Stay Awake!

Sunday 30^th November 2008 - First Sunday of Advent.

SCRIPTURE

Jesus said to His disciples: “Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come”.

Mark 13:33

OBSERVATION

Jesus goes on to tell a parable about a man travelling abroad, leaving his servants in charge. The inference is that He is the one leaving and that one day He will return. His advice? …Stay awake and keep busy at your allotted task. You must not be found “asleep” on His return.

APPLICATION

This reading is especially interesting as it is the first Gospel of Advent, a time of expectancy, of preparing the way for Him who is to come. The distant Advent focus is Christmas and the arrival of baby Jesus, but a parallel focus is the second coming of Jesus, which will be the end of this time and this world. Am I awake, ready for His sudden return? I’m drowsy at best… This Advent “wakefulness” is to be my goal.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, help me stay awake and be focussed on readiness for Jesus inevitable return.

Mary, expectant mother of Jesus, pray for me.

Hear then what Yahweh asks of you...

21st July 2008

SCRIPTURE
What is good has been explained to you, man;
this is what the Lord asks of you:
only this, to act justly,
to love tenderly
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

OBSERVATION
Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, foresaw the destruction of Israel as punishment for a life of religious and social corruption. The way of life pleasing to God has been clearly explained to mankind, has been clearly explained to me. It is the life of Justice, Mercy and Humility. This word is as relevant today as it was to the Israelites of 740 BC.

APPLICATION
Justice, love and humility can apply to every part of my life. Public or private, at work or at home, I have the opportunity to please God. And not only please God but also please myself. For what is a more fulfilling way to live than to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with my God? This is what it means to be fully human, fully alive.

PRAYER
Spirit of justice, love and humility; fill me today that Jesus may be glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Boldly Humble

Tuesday 24th June 2008 - Birth of Saint John the Baptist

SCRIPTURE
And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel.
Lk.1:66,80

OBSERVATION
Today the Church celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, the one of whom Jesus said no greater had been born. John's greatness seems to be that he shone his light everywhere except on himself. His attitude of "I must be lesser that He may be greater" in turn made him great in the eyes of Jesus - in the eyes of God.

APPLICATION
John was bold, but boldly humble. You would think there would be a tension there but John did it naturally. What a lesson!
I can be called to bold leadership but must perform that leadership with humility. This is great protection against the vice of pride, my old enemy.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, let me not shrink from the bold plans God has for me, but give me humility in living out those plans.
Saint John the Baptist, please pray for me.

Remove the Plank

Monday 23rd June 2008

SCRIPTURE
Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.’
Mt.7:15

OBSERVATION
Jesus is nearing the end of His Sermon on the Mount. His message is hard-hitting and personal. There is no one who should not be squirming on hearing this.

APPLICATION
Of course, this teaching applies to me. Judging others would have to be one of the most common sins I commit. Interestingly, Jesus doesn't deny that my brother may well have a splinter in his eye. The point is, so have I. My blindness to my own splinter turns it into a plank. I am still to help my brother remove his splinter, but only after I perform surgery on myself first. Then, and only then, can I see clearly enough to truly help my brother.
Today every time the "Little Lawyer" in me rises up it will be a reminder for me to look at my own short comings first before saying or doing anything else.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, give me clear vision and a steady hand to perform my own eye surgery.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Better Tast Experience

Tuesday 10th June 2008

SCRIPTURE
Jesus said, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
Mt.5:13

OBSERVATION
Jesus has just started His sermon on the Mount and has delivered the Beatitudes to the crowds. His teaching now becomes more personal, speaking into the lives of His disciples, into my life.

APPLICATION
I enjoy a little salt on my food. It enhances the flavours, creating a whole new and better taste experience. What a powerful analogy for the Christian life.
But it begs a question... am I creating a new and better experience for those about me?... or have I become tasteless, just the same bland flavour as the world?
I want to make a difference, add zest and zeal to the lives of those around me. Then they can praise my Father in Heaven.

PRAYER
Holy spirit. You are the source of tang in my life. Increase Your Zest in me that Jesus may be glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Osmosis Land

22nd May 2008

SCRIPTURE
And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.
Mark 9:47,48

OBSERVATION
Jesus is addressing His disciples, focusing on the seriousness of sin. He emphasises that sin is not something we can can "learn to live with", but something to be cut off and torn out. It is better to be blind than suffer the consequences of sin.

OBSERVATION
This well known verse always causes me to squirm. It is what I behold that can stimulate the temptation to sin. Visual temptation is everywhere, from magazines in the corner dairy to pornography on the internet. It is easy to become comfortable with this type of sin. Jesus is saying put it in right perspective - Hell is a hot place that never cools.
Earthsuit have a great line in one of their songs, called Osmosis Land - "What we behold we become".
Today I start being vigilant as to where my eyes rip off and go. I want to focus more in entering the Kingdom, even with one eye.

PRAYER
Jesus, I can't do this alone. Send me your spirit to strengthen me, that I may be with you in Your Kingdom.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

How Great the Father's Love for US

Friday 9th May 2008 - Seventh week of Eastertide

SCRIPTURE
For as the heavens are as high above the earth, so strong is His love for those who fear Him.
Ps.103:11

OBSERVATION
We have had a week of reading Jesus' priestly prayer for us at the Last Supper. We heard Him say again and again the love God the Father has for Him He also has for us. Today's psalm, a self-portrait of God, the strength and vastness of that love.

APPLICATION
God's love for me is incomprehensible in its hugeness. All I can do is simply soak it up, like lying on the beach on a summer's day soaking up the warmth of the sun.
The knowledge of God's love changes my whole world-view. This morning it is cold and raining outside and I will soon be riding through that to work. And yet I am so filled with joy! God loves me! Nothing can take that joy from me.

PRAYER
Thank you Father for loving me so much. Let me be a channel of Your love to others today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.