Matthew 15:34 - And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They replied, "Seven and a few small fish."
Jesus has a plan. Like any good plan, he begins by taking inventory of the assets he has to work with. Asset-Based Community Development works on the same principle - take stock of what is available. Al-Anon, too suggests taking an inventory of our character assets and defects. Without knowing as much as possible about the current situation, it is often unwise to take action.
Something to think about today as Peter and I look forward to his time without a job and to the possibility of moving to Cleveland.
B
Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Lack of vision
Matthew 15:33 - And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough food for such a crowd?"
Yet another example of how we see what is in front of us yet God sees the possibility of betterment. That is the vision I want - to see the possibilities of the moment as well as the reality. Both exist at the same time.
Jesus gives them the vision that feeding them might be possible. Yet, they cannot see how. How many times do I give up just because I cannot see every step? All I need is the next step.
B
Yet another example of how we see what is in front of us yet God sees the possibility of betterment. That is the vision I want - to see the possibilities of the moment as well as the reality. Both exist at the same time.
Jesus gives them the vision that feeding them might be possible. Yet, they cannot see how. How many times do I give up just because I cannot see every step? All I need is the next step.
B
Monday, July 25, 2016
Table for 5,000
Matthew 15:32 - Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd because they have been with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I am unwilling to send them away, lest they faint on the way."
Hospitality is rooted in compassion. Compassion is rooted in love. Jesus loves his people and wants to care for them. So much so that he does not want them to leave after three days without making sure they have all eaten.
How often do I have to send someone away lest they faint?
B
Hospitality is rooted in compassion. Compassion is rooted in love. Jesus loves his people and wants to care for them. So much so that he does not want them to leave after three days without making sure they have all eaten.
How often do I have to send someone away lest they faint?
B
Friday, July 22, 2016
Recognizing God's Work
Matthew 15:31 - So the crowd were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
The crowd was able to see God's hand in the healing touch of Jesus. They recognized - as we (I) tend to overlook today - God's touch, God's care for us all. Today I choose to focus on the miracles, great and small that surround me.
B
The crowd was able to see God's hand in the healing touch of Jesus. They recognized - as we (I) tend to overlook today - God's touch, God's care for us all. Today I choose to focus on the miracles, great and small that surround me.
B
Sunday, July 17, 2016
All were healed
Matthew 15:29-30 - Jesus went on from there, passing along the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet. He healed them all.
The thing that strikes me about this passage today - after several weeks of violence around the world is that Jesus did not ask whether these people deserved to be healed. He healed them. He loved them. I am striving to be like that in my ministry. All are worthy of being thought of respectfully - even if I am not able to do so because someone has hurt me. We are all doing the best we can. My feelings of anger around Kim are because i do not want to feel the fear of jumping - again - into the unknown of Cleveland. My supervisor can take care of Kim just fine. I do not have to do anything today.
Open my heart Lord to love as you loved, remind me this day that all are worthy to be healed.
Amen
B
The thing that strikes me about this passage today - after several weeks of violence around the world is that Jesus did not ask whether these people deserved to be healed. He healed them. He loved them. I am striving to be like that in my ministry. All are worthy of being thought of respectfully - even if I am not able to do so because someone has hurt me. We are all doing the best we can. My feelings of anger around Kim are because i do not want to feel the fear of jumping - again - into the unknown of Cleveland. My supervisor can take care of Kim just fine. I do not have to do anything today.
Open my heart Lord to love as you loved, remind me this day that all are worthy to be healed.
Amen
B
Monday, July 4, 2016
Great Faith
Matthew 15:28 - And Jesus answered her, "Great is your faith! It will be done for you as you wish!" And her daughter was healed in that hour.
Faith - it's what leads us to persist in a course even though there are small or large obstacles in our way. Faith in ourselves, faith in others, faith in God. It's what gets us through the shitty days of Brexit and xenophobia here in the US and in the UK. It's what sustains us through loss of jobs and uncertain futures. Faith in God's faith in us to be able to work through the next steps, to keep persisting in seeking justice although it doesn't seem forthcoming or we won't see it in our lifetime.
When reading things like this all I can think is, "I believe! Lord help my unbelief." Help me to have your faith in me.
B
Faith - it's what leads us to persist in a course even though there are small or large obstacles in our way. Faith in ourselves, faith in others, faith in God. It's what gets us through the shitty days of Brexit and xenophobia here in the US and in the UK. It's what sustains us through loss of jobs and uncertain futures. Faith in God's faith in us to be able to work through the next steps, to keep persisting in seeking justice although it doesn't seem forthcoming or we won't see it in our lifetime.
When reading things like this all I can think is, "I believe! Lord help my unbelief." Help me to have your faith in me.
B
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Go with the Flow
Matthew 15:27 - And she answered, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their master's table."
Lovely. She uses the energy of Jesus' argument against him. Rather than fighting his words, his declaration that she is no better than a dog, she agrees with him. Then she argues in that context giving him nowhere to go. I believe this is the premise of judo - use the energy of your opponent against them.
How might this work in our lives? How might our relationships be better if we were to agree for the sake of argument with our opponents' premises and give them no where to go?
In my own life, I am wondering how we can use the opportunity afforded us by Peter's losing his job in two months for momentum rather than letting it stall our walk with God. How might Peter and I go with that flow?
Lovely. She uses the energy of Jesus' argument against him. Rather than fighting his words, his declaration that she is no better than a dog, she agrees with him. Then she argues in that context giving him nowhere to go. I believe this is the premise of judo - use the energy of your opponent against them.
How might this work in our lives? How might our relationships be better if we were to agree for the sake of argument with our opponents' premises and give them no where to go?
In my own life, I am wondering how we can use the opportunity afforded us by Peter's losing his job in two months for momentum rather than letting it stall our walk with God. How might Peter and I go with that flow?
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