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“You have drawn near to Mount Zion…heavenly Jerusalem”
“You have drawn near to Mount Zion…heavenly Jerusalem”
Friday,4 August 2017
Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a tangible mountain, to an ignited fire, to darkness, to murk, to a whirlwind, 19 to the sound of a shofar, and to a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further message be given to them — 20 for they couldn’t bear what was being commanded them, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it is to be stoned to death”;[Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12–13] 21 and so terrifying was the sight that Moshe said, “I am quaking with dread.”[Hebrews 12:21 Deuteronomy 9:19]
22 On the contrary, you have come to Mount Tziyon, that is, the city of the living God, heavenly Yerushalayim; to myriads of angels in festive assembly; 23 to a community of the firstborn whose names have been recorded in heaven; to a Judge who is God of everyone; to spirits of righteous people who have been brought to the goal; 24 to the mediator of a new covenant, Yeshua; and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of Hevel.
28 Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. 29 For indeed,
“Our God is a consuming fire!”[Hebrews 12:29 Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3; Isaiah 33:14]
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The letter to the Hebrews originally spoke to Christians who faced severe persecution (cf. Hebrews 12:3-4). Under those conditions, they wondered if it was worth holding to their faith in Jesus. In answer, the writer contrasted the fearsome scene in Exodus 19:9-25 with their joy in worshipping Jesus. When the believers worshipped, they were a part of something truly awesome—a cosmic, world-changing reality worth any price they had to pay.
• Verse 28 invited believers to worship God “with reverence and awe.” Which of the images in these verses speak most powerfully to your sense of awe? What are the moments in a worship service (if any) that most evoke in you a sense of respect and awe, an awareness of being in the presence of “the living God”?
• As you prepare to worship this weekend, ask God to lift your imagination beyond the earthly building, musicians and speaker. Pray for a spiritual glimpse of “countless angels in a festival gathering,” of offering worship and praise to the living God in “the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem.” Picture how God desires to transform you, and your surroundings, in Leawood, Olathe, downtown Kansas City or Blue Springs or elsewhere.
Prayer: Great God, in the awe-inspiring beauty of a baby’s face, of a grandparent’s wisdom, of a good friend’s care and concern—touch my heart. In the glory of worship and praise, increase my capacity for awe. Amen.
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Ginger Rothhaas
Ginger is a graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology. She and her husband Rob have a son, a daughter, and a high energy dog. She loves writing, conversations over coffee, and teaching spiritual classes.
I am writing this blog post from a beach chair in Hawaii. This summer marks 50 years of marriage for my parents. They are celebrating this amazing accomplishment by playing with grandkids on the beach! I’m so grateful their marriage has lasted 50 years for many reasons, but this vacation may go to the top of the list! Three generations playing and laughing together fills my soul with love.
As I look out to the horizon, where water meets sky, I feel that feeling we all know but sometimes forget…awe.
Albert Einstein said, “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” This makes me think of Jesus’ teachings on having eyes, but not seeing. There are miracles everywhere we look, but we forget to pause in awe and take notice. We come alive when we take notice.
The ocean reminds me that the world is vast, that my life is both significant and insignificant, that waves will rise and fall and rise again, and that we are all connected. This has me thinking about all of the people who sat in this spot before me, and all of those that will sit here long after I am gone. The ocean is inviting me to make this lifetime count, to contribute love, to do my part while I am here, but mostly to appreciate, in awe, the life God has offered to us.
Wherever you are today, just pause right now and feel a sense of awe. Look at the veins on a leaf. Notice the sun warming the earth. Hear the morning song of a bird. Feel amazement that the device you are holding in your hand can bring you news, entertainment, and connection to others. Notice your breath fill your lungs. Thank your heart for pumping blood through your body. Feel the breeze on your skin. See others with loving eyes.
Be in awe.
God is there.
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“Let every living thing praise the Lord!”
Saturday, 5 August 2017
Psalm 150:1 Halleluyah!
Praise God in his holy place!
Praise him in the heavenly dome of his power!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds!
Praise him for his surpassing greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast on the shofar!
Praise him with lute and lyre!
4 Praise him with tambourines and dancing!
Praise him with flutes and strings!
5 Praise him with clanging cymbals!
Praise him with loud crashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise Adonai!
Halleluyah!
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The collectors and compilers of Israel’s psalms chose this vibrant poem/song of praise to cap the collection. In Israel’s context, it took in both traditional ways of worshipping (“the blast of the ram’s horn”) and more “contemporary” expressions (“drum and dance,” “clashing cymbals”). In the light of God’s “incredible greatness,” it invited God’s people to use the full range of their creativity to celebrate God’s mighty acts, to bring their best energy and skill to the act of worship.
• Pastor-scholar Donald Williams wrote, “This psalm is a little introduction to and summary of what real worship is: expressing joyful delight in the presence of God. Commentators identify this psalm as a hymn. Its author and date are unknown; it is timeless. The thought moves from what to do before God and where to do it (v. 1) to why to do it (v. 2) and concludes with how to do it (vv. 3–6).” * In what ways do your attitude about, and participation in, worship reflect the spirit of this psalm? In what areas do you want to ask God to help your worship experience grow toward this ideal?
Prayer: God of wonders and might acts, by your love draw me ever more fully into your awe-inspiring presence. Guide me to worship you more deeply in spirit and in truth. Amen.
* Donald Williams, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 14: Psalms 73–150. Lloyd John Ogilvie, gen. ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, p. 530.
Family Activity: Create a special worship box or chest for your home. (You can use a shoebox or other container or buy a plain one at a craft store.) Design the outside with words, pictures and symbols representing your family and faith. Inside, place objects that help your family worship together. You might include a Bible, a prayer cloth, a candle, items from nature, pictures, art supplies, and music. Each week spend some time worshipping together at home using the items in your box. You might also try going on a nature walk and praising God for creation, serving in a nursing home or soup kitchen, or even giving a worship box to another family to design and use. Give thanks to God for the blessing of worship!
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You might also like
Beast: You came back. Belle: Don't leave me. I love you.
Lumiere: What if she is ‘the one’ who will break the spell?
Mrs. Potts to the Beast: “Must help her to see past all that”
Belle: He's no monster Gaston. You are!
Mrs. Potts to Belle: The master's not as terrible as he appears!
Or download this week's printable GPS.-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Pat Tackett and family on the death of her mother Betty Grayson, 7/25
• Jon Chamberlain and family on the death of his sister Roberta Landreth, 7/20
•Cran Cederlind and family on the death of his mother Alme “Jackie” Cederlind, 7/20
•Ryan Aldis and family on the death of his mother Sarah Gillman, 7/20
•Family and friends of Melissa Owen on her death, 7/20
• Jim Smith and family on the death of his sister Joyce Winters, 7/19
• Mary Shewmake and family on the death of her brother-in-law James “Jim” Hess, 7/5
•Steve Hechler and family on the death of his father George L. Hechler, 7/4
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Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a tangible mountain, to an ignited fire, to darkness, to murk, to a whirlwind, 19 to the sound of a shofar, and to a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further message be given to them — 20 for they couldn’t bear what was being commanded them, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it is to be stoned to death”;[Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12–13] 21 and so terrifying was the sight that Moshe said, “I am quaking with dread.”[Hebrews 12:21 Deuteronomy 9:19]
22 On the contrary, you have come to Mount Tziyon, that is, the city of the living God, heavenly Yerushalayim; to myriads of angels in festive assembly; 23 to a community of the firstborn whose names have been recorded in heaven; to a Judge who is God of everyone; to spirits of righteous people who have been brought to the goal; 24 to the mediator of a new covenant, Yeshua; and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of Hevel.
28 Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. 29 For indeed,
“Our God is a consuming fire!”[Hebrews 12:29 Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3; Isaiah 33:14]
-------
The letter to the Hebrews originally spoke to Christians who faced severe persecution (cf. Hebrews 12:3-4). Under those conditions, they wondered if it was worth holding to their faith in Jesus. In answer, the writer contrasted the fearsome scene in Exodus 19:9-25 with their joy in worshipping Jesus. When the believers worshipped, they were a part of something truly awesome—a cosmic, world-changing reality worth any price they had to pay.
• Verse 28 invited believers to worship God “with reverence and awe.” Which of the images in these verses speak most powerfully to your sense of awe? What are the moments in a worship service (if any) that most evoke in you a sense of respect and awe, an awareness of being in the presence of “the living God”?
• As you prepare to worship this weekend, ask God to lift your imagination beyond the earthly building, musicians and speaker. Pray for a spiritual glimpse of “countless angels in a festival gathering,” of offering worship and praise to the living God in “the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem.” Picture how God desires to transform you, and your surroundings, in Leawood, Olathe, downtown Kansas City or Blue Springs or elsewhere.
Prayer: Great God, in the awe-inspiring beauty of a baby’s face, of a grandparent’s wisdom, of a good friend’s care and concern—touch my heart. In the glory of worship and praise, increase my capacity for awe. Amen.
-------
Ginger RothhaasGinger is a graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology. She and her husband Rob have a son, a daughter, and a high energy dog. She loves writing, conversations over coffee, and teaching spiritual classes.
I am writing this blog post from a beach chair in Hawaii. This summer marks 50 years of marriage for my parents. They are celebrating this amazing accomplishment by playing with grandkids on the beach! I’m so grateful their marriage has lasted 50 years for many reasons, but this vacation may go to the top of the list! Three generations playing and laughing together fills my soul with love.
As I look out to the horizon, where water meets sky, I feel that feeling we all know but sometimes forget…awe.
Albert Einstein said, “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” This makes me think of Jesus’ teachings on having eyes, but not seeing. There are miracles everywhere we look, but we forget to pause in awe and take notice. We come alive when we take notice.
The ocean reminds me that the world is vast, that my life is both significant and insignificant, that waves will rise and fall and rise again, and that we are all connected. This has me thinking about all of the people who sat in this spot before me, and all of those that will sit here long after I am gone. The ocean is inviting me to make this lifetime count, to contribute love, to do my part while I am here, but mostly to appreciate, in awe, the life God has offered to us.
Wherever you are today, just pause right now and feel a sense of awe. Look at the veins on a leaf. Notice the sun warming the earth. Hear the morning song of a bird. Feel amazement that the device you are holding in your hand can bring you news, entertainment, and connection to others. Notice your breath fill your lungs. Thank your heart for pumping blood through your body. Feel the breeze on your skin. See others with loving eyes.
Be in awe.
God is there.
-------
“Let every living thing praise the Lord!”
Saturday, 5 August 2017
Psalm 150:1 Halleluyah!
Praise God in his holy place!
Praise him in the heavenly dome of his power!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds!
Praise him for his surpassing greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast on the shofar!
Praise him with lute and lyre!
4 Praise him with tambourines and dancing!
Praise him with flutes and strings!
5 Praise him with clanging cymbals!
Praise him with loud crashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise Adonai!
Halleluyah!
-------
The collectors and compilers of Israel’s psalms chose this vibrant poem/song of praise to cap the collection. In Israel’s context, it took in both traditional ways of worshipping (“the blast of the ram’s horn”) and more “contemporary” expressions (“drum and dance,” “clashing cymbals”). In the light of God’s “incredible greatness,” it invited God’s people to use the full range of their creativity to celebrate God’s mighty acts, to bring their best energy and skill to the act of worship.
• Pastor-scholar Donald Williams wrote, “This psalm is a little introduction to and summary of what real worship is: expressing joyful delight in the presence of God. Commentators identify this psalm as a hymn. Its author and date are unknown; it is timeless. The thought moves from what to do before God and where to do it (v. 1) to why to do it (v. 2) and concludes with how to do it (vv. 3–6).” * In what ways do your attitude about, and participation in, worship reflect the spirit of this psalm? In what areas do you want to ask God to help your worship experience grow toward this ideal?
Prayer: God of wonders and might acts, by your love draw me ever more fully into your awe-inspiring presence. Guide me to worship you more deeply in spirit and in truth. Amen.
* Donald Williams, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 14: Psalms 73–150. Lloyd John Ogilvie, gen. ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, p. 530.
Family Activity: Create a special worship box or chest for your home. (You can use a shoebox or other container or buy a plain one at a craft store.) Design the outside with words, pictures and symbols representing your family and faith. Inside, place objects that help your family worship together. You might include a Bible, a prayer cloth, a candle, items from nature, pictures, art supplies, and music. Each week spend some time worshipping together at home using the items in your box. You might also try going on a nature walk and praising God for creation, serving in a nursing home or soup kitchen, or even giving a worship box to another family to design and use. Give thanks to God for the blessing of worship!
-------
-------
You might also like
Beast: You came back. Belle: Don't leave me. I love you.
Lumiere: What if she is ‘the one’ who will break the spell?
Mrs. Potts to the Beast: “Must help her to see past all that”
Belle: He's no monster Gaston. You are!
Mrs. Potts to Belle: The master's not as terrible as he appears!
Or download this week's printable GPS.-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Pat Tackett and family on the death of her mother Betty Grayson, 7/25
• Jon Chamberlain and family on the death of his sister Roberta Landreth, 7/20
•Cran Cederlind and family on the death of his mother Alme “Jackie” Cederlind, 7/20
•Ryan Aldis and family on the death of his mother Sarah Gillman, 7/20
•Family and friends of Melissa Owen on her death, 7/20
• Jim Smith and family on the death of his sister Joyce Winters, 7/19
• Mary Shewmake and family on the death of her brother-in-law James “Jim” Hess, 7/5
•Steve Hechler and family on the death of his father George L. Hechler, 7/4
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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