O Magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:3
How does one magnify the Lord? Can we do it on a day-to-day basis?
When we want to magnify something, our goal is to make "it" larger! Focusing on the most widely used definition of the word: (verb) to increase the apparent size of. In doing this, we should not take for granted how "apparent" our Lord and Savior actually is in our lives. We need to make God a larger part of our life in everything we do... through our thoughts, words and deeds! To magnify His existence in our lives would be to practice our beliefs more than we "apparently" already do. We should remind ourselves of a few passages that ought to be everyday occurrences! For example:
“... as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Matt. 6:12
“... Do unto others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matt. 7:12
“...If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” Matt. 5:39-41
“...If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7
When the day arrives that we are brought home to the Kingdom of God, where we finally have the opportunity to meet Him face to face... wouldn't it be amazing if he looked straight into our eyes and simply said, "Well done!"
Brooke Steuart
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lenten Reflection - March 2, 2009
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Matthew 25:34-35
Jesus praises those for giving him food when he was hungry, a drink when he was thirsty, and welcoming him when he was a stranger. Further along it even states that when he was naked they clothed him; sick or in prison they visited him. He refers to himself, but means all of God’s people. It’s about reaching out to those we may not want to spend too much time with ordinarily.
It reminded me of a time while driving to Annapolis with two of my children. We were at an intersection where someone was collecting money. With just having read a story in the paper about how some people were coming down from Baltimore on a coach bus to beg, I averted my eyes. My children asked why I wasn’t giving any money today. They promptly reminded me that I may be looking at Jesus and he would be disappointed in me. While I do not give out money like I use to, I do try to keep gift certificates from the food chains for giving out on such occasions.
Remembering to do what is asked of us by Christ so that we can be the sheep he calls us to be is the message of this passage for me. Living by His words and lessons prepares us for that heavenly place in God’s Kingdom.
Sharon McGlaughlin
Matthew 25:34-35
Jesus praises those for giving him food when he was hungry, a drink when he was thirsty, and welcoming him when he was a stranger. Further along it even states that when he was naked they clothed him; sick or in prison they visited him. He refers to himself, but means all of God’s people. It’s about reaching out to those we may not want to spend too much time with ordinarily.
It reminded me of a time while driving to Annapolis with two of my children. We were at an intersection where someone was collecting money. With just having read a story in the paper about how some people were coming down from Baltimore on a coach bus to beg, I averted my eyes. My children asked why I wasn’t giving any money today. They promptly reminded me that I may be looking at Jesus and he would be disappointed in me. While I do not give out money like I use to, I do try to keep gift certificates from the food chains for giving out on such occasions.
Remembering to do what is asked of us by Christ so that we can be the sheep he calls us to be is the message of this passage for me. Living by His words and lessons prepares us for that heavenly place in God’s Kingdom.
Sharon McGlaughlin
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Lenten Reflection - March 1, 2009
He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan….
Mark 1:13
Through today’s verse we encounter a Jesus who is tired, hungry, and alone after spending forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. The forty days Jesus spent being tempted remind me of our own forty days of seeking and searching during this season of Lent…Amazingly, we find ourselves connected; connected to Jesus through the one thing that can weaken or strengthen our relationship with God, temptation.
The tempter knows the condition of Jesus; he knows His weaknesses (he’s hungry, tired, and alone) and he tries to take advantage of them. It’s as if the tempter is saying: “use your power to meet your own needs, use your power to meet the material needs of the world.” However, Jesus refuses and puts His trust in His Father. Jesus acknowledges the love His Father has for Him, thus enabling Him to overcome any temptation.
Like Jesus, we too, face temptations every day. How we respond to such temptations depends on whether or not we are willing to trust God and his love for us. So, this Lenten season let us spend more time recognizing our weaknesses and the places in which we are tempted, so that we may respond in ways that glorify God instead of ourselves. And may we be reminded that it is God who provides for our deepest needs and it is through His love that we are able to overcome any temptation we face.
The Rev. Amanda Knouse
Mark 1:13
Through today’s verse we encounter a Jesus who is tired, hungry, and alone after spending forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. The forty days Jesus spent being tempted remind me of our own forty days of seeking and searching during this season of Lent…Amazingly, we find ourselves connected; connected to Jesus through the one thing that can weaken or strengthen our relationship with God, temptation.
The tempter knows the condition of Jesus; he knows His weaknesses (he’s hungry, tired, and alone) and he tries to take advantage of them. It’s as if the tempter is saying: “use your power to meet your own needs, use your power to meet the material needs of the world.” However, Jesus refuses and puts His trust in His Father. Jesus acknowledges the love His Father has for Him, thus enabling Him to overcome any temptation.
Like Jesus, we too, face temptations every day. How we respond to such temptations depends on whether or not we are willing to trust God and his love for us. So, this Lenten season let us spend more time recognizing our weaknesses and the places in which we are tempted, so that we may respond in ways that glorify God instead of ourselves. And may we be reminded that it is God who provides for our deepest needs and it is through His love that we are able to overcome any temptation we face.
The Rev. Amanda Knouse
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Lenten Reflection - February 28, 2009
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
Psalm 86:4
This is David’s prayer and in it he talks about his steadfast love in the Lord. He has many troubles that we do not know about until later on in the Psalm. The only ones we know are that he is poor and needy. By confessing to “lift up his soul,” David knows and we can see that if we truly keep the faith that God will answer us by gladdening our soul. I understand that to mean that if we confess our sins and walk in God’s path, we will be forgiven.
Janice Buchan
Psalm 86:4
This is David’s prayer and in it he talks about his steadfast love in the Lord. He has many troubles that we do not know about until later on in the Psalm. The only ones we know are that he is poor and needy. By confessing to “lift up his soul,” David knows and we can see that if we truly keep the faith that God will answer us by gladdening our soul. I understand that to mean that if we confess our sins and walk in God’s path, we will be forgiven.
Janice Buchan
Friday, February 27, 2009
Lenten Reflection - February 27, 2009
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8
That is a nice thought but what do I have to do before the “Then”? God’s prophet is speaking what the Lord tells him to say. One of our anthems asks “How could I not have known Isaiah would be there?” And one of the praise songs we sing tells us “He will bear us on the breath of dawn and make us to shine like the sun.” That is surely to be desired. What must I do? I read back and find Isaiah is describing the way God wants me to spend a day of fasting. (Definitely not in black, with a long face) God wants me to break the chain of injustice, free the oppressed, cancel debts, feed the hungry, cloth the naked, be available to my own family—I’m thinking, two out of six isn’t too bad, but it’s not good either. It is just a beginning. That is what I have to do before the “then.”
Caroline Chisum
Isaiah 58:8
That is a nice thought but what do I have to do before the “Then”? God’s prophet is speaking what the Lord tells him to say. One of our anthems asks “How could I not have known Isaiah would be there?” And one of the praise songs we sing tells us “He will bear us on the breath of dawn and make us to shine like the sun.” That is surely to be desired. What must I do? I read back and find Isaiah is describing the way God wants me to spend a day of fasting. (Definitely not in black, with a long face) God wants me to break the chain of injustice, free the oppressed, cancel debts, feed the hungry, cloth the naked, be available to my own family—I’m thinking, two out of six isn’t too bad, but it’s not good either. It is just a beginning. That is what I have to do before the “then.”
Caroline Chisum
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Lenten Reflection - February 26, 2009
The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day raised.
Luke 9:22
Jesus was praying with the disciples when Peter professed his belief that Jesus was Christ. Immediately after this, Jesus hits the disciples with the biggest test of their belief and faith in Him, and prophesied that he would be rejected, killed, and raised from the dead on the third day. He advised the disciples to live selflessly and not be ashamed of following Him.
What strikes us about this passages is that the same message is repeated verbatim in Matthew, Mark, and Luke—three times in their Gospels! We can conclude that the disciples were not getting Jesus’ message of His death and resurrection because He repeated himself three times. In Matthew 16, Peter rebuked Jesus saying, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” In turn, Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block for me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.”
In our lives, we see denial every day. As high school students, we see our peers neglect “the right thing” and do what they see as fit. As adults, we make excuses, enable each other, and we set standards based on our own beliefs and values rather than God’s. We need to turn our denial into listening to God. The disciples had three warnings of Jesus’ treacherous death and resurrection. Let us direct our focus on “divine things” this Lenten season and listen to God when He is talking to us.
St. James’ YAC Sunday School Class(Young Adults in the Church, grades 11-12)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lenten Reflection - February 25, 2009
Repent, renounce all your offences, avoid all occasions for guilt. Shake off all the misdeeds you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit… repent and live.
Ezekiel 18:30, 31,32b
We may not heed every warning we receive in our lives, but many of us have taken advice when it was in our best interest. Many have quit smoking, started eating healthier, and now exercise to some extent. We see doctors regularly, take vitamins, wear seat belts, and so on. We do all this in order to achieve a quality of life that makes us “feel good.”
But how do we nourish our souls? What can we do? What action will help us live out this passage? Let us turn to page 352 of The Book of Common Prayer for guidance: “Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.”
Let us not just read this – with God’s help, let us LIVE this. Make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Repent and live.
Earl Buffaloe
Ezekiel 18:30, 31,32b
We may not heed every warning we receive in our lives, but many of us have taken advice when it was in our best interest. Many have quit smoking, started eating healthier, and now exercise to some extent. We see doctors regularly, take vitamins, wear seat belts, and so on. We do all this in order to achieve a quality of life that makes us “feel good.”
But how do we nourish our souls? What can we do? What action will help us live out this passage? Let us turn to page 352 of The Book of Common Prayer for guidance: “Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.”
Let us not just read this – with God’s help, let us LIVE this. Make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Repent and live.
Earl Buffaloe
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