Refreshing

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Working through three more stanzas of Psalm 119 from February 2012:

K. Knowing Integrity

Your hands created me and you know me.
Knowing me, Lord, you help me to know me.
Knowing you, Holy One, my friends rejoice–
They know my hope; they know I am with your word.

Know that His commandments are fair when
We know what they say to us–when we listen.

Today I know:
Know your mercy surrounds and comforts me,
Know your sweet compassion cradles my soul,
and knowing your way, I am happy today;
Know that sinners are not forever,
not aware, and not knowing your word,
Know that those who find, come around me,
knowing we are together in your word,
Know my own heart, that place so hard to see when we don’t
Know integrity.

L. Let Me Pray

Loudly I speak of you, God-of-Grace; let me
Live in your word, learning your commands.
Leavened by your word and your commandments,
Let my hope shine and show your word in me.

Listening to these words, we see that they are true;
Listening, may we learn!
Lord, I pray, let your grace and mercy surround me.
Let me be comforted and be a comfort too.

Let your joy be strong and cradle my soul, and
let me be happy too.
Let me see sinners in failure when they miss the mark, and
Let not the righteous die a hundred deaths.
Lead us, as we join together to study your word,
to your comfortable place, God-of-Grace.
Let me examine my own heart,
Let me be honest and straight; fill me with real
integrity today.

M.  My Soul Aches to be Refreshed

My soul seemed weak for so long as I waited
for you–or did you wait for me?
My eyes were straining, bulging and blood-shot from looking
far and deep; I ask you again: How do I obey?
May I not be hung out to dry, not
bursting as I am hung out in the heat of the day.
Move me from this brittle reality, these
tough times I built up in my life.
Make me joyful in your word, blessed!
Joyfully blessed!
Joyful in God’s word!
Much persecuted, I complain anew, but help me!
May I still not abandon your guiding wisdom.
Make my life new, God-of-Mercy,
Make me fresh and new,
May I obey.
May I still obey your commandments,
even when I complicate them beyond the simple.
Merciful God, make my life new today.

(C) Thomas Bolton February 16, 2012.

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Encouraging

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Valentines heart

Valentines heart (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is a great blog from Elementary School Principal Chris Stevens.  I’m re-blogging it, as many others have, because it is so worthwhile.

Thank you. I admire you. I appreciate you. These are such simple words to say, but few of us take time to say them. You and I have each been in that place where we needed a word of encouragement. Do you remember how it felt? Hopeless, fearful, and lonely. But someone was brave enough, someone loved you enough to speak life and courage into you when you most needed it.

I have several examples of times I needed to hear some encouragement.

Anytime I’ve had to make a huge decision, my wife has been there to believe in me more than I believed in myself.

Once, during a very stressful time of work, I left the office early in the morning to go handle bus duty. When I returned, my 8-year-old son had used my label maker to print a note that said, “I love you have a nice day”. It reminded me that I didn’t need to impress him. Someone (my son) loved me for who I already was.

During Valentines Day, I received several small gifts and cards from students and teachers. Two brightened my day the most. One was from a staff member that said, “You are a true blessing to our school. Thank you for all you do.”. Another from a tiny Kindergarten girl really made me smile. It had Barbie on it and said, “You’re a princess in progress”. I wasn’t sure how to take that one!

Click here to read the rest of his compelling blog:  http://chrisstevenslive.com/2013/02/14/the-art-of-appreciation-letters/

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Ash Wednesday

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Tom Bolton

It was a delight to attend Ash Wednesday Service at Bay View United Methodist Church, near my home, this year. The message, Have Mercy on Me, was excellent.  Thank you Pastor Kelly!  Thank you Pastor Andy, choirs and ushers too.  I really felt welcome.

I also particularly liked the scripture lessons from Peterson’s Message for this service.

Psalm 51: 1-17 A David Psalm

Generous in love—God, give grace!
Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
my sins are staring me down.

You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I’ll let loose with your praise.

Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

Here is an appropriate song to end the day for me.

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Posted on February 13, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Here is a thoughtful quote from a farm girl who is passionate about design–Ericka Michelle. I appreciated it.

Ericka Michelle Creative's avatarERICKA MICHELLE CREATIVE

“During the season of Lent which begins today, we renew our commitment to the path of conversion, making more room for God in our lives.” -Pope Benedict XVI

I found this quote and couldn’t help but share it on this Ash Wednesday!

Faith

 

Happy Lent!

 

 

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Posted on February 13, 2013 by Tom Bolton

I enjoyed the phrasing in this blog, and I just want to share it. Crazy in love!

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Habits Good and Bad

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Tom Bolton

The Israelites Gather Manna in the Wilderness ...

Exodus 16:15-19 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.  This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.’”  The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less.  But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed.  And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.”

Here By Habit

I was here by habit, and prayed by habit,
and lost my neighbor because I forgot to look.
And I gathered my manna each day,
and there was ever enough,
but still, without thought, I sought to save it.
Today, God guided me another way,
but of my habit,
I was still going south to meet my guests.
North was the direction I was sent,
but I didn’t notice,
my feet automatically ambling south.
Grace was with me yesterday and Sunday,
but did I miss it today as I went south?
What new possibilities did I miss?
Little ones with busted boots and frayed mittens,
and sad faces, tummies growling,
waited for me,
but I went my usual way.
What did I miss today?
Tomorrow I am going west. I listened to the call.
But tomorrow I will listen to be sure.
Your mercies, Lord, are new each day.

(c) Tom Bolton, February 6, 2013, Milwaukee

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Teamwork and 1 Chronicles

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Tom Bolton

Teamwork and 1 Chronicles

A good leader has faith, applies that faith as the Lord guides, has followers that buy into a plan, and surrounds themselves with good team members.

David had proven that he was a great leader as the ruler of Hebron. In 1 Chronicles 11, the people made David king. God was with David and David ascribed success to the Lord; devoting all his talents to the Him. As a leader, David knew the importance of
surrounding himself with great people that were strong, courageous, and mighty.

Mark Shields has been leading us through 1 Chronicles recently.  I just want to give a shout-out to his blog, coming to us from Waco First UMC.

The full blog is here:  http://thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/bringing-a-team-together/

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