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.