Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever.
1 Thessalonians 2:2
… though we had already suffered and been shamefully maltreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.
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Words of Grace For Today
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There are so many stories one can read or watch, engaging, thrilling, and moving.
Some have something good to say about life. Many are not really worth the time spent taking them in. A few inspire one to embrace the goodness of life that God’s graciously blesses us with.
Paul was not received with grace by everyone wherever he went, spreading the Good News of Jesus. Though he was maltreated at Philippi, it was the congregation to which he wrote with the dearest, most loving and heartfelt joy and thanks. His letter to the Thessalonians comes in a close second.
Whatever challenges come our way, God mercifully loves us and keeps us safe. Often through the most challenging of times God most clearly proves God’s promises of mercy, love and faithfulness can be trusted by us.
Not that we seek out or enjoy the challenges, but all in all we trust that God walks with us, and that God’s faithful people live out that presence with us, as we live it out for others.
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
2 Corinthians 12:9
… but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Hebrews 5:7
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
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Words of Grace For Today
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When we pray to God we want results.
Usually we know what kind of results.
Jesus prays to God from the cross. God hears him. Jesus still dies.
What kind of answer is that?
It’s the kind that saves us all
from all evil
even our darkest sins!
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That’s the kind of answer God gives to all our prayers,
which means our wanted results rarely are God’s way for us to move forward
into life abundant,
and blessed.
It’s a tough slog, but blessed every step,
as God walks with us, through all that may come our way.
He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.
John 19:5
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’
Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Hebrews 6:11-12
And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
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Words of Grace For Today
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So often we journey into the crossroads, and never see the path we choose …
until it’s too late, or maybe never.
Not realizing the Goodness of Life was clearly visible on that other path we did not see, or intentionally did not choose, because the incline was so steep.
And then we stumble and tumble down to the depths of despair at how unfair life is, though we could have … we should have …
It’s all too easy to choose the easiest out, at every crossroads, but the wisdom of the ages is that it’s often the steepest climb up that rewards us with views spectacular, into the horizons of the heart, into the depths of love – God’s for us that never fails us.
So we pray, let us be imitators of the saints who have gone before us. Help us struggle on, on into the day … and the night
For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace’, when there is no peace.
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
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Words of Grace For Today
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We’ve all heard again that famous, or infamous, Rant, I am Canadian. With quiet music building to swells of patriotic music Joe states his case:
Hey, I’m not a lumberjack or a fur trader
I don’t live in an igloo or eat blubber or own a dogsled.
and I don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I’m certain that their really, really nice.
Uh
I have a prime minister, not a president.
I speak English and French not American
and I pronounce it about, not aboot.
I can proudly sew my country’s flag on my backpack.
I believe in peacekeeping not in policing.
I believe in diversity, not assimilation.
And I believe the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat.
And a chesterfield is a couch.
And it’s pronounced Zed, not Zee, Zed.
Canada is the second largest landmass
The first nation of hockey
and the best part of North America.
My name is Joe
and I am Canadian.
Reality
Given Trump and his threats and actual tariffs that will do great damage to our economy, one can understand the call to be patriotic.
At the core of our problems, though, we do not find economics or politics, but good old fashion love, faith, and hope, expressed as empathy and care for all people, especially the poor.
So ours is not a rant but a chant backed by any number of great pieces of music, for example “Canticle of the Turning” (ELW 723) by Rory Cooney, to the lively Irish folk tune used as a rugby match song:
Hey, I am not a crusading knight, nor a desert ascetic.
I don’t hold exorcisms, live in Corinth or Bethlehem or Nazareth.
I have a pastor and a bishop, not a coach or a guru.
I speak many native languages, but not Latin or Sanskritic.
I proudly were a cross on a fine chain around my neck.
I believe in peace not in war or violence.
I believe in respecting and welcoming diversity, not excluding strangers or foreigners.
I believe the fish is a wonderful symbol of faith, as is the boat.
I’m not concerned with how people pronounce words, but that we share the radical Word of God.
God’s favour is not won by what we do or say or believe, but is God’s free gift given to us.
We can refuse it and we do, sinners that we are. But God keeps saving us over and over again, making us saints able to do miraculous things for others, especially the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the outcasts, refugees, strangers, and especially children.
Christianity may be worldwide and messed up in many places, sometimes even here at home, but it is the gift of life,
the gift of life abundant for all people.
We may be getting fewer in number, but being a follower of Jesus is the best part of life.
My name is not important because God knows it and everything about me and still loves me. I’m not ashamed of my name, yet it’s not what I’m proud of.
I’m proud that I bear Jesus’ cross and Jesus’ name,
You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbour.
James 2:1
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?
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Words of Grace For Today
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God calls us to make and support just judgments, not partial to the poor nor deferring to the great (the rich, who are not all that great most of the time), but with clear justice for all.
Not that it is easy.
Sometimes the truth does seem to win:
A man walks on a park path.
A dog walks behind him.
A policeman approaches him and speaks to him. The man and the dog stop and listen to him.
He says the man must put a leash on his dog.
Without a word, the man walks on with the dog behind him.
The policeman follows the two, and stops them again.
The man and the dog look at the policeman as he warns the man again to put a leash on his dog.
Without a word, the man walks on again. The dog follows behind him.
The policeman follows behind them and tells them to stop, waving a ticket in the man’s face telling him to pay the fine.
The man protests asking why he should pay the fine?
That dog is not his.
But the policeman points out the dog walks behind him on the path.
The man answer, ‘Well, so do you. Must I put a leash on you, too?’
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So we pray, may we not behave like lying dogs towards our neighbours, keeping the leashes where they belong, and letting our neighbours be free.
The Chaos Points Right To The Rulers Who Spread It,
as clearly as shadows to the trees that block the sun.
Job 12:16
With him are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
1 Timothy 2:1-4
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
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Words of Grace For Today
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Even the unjust ‘king’s that threaten good order with chaos are God’s, along with all the people they threaten.
Presidents, prime ministers, kings, and all rulers and leaders are God’s, no matter how they live and rule or lead.
Too many rulers, as always, seem never to be satiated with a little, but always strive after more, more, more, and in their seeking rob from so many the peace of life, foisting on them chaos, violence, displacement, hunger, uncertainty, and fear.
Even these rulers and peace&life-robbers are God’s and God desires that they would be saved, and come to the knowledge and love of the truth, the truth that God makes available to all of us, as gift.
Strength and wisdom are not made or given by rulers of this world. These are God’s gifts, freely given to us. So we pray for those who threaten and steal life from us and so many people.
He said to me: Mortal, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears.
Matthew 13:23
But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.
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Words of Grace For Today
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Receive and hear …
Oh, if it were just so simple for us to choose to be good soil for the Word of God …
Though too often, we choose so simply and thoroughly to turn our ears and hearts from God’s Word, to live out our lives as if other words could give us the goodness of life.
God gives us ears that hear, and hearts that receive God’s Word. We cannot choose to have these ears and hearts. Nor can we choose to take to heart what we hear and be those who live out God’s Word for others, so that they see God’s Word alive in our words and actions, hearing God’s Word with open ears and hearts.
We can, as we too often do, turn from being what God created us to be. We can choose to be deaf, blind, and dumb, really stupid, about what life is, and what is good in life.
For there is nothing more blessed than to be the ones who plant seeds of grace, love, and hope in the world for others to encounter.
So we pray, may we be your ears, hearts, and hands in this troubled world. Forgive us when we turn away. Forgive us for our frequent stupidity. Forgive us our hard hearts, deaf ears, and dumb tongues. Save us. Renew our hearts, ears, and tongues, that we can find joy in this life amidst all the challenges that come at us, day after day.
