Prayer Tip--Joyful, Anyway (Kate Bowler)
Daily Scripture
Psalm 16 (CEB)
Protect me, God, because I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord. Apart from you, I have nothing good.” Now, as for the “holy ones” in the land, the “magnificent ones” that I was so happy about, let their suffering increase because they hurried after a different god. I won’t participate in their blood offerings; I won’t let their names cross my lips. You, Lord, are my portion, my cup; you control my destiny. The property lines have fallen beautifully for me; yes, I have a lovely home. I will bless the Lord who advises me; even at night, I am instructed in the depths of my mind. I always put the Lord in front of me; I will not stumble because he is on my right side.
That’s why my heart celebrates, and my mood is joyous; yes, my whole body will rest in safety because you won’t abandon my life to the grave; you won’t let your faithful follower see the pit. You teach me the way of life. In your presence is total celebration. Beautiful things are always in your right hand.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
It’s May, but today we learn from Kate Bowler’s insights into how, even in lives where “everything happens” whether we want it to or not, we can be Joyous, Anyway. It can shape our prayers this week to reflect on how a Resurrection holiday tradition, which ends with everyone singing “Joy to the World,” connects us to the ultimate source of joy, when we are happy and when we are not. In 2017, Angela LaVallie Tinsley was our guide:
We conclude each Candlelight Christmas Eve Service in the same way. We extinguish the candles on the altar and in the Advent wreath and turn off the lights. A single lit candle is carried through the Sanctuary as a pastor reads to us from John 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it….
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
When the candle reaches the chancel, we use it to light the Christ candle. Then one more candle is lit from the Christ candle, then another, then another… and every lit candle shares its light with others until the whole Sanctuary is lit up in the glow of thousands of candles. It’s really something to behold. Although I know it’s going to happen, I am always in awe that one little flame can grow to illuminate such a great space.
Jesus came into the world as just one small light. But when you allow that light to touch your life and you, in turn, touch others with that love, you can be part of God’s family lighting up this darkened world. In light times and dark, you can have within you the secret of being joyous, anyway.
Prayer
Holy God, thank you for sending your Son to show us your enduring love. Fill our hearts and remind us in every season of life how to allow your love to keep our hearts open to joy and to share Jesus’ joy-giving love with others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GPS Insights
Max Franks
This week's prayer tip is by Angela LaVallie Tinsley. Angela now lives in her home state of Indiana, but when she wrote this prayer tip in 2017 she served leading Resurrection's facilities ministry
It’s May, but it may be worth remembering what Resurrection does every December just before we sing “Joy to the World.” As we focus on Kate Bowler’s mission to enable us all to be Joyous, Anyway, this prayer tip adapted from one written by Angela LaVallie Tinsley in 2017, may guide you to the deepest source of joy in your life in time of happiness or trouble:
Every year, we conclude each Candlelight Christmas Eve Service in the same way. We extinguish the candles on the altar and in the Advent wreath and turn off the lights. A single lit candle is carried through the Sanctuary as a pastor reads to us from John 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
When the candle reaches the chancel, we use it to light the Christ candle. Then one candle is lit from the Christ candle, then another, then another… until the whole Sanctuary is lit up in the glow of thousands of candles. It’s really something to behold. Although I know it’s going to happen, I am always in awe that one little flame can grow to illuminate such a great space.
Jesus came into the world as just one small light, but when we allow that light to shape our lives and we, in turn, share that love with others, we can light up our darkened world. No matter what our current challenges or pain, that light can bring us joy, anyway.
