pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: providing


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God at Work

Reading: Psalm 114:1-4

Psalm 114:4 – “The mountains leaped away like rams; the hills leaped away like lambs!”

Psalm 114 celebrates the exodus from Egypt and the entry into Canaan – the Promised Land. The Israelites were immigrants in a foreign land, enslaved by a cruel Pharaoh. But even then, the people belonged to God. They were “God’s sanctuary… territory.” Through the plagues, God led the people out of Egypt and into the wilderness. And when the Egyptians pursued them, God went to work. Rescuing Israel from fear, meeting their need for protection, God made a way, instilling faith and hope. At times our story holds these elements too: fear and need. When we turn to God, we find hope. The story of God at work in our lives is very different from the self-sufficient image we like to portray to the world.

There are times when life is hard, when we feel insecure, when there are many obstacles. At a point in each of these difficulties, we come to the end of ourselves. We cannot part the sea. We cannot climb the mountain. We cannot navigate the twists and turns of the path. So we turn to the one who has been present all along, patiently waiting. And as we surrender to God, God goes to work. God makes a way. The sea parts. “The mountains leaped away like rams.” God walks the hard path with us. God leads us through, even carrying us some of the time. These memories become the fuel that empowers us to live fully as a child of God, living into who and what we were created by God to be. In the moments of these first steps of faith, we are covered in grace. What a sweet place to be!

Prayer: Lord God, how good life would be if you were always our first thought, our first place to turn. When you are and when we do, peace and joy and contentment are ours. But too often we turn to ourselves, to our desires, wants… Soon we’re underwater, overwhelmed, defeated. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for always making a way. You are an amazing God. Amen.


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Great Love and Compassion

Reading: Luke 7-8:39

Luke 7:50 – “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Luke 7 begins with a story about a man with great faith. The centurion first asks Jesus to come heal his valued servant. He then realizes that he is unworthy to have Jesus come to him. So he sends words, recognizing Jesus’ authority to simply speak a word to heal the servant. It is so.

Jesus next encounters a funeral procession. A widow’s only son has died. With great compassion Jesus resuscitates the son, providing for the widow.

From prison John the Baptist sends some disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one?” Jesus heals many people right then and tells the disciples to tell John what they saw. This is a physical demonstration that fulfills Isaiah 35 and 61. It is Jesus’ “yes” to John’s question. He then laments this current generation’s lack of faith.

Jesus is then invited to dinner at a Pharisee’s home. While there, a sinful woman comes and washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and hair, kissing them and then anointing them with oil. In his thoughts, the Pharisee is condescending of both Jesus and the woman. This leader skipped all the normal hospitality customs. Jesus says to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Her revelation of great love leads to her salvation.

After naming some of the women who support Jesus’ ministry, he tells the parable of the soils. It is about our receptivity to Jesus’ words and example. These women are the good soil. Jesus then encourages us to let our light shine. It is to shine on all soil/soul types.

Jesus then reveals his power over wind and sea before encountering “Legion” – a man long possessed by many demons. The demons recognize Jesus and negotiate release into the pigs. The man is totally healed. The townfolk are awed but are also afraid of Jesus’ unexplainable power. They ask him to leave. The man is told to stay behind, to witness to Jesus’ power. He goes home to “tell the story.”

Prayer: Lord God, you continue to have great love and compassion for us. You respond when we call out in faith. And you sometimes come even when we don’t call out. You know what we need and this drives your responses. Thank you. Amen.