- Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
- Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 7-9
- 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
- Mark 1: 21-28
- Be careful what you say
- Speaking and acting with authority are not the sort of activity that most of us rush into. We second guess ourselves, wondering "what if I'm wrong", "did I really consider all of the possibilities", or even "who am I to say anyway?". But in spite of all our doubts and misgivings, we are asked to stand witness to the unseen realities that pervade the universe that we find ourselves in.
- What are three things that you would like to hear said during your eulogy?
- How certain are you that those three things will come up in your eulogy?
- How long have those three things been a focus in your life?
- Why do you think that someone looking at your life would conclude that those have been your priorities?
- What might you do differently to make those priorities more evident in your life?
- Finding a soft heart
- Many things can make us "hard of hearing." If we have been hurt in the past, and the necessary healing has not had a chance to come, we may be hyper alert, always looking to avoid getting hurt the same way again. Or we may want something so much, that that one desire blots out everything else in our life.
- What are some things in your life that have made you hard of hearing? They might be anger, pride, jealousy, ...
- How have those things hurt you?
- Why is it that you cling to them?
- What would life be without that obstacle in your heart?
- What's next on that journey?
- Letting go for dear life
- It's easy to define ourselves by what we have, what we do, how we earn a living, even our past. But none of these things are us. All of these and more have impacted who we are today, but none of them really define us.
- What is something that you've had to give up in your life?
- Was that hard?
- Was that a conscious decision, or just a new set of habits that you "fell into"?
- Do you think that God calls us to shed just for the sake of shedding?
- Do you feel more free in your life with that "thing" that you thought was so important?
- Your words are drowned out by your actions
- Talk is cheap. It can happen that our words become divorced from our actions. The words themselves might be technically accurate, but lacking in meaning or significance because our life does not bear witness to those words. Those words die, or worse yet, rot.
- Think of someone whose life reflects their words, and whose words reflect their life. What about them inspires you to step beyond your comfort zone, give you courage to dare the impossible, call you forward to greatness?
- What of that inspiration is something that you could apply this coming year, this month, today?
- Would they be able to help you take that first step?
- Preparation for Reconciliation
- Where can I learn to be more prophetic in my speech and writing?
- How might I be more trusting of God?
- Where might I need to let go of something that has served me well, to make room for something even better?
- Where is God calling me to follow inspiration?
Finding the Courage
These fits come over me without warning.
Rage like a tempest, fear, despair
All rising like a flood with no escape.
I saw him enter the temple by a side door,
Eyes downcast, feet shuffling,
His robe in disarray,
As though he had arrived unprepared.
But my friends, they told me that Jesus would be there.
The preacher from Nazareth that everyone was talking about.
Perhaps He could give me comfort, find me a measure of peace.
My heart went out to him,
Seeing the torture written in the lines of his face.
And then I knew what I would share today.
And a deeper understanding of why I am here.
We locked eyes, each seeing the other for who he is.
He knew me in an instant.
And I knew I needed to stay and find healing and rest.
I knew that healing him would cause a sensation.
Violate the mean spirited shadow of a Sabbath that they celebrated.
Shatter their notions of who their Father can be for them.
Offer them the chance to melt their cold judgemental hearts.
He spoke of freedom from sin, freedom from hate, and anger.
He told us that the Father could transform that pain into joy.
If only we have the trust to let Him truly be our Father.
I saw him growing more and more restless in the back.
I reached out to him with my eyes, told him I wasn't going to leave him.
My love and compassion for him soared through my words
And then, in a spasm of pain, he shrieked his agony.
I wanted to run to His arms, and the same time send Him away.
I tried to think what life would be like without the burn of this hatred.
And all I heard in reply was "trust me, give me your hand."
Lifeless he lay, spent, drenched in sweat, and beloved.
I took him by his hand, and raised him up.
Telling him that he had every right to stand among God's children.
Restoring his hope for tomorrow, and the courage to step into his sonship.
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