Habakkuk 2:14 The glory of God will fill the earth.

Habakkuk 2:4 The rash man has no integrity; but the just man, because of his faith, shall live. Wealth, too, is treacherous: the proud, unstable man -  New American Bible

Psalm 22:27

All the ends of the world

Shall remember and turn to the LORD,

And all the families of the nations

Shall worship before You. NKJV

Oh how I long for the day the world receives her King. Everything that we now see in part will be shown in its fullness. The glory of God will bring justice and peace on the earth. Carla

Habakkuk 2:14 

For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea. NKJV)

Habakkuk 2:14

But the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the LORD'S glory as water covers the sea. New American Bible

God’s future kingdom on earth will feature a reign of righteousness (Isaiah 2:1–4; Micah 4:1–5). All humanity on the renewed earth will know the Lord and live in accordance with His will. The structures of human systems, adequate as they are for the present, will fall under God’s judgment because they encourage a spirit of independence from Him. Knowledge, that Satan fraudulently promised in Genesis 3:5, God will deliver. The glory of the Lord speaks of the full manifestation of His person, significance, presence, and wonder. The true knowledge of God in the time of His kingdom on earth will be like the waters—all-embracing, inescapable, and fully enveloping. The NKJV Study Bible

See what will be the end hereof; what is gotten by violence from others, others shall take away by violence. Covetousness brings disquiet and uneasiness into a family; he that is greedy of gain troubles his own house; what is worse, it brings the curse of God upon all the affairs of it. There is a lawful gain, which, by the blessing of God, may be a comfort to a house; but what is got by fraud and injustice, will bring poverty and ruin upon a family. Yet that is not the worst; Thou hast sinned against thine own soul, hast endangered it. Those who wrong their neighbours, do much greater wrong to their own souls. If the sinner thinks he has managed his frauds and violence with art and contrivance, the riches and possessions he heaped together will witness against him. There are not greater drudges in the world than those who are slaves to mere wordly pursuits. And what comes of it? They find themselves disappointed of it, and disappointed in it; they will own it is worse than vanity, it is vexation of spirit. By staining and sinking earthly glory, God manifests and magnifies his own glory, and fills the earth with the knowledge of it, as plentifully as waters cover the sea, which are deep, and spread far and wide. 

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Isaiah 11:9

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORDAs the waters cover the sea.

Psalm 72:19

And blessed be His glorious name forever!

And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.Amen and Amen.

Numbers 14:21

but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD—

Exodus 16:7

And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD; for He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us?” 

“When we choose to stay human—when we keep telling the truth, caring for one another, protecting the vulnerable, practicing restraint instead of revenge—we become carriers of a different future, even if we never see its fullness.
This does not mean we ignore injustice or accept harm. Benedictine communities were not neutral. They were ordered around values that quietly but firmly contradicted domination: humility over power, shared resources over hoarding, hospitality over exclusion, care over control. In times like these, courage does not always look like confrontation. Sometimes it looks like preserving what makes life worth saving.” Thank you, Rev. Cameron Trimble.

“When you extend an open hand, instead of a closed fist, you’ll be surprised by who takes that hand.” James Talarico (Texas State Representative) SabbathMoments 

Paul was passionate about the gospel bringing together believers from different peoples and perspectives (Galatians 3:28), and Jesus Himself said the mission of the Church is to glorify God by making "disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20). But if the Church was divided, whether socially or spiritually, this mission would suffer. So Paul also wanted the Romans to understand that spiritual gifts and abilities, like cultural backgrounds, can vary among members of the Church body, but each person's gifts come from God for the purpose of serving one another and spreading the gospel (1 Corinthians 12:7). First5

2 John 1:6 This is love

1 John 4:19  We love Him because He first loved us. 

Jesus gave us His command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Every human born into this world comes with the imprint of God. We need to value and respect that. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that through Him the world could be saved (John 3:17). Without love behind our actions we are just making noise. Carla

2 John 1:6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. NKJ

2 John 1:6 For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; 4 this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk. New American Bible 

God’s love is the basis of His desire for our obedience, and it is the reason He has revealed His will through His commandments in His Word. We prove our obedience to Him by demonstrating love toward one another. Love is an unlimited resource readily available to us, and it is tremendously effective in furthering the work of Christ. The NKJV Study Bible

The link between love and keeping the commandments is made also in (1 John 5:2–3) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  Faithlife Study Bible

The Second Letter preserves the Johannine concerns of doctrinal purity and active love in the form of pastoral advice to a threatened community.  New American Bible

1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 

1 John 2:24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 

1 John 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

Speaking of heroes…

 Speaking of heroes, in 1942, the Nazis were actively and forcefully rounding up Jews in France. In the picturesque farming village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon (in southern France), Reformed Church minister Andre Trocme inspired an entire village to change lives. And, as it turns out, the world in which we live.

Each of the citizens of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon voluntarily risked their lives to hide Jews--in homes, on farms, and in public buildings; Jews who were being rounded up by the Nazi SS for shipment to the death camps. (It is said that there was not a single home in the village that did not shelter a Jewish family.) Le Chambon-sur-Lignon became known as the "City of Refuge."

Whenever Nazi patrols searched the village, the Jews were sent, surreptitiously, out into the woodland countryside. One of the villagers recalled, "As soon as the soldiers left, we would go into the forest and sing a song. When they heard that song, the Jews knew it was safe to come home."

Can you imagine the feeling when you heard the song?

This I do know: we feel it in our bodies before we have the right words for it.

It is estimated that as many as five thousand lives were saved—many given passage to Switzerland. One reason for this display of compassion? These French villagers were descendants from the persecuted Protestant Huguenots. Their own history of persecution connected them to the plight of the Jewish people hiding in their homes.

Perhaps that is true, I do not know. I only know that for whatever reason, the villagers chose to speak (yes, to “sing”) out. They chose compassion.

And the rest, well, the rest is history.

Three things about this story struck me.

One, the extraordinary power of compassion (and the courage to practice compassion in a world that places a premium on power and control).

Two, compassion is born in the soil of vulnerability, humility and the awareness that we are all—every single one of us—connected.

Three, the power of love and music to bring each and every one of us, home. Home: the place where we are given value, and love, and dignity, and from that place, value, love and dignity spill to the world around us. As Pope Leo reminded us all. “Caring for others is ‘the supreme law’ that comes before society's rules.”
And caring for others, well, that is music worth singing. And it is the music of Grace.
Sadly, we too easily bury the music of Grace in rhetoric.
We bury the music of Grace in the need to win.

Okay, let’s get back to our villagers and the song.
Everyone knows what it means to be afraid, or at risk, or at wits end, or without hope, or discombobulated, or fragmented, or tuckered out. More than ever, we need refuge; safe places for sanity and restoration.
This week I watched a heartwarming video honoring Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved 669 children from Nazi death camps, and it was said of him, “He knows about value. The value of life.”
Yes. There is no label that can diminish or remove a person’s dignity, or value.
And this we know to be true: our values—kindness, humility, compassion, interior simplicity, and mercy—tether us.
And we are reminded of them when we hear the song that invites us home.

Sabbath Moments

Matthew 17:1-9 Do not fear! We are never alone and without hope.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Trump invited all the governors except Moore and Jared Polis to a special dinner the day after the bipartisan governors’ meeting.

MyAmerica “The president is planning to welcome the National Governors Association, which is a group that includes people from both political parties, to the White House,” said NBC’s Norah O’Donnell during a town hall with Moore. “And I know you’re the vice chair of that group. But President Trump has said you’re not invited, and he called you ‘not worthy.’ Why do you think he’s singled you out?”On Wednesday, Trump invited all the governors except Moore and Jared Polis to a special dinner the day after the bipartisan governors’ meeting.
He said they weren’t ‘worthy’ of being invited, which sounds very unreasonable.
Moore is the only Black governor in the country, and Trump’s decision to target him wasn’t a coincidence.
This situation follows Trump’s recent post that mocked the Obamas, which is part of a bigger pattern. His popularity is going down with most groups, so he’s trying to gain support from people who hold racist views.”
“Well, I can’t speak to the president’s heart. I can speak to his actions,” Moore told O’Donnell. “And I do want to be clear to the president respectfully, you do not determine my worthiness. God determines my worthiness. The people of Maryland determine my worthiness. They are who I answer to, not him.”
“And I have been very clear with the people of my state that I will work with anyone, but I will bow down to no one,” said Moore. “And I think the president has a problem with that. And so I will work with cabinet secretaries and agency heads. I will work with anybody if it means that they’re going to advance the issues for the people of Maryland.”
“And especially if it’s going to help to address some of the issues that I think are being inspired by the policies of a Trump-Vance administration,” Moore continued. “But if the point of the meeting — that he singled me out and told me I’m disinvited from — but if the point of the meeting is to turn it into namecalling or to follow what he did in this most recent tweet, which is full of lies and it’s ignorant and it’s unhinged, if the point of the meeting is that, then my answer to the president is very clear: Nah, I’m good.'”
“Meaning you won’t go?” asked O’Donnell.
“Oh, I’m good,” said Moore. “Oh, I will not go. Absolutely not.”

Epstein survivors speak out after Attorney General Pam Bondi hearing

https://youtu.be/Lkzt-sua33M?si=v3Uq-y6t6E6arrtr

 Survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell speak to NBC News' Hallie Jackson after Attorney General Pam Bondi was questioned by lawmakers in an hours' long hearing on Capitol Hill. The women express frustration over Bondi's handling of the case, and her refusal to apologize for the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files. 

Epstein survivor: Bondi 'did everything to remind us that we are nothing to her'

 https://youtu.be/CJjDyJMwr5U?si=ObqqLXy0ZRQqHhor

Survivors continue to wait for answers and an apology from Attorney General Pam Bondi after some of their names were left unredacted in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice. Danielle Bensky, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, joins Ana Cabrera to share her reaction to Bondi's hearing, saying the AG is "evading" any sense of accountability.

1 Peter 4: 15-19 God’s judgement starts in the Body of Christ

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Gospel of Matthew

Others will be drawn to God by the love, mercy and kindness we show to them. They will see the fruit of Holy Spirit in our lives. our good works reflect His heart, His love, for the world that He created. Carla

1 Peter 4:15-19 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now

“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,

Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.  NKJ

1 Peter 4:15-19 

15 But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. 

16 But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name. 

17 For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey the gospel of God?  18 “And if the righteous one is barely saved, where will the godless and the sinner appear?" 

19 As a result, those who suffer in accord with God's will hand their souls over to a faithful creator as they do good. New American Bible—Vatican

Christians are to entrust their very lives to God, especially in the midst of suffering, always recognizing that He is the faithful Creator who is in control of all things. God never gives us more than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13); everything He does always has a good purpose (Romans 8:28). The NKJV Study Bible

The Greek term used here for Christian rarely occurs in the New Testament despite its later popularity as a designation for people who follow Jesus and trust in His saving work (Acts 11:26). Here Peter probably uses the term to affirm believers’ identification with Christ and His sufferings  ( 1 Peter 4:13).

Time for the judgment to begin likely refers to future judgment at Jesus’ return rather than present sufferings. Those who suffer for Christ’s sake can be confident that God’s judgment will validate their hardship. Peter lives in the era between Jesus’ resurrection and return—thus, relatively speaking, the judgment is imminent and has in many ways begun, since the time to choose Jesus is now.

The household of God evokes the building metaphor from 1 Peter 2:4–5 and refers to the family of believers in Jesus. Peter maintains that God will judge all people impartially, but also stresses that He will begin with His own people. All people will be held accountable for their actions, even though God will grant mercy to those who chose the path of faith in Jesus (Jude 21).

if the righteous are saved with difficulty just as Jesus faced suffering—being mocked, beaten, and crucified—to make the gift of salvation possible, believers must faithfully follow their Lord until the end of their lives or Jesus’ return. This is not because their salvation depends on it—Jesus alone saves them (1 Peter 1:3–12)—but because others may come to Jesus due to their model of faithfulness.

Although they are experiencing overwhelming evil, believers should continue to do good, as a means of honoring God and demonstrating that they trust Him with their entire lives. Faithlife Study Bible

Proverbs 11:31

If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,

How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

Jeremiah 25:29 For behold, I begin to bring calamity on the city which is called by My name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the LORD of hosts.’

Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”

Amos 3:2

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth;

Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

…I am not a fan of people who—in the name of upbeat coaching or “theology”—dismiss life's complications, irritations, tensions and visible suffering.

But here's the deal: 

When we make space, we are able to bring who we are, wholeheartedly—whether that be grief or sadness, or bewilderment, or gladness or joy. And in that space, there is hope. There is mercy. And there is compassionate inclusion.
Let’s call this space, the Gift of Enough.

“Not all of us can do great things.” Mother Teresa reminds us. “But we can do small things with great love.” 

And today, is my hour. To stand. To speak. To love. Sabbath Moments

2 Corinthians 9:8-9 The grace of God comes with shouts of peace, peace to the people of earth.

Psalm 112:9

He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever;

His horn will be exalted with honor.

The gifts of God, our talents and our finances, come with inner peace and love for all of God’s creation, not chaos and hatred. We are meant to share them. We cannot be followers of Christ, who was born a man of color, and be racist. We cannot be Christ followers and seek to kill, steal and destroy His creation. That is the works of Satan. There is no one righteous but God and He knows that we are mere humans praying for His will in our lives and in the world. We fail but we get up and try again. It is never too late to change. Carla

 

2 Corinthians 9:8-9 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”  NKJV)

2 Corinthians 9:8-9 Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.  9 As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."  New American Bible—Vatican

If we give, God is able to give us more so that we can perform other good works. In other words, God sees to it that the generous giver will not suffer want. Instead, God generously provides for those who give so that they can continue to do so. This verse is Paul’s prayer for God’s blessing to be poured out on the Corinthians. The words supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food are adapted from Isaiah 55:10. The latter part of the verse is a reflection of Hosea 10:12. The NKJV Study Bible

God is able to cause all grace. The Corinthians may have felt concerned about giving money because of the uncertainty of life in the ancient world. Paul does not want this to be reason for them to withhold their generosity. Paul affirms that God can provide everything they need, just as He is doing for the church in Jerusalem. “His righteousness remains forever” Paul quotes Psalm 112:9 to suggest that giving alms and being generous are expressions of God’s righteousness. Faithlife Study Bible

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 

Philippians  4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

Proverbs 11:24–25

There is one who scatters, yet increases more;

And there is one who withholds more than is right,

But it leads to poverty.

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

In a world where exclusion is real, I choose the Gospel: “You belong. Your humanity is not up for negotiation. Your presence does not require anyone’s permission.”
I choose to be a witness.
And one of the gifts of wisdom the Buddhist monks offered to us these past weeks, is the permission—and the necessity—to embrace peace within.
“We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us,” said Bhikkhu Pannakara, spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace.
Because here’s the deal: We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. And as another monk reminded us, “Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”

This makes sense. And is so important in a world where it is easy to be troubled, and “have no words.” Recently, people have shared with me, “I feel so powerless.”
This I know to be true: Uncertainty and insecurity take a toll on our emotional and mental and spiritual well-being.
I choose to be a witness… Yes. And it comes from being grounded in self-care. And self-care is a radical act of healing, resilience and well-being.
So. Where do we begin?
Well, a self-care plan isn’t a bad start.
This I know: I don’t want to shut down. 

We begin with the essential reminder that care of any kind—engagement, service, kindness, generosity, ministry, teaching, compassion, gentleness, encouragement, healing, being a witness—is predicated on, and fueled by self care.

As “witnesses”—grounded in self-care—we offer coffee, and we make space.
We make space to see—I “see” you, and you belong here.
We make space to give wholeheartedly.
We make space to welcome those excluded and demeaned.
We make space to offer comfort or reprieve or hope.
We make space to speak truth to power, to not be silent about things that matter.
We make space to be Sabbath (sanctuary—self-care and self-love), in a world of disquiet, disruption, misgiving and cruelty. Sabbath Moment

“Dear God, May we come home to what is true within us. May we be grounded in love, steady in compassion, awake to our purpose, and willing to carry that light into the world. Amen.” Maria Shriver

1 John 1:9 (ESV) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

The Apostle John wrote these words in a letter to the churches of Asia Minor, where people were exposed to many conflicting ideas about sin. False doctrines within the Church had begun to blur lines, denying or minimizing the reality of sin and removing the perceived need for confession. These heresies posed a serious threat to the core truths of the Christian faith.

In response, John wrote to refute these dangerous teachings and encouraged believers to get "back to the basics" of authentic Christianity, including the need to acknowledge their own sin (1 John 1:8). He also emphasized confession as a necessary step toward being made clean: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us ..." (1 John 1:9, emphasis added).

The Greek word for "sins" in this verse is hamartias, which literally means "to miss the mark." Confession acknowledges the distance between us and the mark: Jesus Himself. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that Jesus was fully God and fully man on earth, and He faced every kind of testing yet did not sin. John, who walked closely with Jesus (1 John 1:1), personally witnessed what it meant to live in perfect truth and love. So he also understood the deep divide that sin creates between us and God ... because unlike Jesus, we are all imperfect and inevitably miss the mark. But through confession, we experience cleansing and restoration of our fellowship with God. Our Creator already knows everything about us (Psalm 139:1), and when we confess, we acknowledge and agree with this fact. We also acknowledge that He is "faithful and just" (1 John 1:9). He freely forgives us and replaces our guilt with deliverance and joy (Psalm 32:5-7). First5