THE BIBLE IN A BOX

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Mark 10:14

 

Our super-creative pastor and youth director embarked on a project last year that had them scrambling every Sunday morning. A simple, empty cardboard shoe box was given to a different child to take home each Sunday for several weeks. The instructions were simple: each child was to place something in the box that was meaningful to him or her and bring the box back to church the following Sunday. One non-negotiable rule: the “something” could not be alive or formerly alive! Each Sunday during the children’s sermon, the pastor and the youth director took turns opening the box and preaching a short sermon on what was inside. When a boy brought in his favorite action character, the message was about how Jesus is always “in action” in our lives, watching over us and directing us on safe and sensible paths (Psalm 119:105). A girl’s collection of leaves and twigs brought a lesson in how God wants us to care for all the living things on our beautiful planet (Genesis 1:26,28). Twin brothers each placed very different items in the box the same week: a photo of their grandpa who had just passed away, and some crayons. These items brought to mind that their grandpa was now in heaven which is even more beautiful and colorful than our home here on earth (John 14:1-4).

 

Adults often don’t give children credit for the things they understand. We hold kids to a specific curriculum for religious education, from Sunday school through confirmation and beyond. We might do better to simply present a passage of Scripture and then listen as they tell us what it means to them. We might be pleasantly surprised what we would hear. Over the years, the vast majority of our confirmands have expressed a firm grasp on what it means to be a Christian. I am always encouraged to realize that we will have a new generation of believers to carry God’s sacred Word to the world when we are gone.

 

Lord, watch over our youth and help them in their faith struggles. They are the bright and shining future of our church. Amen

 

Meg Blaine Corrigan tells stories of wisdom, strength, fear, joy and risk-taking. Daughter of a raging alcoholic mother, and survivor of sexual assault at gunpoint, Corrigan has shaken a dismal past and flung herself into the arms of Christ, Who sustains her in her daily walk of grace. She shares with her listeners her incredible story of surviving and thriving through many trials during her seven decades walking this fragile earth. She has been described as a Renaissance Woman, integrating her formal training in psychology and counseling, an enlightening experience as a percussionist for a Polynesian show troupe, and most recently as an inspirational author and blogger. Her exposure to many life experiences has enriched her passion for spreading Christ’s word and helping other trauma survivors. She has a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling and thirty-plus years of experience in the field of counseling and social work.  She lives in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, with the love of her life, Patrick, and their formerly disenfranchised rescue dog Ginger. www.MegCorrigan.com    MegCorrigan@comcast.net

 

NO MORE SNATCHING

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28

 

Members of the temple leadership asked Jesus if He was really the Messiah. “Jesus answered, ‘The works that I do in My Father’s name testify to Me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to My sheep.’” The leaders couldn’t understand what He was saying because they did not “belong” to Him. They were “Messiah deniers,” in today’s vernacular. They had seen the miracles Jesus had performed, and they had heard his crystal-clear interpretations of ancient Scripture, but they would not humble themselves to believe that Jesus was the Christ, Who had been foretold in the very Scriptures He now quoted with magnificent authority.

 

As a survivor of a brutal sexual assault at gunpoint—an incident which nearly cost me my life—I am shaken to the core when I hear or read about “sexual violence deniers.” A legislator stated that a woman’s body “shuts down during a true rape,” preventing pregnancy. Arguments have abounded about women “asking for it,” and “men who can’t help themselves.” A talk show host recently opined that women have abortions so they are free to party on a tropical island. My own home state of Minnesota took until 2015 to pass a law that correctly labels sex trafficked minors as victims, not perpetrators. Survivors of sexual violence can tell you that (a) she/he did not ask for it, (b) was not a willing participant, and (c) lives with the trauma from the horrible experience for the rest of her/his life. Women who become pregnant as a result of sexual violence pay double, triple, many times over, regardless of the outcome of that pregnancy.

 

Sexual violence is a global problem which is not going away unless and until “deniers” start hearing the voices of the living survivors as we speak for ourselves and for those of us who did not get to come home. Jesus says those who know Him will not be “snatched” from His loving embrace. His sheep “know” His voice, the voice of peace and love and compassion. All we can ask is for deniers to just listen.

 

Lord, we know we live in a broken and hurting world. We ask that Your voice will be heard throughout the globe, and that we will end sexual violence of all types soon. Amen

 

Meg Blaine Corrigan tells stories of wisdom, strength, fear, joy and risk-taking. Daughter of a raging alcoholic mother, and survivor of sexual assault at gunpoint, Corrigan has shaken a dismal past and flung herself into the arms of Christ, Who sustains her in her daily walk of grace. She shares with her listeners her incredible story of surviving and thriving through many trials during her seven decades walking this fragile earth. She has been described as a Renaissance Woman, integrating her formal training in psychology and counseling, an enlightening experience as a percussionist for a Polynesian show troupe, and most recently as an inspirational author and blogger. Her exposure to many life experiences has enriched her passion for spreading Christ’s word and helping other trauma survivors. She has a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling and thirty-plus years of experience in the field of counseling and social work.  She lives in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, with the love of her life, Patrick, and their formerly disenfranchised rescue dog Ginger. www.MegCorrigan.com    MegCorrigan@comcast.net

HUMANITARIAN. CHRIST. US.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

 

Here’s the thing: I feel totally helpless. I watch the news night after night, and some days there is coverage of the unconscionable treatment of migrant children at the southern border of the United States. But most often now, other news cycles dominate the airwaves and we’re “moving on.” I can’t get those images out of my head. As surely as there is a God in heaven, can we agree that this isn’t right? Whether you belong to the Republican or Democratic party, the Coffee party, or the Friday night party, can we just agree: this needs fixing now? Could any person in his right mind take his own child or grandchild—the younger the better—and place her in a cage with a Mylar blanket for a bed on a cement floor, with only the absolute barest of necessities, with perhaps well-meaning but overworked and way understaffed adults to take care of her, to hear the visiting pediatricians’ and child psychologists’ warnings about the enduring emotional and psychological damage these conditions are doing to this child—and not be on his knees with sorrow and compassion in five minutes? Would any person who is not a complete sociopathic lunatic think that this is the way to deal with the global migrant crisis?  Does the color of a person’s skin really make the cut for why these children—and their parents, for that matter—should have to endure these conditions for even one minute? I believe the vast majority know the answer to that question. In our heart of hearts, we know.

 

Then why aren’t all of us totally outraged? Why aren’t we listening? Why aren’t we contacting our people in Washington? Why aren’t we doing more than “sending thots and prayers?” Jesus said, “Go.” He didn’t say watch the news, and say, “Ain’t it awful?” He said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The word “therefore” refers back to all that Christ taught. “Teach all nations” means there are NO EXCLUSIONS to those we are called to serve. That includes each child and adult, no matter the nation or color or creed. So go. Go.

 

Healer of All Nations, we implore You to light the path for this nation to work together to solve this migrant crisis now. Amen

 

To locate your Congressional Representatives and Senators in any state in the USA, use this link: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

 

Special Note: The Lord woke me up at 4:30 a.m. this morning to write this blog. He’s been telling me to do it for weeks—maybe months—and He finally got my attention by putting Matthew 28:19 on a loop tape in my brain, 24/7, for a couple of weeks. It didn’t “click” until this morning. Lesson learned: I need to stop and listen to what God is telling me!

 

CHRIST IN THE SHOWER

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. Luke 2:52

 

I get frustrated with the “auto fill” feature on my electronic devices. I can’t seem to get a sensible message entered before the little Auto Fill Gremlins try to have their way with my thoughts. More than once, I have meant to record an idea that comes to mind when I read our Lutheran daily devotional publication, “Christ In The Home.” But when I type “Christ In The…,” the next word suggested is “shower.” The image instantly comes to mind of our Lord and Savior soaping up, singing the Psalms at the top of His lungs, while his loyal disciples pour jugs of water over Him. NO! I say, this is NOT what I had in mind at all!

 

Yesterday, my granddaughter Jenna posted on Facebook, “It was a nice day. I took the kids for a walk in the park to the PANIC GAZEBO.” I responded, “Panic Gazebo?!? They have those now? You go there when you are feeling like you’re losing control with my great-grandchildren?” “Grandma,” she replied, “I meant to write ‘picnic gazebo’ but auto-fill jumped in!” “Oh, I see,” I wrote back. “Glad to know it wasn’t a mental health crisis!” I read about a new police officer who texted his mother that he had just received his new “unicorn,” right before he read his first “banana” rights to an arrested person. And “talk to text” creates even more problems, like the woman working from home who sent this message to her boss: “Project complete no no get down bad kitty!”

 

Aren’t you glad “auto correct” wasn’t invented when the Bible was written and translated into many languages? We could have all sorts of issues come up, like “power from on high” becoming “PowerPoint.” Or “spread the gospel” becoming “sprint the goslings.” Or even today’s Scripture: “He increased in wisdom and in years” becoming “incredulous in Wisconsin and yeast.” Well, that’s what the computer wanted me to type! But the good folks who compiled the Bible, filled with the “Holding Spice”—I mean Holy Spirit, took care to make the Living Word a permanent Book of “Instagrams”—I mean Instructions that we could always count on.

 

Father, we thank You that we can count on Your Word to provide us with wisdom and guidance. Amen

 

Both candid and humorous, insightful and ponderous, Meg Blaine Corrigan’s memoir, Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child, takes the reader through her chaotic childhood with an alcoholic mother and enabling father to a violent assault that nearly ended her life. She populates her tale with vivid descriptions of her parents, other influential adults, the attacker, and her disastrous first marriage. But this story has a happy ending, when Meg finds solace in a God she didn’t think she’d ever believe in, when He gently helps her heal from her past lives and move into the best times of her life. Meg has also written a novel, Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist, about said first marriage, as well as a Christian devotional, Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian, comprised of blogs from this site. Stay tuned for sequels to her last two books! All of her works may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .

ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE

Guest Blogger, Janet Favorite

If there is anything you need pray for it, asking God for it with thanksgiving; and the peace of God, which is much greater than understanding, will guard both your thoughts and your heart. Philippians 4:6-7

 

Many of us think of prayer as petitioning God for favors, desperately asking for something we need. Often our prayers are not answered in our time frame, that is immediately, and we lose faith.

I pray every day, but not in the typical on your knees posture we see in the movies portraying people brought to the lowest point in their life. I pray simply, for families and towns I see on the news that have been devastated by floods or tornados, family and friends experiencing hard times, compulsions with food, and people in prison.

These are not elaborate prayers. Usually they are one sentence. God help whoever is struggling. Bring them comfort. Are they answered? In my opinion yes. I believe in sending positive energy into the universe. I have seen first hand how people respond to a smile and encouraging words. My husband feels I am a magnet for troubled people. “You were away from me for five minutes. How were you able to connect, hear a heart heavy story, and offer comfort, in such a short time?”

God’s spirit dwells in all of us I feel. We can be the answer to someone’s prayer. A friend told me of how she was just that. A Colorado Christmas holiday including children and grandchildren was planned.  Their condo was decorated with all of her special touches. She mentioned to a nail technician at the end of her stay, a dilemma. She was unable to transport the decorations home. “Would you like them?” The woman began to weep. “I was divorced this year and lost everything. My children and I would be over joyed to accept your gift.”  The ability to help another face to face was something special to her.

Many of us are not willing to humble ourselves and ask for help. Realizing we can’t do it alone is a hard concept for some.  Why are we afraid to ask? God’s help can be secret, vulnerability can be viewed as a sign of weakness.

Keeping our hearts open to give and receive can enrich your life. It can bring you peace and understanding of the ebb and flow of the universe. We were not designed to live in solitude.

Dear God, please “choose me,” even when I don’t think I am able. Help me to be a friend to others and a recipient of friendship. Amen

 

Janet Favorite is the author of Raising Robert. She writes of the emotional impact of raising a son with Prader-Willi Syndrome. The syndrome mimics food addiction along with some challenging behaviors and health issues. Janet feels her early struggles with addiction prepared her for a challenge. You can find her Blog at JanetFavorite.com