SSB Sunday Gathering

SSB Gathering – July 26, 2015

Kathi

Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.

 by Kathi

dublin

Luke 15: 11-32

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered his property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'”

***


Translated lyrics:

Halleluia, halleluia
Halleluia, my Savior
You are my God, I am your servant
Halleluia my heart forever

My love, my God, my guardian, my rock
My fair love, my Lord
My love, my christ, my love, my heart
My love in full, You, my glorious King

(Chorus)

My love, holy in your court
My love, your heart and your fair appearance
My love, your flock, long is your path
My love, my light, my strength, my king

***

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.

***
Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?

***

photo credit: Kathi – Dublin, Ireland

24 thoughts on “SSB Gathering – July 26, 2015”

  1. An acquaintance of mine, Carl Medearis, tells this story as part of an experience he had… If I can find the video, I’ll post a link to it later.

    He notes the following things that would have been a scandal to those that heard it.

    1) Asking for the inheritance would have been like wishing the father dead.
    2) We know but we don’t really KNOW how revolting the eating with pigs would have been.
    3) The father running to the son would have been unheard of in the culture.
    4) In today’s middle eastern culture, if not then, the appropriate response for the father would have been kill the son to save face.

    I probably missed a few…

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Luke 15:11-32

    Oh thank-you Kathi for listening to the Holy Spirit living inside of you for these verses were so desperately needed pertaining to my life circumstances today. As the tears flowed and the peace, the peace of Jesus, which passes all human understanding and reasoning, fill me with His great and glorious love during the worship music “Your Grace Finds Me.”

    As I humbly bow at the foot of the cross this morning in worship and prayer, it is there that I am in awe of the Christ before me and know, in the depths of my soul, that I am not alone, for our LORD is there with open arms wanting to receive those of us who are lowly. And at that foot of the cross, there is an even playing field, none the better nor none the lesser, where the sinners who have become saints because of the righteousness of Jesus, are there beside me.

    The picture of a humanly unrecognizable Jesus in the flesh, looking upon that criminal, that thief on the tree, who is being punished justly for his earthly crime, are Scriptures that are forever precious to me. For as the criminal painfully says to Jesus before his earthly death, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43 The thief speaks those words in the form of a statement, not a question. Oh, how bold of this lowly man to speak to our eternal LORD and Savior, the only God of redemption is such a way is inspiring to the human condition of our day.

    Oh, how our LORD loves the prodigal sons and daughters of our day and how God, the Holy Spirit, lives and moves among us at His Will, not ours, in calling us back to Him. The tears which still floweth are in humble awe of our Savior.

    God bless you Kathi, and all who visit this congregational site this morning, and may the eternal grace of our LORD fill you with such joy and wonderment.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Katy,

    I will pray for you today, I know a thing or two about life’s circumstances. This song sprung to mind while reading your comment this morning. Bless you sweet sister.

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  4. gm370,

    Your fellowship has ministered to my weary soul and I praise our LORD Jesus Christ for you, child of the living God. “Jesus, Remember Me” graced my soul morning.

    Thank-you, thank-you, gm370, God bless you too.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Katy – Thank you for sharing your struggles with us. This is what I like about this blog – that people feel comfortable in sharing their struggles and others are okay with hearing them and are willing to surround the hurting. I never really saw this in the physical church setting. Everyone came with their smiling faces, pretended that all was well, and everyone was too uncomfortable to deal with problems that are faced.

    I wish you peace today as you work through your circumstances. Please let us know how we can pray for you and be here for you.

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  7. Please pray for me for my marriage is crumbling beneath my feet and the depths of hurt are so deep. Thank-you Kathi from my heart and God be with you.

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  8. Two years ago, if anyone had told me that Mom would be divorced, we’d be living on a different house, and force-feeding beer to a goat, I would have thought they were crazy. And yet, look what happened…. Lol.

    And before anyone asks, the beer was to jump-start his rumen.

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  10. Katy – I’m so sorry to hear about what you’re going through. I will definitely keep you in prayer.

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  11. Witch Hazel – “Force feeding beer to a goat” – that alone is a fantastic stand-alone statement! LOL!

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  12. Sorry Witch Hazel,

    I grew up with sheep, they still remind me of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Your words don’t minister to my heart and I am ashamed for sharing here.

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  13. Katy, makes my heart ache that the depths of your hurt are so deep. You are such a lovely gal, always with a uplifting & generous word for others! So, is your husband deaf, dumb & blind to your glory? Sorry, not trying to be smart a** towards him. Thank-You for sharing how we can pray for you, so sorry your marriage is crumbling.

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  15. Katy, you are such a caring person and your words and wisdom have helped many here. I am so sorry for what you are going through. You don’t deserve it. You have friends here and we will be praying for you. Please keep posting.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. I am sorry, I let my guard down for a moment, “Guard your heart with diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” I keep forgetting that compassion and empathy for the human condition are becoming short order these days.

    Will go to the cross instead with a broken heart and pray for this marriage. Thank-you all for your prayers and care/concern.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Katy,
    You have nothing to feel sorry for, dear Sister. If it were not for the compassion, empathy and prayers of others during my divorce and after, I would not have made it through. It is good to allow others into your pain and let them know how to pray for you and/or your marriage. I for one feel honored to lift you up to the foot of the Cross in prayer and to our Loving Lord.
    Brenda

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  18. Katy, your words have made my daughter cry. WH was trying to share the notion that goats have been such a balm to her that she wanted to share that with you.

    “I keep forgetting that compassion and empathy for the human condition are becoming short order these days.”

    Wow. That’s really mean. My daughter was empathizing with you in her comment. Now she’s in tears.

    I’m sorry you’re hurting. I’m sorry your marriage is suffering. I’m sorry you felt shamed, although I absolutely guarantee there was nothing shaming in the comment you object to. However, you’re not the only suffering person here. Grace.

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  19. If anyone gets this and feels like making any comment whatsoever, I am checking out WordPress and may have it fixed!!! Yeah!!!!!

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  20. Aww, you guys, look what we have going on here. We have people pouring their hearts out and others trying to share with their hearts to comfort, and yet with honest intentions, the words were not understood. Witch Hazel, thank you for your tender words which were meant to heal and Katy, thank you for sharing your difficult situation so we can know how to pray. This was such a simple misunderstanding. Let’s praise God for the hearts of compassion here.

    I think in the future, if you sense something that feels off, ask for more clarification. I, too, didn’t understand the goat comment, but had I asked, it would have made so much more sense and would have alleviated any negative thoughts that my brain conjured up. Let’s think the best of each other here. This has always been such a sweet place of refuge.

    Witch Hazel and Katy – you are both loved!

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  21. Yes & Amen to what Julie Anne said: “Witch Hazel and Katy – you are both loved!”
    I have said this before, so I might sound like a broken record, but it’s that when we cannot look into one another’s eyes, and hear the tone of voice, misunderstanding are bound to happen. You gals are so precious, I love your voices. Hugs to all.

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  23. Dear Witch Hazel and Persephone,

    It is my hope and prayer that you will read what I have to say for I am so very, very sorry for misinterpreting and misunderstanding what you had to say. I grieve over the fact that I hurt you Witch Hazel and you as a protective mother, Persephone. I love and respect you both and am so thankful you have each other’s back on issues such as these. You are a blessed, wonderful mother Persephone.

    And Witch Hazel, I have read many of the comments you have posted here and have learned much from your wisdom that comes out of the life experiences you have lived. I praise our LORD for you and I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me for the response that I gave to you, for in was posted in a most dark hour of my life.

    I have learned and am still learning that within the realm of religion, Christianity especially of which I am a living part of the Body of Christ, it is so very easy to preach it than actually do it/practice what Jesus says to us. So with that, precious Witch Hazel, from the depths of my heart and everything that is in me, I humbly ask for your forgiveness and desire to encourage you in your faith in Jesus. And also to continue to minister to us in the way the our LORD has made you unique and special to the Body. May God be with you and bless you all of your days here.

    And you are right, I think goats are adorable; it certainly would not hurt me a bit to experience something new in my life.

    Blessings and love to all of you gracious people. There are times when I feel so undeserving of all of the love you have poured out on me and yet, this is what the invisible/visible church is called to do. I am so overwhelmed by your love.

    Liked by 3 people

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