Caution! Extra grace required...

Good Tuesday morning my friends,

Is there someone in your life who seems to be deliberately causing you pain or grief?  Or someone who continually does it, seemingly unwittingly?  Every family, organization, church and workplace has at least one such person.  How are we to deal with them?  Two things come to mind: 

take the time to consider what would cause them to behave in such a way;

and take the time to examine our own behaviours and attitudes.

Often if we look at a persons history and experiences (or, if we don't know what these are we take the time to find out) we see them in a completely different light.  We understand better why they react the way they do, or say the things they say.  There is a married couple who have been in our circle of friends for many years, but the wife in this couple I had found abrasive and overbearing, and quite frankly I did not want to be around her.  Until one time a few years ago her son and my son were signed up for the same weekly activity and I started spending some time getting to know her.  Her story amazed me!  I was so impressed with how she was (and is) dealing with incredible adversity in her life that I quickly forgot all of the negative impressions I had about her. 

Likewise, we need to look at ourselves and examine our motives and prejudices.  Rosemary and I were in a small group Bible study a few years ago.  During one of the sessions the topic of dealing with difficult people was discussed.  The premise was that there is at least one such person in every group.  If you looked around the group and no one seemed to fit the bill, then guess what?  You were that person ... and I was.   Everyone is that "extra grace required" person under some circumstances.  And when we are that person, aren't we thankful when the people around us extend us that grace?  Then shouldn't we be doing the same for others?

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

Father of all love and mercy,

how thankful we are that You have extended to us grace that we do not deserve.

Lord, as we go through our day, and come into contact with that person or persons who rub us the wrong way

please, through Your Holy Spirit, whisper in our ear a reminder of all You have done for us.

Refresh our memories with the times that we were in desperate need of acceptance and forgiveness

and of how You provided for those needs.

Remind us of the times when those around us did not judge us but rather loved and prayed for and with us.

Bless those who cause us pain or grief, Father.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

On my own, Lord, I cannot, but You can, through me.

Good Monday morning my friends.

This is a beautiful prayer based on Paul's list of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.  

This harvest of "fruit" is certainly not something I can produce on my own, anymore than a branch can produce fruit without being connected to the vine (see John 15:1-8), and the author of this prayer recognizes this: "I am not these things, but You are, and there is my sufficiency."  Last week I sent out a message on character.  What I have learned is that on my own, I can only make minor changes to my character, but by remaining "in the vine", in Christ, He can make much bigger changes.  As I heard a preacher pray this weekend - "On my own, Lord, I cannot, but You can, through me."  What is it you cannot do on your own?  Stop that destructive, addictive behaviour? Control your anger? Deal with pain? Overcome depression?  On my own, Lord, I cannot, but You can, through me.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

Quicken Your Spirit within me, my Father, that Your transforming power might be at work in me, even in this impossible situation.

In the midst of turmoil,

saturate me with Your peace

In the midst of my pain,

be a wellspring of joy within me

In the midst of rejection,

let me rest upon Your love

In the midst of injustice,

make me steadfast in longsuffering

In the midst of provocation,

keep me gentle

In the midst of change and confusion,

hold me in Your faithfulness

In the midst of evil, let me be a channel of Your goodness

In the midst of persecution, help me be glad in meekness

In the midst of passion and self-indulgence, 

temper me with the Spirit's fruit of self-control.

I am not these things, but You are, and there is my sufficiency.

To look for fulfillment in any other place is frustration and futility. 

Amen

(http://praying.kansasbob.com/2009/02/praying-in-midst.html)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

May all my desire be only to do your will

Good Friday morning my friends.

Here is a beautiful prayer to start your weekend. "May all my desire be only to do your will" ... Amen.

Amazing Grace and Peace that surpasses all understanding be yours,

Bruce

Father God,

Today may my eyes be closed to anything but you.

May my ears be open only to hear your voice.

May my mouth be closed except to speak your love.

May all my senses seek you.

May all my actions reflect you.

May all my desire be only to do your will.

Amen 

(http://praying.kansasbob.com/2010/08/morning-prayer.html)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

Character

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

Last evening I was reading a copy of Reader's Digest in the bathroom (a guy thing?) and came across the regular feature called "Quotes" where famous people are quoted on a particular subject.  In the edition I was reading the subject was "Character".  The first quote was from actor Paul Newman: If you don't have enemies, you don't have character.  Hmmm, not sure about that, but then again his namesake from the New Testament sure had plenty of both.  Then there was this one: The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back. - Abigail van Buren - Dear Abby.  That certainly gives me pause to think.  And then there was this one by poet Philip James Bailey: The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat oneself.  All sin is easy after that.  Read that a few times and ponder it.

Character is something that is constructed over a lifetime.  There is always time to change the plans, improve the structure.  They say you can't take it with you when you leave this world, and that is true of everything except character.  Your character is what you will bring before the judgement seat of God.  How is your building project going?  My blueprints need a little revision ...

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you,

Bruce

Dear God,

With this prayer I call to mind my friends.

I ask for your blessing on them.

May your love fill their nights and bless their days.

May they find joy, peace, and harmony.

May I be a source of happiness in their lives.

May our bonds be strong and based on truth.

May they always know that in me, they have support.

May I live a life that lives up to this prayer.

Thank you, God.

Amen.

(http://answers-to.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&func=view&catid=2&id=33&Itemid=15)

Bruce MacPherson  macpherson@celtic.ca

Each day and night give us Thy peace

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

No sermon today, just another beautiful Celtic prayer.  May you be blessed in surprising ways today.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you,

Bruce

I am bending my knee 

In the eye of the Father who created me, 

In the eye of the Son who died for me, 

In the eye of the Spirit who cleansed me, 

In love and desire. 

Pour down upon us from heaven 

The rich blessing of Thy forgiveness; 

Thou who art uppermost in the City, 

Be Thou patient with us. 

Grant to us, Thou Saviour of Glory, 

The fear of God, the love of God, and His affection, 

And the will of God to do on earth at all times 

As angels and saints do in heaven; 

Each day and night give us Thy peace. 

Each day and night give us Thy peace.

Ancient Celtic prayer 

(http://www.joyfulheart.com/stpatrick/prayer_for_grace.htm)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

Treasures in heaven.

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

Have you ever assembled a barbecue or shelving unit, where you put together a bunch of seemingly unrelated pieces and don't see the whole picture until you start putting those units together?  That is what my journey has been like lately.  All of these pieces seem to be coming together. 

I must be starting to sound like a broken record, but God keeps touching me with this theme.  A friend of mine sent me this scripture after yesterday's prayer (emphasis added):

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end Hebrews 6:10-11(a)

One of the things I have come to love about scripture is that it usually says exactly what it means.  Often, I find, we try to read much more into the text than is there.  For instance, when the Word speaks of caring for "orphans and widows and immigrants" I think those are exactly the people God means us to care for.  Which orphans, widows or immigrants you, personally, are to help, is something God will put on your heart.  It may be someone local - single mothers or children who need a Big Brother/Sister.  It may be Tamil refugees who have spent months at sea trying to get here.  It may be Aids orphans in Africa.  It may be women and children left homeless in Haiti or Pakistan by natural disasters. Only you and God know whom He wants you to help - but make no mistake - he has put someone or some group on your heart.  Are you willing to follow up on this urging?

And one more piece of the puzzle that dropped into place for me this week.  When we make the lives of any of these people less painful, less hungry, less naked - that is how we "store up treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20).

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

Dear Lord,

In this time of uncertainty,

Be my rock in a world built on sand;

Be my oasis of grace and peace in a world of tension and turmoil;

Help me to carry my cross gracefully, as you did in Your Passion;

Help me to follow Your beam of light in the midst of this darkness;

Help me to see Your will in all things

And show others Your comfort and strength.

Keep me calm when tempers flare up;

Keep me sane in a crazy world;

Keep me focused on the houses in Heaven

rather than the houses of cards collapsing around me;

Keep my eyes focused on the prize of Heaven

and not lose hope in You in this world or in the world to come;

Make me compassionate in dealing with others;

Let me see my travails as carrying my cross and sharing in Your Passion, for the love of You and for the salvation of souls, including mine.

And may all my difficulties be ultimately for my good and Your glory. 

Amen.

(http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/financial-difficulties-prayers.html)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

To love God with your heat, soul, mind, and strength

Good Monday morning, my friends.

A week or so ago I was struck by, and wrote about, this passage from James:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Yesterday at the church service we attended the pastor read the parable of the sheep and the goats from Matthew:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Matthew 25:31-46)

It seems (at least to me) that if we are to be judged as unrighteous it will not be primarily by the evil we do or think, but by the good deeds we do not do!

And if we look at 1 Corinthians 13, we see that Paul adds an interesting twist to this that concerns our motivation:

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)

Jesus said that the first commandment was to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).   I have come to believe that to love God with all our heart means to have compassion on our neighbour in need; to love Him with our soul means to pray for those who are lost and look for opportunities to share the love of God with them; to love Him with our mind means to use our reasoning and intelligence to figure out how to relieve the suffering of others; and to love God with our strength means putting those plans into action to make His creation a better place for our fellow man.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

Just as you brought the Israelites from slavery, you redeemed us from the slavery of sin. 

May we be grateful recipients and sharers of your abundant grace and mercy, especially toward those who are slighted, oppressed and marginalized. 

May your Spirit and your glory be reflected in the way we treat the immigrants, widows and orphans among us. 

Amen.

(http://blog.sojo.net/2010/06/03/prayer-of-the-day-2010-06-03/)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart

Good Friday morning, my friends.

This beautiful prayer from Thomas Aquinas speaks to my heart - and I hope it speaks to yours.  Have a wonderful, god-filled weekend.

Amazing Grace and Peace that surpasses all understanding be yours,

Bruce

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, 

Which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; 

Give us an unconquered heart, 

Which no tribulation can wear out; 

Give us an upright heart, 

Which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. 

Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, 

Understanding to know you, 

Diligence to seek you, 

Wisdom to find you, 

And a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; 

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

--Thomas Aquinas

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

I love you Lord

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

Yesterday in the car I was listening to Chapter 7 of the Gospel of Luke.  In there is the story of a "sinful" woman who cleans Jesus' feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, and anoints Him with oil.  A pharisee named Simon sees this and thinks to himself  "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." (Luke 7:39b).  Jesus, knowing what the man was thinking, says basically "Simon, I want to tell you a story" this is the exchange that follows:

"There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" 

Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." 

And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 

Certainly I have heard and read this story numerous times, as you may have, but this time it really struck home.  I was both parties in this story!  I have been forgiven much, yet I have not wept at his feet and wiped them with my hair - OK that might be a little difficult - but you know what I mean.  I did not "love him more" or love him as much as I should.  I love it when my eyes and ears are opened when I read (or listen) to scripture.  What is God saying to YOU in scripture today?

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

Most Precious Lord Jesus…

Gentle And Wonderful God…

Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit…

In your arms I find comfort and rest from the pain of my life.

Thank you for this time of reflection and meditation.

Thank you for these moments I spend basking in your comforting love and restful truth.

I love you Lord.

I need you this day to give me your comfort and rest so I can move out and move onward to serve you.

According to your will, may I always be able to give your comfort and rest to others.

During the coming days take my burdens and replace them with your Light.

During the coming days give me a break from the unending woes and afflictions trying to take me down.

During the coming days please give me your comfort so I can find new strength, new wisdom, new power to be your child.

In your presence, may I always find your comforting and restful peace as I have always found your comfort and rest in days gone by.

As you bless me with your comfort and rest, help me be a better person of faith.

As you bless me with your comfort and rest, touch the lives and hearts of everyone I pray for each day.

If you must make a choice between touching others with your comfort and rest or touching me, let others be touched first.

All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.

Amen

(http://www.findthepower.com/PrayerPages/PrayerPagesComfortAndRest.htm)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

Respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

This morning I read this wonderful passage in Isaiah Chapter 58.  The chapter starts off with the people wondering why their worship and fasting is not pleasing to the Lord.  And He responds thus:

Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship?

I'll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.

Then your light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed. Your honesty will protect you as you advance, and the glory of the LORD will defend you from behind. When you beg the LORD for help, he will answer, "Here I am!"

Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel. Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun.

The LORD will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or like a stream that never runs dry.

You will rebuild those houses left in ruins for years; you will be known as a builder and repairer of city walls and streets. But first, you must start respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship. You must stop doing and saying whatever you please on this special day. Then you will truly enjoy knowing the LORD. He will let you rule from the highest mountains and bless you with the land of your ancestor Jacob.

The LORD has spoken! (Isaiah 58:5-14)

Over and over God tells us what is acceptable to him - love God and love your neighbour.  Who is your neighbour?  Whoever needs your help.  "You will rebuild those houses left in ruins for years; you will be known as a builder and repairer of city walls and streets."  I don't know about you, but when I read those words I cannot help but think of Haiti and Pakistan.  We need to be known as those who rebuild houses and repair walls and streets.

I also find the sentences that follow that very challenging - "But first, you must start respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship. You must stop doing and saying whatever you please on this special day." First we must observe the Sabbath. First.  That means that if we want to be able to help others, we must be rested.  Are you (and I) rested enough to take on the challenges of rebuilding those houses?

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

Creator God, this morning I awaken within your Sabbath rest, which brings a foretaste of the life we will know when pain is behind us and we are finally healed. 

Let me find nourishment in this rest, let me see you leading me by the still waters, let your love enter me and bring me its hints of life in celestial harmony. 

Let this love flow into me, cleansing my soul, healing the wounds of the week that has passed, giving me comfort and renewed strength to meet the challenges that still lie ahead of me during my existence on earth. 

Let me stop to hear the sacred heartbeat of the eternal life that remains constant while continuously moving, flowing, supporting our life here on earth. 

Let me find the still moment when all is at rest and I can hear your voice speaking without sound, blessing and sustaining the world.

(http://www.judeochristianity.com/prayers.htm)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

The Lord bless you and keep you

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

In Numbers 6, the Lord instructed Moses to have Aaron and his sons bless the children of Israel with this special prayer. It is also known as The Benediction or the Priestly Blessing.  Today I pray this blessing over each of you.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

Overflow with hope

Good Monday morning, my friends.

I spent the past week or so working my way through Paul's letter to the Romans.  It has been said that Romans is the "summit of the New Testament", with Chapter 8 being the pinnacle.  Well it sure felt like climbing a mountain to me - steep, difficult and exhausting!  Does anyone else find the middle chapters of this book, where Paul contrasts being "under the law" vs. being "under grace", rather tough to read at times?

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

Maybe it's just me, but I find that rather difficult to follow.

Anyways, back to the mountain climbing - once cresting the peak of Chapter 8, I found the descent considerably easier going.  And on the way down I stumbled across this nugget:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

I love that. There is so much in there that grabbed me: 

"May the God of hope" - hope in this case does not mean something wished for, but something to be sure of, something we look forward to: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"  (Hebrews 11:1).  

"fill you with all joy and peace" - no just some, but ALL!

"as you trust in him" - this is a journey, not instantaneous: your joy and peace will grow as your relationship with God grows.

"so that you many overflow with hope" - may your hope, your certainty, be so apparent that it affects others!

And how is this accomplished?  Not by anything we do (lest we boast of ourselves) but "by the power of the Holy Spirit".

So, my friends, this is my prayer for you today - and every day.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

May the God of hope 

fill you with all joy and peace 

as you trust in him, 

so that you may overflow with hope 

by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

(Romans 15:13)

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca

Confession of a stiff-necked israelite

Good Friday morning, my friends.

I have a serious pride issue.  That is not meant to be facetious or funny in any way - it is a confession.  

Perhaps the most obvious symptom of this is my reading of the 23rd Psalm.  Not don't get me wrong - I absolutely love this Psalm, but there is one line in it that always seems to stick in my craw, so to speak:

"he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (Psalm 23:3b)

For his name's sake?  I struggle with that - my natural inclination is to think how arrogant, conceited, selfish this God of ours is. (Yes, I know this is ugly, but all sin is ugly.)  

Let me give you another example.  Michael W. Smith sings a song called "You Are Holy" and here is a sample of the lyrics:

I will sing to

And worship

The King who is worthy

I will love Him, adore Him

And I will bow down before Him

I will sing to and worship the King who is worthy 

I will love Him, adore him 

I will bow down before Him

My neck stiffens up like an Old Testament Israelite when I try to sing those words.

So what's with that? It is pride, pure (?) and simple.  I have such a hard time accepting that He is God, and I am not.  So why tell all of you?  Well, they say confession is good for the soul.  And James 5:16 says "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  So I am asking you to pray for me, that I may be healed.  And if by chance you are suffering under the weight of this (or any other) sin, I will be happy to pray for you.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today,

Bruce

Holy and loving God, I ask you to forgive me for my sin of pride.

Please help me to see you as you truly are:

Holy

Just

Loving

Faithful

Infinite

Give me the wisdom to understand and accept who I am; who You created me to be.

In Jesus holy name I pray.  Amen.

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca