Scriptures for May 31
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
Psalm 46
Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28
Matthew 7:21-29
How might you receive the May 31 worship scriptures? Some suggestions for how to receive them are at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html
What might be highlighted for you as you receive these scriptures? You will find out as you enter into this spiritual exercise. Receptivity is vitally important. There are some notes about it at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving.html.
After you receive these scriptures for yourself, you may want to share with others who have done the same. Following are notes I made after receiving these scriptures.
May 24 prayer for receiving
Flowers open to and thrive on life-sustaining light and water. I'm created to receive as surely as the flowers receive sun and rain. Here I am Lord, wanting to receive--to open to and thrive on--your Word as spirit and and life. Let that receiving happen again, and all the more, today.
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 (selections and reflections)
"Noah walked with God." (vs. 9)
"...corrupt ...violence ...corrupt ... corrupted..." (vss. 11-12)
"God said... I will destroy them..." (vs. 13)
Can I stay all the more receptive when I'm reading words like these verses that trigger a lot of thoughts, feelings, and sometimes talk about God. Can I just receive and be with these words without turning my attention to those who try to say God is not really like that; or to those who say maybe God was like that in Old Testament times, but Jesus came and now God is different. Can I stay out of the ongoing dialog about God, and just receive the words and let them be spirit and life today?
Psalm 46 (Selections and reflections)
"God is our refuge." (vss. 1 and 11)
Corruption is no less corrupt; violence is no less violent. But in the midst of corruption and violence God is our refuge. This Psalm calls me to receive God as refuge.
"Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;" (vs. 2)
It occurs to me today like it hasn't before that a big enough flood does that!
"Be still, and know that I am God" (vs. 10)
Be still.
Even with the flood account.
Even with God saying, "I will destroy."
Still, knowing God.
Not still because I think I've figured out how to have God be
the way people think God ought to be.
Still, knowing God.
Every word about God is
a tiny opening into God.
All the Bible's words about God combine
to be a big opening into
God who is
so far beyond them all.
Be still, knowing God.
Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (Selections and reflections)
"...the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God...
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith..." (vss. 16,17)
The gospel reveals the righteousness of God. What causes many to become absorbed in the gospel and not the righteousness? Maybe another way to ask this question is: How did the gospel become so popular and righteousness so unpopular?
"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (vs. 23)
Matthew 7:21-29 (Selections and reflections)
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (vs. 21)
I'm struck by how service-oriented, and how "like Jesus" it is to prophesy in Jesus' name, and to cast out demons in Jesus' name, and to do many wonders in Jesus' name. It is service-oriented, wonder-working, Jesus-imitating people that hear these terrible words from Jesus: "I never knew you; depart from Me..." These verses are an urgent invitation to keep saying to Jesus: Do you know me? Do I know and do the will of Your Father in heaven?
I need to be known by You. I need to know and do the will of Your Father.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Receiving May 24 worship scriptures
Scriptures for May 24, 2008
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Psalm 131
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34
You are invited to receive the Word as spirit and life. There are suggestions for how to do this at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html
Spirit and life thrive in an open, welcoming heart. After receiving the Word for yourself, you will have reflections and responses to share. What you have to share may coincide with or complement the following.
May 17 prayer for receiving
When I give, my thoughts and feelings are with the one I'm giving to.
Now I'm the receiver, and want my thoughts and feelings to be present to You the Giver.
With what thoughts and feelings of love you have given your Word.
Enable me, please, to receive Your word as spirit and life.
Isaiah 49:8-16a (selections and reflections)
"Sing, O heavens!
Be joyful, O earth!
And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the LORD has comforted His people,
And will have mercy on His afflicted." (vs. 13)
"But Zion said,
'The LORD has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.'" (vs. 14)
"'Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands." (vss. 15,16)
There may be cause for the heavens and earth to sing joyfully. Mt. Everest and K2 may even break out in an unforgettable duet.
But none of this is for me. I'm forsaken. The Lord has forgotten me.
Then: I really won't forget you. See the palms of my hands.
Unspeakable grandeur. Unspeakable desolation. Unspeakably compassionate comfort. This is heart terrain.
Psalm 131 (selections and reflections)
"I have calmed and quieted my soul" (vs. 2)
Soul in turmoil or soul gone numb, neither is calm and quiet.
Closeness for the sake of closeness calms and quiets.
This is hope terrain.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (selections and reflections)
"...stewards of the mysteries of God." (vs. 1)
Wow! That's some task. Stewards are a kind of manager. Managers of the mysteries of God. Can a Christian, even Paul, do that? Can all the best, most authentic, real Christians of all time combined--can they together manage the mysteries of God? Can they even comprehend the mysteries of God, much less manage them?
Thinking like that is not the route to the spirit and life in this amazing statement. Stewards of the mysteries of God. Yes. And they are still mysteries, not some comprehensible commodity to be controlled by one feeble manager or a whole Christian church full of managers.
Stewards of the mysteries of God are the forsaken who've seen the palms of His hands; they are the calmed and quiet close ones; they are heart-broken yet hope-filled. They are stewards of mysteries they'll never comprehend and certainly never control.
"I do not even judge myself." (vs. 3)
"He who judges me is the Lord." (vs. 4)
What wonderful relief from the hard job of dealing with self.
Matthew 6:24-34 (selections and reflections)
"Is not life more than food?" (vs. 25)
The stilled and quieted child of Psalm 131 realizes and experiences this.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." (vs. 33)
The kingdom of God and His righteousness more the focus (more what I desire and what I seek) than is food, drink, or clothes (basic physical necessities). The word in Matthew 6:24-34 isn't spirit and life for me yet when I only receive it as "Don't worry" advice. This same word does become spirit and life when I let it draw me into God's kingdom and righteousness as more present and more important than food, drink or clothes. The kingdom of God and God's righteousness are more essential and more deserving of my time and attention than even the basic necessities of life. That is spirit and life.
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Psalm 131
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34
You are invited to receive the Word as spirit and life. There are suggestions for how to do this at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html
Spirit and life thrive in an open, welcoming heart. After receiving the Word for yourself, you will have reflections and responses to share. What you have to share may coincide with or complement the following.
May 17 prayer for receiving
When I give, my thoughts and feelings are with the one I'm giving to.
Now I'm the receiver, and want my thoughts and feelings to be present to You the Giver.
With what thoughts and feelings of love you have given your Word.
Enable me, please, to receive Your word as spirit and life.
Isaiah 49:8-16a (selections and reflections)
"Sing, O heavens!
Be joyful, O earth!
And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the LORD has comforted His people,
And will have mercy on His afflicted." (vs. 13)
"But Zion said,
'The LORD has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.'" (vs. 14)
"'Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands." (vss. 15,16)
There may be cause for the heavens and earth to sing joyfully. Mt. Everest and K2 may even break out in an unforgettable duet.
But none of this is for me. I'm forsaken. The Lord has forgotten me.
Then: I really won't forget you. See the palms of my hands.
Unspeakable grandeur. Unspeakable desolation. Unspeakably compassionate comfort. This is heart terrain.
Psalm 131 (selections and reflections)
"I have calmed and quieted my soul" (vs. 2)
Soul in turmoil or soul gone numb, neither is calm and quiet.
Closeness for the sake of closeness calms and quiets.
This is hope terrain.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (selections and reflections)
"...stewards of the mysteries of God." (vs. 1)
Wow! That's some task. Stewards are a kind of manager. Managers of the mysteries of God. Can a Christian, even Paul, do that? Can all the best, most authentic, real Christians of all time combined--can they together manage the mysteries of God? Can they even comprehend the mysteries of God, much less manage them?
Thinking like that is not the route to the spirit and life in this amazing statement. Stewards of the mysteries of God. Yes. And they are still mysteries, not some comprehensible commodity to be controlled by one feeble manager or a whole Christian church full of managers.
Stewards of the mysteries of God are the forsaken who've seen the palms of His hands; they are the calmed and quiet close ones; they are heart-broken yet hope-filled. They are stewards of mysteries they'll never comprehend and certainly never control.
"I do not even judge myself." (vs. 3)
"He who judges me is the Lord." (vs. 4)
What wonderful relief from the hard job of dealing with self.
Matthew 6:24-34 (selections and reflections)
"Is not life more than food?" (vs. 25)
The stilled and quieted child of Psalm 131 realizes and experiences this.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." (vs. 33)
The kingdom of God and His righteousness more the focus (more what I desire and what I seek) than is food, drink, or clothes (basic physical necessities). The word in Matthew 6:24-34 isn't spirit and life for me yet when I only receive it as "Don't worry" advice. This same word does become spirit and life when I let it draw me into God's kingdom and righteousness as more present and more important than food, drink or clothes. The kingdom of God and God's righteousness are more essential and more deserving of my time and attention than even the basic necessities of life. That is spirit and life.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Receiving May 17 worship scriptures
Scriptures for May 17, 2008
Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a
Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20
You are invited to receive the Word as spirit and life.
There are suggestions for how to do this at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html Whether or not you attend a church that will focus on these same scriptures May 17 (or 18), you can receive these scriptures and then interact with others who are doing the same. The primary purpose of this blog is to encourage people to prayerfully receive the Word as spirit and life. It is not the purpose here to give you devotional words about the Word. It's not the purpose to explain or interpret the Word. The purpose is to encourage and enable you to receive the Word yourself.
The purpose of this blog is being realized when you are receiving the Word, and pondering it in your heart (the center of your whole being). http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html is provided to help you do that. Following are the notes I made while doing what you are invited to do. Use these notes to help you receive the Word. If just reading and reflecting on the following notes (without taking time to prepare your own notes first) helps you receive and ponder the Word in your heart, then they are still serving some of their purpose.
May 10 prayer for receiving
Receiving You and Your Word as spirit and life.
Receiving You, God, not just some other part of me.
Paths of my being cleared to receive Your Word as spirit and life.
Diminish my doing and being; increase Yours.
Paths cleared by Your coming, paths cleared by my faith.
Let receiving be what my soul longs for and what Your heart desires.
Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a (selections and reflections)
"The Spirit of God was hovering over..." (vs. 2)
1 light darkness
day night
2 heaven Waters under divided from waters above
3 earth seas
grass, herbs, trees
4 greater light to rule the day lesser light to rule the night
stars
5 water creatures
winged birds
Blessed to multiply
6 earth creatures
man, male and female, in God's image
given dominion; blessed to multiply
food given
From daily "good," to everything "very good." (vs. 31)
7 God rested (vs. 2)
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it... (vs. 3)
There's a lot of dividing, separating, or distinguishing happening. Light and darkness, day and night, waters under and waters above, earth and sea, greater light and lesser light--these are divided (distinguished, separated). It occurs to me this prepares the way for a quality, a power, of complementing that couldn't happen without the clear divisions, the clear distinguishing.
Psalm 8 (selections and reflections)
"How excellent is Your name in all the earth." (vs. 1, 9)
This exclamation begins and ends this psalm.
"You who set Your glory above the heavens!" (vs. 1)
"What is man that You are mindful of him?" (vs. 4)
"You have crowned him with glory and honor." (vs. 5)
God's glory above the heavens that are the work of God's fingers (vs. 3). It's not the whole hand, just the fingers that shape the smallest details. The whole sky full of stars, and their moons and planets--the whole fabulous, unfathomable universe is the needlework of God.
Words like the Psalmist used, clearly distinguish the glory above the heavens from all other glory.
After God's glory is clearly distinguished, then it is shared.
First, the Psalmist (like the Creator) divides, establishing the immense contrast between the glory of God and any other glory. After the glory above the heavens is fully recognized for what it is, then we're prepared for glory on earth. God crowns people with glory. When the glory above the heavens is clearly distinguished, and I see it for what it is (or at least I begin to do that!), then I'm prepared to receive the glory under the heavens, right here on earth, where it crowns God's people.
2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (selections and reflections)
"Become complete." (vs. 1)
In connection with the other passages this week, this becomes an appeal to bring full articulation into wholeness. That is, let the clearly divided or distinguished aspects of creation, and salvation, be combined as intended so they can complement each other.
"Be of good comfort..." (vs. 1)
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Spirit..." (vs. 14)
Is this just a standard closing at the end of an epistle, something like "Sincerely" at the end of a business letter? Is it just a form?
Or, is verse 14 an over-arching, heart-inhabiting essential? Is it substance that gives substance to everything else said in the letter? Is it a prayer to be repeated, like breath is repeatedly inhaled and exhaled; like heart beats are repeated. Is the repeating of this prayer a way for spirit and life to remain in us?
Matthew 28:18-20 (selections and reflections)
"...in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (vs. 19)
A formula? A form? A routine? A ritual? Or vastly more?
What did, or will, it mean to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? What is there about each--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--that is especially compelling to Bible writers, and to me? What is there about the three together that is especially compelling to Bible writers, and to me? How can I grow in love for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a
Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20
You are invited to receive the Word as spirit and life.
There are suggestions for how to do this at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html Whether or not you attend a church that will focus on these same scriptures May 17 (or 18), you can receive these scriptures and then interact with others who are doing the same. The primary purpose of this blog is to encourage people to prayerfully receive the Word as spirit and life. It is not the purpose here to give you devotional words about the Word. It's not the purpose to explain or interpret the Word. The purpose is to encourage and enable you to receive the Word yourself.
The purpose of this blog is being realized when you are receiving the Word, and pondering it in your heart (the center of your whole being). http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html is provided to help you do that. Following are the notes I made while doing what you are invited to do. Use these notes to help you receive the Word. If just reading and reflecting on the following notes (without taking time to prepare your own notes first) helps you receive and ponder the Word in your heart, then they are still serving some of their purpose.
May 10 prayer for receiving
Receiving You and Your Word as spirit and life.
Receiving You, God, not just some other part of me.
Paths of my being cleared to receive Your Word as spirit and life.
Diminish my doing and being; increase Yours.
Paths cleared by Your coming, paths cleared by my faith.
Let receiving be what my soul longs for and what Your heart desires.
Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a (selections and reflections)
"The Spirit of God was hovering over..." (vs. 2)
1 light darkness
day night
2 heaven Waters under divided from waters above
3 earth seas
grass, herbs, trees
4 greater light to rule the day lesser light to rule the night
stars
5 water creatures
winged birds
Blessed to multiply
6 earth creatures
man, male and female, in God's image
given dominion; blessed to multiply
food given
From daily "good," to everything "very good." (vs. 31)
7 God rested (vs. 2)
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it... (vs. 3)
There's a lot of dividing, separating, or distinguishing happening. Light and darkness, day and night, waters under and waters above, earth and sea, greater light and lesser light--these are divided (distinguished, separated). It occurs to me this prepares the way for a quality, a power, of complementing that couldn't happen without the clear divisions, the clear distinguishing.
Psalm 8 (selections and reflections)
"How excellent is Your name in all the earth." (vs. 1, 9)
This exclamation begins and ends this psalm.
"You who set Your glory above the heavens!" (vs. 1)
"What is man that You are mindful of him?" (vs. 4)
"You have crowned him with glory and honor." (vs. 5)
God's glory above the heavens that are the work of God's fingers (vs. 3). It's not the whole hand, just the fingers that shape the smallest details. The whole sky full of stars, and their moons and planets--the whole fabulous, unfathomable universe is the needlework of God.
Words like the Psalmist used, clearly distinguish the glory above the heavens from all other glory.
After God's glory is clearly distinguished, then it is shared.
First, the Psalmist (like the Creator) divides, establishing the immense contrast between the glory of God and any other glory. After the glory above the heavens is fully recognized for what it is, then we're prepared for glory on earth. God crowns people with glory. When the glory above the heavens is clearly distinguished, and I see it for what it is (or at least I begin to do that!), then I'm prepared to receive the glory under the heavens, right here on earth, where it crowns God's people.
2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (selections and reflections)
"Become complete." (vs. 1)
In connection with the other passages this week, this becomes an appeal to bring full articulation into wholeness. That is, let the clearly divided or distinguished aspects of creation, and salvation, be combined as intended so they can complement each other.
"Be of good comfort..." (vs. 1)
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Spirit..." (vs. 14)
Is this just a standard closing at the end of an epistle, something like "Sincerely" at the end of a business letter? Is it just a form?
Or, is verse 14 an over-arching, heart-inhabiting essential? Is it substance that gives substance to everything else said in the letter? Is it a prayer to be repeated, like breath is repeatedly inhaled and exhaled; like heart beats are repeated. Is the repeating of this prayer a way for spirit and life to remain in us?
Matthew 28:18-20 (selections and reflections)
"...in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (vs. 19)
A formula? A form? A routine? A ritual? Or vastly more?
What did, or will, it mean to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? What is there about each--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--that is especially compelling to Bible writers, and to me? What is there about the three together that is especially compelling to Bible writers, and to me? How can I grow in love for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Receiving May 10, 2008, worship scriptures
Make the most of this post.
Receive the Word for yourself first. Suggestions for doing this are at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html
Following are the notes I made while doing what I'm inviting you to do.
Scriptures for May 10, 2008
Numbers 11:24-30
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Acts 2:1-21
John 7:37-39
May 3 prayer for receiving
Thank you, God, for the desire to receive Your Word as spirit and life. Thank you for the times and ways you have satisfied this desire, and then increased the desire again. Enable me to receive again and more fully today, especially now.
Numbers 11:24-30 (selections and reflections)
"Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His spirit upon them!" (vs. 29)
Oh that is good. It's heart satisfying. That's what came over me as I received this story that climaxes in Moses saying, "Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His spirit upon them!"
"...the seventy elders...prophesied." (vs. 25)
"...Eldad and...Medad... prophesied." (vs. 26)
"Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets..." (vs. 29)
Receiving the Spirit of God and prophesying.
Receiving the words of others who have received the Spirit and prophesy.
What does this story show about both? What does it show about responding to the Spirit directly, and also to someone with a Spirit-given message?
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (selections and reflections)
"This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things..." (vs. 25)
The Blue Planet is a miniseries about the ocean (a four-videodisc set available at public libraries) that, among many other aspects of ocean life, shows vast underwater "clouds" of those innumerable teeming things. This miniseries is this verse in your living room! It's a series that helps me receive the great and wide sea part of this fabulous Psalm.
"You take away their breath, they die..." (vs. 29)
"You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;" (vs. 30)
Life in creatures from the Spirit of God.
Life in human beings from the Spirit of God--physical life and spiritual life.
The Spirit sustains physical and spiritual life.
"May the glory of the LORD endure forever;" (vs. 31)
The more we see and ponder the connection between the manifold works of God in the earth (vs. 24 ff) and the glory of God (vs. 31), the more amazing it becomes. The size and splendor of the glory we can already see is more than any, or all, of us can absorb. Beyond this present glory, there is the unspeakably greater glory to come. The Spirit is our Guide in this territory that either eludes or overwhelms us without Him. And imagine this: The people of God are part of the present glory, and they will also be part of the glory of God that is to come. That is great to realize in the best of times and the worst of times. The glory of God mattered to Jesus; being glorified with God mattered to Jesus; and giving God's glory to others mattered to Jesus (John 17:1,5,22). This week's and last week's scriptures encourage me to love and seek God's glory the way Jesus did.
Acts 2:1-21 (selections and reflections)
"...a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house..." (vs. 2)
"Then...tongues, as of fire..." (vs. 3)
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak..." (vs. 4)
Sound and sight.
Filled house; filled humans.
They heard and saw. They knew the house was filled. They knew they were filled.
Ponder how the Holy Spirit has come to people you know, and to you.
"We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." (vs. 11)
Here are some reactions to what was happening:
- confused (vs. 6)
- amazed and marvelling (vs. 7)
- amazed and perplexed (vs. 12)
- mocking (vs. 13)
The word, in Peter's sermon (that begins in vs. 14) and spoken by the prophet Joel (vss. 17-21), helps the people receive and respond to what was happening.
Supernatural happenings combined with the word. Letting that connection sink in all the more is important.
John 7:37-39 (selections and reflections)
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
"He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive..." (vss. 37-39)
What are this week's scriptures showing me about believers receiving the Holy Spirit today?
One thing that's highlighted for me is that the Spirit and words go together; the people who are filled with the Spirit speak. It's sort of like air inhaled becomes air exhaled; the Spirit received becomes words expressed.
Receiving the Holy Spirit is the best and most essential receiving I can imagine. What's it like within and among believers when that receiving happens? Too many times the actions or words that the speaker thinks the Spirit inspired don't seem very inviting or desirable to those who see or hear them. There are a lot of scriptures that help a person discern the genuine. Experience also teaches us about the genuine.
May Day I was looking for a small potted plant in bloom. There are lots to choose from. I scanned the racks and racks of them, and liked the small white mums best that day. Then I started choosing which one of the many little boxes of small white mums. Some were "past their prime," others weren't in full bloom yet. I wanted full blooms that would stay fresh. (How much should a person expect from a blossom!) What occurs to me is how Spirit-given life is visible; we recognize fresh, vibrant life. We can see Spirit-given life in people, something like we recognize the life in a plant. If the words we speak don't seem to convince, we can let our life convince. Receive the Spirit, and let the water of life flow. That is water of life that flows, not frustrating or irritating actions or words.
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