“Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion,
Speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent.
Save us, thy people, from consuming passion,
Who by our own false hopes and aims are spent.”
The poetry of Georgia Harkness offers a word of grace for us at the start of a new year. If the message of Christmas brings nothing else to us, it offers the hope that was wrapped in THE Christmas gift, the one from God, wrapped in swaddling cloths, wrapped in the life of Jesus.
“Hope of the world, God’s gift from highest heaven,
Bringing to hungry souls the bread of life,
Still let thy spirit unto us be given
To heal earth’s wounds and end her bitter strife.”
In many corners of the world, people would be hard pressed to find a word of hope – to believe the promise of peace – to see past their physical starving to find nourishment for a hungry soul.
“Hope of the world, afoot on dusty highways,
Showing to wandering souls the path of light;
Walk thou beside us lest the tempting byways
Lure us away from thee to endless night.”
Howzat for a new year’s resolution: to seek and to find the son of God walking beside us wherever our life-journeys take us.
"Hope of the world, who by thy cross didst save us
From death and dark despair, from sin and guilt;
We render back the love thy mercy gave us;
Take thou our lives, and use them as thou wilt.”
When we are troubled by the world, we know that God offers us strength and hope. When we see others who are troubled, God expects OUR active compassion. Let us be faithful.
When we wander away from the ways of God, our task is to find Christ walking with us, leading us to the better path. When we see others wandering aimlessly, God expects US to provide a better roadmap by the example of our own faithful lives. Let us be faithful.
When we are burdened by guilt, we need to seek forgiveness from those we may have offended and to remember our redemption offered from the cross. When others have offended us, God calls on us to “forgive those who trespass against us.” Let us be faithful.
Christ is the hope of the world. As this new year unfolds, let us be faithful to our Lord, offering active compassion and hope for the world.
Let our prayer be:
"Hope of the world, O Christ, o’er death victorious,
Who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain,
We would be faithful to the gospel glorious:
Thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign.”
Happy and blessed new year.
Rev Jack Lipphardt
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Devotional 1-1-11
"To everything, turn, turn, turn,
There is a season, turn, turn, turn,
and a time for every purpose under Heaven"
These words are from the 1960's song by the group The Byrds. I always loved the song because the music was pretty, and the lyrics were more meaningful than those in other popular songs of that time. It wasn't until many years later that I realized those meaningful words were from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. Today, as we cross the threshold into 2011, I would like to use these words as a prayer for the new year.
Dear God, in the coming year, help us as we tend to our spiritual gardens, pulling out and allowing to die those habits, attitudes, thoughts, and actions that are poisonous to our existence as Christians. In their place, let us plant seeds of love from which kind, grace-filled thoughts and actions will be born. (vs. 2).
I pray that, with your help, we can kill/eliminate the stereotypical thoughts and prejudices we and others harbor that are borne of ignorance and fear and that divide your children of different nations, races, religions, genders, socioeconomic status, political parties, etc. Please guide us in breaking down barriers, healing relationships and building up bonds of unity so that, as one world, we can address hunger, poverty, injustice, environmental concerns and many other important issues.
When we weep out of anger, frustration or sorrow, please help us to remember you gave us the gift of laughter to relieve our stresses and help us view our problems in a different way. When we mourn, please send us your strength and comfort to ease our sense of loss and guide our way through the grieving process so that we may one day be able to even dance and praise you with gratitude for the persons, relationships or other things we have lost (vs. 4).
In the coming year, please grant us the insight and determination to throw away the stones in our lives - the people, relationships, guilt, addictions, self-destructive tendencies - that weigh us down and prevent us from being the best we can. Please help us to refrain from embracing similar types of negative influences but instead to replace those weighty stones with smaller, lighter pebbles which allow the hope, joy, peace and self-acceptance you offer to drain into our beings, causing us to realize how beautiful and amazing you created us to be (vs. 5).
I pray that, as a church, we will seek your guidance in ministering to those in our congregation and outside the walls of our building. May we never lose sight of our mission and the vision you helped us discern for our church. Please help us to continually monitor our progress in nurturing our current members and working to bring your message of hope and love to those who need it most. Guide us in the difficult task of determining what ideas and practices from the past we should keep to lead us forward and what attitudes and mindsets we need to discard because they are unrealistic and unsuitable for our future (vs. 6).
As we interact with family during the coming year, dear Lord, reinforce in us the need for love, patience, a quick mind and a slow tongue (especially with our children) so that our words and actions do not hurt or tear down those we love or damage relationships. Please give us wisdom, objectivity and a forgiving spirit so that we can mend relationships that have been strained or broken. Help us remember that it is not about us, and there are times when the best we can do for someone is to be quiet and listen to what they are saying. Please give us wisdom to discern when we need to speak up and the courage to do so even when it may be unpopular (vs. 7).
Finally, God, help us to "above all, clothe (ourselves) with love," (Colossians 3:14) seeking opportunities to respond to hate and violence with a loving and peaceful presence in which others can see you (vs. 8). Amen.
Mary Taylor
Devotional 12-31-10
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
From everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
From everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90: 1-2
Hard though it is to believe, another year is about to close. As you look back over the past 365 days, do you recall, even a moment, when God was not present with you? On this day of looking back and anticipating the future, it is appropriate that we pause to offer our thanksgiving, confession, and adoration to our God.
Prayer:
All praise and thanks be to you, O God of all generations. Day by day you have shown us your amazing and loving ways. With your generous nature, you have blessed us with far more than we deserve. You give to us not only our daily bread, but so much more. You have walked with us through times of joy and hours of struggle. Your grace and love have never failed us. You provide for us in ways beyond our comprehension and we humbly offer to you our thanks and praise.
As we look over the past year, we must confess our sinful ways. We have acted according to our self interests rather than seeing the needs of your kingdom. In our selfish moments we have thought first of ourselves without realizing how our actions affect others. We confess that there are times when our actions and words have hurt others and you. We have not loved you with our whole heart. Forgive us, we pray. Help us to know again the grace of forgiveness and love which you freely offer to us through Christ.
In this glad season of new birth and great possibilities, we celebrate Christ-with-us. We give thanks that you chose to offer yourself in Christ Jesus—born as one of us. In Christ we see your way and know that we are a part of your kingdom. The wondrous gift of love has been given us. We seek to accept that gift and live in Christ’s love.
In these moments of reflection we bring before you our love and concern for:
- Those who have walked through difficult times of disaster, hardship, and war. Surround them, please, with your love, comfort, and strength.
- Those who grieve. We remember those dear to us who have died during the past year. We name them before you giving thanks for their lives and for their life in you, which will never end.
- Those who live outside the knowledge of your love. Help us to share our faith in ways which will show them the power and wonder of a relationship with you.
- Those who lead us in our world, nation, state, county, and community. Grant strength and courage to them that they may faithfully follow your kingdom’s way.
- Our congregation, the United Methodist Church, and our local church and denominational leaders. Help us to share the light of your love in a world of darkness and despair.
God’s blessing be with you,
Dr. Mark Conner
Western District Superintendent
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