How Can I Be Certain?
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life…”
--An ancient song, Psalm 23:6
How easy it is to think about all the days of our lives. Some of us are looking forward to some vacation days and it is easy to allow our thoughts to drift toward a sunny beach or the deck of a cruising ship. Some of us are aware that we, or members in our family, are scheduled for a visit to the doctor because of some health problems. The list is probably endless. We tend to think more about tomorrow and how the goodness and mercy of the Lord will be experienced in our tomorrows.
Max Lucado, popular writer and pastor, reminds us that we need to spend our time with today. “Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems UNTIL tomorrow. You don’t have tomorrow’s strength yet. You simply have enough for TODAY. We don’t need to know what will happen tomorrow.” Wow—pretty tough stuff to hear! (Even though we know he is right on target.)
So, here we are. Right here. Right now. Lord, what is this moment all about?
A prayer: God, grant me enough of what I need today. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.12.11
Showing posts with label Living today. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living today. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Daily Devotion - Friday, July 31
Living in This Moment
For many of us today is the final day of the work week. And for many, the weekend will be their time of work. Some businesses, such as the hospital, run 24—7—365! While some renew themselves over the weekend, others will be busy at the work place.
Whatever days you work and whatever days are your “off-time” remain in the present moment, always living in the present tense.
The Cheyenne Indian had a proverb:
“When you lose the rhythm of the drumbeat of God,
you are lost from the peace and rhythm of life.”
Listen to the drumbeat today, all weekend long, and always!
Prayer: O God, satisfy us with your steadfast love. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.31.09
For many of us today is the final day of the work week. And for many, the weekend will be their time of work. Some businesses, such as the hospital, run 24—7—365! While some renew themselves over the weekend, others will be busy at the work place.
Whatever days you work and whatever days are your “off-time” remain in the present moment, always living in the present tense.
The Cheyenne Indian had a proverb:
“When you lose the rhythm of the drumbeat of God,
you are lost from the peace and rhythm of life.”
Listen to the drumbeat today, all weekend long, and always!
Prayer: O God, satisfy us with your steadfast love. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.31.09
Daily Devotion - Thursday, July 30
Living in This Moment - Part 4
Today’s devotion comes from a Frederick Buechner sermon, preached at the 200th anniversary celebration of the Congregational church in Rupert, Vermont. His concluding remarks:
“There is plenty of work to be done down here, God knows.
To struggle each day to walk the paths of righteousness is no pushover,
And struggle we must because just as we are fed like sheep in green pastures,
we must also feed God’s sheep.
We must help bear each other’s burdens.
We must pray for each other.
We must nourish each other, weep with each other, rejoice with each other.
Sometimes we must just learn to let each other alone.
In short, we must love each other. We must never forget that.”
We are on the “down-side” of this week. Still today, in this present tense moment, there is much that we can, should and must do. May you be empowered for work right now!
Prayer: Ever-present God, bless me in my struggles. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.30.09
Today’s devotion comes from a Frederick Buechner sermon, preached at the 200th anniversary celebration of the Congregational church in Rupert, Vermont. His concluding remarks:
“There is plenty of work to be done down here, God knows.
To struggle each day to walk the paths of righteousness is no pushover,
And struggle we must because just as we are fed like sheep in green pastures,
we must also feed God’s sheep.
We must help bear each other’s burdens.
We must pray for each other.
We must nourish each other, weep with each other, rejoice with each other.
Sometimes we must just learn to let each other alone.
In short, we must love each other. We must never forget that.”
We are on the “down-side” of this week. Still today, in this present tense moment, there is much that we can, should and must do. May you be empowered for work right now!
Prayer: Ever-present God, bless me in my struggles. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.30.09
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, July 29
Living in This Moment - Part 3
Living in the present can be pretty tense! Hostilities seem to explode with unprecedented regularity. Our society is filled with people who can eloquently use political rhetoric to defend their inner passion, even if it delays needed reform. The Lenape tribe shares the following wisdom writing for the leaders of this world and for all inhabitants of it. It reads:
"We are minded to live at Peace: If we intend at anytime to make War upon you, we will let you know of it, and the Reasons why we make War with you; and if you make us satisfaction for the Injury done us, for which the War is intended, then we will not make War on you. And if you intend at any time to make War on us, we would have you let us know of it, and the Reasons for which you make War on us, and then if we do not make satisfaction for the Injury done unto you, then you make War on us, otherwise you ought not to do it.
Long and prayerful meditation on this bit of wisdom is in order this week. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of the Holy One, the Creator of the universe."
Prayer: God of today, be near your world. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.29.09
Living in the present can be pretty tense! Hostilities seem to explode with unprecedented regularity. Our society is filled with people who can eloquently use political rhetoric to defend their inner passion, even if it delays needed reform. The Lenape tribe shares the following wisdom writing for the leaders of this world and for all inhabitants of it. It reads:
"We are minded to live at Peace: If we intend at anytime to make War upon you, we will let you know of it, and the Reasons why we make War with you; and if you make us satisfaction for the Injury done us, for which the War is intended, then we will not make War on you. And if you intend at any time to make War on us, we would have you let us know of it, and the Reasons for which you make War on us, and then if we do not make satisfaction for the Injury done unto you, then you make War on us, otherwise you ought not to do it.
Long and prayerful meditation on this bit of wisdom is in order this week. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of the Holy One, the Creator of the universe."
Prayer: God of today, be near your world. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.29.09
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, July 28
Living in This Moment - Part 2
Erasing the “ought to have” and the “if only” aspects of our lives is important. To forget what is behind is the best way to face today. This is NOT easy, but it is the BEST.
Henri Nouwen writes, “So many things have happened in our lives about which we feel uneasy, regretful, angry, confused or ambivalent. And all these feelings are often colored by guilt. Guilt that says: ‘You ought to have done…..’ or ‘You ought to have said…..’” The result is that we cannot be fully present in the moment because we are holding on to past feelings that obscure our living in the moment.
The same is true of our “if only” moments. When we are wondering about things like “What if the stock market plunges even more?” we are contemplating things beyond our control. We can end up missing the beauty that surrounds us.
Each of us has this moment, this day to be present and attentive to our inner voice and each other. Be alert friends, the One who is, is present right now.
Prayer: God, help me to discover you right here, right now! Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.28.09
Erasing the “ought to have” and the “if only” aspects of our lives is important. To forget what is behind is the best way to face today. This is NOT easy, but it is the BEST.
Henri Nouwen writes, “So many things have happened in our lives about which we feel uneasy, regretful, angry, confused or ambivalent. And all these feelings are often colored by guilt. Guilt that says: ‘You ought to have done…..’ or ‘You ought to have said…..’” The result is that we cannot be fully present in the moment because we are holding on to past feelings that obscure our living in the moment.
The same is true of our “if only” moments. When we are wondering about things like “What if the stock market plunges even more?” we are contemplating things beyond our control. We can end up missing the beauty that surrounds us.
Each of us has this moment, this day to be present and attentive to our inner voice and each other. Be alert friends, the One who is, is present right now.
Prayer: God, help me to discover you right here, right now! Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.28.09
Daily Devotion - Monday, July 27
Living This Moment
One of the struggles we encounter is the struggle of living “this day” to the fullest. It is a struggle because we can easily be distracted—looking back and reflecting on our could have/ should have opportunities; looking forward and hoping about our “I wish”/“I want” desires.
The writer of the Psalm exclaims, “This is the day that our God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Today is a new day and each hour, in fact each minute is a new beginning. It is a time to make things new. As you experience the gift of life today, try to hear that inner voice that is saying to each of us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it!”
As we choose to listen to that inner voice, we will find that the past is gone and we will never change it. As we keep listening to that voice, we will find ourselves opening more and more to discover the new life hidden in the moment, waiting eagerly to be born.
Enjoy THIS DAY!
Prayer: God of today, keep me attentive to each moment of this day. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.27.09
One of the struggles we encounter is the struggle of living “this day” to the fullest. It is a struggle because we can easily be distracted—looking back and reflecting on our could have/ should have opportunities; looking forward and hoping about our “I wish”/“I want” desires.
The writer of the Psalm exclaims, “This is the day that our God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Today is a new day and each hour, in fact each minute is a new beginning. It is a time to make things new. As you experience the gift of life today, try to hear that inner voice that is saying to each of us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it!”
As we choose to listen to that inner voice, we will find that the past is gone and we will never change it. As we keep listening to that voice, we will find ourselves opening more and more to discover the new life hidden in the moment, waiting eagerly to be born.
Enjoy THIS DAY!
Prayer: God of today, keep me attentive to each moment of this day. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.27.09
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