The Upper Room Daily Reflections, daily words of wisdom and faith "Time with God" for Tuesday, 3 November 2015

The Upper Room Daily Reflections, daily words of wisdom and faith "Time with God" for Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Today’s Reflection:

I LEARNED AT A CONFERENCE that humans process 500,000 bits of information per day. That works out to 110 bits of information per second. While this may sound quite impressive, it quantifies the fact that our nervous systems can barely process two conversations taking place at the same time. … It’s not about our ability to multitask … it’s just how we’re made.
That must be why many of us are feeling quite overwhelmed and short on time. …
During the last ten to fifteen years, many of us have added cell phones, e-mail, the web, and a 24/7 urgency to our environment. …
There isn’t, of course, any way to create more minutes in a day or more days in a week. It’s not healthy to get by on less sleep or learn better how to multitask. I think the key to finding time lies in a couple of things:
Being intentional about spiritual practice. I must sink my roots deep into God’s Spirit every day. When I take time for God, it makes a difference in how I function in the day . . .
Carving out space inside for God — no matter what situation I’m in. Finding time is not just about “clock time,” it’s also a combination of discipline and internal spaciousness that helps me connect with God even when I’m sitting in traffic, overcome with anxiety, or surrounded by a crowd.[Alive Now, July/August 2011]
From the Editor,” by Beth A. Richardson, pages 4-5 of Alive Now, July/August 2011. Copyright © 2011 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
What advice would you give someone who is trying to carve out time for daily prayer?
Today’s Scripture:
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.[Psalm 127:2 NRSV]

This Week: pray for those who need to experience joy. 

---------------------
Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers, call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center web site.
---------------------

Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember: Antoinette Brown Blackwell (November 5).

Antoinette Brown was born in New York in 1825 and grew up active in the Congregational Church. As an eight year old she decided to become a minister after hearing a visiting preacher. Church leaders made it clear that this career was not open to women. Brown graduated from Oberlin College in 1847 and studied at the Oberlin Seminary, but was refused a degree or ordination because of her gender. She served as an itinerant pastor before she was appointed pastor of a Congregational church, the first woman to serve as an appointed church pastor in the United States. A Methodist minister ordained her. After ten months serving the church Brown resigned, citing poor health.

Antoinette continued to lecture and write extensively, working for women's rights, abolition of slavery, and temperance. She married Samuel Blackwell in 1856; they had seven children. Antoinette continued to write and attended the 1860 National Women's Rights Convention. She became a Unitarian in 1878; her ordination was recognized, and she was later elected minister emeritus.

In 1920, ninety-five year old Brown Blackwell, the last surviving delegate of the first national women's rights convention, voted in the presidential election open to women. She died November 5, 1921.

If Antoinette Brown Blackwell had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would have been a Sage. Antoinette Brown Blackwell is remembered on November 5.

---------------------

Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 8 November 2015
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Psalm 127, (19-22)
Mark 12:38-44

Lectionary Texts:

Ruth 3:1 Na‘omi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I should be seeking security for you; so that things will go well with you. 2 Now there’s Bo‘az our relative — you were with his girls. He’s going to be winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. 3 So bathe, anoint yourself, put on your good clothes, and go down to the threshing-floor; but don’t reveal your presence to the man until he’s finished eating and drinking. 4 Then, when he lies down, take note of where he’s lying; later, go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” 5 She responded, “I will do everything you tell me.”

4:13 So Bo‘az took Rut, and she became his wife. He had sexual relations with her, Adonai enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Na‘omi, “Blessed be Adonai, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra’el. 15 May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Na‘omi took the child, laid it on her breast and became its nurse. 17 The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, “A son has been born to Na‘omi,” and called it ‘Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.

Psalm 127: (0) A song of ascents. By Shlomo:

(1) Unless Adonai builds the house,

its builders work in vain.

Unless Adonai guards the city,

the guard keeps watch in vain.

2 In vain do you get up early

and put off going to bed,

working hard to earn a living;

for he provides for his beloved,

even when they sleep.

3 Children too are a gift from Adonai;

the fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 The children born when one is young.

are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

5 How blessed is the man

who has filled his quiver with them;

he will not have to be embarrassed

when contending with foes at the city gate.19-22

Mark 12:38 As he taught them, he said, “Watch out for the kind of Torah-teachers who like to walk around in robes and be greeted deferentially in the marketplaces, 39 who like to have the best seats in the synagogues and take the places of honor at banquets, 40 who like to swallow up widows’ houses while making a show of davvening at great length. Their punishment will be all the worse!”

41 Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, 42 but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. 43 He called his talmidim to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. 44 For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Ruth 3:1-5

Verse 1

[1] Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?

Rest — A life of rest, and comfort, and safety, under the care of a good husband.

Verse 2

[2] And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

Threshing-floor — Which was in a place covered at the top, but open elsewhere, whither Ruth might easily come. And this work of winnowing corn was usually ended with a feast.

Verse 3

[3] Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

Raiment — Thy best raiment.

Known — In so familiar a way, as thou mayest do hereafter.

Verse 4

[4] And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

Uncover his feet — Remove the clothes that were upon his feet; thereby to awaken him.

Will tell thee — What course thou shalt take to obtain that marriage which belongs unto thee.

4:13-17

Verse 13

[13] So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

Took Ruth — Which he might do, though she was a Moabite, because the prohibition against marrying such, is to be restrained to those who continue Heathens; whereas Ruth was a sincere proselyte and convert to the God of Israel. Thus he that forsakes all for Christ, shall find more than all with him.

Verse 14

[14] And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

Which hath not, … — The words may be rendered, Which hath not made, or suffered thy kinsman to fail thee; that is, to refuse the performances of his duty to thee and thine, as the other kinsman did.

Famous — Heb. and his name shall be famous in Israel, for this noble and worthy action.

Verse 15

[15] And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

Thy life — That is, of the comfort of thy life.

Born him — Or, hath born to him; that is, to thy kinsman a son.

Better than seven sons — See how God sometimes makes up the want of those relations from whom we expected most comfort, in those from whom we expected least! The bonds of love prove stronger than those of nature.

Verse 17

[17] And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

A name — That is, they gave her advice about his name; for otherwise they had no power or right to do so.

Obed — A servant, to thee, to nourish, and comfort, and assist thee; which duty children owe to their progenitors.

Psalm 127

Verse 1

[1] Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Build — Assist and bless those that build it.

Verse 2

[2] It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

You — Builders, or watchmen.

To sit — To use constant and unwearied diligence.

So — By his blessing.

Giveth — Freely, without that immoderate toiling, wherewith others pursue it.

Verse 3

[3] Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Children — The chief of these blessings.

Heritage — Only from God's blessing, even as an inheritance is not the fruit of a man's own labour, but the gift of God.

Verse 4

[4] As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Youth — These he prefers before other children, because they live longest with their parents, and to their comfort and support, whereas children born in old age seldom come to maturity before their parents death.

Verse 5

[5] Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Full — Who hath a numerous issue.

Shall speak — They shall courageously plead their cause in courts of judicature, not fearing to be crushed by the might of their adversaries.

(19-22)

Mark 12:38-44

Verse 38

[38] And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

Beware of the scribes — There was an absolute necessity for these repeated cautions. For, considering their inveterate prejudices against Christ, it could never be supposed the common people would receive the Gospel till these incorrigible blasphemers of it were brought to just disgrace. Yet he delayed speaking in this manner till a little before his passion, as knowing what effect it would quickly produce. Nor is this any precedent for us: we are not invested with the same authority. Matthew 23:5; Luke 20:46.

Verse 41

[41] And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

He beheld how people cast money into the treasury — This treasury received the voluntary contributions of the worshippers who came up to the feast; which were given to buy wood for the altar, and other necessaries not provided for in any other way. Luke 21:1.

Verse 43

[43] And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all — See what judgement is cast on the most specious, outward actions by the Judge of all! And how acceptable to him is the smallest, which springs from self-denying love!

---------------------

Upper Room Ministries

PO Box 340004

Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004 United States

---------------------

Sermon Story "" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 7 November 2015 with Scripture: Ruth 3:1 Na‘omi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I should be seeking security for you; so that things will go well with you. 2 Now there’s Bo‘az our relative — you were with his girls. He’s going to be winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. 3 So bathe, anoint yourself, put on your good clothes, and go down to the threshing-floor; but don’t reveal your presence to the man until he’s finished eating and drinking. 4 Then, when he lies down, take note of where he’s lying; later, go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” 5 She responded, “I will do everything you tell me.”

4:13 So Bo‘az took Rut, and she became his wife. He had sexual relations with her, Adonai enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women said to Na‘omi, “Blessed be Adonai, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra’el. 15 May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Na‘omi took the child, laid it on her breast and became its nurse. 17 The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, “A son has been born to Na‘omi,” and called it ‘Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.

---------------------

As we continue and remember the story of Ruth and Naomi, we realize that through the intervention of God in Naomi, Ruth was able to become the wife of their closest relative and become pregnant. As the time was fulfilled, the son was born which Naomi placed on her lap. The neighbor women came in and gave praise to God for God hearing Naomi and her plight and answering her. The women happen to say that Ruth was better to Naomi than 10 sons and the name Obed was given to the baby boy. The women continued to praise God and happened to also say that this boy will become famous in all of Israel. We read the ending of Ruth that Obed became the father of Jesse and Jesse became the father of David. What an answer to praise? How do you relate to this story and the way God answered prayers? What has happened in your life where God unexpectantly answered a prayer to an impossible dream or action? This remains me of stories of parents who gave birth to a child with disabilities whether severe or not. There were one set of parents who had a son with severe disabilities and they visited a new church plant. The pastor came to visit them to see if they would be back, but the parents said they would not because they were caring for a son with severe disabilities. The pastor after praying with the parents when back to the church office asking the staff what they could do to assist these parents. The idea they came up with was called Angel Care which is where a volunteer will take care of the child with disabilites while the parents would worship in their Sunday School class and the communal worship. As a result of this activity, a ministry was begun to assist other parents with children with disabilities. This ministry as developed into a weekday ministry where the people with disabilities would be assisted to make and bake baked goods to sell with the proceeds going to local and global missions. Than there was a group of children with disabilities who were gathered to begin a bell choir which sounded as good as the regular adult bell choir. Now, there is even an opportunity for the people who are disabled to study through a confirmation class to be confirmed as full members of the church while being baptized if they have not been baptized before. This action is consistent with the pastor's churches vision statement to reach the nominally and non-religious to allow them to become disciples of Jesus as well as to renew the United States churches to be vital and growing in the communities to tansform communities to be loving and caring. We come to realize that we need to receive God's power in this endeavor as come and eat the Body of Jesus and drink His Blood througn our participation in The Holy Sacrament of The Holy Eucharist. We come to receive God's blessings singing the hymn "IF WE ARE THE BODY" by Casting Crowns

1. It's crowded in worship today

As she slips in trying to fade into the faces

The girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know

Farther than they know

But if we are the body

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

There is a way

2. 

A traveler is far away from home

He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row

The weight of their judgmental glances

Tells him that his chances are better out on the road

But if we are the body

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

3. Jesus paid much too high a price

For us to pick and choose who should come

And we are the body of Christ

If we are the body

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

If we are the body

Why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body

Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

Jesus is the way

---------------------

Gary Lee Parker

4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1

San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States

____________________________