Good morning. It is Saturday, November 2, 2013. The Red Sox are in the middle of their World Series Championship Parade in Boston.
Today is “Deviled Egg Day.” I’m down with that. I love me some deviled eggs.
I’ve spent a couple of hours updating my other blog, this morning. If you care to check it out, it is a summary of the last few seasons of the Boston Red Sox, commemorating their 2013 World Series win. You can find it at Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit. I’m still intermittently watching the feed of the parade, as the duck boats are about to enter the Charles River.
Later today, our church, The Exchange, will have its first Saturday evening worship celebration, at 5:45pm. We will be meeting in some rooms that our sister church, Harvest Church, is graciously allowing us to use (for a small fee, of course). The band will be meeting for our first rehearsal at the new location at 4pm this afternoon. We are very excited about this change.
Nothing much else going on today. Christi seems to have a sinus infection, and went to the doctor yesterday afternoon. They gave her some antibiotics, but weren’t sure if it was bacterial or viral. So they may or may not help. She says she is feeling a little better this morning, but I can tell she’s not feeling right. Hopefully, she will be okay for this evening.
I don’t know what we will do tomorrow. It’s going to feel weird not getting up for church on Sunday morning, I’ll tell you that. We may go up to Denton later in the day to take Rachel and Justin out to celebrate their 4th anniversary.
(From Great Stories from History for Every Day)
On this date in 1470, the future Edward V of England was born. This is a rather tragic story. His father, King Edward IV, had “secretly married a ravishing widow five years his senior named Elizabeth Woodville,” in 1464. Six years later, they had a son, followed by another shortly after. The elder Edward passed away on April 9, 1483, and the younger Edward inherited the throne. Being only twelve years old, his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester was made “protector of the realm.” Richard, in order to “ensure their safety,” moved Edward and his brother to the Tower of London. After moving them, he persuaded the court that the ill-advised marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth had, in fact, never taken place, making Edward V illegitimate and, therefore, not King. “On 24 June an assembly of lords duly declared Richard King Richard III, while Edward and his brother were still held in the Tower of London. And, as every schoolchild knows, neither of the young princes was ever seen again.” It is probable that Richard’s agents “secretly smothered the two brothers” in August of that year, but debate still continues as to what actually happened to them. A couple of centuries later, “the skeletons of two young boys were found buried in the Tower,” and were presumed to be the skeletons of Edward and his brother. But no one knows what really happened. King Edward V reigned for 79 days.
Today’s birthdays are Daniel Boone, 1734-1820, Marie Antoinette, 1755-1793, Warren G Harding, 1865-1923, James K Polk, 1795-1849, Lauren Velez, 49, Burt Lancaster, 1913-1994, Stefanie Powers, 71, Ray Walston, 1914-2001, and Carter Beauford, 56.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. Psalm 147:1
Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them,
that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance. Psalm 106:4-5
In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! Psalm 71:1
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. Psalm 119:54
“Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give me grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that I may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.” (The Divine Hours)
Father, as we prepare to gather with other saints this evening, I thank you for the communion and fellowship that you have gathered us into. May we, your saints, experience your joy as we gather. Teach us your ways, that we may walk in your joy and truth.
Today’s reading in A Year With God is called “In Giving We Receive.” The scripture reading is 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 and 9:6-8.
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints- (8:1-4)
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (9:6-8)
“It is in giving that we receive.” Giving is more powerful than receiving; when we give, we “experience the true scope of our power.” Some people think of being on the receiving end of charity as lessening their dignity, but then, they can reclaim this by turning around and giving to someone else. Keep in mind that we are not referring only to financial giving. There are many forms that giving can take. The best thing that we can do is to be sensitive and observant, noticing when here are needs around us that we might be able to give to fulfill. What we have to give and what is needed always vary. Anyone, no matter how small the resources, can take part in giving.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. St. Francis of Assisi
Father, may you open my eyes as I live, that I may be sensitive to needs around me. I always have something to give, whether it be money, time, or service. I pray that I will be available whenever needed, to meet needs that may arise around me. Teach me to never be selfish with anything that I have, especially since everything I own has been given me by you. May I give out of sense of devotion to you, giving to honor your name, not to honor myself. I thank you for everything that you have given me and my family. Your grace is truly sufficient.
I pray for the events of this day. May our worship celebration tonight be honoring and glorifying to you and your name. I pray for a good number of people to be in attendance, as we lift the name of Jesus high. I pray that everything technical will work properly, and that we can provide a comfortable environment for people to worship you. I pray for the future of The Exchange, that we may proceed in the direction that you have planned for us. Bless your servant Jacob Seay, as he pastors us and preaches to us. May his message be inspiring to us as he teaches your word to us.
I pray for my brother, Craig Beaman, whose church has recently had to close its doors. I lift up all the members of Bethel Church in Weatherford, as they look to the future to see what their next steps will be. I pray for Craig as he deals with this, and ask that you would grant him comfort and encouragement for his future.
Never be afraid to give to bless someone else, for “it is in giving that we receive.”
Grace and peace, friends.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 