“Suffering Produces Hope”

Meditation on Romans 5:1-5

May 26, 2013

***

       “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5)

***

      Just two weeks ago was Mother’s Day.  For the children’s sermon that Sunday, I called the kids forward with their mothers and grandmothers. I asked them what presents they had given their mothers.   Some said flowers.  One said pajamas. Another said he gave his mom an air freshener for her car!  That was Ami!  Others said they had given their moms cards—some they had made themselves.

       I told the children about my son, Josh, stationed overseas in the Air Force. How he sent me a note saying he wasn’t going to forget Mother’s Day.  That I should expect something exotic, like fish paste, which apparently is popular in Korea!  I told him no presents were necessary!  Just send me a nice card.

       Then I asked the children what 3 little words did their mothers want to read in their cards. They quickly answered, “I love you!”

       That night, I thought about Josh.  I hadn’t heard from him on Mother’s Day, after all. No card.  No present. But like every other mother with a son or daughter serving in the military, I just wanted to know he was safe. I prayed and thanked God, once again, for restoring my family to wholeness last November.

    When Josh left for Basic Training in 2008, he was angry at Jim and me. He cut off all communication with us. For the next several years, I sent him cards and notes.  Gifts for his birthday and Christmas.  He never responded.  He was corresponding with his brother, Jacob, so I knew he was having a hard time in Basic Training.  Harder than he thought it would be.  And with all the hurts that he had carried with him into the military, something hard would be even more difficult to bear.

     Many nights I worried about him and cried over him. I had nightmares that something bad would happen to Josh—before we had been reconciled. In every card I sent, I made sure to tell him that I loved him. But after 3 or 4 years, without any response, I stopped sending cards and gifts.  It was just too painful anymore.

     Then, last November, Josh called me.  He asked to come and stay with us at Thanksgiving. The Spirit had been working in us throughout all the years of suffering. Our hearts were ready to forgive and be reconciled. We had a joyful reunion for one week. And then we said “goodbye” with heavy hearts as he left for his yearlong tour of duty in Korea. 

      I experienced more suffering after that—the pain of missing him, now that we were finally reconciled! But the suffering I had experienced after he left for Basic Training had made me stronger. I was determined that instead of worrying about him as he served his country overseas, I would pray for him. God had been faithful to us!  We could trust the Lord to continue to be faithful to do His loving, healing work.

     The Spirit moved our hearts from suffering to hope.  Now I look forward in faith to when—not if—we will be together as a family again!

      ***

       In our Epistle reading today, Paul speaks of our access to God’s grace. He uses the legal term, “justified.”  Because of Jesus, we are no longer condemned to the punishment that our sin deserves—death!  Through Christ, God has restored us to a loving relationship with Him, as if Adam and Eve had never eaten the forbidden fruit. As if we had never sinned at all!

     But being justified doesn’t mean the work of our spiritual transformation is over. It’s just the beginning.  Throughout our lives of faith, we are engaged in the painful work of suffering.  In this pain that all Christians experience, we share in the glory of Him who suffered beyond all our imagining, being stripped, beaten, humiliated, and hung on the cross to die a cruel death in our place.

    When Paul speaks of suffering, he uses the Greek word thlipsis. This means anything that puts undue pressure on us; the things that are thrown at us to steal our joy and make us doubt God’s love and providential care.  Thlipsis can refer to persecution, imprisonment, ridicule, poverty, hunger, sickness, great sorrow, anxiety, and depression. Through the work of suffering, Paul becomes stronger in his faith and less concerned with his situation.  He says he learns to be content, despite everything. He learns to endure, to be patient, in his suffering. His faith that God has made peace with us through Jesus Christ keeps Paul in perpetual peace.

       Suffering produces endurance or patience, which produces character. Suffering moves us to become the people God wants us to be! It equips us with the personal characteristics that allow us to be God’s humble servants and do things for Him we never thought we could do!

       Then character produces hope, a hope that does not disappoint!  What is hope but faith with joy attached? We look forward with joy to the sharing in Christ’s glory. A hope that does not disappoint is not a maybe thing.  Our glory in Him will certainly happen. We will be resurrected with Him!

       

 ***

     The days following Mother’s Day passed quickly. Then one day, a pink envelope arrived in the mail. A card from Josh!

      The front said, “Mom, being a guy and all, I don’t like long, gushy cards.  So let me say this in my own brief, manly way.” Inside, hearts danced around the simple, 4-word message, “I love you, Mommy!”

      The Spirit was using my children’s message from 2 weeks ago to remind me of His own love and faithfulness! God was reaffirming the Spirit’s work in my family.

      Then, as I prepared for the funeral Thursday, I received a mysterious package from Josh. The Spirit was speaking again—but this time, through the adult sermon from Mother’s Day.

     Does anyone remember what it was about? We are new creatures in Christ, being transformed from ugly caterpillars to beautiful butterflies.

     Josh had sent me a white ceramic, teakettle shaped, scented oil burner.  Painted on the outside are delicate pink flowers and one beautiful butterfly.  It was as if God were reminding me again that what was ugly and broken in our family has been healed.  The suffering has done its work!

       Friends, I know you have suffered, too.  Some of you are going through a time of great suffering right now. Let me assure you that the suffering has a good purpose—and that you and I are being changed into new creatures of enduring, patient hope—a hope that does not disappoint!

       God has been faithful to us! And we can trust Him to continue to be faithful to do His loving, healing work in us, our families, and our lives. His grace has redeemed us! His love has been poured into our hearts! And Josh and I –and all of you—are becoming the people God wants us to be!

Let us pray.

 Holy God, thank you for giving us your Son so we could be forgiven for all our sins and restored to a loving relationship with you!  Thank you for pouring your love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, so that we would be able to walk in Christ’s loving ways.  Help us to endure the suffering that is ahead with faith and joy.  May we be now and forever a people of hope—a hope that will not disappoint. Prepare our hearts, minds, and lives so we are ready for when your Son returns for us, His Church—and our transformation into His likeness will be complete.  In Him we pray. Amen. 

Meditation for the Funeral for Ina Raske

If you'd like to read Pastor Karen's meditation the full text is here.  If you'd like to hear her preach it, click on this audio link:
https://www.box.com/s/28nlnp3029lb5ymoq5v5

May 23, 2013

***

     ⁴ And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Jesus from every city, He spoke by a parable: 

     ⁵ “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. ⁶ Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. ⁸ But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” 

       When Jesus had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

      ⁹ Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

       ¹⁰ And Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

‘Seeing they may not see,
And hearing they may not understand.

      ¹¹ “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 

      ¹⁵ But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.   (Luke 8: 4-15)

***

       I met Ina when she and her daughter, Cathie, came to worship one Sunday afternoon in the chapel at RenVilla, the nursing home in Renville. Ina moved there in January from Granite after a stroke greatly weakened her.  She was a widow; her husband, Ralph, died in 2007, after they moved from Renville to Alexandria to be closer to their son Kevin, and daughter-in-law, Marilyn.

       When they lived in Renville, Ina had worked in the laundry at the nursing home for 36 years.  So in a way, moving into RenVilla in January was like coming home. Many folks knew her. Some were related or their kids had gone to school with hers. She had enjoyed her job and walked or rode her 3-wheeled bike to work each day, unless someone offered her a lift. She never had a driver’s license.

     As a little girl, she dreamed about having a career in music. She could play piano by ear. But it was only a dream, she wrote in a memory book for her granddaughter Shannon. She was content. Nothing was more important to her than her family and her faith.         

      Not ashamed of the gospel, she sought to bring her faith into every conversation in order to help someone else. She read her Bible daily. She was also a prayer warrior, glad to pray for anyone who requested it, and praying with her own children before meals and at bedtime when they were small.

      If she “still blew out candles” on her birthday, she told Shannon, she “would wish for peace and happiness for her family always,” and for her children, “God’s protection and wisdom to choose a good life.”

***

       At this time of year, especially, the parable of the sower is a vivid and dramatic illustration for us as farmers and home gardeners plant seeds and then watch and wait, praying for deep roots and abundant growth and fruit. 

      So many things can go wrong when one plants seeds! We can have too much rain.  Or not enough. It can be too hot. Or too cold!  And then there’s the never-ending battle with insects and weeds.

      What strikes me, when I consider this familiar passage in Luke, is how difficult it is to be a faithful Christian one’s whole life—given the example of the sower and all the things that can go wrong, things that may prevent the seed, the Word of God, from taking root in one’s heart. And how so often the seed lacks the right conditions to grow, mature, and bear good fruit—the evidence of one’s faith and devotion to Him.  

       Jesus says in Luke that some people hear the Word, but the devil steals it away, before it can take root in their hearts. Others hear the Word, and feel joy, but their faith is shallow and short-lived.  The hearer gives in to temptation and falls away. Still others hear the Word and believe!  But the seed doesn’t put down deep, strong roots. It cannot withstand the challenges and cares of this world. Or the would-be believers abandon their faith for the pursuit of riches and the pleasures of this world!

     Scripture teaches us not that we are saved by our good fruits or good works; rather, if we believe in Christ for our salvation, if we love Him with all of our being, then others will know our heart-felt faith by the good fruits we bear.  It is a warning to those who might be tempted to get too comfortable in this world and feel that they have “arrived” at their salvation in Jesus Christ, and there is nothing more “to do.” We must seek to strengthen and live out our faith wholeheartedly every day—searching the Word for His Will and to be nurtured, fed, and led, by the Holy Spirit through prayer.

      If we were to look for an example of one upon whom the seeds of faith had fallen at an early age, sprouted, put down deep roots and grew to maturity, we needn’t look any further than Ina, our faithful sister in the Lord.  She was the “good ground,” as Jesus describes—someone who hears the Word of God with a noble and good heart, keeps His Word, and bears fruit with patience.

       Let me share part of a letter that Ina wrote in her granddaughter’s memory book.  While it is written for Shannon, I think you will find that her message is meaningful to us all.  And whenever you are tempted to get too comfortable in this world or be distracted by its cares or pleasures, think of Ina, the prayer warrior, who sought to bring her faith into every conversation in order to help someone else.

         Ina writes,

         “When I was a little girl, I never realized how poor we were.  My mother always had a big garden, (and) canned for the winter.  My house was cold, but so were a lot of houses.  There was no medicine for tonsillitis, but we survived. I loved getting hand me downs. After things got better, after the depression, we went to war.  We were used to going without so we didn’t mind no cars, gas, coffee, (or) meat… and sharing our home with someone who did not have a room to live in.  Your concerns are different, but if you have faith in God, who understands all our problems, I know you, too, will survive.  Wait on the Lord and He will give you strength to fly like that eagle. God bless you!”

Let us pray.

   Lord God, thank you for your Word, the seed of faith you have given us today.  With your Spirit’s help, nourishment and protection, may the seed put down deep roots, grow, mature and bear good fruit in all of us.  Forgive us if we have been too comfortable, at times, with this world.  Remind us to nurture and feed our faith by reading your Word and through prayer.  Give us such passion for the gospel that we seek to bring our faith into every conversation to help someone else.  Thank you for the example of Ina and so many other Christians with good and noble hearts; who keep your Word; demonstrate patience, perseverance, and contentment in all things; and bear good fruit.  In Christ we pray. Amen. 

“The Work of Prayer”

Meditation on John 14

Pentecost 2013

***

    Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 

     Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.  (Selected verses from John 14)

***

       At RCW’s Baccalaureate Wednesday night, one of the graduating seniors helping to lead the service asked me if she should ask people to join her in the Lord’s Prayer. Or should she just say the Lord’s Prayer by herself?

    She asked because two other students, possibly foreign exchange students, would do just that. They would go up to the podium and say the Lord’s Prayer by themselves, but they would be saying the prayer in their native languages—not in English.

    I answered, “By all means!  Ask everyone to join you in the Lord’s Prayer!”

    I assured her that if she said, “Our Father,” all the students, families, friends, faculty, and staff gathered for the service would join her in saying the prayer.

       I watched as the young lady climbed the steps to the stage, grabbed the microphone and said without hesitation, “Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.” She paused a moment, and then she began, “Our Father who art in heaven…”

     As she said, “who art in heaven,” more than a hundred voices joined her, sounding like the low rumble of distant thunder.  We confidently said the prayer most of us had learned as children—some saying, “debts and debtors” and “forever”; others saying, “trespasses and those who trespass against us,” and “forever and ever.”

     Why do we say the Lord’s Prayer every time we gather for worship – on Sunday morning, at funerals and weddings, and for Baccalaureate? First, we say this prayer because it IS the Lord’s Prayer—the model Jesus offers his disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 to teach them to pray. And, secondly, because it is the only prayer that almost every Christian knows. And, thirdly, because prayer is the most important spiritual discipline a Christian can do.  It is the work of every follower of Christ to pray.  As the apostle Paul urges us in I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing!”

     Prayer is the only way to a loving relationship with the Lord. It is the way to draw nearer to Him and to discern His Will and the personal application of His Word. 

     Prayer is the only way to wisdom and obedience.  It is the way to forgiveness for our sins, salvation through Him and reconciliation with God. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved!” says Romans 10:13.

      Prayer is the way to glorify God and give him the sacrifice he desires, the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Prayer is the way to prepare hearts and minds to receive the truth of the gospel—and fulfill Christ’s Great Commission in Matthew 28. It is the way to healing of body, mind, and soul. Think of the apostles in Acts—how before every healing, every move of the Spirit, they would pray in Christ’s name.

      Prayer is the way to peace. To experience God’s loving presence with us. It is the way to receive Christ’s joy and to spiritual nourishment, to be strengthened for all the challenges and trials we face.

     At Baccalaureate Wednesday night, after we prayed the Lord’s Prayer in English, the one thing I hoped for all the graduates was that they understood the importance of prayer for daily life. And that they would pray! Every Christian parent wants this for their children—that they would pray their whole lives through!

    But at the same time, we know from our experiences how difficult prayer can be.  How it is a struggle for us, at times, to pray. Even when we understand prayer’s importance and have learned Christ’s model prayer by heart.

***      

     Our gospel reading today reminds us what is needed to accomplish this good work of prayer— and any good work to which God has called us and ordained for us to do. The scripture tells us that we have the help we need through our Trinitarian God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And we have Christ’s promise that we will do good works in His name—and even greater works than He!

     What is the missing element—the thing that we lack that causes us to struggle with prayer and find excuses not to pray, such as saying we are too busy? 

    Faith!  We lack faith! We are not too busy to pray when we believe that our prayer matters—to us, to God, and for the sake of others!

      But we don’t pray in an attempt to change God or manipulate the world around us. We pray so that we will be changed! When we pray, the Spirit is stirred to work in us, bringing us comfort, healing, enlightenment, strength, and power to walk in Christ’s loving ways.

    Friends, do we have faith that God is listening when we pray?  That He cares about our well-being and the well-being of our loved ones?  And that He wants His Spirit to work in us, for our benefit as well as the benefit of others?

    Do we have faith that when we pray, “Lord, use us to accomplish your will and bring about your righteous kingdom,” God will respond by using us to accomplish His will and bringing about His righteous kingdom?!

    Do we have the kind of faith that we want our children and grandchildren to have? The kind that will move them to serve the Lord and try to make a difference in this world.  To be part of the mending and healing of what is broken and hurting. 

     Open your hearts with me, now, friends.  Clear your minds of any distracting thoughts. Listen for the rush of wind. Listen with faith.

    The Spirit is waiting to do an amazing work in and through you.  The Spirit that is stirred by your faith is waiting for you to pray and really mean it when you say, “Come Holy Spirit.  Come.”  

Let us pray.

Almighty God, thank you for the gift of faith and for our hope in Jesus and salvation through Him.  We long for your Spirit to come now and fill and refresh us.  We want to be changed –to be more like your Son. We know we need your Spirit to do this work in us. Thank you for your promise of molding us into people that you can and will use for your holy purposes.  Stir in us a deeper faith.  Help us to be more faithful to you and godly examples for our young people.  Move us to turn to you in prayer more often.  Forgive us when we have made excuses for not praying or when we have only prayed for our own needs and desires and have ignored the needs of our neighbors.  May your Spirit teach us how to live righteously, surrendering ourselves and our lives to be your humble servants.  In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we pray.  Amen.