Wednesday Words: Remember

 

Wednesday May 22^nd 2024

You may notice that this is being posted on a Thursday, and also that I have not posted for a few weeks. That’s because I didn’t remember to do it!

So today’s word is REMEMBER.

So often we fail to remember an errand, a birthday, an appointment, or someone’s name. It slips our mind, or we failed to add it to the calendar. Just as I have failed to take the time to sit and write about the word that is standing out in my week.

This is usually a short-lived or momentary lapse of memory. And often we recall too late!

In a few days we will honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in military service. We remember them and the gift they gave. We set aside a day of the year to remember all those who served yet did not survive. They signed on to serve, knowing it could also mean to sacrifice.

[Let me take this minute to remind you that Memorial Day is the Day we remember those who died; Veterans’ Day is for honoring those who served and are living.]

As we remember those who sacrificed for our freedom, let’s also remember those they left behind, those who miss them still no matter how long it has been.

And while we’re remembering those who sacrificed, let’s remember The One who suffered for our sins so we need not. Yes – remember Jesus Christ paid that price to save you.

 Wednesday April 17^th 2024

Today’s word is MISSION.

When we think of Christ’s directive to “GO” we often stop there. We focus on the going, and think of places far away. We think of preaching, or medical mission work, in places where the Bible and the written word aren’t available.

Did we listen to Christ when he said to go into Jerusalem? For those people that was home! It wasn’t a far-off land.

Jesus wants us to be on mission to – and in ministry with – the people in our own backyard, the people who live a few miles away, the people we see at work and school and in the neighborhood.

It isn’t ju st preaching – it’s healing and serving and feeding. It’s being real. It’s doing life.

Living our faith is a way of mission. Sometimes we try to “fit in” among those who are not believers, rather than trying to be different, WHY? We are different. We should allow ourselves to be seen as different from those who do not have Jesus in their lives. We also need to be approachable and willing to serve along with those who do not so that they can see the difference Jesus makes in our lives.

Do you know people who do not belong to a faith community? There is your mission field. Love them. Serve them. Serve alongside them. Answer their questions. Be a light on their path.

You are doing mission. And discipleship means being on mission.

 

Wednesday April 10^th 2024

Today’s word is BOLDNESS.

Sometimes it is necessary to step out of our comfort zone. Sometimes to speak up when we are unsure. And sometimes this requires stepping out and speaking up in front of people who might openly criticize or oppose us.

No one likes to be criticized – and though criticism and correction should be done privately we all know that there are some people who feel more powerful by doing it publicly. Being called out or corrected in front of colleagues or friends is embarrassing. It makes us look bad professionally. In certain instances it is a detriment to our position, career, or relationship.

I am thinking of the scripture where the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they spoke out about Jesus boldly.  In Acts 4, verse 31, we read “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” [Take the time to read the preceding verses to get the setting.]

I am thinking of times when Paul was in jail – or threatened – and yet he spoke boldly about his faith and about Jesus and salvation. Look at Ephesians 6, verses 19-20 for instance: “And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”

We may not find ourselves in such dire situations, yet we have to step out in boldness when others counter us about our beliefs. We must also temper that boldness with the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. For boldness alone can make enemies and get us in trouble. Boldness under God’s guidance can be a powerful witness.

So are there times when you have hesitated to step out or speak up? Are there times when you have felt the Holy Spirit nudge you to do or say something and you did not?

Pray for the guidance to know when to act and speak boldly. Let God do the rest.

 

Wednesday April 3^rd 2024

How was Lent for you? Did you fast? Did you pray? Did you contemplate?

How was Easter? Did you rejoice? Celebrate?

Today’s Word is CONTINUE.

Whatever you did during Lent that brought you closer to the Lord – continue it!

Just because the season of Lent is over doesn’t mean we stop praying the Psalms, stop contemplating what God is saying to us, or stop listening for his leading.

Just because Easter was Sunday doesn’t mean we stop celebrating The Resurrection on Monday.

Did you give up something for Lent? Was it an unhealthy food or a bad habit? Continue not eating it. Continue not doing it.

Did you set aside a special time to pray the Psalms? To devote time to prayer in general? Did you spend more time in Scripture? Continue!

Having used Lent as a time to prepare for the resurrection, let us continue to live in that resurrection mindset – preparing for the resurrection yet to come.

The Scripture that comes to mind is Hebrews 12:1.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Continue the race – keep going where God is leading you, doing what God has for you to do.

So what are you going to continue??

 

Wednesday February 21^st 2024

We are in the season of Lent, and in many traditions there is the idea of “giving up something for Lent”. So today’s word is FASTING.

What do you think of when you hear the word “fasting”? Currently many who are trying to lose weight are hearing the expression “intermittent fasting” as a way to lost weight. Eat within a prescribed number of hours and don’t eat during the rest of the day.

When I first heard this, my first thought was “I sleep for 8 hours and don’t eat then, so that’s an automatic intermittent fast.” No planning, no extra thought or effort. To intentionally expand that though, might take some planning and some changes to lifestyle.

However, fasting is not just about food.

Fasting during Lent is not just about giving up candy or soda.

Intentionally giving up something is a type of fast, and when one fasts during Lent then idea is to replace that with time spent in prayer and worship and service to God.

So, for instance, someone might fast from watching the evening news and instead spend that time reading scripture and praying. Someone might fast from getting Starbucks on Friday morning and the money saved intentionally given to a charity or to their church.

There are numerous ways to fast, and sometimes those fasts can then become habits. After fasting from crime dramas one might decide not to go back to watching them. After fasting from soda one might decide to continue without it.

Fasting is a way to intentionally replace something in one’s life with something that honors and serves God. A way that will help us grow.

How will YOU fast this Lent? And how ill you then keep fasting as part of your life in Christ?

 

Wednesday February 7^th 2024

Sitting at my desk Tuesday morning, participating in our daily Morning Prayer gathering on zoom, it occurred to me: APPEARANCE.

My grandmother was known for always looking perfectly put together when she walked out her front door. In fact, living with her during the school year, I never saw her with a hair out of place. The ladies up the street would comment to me that “Mrs. Cole comes out to sweep the porch and even the seams of her stockings are straight!”.

Taking after her, I would never go out without makeup and lipstick … even to get the mail at the end of the driveway! Going to the store or church or even the dump required making sure I looked presentable.

Then came COVID and we were all entertaining guests in our homes via Zoom. And that too required making sure I looked presentable. At first.

What struck me on Tuesday was that I have “degraded” to attending morning prayer in my pajamas, no makeup, not showered. And you know what? No one cares!

In scripture, though, there is a verse that reminds us that appearance is more than just how well you are dressed. John 7:24 tells us not to judge based on appearance but to look beneath the surface.

What about when we meet people or see them in the store or on the street. Do we make decisions based on their appearance?

Two examples come to mind:

In the first, a dirty, ragged man sits on the church steps as the parishioners arrive. No one greets him or offers him assistance. They were all shocked when, as the first hymn played, he walked to the front of the church and then introduced himself as their new pastor.

In the other, several people are sitting in a pew. Two prim young ladies are on one end and two nicely-dressed young men are at the other. In the center sits a rough-looking, tattooed, leather-clad man. The thoughts of the neatly-dressed four are distracted in worship by how “that guy” is not a “real” Christian. The man in the center is holding a worn Bible and his thoughts are “Christ, my life and heart belong to You.”

So our outward appearance (clothes, makeup, car, house) is not as important as our inner appearance. What man sees is not as important as what God sees.

The other question is “What do others see in us?” That’s for another day.

I am so glad that the others gathering on that zoom call look beneath the surface – past the messy hair and lack of lipstick – to the disciple’s heart joining in prayer.

What does God see in your heart?

 

Wednesday January 31^st 2024

Everyone who knows me knows that I have opinions and freely share them. So they will be surprised (or perhaps relieved) that this week’s word is SILENT.

Not the absence of sound, but rather the kind of silence in “better to be silent and thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and erase all doubt.” OR as it is stated in Proverbs 17:28, “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.“

Already this week I have either extended a conversation beyond its usefulness, or expressed opinions not requested or beneficial. At least three times! It had begun to gnaw at my conscience, and then two posts appeared on Facebook that really drove it home. Yes – this is the word for the week.

Sometimes silence speaks volumes. It can allow space for listening and thinking.

Stephen Covey lists “seek not be understood so much as to understand” as one of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. And that understanding requires listening – not just listening to configure a response or to know when you can speak.

In Luke Chapter 1 we read about Zechariah – he questioned God, rather than faithfully and immediately accepting God’s plan, so he was silenced until the birth of John the Baptist. During those following months the people knew he had seen a vision in the temple causing his silence. Then his silence was broken when he announced the name of John.

Sometimes sharing one’s story or opinion is helpful, edifying, and/or encouraging. Sometimes it simply isn’t appropriate or necessary. Discernment here is key, and a period of silence allows discerning.

Yes – sometimes being silent is the same as agreeing, and we do not want to be silent at the wrong times. “Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.” So said Mahatma Gandhi.

Will Rogers said “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” For some reason this reminded me of Jesus drawing in the dirt while waiting for the crowd to stone the woman caught in adultery (John 8). He didn’t launch into a long sermon – he made a simple statement (“let him who is without sin cast the first stone”) and then sat silently until they were all gone. Then again, one simple statement – “go and sin no more”.

Silence allows us to truly listen, to absorb, to lay our words aside and take in the words of others, to watch the scene before us without simultaneously crafting a response.

Are there times you were called to be silent yet spoke anyway? (note my raised hand)

Here is a prayer I hope you will find helpful: Lord, give me the right words to say, the right time to say them, and the ability to know when to keep silent.”