Hearing the Word iv

•April 2, 2014 • Leave a Comment

John 4:43-54 (CEV)

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

43-44 Jesus had said, “Prophets are honored everywhere, except in their own country.” Then two days later he left 45 and went to Galilee. The people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything he had done.

46 While Jesus was in Galilee, he returned to the village of Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was an official in Capernaum whose son was sick. 47 And when the man heard that Jesus had come from Judea, he went and begged him to keep his son from dying.

48 Jesus told the official, “You won’t have faith unless you see miracles and wonders!”

49 The man replied, “Lord, please come before my son dies!”

50 Jesus then said, “Your son will live. Go on home to him.” The man believed Jesus and started back home.

51 Some of the official’s servants met him along the road and told him, “Your son is better!” 52 He asked them when the boy got better, and they answered, “The fever left him yesterday at one o’clock.”

53 The boy’s father realized that at one o’clock the day before, Jesus had told him, “Your son will live!” So the man and everyone in his family put their faith in Jesus.

54 This was the second miracle that Jesus worked after he left Judea and went to Galilee.

Lord,
I hear your word.
Though I don’t see
what you have done,
I believe.

Your word,
your promise,
is enough for me,
I trust you.

I ask,
and I believe you will respond
and so I walk
in that faith,
I hold
all that I have
in that trust.

Lord,
help me hear your word
day by day,
in every situation
and walk on
in your strength.

I believe in you.
Help me
to put my faith
in your unfailing love
and loving action.

I believe in Jesus

Posted in bible, faith, God, hope, Jesus, Lectionary, lent, Religion, theology
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Hearing the Word iii

•April 1, 2014 • 6 Comments

2014-03-30 14.05.31

Ezekiel 47:1-9 (CEV)

The Stream Flowing from the Temple

47 The man took me back to the temple, where I saw a stream flowing from under the entrance. It began in the south part of the temple, where it ran past the altar and continued east through the courtyard.

2 We walked out of the temple area through the north gate and went around to the east gate. I saw the small stream of water flowing east from the south side of the gate.

3 The man walked east, then took out his measuring stick and measured five hundred sixty yards downstream. He told me to wade through the stream there, and the water came up to my ankles. 4 Then he measured another five hundred sixty yards downstream, and told me to wade through it there. The water came up to my knees. Another five hundred sixty yards downstream the water came up to my waist. 5 Another five hundred sixty yards downstream, the stream had become a river that could be crossed only by swimming. 6 The man said, “Ezekiel, son of man, pay attention to what you’ve seen.”

We walked to the riverbank, 7 where I saw dozens of trees on each side. 8 The man said:

This water flows eastward to the Jordan River valley and empties into the Dead Sea, where it turns the salt water into fresh water. 9 Wherever this water flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish, because it will bring life and fresh water to the Dead Sea.

 

Flowing water,
cleansing,
fresh,
reviving.

Wading in the water,
catching my breath,
holding on in its force.

Will it take me with it?
Do I want it to?
Will I go with the flow,
swim against the tide,
or paddle in the shallow?

2014-03-30 14.15.05

This water
feeds,
brings life,
removed impurities,
brings life
to a place of death
and desolation

2013-06-01 14.58.11Wherever this water flows
there is life.
Lord,
let it be here,
let it be now.

In places of dryness,
of suffocation,
of life struggling to be,
flow now,
bring life,
bring freshness.

Flow through me,
I pray,
and may I never forget,
never try to hold it back,
never stop refreshing
and growing
in its flow.

Find Me In The River

(both the flowing stream and the pics are from Padley Gorge on Sunday)

Posted in bible, faith, God, Lectionary, lent, life, Religion, theology
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Hearing the Word ii

•March 31, 2014 • Leave a Comment

Isaiah 65:17-21 (CEV)

The Lord’s New Creation

17 I am creating new heavens
    and a new earth;
everything of the past
    will be forgotten.
18 Celebrate and be glad forever!
I am creating a Jerusalem,
    full of happy people.
19 I will celebrate with Jerusalem
    and all of its people;
there will be no more crying
    or sorrow in that city.

20 No child will die in infancy;
everyone will live
    to a ripe old age.
Anyone a hundred years old
    will be considered young,
and to die younger than that
    will be considered a curse.

21 My people will live
    in the houses they build;
they will enjoy grapes
    from their own vineyards.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI’m doing a new thing,
making a new way,
changing how it has been,
showing something different,
from now on,
this is how it will be.

What has gone before
no longer matters,
it isn’t how it is going to be
from here on in,
the past
is no longer
going to dictate the future.

Look forward,
to what will be.
Things that made you cry
will be no more,
their hold will be gone;
no need for sorrow,
anger,
or shame.

A time will come,
I promise it,
when pain
and it’s causes
will go;
when lives will be lived,
the bounty of the earth
will be enjoyed
and hard work
will see its results.

Hear my word,
my promise.
For now
it may seem anything but,
but
know my assurance,
I am working,
it will happen
as the accomplishment
of all I am
and give to you.

Know that hope,
live in that peace,
be strengthened in my love
and my sure word.

Build that place Lord,
make it a reality in my life
I pray.
As I struggle with now,
longing for a place
without pain
and tears,
give me hope,
give me strength,
work in my life,
show me the way
keep me going,
until I get there.

New Jerusalem

Posted in bible, faith, God, hope, Lectionary, lent, Religion, theology
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