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I'm sharing this journal entry from one of our sheep / shepherds for your encouragement and invite you to share your stories to keep us connected David
Thursday April 2, 2020: A journal entry:
JESUS WEPT.
A Morning mist of low cloud wrapped soft around the hills.
I read John 6 and tried to ponder on Jesus the living bread. But the mist beckoned and drew me outside, quickly enfolding me in its clammy embrace.
There was no pausing to choose direction. I headed straight up the hill blanketed in the foggy stillness, only birdcall echoing the inner certainty – she’s coming to pray.
Pray up the hill. I haven’t prayed up there for a while. I’ve prayed. But not there on God’s hill, my place of retreat.
At the summit, as cloud drifted and lifted, it was my heart that rained out its anguished plea, the cry for help with COVID19: LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER. Help us Jesus.
That was it. No wordy waffle. I perched on the rim of the damp bench, poised in grief and need; heart, mind and spirit turned to God, “Yet still do I praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Living God.”
A lull then settled over me, like a mute button had been pressed to hush the turmoil of my distressed thoughts and wretched emotions concerning the plight of the world’s people. Wait. Be quiet!
Jesus wept. The words from last Sunday’s reading came to mind loud and clear.
33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Judaeans who had come with her crying, he was deeply stirred in his spirit, and very troubled. 34 ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Master,’ they said, ‘come and see.’ 35 Jesus burst into tears. (John 11:33-35 NTE)
I too burst into tears, and as I wept, there at the top of the hill, I knew he was weeping with me. Weeping with all the world. Weeping for us all.
Turn to me. And I, turning, vision all awash, could see clearly, he was there. Feed my sheep. To this I shook my head, and thought, I’m no pastor. You are a minister of my word. Therefore, speak my word to others. Speak my word to one another. And suddenly understanding dawned. “You aren’t just saying this to me, are you? It’s your call to all of us: Feed your sheep. The responsibility is ours collectively.” And I pictured the scattered sheep, isolated from one another but belonging together and needing creative new ways of being church and speaking grace and hope to one another and others.
I plunged, then, down the hill, not following the worn paths but winding down the steeper slope, weaving through knee high weeds, around rocky mounds and patches of slippery flattened grass, to emerge at the wider base track.
Now is the time to forge new paths. Jesus is still the Way, the “base track” of my faith remains the same. It’s the network of familiar paths that represent how we have lived out our faith, that have fallen away, not God’s word or his kingdom, or his love.
I am thankful for this love that comes to us where we are: scattered sheep weeping in the mist of uncertainty. I’m thankful that Jesus wept and that his way isn’t set in stone. That he comes and calls us to discover a new and living way, today and tomorrow and the next day. Hallelujah! This is a new day! And the Jesus who weeps with us in our distress will renew us and lead us on beyond COVID19.
JESUS WEPT.
The autumn sun filtered a pale ray through the drifting grey. A reminder that the God who weeps, also sheds light as well as tears.
Beautiful feet
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ (Romans 10:15b)
Read Romans 10:8b–18
In today’s reading, a preacher is sent by God, the message is proclaimed, the message is heard, and the message is believed. And those who believe the good news, those who call on the name of the Lord, are saved. It’s that simple.
In biblical times, news was spread by word of mouth, carried by runners who covered extraordinary distances – sometimes hundreds of kilometres – across rough, sandy, thorny, stony and any other kinds of country. Their footwear wasn’t made by Adidas or Nike. They wore leather sandals.
When the runner approached their destination, their demeanour would have indicated whether they were bringing good news or bad. One can imagine that those receiving the good news would be thankful to the runners – and to the feet that brought the news. Maybe even to the point of seeing the feet as beautiful.
The reference in today’s reading is to those who are bringing the good news – the best news – of the gospel. And let’s celebrate those who preach and teach in our community.
I can’t help but think of others in our community whose feet are worth honouring: those who provide care in aged care and health services; the first responders to emergencies and those who aid in recovery after floods, fires and other natural disasters; police who ensure our safety; farmers and tradies. You might like to add to the list.
There is no hierarchy to whose contribution to society is most important, just as there is no distinction as to who is most welcome into God’s kingdom. Race, ethnicity, income and breeding are all irrelevant. The important thing is that we are part of God’s kingdom and should do what we can to spread the gospel message.
A preacher is sent by God, the message is proclaimed, the message is heard, and the message is believed. And those who believe the good news, those who call on the name of the Lord, are saved. It’s that simple.
God of grace and beauty, thank you for those who bring the good news of your saving grace. Help us to listen to them and to hear and believe the good news that they are bringing to us. Help us to do what we can to spread that good news. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading, writing and drinking coffee with her husband, John, and their friends. Colleen and John enjoy regular fitness classes, particularly when they include opportunities to throw frisbees.
Getting it right
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
For they are well instructed; their God teaches them (Isaiah 28:26).
Read Isaiah 28:23–29
I’m intrigued by the language that the prophet uses in this text. We have crops being sown, scattered and planted. We distinguish between seeds, which are embryonic plants used for reproduction, and grain, which refers specifically to dry, edible seeds harvested from grasses for food. God teaches the farmer the right way to go about their work.
We can see God as the wise and practical farmer who knows what is best to do for each ‘seed’. God determines where the seed is planted, how it is tended, harvested and threshed. There are different methods for threshing and preparing the seeds and grains for use. It is important to use the right implement and process for each seed and grain.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I were someone else, or somewhere else, or better looking, or wealthier, or … The list goes on. But deep down, I know that I need to ‘grow where I am planted’.
God has put us where we are for a purpose. God is wise and knows what is best for us. God has a plan for each of us, and because of God’s wisdom, we will not be tested beyond our endurance. We can put our trust in God, rejoice in the opportunities before us, and in the generous way God provides for us each and every day and the way God prepares us for what life brings us.
As part of God’s plan, each of us has a vocation, a calling – in our family and our friendship groups, in our working life, in our church and community, even into retirement. Why not take some time to reflect on where you are placed, who God is calling you to be and what God is calling you to do? God has planted you and me where we are. Let’s pray that we can be healthy plants in God’s garden, nurturing our faith and bringing God’s love to life.
God of wisdom and strength, you know who you want us to be. Help us to have faith in you so that we happily grow where we are planted, living our lives to your glory and to the good of those around us. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading, writing and drinking coffee with her husband, John, and their friends. Colleen and John enjoy regular fitness classes, particularly when they include opportunities to throw frisbees.
God’s words – our lives
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants (Deuteronomy 32:2).
Read Deuteronomy 32:1,2,45–47
Moses is addressing the children of Israel just prior to his death. He stresses the importance of the people’s commitment to the Lord in worship and in obedience to the law. Moses’ teaching is to be like rain, encouraging growth in new grass and young plants.
One of my favourite odours is that of petrichor – the smell that fills the air when rain hits the dry ground. In my mind, the teaching that the writer of Deuteronomy refers to is falling like rain – and like the beautiful odour of petrichor, the aroma of Christ fills the earth. ‘For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost’ (2 Corinthians 2:15).
Many of us have experienced the devastation that drought can cause. Devastation that causes heartache and can result in the loss of home and livelihood – sometimes it is the loss of a property that has been part of family history for generations. We know what it is like when there is no rain.
Over the past year, many have also experienced the destruction and challenges that come from too much rain, as floods wash everything away, leaving heartbreak and devastation behind. For some, the floods returned.
Thankfully, Jesus’ death and resurrection have taken away the condemnation of the Old Testament law. That way has been replaced by the importance of faith in God and love towards one another. We don’t have to be frightened of a harsh God who thunders down at us when we offend him. Rather, we have a Comforter who loves us and is with us always.
In the following chapter, we read: ‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms’ (Deuteronomy 33:27a). These are the words that fall like gentle rain on one’s soul when things go wrong; the words of a God to whom we can be totally committed in worship and obedience and whose loving and everlasting arms are always there for us.
God, our refuge and our strength, thank you that your loving arms are always there for us. Help us remember this, be committed to you in our worship and obedient to your law of love in our lives each day. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading, writing and drinking coffee with her husband, John, and their friends. Colleen and John enjoy regular fitness classes, particularly when they include opportunities to throw frisbees.