OCTOBER 13-19: “His Sacrifice Shall Be More Sacred unto Me Than His Increase”
Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 115-120
What is the purpose of a church? We individually call upon God as we understand Him, seek guidance and blessings, are empowered with divine strength. And this is good.
Yet strength is not only received vertically. There is another piece to the cross that lays horizontally- a beautiful reminder that as we gather beneath a banner of the divine above, reaching outward embraces others as well. That is where we might find 'home' on earth. "Gathering together upon the land of Zion . . . may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth." (D&C 115:6) We are not a solo act. We're singing this one together.
Refuge - New Creation Worship
As part of a 'family', we naturally have an obligation to each other, to help in times of need.
River rafting has given our family a powerful lesson. Going through rough rapids we struggle to hold on, and yet there have been times when we couldn't all stay in the boat. And what happens to a body in the water? Rough waters overpower his control; he will be caught in the rapid undercurrent, moving downstream faster than the boat that rides on upper currents. Those in the boat act quickly to reach him and pull him back in to safety, yet there have been times that the one in the water got beyond our reach, being washed further downstream.
And then we see further downstream from him another boat. And they see the one in the water, and position themselves in his path. And they pull him into their boat, to safety.
I recently was driving our ski boat. And suddenly found a shallow sandbar. Even our experienced lookout at the front hadn't seen it ahead. The rudder was sheared off. I could still drive forward, yet, unable to steer, struggled to get into safe water. If only that sandbar had been marked!
Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy - Scott & Ryceejo
We are downstream from - someone. Can we look to see him? To position ourselves in his path? Reach out? Pull him in to safety? Mark obstacles in his way?
As part of a family we give our offerings, of time, talents, and yes, funds. Worship is not complete without giving, even in our poverty. Giving is an act of thanks, of offering grace to another, develop community growth, an act of faith that our needs will be covered.
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)
Offering Song - Worship Without Walls
We were newlyweds living in a one-bedroom, minimally furnished apartment. With a baby on the way we began collecting what we would need to furnish a larger place. Nearby relatives were glad to offer hand-me-downs. Very quickly we found that getting into our apartment became a struggle, squeezing through furniture stacked in our entry. I recognized it as a fulfillment of the promise in Malachi, knew that as long as we were giving of what little we had, we would always be blessed with what we would need.
I've also learned that in giving our tithes, what we are blessed with usually isn't monetary. But how would we get wiser if we could just get a dollar from every dime put into a vending machine? It's okay to know we can be trusted to figure some hard things out in our own way, and that it doesn't mean we're not being seen or helped by a loving parent.
I love when I find a song that is an old Christian favorite that I've not known before. I hope you can enjoy this rendition of one of these old goodies.
The Windows of Heaven - Mighty Clouds of Joy
I confess that there are times when I don't know what I can do to fix my own struggles. Instead of facing them, I've sometimes ignored them and done something I could do, usually to help somewhere or someone else.
When I turn back to my worries, the answer presents itself.
Not a coincidence.