 & 12) 

            Hold on to your faith; keep holding on. When the going gets tough, choices are hard, and stress builds, pray about it; turn it over to God. Paul’s letters repeat that repeatedly, and we often do not hear it. Our faith is not always strong, and we can be confused.           

In his message above, he talks about a great way to get through a day, week, or month. He is preaching a way of life through faith to confidence and peace.           

Memorize this one, try it, and you will like it. 

Thought for Today: Let’s attack today with “fervor,” being “joyful,” and by all means prayerfully. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for the day you made for us. We thank you for the opportunity to do your will and contribute to each other’s peace.

Amen

A Still Place

 

 A Still Place 

"Be still and acknowledge that I am God."

 (Psalm 46:10)           

The world is a busy place. Americans are overbooked; families are tied up daily with career and children's activities; empty-nesters seem to have filled the time with commitments; often, retirees do not know how they ever had time to work. That leads to stress, tension, and frequent family failures. That's correct; the family that plays too much together may not have enough quality time to survive. They do not have time to call for help.           

Henry Nouwen says in his book Bread for the Table, "These are words to take with us in our busy lives. We may think about stillness in contrast to our noisy world. But perhaps we can go further and keep an inner stillness even while we carry on. It is important to keep a still place in the "marketplace." This still place is where God can dwell and speak to us. With that stillness, God can be our gentle guide in everything we think and do." 

Do you have a still place? How do you keep your sanity? 

Thought for Today: Influenza, COVID-19, and other conditions in our world are causing many of our friends and neighbors to undergo unplanned life changes. Let us pray that God will be present in their lives as they pursue peace through new opportunities. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, the world around us is confusing, sometimes cruel, and always challenging to understand. Please allow us time to step aside and dwell upon "your will" rather than "our wants and needs." Let us find the peace or stillness to allow "thy will to be done on earth as it is in heaven."

 

Share Your Spirit

 Share Your Spirit

"And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us,

written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,

not on tablets of stone but tablets of human hearts."

(2 Corinthians 3:3)

 

        In the early 1990s, the pastor at our small church introduced the concept that we were all ministers, and his function was facilitator or spiritual leader. He encouraged us to speak our faith, demonstrate our spirituality daily, and reach out to people. He used to say that the average Methodist invited a guest to church every 22 years.

       

In our wildest dreams, we may someday achieve world peace, resolve world hunger, and become an ethnically and racially blended society. When that happens, it will not happen through our politics today. It will be a Godly event that we cannot perceive.

 

        We are all ministers and have the opportunity to work every day towards an improved society. Language and color divide us into nations and social groups. However, there is a common language,".., not on tablets of stone, but tablets of human hearts." We all have a job to do.

Thought for Today: We can easily get caught up in our activities. Families have sports programs, school issues, and business issues, while singles have their way of filling the week. Yes, most people in the world keep busy. Today, let us seek the opportunity to demonstrate and share our spirit with someone.

 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, today we thank you for the people you placed in our lives who have supported and led us to grace. Today, we pray for the opportunity to contribute to your will here on earth.

Amen

 

Respect

00213 Respect 

"Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers, they succeed."

(Proverbs 15:22) 

        Earning respect is an ongoing challenge throughout our lives. According to the book of Proverbs, communication will make other people want to connect with us. Proverbs 15vs22 talks about the benefits of good counseling and sound advice.

       

"Two people working together are four times better than the best of the two alone.

Also, three heads are nine times better than the best of the three working alone."  There are no scientific studies to confirm this, but it is true at some level. Sharing our thoughts and advice makes us all stronger.

       

To earn respect, be a willing advisor. Share your experiences, your knowledge, and goodwill with those in need. Share that precious intellectual property that God has allowed you to accumulate. Earn respect through sharing.

Thought for Today: Today, let us think about helping others through our experienced advice. Try hard to let others help us. Listen and share as Proverbs advises us and observe how much better we feel when we practice sharing.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we pray for peace and tranquility for those around us and throughout the world. We pray that somehow our life's experiences may be shared and used as an example of your will.

Amen

 

  

 

Excellence

Excellence 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

 (Colossus 3:23-27, NIV) 

            One of my expressions or a “Pickeringism” is  that all days are not created equal. Here is an example. There are days that we are full of boundless energy and others when we are as flat as pancakes. However, these feelings are mental, physical, and emotional states, and they do not affect our hearts, just our performance or output.           

As a long-term weekend athlete, there have been too many days when only the heart showed up for the workout; the arms, legs, and head wanted to go back to bed. There were many days when that’s how the day started, but the performance was in the excellent range when it ended.           

One of my best friends and a four-time Olympic athlete relates to this. Pat has trained every day of his life, and he can relate to the fact that the heart and head often lead the body, “ …  work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,” and you will be rewarded with excellence. Excellence starts with believing in yourself and the Lord; the rest will follow. 

Thought for Today: Remember that “All days are not created equal.” On the day we want to go back to bed, let us trust our hearts and move out, take the leap of faith, and give ourselves the chance to exhibit the excellence God wants us to share.  

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your ongoing presence in our lives. When we are physically worn, you help us recover; when emotionally drained, you recharge our spirits. We thank you for always being with us. Amen