"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
"I would imagine that if you could understand Morse code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy." Mitch Hedberg
I've been praying about what to write all day. I have struggled with issues of faith, lost a little here, gained a little there. I've cut all my hair off. (Bet you can't wait for Sunday now.) Thought about talking about that. I was desperate for a scripture that would clarify what I so needed for myself today, a call from Jesus to give it all over to him. The scripture came into my head, "take my yoke upon you and learn from me" (actually, it came to me in song form from Handel's Messiah).
I sat down to write worship for the first Sunday in July, opened the lectionary and there was the gospel scripture, Matthew 11... including the above scriptures. The part of that scripture I needed was in verse 28, Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
I don't know what it all means all the time. I think if we considered everything a message from God, we'd go completely bonkers (hence the quote from Mitch Hedberg). But I do think God meets our need. I know God meets our need. Through friends, smiles, a perfectly timed burger, or a quote/song that affirms our reliance on Christ, God knows and God meets.
Whatever your need right now, I pray you'll follow the advice of scripture and take it to Jesus. I pray you'll trust the need will be met, and you'll notice when it is. I pray that you'll live in gratitude for the providence that daily feeds, clothes, houses, medicates, educates, prepares, creates, humors and motivates in your life.
Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas.
Paula Poundstone
It has been a year to the day that I began to share a few thoughts with you via email. I began it with the above 1 Timothy scripture. What a year we've had! Last year, Vacation Bible School prompted my musings, and the same thing inspires me today. These kids are awesome!
Giggles and shouts, sticky hands, questions, so many questions, and an occasional runny nose all make for spectacular winds of the Holy Spirit. Children are brave. They are defiantly imaginative.
What would a child say the church should be when it grows up? Keep dreaming kids! And for those of us a bit higher on the age scale, please listen to that inner youth. Give it what it needs, care for it, heal it, love it, rejoice in it, and above all follow its dreams. They are probably closer to the Spirit's leadings than you ever game them credit for.
May 26, 2011
When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth." Genesis 9: 16-17
"Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8
I loved the above cartoon because I related so well to what I'll now deem as "ark apartment syndrome." We have so many promises from God, and in them, he has always been and will be faithful. We have so many friends and family that have experienced those promises in good times and bad, yet we still so often choose to live in fear, trapped in "ark apartments" just in case God changes his mind about bringing another internationally destructive flood.
What a life Noah's descendants would have had if they'd have put some sails on those suckers and gotten them to the water. What adventures would have awaited them if they'd stopped protecting themselves from what might happen and started causing things to happen.
Depending on the point you are in your life, trust in God changes context, but not importance. You may need to trust in God's promises to venture out into a new job, to keep you from day to day as you await something your heart longs for, or to lean on them so that you don't turn into a defensive person who shuts themselves down socially and emotionally to avoid getting hurt.
This week, get off your stilts, and set sail!
April 1, 2011
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved... "Be still, and know that I am God!" Psalm 46: 1-5, 10a
The rest of today's very late devotional is a passage from Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carsson Levine. I know, I know, high literature, right? Well, this is what Lily and I are reading at bedtime, and when I read this passage, I couldn't go on. In the story, the fairies of Neverland rely completely on Mother Dove for their very life force. In this passage, Prilla, a newborn fairy, is to meet mother dove for the first time. Tinkerbell, "Tink", brings her near Mother Dove's nest...
"And how was it for Prilla or any fairy to see Mother Dove for the first time? Picture a cottage. Your cottage might have a thatched roof. Mine might have a blue door with a brass knocker. The walls of yours might be a soft gray with pink trim. Daisies might bloom by the open door. A golden light might twinkle out.
You see the cottage and recognize that it's exactly what you've always wanted, although a moment earlier you had no idea.
That's how Mother Dove was for fairies. More than the Home Tree, more than Fairy Haven, she was their home.
Prilla sighed, completely satisfied."
If you've never known a moment like that with God, keep trying. And the best way to try? Be still, and know.
February 16, 2011 “How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth. I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word. Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.” Psalm 119: 9-20 (Find the whole Psalm here: http://www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/psalms/119.html ) “The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that.” –James McCosh Sometimes I wonder what keeps us from the scripture. Every person has a different reason they don’t read the Bible often enough, or ever. Sometimes the reasons change in our own lives. We’re so busy, it is intimidating and hard to understand, or we just forget. I hear the words from the Psalmist, and BOY is that good advertising! His soul is consumed with longing at all times for the word of God. If the word is that good, what could possibly keep us away? Especially when you can get it on your IPOD, smart phone, cd for your car radio, or in handy dandy book form? I’m wondering if we keep away for the same reason James McCosh says we SHOULD read it. The Bible is dangerous because it makes us think, because it can call us to new ways of being and challenge us to be fundamentally different. It can even change our lives, and change is something we avoid like the plague. I found a story in a collection of sermon illustrations by Fred Craddock that illustrates the danger of the Word, He writes, “I recall preaching in a university church in Norman, Oklahoma, some years ago, when a young woman came up after the service. I had preached on Mark 1, the call of the disciples. She came up and said she wanted to talk with me and said, “I’m in med school here, and that sermon clinched what I’ve been struggling with for some time.” “What’s that?” “Dropping out of med school.” “What do you want to do that for?” She said she was going to go work in the Rio Grande Valley. She said, “I believe that’s what God wants me to do.” She quit med school, went to the Rio Grande Valley, sleeps under a piece of tin in the back of a pickup truck, and teaches little children while their parents are out in the field. She dropped out of med school for this, and her folks back in Montana are saying, “What in the world happened?” And I was saying to her, “Well, now, I was just preaching. I didn’t mean to, you know.” Are you brave enough to read the Bible every day? January 26th, 2011 "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8: 28 January 19 "The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13 January 12, 2011 "For a child has been born to us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 December 29, 2010 Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go. December 15, 2010 “From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1: 16-17 Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy; who gives himself by thought or word or deed in every gift that he bestows; who shares his joys with those who are sad; whose hand is never closed against the needy; whose arm is ever outstretched to aid the week; whose sympathy is quick and genuine in time of trouble; who recognizes a comrade and brother in every man he meets upon life's common road; who lives his life throughout the entire year in the Christmas spirit. EDWIN OSGOOD GROVER This quote about Santa Claus is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it? After all, Santa Claus, as he is traditionally introduced to our children, has a loving and benevolent side. However, he is also the one who “sees you when you’re sleeping, knows when you’re awake, he knows when you are bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!” He is the bringer of coal, denier of dreams, king of unfulfilled wishes either for the naughty child or for those who asked for more than their parent’s “Santa line of credit” could afford. I’m fine with Santa. Lily and James LOVE Santa, and enjoyed his visit on Tuesday to daycare. They’ll enjoy his visit on Sunday, also. I think you can be very Christian, and teach your children about Santa. But Santa is actually a great chance to talk about grace, to acknowledge the DIFFERENCE between Santa and God, white beards not withstanding. Truly we have received grace upon grace. The grace is NOT dependent on our being nice. We are all naughty. You’ve been naughty today, either by something done, or left undone, guaranteed. And yet, a child is soon to be born again in the hearts of the world, the child is born for you. We deserve the lump of coal, we get salvation, eternal life, everlasting joy! God is TOTALLY better than Santa. Don’t forget it, and don’t take grace for granted for even one minute. December 1, 2010 "By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1: 78-79 November 17, 2010 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:12 Thou hast given so much to me, I won’t be writing Good Wednesday next week because we will be out of town. So, in the sprit of the season, I wanted to write about Thanksgiving. I began to look for words of inspiration, but it wasn’t easy. Most quotes about Thanksgiving all sound the same, because after all, it isn’t a hard concept, just a hard habit. There were a few that were pretty cynical, many referencing the darker side of the pilgrims. Others joked about the tradition of gorging ourselves at the Thanksgiving feast. In that spirit, a character from the TV show King of Queens said, “Thanksgiving: not a good day to be my pants.” That was when I decided we can’t write enough about giving thanks, because we and the world are often negative. We hide from our gratitude in negativism, cynicism and defeatism because we are afraid of the truth out of which gratitude comes: we are completely dependent on God’s goodness. It is humility that is the fertile soil of thanks, and yet we often try to plant it in a crack in the concrete of our pride. I love Herbert’s phrase, when he longs to have a grateful heart “whose pulse may be (God’s) praise. When we embrace humility, we can bust Thanksgiving out of the little cell of the fourth Thursday in November, and let it be our very heartbeat. What a life that would be! November 11, 2010 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Jesus in Matthew 5:48) "A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections." Chinese Proverb As you may have noticed, I’m writing this Good Wednesday email yet again on Thursday. What you can’t tell, even through the magic of computers, is that I’m writing it with snot on my shirt, and hair that looked fine when I left the house, but now looks as if a 19 month old boy played with it, because he did. There are dishes in the sink, and laundry in the baskets that await me when I get home, and my children haven’t had a home cooked meal in two days. This morning, I left my house with barely a goodbye to my husband because he questioned me about where the lid to a cup went, and I pulled over to the side of the highway TWICE on my way to the church to resolve blanket disputes in the backseat. Oh, and I still haven’t fixed the left headlight of my car, which I only realized was out when I picked my kids up from Bev Constantine’s house at 11pm Tuesday night. Perfect mother, minister, wife, and homemaker; yep, that’s me! It may surprise you to learn that I am, actually, a perfectionist. My procrastination tendency comes from the knowledge that I can’t get it done perfectly, so I hesitate to do it at all. What a dear colleague in ministry pointed out to me recently is that all our failings are not moral failings. Character flaws, bad habits, disorganization, and even unkempt grooming are not what Jesus is talking about when he says, “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” We treat imperfections of habit or manners as moral failings in ourselves. Worse yet, we hold one another up to standards of behavioral perfection that can’t possibly be attained and are completely subjective based on our own personal priorities. Cleaning as you go in the kitchen may have FELT like God’s law in the house where you grew up, but trust me, it isn’t in there. Leave it to the Chinese to give us a little perspective. The scripture tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves. This and little else, decides whether we are a diamond or a pebble. And it is that distinction that matters far more than whether our surface is smooth, or a little on the rough side. Let’s embrace that knowledge deeply for ourselves, and judge one another only after we’re diamonds. Of course, by then, we won’t feel the need. November 4, 2010 "Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." John 4:13-14 “Life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim. “ Lord Byron I love Halloween. There are Christians who will be aghast by this statement, but the truth will set you free! And, I love Halloween for the same reason that some Christians are so uncomfortable with it… MAGIC! Halloween is the one time when we are called back to the enchantment of the world. But this enchantment shouldn’t seem foreign to us as Christians. We have a Christian name for magic; it is called “miraculous”. You may have noted that I didn’t include a scripture above. That is because, despite how often we talk about “miracle” stories in the Bible, the word as such simply isn’t there. However, the Bible speaks of “signs and wonders”, and throughout our history with God, we have those in spades. Every story is filled with the miraculous power of God. So why should “magic” bother us when “miracle” doesn’t? The differences are that magic speaks to humans making strange things happen, while miracles are God making strange things happen. Magic tends to be self-focused, and centered on pleasure or excitement, while miracles are other-focused, and center on healing, justice, and community. Magic is, of course, illusion. Miracles are much, much more. This Halloween, if “magic” makes you uncomfortable, then use the idea of enchantment to see the Holy Spirit permeating the world. I believe these words from Byron, and if I don’t see the enchantment, I know I’ve gotten too far from that Spirit. Feel the crisp fall air, the bright sun, the warm glow of candles, and the laughter of children. Nurture the enchantment in yourself, respect the longing for it in others, and remember it the first step towards awe. Happy Halloween! October 20, 2010 But (the Lord) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. ” 2 Corinthians 12: 9,10 Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. ~Rainer Maria Rilke I heard recently that the complexity of our sentences are linked to our likelihood to develop dementia in later years. This association, first discovered in a group of nuns being studied for changes with age, says that the more concepts you tend to squeeze into a sentence, the less likely you are to develop dementia. Now, as you may have guessed from the structure of the above sentences, and from sermons, I’m one of those people that tries to cram a lot into a sentence. Yes, admittedly it is poor grammar, and it is something that I can overcome if I polish sentence structure for a while in print. However, it is NOT my natural pattern of speech to be brief and focused in my sentences. I was relieved to hear, then, that it may work to my advantage somehow, someday! In “Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief”, Percy is a young man who is dyslexic. Concepts are no problem, but when he looks at words, the letters seem to move around on the page. When Percy visits a museum’s Greek exhibit, he discovers that ancient Greek letters are clear and understandable. It turns out that his “learning disability” was a natural part of who he was, and an essential part of who he was called to be. You don’t have to be a fictional teenage Greek demi-god, or a rambling nun, to know the power of your own weakness. 2 Corinthians explains it all just fine, “Power is made perfect in weakness.” Those things about us, illness, injury, disability, past trauma are not necessarily things to be overcome, as much as they are watching dragons. When we are beautiful and brave enough to invite Christ into our weakness, sometimes it is healed, sometimes it is transformed into the stately grace of opportunity. What are your dragons? What Princesses might await within? Have you asked Christ into your whole self? (If you’re interested, follow this link to “Fate and Fortune,” which includes the nun study: http://www.radiolab.org/2010/oct/15/ ) October 13, 2010 “After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid .” Matthew 28: 1-5 Men do change, and change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass. John Steinbeck My friends in This earthshaking got me to thinking about earth shattering experiences in our own lives. We’ve each had those moments that we feel will change us forever, except they rarely do. I almost laughed out loud remembering this scripture from Matthew. There’s this big build up to the angel’s appearance…”And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone…” But it ends with such anti climax “and (he) sat on it.” Plunk. That’s not to say he didn’t continue to be an intimidating and amazing sight, but it seems so ORDINARY in such a moment. We all expect earthquakes, and “lifequakes”, to affect BIG change in us, or in those around us. But, life usually goes back to normal pretty quickly. Change, however, is far more quiet an affair, as in the John Steinbeck quote. We shouldn’t expect “Nothing’s ever the same” kinds of changes from ourselves, or in others. It sets us up for failure, and ignores the wonders God may be working through that “stealthy perfume” of better choices, slight shifts in attitude, and baby steps that make up all lasting transformation. October 7 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14: 27-29 "Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down." Ray Bradbury I have a friend who lives in a tree. Erica Hogan and her husband were just featured on ABC's morning show for their life's work, a sustainable tree house community in Costa Rica called Finca Bella Vista. I knew this was what Erica did, but didn't know her story until I read ABC's web coverage http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/costa-rica-energy-efficient-tree-house-community/story?id=11708587. I was inspired by the leap of faith they took on such a wacky idea. While they were touring Costa Rica, Erica had the idea to build tree houses, just like the Eewoks had in Star Wars; Return of the Jedi! They spent their life savings and the equity in their Colorado home and set to work. Who does that? It was a journey of faith, as I know Erica, and her commitment to nature and sustainable living comes from her love of God and His creation. Now on their second phase, Erica and the 55 other residents of Finca Bella Vista enjoy a life of grace and creative living, complete with wifi and running water. At Finca Bella Vista, you travel from one tree house to another via zip line. And that image made me think about the story of Paul walking out on the water towards Jesus. September 29, 2010 "It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work. And that when we no longer know which way to go, we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings." Wendell Berry
Some might see these words about life beginning and thriving at challenge, and think that they are about our own strength and the power we find when we are up against the wall. Unfortunately, this is instinctual for many of us. We talk ourselves into facing up to our problems by convincing ourselves that it is our time to shine. Our mountains are moved, our walls are climbed not by might, nor by power, but by God's spirit. The journey and work of our life is relationship with God, and difficult moments increase our reliance on Him. Our bafflement and engaged mind is simply another expression of awe. And the song of the stream on the impeding rock is a song of praise to God for making a way. September 22, 2010 "...he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45b "Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me" Todd Agnew lyrics from "Grace Like Rain" Some of you have had the pleasure of hearing Beth Lacey sing "Grace Like Rain" in worship. The words came to me this week as I reflected on my blessings. Lily began preschool unexpectedly this week. As I hurriedly filled out the form, I was brought to tears with gratitude. There were so many questions about Lily's health, any problems she had behaviorally or developmentally, the illnesses she has had or surgeries she's endured, and problems during pregnancy or at birth. Time after time, I was privileged to write "NA" (not applicable). Even writing it now, my eyes are welling up. And I thought to myself, "What did I do to deserve this healthy, averagely developing, lively child? What did I do to deserve such a happy, healthy pregnancy and delivery of such a light?" The answer is, of course, absolutely nothing. The answer is usually the same when we ask it as things are falling apart. "What did I do to deserve this disease? this problem in my relationship? this loss? this economic disaster?" Nothing. But as we are asking the question about the bad things, we must also ask it about the good! I remembered this image of grace like rain. Rain doesn't come down on us as a solid wall of water. Instead, no matter how heavy the storm, there are dry spaces between the drops. Not every moment in life is pleasant, some of it is downright awful. But when it is, we must remember that it is simply the space between the droplets. And that God sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous alike, we don't deserve every pain any more than we do every mercy. Pay attention to the grace storm in your life! How much of your spectacular, blessed, miraculous life have you deserved? September 15, 2010 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." Genesis 8:22 "For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad." Edwin Teale The movement of life is amazing to me, the give and take of God's creation, and the continuity of it all. I'm thinking about this as I am feeling pretty yucky. My plans for the evening are OUT, and feeling yucky is the new plan. As I'm feeling zapped by whatever this is, it is so strange to me to remember that some bacteria or virus is having a high old time. I love this timely idea of harvest as gathering to us, and sowing to nature. We are so desperately interconnected, and give and take is the inhalation and exhalation of our days. Let it help you more greatly appreciate the abundance in your life, for every blessing, something has had to express generosity. No matter which side you are on, harvest or sowing, you can be assured eventually the other will come. For as long as the earth endures, we're promised that day will come to our darkest night. September 8, 2010 "He said to me, O mortal, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey." Ezekiel 3:1-3 It is great if you are able to read a certain number of chapters every day (3's a good bet). However whether you read that much, or a few verses doesn't matter as much as the practice of opening the book, or clicking the link. Have several Bibles through the house, and make sure that your favorite online Bible is just a click away so that in "after moments" and "in between moments" you can read a few verses. Even though you may not have read a lot, it is what you do with those verses the rest of the day that can change your life. Savor them, they are sweet as honey! August 25, 2010 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6 I love this exchange between Rosanoff and Edison, and it put me to mind of our prayer life. We often have very closed understandings of how to pray, forgetting that prayers' ultimate goal is that we draw near to God. We've learned the rules of the prayer laboratory from our parents, but not because we had extended conversations with them about prayer. Instead, we have often combined our experience of being prayed with as children and any peeks we got of their prayer life. We learned a few of the rules from Jesus, and feel safest in prayer when we pray, "Our Father..." because we know we're not breaking any. August 18, 2010 "A ship in harbor is safe--but that is not what ships are built for." John A. Shedd "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10 August 11, 2010 "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28-29 "The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire." August 4, 2010 “Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 13b-14 "If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities." Bob Conklin Do you ever have one of those days when it seems like nothing can go right? Then, usually, because you are so distracted and thrown off balance, you start MAKING things go wrong that wouldn't have? Do those times ever last for weeks for you? I know how you're feeling and it got me thinking about the ministry of encouragement. In the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, every member is a minister and common to all of us is the ministry of encouragement. Heartening one another in the face of an unpredictable (and often cruel) world is vital to our close walk with Jesus Christ. But sharing cheer with someone isn't always easy. Often, the crisis of a life in need of encouragement has made that person difficult to get along with and prone to mistakes in both personal and professional realms. It is natural to criticize instead of viewing weaknesses as a warning that they are in need of support. We start to see someone as the sum of thier problems. The only trouble is, that is how they are seeing themselves. After all, the "idlers" are often just the fainthearted who are too proud to admit it. If we are patient, we can recall that they, too, are claimed as "beloved". If we give them a vision of that love, we can draw them back to strength in Christ. Find that person in your life that has been driving you CRAZY, see their need, and meet their weakness with love. July 21, 2010 "Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared." Eddie Rickenbacker July 14, 2010 Sometimes, through the week, things grab me and just won't let go. God uses certain phrases to knock at the door of my life, hoping I'll open up a bit and let life in. Three things have come together this week (hello trinity) to call me to new life. July 7, 2010 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8: 26-28 June 23, 2010 Let your heart sing these words from Psalm 148:
As I prepare for church camp at Laurelview on Sunday, I am reminded of the dual nature of the outdoor christian experience. Setting ourselves in the beauty of God's creation inspires us to join in the praise of the sun and moon, and helps us put ourselves in perspective amidst the created world. At the same time when we have an experience of the created world, despite the vastness of what is outside of us, we are called to turn inward. We are inspired to examine ourselves in a new way, and have the quiet time to do it. June 16, 2010 Young people afford us glimpses of great leadership, and the Bible is full of wonderful examples of young leaders whose faithfulness gave them authority even when their age would not allow them power or control. Think of David, Mary, the shepherds, the servant girl of Naaman's wife. People thirst for power, rarely do they desire authority, because authority must be earned through lives of integrity and example, of those characteristics in 1 Timothy love, faith and purity. What might our lives be like if we gave up on power and authority altogether, and instead set about growing in those things which grant us authority? What might it mean to be more concerned with the example we set in our speech and conduct than the popularity we might receive on a moment to moment basis? In what ways might you mature in love, faith and purity?
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