Day 133 Jesus responds to a shout from the crowd Luke 11:27-28

Guided reflection:

Luke includes some extra stories that the other gospels miss – some are just little happenings, like this one.   A woman in the crowd has been in awe of Jesus and as a mother realizes that his mom must really be proud!  (Maybe she was having trouble with a couple her kids and was envious of a mother who could raise such a wonderful man!)  But Jesus does not allow her to become caught up in hero worship but immediately brings her to what he is talking about – “It is more blessed to hear the Word of God and do it, than to bless my mother!”   I wonder what her reaction was to that!

Guided prayer:

“Holy God, we do stand in awe of the blessed mother of Jesus, Mary, and the awesome responsibility to be the mother of Jesus… but rather than stand in awe, help us to remember that you give us your word so that we can be changed into your image… not just the image of our parents.  Remind me again, I am your child.  You love me.  And that is enough!  Amen!”

Day 132 A midnight caller Luke 11: 5-9

Guided reflection:

This passage is a perplexing one.  However, since it is in the “prayer” section of Luke, it must be about prayer and persistence.  If you ask a friend to help you out at in inconvenient time, maybe he will, not because he is your friend, but because of your persistence in asking!  Is Jesus saying that we need to be persistent in prayer?  That maybe God will listen to us because we keep our concern before God?  The very next verse states – Ask and you will get; seek and you will find, knock and the door will open! This is not about God’s response but about our persistence in going before God! 

Guided prayer

“Loving God, I want to be open to your will AND I know there are desires of my heart.  So, right now, I am asking ________________ - do you hear me?   I am seeking ______________ - can you help me find it?   I am knocking on _______________ doors – can you help them open for me?  Above all, I seek your will, not just my way. Amen” 

Day 131 Mary and Martha Luke: 10: 38-42

Guided reflection:

This story meets people in different ways, depending on your personality.  I am the Martha type, and it seems to me that Jesus should have appreciated Martha at least getting food ready for lunch… but she may have gone overboard and was trying to serve 3 different choices of entrees for Jesus. Anyway, she was perturbed with Mary just sitting on her duff… and Jesus chides Martha about being so busy.  Then Jesus brags on Mary for stopping and sitting at his feet.  For the Mary types, it is a great affirmation… but for us Martha’s it is a reminder that we do not have to be so busy all the time.  It is not up to us to save the world – there is need of one savior and that one is Jesus!  So, we Martha’s need to learn from the Mary’s and just let the hustle and bustle go for a bit and just sit at Jesus feet.  To which personality do you most relate? 

Guided Prayer:

            Gentle Jesus, come to my heart today and help me to slow down and just “Be” with you. 

As I consider my “to do” list for today, which items do you want me to do… which have been added out of guilt or some need… help me learn to listen to you.  Right now, I stop what I am doing, and will spend time in silence.  Meet me here… now, I pray.  Amen(take 3 minutes and just be still)

Day 130 The Good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37

Guided reflection:

This is one of the most memorable  parables in the Gospel of Luke. It answers the question: Who is my neighbor?   Jesus shares that it is not about geography, nor about “the right people”… our neighbor is one who is in need – someone with whom we come in contact.  We are not to be spectators or disinterested – but when we see someone hurting and in pain, we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus and get involved!  We are not responsible for the whole world, but we are responsible for our response to those in our sphere of influence.  Who is your neighbor today?  Who needs you to be a neighbor?

Guided prayer:

“Lord, I want to be known as a Good Samaritan… and sometimes I come through.  But other times there seems to be so many in need, how can I do my part?  When is enough, enough? Help me remember, that even you took time to get away from the needs of people to gain strength and be renewed.  Help me remember I am not the Savior… but I am one who desires to reflect the face of God. Keep me sensitive to others.  I offer to you my resources – use me as you will.   Let’s just see what you and I can do together today, OK, Lord? Amen” 

Day 129 A lawyer’s Question Luke 10:25-28

Guided reflection:

A lawyer is putting Jesus to the test – meaning, he was cross examining Jesus to see of what he was made.   So, he asks what is on his mind: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  What is the bottom line, Jesus?  Was he looking for bare minimum to still make it… or was he looking for some sensational answer, but Jesus does a perfect lawyer trick – he answered with a question!  “What do you see written in the law?”   The lawyer replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind…. And neighbor as yourself”.  Jesus said “Right on, do this and you will live!”   If you ask the same question you will get the same answer… the answer is not the issue for me, but the intentional living out of that answer is my problem! What does it mean to love with your heart… your soul… your strength… your mind?

Guided Prayer:

“Loving God, how do I love you with my heart – how is that different from loving with my soul?  Am I half hearted with my love for you?  Am I able to focus my mind on you?  Help me spend my nights and my days, leaning to love you… with all of me.  Amen.”

Day 128 Seventy learning leaders return with good news Luke 10:17-20

Guided reflection:

On Days 64 and 72, we read about Jesus’ leadership development of 70 folks who were his Disciples.  He sent them on a practice run of preaching and praying for the sick.  In today’s passage, they have returned and are so excited that they had demons obey them because of Jesus’ name!  Whoa!  Having authority is heady stuff!  It is like Jesus responds: “Whoop de do!  I saw Satan fall… and you will have power over Satan – but don’t go and get all pumped up about that – stay pumped up that your name is written on the very heart of God.”  Are you still excited that you belong to Christ – that you are a child of God?   Have you lost your enthusiasm?   Our egos can get in the way when God allows us to have success in ministry – but the real success is that Jesus loves us!  That is the big deal!

Guided prayer:

“Remind me again that I am your child.  Remind me again that I am forgiven.  Remind me again that I have a place in the very heart of God.  Remind me to walk humbly.  Amen” 

Day 127 The Samaritan Villagers Luke 9:51-56

Guided Reflection:

We now will focus on some of the stories called “The Luke section”  Luke 9:31-18:14.  In the days to come, use the Luke reading as your main text.    These four verses are only found in Luke but show the racial/political issues of the day.  Jesus sent folks on before to make arrangements for them as they passed through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem.  When the Samaritans heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, they refused hospitality to Jesus and his entourage.   Today if Palestinian found out that a leader considered sympathetic to the Palestinians was on this way to Jerusalem for the Jews, they would not be very happy either!  The Disciples were learning that Jesus came for all people and now that they are getting it, they are appalled to see racial/political tension raise its ugly head!  They wanted Jesus to call down fire and burn them up!  Jesus rebuked the Disciples, accepted things as they were and kept his calling and mission before him.  To be the savior of the world was a bigger issue than whether the Samaritans were open or not!  Does that sound at all familiar?  We get so caught up in our politics and the things that divide us that we forget that Christ died for all!  Not just me!

Guided prayers:

“Open my eyes and help me see the places where I allow my prejudices to forget that Jesus died for all, including those whose politics I do not appreciate.  Help me see all as precious in your sight.  Amen”  (Right now, why not pray for the leaders of the political party NOT of your choice.. that God will bless them and love them.  Go on, try it, you need the practice… !) 

Day 126 Parable of the unthankful servant Matthew 18:23-35

Guided reflection:

In Matt.6:15, Jesus said “If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” and here Jesus gives a parable of what that looks like.  A man owed a huge amount of money – more than he could ever repay and still care for his family.  The one to whom he owed the debt had compassion and forgave the whole debt!  But the one whose debt was forgiven, left and ran into someone who owed him just a little, and when that man could not pay, he put him in jail for his unpaid debt.  One song goes “Jesus paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay – I needed someone to wash it all away.”  That is why we cannot be so harsh on our brothers and sisters – who are we to judge and demand, when we have been forgiven so much.  Take a minute and think about how blessed you are… and how much you have been forgiven.  If you have not asked for forgiveness – this might be the perfect time to realize you cannot carry it all alone!  You don’t have to!

Guided Prayer:

“Loving and forgiving God, you offer to us forgiveness and second chances.  Have I really accepted your offer?   Do I really realize that I am set free?  Lord, show me where I have heavy demands and expectations of others, when I have been set free from such impossible demands!  Forgive me so that I might forgive others.  Amen”   (you might want to contact someone with whom you have been demanding and set them free!)

Day 125 Reconciliation Matt 18: 21-22; Luke 17: 4

Guided reflection:

Can’t you just hear the wheels turning in the heads of the disciples after day 124’s teaching?  Obviously if someone has hurt me and I point it out to them and they ask me to forgive.,. just how many times do I have to do this forgiveness stuff?  The goal is clean and healthy relationships, so just telling the other person they did me wrong is not the goal – forgiveness is!  But Lord, how many times – as many as 7?  Jesus says, not just 7, but 70 times 7.  That is 490 times if you can multiply!  Forgiveness is always to be given… but Lynette adds her two cents – if you are in that kind of unhealthy cycle that keeps things going 490 times, you might want to figure out what is going on…just saying…

Guided prayer:

“Forgiving and loving God, you forgive me even before I come to you with my repentance.  But when it comes to others, especially those who seem to keep offending and hurting me, that is another matter.  Help me to see that your desire is for me to be healed and not carry around hurt and pain… but my desire, sometimes, is to set them straight and get even!  Lord, could you help my heart become more like yours?  Amen” 

Day 124 Is it up to us to reprove another? Matt. 18:15-20; Luke 17:3

Guided reflection:

Jesus is telling us how the church is to operate.   When another believer has wronged you, Jesus does not expect you to sit and do nothing – Jesus gives you a four step process, with the fourth step being rather harsh!  But, when we agree and gather in Christ’s name, wow!  It becomes a holy moment!  Christ is present!  In a way, this passage makes it sound like we are to be accountable to each other so the church can keep the most important things most important!   We are the church of today.   When we can keep away from dissension and hurtful actions, we can focus on our task:  To be in God’s presence! 

Guided Prayer:   Here is an evening prayer from my childhood – have you heard it?  Prayed it?

If I have wounded any soul today, If I have caused one foot to go astray, If I have walked in my own willfull  way -Good Lord, forgive! If I have uttered idle words or vain, If I have turned aside from want or pain, Lest I myself should suffer through the strain -Good Lord, forgive! If I have craved for joys that are not mine, If I have let my wayward heart repine, Dwelling on things of earth, not things divine -Good Lord, forgive!  If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold, If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold, When Thou has given me some part to hold - Good Lord, forgive. Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee, Forgive the secret sins I do not see, That which I know not, Father, teach Thou me - Help me to live.