Israel's sin and ours
Lent with Bruggemann
"Seek the LORD while he may be found! Call on him while he is near! Let the wicked man abandon his way. Let an evil man abandon his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will show him mercy. Let him turn to our God, because he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55.6-7 EHV).
Time and time again, the Old Testament prophets . . .
Posted in: lentreflections
on worrying and faith
Lent with Bruggemann
"Which of you can add a single moment to his lifespan by worrying?" -- Matthew 6.27 (EHV)
I find that a biting, embarrassing question, because of course, it is true. Being defensive and frightened and coveting has never really resulted in any gains. Partly we do it because we don't know any better way and partly . . .
Posted in: lentreflections
looking for God in all the wrong places
reflections on Luke 2.41-52
Our church follows the Narrative Lectionary, and yesterday's Gospel reading was Luke's record of Mary and Joseph losing track of Jesus after the Feast of the Passover. In this account, Jesus famously asks Mary, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2.49 NKJV). . . .
Posted in: reflectionssacramentstheology
imperfect faith...and gracious redemption
lection reflection for 13 Dec 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
In this week's collect, we pray for the ability to be able to serve God in purity. In just a few words we are humbly reminded of two sides of our Christian lives: the reality of the struggle against sin and shortcomings and the simultaneous reality of God's promised grace that makes our salvation and deliverance possible. . . .
Posted in: adventreflections
the example of love
lection reflection for 10 Dec 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
In this week's collect, we implore God to stir our hearts and enable us to serve him in response for the great mercies he has shown us in Christ Jesus. Today's Epistle reading (1 Jn 4.7-16) extends this idea to loving and serving each other. But St. John does not simply exhort us to love each other because it is nice, it is . . .
Posted in: adventreflections
sacrificing joy
lection reflection for 4 Dec 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
I didn't write on yesterday's readings because I have been fighting a raging sinus infection which put writing about as far away from my mind as is possible. This, really, pales in comparison to the struggles of several people close to us. Within 24 hours of Monday's post on deliverance and rest, a friend going through a . . .
Posted in: adventreflections
deliverance and rest
lection reflection for 2 Dec 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
Today's readings (Gen 3.1-24 and Mt 11.25-30) expand on the petitions of this week's collect, in which we pray rescue from our sins and God's mighty deliverance. They flesh out these requests by teaching us and reminding us of our need for redemption (from Genesis) and the benefits of God's salvation in Christ (from . . .
Posted in: adventreflections
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