Saturday, May 5, 2018

Ephesians 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Us

A scene comes to mind. It is near the end of the first century. A respected elder stands in the middle of a house lit only by candles. He holds a letter sent to a few Christian congregations in eastern Turkey. People fall silent as he reads to the group standing three deep around a bare-wood table, others sitting on the floor.

“God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing … he chose us before the world was made … he destined us to be his children.”

Us … even this the word blesses and brings joy. All these blessings, these graces, this immortal divine love is for us.

There is no ego, no hoarding in this scene. There is no room for boasting or exclusion. The words spoken and the truth they convey create a community of shared blessing where none can say that they have something others do not have.

They are joined in the mystery of grace. In the darkness of an Ephesian evening, the light in their hearts is much brighter than the candle light.

For they know: God’s eternal plan is to shower such divine love on all creation. And they feel it already there in the darkness.

This is why we gather, 20 centuries later. To hear, to feel and to know the mystery of the love that chooses us.

Pr. David L. Miller

Friday, May 4, 2018

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.’ 

Anxiety’s gift

A very good man is in surgery as I write today. I know ... this happens every day. People get sick, physicians treat diseases and surgeons operate on people every single day, and the outcome is never a sure thing. That’s life.

But today it is someone I know, respect and love. I am one of many who fall into that category, and we all want the same thing for him, healing, restoration and hope for a tomorrow that is filled with the joy of family, faith and friends.

The anxiety of surgery awakens awareness that life is uncertain, unpredictable and, well, you just never know what can happen or how long it will be before the specter of disease or even sudden death will touch your family ... or you.

However anxious this day may be, this anxiety comes bearing a gift of depth and love. It awakens gratitude for God’s gift of life.

None of us calls ourselves into being. We are not the source of our existence. Life, breath, the simple reality of being is a mystery, a wonder given to us without our asking or doing anything to make it happen.

We are created, which means we are dependent upon the Source of Life, who ... we believe ... made us in the very image and likeness of God. And it is to this Loving Mystery that our hearts cry on days such as this.

We fly into the arms of God—our Maker, our sustainer, our hope—on the wings of our needs. So even on days like this, we thank you, O Lord, for you call us again to know you.

You made us for yourself. Sharing your image, our hearts find peace nowhere else ... but in you.

Pr. David L. Miller

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Genesis 1:1-3

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.

Because I know

Morning breeze blows the steam rising from my cup as cars go by on the street in front of Starbucks. Air finally warm drifts across my bare arms, happy to be unsheathed after a winter too long. People park, enter the shop and emerge with cups in hand, continuing with their day.

Joy fills my heart because I know it is true: Everything that is, everything I am  ... is because of you. Joy comes with knowing everything I see and everything I am has a beginning in you.

You create that you may have one more thing, one more beauty, one more person to love. In the beginning there is just you, just the love you are. You call light into being, and I am part of that light even as the light of new day wakes the earth.

Finding a moment of repose in these early spring days, I feel the love that is in everything.

Your Spirit Heavenly One, sweeps over everything I see. One translation says the Spirit hovers over the deep. I like that: hovering, like mother bird keeping watch, delighting in everything you see, loving it and inviting me to love it all just as you do.

May I love it all today, everything that comes, every face I see. Loving as you will make it a very good day.

Pr. David L. Miller