During this first week of Advent I am drawn to meditate on Psalm 62:5:
"For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him."
On this first week of Advent God calls us to "keep alert" and "beware" (Mark 13:33). The way we do this is to seek out God in the silence. Take some time out of each day this week to meet with God in the silence and experience God's hope.
Some wisdom from St. Theophan the Recluse:
"Everywhere and always God is with us, near to us and in us. But we are not always with [God], since we do not remember [God]...Take upon yourself this task--to make a habit of such recollection. Make yourself a rule always to be wit the Lord, keeping your mind in your heart, and do not let your thoughts wander; as often as they stray, turn them back again and keep them at home in the closet of your heart, and delight in converse with the Lord." (The Art of Prayer)
Here are some Scriptures for you to read each day to center yourselves as you listen to the voice of God.
Monday: Matthew 3:1-3
Tuesday: Isaiah 2:3-4
Wednesday: Romans 13:11-12
Thursday: Psalm 25:1-5
Friday: 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Saturday: Isaiah 64:8
Monday, November 28, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
A Prayer for Those Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse
In the recent light of the Penn State Investigations, my heart has been heavy for the victims of this case and victims everywhere who have suffered from and experienced sexual abuse. In my own life I have so many friends who have been affected by this type of abuse. It is one of the most damaging forms of abuse because it makes people question their very identity and it distorts the reality of the true meaning of love.
This prayer is for all those young men who have experienced sexual abuse and for victims everywhere:
Heavenly Father, you created us in your image, to bring glory to your name and to spread the love and grace of Jesus Christ. On this day, by the power of your Holy Spirit, warm the hearts of all of those who have experienced sexual abuse that they may know that you love them and that they are not alone in their sadness, depression, questioning, anger, and despair. Let them know that it is not your desire for any human to experience any kind of abuse or defilement.
Lord, use us as the body of Christ to surround all those who at this present moment cannot trust anyone, those who are numbing themselves by addiction or other dangerous outlets, those who have become hyper-sexualized in order to feel like they are in control, and those who are not able to be in healthy relationships because they are afraid that someone else will take advantage of them or abuse them. Great Physician, we know that it is only you who can heal our hearts because you are the only one who can love us the way that you intended. Help us to model your love to one another, and help us to hold all of those affected by sexual abuse in our prayers this day and always so that they may find healing and comfort in your presence.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
This prayer is for all those young men who have experienced sexual abuse and for victims everywhere:
Heavenly Father, you created us in your image, to bring glory to your name and to spread the love and grace of Jesus Christ. On this day, by the power of your Holy Spirit, warm the hearts of all of those who have experienced sexual abuse that they may know that you love them and that they are not alone in their sadness, depression, questioning, anger, and despair. Let them know that it is not your desire for any human to experience any kind of abuse or defilement.
Lord, use us as the body of Christ to surround all those who at this present moment cannot trust anyone, those who are numbing themselves by addiction or other dangerous outlets, those who have become hyper-sexualized in order to feel like they are in control, and those who are not able to be in healthy relationships because they are afraid that someone else will take advantage of them or abuse them. Great Physician, we know that it is only you who can heal our hearts because you are the only one who can love us the way that you intended. Help us to model your love to one another, and help us to hold all of those affected by sexual abuse in our prayers this day and always so that they may find healing and comfort in your presence.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Prayer for the families and friends of the Navy Seals who lost their lives
God of love and justice, we pray for all the families who have lost their sons due to the tragedy of war and violence. We pray for their fellow friends and soldiers who are gripped with anger and fear. In all of their grief, grant them your peace and your unending love. Help them to feel the extended body of Christ praying for them every moment of every day. When they are in the depths of their despair, help them to know they are not alone. We join in unity as the family of Christ as we pray this in your Son's name. Amen.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
There are ashes under my fingernail
Last night after the imposition of ashes at the Ash Wednesday service, I found myself sitting in my seat trying to get the ashes out from under my fingernail. Then I had a holy moment. During the season of Lent we take 40 days to look at the sin areas in our lives that keep getting stuck under our nails, the things that we keep trying to give up, but can't.
Lent reminds us that no matter what we do we cannot get the sin of life out from under our fingernails. This is why we need Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one who can wash away the sins of the world. During Lent we remember again who Jesus was and is. We remember that Jesus was tempted, chastised, beaten, loved, misunderstood, and uniquely human and divine.
God gave us someone who looked like us to come and talk to us about life and how to live it. God loved us so much that he gave us some time on earth with God's son Jesus Christ. During this season we look at the sin left under our nails and we repent to the only One who can wash us with holiness. We repent because we have a loving God who is desperately trying to take our sin away so we can be closer to God. We repent so we can get out of our own way and have a relationship with God the way God intended. Jesus has already died for us sins, so during this season we recognize the sins we have committed the past year and then we give them to God. Through our repentance and confession we are transformed by God's saving action in our lives. It is then that we stop looking under our nails for the sin we know is there, and start looking upward to the mighty God who loves us anyway.
This season of lent let us confess, repent, and transform together.
~ Pastor Jessie
Lent reminds us that no matter what we do we cannot get the sin of life out from under our fingernails. This is why we need Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one who can wash away the sins of the world. During Lent we remember again who Jesus was and is. We remember that Jesus was tempted, chastised, beaten, loved, misunderstood, and uniquely human and divine.
God gave us someone who looked like us to come and talk to us about life and how to live it. God loved us so much that he gave us some time on earth with God's son Jesus Christ. During this season we look at the sin left under our nails and we repent to the only One who can wash us with holiness. We repent because we have a loving God who is desperately trying to take our sin away so we can be closer to God. We repent so we can get out of our own way and have a relationship with God the way God intended. Jesus has already died for us sins, so during this season we recognize the sins we have committed the past year and then we give them to God. Through our repentance and confession we are transformed by God's saving action in our lives. It is then that we stop looking under our nails for the sin we know is there, and start looking upward to the mighty God who loves us anyway.
This season of lent let us confess, repent, and transform together.
~ Pastor Jessie
Monday, February 14, 2011
One Thing
Sorry no posts for a long time, I had mono for like 4 months, but I'm finally getting back to normal.
For the next three weeks we will be having a "One Thing Sermon Series":
- February 20, 2011
- February 27, 2011
- March 6, 2011
During the course of these three weeks all three pastors will preach about one thing: discipleship. Christ calls all of us to follow Him. Christ is always asking us, by the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to become disciples of Jesus Christ and to give our whole lives to God, but sometimes we get so distracted by all the things we can do for God, that we stop following God. In all the doing we forget how to "be still and know" God.
Church can be confusing and complicated. There are so many programs, meetings, and events that we all, at times, lose sight of "the One" who matters most. In order to combat this trend in our busy church we are going to focus on a simple kind of discipleship, one that includes worship, small groups, and service.
With guidance from the Bible, The Simple Church (a book by Eric Geiger and Thom Reiner), and the Five Talent Academy, we as a church family will look at the things that matter most when it comes to being a disciple of Christ.
How are we being intentional about our own discipleship? Do we all spend enough time seeking God, or are we content to let God seek us? Have we let our Christianity become stagnant or complacent?
May we grow in our love of God and one another as we remember again the call of Christian discipleship.
~ Pastor Jessie
For the next three weeks we will be having a "One Thing Sermon Series":
- February 20, 2011
- February 27, 2011
- March 6, 2011
During the course of these three weeks all three pastors will preach about one thing: discipleship. Christ calls all of us to follow Him. Christ is always asking us, by the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to become disciples of Jesus Christ and to give our whole lives to God, but sometimes we get so distracted by all the things we can do for God, that we stop following God. In all the doing we forget how to "be still and know" God.
Church can be confusing and complicated. There are so many programs, meetings, and events that we all, at times, lose sight of "the One" who matters most. In order to combat this trend in our busy church we are going to focus on a simple kind of discipleship, one that includes worship, small groups, and service.
With guidance from the Bible, The Simple Church (a book by Eric Geiger and Thom Reiner), and the Five Talent Academy, we as a church family will look at the things that matter most when it comes to being a disciple of Christ.
How are we being intentional about our own discipleship? Do we all spend enough time seeking God, or are we content to let God seek us? Have we let our Christianity become stagnant or complacent?
May we grow in our love of God and one another as we remember again the call of Christian discipleship.
~ Pastor Jessie
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