G.O.D. IN THREE PERSONS

Don’t you think it’s great how the word God is made up of three letters? There’s one letter for each of the three persons in the Trinity. Was it a coincidence? Or is the word God a divine acronym?

G can refer to the GIVER OF SALVATION. That’s Jesus. I can pray to Jesus in gratitude for his sacrifice of becoming human for my sake; for living a life that is an example for me; for dying a horrible death in order to save my soul. Thank you, Jesus.

O can refer to the OVERSEER OF ALL THINGS. That’s the Father. He keeps the earth spinning. He keeps the stars from falling out of the heavens. He makes sure the plants grow, the tides go in and out, the rain falls. Thank you, Father.

D can refer to the DOER. That’s the Holy Spirit. As a Christian, the Spirit lives in me. And one way God works is through me. I am His hands and feet in this world as long as the Spirit guides and directs me. And as long as I attune my thoughts and actions to His. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

If I pray to God, I can remember to pray to G.O.D. 

PRAYER: Thank you, God for who you are and all you are doing in me and through me in this world. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you pray more generally to one person of the Trinity? Why do you think that is?

THE MAGIC OF THREES

You've heard that things come naturally in 3's—3 little pigs, 3 musketeers, 3 blind mice...all are stories using the magical formula of 3's. Two isn't enough; four is too many.

Like the Trinity. Perfect.

Well, today is the THIRD Friday the thirteenth this year! 

It’s unusual to have three Friday the thirteenths in a single year. Ordinarily, Friday the thirteenth happens only twice a year. But three times makes it extra lucky.  

Even better, this year, all three of our Friday the thirteenths are exactly 13 weeks apart—January 13, April 13 and today.  

The calendar has three this year because 2012 is a leap year. That extra day in February throws everything out of its orderly sequence.  

But rest easy. There won’t be another three Friday the thirteenths in a leap year until the year 2040. 

So enjoy this special, extra lucky day while you can! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for creating time to enable us to keep track of the wonderful days you have made. Let us rejoice and be glad in every one of them, praising and worshipping you. Amen. 

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you feel extra lucky today?  

For the superstition behind Friday the thirteenth and why it it’s a lucky day, please read my post FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH: THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY.

Stay tuned...my friend Chris Vonada will reveal the next building block of relationships on Monday.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It’s tummy rumble time.

That means breakfast was long ago and lunch is still far away. So now I’m sitting here not thinking about food for thought for this post, but just food. And I’m imagining a sandwich. Mmm…

Since my tummy keeps rumbling, I might as well go with that image and share with you the spiritual truths I’ve learned from a sandwich.

In terms of the Trinity:

Mayo gets spread over the bread before anything else is added. Just like “In the beginning God...” Before God covered the earth with land and plants and fish and birds and animals and people, God was. And mayo’s white purity reminds me of God’s holiness.

Catsup reminds me of the blood of Christ. Not just the color. It provides that little bit of sweetness to a meal otherwise destined to be the main dish. It’s like having dessert right there in the middle of your lunch. It is sweet and satisfying. Like Jesus.

Mustard takes me back to scripture and reminds me that even if I have faith as small as a mustard seed, God can make it grow. And He can use me, too, even though He is big and I am little.

Now that we have the foundational condiments for our sandwich, it’s time to build it up.

Building the sandwich

Meat represents God’s Word. Now that I’m no longer a baby Christian drinking in my faith like milk, I can add meat. Meat gives me something to chew on; something substantial; something that feeds my brain and develops my spiritual muscle. It sustains me. Meat is an important part of my sandwich. Or if I’m feeling vegetarian, maybe I’ll have a nice egg-salad sandwich.

Cheese represents meditation and prayer. Just as milk must be allowed to sit and ferment until it becomes cheese, so must I meditate on scripture and pray unceasingly so I can melt my personal plans with what God has planned for me.

At the sandwich shop, lettuce and tomatoes, onions and pickles are lumped together and called “produce.” These veggies represent the fruit of my faith; the fruit that is “produced” in and through me by the Holy Spirit.

“Hey, you forgot the bread!” you say.

Nope. The bread represents Christ’s body broken for us, which along with the catsup—representing the blood of Christ—means we’ve even got Holy Communion covered.

Taken together, my sandwich of faith represents Jesus’ Holy Church. It is delightful, fills me up, nourishes me and allows me to live for Him. Everything—all together—in fellowship.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us our daily bread—the things, events, people, words, love and nourishment we need to live for you. Following Jesus’ example of teaching through parables, remind us throughout your day to look at ways we can learn spiritual truths you want us to learn. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Is there something unusual you put on your sandwich? In what way could it provide you with a spiritual truth that will remind you of God’s character, purpose or plan?