“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6

My grandmother taught me these verses. I can remember sitting on her lap in her rocking chair – her arms would be extended around me. She would read to me from the Bible. By her words and by her example she provided my first instruction in what it means to trust God.

The instruction my grandmother provided reminds me of the story Henri Nouwen shares about The Flying Rodleighs, German trapeze artists he greatly admired – so much so that he befriended them, attended practice, even traveled with them. (Our Greatest Gift p.66)

“What’s it like?” He asked the leader Rodleigh.

The flyer said, “I must have complete trust in my catcher. The public might think I’m the star – but the real star is Joe, my catcher.”

“How does that work”, Nouwen asked.

“The secret”, Rodleigh said, “is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything.”
You do nothing?”

Rodleigh responded, “The worst thing the flyer can do is try to catch the catcher … the flyer must trust, that with outstretched arms, that the catcher will be there for him.”

Nouwen reflects: “the words of Jesus flashed through my mind. ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
In both living and dying we trust the catcher. Don’t be afraid. Remember that you are the beloved child of God. God will be there when you make your long jump. Don’t try to grab the catcher; the catcher will grab you. Trust, Trust, Trust, Trust!

Let us Pray. Come and embrace me Lord. Hold me secure; Hold me strong; Hold me forever in Your everlasting arms. Amen

A little boy named John entered his first science fair in second grade. Because his Mom has a green thumb, they decided to experiment with the growth of plants. He took two small green plants and placed one on a sunny windowsill and the other in a cardboard box. After a couple of weeks, John checked the two plants. The one on the windowsill had grown a couple of inches and had vibrant green leaves. The one in the box had actually grown a bit, but it had lost all of its green color, becoming almost white and its leaves were drooping. Thinking that the plant might die, John cut a hole in one side of the box, and set the box, with the plant inside, by the windowsill … with the hole facing toward the incoming light.

Of course, we all know what happened, but John was surprised and delighted by this discovery! Yes, over the next couple of weeks, the plant began to grow out through the hole! And a couple of weeks later, it turned to grow up toward the light and even blossomed!

We all need light in our lives.

It’s worth considering – what brings you light? Are there certain people? Your faith? Time volunteering? Time at church? Moments of quiet or moments of action? It is worth paying attention to those people and things that help you grow and blossom. There may be other things that keep you in the dark. May you find ways to cut through those things that leave you in the darkness – and make time for those that shine their light upon you.

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you for the way your light shines even into the darkest times in our lives. We thank you for the people we know and love who reflect that light. And we remember today that Jesus is the true light of the world. Help us to follow Him so that we will never walk in darkness. It is in His name we pray. Amen.

The 23rd Psalm has been a beloved Psalm for people of faith for thousands of years. It has been recited at funerals and in foxholes. It has been said often across the world and across history by people when they feel alone or scared or sad. It is perfect for those moments when we need assurance, faith, and hope. Today, the twenty third Psalm in the old King James version is our message and our prayer. Let us pray:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

In one of the Gospel stories, Jesus heals ten lepers; but only one returns to give thanks. It’s interesting, Jesus tells the man who turns back, “Your faith has saved you.” Another translation reads, “Your faith has made you whole.”

So, ten lepers were made clean, but one of them received something more.

A friend who is in recovery from narcotics, gave me some fresh insight into this passage. He said, “It’s one thing to be clean – clean from drugs, healed of a sickness, freed from anxiety or stress. All of those things Jesus can do. But what’s even more essential, is to allow God to make you whole.” The leper in the story does that by returning, recognizing the Higher Power, recognizing who it is who helped him get clean in the first place, and by giving thanks. Gratitude, faith and salvation are all tied up together in this story.

Today, may you remember the grace you’ve experienced in your life. May you return to the source and find a way to give thanks. And as you do, may you notice the grace of God making you whole.

Let us pray: God of Grace, thank you so much for children, laughter, smiles, hugs, for flowers and butterflies, for family and friends, for life and health, for sunny days, and for rain. Thank you for our church families, for grandmas and grandchildren, for goldfish, and for the ability to love. And God we could go on and on. Help us never, ever take these gifts for granted. You have given us so much. We receive and we receive, and we receive.

Remind us to appreciate, but not to stop there. Help us to allow our gratitude to be reflected in the way we live. As we have received, may we in turn give. For we pray in the name of the One who gave even his very life. Amen.

Sometime back in West Memphis, Arkansas, three young men were charged with murder. When they made it to court, the father of one of the victims suddenly rushed at the young men screaming, “I’ll chase you all the way to hell.” One writer observed, “I understand the father’s fierce anger, but there is something almost prophetic about his words. If we allow our hatred for those who have wronged us to go unchecked, it will eventually destroy us. We will follow our bitterness ‘all the way to hell.'”

When, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.…”

In truth, forgiveness is less about the other person and more about us. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want what someone else did to me to control me. I don’t want hatred and rage to own me. When we forgive others, more than anything else we set ourselves free.

Let us pray: God of grace, we praise you for your unconditional love and forgiveness of us. I pray today especially for those who are struggling to forgive others. Empower them to walk away from the situation if need be, but then to let go, to forgive and to move on. Today, may your Spirit rest on each of us, granting us your peace. Amen.