Daily Devotions
Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for May 28, 2020
Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “Jesus Is Merciful”
Jesus, the Blessed Child of God, is merciful. Showing mercy is different from having pity. Pity connotes distance, even looking down upon. When a beggar asks for money and you give him something out of pity, you are not showing mercy. Mercy comes from a compassionate heart; it comes from a desire to be an equal. Jesus didn’t want to look down on us. He wanted to become one of us and feel deeply with us.
When Jesus called the only son of the widow of Nain to life, he did so because he felt the deep sorrow of the grieving mother in his own heart (see Luke 7·: 1 1-17). Let us look at Jesus when we want to know how to show mercy to our brothers and sisters.
Today’s prayer is part of a MUCH longer prayer by Max Lucado.
What we’re seeing on the news, holy God, you saw on that Friday so long ago. Innocence interrupted. Goodness suffering. Mothers weeping. Just as the darkness fell on your Son, we fear the darkness falling on our friends, our family, our world. Just as our world has been shaken by a disease, our world was shaken the day the very child of Eternity was pierced.
You saw it. But you did not waver. You did not waver. After your Son’s three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again. Grant us another Easter.
We thank you for these hours of unity. Selfless acts of service and kindness warm our hearts. Strangers see opportunities to share with others. Our medical warriors are working together, at personal risk, to care for the rest of us. We thank you for their remarkable commitment.
We read posts urging us to respect each other, care for each other, and look up. We confess we have been anxious, but because of you, Lord, we have hope.
Let your mercy be upon all who suffer. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls hurt by this disease. Give us grace to help each other and faith that we might believe.
And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years, you’ve used us to heal a hurting world. Through Christ, Amen.
Dad Jokes of the Day
What do you call a cow with no legs? (Ground beef)
I gave away all my dead batteries today…free of charge.
Today’s links!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-gates-of-hell-turkmenistanHopefully, this is as close as any of us get to the gates of Hell.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/global-cocktails-to-make-at-home Not that I’m encouraging overindulgence in alcohol, but…if you can’t travel, enjoy these cocktails from around the world.
https://theconversation.com/beyond-the-boom-have-we-frittered-away-our-opportunities-13901An immunologist shares the seven things he considers deciding when and where it’s safe to go outside.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/us/crayola-skin-tone-crayons-trnd/index.htmlPeople come in all kinds of colors, and now Crayola is making easier for everyone to show that with 24 new “Colors of the World” crayons designed to represent over 40 skin tones across the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIW1OMSMweE Watch as Detective Adrian Monk goes bowling in a clip that fits in eerily well in our COVID world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys946aLVB2I And now, for all you bluegrass fans, here’s “Froggie Went A-Courtin’” featuring Abby the Spoon Lady, Tater Boys, and Trees Eating Humans.
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Sunday worship at 9 AM, with “Doughnut room” time starting at 8:30 AM. Come early just to catch up and talk!
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Zoom info is the same every Sunday:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/815064120, Meeting ID: 815 064 120
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Stay safe and stay well!