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Sermon podcast from the Fourth Sunday of Lent, 3-10-24 worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Showing posts with label Psalm 107:1-3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 107:1-3. Show all posts
3/14/2021
Wonderful Works - Psalm 107 - Lent 4 - 3-14-21
Sermon podcast from the Fourth Sunday of Lent, 3-14-21 online worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Psalm 107
3/22/2015
Wonderful Works
This week's Bible reflection (In Reverse) acknowledges that whole "giving thanks in all circumstances" deal is much easier after you're past the circumstance. And today's sermon at St. Paul's UCC kept up with the theme. Emotions are worth having.
"Wonderful Works" podcast
"Wonderful Works" podcast
3/16/2015
In Reverse
It’s much easier to “give thanks in troubled times” after enduring and passing through the troubled times. This week’s reading from Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 is a great example of exactly that -- giving thanks after troubled times are over.
When things are rotten, I don’t feel like giving thanks. I feel, instead, like shouting out, “What are you thinking, God? Why in the world would you expect thanks for THIS?” It’s really hard to thank God when all that seems to be present is depression and despair.
And I know how selfish that sounds. “Poor me – I’m not getting everything I want and everything isn’t perfect.” While I’m sputtering about something terrible happening to me, I'm generally not focusing on any kind of compassion for everyone.
Still, it’s important to remember that emotions are worth having – even savoring. Emotions are worth addressing. There’s no need to feel bad and then feel guilty about feeling bad. We don’t have to be devoid of emotions! And we’re not the only ones having them.
I think there’s a comfort in knowing that we all have good and bad days. We all have uplifting and energy-sucking emotions. And knowing that can help us move away from being self-centered and instead live out love, compassion, and justice.
We won’t get it right every time – maybe not even most times. But why not start there? We all can start from a place where things seem really good and remember to live in hope when it’s not.
In most, if not every situation, that’s all I’ve got – If it’s backwards – so what? It’s a start.
When things are rotten, I don’t feel like giving thanks. I feel, instead, like shouting out, “What are you thinking, God? Why in the world would you expect thanks for THIS?” It’s really hard to thank God when all that seems to be present is depression and despair.
And I know how selfish that sounds. “Poor me – I’m not getting everything I want and everything isn’t perfect.” While I’m sputtering about something terrible happening to me, I'm generally not focusing on any kind of compassion for everyone.
Still, it’s important to remember that emotions are worth having – even savoring. Emotions are worth addressing. There’s no need to feel bad and then feel guilty about feeling bad. We don’t have to be devoid of emotions! And we’re not the only ones having them.
I think there’s a comfort in knowing that we all have good and bad days. We all have uplifting and energy-sucking emotions. And knowing that can help us move away from being self-centered and instead live out love, compassion, and justice.
We won’t get it right every time – maybe not even most times. But why not start there? We all can start from a place where things seem really good and remember to live in hope when it’s not.
In most, if not every situation, that’s all I’ve got – If it’s backwards – so what? It’s a start.
3/17/2012
Wonderful Works
This week's Bible reflection (Backwards) provides the beginning of this Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Wonderful Works" text
"Wonderful Works" podcast
"Wonderful Works" text
"Wonderful Works" podcast
3/13/2012
Backwards
It’s much easier to “give thanks in troubled times” after we’ve endured and passed through the troubled times. This week’s reading from Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 is a great example of praising God in troubled times . . . but doing it after the troubled times are over.
When things are rotten, I don’t feel like giving thanks. I feel, instead, like shouting out, “What are you thinking, God? Why in the world would you expect thanks for THIS?” It’s really hard to thank God when all that seems to be present is depression and despair.
And I know how selfish that sounds. “Poor me – I’m not getting everything I want and everything isn’t perfect.” While I’m sputtering to God about something terrible happening to me, I rarely have any kind of compassion for all whom God loves. (Yes – everybody!)
Do you remember this from last week? Emotions are worth having – even savoring. Emotions are worth addressing. So there’s no need to feel bad and then feel guilty about feeling bad. What we’re called to do as followers of Jesus isn’t to never have any emotions – but rather to realize that we are not the only ones having them. That can be a comfort in knowing that others feel this way. It can also lead us to a place where we aren’t so self-centered and instead live out love, compassion, and justice in all the world.
Going forward, I can look to God in hope during the troubled times. I can pray for and work for justice to all whom God loves.
I’m not going to get it right every time – probably not most times. But I can start there. I can start from a place where things seem really good and remember to live in hope when it’s not.
In most, if not every situation, that’s all I’ve got – If it’s backwards – so what? It’s a start, right?
When things are rotten, I don’t feel like giving thanks. I feel, instead, like shouting out, “What are you thinking, God? Why in the world would you expect thanks for THIS?” It’s really hard to thank God when all that seems to be present is depression and despair.
And I know how selfish that sounds. “Poor me – I’m not getting everything I want and everything isn’t perfect.” While I’m sputtering to God about something terrible happening to me, I rarely have any kind of compassion for all whom God loves. (Yes – everybody!)
Do you remember this from last week? Emotions are worth having – even savoring. Emotions are worth addressing. So there’s no need to feel bad and then feel guilty about feeling bad. What we’re called to do as followers of Jesus isn’t to never have any emotions – but rather to realize that we are not the only ones having them. That can be a comfort in knowing that others feel this way. It can also lead us to a place where we aren’t so self-centered and instead live out love, compassion, and justice in all the world.
Going forward, I can look to God in hope during the troubled times. I can pray for and work for justice to all whom God loves.
I’m not going to get it right every time – probably not most times. But I can start there. I can start from a place where things seem really good and remember to live in hope when it’s not.
In most, if not every situation, that’s all I’ve got – If it’s backwards – so what? It’s a start, right?
3/21/2009
No Matter What
This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (Backwards) provides a beginning and a bit of the ending for this week's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
3/16/2009
Backwards
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
It’s much easier to “give thanks in troubled times” after we’ve endured and passed through the troubled times. This week’s reading from Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 is a great example of praising God in troubled times . . . but doing it after the troubled times are over.
When things are rotten, I don’t feel like giving thanks. I feel, instead, like shouting out, “What are you thinking, God? Why in the world would you expect thanks for THIS?”
And I also notice how selfish I am. While I’m sputtering to God about something terrible happening to me, I rarely have any kind of compassion for all whom God loves. (Yes – everybody!)
I think going forward, I can look to God in hope during the troubled times. I can pray for and work for justice to all whom God loves.
And as I experience peace and justice in my life and in the whole world, I can give thanks to God for God’s steadfast love.
That’s all I’ve got – whether or not it is somewhat backwards.
What are your thoughts?
It’s much easier to “give thanks in troubled times” after we’ve endured and passed through the troubled times. This week’s reading from Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 is a great example of praising God in troubled times . . . but doing it after the troubled times are over.
When things are rotten, I don’t feel like giving thanks. I feel, instead, like shouting out, “What are you thinking, God? Why in the world would you expect thanks for THIS?”
And I also notice how selfish I am. While I’m sputtering to God about something terrible happening to me, I rarely have any kind of compassion for all whom God loves. (Yes – everybody!)
I think going forward, I can look to God in hope during the troubled times. I can pray for and work for justice to all whom God loves.
And as I experience peace and justice in my life and in the whole world, I can give thanks to God for God’s steadfast love.
That’s all I’ve got – whether or not it is somewhat backwards.
What are your thoughts?
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