Any Questions?

In his book Lifesigns, Henri Nouwen writes ... “A careful look at the gospels shows that
Jesus seldom accepted the questions posed to him. He exposed them as coming from the house of fear.

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? How often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever? What authority do you have for acting like this? At the resurrection, to which of those seven men she married will she be a wife, since she had been married to them all? Are you the king of the Jews? Lord, has the hour come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel? ...

“To none of these questions,” Nouwen writes, “did Jesus give a direct answer. He gently put them aside as questions emerging from false worries. They were raised out of concern for prestige, influence, power, and control. They did not belong to the house of God.  Therefore Jesus always transformed the questions by his answer. He made the question new—and only then worthy of his response.

A Prayer for Friends Weighed Down

I love these prayers from: Heavenward by Scotty Smith

 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Dear Jesus, huge snowflakes are gently falling as we meet this morning, covering my yard with a blanket of beauty. It makes me think of the cross and how you’ve washed us whiter than snow by the sacrifice of your blood. Thank you, a million times over. We are completely forgiven and now dressed in the matchless beauty of your righteousness. Nothing will ever separate us from your love. We praise and adore you…you are such a wonderful, merciful, caring Savior.

In light of your great love for us, we bring friends before you today who are weighed down with various burdens and cares. Whether it’s the cold weather or simply the winter blues, it makes no difference, Jesus, there are multiplied stories of duress, stress and struggles all around us. Where else can we go but to you? Hear our prayers for those we love.

We pray for friends dealing with health issues. All along the continuum of common colds to uncommon cancers, we ask you to bring your mercy and healing, Jesus. Whether by the special grace of divine intervention or the common grace of good medicine and health care, it makes no difference. Mete out sufficient grace in each situation. Bring great glory to yourself. Make your presence clearly felt even if your ways cannot be easily discerned.

We pray for friends struggling financially and career-wise. You don’t promise us abundance or surplus, Jesus, but you do promise to meet all our needs. We especially think of friends whose are closer to mental and emotional bankruptcy, than financial collapse. By the power of your resurrection, and for your name’s sake, open doors that seem locked and bolted. From your storehouse of everlasting goodness, bring forth the right provision at the right time. It’s most likely you will use us as a part of the answer to our prayers. May we be generous and gracious in serving our friends.

Lastly, we pray for friends who are burdened relationally. Marriage will always be a center of intense, unrelenting spiritual warfare, for this relationship is meant to tell the story of your great love for your Bride. Pour out your Spirit, Jesus. Humble the proud… bring hope to the despairing… dial down the anger… clarify the issues… supply the right counsel… grant miracles of forbearance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

We ask the same for whole families, longstanding friendships and local churches under the siege of broken relationship and battered trust. Do way beyond what we can ask or imagine, for the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love. Help us, Jesus, for your glory and fame. So very Amen, we pray, in your peerless and priceless name.

A Prayer for Friends Weighed Down with Various Burdens is a post from: Heavenward by Scotty Smith

Love Things Heavenly

Grant that I, Lord,
may not be anxious about earthly things,
but love things heavenly;

and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away,
hold fast to those that shall endure; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

- The Book of Common Prayer

Nothing Can Get Between Us and God's Love

Thoughts on Romans 8:31-29 by Rev. Jamie Jenkins of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church:

It is 2:45 A.M. and our dog needs to go outside. She just went out four hours ago before we went to bed. But she is insisting that I wake up. Why does she always come to my side of the bed?

There were a lot of dogs at the animal shelter that December day almost 11 years ago. All sizes and breeds. One beige and white border collie caught our eye. She was a pretty dog and seemed to have a calm demeanor. Looked like the perfect pet. We learned that she was about a year old and had been found tied to a tree in a wooded area of southwest Atlanta.

We named our new dog Addie since it was the first Sunday in Advent when we signed the papers and took her home. It turned out that she was not so calm (she must have been sedated) but with age her energy has subsided a little. She is a gentle dog with a sweet personality.

Addie is terrified of bad weather. The science and technology of the National Weather Service has nothing on her. The severe weather alerts on The Weather Channel are old news by the time they air. She becomes restless and begins to pace and pant long before my human senses are aware of the changing weather conditions. That is what was happening last night as she pawed at my bedside.

There is not a lot you can do to help Addie when she gets that way. She wants to be petted and would like to get in your lap, but at forty-five pounds she is not a lap dog. I guess in her mind the "danger" is wherever she is, so she wants to go somewhere else. You don't get very far trying to explain to a dog that going to another room will not provide escape from this weather condition.

We have tried every method that we know to relieve Addie's anxiety and to help us. All of the diversionary tactics and medications have provided no remedy. Loving attention does not calm her. She is scared and does not understand. I feel sorry for her so we just "ride out the storm" together. However, I must admit that it can be very irritating--especially in the middle of the night.

As I sat with Addie last night (this morning) I stroked her back and scratched her behind the ears. I spoke softly and reassured her that it was alright. That she was not really in danger. That it would get better. But no matter what I said or did, her anxiety remained. Periodically my irritation would become obvious. When this crisis was over she could lay around all day and rest but I was exhausted and needed my sleep.

At one point during our early morning vigil it occurred to me that this kind of scene was probably repeated often with God and me. There are times when I do not understand or agree with circumstances and I get fretful and fearful. My restlessness and anxiety are so real but God comes along side and tries to reassure and calm me. I wonder if God gets irritated with me when I am fearful or agitated and don't accept the comfort and reassurance that is offered? When God speaks peace to me, why do I reject it? Why are my circumstances more convincing than the reality of God's Presence?

I suspect that I am a lot like Addie, but I am certain that God is not like me. No matter how many times I have to be reminded that I am in God's hands and that God's love and grace is extended to me, I believe that God continues to patiently encourage me and love me. Regardless of the circumstances or my disposition, God is with me and for me.

"With God on our side like this, how can we lose? ... Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not back stabbing ... I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:31-39, The Message)

I believe it. I am trying to practice it.