Illuminated Manuscript, Bible (part), Moses in a pulpit preaching to the Israelites, Walters Manuscript W.805, fol. 102r (Photo credit: Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts)
Moses – Brancoveanu Monastery (Photo credit: Fergal Mac Eoinin)
Prayer flags on Renjo La (Photo credit: Oliphant)
This blog comes to you from the people at Peace Mennonite Church of Columbia, MO
Today’s Scriptures Click the following links to read today’s scriptures or scroll to the very bottom of this blog post for those scriptures also. Lectionary Scriptures for the day selected by http://www.commontexts.org/
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2091:1-2,%209-16&version=MSG
Exodus 5:10-23 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%205:10-23&version=MSG
Acts 7:30-34 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:30-34&version=MSG
Are You Sendable?
Despite the use of a made-up word (‘sendable’), the question is raised in both Exodus and in Acts. One of the things God asks of followers is that they go where they are sent.
Therefore, the question of today is, are you sendable? This is the question whether we are sent across the street to help an isolated neighbor, or sent around the world to do menial work. Or sent nowhere but to do the work that God asks of us right here and right now!
But whatever we do, we should be especially careful what we ask of God. An answer may be forthcoming! Maybe Moses asked ‘Lord,do you have something in mind for me beyond herding sheep and cattle?’ May God answered him by saying ‘Yes, I do as a matter of fact!’ We need not fear the questioning of God, but the answers are fearful.
If God asks, are you sendable, and dare you ask our Lord what he has in mind for us?
Pray for peace,
Pastor Bill
Prayer List: Peace Mennonite Church keeps a prayer list for those in need. If you need prayer, or want to e-mail our pastor, e-mail billd @ peacemennonitechurch.net (Take out the extra spaces to use this e-mail—the spaces confuse spam generators).
Pray with us!
We are praying as a church, and attempting to follow the centuries’ old tradition of praying with other Christians three times a day. We are following the prayer liturgy at www.commonprayer.net
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Psalm 91:1-13
The Message (MSG)
91 1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
Exodus 5:10-23
The Message (MSG)
10-12 The slave-drivers and their underlings went out to the people with their new instructions. “Pharaoh’s orders: No more straw provided. Get your own straw wherever you can find it. And not one brick less in your daily work quota!” The people scattered all over Egypt scrabbling for straw.
13 The slave-drivers were merciless, saying, “Complete your daily quota of bricks—the same number as when you were given straw.”
14 The Israelite foremen whom the slave-drivers had appointed were beaten and badgered. “Why didn’t you finish your quota of bricks yesterday or the day before—and now again today?”
15-16 The Israelite foremen came to Pharaoh and cried out for relief: “Why are you treating your servants like this? Nobody gives us any straw and they tell us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look at us—we’re being beaten. And it’s not our fault.”
17-18 But Pharaoh said, “Lazy! That’s what you are! Lazy! That’s why you whine, ‘Let us go so we can worship God.’ Well then, go—go back to work. Nobody’s going to give you straw, and at the end of the day you better bring in your full quota of bricks.”
19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in a bad way, having to go back and tell their workers, “Not one brick short in your daily quota.”
20-21 As they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them. The foremen said to them, “May God see what you’ve done and judge you—you’ve made us stink before Pharaoh and his servants! You’ve put a weapon in his hand that’s going to kill us!”
22-23 Moses went back to God and said, “My Master, why are you treating this people so badly? And why did you ever send me? From the moment I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, things have only gotten worse for this people. And rescue? Does this look like rescue to you?”
Acts 7:30-34
The Message (MSG)
30-32 “Forty years later, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to him in the guise of flames of a burning bush. Moses, not believing his eyes, went up to take a closer look. He heard God’s voice: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Frightened nearly out of his skin, Moses shut his eyes and turned away.
33-34 “God said, ‘Kneel and pray. You are in a holy place, on holy ground. I’ve seen the agony of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their groans. I’ve come to help them. So get yourself ready; I’m sending you back to Egypt.’
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