Scripture:

Romans 4:20-25The Message (MSG)

19-25 Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, “It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.” Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That’s why it is said, “Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right.” But it’s not just Abraham; it’s also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

Observation:

Paul's letters are so incredibly constructed; with meaning piled upon meaning, and interpretation piled upon interpretation. 
I am convinced they are better heard than read. And, again, when reading them aloud, attention to the details and the thrust of the argument being offered must be attended to. Even still, sometimes it is good to look to a more interpretive translation (like the Message, above). I find this often unlocks a new angle or dimension of the passage's meaning.

Throughout today's readings and prayers, I hear a distinct urging to follow Abraham's lead and to "dive in" to the promise we have, by God's grace.

In the last month or so, my daughter has begun to get brave about jumping off the diving board at the local swimming pool. Recently, she jumped off without a life-jacket for the first time. Now, she is a thoughtful and (thankfully!) cautious kid - not fearful, but cautious - and so, that leap was preceded by a long ... pause. During that time, I was imagining her brain spinning a thousand computations per second as she considered all the variables and unknowns. I suspect that if she had waited till she had all the information, she would not have jumped. In the end, what lead her to experience the joy of doing something new, alive and fun was a promise - two, actually. The promise from her friends that it was fun and worthy is what drove her to the end of the diving board. The promise that her mother was waiting - arms out-stretched - to protect her and cheer her on was what prompted her to jump.

Application:

In my experience, answering God's call and following God's lead always requires such a leap of faith. God may well have the divine plans all laid out in a comprehensive manner (though I personally doubt that), but rare is the human who glimpses God's plans in their fullness and gets to base their decision to follow - or not - upon a knowledge of all possible costs, outcomes and eventualities.

So, I wonder, what adventures are your brothers and sisters in Christ commending you to take up in this leg of your journey? 

What leap are you putting off until you make a few more calculations?

Will you settle for one more day with placing a tremulous toe in tepid water? 

Or, will you choose to trust more boldly in the ONE who is cheering you on, the ONE who promises to be right there when you come up from the depths gasping for air ... and filled with the joy of diving into the life abundant?

As for me, I am done playing small and safe.

Prayer:

Are you there God? Are you ready? I'm not. But here I come anyway ... cannonball! Amen.

So, where are you today? 

Did you stub your toe, stumble into the dog who bit you, yell at the kids only to be yelled at by your spouse? 

Is today a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad..."? 

You know what that makes you?... Normal. 

In the midst of every turmoil, may we all know God is present and active in providential, sustaining love!

Scripture:

Acts 28 After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.

Observation:

Wow, what terrible luck! Paul survives a shipwreck, in a way that changes the way his captors perceive him; only to find that there are natives there friendly to his presence and survival; only to find that he can contribute to that survival in a meaningful way; only to find plentiful firewood; only to kindle a fire; only to have a snake leap out of the fire and bite him.

One way to look at this story is to say, "what terrible luck!". Another way to look is to say, "what incredible providence!" One assumes that our lives and safety are a given and then curses the gods or luck when things don't break our way; the other is steeped in a deep practice of gratitude that recognizes that all we have - in fact, all we are - is a gift of God's providential love.

I know which way is more lively and fun, do you? I mean, have you experimented with radical thankfulness? It has power to change your whole outlook. Paul might even say it has the power of anti-venom.

Application:

I am so thankful for the people in my life that have exposed me to the "shovel" of gratitude. It can be so much more than simply a fleeting feeling that overcomes us on our birthdays, or at the birth of a child. It can be an intentional practice that helps us to know God's presence with us, even in the most dire of circumstances.

It makes me think of that amazing film, "Life is Beautiful". A man and his son are sent together to a concentration camp in world war two. The son survives, because of his father's resolute will to practise joy based in gratitude.

So, where are you today? Did you stub your toe, stumble into the dog who bit you, yell at the kids only to be yelled at by your spouse? Is today a "no good, terrible, lousy day..."? You know what that makes you?... Normal. But, in the midst of every turmoil, may we all know God is present and active in providential, sustaining love!

Prayer:

We thank you today, Lord, for all your gracious gifts given to us upon this earth. We look forward to the day when, joyfully, we may join with you in our eternal home. Amen.

Scripture:

Acts 31:22 

I had said in my alarm, 
“I am driven far from your sight.” 
But you heard my supplications 
when I cried out to you for help.

Philippians 4:6

6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 
let your requests be made known to God.

Observation:

One of the insights I appreciate about the 3DM approach to discipleship and mission is,
"Language creates culture."

Language is a strong carrier of common experiences and values. But in times of rapid cultural change some words can become empty. That is to say, words are not powerful in and of themselves. They are really only helpful to the degree they remain "meaning-full". Moreover, we need to be careful when building new cultures that the words we are using do not hold residual meaning that undercuts what we are trying to accomplish. 

I say all this because, today the word: "supplication" occurs twice in the Moravian texts. What does this word mean? More importantly, is it still a meaningful word in our context, or is it more of a leftover relic from the days of the culturally privileged church?

First, supplication is prayer; but, it connotes a certain type of prayer - one wherein a favour or mercy is asked (or begged) from ones superior. So, the word supplication helps us to understand that part of prayer is to humble ourselves, acknowledge our neediness and ask God to provide. It also seems to be a type of prayer that requires me to speak to God (verbally, or through the intercession of others). The promise of the action is that God is faithful and hears such prayers. 

Application:

This all makes the Philippians quote clearer.  

Do not be anxious (or worried) about anything. 

When I encounter struggle in this life (and I will, especially as I follow Jesus), I am not to turn inwardly trying to handle it on my own. Simple, but hard. 

Rather, "in everything by prayer (might this emphasize a prior move in prayer that is more passive in that it is focussed on listening to the Lord as opposed to talking to the Lord) and supplication with thanksgiving (here another dimension of prayer is added, perhaps to help us unlock the hopeful energy that is the fruit of the spiritual practice of gratitude) let your requests be made known to God."

Today I hear the Lord inviting me to a richer practice of abiding through prayer that is multidimensional. Too often I pray a litany of requests without taking time to listen. Too often I fail to give thanks for the many and various ways by which God is continuously revealing Godself to be faithful in my life. 

Prayer:

Dear God, I'm cashing in my anxiety chips. 

I want to spend my time in more fruitful endeavours. 

Grant me ears to hear You as I listen, 

gratitude to celebrate how you respond, and an open heart 

that is ready to intercede for my neighbours after the same 

fashion as Your Holy Spirit intercedes for us. 

Thanks for hearing. I anticipate your response. Amen.