Our Father God is quick to forget our sins when we repent. As Corrie Ten Boom once wrote, “He buries our sins in the deepest part of the ocean; and then posts a sign that reads “No Fishing!” He forgets our sins many times in our lifetimes; but there are other things that God never forgets.

Sometimes it is hard to feel in touch with Gd, and our prayers seem like sawdust. Those times can drag on longer and longer unless we remember that every believing prayer is bound in God’s “Bundle of Life” (1Samuel 25:29). The very prayer that was prayed for each of us at our baptism remains in God’s bundle throughout our lives. The prayers of our grandmothers are still in God’s bundle when our own lips are silent, and we can’t discern God’s presence. Our prayers, prayed under the influence of God’s own Spirit, remain in His memory all our lives and beyond. When we remember that He remembers, it is easier to approach God in prayer. We come to Him not alone, but accompanied by a host of believers whose prayers for us are in God’s bundle.

When Abigail met David, who was not yet the king, and offered him food for the men who followed David, she said to him, “Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies He will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.” (1 Samuel 25:29) Abigail knew that the revenge that David sought would wreck his unique relationship to Israel’s God. She was protecting not only her own home, which David might have destroyed, but the heritage of David himself as God’s chosen king.

More than all this, God gave us His son, who presented the disciples with a prayer straight out of God’s bundle of life. The Lord’s Prayer is a gift from the Father to son, and to all of us, that we may partake of the goodness in the Father’s bundle of life. Jesus shared his birthright with all of us when he gave the Lord’s Prayer to us.

Mary received God’s bundle of life when her baby was placed in her arms. It is God’s plan that each of us receive that bundle and find His life in it. God loves to see His bundle grow and flourish. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” (John 10:70)

Love in Him,

Prue

It has been said that the Hebrew people were the only ancient people who believed that time itself is “linear”; it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. All other ancient people believed that time is cyclical, exhibited in the seasons of the year, and the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.

The Scriptures give us a picture of God as being the Lord of time: “I will return at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14) The act of the creation of the whole earth is the “beginning” of the word of God as He speaks into existence the light and the sky and the continents, the plants and trees; and as He counted the days, He created the water teeming with living creatures, and on land the creatures according to their kind. (Genesis1:24) On the sixth day He created one creature in His own image,to be followed by a mate for that creature: a man and a woman. Each creation was “timed” so that the man could name all the other creatures.

The ancient Greeks believed in a whole pantheon of gods and goddesses. The Romans adopted may of them, and added their own. The Greek and Roman gods were created in the images of their own inventors. Their lives and exploits were both natural and supernatural, and their dispositions were capricious and arbitrary.

In the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, God answered the king”s prayer through His prophet Isaiah: Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass. ( 2 Kings 19:25) God rescued the city of Jerusalem in a dramatic way. In these words God displayed His plans and His character. Nothing that happened was beyond His notice and even His control. He lives in Eternity, yet created the time in which we live. He is the opposite of all other gods, the Father of both time and eternity. The God who lives in eternity knows all the creatures that live in time.

In a time carefully chosen by God, He sent His son , who would create the bridge between time and eternity. Jesus brought us the stunning assurance: I am the Resurrection and the Life . The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. (John 11:25) He whose love is immeasurable, died so that he could share with us his Father’s eternity.

Love in Him,

Prue

There are a least three Saints Teresa in the Catholic Church. The second one, chronologically, Therese of Lisieux, France was the one chosen by Mother Teresa of Calcutta as her namesake.

Therese of Lisieux was a young woman born in 1873 of a devout Catholic family, one of five sisters, all of whom became nuns. Therese was only fifteen years old when she became a Carmelite nun. Nine years later she died of tuberculosis in the Carmelite convent of Lisieux, the town where she grew up. She is not known for heroic exploits or great achievements of any kind. She worked in the laundry at the convent , and was the “novice mistress” for a while. Today there are great and beautiful cathedrals on virtually every continent dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, sometimes called “The Little Flower.”

When Therese was ill with TB her sister asked her to write some of her childhood reminiscences. Later this same sister spoke to the Prioress about Theresa’s impending death: “. . . you will not be able to obtain much information to write her obituary. If you were to tell her to do so, she could write something. . .” As a result, the Prioress did ask, and Therese willingly obeyed. She produced a book she called The Story of a Soul. On the basis of this book she was made a saint.

The Story of a Soul is the account of both her physical, emotional life, and of her spiritual life. She wrote of her discovery of the meaning of Jesus’ words, “I say to you, unless you be converted and come as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3). Therese wrote, “The way of spiritual childhood is the path that leads to eternal life” She called her path “The Little Way,” and quoted Proverbs 9: “Whoever is a little one, come to me.”

It has been said that Theresa’s “Little Way” is simply the concept of humility, but in her book she reveals a soul who discovers the “smallness” needed to receive the greatness of God. Her method of divesting herself of the things that preoccupy the world in order to be filled with the Spirit of Christ, so resonated in the hearts and minds of Christian readers that she became one of the most popular of Catholic saints, mentioned in the writings of several popes, and inspiring the nun from Armenia, Agnes Bojanxhiu to choose “Teresa” for her Christian name before she became Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Therese’s book reveals a soul at home with the Spirit of God. Her words speak to every generation.

Love in Him,

Prue

The painted bunting is a small bird. It looks as if it has been dipped into four different paint pots: blue, red, green and yellow, all brilliant in the sunlight, less noticeable in the shade. “Noticeable “ is an understatement , for the sight of one of these in a splash of sunlight is unforgettable. They look like brilliant gemstones clustered into a priceless brooch, and given the breath of life,

In watching these birds on the deck overlooking Possum Kingdom Lake, I was struck by how oblivious they are of the interest that human beings have in watching them. People come from other countries, and around the U.S. hoping to catch a glimpse of these small patterns of living color. The female bunting is lime green in color, with pale green buff color breast. Both male and female are small and seemingly fragile. Though they are not yet on the endangered species list, their numbers are declining.

I cannot see these these creatures without thinking of their creator and mine: The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, and all who live in it, for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2) The many colors on the male remind me of the rainbow. When the Israelite people made a scroll of remembrance concerning those who feared the Lord, and honored His name, our God answered: “They will be mine” says the Lord, “when I make up my jewels” (Malachi 3:17)

That a bird small enough to be held in a child’s hand should evoke so strong a response in human beings , speaks of the marvels of nature that God intends us to enjoy and for which he looks for praise and thanks. Noah saw the first magnificent rainbow, but we can see a rainbow in our own bird feeders, if not the painted buntings, then cardinals, blue birds, gold finches and an array of warblers to mention a few. I believe that the delight we experience in seeing God’s jewels is a delight that He shares with us while waiting to make us up into His own.

Love in Him,

Prue

Shake up your faith, bring the eyes of your hearts to bear, not your human eyes. You have other ones inside, after all, which God made for you. He opened the eyes of your hearts, when He gave you faith. (St Augustine, sermon 286)

One of St. Augustine’s challenges was to address his congregation on the subject of the third sack of Rome. Many of his people were refugees from the fall of the great city considered the very heart of Christianity. Their grief and distress over this epic event was a challenge to their faith. Rome had been the center of the ministries of both Peter and Paul, and home to many of those who fled to Hippo in Northern Africa, where Augustine was the bishop. In this sermon he urges them to look beyond the material world that was crumbling, to the Christ who had died for them.

The “eyes of the heart” are visible in the Old Testament story of the three young men who responded to Nebuchadnezzar’s demand that they worship his statue: “ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us. . . but even if He does not . . . we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18)

The “eyes of the heart” are found in many places of the Old and New Testaments. The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote of those very eyes in his letter: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was made out of what was invisible. (Hebrews 11:3) By faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise. (Hebrews 11:11)

“There are many examples in the Bible of those who functioned with the eyes of the heart, the eyes of faithful love. The eyes of the heart surprised Jesus when he saw them in a Roman centurion. Jesus said,: “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent to Jesus returned to the house and found the servant well. (Luke 7:9-10)

In the year about 425 AD, The people of Rome and the rest of the whole world desperately needed Augustine’s message. So do we today.

Love in Him,

Prue

My grandmother could remember that as a very young child she had gone with her mother to the post office where she saw some old men setting on benches talking together. They were amputees from the Civil War, and they were talking about having seen Abraham Lincoln in their youth. My grandmother knew people who at one time had owned slaves. Nana, my grandmother, called Jesus her “Master.” Her only Bible was the King James, and she read there, “Jesus said unto Mary Magdalene, ‘Mary.’ She turned herself and saith unto him, ‘Rabboni’, which is to say, ‘Master’. (John 20:16)

In 1868 John Bode, a clergyman in the Church of England, wrote a hymn to celebrate the confirmations of his three children. It’s title and first lines are ,O Jesus I have Promised to serve thee to the end. Be Though forever near me, my master and my friend. The song is still in the hymnbooks of many churches. It was popular when first published and is still sung today.

The combination of both master and friend had universal appeal, and Nana was raised in a church that found nothing offensive in a friend who is also our “master.” In some ways the hymn combines opposites:I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side, nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide.” That Jesus should be both comforting friend, guide, and master is an old fashioned concept today, but it is an intimate and benevolent relationship that St. Paul recognized: Thanks to God that though you used to be slaves of sin, you have come to obey from your heart the teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God; the benefit you receive leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Romans 6:22)

I think that St. Paul would readily agree with John Bode that the master who is a friend would in truth be Jesus. In Nana’s relationship, having “freedom” had a lower priority than having the son of God as her master and her friend . In having him, she knew that she had everything.

Love in Him,

Prue

Picking Pears

Before fire blight killed the pear tree in our front yard, the tree bore abundant, juicy pears for many years. Across the street from us was a family with three children: Lindy, the oldest, was about seven years old when they moved in, with Geoffrey five, and Michelle only three.

One day when their family was visiting with us I asked their father if he had anyone in his family who was a “pear picker.” He looked puzzled and didn’t answer until Geoffrey’s voice said quietly, “I can pick pears. I’m a pear picker! Then Lindy announced that she, too, was a “pear picker”, and Michelle shouted, “I’m a pear picker! I’m a pear picker!” We made arrangements with their mother for the children to pick and keep the pears. As it was getting dark the family headed home, the children dancing around their parents. A few days later we set up the step ladder. Geoffrey climbed the tree and Lindy and Michelle took turns on the ladder. Some of the branches could be reached from the ground. The children had a very sufficient harvest. Jack and I were invited for pear pie. It was delicious.

On another occasion an Hispanic woman came to my door and pointed at the tree. She smiled and gestured to ask if she could pick some pears. I nodded and said “yes,” and gave her a bag to hold the pears. She was delighted and easily filled the bag just from the lower branches. The pear tree was a blessing for all the years it flourished. It enriched our lives and yielded more than physical nourishment .

God spoke to the Israelites about the blessings they would receive if they remained faithful in the Promised Land: “Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in, and blessed when you go out.”(Deuteronomy28:3&4) When I read the inventory of the blessings, I’m struck by the things that God chooses to promise. They are the very things we identify as the substance of good and joyful living. When some of these fall into my life I cannot doubt their origin. God knows us through and through, and He takes delight in blessing us with His own delight. Jesus told his disciples, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

The pear tree had been a gift from the grounds keeper at our church. He advised me about its care when it was a sapling. He assured me that it would one day bear profusely. He was right.

Love in Him,

Prue

Invisible as it is, nevertheless, love is still the engine of the Christian life. Love is often glazed over, or sugar coated by more currant and interesting concepts, and pushed to the back of our minds and experience, but high and low, deep and shallow, love remains the engine of human existence.

“This world was made by God, and the world did not know Him. Which world did not know Him? The lover of the world, the lover of the work, the scorner of the workman…Your love must migrate; cast off your moorings from creatures, moor yourself to the Creator. Change your love, change your fear; the only things that make good or bad lives are good or bad loves.” ( St. Augustine, sermon 313A)

If the people didn’t know or recognize God, then they did not know love, for, as the apostle John wrote, “God is love. . .We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:16 &19) Love has been the subject of literature, poetry, and songs since writing was invented, but the great declaration of love is still John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believed in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life.” Eternal life itself is powered by the love of God for His created people, an entirely sacrificial love that transforms the meaning of humanlife and empowers us as humans to share God’s divine life. On his resurrection Jesus called his disciples “brothers,” sharing his own unique relationship to God with human beings who loved him, but had not understood his loving purpose on earth.

Jesus’ mother Mary’s willing acceptance of the angel Gabriel’s message to her of God’s presence in her life and her role in His plan, the role that she “ treasured up and pondered in her heart,” (Luke2:19) was the key that turned the engine of love that she poured out to her infant son, in raising him to manhood.

St. Paul, who had once been a cold hearted witness to the murder of St. Steven, wrote some of the most exquisite passages about a love he himself experienced from the Spirit of the living Christ: If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal…And these remain: faith, hope and Love, but the greatest of these is love. (1Corinthians 13:3713) Love sometimes seems very hidden; but it is always the engine that keeps us in touch with the true love of God, the engine so strong that it delivers eternal life.

Love in Him

Prue

In sewing a button onto a garment I find that if I use too long a thread, I will inevitably end up with knots in it, which spoils the whole project, and forces me to start over.

I believe that we all have knots in our souls that frustrate our hope of drawing close to God. The knots that we harbor are feelings of anxiety, fear, despair, and desire for “stuff”. Some of the knots are large and noticeable, but others are tiny and we barely know they are there.

St. John of the Cross once wrote, “God commanded that the ark (of the covenant) be empty and hollow (Exodus 27:8) to remind the soul how void of all things God wishes it to be if it is to serve as a worthy dwelling for His Majesty. (The Ascent of MountCarmel Book 1, chapter 5) Knots are those “things” that take hold of us and push our relationship with God aside, overshadowing that relationship. They are interior inhabitants of our spirits. The list is almost endless of the things that might end up tying us in knots.

Once you have sewn on a button, it isn’t safe to assume that it will never need a renewal to re-attach it to the garment; and though it is a rather simple thing to do, we often neglect it. The same is true for our relationship with our invisible God. He never protests when we spend less time in prayer or Bible reading, and soon enough the “ark” of our lives is full of other things: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24) When the disciples heard this they . . . asked, “Who, then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Clearly the answer to all the knots in the world lies with opening our own hearts and minds to the One who can remove them. All can be opened to Him by surrendering the knots that lodge in our minds and hearts. Things we think we can never surrender, Jesus knows that we can. Even a feeble effort is recognized by Him and receives its reward. I’m still careless with the thread that I use, and still make knots. But Jesus’ answer to the disciples is clear, and I depend on it: With God all things are possible.

Love in Him,

Prue