Cry

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

18 O my Comforter in sorrow,
my heart is faint within me.

19 Listen to the cry of my people
from a land far away:
"Is the LORD not in Zion?
Is her King no longer there?"

22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people?

9:1 Oh, that my head were a spring of water
and my eyes a fountain of tears!
I would weep day and night
for the slain of my people.

Humans have several gifts unique in the animal world, and one of them is the crying of emotional tears. Perhaps this could be debated, but no scientific studies attribute this ability to any other earthly creature.

Crying stinks. At least that's the way I've always felt about it.

As one man responded on our "what women need to know about men," survey from a few weeks ago: "Crying is not fair."

But it is a reality, for all of us.

We manly men (that's me, right?), don't like to cry, much less let anyone see us. Crying is a loss of control. It is vulnerability.

That loss of control and vulnerability screams out from the verses of today's scripture.

And that's really a good thing. There are times when we all share the hurt that the prophet Jeremiah displays for us. The truth is, there are thing in life, and in our world that should move us to tears. We are vulnerable, and any ideas of control are just illusions.

What a foolish goal: to become so wooden and stone-hearted that we lose an essential human attribute -- our tears.

There is always good news in scripture, even after the worst of laments. God does restore his people and the exile Jeremiah had to proclaim would one day come to an end.

There will be moments when we will ask whether any "balm" exists to heal our wounds. It does. It always does. The physician, our Father, does not ever leave us. One day, scripture tells us, "he will wipe their tears away, and crying will be no more."

If there are tears, let them come. Joy lives just on the other side.

Prayer: God our Father, we seek the "Balm of Gilead" that can heal our wounds. Help us acknowledge our responsibility in sin, and to know how completely you seek to forgive us. May this day be one of peace and reconciliation.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture ( no blog ): Jeremiah 9:23-24

We'll see you this Sunday at SOTH! Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for everybody between services at 10:15!

Leader

I Timothy 3:1-10 (NRSV)

The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop ^* must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.

He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.

8

Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; ⁹they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons.

This is the kind of scripture that fascinates me. It's a window into the earliest days of the Christian church. The apostle Paul is writing to Timothy, a younger leader in the church, describing the attributes that Christian leaders ought to have.

We could dwell on the obvious choices: faithful, not greedy, temperate, sensible, respectable. But, I'm more interested in Paul's words about maturity.

Whatever qualities potential leaders in the faith might have, Paul says, make sure they're not "puffed up," easily falling into the "condemnation of the devil."

You may not know it or believe it, but if you're taking the time to read this and spending a moment in prayer, you're probably a "Christian leader" in someone's life. That doesn't just come with the pressure of responsibility, it also comes with opportunity.

All those good gifts (hospitality, temperance, respect) come first through humility. We are all dependent upon God. Knowing that truth means it's not so much about me, but entirely about God. Our task is to allow God the space, through the "crucifixion" of our pride, to be at work in our lives.

A big task, but a great journey.

Prayer: Forgive us when we have grown conceited and "puffed up" in our faith. May we serve one another in humility and with the grace of Jesus Christ.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomrorow's Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Wait

Psalm 79:1-9

...How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever?

...Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;

let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation,

for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins,
for your name’s sake...
⁹

"How long?" is a tough question.

When asked, it means that someone is waiting.

Waiting is not easy.

"Are we there yet?"

Not yet.

"How long?"

"A little while longer."

Some of my toughest moments as a pastor have come when faithful people, going through times of great difficulty, ask me with all honesty, "how long is God going to keep doing this?"

The writer of psalm 79 has seen "the worst that could happen." Violence, exile, extreme loss and brokenness.

Even so, he doesn't give up. A plea for Jerusalem...offered to God...in faith...for his name's sake.

"Help us...deliver us..."

Don't give up. You're almost there.

Prayer: So many times we do not understand the great brokenness that we see in our world. Give us hearts that break and move us to proclaim and act upon the good news of Jesus Christ. Hold us fast, even in the most difficult of days.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Authority

I Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV)

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

I remember, years ago, the words of my mentor pastor as I explored a life of ordained ministry.

"Can a Christian be politically active?" he asked.

I thought so, but I wasn't sure. I knew that most people got a very bad taste in their mouths when they sensed the combination of church and politics.

"Of course they can," he said. "What part of our lives should our faith not impact?"

A valid point, well made. Christianity should impact all of our thoughts, opinions and actions.

But, there are as many political opinions as there are individuals in any congregation. This was true in the apostle Paul's day, too.

Another wise pastor once told me, "there are people in my congregation who think I'm an arch conservative, and some who are sure that I'm absolutely liberal. Nobody knows my political affiliation for sure. It's not what I'm here for."

A valid point, also well made.

This morning, I think we should follow the advice of I Timothy and pray for our leaders. Regardless of what you or I think about President Bush, let's pray for him. For our mayors and commissioners and representatives and senators. For our school superintendents and principals. For bishops and leaders of church agencies. For all who are in authority.

May God give them wisdom to exercise their earthly power well. And may God save them from the temptations and pitfalls that power always brings.

Prayer: God, today we say a prayer for those people in authority. May they lead with your wisdom and righteousness. Show us how to live responsibly as members of the same society and citizens of your world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and every shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: I Timothy 3:1-10

Master

Luke 16:9-13 (NIV)

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and Money."

Money is inescapable. Every day, there is the pressure to earn it and the necessity of spending it.

Beyond the necessities, there is the constant pull of our "wants." The world is highly skilled at placing new "wants" in our heads. Usually, we didn't know we wanted until our neighbors or the little screens in our houses made the suggestion.

"Stuff" is not inherently sinful, but it does have the power to pull our hearts and focus. It does give us a faulty form of people-measurement, by which we allow bank account figures to determine our own, or another's worth.

For Jesus, I really believe money was simply a tool. Like his teaching on keeping sabbath, (Sabbath was made for people, not people for the sabbath), he knows that living with money means a constant call to focus and perspective.

We can't serve God and worldly wealth. How do we make that choice in our lives? What could God be calling us to think about, and change, starting today?

Prayer: Father God, teach us to have just one master, and to give ourselves completely to your love and grace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Reading: I Timothy 2:1-7

Real

I Timothy 1:1-11 (The Message)

I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior's command, I'm writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!

On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven't changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.

The whole point of what we're urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such imposing eloquence.

It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God.

This morning, after dropping my oldest at school, I scanned the cd's in my car to see what I had to listen to. My trust "90's" compilation was ready at hand. In the 80's, I was a master of the "mix tape," so you can imagine my love of digital music ripping and burning. I know, get an ipod.

An old Blues Traveler song came up (and hold in there, bear with me), I swear it made me think about this scripture.

"Hook"
It doesn't matter what I say
So long as I sing with inflection
That makes you feel I'll convey
Some inner truth or vast reflection
But I've said nothing so far
And I can keep it up for as long as it takes
And it don't matter who you are
If I'm doing my job then it's your resolve that breaks

Because the hook brings you back
I ain't tellin' you no lie
The hook brings you back
On that you can rely

There is something amiss
I am being insincere
In fact I don't mean any of this
Still my confession draws you near
To confuse the issue I refer
To familiar heroes from long ago

So much preaching that happens in our churches today is of this variety. So much "Christian" living happens at this level, too. Paul tells us that he had grown absolutely exhausted by those in the early Christian community who would preach one thing with great inflection, then go and live another way entirely.

Paul calls Timothy to hold the line of authenticity. He reminds him that what matters most of all is the day to day "preaching" that is a life lived in love, "uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God."

I think that's exactly what people are looking for, when we slice down through all the "hooks" out there that seek to deceive us. Look for what's real. Nothing is more real than God's love.

Prayer: God our Father, we pray that you would give us sincere faith, and tear down the idols that we have created in our lives. May nothing separate us from the grce and love of Jesus. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture (no blog) I Timothy 1:12-17 We'll see you this Sunday at SOTH!

Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for everyone at 10:15.

Home

Read Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

...17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'

20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him...

I don't know about you, but I find "shortcuts" irresistible.

I love to believe that I can outsmart the traffic, and find a better route.

I love exploring roads, learning the secret passages through town and impressing those who ride in my vehicle with my superior knowledge and navigational skills.

Of course, we all know that the best shortcuts are known to everyone, and they eventually lose their appeal as they become clogged with all the shortcut-takers.

My sons refer to my shortcuts as "daddy's long-cuts." The groans seep out, whenever we turn off of the main road. They know the trip home may have just gotten more scenic, but definitely not shorter.

The "prodigal son" of Luke 15 likes shortcuts, too. He wanted to strike out on his own, gaining his inheritance early and showing everyone how smart he could be. He wanted to get there now, without paying his dues.

As a result, he found himself a long, long way from home.

Sometimes, the best path is the straight one, right in front of us, however narrow it may be.

We are free to choose our path. Our Father, like the prodigal's, will not put a stop to our freedom, even to keep us safe. But when we stray, and we will, we can know that He waits, looking for our return.

"Filled with compassion...he ran to his son...and kissed him."

The right turn, toward God, is the greatest "shortcut" we could ever take. Even better, is to trust him now, through whatever comes, and know that Dad really does know the way home.

Prayer: Father of the Prodigal, while we were still a long way off, you ran to us, hugged us, kissed us and welcomed us home. May we celebrate wiht heaven when the lost are found, and may we know that you can make all things right, no matter how lost we have become.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: I Timothy 1:1-11

Found

Luke 15 (The Message)

By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends." Their grumbling triggered this story.

"Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!' Count on it—there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."

A couple of Sundays ago, I got up early and readied myself for church. Later that morning, I realized I was missing something. The ring finger of my left hand was bare. No ring.

I've had a tough history with wedding rings. I lost my first one ten years ago, about 3 months after we got married. The ring my wife placed on my finger "in front of God and everybody" now resides somewhere in the murky sediment of the Buffalo River in middle Tennessee. Note to self --- take off ring before canoe trips.

In the intervening years, I've never permanently lost my new ring, but I've had several close calls. This last time, the item in question was missing for days.

How hard do you look when you lose something? For me, I know that my gift is not for finding small, lost items. Eventually, I give up, go on with life and know that one day it will turn up. Sad, but true.

Thankfully, my wife is like Jesus' character. She lights a lamp, scours every nook and cranny and doesn't quit until she finds what she's looking for. When she found my ring, she came running with the good news.

It was in the sock drawer. Evidently the socks had consipired against me. But they did not prevail.

Our lives have many cycles of lost and found. No matter how lost you feel this morning, the great good news is that God is seeking. God pursues us with the love and grace of Jesus.

God's nature is the relentless pursuit of his children.

Celebrate what is found today! Jesus tells us that there is nothing more important.

Prayer: When we are lost, you search until we are found. Help us to know that we can never escape your loving care. May your Church have passion for those who hurt and feel lost in this world. May we be your instruments of reconciliation.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 15:11-32

Restore

From Psalm 14

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."...
...The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men
to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God...
...God is present in the company of the righteous...

...You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge...

...Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

I don't believe in atheists.

Everybody believes in something. All people, I believe, choose to place their faith in something outside themselves. Anger, fear, frustration and pain may keep people from acknowledging their faith in God, but I'm just not sure that anyone actually shakes their deep-down knowledge that God is with us.

That doesn't mean that people who openly believe don't get frustrated, too. Sometimes that same anger and fear gets hold of our old broken places and can just wear us out.

Psalm 14 is a "lament" against the power that "evildoers" sometimes seem to have in this world. Really, it goes even a step further, reminding us that none among us are without sin, and that we've all got our own share of brokenness.

What matters is who we believe in, and who we are becoming.

Salvation...restoration...healing...these things all come from the Lord. Faith in Jesus isn't just a business transaction, it's the beginning of a whole new life. Watch for the places where God is "restoring" your life today. Rejoice and be glad!

Prayer: O God, may you make us a part of the "company of the righteous." Forgive us where we have fallen short and restore the fortunes of your people. May we not turn aside, but always turn to you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Fierce

Jeremiah 4 (NIV)

22 "My people are fools;
they do not know me.
They are senseless children;
they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil;
they know not how to do good."

23 I looked at the earth,
and it was formless and empty;
and at the heavens,
and their light was gone.

24 I looked at the mountains,
and they were quaking;
all the hills were swaying.

25 I looked, and there were no people;
every bird in the sky had flown away.

26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;
all its towns lay in ruins
before the LORD, before his fierce anger.

27 This is what the LORD says:
"The whole land will be ruined,
though I will not destroy it completely.

28 Therefore the earth will mourn
and the heavens above grow dark,
because I have spoken and will not relent,
I have decided and will not turn back."

There are many difficult, but necessary moments in our spiritual growth. There are moments when we need to remember the complete nature of the awe-inspiring God that we serve.

He is all-powerful. And He is jealous. There's a reason "thou shalt have no other gods before me," comes first on that list.

Jeremiah's vision of this devastating apocalypse must have been terrifying. His job was to relate this forthcoming destruction to the leaders of Judah. Perhaps at one time his fear of the king would have stopped him from speaking. Having seen this possible future, no human being could now overwhelm his healthy "fear" of God and force his silence.

The people had turned from God. They had lost focus. They had forgotten who and whose they were. This scriptural glimpse into God's anger and frustration should give us pause. No matter how loving the parent, every well-raised child knows the look in its mother's or father's eye that means, "too far."

Even still, God's grace never fails.

"I will not destroy it completely."

The God of jealousy, and love, and anger....and second chances....loves us still today.

There is hope, and opportunity. And a God who is not to be taken lightly.

Prayer: Father God, forgive our brokenness and heal your creation. We thank you for the grace of Christ that spares us, and we seek to be made holy in your redemption.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Psalm 14

Encourage

Philemon

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Years ago, another pastor told me about his habit of keeping an "affirmation" file. Over the years, when anyone has sent along notes or thoughts of thanks, prayer and support, they've been placed in a plain manilla folder and filed in a drawer.

That file has become an in-case-of-emergency "memory bank" of sorts. When the hard days come, as they surely will, that pastor can physically look and find the refreshment that his soul needs. Encouragement doesn't have an expiration date.

Another wise Christian once told me, "God will send encouragers, just when you need them most." I witnessed the ministry of another pastor who has taken up note-writing and encouragement as a way of life. Nowhere in scripture does Jesus expect his disciples to be in this thing alone.

"Faith-sharing" sounds intimidating. It really doesn't have to be. Show someone a sign of love, encouragement and support today. Small things do matter, and you'll find your own heart "refreshed" along the way.

Prayer: Lord, may our witness for you be effective.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Scripture for Saturday (no blog, but a good place to go anyway!) Philemon 8-25

Scripture for Sunday: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
We'll see you at SOTH for worship this Sunday, 9 & 11 AM with Sunday School at 10 AM. Have a great weekend!

Follow

Luke 14:25-34 (The Message)

25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

28-30"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.'

31-32"Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?

33"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.

34"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

As I've grown older, and maybe a tiny bit wiser in my life, I've become convinced of a few foundational truths.

One is that we humans are always drawn, through some magnetic pull of our own brokenness and sin, toward the famous "path of least resistance." Left to our own devices, we will flow without fail, like water and electricity, through whatever most easily conducts our attention.

But following this man Jesus has to change all of that. Or, at least, following him holds that potential for our lives.

All of us have to make decisions, every single day. For a believer, those decisions are re-framed by the crucified, resurrected rabbi that we follow.

Jesus was clear with the crowd that trailed him, perhaps more for free food and miracle-gawking than for a new way of life. "If you'll be following me," he says, "you'll need one of these." Picking up the cross, we walk in his steps.

Whatever your "cross" today, pick it up. Carry it joyfully, walking behind the one who gives strength for the journey. The cross is not the end of the path, but it's the only way to get there. On the other side there is resurrection, love, joy and peace.

Christians believe that Jesus can redeem any situation, even our own.

Prayer: Father, we do not understand all that it may truly mean to follow Jesus. May we pick up the cross and follow him to resurrection and new life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Philemon 1-7

Before

Psalm 139 (NRSV)

The Inescapable God

¹O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

²You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.

³You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.

⁴Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.

⁵You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.

⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.

⁷Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?

⁸If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

⁹If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, ¹⁰

even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.

¹¹If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night’,

¹²even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

¹³For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

¹⁶Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.

In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.

¹⁷How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

¹⁸I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end—I am still with you.

Over the years, one of my favorite alternative/pop kind of singers has been a guy named Ben Folds.

Like most of his fans, Ben has gotten a little older, settled down and had kids. A few years ago, he wrote a song about his daughter.

I love the way he began: "You can't fool me, I saw you when you came out."

Such is the love, and the knowledge, that a parent has for his or her child.

But imagine...God knew us even before that very "first" moment.

Psalm 139 is an amazing testament to that truth.

Here's a good way to start this day. Re-read the words of that psalm and let the full gravity of the statements settle upon you.

"Your eyes beheld my unformed substance."

"In your book were written all the days that were formed for me when none of them as yet existed."

I will never forget the day of my youngest son's last ultrasound before his birth. We glimpsed, in grainy black and white, a clear image of his lips, nose and chin.

Although he would not be born for a few more weeks, we already knew how much he looked just like his big brothers.

In that moment, my heart leapt with joy at the life that God was knitting together.

All our days rest in the hands of the one who has already written them. Our Father loves us, and will care for us, come what may.

Prayer: Father God, you have known us before we "were." Even in our end, may we always be with you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

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Pain

Today's Scripture: Read Jeremiah 18:13-23

15 Yet my people have forgotten me;
they burn incense to worthless idols,
which made them stumble in their ways
and in the ancient paths.
They made them walk in bypaths
and on roads not built up.

16 Their land will be laid waste,
an object of lasting scorn;
all who pass by will be appalled
and will shake their heads.

19 Listen to me, O LORD;
hear what my accusers are saying!

20 Should good be repaid with evil?
Yet they have dug a pit for me.
Remember that I stood before you
and spoke in their behalf
to turn your wrath away from them.

23 But you know, O LORD,
all their plots to kill me.
Do not forgive their crimes
or blot out their sins from your sight.
Let them be overthrown before you;
deal with them in the time of your anger.

Most all of us can remember exactly where we were when we heard the news that morning six years ago. At first, there was just confusion. Finally, there was recognition and disbelief. In the end, there was so much anger.

Our church gathered for worship that night. I will always remember the words that we prayed together. I had prayed them many times before, and many times since. Never before had they caught in my throat...

"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."

At that moment, I didn't feel forgiveness for those who had committed unspeakable acts against my fellow Americans. If I'm honest, I wanted vengeance, and like many of us, there are times that it's still really all I want in repayment for the pain of that day.

The prophet Jeremiah knew what pain felt like. He knew anger, and in today's scripture we witness one of the most blatant calls for vengeance that we find in all of scripture.

We believe, and the Bible teaches us, that God is both loving and just.

Somehow, cycles of violence and vengeance must be broken. All the while, we trust God for the justice that must surely "flow down like water."

Just a few verses later, in Jeremiah 20, we hear this promise:
"Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked."

May the Lord save his needy people.

Prayer: God our Father, you are the maker of nations and ruler of all things. Forgive our trespasses and lead us not into the time of trial. We pray especially today for the safety of our armed forces and for all who are in harm's way.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomrrow's reading: Psalm 139

Potter

Jeremiah 18

At the Potter's House

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2 "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

11 "Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, 'This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.' 12 But they will reply, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.' "

Have you ever received a "message from God?" I know sometimes I wish that God would speak more clearly. At other times, I know that he has spoken, and then I must decide whether to listen.

God told Jeremiah to "go to the potter's house," and there he witnessed a powerful object lesson. A beautiful pot was taking shape, the clay turning quickly upon the wheel and guided by the potter's skillful hands.

But something wasn't right. Things were "marred," in a way that could only mean a total new beginning if the pot was ever to hold its beauty.

Everybody falls short. All of us are "marred" by the shame and sin of this world. But in this scripture lies some great good news. We can be re-formed, re-cast and made new by the hands of the potter who loves us.

If we turn from our brokenness toward the one who can make things right, "I will relent," becomes our Father's promise. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Father, you are the potter and we are the clay. May we give ourselves willingly to your work of molding our lives into the vessels you desire. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Reading: Jeremiah 18:13-23