Hear Anew

SCRIPTURE
- Romans 15:4  
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” 

REFLECTION
- Javier

MUSIC
- "Praise To The Lord, The Almighty" by Mark Magnuson
- "So Will I" by Hillsong 

NOTES
- 

PRAYER OF LETTING GO
To You do I belong, O God,
 into Your hands I surrender my life.
 Pour out Your Spirit upon me
 that I may love You perfectly,
 and serve You faithfully
 until my soul rests in You.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:37

There's just something about a Monday that feels like a fresh page. Whatever last week held, here we are again, beginning another week together. And maybe that's a good reason to spend these few minutes returning to something that has carried people of faith through countless Mondays before ours. The Word of God. The words may be ancient, but somehow God keeps meeting us in them right where we are. Welcome to the God Minute. Let us pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

Psalm 35. I try. It is not easy, Lord, to follow after you. While you take the hard road with joyous leaps and bounds, I stumble over every stone and slip into every rut.

SPEAKER_02 1:57

You calmly weather each storm and walk fearlessly through the night. I am buffeted by the winds, and I falter in the darkness.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

Yet, I must continue to follow you, O Lord. Amidst the joy and the difficulties, I know that you walk beside me, giving me everything I need to continue my journey.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

I pray for your touch of joy and enrichment as I make my way forward. Enable me to sense your fullness and grant to me the grace to be faithful as your child and servant.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_02 2:54

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

That we, through the patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope the word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_04 3:34

Thanks be to God.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Hearing about things that were written before makes me think of being in a history class. And while I like the idea of history and things that were written before in the past, I don't always have time for them. How about you? How often do you pick up a dusty history book or something that was written in the past? How often do you dwell on your memories? Perhaps you are a history aficionado, or more like me, with little time for reading history and dwelling in the past. Yet there is something noble about remembering past events and recalling stories. Culturally, we believe that we all can learn from the past. Today's reading makes this point clear. Whatever things were written before were written for our learning. I imagine we each can review our lives and discover all kinds of learnings from it. Some good, some not so good. The same is true of our faith journey. There are plenty of stories to review. In fact, much of our spiritual growth and life depends on our ability to hear anew the gospel and teachings of our faith. In hearing the scriptures, in listening to our past faith stories, our present and future can really find hope and direction. By patiently hearing anew the good news found in Christ Jesus, we can embrace the comfort and courage it offers us to live more fully with and for others. In the words of St. Paul to the Romans, may the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another. As we continue to walk in faith, let's learn from the written word of the gospel. More than a history book or a lesson from the past, the word of God is a living word, the good news, giving us all we need and would ever want. Together then, let us pray and remember how much God loves us today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03 7:35

In union with all Christians throughout history, we pray. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Let us pray. God of every generation, your word has carried people through joy and uncertainty, through ordinary days and moments that changed everything. Open our hearts to hear you speaking to us today. When we need direction, let your word steady us. When hope feels distant, draw us back to the promises you have made and the faithfulness you have shown throughout the ages. May the scriptures become more than the words we hear. Let them take root in us and shape the way we live. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Together to you do I belong, O God. Into your hands I surrender my life. Pour out your spirit upon me that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you. There's a lot waiting for us as a new week begins, but we don't walk into it empty-handed. We carry a story much bigger than our own. A story of God showing up again and again, and a word that is still very much alive. Thanks for beginning your week with us, and may God bless us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Look for Christ in the small things until we pray again tomorrow.