Even in the midst of darkness, God extends the hand of hope. The Israelites, due to their own stubbornness in wanting an earthly king, a king other than Yahweh, had been governed by worthless rulers who abused their trust and could not keep them safe. The negligent, incompetent rulers and their false prophets died in Babylon, the land of captivity. But the faithful people, those who stayed true to Yahweh and could be trusted, received the true words of the Lord through Jeremiah. "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight (Jeremiah 9:23-24). To these people God promised restoration. "You will be my people and I will be your God. . . . I have loved you with an everlasting love. . . . I will build you up again" (Jer 30:22 - 31:4). For reflection: When I need help, to whom do I turn? Who extends the hand of hope to me? Let us pray. God, you are my father. You always extend your hand of hope to me. There is no one else who comes through for me as consistently as you. I reach out for your hand today.
0 Comments
On this day to celebrate labor in the U.S., I am reflecting on the movie showing now "Lee Daniel's The Butler". Cecil Gaines is a man who begins his work life at a very young age picking cotton. With no formal education at all, he eventually becomes a butler at the White House where he serves 8 American presidents over 30 years. Mr. Gaines works as a butler with honesty and dignity and to the best of his ability, but his older son Louis disdains the work he does as being beneath him. Also at one point his wife resents his job because he spends more time at the White House than at their house. Both of them have a point. Mr. Gaines endures much self-effacement in order to serve "properly" and he eventually cuts back his hours at the White House to be home with his family more. He has two dilemmas common to many people today. Being underemployed and working enough to provide for his family while still having adequate time to spend with them. (I haven't done the movie justice. I'm just reflecting on the work aspect of it.) Let us pray. As we thank God today for the jobs he has given us both at home and in the workplace, let us pray for those who are unemployed, underemployed and seeking balance in their life. Let us pray for child laborers and child soldiers. Let us pray for those involved in human trafficking and illicit work. It is not easy to have the faith to believe that God will do what he says or that he will fulfill a promise, or enable us to do what he has called us to do. I'm sure the early disciples had their moments of doubt, so we are not alone when we doubt too. In Hebrews 11 there is a terrific discourse on faith which is very encouraging as it goes through a list of ancient people and what they did by faith. First it gives a definition of faith - being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). There's the rub. How can we be certain of what we do not see? Let's take one of the examples given in Hebrews 11. God promised Abraham and Sarah a son. They were not young when the promise was made to them, and it didn't happen for several years. It's no stretch of the imagination to think that there were times when they were not sure or certain. Do you suppose Abraham went around bragging to his relatives, "I'm going to have a son"? Maybe he did. But what might the reaction have been when he said this year after year, with no evidence, and he and Sarah not getting any younger? Thankfully, God continued to reassure them and provided the proof for their faith. They had Isaac. God had further promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham's faith extended to that promise, but he never saw the fulfillment during his lifetime. It was faith that enabled him to be certain of what he did not see. For reflection: Even people known for their great faith struggled to be sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they did not see. Faith depends upon knowing God and trusting God to fulfill his promises. The evidence given in the Scriptures is that God is trustworthy. What evidence have I seen of that in my own life? Am I sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see? Let us pray. Father, I know the promises you have made to me. Some of them I have seen come to pass, and some not. Today I need encouragement and reassurance so that I can continue to have faith. How would you like it if someone called you "stiff-necked?" Or referred to you as "you people?" Stephen didn't mince words when he spoke to the Sanhedrin. He is giving them a scolding. In fact, he sounded just like my mother when he said, "You are just like your fathers!" (Acts 7:51). Let's tune in to his speech: "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him -- you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." Stephen has pulled out all the stops in his criticism. He has brought up the covenant with Abraham (uncircumcised), the covenant with Moses (the law and the deliverance from Egypt), and the prophets. He may even have brought up the teaching of Jesus when he said, "You always resist the Holy Spirit" (see Mark 3:29; also see Luke 20:9-19). The Sanhedrin are angry enough at this tirade when Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, has a vision of an open heaven: "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). It is more than they can bear. In their eyes he has blasphemed. They drag him outside the city gates and stone him without a trial. For reflection: Have I been stiff-necked? Am I not hearing God? Am I not listening to someone else? Have I criticized my child by saying, "You are just like your father/mother!"? Let us pray. All-loving Father, I want to be just like you. Help me to hear you when you speak to me directly and when you speak to me through others. As a Father's Day gift to all, here is a very special song of appreciation from Father God. |
AliceI started this website and blog on May 1, 2012. I am a Catholic who has been in ministry for many years. I first developed what I would call a close relationship with Jesus in the early 1970s. Ever since then I have been praying with people for healing and other needs. It is because I have seen so many of these prayers answered that I am so bold as to offer to pray for you individually through this website and phone line. Archives
July 2021
Categories
All
|