language

 Monday, December 13, 2021 (4:56 a.m.)

“Mele Kalikimaka!”

That’s what a pastor said to begin yesterday’s church service.

(5:43 a.m.)

And he ended it as usual with “Aloha ’ia ‘oe.” Loosely translated, “You are loved.”

Blessed Father, thank You that there is so very much that we don’t know. And other people are willing to share their knowledge. And their talent.

Waking up singing the initial greeting, I went on an internet search. Wanting to make sure that ♪Mele Kalikimaka♪ isn’t construed as offensive.

Lord God, I confess to taking so very many things for granted and at face value through the years. Thank You for the opportunity to become educated in the traditions and language of other cultures.

Thank You Lord for loving us. Thank You for sending others to share and teach Your Word regarding that love.

Contemplating Galatians 5:22-23a in order to fall asleep last night I thank You for the opportunity of finding it so readily this morning. Choosing The Passion Translation to begin, I ask You to speak deeply into my heart Lord.

“But the fruit [harvest] produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:”

Thank You God that even here, a footnote for this verse teaches us that the fruit depicted is singular. One fruit displaying various virtues and aspects “of the greatest quality of Spirit-life, agape love.”

Lord, it is the language used by scholars and theologians that allows me to think beyond the surface. Thank You for this opportunity to explore.

Continuing with the list of by-products of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, “joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue [goodness], faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.”

It’s this “spirit-strength” with which I am most intrigued this morning Lord. Yesterday in the pastor’s message at church, he provided us simple language in order to better understand the depth of John 3:16.

“God loved. God gave. We believe. We live.”

Tying these simple words together with the work the Holy Spirit does in us, we see Your Truth, Lord. You loved us so much You gave us Jesus. Because we believe this to be true we get to live with You in this life, as well as the one to come.

Thank You God for the language of others that cause us to consider Your Truth more acutely. Use our learning to Your good and Your glory Lord.

It is Your spirit-strength into which I lean this morning. OH! That’s another thing the pastor taught yesterday!

A missionary’s need to find a comparable description for the word believe. It presented itself when an exhausted villager threw himself onto a place of rest uttering a certain word. The missionary learned that word to describe the opportunity we have to fully give in to something [Someone!] outside ourself for strengthening and repose.

Thank You God for teaching us. Loving us. Growing us. We love You. Use us. Amen.

517 words ~7:30 a.m.)