Daily Reflections for June 29-July 5
Daily Reflections for July 6-July 12
Daily Reflections for July 13-19
Daily Reflections for July 20-26
Daily Reflections for July 27-August 2
Daily Reflections for August 3-9
Daily Reflections for August 10-16
Daily Reflections for August 17-23
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Ruth 1:1-18
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:11-14
Mark 12:28-34
Monday, October 26. Ruth chooses to follow Naomi back to Judah even though it means leaving behind the people and the life she knows. When have you stepped out in faithfulness to follow a new path? Where did it lead you? Who were the people who guided you along the way?
Tuesday, October 27. Psalm 146 recalls God’s actions in the lives of Israel. Remember how God has acted your life. Write a psalm of thanksgiving.
Wednesday, October 28. In the Mark passage, someone asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment. What is Jesus’ answer? How can you show your love for God with all your heart? With all your soul? With all your mind? With all your strength?
Thursday, October 29. Reflect more on the great commandment. Find time to give the questions of yesterday your full attention. Read “Room for God” and consider a form of fasting to enhance your reflection.
Friday, October 30. As you prepare for All Saints’ Day sing “Communion of Saints” to the tune of “For All the Saints”. Think about the words as you sing. Do want to be a saint? In what way are you a saint already?
Saturday, October 31. Halloween. Experience this day through the eyes of a child. Dress up in a costume. Give away candy or donate to a charity. Carve pumpkin. Bob for an apple. Take pleasure in the simple joys of childhood.
Sunday, November 1. All Saints’ Day. On this day we remember all the saints who have gone before us. Saints are all those who walked the road of faithfulness so that those who follow could hear the good news. Remember the people who told you the good news of God’s grace and say thank you to them.
Prayer
God of all the saints, I want to be one too. Lead me on my way rejoicing and singing your praise so that like the saints I can declare your love. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22)
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52
Monday, October 19. Job declares that nothing that God can do all things and that God’s purpose can never be destroyed. What do you think of this idea? When you see suffering do you wonder if God’s purposed are being defeated? How is the idea of God’s sovereignty over all things comforting to you?
Tuesday, October 20. The writer of Hebrew declares Christ’s status as high priest and confesses his faith in this Christ. Read this passage and then write your own confession of faith in the Christ? What does Christ do and make possible?
Wednesday, October 21. Read the whole passage from Psalm 34. Write the words of verse 8 on a
large piece of paper and hang it where you will see if often. When have you tasted and seen the goodness of God? When have you found happiness and joy in taking refuge in God?
Thursday, October 22. Ponder your own understanding of the “Parable of the Talents”. You may want to read the whole text in Matthew 25:14-30. What do you think of the idea of being the gift rather that the receiver? How could that change your vision of yourself?
Friday, October 23. The blind man cries out to Jesus, recognizes him as the son of David, and trusting him to heal him. Read this story in Mark. Reflect on the characters in the story: the blind man, the crowd, and Jesus. Who are you most like? How is your faith like that of the blind man?
Saturday, October 24. United Nations Day. Go to the UN website (www.un.org) and find out what the organization to relieve the suffering of the poor, the hungry, and the sick. Choose one way to get involved. Tell someone else about the work of the UN.
Sunday, October 25. Reformation Sunday. Think about the men and women of the 15th century that challenged the status quo and the suffering they endured for their beliefs. What can you learn from them? What part of the status quo do you feel called to challenge? How much suffering are you willing to endure for your convictions?
Prayer
God of all gifts, forgive me when I take them for granted and fail to taste your goodness in them. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
Psalm 104:1-9, 24,35c
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45
Monday, October 12. Columbus Day observed. Imagine crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a small boat when you had no idea what would happen to you. Remember a time when you stepped out in faith not having any idea what would happen. What happened? Why do you go? What did you learn?
Tuesday, October 13. God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind. How do these words also apply to you? Draw a picture with words or pens of the God of the whirlwind. What does this tell you about God?
Wednesday, October 14. We are told in Hebrews that Jesus “learned obedience through suffering.” When have you learned through suffering? What have you learned through suffering?
Thursday, October 15. In Mark 10 we read that James and John wanted to know what kind of position they would have in heaven. Jesus asks them if they are willing to participate in his suffering. What does participating in Jesus’ suffering mean to you? How is it connected to being a servant of others?
Friday, October 16. World Food Day. Google ”World Food Day 2009” to find out how you can participate in the world effort or locally. Learn about the connections between hunger and poverty. Volunteer at a food bank. Serve a meal to a homeless person. Have rice and beans for dinner. Go to bed hungry.
Saturday, October 17. Read “Desperation” and reflect on the way that the author moved from a world filled only with her own pain to include the pain of others. Find a way today to move beyond your own suffering to touch the pain of another with God’s love.
Sunday, October 18. Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Go outside and look around. Smell the air. Taste a vegetable in season. Read Psalm 104. Give thanks to God for the sights, smells and tastes of God’s creation.
Prayer
God of the whirlwind, forgive me when I think I am the center of the universe instead of you. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Psalm 22:1-15
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
Monday, October 5. All these horrible things have happened to Job. He has heard the suggestions of his peers. Now in fear and trembling he lays his case before God in chapter 23. Read the whole chapter. How do Job’s feelings change? What frightens him about God? What frightens you about God?
Tuesday, October 6. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus does not “sympathize with our weakness” because he has been “tested as we have.” How does that statement change your understanding of what God wants from you? How does it change your image of the Christ?
Wednesday, October 7. Read “Can I Present Myself, Lord?” and think about your own understanding of renewal. What does it mean to you that God can use you right now just as you are? What will you do with that grace today?
Thursday, October 8. Jesus quotes part of Psalm 22 from the cross. What does this tell you about his suffering? How is his suffering like Job’s? How is his suffering like yours?
Friday, October 9. The author of “God’s Call: Not What You’d Think (or Hope For)” suggests that suffering is part and parcel of God’s call. What do you think of this idea? When has following God’s call caused you to suffer?
Saturday, October 10. In Mark 10:17-31 a rich man wants to know what he needs to do to be saved. Jesus tells him to “go, sell, give, and follow.” What does that instruction require of you? What is the most difficult part of the instruction? Today choose a way to “go, sell, give, and follow.”
Sunday, October 11. Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. As you read “All of You” ponder who in this story you are most like – the rabbi or the rich man. Imagine the rabbi speaking the words to you. What would be your response? Would you stay frozen in place or follow the Holy One?
Prayer
Lord, give me the faith to go, sell, give and follow. Take what I have and use it to transform me so that I do not stay frozen. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Job 1:1, 2:2-10
Psalm 26
Hebrews 1:1-4: 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16
Monday, September 28. The story of Job invites us to ask why God allows suffering. As you read this passage think about your own understanding of that question. Think about those you know who are suffering today. What insights into suffering does this passage provide?
Tuesday, September 29. The writer of Hebrews talks about both the glory and honor of Christ as well as the suffering. The author seems to suggest that one is not possible without the other. What is your understanding of the necessity of Christ’s suffering? And how does it relate to the suffering of the world?
Wednesday, September 30. “An Uncomfortable Nudge” tells the story of one man standing at the communion rail. How was he connected to the suffering of the world as he came to that meal? When have your received a nudge from God? How did it connect you to the suffering of the world?
Thursday, October 1. What do you think Jesus means when he says that all of us must come into the little Kingdom of God as little children? What child like qualities are we required to have? If you have the opportunity today, talk to a child about God and see what answers you can find to this question.
Friday, October 2. In Perspectives, read the words of David E. Roberts. How it is childlike to trust God in spite of the unknown and see life as an adventure? What is keeping you from seeing the world through the eyes of a child and trust God with your whole heart?
Saturday, October 3. Read Psalm 26 as you prepare for coming to the Lord’s Table for World Communion tomorrow. Pray this prayer out loud. Make it your own prayer by adding your own confession, requests and song of praise.
Sunday, October 4. World Communion Sunday. The Table of the Lord is spread for those who believe in the Christ all around the world. As you sit down for the communion meal today, look to your left and right. Imagine those from around the world sitting next to you and give thanks to God.
Prayer
God of the Holy Meal, feed me with your joy and grace so that I may serve you with my whole being. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10: 9:20-22
Psalm 124
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50
Monday, September 21. International Day of Peace. Read the newspaper or an Internet new site. Make a list of all the people and places in the world where peace is needed. Stop frequently throughout the day and Pray for each of them by name one by one. Speak words of peace to those you meet. Use a breath prayer to feel God’s peace.
Tuesday, September 22. Read through the whole book of Esther today and savor the story. How did Esther act sacrificially? Who were the beneficiaries of her courage? How can you be like Esther?
Wednesday, September 23. Esther was just the right person in the right time and place. As you read “Love and Sacrifice” think of the ways the author was also just the right person at the right time. Remember a time you did something that required great courage but was something only you could do. What happened? How did it change you?
Thursday, September 24. In “Manifesting the Glory of God” the author maintains that it is not that we think ourselves inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure. What do you think of this idea? How could believing this change your life?
Friday, September 25. In James 5:13-20, the author addresses the issue of prayer. What does he say? In what way do you agree with his words? What claim does he make about prayer?
Saturday, September 26. As you read Psalm 124, remember a time when you believed your enemies or the enemies of God would “swallow” you. What happened? Who were the enemies? How did God being your side change things?
Sunday, September 27. Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Someone asks Jesus in Mark 9:38-41 about casting out demons. His response is that whoever is for him isn’t against him. What do you think of this statement? What does it say about people who do good deeds but are not Christians?
Prayer
Make me like Esther, Lord, ready to act as if I am the only one who can and the reason I am in this place. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Proverbs 31:10-31
Psalm 1
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37
Monday, September 14. Read about the virtuous wife in Proverbs. What is your reaction to this passage? In what ways does it describe ways in which we should all be virtuous? What does it say to us all about caring for others? Try your hand at writing a modern version of the passage changing “wife” to “women and men.”
Tuesday, September 15. The psalmist compares the one who follows God to a tree that is planted by water. Take a walk and find a tree planted by water. As you sit near the tree think about how you are like that tree? What can you learn from the tree about following the Christ?
Wednesday, September 16. The author of “Rhododendron” compares the children of God to this extraordinary plant. Look around in your garden or a park. What do you see in creation that reminds you of God’s grace in you? What image of grace does create for you?
Thursday, September 17. In her poem “Vessel” Roberta Porter envisions herself as a container for God’s love. Imagine yourself as a vessel of God’s love. If you were a container for God’s love what shape would you be? What color? What kind of clay?
Friday, September 18. Before reading the passage in James, write out your own definition for gentleness. Now read James. How does your definition compare to his? Who needs your gentleness today?
Saturday, September 19. The passages and stories for this week have invited you to think about the many images of faith – a virtuous woman, a tree, a flowering shrub, and a vessel. Which one of these images is most helpful to you as you think about your life and your faith? Try your hand at using colored pencils or charcoal to drew a concept of this image. Hang in a place you will see it often.
Sunday, September 20. Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In Mark 9:30-37 Jesus says that whoever welcomes a small child also welcomes him. How can you welcome a small child today – either directly or indirectly? Share time with a child. Give to an organization that works with children. Pray for those who work for justice in the lives of children.
Prayer
God of the tree and rhododendron, make me green with promises. God of clay pots, fill me to overflowing with your love. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
Weekly Lectionary Texts
Proverbs 1:20-33
Psalm 19
James 3:1-12
Mark 8:27-38
Monday, September 7. Labor Day. Think about work today. Think about the work of those who never get ahead. Think of those without work today. Think about your work. How does it bring meaning to your life? Give thanks for work to do and energy to do it?
Tuesday, September 8. In Proverbs 1:20-33 Wisdom is portrayed as a woman crying out on the city streets. What do you think of this image? Why do you think Wisdom is seen as a woman? What words does Wisdom have to speak through you on the city streets of your life today?
Wednesday, September 9. As you read the familiar words from Psalm 19:14, consider your own words and meditations. What makes them pleasing and acceptable to the Lord? Make a list of words and expressions you can say to others today that will be a vehicle of God’s love to them.
Thursday, September 10. Read “Confession” and remember times when you came prepared with what you thought were “just the right words” and God filled you ears with hearing instead. What happened? What changed in you? In the other person?
Friday, September 11. Read through James’ description of the human tongue. Think about your own tongue and its ability to speak blessings and curses. What words are most apt to tumble off your tongue in times of fear, anxiety, disappointment and anger?
Saturday, September 12. The author of “A Necessary Prayer” found out the sometimes God uses unknown people to guide us to right places and ministries. When have you said “Here I am” to God and found a call in ways you would never have expected. Write or call the person who God used to guide you or give thanks for their words.
Sunday, September 13. Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Within a few verses in Mark, Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah and then challenges him. In response, Jesus tells him to be quiet. When is it most loving to be quiet and when is it most loving to speak out? Which is most difficult for you?
Prayer
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord. Amen.
Nancy Ferguson is a Presbyterian minister and certified church educator. Her ministry experiences range from seminary instructor to pastor to curriculum developer to camp director to outdoor ministries consultant. She is the author of six books and a frequent workshop leader. Nancy is an articulate advocate for experiential faith formation and experiences beyond the walls of the church. She lives in Accomac County, Virginia near Chincoteague Island where she focuses her attention on creation of educational and spiritual resources for congregational members, church leaders, and camps.
You can visit her website at www.BlueTreeResources.org
In my last post, I wrote about appropriating Old Testament laws by imagining the guiding principle behind the law by thinking about ways of appropriating a law in that way. Clearly, Jesus summed up that principle in two commandments: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).
One of the unique features about human beings is that we alone can imagine or contemplate from a different perspective. In other words, we have the ability to realize that things could be different. They don’t have to be the way they are. So we can visualize different scenarios.
Being our country is in one of the worst recessions in years, the economy is a pretty hot topic right now. Now the Bible doesn’t really have a lot to say about “the economy” as a function of society. But reading these laws, we see that, again, there are certain basic principles: deal honestly with your neighbor; no dishonest weights; pay people what you owe them in a timely manner, especially if they need the money. Perhaps the most interesting (and certainly the most troubling) law, from our modern perspective, is the law banning “usury,” or the taking of interest. Simply put, the Bible outlaws banking. Using money to make more money was not an option.
Now the Bible doesn’t say a lot about this, beyond banning the practice. But we know from other ancient sources that the primary reason charging interest was taboo was that it was seen as a perversion, as a corruption of the true purpose of money in particular and of economics in general. (If this sounds Aristotelian, it’s because it is.) Simply put, economic activity, the buying and selling of goods in society, serves the purpose of making sure that people could get those things (food, clothing, shelter) that they needed to live. Money was a way that the distribution of goods could be done efficiently; if done right, everyone could live comfortably and society would prosper. Now certainly if someone worked hard and was good at his or her trade, he or she would prosper and may even get rich. But the point is that making a lot of money or getting rich was never seen as the basic goal of the economy. In the Bible, anyone who was in business solely for that reason was described as “greedy for gain,” which is roundly condemned in the law and the prophets as a form of institutionalized violence.
I think that this is one of the major flaws (though certainly not the only one) in our current debate that has contributed to the financial crisis we’re now in. I recently read a blog post that described the “free market system” (that institution that we all know and love and that some of us value with a reverence that approaches worship) as the best economic system ever developed to amass huge amounts of money, not to mention that it does so through efficient distribution. Now I’m not denying that that’s true. The fundamental problem with that line of reasoning, however, is that making money should not be the primary function of the economy. I’m not an economic expert, but I’d be willing to wager that Adam Smith never made that argument. And making money from money compounds the problem even more, because that inevitably has led to decisions that focus on what’s the best approach to increase profits and not what’s best for making sure people get the things they need to survive.
Taking this discussion one step further, we have become so focused in our society on this warped understanding of what the function of the economy is (making money), that we now use it as one of the primary criteria in how we judge the success or failure of our governments. The question, Are you better off [read, “financially”] now than you were four years ago?” has become a staple in our political discussions. Again, ancient people (and plenty of moderns) would see this a perversion, a form of violence. The purpose of government is to ensure a harmonious society. Perhaps an aspect of that might be that we all become more financially secure, but that should never be the primary concern.
I often like to joke that there seems to be an underlying assumption in the Bible that “a people get the government that they deserve.” Perhaps that’s the case.