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Daily Readings/Devotionals:
A Sip of Scripture
Daily Scripture:
PEACE IN THE WORLD
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
Reference: Psalm 96:4-5
Psalm 96:4-5 (New King James Version)
4 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
Related Blog
A Simple Desire
The weblog "a simple desire" provides brief commentaries on "A Sip of Scripture" from a Mennonite perspective, The commentaries are written by Carole Boshart, of Oregon; Will Fitzgerald, of Michigan; and others on occasion.
a simple desireShort commentary on “A Sip of Scripture” from Third Way Cafe
A Potpourri of Peace Pronouncements
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“For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. “ ( Psalm 96:4-5 )
There are so many things I want to say about these verses. But I will pick only two.
One:
Many cultures have their own creation stories. But most of them place the power of creation in shared hands; one deity does one action, and another adds to that creative work. Christianity and Judaism are distinctive in that they are monotheistic, one deity. This is part of the reason the Shema was important for the Hebrew/Israel nation.
Christianity picks and carries on that tradition of one deity. The concept of the Trinity does not have to been seen as invalidating that, but rather under girds it. The Christian God is so multidimensional that one name or attribute does not contain all that God is. The Trinity says there can be seen three distinct aspects of God – Creator, Redeemer, and Companion – but found within one deity.
In biblical times multiple gods came from the desire to understand how nature and creation came about. Partly using what they knew about themselves – human, what they knew about nature/creation – animals, birds, plants etc, and what their imaginations told them, the cultures of that time created deities and gods that did incredible and magical things. Sometimes these deities had the same failing and foibles that their imagine-ers did, and sometimes they were without flaws. But all of them came from the mind of humanity.
Christianity and Judaism claim their deity was not a creation of humanity but a Being preceded them, and . . . well, you know all of that without me telling you. This passage from Psalm is one instance of God’s nature and worthiness being established and declared. And because the nature of this God did not come from the fallen-ness of humanity but from the perfection of Divinity the attributes and pronouncements of this God should be heeded and followed. And one of them is shalom.
Two
Norman Cousins said (quoting from 366 Ways of Peace ) “People who develop the habit of thinking of themselves as world citizens are fulfilling the first requirements of sanity in our time.” I have been impressed enough with all of the quotes that have been used in 366 Ways of Peace that have come from the book Seeds of Peace that I have gotten the book for myself. (I already had Davis’ book.) I had thought when I started to read the quote from Cousins that it would end up as a requirement for peace. But I was pleasantly surprised. But I had to wonder what the connection was between that quote and this scripture passage. So I thought about it. And this is what I think.
Each modern nation has it own national identity, whether developed from within or bestowed externally. And when this national identity causes the nation and/or its leaders to act against the common and global good, all of the world is endangered. By seeing one’s self as a world citizen who seeks to do what supports the common and global good, they are more likely to act in a sane and peaceful way. And I, gentle reader, as all for sanity and peace.
May you gentle reader honor and follow the God who is above human failings, and may you work for the good of all creation. And may your work, in combination with all others past, present, and future bring peace finally to our world. Selah!
Written by Carole
December 22, 2010 at 12:26 am
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Related Website
Soul Space
You are invited to take some time each day for "Soul Space," written by Wendy Miller and posted on the Eastern Mennonite University website. Each day's guidance centers around a theme for reflection and prayer drawn from the lectionary readings for the week.
Morning-Week Two
Lord of the dawn –
You who bring morning light
to bless field and hill,
Roof and window;
Open my eye to see,
Beckon my ear to hear,
Waken my soul to follow you into this day.
Prayer for the day:
Bless to me, O God,
Each thing mine eye sees;
Each sound mine ear hears;
All that I taste;
Each word I speak;
Each note I sing;
Each ray of light that guides my way,
Each one I meet;
Bless to me, O God.
The Three that seek my heart,
The Three that make Your home in me
Bless to me, O God.
From a “Prayer at rising”, adapted.
Coming
Dear God,
Store shelves are empty
Gift-wrapping lays crumpled on the floor
Waiting to be trashed.
Left-overs crowd the refrigerator shelves
The busyness of Christmas is over.
Lead my tired feet to Bethlehem
To the house where Jesus lays.
Help me to move with the Great Conspiracy
Of your coming among us,
Even as terror and tears
Still line the shelves of world news
And hopes and dreams lay crumpled among the rubble
And people’s lives continue to be trashed.
Waken my heart to your presence
Among us, here, among the rubble and tears.
Still me into listening for your presence and voice.
Silence
Be still.
Open your awareness to God’s presence
Within and all around.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Responding
The third movement within Soul Space is Responding. Here we shift our focus towards outward engagement.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Pray for the coming day. Be attentive to what you struggle with, where you face challenge, difficulty, experience weakness, darkness, uncertainty—how it affects you personally, and your ministry. Bring your struggle to God. Pray for God’s servants who are serving in challenging and difficult places this day, especially for _____________________.
Lord Christ,
You see us sometimes strangers on the earth, taken aback by the violence, by the harshness of oppositions.
You are with us, sending out a gentle breeze on the dry ground of our doubts, shining your light in the dark corners of our clay vessels where fear and weakness rob us of faith and peace.
Help us to know your presence in all our struggle. Continue to make us bearers of peace and reconciliation.
*based on a prayer by Brother Roger of Taize. Life from Within. Geoffrey Chapman Mowbray, 1990. 22.
INTERCESSION
Pray for the coming day, and for your neighbor.
Loving God,
Help me to hear your wake-up call,
To listen deeply to your voice.
Awaken my mind and soul to your work
Within and among us through the Holy Spirit.
Help me not to run into busy avoidance,
Not to be caught in the trappings of this world.
Bend my heart to stay . . . to love . . . to wait
To embrace your coming in Jesus.
Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
Loving God,
Help me to hear your wake-up call,
To listen deeply to your voice.
Awaken my mind and soul to your work
Within and among us through the Holy Spirit.
Help me not to run into anxious avoidance,
Not to be caught in the anxious clutches of this world.
Bend my heart to stay . . . to love . . . to wait
To embrace your coming in Jesus.
Amen.
Evening-Week Two
Come to me you who are tired, worn down from carrying heavy loads,
and I will give you rest. Learn my ways, for my ways are gentle, and I am humble at heart, and you will find rest for your soul.
Matthew 11:28-30 (paraphrased)
As I come to the end of this day, and turn towards you, Burden Bearer, Rest Giver,
What am I carrying?
What wears me down, makes me tired?
What do I bring to you . . . ?
For forgiveness . . .
For healing . . .
For help . . .
For holding.
Read the psalm for this week’s lectionary readings.
Silence
Closing Prayer
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge:
Hear me as I come . . .
Be my resting place;
I will both lie me down and sleep in peace;
For you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
Into your hands I commend myself and those I love.
Psalms 4:8; 31:1-5 (paraphrased)
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