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Have you ever counted all the people over the course of your life who have sown gifts into your life?
All day I’ve been remembering the names of all those folks–my parents, seriously flawed but giving life, wisdom, care, and love in the ways they could, my sisters and brother, sharing life in our family, my teachers, nuns mostly, who taught me to dream, to pray, to sing, to love music and art, and who, in the ways they understood, helped me to experience God’s presence in my life.
There were my friends in high school, who I have never seen again but come to my mind for no clear reason, so I pray for them. The Conservative Rabbi, Yakov Hilsenrath, who asked me babysit his children while he and his wife went to service, and who taught me about honor, faithfulness, and Judaism as I sat in his home, and read, listened to Jewish music, and talked to his children. I found out just last year that he was a child of concentration camp survivors. The Maestro and the Preachers, who shared their talents, wisdom, and skills with all of us left me with a love for music, God, and the Truth.
Then there were all those folks who befriended me after I left home, the families–black, white, Italian, Polish, Greek, and Latino–who shared their lives with me, who fed me regularly, when I could not afford to eat on my own, and who loved me in every-day ways. My wonderful cousins, raised with solid loving and community values, have shared their lives even in the tough times, and extended love, support, and fellowship in countless ordinary ways.
My Faith Communities over the years, and Christian Life Assembly, my covenant community, have supported, loved, nurtured, admonished, and encouraged me through my journey to you, and have given me a family and opportunities to grow and mature in wisdom, grace, and loving understanding. The memories of folks who have poured into my life and who have blessed me and who continue to bless my life are endless! Yes, Father, you have blessed me abundantly. Thank you!
Father, help all of us, who have been abundantly blessed and nurtured by your love and the love of countless ordinary folks in our own lives, to gratefully and reverently pass that love and care on to everyone you bring to us! Amen
Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday. It gives us all a chance to come together as family and celebrate the blessings that God has given us. For me it’s a time for joy, celebration, family, love, companionship, and great food! I love the family time, and I really like dark meat turkey!
In my own family, we had some chronic issues with sitting down together in peace. I’m sure that’s never happened in your house, but in mine, the only thing that saved me from the mayhem was being the oldest. In the family pecking order I was always the “First Sibling,” so I never had to struggle for attention. But the other nine? You would not believe all the tantrums and machinations! We finally solved that problem as adults, when the middle sister volunteered to host Thanksgiving at her house. Since she was one of the principal instigators, the house switch calmed things down dramatically!
Family times are sometimes messy times. It’s tough being amiable when you’re hurting or when you’re stressed by personal issues. “Amiable” sometimes puts an unsupportable burden on those who are suffering. But sometimes, family celebrations relieve and support those who suffer in the family. I guess it depends on the family, and their capacity for grace under pressure. May our God give you the grace to be thankful, no matter what pressures you’re facing this Thanksgiving, and the courage to impart healing, as you greet every person at the table . . .
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world…How rich is God’s grace, which he has given to us so fully and freely…in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people until God gives full freedom to those who are his—to bring praise to God’s glory. (Ephesians1:3,7b-8,13b-14)
OK, you knew I was eventually going to go here, right? There are just some things that need to be said, need to be reflected on, need to be considered, especially for believers–now that our national reality is changing.
Note: I would like to thank a beloved sister/believer for encouraging me, through her own notes, to take on this mammoth post. Thanks Wendy! ; ))
First, let me say that Obama’s election, whatever other fruit it produces, has brought significant healing and hope for their future to minorities in America and across the world. And it has applied a reconciling balm to the national wounds that slavery, racial violence, subjugation, and segregation perpetrated against citizens of color.
When I saw the photos of Jesse Jackson crying in Chicago, and the joy and hope in the eyes of thousands of black Americans after the results were announced, I understood the depth of this healing. We are finally beginning to forgive and embrace each other as equals, no matter what race, ethnic origin we come from, or what political party we advocate. That healing needs to happen before any real change is possible!
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)
I don’t know where to start with this post. There is so much anger swirling around among believers that the air is thick with prophecies of judgement and condemnation for the choice America made on Election Day. People have serious retaliatory issues when things don’t go the way they want them to. It’s not like we haven’t seen these tantrums before. Not even Jesus’ first disciples could resist the urge to call down fire and brimstone on situations that resisted the ways of their discipleship.
And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. (Luke 9:51-55)
Now that the US Presidential Election is over and much of the campaign dust has settled, I would like to talk about the constant stream of ad-hominem sewage that has accompanied our president-elect’s run for the White House and that’s been circulated widely throughout the Christian communities.
There are many Christian believers who profoundly disagree with Barack Obama’s politics and his moral priorities. There are even more who were and are wary of his religious, national, and international affiliations. There are a few whose racial and ethnic hatreds prevent them from seeing him as an acceptable candidate for any US public office.
America’s a free-speech, freedom of association country, and folks have a right to their own views, choices, preferences, and belief systems. I get that.
What I don’t get are the rumors, slander, libelous statements, hate mail, distortions, misrepresentations, and outright lies that comprise the torrent of anti-Barack-Obama urban legends that continue to circulate freely throughout the Christian Internet and even in mainstream Christian communities. Why are we doing this?
Citizens of Every Nation Celebrate Obama’s Election!
There’s no downplaying Obama’s election as a powerful symbol to our world of American capacity to heal its centuries-old wounds from the abuses of slave trade, and restore its founders’ vision of religious freedom and equality for every citizen. This historic achievement will open doors and foster good relationships for America in every corner of our globe. That healing good will opens the door for His disciples to carry the message of God’s Kingdom into every nation!
God has given us the opportunity and power to heal our relationships with other nations, so that we can love generously, travel freely, and preach his gospel with integrity and power! Let’s not let this divinely-engineered God Moment pass.
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:7-8)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:17-20)
America’s turned a corner tonight…
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. ( 2 Chronicles 7:14-15)
Lord, We re-commit ourselves, our families, our people, our country, and our world tonight to You! We ask your blessing and protection over our new president, our leaders and their decisions, and our county, as it faces monumental challenges. Lord give us wisdom, discernment, courage, and fortitude in the face of every situation. Direct and guide us all as we work together to bring Your Kingdom to Earth.
The Challenge
For Obama, No Time for Laurels; Now the Hard PartBy PETER BAKER
Published: November 4, 2008
WASHINGTON — No president since before Barack Obama was born has ascended to the Oval Office confronted by the accumulation of seismic challenges awaiting him. Historians grasping for parallels point to Abraham Lincoln taking office as the nation was collapsing into Civil War, or Franklin D. Roosevelt arriving in Washington in the throes of the Great Depression.
Our Father, Yes Lord, Father of every last one of us– You are Holy, You are worthy! Help us bring Your Kingdom to our world, and show us how to do Your Will here on earth the way it works in heaven! Give us all today what we need, nourish us, sustain us, heal us, restore our lives, and let your favor shine on us, Father, until the light of Your Glory chases away all the darknesses we cling to!
Forgive us all, Father, and teach us to love and forgive each other the way You faithfully, continually love and forgive us! Help us live together in peace, respecting and honoring each other’s gifts and talents, as we look past all the qualifiers that we attach to Loving generously! Deliver us from temptation, sin, and evil, Father, and help us follow you together in faithful, obedient, joyful abandon! Amen!
It’s time we took it “all” back! That’s right–“ALL”! All the holidays, all the holy days, all the symbols, all the rituals, all the healings, all of the Word of God, all the miracles, signs, and wonders, everything! I’ve had it with darkness running roughshod over our earth, our people, our understanding, and the Kingdom of God!
Talk about Stockholm Syndrome, we’ve bought into the power & authority of darkness big time! Not only have we capitulated to darkness, we’ve been actively collaborating with the enemy of our souls! Why have we conceded our holidays, our holy days, our God-given authority as Jesus’ disciples, and our power to heal, forgive, restore, reconcile, and extend the gospel to all nations to darkness?
Who said “Sickness and suffering is God’s Will?” (It’s NOT!) Who said “Signs and healings would stop as a sign of discipleship after the first Seventy-two died?” (It wasn’t Jesus!) Who said “healing, restoration, deliverance, and reconciliation is not our generation’s responsibility as good stewards of His Kingdom?” (It IS!) Who said “we’re only called to do what is humanly possible?” (Some seriously lazy slackers!) Who said “Victory over sin and sickness is reserved for the ’sweet bye and bye’?” Darkness, that’s who! So why are we all agreeing with him???
