Living in Love

•May 9, 2012 • 1 Comment

We thought last week about remaining in God, being firmly attached to his life and growth.  Now we are told specifically that we are to remain in his love.

John 15:9-17

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

What does remaining in God’s love look like?

Well, first of all, it involves letting him love us.  That may sound strange, but it is perfectly possible to keep God at arm’s length, to not “let him in”, to stop him wrapping his arms around us and allowing ourselves to know we are loved by him.  A relationship with God is just that, a two-way event.  It is not just about us doing the right thing, worshipping him, praying and all those other things that make up faithful christian living; it is also about allowing God to touch us.

We need to rest in God’s love…

…and then

we have to go, and love others in the way that God loves us – a sobering thought.

God loves, without memory, without condition, without holding anything back.

The fruit we are called to grow are the fruit of love.

Lord,

I long to feel the touch of your love.

May I not keep you at arm’s length,

or shut you out,

but receive the love you pour out to me.

Let it fill me,

and overflow from me,

that I may pass that love on,

to others that need to know

and feel

your love

– my love

Posted in God, Jesus, Lectionary, love
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What are you Expecting?

•May 8, 2012 • Leave a Comment

Well what did you expect?  The cry of justification, I told you so; the question, what did you think would happen; what were you really waiting for?

We have many expectations in life, but we are we expecting from God?  In our lives, and in the lives of those around us?

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

The bible seems full of people being amazed that God was moving and working in other people’s lives.  During Jesus’ time, it was the Scribes and Pharisees that tried to limit God’s work within the “right” people, now we have the circumcised believers, being surprised that The Holy Spirit has been poured out “even on Gentiles”.  Peter points them to the fact that God has done it – so they had better get on with it and with them.

The message of God is quite clearly, yes even them!  Even you!  God is not limited by labels or the opinions of others.  When God has a work to do he does it, through whom and with whom he needs to.  He is not limited by our expectations or control.

Today, what are you expecting God to do?  In your life?  In your community?  In the lives of those around you?

Lets let him do it, and join him in his work.

Lord,

may I be astonished

and surprised by you;

but may I never try and limit you,

or dictate what you should do.

Lord,

I wait in expectation,

to see what you are going to do,

with me,

and with those who surprise me,

that your power,

your strength,

your call,

may come anew

Posted in God, Holy Spirit, Lectionary
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Sing, Sing a Song?

•May 7, 2012 • Leave a Comment

I thought I’d re-post this, that I wrote the weekend before last, in response to this Sunday’s Psalm.  I’m genuinely looking for an answer for praising God, without being able to sing.

Psalm 98

A psalm.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn —
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.

Before we got married my mum said to Mr Pamsperambulation, “If she’s not singing in a morning within 3 minutes of putting her feet on the floor, you’re in trouble”.  Music and particularly singing was an important and enjoyable part of my life, especially in worship, part of helping focus on God.

When you add to that the fact that Methodists are “Born in Song” – singing is what we do, you can see the place I was coming from.

One of the saddest parts of my illness is that I can no longer sing, more than a couple of lines and I’m off coughing and hoarse.  Sometimes I can live with this, sometimes, especially in worship, I find it very hard.

I want to make it clear that I am not getting at anyone here, just exploring a way to live with what is, in a community that places a lot of emphasis on singing as a way to meet God – after all it is a way I would have used before I couldn’t.  But I don’t want to let something that used to be such a fundamental part of my life and worship to come as a barrier between me and God, or the community that still worships that way.  It’s me that’s changed – not the church.

It can’t just be me.  What about people who just don’t like singing or music just doesn’t do it for them?  Or people who come into our churches and know none of the hymns and songs we sing, finding it a totally alien concept?  I suppose they find a service that suits them.  But I have lost enough, and don’t want to feel I have to find a different church tradition too.

I had found one way of joining in with the music, by having a percussion instrument.  It helped me to still feel a part of the singing instead of just standing like a lemon.  But it’s not appropriate for all songs – and certainly not for all situations.

So how can I work this out?  I have no answers, but have got to find a way to come to terms with it.  Some days it’s ok, others it breaks my heart and makes me feel even more isolated and de-skilled than I already do.  Anyone any suggestions?

Posted in God, Lectionary
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