Will I Praise Jesus all Week Long?

I love Passion Sunday, commonly referred to as Palm Sunday.  There's a buzz in the air.  It's one of the few Sundays in the church year when Lutherans are encouraged to wave our hands as we praise God.  Children parade through the sanctuary singing "all glory, laud, and honor to you Redeemer King!"  This is worship!  You can almost feel a sense of relief that the contemplative season of Lent is drawing to a close and Easter is almost here.  As I leave worship, I am renewed, and I can barely wait to return to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord.

But wait.  There's more.  There is so much more  that will happen between Passion Sunday and Easter Sunday, and I need to be a part of it.  I need to praise Jesus all week long.  I need to be with Jesus all week long.  It's easy to praise Jesus when the crowd is praising Jesus.  The Jesus who healed the sick, fed the multitudes, calmed the sea, and raised Lazarus from the dead.  But I need to praise Jesus all week long.

But will I praise Jesus all week long?  Will I praise the Jesus who washed the Disciples' feet, modeling what it means to be a servant?  Will I praise the Jesus who kissed the very friend who would betray him?  Will I praise Jesus when he stands defenseless before Pilate, while he is sentenced to be crucified?  Will I still be praising Jesus when he prays "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do?"  Will I praise Jesus when he dies on the cross for my sins?

I need to praise Jesus all week long.  I need to take the journey all the way to the cross with Jesus.  But will I?  Will you take the journey with me?

Dear Lord God, help me to not be tempted to "fast forward" to Easter Sunday.  Give me the faith and courage to take the journey all the way to the cross with Jesus.  Grant me the humility to see my own sin as I take this journey.  God of Mercy, thank you for the gift of your Son.  May I praise him all week long.

In His name we pray,  Amen.

Cara Hartfield

Breathe in Life

“Thus says the Lord God to these dry bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live” (Ezekiel 37:5, NRSV)

Pastor Melinda’s sermon this week reminded us that God breathes life into us when we feel as dry and dead as the bones of Ezekiel’s vision. Just as he entered the stench and death of Lazarus’ tomb to restore life, God will renew us.

Throughout Ezekiel 37, the word for breath is ruwach, which can also be translated as wind, spirit or Holy Spirit, according to a trusty Hebrew lexicon. Ruwach appears in Genesis 1:2 in the creation of the world, with Moses when he divided the Red Sea in Exodus 14:21, and in Psalm 104 when He renews the Earth. God’s breath/spirit has been present since the beginning of creation and continues to create within us.

As we prepare for the holiest week of the year, I invite you to breathe in His renewing spirit. Perhaps you will incorporate breath prayers into your day, meditate on the words of the hymn “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”, or simply breathe and know that He is here.

~Rachel  

‘I am the resurrection'

A commentary on John 11:1-45


Jesus’ conversation with Martha in this passage includes one of the biggest “Good News” messages in the whole New Testament. When Jesus finally arrives he finds Martha distraught because Lazarus had died. But, Martha believes in Jesus, telling him that she knows if he had arrived earlier, Lazarus would have lived.
         Jesus flat out tells Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” Martha replies.

Oh, to have the faith that Marha had.

         
Let us pray: “Dear Jesus: We ask that we may have the understanding and faith that Martha had in you. Amen.”


-Brad Q

Step 1: I Admit That I Am Addicted… to Me.

The title of Karen Armstrong's new book Twelve Steps To A Compassionate Life brings to mind the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. First we must admit that we are addicted -- addicted to our ego -- "our pet hatreds and prejudices give us such a buzz of righteousness; like addicts we have come to depend on the instant rush of energy and delight we feel when we display our cleverness in an unkind remark..."

Blindness takes many forms. Color blindness, night blindness and macular degeneration are physiological.
Then there are the spiritual blindnesses: walking past a beggar without seeing him, the inability to see the hurt of an insensitive comment, the self blindness of criticizing another's faults but not seeing one's own.  Is it possible that we are all born blind in some way " so that God's works may be revealed in us" [John 9:3]?

When we give up something for Lent -- what fills in its place? Do we give that space to something else we indulge in? Or do we open up that created space and time to God so that he may be revealed in us? Can I give up the blindness of of ego to become more compassionate? Can I give up the blindness of being "right" in favor of just being kind?

Lord, help me to see the beauty in each person I encounter. may I give up to you space and time in my life so that your love will be revealed to others through me.

Amen. Amein. Ameen.

Paul Sannerud

Our Journey Through Lent, In Community

I've been thinking about my blogs on Exodus, the Sabbath and Ash Wednesday...and how in real life their essences intertwine...like flowing streams of water....in and around community.


Here goes.....

As I reflect on Psalm 51:10, the words seem to express well the heart of Ash Wednesday and Lent: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a right spirit within me.” Up to a certain point, I believe it is safe to say you and I can assess the health of our spirit through Scripture, Prayer and our relationship with God. Yet to gain a true and fuller understanding of who we are in heart and spirit, we also rely on others to mirror our presence and our actions (whether or not we agree).

Those colorful Old Testament stories expound on the creation of community life...with all their struggles and joys. In Exodus, we read about the spiritual and practical plight of the Israelite community in the desert... during which time they received God's Ten Commandments. The first two spoke of loving God and of loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Then and now, amidst the complexities and richness of differing cultures across this globe, I believe in some way we are all meant to live in community.

The early celebrations of the Sabbath and Holy Days, wherever possible, took place in community, whether this meant family, the body of the Temple, or a village.

Today, whenever we gather for worship, as I take and receive communion, I am reminded of both: my communion with God in Christ and my communion with others by God's grace.

Reflecting upon Lent, I believe this time of reflection and cleansing is meant to be journeyed both individually and collectively. The Last Supper or Passover Feast was a communal event. This is where the gifts of communion began and where we are invited to lively fully, before, during and after Lent.

As I reflect upon my relationship with God, may my reflections also include my life in community.

“Like a roaming stream that knows no end, but for Your Grace I'd go my way.”

Shalom,

Susan Moss

The Man Born Blind John 9:1-41

The Man Born Blind John 9:1-41

Remember the saying “looking through rose colored glasses” or similar seeing two dimensional instead of three dimensional. We in our human minds think we see everything but we don’t. Through trusting and having faith in God we can see things and circumstances differently or more clearly. Believing in God we have the ability to see the world and our own lives differently which makes a difference in how we live our lives.

So then the more we have faith and trust in God does this shift our paradigm of our life?

Julie

Life Lived Between The Dust

I've been thinking this past week about the words spoken on Ash Wednesday, "From dust you come, to dust you shall return." We hear these words every year as a Cross of Ashes is placed on our foreheads. I wonder how often these words so familiar to my/our ears are reflected on afterward.

This past week marked the anniversary of my beloved friend's memorial. Susan lived a full and vibrant life of nearly 70 years. She was a wife, companion, mother, foster mother, grandparent, animal lover, therapist, writer, and during her off and on battle with cancer a champion to many near and far. She lived her life passionately, with love, compassion, tears and laughter. In the end, Susan was cremated and "returned to the earth as dust." Yet I believe her spirit lives on.

I can say assuredly, having known Susan for over 34 years, that during her lifetime between “coming from dust and returning to dust” Susan was a blessing to more people than she could have ever known. Susan was Jewish. She loved God and reflected on her life as a gift....before and during her illness.

During a recent group meet, we talked about the miracles found in 'ordinary days.' So what do I reflect on in all this.....how do I spend my time in the ordinary dailyness of “coming from and returning to dust?” Do I spend enough time 'just being' with God and sensing God's presence in my life in the midst of, and outside familiar daily happenings?

We each have a path to walk....it's my hope that I am ever mindful of walking this path, between and in the midst of dust, with God. What about you?

Shalom,
Susan Moss