Good to be Here

•February 27, 2014 • Leave a Comment

There are some things that you get to see when you know that you are experiencing a very special event, and you feel the privilege.  Occasions when the words of John Lennon and Paul McCartney ring out,

It’s wonderful to be here,It’s certainly a thrill

As I child, I remember standing outside Sheffield Town Hall waiting for The Queen to arrive.  The crowds were several deep, it was deemed to be a special event, something worth seeing.  Other events may be considered less meaningful, but are special to those involved; sometimes you just had to be there to appreciate the importance and feel the atmosphere.

Matthew 17:1-9 (CEV)

The True Glory of Jesus

17 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John with him. They went up on a very high mountain where they could be alone. 2 There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

3 All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. 4 So Peter said to him, “Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!” 6 When the disciples heard the voice, they were so afraid that they fell flat on the ground. 7 But Jesus came over and touched them. He said, “Get up and don’t be afraid!” 8 When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.

9 On their way down from the mountain, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had been raised from death.

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain with him.  Are you already hearing echoes, clues that something important is going to happen?  God and mountains often means something profound, a special event.

Something happened to Jesus right in front of them.  He changed.  Jesus shines as bright as light.  The glory of the Lord is here for those who wish to see it.  But more than that, God speaks.  He echoes the words of Jesus baptism, with the added instruction to listen to him.

What a privilege for the disciples to be there, to hear the voice of God so clearly.

Do you long for that?  To hear the voice of God so clearly?  To know exactly what he is saying?  To see his presence so obviously?  I know I do.

Perhaps this points us again to the need to draw away with God, to follow Jesus, to take time to be with him – up a mountain if necessary! We need those special times with God.  Sometimes we need to make a concerted effort to listen, and that may mean removing other distractions for a time..

God invites us to join him?  Will we be glad to?  To be thrilled to be there with him?  To wait to hear what he has to show us and say to us?

Take me In

Lord,
let me come,
to long to take time
to be with you,
to enjoy your presence.

To stay,
hear your voice
and see clearly
what you are doing.

Speak Lord,
let me hear,
and I may respond

Posted in bible, faith, God, Jesus, Lectionary, Religion, theology
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God Speaks

•February 26, 2014 • Leave a Comment

When we hear a fanciful story, it is all too easy to dismiss it – often rightly so.  But when it turns out that the event has witnesses, it has to be taken more seriously, and the more witnesses, the more believable it becomes.

2 Peter 1:16-21 (CEV)

The Message about the Glory of Christ

16 When we told you about the power and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories that someone had made up. But with our own eyes we saw his true greatness. 17 God, our great and wonderful Father, truly honored him by saying, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.” 18 We were there with Jesus on the holy mountain and heard this voice speak from heaven.

19 All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place. You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 But you need to realize that no one alone can understand any of the prophecies in the Scriptures. 21 The prophets did not think these things up on their own, but they were guided by the Spirit of God.

There appear to be mutterings about the truth of what Peter has told them, questions about the validity about what they are claiming about Jesus.  So Peter writes to assure them that these are not made up stories, but these are truths that he and others have seen with their own eyes.  They were there at the transfiguration (coming tomorrow); they heard the voice declaring,

 This is my beloved son.

They had seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears.  This is not a second or third hand account, but the truth told by someone who was there.  And what they saw and heard in Jesus made them more convinced of their faith in the Old Testament prophets too.

These are not made up stories, they are God talking to his people – and notice should be taken.

We do not have the privilege of seeing Jesus as he lived and walked on this earth.  But, we do have the knowledge of his presence in our lives day by day.  I know what he has done in and through me.  It is not a wild story, but a truth.  We will each have had that experience, when we have just known that God was there, working, speaking, nudging, equipping, moving us on – though we may not always have noticed it at the time.  Saying here I am, what are you going to do?

This is the truth we can stand on – the truth of our experience of God in our lives.  It might not have been a flashy experience like the transfiguration, but it will have been just as real, just as much God’s presence with us, giving us the strength we need to follow him, to speak his word, to know him in our lives.

Thank you Lord
for the times when I have known
your presence,
very real,
very near,
totally true.

 Thank you
for the confidence that gives,
to rely on you,
to speak of you,
to work for you.

 As I hear your voice,
may I be equipped
for all that you ask of me,
all that you take me to,
and to share that truth
with others

Lord, I come to you

Posted in bible, faith, Jesus, Lectionary, Religion, response, theology
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Our Schemes, God’s Love – Psalm 2

•February 25, 2014 • Leave a Comment

Plotting,
planning,
scheming
all against God
and his people.

Why do they bother?
They think they can go free,
but God is watching,
chuckling at their folly,
angry that they turn from him,
sad that they reject him.

But God loves me,
each one of us,
he welcomes us as his children,
his family,
inheritors of all he has and is.

Why reject that?
Why not respect and honour God?
Why not serve him?
Celebrate him?

God blesses and protects
every person who runs to him

will you?

Do I?

Psalm 2 (CEV)

The Lord’s Chosen King

2 Why do the nations plot,
    and why do their people
    make useless plans?
2 The kings of this earth
    have all joined together
    to turn against the Lord
    and his chosen one.
3 They say, “Let’s cut the ropes
    and set ourselves free!”

4 In heaven the Lord laughs
as he sits on his throne,
    making fun of the nations.
5 The Lord becomes furious
    and threatens them.
His anger terrifies them
    as he says,
6     “I’ve put my king on Zion,
    my sacred hill.”

7 I will tell the promise
    that the Lord made to me:
“You are my son, because today
    I have become your father.
8 Ask me for the nations,
    and every nation on earth
    will belong to you.
9 You will smash them
    with an iron rod
    and shatter them
    like dishes of clay.”

10 Be smart, all you rulers,
    and pay close attention.
11     Serve and honor the Lord;
    be glad and tremble.
12 Show respect to his son
    because if you don’t,
the Lord might become furious
    and suddenly destroy you.
But he blesses and protects
    everyone who runs to him.

Psalm 2

Posted in bible, faith, God, Lectionary, love, Religion, theology
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