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A New Year and Jesus’ Name Day

January 1, 2023 0 Comments

We begin the New Year in 2023 with a reflection on the name of Jesus. It’s name day in our celebration of Christmas.

“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.” Luke 1:21 

When the angel appeared to Mary, he told her that the child to be formed by the Holy Spirit within her womb would be called “Jesus.” The name “Yeshua,” like Joshua in the Old Testament, means “Yahweh saves.” The name given to this body formed in mystery is the revelation of God’s salvation to us. Indeed, the apostles would speak of Jesus the Messiah, saying, “Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 

On his name day, a new day of creation, Jesus enters into the covenant of Israel through circumcision. He not only becomes a participant in God’s promises to Abraham and Israel, Jesus also now embodies this promise. He would later say of his blood when sharing the cup with his disciples, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:27-28

The early church honoured the name of Jesus in the hymn written by the Apostle Paul in the Letter to the Philippians. … Christ Jesus

Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God 
something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a 
servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a
man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore, God exalted him to the
highest place
and gave him the name that is above 
every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under
the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow. At the name of Jesus — On this first day of the year and for every day of this year, may the name of Jesus be on your tongue. May we live yielded and surrendered to Jesus our Lord. May we speak the name of Jesus over all who need healing, comfort, and grace. May we lift up the name of Jesus in conversation with all those who seek truth. May we praise the name of Jesus with all his people.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. 

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Prayer of the People, 14 August 2022

August 15, 2022 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

We have gathered with your church to tune our hearts and minds to Your presence, Your will, and Your ways. We ask that Your Spirit would help us right-size all that competes for our attention and our loyalties. Help us fix our hearts and minds on You and the joy of your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Lord, we bring You our: pain, anger, fears, disappointments and worries.

You see the cracks in our hope, the lagging of our spirits, and the many ways we try to entertain ourselves out of despair.

Lord, we must rely on You. Your lovingkindness shows us a better way. May the Spirit of Jesus make us gentle, humble, patient. Help us encourage one another as we seek to:
serve one another in love; pursue justice in your name; walk with You; and declare your goodness.

We set before you our workplaces. We set our work before you since we work in your sight and not just for the praise of people. We set before you the people we work with and the people we serve through our work. We pray Father that there would be a quality to our work that is truly good. By your Spirit help us bring creativity and leadership to our work so that you are honoured.

We lift up to you dear people who struggle under violence and conflict. God of peace and forgiveness make yourself known in Afghanistan, North West China, Ukraine.

Fill your church with the full measure of Your presence, your love and goodness.  We want to live in Your presence when we study, when we eat and drink, when we work, and when we are in conflict. As dearly loved children we desire to walk in the way of love just as Christ has loved us and given himself up for us. We need a fresh touch of your Spirit for this day, so we pray as Jesus taught us.

(Please join me in praying the Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, 
forever. 
Amen.

Prayer

Hard to love?

August 11, 2022 0 Comments

Read John 15:9-17

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

The revelation Jesus makes here of the relationship between the Father and Him seems to be filled with ease. However, their union was not one without testing in this world. Remember Jesus is being tempted. Not only that, he has the vulnerability of being hungry, thirsty, and wearied by the devastations wrought by sin in this world. Yet His temptation is what is common to us all: to turn from reliance on God instead of relying on His love.

Jesus remained in the Father’s love, keeping the Father’s commands, and experiencing joy.

Oh how I wander and forget the Presence of God. It makes me wonder, am I hard to love? Hamzaa asks this question in her song, Hard to Love. Yet the story of God’s love across the Scripture is of His faithfulness experienced in loving kindness.

Heavenly Father, Send your Spirit to me that I might think and act according to your loving kindness even in this broken and beautiful world. How will I love as you love unless I am drawn into your love? Come Lord Jesus Come. Amen.

Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD appeared to us on the past saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness’.”

Daily Readings, Jesus

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The Wine Poured At Our Tables

August 10, 2022 0 Comments

Read John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener… I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” vs. 1,5

After the disciples and Jesus depart from the upper room where they had shared the bread and wine, He continues on the theme of union with Him. Perhaps they walked past or through a vineyard. Perhaps He pauses and they stop with Him. With a sweep of His hand and a glance across the garden He announces, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.”

When Jesus envisions the lives of His disciples. He envisions fruitfulness. But He knows us. He knows we celebrate success. Like a fine glass of wine far removed from the vineyard and held up in the banquet hall of the powerful, rich and famous, we are apt to forget about the garden and the one who tended the vines. In fact we might have no idea about who the gardener is and know even less about the vine from which the fruit came.

The culture and care nurtured by the Father in His vineyard is formed by the necessity that His children abide, remain, stay connected to the source of life and goodness: Jesus Christ His Son. We can trust the Father who is shaping us to bear fruit, glorious fruit. We can trust the Son, who is the source of all that is required for life and godliness. Daily movement into His communion and His Word over time will shape our desires and our desires will shape our prayers — and the Father will answer for it is to His glory to do so.

Unless we remain in Christ Jesus there will be no wine poured at our tables.

Heavenly Father, you have grafted me into Jesus the True Vine. I shall abide in Him and His words shall abide in me. Bring the mysterious power of your Spirit to generate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. All this evidence of life! May all who partake in life with me benefit from your work in me and in your Church. For your glory — and in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Daily Readings

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Too Busy to Make a Home

August 9, 2022 0 Comments

Read John 14:22-30

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” vs. 23

This Judas, not Judas Iscariot, was puzzled over the limited vision of Jesus. Why not show yourself to the world? Why are you showing yourself only to us?

Jesus’ answer is telling. God is a home-maker!

Jesus wants to a make a home with them in which the communion of God will reside. The ongoing work of being at home with God is one in which Jesus’ disciples must participate. The participation is founded on love and yields obedience. In the grace of loving Jesus, the disciples keep on growing by obeying Jesus. Jesus and the Father will come make a dwelling with them; the Spirit is coming!

Our imaginations regarding being at home even in these bodies with God are too small.

I remember as a kid, building “forts” with friends in the woods behind our homes. These forts become places from which great adventures were planned and performed. The “fort” was a dwelling a place for us to gather away from the regular paths of adults. As we got older the forts become more complicated and the planning became more ambitious until we too like the adults could not afford to enter into the play of having a fort. We were busy with other things.

Ah our life with God! Imagination is required. Yet, we are never too old to build an abode with Him in our hearts. But, we can be too busy!

Heavenly Father, enlarge my heart for loving you. Through Jesus your Son, captivate my imagination with the supreme worth of knowing You and being known by You. Through your Spirit empower me to obey you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Daily Readings, Discipleship

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