Ezekiel 37:24 My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my statutes.
Ezekiel is proclaiming a promised future for God's people. He did this thousands of years ago. And I don't know about you, but I'm still waiting.
I'm still waiting for God's people to be united, to all have one shepherd. I'm still waiting for God's people to follow God's ordinances instead of things that feel good to themselves. I'm still waiting for all God's people to be careful to observe God's statutes.
OK, let me be a bit honest with and about myself with you all. Today I'm going to try to worry a little bit less about all of God's people and worry a little bit more about myself.
I'm still waiting for me to be united with all of God's people, even the ones who hear God saying very different things than I hear. I'm still waiting for me to follow God's ordinances instead of just the ones that make me feel good about myself. I'm still waiting for me to be at least as careful about observing God's statutes as I am careful about reading the nutritional packaging on a box of crackers.
Maybe today. With God's help.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
For more information about all of our ministries, visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org. To read past devotional messages or to leave comments and conversation, visit http:aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Psalm 19:1-4
1The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament* proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice* goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
Today is Earth Day, a day that has been around for awhile, and on which we hear a lot more about care for the environment, about little and big things that we can do to change our impact on Earth. While we know, as Christians, that our final hope is in the resurrection, and that our ultimate home is with Christ, we are also called to be stewards of all that God has given to us -- including the world.
I invite you to begin your day (or end it, or interrupt it -- whenever you're reading this!) by giving thanks to God for indeed, the firmament proclaims God's handiwork.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
"When we wake up in the morning and turn our soul toward You, You are there first." Soren Kierkegaard
1The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament* proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice* goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
Today is Earth Day, a day that has been around for awhile, and on which we hear a lot more about care for the environment, about little and big things that we can do to change our impact on Earth. While we know, as Christians, that our final hope is in the resurrection, and that our ultimate home is with Christ, we are also called to be stewards of all that God has given to us -- including the world.
I invite you to begin your day (or end it, or interrupt it -- whenever you're reading this!) by giving thanks to God for indeed, the firmament proclaims God's handiwork.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
"When we wake up in the morning and turn our soul toward You, You are there first." Soren Kierkegaard
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 121:1-2
1I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
There are few questions that invoke such a sense of despair as the first verse of Psalm 121. From where will my help come? Whether uttered in the dark soul of the night, all alone, or in a time of distress, we can probably all relate to a time when we've looked around for our help to come. We all know that our help comes from the Lord, but I love the way the psalmist not only immediately answers the question, pointing to God, but also acknowledges that God made heave and earth.
We struggle every day with the need for help. Some needs are small and pass quickly, others continue -- often longer than we would like them. But always we have the assurance that our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
1I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
There are few questions that invoke such a sense of despair as the first verse of Psalm 121. From where will my help come? Whether uttered in the dark soul of the night, all alone, or in a time of distress, we can probably all relate to a time when we've looked around for our help to come. We all know that our help comes from the Lord, but I love the way the psalmist not only immediately answers the question, pointing to God, but also acknowledges that God made heave and earth.
We struggle every day with the need for help. Some needs are small and pass quickly, others continue -- often longer than we would like them. But always we have the assurance that our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
Ezekiel 1:26-28
26 And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire;* and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. 27Upwards from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all round; and downwards from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all round. 28Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all round. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
26 And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire;* and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. 27Upwards from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all round; and downwards from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all round. 28Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all round. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
These descriptions of the likeness of the glory of the Lord contain elaborate images and often inspire artistic renditions. The images are impressive to try to imagine, or even to picture. Sapphire and amber and fire... Wow. People point to passages such as this one to help inform an image of God. But what I'm realizing again about this account of the Lord's appearance is that it's pretty uncertain: our prophet sees "something like..." or "something that seemed like..." several times.
So, do we dismiss this as an account that is sketchy at best? Well, that's certainly an option. But it also gives us the opportunity to acknowledge just how amazing and awe-inspiring this experience must have been for Ezekiel, and how completely beyond our limited descriptions God truly is. However we vision God, we are always limited by our own experiences, our own world-view, our own prejudices.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Monday, April 19, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Ezekiel 1:1-3
In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was on him there.
In the two thousand and tenth year, in the fourth month, on the nineteenth day of the month, where are you and what visions will you see?
These descriptions of where and when the visions of God came to people intrigue me to no end. Of course if something of that significance happened, we would remember exactly where and when, who was standing next to us, and what was happening around us. But we don't need to wait for such a stunning occasion.
Look around. Listen closely. Where are the visions of God's kingdom around you? Where do you hear the word of the Lord? On this April 19, 2010, how are the heavens being opened around you?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was on him there.
In the two thousand and tenth year, in the fourth month, on the nineteenth day of the month, where are you and what visions will you see?
These descriptions of where and when the visions of God came to people intrigue me to no end. Of course if something of that significance happened, we would remember exactly where and when, who was standing next to us, and what was happening around us. But we don't need to wait for such a stunning occasion.
Look around. Listen closely. Where are the visions of God's kingdom around you? Where do you hear the word of the Lord? On this April 19, 2010, how are the heavens being opened around you?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Friday, April 9, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
Acts 5:25 Then someone arrived and announced, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’
As the apostles were out doing wonders and signs and preaching the message about the resurrection of Jesus (see yesterday's message), the authorities got nervous. So the authorities did what authorities do when they get nervous. They threw the apostles in prison. But an angel showed up and let them out... right through the prison wall. The apostles were released from prison so they could go back and tell the story to those who need to hear it.
I don't know what this means in your life. I don't know what prisons you're in that need breaking down. But I know that it means something about the message of hope and life in the risen Christ. Nothing can defeat the message. The message will always get out. Hope will always triumph. Life is stronger than death. Goodness is stronger than evil. No matter what.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To "talk back," visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com or http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information on all of our ministries.
As the apostles were out doing wonders and signs and preaching the message about the resurrection of Jesus (see yesterday's message), the authorities got nervous. So the authorities did what authorities do when they get nervous. They threw the apostles in prison. But an angel showed up and let them out... right through the prison wall. The apostles were released from prison so they could go back and tell the story to those who need to hear it.
I don't know what this means in your life. I don't know what prisons you're in that need breaking down. But I know that it means something about the message of hope and life in the risen Christ. Nothing can defeat the message. The message will always get out. Hope will always triumph. Life is stronger than death. Goodness is stronger than evil. No matter what.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To "talk back," visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com or http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information on all of our ministries.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Acts 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
We sometimes act as if Easter were the end. Of course it's the pinnacle, it's the most important event in the history of the world according to our Christian faith. But it's not the end. It's not the end of God's work among God's people. It's not the end of God's power at work in the world.
The book of Acts takes place after Easter. The book of Acts tells us the story of what God's power did in the world through the disciples, through people a lot like you and I. "Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles." It wasn't just Jesus doing signs and wonders. The apostles were doing them too.
It didn't end with the end of the book of Acts either. Signs and wonders are still being done by Jesus' followers today. You just have to open your eyes and know how to look. All around the world and in your neighborhood the hungry and being fed, the weak are being lifted up, and people are working for justice. Signs and wonders, I tell ya!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To "talk back," visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com or http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information on all of our ministries.
We sometimes act as if Easter were the end. Of course it's the pinnacle, it's the most important event in the history of the world according to our Christian faith. But it's not the end. It's not the end of God's work among God's people. It's not the end of God's power at work in the world.
The book of Acts takes place after Easter. The book of Acts tells us the story of what God's power did in the world through the disciples, through people a lot like you and I. "Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles." It wasn't just Jesus doing signs and wonders. The apostles were doing them too.
It didn't end with the end of the book of Acts either. Signs and wonders are still being done by Jesus' followers today. You just have to open your eyes and know how to look. All around the world and in your neighborhood the hungry and being fed, the weak are being lifted up, and people are working for justice. Signs and wonders, I tell ya!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
To "talk back," visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com or http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for more information on all of our ministries.
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