September 20, 2020, Lectionary

God gave them guidance, water, food, and the Sabbath through the wilderness. Can God not do the same for us through the pandemic? Exodus 16:2-15

They told the stories of their deliverance over and over again through the centuries. They let the stories fit the language and circumstances of each new generation. Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

Beloved believers are going to strive "side by side . . . for the faith of the gospel." This striving is not bickering or aggression, but instead a strong effort to keep on trusting God no matter what. Philippians 1:21-30

The Laborers didn't think "equal" was "fair." Jesus was like that, not merely making the last first, but totally upending our fairness codes. Matthew 20:1-16

Thoughts about Listening

When someone is grumbling at me, it helps to remember their grumble is not so much at me as at bigger circumstances in their lives. Then I can listen in a way that matters. Exodus 16:2-15

What stories of your grandparents get told over and over? Has there ever been a shift in those stories as the family learned some new fact about the past? Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

I know from experience that merely finding a listener can help me believe again. Philllippians 1:21-33

Think about your last disagreement with someone. Wasn't it at least somewhat about fairness? We seem to think life should be fair, but we don't agree on what is fair. Matthew 20:1-16