Friday, January 24 – Prayers for...

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)

Some people can talk non-stop.  Others are great listeners.  Some devote themselves to lives of prayer.  Others squeeze in a moment or two during the week...and then there’s always Sunday...if I make it this week!

Prayer is a basic as breathing in the life to a child of God...at least it could be...should be.  How is it for you?

One of the most profitable times and habits in our lives is the time we make for prayer.  What is your habit?  Whether it’s talking or listening, reading prayers others have written or coming up with your own or just being quiet and hearing God in the silence...all is important time with God.

Take...make...time for prayer today.  Pay attention to your habit.  How life-giving is your prayer time each week...each day?

Thursday, January 23 – Is God heard?

His disciples remembered that the scripture says, "My devotion to your house, O God, burns in me like a fire."     –John 2:17 (TEV)

Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival; one of three festivals that were ‘required attendance’ for all Jewish males.

In the Temple he discovers, not a focus on prayer but a focus on money!  Wealth/Mammon is the chief rival to the one, true God.  Today, as in Jesus’ time, the lure/love of money draws us away from a devotion to God, the source of our true wealth.

People came to the Temple needing to buy animals for sacrifice and pay the half shekel temple tax.  The money-changers would take the local Roman coin and change it into the Jewish coin necessary to pay the tax (for a fee).  Turning the Temple into a marketplace took the focus away from the relationship with the one, true God.

This brings to mind all the distractions that keep us from hearing and talking to the one God in our lives that seeks to love & bless, guide & strengthen us.  Do ‘marketplaces’ keep you from focusing on the call to prayer and deeper connection with the God who is your life?

Pray...for yourself and for us all...that we may turn away from the marketplaces that distract us from connecting with the One who is our life...our health...and our most satisfying wealth.

Wednesday, January 22 – Enjoying life and love

Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. –John 2:1-2 (TEV)

How much is Jesus like you and me?  Can he ‘kick back’ and enjoy the festivities that go with a wedding...food, wine, family and friends?

It seems Jesus was doing just that when the wine ran out.  “Mom” asks for help.  Jesus says it’s not our problem.  Her response says she’s confident he will help...and he does.  Jesus not only helps, but richly blesses this couple and all connected to the wedding by his rich gift!

Besides adding to the festivities, the connection with all that is to come is rich in symbolism:  water...living water, baptism; wine...blood; marriage...commitment to love us...to the end...and beyond.

Give thanks for the joys and festivities of life!

Tuesday, January 21 – Relationships of commitment

When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." ⁴ And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come."    –John 2:3-4 (NRSV)

Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding as a miracle revealing his ‘glory.’ The disciples “believe” in Jesus; they are drawn into a relationship of commitment to him.  Could this miracle be a sign of Jesus’ commitment to a ‘life together’ with us?

The marriage of bride and groom is only one of many relationships of commitment.  From bride and groom can come children:  a further relationship of commitment...life together across generations. Then there is one’s family of origin, the in-laws, friends, work, church...

The relationship between Jesus and us is sometimes cast as a marriage.  It certainly is a relationship of commitment!  The Groom commits completely to the Bride.

Pray for all your relationships of commitment.  Which one is central?  Which ones are life-giving?  Which ones take lots of work?

Monday, January 20 – The Bride and Groom

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.              –John 2:1-2 (NRSV)

Weddings are joyous occasions when family and friends are gathered and all the possibilities are out in front of the couple making life promises to each other.  Then comes ‘life together’...in-laws, kids...

We know by personal experience and/or watching others that “life together” isn’t all smiles and celebration.  It’s hard work...navigating fears and disappointments, admitting mistakes, asking for & receiving forgiveness, dealing with misfortune...and success...in healthy ways.  It can even call for great sacrifice.  Is it worth it?

The Groom commits to the Bride and vise versa.  All the possibilities are before them.  How will they live ‘life together’?

Pray for all the marriages in your life.  How are they ‘worth it’...even those that go through great difficulty?