God's Favorite Instrument

I have always loved music.     Though I have a banjo that I play now and then, the instrument that through the years that I have been most proficient in using is my voice.   I have sang in church choirs, college choirs, and even a gospel quartet and enjoy listening to most types of music.    While I was most proficient in using the instrument of my voice, my brother Tony was most proficient in playing the guitar.   He will always be my favorite guitar picker.

My grandchildren, Madelyn and Eloise, are learning to play musical instruments.   They go to a school in Houston, Texas where music is a big part of the school curriculum.  Madelyn is learning to play the cello while Eloise is  learning to play the violin.   Because of the distance between us, most of the time I only hear them play through videos that are sent my way.   Learning to read music and to play music is a valuable skill in many ways.   I look forward to seeing whether these  musical instruments  are  a short term interest or a long term passion for the grandchildren. 

There are all sorts of instruments that can be used to praise the living and loving God.   The longest book in the Bible is the book of Psalms, and the last Psalm, Psalm 150, encourages us to praise God with instruments like the harp, lyre, trumpet, and the like.    I got to thinking the other day about what is God’s favorite instrument, and the answer was pretty easy to determine:  YOU AND I.     As Christmas Day approaches, I find myself thinking of the story of the birth of Jesus.   A young woman named Mary was willing to be God’s instrument and vessel for Jesus to be born in the world despite the scandal she must have endured with bearing a child out of wedlock.    Human beings are God’s favorite instrument.   God wants to use us to glorify His name.   That cello that Madelyn plays does not have a choice about whether it is played or not, and neither does that violin that Eloise plays.   But you know what?   We have a choice of whether we will be an instrument for the glory of God.   Are you a willing instrument?  Have a joy-filled week. I close below  with the prayer of St. Francis written years ago. -  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Lord make Me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness joy.
O Divine master grant that I 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's in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born...
To eternal life.   Amen

Country Music and the Christmas Story

 

As I have gotten older, I have grown in my appreciation for country music.   Such was not the case when I was a teenager.   Why, country music by the likes of George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and the rest was music my parents liked and I wanted to listen to that cool rock and roll.   In Ken Burns documentary on “Country Music”, someone says that country music is “3 chords and the truth”.     One of the things I like about country music is that it tells the truth about people I see in the grocery store, Walmart, or in the pew.   Country music tells the story about ordinary people and ordinary events.  

During these days, I find myself lingering  more than usual at the stories from Matthew and Luke of the birth of Jesus.   There is a part of me that sees the birth stories of Jesus  akin to some  of my favorite country songs in that we hear of ordinary people facing  ordinary events.   As I read the story of young Mary hearing that she will conceive a child,  I think of  some teenage girls in congregations  past who heard the same news.   As I hear the news of Zechariah and Elizabeth hearing they will bear a child though they are advanced in years,   I think of childless couples who I have known who yearned to have their own child.   As I read of wise men from the East following a star to Bethlehem,  I think of immigrants who I have met through the years who came to this country yearning for a better life and a brighter future.  

 In the course of common ordinary events in the lives of people like you and I, we hear the story that God bursts on the scene.  Emmanuel, God is with us.     God cries out in the whimpers of a small, frail child.  In the hills and hollers and rural hamlets of 2021, people live and move and have their being in these pandemic days some uttering to God or to themselves, “How long, Lord?  How long?”    In the secret places of their hearts and in the ordinariness of their lives, may they find comfort in the presence of an  extraordinary God who still bursts upon the scene in the most common of ways.   Grace and peace,      Randy L. Wall

           

 

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PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for  what you have done and are doing in my life.   Give me wisdom and courage, Lord, to share that story with others;   through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Name on the Offering Envelope

 

I remember a time many years ago when our church financial secretary was trying to make out the name on an offering envelope as she recorded the weekly contributions.  A young child in our congregation had done their best to print their first name on the envelope.

            It makes no difference how much that child put in that envelope.  Those monies in that offering envelope say something about that child and what they believe.   That child had learned through his parents and others that those who love Jesus and follow Jesus give their gifts to the Lord through His Church and that his gifts (though small) were important.   That child could have taken that money and used it to buy ice cream or bubble gum.  However, he chose to use that money to give to the Lord because that was important to Him.   That child might not be able to stand before the congregation and preach a sermon or even read the scripture lesson, but he could participate in the life and worship of the church by giving his offerings.

            In Psalm 116:12, we read the Psalmist ask, “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?”   What a good question most anytime.     A young child knew what he could do.  He could give his gifts to the Lord as he was able.  Let us go and do likewise. – Pastor Randy Wall

 

 

·Previous Book:Go to Job

·Previous Chapter : Go to Psalm 62

·Expand: show the entire chapter ofPsalm 63

·Next Chapter : Go to Psalm 64

·Next Book:Go to Proverbs

·Listen to this passage : Psalm 63

·View commentary related to this passage

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for all that you have done for me.  Help me, Lord, to show you my gratitude and thanksgiving for all your blessings by offering the gift of myself and my monies to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Remembering the Saints

 

            In Hebrews 11, we find a long litany of names of  people from the Old Testament.   Some of the names are well known like Abraham and some of the names are lesser known like Rahab.    In the aftermath of Pastor Appreciation  Month in October and All Saints Day on November 1,  I have been thinking of some of the pastors who have been special in my own life and journey.  In the letters of Paul, we find several  occasions where he refers to the people in the churches as “saints”.     Today, some see a saint as a person who lived a life that was perfect without sin and/or lived a life where they performed miracles.     Paul, however, has a different way of looking at saints for he sees them not so much as perfect people without blemish as people who live in the holiness of God.   

            I want to share with you a list of “saintly” pastors who have been special in my own life.   Some of them you may know or have heard of, and others may be unknown to you.  Some ar living and some have gone on to glory.    Like myself, each of them were sinners in need of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Like Hebrews 11, they are heroes to me and in my hall of fame.    I list them not  in rank of importance and as they come to mind:

Wayne Fouts, my pastor when I was a boy, who taught me one day at Vacation Bible School when he broke up a fight that sometimes  pastor have the difficult job of being peace-makers.

Wayne Wegwart, my pastor when I was a youth, who baptized me and told me that Jesus loved me and died for me. 

Lawrence Bridges, my pastor when I was in college, that showed me by his example that pastors always need to be learning and growing.

Lorenzo Plyler, United Methodist pastor and college professor, who taught me as a college student how to think for myself.

H. Langill Watson, pastor and District Superintendent, who taught me through his example of the priestly function of pastors.

Paul Leeland, pastor and United Methodist Bishop, who taught me through his example of the importance of being a pastor to the people in the pew.

Richard C. Vaughan, pastor and my friend, who has taught me through the years in his example of  a passion to be a pastor. 

These are the name of 7 pastors whose saintly life has  and continues to inspire  me.   I give thanks to God for them, and encourage you to make your own list.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER

            O God,  I give thanks this day for the pastors and laity who are a part of the communion of saints and whose life has inspired me.   Help me to do the same for others; through Christ our Lord.   Amen.   give me eyes to see the strangers among us.  Give me the courage to go beyond my comfort zone and offer hospitality to them;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Right There on the Frozen Food Aisle

 

It happened on the frozen food aisle as I was trying to scurry through the  grocery store and pick up a few things before I hurried on to the rest of the day.  It started with a chance encounter with a lady I did  not know.   She stopped me and asked for my attention, and then she told me her story.   She told about children at home and a husband that was not there anymore… a divorce that  was near and needs that were great.   “I have enough to get these groceries in my shopping cart, and really need a few more things.   Can you help me get food for my family?”, she asked.  I paused and thought and prayed.   “God, I was not expecting this today and not on the frozen food aisle”, I thought and prayed. 

There are some places where you expect that service to Christ will be asked  of you--  as the offering plate passes by… as the pastor speaks with you about a need at the church….as the call goes out for someone to work  with the children or youth.  But in the grocery store?   That is not where you expect to encounter a mission moment.   Where-ever we are is not only the loving and living God, but the possibility and probability of serving God.   Do you see it?  Will you open your heart to it?  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            Loving God, around us are chances for us to be your hands, your feet, and your voice.  Give us eyes and hearts to see those chances  and to respond as your vessels;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Into Your Hands...

 

 

            Last month, at many places across our country we remembered  the terrorist attacks 20 years ago on September 11, 2001.  People gathered  at “Ground Zero” in New York City, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and in the Pennsylvania countryside to remember those who died there.  This anniversary brings back my memories of working in the Fall, 2001 at a “listening station” just blocks from the “twin towers” in New York City and at the “Ground Zero” morgue.  I spent my day hours of that week  in New York City listening to and praying with persons who spoke about the how the events of that day effected their lives.   I spent my evenings at “Ground Zero” at the morgue where I listened to the construction workers, NYPD officers, and FDNY officers tell their stories and I prayed over the bodies or body parts that were found.   I remember one evening when they brought in from the rubble a human hand that was found.  After it was examined by the medical examiner and a NYPD detective, I offered a prayer.  As I prayed, tears filled my eyes and emotion filled my voice as I thought about hand that perhaps had exchanged wedding vows at a church altar or held their child close.  I thought about the person that had used their hand to write a love letter or to  embrace a friend in a time of sorrow. 

            Psalms was the prayer book for the Israelite people.  Whatever may be your human experience, you will find it echoed in the Book of Psalms.   There are over 120 places in the Psalms where you will find the word “hand”.    Psalm 31:5 declares, “Into your hands I commit my spirit:  redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.”    As Jesus was dying on the cross, he remembered these words that were part of a prayer taught to Israelite children.   May the mighty hands of God hold close all who feel grief and sorrow about the events of this day.  May each of us seek to so place ourselves in God’s hands that a day like September 11, 2001 might never happen again in this country and in this world.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            Loving God, reach your everlasting arms around those who know loss and sadness.   We pray especially for those who lost their lives not just on September 11, but in these days.  Help us to join our hands and hearts to work for peace and justice in this world;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

She's Got a Job!

 

One of the blessing of being older is grandchildren.   Ann and I are blessed to have 8 children from 15 year old Lillian to 4 month old Emi.   In recent months, I have started sending and receiving text messages with our 15 year old grandchild, Lillian.   While I am not a common one to send text messages, I am grateful that it gives me a great way to communicate with Lillian.   A few months ago, she sent me a text message to tell me that she had a job taking care of the pets of people that live near her.   On a regular basis, she walks dogs for her neighbors or takes care of their cat while they are out of town.  Lillian loves animals and has even thought of becoming a veterinarian assistant in a few years. 

I share a little bit about Lillian not just because I am an unabashed doting grandparent, but because  of the fact that we celebrated Labor Day a few weeks ago.  The first Monday in September is an official federal holiday called Labor Day.   While many folks see it as the unofficial end of summer or a “long weekend” away from work, Labor Day is a day to recognize the American worker and how they contribute to the betterment of our community and to our way of life.  

I am at a point in life when I know I have more working days in my past than  in my future.  While I continue to work part- time, I certainly do not work as much as I have in the past.  Many of my peers have retired;  some still work part time and others do not work at all.  If you are among those who think you do not have a job, I have news for you:  GOD HAS A JOB FOR YOU!    That job is being a worker in His Kingdom.   I Corinthians 3:9 put it this way:

⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

God’s work is needed by young and old, and can be done wherever we are.  Lillian has a job, and so do you and I.  Now, lets get to work.   While the pay God offers may not be good for your bank account, the benefeits are out of this world!   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            O God, we rejoice that you are working still in our world today.  Work in us and through us through the power of your Holy Spirit;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.