I read a blog post recently that opined about not having the physical Jesus here with us, present physically so that we could be more ‘near’ Him. To touch Him and get our pictures made with Him. (okay the post really didn’t say that). And of course you and I have been talking extensively about that lately. So it made this prayer all the more striking to me yesterday before I went to the communion rail:
“We do not presume to come to this thy table O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the body of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His blood, that we may evermore dwell in Him and He in us. Amen. “
As I knelt down at the rail beside my children and my husband….and beside a dear friend dying of pancreatic cancer….and near a man who can hardly physically walk up to rail anymore, I was completely overcome with emotion. I am so unworthy to receive this gift from God. Here, in the very bodily presence of the Lord I am….and I want to cover my face and hide. I want to cry out and beg for forgiveness. And as I eat the bread and drink the wine, I accept in faith the overwhelming love and grace and forgiveness that is mine. And I think about the frail little man who is blessed with the Lord’s body too….and I wander how many more times he will be able to share this gift with me. And I think of Lonnie and how she has blessed us by teaching our children and I feel so blessed to share this cup of the Lord with her. I love how coming to the Supper levels the field. Young, old, sick, healthy, rich, poor, talented, can’t carry a tune….no matter. There’s only one way to come to the table. As a beggar in need of grace.
So I surely look forward to the day when we will see the Lord face to face. But for today, I am ever grateful for the nearness of Him. In His word. In the waters of Baptism. In His Supper. And those places that He has promised to be, I long to be too. Lord, help us to come with hungry hearts and open hands to Your table. Bringing only sin and doubt. And fill us with faith. And forgiveness. And life.
The pastor speaks these words after communion, “The very body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen you preserving you in true faith to life everlasting. Go in peace, serve the Lord for you are free indeed”.
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And now for the winners of my birTday giveaway. That seems so shallow and empty after talking about God’s gifts to us. But here’s how it went down at my house. EMME picked number 39—’cause that’s how old I am. And since she picked such a fine number, that will be the grand prize winner of a ‘few of my favorite things’. So, Kathy Eller email me with your address and I’ll get cracking on that. In a jiffy. Next, ELEA picked number 7…because she is 6 and EMME is 8—and ‘it’s only fair’. Okay, so congratulations to my friend Country Girl who I will gladly send a copy of my near and dear Lutheran prayer book. Don’t worry that you’re not Lutheran, you’ll love it. Promise. And then my dear Stevie picked number 20. I don’t know why. Maybe he wishes he were 20 again. Maybe he wishes I were 20 again. Maybe he wants 20 kids instead of 8. Maybe when he was picking his number, the clock said 6:20. Could have been the Vikings had 20 points. But regardless, congratulations to Debilou , you also will receive a copy of my favored Lutheran prayer book. As will number 13, Gypsy aka Tam ’cause that’s the number I picked. Or did Steve pick 13 and I picked 20? Well, you are all winners in my book. And if you have play a giveaway with me again, seems Elea picks 7 every time. Just sayin’. And since the teens weren’t here when we picked, I’ll pick numbers 16 and 18 for their ages. So Dusti and Sarah, you win too. You know the routine, email me and I’ll start my Amazon order. Happy Birthday to us all!
Now if you have the fortitude to go back and ‘count’ the numbers of the comments…..we counted every entry once…even is someone posted twice and even the comment was then deleted. That’s just how we roll.
Thank you for reading this blog and for putting up with fact that I violate every rule of blog writing there is. Hugs and kisses and much love!
And for our next serious topic (after part II of the Lord’s Supper, which this post is not) would you like to discuss the feminization of the church or baptism?
And for our next fluffy topic, would you like an eye shadow tutorial or would like for me to redo my laundry room?
Ratty pants, I can’t leave Marcus out. He picks number 22 (is he 22 or 23?). So Mad(elyn) you win too. You know what to do.
Are there rules to blogging? Goodness..I probaly break everyone of them!!!
-sandy toe
p.s. come over for my giveaway, Miss LifeinGrace!
I always cry like a baby at church.
I’d liek the laundry room makeover because I am thinking of doing one, too.
Except when Elea turns 7 and her sister nine- then she’ll probably pick eight , because weel, “it’s only fair!”
ps. you’d probably make both topics funny and interesting… or interesting and funny- so BOTH!!
I like the way you choose winners.
My choices for your next two topics are baptism and the laundry room.
Dear Ms. Edie, you have inspired me to look better and feel better about myself with your dressing tips on Country Girl. I just wanted you to know that and you can see the results of your fashion tips and a good amount of linking to your ideas on my blog today.
Love, Dana
You’re a hoot! See you Friday- unless I feel guilty and have to work at school instead of going to book club.
I say the eye shadow tutorial. I seriously need some switchin it up. Have a great day.
I won? I won! I won! I won!
Eyeshadow and Baptism 🙂
i’m so excited i won,, Thanks Edie… I could use the eyeshadow tutorial but I’d rather see the laundry room makeover..
That was one of the most beautiful descriptions of the Lord’s table I have ever read. Thank you for that.
Feminization of the Church, and laundry room. You pick winners like I will if I ever do a giveaway