Weekly Inspiration

Psalm 79:1-9 By Harry C. Kiely The heartache of tragic loss is an experience common to most of us. A severe family crisis related to job loss, the sudden death of a loved one, the revelation of infidelity, a devastating flood­ these kinds of trials push us to the wall and make us cry out. In those circumstances, how shall we pray? Dare we come to God and bare our true feelings, even feelings that God has in some way…

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 By Rebekah Miles and Len Delony This week’s reading from Jeremiah describes the people of Judah as they await imminent destruction by an invading army. The prophet’s vision of the near future is grim. The coming destruction seems to undo the very act of creation itself – making the earth “waste and void” and robbing the heavens of their light. “The whole land shall be a desolation.” “The earth mourns.” The coming destruction signals God’s judgment on…

Psalm 139:1-6 By R. Charles Perry Most people are familiar with examinations. They take various forms: physical, mental-even spiritual. Many churches offer worshipers an opportunity during the Holy Communion service to examine themselves inwardly and spiritually. The psalmist reminds us of God’s examination of us: “Lord, you have examined me and you know me” (REB). The Lord knows where we go and what we say. The psalmist is aware of the omniscience of God, the infinite knowledge that God has…

Jeremiah 1:4-10 By Dave Brauer-Rieke God comes to comfort. God comes to heal, to disturb, to reorganize, to destroy and overthrow, to build up and plant. Ours is an active and involved God with plans, hopes, dreams, and visions. Cover to cover the Bible gives testimony to this fact. Some of the most spiritually influential people in my life have been those who teach me to see or watch. Some days I wake up wondering what I have to do…

Isaiah 5:1-7 By Marshall Gilmore Isaiah 5:1-7 is a parable that makes one point, which Isaiah takes a roundabout route to reach. He starts with a wedding scene. As friend of the bridegroom, he says, “Let me sing for my beloved [my friend] my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.” The bridegroom has done everything for the vineyard, the bride, to be fruitful. He gave it a prime location. Plus, he…

Hebrews 11:13-16 by Mary Lou Redding On this midsummer Sunday, we are deep into the season of the Christian year known as ordinary time-the longest season of the liturgical calendar. The festivals of Easter and Pentecost are memories, and Advent is far ahead on the planning calendar. These days bring few special observances in the church-they are “ordinary” time. For us here in the South, August can also bring long days of stifling heat-the “dog days of summer. “This August…

Luke 12:16-21 by MarLu Primero Scott Those who store up treasures for themselves. . . are not rich toward God. The parable Jesus tells us to buttress his point about possessions is poignant. l cannot resist sensing the passion of God for those adopted into the heavenly family who simply trust in God’s word. If we rely on the wisdom of God as parent, we rid ourselves of unnecessary stress. My conversation with a parishioner one beautiful autumn day brings…

Luke 11:5-13 by Terry A. DeYoung An important factor in prayer is recognizing the one to whom we pray. In providing his disciples with a template for prayer, Jesus begins with prayer’s relational component, addressing God as Father, and not as an impersonal, universal force. The depth of our prayer life reflects the intimate, personal relationship that we have with the God of the universe, the one who created all that is, seen and unseen. Luke carefully includes more about…

Amos 8:1-12 by Robert Charles Leibold On New Year’s Eve dear friend s suddenly found themselves in a life-and-death crisis when their SUV went into an uncontrol­lable spin on black ice. With a full load of groceries and two chil­dren buckled in the rear seat, the SUV flipped over and slammed into a telephone pole, snapping it in  two     – a totally unexpected and frightening moment for this family of four. Sam, father of the two boys, was driving. He…

Luke 10:25-37 by Bill Lizor The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were famous for questioning and challenging Jesus and his ministry. In this story a scholar approaches Jesus wanting to know the way to eternal life. The scholar knows the intellectual answer, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” The scholar could have left well enough alone at…

Luke 10:1-11 by Carolyn M. Anderson Jesus selects workers to go where he intends to go. He has commissioned twelve and now commissions seventy more! Then as now, there is more to be done than there are workers to do it. And the sense of urgency is great. We live in a time of enormous opportunity. We pray because the need is enormous and the laborers are few. But in praying for more workers we then make ourselves available because…

2 Kings 5:1-14 by Carolyn M. Anderson Just as it often is for us today, God’s instructions come to Naaman from a most unlikely source. He responds just as we sometimes do, allowing his pride to get the best of him and therefore not doing exactly what the young Israelite girl has said. Rather than following the guidance God is sending, Naaman decides to go to the authority figures, hoping to get what only God can give. Since the letter…