Unity

In our divided world of congregations, denominations, families, divorce, political parties, and more--how do we live into the unity that Psalm 133 talks about.

I would figure that in ancient Judaism there was less chance to freely state your opinion.  Less chance to believe it mattered than in our time.  Yet and still they had problems with unity.  

Lets mediate and pray on that today.  How will you find new ways to unite with others who aren't like you?  How will you find new ways to create unity in your family.  In your church?  In your work place?

I want some of the precious oil.  How about you?

Blessings!
Pastor Emily 

Quiet Trust

This is all that needs to be said today.  It might be my new favorite Psalm.  Psalm 131.  It is my goal.  My ideal.  What I would like to be.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,

   my eyes are not raised too high;

For I do not want to consider myself more than you.

I do not occupy myself with things

   too great and too marvelous for me.

Because nothing is too great for you.  But I only need whats simple.  What bring you joy.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

   like a weaned child with its mother;

   my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

Lord, you know quieting my soul is tough.  But I am working on it for you.  I am working on being calm and quiet and hearing you.

O Israel, hope in the Lord

   from this time on and for evermore.

You are why I do everything.  You are my only hope.  You are my everything.

Amen.

Blessings--Pastor Emily 

Affecting Me

I have to say, I read these Psalms with a heavy heart.  Its been a long last week of ministry.  Life is going at a hectic pace.  And then I awake to the news out of Wisconsin.  A gunman walked into a Sikh temple and shot people in prayer.  Its not ok.  Its awful.  My heart is heavy.

So, when I read another Psalm about smiting our neighbors and cutting the cords of the wicked in half (129:4), my heart breaks.  I wonder if its Psalms and sermons and songs like this that convinced the gunman to walk in and shoot someone in prayer.  I wonder if what we teach has convinced people to hate.

Yesterday in our Youth Service, the Rise, we talked about the Question, "If we believe that Jesus is the Way, why are there so many religions?"  I rethought what I said.  Or tried to say.  I tried to say, we need to respect and love people of other faiths because God could be trying to find their own spiritual paths to bring them to Jesus.  BUT we need to talk to them about Jesus, because Jesus is the best, strongest, most wonderful revelation of God.  The truest form of Love.  The best form of peace.

That's what I have found so missing from these Psalms, and from so many churches.  But then Psalm 130 got there.  The Psalmist cried out to God from the depths (130:1) and talked about the soul waiting (130:5).  Then it talked of the redeemer, the lovingkindness.  I can see Jesus in this Psalm.

That's what I needed this morning--a little Jesus.  Did you find him too?

Blessings--
Pastor Emily 

Unless the Lord Builds it

These were short but sweet!  128 talks about families.  I'm not so sure I'm like an olive shoot, but the metaphors made me thing.


But 127:1 is one that we often see above doors.  Or on building projects.  "Unless the Lord builds the house, the labors are in vain."

It always challenges me to pray more.  To commit my ways to God instead of my own.  How often do you start something without consulting God?  How often do you work really hard on something to ask God to bless it, without seeing if it was his idea in the first place?


Too often, if you are anything like me.  


God, may we follow your will instead of our own!  May we find new ways to love you and to serve you.  Build our houses!  Amen!

Blessings!
Pastor Emily 

How do you pray?

Reading Psalm 125 and 126 and their pleas for good made me stop and think.

How do you pray?  Do you pray for blessings.  For those you love?  For those you care about?  I do.

Maybe that's what we were to learn from these Psalms.  These Psalms pre-date Jesus and they never pray for their enemies.  Its not in their nature.  I've found myself lately doing a few things:

1) Hoping Russian Gymnasts would fall.  (And feeling guilty about it, but doing it anyway).
2) Praying for people I am angry with, hurt by, and upset by.

How can I do both of those things?  Well, because I'm human.  But, the Christian imperative to pray for our enemies is unique.  How good are you at that?  I'm good at praying like these Psalms--for those who are good.  For those I love.  For the righteous!  I've had to learn how to pray for my enemies.

How are you doing with it?

Lord--Help us to love the unloveable.  Help us to see with your eyes.  Bless those who annoy, hurt, betray us.  Not so they might win, but so that might see the light of your goodness.  Maybe if they change--we can change the world! We love you!  Amen.

Blessings!
Pastor Emily

Four for One

Apologies on missing yesterday.  No excuse other than being overwhelmed.  


Here are my thoughts:


1) Psalm 121 is one of my favorites!  The Sound of Music Psalm!  Such comforting words!
2) Psalm 122 has the best benedictions/prayers for blessings in verses 6-9!
3) Psalm 123 There is a lot of lifting up our eyes.  I like the concept that when we are down, our heads and hearts buried that we can look to God who is above for comfort and strength!  I love it!
4) Do the words in Psalm 124 sound like Our God at all?  Maybe not word for word, but they make me think of it!

I hope your day is going wonderfully!

Praying for you!
Pastor Emily 

Holy Long Psalm, Batman!

Wow!  I've been waiting for 119, its a long one!


But to me its a beautiful picture of seeking after God and trying to do "right".  Trying to be our best. Living into God's decrees does create happiness and contentment--even in the worst of circumstances!


I loved verses 10-11

With my whole heart I seek you;

   do not let me stray from your commandments.

I treasure your word in my heart,

   so that I may not sin against you.

Thats what has so helped me these past two summers.  Finding ways to commit scripture to more than my brain, but to my heart!  

I also loved the end of 120.  Let us find ways to promote the peace of God in our contentious world!

Blessings!
Emily