Receiving January 10, 2009, worship scriptures

Scriptures for January 10, 2009

Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11


Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself

For suggestions about receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself, please see http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html

Keep in mind that receiving is something to "grow into" (to learn more and more about) just like giving is something to grow into. Only there seems to be more stigma (isn't it selfish to want to receive?) and neglect (haven't even thought about learning to be receptive) connected with receiving than there is with giving.

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)


Prayer for receptivity

In receptivity, God, I acknowledge Your otherness and Your closeness. Receiving You is not the same as receiving my own best thoughts or imagination! Show me how to receive You in Your Word, which is spirit and life.

Genesis 1:1-5

"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." (vs. 3)

Light shining in darkness happens at the very beginning of the Bible, at creation; it also happens at the beginning of the Gospel (see John 1). A few days ago Epiphany was celebrated by many Christians who recognize and value the Light.

Psalm 29

"Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (vs. 2b)

This is a phrase that has long been familiar to a lot of God's people--from Old Testament times to today. As I received this familiar phrase this week, it occurred to me to ask how we do that. Here's what's opening up for me about it: The more we realize and enter into His holiness, the more worship can become what it's meant to be. Holiness is beautiful; it's appealing; it draws us when we approach it humbly, and with repentance and reverence. A little child who cautiously and eagerly tip toes forward into adventure is a teacher for us; a teacher about how to enter into holiness. Learning to repentantly, reverently relish holiness calls for all the child and wisdom in us, and it calls for the so-much-more of the Spirit who draws us into, and satisfies us with, the beauty of holiness.

"The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The LORD is over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
The voice of the LORD is full of majesty." (vss. 3,4)

Acts 19:1-7

"'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'" (vs. 2a)

Belief (faith) and the Holy Spirit go together, at baptism and forever after. In fact, when we first believe anything Jesus was, did, or said, that initial belief needs to be combined with the Holy Spirit--in order for it to be life-giving, and not just a belief or a good idea. What about all the times we remember a belief? What about the times we recall a scripture? It's the same. We can ask ourselves, "Did I receive the Holy Spirit as I thought about that belief? Did I receive the Holy Spirit as I recalled that scripture?" The Holy Spirit and believing go together.

Mark 1:4-11

"... 'He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'" (vs. 8b)

Jesus "saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove." (vs. 10b)

"Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" (vs. 11)

Light, baptism, Holy Spirit, and God's voice--there is so much in this week's scriptures to receive and love again and more fully.

One way of doing this is to let this week's portrayals of God's voice come together, especially the voice of God as portrayed by the Psalmist and the voice at Jesus' baptism. Rolling thunder helps put us in touch with the power and majesty in God's voice. It's a start anyway. I wonder just how small a start! This is the speak-light-into-existence voice of Genesis 1:3. Was that the way the Father's voice sounded at His Son's baptism? It's likely that some heard it as if it were thunder and nothing else. But how did Jesus, and perhaps John the Baptist and others, hear it? "My beloved." What's the dearest and best way you've ever said or heard that? What's the dearest and best way you can imagine anyone ever saying that? Remember the very, very best you've ever heard; then stretch your imagination to its very limits to make the best you've already known into the very, very best you can imagine. That's a start, and how small a start, toward hearing God say, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Receiving December 13, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for December 13, 2008
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
For suggestions about doing this, please see previous posts and the following http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)
Prayer for receptivity
Increase my receptivity, please God. Let Your Word be spirit and life in me right now, the way You want it to be.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
"He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted" (vs. 1)
There are things we can do about grief, but we can't really heal our own broken heart. God sent Jesus to do that. It's not that we refer people to Jesus instead of comforting them the best we can. It's just that none of us is the Ultimate Comforter. God sent Jesus to do that. Yes, sometimes Jesus becomes real and available to people through other people. Sometimes Jesus uses indirect means. But the Ultimate Comforter is Jesus--personally and directly. "He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted" is Jesus promised to heal each broken hearted one of us.

"And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations." (vs. 4)
In ruined cities, children can't play safely outdoors. Ruined cities include ruined homes where children aren't safe indoors either. As the desolations of many generations compound, homes and cities are ruined. The desolations of many generations have caused, and continue to cause, more pain and suffering than we can begin to imagine. The desolations of many generations bring disease, divorce, and death with them. Experiencing the suffering that comes through the generations gives a deeper appreciation of this verse. Imagine! The desolations of many generations will be repaired! It's a wonderful thing to realize that the suffering and ruin that come down to us through the generations will be repaired.

Psalm 126
"Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing" (vss. 5-6)
Tears turn to joy; weeping turns to rejoicing. That's the movement in this and the Isaiah passage.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
"Rejoice always
In everything give thanks" (vss. 16 and 18)
The rejoicing and the thanks can be always.
"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." (vs. 24)
He will do what prophets and promises say He will do. He will do it. That is cause for rejoicing and thanks in the midst of everything.

John 1:6-8, 19-28
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He said: 'I am
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Make straight the way of the LORD,'"
as the prophet Isaiah said.'" (vss. 6 and 23)
During the Advent season we renew our capacity for receiving Jesus as Infant and as the soon-coming King with all the angels. Among other things, Advent is a season to identify with John, and to explore the ways that we make straight the way of the LORD. How can the path in my heart be prepared? What valleys can be exalted and what hills made low? What rough places smoothed?

Receiving November 29, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for November 29, 2008
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
Let the Word in this week's worship scriptures be spirit and life for you. For some simple suggestions for doing this, see http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html
After you have received the scriptures as spirit and life for yourself, compare notes with others who have done the same.

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)
Prayer for receptivity
Let my receptivity be
right now
what You, God, want it to be.
I'm listening,
open my ears to really hear.
My heart is Yours
open, soften and strengthen it to be
Yours completely.

Isaiah 64:1-9
"That the nations may tremble at Your presence!" (vs. 2b)

"We have sinned--
In these ways we continue;
we need to be saved." (vs. 5)

"We are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;" (vs. 6a)
"There is no one who calls on Your name,
Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;" (vs. 7a)
No one--not the nations (we want to see them tremble in Your presence!), not us either! No one calls on You or takes hold of You.

"But now, O LORD,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand." (vs. 8)
No one takes hold of You, yet you take hold of us. As child is to father, as pottery is to potter, that is what we are to You. We are Your children, and the work of Your hand. Being Yours, being clay in Your hands, defines us more than our continuing sin and rags.
This is something to really let settle in! Belonging, as child to Father, as clay to Potter, is the surpassing reality! Our need to be saved is huge, and must be acknowledged, it is just not the final word. Our sin and need of being saved must be given their place and also kept in their place. Contrition, confession, and forgiveness keep us from making belonging into presumption.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
"Come and save us!" (vs. 2b)
Compare Isaiah 64:5;, "We need to be saved."
Also compare "How long will You be angry" (vs. 4) with "You are indeed angry" (Isaiah 64:5).

"Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!" (vs. 3, 7,19)
When the face of God shines is that a glow of love and approval; is that a Father's love made visible? It's a saving thought just to imagine God's face shining, so shining it's saving!

1 Corinthians 1:3-9
"Grace to you and peace..." (vs. 3)
"...you come short in no gift,
eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end,
that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called in the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (vss. 7-9)
The prayer of Psalm 80: 3, 7, and 19, "Cause Your face to shine..." is fully answered! How the face of God shines in, and because of, Jesus Christ!
We are called into the fellowship of His Son, not into the achievement of righteousness.

Mark 13:24-37
"Watch!" (vss. 33, 35, 37)
The call to watch includes anticipating. Advent is a season of anticipation. What has anticipation been like for you? Happy anticipation can even make it hard to sleep. A longed-for trip to the beach; a major milestone; marriage; or the birth of a child. Think of what anticipation has been like for you.
This season is about anticipating the Coming of Christ.
What was anticipation like for those who looked for His birth as an Infant?
What is anticipation meant to be like for us now as we watch for His glorious Second Coming.
Anticipate with all your heart, even if it means losing some sleep!

Receiving November 15, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for November 15, 2008
Judges 4:1-7
Psalm 123
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
This part is a continuing invitation to grow in receptivity. Give thought, and heart, to how you receive. Receiving the Word gives you life. That is something to ponder in your heart and to cherish! For a few suggestions about receiving the Word as spirit and life go to Part I in the previous posts in this series. Also see http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)
Prayer for Receptivity
My mind tries to grasp and explain things
Your Word included.
My heart takes things in.
It's there in my heart the center of
my whole being
that Your Word, God, is
spirit and life.
I'm receptive and
wanting to be
more receptive.
Let Your Word be
the spirit and life it is
not so much wrestled with as
waited on.

Judges 4:1-7
"...the children of Israel again did evil..." (vs. 1)
They were sold and harshly oppressed; they cried out to the LORD, and they came to Judge Deborah and were sent to war. Hard, complicated, disturbing, yet not hopeless! The passage ends, "...I will deliver him into your hand." (vs. 7)

Psalm 123
"Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.
"Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us!
For we are exceedingly filled with contempt." (vss. 1 and 3)
Israel was harshly oppressed and aware that they brought this on themselves by doing evil again. Imagine the contempt they received from the ruling power that scorned and oppressed them. A harder-to-bear contempt came from within them. I can imagine how they felt about themselves for getting themselves into their oppression. Yet this is not hopeless. Although they were filled with contempt from outside and inside, they knew the One who sold them into harsh oppression was the One to ask for mercy. They also knew it was mercy they needed. That was enough.
Mercy responds to the hard, complicated, disturbing, yet-not-hopeless circumstance. Mercy responds, it occurs to me, by first changing self-contempt into healthy guilt, guilt that is confessed and forgiven.
Have mercy on us, today also, O LORD, have mercy on us! Things are still hard, complicated, disturbing, yet-not-hopeless! We need self-contempt turned into healthy guilt, guilt confessed and forgiven.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
"But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (vss. 8 and 9)

Matthew 25:14-30
"'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance..." (vs 29)
Faith, love and hope (1 Thessalonians 5:8) are what we have! More faith, love and hope are given. There is no limit to how much more!

Receiving November 1, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for November 1, 2008
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
By reading Part I of previous posts (for example, click September to view Part I in September posts) you can review the comments about receiving the Word as spirit and life.
Also, at http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html
there are basic suggestions for receiving the Word as spirit and life.

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)

Prayer for Receptivity
Please, God, increase my capacity
not just to ask questions,
but to contain answers,
and to contain what you give
that is better than answers to my questions.
Make me receptive
like soft, moist soil
where Your Word really can
sprout and grow.
Make me soft and moist--hospitable to
life and spirit.

Revelation 7:9-17
"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" (vss. 9-10)
The scene in verses 9 through 17 is immense!
No one could number how many people there are in the great multitude that comes from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues. It's a completely diverse and completely inclusive multitude.
This diverse and inclusive multitude is standing "before the throne and before the Lamb."
The throne and the Lamb are the gathering force, the unifying power, that draws the diverse and inclusive, numberless multitude.
What happens at the throne is worship.
I wonder what experience I have had that can help me "tune in" to this immense scene? I've never stood with a small or large group before a throne. I've seen pictures of coronations or inaugurations. But this is much more than a coronation or inauguration, as much more as divine is more than human.
When by grace, and the Spirit's guidance, we do begin to tune in to this immense scene, we discover something in addition to worship. The One on the throne also dwells among the numberless diverse and inclusive multitude: "And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them." (vs. 15) And "The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters."
It's a stretching experience to even imagine this immense, wonder-filled scene. It calls for the capacity to touch, or at least reach toward the divine. We need to cross a threshold into reverence and worship. Then, stretched and humbled out of numbness, we are prepared to gratefully receive the One who is not only transcendent-beyond-our-wildest-imagination, but also endearing and close, dwelling among us. And we are prepared to be shepherded by the Lamb who gives us living waters, and wipes the tears from our eyes. The great tribulation hurts every one in that numberless multitude, and the Lamb-Shepherd comforts each of them.

Psalm 34:1-10, 22
"...and saved him out of all his troubles." (vs. 6)
Compare the great tribulation of Revelation 7.

"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them." (vs. 7)
In Revelation 7 it's the numberless multitude all around the throne, then God dwelling with them; here it's the angel of the LORD all around those who fear God.

1 John 3:1-3
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (vs. 1a)
Each person in the whole numberless multitude is a child of God. They are the children of God, who are shepherded by the Lamb.
"...the world does not know us." (vs. 1b)
Compare the great tribulation in Revelation 7 and the troubles of Psalm 34.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (vs. 3)
Compare washing robes and making them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14).

Matthew 5:1-12
"Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God." (vs. 8)
Each of the beatitude characteristics prepares the people in the numberless multitude to be there with each other worshipping God.
The pure in heart characteristic is closely related to 1 John 3:3. Purity enables the individuals in the numberless multitude to see and value the One on the throne, and the Lamb-Shepherd.
Purify myself as He is pure. Blessed are the pure in heart. Let the importance of purity sink in! There's a vitally important connection between purity and seeing God.

Receiving October 25, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for October 25, 2008
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
Recall how many ways you have learned to talk and write. How we express ourselves is important from birth on. There never comes a time when we can't learn to express ourselves in better ways--ways that benefit us and others.
Now recall how many ways you have learned to receive. Did parents (and other relatives), teachers, and friends say as much to you about receiving? How we receive is important from birth on. There never comes a time when we can't learn to receive in better ways--ways that benefit us and others. But receptivity (what it is, and how we do it well) doesn't seem to get much attention.
You can change that. You can give receptivity the attention it needs. You can choose to come as a receiver to the Word that is spirit and life. At http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html there are some "starter" suggestions for how to do this.

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)
Prayer for Receptivity
Let receptivity continue to become all You, God, want it to be in me.
I want to receive Your Word as the spirit and life it is.
Let this happen again, now. And let it happen more fully, more freely, than it has before.

Deuteronomy 34:1-12
"And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days." (vs. 8a)
If each of the following (an Israelite contemporary of Moses) were to have written a page or two about Moses, what might that page or two have contained?

• A child
• A teenager
• Young parents
• A middle-age Israelite
• An Israelite about the same age as Moses was when he died.

Ponder what Moses had been to the children of Israel at various times. What were their responses to him at various times; what kind of leader did he become to them?

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands." (vs. 17)
This Psalm is identified as "A Prayer of Moses the man of God."
At what time(s) and in what ways can you imagine God responding to this prayer of Moses (before or after Moses expressed the prayer)?

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts." (vs. 4)
Consider the following profile of leadership that is in these verses:

• Our coming to you was not in vain
• We were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict
• Our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit
• We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel
• We did not please men, but God
• We did not use flattering words, nor a cloak for covetousness
• We did not seek glory from men
• We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children we longed for you affectionately
• We were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives
• You had become dear to us

How might the members of the Thessalonica church--from youngest to oldest--have described Paul?

Matthew 22:34-46
"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him..." (vs. 35)
"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them... 'If David then calls Him "Lord," how is He his Son?'" (vs. 45)
Piece by piece, question by question, a leader is constructed in the minds and hearts of the followers. Piece by piece, question by question a leader is resisted or accepted by the people. Consider how the peoples' questions, and how Jesus' questions served this dynamic.

Receiving October 11, 2008, worship scriptures

Scriptures for October 11, 2008
Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14

Part I - Receiving the Word as spirit and life for yourself
As a review, or for the first time, I invite you to read Part I of my September 28 post (click on September at the left). Those who visit this blog are always invited to receive the Word as spirit and life. That comes first. Then compare notes with others who do the same. Here are suggestions for how to receive the Word as spirit and life for yourself: http://charistis.blogspot.com/2008/03/receiving-word-as-spirit-and-life.html

Part II - Reflections on this week's scriptures (one place for you to compare notes)
Prayer for Receptivity
Not grasping, but receiving.
Not trying to make Your Word into what I want it to be, or into
what I think You want it to be.
Receiving isn't grasping.
Receiving is letting.
Letting Your Word be spirit and life.
Letting Your Holy Spirit clear the way in my heart so Your Word can
settle there as the spirit and life it is.
Please, God, increase my receptivity.

Exodus 32:1-14
“…Moses delayed…” (vs. 1)
As I read these 14 verses, I think How could they ever say that; How could they ever do that; How could Aaron, of all people, go along with them? I react that way, and then I realize this reaction isn’t taking me where I need to go. I’m more likely to touch the heart of the people and Aaron and most of all Moses and God when I consider what this situation seemed like to them. Take just the word “delay.” It must have had huge power for them, to the point of seeming unbearable. Has delay ever felt unbearable to me?
I shift to this way of responding not to condone sin, but in order to realize that ordinary people now, as well as then, do glaringly wrong things when circumstances come to the place of seeming unbearable.
There were a lot of people, and also Aaron their interim leader, who thought they were doing what the circumstance called for. If I don’t try to comprehend what it was like for them, I am much more likely to be drawn into responses that, in my very different life circumstances, still parallel theirs.

“…let Me alone…” (vs. 10)
Amazing. Imagine God saying to Moses, “Let Me alone.” What does that say about the place of Moses in God’s life?
Moses could have heard what I read in verse 10 as (1) relief from circumstances that were getting way out of hand, and (2) assurance of a very bright future. It must have appealed to Moses to have the pain of the past gone and to be given a pain-free future. After all, the people were guilty and he was innocent. Why not just start over again? Moses might have given in to what seemed unbearable, and “gone with” what seemed right, or at least “understandable,” under the circumstances. But he didn’t. These are Your people, God. Why should the Egyptians say you brought them out here to kill them? Remember (I can’t leave You alone, instead I must ask you to remember!) remember what you swore by Your own self to your servants. You have already promised descendants as the stars of heaven. Don’t make of me another great nation. Please fulfill Your original promise. You and Your love are more powerful than these unbearable-seeming circumstances. I can’t leave You alone about this.

“‘They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them.’” (vs. 8)
It is so troubling to realize how human it is to “turn aside quickly.” The Children of Israel way back then aren’t the only ones guilty of this. When I turn aside quickly, it’s a call for me to stop and renew my heart’s awareness of what my turning aside causes in the heart of God—Father, Son and Spirit.

Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
“Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people.” (vs. 4)
I can't leave You alone about this, remember!

Philippians 4:1-9
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (vs 8)
My sin must be recognized for what it is and confessed. Then, through forgiveness I’m returned to the compassionate heart of God where I’m prepared to meditate on things true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy.

Matthew 22:1-14
“‘So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
‘So he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” and he was speechless.’” (vss. 10-12)
It wasn’t that the king saw a bad man there, he saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment.
The wedding garment and my willingness to wear it; I come from reading this parable today realizing there is always more to ponder about the wedding garment and my willingness to wear it.