LUNY JUNE 2020

Luny June, Loony June, Blue Moon June, Moody June.

Sleepless, tossing and turning, I create titles for this month's blog that I write almost a month late.

There is nothing to say.

Not that I cannot find words but there are not enough words to try to explain this crazy month.  

Yet, I try to verbalize the crazy chaos swirling about me.

We visited a restaurant a couple decades ago, the name I will never forget.

Matzaluna.  I have no clue what we ate but the catchy name still lingers in my soul.

My personal translation would be “unleavened bread-moon.”  

How crazy is that?

That’s the whole point.  

We were told that it actually translates as crazy lunatic.  

I’ll accept that.

It’s a crazy name that is meant to be unforgettable.

Luny June is the name I give to a culmination of decades of self-indulgence that is also unforgettable. 

The world today is “matzaluna”!  

It’s a crazy, lunatic world.  

It’s not what is happening because we feel like we’ve been caged for months and now, in the process of un-caging, act out in a myriad of ways.  

It’s not because some rightfully have unresolved grievances that have passed from generation to generation and are called to make their voices heard.  

It’s not because we are moving into those ‘sticky’ months where we physically feel hot and bothered.

It’s because we human beings have been pampered far beyond what we deserve.  

Our expectations exceed what we have earned mentally, emotionally and physically.  Economically, the entire world, even the most poor nations, far exceed expectations of past eras.  We have more so we want and expect more.

I decided to study self-indulgence by watching documentaries of human behavior over the past few decades.  At the same time I continue to study the life of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who are in ‘covenant relationship’ with God.  The grace of God and the blessings bestowed on an indulgent people of the old covenant are no different than today.  

The people who came to be know as ‘Israelites’ sought the God who made Covenant with Abraham each time they needed help.  

God obliged in abundance and pampered His Chosen People.  

As they prospered, God’s people forgot about the ‘Source’ of their blessings, turned to other gods and then wondered why they had nothing, felt empty and suffered great loss.  

They learned, over and over, from generation to generation, that only by honoring the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob could they survive and even thrive abundantly.

This scenario has never changed.

There is only one source from which the well of abundance never runs dry.

“God, our Creator, created creation to be creative and create in God’s image.”

This is a saying I ‘created’ early in my search for understanding of who I am.

As I studied the only book I could trust, the only book that has outlasted the shelf life of all other books for over two thousand years, I learned that I am NOT the center of the universe.

I canNOT do all things in my own strength.

I canNOT have the abundance I desire from other sources without consequences.

The only Source who will never forsake my dreams, assuming my dreams correspond with His dreams for me, is God . . . 

One far beyond my understanding . . . 

One who can provide far beyond what my tiny brain can comprehend.  

Only one problem.

I must find out what His dreams [plans] are that He already planted deep in my soul while I was still in my mother’s womb.  

God knew me before I ‘was.’

God created me to be all I am suppose to be.

Yet, it is for me to find out who I am according to His will.

After all, I was created as a ‘being’ . . .  not as a ‘doing.’

I was created with all the tools, all the parts I need, to become the ‘image’, the representation, the example of human life that God created me to be.

I am a human ‘being.’

If, indeed, so many call themselves human ‘beings,’ why do so many act like Matzaluna . . .  crazy people . . . spinning out of control . . .  ‘doing’ everything they can to feel better, do better, have better, indulge better?  

Why do so many overstep the logical process of learning about God and, by taking the necessary steps, become content to learn about themselves as made in the ‘image’ of God?  

Why do so many want to skip steps of self-awareness and move right into self-indulgence?  

Why do so many not think through reasonable steps to become who they are called to be and then move forward one step at a time?

If asked their ‘religious preference,’ The average person on the street may respond with a variety of answers.  

One person says “I am Jewish” yet has not entered a synagogue in decades.  Indeed, by heritage, that person may be Jewish and will remain so in heritage.  

Same for Muslims.  

Yet, this is not the same for Christians.  

Many who say they are ‘Christians’ only say so because their parents made them attend a Christian church when they were younger.  

Since leaving home, they have ignored regular attendance in a church community and, if asked, may not be able to tell you what it means to be ‘Christian.’  

The name “Christian” may be attached to a person but that person is not attached to Christ as a ‘Christ-follower.’  

Recently a new name has popped up. 

NONE. 

Those who say, ‘I am a None,’ seem to be intelligent, reflective and honest.  

They take questions of religious preference seriously and seem to be more self-aware than many ‘Christians.’ 

They are non, nothing, no-one, nadda, niet, NONE.  

I give them a gold star for honesty but my heart grieves deeply.

So many have so much, are able to attain so much, have been so overindulged, pampered and protected that they are NONE, nothing, non, 0.   

I watched several documentaries on economics and how nations that have expanded in wealth have also expanded in personal self-indulgence.

One documentary tracks self indulgence of the past twenty-five years, all over the world.  The ability to attain wealth is at our fingertips.  

Wealth seems to define us but it’s more than money.

It’s opulence in every degree.

More is better.  

More of anything is best.  

The belief system of the NONE is MORE?

The ideology is, “If I work harder and more hours each day I will make more money.  If I make more money I will be able to purchase my dream . . . ?  If I am able to purchase, in abundance, anything I want I will . . . ..

Fill in the blanks.

If that were not enough, this body which God created, this body which is a miracle of function and beauty, because God made us in His image of perfection and beauty and so much more, seems not to be enough.

Our body can be desecrated by the decisions we make about our own value.

Because those who are NONE do not realize the ‘Source’ of beauty in their body, they may abuse it or overindulge it.  

To ignore and not take care of this ‘temple of God’s creation’ is just as bad as trying to ‘fix’ it.  

Yet, this body we live in is not just flesh and bones.

God gave us an incredibly complex brain that, when tapped into God’s plan, can draw us into exponential opportunities for creativity, growth and change.

God gave us a will that can be focused inward toward self-indulgence or can be focused outward to seeking God’s will.

God gave us emotions that can be expanded upon in joy or sorrow when we focus on specific events that move those emotions into action.  

We are invited to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.  

Emotions, when used appropriately, are good for our

health.  Yet, too often we project our own anger and jealousy onto others.  

The NONE cannot cry out to God because they have declared themselves to be ‘nothing.’  God is everything.  

To seek everything through God is not possible according to the NONE philosophy.

The only other option is to share their self-indulgent need beyond their own space and into others’ space.

It’s as if the majority of the world has discarded any reliance on a ‘higher being’, GOD, and swapped a life of abundant treasure in the Almighty for MORE of NONE. 

This is what I mean by Luny June . . . Matzaluna . . .  Loony . . . 

If one seeks MORE but is NONE, how can one BE?

As Shakespeare, who believed in God, said,”To BE or NOT to BE, that is the question.”   

Has humanity ceased to exist?  

A NONE can BE but in order to BE, a NONE has to become ONE with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  But, if this is the case, the NONE must disappear and simply BE.

The Apostle Paul said, “It is not I who live but Christ lives in me and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for ME.”  I choose to follow these words of Paul.

I continue to seek answers about my Being.

I seek to take one step at a time to greater self-awareness through God-awareness.

So far I have gained much treasure in my heart.

I feel full to overflowing with the abundance given to hubby and me.

We give thanks every single day we wake and feel our limbs and stand up and walk and work and talk and exchange thoughts and marvel at wonders around us.

Yet, each day I am on this earth I will continue to seek,

to know more, to be more, to enjoy more, as I learn more of who I am as one made in the image of God.

LUNY JUNE, a crazy month, unlike months past and months ahead.

It’s all Good for one who is NOT a NONE.

MAY MATTERS

May Matters 

May matters because each day we live matters.

It matters what we think, say, do.

It matters that we can simply sit, gaze out the window and feel content right where we are.

It matters that the world is spinning out of control with fires in big cities. 

It matters that professional looters and torchers are running rampant and COVID19 still lingers in plain sight.

It matters that we have a God who sees all, knows all and is present with those whose lives have been unfairly swallowed up by death.

It matters that life is a gift for as long as we are to live.

It matters that we embrace each and every day as if it were our last.

It matters that God is waiting for us to say ‘yes’ to His loving embrace.

It matters that, once we say ‘yes’ we will seek to be who God wants us to be and live according to His plan and not our own.

It matters that this day, the day of Pentecost, the last day of May, is a powerful reminder that the power of the Holy Spirit is available to all who have said ‘yes’ to the words of Jesus, the one resurrected from the dead, the one who ascended into heaven forty days after his resurrection and sent the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him on the fiftieth day.

It matters to God.

It should matter to us who choose to believe.

I read a book decades ago that has remained in my soul ever since.

The title, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden,  focused on a life far different than mine.  Yet the title has remained with me for nearly half a century.  

It matters that God never promised us a Rose Garden, but we were promised life eternal.  

It matters that we were not promised life without death but life with God, through belief in His son, which means we will not feel the sting of death.

It matters that God never promised us a long life or a life

of happiness with few bumps in the road. Even those whose lives are totally focused on God, may have a shortened life through no fault of their own.  

We read of ‘Saints’ who were given this title because they remained steadfast in their Christian faith as they were persecuted or torchered to death.

Life is not easy for many.

Yet, there is always the hope in our hearts that tomorrow will be a better day.

There is always the Hope that was and is and is to come, Jesus Christ, who will lead us through rough patches and hold us high during those extraordinary high points that mark the path of our lives.

Because of the Holy Spirit, sent to us on the feast of Pentecost, we have hope.

It matters that the Pentecost Power within us who are baptized can help us fly high through the best days, whirl through mundane days and breathe deep on the very hard days.

Life may not be a Rose Garden but we can imagine that the same beauty of that garden is within us to be savored, embraced and drawn upon during dark days.

We, as a nation, are going through a rough patch right now.

We’ve been there before.

God has never left us.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful presence to lead and guide us.

Jesus, the Christ, still took all our sin upon Himself, was crucified and rose again so that we might live just one day with Him.

It matters that we can live one day at a time.

It matters that we can smell the roses until the scent is gone.

Life matters.

We matter.

Each of us matters to God.

APRIL ABUNDANCE

I linger longer than I should as I mull over words to express God’s presence in my life this month of April.

COVID19 has been front and center.

Each night we hear a new report on the news.

We sift through words as we seek actual facts.

The best doctors inch forward to figure out what is happening.

The virus affects each individual differently.

No two immune systems are alike.

Some are strong enough to carry the virus yet feel nothing.

Some immune systems are so compromised that their few good cells attack each other.

In almost all cases, the auto-immune system is changed.

Those who survive a deep viral attack may have to live with a ‘compromised immune system’ for the rest of their lives.

This virus will never go away but will linger at arm’s reach . . .  forever?

That’s exactly what happens when we are attacked by and consumed with our ‘sin nature.’  

We have this ‘virus’, called sin, floating about.

Some of us are fragile, divided in our walk with God, walking the thin line that can, at any time, lead us into the dis-ease that can consume our immunity to sin.

Are we immune to sin?

Is there an antidote that will protect us from being devoured by the dis-ease of sin?

Of course there is.

But the antidote is not easy to swallow.

The antidote need only be consumed once but we need to take a daily booster to keep our dis-ease at bay.

We can say, ‘Yes’ to Jesus, the One whom God sent to us to consume our sin, devour it forever.

 BUT there is always a caveat.

We can say, “YES” but we have to die.

We have to die not only through the action of baptism, the symbol of drowning all our sins and rising again to new life, but we have to die to our old ways through daily remembrance of what it means to say “yes” to following Jesus, the Christ.

The only way we can keep the virus at bay is through daily due diligence.

Six feet apart.

Thick mask in public places.

Washing hands until they are chafed red.

The only antidote to this deathly disease is prevention . . . keeping the disease away.

The only antidote to death of our soul is through giving our life to Jesus.

There is no quick shot, no ‘fix’, no ‘once and done.’

Once we say yes and know in our soul that the Holy Spirit is directing our path, we must continue to give a ‘boost’ to our vulnerable soul.

Daily due diligence will keep our soul healthy and happy.

Daily due diligence can become as simple as putting on that mask.

Daily due diligence can be as easy as washing our hands every time we touch anything that might carry germs.

Daily due diligence with Jesus is just as simple as saying

‘good morning Lord,’ each morning we wake.

Daily, read words from Jesus that draw us closer to Him.

Daily, pray to the Lord that your day is His day, your plans are His plans, your path is His path.

Daily, invite our Lord to protect and direct your path.

Being firmly connected with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit is so daily.

So is battling the virus.

Let’s do both.
. . . . . . . . . . 
The words below were created by some diligent soul who had enough time to muse regarding COVID19 and our sequester.  I send this to you to linger over and enjoy.

GOD’S OFFICIAL LOCKDOWN

The official lock down started March 23 and will likely end May 1st. 

That is EXACTLY 40 days.

The Latin root of the word "quarantine" is "forty".

So what does the Bible say about 40?

The flood lasted 40 days.

40 years Moses fled Egypt.

40 days Moses stayed on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments.

Exodus lasted 40 years.

Jesus fasted for 40 days.

40 days for a woman to rest after giving birth.

Optimum number of weeks for human gestation is 40.

A group of theologians thinks the number 40 represents "change”. It is the time of preparing a person, or people, to make a fundamental change.

Something will happen after these 40 days. 

Just believe and pray. 

Remember, whenever the number 40 appears in the Bible, there is a "change".

Please know that during this "quarantine" rivers are cleaning up, vegetation is growing, the air is becoming cleaner because of less pollution, there is less theft and murder, healing is happening, and most importantly, people are turning to Christ. 

The Earth is at rest for the first time in many years and hearts are truly transforming.

Remember we are in the year 2020, and 20 + 20 = 40.

Also, 2020 is the year of the United States Census. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, was born during a census.

Lastly, 2020 is perfect vision. May our sight focus on the Lord and living according to His perfect vision for us knowing He holds us in the palm of His hand.

May these days of "quarantine" bring spiritual liberation to our souls, our nation, and our world.

MARCH MEDS

I was writing my introduction to our fourth week of March Meditations and realized that these words should be where I can "linger longer." 

For daily meditations, click on this link:  dailygracesfromgod.blogspot.com 

As I linger with thoughts of what is happening in us and around us, what is changing moment by moment, I cannot help but pray for those who have yet to feel the need to be assured by One beyond themselves.

God’s presence is always with us but being assured of His presence within us is a gift that some have yet to choose.  

God gives us the choice.  

It’s up to us to say, “yes” to our Lord and, by faith, trust in God’s forever presence working in and through us.

This is a period of time that we will remember for the rest of our lives.  Stories will go down in history, along with the stories regarding the 1918 Spanish flu . . .  which was followed by the depression . . . which was followed by World War II.  Survivors became resilient, creative, able to live on nearly nothing and find ways to give thanks to God.

We have lived through wars and disasters but nothing that would include the entire population of the United States and the World.

At least two generations are totally unprepared to deal with this  economically, emotionally and spiritually.  

Is God getting our attention?  

Hope so.

Did God cause this . . .  NOT.   

God does not ‘cause’ evil but evil surrounds us.  

God does not ‘cause’ disaster but disaster happens when we least expect it.  

God does not want His creation to suffer and die needlessly but, because God does not stop us from being human, because He does not make choices for us, life happens.

We have no right to second-guess God’s plan for us but God does have one plan.

He wants all of us to turn to him and give our anxiety to Him and trust in Him.  God sent us His only begotten Son to be with us through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who guides us if we take time to listen . . . and follow.

Yet, even those who listen hard as they wait upon the

Lord may not escape the effects of the virus that swirls around us.  

No matter how much we ‘work’ at prayer and ‘work’ at being close to our Lord, life happens.

No matter how we learn to ‘be’, no matter how much we trust, life happens.

No matter the depth of understanding we have of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, life happens.

No matter how hard we try to avoid the swirl of anxiety, the swirl of germs, the swirl of whatever besieges us, life happens.

Our Lord only wants our attention, all of our love, our dying-to-self trust, our full focus on Him.  

He wants us in His forever kingdom, eternally.  

God wants us to submit to Him all that swirls within us and all that absorbs our attention around us as we walk on this earth.  

This COVID-19 is not of God’s doing but God can use this episode in our lives to draw us nearer to Him.   

The old song, thought of as Saint Patrick’s song, is a great reminder that our Lord is with us, girding us, encouraging us, giving us strength to remain focused on Him.  

Here are a few words:

“Christ with me, Christ before me, 

Christ behind me, Christ within me, 

Christ beneath me, Christ above me.” 

Jesus is with us.  Through all of this, the power of the Holy Spirit, called into us at baptism, is girding us, drawing us into our Lord’s loving embrace.  Christ is holding us tight, helping us remain focused on him as anxiety swirls around us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

FEBRUARY FRUIT --- THE BLESSING

The Blessing

Simeon and Anna were known to be devout, totally focused on the Lord, thy God.

Anna, a widow who was now 84, remained in the temple for decades, never leaving as she prayed without ceasing.  

Her devotion to God was well known.  Her words to the crowd regarding Jesus were heard and received as a true affirmation of the redemption of Israel.

 We read that the Spirit of the Lord rested on Simeon.  

Simeon listened to God, waited and obeyed. 

We do not know how often Simeon was instructed by the Lord to go to the temple and wait.    

Simeon, always listened, heard and obeyed.

He waited.  

His whole purpose was to wait for the next step from God.

Yet, he knew he would see Messiah before he died.

He know the promise, given to many generations before him, that Messiah would come.

Joseph and Mary simply followed the Law on this day of the presentation.  

They may have been among many couples doing the same.  

They most certainly did not stand out in the crowd.  

There was nothing in their outer appearance that would alert Simeon.  

Only the Holy Spirit, speaking through souls totally focused on God. . . Mary, Joseph and Simeon. . . would relay the message.

Simeon was given a “word of knowledge” by the Spirit.

Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus in her arms, walked through the courts and entered the temple through one of the many entrances.  The Temple area, including its courts, measured 32 acres.

The Holy Spirit placed Simeon at the perfect spot, at the perfect time.

Simeon and Anna were the ones who would actually see the messiah on the day Jesus was named and presented to God in the temple.  

There was something about Simeon, perhaps his knowing eyes, that spoke to Mary and Joseph and drew them close.  This Holy Family stopped, connected with Simeon and listened to his words of affirmation as he poured out a blessing and prophecy over them. 

Because of their obedience, Simeon and Anna were chosen by God to affirm within the souls of  Joseph and Mary what they already sensed deep in their hearts.

Jesus is indeed the anointed one, the one who would redeem Israel and draw the gentiles into salvation.  “Joshua ha messiah,” the one long awaited by those who sought an intimate relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Simeon gave blessing and prophecy that would propel this Holy Family into a world of change.  This precious child is destined for the falling and rising in Israel.  Some would follow him and some would not.  Simeon’s prophetic words revealed to Mary what she may have already experienced:  God chose Mary to be the new ark, the bearer of the New Covenant.  Because Mary said, “yes” to God, because of her obedience, Mary would endure pain, like a sword piercing her soul. Yet, on this day, she was a proud mother holding her precious child.

As Simeon held Jesus in his arms, he sang to the Lord:   [Luke 2:29-32]  Found in the Anglican/Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, Compline (end of day prayers) page 135.

Known as the  ‘Song of Simeon,’ (nunc Dimittis, which means ‘now you dismiss.’) 

“Lord, you now have set your servant free 

   to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, 

   whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, 

   and the glory of your people Israel.”

Having given blessing and prophecy, Simeon was also blessed.

He fulfilled his purpose.  

Simeon was released from his responsibility that propelled the Holy Family forward according to God’s plan.

Blessing transforms

Blessing affirms God’s presence in us. 

Blessing is God’s stamp of approval through those who are given authority over us.

Blessing from one whom we revere will change our lives if we let the Lord unfold that blessing in our soul.

Bless you!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance unto you and give you peace.” 

Numbers 6: 24-26

JANUARY JOURNEY - ALTAR TIME

January ushers in a new year with new beginning points and a new perspective as we continue our journey with Christ.  

Remember the story of Abraham’s journey from Ur to Haran and then from Haran all the way through the land God promised would be his?  

Abraham and his family trekked through the length of Canaan to a southern spot near Bethel.

Abraham marked each spot where they lingered, rested and gave thanks.      These piles of stone, altars, were not only a way to mark Abraham’s presence in this new land but they also gave glory to the God.  

Abraham’s sacrifice of thanksgiving to the One who was directing his path began with building altars that would become part of centuries of worship to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and generations to follow.

Altars.  

Do we need them now?  

The ultimate sacrifice has already been offered.  

Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, has been given, once, for all.  Jesus paid the price for our sin.  

Done deal.

So, why do we have ‘altars’ in our churches?  

It’s the empty altar that we see.  

Nothing will ever be sacrificed on an altar in a place of Christian worship. 

Yet, the plain, empty, altar reminds us of Jesus’ once-for-all blood-sacrifice as He died on the cross for us.  

Some Christians bow at the altar to honor the memory of the One who sacrificed His life so that there would be no more blood sacrifices.  

The altar is also a ‘table’ in which we prepare and bless the bread and wine for others to partake.  

This is a place that reminds us of the Last Supper.  

Jesus, at table, said to His disciples:  “Take, eat, this is My body . . .   Drink this cup, all of you.”  From the words of the last supper, just as in the feeding of the 5000 and so many other times in scripture, Jesus “broke the bread and blessed it.”  The altar reminds us of Jesus’ continued blessing as we commune with Him.

       However, the altar that is most important for us today is the ‘altar of time.’  We give God thanksgiving in worship, we eat and drink with Jesus as we chew on God’s words of scripture and digest his presence in holy communion. 

We send up our prayers as a sweet incense to Him.  

We tithe in obedience to our Christian walk.  

Yet, how much daily time do we give to our Lord to set ourselves apart, for a moment, from our crazy schedules?  

Do we sacrifice a given amount of time daily?  

Do we have a specific place where we spend our ‘altar of time’ with God?  

When Jesus was most pressed, what did He do to commune with the Father, gain new strength and seek direction to continue His journey?  

Jesus took a ‘time out’ and found a quiet place to refresh his soul.

Setting up an Altar of Time may be the most difficult habit we could ever achieve.

God knows the intention of our heart.  

God loves us no matter how often we fail to make time to simply BE with the Lord.  Sometimes creating a habit means starting with small steps.  

Begin with a dedicated “seven minutes with God” daily. 

It’s the ‘daily’ that is so important.

Seven minutes is enough time to read a sentence or

paragraph of daily scripture.  It’s enough time to digest the words and ask [pray] one question of the Lord.  “How do You , Lord, want me to apply these words to my life today?”  

Then take a few deep breaths and ‘listen’ quietly for a nudge of understanding so you can apply these words throughout your day.  

Now give thanks and jump into your busy schedule. 

That’s it!  

You stopped. 

You read and digested God’s words.  

You spoke to God and waited for understanding.  

Now simply say, “Thanks for giving me direction in my journey today.”  

Prepare your ‘altar of time’ daily. 

Keep a journal and record your daily journey.

Make sure you date each entry.

       Preparing this ‘altar of time’ each day soon becomes a habit.

All too soon, you will not be able to function well without these lingering moments with God.

You will be amazed at the abundance of blessing that will envelope you.

Just as Abraham amassed a great fortune in family and provision, without owning  land [except a place of burial for himself and family], we can also amass a fortune in God’s promises and gain a better understanding of our personal relationship with God.  

You have already had a great beginning by reading these words. 

Now begin to build and linger with your own altar of time as you give daily offering to God.