If you have learned to read music to play an instrument, or sing, you are familiar with the many small characters, accents, symbols and notations on sheet music that tell you to play faster, louder, with different techniques, or how to navigate the sections of the piece. It is kind of like a code, and if you don’t know it, you cannot really understand how the music should sound.

I a way, this is like the situation in Matthew 13:10-13, “Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.”

The parables are like a code that can only be deciphered by someone who has his or her heart open to receiving God’s message. The more open our heart is to hearing the message, the more understanding we are granted.

Dear Lord, We praise and thank you that you have given us the ability to understand your parables, and have given us the Holy Spirit working in us. Help us use this ability to become more knowledgeable and use this knowledge to help others come to understand as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You have probably seen those crystal figurines in jewelry stores, one of the most famous brand is Swarovski. It is amazing how these sculptures sparkle and reflect the light. Although the crystal is just glass, it sparkles so much more than ordinary glass because it has a “secret” ingredient, lead, added to the sand that is melted to form the glass. It is the fact that the lead is in the glass that makes it different and more dazzling.

In a similar way, Paul writes about God’s mystery and secret in Colossians 1:27, “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you the assurance of sharing his glory.” It is this secret ingredient in Christians that makes them different, and which makes us look different to God. He does not see the ordinary person, he sees us with the “dazzle” of Christ in us.

Dear Lord Jesus, It is only by the “secret” of your grace changing our appearance that we can be seen as acceptable to God, and saved. What an assuring mystery this is for us. Help us embrace this secret and live our lives demonstrating Christ living in us. In His name we pray. Amen.

You probably know that last weekend, Justice Antonin Scalia, US Supreme Court Justice passed away. You may or may not know that his son, Rev. Paul Scalia, Catholic Priest, one of his nine children with his wife of 55 years, gave the homily at his funeral. (click to read or watch)

He opened his homily with, “We are gathered here because of one man. A man known personally to many of us, known only by reputation to even more. A man loved by many, scorned by others. A man known for great controversy, and for great compassion. That man, of course, is Jesus of Nazareth.”

From my understanding of his life, Justice Scalia would have given the glory to Jesus Christ, as well, if he had written his own eulogy.

We should all hope to hear our Lord tell us one day the words of Matthew 25:23, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.” I believe Justice Scalia worked with this commitment to God’s will also.

We can only hope and pray that our Christian values are represented in the US Supreme court by Justice Scalia’s replacement.

Dear Lord, thank you for all those Christian men and women in places of power that do your will and protect us all from the evil that can creep into government. Please guide our leaders and our voters to people who will help us maintain the greatness of the USA, which is rooted in Christianity. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A couple years ago a bald eagle moved into my neighborhood. I usually see it once or twice a month flying along the coast of the lake nearby my home. One morning driving to work, the eagle flew along the shoreline about 50 feet above the lake right along the path I was driving for almost 5 minutes. I was amazed that it did not flap its wings at all for the entire time. It soared effortlessly, like it could continue for hours.

In a familiar verse, Isaiah uses this beautiful image of the eagles’ flight to describe what our lives can be like when we put our trust in God. He writes in Isaiah 40:31, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Dear Lord, your power is unmeasurable to us, but you provide it to those who trust in you. Help us remember to come to you for strength, endurance, and renewal. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

As a parent it is often very unnerving to think of all the temptations and risks our children will face growing up. It seems like a much more troubled world than when we were children.

The bible gives us a bit of advice on how to help our children with their future, and some comfort for parents and grandparents.

One thing I have noticed to this point in raising my three is that, even though they may not act like it sometimes, what we do, and what we teach is being absorbed. It may not be apparent at the time, but if we provide the right example, and consistently teach, the message will eventually take root. Proverbs 19:18 says, “Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.” In my words, get the message to them before they need it.

If we do get the message to them, Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Finally, God told the Israelites, and us, in Exodus 20:6, “I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” So our obedience to God affects our children, and their children, and their children.

Dear Lord, we know you love us, and want us to love you; Showing our love by obeying your direction. Help us read your word, listen for your guidance, and do your will, for ourselves, and for our children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.