Love is the Answer

I believe it was Thomas Merton who said this:

A tormenting sense of unworthiness is the root of hatred.

True.

Love is the answer, the solution, the resolution and the way to change ourselves and the world – one person at a time. I try to follow the One who said this:

1. Love God with all you have.
2. Love others as you love yourself.

My worthiness and my identity are found in being a beloved child of God. He loves me in spite of my many flaws and failings, my sin and stupidity, etc. I love me because God loves me. My call and challenge is to demonstrate that to others by loving them.

Lord, help me.

Psalm 67

May God be merciful and bless us.

May his face smile with favor on us.

May your ways be known throughout the earth,

your saving power among people everywhere.

May the nations praise you, O God.

Yes, may all the nations praise you.

Let the whole world sing for joy,

because you govern the nations with justice

and guide the people of the whole world. 

May the nations praise you, O God.

Yes, may all the nations praise you.

Then the earth will yield its harvests,

and God, our God, will richly bless us.

Yes, God will bless us,

and people all over the world will fear him.

–Psalm 67

Being and Doing

For me, it is easier to do than to be. For some, it is easier to do something than be someone or to be with someone.  Both are important, but doing needs to come from being. We are, after all, human beings first.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

—Luke 10:38-42

Contentment

To accumulate is to broaden; to simply is to deepen.

I’m not sure who said that, but it is true and reflects these ancient words of wisdom:

. . .I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

—Paul (Philippians 4:11b-13)

Don't Trust Worldly Wealth

Listen to this, all you people!

Pay attention, everyone in the world!

High and low,

rich and poor—listen!

For my words are wise,

and my thoughts are filled with insight.

I listen carefully to many proverbs

and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

Why should I fear when trouble comes,

when enemies surround me?

They trust in their wealth

and boast of great riches.

Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.

Redemption does not come so easily,

for no one can ever pay enough

to live forever

and never see the grave.

Those who are wise must finally die,

just like the foolish and senseless,

leaving all their wealth behind.

The grave is their eternal home,

where they will stay forever.

They may name their estates after themselves,

but their fame will not last.

They will die, just like animals.

This is the fate of fools,

though they are remembered as being wise.

Like sheep, they are led to the grave,

where death will be their shepherd.

In the morning the godly will rule over them.

Their bodies will rot in the grave,

far from their grand estates.

But as for me, God will redeem my life.

He will snatch me from the power of the grave. 

So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich

and their homes become ever more splendid.

For when they die, they take nothing with them.

Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.

In this life they consider themselves fortunate

and are applauded for their success.

But they will die like all before them

and never again see the light of day.

People who boast of their wealth don’t understand;

they will die, just like animals.

Psalm 49

Together

“We’re in this together! I will help you.”

—Jesus

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had  the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

—Hebrews 2:14-18

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

—Hebrews 4:14-16

Choose Humility

. . .Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 

“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 

“I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

—Luke 18:9-14

Love Everyone

From the womb to the tomb, all lives–red, yellow, black, and white–matter to their Creator. He loves them all and has a goal for each one: abundant, eternal life. If I follow Jesus, then my goal is the same, and it starts with every person I know. Lord, help me.

Press On!

In the daily discipline of faithfulness in all things, this is a needed prayer.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a loyal spirit within me.

—Psalm 51:10

Some miles seem longer than others and some days are more difficult than others, but we keep going. It is and will be worth it all! Press on.

Fully Known and Loved

Probably our deepest desire is our greatest fear: to be truly and fully known. We need it but are afraid if others really know us they will reject us. So we work hard to hide things about ourselves and create an image that others will like.

These words accurately describe what it means to be known and loved by God and how it affects our human relationships:

To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.

— Timothy Keller

Lord, help me to be real and really love as I am really loved.

July 4 Prayer

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion us into one united people. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer

Trusting God

O Lord, I give my life to you.

I trust in you, my God!

Do not let me be disgraced,

or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,

which you have shown from long ages past.

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, O Lord.

The Lord is good and does what is right;

he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

He leads the humble in doing right,

teaching them his way.

The Lord leads with unfailing love and 

faithfulness

all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

—Psalm 25:1-10

Hope

We put our hope in the Lord.

He is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,

for our hope is in you alone.

–Psalm 33:20-22