Inspired by the story of Abraham and the lyrics to “This Thing Called Life” by Faith Rivera:
I know where I come from – the Presence of the Living God. I journey onward to an ever-expanding awareness of God’s loving in my living.
God visits with me in the presence of every person I welcome into my life, into my “living room” – and I behold the God presence in everyone with whom I share this life.
“From the stars and the sun, from the magical One,
I am part of this thing called Life.
From the known to unseen, everything in between,
I am part of this thing called Life.
I love my skin, where I’ve been, and everyone else.
No more push, no more pull, simply flow as I go,
because I know where I come from. I am one with this thing called Life.”
The indwelling Christ welcomes us to love our abundant living room!
Responsive Reading for Sunday, June 7
Wherever Abram (who would be renamed Abraham) settled in his journeys, he built an altar to the Lord. That is, he kept a consciousness of God’s presence wherever he was living. Here is a part of his life story.
“The LORD said to Abram: ‘Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever . . . . Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it.’ Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the oaks of Mamre [abundantly supplied] . . . . There he built an altar to the Lord” (Gen. 13:5-18).
I know where I come from – the Presence of the Living God – and I journey onward to an ever-expanding awareness of God’s loving in my living.
“The LORD appeared to Abraham . . . as he sat in the entrance of his tent . . . . Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby . . . . He ran . . . to greet them . . . and bowing to the ground, he said, ‘. . . Please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet and then rest yourselves under the tree . . . . He waited on them under the tree where they ate” (Gen. 18:1-8).
I behold the presence of God in the company of loving people whom I welcome into my “living room.”
“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). “Then . . . the LORD came to [Abram and] took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so, he added, ‘shall your descendants be.’ Abram put his faith in the LORD” (Gen. 15:4-6).
“From the stars and the sun, from the magical One,
I am part of this thing called Life.
From the known to unseen, everything in between,
I am part of this thing called Life.
I love my skin, where I’ve been, and everyone else.
No more push, no more pull, simply flow as I go,
Because I know where I come from. I am one with this thing called Life.
“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).
The indwelling Christ welcomes me to have an abundant “living room!”
“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called Life.” — Prince