The Voice

February 17, 2015

The Rev. Deirdre Whitfield . Life . Do the Right Thing, God Cries Out, Hearing in the Wilderness, Hebrews 2:1-10, I Am, John1:19-28, The Voice . Leave a comment

I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness

I am the voice of one crying out

I am the voice of one

I am the voice

I am…

This is really where it all begins, with the I AM desiring to be made known with the gentleness of a still small voice helping to clear the way. Yet not until we reach the path through the wilderness do we even acknowledge the cry. Gracious God help us to hear the voice of the I AM, and upon hearing – even in those paths of wilderness, we may respond according to your will.

Prisoners

February 28, 2014

The Rev. Deirdre Whitfield . Life . Breaking the Chains, Chicken soup for the soul, Do the Right Thing, forgiveness, love, Onesimus, Philemon, Prisoners of Christ, Returning to God . 1 Comment

So, if you consider me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. Philemon 1-25 Paul referring to himself as a prisoner of Christ, out of love, appeals to Philemon upon the return of Onesimus, a slave who has run away. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just run away from the things which enslave us? Inevitably we find that running away only prolongs the healing. It would also be nice if every time we all had a “Paul” to appeal on our behalf, that we might turn and face the “pain of any issue” and be received in love. We don’t always get that physical support when we feel we need it the most. Although Paul was not able to go back with Onesimus, he reminds Philemon that what he is asking of him is in the Spirit of Christ. We are all imprisoned by something. From food to relationships we are captured by our own desires, needs and wants in life. It’s not all bad! However, the question we must continually ask our selves concerns the driving force of our actions as we live to achieve our goals. For Paul, it was his passion for the Gospel. From this one letter we don’t know the outcome of this relationship between Philemon and Onesimus. Yet from both sides, Paul’s challenge to Philemon and Onesimus remains our challenge. In what ways will we be a prisoner of Christ today?

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Living The Sermon

April 15, 2013

The Rev. Deirdre Whitfield . Life . anointed, Do the Right Thing, Eyes Wide Open, Integration, Jackie Robinson, Living the Sermon, Segregation, Spiritual Presence . Leave a comment

Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Acts 9:1-20 “Living the Sermon” In the movie “42” these are the words Branch Rickey spoke to Jackie Robinson as they struggled together to make integration of baseball a permanent reality of a once very segregated society. I believe he said this to help Robinson understand the depth and significance of enduring the struggle. The statement caught my attention for it’s significance in recognizing the narrative of Christ in our own lives when challenged with doing the right thing. Today as we strive to weave the work of the Holy Spirit in our own lives, to each and every one of us who are called there comes a point and time when we realize that we too live the sermon in the narratives of Christ. We don’t always recognize the part we play in this journey because the issues of society cause us to lose focus. As believers we are anointed to live the narrative of Christ. We are encouraged to do the right thing and we are supported and guided by the integration of God’s spiritual presence within us. To live in Christ means we no longer walk with our eyes wide open and yet unable to see.