A Prayer for today

 click on photo to view larger

Baby on Milk or Solid Food

"Brothers, I could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to worldly, even as to babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with solid food. For to this day you were not able to endure it. Nor are you able now; for you are still worldly.” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

What a tough question. Am I so worldly that I need milk as a babe and not solid food? I work on the devotions and the devotional books I write. I work on the game I developed called Game of Wisdom using Bible verses. Yet, I read chapter three in Welcoming Justice by Charles Marsh and John Perkins for our Sunday class with Pastor Dummermuth on social justice and I see I have so much more to learn. I think I am on solid food, even meat, but who am I really, still a babe in the woods?

My day would not be complete without the scriptures which are a joy to me. My first thoughts in the morning are Bible reading and prayers for others. I have two prayer books I write in when I pray and contemplate my family, friends and nation. My mother’s Good News Bible, her The Living Bible and her The New Testament in Four Versions help me understand. Yet, I turn to The Message, Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible and to Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on The Whole Bible to gain understanding.  

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, help me to see in the way you helped the blind man see. Make clear your word and purpose for me so that I can grow enough to bring others to understand what you did on the cross so long ago. The resurrection of Jesus completes our reconciliation to you. Let that sink into my mind. Even though we are still worldly, you offer forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck (reprinted from 2017 Lent devotions)

The Triumphal Entry

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.  If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’”   And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.  And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”  And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.  And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.  And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.  And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” Mark 11:1-10

A Prayer for today

 click on photo to view larger

A Prayer for today

 Click on photo to view larger

The Pleasure of Service

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

I recently read a story about the phrase “my pleasure” and its history of use at Chick Fil A. This phrase is used by employees when someone says thank you. It is an abbreviated response of the phrase “It was my pleasure” or “It is my pleasure to serve”. Corporately, staff at Chick Fil A use it exclusively in place of “You’re Welcome”. Regardless of what you may think of Chick Fil A’s food, or their position on social justice issues, this perspective change feels remarkable.

Since the middle of February the company I work for has been offering COVID vaccination clinics for high risk populations. Our first weekend the wind chills in Lincoln ranged as cold as -30 degrees. People came out in the cold for their vaccine. Volunteers worked in the parking garage to help with parking and wayfinding. We had so many people who were so thankful that they could come to a site they were familiar with for service. Our volunteers were so thankful to provide a service to these patients. Many times we heard volunteers say “this was awesome” or “I had so much fun” or even “It feels good to be a part of this”. For those who worked, it was a true pleasure to serve. We had more than 100 volunteers and served nearly 1000 individuals.   

Maybe this volunteering was so rewarding because the recipients were so happy and grateful for the vaccine. Maybe it was because so many of us haven’t been able to volunteer or be with a large group of humans because of the pandemic. Maybe it was because we were able to feel that “pleasure” of giving. The “pleasure” of service.     

Prayer: God whose son showed us the joy of service, thank You for all our opportunities to share Your love and gifts with those around us.  In Your name, Amen. 

Christi Moock

A Prayer for today