Yearly Archives:

2020

BibleGateway, blog, review

Book Review: Simple Faith Bible NRSV – Reflections from Jimmy Carter

Zondervan, 2020

Of all the United States Presidents, only Jimmy Carter was a Sunday School teacher AND President at the same time. On Sundays, Jimmy Carter would travel nine blocks to the First Baptist Church of Washington D.C to gather attendees to study scripture. Often not publicized, Carter would teach about 30 attendees lessons from the Bible and also offer counsel to anyone who requested. Decades later, Carter still teaches Sunday School for up to 450 people at his church in Plains, GA. It should surprise no one that Carter would lend his pen to the Simple Faith Bible: Following Jesus into a Life of Peace, Compassion, and Wholeness New Revised Standard Verison offering devotional insights and spiritual commentary.

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blog

Living into the liminal

Transitional times, liminal times, like we are experiencing during the Coronavirus pandemic and crisis, are never marked with clear delineations. Transitions and crises are often bumpy, fraught with mistakes, and require high amounts of energy.

It is during times of national crisis, coronavirus, or personal crisis times we discover that we don’t know what’s next?

This is called “Liminal space” The word “liminal” comes from the Latin word limens, which means, “threshold.” 

prayer

Prayer for Coronavirus

Lord, in this time of anxiety, fear, and isolation, we come to you for support, encouragement, and direction. We lay our worried minds and troubled souls before you and in your care in prayer during the coronavirus. We are mindful of the words of the psalmist, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Today, we ask for your Spirit to be close to those who are afflicted and those who have lost loved ones due to the coronavirus. We ask for that same Spirit to be with them and us in uncertain times. Help calm our mind and soul. May your peace that surpasses all comprehension guard our hearts and minds.  

We confess that at times we allow fear, not faith, to overtake us. We have not loved you, O God, and our neighbor with our words and deeds. Holy Spirit, aid us in our love and compassion of those who live next door and those who live on the other side of town.   

God of compassion and grace, we cling to your Word and your presence in our homes, our church, and community. Just as Jesus visited towns and villages to cure the sick and infirm, we place our faith and hope in your healing power. May your divine love come down upon us and our world to end the spread of this pandemic. Strengthen those who are ill and uplift the downtrodden. Heal the sick and comfort the lowly this day. Carry in care those who are abroad and return our loved ones home safely.

For our leaders, O Lord, we ask that your great wisdom may be instilled with them. As our national and local leaders seek protection and safety for the public, help guide their decisions and actions. We pray for the leaders of every nation. May each country receive every human resource and divine resource to combat this great ill.

Great Physician, may your hand be upon every doctor, nurse, and health care worker as they care for the sick. Lift up and care for these men and women risking and sometimes sacrificing their very lives for the public good. Guard and defend them against every harm.

Lord Christ, you are our rock and salvation in distress, worry, and doubt. Just as the light shines bright upon sunrise, we pray your light of love and guidance shines bright in our hearts and minds. May we carry your light into the world, which you love so deeply, so that we may be the bearers of your grace. Give us, Eternal Father, your peace. May the words of the prophet Isaiah be true for us this day: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

In the name of our Lord Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.   

Published at The Christian Citizen

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