May 12, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for May 12th: Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, Revelaion 7:9-17, John 10:22-30: Theme: Mother’s Day Psalm: This is one of the most popular bible verses, but it’s popularity can stand in the way of us really thinking about what it has to say to us. This is the first bible verse that my grandmother taught me as a child. It is also usually the last verse that we read at a funeral. But if you really look at it, the psalm has a powerful message for Easter. The Lord provides all that we need to live – peace, protection, provision, and support. The Lord also sends people into our lives to be a part of the task of taking care of us. On this Mother’s Day it is fitting to remember how we have been taken care of. Jesus often quoted the psalms to remember the promises of God. Imagine Jesus saying this psalm daily – living a hope to dwell in the house of the each and every day – forever. Acts: This is a story about the life of a faithful women who served God with her all. She served the church, she took care of others, she sewed and made things in order to help the church. So of course those who knew her would mourn her death. Her death was a great loss to the community. But it was also an opportunity for Peter to show the power of faith in Christ. Peter was able to raise her from the dead – and everyone was happy. That does not always happen in real life, that a loved is resurrected. But we can allow their legacy of faith to live on in us. We can give what we have received to others. We can live as faithfully as they lived. We can have hope in the resurrection to come, when that faith will finally live again. We can thank God for the modern Day Dorcas’s who work so hard to keep families and churches together. Questions: How have you felt protection, peace and power this week? How do you seek to be in God’s presence daily? Who are the modern Day Dorcas’s in your life? How to you honor their legacy?