John 14:1 – The Noontimes

Proverbs 2:9-15: Knowing What to Do

Proverbs 2:9-15: Knowing What to Do

Monday, July 21, 2025

If you listen to me, you will know what is right, just, and fair. You will know what you should do.

This advice brings us comfort.

You will become wise, and your knowledge will give you pleasure. Your insight and understanding will protect you and prevent you from doing the wrong thing.

These words are ones we want to hear.

They will keep you away from people who stir up trouble by what they say—those who have abandoned a righteous life to live in the darkness of sin, those who find pleasure in doing wrong and who enjoy senseless evil, unreliable people who cannot be trusted.

In out tumultuous world, change permeates every facet of life. We look for places to stand when familiar foundations crumble. We ask for assurance. We know that we must put aside fear and replace it with trust in the Lord.

God says: Although the world seems a dangerous place, you must trust that I hold each of you in my hands. My servant Paul tells the Ephesians – and he tells you – that I chose you to be holy, with every spiritual blessing, before the foundation of the world. My son Jesus tells you that you ought not let your hearts be troubled. I tell you that despite the troubles surrounding you, my mercy and justice will lift you above the battles of your days and the uncertainties of your nights. Remain in me as I remain in you so that my peace and love will permeate your every fiber to bring you even closer to me.

When we move against injustice, we must allow God to guide us. When we speak up about hatred, we must allow Christ to show us the way. When we are betrayed by people and institutions we once thought just, we must allow the Spirit to heal and bless. And this allowing will show us clearly what we are to do.

Read Paul’s message in Ephesians 1:3-14. In John 14:1, Jesus calms our fears.

When we compare varying translations of these words, the light if understanding will lead us to Christ’s serenity.

Click on the image to read an NPR Science opinion piece about how confusion con sometimes be helpful. Or visit: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/12/14/459651340/sometimes-confusion-is-a-good-thing

July 21, 2025

confusion, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 14:1, peace, trust God, tumult

Luke 6:45: Fullness of Heart

Luke 6:45: Fullness of Heart

Saturday, March 29, 2025

We have established a dwelling place where we rest in the Spirit only to find that there are times when we must flee this sanctuary. Some of us are called to remain forever outside of that refuge, and others are called to return transformed and transforming. No matter our circumstances, we might do as the words from Luke ask us.

A good person out of the store of goodness in the heart produces good; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. (NAB)

In this image of God’s kingdom as a tree bearing fruit, there is no doubt that storing up goodness is the heart of our daily mission; but today we pause to reflect on what we might do when we are weighted with a burden too heavy to carry. How are we to manage when we are overwhelmed with doubt or fear? Jesus tells us: Do not let your hearts be troubled. (John 14:1) Today we rest in these words.

A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart; a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (GNT)

The looming image of God measuring out the good from the bad is too terrible for us to consider for those who find themselves barely able to journey from morning to evening without losing heart. How are we to manage when our hearts are too empty to fill? Jesus reminds us: Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4) Today we rely on these words.

The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. (NRSV)

The dual image of an either/or world asks us to make too simple a choice when we know that few of us are all good or all bad, but rather a blend of both worlds. How are we to manage a dualistic world that offers only black-or-white decisions when we know that the real world we live in is mostly gray? Jesus asks us: Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast. (Matthew 22:9) Today we have hope in these words.

The good person produces good things from the store of good in his heart, while the evil person produces evil things from the store of evil in his heart. For his mouth speaks what overflows from his heart. (CJB)

The image of an intense struggle between goodness and evil rises before us as we consider this verse, giving us a deceiving reality of false choices. How are we to behave when it appears that everything and everyone align in a tribal dance of self versus other? Jesus says to us: Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. (Luke 6:35) Today we find a challenge in these words.

You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds. (MSG)

If the image of a worm-infested life terrifies us so that we are unable to accept our reality, we have taken this image too far. When life itself frightens us, we must find a way to pray for those who harm us, and ask that Christ show us the way to still our troubled minds and dissolve the anger, fear, hatred, and fog . . . and to fill our troubled hearts with forgiveness, patience, courage and clarity. In time, we discover that despite, or perhaps because of all we have suffered, we have a certain fullness of the heart.

When we compare translations of these verses, we open our hearts so that Christ might fill them with his generous love.

Images from: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-tree-of-hearts-rc-dewinter.html and https://roylayman.blog/2020/11/13/love-your-enemies/

March 29, 2025

clarity, courage, dualistic thinking, forgiveness, John 14:1, love your enemies, Luke 6:35, Matthew 22:9, Matthew 5:4, patience

Psalm 74: A Prayer for National Deliverance

Psalm 74: A Prayer for National Deliverance

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Today’s reflection is a re-post from November 2016, a time when nations and peoples across the world were making decisions that will shudder through history and time. We find ourselves again in places and moments when we are called to make thoughtful, prayer-filled decisions. And so we call on God.

Today we fully take in the name of this Psalm; it comes to us after a fiercely fought election in the U.S., and before elections in the Netherlands (March 2017), France (May 2017), and Germany (October 2017). Ultra conservative forces are on the move around the globe. Those who champion progressive social views may feel abandoned.

You walked off and left us, and never looked back.
God, how could you do that?
We’re your very own sheep;
how can you stomp off in anger? (MSG)

Today we fully take in the name of this Psalm; it is a prayer for anyone who fears for their nation or people.

Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago,
which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage. (NRSV)

Today we fully take in the name of this Psalm as we hand our worries and fears to God.

Your enemies have shouted in triumph in your Temple;
they have placed their flags there as signs of victory. (GNT)

Today we fully take in the name of this Psalm as we rest in the love of God.

They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.”
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
We do not see our signs;
There is no longer any prophet,
Nor is there any among us who knows how long. (NASB)

Today we fully take in the name of this Psalm; it reminds of Jesus’ words: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith in me also. (John 14:1)

But you have been our king from the beginning, O God;
you have saved us many times. (GNT)

Today we fully take in the name of this Psalm; it reminds us that there is nothing to fear.

When we compare varying translations of Psalm 74, we find the Spirit’s consolation to ease the pain, we find God’s strength to answer God’s call, and we find Christ’s love that conquers all.

Image from: http://advindicate.com/articles/2016/3/15/too-much-prayer-is-that-possible

November 26, 2023

fear, John 14:1

Isaiah 41: Fear Not

Saturday, May 30, 2020Isaiah 41 – Fear Not

Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice. (Verse 10)

These words are so like the ones we hear from Jesus in John 14:1: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.

Jesus consoles not only his followers but also us today with the words: Do not let your hearts be troubled. These are words that bolster us at times of great difficulty and stress. What do we most want to hear when we feel crushed by people and events beyond our control influence? We want to know where we ought to focus our eyes, how to engage ourselves, why we ought to feel positive about what is taking place around us. We want to know where to put our feet. We want to hope that all will be well . . . despite our dire circumstances. We want to know who and what and how to trust. We want to know that evil will not reign and goodness will return. We want to believe that light overcomes darkness. We want to hope that prayers are answered. We want to be unafraid to love intimately.

Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed . . . I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled . . . have faith . . . in me.

We want something solid to touch before we hand over our souls. We want to have facts and figures to compare, to jot down, and to check out. We want everything spelled out. We want no fine print to trip us up. We want guarantees and yet . . .

We have all of this and more . . . in abundance . . . when we make ourselves empty to receive the Holy Spirit – the voice of God that lives and moves among us.

We have all that we need . . . in abundance . . . when we follow the model Christ has given to us.

We are loved truly and well . . . in abundance . . . when we rely on the creator who knows us better than anyone else.

Creator, Son and Holy Spirit, three in one, speak with us constantly but in our anxiety and haste we do not hear them say . . .

Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed . . . I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled . . . have faith . . . in me.

Tomorrow, believing the promise of the Trinity . . .

Image from: https://oshkoshdesigns.com/product/misc62/

Adapted from a reflection written on August 3, 2009.

May 30, 2020

John 14:1, Trinity, trust

Tag: John 14:1

Proverbs 2:9-15: Knowing What to Do

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Luke 6:45: Fullness of Heart

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Psalm 74: A Prayer for National Deliverance

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Isaiah 41: Fear Not

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