Devotion for Thursday, June 30 (Affirmation of Baptism Week)

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you at baptism: 

to live among God's faithful people (Monday)

to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper (Tuesday)

to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed (Wednesday)

to serve all people, following the example of Jesus (Thursday)

As we go through the affirmation of baptism vows, we come to the one about serving others, following the example of Jesus.  And ultimately, what the affirmation of baptism vows really are all about is modeling our lives after the ministry of Jesus!  

Jesus says in Matthew and Mark, "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve".  In John, Jesus says, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done to you."

Throughout scripture, Jesus is showing His disciples that serving others is at the heart of kingdom living and at the heart of discipleship.  The cross becomes the symbol of God's sacrificial heart and purpose.  

For the disciple of Jesus, a life defined by cross-bearing, cross-carrying, and cross-embracing moments will mean suffering and pain. And we don't like suffering and pain.  In fact, we work very hard to avoid suffering and pain in our lives. 

Still, the biblical truth is that suffering and pain comes with following Jesus.  Serving will take us out of our comfort zone and deposit us in uncomfortable arenas of selflessness and service.  

Yet, what we will find, is that it is in following Jesus to the cross, we will be met there by the same life-giving power of God that raised Jesus, as it raises us from our struggle to new and redeeming life.

Serving God, may we serve others as you have served us. Amen.

Devotion for Wednesday, June 29 (Affirmation of Baptism Week)

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you at baptism: 

to live among God's faithful people (Monday)

to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper (Tuesday)

to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed (Wednesday)

Does proclaiming the good news of God in Christ through word and deed mean that you need to become a street preacher? Or someone who asks people at cocktail parties if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior? Or someone who rides around with a bumper sticker on your car that reads "If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?"

Well, it may mean that.  And I give credit to those who actually do the things listed above.  Not my style, but I admire it, at least to a degree.

My main problem with the above mentioned models of evangelism is that THEY DO NOT WORK!

If they worked, then I might actually be willing to do all of them.  But not only do they not work, they also seem to drive a wedge between people and Jesus that need not be there.

If we are willing to look at the scripture, then we will see that Jesus was not above bringing some fire and brimstone from time to time, though it was almost exclusively brought toward his intimate followers who were missing his message of grace and peace, and the burdensome religious elites who were only out for themselves. He rarely acted in such a way with the people he was evangelizing, i.e. to whom he was "proclaiming the good news."

Instead, Jesus met people where they were.  He ate with them, insiders and outsiders alike. He invited others to spend time with him. He welcomed outcasts and sinners when others were not willing to do so.  He challenged the religious and the faithful to move beyond themselves.  He healed the sick and fed the hungry. And He forgave those who had not yet begun to forgive themselves.

This is what "proclaiming the good news of Christ through word and deed" looks like, my friends. And this model of Jesus actually does work.  It changes lives and brings others to Jesus.  Because, the way of Jesus is not to "scare you out of hell" but to "love you into heaven!"

Lord of Love, help me to never tire of telling what you have done in my life. Amen.      

Devotion for Tuesday, June 28 (Affirmation of Baptism Week)

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you at baptism: 

to live among God's faithful people (Monday)

to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper

After the call to live among God's faithful people, we  receive directives about what that looks like in our lives of discipleship.  The first directive calls us see the beautiful relationship between God's word and the Lord's supper.

Several years ago, I read a study that said that nothing effects the development of faith more than reading the bible.  Period.  Not worship, or serving, or fellowship, or small groups.  Nothing is more powerful than reading the Bible regularly, for both learning and devotional purposes.  

We gather around the word of God in worship.  We read scripture.  Our liturgy is born from scripture. Our preaching is based in scripture.  And it is because of scripture that we invite each other - friend and foe alike - to share in and gather together around the Lord's supper.

Indeed, as Jesus invites you to a place at the table each week, we come knowing that in these moments we are met by the "real presence" of Jesus who said, in His word, "this is my body, this is my blood."  We have such an unabashed confidence in this Word that we come to receive the Living God!

I like to remind people that this is our Lutheran "altar call".  All are invited to come forward to hear the promise of the word of God, given in the bread and wine. To receive it, respond to it, and be renewed by it.   

Word and sacrament. This is at the heart of our worship and at vital to our continuing growth as disciples of Jesus.

Loving Jesus, open our ears to your Word and open our souls to your nourishment of grace. Amen.  

Devotion for Monday, June 27 (Affirmation of Baptism Week)

Last week, I was at Confirmation camp.  The program that we use is based around the vows that each student will make at their confirmation.  These vows are the Affirmation of Baptism vows.  They are not simply for confirmation students, but all the baptized.  This week, I will share these vows and discuss them as our daily devotion.

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:

 

To live among God's faithful people

The first vow is to be part of the Christian community in an intentional way.  The early Christians were absolutely committed to being a part of each other's lives and it what literally and figuratively saved their lives.  That can be true for us as well.   

I believe that when Jesus says "Where two or more gathered in my name, I am there among them," (Matthew 18:20), that He is being serious.  As the followers of Jesus, community with other followers is necessary and vital to our growth in faith.  We cannot do it alone.    

I am convinced that Christian community is as necessary now, in our fractured and divisive world, as ever.  In our current culture, it is much easier for people to keep to themselves. Neighbors don't always know their neighbors.  And many will retreat into movies and series on big screen televisions, internet gaming, or even a Kindle as a replacement for true community.  

What we can offer, however, as the Christian community is a place where you are welcomed, loved, forgiven, and called to grow into the disciple God created you to be.  We do this through fellowship, sharing, learning, trusting, challenging, and comforting each other.  We do this in worship together, through serving together, and through studying together.  We do this through getting to know those outside our immediate sphere of relationship.  And this happens as we commit living among God's faithful people -- who will retell the stories and promises of God to us and for us, who will love us in an example of Jesus' love, and who will never tire of welcoming us and calling us friends!

Loving Jesus, help us to find ways to engage your people around us. Amen. 

Friday, June 24 (Camp Songs Week)

Light The Fire 

I stand to praise you, but I fall on my knees

My spirit is willing, but my flesh is so weak

(CHORUS) So light the fire in my soul. 

Fan the flames, make me whole. 

Lord you know, where I’ve been. 

So light the fire in my heart again. 

I feel Your arms around me 

when the power of Your healing begins, 

Your spirit moves through me, 

like a Mighty rushing wind. (CHORUS) 

Words and Music by Bill Maxwell © 1986 

Bloodsmith Music; CCLI Song #332454

Thursday, June 23 (Camp Songs Week)

Blessed Be

(CHORUS) Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. (2x) 

Let all God’s people shout Amen. Amen!! (2x) 

Let all God’s people shout Amen, Oh praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, give thank to the Lord of God is good. 

 His steadfast love endures forever for God is good. 

 We will tell the mighty deeds of the Lord, 

 And show for all God’s praise. Alleluia. (CHORUS)

Gather us O Lord, our God from all the nations. 

 Deliver and save us O God of our salvation. 

 So we may give thanks to thy holy name, 

And glory in God’s praise, Alleluia. (CHORUS) 

Words and Music by Gary Oliver, © 1990 

Integrity’s Hosanna Music.; CCLI Song #363423 

Wednesday, June 22 (Camp Songs Week)

We Are The Church

(CHORUS) We are the Church, the body of our Lord, 

We are all God’s children, and we have been restored.

The church is not a building, where people go to pray; 

It’s not made out of sticks and stones and it’s not made out of clay. (CHORUS)

You can go to worship, but you cannot go to church; 

You can’t find a building that’s alive, no matter where you search. (CHORUS)

The church is not a business, a committee or a board; 

It’s not a corporation for the business of our Lord. (CHORUS)

The church it is the people, living out their lives; 

called, enlightened, sanctified, for the work of Jesus Christ. (CHORUS) 

Written by Jay Beech © 1988 Jay Beech 

Devotion for Tuesday, June 21 (Camp Songs Week)

Baptized 

(CHORUS) Baptized into the death of Christ, raised again to new life. (2x)

Down, down, down I was sinking deep in sin. Killing me, killing me from deep with in

They put me to death that day, And the family of God stood up to say (CHORUS) 

Down, down, down in the water down I went. Lifted up in a brand new covenant. 

 They made the sign on my brow, And I’ll do it again to remember now, Uno!Dos!Tres! (CHORUS) 

 Sing, sing, sing to the ones who have not heard, We’ve been washed in the water and the word. 

 Sing it with every breath (clap clap), And we’ll share his life as we shared his death. (CHORUS) 

Words and Music by Jay Beech, © 1988 Jay Beech 

Devotion for Monday, June 20 (Camp Songs Week)

This week, I am with my wonderful youth from Bethel at Caroline Furnace Lutheran camp for the Virginia Synod Confirmation camp.  I will have "spotty" internet coverage this week.  Therefore, I have decided to share each day -- as my devotion -- a favorite camp song from my youth.  I hope that these songs speak to you as they have to me!

God bless and keep you all and pray for Yeakley, Maddy, Jordan, Justin, Jack, Will, Christopher and all the confirmation students who will be with us this week!

Sanctuary

Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary 

Pure and holy, tried and true 

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living 

Sanctuary, for You 

Words and Music by John Thompson and Randy Scruggs © 1982 

Whole Armor Publishing Company; CCLI Song #24140

Devotion for Friday, June 17

He did not hide his face from me (Psalm 22:24)

As a little child, if I had done something I should not have (i.e. taken a cookie or messed up a room, etc), I would hide my face from my parents after being caught.  As I grew up, and would mess up in some other way, it would be my parents who would turn their face away in disgust of my behavior or actions.  That was more difficult to take.

Psalm 22 begins as lament, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  However, by the end, the psalmist is giving thanks for God's fidelity.  Whereas the psalmist felt abandoned, he comes to trust that in reality he is not.  

Even when my parents turned away in disgust and frustration, they would always turn back.  I know that I do the same thing with my children now.  I always turn back too.  

Psalm 22 shares a similar image I believe.  The God who may turn his face away but will never hide his face! That is a hopeful image for us in living our lives.  We may feel abandoned at times, but the promise of our faith is that we are never left alone.  Thanks be to God!

God who always turns back, help us to live such lives that we turn back toward others needs as you have done for us! Amen.  

Devotion for Thursday, June 16

Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, 
and character produces hope; and hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:3-5)

In the most recent Living Lutheran magazine, Peter Marty wrote his final column as a commentator of faith and life.  He entitled it "Hope" and preceded to write a beautiful article about the power of hope as the heart of our Christian faith.  

I was particularly moved and challenged by the following paragraph.

For those of us who have long believed that hope powers life, much like a locomotive fuels a train, the apostle Paul reminds us that hope is more like the caboose.  Speaking of the good things that come out of life's difficulties -- "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" -- notice where hope emerges for Paul.  It comes at the end, not the beginning.  It derives from life's struggles. This may be why those who know how to trust their suffering to God know best how hope never disappoints.

What a life-giving and amazing thought; that hope is born amidst our suffering, its genesis in the pain and prayer of difficulty and desperation.  I find this alternative view not only helpful but heartening. Like the cross of Jesus.  Where at once it was only a symbol of death, now, from the death of Jesus is born a new understanding of the cross, as a symbol of the hope of life!  

God of Hope, take our struggles and sufferings and turn them into the good soil of renewal and redemption. Amen. 

Devotion for Wednesday, June 15

And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay ..." (Mark 2:4)

To what lengths would you go to bring others to Jesus?

What amount of work and/or discomfort would you endure to bring others to Jesus?

Which obstacles are you willing to take on to bring others to Jesus?

What kind of creative problem-solving and out-of-the-box thinking are you willing to explore to help bring others to Jesus?

I suspect that the value you place on the redeeming and restorative power of Jesus will shape your answer to these questions.

The story from Mark 2, the healing of the paralytic, is a fascinating one simply from the perspective of the friends did so much for the man.  I am heartened both by the effort that these friends went to for their paralytic brother, and also their absolute trust that Jesus could do something to heal him.  

As I read this story I hear a challenge to find trust in Jesus so paramount that it shapes out actions to those in need.  If the friends did not have absolute hope in Jesus to heal, then why go through all the trouble of digging through a thatch roof to beat the crowds?  The only reason they did such an outlandish thing was because they felt that they absolutely had to get their friend to Jesus.  

Who might you being called to bring to Jesus?

In what ways might others be bringing you to Jesus?

God of healing, may we have such trust in you that others' needs become our focus. Amen.

Devotion for Tuesday, June 14

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalm 32:1)

Have you ever felt truly forgiven? 

My experience is that the only way to truly feel forgiven is in the aftermath of doing something really, really hurtful.  

My experience is that those who truly understand the power of forgiveness are the ones who have needed it the most.  

My experience is that forgiveness can fully and completely bring about new life.

In his book about faithful marriage, As For Me and My House, Walter Wangerin submits that the most important aspect for a lasting and fulfilling marriage is, not love or passion, but FORGIVENESS!  

He suggests that learning to faithfully and generously forgive each other is what allows marriages to navigate the turbulent waters and unforeseen storms of life.  He offers that it is in forgiving each other, in the insignificant and trivial, and in the heartbreaking and vital, that our relationships grow beyond the selfish and grow into the selfless.  This gives a partnership of marriage a real chance to be special, he says.

I conclude that this works in other relationships too.  In those with our friends, co-workers, and church friends.  Forgiveness and reconciliation helps us move into kingdom come moments of hope and rebuilding of relationship.  And it is for exactly this kingdom reality that Jesus models forgiveness on the cross.    

Forgiving Lord, may we be as faithful in forgiveness to others and you have been to us. Amen.

Devotion for Monday, June 13

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)

How do we respond to the worst mass-murder in American history?

Some words come to mind. Lament. Anger. Frustration. Empathy. 

The absurdity of the situation is not lost on me. 

An ISIS inspired act of terrorism, in Amercia, on a Gay dance club.  Just let that sink in for a while.  

Some have focused on this as another opportunity to lament gun laws.  Others have made it about a clash of civilizations between Islam and the US.  Still others have singled out the hate-crime element.

I, as a pastor, focus first and foremost on the grief that God must be feeling, yet again, at our sinful world.  We are a broken, broken humanity.  We hate. We divide.  We war. We kill. We shun. We ruin. We marginalize. We revenge.  We are a sinful and broken humanity.

Yet, it is for this humanity that Jesus Christ died.  It is for this world.  All of us. Our straights and our gays. Our Christians and our Muslims.  Our North and South Americans and our Europeans and our Asians and our Africans.  You get the point. 

Why would God do this for such a flawed humanity? A humanity that kills each other because we are different and because we believe differently?  Why?

I believe this is why God is our refuge and strength.  Because at the end of the day, only God cares for the world -- and all of us in it --  enough to save it.  God cares for us more than we care for ourselves.

Praise be to God for this. And praise God that, once again as God always does, the Lord Jesus will bring new life out of yet another human mess of death. Hope abounds always! I cling to this today!

God of faithfulness and love, we do not deserve what you have given. May we be worthy. Amen.

Devotion for Friday, June 10 (Week of Ephesians)

Put on the whole armor of God ... Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.  As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith ... take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6: 11-17)

When I was home one summer with my parents in South Carolina from seminary, my father asked me to help him with a children's sermon.  It was this reading.  He had made home-made "armor of God" and I got to be his model.

It was a really cool I must say.  Actually putting on this "armor" was a visceral experience that cemented what being "protected" by the powers of God can mean.

Of them all, I loved the shoes the best.  On one my dad had written "gospel" and on the other he had written "peace".  It reminded me that the journey of faith is one that we proverbially walk.  And as we do, we can have moments of struggle and pain.  Perhaps in those moments we will look down, sad and depressed perhaps.  And there we will see our shoes ... shoes that remind us that the message of Jesus Chris is "good news" and will bring "peace".

This promise allows us to live through our difficult times into the promised presence of the God who will arm us with His truth, His righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word, all through the ever-present gift of the Spirit.  Graciously, this is enough.  In fact, this is more than enough for our trials and pains.

Protector God, may your armor fit our hearts and lives fully and completely. Amen.

Devotion for Thursday, June 9 (Week of Ephesians)

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun god down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26)

I have often said that emotions just are.  Being angry is not sinful.  Acting out of anger can often lead to sin.  I've tried to teach this to my children.  I've also tried to teach this to myself.

Those who know me well know that I am a competitive person.  I remember this coming into conflict with my role as pastor on the softball field in my younger days.  

I do remember one instance, after we had lost the championship game at Gloria Dei, I was so frustrated that I walked past all the fans from our church straight to my car so as to calm down before I thanked them all for supporting us.  Fortunately, they knew me well enough to laugh and instead give me some loving jabs.  One gentleman said, "You know PD, it is a weird sort of pride we have when the players from the other teams ask incredulously, 'That guy is your pastor?"  

But inside, I knew that I had to somehow move beyond my hot-headedness.  Ever since, except for one spectacular moment a few years back with Bethel, I have been a pillar of calm and perspective (that is a story for another time).  

So, I get that anger and frustration can lead us to act and be not completely what we would want to be.  I have lived it. 

What I have learned is that the best thing we can do when our blood begins to boil is walk away. Take a deep breath. Remember that we can move into a better place in only a few moments.  Does this always work? Perhaps not.  But it does more often that not lead us to act less irrationally than perhaps we would otherwise.  

What else have I learned?  Forgive yourself.  You will let anger get the best of you from time to time. Repentance in those moments is healing and helpful.  Own our sin. Own our actions. Repent. 

In doing so, we will experience forgiveness that allows us to dare to live differently the next time. It might even allow us to forgive others who have wronged us, perhaps even the ump who makes the bad call as well.   

Forgiving God, when our anger takes hold, guide us into love and peace. Amen.

  

Devotion for Wednesday, June 8 (Week of Ephesians)

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Calling oneself a "prisoner in the Lord" is not something that I would necessarily think to do, at least first and foremost.  Still, with Paul's history, his brushes with the law, and the realities of his own imprisonments perhaps it makes sense.

Some believe that Paul wrote this letter in the early 60's A.D. perhaps during an imprisonment. Others believe that Paul did not write Ephesians, but that a follower of Paul did, later on.  Some of the earliest manuscripts even omit any reference to Ephesus, suggesting that perhaps it is a general letter written to provide a message for the whole church.

Whether Ephesians is authentically Pauline or not, the reminder that we are called to "lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called" i.e. the baptismal life, is one that indeed challenges us all.

Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Bearing others burdens in love. Maintaining unity through peace.

All attributes of Jesus.  Can they be ours as well?

Lord, you call us to follow you into the chains and burdens of love.  Amen.

Devotion for Tuesday, June 7 (Week of Ephesians)

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19)

In 2012, this was the theme verse at the ELCA National Youth Gathering that was held in New Orleans. The fact that the football team in New Orleans is the Saints and that one of the great Jazz songs is And When the Saints Go Marching In this theme verse made a lot of sense.

The verse also speaks to the powerful realization that our "citizenship" is first and foremost within the kingdom of God.  This brings us into a fuller and deeper relationship with those around us.  In fact, strangers become brothers and sisters in Christ.  Those who are from other countries (foreigners) become our compatriots in Christ.  Indeed, Christ becomes the central and defining relationship of our lives.  It will define all other relationships.

And herein lies the rub.  If we are to follow Jesus, then we must actually attempt to live like Jesus. This will lead us to build, sustain, and restore relationships that we may not always want to build, sustain or restore.  Yet, by the power and grace of Jesus, we can dare to believe it is possible.

Sovereign God, thank you for claiming us as your own and uniting us with each other. Amen.

Devotion for Monday, June 6 (Week on Ephesians)

For Christ Jesus is our peace, and has broken down the dividing wall, that is the hostility between us (Ephesians 2:14)

So many things in our world seek to divide us.  Some of them are fun and harmless.  While one may like a team and a friend may like another, other than some friendly ribbing, it is not a big deal. Same with favorite bands or music, or food.  

Things get more difficult when it comes to politics, or regional alliances, or nations.  Ethnic differences have been a cause of violence. Religious differences have led to wars.  Political rancor is alive and well in our society where it seems that if someone does not vote like you, they are ridiculed and considered suspect.  It is quite maddening actually.  

Jesus Christ is our peace, reads our lesson today.  Jesus seeks to bridge the divisions between us. This is a powerful image.  The Jerusalem temple had walls separating people -- i.e. male and female, Jews and Gentiles. If you did not adhere to these restrictions, there were serious consequences.

Jesus instead seeks to tear down the walls that divide us from each other -- the walls or race or ethnicity, or language and culture, or social status or gender.  We are to find our unity instead in the one who came to save us all.  

As we begin this Ephesians week, may we recognize that amidst our God breathed diversity we are one in Christ.  

God of unity, help us find community amidst our diversity. All in your name. Amen.  

Devotion for Friday, June 3

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! (Psalm 84)

I've been in any number of church buildings and sanctuaries.  I've seen some that were large and gorgeous (like the cathedrals in Europe).  I've been small churches on the North Dakota plains.  I've been in open air churches in Africa and the Bahamas.  I've been in churches with a high ceiling and beautiful natural light and I've been in churches with expensive stain glass windows that kept the natural light out.  I've been in old churches and new churches that meet in auditoriums and movie theaters. As I imagine you have, my worship of God has been in all manner of settings and sizes.

What I have found is that while I may prefer a particular style or decor over others, the one constant in all of these places is the Word of God.  The promise that where "two or more are gathered" then Jesus is with us.  This makes each and every place that I have worshiped in my life a "lovely dwelling place."  

Indeed, where I worship matters little when compared to the promise inherent in worship.  God comes to us in all manner of ways and in all manner of sanctuaries.  And it is this realization that allows me to find holiness in the most humble or ornate setting.  

The next time you find yourself worshiping in a setting not particularly to your liking, remember that God dwells there too.  And does so with the same powerful Word as a sanctuary more to your liking. Remember that the people who worship with you on any given Sunday in any given sanctuary are loved children of God just like you.

As we focus on this, we will most definitely come to find that lovely dwelling places of the Lord of hosts abound.  And how precious and awesome is this!

Dwelling God, may we experience your beauty and blessing wherever and whenever we worship. Amen.

Devotion for Thursday, June 2

You have turned my mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11)

(Chorus)
You've turned my mourning
Into dancing again
You've lifted my sorrows
And I can't stay silent
I must sing, for your joy has come

Where there once
Was only hurt
You gave Your
Healing hand
Where the once
Was only pain
You brought comfort
Like a friend
I feel the sweetnessOf Your love
Piercing my darkness
I see the bright
And morning sun
As it ushers in
(Chorus)

You're anger lastsFor a moment in time
But Your favor is here
And will be on me for
All my life time
(Chorus)

"Mouring into Dancing" by Ron Kenoly

Devotion for Wednesday, June 1

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy (Psalm 5:11)

I love music.  I love all kinds of music, from country to jazz, from 80's rock to bluegrass, from Christian/Gospel to southern rock.  In fact, my friend Glenn and I have a saying, "There are only two kinds of music -- good and bad!"

I have found that I can rejoice in the goodness of the Lord through all kinds of music. From the classic hymns of my youth to modern rap, I can find something, many times, that speaks to the gracious love of Jesus.  Now, it may not be EVIDENT at the moment mind you, but as I listen to music that makes me smile and sing along with my windows down I can, at the very least, find God's presence, if not in the actual words, at least in the experience it gives me.  

The key for me is acknowledging that my refuge is in God alone.  As Rob Bell says so eloquently, "everything is spiritual."  As I grow older and I grow more faithful, the truer these words have become for my life.  

The next time you are singing a favorite song, think of how this song makes you feel. If it pumps you up, then give thanks to God for the blessing of inspiration.  If it makes you long for an experience of your past, give thanks to God for the gift of life.  If it makes you remember a person or persons that are special to you, give thanks to God for the blessing of friendships and relationships that have shaped your life.  If it is a favorite "oldie but goodie" from your younger days in Church, give thanks for those musicians and people who have shaped your faith.  

As we learn to take "refuge" in God, we find more and more that God is close by and near us in all ways.  And as we are open to this possibility, we will find more and more opportunities where God can impact us and speak a Word into our lives.

God of song, as we are moved by the music of our lives, may our lives be moved toward you. Amen.