Let's start by taking a moment to pause. Give thanks for the gift of time, for a few minutes to reflect on our lives and on God's calling...
Our devotional reading comes from a favorite singer of mine named Regina Spektor; it's part of a song called "Laughing With" from her latest album:
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from that party yet…
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
Or when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes…
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God
What do the lyrics say to you?
How can laughing with God bring us closer?
Where do you think God is leading you this week?
Our prayer for today isn't original to me either but instead comes from my friend Rachel's lenten blog. Rachel has a gift for crafting prayers so let's pray along with her
http://faithandwater.blogspot.com/2010/02/lent-7.html
Blessings on your week,
Sam
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Not by bread alone
Here's our first lenten devotional reading:Luke 4:1-4
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." 4Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"
I thought about this passage a lot when I first became a vegan. A big part of my experience was doing without foods I liked and generally having less to eat. This passage was a source of encouragement to me and a reminder that sometimes the things we enjoy keep us from seeing the other blessings we have. Often our lives are cluttered by things we don't need; giving something up can help us see our reliance on God and trust God's love more intentionally. What does your body tell you when you're hungry? What do you live on besides bread? What might God be trying to tell you today?
Prayer: Loving God, help us to pause, to rest in your presence, and to trust you. Thank you for the gift of food and time. Thank you for the chance to reflect on our blessings and to explore our lives. Guide us by your Spirit as we take this Lenten journey and open our hearts to you. Amen.
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." 4Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"
I thought about this passage a lot when I first became a vegan. A big part of my experience was doing without foods I liked and generally having less to eat. This passage was a source of encouragement to me and a reminder that sometimes the things we enjoy keep us from seeing the other blessings we have. Often our lives are cluttered by things we don't need; giving something up can help us see our reliance on God and trust God's love more intentionally. What does your body tell you when you're hungry? What do you live on besides bread? What might God be trying to tell you today?
Prayer: Loving God, help us to pause, to rest in your presence, and to trust you. Thank you for the gift of food and time. Thank you for the chance to reflect on our blessings and to explore our lives. Guide us by your Spirit as we take this Lenten journey and open our hearts to you. Amen.
Ash Wednesday
I'm starting a new Laurelton experiment, or just continuing one of the church's ancient practices: we're fasting for Lent. This fast is a simple one; low-impact fasting if you will. I'll be skipping lunch on Wednesday (sometimes maybe a different day, pick whatever works best for you). I'll be taking the money I would have spent on lunch and setting it aside for a hunger-related group (feel free to nominate one). I'll spend the time I would have spent eating in prayer and devotional reading. Each week I'll share a short reading and prayer so you can join in.
You will be surprised at how powerful fasting can be in bringing you closer to God. Being hungry reminds us how dependent we are for the basics of life. When we clear away everything else, at root we are dependent on God. We also remember how many of our neighbors are hungry all the time. Take up this ancient practice with me and watch how it can change your life. Our first devotional reading will follow in the next post.
If you want to make this an even more powerful experience invite a coworker to join you. Read together and talk about the reading; fast together and talk about that experience; pray together and open your life to God and to someone else. Respond to the posts and share with others how this experiment is going for you. I would love to read about what God is doing in your life. If you would like, I can come to your workplace and lead a fasting discussion session at lunch with some of your coworkers. Just let me know and we'll figure out the details.
Blessings on your Lenten journey,
Sam
You will be surprised at how powerful fasting can be in bringing you closer to God. Being hungry reminds us how dependent we are for the basics of life. When we clear away everything else, at root we are dependent on God. We also remember how many of our neighbors are hungry all the time. Take up this ancient practice with me and watch how it can change your life. Our first devotional reading will follow in the next post.
If you want to make this an even more powerful experience invite a coworker to join you. Read together and talk about the reading; fast together and talk about that experience; pray together and open your life to God and to someone else. Respond to the posts and share with others how this experiment is going for you. I would love to read about what God is doing in your life. If you would like, I can come to your workplace and lead a fasting discussion session at lunch with some of your coworkers. Just let me know and we'll figure out the details.
Blessings on your Lenten journey,
Sam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)