Sunday, Jan. 29

Mark 1:21-28

At the end of each day of fishing, we grabbed a shower, went to the local restaurant to grab a bite to eat and then went back to the room for relaxing. John began the tedious job of tending the lines from our day of fishing and I searched for a channel on the television to talk us thru our activities. The first night just happened to be the night of the republican debates so we listened and worked along. The next evening was the same schedule except the television venue offered only the State of the Union Address. Both of the evenings were interesting to catch up with the latest happenings in the political scene of our country.

While John and I watched the events, we had opinions we shared with each other about the activity. It was kind of fun listening to each other as we shared our thoughts on lots of other presidential debates and presidents.

I think that one of our questions that seemed to keep surfacing was who it was who really had authority? This was not a question of authority between John and I, but who it is that really has authority. That question, in itself, reminded me of the time when I felt like I moved into a sense of authority. I think the sense of feeling one’s own authority takes time and it arrives when it is ready.

I believe that we know authority when it is truly authority. Before that time, we can see that there seems to be something else going on. That was the point that frightened me when I was younger. I wondered how one found that authority. It was easy to believe that education and just the right instruction would lead a person authority. I knew that education and experience had something to do with authority, but it took me some time to figure that out.

21 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. 22 They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

23 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, 24 “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you’ve come to destroy us!”

25 Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!”  26 The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.

27 Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. “What’s going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!”  28 News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee. 

Capernaum was an important trade route and a great place for Jesus to be so that Jews and Gentiles alike would hear his message. There were lots of questions among the people and many teachers who spoke to the people in Capernaum. When the truth was spoken, the people knew authority.

How would you define authority? Who are some of the people you believed had authority? In what ways did you see that they had authority? What are the ways you can tell someone has authority? Has anyone ever told you that you have authority? What do you think they witnessed that would have led them to say that? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you how they know someone is in charge

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country:  Peter Davidson                                             

Remember in Prayer:    Haley, Matt, Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

Prayer Request:  Please add Haley and Matt, who are both going through difficult times with depression.

Prayer Update:  T.J. has been on the list for awhile – he’s starting a 3rd round of chemo on Monday, but he just got good news today: his dr. called with the results of the latest CT scan to tell him “This one looks a lot better! One more week of chemo and you’re done!” Thank you, Lord!

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of:  Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer:    O God, you are the giver of gifts in life. We thank you for the leaders you have formed and called into the leading of others. Help us to lead others in your ways. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia 

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation 

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Saturday, Jan. 28

Hebrews 10:26-39

There were way too many years that I was carrying around a lot of regret. I realize that no one can actually live a perfect life, but I wanted to forget about some of the things I did in my past. I wasn’t proud of my actions. I wasn’t proud of some of those moments when I took no action and could have done something. I’m not proud of some of the words I spoke out loud to others. I was sorry for having thoughts about others that were less than admirable.

When I was young and the neighborhood girl, Margaret, was acting so full of herself and her possessions, I wanted to punch her out. Now, I knew that little ladies (quoting my mother) did not do those punching others out kind of things, that didn’t change what I was thinking about Margaret deep inside. Spitting on the lollipop and rewrapping it as a gift to be found via scavenger hunt was really not the way to go about getting even with Margaret. I thought it was a good plan, but I was wrong.

I wasn’t doing a solo gig in this foiled plan. My girlfriend, Betsy, and I worked together in getting the plans to be timed out just perfect. Margaret took the bait and found the sucker. I’m not sure what the defining point was that tipped her off and led her to believe that the sucker was slightly used. Maybe we attached a note with rotten words telling of our antics. Whatever it was, the plan went south and Betsy’s mother and my mother called us out. The worst part was that Margaret’s mother called our mothers and they all were quite hot about our cruel trick on Margaret. Margaret’s mother met with our mothers and then we were invited to come downstairs. Betsy and I stood in front of Margaret’s mother and had to say our apologies and go write a note to Margaret saying that we were sorry. When I wrote the note, I kept thinking that I really wasn’t sorry. I didn’t have any feelings about Margaret feeling bad. In my adult years, when I finally told Margaret I was sorry, she said she hadn’t even remembered that time.

10:26   If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice 27 and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be!  28 If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death,  29 what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit?  30 This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing,” and, “God will judge his people.”  31 Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me. 

32   Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times!  33 Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends.  34 If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back.  35 So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing!  36 But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.

37 It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. 38 But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. 39 But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

God gives us new life because of what Jesus has done on our behalf. It is by trust in him that we can receive that life. When we trust in Jesus, God makes us right with God. The writer now makes it clear that those who really trust Jesus do not turn back.

What are some things you really wished that you hadn’t done in your life? Was there an opportunity for you to say that you were sorry? Were you able to move on after saying you were sorry and maybe asking for forgiveness? Were you able to forgive yourself? Are you still thinking about it? Then you probably haven’t forgiven yourself.    Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you what they do when someone makes them feel bad

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country:  Peter Davidson                                               

Remember in Prayer:    Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of:  Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer:    O God, we thank you for the wonderful blessing of this day. We thank you for giving your son so that we would have a way to be in good relationship with you. Help us, O God, to be upfront with ourselves, confess to you what we’ve done wrong, and receive your forgiveness. Help us not to forget to ask forgiveness from the one we have hurt. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia 

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation 

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Friday, Jan. 27

Hebrews 10:11-25

It has been a wonderful visit with John and we had some glorious fishing. John is most definitely my fishing guide. He tends to my fishing line and gear as if he was polishing silver with great pride. He’s got a good hunch, before we even make that first cast, what fly will most likely work on the fishing lines. John has an idea of what it might be like the night before so he sets up our lines and has them ready to go so that all we do is take our rods out of the truck and we head on down to the water and step in. It is most often that I can catch a fish with the set up John has rigged up on my line. On a few occasions, when the set up didn’t work the first time around, John has already studied the water and the fish activity and has his next idea ready to try out. We just fish along until something changes in bug activity or in fish activity.

We were fishing on the San Juan river at the beginning of this week and those fish were pretty persnickety. As was the case this past week, there was a huge collection of fish coming to the top of the water to snatch bugs. We were casting our lines to the fish with these tiny bug imitations that were around a fourth of an inch in length. If you can picture what fly fishing looks like and how that fishing line goes way back and way forward before landing on the water, you may understand that there are times when the line gets knotted up. My line gets knotted up. John has that happen once in awhile, but it happens more often with me. I can sometimes get the knot out, but the line becomes somewhat crinkled. When John comes to check my line or change a fly, he totally works on my rig and gets my line back to new. It’s like starting out all over again with a brand new set up.

10:11 Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. 12 As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God 13 and waited for his enemies to cave in. 14 It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. 15 The Holy Spirit confirms this:  

16 This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This time “I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts.” 

17 He concludes, I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins. 

18   Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them. 

19   So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. 

22   So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out.  23 Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.  24 Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,  25 not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

What Christ has done is complete and final. Now Jesus has made this new agreement, the old one has no value. In verse 19, “the holy place” here means the place where God will meet with us. In the old agreement the people could not approach God themselves. They had to come to the priests. Now those who trust in Jesus can meet with God in a direct manner with confidence and without fear.

When have you most felt like you wanted to start over again? What things from your present would you want to have present in your new start over? What would the starting over part be for you? When have you felt like someone gave you a new lease on life? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you when they have most wanted a do over

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country:  Peter Davidson                                                

Remember in Prayer:    Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of:  Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer:    O God, we thank you for this day and for your love. We thank you for having a better way that we can come straight to you without thinking we’re doing it wrong or something. Bless us in this day. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia 

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Hebrews 9:15-28

John and I will be going fishing in northern New Mexico for some days. The reception for phones and internet is pretty much non-existent. Sometimes the reception works on the water, but I don’t want to set up my evening, after a long day of fishing, driving all over to find the highest place for reception. I’m going to send the next four days of E-Votionals to you. I will change the blog site each day when I’m on the water and the reception is at its best and my fingers are defrosted. That part I can do on my phone. Peace to you and may God shed some grace on our fishing…….

We go thru some interesting pretty interesting phases in the development process. The other day, I was sent a picture of a new little bambino born into a family, and I wondered if everyone looks at the picture of a baby for as long, and with such awe, as I do. I just can’t get over what incredible creatures we are. We look at these little tiny creatures and can never imagine anything they could do wrong. It may not be until the first time the baby overloads their diaper or when the baby insists on staying up all night and snoozing during our working and waking hours that we begin to wonder. It is the baby child who reminds us that we have basic needs and there are times when yes, it is all about us. I wish we could remember the time when the focus was totally on us. The next stage develops the relationship and I’m not sure if it’s the parents or the baby who does the most in the way of setting up a plan. It could go either way. There are times when the baby seems to be more in charge of forming the parents and other times, it is the parents who are guiding the baby into the way things are going to be.

The baby/toddler continues on in exploring where the lines are and whether or not those lines can be altered or extended. This is a place in parenting that cannot truly be adequately explained to the expectant couple.

When the child becomes old enough to know that difference between right and wrong, there is an interesting thing that takes place. The child will learn the reward system for doing something good and kind and right will feel so great. On the other side of things, when the child does something that steps over the line into something they were taught not to do, they can feel the distance between themselves and their nurturer (parent, sitter, caregiver, relative). They can feel that they have done something wrong and they feel estranged from the love they desperately seek. The child will attempt to win back the love thru words, actions or gifts. How many times have we seen children try to present their parents with a peace offering to be back in the graces of love?

9:15 Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.

16 Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus’ death. His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, canceling the old obligations and accompanying sins, and summoning the heirs to receive the eternal inheritance that was promised them. He brought together God and his people in this new way.

18 Even the first plan required a death to set it in motion. 19 After Moses had read out all the terms of the plan of the law—God’s “will”—he took the blood of sacrificed animals and, in a solemn ritual, sprinkled the document and the people who were its beneficiaries. 20 And then he attested its validity with the words, “This is the blood of the covenant commanded by God.” 21 He did the same thing with the place of worship and its furniture. 22 Moses said to the people, “This is the blood of the covenant God has established with you.” Practically everything in a will hinges on a death. That’s why blood, the evidence of death, is used so much in our tradition, especially regarding forgiveness of sins.

23 That accounts for the prominence of blood and death in all these secondary practices that point to the realities of heaven. It also accounts for why, when the real thing takes place, these animal sacrifices aren’t needed anymore, having served their purpose. 24 For Christ didn’t enter the earthly version of the Holy Place; he entered the Place Itself, and offered himself to God as the sacrifice for our sins. 25 He doesn’t do this every year as the high priests did under the old plan with blood that was not their own; 26 if that had been the case, he would have to sacrifice himself repeatedly throughout the course of history. But instead he sacrificed himself once and for all, summing up all the other sacrifices in this sacrifice of himself, the final solution of sin.

27 Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. 28 Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.

With the old law and the animal sacrifices, the people still felt as if they we’re respectable before God. Because Jesus can make us clean from sin, he is the one who brings us into the new agreement with God. With the old law, to make a person clean from sin, there had to be blood. Under the new agreement, Jesus gave his own blood and it took away the sins of all people for of all times.

When you have done something wrong to a friend or spouse or significant other, what are some ways you wanted to give them something to make up for the way you acted? Do you feel like there is a going price to spend for letting someone down? For not showing up at the right time? Are there things you expect as gift offerings if you have been let down in some way? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child: Ask a child to tell you the best way to let a friend know that you are sorry for something you did

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of: Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer: O God, we give you thanks for this day. We give you thanks for having a better way for us. Help us, O God, especially in the area of obeying you. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Hebrews 9:1-14

John and I will be going fishing in northern New Mexico for some days. The reception for phones and internet is pretty much non-existent. Sometimes the reception works on the water, but I don’t want to set up my evening, after a long day of fishing, driving all over to find the highest place for reception. I’m going to send the next four days of E-Votionals to you. I will change the blog site each day when I’m on the water and the reception is at its best and my fingers are defrosted. That part I can do on my phone. Peace to you and may God shed some grace on our fishing…….

Before I was old enough to know better, there were some church people who experienced me as something that wasn’t quite living up to their standards. I could tell by the way they would smile at one of my parents or one of the other children and then they would have a grumpy look when they looked at me. I could detect something was different about me. For years, I just learned to be quiet in Sunday School. I knew that what I said would encourage giggles from my fellow students. I didn’t know these other children, but my parents seemed to know the other kids’ parents. I was usually bothered that I had to wake up before I wanted to and that I had to wear these fru-fru uncomfortable outfits. Obviously, there was still something wrong about me because I was far from being warmly embraced.

Over the years I tried to figure out what it was about me that kept me from being lovable. I felt that the church people wanted to love me but there was just something that kept me away from them. I tried to mimic what the other children were doing, but that didn’t help. So, I gave up. I really, really, really didn’t like going to that church place.

By the time I was in junior high, it was time for confirmation and I didn’t want to be part of that group. My parent’s needs for me to do that were greater than mine. My hope was that my parents would leave me alone once I was able to complete the confirmation process. The confirmation process confirmed for me that there were no other tests that would come my way. When I was in, I was in.

During the confirmation process, I was experiencing a spiritual shift in myself. I felt I was accepted by the pastor and the youth pastor, but not with the other youth. I didn’t understand their game or want to play their game. What I wanted to do was grow in my relationship with God.

Later in life, when other church people would say that people should look the best they can look for worship, I knew that they meant something different.

Being in God’s presence is more about what has gone on inside us. It’s how we are as souls who come to worship God. Many of those who show up in their Sunday best dress are very different folks on the inside.

What I like to remember is that God loves us for the people we are; for those bare little baby spirits we are when we come into this world.

9:1 That first plan contained directions for worship, and a specially designed place of worship. 2 A large outer tent was set up. The lampstand, the table, and “the bread of presence” were placed in it. This was called “the Holy Place.” 3 Then a curtain was stretched, and behind it a smaller, inside tent set up. This was called “the Holy of Holies.” 4 In it were placed the gold incense altar and the gold-covered ark of the covenant containing the gold urn of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, the covenant tablets, 5 and the angel-wing-shadowed mercy seat. But we don’t have time to comment on these now.

6 After this was set up, the priests went about their duties in the large tent. 7 Only the high priest entered the smaller, inside tent, and then only once a year, offering a blood sacrifice for his own sins and the people’s accumulated sins. 8 This was the Holy Spirit’s way of showing with a visible parable that as long as the large tent stands, people can’t just walk in on God. 9 Under this system, the gifts and sacrifices can’t really get to the heart of the matter, can’t assuage the conscience of the people, 10 but are limited to matters of ritual and behavior. It’s essentially a temporary arrangement until a complete overhaul could be made.

11 But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven’s “tent”—the true Holy Place—once and for all. 12 He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all. 13 If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, 14 think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out.

The writer reminds us that in Jesus Christ we have been cleansed both in our inner life and outer life. The Old Covenant specialized in visible, external cleansing; the New Covenant specializes in invisible, inner transformation. God told Moses that they set up a large special tent and the outer part of the tent was the holy place and the inner part was the most holy place. It is God who wants to be Lord of our inner and our outer life.

When you think of going to worship in a church you do not yet know, do you worry about what you are supposed to wear to worship there? What things typically happen on your way to worship? When you walk into the worship space, what kind of thoughts or feelings are going thru your mind? What do you do to prepare your heart to worship your God? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child: Ask a child what their they like to wear the best and why

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of: Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer: O God, it is you who knows the condition of our hearts and we give you thanks for knowing us so deeply. Help us to daily live our lives in ways that bring you honor and praise. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Monday, Jan. 23

Hebrews 8:1-13

John and I will be going fishing in northern New Mexico for some days. The reception for phones and internet is pretty much non-existent. Sometimes the reception works on the water, but I don’t want to set up my evening, after a long day of fishing, driving all over to find the highest place for reception. I’m going to send the next four days of E-Votionals to you. I will change the blog site each day when I’m on the water and the reception is at its best and my fingers are defrosted. That part I can do on my phone. Peace to you and may God shed some grace on our fishing…….

Many of you know that I have been the proud, proud owner of a 2009 Metropolitan Honda scooter. Scooters are some of the best ways to motor around a small town. Remembering some of the comments from some friends of mine in the medical field, I purchased a helmet at the same time I went to pick up my scooter. One of my favorite memories on my scooter was one of my first days in ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Pontiac, IL. I read that a parishioner had died and the service would be at the cemetery. After getting directions to the cemetery, I got on my scooter and traveled out to Rt. 66. I could see that Rt. 66 was a two lane road and that seemed very doable to me. What I hadn’t envisioned was the speed limit on Rt. 66; specifically, the speed limit while on a scooter. What I found very quickly was the scooter tended to shimmy a bit with speeds over 45 mph. On that particular day, the winds seemed to complicate things even more. I could feel that I was becoming anxious so I tried to reclaim calmness while at the same time I reduced my speed a bit to get things back under control. When I was finally feeling calm again, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw, at the same time I heard, a quickly approaching semi. The opposite lane was open so the semi began to pass me. That’s when I let off the gas and the scooter slowed down. I was introduced to the crazy excitement a breeze that a semi can bring to a tiny little scooter and its driver. I learned lots while I was the proud owner of my scooter.

When it became clear that I would be moving out of Pontiac, I had to rethink what I had and what I really needed. I felt I had a relationship with my little red scooter. Actually, I will admit that it was a one-sided relationship. The scooter never expressed any feelings for me. As I was googling one day, I was led to a website that spoke about donating vehicles to Breast Cancer Research. From that moment on, there was no question in my mind that my scooter had a new purpose that felt exactly right. Old way > New way. Old purpose > New Purpose.

8:1 In essence, we have just such a high priest: authoritative right alongside God, 2 conducting worship in the one true sanctuary built by God.

3 The assigned task of a high priest is to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and it’s no different with the priesthood of Jesus. 4 If he were limited to earth, he wouldn’t even be a priest. We wouldn’t need him since there are plenty of priests who offer the gifts designated in the law. 5 These priests provide only a hint of what goes on in the true sanctuary of heaven, which Moses caught a glimpse of as he was about to set up the tent-shrine. It was then that God said, “Be careful to do it exactly as you saw it on the Mountain.”

6 But Jesus’ priestly work far surpasses what these other priests do, since he’s working from a far better plan. 7 If the first plan—the old covenant—had worked out, a second wouldn’t have been needed. 8 But we know the first was found wanting, because God said, Heads up! The days are coming when I’ll set up a new plan for dealing with Israel and Judah.

9 I’ll throw out the old plan I set up with their ancestors when I led them by the hand out of Egypt. They didn’t keep their part of the bargain, so I looked away and let it go.

10 This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This time I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I’ll be their God, they’ll be my people.

11 They won’t go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons. They’ll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great.

12 They’ll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.

13 By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust.

God wrote the laws of the old agreement on stones (Ten Commandments). God will write the new rules on the minds and hearts of men and women. God will give the people the Holy Spirit power to live in their hearts and guide them in obeying the new rules so they will not turn away from God.

What is one possession of yours from your childhood that you had to give up? Do you remember having to work thru the letting go part? What are some feelings that surrounded that letting go part? How difficult is it for you to let go of things now? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child: Ask a child to tell you about one toy of theirs that they’d like to have forever

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of: Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer: We love you, O God. We thank you for the gift of your calling us to do specific things. Help us to listen and obey your call.

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Thursday, Jan. 26

Hebrews 10:1-10

Older churches often display some of the artifacts from their past days of worship. There are books and chalices and pictures and all sorts of things displayed usually in some kind of windowed case. As in a museum, you can look at the things and the descriptions in the cases and try to piece things together. Trying to understand what is what is not the easiest thing to do when you’re looking back in time when people were different, times were different, and churches were also different. There are books that record the factual information, but you have to use your imagination to pull in a picture of how things might have been. It’s easy for me to visualize a pastor holding the chalice or pitcher I see before me. It’s easy for me to picture the clerk of session of the church dutifully writing down the words to record what has taken place at a worship service or at a meeting.

When I came to the coin/tokens that were in a picture frame, I really thought the coin/tokens might be some kind of award that they used to give for Sunday School attendance or performance. I wasn’t even in the ballpark with that thought.

Just in nosing around in history books, it seems that John Calvin first recommended Communion tokens with the intent that no unworthy person would be admitted to the communion service so we’re talking way back in the mid 1500’s. In churches in the U. S. in the mid 1800’s these tokens were personalized with things such as a pastor’s name or dates or the church’s name and the city. Many churches began using paper to save money and they made communion cards that would actually have the communicants name on it.

These tokens and/or cards were the tickets needed to receive communion. If you didn’t take the class, didn’t pass the test, there was no ticket and thus, no communion for you. I can’t even imagine being a bouncer at the Lord’s Table. Holy Moly!

10:1 The old plan was only a hint of the good things in the new plan. Since that old “law plan” wasn’t complete in itself, it couldn’t complete those who followed it. No matter how many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution. 2 If they had, the worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins. 3 But instead of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over they actually heightened awareness and guilt. 4 The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin. 5 That is what is meant by this prophecy, put in the mouth of Christ: You don’t want sacrifices and offerings year after year; you’ve prepared a body for me for a sacrifice.

6 It’s not fragrance and smoke from the altar that whet your appetite. 7 So I said, “I’m here to do it your way, O God, the way it’s described in your Book.”

8 When he said, “You don’t want sacrifices and offerings,” he was referring to practices according to the old plan. 9 When he added, “I’m here to do it your way,” he set aside the first in order to enact the new plan— 10 God’s way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.

In this text we hear that the old religion of the Jews told the people they had to bring animal sacrifices to God via the priest for payment for their sins. The old law failed to please God. When Jesus died, God put an end to the old and gave the one death in Jesus Christ that was enough sacrifice for all people and for all times. God wanted people’s hearts, not empty actions.

What are some of the conveniences you have today that were not a part of your grandparent’s day and age? What are some of the practices in the past that you are very grateful do not exist today? What are some things in our current day that you hope will not be a part of the future? Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child: Ask a child to tell you about their grandparent’s favorite toy when they were growing up

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country: Peter Davidson

Remember in Prayer: Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of: Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer: O God, we thank you for your awesome love. We thank you for having a better way for us to be in relationship with you. Keep our hearts and minds set on your desire for us this day. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Sunday, Jan. 22

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

John and I will be going fishing in northern New Mexico for some days. The reception for phones and internet is pretty much non-existent. Sometimes the reception works on the water, but I don’t want to set up my evening, after a long day of fishing, driving all over to find the highest place for reception. I’m going to send the next four days of E-Votionals to you. I will change the blog site each day when I’m on the water and the reception is at its best and my fingers are defrosted. That part I can do on my phone. Peace to you and may God shed some grace on our fishing…….

On a Sunday morning after church, there is time for socializing with other church members. Lots of folks are standing around having their coffee and catching up with others. There are times when they see someone they wanted to ask about an upcoming event or whether or not they would be willing to help with the event or something like that. Most of the other times they’re just talking about life and things happening in their lives.

The children like the coffee time as well as their parents because they know they can have a bit more freedom than at other times when a closer eye is being kept on them. The adults are into their conversations and the children can sense that there’s some room to test the water a bit. The children might ask if they can do this or that and the parents may say that is okay as long as they stay away from this thing or that they stay off the stage area or that they don’t touch that decorated area. The children happily agree.

The children are excited they have a little freedom to move around and not have to just sit and listen to the boring adult conversations. The parents are relieved because they feel like they can trust that their children will be playing with other church children and, of course, church children know the rules and will help each other remember what not to do. The parents, then,  have a little more room where they don’t have to worry about saying things around children’s ears. Within seconds the picture often changes.

All of a sudden, the parents notice the children aren’t around and know that they need to find them. That’s usually when a loud thump or screech sounds and we know exactly where we can fine them. It is probably no surprise to you that they are either in the place we told them not to go or in a place that is in the opposite direction of where we told them they could go. Some things are so predictable.  Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you what they want to do when someone tells them not to do something

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country:  Peter Davidson                                                

Remember in Prayer:    Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of:  Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer:    We love you, O God. We thank you for the gift of your calling us to do specific things. Help us to listen and obey your call. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia 

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Saturday, Jan. 21

Hebrews 7:18-28

In the working world, when the department head announced that there would be a computer conversion going on, I figured the people in the programming department were going to be working overtime. I thanked God that I was the Mortgage Loan department. Little did I know back then that this computer conversion would likely involve every single employee.

Every once and awhile, we would get word of the IT folks who would be stepping into our department from time to time as part of the computer conversion. Our supervisor was just letting us know that after when went home at the end of the day, there would most likely be someone at our desk, messing with our computers as they readied for the full company computer conversion.

I liked the computer I had. I liked the monitor and the keyboard and the way the whole thing was already set up. I liked that I could walk in to the office and turn on my computer each morning and could almost do it in my sleep. My computer and I had a relationship. I thought my computer and I had a relationship. I actually had a relationship with a habit. Habits keep us from having to spend energy on thinking about what we’re doing. When we’re on overload, habits seem to help us out so we can keep on keeping on. Habits are a security.

So, the conversion weekend was to occur and I said goodbye to my old computer. I couldn’t imagine what my Monday was going to be like. My whole weekend was filled with reminders that I would be stepping into a whole new world on Monday morning and I was not looking forward to it in the least.

When Monday morning rolled around, I reluctantly walked into the office and turned on the lights. My eyes were fixed on these bright shiny new computers with wonderful monitors, zippy keyboards, and all this new space around my workstation. There was a sticky note that had a big arrow and it said, “Turn on here.” Why did I ever spend one second agonizing over a new computer? I loved this new thing.

7:18 The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; 19 the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way—Jesus!—a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place. 

20  The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. 21 But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise:

God gave his word; he won’t take it back: “You’re the permanent priest.” 

22   This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant. 

23   Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced.  24 But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity 25 to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them. 

26   So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God’s presence in heaven itself.  27 Unlike the other high priests, he doesn’t have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He’s done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice.  28 The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect. 

The writer reminds us of the old ways of doing things that involved priests and sacrifices. The new way involved a one-time sacrifice in Jesus Christ for all of our sins. Jesus Christ is the one who intercedes for us and gave his life for those sins of ours. God loved us so much, and desired a relationship with us so much that he gave his son as the sacrifice for our sins. Thank God. Thanks, God.

What kind of issues do you think we would be dealing with in our times if we still had to offer up animal sacrifices for our sins? On a scale of 1-10, 1 being the “don’t even try it” and 10 being the “bring it on,” how ready are you to accept changes? When an issue comes up in a relationship, would you rather be the one who changes or hope that the other person does the changing? What kind of new things are you looking forward to today?  Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you ways they aren’t like a baby anymore

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country:  Peter Davidson                                                

Remember in Prayer:    Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of:  Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer:    We love you, O God, and we thank you for the love you have for us. We thank you for the times when we walk in your ways. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia 

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!

Friday, Jan. 20

Hebrews 7:1-17

Seeking friendship. Grade school teaches way more than the basics. We learn the foundational things like reading, writing, math, science, history, and maybe, if we’re fortunate, the arts. This stuff is the stuff that forms us and lays the foundation for future learning. In that world of mass amounts of information flooding into our minds, we also work thru some relational things that become foundational in who we will become.

I think I really enjoyed the beginning years in grade school because stickers and paints and glue were involved. I must admit that I spent lots of time observing others. I wanted to see how others moved about in life. Some of the other students were just weird in my humble opinion. I also must say that they probably appeared as weird to me as I was to them. Weird, at that point in my life, meant nothing more than different from what I had experienced.

In those beginning moments of education, we are faced with having to learn with others. The teachers must have gotten the same memo as our parents because they stressed that we had to get along with the other students.

Anyone knows that sugar will buy happiness. It always seemed like the students who had real chocolate bars and real cookies seemed to be happier than the ones who brought banged up bananas or boxes of raisins. I would be so disappointed in my mother when I went to school and would find a box of raisins in my snack back. Seriously? I found that it didn’t matter whether or not I liked raisins because they would become a valuable something I could trade with others. Thank goodness there were other students who actually appreciated raisins. My first understanding of friendship came from those snacks. I learned that I could get another student to join in play with me if I offered them something that I had. I knew no other way to be in relationship other than needing to give the other person something I had. Let me just say that in my own experience, raisins don’t help in winning over friends. Who knew it wasn’t about raisins?

 7:1 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Highest God. He met Abraham, who was returning from “the royal massacre,” and gave him his blessing.  2 Abraham in turn gave him a tenth of the spoils. “Melchizedek” means “King of Righteousness.” “Salem” means “Peace.” So, he is also “King of Peace.”  3 Melchizedek towers out of the past—without record of family ties, no account of beginning or end. In this way he is like the Son of God, one huge priestly presence dominating the landscape always. 

4 You realize just how great Melchizedek is when you see that Father Abraham gave him a tenth of the captured treasure. 5 Priests descended from Levi are commanded by law to collect tithes from the people, even though they are all more or less equals, priests and people, having a common father in Abraham. 6 But this man, a complete outsider, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him, the one to whom the promises had been given. 7 In acts of blessing, the lesser is blessed by the greater. 

8 Or look at it this way: We pay our tithes to priests who die, but Abraham paid tithes to a priest who, the Scripture says, “lives.”  9 Ultimately you could even say that since Levi descended from Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek, 10 when we pay tithes to the priestly tribe of Levi they end up with Melchizedek. 

11 If the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, which provided the framework for the giving of the law, could really make people perfect, there wouldn’t have been need for a new priesthood like that of Melchizedek. 12 But since it didn’t get the job done, there was a change of priesthood, which brought with it a radical new kind of law. 13 There is no way of understanding this in terms of the old Levitical priesthood, 14 which is why there is nothing in Jesus’ family tree connecting him with that priestly line. 

15 But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy: Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek, 16 not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life—he lives!— 17 “priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek.” 

The writer is well aware of the foundation upon which many of these Jewish Christians were raised. The story being told suggests that there was the old way of doing things, but Jesus is the new way and a far better way to be connected to God. I guess the folks didn’t know what to do with their leftover raisins.

When have you tried to buy a friend? What tactics did you use to win over a friend when you were young? What new things have you learned about being in relationship with others? How would you describe the difference between best friends and those friends who are more acquaintances?  Have a Day!

In Conversation with a child:    Ask a child to tell you about their favorite snack

Prayers for our soldiers and others fighting for our country:  Peter Davidson                                                

Remember in Prayer:    Ron, John, Glenn, John & Jan, Janine, Darlene & family, Emily, Pam G., T.J., Joe, Ryan, Sarah, Cathy, Steve, Barb, Godfrey, Rev. Gatu, Sharlene, Kolton, Mary, Lorraine, Jeannie, Mike, Laura, Linda, Roger, Deanndre, Deanna, Kelsey

Prayer Update:  Prayers for Emily and family and friends as they grieve the loss of Bruce

Prayer Request:  My father, Ron, has been diagnosed with Gallbladder Cancer. It has moved to three different areas.  We will be going to Mayo Clinic next week to find out what our options are. Could you please add him to your prayer request list? Jerrad

And those experiencing loss – family & friends of:  Bruce, mothers of Linda and Karilyn, Lou, Madeleine, Jeff, Johnny

Prayer:    O God, we come before you this day in thanks. Thank you for loving us and for the gift of your Son to us. We thank you that you would love us this much. May we live out your love this day. Amen

Your E-Votional Servant

Lucia 

© 2012 Lucia Oerter

All rights reserved

Email Lucia

The Message Bible – contemporary translation

A ministry for your daily walk in Christ!