What Brings You Comfort?
Good Morning Friends,
Today on our journey of Lent we explore prayers that can raise the dead. We spend a little quite time in the story of a person who helped people by using the talents she had to encourage other. Today we explore how we are knit together in the womb and how things stitched together over time to sometimes bring us security. Today we explore how we can with the Lord’s help bring good things to life. What Brings You Comfort?
Scripture: For God alone my soul waits in silence. . . . Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:5, 8 (NRSV)
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, ‘Please come to us without delay.’ So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.
Acts 9: 36-41 (NRSV)
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Genesis 3:7 (NRSV)
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13 (NRSV)
Message: A friend of mine makes art quality quilts and her work and today’s scripture reminded me that I have a quilt that my Grandmother made. I keep it in a cedar chest at home. Part of it she made during her quite time with God as I imagine the work refreshed her spirit and part of it was made with others as a way of deepening their collective relationships with God in community. I am sure that this sewing and prayer circle, of women, knew today’s verses well. Today I see the quilt not only as a physical comfort on a cold night, but also as a spiritual blessing in its message that God blesses us when we bring Him honor as our individual response is combined with a collective response. Here availability combines with ability so that we do not become a community liability. Here in prayer we experience the nerve that moves the muscles of God’s omnipotence. Here we have a witness to God’s provision beyond time. Here, as did my grandmother’s sewing circle, we can see the power of sewing together relationships with Jesus…abiding in Him through prayer and listening, reading the Bible and putting into practice the skills we have, as we spend time with other Christians. Here I see Jesus connecting our possessions to our heart and our heart to heaven…I see Jesus connecting what God does with what we do. Here I find a message in a quilt stitched together in prayer with a community of believers. Maybe it would be a good idea, on one of these cold nights, to get one of grandma’s quilts out of the cedar chest.
Pray we leave a legacy that is a witness to God. Pray we get up and become active in our Christian service. Pray we come alive now filled to overflowing in the spirit of giving. Pray we affirm the lives of others in ways that brings life into our lives. Pray we are more concerned with preserving people and memories than things. Pray we see the relationship between the spiritual and the physical. Pray that in our inmost being we are stitched together with God. Pray God uses our gifts for a heavenly return. Pray we are raised to new life.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 