Bounty

"Jehovah God has done great things for us," Psalm 126:3.

Dear God - it feels like a dream when you bring back our hopes. We almost feel giddy! You fill us with laughter! We sing happy songs. Anyone can see you have done great things. Joy overwhelms us. But yet. Still. We look around to see hardship. War. Plague. Devastation. Desert hearts. O God! Please bring streams back to the deserts. Bring the Hope of every nation to the front! Then weepers will shout in joy. Sowers will harvest your bounty. All will say: You have done great things. Please: We have nowhere else to go.

We join with a brother or sister today and open our eyes again to God's vision for our life. And, together, we shout out thanksgiving songs for the Consolation of Israel. Yes, for Messiah Jesus, Light of the world!

Iron

"The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth," Revelation 12:4.

Why? So that the giant red dragon could devour the baby as soon as the sky woman bore him, right then and there. Not a warm, happy, cozy picture, is it? Yet, it's the Revelator's summary of Jesus' birth. John, the Revelator (the apostle), continued to assure any reader (or auditor) that the baby, a boy, was born, all right. This boy became the man to rule all nations with an iron rod. By God, by God's design, by God's decree. The baby boy got collected up to God's throne. Safe and sound. Fierce war raged throughout the cosmos between God's armies led by the superangel, Michael, against the vile dragon and his forces. Michael won. The authority of God's Christ has come! The brothers (and sisters) have conquered through the blood of the Lamb!

We meet with a brother or sister today keenly aware that we are all caught up in things far greater than meet the eye. And, together, in faith, not by sight, we give praise to our God through his Christ for Bethlehem's victory from the Skull's cross to resurrection from the grave.

Totally

"Our Savior God's kindness and love for humankind appeared," Titus 3:4.

Yes, God's goodness, his loving kindness showed up in spades. OK. So what did God do to make this kindness and love manifest? God saved us. Well, yeah, of course he saved the best of humankind. The few. The good. The saints. But, No, that's not what it says. Not because of good deeds done by us to get on God's good side. Nope. He saved us by his own mercy: he saved through a washing and a renewal: a new birth washing and a Holy Spirit renewal. Yes, God poured out his Holy Spirit on us richly. God poured out his Spirit on us totally through whom? Through our Savior, Jesus Christ. It's that manger with a cross at its end, again. And resurrection following.

We reflect with a brother or sister today on the unmerited mercy God pours out on us. And, mercified together, we give eternal praise and thanksgiving to our Lord God through our Lord Jesus.

Crafted

"He was in the beginning with God," John 1:2.

Who was? He was: the Word. Where was he? Right there with God. When was he? In the beginning. At the start of what? Of every thing. Of every created thing. At the start of energy. When light started shining. Yeah, when the laws of physics got set up. At the start of protons and neutrons and electrons and quarks and stars and dark matter and galaxies and whatever is really out there. At the start of the universe. That's when. And that's not all! God crafted it all by means of him. That's right. Oh. And one more thing: He became a man. And lingered with us awhile. And shined God's grace on us. And showed us God's glory. And breathed out God's truth for us. And exhaled his last breath for our forgiveness.

We joy with a brother or sister today in hope of the Risen Christ, Word of God. And, together, we marvel thankfully in awe of God's re-crafting broken humans into his kids through this Word.

Issued

"All God's angels must worship him," Hebrews 1:6.

Who issued that command? God did. Whom were all the angels to worship? God's son. When did the command go out? When God brought his firstborn into the world. Remember the firstborn of whom God said: You are my Son, today I have begotten you? Oh yes! We do remember the virgin Mary's baby, indeed, who grew to become the young man famed as the carpenter Joseph's son. (And whose contemporaries scrutinized his ancestry, if not his mother's integrity.) We remember, yes, the son through whom God last spoke, to whom God gave all birthright, through whom God created the worlds. Who made purification for sins. Who now reigns with God on high over everything. We, with all the angels, worship him, too.

We visit with a brother or sister today and worship God and his Christ. And, together, we give thanks to God for receiving Jesus' sacrifice sufficient to purify us from all our sins.

Flexing

"Jehovah God has bared his holy arm in sight of all nations," Isaiah 52:10.

God's flexing his muscles! Yes, that's what it's saying. The Lord's returned to his people, and he's rolled up his sleeves to work! And, everybody on earth's looking at this. God's showing his mighty power to save. People run over hill and dale to tell the good news! What good news? Your God reigns! God's comforting his people! God's finally redeeming his own! And how do we know this? What does his mighty arm look like? In the middle of a dark, dark night. A baby. Asleep in a manger. Faces of weary, relieved, hopeful parents glowing in his light. Looks like that.

We visit with a brother or sister today in wonder and expectation of God's powerful embrace. And, together, we praise God through his son, Redeemer of all humankind: Thank you! Thank you!

Congregated

"The skies must praise your wonders and faithfulness, O Jehovah, in the congregation of the holy ones," Psalm 88:5.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, captures the melodies of our hearts! We will shout out your loyalty to every generation to come! You keep on building on your steadfast love for ever! You made faithfulness the foundation for your skies. You swore to your chosen servant to build your eternal covenant, to establish His throne for ever. A throne rising from a manger. And He calls you: Father, my God, Rock of my salvation! As do we, for ever, through the same Christ.

We wait in His sacred congregation with all the brothers and sisters made holy by the blood of God's covenant. And, congregated, from earth through the skies, our hearts can't help but sing out loud thanksgivings for salvation in his coming Christ!

Once

"He has appeared once at the end of the ages for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself," Hebrews 9:26.

Who appeared? Christ. How many times? Once. Why? To bring an end to sin's terrifying consequences. How? By the sacrifice of his own self. Where did he appear? On earth, born of a woman (of course!), but more to the point: Appeared in God's very presence, in the holiest place of all the skies. On whose behalf? Ours. How many times did he die? Once. Why? (Already said it, but to say it again ...) To bear the sins of many. Why only once? Because God ordained that people die only once. And after this? Well. After death comes Judgment. Ah! And, after death, too, Christ will appear a second time. Why? To save. To save from what? The terror of sin's judgment. To save whom? Those waiting for him eagerly.

We wait with a brother or sister today for the Lord Jesus Christ to appear that second time for our salvation. And, anticipating together, we praise our God for that hope: Thank you, Lord! Hosanna! Maranatha!

Legitimacy

"The genealogy book of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham," Matthew 1:1.

Context for what's next. In modern culture we're introduced by trading first names. (That's how my first grandchild at age 4 announced she had made a new friend on the playground: We traded names, she would say.) We might trade last names, too. If we're being rather formal, we (or someone on our behalf) would include schools we graduated from, degrees gotten, the kind of work we did for a living. Might include remarkable jobs worked on in the trades. Might mention various and sundry accolades received. Anyway, stuff that gives social definition and legitimacy to say or to do whatever we've got to say and do next. Indigenous peoples introduce by giving a genealogical survey going back several generations, as many as needed for establishment. In this book, Jesus' genealogy reached back 2000 years. Context for sacrifice.

We meet with a brother or sister today remembering Jesus' having come to die for our sin. And, waiting together, we give thanks for his imminent return to lift us up for ever into the skies.

Unknown

"He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light," John 1:7.

Who, he? John. John, the baptist. The baptizer. (A baptist is somebody who goes around baptizing people.) Baptizin' John, they called him. (He was not the other John, not the apostle.) So, who was this? A man God sent out. What was his witness? That he was not the Christ. Not the Light. Not Elijah. Not the Prophet. So ... what was his witness? That he was a voice calling to prepare for the coming Light. That the true Light giving everyone light was coming into the world. That the Light was already standing, unknown, among his hearers. That John came baptizing in water to make known the Light, Jesus, the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world.

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we confess our unworthiness even to kneel in Jesus' presence. Yet, together, in deepest praise, we do believe wholeheartedly God forgives us by the Lamb. Totally.

Keeping

"May the God of peace himself keep you," 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

You? You who? You, who are always happy. You, who pray all the time. You, who give thanks no matter what. You, who attend to what God wants in Christ Jesus. You, who do not quash the Spirit. You, who do not ignore prophecies. You, who test everything. You, who keep what is good. You, who stay away from every bad thing. Yes! May God keep you. Keep? Keep for what? For wholeness. For your spirit, soul, and body, for all your being integrated into holiness. To what end? Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, yeah! And God will do it.

We wait today with a brother or sister as we yield our whole selves into God's keeping. And, together, we give thanks for Jesus who will appear. Coming soon!

Spirit

"The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me," Isaiah 61:1.

When Jesus came the first time, he opened ministry in his home town's synagogue on a Sabbath day. He stood up. He unrolled the Isaiah scroll to that place. He read aloud its plan for God's Messiah. To bring good news to the poor. To comfort the brokenhearted. To announce freedom to captives. To recover sight for the blind. To release prisoners. To preach the year of God's grace. He stopped the reading right there. He rolled up the scroll. He sat down. He announced it fulfilled in their hearing. (Interesting: he did not read Isaiah's very next line: To preach God's day of vengeance. No. Jesus came first to save.) Glory! Glory as of the only son from the father, full of grace and truth.

We meet with a brother or sister today listening to Jesus' words of comfort, hope, and joy. And, together thankful for his generosity, we praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Promises

"God will soon save those who respect him," Psalm 85:9.

We wait for you, O Jehovah God! We will listen to you. You have ordered peace for your people, for all who worship you. (Don't let us go back into foolishness. Please!) Your salvation is near to rescuing whoever respects you. Thank you! We await your shining light to dwell among us. Your steadfast love and loyalty join in your arrival. Yes! Your goodness and peace unite here. We will be loyal to you. Your goodness will shine down from the skies! We wait for your goodness to show up, and the earth will yield its fruit. Goodness prepares your path! Praise you, God!

We visit with a brother or sister today asserting allegiance to God and his Christ. And, waiting together, we praise God for infusing his love, loyalty, goodness, and peace in Jesus' promises.

Doing

"We're waiting for our blessed hope: the appearing of the glory of our great God," Titus 2:13.

Yes - that's what God's own people are doing right now: waiting for that bright shine to show up! God's grace had already shown up when Jesus first came to bring everybody salvation. His grace trains us right now, in this present time, to reject passions fitted by this broken world, ways that oppose God's path. His generosity trains us to live by God's wisdom and righteousness in this age. Yes - Jesus gave himself to buy us back and clean us up to become his personal possession, now eager to do good. That's what we spend time doing in this age, while waiting for that glory to appear!

We visit with a brother or sister today in training by God's grace. And, together, we live out thanksgivings to God for his generosity in Christ Jesus.

Reserve

"By God's power you are being protected through faith for a salvation ready to be shown at the end of time," 1 Peter 1:5.

So, supported by his power, God's people wait to the end. And here's what God's already done for his people. (He's got lots and lots of mercy!) He's already resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead. Yes, through him, he's already birthed us anew to a living hope. He's already secured our birthright. And what an inheritance! Indestructible. Unpolluted. Colorfast. God's own special reserve for his heirs. Already kept safe in the skies. And, he's already protecting to the very end all who trust in him. So his people persevere through the current assaying of true faith. We do not see him but we love him. We do not experience him but we trust in him. With a joy better felt than told.

We wait today with a brother or sister anticipating the outcome of genuine faith: life after death! And, together, we praise God for the end glory he will show in Christ forever.

Prep

"Prepare the way of the Lord," Mark 1:3.

That's what the Lord's people do while they wait for him to show up. They prepare. They prepare for his appearing, for the revealing of the Son of man. Coming in the clouds. When all the tribes of the earth will see him. Yes. For when Jesus sends out mighty angels to collect all his chosen people from one end of the cosmos to the other. So. His people prepare for that. While they wait. So what does the prep look like? Mostly, like changing hearts and minds. By his Spirit, to look like Jesus. Who went around doing good for all people. Who did the will of his Father.

As we wait today with a brother or sister, we encourage each other to walk worthily of Jesus' calling. And, together, we praise God thankfully for sending his Son back then to deal with sin, and once again soon to save those waiting for him eagerly.

Exposed

"We're waiting for new skies and a new earth," 2 Peter 3:13.

Right now. In this moment. As we go about this day, today. We're waiting. Waiting on God. Waiting for his day. We're waiting for cataclysm. Oh, yes. Waiting for the meltdown never experienced before. Surprised by terror. When the skies above us roar away and everything up there goes down in flames. When the earth and all in it bares open, exposed. When every thing is destroyed. When the skies melt away in conflagration. When God's hand sweeps away the reality of this age. When God's voice calls in new skies. With a new earth. We're waiting for that. So. How do we live? We live holy. Godly. We prepare for a new cosmos. For a world of righteousness.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we stir one another up to love and good works. And, thankful together, we wait with all creation for God's new order in Christ Jesus. Coming any day now.

Voice

"A voice says: Cry out! Then I said: What shall I cry out?" Isaiah 40:6.

This: People are like grass! All their beauty, like wildflowers! Here today, gone tomorrow. Withered dry. Faded away with God's breath. But God's very breath announces his everlasting Word. And what word is that? Good news! God's coming! He'll shepherd his flock! He'll collect the lambs in his strong arms! He'll guide their mothers gently! The Lord's coming! Coming with his reward! The war's over. Sin's paid for. Forgiveness. Comfort. Good news!

With a brother or sister today we get ready for the Lord to reveal his glory! And, together in thanksgiving to him, we shout out the message, true and glad, for the sinful and the sad.

Long

"Shepherd of Israel, listen to us," Psalm 80:1.

You, who lead your people like a flock. You, whose throne sits above monsters. You, our Shepherd: Shine! Shine out! Be strong and save us! Shine the power of your kind face on us! Bring us back home! And come! Please bring us home. O Jehovah, God of armies! Please don't ignore our prayers! How long, O Lord? How long until your face shines? Until it shines for our salvation? You, O God, have brought us so far. Please don't stop now. Remember your Child. Remember the Son of man. Guide him with your hand. We call on your name. We'll follow! Shine your face on us, Lord, and show your salvation!

We wait with a brother or sister today looking into (and for) the glory of Jesus, our Lord. And, being changed together, we give thanks as we long for the appearing of our chief, the Shepherd.

Imminent

"Yes! I am coming soon," Revelation 22:20.

Jesus said that. He said: Look! I am coming soon. He said: And look! I am coming soon. He said it three times at the end of the Bible, 2000 years ago. He announced that whoever kept the words of his prophecy would be happy. He promised he would repay everyone their wages for all their work. He warned every one hearing his message not to add to (or take away from) his words, or else. Or else plagues would be added to (or inheritance would be taken away from) them. But for any who washed their robes, these will have right to the tree of life in the city of God. So. As we wait, we join the Spirit's invitation to the thirsty: Come, all you people! Drink freely from the water of life, free, for life! And, too, we call out expectantly to Him: Come, Lord Jesus!

With a brother or sister today we call out to the world: Come and drink life's waters! And, together thankfully, expecting his imminent visitation any day now, we call out: We're waiting for you! Come, Lord Jesus! Maranatha.

Wars

"When you hear of wars and stories of coming wars, don't be afraid," Mark 13:7.

Say we, Why not, Lord? Because. Says Jesus. Because it's nothing new; it's just the way things are; the way things have been; the way things will be. But it's not the end. Say we, Wait a minute, Lord! What about all the earthquakes and famines and revolutions and scary stuff that we hear about all the time? Says Jesus: Don't be alarmed; it's barely the start of labor pains; no big deal. Say we, What about the bad government guys dragging us in front of courts for faith in you? Says Jesus: No worries; the Holy Spirit will guide your words. Say we, What about families turning on each other, and people hating us for you? Says Jesus: Hang in there. Just hang in there with me, then you'll be safe.

We wait with a brother or sister today listening to the Spirit's call for endurance. And, together, we persevere in thanksgiving songs praising our able and faithful God.

Generation

"This generation will not pass away until all these things take place," Mark 13:30.

Who's Jesus talking to? To Peter and James and John and Andrew, privately. Jesus told them: See to it that no one leads you astray. He told them: Be on your guard. He told them: When you see the desolating abomination, may people in Judea run to the mountains. He told them: I've told you these things beforehand. He told them: Learn this lesson from the fig tree. He told them: When you see these things. He told them: Be on guard, keep awake. He told them: Stay awake for you do not know when the master of the house will come. He told them: What I say to you I say to all: Stay awake. He told them: Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.

We wait alert with a brother or sister today, attentive to Jesus' unpassing words. And, together, we give thanks to God for cutting earth's troubles short and heralding the new world in Christ.

Rich

"Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Corinthians 1:3.

Wow! What a God! What a generous father! So, we give thanks to God for his generosity, for his peace. Where did we get this grace? In Jesus, in God's Christ. God makes us rich in Christ. He gives us all the words, all the knowledge, all the security we need about Christ. So right now we wait. Yes, we wait. Eagerly! We wait expecting eagerly. For what? For the day our Lord Jesus Christ shows himself, for his reveal! Yeah, and he will hold us up without guilt until that reveal, his Day! Oh, Yes! God is faithful. God is faithful. He called us into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We meet with a brother or sister today in the generosity and peace of God. And, together, we give thanks to God for receiving us into secure fellowship with his son.

Shape

"Jehovah God, you are our father; we are like clay, and your hands fashioned us all," Isaiah 64:8.

So, when you come down and you split the skies open and the mountains tremble and fire boils the waters, all your foes will know your name and the nations will tremble. Once upon a time we did not look for you or for your works. We have, every one of us, sinned. But no one had ever heard of you. No one had ever heard you. No eye ever saw you. That is, no one heard or saw any God - except you! Only you ever acted for people who wait for you! So. We wait for you. So. When you come. So. Please. When you come do not remember our sins for ever. Please! When you come, look at us, re-shape us, O Potter, your people!

We wait with a brother or sister today in hope of a coming day when God re-makes all things new. And, together, we give thanks to Jesus, whose sacrifice reconciles us to God.

Works

"Therefore," Psalm 46:2.

Therefore. Therefore? What came before therefore? God is our refuge, strength, help, protection. That's the what before therefore. God is in the midst of his dwelling place. Therefore. The Lord of armies is with us. Therefore. The God of Jacob is our fortress. Therefore. God makes wars cease. Therefore. God breaks bows, shatters spears, burns chariots with fire. Therefore. Jehovah of armies is with us! Therefore. God's works bring all nations to praise him. Therefore. We know that God is God. Therefore, we will not fear. Therefore, our souls will quiet down. Therefore, all we of earth (and of the skies and of under the earth) will praise God. God's dawn comes.

With a brother or sister today, we rest safe in the arms of Jesus. And, together, with our souls stilled in the faithfulness of our God, we say: Thank you, Lord!

Fact

"I'm telling you in fact: Some people standing here will not die before they see God's kingdom," Luke 9:27.

That's what Jesus said. When? Well, give or take, about 2,000 years ago. When? right after he said: If you're ashamed of me and my teaching, I will be ashamed of you when I come in God's glory and the glory of holy angels. When did he say that? after he said: If you want to follow me you've got to give up your life for my sake. When was that? after Jesus told his comrades that the people whose heritage had waited centuries for him, would utterly reject, torture, and kill him. (But he'd be raised three days later.) When said he that? after a marveling Peter confessed Jesus as God's Christ. That's when.

We share life with a brother or sister today and so fellowship in the sky kingdom. And, giving thanks together, we keep following Jesus through death into forever life.

Talking

"Look at him! A glutton and a drunk," Matthew 11:19.

Who are they talking about? Jesus. They're talking about Jesus. Who's saying these things? Jesus' fellow countrymen. Why? Why do people of such privilege say this? because they saw him eating and drinking with low class people. because Jesus made friends with with just anybody. Hmm. So here's Jesus talking: If the good works they saw him do had been done in the destroyed, ungodly cities of Tyre or Sidon or Sodom, those people would have repented a long time ago, and would have survived to the present. But God's coming judgment on the present people who accused Jesus would hardly be bearable: They would be brought down to Hades. Even Sodom would go through God's judgment day in better shape than they.

We meet today with a brother or sister sobered by our Master's words - the sky kingdom's not to be trifled with. And, together, humbly, we give thanks to God for his son who made friends even with us.

Engraving

"The truth shall set you free," John 8:32.

What a great slogan! Amply suitable for engraving into university or government buildings all over the world. But who said it? Jesus. But who did he say it to? His cultural/religious fellows. But what truth was he talking about? A truth that his countrymen didn't know. But what truth should they know? That anybody who sins becomes a slave to sin. But what should they know? That a slave does not have an inheritance with the family's heir. But what should they know? That if the heir sets them free, they will have true freedom. But what truth? That if they follow Jesus' teachings these would set them free. And they would inherit eternity. Truth: They didn't know. Truth: Jesus is God's Son. His word alone can set free. Sky kingdom.

We get in contact with a brother or sister today to share Jesus' truth. And, together, we give faithful thanks to God for the liberty we inherit as his children, co-heirs with Jesus.

Besmirched

"No flesh will be justified before him from works of law," Romans 3:20.

Not a single human being gets right with God on the basis of doing what God's law says. Not in the face of God. Why not? because God's law has this effect on humans, sinners all: it brings knowledge of their sin. Awareness of our slop. Right. It shows that every last one of us looking up from the mud has missed far short of God's shine. So, instead of watching us drown in our mess, God gives, as a free gift to every human being, the right to stand in front of him, in right standing with him. Clean. By his generosity. By his grace. But how can he do this without being besmirched by our slop? Jesus' blood, his pure sacrifice, bought the complete cleansing that we receive by faith in him. God's always right. God makes us right.

We stand with a brother or sister today, justified!, in the presence of God through faith in Jesus. And, together, we praise God from whom all blessings flow. For ever and ever!

Loud

"Worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water," Revelation 14:7.

Says who? Well, says an angel flying high in the middle of the sky. Preaching. Yeah. The angel was preaching the Good News. A for ever and ever gospel. With a loud voice. A really loud, loud voice. And that angel called out to all earth dwellers: Fear God! Give God glory! Worship God! (Why was he preaching this? because God's judgment hour had come!) The gospel message judges sharply between those who come to worship the Creator of life and those who prefer death. In that loud voice, Creator God invites every nation and tribe and language and people to life!

As we speak with a brother or sister today, we hear the gospel call to life through Jesus' forever gospel. And, together, we worship in thanksgiving the generous Creator of all grace, of all life.

Already

"O Jehovah, you have examined me," Psalm 139:1.

Lord, you know all about us. You know whether we're standing or sitting at any moment. You know what we're thinking even from a distance. You know where we're headed before we do. You know exactly what we're going to say before we say it. You're in front. You're behind. You're beside. You're all around. You protect us completely. What a wonder you are! We cannot go so far or so fast that your Spirit loses us. If we go up into the skies - there you are already! If we go down into the depths of the earth - there you are! If we chase the sun, if we go into the deepest oceans - there you are! You're there to lead and to guide us home.

We meet with a brother or sister today to praise God that he knows us so intimately, and loves us yet! All praises to you, O God and Father, and to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Imperative

"The God of our fathers appointed you," Acts 22:14.

Who's talking? Ananias, a follower of Jesus. What's he saying? He's saying what God said he should say. Who's he talking to? Saul. Brother Saul. Breather of threats against Jesus' people. (Later aka Paul, Jesus' apostle.) What did God tell him to say? That the Lord elected Saul. For what? For Saul to know God's will. For Saul to see Christ. For Saul to hear words from Christ's own mouth. For Saul to be a witness to all peoples. A witness of what? Of what he heard. Of what he saw. A witness of Jesus, the Righteous One. Of the resurrected Christ. But. Before that happened it was imperative that Saul get up, he's got to be baptized, got to wash away his sins, and call on the Lord's name. Chief of sinners, now chosen by Christ.

We visit with a brother or sister today to praise God for his marvelous grace. And, together, we give deepest thanks for God's free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lady

"The elder to the elect lady," 1 John 1.

It's the elder, John. John, Jesus' beloved disciple. John, one of the 12 chosen apostles. John, now an old, really old, man. Elder John. To the lady. The elect lady. Chosen. By whom? God. So, lady? Yes. Like lords and ladies. She's the female counterpart of the male lord. Not just any woman. Lady. She has power and authority. Just like a lord. Who is she? Is she an actual person, or, is she a metaphor for the congregation? Yeah, probably. So what's the message from the elder? Dear lady: as some of your children do, love one another in keeping with the Lord's first rules. And don't be a loser like people who don't recognize Jesus as God's true man. Keep Christ's teaching, and you've got both God and Jesus. Your elect sister says, Hi!

We greet a brother or sister today as children in spirit of the elect lady. And, together, we give thanks to God who has shown us in our brother Jesus life in his kingdom.

Image

"Whose image is this?" Matthew 22:19.

Well, that's kind of like always Jesus' question, isn't it? Partly about paying taxes, or not. Partly about pledging allegiance. Partly about who owes what. Partly about who owns what. Anyway. It's like asking him if they should pay taxes to Washington. And it's like he asks whose picture's stamped on a dollar bill. And then it's like he says: Pledge to Washington Washington's claim, and pledge to God God's. And then it's sort of like he asks: Whose image is stamped on your very being? Give God God's claim. It's kind of like that. Sky kingdom.

We meet today with a brother or sister deemed by God redeemed through the price of Jesus' cross. And, together, thankfully, we yield to God our lives stamped with the image of his son.

Received

"We know he has chosen you," 1 Thessalonians 1:4.

God has chosen whom? You. You, who? The congregation. The assembly. What assembly? The church in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's who. You. Beloved by God. And how do we know? How do we know that God has chosen this congregation? because the gospel. because the good news. What gospel? What good news? The good news witnesses Jesus sent out told about. (It's about Jesus, right?). The gospel that came in word. It came in power. It came in the Holy Spirit. It came in full conviction. And you received this word. That's how we know. We know he has chosen you.

When we meet a brother or sister today, we share the Spirit's joy with each other. And, in joyful thanksgiving, we bless God through our Lord Jesus for his election.

Instrument

"I equip you, though you do not know me," Isaiah 45:4.

So. Five centuries. Before Jesus. Israel deported and destroyed. God, Jehovah God, elected a pagan warrior-king to become his christ. His messiah. His anointed. (How weird is this?!) This guy, Cyrus, does not know God. Never heard of him. But God strengthened him to defeat all the nations around. Why? So that all peoples would know this God. Too, to teach Cyrus. To teach what? That this God alone is God. That this God forms light. Forms darkness. Creates peace. Creates trouble. That this God makes Cyrus wealthy and powerful. And, that Cyrus is merely this God's instrument to accomplish this God's purposes to restore his dead people. This God, Jehovah, who does all this, is the God of Israel. This God, this God alone, is able to deliver.

We meet a brother or sister today to marvel in reverence to our God who works way beyond imagination. And, together, we give deepest thanks for the wonders he performs in love for us through Jesus, his supreme Christ.

Beside

"I have no need," Psalm 23:1.

Dear Lord, since you are our shepherd you provide for everything we need. There's nothing we need that you haven't taken care of. When we're tired, you grant restful quiet. When we're troubled, you bring us to still waters. When we've lost our way, you lead us in the right path. When danger slips in all around, you walk beside. We have no fear. Your standards and your guidance bring greatest comfort. When surrounded with harmful critics, you show us off as your wealth. Your very own goodness, your mercy come after us every day. You bring us to live in your home forever. Thank you.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we joy in the grace-ful provision of our God. And, together, we give thanks to Christ for his overflowing love.

Unmerited

"I made you flourish like a plant of the field," Ezekiel 16:7.

(The following is rated PG.)

God did that. He had found a newborn baby girl naked, unwashed, bloodied, umbilical cord and placenta still attached, discarded unpitied in an open field. The Lord stopped by and secured all the care, nature, and nurture she needed to flourish, to grow strong, tall, smart, and beautiful. Then she matured to the age of love. He dressed her royally. He married her! He cleansed her with water. He anointed her with oils. He gave her clothing and jewelry and food fit for the queen she became. The fame of the glory he afforded her went out to the nations. And, that, says the Bible, is what Jesus' death endowed in his vows to her.

We see a brother or sister today and remind each other of our Lord's deep love covenant with us. And, together, we speak thanks beyond measure for his overwhelmingly unmerited generosity toward us.

Mighty

"He could do no mighty work there," Mark 6:5.

Jesus couldn't do anything much? (That's surprising in itself, isn't it?) Why couldn't he? because of their unbelief. Well, to be sure, placing his hands on a few sick people he healed them just fine. So, what's the deal? That Jesus is some fly-by-night faith-healer who tried to heal somebody, but it didn't work, so he blames them for not having enough faith? Nonsense! When Jesus passes by everybody flocks to him. Usually. They believe he can heal. (And he does. Always.) So what's the problem there? This: They don't believe he can. They don't come. No one is touched by Jesus.(Except a few. And Jesus healed them.) And their unbelief really surprises him. They don't come. No hands. No mighty work.

We visit with a brother or sister today believing in Jesus' mighty work at the cross. And having come to Christ, together we give thanks to God for the gospel of his salvation.

Invited

"Many people are invited but only a few are chosen," Matthew 22:14.

That's what the sky kingdom is like. Jesus said it was like a king who made everything ready for his son's royal wedding banquet. Everybody that was anybody got special invitations. But nobody came! They didn't care. The king re-sent royal messengers back with personal invitations, but the guests beat them and killed them. (How more absurd can this get? well, there's more.) So, the king dispatched his army, slaughtered the guests, burned their city down. Then he invited all sorts of riff-raff and filled the wedding hall with them. One didn't bother to put on the provided regalia, so the king dumped him. That's how Jesus explains who gets chosen for heaven. Whoever refuses to answer the call, doesn't get chosen. (There's a lot of these folks.) Those who show up, and get dressed for it, get chosen. Pretty straight forward.

We marvel with a brother or sister today that God's grace includes a personal invitation for us to his son's wedding feast. And we put on the regalia of love for each other and of thanksgivings to him for his mercy and love to us in Christ.

Learned

"It's not that I am talking about being in need," Philippians 4:11.

What's Paul saying in this letter from jail? His brothers and sisters in the town of Philippi had a fund raiser (more than once) and shared their contributions to help in his troubles. Nobody else did. He told them how very happy and grateful he was for their kindness. So, what's he saying now? This: He learned a secret by personal experience. What secret? He knows he can meet anything (anything!) head on, whatever his bank account. He doesn't need wealth or poverty to feel content. Christ powers him in his every life event. Even when he's poor. And. Even when he's rich.

We get in touch with a brother or sister today to share the Lord's bounty with them. And, together, we continually give thanks for his empowering force that gives life.

Champions

"He will swallow up death forever," Isaiah 25:8.

God will. That's who. Jehovah God. And on that day he will wipe every tear from every face. He will sweep away his people's shame from all the earth. On that day, God will swallow up the death-pall that covers all nations. (And how do we know this? The Lord has spoken!) On the now barren mountain the Lord of armies will banquet all peoples richly with his feast and supernal drink. And on that day people will say: This. is. our. God! We waited for him! We waited for his salvation! God's salvation champions our joy!

We visit with a brother or sister today in reminder of the hope we share in Christ. And, together, we give joyful thanks to God in anticipation of his faithfulness.

Escape

"What if Jehovah God had not been on our side?" Psalm 124:1.

Dear God: You are with us even in harsh times. Without you we'd be swallowed up alive. Without you the flood would sweep us away. The torrent would pull us under. Raging waters would overwhelm us. We bless you, O Lord! We praise you! Thank you for delivering us from predators! From snares! Thank you ever for securing our escape! You, O God, Creator of the skies and of the earth, your very name is our help. You, our Savior! Thank you!

We get together with a brother or sister today to praise God for his perseverance with us. And, together, we give thanks to his Christ who prepares us for (and prepares for us) an eternal home.

Tangled

"God has consigned all to disobedience that he may have mercy on all," Romans 11:32.

God tangled up everybody in disobedience. Everybody? Yep. All. Anybody not caught in that net? Nope. How about the Jews who knew God's law? Nope. How about Gentiles who did their own feel-good, or big bad religion thing with Thor, Isis, Mithra, or etc.? Nope. All locked up nice and tight. Well! What does that mean? It means nobody, but nobody, gets away with their big or little injustices, lies, violences. God's bagged everybody's number. So, now, what? Now. Now, God's mercy is for all. All? Yes. Everybody. Everybody who seeks it, gets it. All. Sky kingdom.

We visit with a brother or sister today overwhelmed by the depth of God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge! And, from all of us together, glory flows to God from Whom and through Whom and to Whom all things are. For ever!

Theatrical

"What you would have gotten from me, I've given it to God," Mark 7:11.

Who's talking? Jesus. Well, actually, Jesus is quoting authoritative Pharisees and scribes. (Pharisees - strict followers of religious traditions; scribes - exacting copiers of the Scriptures by hand). Who's Jesus talking to? to those Pharisees and scribes. What's Jesus telling them? that their theatrical religion is just a bunch of human rules made up to reject the word of God. But God's word purifies, reforms, transforms, conforms human hearts in deed to the will of God. And, indeed, not to a spiritual mask. Sky kingdom.

When we see a brother or sister in need today, we share freely with each other from God's bounty. And, banded together in humble thanksgiving, we aspire upward to love truly as Jesus does.

Thugs

"They knew he was talking about them, and they wanted to arrest him," Matthew 21:45.

Who did? The chief priests and the Pharisees. And who were these people? They were the culture and religion law enforcement authorities. Who did they want to arrest? Jesus. Why? because Jesus told a story comparing them favorably with thugs and mafia-types who displaced God's purposes with their own passions for power. And, too, he had led them into their own self-condemnation as utterly worthless men good for extermination. Jesus promises God's justice. God, and only God, will rule the sky kingdom.

We meet today with a brother or sister to bear fruit worthy of God's kingdom: love, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. And, together, we bring joyful thanks to God who is righting all wrongs in Jesus.

Poopy

"As for enthusiasm, I chased down the church," Philippians 3:6.

How curious! When Paul listed his former life's unparalleled credentials for his achievements in religion, education, and culture, he also offered that line above as evidence. He persecuted the congregation Jesus died for. Now, how, pray tell, does that demonstrate some moral high ground? to persecute people who aren't doing immorality, but who challenge held beliefs? Not asking here about having convicted conversations, but about persecution. In the end, turns out Paul was convicted that any advantage he formerly had was just a poopy diaper. (Yep, that's what he said. Well, not the diaper part, but the poopy part.) Compared to what? Compared to the advantage of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord.

We visit a brother or sister today relishing the advantage we have gained in Jesus. And, together gratefully, we place our faith in Christ to find hope of true righteousness in God's power resurrecting him from the dead.

Choice

"I'll now sing a love song for my beloved," Isaiah 5:1.

Actually, it's a song about his first vineyard: My beloved worked backbreakingly hard to prep land on a hillside with excellent gradient and sunshine. He terraced and cleared the field of its stones. He planted choice grapevines. Too, he built a fine watchtower right in the middle of it all. Yeah, and, he even cut out a wine-press on the property. At harvest, finally, he expected very fine grapes. (But all he got was a sour crop. What more could he have done? What will he do with this worthless vineyard?) Jesus speaks, now, of a second vineyard: God, the gardener. Jesus himself, the vine. And his people, its fruit-bearing branches. Jesus' people connecting vitally with him bear lots of good fruit. That great expectation guides God's cuttings.

We meet with a brother or sister today happy in God's discipline to train us for his purposes. And, giving thanks together, we yield the peaceful fruit of his righteousness.

Home

"Christ is himself our peace, who has made us both one," Ephesians 2:14.

Both? Both who? Both Jews and ethnics. Jews and Gentiles. The ins and the outs. Christ brought us all peace with each other. Christ broke down dividing walls, killed hostilities, abolished what held us apart. Christ created in himself out of the many, one new man. Christ, by means of his very real body sacrificed on a cross, reconciled aliens and strangers together in one body. And. Too. Also. Additionally. Christ gave to us, once far away but now together in one Spirit, access to the Father. Access to the presence of God. By his Spirit, Christ builds us together into a singular temple, God's own home. Sky kingdom.

We meet with a brother or sister today reconciled with each other in Jesus' cross, accessing God's presence. And, in peace together, we give all praise and glory and honor and worship to God for his amazing grace.

Clothed

"And to your seed, not to many seeds, but to one seed," Galatians 3:16.

Huh? What's it talking about? There's a nuance here that needs to be caught to get the point. So check it out. Here's the deal: God made promises of blessing and life to two people. (Say that again?) God promised only two people to be his heirs for heaven. He named them by name: Abraham and, his one seed, Christ. Abraham and Christ. God has no other heirs of those promises. So where does that leave all other humans? Without God, without hope. But. Any other humans who get clothed with Christ, by faith they become that one seed of Abraham, Christ. Heirs of God's promises. So when did they get so clothed? As many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, the many became one in Christ Jesus. That congregation is the one body of Christ.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we do not meet as Jews, ethnics, slave, free, male, female, whatever: we belong to Christ. And, one in Christ, we give thanks, wealthy heirs of all God's promises.

Outlandish

"Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God before you do," Matthew 21:31.

Woah! What's this? Who's talking? Jesus. Jesus is talking. And he's saying these worthless people will get into God's kingdom before who? Jesus says bad people will enter before big religious leaders and elders. Why did Jesus say such an outlandish thing? because. because the big religionists said they'd do God's will, but willfully didn't. And these worthless people said they would not do God's will, but changed their minds, and did. The important thing isn't what we say about God's will, but what we do about it. One didn't repent and believe. The other did, and entered. Sky kingdom.

We meet with a brother or sister today to exhort (that means to encourage, not to beat up on, right?) each other to walk humbly with our God. And, together, we give thanks that Christ receives all who repent.

Scaffold

"God is working among you both to will and to work for his good pleasure," Philippians 2:13.

The Good Book says we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling: the line above explains what it's talking about. God is at work within us to help us want to do his will. To have the desire to please him in all things. God is at work within us to give us power to do what pleases him. To be able to do what he wants. And what is God's pleasure for us? that we have the mind of Christ. And what's that mind? Like Jesus, to humble ourselves and to give others greater honor. Sky kingdom.

We visit with a brother or sister today yielding to God's desire. And, together in thanksgiving, we praise God for receiving Jesus' humility as our scaffold for life in him.

Phenominally

"Every living thing belongs to me," Ezekiel 18:4.

That's God talking: All souls are mine. OK. So what's that mean? It means that when God judges, kids don't get blamed for their parents' faults. And, that parents don't get blamed for their kids' misdeeds. It means that the soul that sins, that soul, and no one else's, dies. Dies for its own sin. It means that God calls each person to repent from every sin they've done, and make a new heart, a new spirit. It means that God has no pleasure in anybody's death, but he wants this outcome for all souls: Turn, and live!

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we point each other to God's ways. And, together, we give thanks in hope of God's phenomenally fair judgment.

Maidservant

"To you, I look up to you, to you, who live in the skies." Psalm 123:1.

Yes, Lord! Just like slaves depend on their masters, so do we depend upon you. Just like a maidservant waits on her mistress for care, so do we wait on you, O Jehovah, our God, for mercy! Yes, Lord, you have shown us mercy. We needed your kindness when we had been insulted. When our souls had received scorn from people at their ease, you extended your mercy to us. When we had suffered the contempt of arrogant people, you made your kindness evident to us. So we look up to you, to you who dwell in the highest places. And we thank you! All praises to you!

Together with a brother or sister today we turn our eyes to God in the highest for our daily strength. And, together, we give deepest thanks to God for justifying our trust in him.

Announcers

"What we saw and heard we announce to you, too," 1 John 1:3.

There's that moment in church when it's time for the announcements. Some tune in, others anticipate the pot-luck ahead, yet others ready their stuff for the exit. And so, an announcer announces the announcements. Now, in the midst of all the announcing being announced, there is one announcement the assembly was for in the first place. It's God's own Announcement through his announcers. (We usually call them preachers.) What's The Announcement? God is light, so if we walk in his light, we have fellowship with God and with his Son Jesus Christ, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

As we receive a brother or sister today we call each other to walk in the light of our God. And, together in true fellowship, we give thanks to be at one with our Father and his Christ.

Delusions

"God sends upon them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false," 2 Thessalonians 2:11.

And for believing a lie? All who did not believe the truth are condemned. Wow! Let's get this straight: God made (some) people believe a lie so that they wouldn't believe the truth and so they'd go to hell?! That's not fair at all! Nonetheless: God is sovereign. But wait! That's not all! There's more! Just who are these deluded people? These are people who, before any delusions, lies, etc., they themselves refused. Refused what? They refused to love the truth. Well, if you refuse the truth, what've you got left to believe? (Hint: the lie.) If you refuse a lifeline in stormy seas, what's left? (Hint: drowning.)

When we fellowship today with a brother or sister we receive the truth that saves us: God, in Christ, reconciles the world to himself. And, together, we give thanks to God for faith in the gospel that saves us for eternity.

Friends

"Friend, I am doing you no wrong," Matthew 20:13.

That's what the owner said to the hired hand when he paid him. They had agreed on these wages. The hand had worked the vineyard through the long day, early morning into evening. And that was the deal. But now the worker felt he was treated unfairly. Why? because the owner had paid the exact same wage to hands that had only worked one last hour! But the owner was fair to all and very generous to some. And that owner, Jesus said, is like the sky kingdom. If God wishes to give the same reward to late arrivals as to early adopters of the kingdom's disciplines, heaven's the Lord's do as he chooses.

We visit with a brother or sister, friends of God, today serving his purposes, in his kingdom. And, together, we give heartfelt thanks that his grace privileges us with his labor.

Experience

"My experience has come for advancement of the gospel," Philippians 1:12.

So, Paul, did you win the lottery and share some of its proceeds with those less fortunate, or give ten percent to God's work? Or did you get a great rush from the grand vision you had of the kingdom of God? Or, did you finally get healed from that persistent troubling misery? Perhaps God gave you supernatural ability to talk smoothly like a professionally trained speaker? Or maybe did your trainees in the faith finally get it? No. Nope. None of these. Nor even things like these. Paul's talking about his sufferings in jail, wondering whether he might live or die there.

We meet with a brother or sister today recognizing life's harsh events become crucibles for faith. And, together, we give joyful thanks to God for the gospel's progress through every trial.

Impinging

"Seek the Lord while he may be found," Isaiah 55:6.

So we open our ears to hear God. We partake in the rich food at God's table. (By the way, how do we work God's work that gets us the food that powers eternal life? Believing in Jesus.) We come to God and he makes an agreement with us that lasts for ever. A blessings covenant like with David, the man after God's own heart. We call on God while he's near. We stop doing bad stuff. And stop thinking bad stuff. We return to the Lord. God has compassion. He will forgive. Forgive to overflow. Why does God forgive like this? because God's ways are out of this world. because his thoughts are beyond human thought.

We meet up with a brother or sister today listening for God's gospel call. And, together, we give thanks that the Lord is as near as his Word impinging on our ears.

Steadfast

"Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name!" Psalm 103:1.

Lord, we praise you! You forgive all our wrongdoings. You heal our diseases. You redeem our lives from the grave. You crown us with steadfast love. With mercy. You satisfy us with good things. You refresh our youth. You work right and justice for oppressed people. You are merciful. And gracious. Slow to anger. You overflow in steadfast love! You do not punish with all that we deserve. Your steadfast love's as high as the skies over the earth for those who honor you. You take away our sins as far as the east is from the west. Thank you, O God!

We connect with a brother or sister today so that we can praise God. And, together, we give thanks for the love he freely poured out on us in our Lord, Jesus, his Christ.

Really

"Love each other as precious brothers and sisters," Romans 12:10.

Love's got to be for real. It must be authentic (that's the word we like to use nowadays because there's just so much plastic ephemeral movie stuff and it's hard to find the real deal - I mean, how often do we have to hear: well, it's fiction but it's true. ? Sure, we get metaphors, but really? Real-ly?). Love lives in harmony. Love shares. Love shows hospitality. Love blesses (and does not curse). Love hangs on to good stuff (and abhors evil). Love hangs out with the lowly (and is not arrogant). And like that. Gotta be. Genuine. Sky kingdom.

We hang out with a brother or sister today because Jesus hung out with us. And, together, in deep thanksgiving, we present to God as a living sacrifice.

Friends

"Some have welcomed angels without knowing it," Hebrews 13:2.

Yeah. OK. So what's the point? Ah! This is the point: Show hospitality to strangers. (I mean, that's what it says. That's what it says.) Love our brothers and sisters even when they're strangers to us. Why? Well, Abraham and Sarah welcomed strangers with a phenomenal banquet; turned out they were serving God and a couple of angels. And, too. Rahab welcomed a couple of strangers by hiding them from authorities bent on killing them; turned out she saved her family's lives when her whole city fell apart. But, really, why show love like this? Because, mainly, here's the point, the big idea: God's hospitality welcomed us into his kingdom. The rules are different there. Sky kingdom.

We welcome a brother or sister today with God's invitation to share in a new life. And, together, we praise God who made us, strangers all, friends in Christ.

Times

"Not seven times, but seventy times seven," Matthew 18:22.

That's what Jesus answered. Peter had asked Jesus how many times should he forgive a sinner brother. Now, we might feel that forgiving somebody seven times would be over-the-top generous. You know, three strikes and you're out. That's what we think. But Jesus says, not even. Not even seven. Yes. A new way of thinking. Forgive hundreds of times! Why on earth would he say that? Because, he said, each of us ourselves had a ten million dollar debt; God gave us mercy and forgave it all. And so. So he expects us to forgive the fifty dollar debts somebody else owes us. If we will not nurture mercy in our own hearts after God planted it there, he will take it away. Jesus said. And hand us over to merciless debt-collectors. Sky kingdom.

We visit with a brother or sister today to encourage mercy growing in our hearts. And, together, grateful receivers of God's overwhelming mercy, we praise Christ for his merciful generosity at the cross.

Presence

"Christ died and lived again in order to be Master of the dead and of the living," Romans 14:9.

So that's why we welcome each other, brothers and sisters. We don't make a big deal out of our differences. We don't despise a weak brother or sister whose faith limits the types of food they eat. We don't pass judgment on a brother or sister whose faith frees them from such dietary restrictions. Whether strong or weak in faith, all intend to honor the Lord even in different ways of thinking. So, if we live, we live to the Lord. If we die, we die to Lord. All, each of us, will stand before God's judgment seat to give an account of our own (not someone else's) lives to him. Sky kingdom: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

We welcome a brother or sister today as fellow servants of the same Master, despite our differing thoughts. And, together, we praise God who raises us all up into the welcome of his presence.

Ensures

"Am I in the place of God?" Genesis 50:19.

That's the question of a man who had opportunity to avenge wrongs done to him. Kidnapped as a teen, thirteen years as a slave and imprisoned on false testimony, but having risen to authoritative power, he now faced his violators. They groveled for his forgiveness. Mind you, justice is no trifling matter to God. Evil doers cannot violate God-endowed rights with impunity. Justice weaves throughout the fabric of creation. And God will avenge: Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. God will repay. Forgiveness toward others arises, at times not easily, from those who entrust themselves to him who judges justly.

We receive brothers and sisters today siblings, all of us, redeemed by Jesus' blood that speaks grace. And, together, we sing praises of joy and thanksgiving to God whose cross ensures justice in this, and all worlds.

Exchanged

"When I kept things to myself I felt weak deep inside," Psalm 32:3.

Dear Jehovah God: When your hand pressed down on us, we suffered like in summer's oppressive heat. But then we confessed our sins to you, and you forgave us! You blessed us with the forgiveness of our transgressions. You bless us! You cover our sins! You don't count our sins any longer - you've taken away our deceits. Thank you! We pray to you, and you, our hiding place, you lift us from the rising flood of sin-drenched guilt. Your protective wall fills us roundabout with deliverance songs. Thank you! Bless you!

As we speak with a brother or sister today, we acknowledge our need for God's forgiveness. And, together, we give praises for his son, Jesus, who exchanged our sin for his righteousness.

Reigns

"God's kingdom is righteousness and peace and joy," Romans 14:17.

God reigns in his kingdom! When men yield hearts to God's Holy Spirit, they go around doing good in an evil and perverse generation. They practice the things of peace in the midst of strife. They do what leads to joy among broken hearts. They stop passing judgment on each other. They worry less about being right than doing right. They remove stumbling blocks from the way of others. They walk in love. They build each other up. They serve Christ. Sky kingdom.

We visit with a brother or sister today stepping in Jesus' tracks. And, together, we offer thanksgivings to our God for saving us from self-righteous deceit.

Limits

"You were called to freedom," Galatians 5:13.

Who called? God. To freedom! Liberty! Freedom from ... from what? from whatever held us captive. from the yoke of slavery. from bondage. from limits. Liberty to ... to do what? to self-determination? to autonomy? to choose anything we want? Well, yeah. That's what freedom is for, isn't it? Free to do what you want. Yeah! Freedom to serve one another. (Wait! Freedom to serve? wasn't that what we just got freed from?) Well, too: Free to reap the consequences of stupid choices. Biting and devouring one another in the freedom of the flesh rots us away to dust. But God's call to freedom: Free to work faith through love. Free to crucify the flesh with its desires. Free to yield to the Spirit's leading. Free to share in the nature of God.

We meet with a brother or sister today, free in Christ to serve one another. And, together, we give eternal thanks to God for a freedom that satisfies living for.

Middle

"You must change and become like little children," Matthew 18:3.

Says who? Jesus. And what if we don't want to turn and become like kids? Well, then, Jesus said: You'll never enter the kingdom of the skies. Yipes! Where'd that line come from? His followers had asked him who'd be the greatest in that kingdom. And that's how Jesus answered. Yeah. In fact, these kids' angels in the sky always look at the face of God. In fact, Jesus stood a kid right in the middle of them and said: Humble yourself like this kid, and you're the greatest. In fact, he said, that if they received a kid like this one, they received Jesus himself.

Today, we receive each other, brothers and sisters, humbled by the presence of our Master. And, together, meekly, we give thanks that Jesus receives us, his younger siblings.

Resists

"There is no authority except from God," Romans 13:1.

So that's why we obey the government. What?! Whoa! Wait a minute! What if it's an evil government, like, say, like, oh, I don't know, like, well, like the tyrant king, George III? Or an accursed liberal? Or, heaven forbid, a retrograde conservative? Yeah, what about then? The Good Book goes on: Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed. (The Book provides a healthy balance in cases of godly civil disobedience: Obey God rather than men. But that's for another time. Meanwhile) That's why we pay taxes, pay our debts, yield respect, give honor. But, mainly, we love each other. The main thing: Love does no wrong. The mainest thing: Love fulfills the law. Sky kingdom.

Today we meet a brother or sister unafraid to honor all in the love of Christ. And, together, we give thanks to God for providing some justice even in this old broken world.

Action

"As for you, human being, I have made you a watchman," Ezekiel 33:7.

That's what God said to the man, Ezekiel, whom God made a prophet. The job: Keep watch over Israel and warn wicked people to cease and desist from evil ways. (And what if the wicked persist in evil, instead? God's decree: They shall die.) And why must the prophet warn the people? Because, God said, the death of wicked people brings God no pleasure. Oh, he will do it, but not because he likes it. So. What does God like? That people stop doing evil, and do good, and live. God enjoys life and giving life. And he will do it because he likes it. Sky kingdom.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we encourage each other to life-giving action, not to persist in things of death. And, together, we give thanks to God for Jesus whose death ransomed us from ours.

Presents

"The sea looked and ran away," Psalm 114:3.

When God's people left slavery, when God's congregation left in freedom, we became indeed God's holy place. The sea saw God's people on the move and ran away from their passage. The river backed up to give them way. Mountains jumped out of their path. Hills danced away. O sea! O river! Mountains! Hills! Why do you run away, back up, jump, dance? Yes, O earth, tremble! Because the Lord, Master of land and sea, presents himself among his people! He turns desert mountains into refreshing pools. He changes arid rock into springs of life-water.

Dear God: we, brothers and sisters, revel in the freedom you bought us from sin and death, and we marvel that you made your home with us! We praise you in thankfulness for moving heaven and earth for us in Christ.

Minding

"Have this mind among yourselves, the one Christ Jesus had," Philippians 2:5.

The mind of Christ. Wow! How great a mind was that? The mind of Christ was obedience. Minding God. Obedience to God even when it meant discomfort. If it meant losing the divine form. Taking on the form of a slave. Becoming nothing. Being born like creatures. Humbling himself to death. Death on a cross. That's the mind of Christ. Obedience. That's the mind to which we aspire among ourselves. wow

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we give them more honor than to ourselves. And, together, humbly, we mind each others' interests (not business!) like Jesus minded ours.

Hidden

"Think on things above," Colossians 3:1.

Above. Above where? Above the earth. Above. Where Christ is. Where Christ is seated. Where is Christ seated? Christ is seated at the right hand of God. That's where we focus our minds. Not on the things of earth below. Why? because we have died. (We died? yes, with Christ.) Our lives are hidden now. (Hidden? yes, with Christ.) Hidden in God. (Can't see what's hidden. Can't see Christ. Can't see God.) But a reveal's coming. Yes. The reveal of when Christ comes into sharp focus. And when Christ gets seen (and he's our life!), we get seen with him, too. In glory! That's the eternal stuff we set our minds on. Not on earth's temporary discomforts.

We meet a brother or sister today hidden in unseen reality. And, together, we praise God for securing us in the faith of Christ.

Passion

"Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo much passion," Matthew 16:21.

Dictionary meaning of passion: emotion, feeling, conviction, love, devotion, desire. Obsolete meaning: suffering. It's the obsolete that Jesus mentions. The Passion of Christ. So, what's Jesus' passion? Suffering. Suffering abuse from the elders, chief priests, scribes. Beatings. Insults. Shaming. Crucifixion. Being killed. (And after 3 days resurrection!) His passion is to be God-minded, setting the mind on the things of God, not on the things of man. Thus, the uncomfortable context for his subsequent line: If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me ... whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we speak of the hope of resurrection following life's passions. And, together, we yield our minds gratefully to the mind of God.

Do-gooding

"Defeat evil," Romans 12:21.

Good! Yep. That's what the Good Book says to Jesus' followers. Overcome evil! OK. So. How to do this? Here's how: Do good. (Hmm. Do good? that's it? but evil's really bad nowadays. doing good's enough?) What kind of do-gooding defeats evil? Here's what it says: Wish good for those who do bad things to us. We don't pay them back by doing wrong to them. We do our best to live in peace with everyone. If our enemy is hungry, we feed him. Thirsty? give him water. Yep. Do good. We let God sort out getting even. God will sort it out to the last gnashing of teeth. So. We don't let evil defeat us, but we defeat it by doing good. Sky kingdom.

We meet with a brother or sister today encouraging one another to do good, just like Jesus did when he lived among us, in a perverse and faithless generation. And, together, we give thanks that God's very good nature triumphs over evil into eternity.

Resolved

"Your words made me very happy," Jeremiah 15:16.

What's this? Jeremiah's conversation with God. The prophet reminds God that he, Jeremiah, paid close attention to what God said. God's words delighted his heart. Jeremiah didn't follow the crowds in their partying stupor. He followed God's lonely path. But the in-crowd made merciless fun of him. And it hurt a lot. But what hurts him most was not their taunts. No. What brings incurable anguish is the fear that God's mighty promises, his rushing waters, will peter out into a dry, desert stream bed. That God will leave him out to dry. Deceived. By God. That's how the prophets of old chatted with God.

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we confess our fears as well as our faith. And, restored together by God's assurance, we turn once again, resolved, to follow him.

Attend

"Sing to Jehovah God a new song!" Psalm 96:1.

O, Earth: Sing to the Lord! We bless your name, O Lord! Every day we tell how you save us. We tell the nations about your glory. You do actions of wonder. We honor you far above all gods. (All those gods are just idols fashioned in human hands.) But you, O Lord, made the skies! All glory and majesty and power and beauty attend to your presence. We worship you! We fear you, only you! You are holy. You come to judge the world. You judge the world with fairness. You judge the peoples with truth. You reign! You rock!

When we speak with a brother or sister today, we sing of God's wonders for our redemption. And, together, we praise his Christ and our Lord for his glorious mercy.

Ensconced

"Show mercy," Jude 22.

(Show it, don't just feel it. Do something merciful with it.) Who's to show mercy? Those who, themselves, wait for Jesus' mercy into eternal life. That's who. Oh, ok. Do what? Show mercy. Show pity. (Wait a minute - don't want no pity, nossiree! After all, pity might imply a superior looking down on an inferior. Hmm. Well, get over it. God is superior. Period. We are inferior. Period. And without God's pity, his compassion, his mercy, his grace, his love we just continue slopping to death in the filth of our own making. Now to continue ...) Show mercy to whom? To doubters. To waverers. To hesitaters. Show mercy to whom? To tainted people, stained by their unclean dirt. Show mercy. Mixed with fear. Yeah. And, too, keep in the love of God.

We visit with a brother or sister today in wonder of Jesus' merciful action toward us in the cross. And, together, thankful, respectful, ensconced in God's love, we look forward for our Lord's mercy.

Despicable

"The one who showed him mercy," Luke 10:37.

What's this about? It's about loving one's neighbor. Since you can't just go around loving any and every body, you have to decide just who it is that Jesus requires that you love. So. We've got to ask: Who is this neighbor we're supposed to love? So. Jesus told a story about a guy that got a bad mugging and got left for dead. All sorts of good people walked by and didn't help the guy. But one fellow, a despicable one, did help the guy out and even covered his medical expenses. (Who's despicable: a Catholic? a Protestant? a Muslim? a Conservative? a Liberal? oh, well, there's a bunch of 'em out there.) So then. Jesus asked: Who was the neighbor? Well. It was the despicable fellow who showed mercy. That's the neighbor we must love. In fact, that's the fellow whose neighborliness we must do likewise. If we want to inherit eternal life. Sky kingdom.

When we get to see a brother or sister today, we remember Jesus helped us out and covered our salvation expenses. And, together, we praise God for his overwhelming mercy.

Bind

"Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven," Matthew 16:19.

Who's talking here? The Son of man. (I.e., Jesus. The Christ. The Son of the living God.) Who's he talking to? To Peter. (I.e., To Simon bar-Jonah. To Peter confessing Jesus' identity.) What has Jesus said to Peter? He's said that he, Jesus, will give to him, Peter, keys that bind or release requirements into the kingdom of God. He's said that what Peter requires will be required in the sky, what Peter releases will be released in the sky. So. Did Peter bind anything or release anything? Yes. Well. What did he bind? He bound baptism's requirement into Christ. What did he loose? He loosed circumcision's requirement. When? When he preached Christ on Pentecost and commanded all Jews to repent and to be baptized in the name of Jesus. And. When he preached Christ to the Gentiles and commanded them to baptism, and released them from circumcision's requirement. Binding this, loosing that. Sky kingdom.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we remember God's washing away of our every sin. And, together, we give thanks to Jesus whose death opened heaven's gates to us!

Mercify

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" Romans 11:33.

What in the world made Paul exclaim this about God? Well, actually, nothing in the world. The rich depth of God, God's wisdom, God's knowledge - yes! - God's mercy! This elicited that outburst of praise. God's mind to mercify all stuns every other mind with the Lord's unmeasurable and unfathomable ways. Nobody knew about that mercy. Nobody ever advised God about such mercy. God owes nobody nothing for such mercy. Everything points to God over it all. All! All things come from him, all things come through him, and all things are to him. To God be glory for ever! Mercy.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we meditate on the merciful purposes of God. And, together, we praise God that he should pour out mercy on us all through the gospel of Christ.

Exquisite

"Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you," Isaiah 51:2.

God's talking. God's talking to people pursuing righteousness, to people seeking the Lord. So, what's God saying to these pursuers of righteousness and seekers of the Lord? God tells them to look back. Look back to where they came from. They were cut out of common rock to become precious stones for God's holy purpose. Look back to Abraham and Sarah - lonesome nobodies when God called. But God blessed and multiplied them into a holy nation. Just so, God takes present wastelands of human consumption and pollution and destruction. God takes the wilderness of human lives to turn them into Eden, the garden of the Lord. God reclaims into eternity.

As we meet with a brother or sister today, we remember the God who creates exquisite beauty from chaos, from even nothing. And, together, we yield thankful hearts to God who raised Jesus from the dead.

Assiduously

"Let the peoples praise you, O God!" Psalm 67:3.

Yes, Lord! You ever show us your grace. You bless us! Your face shines on us! When we pause, we reflect on your ways that extend throughout the earth. Your power to save shows up among all earth's cultures. The gospel is for all! You judge all nations in fairness. You guide all peoples. You deserve praise from us all. We pause for a moment, and your blessings continue moving to earth's farthest reaches. You are worthy of honor from every remote corner of earth's globe. You are worthy!

We pause in our visit with a brother or sister today in order to point to God's blessings. And, together in praise, we assert assiduously: God is good all the time!

Loud

"Here's water - why can't I be baptized?" Acts 8:36.

So. There they were, riding a chariot down that dusty desert road, the royal Ethiopian treasurer (a eunuch) and his driver. The Ethiopian had worshiped in Jerusalem lately, now headed back home. The charioteer drove, the treasurer sat and read his Bible out loud. The passage concerned a humiliated man being killed unjustly. God prompted the prophet Philip to join the chariot and explain the reading. With the Ethiopian's invitation, Philip stepped aboard, sat down with the official, and they rode along together. Philip said that Scripture spoke of Jesus, and told the gospel news about Jesus. Responding, the Ethiopian wanted to be baptized. So. They went down into the water (the chariot had stopped at a pool, right?), Philip baptized him, and then they came up out of the water. This man confessing right now to the story of Jesus - God qualified him for baptism. A new culture, the household of faith, continues growing in Christ.

We get together with a brother or sister today and remember the gospel by which we are saved. And, together, we continue faith's walk joyful in thanksgiving to God, the qualifier of souls.

Culture

"As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ," Galatians 3:27.

And that means what? It means that the era of faith has fully come. That the impossible age of trying to get right with God by being good enough has died away. That Christ has redeemed humans from the curse. (What curse? The curse that if you're not good enough, you die and go to hell.) It means that the blessing God promised to Abraham comes to as many. To as many as of whom? As of those who believe. Who believe in. Who believe in Jesus. Who believe in Jesus' faith. The culture of law-keeping has passed, the culture of faith is begun. The sky kingdom is about rascals becoming saints. Becoming saints through the faith of Christ, and through faith in Christ. People enter that community of faith by putting on Christ. In faith.

We call on a brother or sister today acculturating to our common trust in Christ. And, together, we give glory to God who qualified us by faith to receive his promised blessings.

Answer

"Jesus did not answer the woman," Matthew 15:23.

So, this mother's child has a demon tormenting her severely. The mom, kneeling, keeps on begging Jesus for mercy. But Jesus ignores her - why? Well, what does the Good Book say? Here's what it says. It says: Because she was a Canaanite woman. Because she didn't belong to the right nationality. Because if the right culture were human children, her culture was dogs. Yep. It's all laid out pretty straightforward for us. Wrong language. Wrong race. Wrong color. Wrong gender. Wrong status. Now, we're a bit uncomfortable with the explanation, to be sure, but we get it. And, when Jesus' followers tell Jesus to tell her to get lost, we get that, too. But, suddenly, Jesus speaks directly to her: Woman, you have great faith - what you want is done! Hmm. Oh. God's children belong to the culture of faith. God's mercy is for all. Ah. We get it.

Meeting with a brother or sister today, we give thanks to Jesus that when we called out to him for healing, he did. And, together, we give thanks to God who receives children for himself by faith out of every nation.

Taxonomy

"God has hedged in all peoples into disobedience," Romans 11:32.

When the Scriptures present God dealing with earth's peoples, it does not categorize them in terms of race, culture, language, tribe, nationality, gender, social status, or those manifold ways as we humans do each other. No. God deals with people from the perspective of two categories: People belong to the family of Abraham and Sarah, or they do not. They belong to Israel, or do not. They are children of promise, or not. (Clearly, God knows all those categories by which we humans identify and classify! Nevertheless, God deals with us on the basis of those other two.) Humans are Jews, or they are Gentiles. And, God's taxonomy further identifies and classifies them all, every one of them, as rascals. Rebels. Disobedient. Unworthy. So that by this, God may extend mercy. Mercy. To all. Mercy.

When we meet up today with a brother or sister, we recognize our desperate need for grace. And, together into all coming ages, we, children of promise, glorify God for his mercy to us in Christ.

Belonging

"My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples," Isaiah 56:7.

Thus saith the Lord. Yeah. That's what God says. So. His house. His temple. His dwelling. But, really, more than that. His house. That is, all those people that belong to him. (Too, it includes all those beings like angels and other monsters that we humans barely know about but that make us glance over our shoulders in dark times. Even us non-superstitious types.) A belonging place for all, all, among whom God dwells. And who are these people comprising the Lord's belonging place? Those who keep justice. Who do righteousness. Who keep hands from evil things. Even if it's an outcast. Or a foreigner. Or a eunuch. Or anyone! Anyone who chooses the things that please God. Who holds fast his covenant. And even more people to come than whom God has already collected. Sky kingdom.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we recognize a belonging place of prayer with each other. And, indeed together, we offer prayers of thanksgiving in the new covenant of Jesus' sacrifice.

Inaccessible

"I love you, O Jehovah, my strength!" Psalm 18:1.

You, O Lord, are our Rock, our Fortress, our Champion, our Shield, our Salvation horn, our Stronghold. We call on you! You are worthy to be praised! You will save us from every hostility. Death's ropes looped around us. Destroying floods overwhelmed us. The grave's bindings held us tightly. Death's traps lay ahead of us. From a deep, dark place we called on you. We called out to you, O God! And from your temple. From the holiest, from the most humanly inaccessible recesses of your temple. From light's birthplace, you heard us. Yes! Our pleas reached your ears. Hosanna!

We meet with a brother or sister today and praise God's protection. And, together, we give worship to our God and Savior and Lord.

Practice

"We ourselves heard this very voice," 2 Peter 1:18.

Peter writes of his experience here. Whose voice did he hear? The voice of God's own Greatest Glory, out of the sky. What did that voice say? This is my son, I love him very much. Of whom did that voice speak? Of Jesus. What did Peter (and the others with him) see with their very eyes? They saw Jesus shining bright, getting honor and glory up on the mountain. (You had to be there to witness the awe-ful thing.) So what? So. The power of God's divinity has granted us a share in the nature of divinity. What?! Say again?! Yep. So. We become fellows in the divine nature. Providing. (Providing?) Providing we practice. Practice what? Practice the qualities of godlikeness diligently. Faith, virtue, self-control, and stuff like that. Love. Yep. The practice keeps us never to fall. The practice makes our calling and election sure. The practice provides a rich entrance into the kingdom.

We visit with a brother or sister today and share God's message about Jesus. And, together, we give thanks that the Lord Jesus shares his kingdom with us.

Sightless

"Stop wavering, but trust," John 20:27

That's what Jesus said to Thomas who had said he'd never believe Jesus had risen from the dead unless he had seen the scars and had actually touched the nail scars on Jesus' hands and had placed his hand on the scar from the lance impaling Jesus' side. So, Jesus invited Thomas to see and to touch and to experience so as to believe. It's not that everybody else was so much nobler in sightless faith than Thomas. No, not at all. Jesus had already made an exhibit of his hands and feet and side to the others. Their belief, too, arose from their sensory experience of the risen Jesus. That's why Jesus made them eyewitness to the gospel story. And that's when Jesus spoke of the rest of us, who were not there, who did not see the scars, who did not experience the risen Christ, but yet believe ... when Jesus said of us: Blessed are those. Sky kingdom.

We extend mutual encouragement with a brother or sister today by our common faith. And, amazed together, we offer thanks to Jesus for blessing us, who did not experience him, with life in his name.

Hand

"It's a ghost!" Matthew 14:26.

No, it wasn't a ghost. (We get it how a person might think this.) From their wave-beaten boat what they saw as a ghost was actually Jesus. Yeah. Jesus strolling on the waves against the wind toward them. Terror gripped them. Jesus said: No worries - it's just me! Peter said: If it's you, tell me to come to you! Jesus said: Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water. Yes, he did. He walked to Jesus. Until he noticed the wind again and began sinking. Terror gripped him. Peter yelled: Lord, save me! So Jesus took Peter by the hand and they walked back to the boat. Jesus said: You tiny-faith man, why waver? (Having been there, we get it how a person might waver.)

We visit with a brother or sister today and confess our tiny-faith wavering. But, together, thankfully, we tell God we do believe yet ask his help for our unbelief. So he takes us by the hand.

Near

"But what does it say?" Romans 10:8.

What does what say? The righteousness based on faith. What does the righteousness based on faith say? It says this: God's teaching is as near to you as your mouth and your heart. (That's pretty close!) That is, the teaching of faith taught by Jesus' apostles. So, what is that teaching? Jesus is Lord. God raised Jesus from the dead. If you believe this with all your heart, you will be made right with God. If you put your faith into words, you will be saved. Hmm. Ok. Compared to what? Compared to getting right with God by working every commandment. Compared to trekking up into the sky to tether Christ down. Compared to questing down into the underworld to haul Christ up. Instead of such esoteric fancies, the Scripture says: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. So we have. And we are. By the Lord. Grace.

We meet with a brother or sister today having mutually called on the name of the Lord. And, together, we speak thanksgivings for the simplicity with which God assures the saving way.

Where

"Where were you when I," Job 38:4.

You? You, who? You, Job. You, O Man. You. When I? Who, I? God. God, Designer of this and all worlds. God, Creator of this and all solar systems. Of all galaxies. Of all universes. God, the One and Only. Where were you, O Man? Where? Not here. Not there. Not where. Nowhere. Where were you when I ... what? When I formed the footing for the cosmos? When I anchored its universal constants? When I sunk its supports into the void? Or even when I set earth's ocean basins? When I set its rotation to bring dawn into view each day? When I made light's properties? When I made light even to have properties? O Man! Tell me if you can: Where were you when I?

We meet with a brother or sister today in awesome reverence for the God who created us from dust because he wanted to. And, together, we give thanks that he created us as expressions of unimaginable love and not of chance rage.

Good

"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good," Psalm 136:1.

O Lord, Jehovah God, God over all gods: Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever! Your love continues for ever!

We meet with a brother or sister today declaring God's steadfast love endures for ever! And, together, we give thanks to the God of the skies.