Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)
Give us this day our daily bread… (Matthew 6:11)
I don’t know why, but I always have to think twice about Jesus’ words, “I am the bread of life.” I get it – Jesus came into the world to give us life, to sustain us with what we need and bring us eternal life, but the whole bread thing, for some reason, I get stuck on that.
Bread is an important source of nutrition for every culture in the world. Baguette, tortilla, naan, challah, pita, rye, sourdough, banana. The popular low-carb diets really go against everything that we have been taught about eating well. Removing bread from our diet doesn’t seem natural.
And so Jesus, calling himself the bread of life, was speaking in terms that would be familiar to everyone, and for all time. In calling himself the bread of life, Jesus was reminding us that our faith has to do with things of heaven, and also with the things of earth. “Christianity cannot be reduced to a concern with the spiritual things alone. It also has to do with the earthly, the fleshly, the bodily, the physical.” (French p 70)
We need to care not only for our spiritual health, but also our physical health. We must first put on our own oxygen mask before we can help anyone else. We need to pay attention our life in the world, and that includes not only our diet, but our outlook, our exercise habits and our community. (see http://www.bluezones.com/)
When we pray give us this day our daily bread, we are praying for “whatever we need to protect the gift” of life that we have been given by God. (French p 70)
Prayer for today
Help us, gracious God, to care for ourselves so we can care for the world you have created. Amen.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18: 19-20)
Give us each day our daily bread… (Luke 11:3)
Sometimes, when introducing the Lord’s Prayer we say “we are bold to pray in the words that Jesus taught us.” It is true. Not only do we pray about what Jesus teaches us about God’s name and God’s kingdom on earth and in heaven, but we pray about the will of God. It seems like we are being very bold to presume that we might know the will of God. But we pray in words Jesus taught us and so we feel comfortable talking to God in such a familiar way.
Even more boldly, after acknowledging God’s greatness, we begin to ask for things that we want and require. Make sure God, we ask, that we have all that we need. “Give us each day our daily bread.”
It seems like a no-brainer. God provides at least the daily essentials, food, shelter, and clothing. And so we acknowledge that in this prayer, and we give thanks.
Each day when I drive home from work I exit off of 35W at Diamond Lake Road. There is usually someone standing at the top of the exit ramp holding a sign that says something like this: “homeless, totally desperate, anything helps, God bless.” I always hope that there is a green light or a line of cars on the ramp so I will wait a little farther back. This prevents me from sitting in my car close enough to the homeless person to make eye contact. I am ashamed to admit it, but these people make me uncomfortable and I don’t know what I can or should do to help them. I’ve heard that handing money out of the car window isn’t the best idea. So every day I just drive past with a pang of guilt.
Henry French reminds us of one important word in this petition of the Lord’s Prayer. “Our” We are not praying for just ourselves individually. We are praying for the whole people of God. He reminds us that “When anyone suffers, we all suffer; when things go well for anyone, things go well for everyone. As the seventeenth century English poet John Donne so beautifully put it, “Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind.” (French p 68)
Even as we pray and hope for God to give us our daily bread, and as we give thanks for what we have, we know that there are many people in the world who do not have what they need. My prayer today is that we will do whatever we can with whatever we have to make sure that all people receive their daily bread. God help us.
Prayer for today
Good and gracious God, please help us to act when we can help, share what we have, and to remember that we live in an imperfect world. We are your hands and your feet. Show us the way. Amen.
Give us each day our daily bread… (Luke 11:3)
Sometimes, when introducing the Lord’s Prayer we say “we are bold to pray in the words that Jesus taught us.” It is true. Not only do we pray about what Jesus teaches us about God’s name and God’s kingdom on earth and in heaven, but we pray about the will of God. It seems like we are being very bold to presume that we might know the will of God. But we pray in words Jesus taught us and so we feel comfortable talking to God in such a familiar way.
Even more boldly, after acknowledging God’s greatness, we begin to ask for things that we want and require. Make sure God, we ask, that we have all that we need. “Give us each day our daily bread.”
It seems like a no-brainer. God provides at least the daily essentials, food, shelter, and clothing. And so we acknowledge that in this prayer, and we give thanks.
Each day when I drive home from work I exit off of 35W at Diamond Lake Road. There is usually someone standing at the top of the exit ramp holding a sign that says something like this: “homeless, totally desperate, anything helps, God bless.” I always hope that there is a green light or a line of cars on the ramp so I will wait a little farther back. This prevents me from sitting in my car close enough to the homeless person to make eye contact. I am ashamed to admit it, but these people make me uncomfortable and I don’t know what I can or should do to help them. I’ve heard that handing money out of the car window isn’t the best idea. So every day I just drive past with a pang of guilt.
Henry French reminds us of one important word in this petition of the Lord’s Prayer. “Our” We are not praying for just ourselves individually. We are praying for the whole people of God. He reminds us that “When anyone suffers, we all suffer; when things go well for anyone, things go well for everyone. As the seventeenth century English poet John Donne so beautifully put it, “Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind.” (French p 68)
Even as we pray and hope for God to give us our daily bread, and as we give thanks for what we have, we know that there are many people in the world who do not have what they need. My prayer today is that we will do whatever we can with whatever we have to make sure that all people receive their daily bread. God help us.
Prayer for today
Good and gracious God, please help us to act when we can help, share what we have, and to remember that we live in an imperfect world. We are your hands and your feet. Show us the way. Amen.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Your will be done… (Matthew 6:10)
When I was still a seminary student, my friend’s 6 week old son became very ill. For weeks, this little tiny boy was in the hospital, hooked up to machines and tubes, fighting for his life. I will never forget, during one visit to the pediatric ICU, praying together with an older pastor and my friend. The pastor prayed words that made me wonder about God’s will and our will. The pastor prayed, “God, we pray for healing, but if that is not your will, we ask for strength and acceptance.”
I’m not sure if I’m remembering the exact words of the prayer, but I remember wondering how we should pray in such a situation. And so I went back to the seminary that afternoon and asked one of my professors what he would have done. He said something similar to what Paul told the Philippians. He said we should pray like crazy for what we wish and hope for. We should let all of our requests be made known to God. God will guide us and strengthen us along the way, no matter what happens.
Eleven years later, my friend’s son is wonderful, healthy and happy and strong. God answered our prayers for healing, and God also answered our prayers for strength. It isn’t God’s will for us to suffer but suffering happens anyway. God’s will is that we “pray always and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)
So pray like crazy. About anything and everything. Let your requests be made known to God, then listen. God will show you what to do.
Prayer for today
Listening and loving God, thank you for hearing everything that I say, and knowing everything that I need. Help me to feel your guidance, and to remember that my strength comes from you. Amen.
Your will be done… (Matthew 6:10)
When I was still a seminary student, my friend’s 6 week old son became very ill. For weeks, this little tiny boy was in the hospital, hooked up to machines and tubes, fighting for his life. I will never forget, during one visit to the pediatric ICU, praying together with an older pastor and my friend. The pastor prayed words that made me wonder about God’s will and our will. The pastor prayed, “God, we pray for healing, but if that is not your will, we ask for strength and acceptance.”
I’m not sure if I’m remembering the exact words of the prayer, but I remember wondering how we should pray in such a situation. And so I went back to the seminary that afternoon and asked one of my professors what he would have done. He said something similar to what Paul told the Philippians. He said we should pray like crazy for what we wish and hope for. We should let all of our requests be made known to God. God will guide us and strengthen us along the way, no matter what happens.
Eleven years later, my friend’s son is wonderful, healthy and happy and strong. God answered our prayers for healing, and God also answered our prayers for strength. It isn’t God’s will for us to suffer but suffering happens anyway. God’s will is that we “pray always and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)
So pray like crazy. About anything and everything. Let your requests be made known to God, then listen. God will show you what to do.
Prayer for today
Listening and loving God, thank you for hearing everything that I say, and knowing everything that I need. Help me to feel your guidance, and to remember that my strength comes from you. Amen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)
“Your will be done, on earth as in heaven…” (Matthew 6:10)
Sometimes I have trouble talking to people about my faith. I can be intimidated because it seems like my conversation partner is more knowledgeable than I am about the bible, about prayer, or even about faith itself. Some people have a certain kind of language about their faith. They have certain expectations of how Christian people should act.
While we each have our traditions and practices, I don’t think that God prescribes one particular way for us to live in the world. To do God’s will on earth as in heaven is to love one another as God loves us. If we remember that, we will always be evangelists, speaking and living the good news of God’s love, God’s justice, God’s forgiveness, God’s compassion, and God’s salvation. (French p 61)
Prayer for today
Loving God, help me to share my faith with everyone I encounter by being your loving presence in the world. Let each of us show that we are your disciples because of the love that we show for one another. Amen.
“Your will be done, on earth as in heaven…” (Matthew 6:10)
Sometimes I have trouble talking to people about my faith. I can be intimidated because it seems like my conversation partner is more knowledgeable than I am about the bible, about prayer, or even about faith itself. Some people have a certain kind of language about their faith. They have certain expectations of how Christian people should act.
While we each have our traditions and practices, I don’t think that God prescribes one particular way for us to live in the world. To do God’s will on earth as in heaven is to love one another as God loves us. If we remember that, we will always be evangelists, speaking and living the good news of God’s love, God’s justice, God’s forgiveness, God’s compassion, and God’s salvation. (French p 61)
Prayer for today
Loving God, help me to share my faith with everyone I encounter by being your loving presence in the world. Let each of us show that we are your disciples because of the love that we show for one another. Amen.
O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help, like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. (Selah) You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you.
Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me. You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness. (Psalm 88 – A Psalm of lament)
…What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
Your will be done… (Matthew 6:10)
What does it mean for us to do God’s will, to walk humbly with God? It means that we stay in relationship with God, no matter what.
Much of our language of worship and prayer is praise. We emphasize the importance of praising and thanking God for our blessings and the abundance of our life. Both praise and thanksgiving are important parts of our relationship and communication with God.
But what do we do when things aren’t going so great? What happens if we get angry with God or if we feel like God isn’t even there for us anymore? It is during these times that the Psalms of lament teach us how to pray, and how to continue our humble walk with God.
God’s will for us is to be in relationship with God, and that means we can bring everything to God; our joy and our thanks, and our sadness and our anger. God wants to hear it all. God can take it. And even in our anger, God will strengthen us, and guide us and walk with us as we walk humbly with God.
For more on praying the Psalms of lament, read the sermon written by The Rev. Michael Rogness, http://saplc.org/ministry/sermons/sr070228.php
Prayer for today
Merciful God, please help me to remember that you are with me in good times, and in bad. Give me confidence to pray in joy and in anger, knowing that you hear me and love me always. Amen.
Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me. You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness. (Psalm 88 – A Psalm of lament)
…What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
Your will be done… (Matthew 6:10)
What does it mean for us to do God’s will, to walk humbly with God? It means that we stay in relationship with God, no matter what.
Much of our language of worship and prayer is praise. We emphasize the importance of praising and thanking God for our blessings and the abundance of our life. Both praise and thanksgiving are important parts of our relationship and communication with God.
But what do we do when things aren’t going so great? What happens if we get angry with God or if we feel like God isn’t even there for us anymore? It is during these times that the Psalms of lament teach us how to pray, and how to continue our humble walk with God.
God’s will for us is to be in relationship with God, and that means we can bring everything to God; our joy and our thanks, and our sadness and our anger. God wants to hear it all. God can take it. And even in our anger, God will strengthen us, and guide us and walk with us as we walk humbly with God.
For more on praying the Psalms of lament, read the sermon written by The Rev. Michael Rogness, http://saplc.org/ministry/sermons/sr070228.php
Prayer for today
Merciful God, please help me to remember that you are with me in good times, and in bad. Give me confidence to pray in joy and in anger, knowing that you hear me and love me always. Amen.
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