Day 49
People are story making machines. I think that may be why Jesus spoke in parables. Jesus knew stories get passed around. Any time we only know part of what is going on, what happens? In our minds we start to create a story to fill in the blanks. We cannot stand to have blanks.
I have a whole talk I do about how we all make stories and how we create our stories makes us weaker or stronger. Here is the thing, when we are making up stories they are not based on truth. Many times the stories we come up with lack compassion for our friends and loved ones experiencing troubles in life. It is so much easier to think we see what someone else needs to do better than to see the same in us.
When we, like Job’s friends, think we know and stand around speculating why someone made this choice or that thing happened to them we are working with only a tiny piece of the puzzle. We cannot possibly know enough to make a judgment. Yet, like Job’s friends, how often do we forget to show compassion in our rush to pick apart someone else in trouble.
Verse for Today
Psalms 86 7&15 In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. . . But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Word for Today
Compassion
Today I will take time to breathe and to feel compassion for myself and others running through me and around me.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Week 46
Our English version of the Bible has been translated a lot. There are almost 100 versions with copyright. It is my understanding that to get a copyright a version has to be at least 20% different from all the other versions. Why so many?
Translation is more of an art than a science. Ancient texts were written without punctuation, capitals, or spaces. Ancient languages were much like abbreviated text messages. Take urmybfflol as an example. For those fluent in text this might easily be recognized as “You are my best friend forever laugh out loud.” However if you don't it can be meaningless. Ten years from now will it be interpreted the same way. I don't know.
Additionally much like English, some words are the same or nearly the same and the meaning must be figured out by context. As you can imagine, this leads to a lot of debate among scholars. Reading an ancient translation is a little like talking to a two year old. Many of the words are missing or can easily be misunderstood. The only difference is when speaking to a two year old you have a toddler in front of you to tell you whether you are right or wrong.
For example, Psalms 40:30 the words are slightly altered in almost every version although the word choices do not make much difference except that most say “wings of an Eagle,” but some like the Near Eastern Peshitta, (Aramaic to English translated by George Lamsa) says “wings of a dove.” Doves and Eagles are really different symbols.
All of this to say that even when reading the Bible we must each keep our hearts open to receive the right message.
Verse for Today
Proverbs 1:33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.
Word for Today
Listen
Today I will go to the silence and trust that the right and perfect message gets through to me.
Our English version of the Bible has been translated a lot. There are almost 100 versions with copyright. It is my understanding that to get a copyright a version has to be at least 20% different from all the other versions. Why so many?
Translation is more of an art than a science. Ancient texts were written without punctuation, capitals, or spaces. Ancient languages were much like abbreviated text messages. Take urmybfflol as an example. For those fluent in text this might easily be recognized as “You are my best friend forever laugh out loud.” However if you don't it can be meaningless. Ten years from now will it be interpreted the same way. I don't know.
Additionally much like English, some words are the same or nearly the same and the meaning must be figured out by context. As you can imagine, this leads to a lot of debate among scholars. Reading an ancient translation is a little like talking to a two year old. Many of the words are missing or can easily be misunderstood. The only difference is when speaking to a two year old you have a toddler in front of you to tell you whether you are right or wrong.
For example, Psalms 40:30 the words are slightly altered in almost every version although the word choices do not make much difference except that most say “wings of an Eagle,” but some like the Near Eastern Peshitta, (Aramaic to English translated by George Lamsa) says “wings of a dove.” Doves and Eagles are really different symbols.
All of this to say that even when reading the Bible we must each keep our hearts open to receive the right message.
Verse for Today
Proverbs 1:33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.
Word for Today
Listen
Today I will go to the silence and trust that the right and perfect message gets through to me.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Week 45
People violate their values when they are afraid. It is not that they do not have values, which some people assume. Most of us actually share the same values despite our other difference. We believe in life, health, goodness, generosity, and so on. This being true one would think that we would all get along, after all we want the same things.
The problem comes when one or more of us expects that he or she cannot meet a need because there is not enough for everyone. All of a sudden people who value peace fight for land, food, money. People who value love are fight for what is "thiers." People who value honesty lie and so on . . .
Of course Jesus proved there is enough for everyone with the loaves and the fishes. Jesus believed in abundance. His disciples were worried, but Jesus had the situation all in hand all the time. He believed there would be enough and there was.
What would the world be like if we all expected there would be enough all the time?
Verse for This Week
Proverbs 22:10 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
Word
Abundance
Today I will be sure there is enough for all of us. I will sit in silence and recognize the abundance all around me.
People violate their values when they are afraid. It is not that they do not have values, which some people assume. Most of us actually share the same values despite our other difference. We believe in life, health, goodness, generosity, and so on. This being true one would think that we would all get along, after all we want the same things.
The problem comes when one or more of us expects that he or she cannot meet a need because there is not enough for everyone. All of a sudden people who value peace fight for land, food, money. People who value love are fight for what is "thiers." People who value honesty lie and so on . . .
Of course Jesus proved there is enough for everyone with the loaves and the fishes. Jesus believed in abundance. His disciples were worried, but Jesus had the situation all in hand all the time. He believed there would be enough and there was.
What would the world be like if we all expected there would be enough all the time?
Verse for This Week
Proverbs 22:10 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
Word
Abundance
Today I will be sure there is enough for all of us. I will sit in silence and recognize the abundance all around me.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Week 44
Why do you think there are so many verses about fear, courage, and compassion in the Bible? Clearly all of us, no matter who we are come to a moment some time in our life when we have to choose between fear and the faith. There is not enough money, power, or fame to prevent THAT MOMENT. When we choose faith we find the faith that passes all understanding.
Paul knew when he wrote to the Philippians that they too would have their moments. He encouraged them to go back to the basics when they felt anxious or worried. He knew that if they could remember their faith they could get through anything.
The first step for us is always to take a breath and return to the silence. The next is to remember the Word and breathe.
Verse for This Week
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Word
Breathe
Today I will breathe and focus on the Word and feel faith wrap around me, filling me up.
Why do you think there are so many verses about fear, courage, and compassion in the Bible? Clearly all of us, no matter who we are come to a moment some time in our life when we have to choose between fear and the faith. There is not enough money, power, or fame to prevent THAT MOMENT. When we choose faith we find the faith that passes all understanding.
Paul knew when he wrote to the Philippians that they too would have their moments. He encouraged them to go back to the basics when they felt anxious or worried. He knew that if they could remember their faith they could get through anything.
The first step for us is always to take a breath and return to the silence. The next is to remember the Word and breathe.
Verse for This Week
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Word
Breathe
Today I will breathe and focus on the Word and feel faith wrap around me, filling me up.
Day 43
Faith is contagious. As people of faith, sometimes we have to believe for each other. We have to know that there is a path out of a dark moment for those we care for even when they cannot see it. We have to trust in our prayers for others that the path will rise up to meet them.
In Luke we see that when a literal storm raged around Jesus and his companions were afraid he was not. He reached out and calmed the storms with faith alone. He believed when everyone around him could not and because he did they were able to find their faith.
Faith takes the power away from that moment. The ability to reach back and recognize our connection to the Divine provides calm when we need it the most. Faith trusts and knows that there is light and we can find it, even if we cannot see it yet. Faith also gives us the ability to reach out to someone else in their moment and just understand. It allows us to feel compassion and offer our faith and help when we see someone who is doubting their own.
Verse for Today
Luke 8:25 He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?"
Word for Today
Faith
Today I will take a moment in silence to trust for all those I know believing that their path is right and perfect for them.
Faith is contagious. As people of faith, sometimes we have to believe for each other. We have to know that there is a path out of a dark moment for those we care for even when they cannot see it. We have to trust in our prayers for others that the path will rise up to meet them.
In Luke we see that when a literal storm raged around Jesus and his companions were afraid he was not. He reached out and calmed the storms with faith alone. He believed when everyone around him could not and because he did they were able to find their faith.
Faith takes the power away from that moment. The ability to reach back and recognize our connection to the Divine provides calm when we need it the most. Faith trusts and knows that there is light and we can find it, even if we cannot see it yet. Faith also gives us the ability to reach out to someone else in their moment and just understand. It allows us to feel compassion and offer our faith and help when we see someone who is doubting their own.
Verse for Today
Luke 8:25 He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?"
Word for Today
Faith
Today I will take a moment in silence to trust for all those I know believing that their path is right and perfect for them.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Day 42
I was going to write about 42 as a sacred number today, however, in my readings it seemed contrived. Forty-two it is often said is the number for the Antichrist because Revelations predicts the beast will rule 42 months. Yet when I look the number up I found it is not in the Bible that often and it is used randomly for ages, numbers of people, etc. Upon reflection I think I have to reject the number 42 as sacred as one of those Bible legends.
I know that I am unusually analytical by nature and most people do not get caught up in some of the detail I do in Bible study. Still this underlines for me the importance of finding out for myself and not just taking an interpretation from someone else. Men and women are human and we all see through the veil of human understanding. Humans tend to gather evidence that supports their own theory while rejecting equally good evidence that does not. Some scientists believe that we change what we observe just by observing.
I must not be afraid to follow my own divine guidance and I must seek wisdom from divine inspiration trusting in God and not in man. This is why meditation upon the Word is so important to me. In silence focused on the presence of God, understanding can quietly grow.
Verse for Today
Deuteronomy 20:3 Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them.
Word for Today
Understand
Today I will find my understanding through the divine presence of God.
I was going to write about 42 as a sacred number today, however, in my readings it seemed contrived. Forty-two it is often said is the number for the Antichrist because Revelations predicts the beast will rule 42 months. Yet when I look the number up I found it is not in the Bible that often and it is used randomly for ages, numbers of people, etc. Upon reflection I think I have to reject the number 42 as sacred as one of those Bible legends.
I know that I am unusually analytical by nature and most people do not get caught up in some of the detail I do in Bible study. Still this underlines for me the importance of finding out for myself and not just taking an interpretation from someone else. Men and women are human and we all see through the veil of human understanding. Humans tend to gather evidence that supports their own theory while rejecting equally good evidence that does not. Some scientists believe that we change what we observe just by observing.
I must not be afraid to follow my own divine guidance and I must seek wisdom from divine inspiration trusting in God and not in man. This is why meditation upon the Word is so important to me. In silence focused on the presence of God, understanding can quietly grow.
Verse for Today
Deuteronomy 20:3 Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them.
Word for Today
Understand
Today I will find my understanding through the divine presence of God.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Day 41
Divine guidance and divine timing are interesting. We ask for it. We pray for it and then often we fight against it. I pray for divine guidance before I write this daily blog. Yet I second guess myself. I thought this week I should have done more with sacred numbers and so I wrote a blog about seven with a plan to go back and replace week seven with the new piece. Only when I went back to week seven I knew exactly why it was there and why it should not be changed. In my own impatience and expectation I was messing with divine timing.
Patience is so easy and not always so simple. Trust is what we need to follow divine guidance and wait for divine perfect timing. Trust and patience are the key to waiting for divine timing.
How do we wait and trust? When we are waiting expectantly for a new job, a birth, a new home, a change of any kind we have to know that the right and perfect moment is in the making and be ready to take action moving in faith when it happens. We must have patience and trust EVEN when the news is not yet what we want to hear as David did all those years he wandered waiting for the time to be right to be king.
Verse for Today
Psalms 112:7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Word for Today
Patience
Today I will sit in silence delighting in my expectations, knowing that through the Divine Spirit of God all good comes in perfect divine time.
Divine guidance and divine timing are interesting. We ask for it. We pray for it and then often we fight against it. I pray for divine guidance before I write this daily blog. Yet I second guess myself. I thought this week I should have done more with sacred numbers and so I wrote a blog about seven with a plan to go back and replace week seven with the new piece. Only when I went back to week seven I knew exactly why it was there and why it should not be changed. In my own impatience and expectation I was messing with divine timing.
Patience is so easy and not always so simple. Trust is what we need to follow divine guidance and wait for divine perfect timing. Trust and patience are the key to waiting for divine timing.
How do we wait and trust? When we are waiting expectantly for a new job, a birth, a new home, a change of any kind we have to know that the right and perfect moment is in the making and be ready to take action moving in faith when it happens. We must have patience and trust EVEN when the news is not yet what we want to hear as David did all those years he wandered waiting for the time to be right to be king.
Verse for Today
Psalms 112:7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Word for Today
Patience
Today I will sit in silence delighting in my expectations, knowing that through the Divine Spirit of God all good comes in perfect divine time.
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