The Daily Guide. grow. pray. Study. The United Methodist Church in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 19 June 2016 – "Prayer Tip: Spiritual Lessons Our Four-Legged Friends Teach Us"
Daily Scripture: Lamentations 3:22 that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted,
that his compassion has not ended.
23 [On the contrary,] they are new every morning!
How great your faithfulness!
24 “Adonai is all I have,” I say;
“therefore I will put my hope in him.
Prayer Tip:I am a cat person, but my new husband came with a dog. Her name is Sadie, and she’s just over a year old. She’s part collie and part lab, so she’s super friendly. And she is ALWAYS…right…there. She follows us around. She sits on our feet while we’re at the table eating dinner. She rests her head on our knees and tries to climb on our laps when we’re sitting on the couch watching TV. She loves us so much she wants to be with us all the time.
While I could use a break from Sadie’s perpetual presence, I am glad we have a God who loves us enough to be right there with us all the time – when things are going well and when they’re not. For sticking by our sides even when we don’t acknowledge his presence.
Lord God,
Thank you for loving us. Thank you for your presence. Though we often take it for granted, knowing you are with us gives us great joy when we are conscious of it, peace when we’re experiencing sorrow, and strength when we don’t know how to go on. Draw us close to you and allow us to experience you.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.[Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Funeral and Prayer Ministry]
-------
Download a printable version of this week's GPS.
Sunday, 19 June 2016 Spiritual Lessons Our Four-Legged Friends Teach Us
“The Steadfast Love of Dogs and God”
Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-24
22 that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted,
that his compassion has not ended.
23 [On the contrary,] they are new every morning!
How great your faithfulness!
24 “Adonai is all I have,” I say;
“therefore I will put my hope in him.
Monday, 20 June 2016
Genesis 1:(A: iii) 24 God said, “Let the earth bring forth each kind of living creature — each kind of livestock, crawling animal and wild beast”; and that is how it was. 25 God made each kind of wild beast, each kind of livestock and every kind of animal that crawls along the ground; and God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.”
27 So God created humankind in his own image;
in the image of God he created him:
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them: God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air and every living creature that crawls on the earth.”
2:19 So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. (S: iii) 20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”[Roger Caras (Writer;
Photographer)]
Animals in Bible times were more often valued for their fleeces, milk and hides than as pets.
Even in that world, however, the Genesis creation stories said God created all living things, not just humans. The divine command to “take charge” of the animals, as with the rest of life on the planet, meant to care for all that God created, not to abuse or exploit it.
• This sermon series will focus particularly on the qualities that beloved dogs bring into our lives. But given the broader focus of the Genesis creation stories, have there been times when some other animal (e.g. a majestic hawk, a baby giraffe) made you aware of God’s
loving creativity?
• In what ways (besides buying quality dog food) do you seek to care for the animal creation God loves (cf. Jonah 4:6-11)? Are there any parts of life in which you are indifferent to the pain or suffering of certain animals, or even find it entertaining to see certain animals hurt? To what extent have you thought about God’s charge for you to care for the animals God created?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a wonderfully varied world you created, teeming with so many kinds
of life. Help me to value the creation you love, and to be a responsible, caring steward of it. Amen.
God never abandons us
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Psalm 13:3 (2) How long must I keep asking myself what to do,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long must my enemy dominate me?
4 (3) Look, and answer me, Adonai my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.
5 (4) Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”;
and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.
6 (5) But I trust in your grace,
my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
(6) I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me
even more than I need.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, “I will never fail you or abandon you.”[Hebrews 13:5 Deuteronomy 31:6] 6 Therefore, we say with confidence,
“Adonai is my helper; I will not be afraid —
what can a human being do to me?”[Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6]
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke God’s message to you. Reflect on the results of their way of life, and imitate their trust — 8 Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.
“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.”[M.K. Clinton (Author)]
We humans talk a lot about “unconditional love,” and sometimes pledge it to one another. But actually doing it is so demanding that we very seldom live up to it. Our dogs, on the other hand, often seem to manage it. And when they do, they show us one of the key qualities of God that the Scriptures taught. We can always depend on God’s love for us.
• Sometimes we quote Hebrews 13:5 as though it is just about money. But this passage
was really about in what or who we put our trust. Are there experiences you look back on
and realize that the fear you felt at the time was unnecessary, that you could trust God?
How can you apply the principles of this passage to any current circumstances triggering fear in you?
• If you’ve had a dog (or other pet) who was always there for you, imagine that dependable
loyalty multiplied by being embodied in the God of the universe. Do you tend to see God
as absent when you need God most, as sort of dependable (because they say so in church), or as a genuinely reliable presence whose steadfast love is with you at all times and in all circumstances?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for being with me right now. Keep me aware of your strong,
loving presence, today and every day. Amen.
A Lord on whom you can depend
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Lamentations 3:19 Remember my utter misery,
the wormwood and the gall.
20 They are always on my mind;
this is why I am so depressed.
21 But in my mind I keep returning to something,
something that gives me hope —
22 that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted,
that his compassion has not ended.
23 [On the contrary,] they are new every morning!
How great your faithfulness!
24 “Adonai is all I have,” I say;
“therefore I will put my hope in him.
“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.”[Gilda Radner (Comedienne)]
Some days are bright, sunny, filled with joy, hope and love. But other days are dark, sad,
scary, filled with fear or anger or tears. Dog lovers know that their canine pals usually seem to know when the dark days come, and if anything to draw closer at those times. In that, they reflect the truth the writer of Lamentations had learned in the rubble of Jerusalem: “the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended.”
• The Babylonian army had flattened Jerusalem—burning the city, and gutting Solomon’s
beautiful temple. Amid the terrible scenes of the conquered city, Lamentations’ writer still found God’s compassion. When do you find it hardest to sense Jesus with you? How can the promise that God’s mercies are new every morning bring you strength and courage,
even in those darkest of days?
• Most of us can relate to experiences that feel like “bitterness and poison.” But too often, although we might accept the faithful friendship of a dog as worth having even in those times, we think God is only worthwhile if the circumstances change. To what extent
have you learned, even in dire circumstances, to lean on and rely on “the faithful love
of the Lord”?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, here I am, and you know what I’m carrying on my heart and in my
consciousness today. And here you are, always, loving me and giving me strength for
whatever I face. Thank you. Amen.
God forgives
Thursday, 23 June 2016
Acts 13:38 “Therefore, brothers, let it be known to you that through this man is proclaimed forgiveness of sins! 39 That is, God clears everyone who puts his trust in this man, even in regard to all the things concerning which you could not be cleared by the Torah of Moshe.
“To err is human—to forgive, canine.”[Unknown]
One reason so many of us love dogs so much is that dogs are wonderfully forgiving creatures.
They are seemingly always ready to wag their tail and lick our hand even after we’ve messed up. Dogs’ forgiving natures, it turns out, are just a pointer to the nature of their creator. When Paul preached in a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, the central fundamental Christian message he shared was “forgiveness of sins.”
• When we fail to be all that we think we should be, all that we know God wants us to be, we tend to be hard on ourselves. Our hearts condemn us. But Scripture said “God is greater than our hearts” (cf. 1 John 3:20), and even more than our canine pets, God forgives us.
Is there something you are having trouble forgiving yourself for? If so, claim God’s
forgiveness, and let Jesus restore you to a right relationship with God.
• Hmmm—a “right relationship with God” suggests that there might be a wrong relationship with God. What do you think that might look like? Could at least one form of it be a relationship that sees God as angry, unhappy with us all the time, and demanding all kinds of harsh self-punishment (cf. Colossians 2:20-23)? What do you think is the difference between healthy self-control and a destructive life-and-joy denying attitude?
Prayer: O Jesus, you forgave and forgave. Even on the cross, you prayed forgiveness for the Roman soldiers hammering nails through your wrists. Thank you for your willingness to forgive me when I blow it. Amen.
A God who runs to greet us
Friday, 24 June 2016
Luke 15:17 “At last he came to his senses and said, ‘Any number of my father’s hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I’m going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and started back to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son — ’ 22 but his father said to his slaves, ‘Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let’s eat and have a celebration! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!’ And they began celebrating.
“One of the happiest sights in the world comes when a lost dog is reunited with a master he loves. You just haven’t seen joy till you have seen that.”[Eldon Roark (Journalist; Author)]
There is nothing restrained or dignified about the way a dog who loves you welcomes you home after you’ve been away for a while. In Jesus’ day, patriarchs, heads of household, did NOT run—people though it most undignified. But when the long-absent son in Jesus’ story showed up on the road home, his father ran to greet him. God isn’t worried about being dignified—God is thrilled any time you take a step toward home.
• In Jesus’ story, the once cocky young man had hit bottom. He had no list of demands—he
just hoped for a square meal in the servants’ quarters. What does it do for you to have your dog greet you exuberantly when you come dragging home after a bad day? What does it
say to your heart to picture God racing down the road to embrace you, even when you are
dragging yourself home to God?
• The son despondently said, “I no longer deserve to be called your son.” The father wasn’t worried about “deserving,” any more than your dog is keeping score to see if you deserve a welcome. If being part of God’s family is not primarily about deserving, then what is it about? If it is not about deserving, then what moves you to change your life in positive ways when you are welcomed into the family?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as the old hymn put it, I have a “wandering heart.” But I want to keep
turning back toward home. And I rejoice to know that you are always eager to welcome me,
even when I’ve wandered. Amen.
Animals in harmony in God’s eternal kingdom
Saturday, 25 June 2016
Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb;
the leopard lie down with the kid;
calf, young lion and fattened lamb together,
with a little child to lead them.
7 Cow and bear will feed together,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 An infant will play on a cobra’s hole,
a toddler put his hand in a viper’s nest.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
anywhere on my holy mountain,
for the earth will be as full
of the knowledge of Adonai
as water covering the sea.
“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”[Mark Twain[Samuel Clemens] (Author)
Of course we wonder: will this canine companion who has become so woven into my heart and my life be with me in eternity? It is not a silly or trivial question. It takes us back to the creation—to say our pets vanish from eternity would suggest that God is only interested in human beings, not in all creation. At least so the prophet Isaiah’s lyrical picture of God’s eternal “holy mountain” clearly suggested. He saw a whole collection of animals living in peace
and joy with one another, and with humans, in God’s eternity.
• Is there one or more animal friends from your past that you particularly look forward to meeting again in eternity? If there is more than one, are you grateful that the prophet envisioned all kinds of animals living in harmony with one another and with humans (even little children)? Does it make sense to you that the God who created and loved animals in the first place would include them in a world made new?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for Isaiah’s vision of the future. Guide me safely to that future, in which your power and love will reunite me with those I have loved, human and animal. Amen.
Family Activity: Enjoy a family movie night! Choose a movie that features dogs as its main
characters. You might consider “Milo and Otis,” “Air Bud” or “101 Dalmatians.” (Make sure to offer yummy snacks as you watch the movie!) As you gather to watch the movie, begin by listing some characteristics of God. Qualities of God might include being loving, accepting, kind, helpful and patient. Invite family members to watch for these characteristics in the movie as portrayed by the dogs. When the movie is over, briefly discuss the qualities shared by God and dogs! Pray to become more loving, accepting and kind, just like dogs and God! (Consider
inviting friends to join you for this fun activity!)
Prayer Requests – submit requests at cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Deana Jones and family on the death of her mother Clara Sharp, 6/12
•Dorothy Smith and family on the death of her father Joel Harold Smith, 6/10
• Nancy Van Sooy and family on the death of her father Lane Ruehlen, 6/10
•Jim Fussel and family on the death of his mother Lucille Fussel, 6/8
•John Kelley and family on thedeath of his mother Josephine Kelley, 6/7
•Jennifer Mangan and family onthe death of her father Warren W. Barnes, 6/5
•Kevin Crull and family on thedeath of his father Bill Crull, 6/4
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
---------------------
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment