Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

¹For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
² A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Dear God, Ukraine is still on my heart this morning. I checked the news when I woke up to see if there was any word on the talks between its president and Russia happening today. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be any of the participants. I even get the feeling that those on the Russian side don’t want to be there or doing this. Their hearts aren’t totally in this. That could just be our own media’s propaganda influencing my opinion, and maybe it’s totally wrong. I only know what I’m told.

I do think it is safe to say, however, that the Europeans decided that, much to their dismay, this is not a time for peace. If they appease like the European nations did years ago, they will find themselves backed into a corner by a vicious man who has no qualms about what time it is. I don’t think he ever thinks it is a time for peace.

In my own life, this passage means something too. There are broken relationships in my life. I’m doing my best to know when it is time to embrace and when it is time to turn away. I am always longing for embrace, but I cannot do it at any cost. Like the European countries right now, lines do eventually have to be drawn. I hate it. I know they hate it. I just hope this time doesn’t last too much longer. I know they do too.

Father, thank you for Solomon’s words here. Thank you that The Byrds elevated these words into our society’s collective conscience so that I even thought of it this morning as I wrestled with my thoughts about both Ukraine and my own life. Guide me in your wisdom and mercy. Bring about the embracing as soon as you can.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

1 John 4:9

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

1 John 4:9

Dear God, I don’t want to talk as much about the words of this passage as much as I want to talk about the journey John took after he met Jesus. He went from being one of the sons of thunder to always talking about love. Some of his highlights (lowlights?) were asking to be elevated above the other disciples and wanting to cast down fire on the Samaritans for denying Jesus a place to stay on their way to Jerusalem. Yet, he was there at the foot of the cross in everyone’s darkest hour. He was there at Pentecost. He wrote the story of Jesus’s life on earth and humbly told negative stories about himself. And he implored us (including me 2,000 years later) to love as you love.

I think about my own journey and how you are growing and stretching me. I think about my wife and children in the same way. The journey never looks like I dreamed or hoped it would look–especially for my children. But I’m sure mine hasn’t looked like my parents hoped it would. But the journey is what you use to grow us. Amy Grant had a song from the early 80s called “In a Little While.” There’s a line in there that says, “We’re just here to learn to love Him.” The good news is, I think I am learning and growing. I’m different than I was even six months ago. But I am also aware enough to know I have a long, long way to go.

Father, get me to the destination to which you took John. Get me to an extreme level of knowing and understanding your love and then extending it to others. Let that love motivate me. Let it drive my love and actions for my family. Let it drive me in my work and friendships. Let it drive me in my worship of you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Ukraine

Dear God, I’m sorry I haven’t prayed about this more (or at all). I’ve thought about it. I’ve worried about it a little. But I haven’t educated myself on it, followed it, or allowed it to touch my heart. But I read this morning that Russia started invading Ukraine, and my first thoughts were of the people living there who are terrified right now. From their military to government officials, to just people like me wondering if they will be able to protect their families, provide for their families, and sustain life. Will those that worship you still be able to do that with freedom? There is so much, and their pain has not touched me until now. In fact, the magnitude of this situation is still not really touching me.

I saw that commodities prices were jumping and it made me wonder if Americans’ biggest complaint in this invasion is that we are having to pay more for gasoline. Our priorities can be so out of whack–and I’m including myself in that statement.

Father, my government is not my idol. The economy is not my idol. While those two statements are mostly true, I confess to you right now that they are not entirely true. I do put some of my faith in my bank account, our military’s ability to protect me, and my job to provide for me. I am sorry for that. Please move in Ukraine and Russia. Give leaders everywhere, including Putin and Biden…well, let me just ask that you would guide this whole situation to work out for your glory. Make this pain count. Protect your children. Use this to draw all of us closer to you. I know that many in western countries will use this as an excuse to become more partisan. I don’t know if even you can stop that from happening, but my prayer is that, ultimately, this will all work out so that you will will be done and your kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

1 John 4:17

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
1 John 4:17

Dear God, I think I’ll be scared on the day of judgment regardless. My wife and I were praying together last night. It was her turn and afterwards she apologized for not having a better, more focused prayer. I replied that, on a scale of 1-10, our best prayers are probably a 2, so a 1.8 prayer is just about as good. Taking that logic, if on my best, most faithful, worshipful day, my love is a 2 or 3… well, let’s just say it will be all about your mercy that day and not about how great my love was.

With that being said, certainly, the better I love here the more peaceful my life is. I was talking to someone yesterday about the current problems in the world. I spoke to her the words I once heard Rich Mullins say in concert: “The world’s going to go the way the world’s going to go. So keep yourself pure and love everyone you can.” I can’t make an idol out of everything having to be the way I want it to be. I just have to submit to you and love. That’s all I really have anyway.

Father, all of this is fleeting. Our lives are like a vapor and I will eventually die and the memory of me and my life will fade. That’s okay. It will happen to all of us. On that day, all I ask is another question Rich Mullins asked in one of his songs: “Can I be with you? Can I be with you?”

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

1 John 4:7-8

⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. ⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear God, when I was young and going to our local Baptist church, I learned this little Bible song:

Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another. First John four, seven and eight.

This reminds me of going back to my old standard from Galatians 5–the fruits of the Spirit. It starts with “love.” I usually focus on “peace” as an important litmus test as to how I am doing with you, but I suppose it does all, truly, start with “love.”

The biggest revelation of your love for me came when I had children. The following passage from Matthew 7 took on a whole new meaning for me:

⁹ “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? ¹⁰ Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! ¹¹ So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

What I found fascinating about parenthood was how ready I was to forgive mistakes they would make. It was super easy. I loved them so much. Even now, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for either of them if I thought it was good for them and what they needed. I am totally there even though they are grown and there has been hurt experienced on both sides.

So if you love me that much more than I love my own children, how much, then, am I supposed to love and care about others? How much more am I supposed to do for the world on your behalf? And how do I keep from getting outside of your will, but pursuing only those avenues that are ordained and blessed by you?

Father, fill me with your love. Let it start with my wife, then my children and their significant others, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Let it go to my friends and community. Help me to hear your still, small voice when I am in need of direction, correction, encouragement, and love. Help me to completely experience your love so that I can channel it into your world.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Exodus 32:3-4

³ All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

Exodus 32:3-4

Dear God, this morning, I was listening to the Bible in a year podcast I’ve been following and this was part of the reading. I found myself confessing to you that there are things I taken and called them you. There are things in my life that I say are God, but I also attribute them to concrete things I can get my head around and explain for myself.

For example, we’ve had remarkable fundraising success at the nonprofit where I work, and when I visit with our board of directors about it, I am and always have been quick to point out that it is the result of your providence and a lot of prayer on our part. But lately, as I’ve heard about other nonprofits and churches doing well, I’ve also started to add in other explanations to combine with you. Maybe it’s the stock market. Maybe it’s that we are a health clinic and people are more sensitive to our work because of a global pandemic. Maybe this. Maybe that. Well, if you moved through those things, that is great, but I confess to you that I believe you are my provision. And the money in the bank will not be the gold in my ears. I will not take it and form it into something that takes your place or physically represents you. I will not try to understand you and how you work. I will just worship you and thank you for giving us the resources we need to help the people who come to us.

Another example is the idol we make out of government. I have a friend who never cared about politics until six years ago. Then they became enamored with President Trump. Regardless of what anyone thinks about him or his policies, no man is worthy of the adulation she ascribes to him. She travels hundreds of miles to hear him speak. Now, she is into another politician who is running for governor of our state. She went to one of his stump speeches this weekend, and she is thinking about driving 150 miles today to hear him again. At the same time, I’ve talked to her about discipleship in her life and she has no frame of reference for that. I got to thinking about her last night and told my wife, “She seems to want to be inspired.” I would change that this morning to say that she is looking for something/someone to put her faith in.

Father, I am sorry. I am sorry for trying to find anything but you to put my faith in. And now, as I wait for you–as I wait with the Israelites for Moses to come back down the mountain–I will wait patiently to have you answer my prayers. You are my God. Do it whatever way you want to do it and take however long you need to take.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

¹² But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. ¹⁵ And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. ¹⁶ And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. ¹⁸ In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! ¹⁹ And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Dear God, I still remember a conversation I had with a coworker about 30 years ago that involved this passage. Funny how some things stick with us. I was about 22 at the time and I was telling him how I used to tell campers when I was a counselor that, even if there was no heaven and when we died we died it would still be worth it to be a Christian and follow you because of the joy you give us through relationship with you. He told me I was wrong and quoted this verse at me. And while I think he was technically correct, I don’t think he was correct for the right reason.

Basically, he was saying at the time that it was all about heaven and getting to be with you eternally, and he quoted Paul saying in verse 19 that we are to be the most pitied in all of the world. The difference between us is that I was not proclaiming there is no resurrection of the dead, and I was certainly not saying Jesus hadn’t been resurrected. What I was saying was that if that wasn’t how you designed everything, relationship with you, freedom from our sin, our ability to share your mercy with others, and the process of willingly submitting my plans and how I think the world should be to your will would still be worth it because of the peace and joy that comes with it.

I was talking with a friend on Friday who has a family member who is gravely ill. We talked about how some things in our lives hadn’t worked out how we hoped, but we were willing to yield to the idea that you weren’t letting anything happen that was outside of what you could use in the lives of those we love, our lives, or even for the good of those we don’t know. He asked me, “How do people who don’t believe in God cope?” I answered, “I don’t know.” Some people derisively call Christianity a coping mechanism or a crutch to get through life. That’s not how I see it. Do I lean on you? Yes! Do I find my hope and peace in you? Yes! And to be sure, some people do just use the platitudes of Christianity to live in denial as opposed to living by faith. But for those who have truly learned the letting go that faith leads to, Christianity is not a way of using denial to avoid reality, but an acceptance of reality and the idea that sometimes you are doing things we cannot see and may never see in this life. Frankly, part of my hope in heaven is to get to see all that you are doing that I haven’t been able to see.

Father, I often pray for people going through a struggle that you would make their pain count. I’ve asked that you would make my pain count. I’m willing to go through it, but please don’t waste it. Use it to improve me or anyone who touches the situation. Use it to bring us to repentance, to you, and so that your kingdom will come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

“Know Who You Are” from Moana

Dear God, this is a special song. I’ve used it in a prayer before and I’m using it again now. While this is a fable that includes false gods, the analogy I’ve used for people I love is pretty apt. I’ve seen people get so wrapped up in self-pity, shame, secrets, hate, revenge, etc. that it causes them to act out in terrible ways. But I know there is someone else inside of them. Someone you know. Someone you created in your image. Someone who can love, forgive, encourage, and serve.

When I see Moana place Te Fiti’s heart back in her it reminds me of you replacing our cold hearts with your love and mercy. Wiping away our shame and enabling us to simply both receive and give love again. Sometimes someone comes along and damages us–takes away our innocence. Sometimes we stray and do it ourselves. Either way, we are left with a lot of damage that only you can heal.

I have crossed the horizon to find you / I know your name / They have stolen the heart from inside you / But this does not define you / This is not who you are / You know who you are

Father, you know my prayers. You know my heart. You know who is on my heart. Let your love flow. Let your mercy be embraced. Let secrets and shame be broken and freedom in you permeate every inch of our lives. For your glory. Do it for your glory. We’ve experienced pain. Make it count. Don’t let it be wasted, but let it be part of your master plan to have your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. ⁴⁷ If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. ⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Dear God, being perfect, even as you are perfect, is an interesting target to try to hit. Of course, I can’t be perfect, and I need Jesus’s blood, resurrection, mercy and grace to be even be seen by you. I get that. But still Jesus is saying that we need to simply be above what is going on around us. We need to be above both revenge for evil done to us and reward for good done to us. It’s not how you work. You give sunlight and rain regardless of our good or evil behaviors. You love me and others despite the fact that we don’t love you with all of our heart, mind, and strength.

On a scale of 1-10, I am probably about a 3 when it comes to remembering to look at the world beyond what I can see with my eyes. That is to say, every once in a while I am actually cognizant that you are doing things I cannot see and my actions are not necessarily correlated with the fruit in my life I can see with my eyes. If I see good fruit, that doesn’t necessarily mean I did it right. If I see bad fruit, that doesn’t necessarily mean I did it wrong. Like I said, sometimes I remember this–but most of the time I don’t.

Father, help me to love my neighbor as myself. Help me to not return bad with bad. Help me to not take an eye when my eye is taken. I’m not saying I should just allow others to walk all over me, undermine me, etc. But I am saying that, while I can put up some reasonable boundaries, it doesn’t mean I cannot love them at the same time. And thank you again for loving me way beyond what I deserve. Thank you for not taking revenge out upon me for all of the times I failed you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Isaiah 6:8

⁸ Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

Dear God, when I read this in church this morning, my first thought was, “I’m not sure if I’m that brave. I don’t know if I want to be used by God to that extent.” Then I read the Gospel reading from Luke 5 when Jesus calls Peter. Again, I thought, “Better him that me.”

This is my confession to you. I want to love you. I want to serve you–to a point. I want to worship you. I want to sacrifice for your–to a point. I want to embrace your forgiveness and grace. I want to work for you–to a point. See the pattern here? I’m good with the love stuff. Forgiveness. Worship. That’s all good and well. But when it comes to serving, sacrificing and working, my first inclination is to still steer into my own comfort zone.

I’ve often joked that Noah had the worst situation of the Bible. I’d just as soon have died in the flood as go through the 100 years of building an ark, taking care of all of the animals, and then building back society. I’ve also said that if there is a nuclear bomb coming or a zombie apocalypse, I want to go in the first wave. I don’t want to be a survivor. I’ve seen the movies and it doesn’t look like the survivors are having a good time at all. When I examine myself, I suppose I’m unbelievably lazy.

As I sat in church and contemplated these things, I started to wonder how much my age has to do with my natural tendency to lethargy–well, maybe not lethargy. Safety and security might be better words. Twenty years ago, I was in my early 30s and willing to take more chances. Now, in my early 50s, I think I’m starting to feel the combination of less energy and a sense that I have less margin for error. The older I get, the more the chances I take will impact the rest of my life. Am I really ready to give all that I am for all that you are?

In the Bible in a year podcast from this morning, they read Psalm 73. It seems like a good psalm to pray to you now as my own prayer: It’s remarkably appropriate (I am bolding the beginning and end to emphasize how I am feeling):

¹ Truly God is good to Israel,
    to those whose hearts are pure.
² But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
    My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
³ For I envied the proud
    when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
⁴ They seem to live such painless lives;
    their bodies are so healthy and strong.
⁵ They don’t have troubles like other people;
    they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
⁶ They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
    and clothe themselves with cruelty.
⁷ These fat cats have everything
    their hearts could ever wish for!
⁸ They scoff and speak only evil;
    in their pride they seek to crush others.
⁹ They boast against the very heavens,
    and their words strut throughout the earth.
¹⁰ And so the people are dismayed and confused,
    drinking in all their words.
¹¹ “What does God know?” they ask.
    “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
¹² Look at these wicked people—
    enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

¹³ Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
    Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
¹⁴ I get nothing but trouble all day long;
    every morning brings me pain.

¹⁵ If I had really spoken this way to others,
    I would have been a traitor to your people.
¹⁶ So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
    But what a difficult task it is!
¹⁷ Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
    and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
¹⁸ Truly, you put them on a slippery path
    and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
¹⁹ In an instant they are destroyed,
    completely swept away by terrors.
²⁰ When you arise, O Lord,
    you will laugh at their silly ideas
    as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

²¹ Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
    and I was all torn up inside.
²² I was so foolish and ignorant—
    I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
²³ Yet I still belong to you;
    you hold my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
    leading me to a glorious destiny.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
    I desire you more than anything on earth.
²⁶ My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
    but God remains the strength of my heart;
    he is mine forever.

²⁷ Those who desert him will perish,
    for you destroy those who abandon you.
²⁸ But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen