Author: Cindy Lee

Outside has taken on a new meaning for me. Over the last few weeks, I’ve tried to begin and end each day outside. Most of my mornings are spent listening to birds, watching the sun come up, and attempting to notice all that is going on around me. For instance, I hear a cacophony of sounds. Though not a symphony, it is still “sounds” nonetheless. Frankly, I long to hear them. Different birds chirping, a dog barking, a distance vehicle or two, and a few other sounds that are hard to identify. They remind me of a genesis—a beginning. In the evening, I do something similar. I want to see the stars, the moon, and listen to the sounds around me. Though completely different than the morning sounds, the evening melody is softer, more organic.

I do this because it reminds me of a natural rhythm. Something basic, fundamental to creation that all need to clutch in periods of great disruption. Everyone needs a cadence to the day particularly when the normal flow to life is in disorder. Those environmental-natural sounds and imagines help connect one to something larger and grander than the immediate.

Perhaps Psalm 8 was written in a time of disruption. I’m not sure one will ever know the stimulus the pushed the writer’s pen, but the words are definitely helpful when things seem out-of-control or confusing. These words are a connection to something larger. They are a springboard, urging the reader to see beyond the immediate to what lies behind it all: A God who creates, sustains, and restores.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

 

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This week’s readings:
Monday – Hebrews 12
Tuesday – Hebrews 13
Wednesday – 1 Peter
Thursday – 2 Peter
Friday – 1 John

Please Pray for:
Our ministers and their families.
Those who are unwillingly absent.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.
The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.

If the goal of the Christian Life is faith maturation, then at some point, prayer has to be taken seriously. I’m not talking about a prayer of thanksgiving before a meal or a modest expression of “Thank you Lord” for the weather. Those simple prayers are needed and definitely have their place; but, the type of prayer I’m referring to is the silent reflective prayer where one descends into the depths of your heart. The unfortunate truth is we are aliens to ourselves and our first desire is to maintain that level of disconnect.

We run after many things that we think add value to our lives and in doing so we run from the opportunity to grow inwardly. Often, we long for time, in hopes that we can manufacture a spiritual life that shines as bright as the sun. Yet, we yield to the cares and demands of our world which consumes all our time and energy. At some point, we have to choose what is most important? What is temporary? What is eternal? How we handle that choice determines which path we take and ultimately what we become.

Prayer is the heart of the Christian life. It is essential to growing in grace. Try this: Sit alone in a quiet place. Don’t worry how long. Continually ask God to help your mind drift away from the daily cares of the world. Observe your breathing. Try to slow it down. Focus on a word, phrase, or portion of scripture and invite God’s Spirit to minister to you in this time of silence.

Give it time. Practice it daily. Eventually you will welcome this time spent with God. As God guides, stay with him. Don’t be afraid. Sometimes the work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal areas of growth. Sometimes, God wants to remove barriers that prevent us from becoming like Jesus. Trust in God and your time with Him. He won’t disappoint.

 

 

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This week’s readings:
Monday – Hebrews 7
Tuesday – Hebrews 8
Wednesday – Hebrews 9
Thursday – Hebrews 10
Friday – Hebrews 11

Please Pray for:
Our ministers and their families.
Those who are unwillingly absent.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.
The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.

Psalm 6
1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away;
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed.
3 And my soul is greatly dismayed;
But You, O Lord—how long?
4 Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your lovingkindness.
5 For there is no mention of You in death;
In Sheol who will give You thanks?
6 I am weary with my sighing;
Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7 My eye has wasted away with grief;
It has become old because of all my adversaries.
8 Depart from me, all you who do iniquity,
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my supplication,
The Lord receives my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and greatly dismayed;
They shall turn back, they will suddenly be ashamed.

I think Psalm 6 is an underrated Psalm. This is not one that is quoted often in sermons or Bible studies. Most believe this was to be sung or accompanied by music—maybe that is why it is lesser known. Nonetheless, I think it is a beautiful prayer of David. Definitely a prayer one should read from time to time.

It is a natural thing for someone to run to God when there is trouble. When in pain, comfort comes when one seeks and cries out to Him. It doesn’t matter if the pain is spiritual, emotional, or physical, when one cries out, God doesn’t ignore. God wants us to call out for His help in all types of trouble. Our prayers, born out of difficulty, become the greatest glory that one can give to God.

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This week’s readings:
Monday – Hebrews 2
Tuesday – Hebrews 3
Wednesday – Hebrews 4
Thursday – Hebrews 5
Friday – Hebrews 6

Please Pray for:
Our ministers and their families.
Those who are unwillingly absent.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.
The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”  Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”  No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

I was encouraged after reading this passage considering the uncertain times we face today.  Moses gave this charge to a people that faced uncertainty for they were about to enter a land without security or clear vision.  They were asked to trust and walk with God that was/is knowable. 

John Jewell, 16^th Century Bishop of Salisbury who lived through the Reformation, wrote, “The Bible is a shop that contains the wisdom, knowledge, power, judgments, and mercies of God.  Wherever we look we will see displayed the works of his hands.  We will see his work of creation and his preservation of everything…and his gracious redemption of the believer.”  He went on to say, “There is no need to beat your brains out in searching.  The word and commandment of God will sufficiently teach you.”  I would add, “and sustain you in troubled times.”

I hope that you will renew yourself with Holy Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you during this time of uncertainty.  Draw strength from His Word.  Look at how God has sustained so many who looked to him and followed in the steps of Christ. 

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This week’s readings:
Monday – Titus 2
Tuesday – Titus 3
Wednesday – Jude
Thursday – Philemon
Friday – Hebrew 1

Please Pray for:
Our ministers and their families.
Those who are unwillingly absent.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.
The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.

Sometimes it takes a while.  This has been my thought of late especially in relation to my dogs.  Because we bought a new goldendoodle puppy, our life has been disrupted.  Cooper, the puppy, is already nine months old and about forty-five pounds.  For about seven months he has been a source of joy and frustration.  For one member of our family, Chloe, our nine-year-old shih tzu, she was not a fan of the new edition.  For months she acted out because with the arrival of Cooper, it triggered some aggression that dated back to her puppyhood.  Basically, she detested Cooper. 

Sometimes it takes a while.  Now, things are different.  Cooper and Chloe are the best of friends.  They lay next to each other, they play with each other, they are affectionate towards each other.  Because Cooper is a puppy, he injects his playful energy which now has rejuvenated Chloe.   It is fun to watch them play.  Nonetheless, our house is more peaceful, at least as peaceful as a three-dog home can be. 

Sometimes it takes a while.   As I reflect on the changes in my pets, I see comparisons with how people treat each other.  Normally, when there is a change in one’s environment, people are quick to act out of fear, believing the worst.  People become protective, flight/fight mentality kicks in, and people act out accordingly.  Yet, if one will engage the perceived foe, often for a period of time, those fears subside.  Take loving others as an example.  If we can engage others around us, even those we think are impossible to love, over time our preconceived opinions are often inaccurate or misguided.  Chloe and Cooper had to “learn” each other, spend time with each other.  At first, opposition then toleration and eventually affection.  With people, it might be a little different, but I think you get the picture.  Sometimes it takes a while.

 

 

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This week’s readings:
Monday – 2 Timothy 1
Tuesday – 2 Timothy 2
Wednesday – 2 Timothy 3
Thursday – 2 Timothy 4
Friday  – Titus 1

Please Pray for:
Our ministers and their families.          
Those who are unwillingly absent.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.
The Lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.

I recently read the results of a study distributed by the University of Virginia which showed that when given the choice, many people preferred to undergo electric shock than to sit alone with their thoughts. In this study, the participants were exposed to a mild shock, which they all reported they didn’t like and were willing to pay money for them to stop. But when left alone in an empty room, with a shocker for up to fifteen minutes, removed by all distractions and unable to check their phones, listen to music, watch TV, two-thirds of the men and one-fourth of the women chose to voluntarily shock themselves rather than sit in silence.

After reading the results, my first thought was, “Yeah, that is about right.” My second thought was, “How sad.” Actually, the more I think about this (it has been seven days since I read the results), the more grief I have. As a whole, I’m convinced, our society has lost its ability to simply be. We over-function, crave stimulus, and fill our day with any and all things so that every minute is occupied, only to discover that it is not fulfilling. Unfortunately, we do this inside the church. Yet, the early Christians were very comfortable with reflective silence, periods of meditation, and solitude.

The goal of following Jesus is a maturation of faith. It is not “believing more in Jesus.” If one believes in Jesus, he or she believes in Jesus. It is a yes or no venture. The finish line, for the Christian, is for the nature of Christ to be formed inside of the believer. This is a heart to hand process. It is an inside out transformation governed by the Holy Spirit’s work. This cannot happen to its fullest extent until one is willing to take a hard look in the mirror. I’m convinced one cannot do this without learning to sit alone and reflect on who they are. So, here is my crazy, off-the-wall thought: Perhaps what is just as important as believing in Jesus is a willingness to resist the temptation to cram your day with stimuli and learn to simply sit quietly with whom you believe. Give it a try.

 

 

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This week’s readings:

• Monday – 1 Timothy 2
• Tuesday –1 Timothy 3
• Wednesday – 1 Timothy 4
• Thursday – 1 Timothy 5
• Friday – 1 Timothy 6

 

Please Pray for:

• Our ministers and their families.
• Those who are unwillingly absent.
• The United Methodist Church family.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• The World.
• The Lost.
• The Lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.