prayer

Send Me

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Today I see a great contrast between the splinder of God and the depravity of man. It speaks of a vision of God filling the entire temple in the Holy City. Imagine the greatness, al of the golden tools, the amazing decorations that line every inch of space. The most beautiful things we have seen pale to the glory of God that Isaiah envisioned.

He saw all this glory, the angels serving, the altar burning the sacrifices for worship, and suddenly he began to realize that he was not fit to be in the same area. Many of us realize that we too are not fit in ourselves to be in the same room as God. We have done many things in the past, probably today your thoughts might not have been in the right place either. When we view our life in relation to the life of the saints recognized by history, the Apostles, or Jesus we realize we are really gross dirty people. This is what Isaiah sees in an instant. All the so called good deeds he di in the past were nothing now because he saw that his culture was corupt and he has done nothing to make it better.

I look at our own culture. I see self rightious people on the side of the republicans that seem to throug out the ideas of charity and grace. They seek to save the lives of the unborn yet seem to think there is not chance of redemption for a person that has commited a crime. Then there is the other side who wish to give money freely to people in various forms of socal welfare. Corporations focus on their stockholders instead of their employees, and special intrest groups politic for increased benifits for their clients. In short we are a society focused on greed, culturally and personally. We are a corupt people.

I try not to focus on politics too much but today I just seemed to fall in that direction. Isaiah said he was a dead man in God’s presence because of his culture we are not much better. God asks who will I send? In our own power nothing. We are corupt coming from corupt people, we work fo corupt,companies, and have corupt governments we cannot change without help. The intresting thing is that in one moment God redeemed Isaiah by taking a coal from the altar of sacrifice and touching it to his lips. In an instant we to can be purified by the grace of God provided through Jesus.

Toda as you pray remember the abundant grace and love God has for you, and listen to His voice and be obedient to His calls.

Thunder Rolls

Scripture: Psalm 29

Over the past week many of my friends from Kansas have had bouts with severe weather. This is par for the course in the great plains. My sister’s community was one town that had a tornado pass through. This storm was not as bad as the one that passed through Joplin, Missouri last year, but every tornado and storm has the potential to be devistating. I grew up in awe of these storms, there is a love hate relationship between me and weather. I remember sitting in the tractor over the summer watching as the thunder clouds would build large and darker on the horizon. It is one of the most intresting things to watch. Then comes the wind and rain, suddenly the beauty turns into something horrible, even in this the skys light up with an electric light show greater than any concert.

Today the scripture speaks of the power of the weather. It can break the trees, floods the plains, and sets the ground on fire. God is greater than these acts of nature. It reminds me of the story of Jesus sleeping in the boat as a storm threatens to sink the disciples. They are fearing for their lives yet Jesus sleeps. They cry out to their teacher and he rises and comands the wave to be still.

We all face storms, waves crash, thunder rolls as lightening flashes. We can do several things in these storms. Remember the storms you have faced in the past? How did you respond? Did you watch the flashes in awe or were you afraid? Jesus can calm the storms, God is more powerful than the storms of our life. This does not mean he will take us out of the storm,but he will be with us through it.

Take some time considering the storms you have survived and the ones you are in. Are you trusting in God or your own strength? Are you enjoying the weather or afrad? 

Hand-Made Rosary

This is a hand-made rosary, that I have just finished. It is made from tarnish resistant copper, using a chainmaile knot for the beads. I am currenty selling this one for$150.00 or best offer

The rosary has been utilized as a prayer tool in many Christian denominations, and a form of prayer beads are used in many other religious groups. Many of you may ask why a Quaker pastor is making rosaries, well the sort answer is they are a beautiful tool to encourage prayer. I do not use them in the traditional manner, but I have used them to assist my prayer. When I use a rosary I usually hold the necklace in my hands and run the beads through my fingures as I contemplate a scripture.

I have currently made three of these and plan to make more. Feel free to contact me if you are interested.

To buy this one contact me!