Holding on to God's love

By: Joseph Murdy

Lent is without a doubt, one of the darkest and most penitential seasons in the church. We switch our colors to purple and black. We hear stories of Christ’s suffering. We come face to face with the reality of our sinfulness. Needless to say, Lent is a depressing time of year. With Lent also comes the opportunity to reconcile for the wrong we’ve done, turn our lives around, choose life with God, and embrace the forgiveness of Christ that comes ultimately with his resurrection. At some point during Lent, maybe before or even after lent, you may come to realize that God really does forgive us…and God really does love you. The problem is that as quickly as we see how much God loves us, we eventually lose sight of God’s grace. Then it’s back to feeling sorry, guilty, and full of shame…unable to bring ourselves to approach God for forgiveness once again. How do we hold on to the love of God? How do we live our daily lives immersed in God’s love and mercy? The answer is as easy as it is challenging, keep your eyes on Jesus. When we look to Christ, we will see the love of God given to us immeasurably and unconditionally. Henri Nouwen once said, “God’s love for us is everlasting. That means that God’s love for us existed before we were born and will exist after we have died.” This is how we hold on, we look to Christ. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you will never lose sight of God’s love.

Oz Syndrome

By: Joseph Murdy
Have you ever felt like a tornado came spinning through your life, picked you up and dropped you somewhere? There can be times in our lives, spiritual or otherwise, when we feel as though our lives have changed so dramatically we find ourselves wondering through what seems like Oz. This is what I like to call, Oz Syndrome. Oz Syndrome is the progressive or instantaneous feeling of utter loss, confusion, and bewilderment. The inspiration for this diagnosis, is of course inspired by Dorothy and Todo’s experience in Oz. Although fictional, if we are honest with ourselves we can all relate to Dorothy and her time in Oz.

Have you ever felt like you were in Oz? Maybe you are now, or maybe you know someone who is. Oz can be a scary, especially if you feel alone. When we find ourselves in situations where we seem to be following a path leading to an unknown place those are the times we can no longer rely on our own sense of direction. The only way out of Oz is by trusting in God to guide you. We can click our heels; walk to the emerald city, and back to the beginning. The truth is, when we are lost, the only one who knows the way is God. We are not all lucky to have ruby slippers, but fortunately we have a God who we can pray to at all times. We have a God who is always with us, even when we find ourselves in Oz. As I was thinking about Oz, I was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. How incredible is it, that we have a God comes to us and rescues us when we find ourselves lost and afraid. “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.” Luke 15:1-7

Dance in the Rain

This past Christmas, I was given a gift of a small picture frame with a little child walking in bright yellow rain boots. All you can see are the feet walking in the rain. The caption says, “Anyone who says only sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.” Then it quotes scripture, “You fill me with joy in Your presence. Psalm 16:11”

Many would say the gloomy season of the church has arrived today. It is Ash Wednesday when we are reminded, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” The looming rainy clouds of the 40 days of wandering in the wilderness are here. What are you going to give up? What new spiritual discipline are you going to take on? As you wander through the wilderness of this Lent are you going to let struggle and the gloom of life overtake you?

Or are you going to let the season of Lent restore the wilderness of your heart?

The looming rainy clouds can replenish and water the soul. The wandering in the wilderness can provide new and clear direction. This season is not gloomy. It is actually a victorious season because we are Easter people. Jesus did not give into temptation in the wilderness, but said, “Away with you, Satan!” He didn’t do that for himself. He did that for God’s children, for Easter people. It is with that joy in our heart we welcome the looming rainy clouds of Lent so we can find joy in the darkest of places. Yes, we can find joy even in death. You are dust and to dust you shall return. We dance in the rain; we dance in the face of death knowing that Jesus went before us to prepare a place.

Stewards of God’s Mysteries

By Joseph Murdy

“Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” 1 Corinthians 4:1

“Where is heaven?” A young child asks you as they are leaving the church. “Why did my husband die in that horrible accident?” A grieving wife asks you as you comfort the family. “When is Jesus coming back?” Asks the curious confirmation student. “How does that bread and that wine become the body and blood of Jesus?” Questions without answers is part of the package when you become a child of God.

We live in a society that demands answers, we sit in pews waiting for all to be revealed, and we lose sleep at night thinking about the grand mysteries of the universe. At least I do. We can sometimes allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the lack of answers, rather than finding comfort in the questions themselves. What if you knew exactly where heaven was? What if you knew exactly when Jesus was coming back? What if you knew how the cosmos ran, or what God looks like?

This past Sunday we read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, which says that we are “Servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” The words, “Stewards of God’s mysteries” continues to comfort me as I seek to embrace the mystery that is God. Being a steward of God’s mysteries means trusting in God unconditionally. As servants of Christ and children of God we are given the mysteries of God not to be answered but to be comforted in knowing that God’s ways our not our own. Jesus tells us, “Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” We can rest with assurance in God’s abundant grace knowing that, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Creative Streak

As I was trying to finish a sermon last week, I had the worst writers block! It was Saturday night and I had about ¾ of the sermon done. I finally gave in and did something I have never done before which was read the sermon to my boyfriend. Now this may seem like a given, to share a sermon with someone that close to you, but he falls in the category of “un-churched.” So I don’t automatically think, “I should ask Dave.” However, I was at the end of my creative streak and knew he would give me his full attention. I finished what I had written and he said, “It makes me think of that song by Katy Perry, Firework.”

That was it… he said one sentence and the last ¼ of my sermon was done. Something I have been struggling with for a week he inspired me with in one sentence. It is a strong reminder that the community in which we worship is vital and sometimes the people we least expect, help us the most.

I always assumed the people with whom I worshipped were those who joined me every Sunday morning in the pews. What a limited understanding! The community expands outside of the walls of the church and into our living rooms, work places, grocery stores, local parks…. God’s Spirit is not limited to worship service at 11 a.m. – God’s Spirit flows into every aspect of our life. As we see the Spirits movement we give praise and thanks at 11 a.m. together, that is what happens in the church service setting!

Katy Perry’s lyrics are powerful! I would like to widen an understanding of the lyrics to include: The light of Christ within us is what shines and as the brightness radiates to others the Spirit bursts forth into all aspects of our life! Watch for that movement,that light this week!

In God’s Hands

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

By: Joseph Murdy
From the time I was a small child I can remember my grandmothers reaction to a sudden surprise. Whether sitting at the table, or walking through the room if something was about to spill or break gram would unleash her famous and heart pulsing “Gasp!” As grandkids it never failed to scare us more than the break or spill. It was almost as if gram was able to gasp while the glass was in midair before it hit the ground, suspending the crash in slow motion, making the final explosion the less frightening part of the fall. I learned from a young age that sometimes, things break.

The other day my wife and I were standing in the kitchen getting water. As she pulled a glass from the cupboard it slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Sometimes, things break. What is your first response when something breaks? Is it “Oh, crap…now we only have ten glasses!” Or is it, “Are you ok?” When something immaterial breaks (the stuff we can do without) we show deep concern and do what we can to assure ourselves that everyone is ok. My grandmother’s heart pulsing gasp was not because she would have one less glass. It was because a falling glass meant her grandchildren would be in danger of broken glass.

We have a different reaction when things more important break doesn’t we? When we fight with our siblings, hang up after fighting with our best friend, get divorced, break up, slam the car door, or any other form of brokenness. When we experience the brokenness of relationships we often respond first with anger, followed by blame, and then a long silent period of stubborn regret. Relationships are not always easy, and sometimes fixing them seems impossible. Especially our relationship with God.

This past Sunday I preached a sermon on the brokenness of our world and our inability to fix what is broken in our lives. Being a part of a broken relationship can feel like where trapped behind impenetrable prison walls. When we are angry with God, disappointed in the result of a desperate prayer, or ashamed and too vulnerable to seek the face of God it can seem impossible to raise ourselves back up. Have you ever found yourself feeling trapped, feeling all alone, feeling the weight of heart break, feeling the burden of failure, feeling the pain of separation and loss, feeling the hurt of a broken relationship? Maybe you feel that way today?

If you remember from the book of Genesis (2:7) God molded clay from the earth and breathed life into it, the result is you and me. We are fragile beings and are not unbreakable. The good news is that no matter what the condition of the break, no matter the pieces, or whose fault it may be…every piece of us rests in the hands of God. If God is able to shape us in his mighty hands and breathe life into dust. Then God is certainly able to pick up the pieces and make us whole again.

Happy Valentines Day!