Piermont Reformed Church

DAILY REFLECTION FOR SATURDAY "So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live. Moreover I gave them my sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, so that they might know that I the Lord sanctify them." --Ezekiel 20:10-12 In these few verses from the prophet Ezekiel, God says so much about how He blesses his people. First, God delivers the people from bo...ndage. He leads the Israelites out of their Egyptian slavery, and he liberates us from everything that imprisons us spiritually. Second, God gives order and guidance, with the purpose of making life full and joyful. Third, God gives rest. God invites us to step away not only from the concerns that make our lives overbusy and stressful, but also from everything that this crazy world dumps on us. Liberation, ordered lives, and restorative rest. We come to God in praise and prayer. We reach out and receive. Prayer: "God, I thank you for sabbath rest, for time to stop all my DOING and just BE...and know that is fine with you. Amen."

DAILY REFLECTION FOR FRIDAY "As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.... Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." --Colossians 3:12,14 People offer this wise advice for dealing with situations like lockdown and quarantine: Set the alarm and get up at your usual time. Stick to normal schedules and routines. And get dressed everyday as you normally... would! Today might be "casual Friday" at your place of business. But we never want to be slovenly in our spiritual dress. So take a look at that spiritual wardrobe: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. Anything there you haven't worn for a while? Maybe pick just one to put on and show off. Everything looks great when it's paired with Christian love. Prayer: "God, we are all beautiful in your eyes. I want to look my best by showing your love in whatever I do. Amen."

DAILY REFLECTION FOR THURSDAY Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. --Romans 13:8-10 My mother sang the hymns in church with heart ...and voice. Her singing was earnest but not very pleasant. I felt weird and a little embarrassed standing next to her. My dad was one of those men who stood silent with the hymnal in his hand. My sister told me someone once told him he didn't sing well, and whether that was true or not, his silence was sadder than my mother's joyful warble. Over decades of ministry I have listened to many ushers singing the doxology as they brought the offering forward. Some sang beautifully. Most sang like normal people. The interesting thing to me is that when you bring together even a couple dozen random singers, a few good, most mediocre, they sound great when they sing together! Singing together doesn't require every singer to be perfect. Everyone just contributes according to their ability, and the result glorifies God. So it is with the catchphrase I've repeated since last summer: "We sing in the Key of Love." Love is the fulfillment of the law, writes Paul. Love unites and harmonizes all our voices, all our gifts, all our service. Love takes the humble contribution that each of us brings, and fits it into something big and glorious. As you rise each day, pray to make Love your theme, your password, your motto, your guiding principle, the key of the song you sing. Prayer: "God, may your Love rule my life, guide my steps, and fill my words today. Amen."

DAILY REFLECTION FOR WEDNESDAY What do you think? [asked Jesus.] Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers? The one who treated him kindly, the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, Go and do the same. ... --Luke 10:36-37 MSG That's the end of the story of the Good Samaritan. You remember: a man was mugged badly on the road. Two prominent religious figures passed him by, but a person of a despised minority group stopped and helped him. It's notable that the Samaritan's kindness required a good deal of time, an outlay of money, and a lot of trouble. When most people think of kindness, they--at least, I, tend to imagine gentleness and friendliness toward people who need little and will cause us no trouble--partly because we are being nice to them. That's a reality, but it isn't the whole program. God's chesed (mercy or loving-kindness) is needed most when responding when others are Unkind, to us or to others. Being kind in response to unkindness can be hard, but in the end it helps us become happy and peaceful people. Prayer: "Loving God, give me your peace in abundance, that I may meet the world with kindness. Amen."

DAILY REFLECTION FOR TUESDAY "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'" --Matthew 9:13a Everyone should have a favorite scripture, even if it's a temporary one, a few words that when you bring them back to mind, it brings you back to God. For a while, this has been mine, for many reasons, one of which is that it may contain Jesus' favorite. He quotes Hosea 6:6 twice, which he doesn't do for any other verse.... I understand it simply (and it's good if you can put your verse in your own words): God desires kindness, not slavish rule-following. Or rather, rules are great, if they help us be kind and loving. Here's another way of putting it: love is the rule we need to follow. There's still the virus out there, so team up to mask, distance, and vaccinate when you can. Not because it's a rule, but because it's kind and loving. In these pandemic and economically tight times, people are under extra pressure and not everyone is behaving well--carry love and kindness with you in your daily business and you can help relieve that pressure and make life a little easier for everyone. Kindness can help us make it through. Love and kindness will help make your day a good day. Prayer: "God, your will is mercy, love, and kindness. Help me practice them today. Amen."

DAILY REFLECTION FOR MONDAY With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?.... He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? --Micah 6:6a, 8 At the very worst times, I have sometimes heard people say, "What am I going to do? What am I going to do?" Yes, there have been a few occasions when I was the one uttering that cry.... The best advice doesn't always sit well with me. Just have faith. Just pray. Even though I know it's right, it's difficult. It can take a while for me to let go and let God, and then of course it actually works. There may still be unpleasant tasks or unhappy people to face. Then in addition to prayer, I remember some very good advice I was given: "Just show up, and do the next right thing." That also works. Thank God for simple faith and simple action that work together for good when we trust God. We thank God for making it simple. "Love justice, do kindness, walk humbly with your God." Prayer: "God, I've been overcomplicating everything. Help me keep it simple. Amen."