Christ’s Membership Card

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.          Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)

I grew up and attended the same church until I left for college. I drifted without a “home church” for the next five years until I married and moved. I left the denomination that I grew up in because I could no longer agree or practice its doctrines. I have been a part of a Methodist congregation for over 35 years. I find myself again at a crossroads where I have been seeking God’s wisdom for the last two years. I read Scripture and pray. I affirm to the LORD that I will go wherever He sends me. More than anything else in my life, I want to be in the center of God’s will and plan. But I believe I am, albeit reluctantly, being shown that the fellowship that Jesus modeled for me may not be found in any church membership that I have seen.

Teaching. How important is studying God’s Word in a fellowship? Is the 20 minute sermon on Sunday morning enough? Are there small groups (6-10 people) who commit to meeting regularly? And do they encourage each other to study individually every day, not because of some “law” but because they all are hungry to grow in their relationship with God?

There is worship when we study God’s Word. One of the best teachings I ever experienced was “interrupted” by 30 minutes of spontaneous singing and worshiping of God.

Sharing fellowship. The Acts passage says that the Believers met frequently and ate together including The LORD’s Supper. They liked to just be together. It has been a great joy to discover that God’s vision for a Thursday night supper group that we started in September of this year has become a great blessing, not only to us, but to others who come. We do not meet for study. We just meet to eat and laugh and be together. How much time do we give to sharing what God is doing in our lives every day?

The passage also says that the Believers met together to share and provide for each other. There was no pride but needs were known and people freely gave and helped each other. Do we take our eyes off ourselves long enough to look around and notice the needs of others? Do we care about the needs of widows/widowers and children who do not have their basic needs of food, shelter, caring, and fellowship met? Do we go out to give food away to the homeless and poor but in our hearts we really don’t want them to fellowship with us?!

What does the budget of our resources say about our priorities? How much goes to the needy and how much to salaries and maintaining buildings we use two days a week?

Prayer. And do we pray together more than a corporate “Our Father”? Do we take the time to bring the needs and concerns to God? Do we share how He has answered our prayers? When we meet together is our order more important than taking time to give our burdens to God and be quiet before Him, waiting on His instructions and answers?

My heart is so full with love for my LORD, my bestest friend, and Savior Jesus! I want to spend time with Him and with my believing siblings. I have work and ministry to do. I will go where He tells me to go and I will share His Good News and what He has done in my life with those He brings into my path. But I also want to spend time with like minds and others who also love God more than their lives. God is showing me a fellowship but it doesn’t look like what I grew up with. John Wesley said that the world was his parish. I too am finding a fellowship that is scattered but comes together to meet, study and pray. God has been faithful to give me accountability partners who know me and encourage me but also provide discipline.

My membership is in Jesus’ Army and I live in His Kingdom. His seal of registration is on my heart. When I leave this life and walk through to the next, my membership in a local church will not get me into heaven. It will be my commitment of heart, mind, body and spirit to Jesus Christ.

My Tribute/My Redeemer written by Andre Crouch & Nicole C Mullen sung by Nicole C Mullen

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Shout to the LORD!

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord,
shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving;
let us shout triumphantly to Him in song.      Psalm 95:1-2 (HCSB)

I have children that call me “Mommy,” “Mother” and “Ma.” Some of my grandchildren call me “Nana.” Another calls me “Jody” and one even calls me “Banana Jody.” And my response is, “I don’t care what they call me – just call me!”

Whether I cry out to God today or shout to the LORD or whisper His name, I believe my Father loves me so much – He just wants me to call!

Even if your call isn’t joyful today, call on God. Talk to Him. Then be still and hear and know He is your Loving Father and Mighty LORD.

Shout to the LORD written and sung by Darlene Zschech

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Counting My Blessings

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from December 14, 2011]

My life is down in the dust; give me life through Your word.
I told You about my life, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes.
Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders.     Psalm 119:25-27 (HCSB)

It is that time of the year when everyone is happy and having fun! There is no sadness or stress about – well, except – how to pay bills, how to explain to your children that there won’t be presents, or illness, relationships, etc., etc. Twice in my adult life my employers did cutbacks on December 1st. I did not lose my job but many co-workers did. There were no severance packages, just an awful one-on-one meeting that ended with them going home in shock, struggling to think of what they might say to

I remember sitting on my floor pallet in my bedroom one night after I was divorced. My three children and I had moved into a new place. There had been a house full of their friends visiting that night. It was quiet and I was picking up my Bible. I felt so alone. “Where are You, God?” And I heard His Spirit speak to mine, “Count your blessings, Jody.” I was sitting on a blanket on the floor. That was my bed. I was alone for the first time in my life with the responsibility to care for three children who were hurting from the break-up of their family. Count my blessings??? Like a child, I thought of the alphabet and wondered if I could think of something to be thankful for that began with the letter ‘A’. To my surprise, I could think of something or someone who began with ‘A’ and ‘B’ and ‘C’ and…before I knew it I was tearfully thinking of many things.

That little exercise has come back to me again and again in the last 15 years. When I lay my head down for the night and feel “my life is down in the dust,” I start counting my blessings through the alphabet! It isn’t always easy. My flesh and the world seem to verbalize their evaluation of my life like they are speaking through a bullhorn! And it isn’t as though what I hear is totally wrong. There is some basis in reality! That’s the problem with distinguishing “right” from “wrong”. It is rarely “so right” or “so wrong.” “Right” in my life must translate into what is “God” in my life. Even suffering can be part of God and what He is doing.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.              1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)

So if you are in a “fiery trial” right now and struggling to stay focused on God’s blessings in your life, take time to exercise your spiritual muscles. We find our perfect rest when we work out

Count Your Blessings by Irving Berlin (1954) Take time to listen and keep singing this song every day.

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Emmanuel, God with Us

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from December 2, 2010]

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)

The prophet Isaiah lived over 700 years before Jesus was born. And yet here are the beautiful words that promise a Messiah, a Savior. Today I know that my Savior lives but I look with Hope for the time that He will come again to take me home with Him forever.

It is the profound and extravagant love that swirls within my heart as I look at the candles that flicker, smell the pine, and see the manger. There is a figure of a tiny baby that is the center of the scene. The donkey, the sheep, a mother, and a father standing in watch over this baby that will grow in wisdom and stature. I pray that the humility and awe that I am feeling as I write this will stay with me all through Advent and be just the beginning of a new level in my relationship with Jesus.

Jesus is the wise Counselor. He is the One and Only Mighty God who cares for His children with a love that is beyond words to describe. The Father will care for me forever. Our relationship has no end! And Jesus is the Prince who brings a peace that I cannot understand at times when it seems impossible. All this is the Trinity that I do not begin to have the words to explain but I know that it is True. It’s a gift that is 3 in 1.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”    Luke 1:30-33 (NLT)

Don’t be afraid. You are loved by God. That is still a message for me – for you – today. Yesterday I said that Jesus would stir up my life if I chose to follow Him. Here is Jesus coming near. He will, in fact, be carried for the 9 months it takes for His fully human form to mature for birth. But Mary can lay down her fears – all of them – and strap in for the journey that God has for her. It will not be like anything she has ever or will ever experience. But God, again gives His promises about who He is.

May I stay focused on who He is and who I am with Him in me. Advent is about preparation for Jesus’ birth. I can prepare my house with decorations and prepare gifts with beautiful paper and ribbons but it is my heart that needs my attention so that the place that Jesus lives inside of me is swept clean and is filled only with Him.

O Come O Come, Emmanuel sung by Sugarland

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel. (Veni Emmanuel, 15th century)

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Who Are You Going to Trust?

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

The Lord God of Jacob blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him.
6 God made heaven and earth;
he created the sea and everything else.
God always keeps his word.
7 He gives justice to the poor and food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free 8 and heals blind eyes.
He gives a helping hand to everyone who falls.
The Lord loves good people 9 and looks after strangers.
He defends the rights of orphans and widows,
but destroys the wicked.

10 The Lord God of Zion will rule forever!
Shout praises to the Lord!                                      Psalm 146:5-10 (CEV)

Lectionary texts: Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:5-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11

Bad things happen in this life. It is not a question of “if” disease, death, war, destruction, and suffering will happen but “when.” Who are you going to trust to be there for you? Who are you going to trust to guide you over treacherous paths? Who do you know you can trust for all that you may need?

Myself. Oh how long I tried this option! I am an educated person who has been raised in a good home in the Midwest. With just some common sense and the brain that God gave me, I can figure my problems out. I can find a solution. Right? Pushing and pulling others to fall in with my plan and twisting myself into who I thought I needed to be still left me falling short of success.

My spouse. Counting on any single person to make me happy is setting them up for failure and me for disappointment. It is not my husband’s job to make me happy. It is not his job to fix everything and protect me from all pain and suffering. He will fail at it. He was created to be my partner and covenant mate. That is what he is good at because God made it so.

My LORD. My LORD created the earth and everything in it, including me. He is trustworthy. He keeps His promises. He has always been and will always be. God is loving. I can lean on Him with any burden and He can bear the load. Even before I am aware that I need Him, God is there. God is just. He will defend those who are in need. The wicked will be destroyed. Evil will be destroyed.

Trust is found in a living, growing relationship. It needs time and attention. My trust in the LORD will grow as we spend time together talking and listening to each other. As I learn who the LORD is, I will learn His heart and His plan for my life. I will begin to see His Kingdom through His eyes.

The lectionary texts this week continuing the Advent theme to prepare the way for our Savior. Let us prepare our hearts by opening them to receive God’s Spirit that will fill us with the truth of who He is. We can trust Him.

His Eye is on the Sparrow written by Civilla Martin & Charles Gabriel (1905) sung by Lauryn Hills & CeCe Winans

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Spiritual Health

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6 Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.      Romans 15:4-6 (CEV)

I have heard and read many stories of POW’s who testify that it was the recalling of Scripture passages that kept them sane and gave them hope through many years of torture and incarceration. It is beyond my ability to understand their experience but I have had times of trial when verses came to my mind and brought calm to my troubled spirit.

Hope is a vital, but very fragile, part of our spiritual health. I do not mean “religion” when I speak of spiritual here but of what is the essence of who and what I am.

My spirit gives allegiance to Who I believe in. What I say in words can be superficial but when the words come from my spirit, they speak of what I believe in my thoughts and what saturates all that I am.

My spirit understands beyond what my mind can comprehend or process. Concepts beyond the dimension of my linear world are connected in my spirit and allow me to communicate and follow my LORD in faith.

My spirit gives me strength to stand in trials beyond what my physical body and mind can do. I remember when my then 12-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. It was like a physical blow. I also remember thinking that if this ended in death that I would not be able to survive that. I believed that my mind would crack and I too would die. My spirit, connected to God, knew differently. My spirit knew that with God to hold me and give me His strength, I would make it.

Time with God in prayer and study of His Word is like a workout for my spirit. It strengthens my spiritual muscles and keeps me in shape to walk the paths I am given each day. To neglect this time, is to invite injury and sickness that thrives on a weakened spirit. And people who exercise with a partner are more likely to be consistent in their workout and also eat healthier. So it is when I study and pray with others.

Hope is a manifestation of good spiritual health. Just as a balanced diet and exercise are good for the body, Scripture and prayer are good for the spirit. And hope lives and grows in a healthy spirit. Jesus said that He came to seek and heal those who are sick. He came with hope.

You Know Better Than I written by David Campbell and sung by Dallyn Vail Bayles

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Forever Friends

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,] “This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.”         John 15:12-13 (The Message)

I was thinking last night about friendship, specifically the friends that my son James had in his life. It is not difficult to be a friend when life is good and a friendship is all about boating, Halo games, and playing music that you love. But when one of you is going through something like chemotherapy and surgeries, and just when you think it can’t get worse, you have to watch that friend die – it all gets a bit “too real.” And then I thought about our soldiers and how friendships for them are forged in the fire of battle. Your shared battlefield experience is intense and can last a lifetime, whether that is 40-50 years or tragically cut short by a bullet or IED.

I believe that the best friendships are those that God orchestrates. He brings people into my life and I am touched and made better by their gifts and influences. Often these friendships are not easy because they are here to teach me and refine me. I may find something inside of me that needs to be looked at and dealt with. It isn’t easy to look at myself and own an unlovely aspect of my character. It is often when I have found out how self-centered I am.

I am also thinking and studying about grace these days and friendship certainly involves grace, that unconditional love. James did not really want his friends coming to the hospital and standing around his bed. If it were me, I would want my friends to be there but James didn’t. He so appreciated his friends who allowed him to compartmentalize his life and be there when he felt better. He could leave behind sickness and just be one of the guys, hanging out and focusing on fun. I noticed that his friends were good at pacing activities so that he could keep up, even when he had only one lung. It is grace that sees what is needed and just makes it happen.

It is also grace that allows friends to forgive and love even when one friend finds it impossible to come near during the hard times. There is a supernatural compassion that recognizes that the pain of an impending loss is more than one can bear. On the flip side there is also a courage that can give a friend the strength to hold on and walk that final journey together and then let go and allow their friend to leave this world and go before them into heaven. “See ya’ later!”

Jesus shows all of us what friendship is about. He literally laid down His life for us. He didn’t have 100 or 300 “FaceBook friends.” He had twelve. He had three, yes only three close friends who saw the intimate aspects of His life. And only One knew Him inside and out. I can pattern my own life with 2-3 friends who are close to me and only Jesus knows the all of me. A good friend sows into my life in such a way that I am better with them in my life. They bring out the best fruit in me (Galatians 6) because they are all about that fruit themselves. Nothing will separate me from these God-given friends because we are following the same path, the same Savior.

Friends are Friends Forever written by Wes King & Michael W Smith

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The Greatest Grace

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them,“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”         Luke 9:46-47 (NIV)

[Jesus said,]“The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!”
23 Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.
24 The apostles got into an argument about which one of them was the greatest. 25 So Jesus told them:
Foreign kings order their people around, and powerful rulers call themselves everyone’s friends. 26 But don’t be like them. The most important one of you should be like the least important, and your leader should be like a servant.         Luke 22:22-26 (CEV)

In the late 1960’s there was a comedy team called The Smothers Brothers that had a TV show. They actually were brothers who frequently did a routine around the statement, “Mama loved me best!” Whether it is our earthly parents, a teacher, or entire church or denomination who believe “God loves us best!” it seems to be in our human nature to determine who is the greatest.

All three synoptic gospels record the disciples arguing among themselves about who is the greatest. Luke records that it happened twice! Jesus responds quickly and with very pointed examples.

First He uses a child. In society of that day, a child was considered property much like a horse or lamb. A child was to be silent in the presence of adults and defer to them in all things. Jesus says that whoever cares for a child, indeed cares for anyone who is weak and thought unimportant or insignificant like a child, is caring for Him. The least among us are the most important.

Then Jesus turns the eyes of His disciples to the kings and those in power, like High Priests. Anyone who has power is not to use power for his/her own gain but instead serve and care for those for whom they have power over. True leaders are to be servants to those they lead. These were radical and never before imagine concepts. They still are.

My daughter told me a story yesterday. She injured her wrist at work and it began to bother her with pain and loss of range of motion. She took her children to church that evening for activities which included prayer ministry. The children are taught about prayer and encouraged to pray for others. Janet asked the adult leader if the children could pray for her regarding her hand. Two young children (under the age of 10) bowed their heads and asked God to heal and restore health to Janet’s hand. God has answered that prayer. When we think of asking for prayer, do we go to the pastor first? Is his/her prayer “greater”?

Jesus, LORD God Almighty, came to earth, was born in a barn manger and lived a life as a carpenter’s son. He chose twelve common men to teach for three years about His Heavenly Father and the plan for us to make it possible to have eternal life with Him. He relied on those twelve to spread the Good News throughout the whole world. There was no Plan B to fall back on great teachers or kings. From the beginning God covered every piece of His plan with His grace, His extravagant love that would confirm to us that His lessons in humility and principle that those who served would be great in His Kingdom were true. Jesus did not come as a king to save me but as a servant.

And Can It Be original written by Charles Wesley (1738), now sung by Lindell Cooley

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in my Savior’s blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
And if was for me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, should die for me?

He left his Father’s throne above
so free, so infinite, so infinite his love!
He emptied himself of all but love,
and He died and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, should die for me?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
I was fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
But thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
And when I awoke, the dungeon was flaming with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, should die for me?

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Prepare for Grace

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Jesus said to his disciples, “During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,
‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
32 But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”

33 Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”        Matthew 26:30-33 (CEV)

Lectionary texts: Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12

This year Advent has been a precious time, a treasure, as I have been studying the Scripture from the perspective of God’s grace. When Jesus came, His mission was to bring salvation to all of God’s children. Most of my life I doubted that I was in that group. I wasn’t sure. I felt that my ambivalent obedience to God, strong will and rebellious nature would make it impossible for God to accept me as part of His family. And so I lived with doubt.

In this passage of the Matthew’s gospel, Jesus has just finished His final supper with His disciples. He washed their feet, sent Judas on his way of betrayal and shared the Passover meal together. They are probably experiencing a feeling of intimate fellowship. And then Jesus tells them, “You will all reject me.” And those words are words of truth about all of us, about me. I rejected Jesus and what He came to give me for over 40 years! Jesus gave true promises and fulfills them to this day.

“My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all others. No one can snatch them from his hands,30 and I am one with the Father.”      John 10:27-30 (CEV)

My life certainly has its ups and downs, ebbs and flows, mountains and valleys. But Jesus lives in a place of peace that is beyond my understanding. He offers this peace to me because I have been bought with the ultimate price and I belong to Him and with Him for all eternity. Satan sees the engraving on me that identifies me as God’s child and he is to keep his filthy hands off me. But he cannot help himself from trying to lure me away. He can only claim me if I make that choice. I am covered, sealed, by the blood of Christ and the grace of God.

Despite all those first disciples saw Jesus do and heard Him teach, Peter missed Jesus’ promise for redemption in that sad declaration that they would all desert Him. Peter immediately proclaims that he won’t leave Jesus and implies he will stand by Jesus in his own strength. Once again, Peter engages his mouth before his brain!

In Luke’s gospel account of this same time (Luke 22), Jesus tells Peter that he will be tested by Satan but again Jesus speaks words of grace and reassures Peter that he will come through the testing. Why? Will it be because of Peter’s strength or great faith? No, it is because Jesus Himself has prayed for Peter. And the writer of Hebrews tells us the same:

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.        Hebrews 7:25 (NIV)

Jesus came to bring salvation but He brings much more. Grace, His unconditional love, births a resolve in me to do good, not evil. It brings my heart, my spirit closer to God’s image. It draws me closer to my Father and Creator.

There may be no presents under a Christmas tree but every day and every moment there is an extravagant gift in my heart from my Heavenly Father that just keeps on giving. Grace has been there from the beginning and will be there always when I finally come home to Him.

He Was There All the Time written by Gary S. Paxton and sung by Vocal Union

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Please Help and Bless our Leaders

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Please help the king to be honest and fair just like you, our God.
2 Let him be honest and fair with all your people, especially the poor.
3 Let peace and justice rule every mountain and hill.
4 Let the king defend the poor, rescue the homeless,
and crush everyone who hurts them.
5 Let the king live forever like the sun and the moon.
6 Let him be as helpful as rain that refreshes the meadows and the ground.
7 Let the king be fair with everyone,
and let there be peace until the moon falls from the sky.

8 Let his kingdom reach from sea to sea,
from the Euphrates River across all the earth.
9 Force the desert tribes to accept his rule,
and make his enemies crawl in the dirt.
10 Force the rulers of Tarshish and of the islands to pay taxes to him.
Make the kings of Sheba and of Seba bring gifts.
11Make other rulers bow down and all nations serve him.

12 Do this because the king rescues the homeless when they cry out,
and he helps everyone who is poor and in need.
13 The king has pity on the weak and the helpless
and protects those in need.
14 He cares when they hurt, and he saves them from cruel and violent deaths.

15 Long live the king!
Give him gold from Sheba.
Always pray for the king and praise him each day.
16 Let cities overflow with food and hills be covered with grain,
just like Mount Lebanon.
Let the people in the cities prosper like wild flowers.
17 May the glory of the king shine brightly forever
like the sun in the sky.
Let him make nations prosper and learn to praise him.

18 Lord God of Israel, we praise you.
Only you can work miracles.
19 We will always praise your glorious name.
Let your glory be seen everywhere on earth. Amen and amen.

20 This ends the prayers of David, the son of Jesse.             Psalm 72 (CEV)

How much time do we spend praying for our President, representatives, mayor and others who are responsible for governing our nation and cities? How much time do we spend complaining and attacking these same people? If FaceBook is any indication, not much of the former and ‘way too much of the latter!

Jesus did not spend any of His three years of ministry instructing us how to overthrow a government and if I read history, the Romans made our Republicans and Democrats look pretty benign! Other biblical authors like the writer of this psalm and Paul in his letters urge their readers to pray for kings and officials. They do not attack them personally or question their allegiance to God. They pray blessings on them so that they may rule with wisdom and mercy.

Let us learn and obey from Scripture. Instead of picking up the whip to flog an official, may we drop to our knees instead and pray.

God Bless America written by Irving Berlin and sung by Generald Wilson

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