Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

We come to share our story

Saturday, April 15, 2017

From Genesis 1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved lupon the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light."

"We come to share our story, we come to break the bread. We come to know our rising from the dead." - David Haas

Jerusalem's old city swarms, but with nothing to show for it. Everyone alone in the crowd. Jesus has been killed and is long gone. We don't know how to live.

"We are called to heal the broken, to be hope for the poor. We are called to feed the hungry at the door."

Surely we can do this. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. The poor we will always be, alone bereft, drowning in our endless tears. Can we weep together?

"Bread of life and cup of promise, in this meal we all are one. In our dying and our rising, may your kingdom come."

No one thought you meant it. But you gave us our bread, your body, and you offer us our wine, your blood. We see ourselves in the mirror of your eyes. You are our body, you are our blood. We need not stand alone. You lift us up to drink your living water.

"We will live and sing your praises. 'Alleluia' is our song. May we live in love and peace our whole life long."

We have forsaken the word "Alleluia," Lord. How can we sing King Alpha's song in this strange land? Can we find life again so deep down in this deadly grief?

As if from far away it echoes distant, through the valley, shadow, death. But there is so much evil now. Break our bonds and sing your song, Lord Jesus. Al - le - lu - ia.

"We come to share our story. We come to break the bread. We come to know our rising from the dead."

Mary Oliver's poem, "The Swan," floats into view:

Of course! The path to heaven
doesn't lie down in flat miles.
It's in the imagination
with which you perceive
this world,
and the gestures
With which you honor it.
Oh, what will I do, what will I say when those
white wings
touch the shore?

Father, your mighty wind sweeps above dark waters. Ruah! Come, Holy Spirit, bring all your children home. Let our evenings come, and our mornings, and give us light. You put a rainbow up there above the rain - let us see it now, o God, and hear your whispers all around.

Devotions Archive

We come to share our story

Saturday, April 15, 2017