Belonging

A little boy was riding across town on a city bus.  He was huddled close to a very well dressed woman and was swinging his legs back and forth as little boys will do.  Accidentally, his shoes rubbed up against the woman sitting across from him.  She got upset and asked the well-dressed woman, "Would you please ask your son to keep his feet to himself?"  She hadn't seen what happened, but answered, "He's not my son.  I've never seen him before."  Embarrassed, the little boy moved to another seat, slouched down as if to hide, fighting back tears.  "I'm sorry," he told the woman.  Realizing what had happened, she responded, "That's OK.  Are you traveling alone?"  "I always travel alone.  My mommy and daddy are both dead and so I live with my Aunt Maggie.  When she gets tired of me she sends me to Aunt Elizabeth."  Feeling sorry for the little lad, the woman said, "You sure are young to be riding on this bus alone."  The boy piped up, "Oh, it's OK.  I never get lost but sometimes I get lonesome.  So, when I see someone I'd like to belong to, I sit real close and pretend they're my family.  That's what happened when I got your dress dirty.”  Hearing this, the woman moved over, put her arm around him, and hugged him.  All he wanted was to belong to somebody.  Don't we all!

In fact, we do belong to our heavenly Father – “This is my beloved son/daughter…”  And belonging to Him brings us into the fellowship of believers, where we belong and extend that belonging to others.

A Prayer Of Faith

Great and loving God, the One beyond time and space, we thank You for teaching us to know You through Your written and Living Word. Empower us to look beyond the things that surround us to the wonders of the heavens above and to the miracle that is each of us. We thank You for providing us with our daily needs.  Empower us to look beyond our own needs to the needs of all who live on Planet Earth-and to care and share in the spirit of Your Son, our forgiving Savior and Servant Lord. We give You thanks that You have prepared an eternal home for us, and pray that You will keep us in faith so that we might live with meaning and eventually bid farewell to life in this world with peace, joy, and sure hope. In the name of Jesus, in Whom we have seen You and through Whom we belong to You. Amen.                                      (“Heaven's Name” by Dr. Harry Wendt, Leaders Manual, Page 11)

One Day At A Time

 There are two days in every week about which we should not worry; two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.  Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.  All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.  We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a singe word... Yesterday is gone!

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible burdens, its large promise and poor performance.  Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control; Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds....but it will rise.  Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day ... today!  Anyone can fight the battle of just one day.  It is only when you and I have the burdens of those two awful eternities, Yesterday and Tomorrow....that we break down.

It is not the experiences of today that drives us mad....it is the remorses of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.  Let us, therefore, live but one day at a time.     (unknown)

I am reminded of the Israelites in the desert who learned dependence on God one day at a time.  May we walk more closely with God, trusting He is sufficient for the day.  He alone forgives our yesterdays and gives us hope-filled tomorrows.

Sharing Jesus

As a kid I was proud of the fact that I was the only one in our gang who knew the biggest word in the English language – “antidisestablishmentarianism”.  I had no idea what it meant.  One day I looked it up in a dictionary, which defined it as “the doctrine or political position that opposes the withdrawal of state recognition of an established church.”  That’s a mouthful in itself. 

When St. Paul shared his faith, he didn’t try to impress people with big words.  Instead, he wrote in his letter to the Corinthian believers: “When I came to you, I did not come with high sounding words or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God”  (I Cor. 2:1).  Big words used to impress point to self.  Paul wanted to point to Jesus, so he spoke in the words of the people.  So his words didn’t get in the way of the message, but rather supported it.  It’s reassuring that when we share Jesus, we don’t have to use big or churchy words.  It is more real and effective to tell others of our relationship with Jesus in words they can understand.  May God bless you in your sharing.

Mission Alive!

I experienced a powerful missionary movement, empowered by the Holy Splrit, during my two weeks in India, January, 2008.  Mission India has recorded over 3,200 conversions every day during the past 10 years.  Prayer, healing miracles, and witness in the face of harsh persecution are at the heart of their mission.  One of our Sunday mornings we traveled 3 and 1/2 hours into tribal territory.  We finally ended up driving down a very narrow and wooded pathway into a clearing.  There we found St. Mary’s Lutheran church.   About 50 people came out, greeting us like long lost brothers and sisters.  During the first hour of worship people kept arriving until the room was absolutely packed.  I asked the pastor why so many of his members came late.  He explained that most of his families walked at least two hours to worship, and some even six.  When the time for baptisms came, he invited the three of us who were visiting to perform them.  19 adults came forward that day.  He then explained to us that in that moment they crossed a line – their lives were transformed.  They would go home to rejection, loss of jobs and homes, and for some, even death.  Everything would change for them as disciples of Jesus.  After the service we ate and danced together in front of the church.

I couldn’t help but to feel this is what it was like in the Early Church.  That’s the way it is today throughout Africa and Asia, where Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds.   Why isn’t different in America?   Is our prayer and faith that lacking?  Have we become so intellectual, sophisticated, and business-like in our lives and church that we leave little room for God to make a difference?  At the same time, there is deep spiritual hunger and emptiness all around us.  This is our opportunity.  Are we ready to be disciples, who make disciples, and who focus on building the Kingdom?