Resolutions

Lord, the New Year prompts my customary list of resolutions. And that raises the issue of self-control…or self-mastery as the motivational writers express it. I’m thinking this is over-rated, not the inventory of potential improvements, but the idea that I can will these upgrades into being. Transformation is not a result of self-control. It’s Jesus’ control. It's the Spirit's control. 

I'm reminded of the classic Morning Resolve: 

I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right. 

And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

There’s the key: I cannot attempt or do this in my own strength.

And there’s the great Christian paradox: Only in yielding to you do we gain any control over ourselves. St. Paul explained his encounter with Jesus' power:

"My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness."

...let Christ take over...the weaker I get, the stronger I become.*

Lord Christ, I pray that my priorities for the New Year are synchronized with your will for my life…that you will edit my list of resolutions…that your Holy Spirit will intervene with discipline and resolve...that I will know your grace and find Divine strength. Amen.

* - from 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10, The Message

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A Stirring in the Stable

Lord Christ,

I hear your call from the stable,

From a baby in the manger straw.

It's a tender summons,

With an angels' chorus,

Beneath the brightest of stars.

Open my ears to your teaching:

To love the unlovable,

To defend the defenseless. 

To forgive the unforgivable.

To share your Spirit,

Living selflessly,

Loving unconditionally. 

To believe when doubt overwhelms,

Hoping when things seem hopeless.

Change my heart, Jesus!
Your Kingdom comes this Christmas!
Amen!

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Euphoria! Electricity! Exhilaration!

God of all Grace,

I love Christmas, but I’m wondering if this line from my Advent devotion is a bit over the top?

The euphoria of Christ’s birth overwhelms all human infatuations and electrifies us with heavenly exhilaration that can’t be shackled! (Dr. Marva Dawn)

No, not at all! Yes, I want to feel the euphoria, the electricity and the exhilaration of Christmas.

...you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. 
(Matthew 1:21)

...they will call him Immanuel which means, “God with us.”

(Matthew 1:23)

Saved from our sins. In your presence. That is overwhelming!

I’ll admit, as this Christmas day winds down, the jubilation is waning, but I certainly felt it in church last night. And today, I was overwhelmed with the love and generosity of my family.

Holy Spirit, help me to sustain the euphoria, electricity and exhilaration of Christ’s birth into the new year.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

(O little town of Bethlehem)

Amen.

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Advent Voices

Isaiah, the Psalms, John the Baptist, the Gospel stories of Jesus' birth...   Voices of Advent. Competing for my attention. Vying for my heart.

I have tried to note, ponder and pray the various themes of Advent's Lectionary readings over the past four weeks. Now, I assimilate that in a prayer. 

I am compelled to push aside the discouragement of current events and embrace the theological - that the Messianic era has begun, that we are in the midst of a restoration, that "God's glory fills the earth!"

Holy Spirit,

Let's get ready. 

Let's be Advent-ready.

Christ comes!

This is a time 

to sync my life 

with God's rule.

A time to confess. 

Repent. 

Bear good fruit.

Christ comes!

First emphasis: 

Love God.

Followed by: 

Care for the oppressed, 

the hungry, 

for foreigners.

Christ comes!

Over and over,

the Prophets 

and Psalms admonish:

Pursue justice.

Pursue peace.

Christ comes!

For healing, 

the poor 

and poor in spirit. 

For feeble hands

and wobbly knees.

Christ comes!

And miracles:

From elderly childbearing,

to a virgin birth,

with stars 

and angels.

The intersection 

of the Divine 

and humanity.

Christ comes!

Exactly! 

Our God

- in Jesus -

intervenes 

to revive us,

to restore us,

to save us!

Christ comes 
at Christmas!
Amen.

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Thanksgiving

Obviously, our national observance centers on gratitude, but have we lost sight of an important facet of the Plymouth Thanksgiving? In the New England story, the Pilgrims broke bread with the local Indians. It was an act of reconciliation (as well as a time for thankfulness.) Even if that's American myth, it is an aspect of our tradition worthy of revival.

I reprise my prayers addressing both subjects:

• Gratitude
• Reconciliation

Happy Thanksgiving!

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All Saints' Sunday

Way, way back in the 5th grade, the first song I learned to play on my saxophone was When the Saints Go Marching In. 

I was no Louis Armstrong, but his fusion of gospel and jazz must have resonated with my formative eleven year old soul. (And it was not a difficult tune to master!)


Oh, when the saints go marching in,
Oh, how I want to be in that number,
When the saints go marching in.

This past Sunday was our annual remembrance of the saints who have graced our lives. I have been blessed to have so many saints marching around me - leading, teaching, prodding and protecting. I remember them in these prayers.

Polling & Prayer

A bad cold kept us from church Sunday. For my solo at-home service, I punched up a hymn channel on Pandora. It was sublime - briefly - until political ads interrupted. That was so wrong! Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing contrasted severely with warring US Senate candidates. And my mind wandered to politics - a very dark place to be on the Sabbath. Fortunately, I was rescued by the Book of Common Prayer. What a blessing! Paging through the Collects and the Prayers and Thanksgivings, I was uplifted by the BCP's benign overlap of church and state. I'm not a church historian, but this language dates to the late 1700s. True to name and purpose, the Prayer Book helped me to pray:

Lord...of this planet, of this nation,

I lament the seething anger of this election cycle. It's the nastiest campaign of my lifetime. I regret the suspicion of immigrants and refugees (in a nation formed by "aliens.") 

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance...

...fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues... 

(Prayers for National Life, For our Country)

I confess my own smugness, the self-assuredness of my political views, my misplaced faith in politicians with feet of clay.

...bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth.

...teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society... 

(Prayers for National Life, For Sound Government)

I despair over the conflicts of class, the division of demographics. Elites (am I in that catergory?) scheme to maintain privilege while too many fear insecurity of food, housing, healthcare, work and neighborhood...in the richest nation on earth. The political foment is understandable.

...move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace...

(Prayers for the Social Order, For Social Justice)

I love my country. And certain candidates and issues have my allegiance. But let me never forget - first and foremost - I belong to You.

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayers for National Life, For an Election)

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