Running in Faith September 2004

"Running in Faith" is an electronic devotional guide written by members of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Each week, writers use their personal interpretation of scripture to write an inspirational message they hope will help readers take their Sunday faith into weekday lives. Your comments are appreciated and, when related to a particular devotion, passed to the writer. We hope you will share these devotions with friends and coworkers. We are always happy to add new names to our e-mail list. Please contact us if you wish your name to be added.
Devotion for the week of September 5, 2004 Submitted by Betsy R. "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9 As a teacher, September has always been a special time of year. For me, it is about new beginnings. I get more excited about the fresh start of a cool, crisp September morning, than the loud and commercialized New Year's Eve. It is a time to reset my schedule and develop new routines, to look at my eating and exercise habits, and to set numerous goals for my school family and for myself. I am a fifth grade team teacher and I have 75 children. The night before school starts, I probably get less sleep than any of my students. I am reminded that I have an incredible responsibility and that it is a gift. I have a chance to impact the lives of these children -- if only for 180 days. They each enter my classroom with their own stories, their fears, their expectations, their hopes, their good habits and bad -- and I am reminded that one thoughtless remark can shatter a spirit, one angry look can dim a heart, one bad test grade can frustrate the most capable. So I am reminded how much I must live my faith in my daily life. I am reminded that each child is a child of God -- a gift from God. I am reminded to be more loving, more patient, and more understanding. I am reminded of the power of words. I am reminded to pray more and gossip less. I am reminded that is doesn't take much to be kind. They say people will not remember what you said or did, but they will remember how they felt when they were with you. When June arrives, will my children feel loved and cared for? Will they feel I was fair and kind? Will they feel that they were encouraged and challenged to do their best? So as I pack my lunch and head out the door to school, I find myself remembering that we all have gifts and talents. What we do with them is our gift to God. I know I am a good teacher, but as a new school year begins I must ask myself -- can I be an even better teacher this year? What about you? How will you live your faith each day? What new beginnings will you initiate this September? "Almighty God, you have filled us with the new light of the Word who became flesh and lived among us. Let the light of our faith shine in all that we do: through your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever." Amen Lutheran Book of Worship, Page 15
Devotion for the week of September 12, 2004 Submitted by Diane S. "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." ... Mark 10:13-16 The disciples had sought to prevent the people from bringing the little children to Jesus for a blessing, but He bid the children come, proclaiming that only those who humble themselves as little children shall receive the kingdom of heaven. In this and in related passages, Jesus makes it clear that he refers to the conversion of the believer from the old self to the new, from guilt to innocence, through a process of spiritual rebirth. He also seems be making a point about the qualitative differences between adults and the little children: He says that the children ARE the kingdom, and that we only enter if we become one of them. Many adults are embedded deeply into the earth, into the forms and substances of the material world, and are inclined to become too attached to the past: they plod along slowly or simply stay cemented in place, their present thinking, feeling and activity, as well as their future plans, informed by what has gone before. They approach the world primarily through judgment and analytical thinking; making assumptions and organizing people and events into categories, a process that by its very nature depends on past experience. They tend to move in straight lines according to preconceived, well-formed patterns. By contrast, little children, as long as they are allowed to grow naturally, are more like the wind, free of confinement or fear. For them, the past is quickly forgotten and the future still a mystery - they live simply and joyfully in the present, without airs or pretension, without even a clear sense of separation between themselves and the world around them, for to the very young, the universe is still spiritual and every part alive. They are trusting by nature, open to accepting anyone who enters their sphere and receiving whatever life offers, without prejudice or presumption. They behave spontaneously, primarily through feeling, imagination, and intuition - they dance! Though we cannot physically return to this same state of childhood innocence, we can look to the light that streams from the eyes of children into our darkness, and change our attitudes and focus. For we cannot attain the kingdom through polished theories, desirable affiliations, admirable accomplishments, and certainly not burdened with possessions, though the pursuit of these often consumes a major part of our time and energy. Rather, we must humble ourselves, strip away all these external layers we have so painstakingly built up, and set aside the ego¹s agenda, so that we may awaken to our true heart song and enter the kingdom through the soul and the spirit, as little children do Gather us in from our separate paths and join us together in forgiveness and trust. Grant us the wisdom to relinquish our investment in this world of illusions and recognize the light of Thy truth, which shall set us free. Give us the courage to surrender our earthly attachments and live more fully according to the voice within our hearts, informed by Thy will and within Thy loving embrace, which encompasses all. For Thine is the kingdom and Thine the way. Amen.
Devotion for the week of September 19, 2004 Submitted by Donna S. "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." ... Matthew 18:3-4 If prayer constitutes the soul of the Christian spiritual life, prayer also must lie at the center of family spirituality. But how do we go about "teaching" our children to pray? What are the hurdles we encounter? We look to the church, and defer to Sunday School teachers to reinforce the practice of prayer with our children. We are reluctant to take on the full responsibility, even though we may recognize that it is we, the parents, who are the most influential models of prayer for our children. They watch us carefully; they know our hearts; and they ultimately become like us in many ways, and do as we do. So, we cannot abdicate our role. Our prayer life cannot remain a solitary affair once we become a parent. Our reluctance may lie in our insecurity ... and our insecurity probably results from the realization that in the process of maturing, or socializing, we have lost what is essential in prayer. That essential is the understanding that if we want to grow up in prayer, we have to again become like little children. This realization, that we have lost the childlike spirit that Jesus commended, can revolutionalize the manner in which we approach prayer with our children. Instead of using family devotional time to "teach" children to pray, why not try involving them in prayer. This puts everyone on equal footing, elicits more cooperation instead of resistance, and from this humble vantage point, we can more easily learn from each other. We can teach less and listen more! Listening to the prayers of children, we learn things about them we did not know, and we learn about the simplicity of prayer. Just what are those childlike qualities of which Jesus speaks, and how can we revisit them for ourselves and affirm and nurture them in our children? If Jesus were to instruct us in prayer, his list of instructions might look something like this: Keep It Simple: In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus says, "In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Pray With Childlike Faith: Once children have experienced unconditional parental love, they have a basis for conceptualizing God's love. Watch the kind of trust a helpless child exhibits. They depend on the adults in their lives to do what they are yet unable to do. Be Persistent: What children do you know who are not persistent in attempting to get what they want. They do not give up. Nor should we, in our efforts to commune with God, and let our needs be known to him. Pray With Forgiveness In Our Hearts: How forgiving our children are! They model for us, as Christ did on the cross, the way in which we need to clear away grudges that block recognition of our own need for forgiveness. Forgiveness opens up the lines of communication. Pray With Humility: Recognizing our powerlessness and lack of control over our own destinies and others is prerequisite to becoming humble. For children, given their position in the family hierarchy, this is a given. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:10) There is no better way for this to happen than to recognize all we can learn from our children. It is the parent's relationship with God that the child uses as a benchmark for the world. His spirituality, already within him, can be welcomed and enriched, or ignored and diluted. How fortunate the child with a spiritually positive parental mirror. Dear Heavenly Father, Help me never to become too sophisticated or "mature" to come to you as a child of my Heavenly Parent. Allow my children to witness this. I thank you for children in my life who reflect the beauty of simplicity in their prayers, who persist in their requests to you, who forgive with abandon. Equip me always to demonstrate unconditional love for them, and to continue to learn from them how to approach you in prayer. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Devotion for the week of September 26, 2004 Submitted by Susan L. "When asked which is the greater commandment, Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." ... Matthew 23:37-40 My family recently adopted a dog, the culmination of an unexpected quest that began two months ago. My daughter began doing community service for a Girl Scout Project by working with an animal rescue organization. We were introduced to a group of volunteers who rescue animals about to be exterminated in local pounds. One afternoon's service convinced us that we needed to make room in our family for one of these vulnerable creatures. I am not surprised when I find God in a garden, but in a Dog? Since the dog has arrived I have been startled by what happens during our walks together. Lonely people who never even waved, now smile and come out to greet us. Cars stop, neighbors hop out, give advice and invite us to use their fenced yard for romps. Children bring samples of their dog's favorite treats. Neighbors congregate around us, lovingly admire our new arrival and wistfully reminisce about animals they have known. What's happening here? Vulnerable creatures help us reach outside of ourselves, to offer ourselves, to connect with our neighbors, and to glimpse and embrace God's love. Dear God, thank you for the joys of unexpected love. Help us to see and return your love. Amen
Yearly Index

"Running in Faith" is an electronic devotional guide written by members of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Each week, writers use their personal interpretation of scripture to write an inspirational message they hope will help readers take their Sunday faith into weekday lives. Your comments are appreciated and, when related to a particular devotion, passed to the writer. We hope you will share these devotions with friends and coworkers. We are always happy to add new names to our e-mail list. Please contact us if you wish your name to be added.

Devotion for the week of September 5, 2004
Submitted by Betsy R.

"We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps."
Proverbs 16:9

As a teacher, September has always been a special time of year. For me, it is about new beginnings. I get more excited about the fresh start of a cool, crisp September morning, than the loud and commercialized New Year's Eve. It is a time to reset my schedule and develop new routines, to look at my eating and exercise habits, and to set numerous goals for my school family and for myself.

I am a fifth grade team teacher and I have 75 children. The night before school starts, I probably get less sleep than any of my students. I am reminded that I have an incredible responsibility and that it is a gift. I have a chance to impact the lives of these children -- if only for 180 days. They each enter my classroom with their own stories, their fears, their expectations, their hopes, their good habits and bad -- and I am reminded that one thoughtless remark can shatter a spirit, one angry look can dim a heart, one bad test grade can frustrate the most capable.

So I am reminded how much I must live my faith in my daily life. I am reminded that each child is a child of God -- a gift from God. I am reminded to be more loving, more patient, and more understanding. I am reminded of the power of words. I am reminded to pray more and gossip less. I am reminded that is doesn't take much to be kind.

They say people will not remember what you said or did, but they will remember how they felt when they were with you. When June arrives, will my children feel loved and cared for? Will they feel I was fair and kind? Will they feel that they were encouraged and challenged to do their best?

So as I pack my lunch and head out the door to school, I find myself remembering that we all have gifts and talents. What we do with them is our gift to God. I know I am a good teacher, but as a new school year begins I must ask myself -- can I be an even better teacher this year?

What about you? How will you live your faith each day? What new beginnings will you initiate this September?

"Almighty God, you have filled us with the new light of the Word who became flesh and lived among us. Let the light of our faith shine in all that we do: through your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever." Amen
Lutheran Book of Worship, Page 15

Devotion for the week of September 12, 2004
Submitted by Diane S.

"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." ... Mark 10:13-16

The disciples had sought to prevent the people from bringing the little children to Jesus for a blessing, but He bid the children come, proclaiming that only those who humble themselves as little children shall receive the kingdom of heaven. In this and in related passages, Jesus makes it clear that he refers to the conversion of the believer from the old self to the new, from guilt to innocence, through a process of spiritual rebirth. He also seems be making a point about the qualitative differences between adults and the little children: He says that the children ARE the kingdom, and that we only enter if we become one of them.

Many adults are embedded deeply into the earth, into the forms and substances of the material world, and are inclined to become too attached to the past: they plod along slowly or simply stay cemented in place, their present thinking, feeling and activity, as well as their future plans, informed by what has gone before. They approach the world primarily through judgment and analytical thinking; making assumptions and organizing people and events into categories, a process that by its very nature depends on past experience. They tend to move in straight lines according to preconceived, well-formed patterns.

By contrast, little children, as long as they are allowed to grow naturally, are more like the wind, free of confinement or fear. For them, the past is quickly forgotten and the future still a mystery - they live simply and joyfully in the present, without airs or pretension, without even a clear sense of separation between themselves and the world around them, for to the very young, the universe is still spiritual and every part alive. They are trusting by nature, open to accepting anyone who enters their sphere and receiving whatever life offers, without prejudice or presumption. They behave spontaneously, primarily through feeling, imagination, and intuition - they dance!

Though we cannot physically return to this same state of childhood innocence, we can look to the light that streams from the eyes of children into our darkness, and change our attitudes and focus. For we cannot attain the kingdom through polished theories, desirable affiliations, admirable accomplishments, and certainly not burdened with possessions, though the pursuit of these often consumes a major part of our time and energy. Rather, we must humble ourselves, strip away all these external layers we have so painstakingly built up, and set aside the ego¹s agenda, so that we may awaken to our true heart song and enter the kingdom through the soul and the spirit, as little children do

Gather us in from our separate paths and join us together in forgiveness and trust. Grant us the wisdom to relinquish our investment in this world of illusions and recognize the light of Thy truth, which shall set us free. Give us the courage to surrender our earthly attachments and live more fully according to the voice within our hearts, informed by Thy will and within Thy loving embrace, which encompasses all. For Thine is the kingdom and Thine the way. Amen.

Devotion for the week of September 19, 2004
Submitted by Donna S.

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." ... Matthew 18:3-4

If prayer constitutes the soul of the Christian spiritual life, prayer also must lie at the center of family spirituality. But how do we go about "teaching" our children to pray? What are the hurdles we encounter?

We look to the church, and defer to Sunday School teachers to reinforce the practice of prayer with our children. We are reluctant to take on the full responsibility, even though we may recognize that it is we, the parents, who are the most influential models of prayer for our children. They watch us carefully; they know our hearts; and they ultimately become like us in many ways, and do as we do. So, we cannot abdicate our role. Our prayer life cannot remain a solitary affair once we become a parent.

Our reluctance may lie in our insecurity ... and our insecurity probably results from the realization that in the process of maturing, or socializing, we have lost what is essential in prayer. That essential is the understanding that if we want to grow up in prayer, we have to again become like little children. This realization, that we have lost the childlike spirit that Jesus commended, can revolutionalize the manner in which we approach prayer with our children.

Instead of using family devotional time to "teach" children to pray, why not try involving them in prayer. This puts everyone on equal footing, elicits more cooperation instead of resistance, and from this humble vantage point, we can more easily learn from each other. We can teach less and listen more! Listening to the prayers of children, we learn things about them we did not know, and we learn about the simplicity of prayer.

Just what are those childlike qualities of which Jesus speaks, and how can we revisit them for ourselves and affirm and nurture them in our children? If Jesus were to instruct us in prayer, his list of instructions might look something like this:

Keep It Simple: In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus says, "In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Pray With Childlike Faith: Once children have experienced unconditional parental love, they have a basis for conceptualizing God's love. Watch the kind of trust a helpless child exhibits. They depend on the adults in their lives to do what they are yet unable to do.
Be Persistent: What children do you know who are not persistent in attempting to get what they want. They do not give up. Nor should we, in our efforts to commune with God, and let our needs be known to him.
Pray With Forgiveness In Our Hearts: How forgiving our children are! They model for us, as Christ did on the cross, the way in which we need to clear away grudges that block recognition of our own need for forgiveness. Forgiveness opens up the lines of communication.
Pray With Humility: Recognizing our powerlessness and lack of control over our own destinies and others is prerequisite to becoming humble. For children, given their position in the family hierarchy, this is a given. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:10) There is no better way for this to happen than to recognize all we can learn from our children.

It is the parent's relationship with God that the child uses as a benchmark for the world. His spirituality, already within him, can be welcomed and enriched, or ignored and diluted. How fortunate the child with a spiritually positive parental mirror.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me never to become too sophisticated or "mature" to come to you as a child of my Heavenly Parent. Allow my children to witness this. I thank you for children in my life who reflect the beauty of simplicity in their prayers, who persist in their requests to you, who forgive with abandon. Equip me always to demonstrate unconditional love for them, and to continue to learn from them how to approach you in prayer. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Devotion for the week of September 26, 2004
Submitted by Susan L.

"When asked which is the greater commandment, Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." ... Matthew 23:37-40

My family recently adopted a dog, the culmination of an unexpected quest that began two months ago. My daughter began doing community service for a Girl Scout Project by working with an animal rescue organization. We were introduced to a group of volunteers who rescue animals about to be exterminated in local pounds. One afternoon's service convinced us that we needed to make room in our family for one of these vulnerable creatures.

I am not surprised when I find God in a garden, but in a Dog? Since the dog has arrived I have been startled by what happens during our walks together. Lonely people who never even waved, now smile and come out to greet us. Cars stop, neighbors hop out, give advice and invite us to use their fenced yard for romps. Children bring samples of their dog's favorite treats. Neighbors congregate around us, lovingly admire our new arrival and wistfully reminisce about animals they have known.

What's happening here? Vulnerable creatures help us reach outside of ourselves, to offer ourselves, to connect with our neighbors, and to glimpse and embrace God's love.

Dear God, thank you for the joys of unexpected love.
Help us to see and return your love. Amen

Yearly Index