"May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your plans."(Psalm 20:4)
Prayer is a funny thing. We will pray for things to be received or plans to work out. But I'm always a little hesitant to say if it doesn't happen that is somehow God's will.
The best in life is when we get what we desire and feel fulfilled in our plans. And prayer should be a part of that, not only in the asking but also in the discernment of what it is we really desire and what our plans really are.
When we've done this in a prayerful way, we often find that it works out.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Reflection for July 19, 2017
"On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God."(Psalm 22:10)
I have had a constant relationship with God for as long as I can remember. Being born to a priest and a devout Episcopalian mother, this verse would seem to be applicable to me.
I've known no other God, but have studied enough to know that there are other gods that people acknowledge and worship.
I am thankful for a lifetime relationship which has grown stronger each year. Thank you to my parents for casting me in that direction 51.5 years ago.
Blessings,
Ed
I have had a constant relationship with God for as long as I can remember. Being born to a priest and a devout Episcopalian mother, this verse would seem to be applicable to me.
I've known no other God, but have studied enough to know that there are other gods that people acknowledge and worship.
I am thankful for a lifetime relationship which has grown stronger each year. Thank you to my parents for casting me in that direction 51.5 years ago.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Reflection for July 17, 2017
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."(Psalm 19:14)
Before beginning my sermon I always recite this verse. I like the idea that what I'm about to say and what I've thought about through the week in preparation will be acceptable to God. I feel like that is the best I can hope for and I strive to hit the mark.
What would happen if everyone used this principle in our daily interaction with others. What if we strived to make our words worthy of God, our thoughts worthy and acceptable to God. Given the current state of communication this seems like and impossible dream. And yet my sense is that if we all took a moment to make sure what we are about to let fly out of our mouth is worth saying, and if we turn our thoughts to things that are positive, what a difference it could make.
Blessings,
Ed
Before beginning my sermon I always recite this verse. I like the idea that what I'm about to say and what I've thought about through the week in preparation will be acceptable to God. I feel like that is the best I can hope for and I strive to hit the mark.
What would happen if everyone used this principle in our daily interaction with others. What if we strived to make our words worthy of God, our thoughts worthy and acceptable to God. Given the current state of communication this seems like and impossible dream. And yet my sense is that if we all took a moment to make sure what we are about to let fly out of our mouth is worth saying, and if we turn our thoughts to things that are positive, what a difference it could make.
Blessings,
Ed
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Reflection for July 16, 2017
"the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe."(Psalm 18:32)
Strength can be measured in a lot of ways. There is of course physical strength. I try to work on this by going to the gym Monday through Friday. There is also mental strength, which I work on by reading and attempting to stay focused. And there is strength of will, which is harder to work on and perhaps is where God does the girding.
That strength of will is the ability to keep going when the odds seem against you. Strength of will is courage based in faith and hope. Strength of will comes from my belief that God is walking with me clearing my path and keeping me safe.
I would have to say that for the most part my life has been safe and I thank God for making it possible to use my other strengths in a positive way.
Blessings,
Ed
Strength can be measured in a lot of ways. There is of course physical strength. I try to work on this by going to the gym Monday through Friday. There is also mental strength, which I work on by reading and attempting to stay focused. And there is strength of will, which is harder to work on and perhaps is where God does the girding.
That strength of will is the ability to keep going when the odds seem against you. Strength of will is courage based in faith and hope. Strength of will comes from my belief that God is walking with me clearing my path and keeping me safe.
I would have to say that for the most part my life has been safe and I thank God for making it possible to use my other strengths in a positive way.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Reflection for July 15, 2017
"For you deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down."(Psalm 18:27)
There are some adjectives in the English language that when you hear them even if you didn't know the definition you can picture what it means. I think haughty has to be one of them.
The dictionary definition is disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious: I have no problem picturing someone with haughty eyes. The type of person who looks down on others. And may be proud but probably with nothing to base that pride on.
I hope I'm not haughty. I can be flip and sarcastic from time to time, but I don't think more highly of myself than I ought to.
I won't boast of being humble, because that seems to me to be an oxymoron. But I will strive to have eyes that see the beauty in others and the dignity in them.
Blessings,
Ed
There are some adjectives in the English language that when you hear them even if you didn't know the definition you can picture what it means. I think haughty has to be one of them.
The dictionary definition is disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious: I have no problem picturing someone with haughty eyes. The type of person who looks down on others. And may be proud but probably with nothing to base that pride on.
I hope I'm not haughty. I can be flip and sarcastic from time to time, but I don't think more highly of myself than I ought to.
I won't boast of being humble, because that seems to me to be an oxymoron. But I will strive to have eyes that see the beauty in others and the dignity in them.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, July 14, 2017
Reflection for July 14, 2017
"They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly."(Psalm 17:10)
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that we live in a time where this verse is really being lived out. There is a certain arrogance in public discourse. There is a lack of compassion or pity for others.
We seem to have permission to just say whatever we think. We don't need to consider our words because everybody is entitled to their opinion and to have others here it as well.
What would the world be like with a little more humility and compassion? Humility is not humiliation is it?
Blessings,
Ed
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that we live in a time where this verse is really being lived out. There is a certain arrogance in public discourse. There is a lack of compassion or pity for others.
We seem to have permission to just say whatever we think. We don't need to consider our words because everybody is entitled to their opinion and to have others here it as well.
What would the world be like with a little more humility and compassion? Humility is not humiliation is it?
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Reflection for July 13, 2017
"You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore."(Psalm 16:11)
I'm generally a joy filled person. I tend to see the glass half full. I attribute this in part to my faith. Since I believe that I am always in God's presence, I have this joy. The things that I enjoy in life, "pleasures" if you will, I view as gifts from God.
I also know that the direction my life has gone, and the choices I try to make are because that "path of life" has been shown to me. When I choose to stay on that path there comes the fullness of joy and the pleasure forevermore.
Blessings,
Ed
I'm generally a joy filled person. I tend to see the glass half full. I attribute this in part to my faith. Since I believe that I am always in God's presence, I have this joy. The things that I enjoy in life, "pleasures" if you will, I view as gifts from God.
I also know that the direction my life has gone, and the choices I try to make are because that "path of life" has been shown to me. When I choose to stay on that path there comes the fullness of joy and the pleasure forevermore.
Blessings,
Ed
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