August 4, 2019, Lectionary

God is the one who frees me, heals me, and teaches me how to walk. It is my privilege to acknowledge God for these things, and bathe in God's favor. Hosea 11:1-11

God's dependable love and kindness are worth my pondering and praise. Evidence can be found in the ways God listened and delivered in many stories of the past. Psalm 107:1-9, 43

Set your minds (imaginations, affections) on things above, not on things of earth. I wonder if, among all the movies, games, commercials, news, sports, and celebrities, perhaps we have failed to claim our imaginations for things above. Colossians 3:1-11

The person said, "Lord, please talk to my sibling about doing something I want." Jesus said, "I'll talk to you about what you need." Compare Luke 10:38-42 and Luke 12:13-21

Thoughts about Listening

The gift of listening is a healing gift. Yet I so often overlook mere listening when looking for a healing solution. Hosea 11:1-11

Listening is love. Listening is kind. I can be committed to listening as a gift whether or not I agree. Psalm 107:1-9, 43

I do believe people can change. I set myself against malice, slander, lies, and abusive language, by which means I became a better listener. Colossians 3:1-11

Better listening arises out of direct speech, engaging the person in front of me, not someone else through the person in front of me. Luke 12:13-21

If more and more people refuse an authoritative, absolute God, then fewer and fewer people have any decider but themselves (or someone stronger than themselves) for what is honorable and what is horrific. Let us work that many others will open the door to the love of God.