Life
Apr 30, 2009Today I Awake
Today I awake and God is before me.
At night, as I dreamt, he summoned the day:
For God never sleeps but patterns the morning
With slithers of gold or glory in gray.
Today I arise and Christ is beside me.
He walked through the dark to scatter new light.
Yes, Christ is alive and beckons his people
To hope and to heal, resist and invite.
Today I affirm the Spirit within me.
At worship and work, in struggle and rest.
The Spirit inspires all life which is changing
From fearing to faith, from broken to blest.
Today I enjoy the Trinity round me,
Above and beneath, before and behind;
The Maker, the Son, the Spirit together
They called me to life and call me their friend.
John L. Bell and Graham Maule
Resurrection
Apr 12, 2009There are times when our faith goes underground. Buried under layers of earth, our hope lies dormant, and we wait. The disciples waited. Eagerly, anxiously, wondering what would happen.
Even God waited. To reveal his life… power… glory.
Like our homes need spring cleaning after winter, sometimes our souls do as well. Time to clean out the bitterness, grief, pain, or anger that’s accumulated. To allow the light, hope, peace and forgiveness of God to settle in their place.
Resurrection. The God of life resurrecting our hearts… our faith… our passion.
So, what if we believe its real? If we believe that around this time, on this day, years ago, God rose from the dead, showing us the first evidence of the literal and spiritual resurrection he desires to accomplish in each one of us.
What if, in the process of wiping off the dust and grime that’s collected over the months, we take Jesus at his word.
If we start living like we’re citizens of another Kingdom. If we “love our enemies” and “pray for those who persecute us.” What if we stop “worrying about what we will eat, drink or wear,” believing that “our Heavenly Father knows what we need.” If we love and serve the “least of these,” as if we are serving Jesus himself. If we believe that Jesus said soon, “I will come again to take you to be with me so that where I am there you may be also.”
Then our faith rises from the underground. Our hope comes alive.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; and
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive—-
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
St. Francis of Assisi
a joyful resurrection day to you!
- Pastor Tara VinCross
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