I hope you enjoyed our series on Exodus as much as I did! It was wonderful to hear again these wonderful stories of God interacting with God's people.
Why did I enjoy it so much?! I have been mulling that question over for a few days now. These stories are vivid, exciting ones that are worthy of Hollywood movies. They follow people who move from slavery to freedom who show a combination of fear and trust as they follow God's leading.
Perhaps I have enjoyed this series because they are stories of us and me. No, I've never been in slavery to a cruel master, but we have heard in the past month from many who are. I have never truly gone hungry in my life, but I have met many people who have. While I have enjoyed my life's journey there have been days that I want to cry out like the Israelite people: " ..why have you brought me out to die in this desert?"
Following our life path isn't as easy as the financial company whose TV advertisements show a green path on the ground that promises good things if we just follow. My life's path has had many unexpected twists and turns that have brought great joy and great heartache, new challenges and ones that just won't go away easily. Through it all I have felt the presence and God rising to lead me forward one day at a time.
The Exodus story for me is about faith. Faith of people in a God who shows faith in them as well. In the end, that's exactly what I need to move me forward in my faith journey! I guess that is why I have enjoyed this series so much....
Shalom,
Paul Petersen
Campus Minister/ELC Intern/Faith Traveler
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Upcoming Blog Topics
Last Sunday, English Lutheran Church completed our Exodus Series in the "Book of Faith" initiative. Our "Book of Faith" initiative will return this summer when we examine the formative early years in the Kingdom of Israel and the towering figures of Joshua, Samuel, David and Solomon. Thank you to our faithful readers from all over the world.
Our ELC Blog continues with the focus shifting to Lent. Ash Wednesday, March 9, marks the beginning of seven weeks of Lent. During Lent, our bloggers will continue to post their thoughts and reflections on a regular basis.
We encourage our readers to add their comments to any of our blogs. The Holy Spirit works through all of us and I am sure we will be enriched by your thoughts also.
Our ELC Blog continues with the focus shifting to Lent. Ash Wednesday, March 9, marks the beginning of seven weeks of Lent. During Lent, our bloggers will continue to post their thoughts and reflections on a regular basis.
We encourage our readers to add their comments to any of our blogs. The Holy Spirit works through all of us and I am sure we will be enriched by your thoughts also.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Everybody's Got Something to Offer
Exodus 35-36
I love this passage even though it does get to be repetitive at times. Blue, Purple and Crimson yarns! [Each of those colors was extremely difficult to dye well and the materials for each were quite rare]. What grabs me is the desire of God to be honored in the work of our hands. Spinners, weavers, carpenters, metal workers, tanners, oil pressers, incense makers, rope makers, miners and jewelers. The Artisan's skill and understanding is yet another gift from God.
As an artisan of sorts (painter, rigger, writer, administrator [yes, skill and understanding come into play there too], designer, teacher, cook) I am always gratified when I can use the gifts I have for the church. Art is one way that God speaks through us. Everyone can think of music, poetry, paintings or other works of art that have given you a little frisson or a passing glimpse into the divine.
When we speak of stewardship we often think only of tithing our monetary income. How can we tithe back our talents as well? What are your talents? Think the church doesn't need them? Think again. If we do the work of God in the world, what gifts are not useful? Whatever gifts God has given we can and should use to His glory and to build his church. Imagine if we all tithed back our talents?
" So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing; for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work."
Amen. Let it be so.
Paul Sannerud
I love this passage even though it does get to be repetitive at times. Blue, Purple and Crimson yarns! [Each of those colors was extremely difficult to dye well and the materials for each were quite rare]. What grabs me is the desire of God to be honored in the work of our hands. Spinners, weavers, carpenters, metal workers, tanners, oil pressers, incense makers, rope makers, miners and jewelers. The Artisan's skill and understanding is yet another gift from God.
As an artisan of sorts (painter, rigger, writer, administrator [yes, skill and understanding come into play there too], designer, teacher, cook) I am always gratified when I can use the gifts I have for the church. Art is one way that God speaks through us. Everyone can think of music, poetry, paintings or other works of art that have given you a little frisson or a passing glimpse into the divine.
When we speak of stewardship we often think only of tithing our monetary income. How can we tithe back our talents as well? What are your talents? Think the church doesn't need them? Think again. If we do the work of God in the world, what gifts are not useful? Whatever gifts God has given we can and should use to His glory and to build his church. Imagine if we all tithed back our talents?
" So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing; for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work."
Amen. Let it be so.
Paul Sannerud
Thursday, February 24, 2011
An Intimate Longing and The Grace of Love
If you read through the Book of Exodus, assessing it as a string of stories about slavery, laws, trials and long ago divine experiences, I encourage you to read it again. In the midst of these stories, are pictures of God's enduring love and desire to build, sustain and honor an intimate relationship with all God's people, then and now.
The Ten Commandments and statutes God proclaimed though Moses were meant to free a struggling people, to preserve and strengthen relationships within a homeless, wandering community, and to strengthen and value the relationship between these people and a faithful God who longed for them to draw near.
I find myself thinking about faith and character when I read these stories. Forty years in the desert is a long time for multi-generations to endure. In my own life, it is not always easy for me to reconcile that God's timing and mine may differ. What I have learned though is faith does not exist in the outcome or when all is well, that at any time we see but a piece or pieces of the whole picture. And prayerfully. sometimes my character and relationship with God is deepened in the journey. Yet during those times when I falter. I can look to the Grace of God for restoration.
Exodus 16: 15,16 speaks to Moses relaying the message that God had given each and every person enough bread according to their needs, and that all person be given the means to partake. During the Last Supper, Christ commends the Disciples (today this would be us) to partake of this bread in remembrance of Christ, of God's great and enduring love for us.
I see the Book of Exodus as a story of God's intimate longing for us, and a reminder of the Grace we receive every day because of God's infinite love. What do you see?
Shalom,
Susan Moss
The Ten Commandments and statutes God proclaimed though Moses were meant to free a struggling people, to preserve and strengthen relationships within a homeless, wandering community, and to strengthen and value the relationship between these people and a faithful God who longed for them to draw near.
I find myself thinking about faith and character when I read these stories. Forty years in the desert is a long time for multi-generations to endure. In my own life, it is not always easy for me to reconcile that God's timing and mine may differ. What I have learned though is faith does not exist in the outcome or when all is well, that at any time we see but a piece or pieces of the whole picture. And prayerfully. sometimes my character and relationship with God is deepened in the journey. Yet during those times when I falter. I can look to the Grace of God for restoration.
Exodus 16: 15,16 speaks to Moses relaying the message that God had given each and every person enough bread according to their needs, and that all person be given the means to partake. During the Last Supper, Christ commends the Disciples (today this would be us) to partake of this bread in remembrance of Christ, of God's great and enduring love for us.
I see the Book of Exodus as a story of God's intimate longing for us, and a reminder of the Grace we receive every day because of God's infinite love. What do you see?
Shalom,
Susan Moss
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Ten Commandments:
I had to keep in mind that this is Exodus - part of the LAW of God. Yes he wants us to envision the thunder and lightning, being fearful and taking these words to be serious and important. No symbolism and prober teaching, just ten clear cut rules for a blue print on living, for living a faithful life.
But because we are human, we can never keep all the commandments because of our sinful nature. That is why the GRACE of GOD is so important. If we believe in God, he will forgive all our sins. This is the good message!
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.”
Julie
But because we are human, we can never keep all the commandments because of our sinful nature. That is why the GRACE of GOD is so important. If we believe in God, he will forgive all our sins. This is the good message!
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.”
Julie
Friday, February 18, 2011
Get the message
Exodus 24:12
And the LORD said to Moses: “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”
Reading this thousands of years later, it’s easy to think that Moses willingly followed God’s command. Would you today?
And, how would God correspond with us today? Would he tweet the message, send us an e-mail, or give us a text? Would (or do) we get the message and act on it?
To Moses, the messages written in stone were probably out of the ordinary. Yet, he trusted the LORD, did as the LORD commanded and then took the message to his people.
Let us pray. Dear God, we ask that we be like Moses: receptive of your message and willing to follow your command. Amen.
Brad Q
Sunday, February 13, 2011
When all Else Fails, Surrender
I find it encouraging to learn that the story of Exodus is not so much a story of Moses versus Pharaoh or even God versus Pharaoh, but rather a story of God versus evil. A story of the God of the Israelites
versus the gods of Egypt. And how much hope and comfort for God's people, then and now, to know that God is more powerful than evil. Yes, God used Moses to deliver his people from Egypt, but only God could free his people from slavery, only God could overcome evil. Moses' job was to obey God so that God could do his job of freeing his people.
Sometimes I find it difficult to surrender to God because God doesn't do things the way I would, or the way I want. Sometimes God's timing is not my timing. Sometimes God's order is not my order. Moses must have felt this way at times. First of all, Moses was 80 years old when God called him to this large task of freeing his people from slavery in Egypt. I wonder if Moses thought that his opportunity to help his people had long passed. Then, think of the plagues the Lord sent on Egypt - 10 in all. Why so many, and why so severe? But Moses obeyed, trusting that God would keep his word of freeing his people from slavery. And God did keep his word.
I think the story of Exodus demonstrates God's patience. Why didn't Moses surrender immediately when God called him at the burning bush? But God was persistent with Moses and wouldn't let him say no. Why didn't Pharaoh surrender after the first plague, or the 2nd, or 3rd? Why did Pharaoh cause the people to suffer so much? Could he not see the hand of a mighty God at work? Why am I
slow to surrender at times? When I feel God's nudge, when I feel him tugging on my heart, why I don't I obey immediately? Why do I sometimes need to suffer just as Pharaoh made the people suffer, before I will obey God?
Gracious and Loving God, don't let my heart be hard like Pharaoh's was. Open my eyes to see you in my life and help me to respond to your call quickly. Help me to hear your voice and to trust it. Help me to surrender to you, God, so that your kingdom can come.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Cara Hartfield
versus the gods of Egypt. And how much hope and comfort for God's people, then and now, to know that God is more powerful than evil. Yes, God used Moses to deliver his people from Egypt, but only God could free his people from slavery, only God could overcome evil. Moses' job was to obey God so that God could do his job of freeing his people.
Sometimes I find it difficult to surrender to God because God doesn't do things the way I would, or the way I want. Sometimes God's timing is not my timing. Sometimes God's order is not my order. Moses must have felt this way at times. First of all, Moses was 80 years old when God called him to this large task of freeing his people from slavery in Egypt. I wonder if Moses thought that his opportunity to help his people had long passed. Then, think of the plagues the Lord sent on Egypt - 10 in all. Why so many, and why so severe? But Moses obeyed, trusting that God would keep his word of freeing his people from slavery. And God did keep his word.
I think the story of Exodus demonstrates God's patience. Why didn't Moses surrender immediately when God called him at the burning bush? But God was persistent with Moses and wouldn't let him say no. Why didn't Pharaoh surrender after the first plague, or the 2nd, or 3rd? Why did Pharaoh cause the people to suffer so much? Could he not see the hand of a mighty God at work? Why am I
slow to surrender at times? When I feel God's nudge, when I feel him tugging on my heart, why I don't I obey immediately? Why do I sometimes need to suffer just as Pharaoh made the people suffer, before I will obey God?
Gracious and Loving God, don't let my heart be hard like Pharaoh's was. Open my eyes to see you in my life and help me to respond to your call quickly. Help me to hear your voice and to trust it. Help me to surrender to you, God, so that your kingdom can come.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Cara Hartfield
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)