Merry Christmas!
I have heard it over and over again. The voicing of the question continues to mount, becoming increasingly loud and progressively annoying. I hear it in my mind, out on the streets, in the church, and everywhere else you can think of. I'm afraid the question won't go away - at least in the next week or so. I'm sure you have heard it too. "Are you ready for Christmas?"
A good question, depending on how you interpret it. On the one hand, and probably the most popular interpretation, the question is asking if I have all of my Christmas shopping done. If I interpret the question that way, anxiety builds and I am reminded of my ineptness toward buying gifts and the actual pain it brings to my life. Not that I have anything against buying gifts, or receiving them for that matter. It is not something I am good at and it takes a lot of brain and will power to go Christmas shopping. As far as the brain power goes, I need to be careful not to use too much, lest I lose it all (ask my wife).
The least popular interpretation, and one in which I am inclined to espouse, is asking me if I am ready for Christ and the true message He wants to bring to me this season. Am I ready for God to come into the darkness of my life and transform those areas I have neglected this year? Am I ready to embrace the reality of God's love for me and for others? Am I willing to live out of that love? Am I able to lay aside my rigid understandings of God, and embrace the fact that He came to me and to us in a way that was least expected? Am I willing to open myself up to the reality that the baby Jesus came to shine the light of truth into the deepest crevices of my darkened soul?
I guess when it's interpreted that way, the question has much deeper meaning. It also make me more uncomfortable. I have been asking myself these questions and I pray that I can honestly say yes to every one of them. Remember, Jesus' birth is the beginning of the good news story. There is so much more to this birth than giving presents and accepting the gift of the baby Jesus. God is asking me, and maybe you hear Him asking you, "Are you ready to go deeper with me? Are you ready for Christmas?"
"Heavenly Father, thank you for this season of preparation. Prepare me to fully receive the gift You have for me this Christmas. Help me to be ready to go deeper with you and to fully receive the abundant life and light that Jesus brings. In His holy name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
SEE the Child
Good evening!
Last Saturday, we had our annual charge conference (an organizational part of the institutional United Methodist Church). This year, we shared our conference with two other churches in the area. It was wonderful to hear how God was moving in and through other United Methodist churches. Before the meeting started, the secretary from Community UMC in Westcliffe saw me, gave me a big hug, and handed me her latest entry into their church newsletter. She wanted to share with me a part of her journey since I last saw her.
As a pastor, I get handed many things and I get asked to read more articles, emails, and books that I can keep up with. I have to admit, there are times that my pile gets so big, I do not read everything. I can't if I want to stay sane. However, I am able to get to most of them and, luckily for me, this one was a short one.
The bulk of the article talked about an experience her daughter had with her two children, but what struck me most was the quote she shared at the end of her article. She said:
"Philips Brooks, whose UMC carol #230, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," routinely rolls off our tongue tips each Yuletide, once penned something less well known: 'He who helps a child helps humanity with an immediateness which no other help given to human creature in any other age of human life can possibly give again.' Wow. Is Brooks enjoining us to SEE in every child a Christ Child? Then to ACT accordingly - not frenetically spend and consume - in ALL Seasons? Seems to me. How about you?"
As we prepare our hearts for the new life that the Christ child brings, it is important to ask ourselves as well, "Do I receive every child as I hope to receive the Christ child this season? Do I SEE the children around me? Do I SEE that God created them - the unborn, the infant, the toddler, the terrible threes, the child, the tween and the teen?" Then ask yourself, "Do I act and treat them in ways that honor their Creator?"
It has been said that you know the spiritual state of a person, a community, and a nation by the way they treat their children. May we welcome the children among us with the joy and open arms that we hope to receive the Christ child this season. May we SEE their needs and ACT in ways that love them and honor who they are, just as God sees our needs and acted by coming to us in the form of an infant child.
"Gracious God. Thank you for the gift of Your Son. As we receive Him, remind us that we must also receive all of your children. As you came to us as a child dependent upon His mother and father, we come to You...dependent upon Your grace and love. Give us eyes to see the Christ child all around us and give us the strength and courage to act out Your love, not only this season, but in all seasons of our lives. In Your Name we pray. Amen."
Last Saturday, we had our annual charge conference (an organizational part of the institutional United Methodist Church). This year, we shared our conference with two other churches in the area. It was wonderful to hear how God was moving in and through other United Methodist churches. Before the meeting started, the secretary from Community UMC in Westcliffe saw me, gave me a big hug, and handed me her latest entry into their church newsletter. She wanted to share with me a part of her journey since I last saw her.
As a pastor, I get handed many things and I get asked to read more articles, emails, and books that I can keep up with. I have to admit, there are times that my pile gets so big, I do not read everything. I can't if I want to stay sane. However, I am able to get to most of them and, luckily for me, this one was a short one.
The bulk of the article talked about an experience her daughter had with her two children, but what struck me most was the quote she shared at the end of her article. She said:
"Philips Brooks, whose UMC carol #230, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," routinely rolls off our tongue tips each Yuletide, once penned something less well known: 'He who helps a child helps humanity with an immediateness which no other help given to human creature in any other age of human life can possibly give again.' Wow. Is Brooks enjoining us to SEE in every child a Christ Child? Then to ACT accordingly - not frenetically spend and consume - in ALL Seasons? Seems to me. How about you?"
As we prepare our hearts for the new life that the Christ child brings, it is important to ask ourselves as well, "Do I receive every child as I hope to receive the Christ child this season? Do I SEE the children around me? Do I SEE that God created them - the unborn, the infant, the toddler, the terrible threes, the child, the tween and the teen?" Then ask yourself, "Do I act and treat them in ways that honor their Creator?"
It has been said that you know the spiritual state of a person, a community, and a nation by the way they treat their children. May we welcome the children among us with the joy and open arms that we hope to receive the Christ child this season. May we SEE their needs and ACT in ways that love them and honor who they are, just as God sees our needs and acted by coming to us in the form of an infant child.
"Gracious God. Thank you for the gift of Your Son. As we receive Him, remind us that we must also receive all of your children. As you came to us as a child dependent upon His mother and father, we come to You...dependent upon Your grace and love. Give us eyes to see the Christ child all around us and give us the strength and courage to act out Your love, not only this season, but in all seasons of our lives. In Your Name we pray. Amen."
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
An Advent Prayer
Happy Advent!
As we enter into this holy time of year, my prayer for all of us is that we are able to experience the sacredness and joy of this season without getting wrapped up in the chaos.
In my preparations for the second Sunday in Advent, I came across a prayer that has challenged me over the last couple of days. I would like to share it with you.
"O Lord our God, wehre a rainbow bends in the midst of thunder, or a flower blooms in the midst of sand, you are there. Where a dream persists in the midst of conflict, or a protest arises in the midst of calm, you are there. Where a candle glows in the midst of winter, or a river thaws in the midst of spring, you are there. Where a cradle rocks in the midst of suffering, or a hand is held in the midst of pain, you are there. Where a prayer ascends in the midst of cursing, or passion flares in the midst of uncaring, you are there.
O God, you are in our midst. and because you are here, you tell us, "Do not fear; let not your hands grow weak." But we are not so easily comforted; we are not so quickly inspired. You surround us, but we cannot see your face, we cannot hear your voice, we cannot feel your embrace. How can we trust you? How can we have courage? How can our hands be strong?
We confess this, Lord: We would rather trust ourselves. We would rather venerate our past - our pride in family lines, honored traditions, historic institutions. We would rather glorify our future - our opportunity for posterity, prosperity, and popularity. When we implore, "What shall we do?" we do not ask one of your locust-eating, leather-girdled prophets, who would summon us to the wilderness and demand that we change our ways! Instead, we ask the keepers of our law, the caretakers of our culture, and the custodians of our religion, for we know that their answers will be pleasing to the taste. Their answers shall become our answers, dripping like honey from our tongues but falling like vinegar on your ears.
O Lord, how merciful you are for not forsaking us! You send us messenger after messenger, only to be mocked, and word after word, only to be despised. Now your greatest messenger is about to be born, a messenger who not only will speak and do your word, but embody it. Do you know what you do? We can smile at a baby, but shall we not scorn the man? We can shelter the child, like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings, but shall we shelter the Christ, or hide in the upper room?
O God, you send this child into our midst to make your presence among us tangible, visible, touchable. But will the child make you understandable, acceptable to the stoners and killers of prophets, to us who so easily become afraid, whose weak hands so quickly seek to crucify? Can truth really walk safely among the deceitful; or justice, among the vengeful; or love, among the hateful; or grace, among the spiteful?
Help us trust you, Lord. We cannot comprehend this thing that is about to happen, this baby who will be our savior. We have learned well how we can be custodians of law, guardians of culture, and champions of religion; we do not know how - or if - we can be disciples of such a one as this. Prepare us for the bearer of the gospel, O God, lest we receive the good news as bad news, and turn our backs.
Be with us, Lord, as you send him to us. The thunder rumbles: Lead us to the bending rainbow. The sands creep: Lead us to the blooming flower. The winter blows: Lead us to the glowing candle. The spring breaks: Lead us to the thawing river.
The suffering one comes: Lead us to the rocking cradle!"
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
As we enter into this holy time of year, my prayer for all of us is that we are able to experience the sacredness and joy of this season without getting wrapped up in the chaos.
In my preparations for the second Sunday in Advent, I came across a prayer that has challenged me over the last couple of days. I would like to share it with you.
"O Lord our God, wehre a rainbow bends in the midst of thunder, or a flower blooms in the midst of sand, you are there. Where a dream persists in the midst of conflict, or a protest arises in the midst of calm, you are there. Where a candle glows in the midst of winter, or a river thaws in the midst of spring, you are there. Where a cradle rocks in the midst of suffering, or a hand is held in the midst of pain, you are there. Where a prayer ascends in the midst of cursing, or passion flares in the midst of uncaring, you are there.
O God, you are in our midst. and because you are here, you tell us, "Do not fear; let not your hands grow weak." But we are not so easily comforted; we are not so quickly inspired. You surround us, but we cannot see your face, we cannot hear your voice, we cannot feel your embrace. How can we trust you? How can we have courage? How can our hands be strong?
We confess this, Lord: We would rather trust ourselves. We would rather venerate our past - our pride in family lines, honored traditions, historic institutions. We would rather glorify our future - our opportunity for posterity, prosperity, and popularity. When we implore, "What shall we do?" we do not ask one of your locust-eating, leather-girdled prophets, who would summon us to the wilderness and demand that we change our ways! Instead, we ask the keepers of our law, the caretakers of our culture, and the custodians of our religion, for we know that their answers will be pleasing to the taste. Their answers shall become our answers, dripping like honey from our tongues but falling like vinegar on your ears.
O Lord, how merciful you are for not forsaking us! You send us messenger after messenger, only to be mocked, and word after word, only to be despised. Now your greatest messenger is about to be born, a messenger who not only will speak and do your word, but embody it. Do you know what you do? We can smile at a baby, but shall we not scorn the man? We can shelter the child, like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings, but shall we shelter the Christ, or hide in the upper room?
O God, you send this child into our midst to make your presence among us tangible, visible, touchable. But will the child make you understandable, acceptable to the stoners and killers of prophets, to us who so easily become afraid, whose weak hands so quickly seek to crucify? Can truth really walk safely among the deceitful; or justice, among the vengeful; or love, among the hateful; or grace, among the spiteful?
Help us trust you, Lord. We cannot comprehend this thing that is about to happen, this baby who will be our savior. We have learned well how we can be custodians of law, guardians of culture, and champions of religion; we do not know how - or if - we can be disciples of such a one as this. Prepare us for the bearer of the gospel, O God, lest we receive the good news as bad news, and turn our backs.
Be with us, Lord, as you send him to us. The thunder rumbles: Lead us to the bending rainbow. The sands creep: Lead us to the blooming flower. The winter blows: Lead us to the glowing candle. The spring breaks: Lead us to the thawing river.
The suffering one comes: Lead us to the rocking cradle!"
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Friday, November 19, 2010
King Jesus Is All
Good morning!
I cannot believe that a week from today I will be coming out of my tryptophanic coma and still desiring the best leftovers of the year - turkey, mashed potatoes/gravy, green bean casserole, and potato cheese casserole...not to mention a piece of pumpkin pie for dessert! Ohhhh, I can't wait!
It is common that we think about Thanksgiving at this time of the year. Some of you may be preparing food right now. Some may be getting things ready for company or getting ready to travel. As a culture, we are getting ready for the beginning of the holiday chaos, er, I mean, season. We are preparing for the rush to pick up in our lives.
In the midst of this rush and push over the next five weeks, we often forget about a special time of the Christian year. This Sunday, November 21st, marks the end of the church liturgical year. Advent is the beginning of the church year and it begins on November 28th. There is a special name for this upcoming Sunday and it is called Christ the King Sunday. It is a time that encourages us to stop and reflect on the reign of Christ in our lives throughout the year. It is important to do this before we return to the humble manger from which Jesus was introduced to the world.
When I was a Youth Pastor in Fort Collins, CO, there was a song that became the youth group song and it was called, "King Jesus Is All". One of our youth would play the guitar and I would lead the singing in my best gospel singing voice (hey, I tried!). The song went like this:
King Jesus is all (King Jesus is all)
My all in all (My all in all)
I know He'll answer (I know He'll answer)
Me when I call (Me when I call)
Walkin' by His side (Walkin' by His side)
I'm satisfied (I'm satisfied)
King Jesus is all (King Jesus is all)
My all in all (My all in all)
Well.....
I went up to meet the Lord (oh yeah!)
I got down on my knees
I said my very first prayer (Amen!)
You know the Holy Ghost met me there (Ah, Ah, Ah)
I stepped on the Rock, the Rock was sound
Oooh, the love of God came a tumblin' down
The reason I know that He saved my soul
Is I dug down deep and I found pure gold!
He is all....
The song and the memory still bring a smile to my face. Before we jump into the holiday rush. Before we bake the turkey and pies. Before we doze off from full bellies and hours of football. Before we wake up early for Black Friday shopping. Let's remember Christ the King. Let's remember how the power of His life, His love, His grace, and His resurrection has touched our lives this year and made a difference in our hearts and in the hearts of those around us. Let's remember that He is our all in all. By remembering these things, the humble manger from which our King came to be with us will have deeper meaning this year. Thanks be to God!!!
"Almighty God, from whom the King of my life has come, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the life He brings and for the difference He has made in my life. As we end this part of the Christian year and begin the next, I want Jesus to continue to reign in my life and I want Him to be my all in all. In His holy name I pray. Amen."
I cannot believe that a week from today I will be coming out of my tryptophanic coma and still desiring the best leftovers of the year - turkey, mashed potatoes/gravy, green bean casserole, and potato cheese casserole...not to mention a piece of pumpkin pie for dessert! Ohhhh, I can't wait!
It is common that we think about Thanksgiving at this time of the year. Some of you may be preparing food right now. Some may be getting things ready for company or getting ready to travel. As a culture, we are getting ready for the beginning of the holiday chaos, er, I mean, season. We are preparing for the rush to pick up in our lives.
In the midst of this rush and push over the next five weeks, we often forget about a special time of the Christian year. This Sunday, November 21st, marks the end of the church liturgical year. Advent is the beginning of the church year and it begins on November 28th. There is a special name for this upcoming Sunday and it is called Christ the King Sunday. It is a time that encourages us to stop and reflect on the reign of Christ in our lives throughout the year. It is important to do this before we return to the humble manger from which Jesus was introduced to the world.
When I was a Youth Pastor in Fort Collins, CO, there was a song that became the youth group song and it was called, "King Jesus Is All". One of our youth would play the guitar and I would lead the singing in my best gospel singing voice (hey, I tried!). The song went like this:
King Jesus is all (King Jesus is all)
My all in all (My all in all)
I know He'll answer (I know He'll answer)
Me when I call (Me when I call)
Walkin' by His side (Walkin' by His side)
I'm satisfied (I'm satisfied)
King Jesus is all (King Jesus is all)
My all in all (My all in all)
Well.....
I went up to meet the Lord (oh yeah!)
I got down on my knees
I said my very first prayer (Amen!)
You know the Holy Ghost met me there (Ah, Ah, Ah)
I stepped on the Rock, the Rock was sound
Oooh, the love of God came a tumblin' down
The reason I know that He saved my soul
Is I dug down deep and I found pure gold!
He is all....
The song and the memory still bring a smile to my face. Before we jump into the holiday rush. Before we bake the turkey and pies. Before we doze off from full bellies and hours of football. Before we wake up early for Black Friday shopping. Let's remember Christ the King. Let's remember how the power of His life, His love, His grace, and His resurrection has touched our lives this year and made a difference in our hearts and in the hearts of those around us. Let's remember that He is our all in all. By remembering these things, the humble manger from which our King came to be with us will have deeper meaning this year. Thanks be to God!!!
"Almighty God, from whom the King of my life has come, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the life He brings and for the difference He has made in my life. As we end this part of the Christian year and begin the next, I want Jesus to continue to reign in my life and I want Him to be my all in all. In His holy name I pray. Amen."
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
CPR
Happy Wednesday!
Over the past week, there has been much to be thankful for in my family and I don't think I have ever been as proud a parent as I am right now.
First, my daughter Haleigh got second place in her age category in the school district's scary story contest. After receiving the reward, she read her story to the audience using great tone, clarity, and inflection. She even got her picture on the front page of the newspaper! To say the least, I was a proud papa and it was great to see her get encouragment from her teachers and judges in something that she is passionate about...writing!
Secondly, I had the privilege of watching my son get a Student of the Month award yesterday and enjoyed listening to the teacher's comments...not just about his academic achievements, but, more importantly, his character and his work ethic. I am proud of the young man he is becoming and how his life is making a broader impact in the classroom and in his friends' lives. I hope the words he heard were a great strength and encouragement to his spirit. Again, I was a proud papa.
Lastly, I have had the honor of receiving some encouraging words from some of you and some good friends that came out of the blue. Whenever I receive a card or an email of encouragement I save it in a special file for those days when I am discouraged and feeling down. Somehow those words of encouragement lift my spirit.
I know you know what I am talking about. We all like to receive words of encouragement and support. We get enough of the negative in our lives. I haven't always been good at encouraging people. I tend to be tunnel visioned sometimes. But, over time I have learned the power of encouraging words.
Recently, I received an email from Karen Rogers who is our Acts29 editor for the church and she said, "Thanks for the CPR (Christ-centered Postivie Remarks)." I really liked the acronym she used and have reflected on it since. It is true how encouragement and words of love and support can resuscitate our lives and breathe new breath into our spirits.
November is the month of Thanksgiving and gratitude. It is the month of remembering those things that can bring our dying spirits back to life and give us strength to continue the journey. Also, tomorrow is Veterans Day - a day to be thankful for all of the men and women who have made incredible sacrifices to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today. If there is a veteran, active duty or reserve service man or woman in your life, make sure you reach out to them and offer them words of encouragement and support.
Offer words of encouragement to those around you this month. Get in the habit of offering Christ-center Positive Remarks that will lift them up from their burdens and breathe new life into their souls. May we remember the words from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, "May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say." Christ will give us the words, the compassion, and grace (especially for those we don't feel like encouraging) - all we have to do is be the vessel for God to provide a little CPR to the world!
"Holy God! You are a God of love, strength, and encouragement. Thank you for offering me words of support through the people in my lives. Take my life, my words, and my actions and use them to bring life to those around me through the power of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray in His holy name. Amen."
Over the past week, there has been much to be thankful for in my family and I don't think I have ever been as proud a parent as I am right now.
First, my daughter Haleigh got second place in her age category in the school district's scary story contest. After receiving the reward, she read her story to the audience using great tone, clarity, and inflection. She even got her picture on the front page of the newspaper! To say the least, I was a proud papa and it was great to see her get encouragment from her teachers and judges in something that she is passionate about...writing!
Secondly, I had the privilege of watching my son get a Student of the Month award yesterday and enjoyed listening to the teacher's comments...not just about his academic achievements, but, more importantly, his character and his work ethic. I am proud of the young man he is becoming and how his life is making a broader impact in the classroom and in his friends' lives. I hope the words he heard were a great strength and encouragement to his spirit. Again, I was a proud papa.
Lastly, I have had the honor of receiving some encouraging words from some of you and some good friends that came out of the blue. Whenever I receive a card or an email of encouragement I save it in a special file for those days when I am discouraged and feeling down. Somehow those words of encouragement lift my spirit.
I know you know what I am talking about. We all like to receive words of encouragement and support. We get enough of the negative in our lives. I haven't always been good at encouraging people. I tend to be tunnel visioned sometimes. But, over time I have learned the power of encouraging words.
Recently, I received an email from Karen Rogers who is our Acts29 editor for the church and she said, "Thanks for the CPR (Christ-centered Postivie Remarks)." I really liked the acronym she used and have reflected on it since. It is true how encouragement and words of love and support can resuscitate our lives and breathe new breath into our spirits.
November is the month of Thanksgiving and gratitude. It is the month of remembering those things that can bring our dying spirits back to life and give us strength to continue the journey. Also, tomorrow is Veterans Day - a day to be thankful for all of the men and women who have made incredible sacrifices to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today. If there is a veteran, active duty or reserve service man or woman in your life, make sure you reach out to them and offer them words of encouragement and support.
Offer words of encouragement to those around you this month. Get in the habit of offering Christ-center Positive Remarks that will lift them up from their burdens and breathe new life into their souls. May we remember the words from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, "May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say." Christ will give us the words, the compassion, and grace (especially for those we don't feel like encouraging) - all we have to do is be the vessel for God to provide a little CPR to the world!
"Holy God! You are a God of love, strength, and encouragement. Thank you for offering me words of support through the people in my lives. Take my life, my words, and my actions and use them to bring life to those around me through the power of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray in His holy name. Amen."
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Hold on or Let Go?
Good evening!
I pray all is well in your life and spirit today. As many who read this blog already know our church family is grieving the loss of a friend this week. Ben Gregor, husband of our Children and Family Ministries Coordinator, Joyce Gregor, who was called home by the Lord early Monday morning. We will gather on Saturday to celebrate his life and the impact he has had in our lives. We will also gather in support of our friend, Joyce, to offer encouragement and love during this very difficult time.
There are other things our church is grieving too. Our youth are grieving the resignation of our Youth Director, Liz Anciaux. Maybe you are grieving a loss in your life as well - the loss of a job, a broken relationship, a strained marriage, a question about your identity or purpose, a loss of faith and hope. Whatever it may be - grief can overwhelm our spirits and the struggle in our lives can create new struggles all their own.
If you are struggling and grieving in any way today, I would like to share a poem with you that I shared with our staff during our meeting this week. While the pain of the grief and the struggle may continue, may this poem offer some insight into what God is calling you to do in the midst of your struggle/grief. Is He calling you to "hold on" or is He calling you to "let go"?
The poem is titled, "A New Way of Struggling" by Susan W.N. Ruach:
"To struggle used to be
To grab with both hands
and shake
and twist
and turn
and push
and shove and not give in
But wrest an answer from it all
As Jacob did a blessing.
But there is another way
To struggle with an issue, a question -
Simply to jump
off
into the abyss
and find ourselves
floating
falling
tumbling
being led
slowly and gently
but surely
to the answers God has for us -
to watch the answers unfold
before our eyes and still
to be a part of the unfolding.
But, oh! the trust
necessary for this new way!
Not to be always reaching out
For the old hand-holds."
"Gracious, unwavering, God. In the midst of my struggle and the pain of my grief, give me the strength and trust that I need to let go. Allow me to experience the journey, even when it appears out of control. Allow me to live into the mystery of this journey with You. I want to trust You as I let go and hold only on to You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
I pray all is well in your life and spirit today. As many who read this blog already know our church family is grieving the loss of a friend this week. Ben Gregor, husband of our Children and Family Ministries Coordinator, Joyce Gregor, who was called home by the Lord early Monday morning. We will gather on Saturday to celebrate his life and the impact he has had in our lives. We will also gather in support of our friend, Joyce, to offer encouragement and love during this very difficult time.
There are other things our church is grieving too. Our youth are grieving the resignation of our Youth Director, Liz Anciaux. Maybe you are grieving a loss in your life as well - the loss of a job, a broken relationship, a strained marriage, a question about your identity or purpose, a loss of faith and hope. Whatever it may be - grief can overwhelm our spirits and the struggle in our lives can create new struggles all their own.
If you are struggling and grieving in any way today, I would like to share a poem with you that I shared with our staff during our meeting this week. While the pain of the grief and the struggle may continue, may this poem offer some insight into what God is calling you to do in the midst of your struggle/grief. Is He calling you to "hold on" or is He calling you to "let go"?
The poem is titled, "A New Way of Struggling" by Susan W.N. Ruach:
"To struggle used to be
To grab with both hands
and shake
and twist
and turn
and push
and shove and not give in
But wrest an answer from it all
As Jacob did a blessing.
But there is another way
To struggle with an issue, a question -
Simply to jump
off
into the abyss
and find ourselves
floating
falling
tumbling
being led
slowly and gently
but surely
to the answers God has for us -
to watch the answers unfold
before our eyes and still
to be a part of the unfolding.
But, oh! the trust
necessary for this new way!
Not to be always reaching out
For the old hand-holds."
"Gracious, unwavering, God. In the midst of my struggle and the pain of my grief, give me the strength and trust that I need to let go. Allow me to experience the journey, even when it appears out of control. Allow me to live into the mystery of this journey with You. I want to trust You as I let go and hold only on to You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Gospel of Boo!
Good afternoon!
Can you believe that October is about to come to an end? Just the other day, I heard a commercial on tv that had Christmas music in the background! It got me excited about the Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas season, while at the same time the anxiety rose a decibel or two.
Before we get to our November/December holiday season we still have to get through the one coming up at the end of October - HALLOWEEN. Honestly, I've never gotten much into the "Halloween Spirit". I know that many really get into, decorating their houses and their bodies from themes that are light and funny to themes that are dark and gruesome. Since scary movies give me nightmares and make me regress into childlike behavior (a lot of shaking, crying, and other things I'd rather not speak of), Halloween has always given me an eery feeling.
This year, however, I have decided to face my fears! I have decided to approach this season on our calendar in a much different way. Many Christians have a negative reaction to Halloween. They feel it is an evil time and a time when demonic forces are at work. While it may feel that way, I think it is important to remember that the existence of Halloween is a Christian phenomenon.
So that I don't bore you to death with the details, just consider the fact that Halloween was created by Christians as a way to combat the pagan holidays and harvest festivals that were going on around them. The observance of All Saints Day (November 1st) actually began at sunset the night before (Oct. 31st). Later, All Souls Day was added on November 2nd. By 1500, All Saints Day and All Souls Day evolved into Hallow Time (October 31-November 2nd), with most of the celebrations occuring the night before All Hallows Day...known as All Hallows Eve. It wasn't long before this time was referred to as Hallowe'en.
With a little history out of the way, what does this mean for us today? Well, one of the common phrases during our modern-day Halloween festivities is the excitement of scaring or shocking people by yelling, "Boo!" I want to suggest to all Christians that we shock people this Halloween with the Gospel of Boo.
Halloween is one of the only times in the year where strangers come and knock at our door. Granted, they are wanting a hand-out of candy, but in our very isolated culture, we should celebrate the fact that they are standing before us and see it as an opportunity to shock each stranger by handing out GOOD NEWS!
On the dark night of Halloween, let's not hide the light of Christ under a bushel, let's share it with everyone we have the joy of meeting. Here is my Halloween Challenge...
Share a principle the gospel or a Scripture passage with each trick-or-treater this year. Attach it to each piece of candy, or hand it out with your candy as a little slip of paper. Or, share a Scripture passage like, "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" - Psalm 34:8. Also, give generously the candy to each child or whatever you are handing out this year. Use this opportunity to share the Gospel of Boo! Not scaring people into seeing Jesus, but shocking them by shedding light in the midst of darkness.
Who's up for the challenge?
"Thank you Lord for being the Light in our lives and in our world. As we celebrate Halloween, remind us that you have called us to be the light of the world and that you can use us in simple ways to share the good news of Your Presence and Your Son. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen."
Can you believe that October is about to come to an end? Just the other day, I heard a commercial on tv that had Christmas music in the background! It got me excited about the Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas season, while at the same time the anxiety rose a decibel or two.
Before we get to our November/December holiday season we still have to get through the one coming up at the end of October - HALLOWEEN. Honestly, I've never gotten much into the "Halloween Spirit". I know that many really get into, decorating their houses and their bodies from themes that are light and funny to themes that are dark and gruesome. Since scary movies give me nightmares and make me regress into childlike behavior (a lot of shaking, crying, and other things I'd rather not speak of), Halloween has always given me an eery feeling.
This year, however, I have decided to face my fears! I have decided to approach this season on our calendar in a much different way. Many Christians have a negative reaction to Halloween. They feel it is an evil time and a time when demonic forces are at work. While it may feel that way, I think it is important to remember that the existence of Halloween is a Christian phenomenon.
So that I don't bore you to death with the details, just consider the fact that Halloween was created by Christians as a way to combat the pagan holidays and harvest festivals that were going on around them. The observance of All Saints Day (November 1st) actually began at sunset the night before (Oct. 31st). Later, All Souls Day was added on November 2nd. By 1500, All Saints Day and All Souls Day evolved into Hallow Time (October 31-November 2nd), with most of the celebrations occuring the night before All Hallows Day...known as All Hallows Eve. It wasn't long before this time was referred to as Hallowe'en.
With a little history out of the way, what does this mean for us today? Well, one of the common phrases during our modern-day Halloween festivities is the excitement of scaring or shocking people by yelling, "Boo!" I want to suggest to all Christians that we shock people this Halloween with the Gospel of Boo.
Halloween is one of the only times in the year where strangers come and knock at our door. Granted, they are wanting a hand-out of candy, but in our very isolated culture, we should celebrate the fact that they are standing before us and see it as an opportunity to shock each stranger by handing out GOOD NEWS!
On the dark night of Halloween, let's not hide the light of Christ under a bushel, let's share it with everyone we have the joy of meeting. Here is my Halloween Challenge...
Share a principle the gospel or a Scripture passage with each trick-or-treater this year. Attach it to each piece of candy, or hand it out with your candy as a little slip of paper. Or, share a Scripture passage like, "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" - Psalm 34:8. Also, give generously the candy to each child or whatever you are handing out this year. Use this opportunity to share the Gospel of Boo! Not scaring people into seeing Jesus, but shocking them by shedding light in the midst of darkness.
Who's up for the challenge?
"Thank you Lord for being the Light in our lives and in our world. As we celebrate Halloween, remind us that you have called us to be the light of the world and that you can use us in simple ways to share the good news of Your Presence and Your Son. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen."
Thursday, October 14, 2010
God Won!
Hello Friends,
Like many around the world, I was struck by the miracle that revealed itself this week when the 33 Chilean miners were successfully rescued from being buried alive in a mine for 69-70 days. What a moment of complete and utter joy. The world rejoiced as each miner made his way to the surface and into the arms of his family, friends, and rescuers.
I was particularly struck by an interview with one of the miners that was rescued (I believe he was the third one). He sat with his family, special dark glasses still covering his eyes, and he said (I am paraphrasing here), "There were two men down there with me. One was God and one was the Devil. God won!"
What a testimony to the physical and spiritual battles that must have taken place over 2000 feet into the earth! In a devotion I read this morning it said, "The draw of the flesh and the Devil's plans are a lot stronger than we'd like to think. In a moment of weakness, such as is possible for all of us, we can end up doing something we never thought we would. Only the power of God, through prayer, can make the difference." It was obvious the impact the power of faith had on the survival of these miners and on the family, friends, and country that kept vigil all those days.
There is no place that the presence and grace of God cannot reach. You may feel today that you are far from the reach of God, but you aren't! You may feel that you are buried under the rubble of life and that there is no way out, but there is! Whatever battles you are going through, when you stay focused on God through prayer, study, and worship, He always wins out!
In 1 Corinthians 15:57 it says, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Hold on to this TRUTH and do not let it go. It may take some time to come out of the darkness, but the darkness will not prevail.
"God of light, fill the darkness within me. God of life, lift me from the tombs in which I find myself buried. God of strength, lift the burdens from my life and the rubble that weighs heavy on my soul. Take the victory over my life, don't let the Devil's grip pull me away from You. Lift me up and free me so that I can tell the world, 'My God always wins!' In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen."
Like many around the world, I was struck by the miracle that revealed itself this week when the 33 Chilean miners were successfully rescued from being buried alive in a mine for 69-70 days. What a moment of complete and utter joy. The world rejoiced as each miner made his way to the surface and into the arms of his family, friends, and rescuers.
I was particularly struck by an interview with one of the miners that was rescued (I believe he was the third one). He sat with his family, special dark glasses still covering his eyes, and he said (I am paraphrasing here), "There were two men down there with me. One was God and one was the Devil. God won!"
What a testimony to the physical and spiritual battles that must have taken place over 2000 feet into the earth! In a devotion I read this morning it said, "The draw of the flesh and the Devil's plans are a lot stronger than we'd like to think. In a moment of weakness, such as is possible for all of us, we can end up doing something we never thought we would. Only the power of God, through prayer, can make the difference." It was obvious the impact the power of faith had on the survival of these miners and on the family, friends, and country that kept vigil all those days.
There is no place that the presence and grace of God cannot reach. You may feel today that you are far from the reach of God, but you aren't! You may feel that you are buried under the rubble of life and that there is no way out, but there is! Whatever battles you are going through, when you stay focused on God through prayer, study, and worship, He always wins out!
In 1 Corinthians 15:57 it says, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Hold on to this TRUTH and do not let it go. It may take some time to come out of the darkness, but the darkness will not prevail.
"God of light, fill the darkness within me. God of life, lift me from the tombs in which I find myself buried. God of strength, lift the burdens from my life and the rubble that weighs heavy on my soul. Take the victory over my life, don't let the Devil's grip pull me away from You. Lift me up and free me so that I can tell the world, 'My God always wins!' In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Abundantly Clear
Good morning!
Yesterday was my Dad's 62nd birthday. His birthday had a deeper impact on me than any of the previous birthdays I spent with him have had. I know why - it is because almost three months ago we easily could have lost him to the serious heart attack that he suffered. I am thankful and grateful that I was able to call my Dad on another birthday, hear his voice, and tell him I love him. The gift is more precious this time because of the profound reality that it was almost taken away.
When I reflect back on that journey with my family, I am reminded of what is most important in life. It has become abundantly clear that it is not the things I possess or the positions I hold. It is the simple things of faith, relationships, and being able to call someone and say, "I love you". It is abundantly clear that Jesus calls us to live an abundant life with Him. That does not mean that we pursue the abundance of things, but the abundance of LIFE He offers. Whatever emptiness and whatever voids are in our lives, they can and will be filled by the abundance of Christ's presence living in us.
In John 7:38-39 (The Message) Jesus says, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says."
Have you ever stood by a powerful river and watched the current? I have many times. A big river carries enormous power and force—and Christ understood this when He chose this analogy. God’s Spirit flows like a river, and it produces mightily in the lives of those who have it. It radiates out of one who has it and brings love, faith, joy and peace from its Source—God.
This Spirit will help you meet challenges, defeat enemies, conquer fear and reflect cheerfulness. It will bring wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It will drive anger, bitterness and anxiety away. It will replace discouragement with energy and hope. It will bring zeal to accomplish and remove confusion and indifference. It will take shattered dreams and shriveled feelings, and expand them to new horizons—and bring an expectation of success. It will take stress and turn it into productivity and fulfilling accomplishment.
In James 1:17, God says that He gives every good and perfect gift. People cannot offer or bring to you the truly good things of life, but God can—and He says that He will if you come to Him and ask for help when you are in “time of need.” His answers are satisfying, and His strength is real—life-changing.
I am saddened when I see so many who are completely empty— so utterly devoid of joy, happiness and abundance. Many try drugs, fall into immoral lifestyles, pursue the wrong kind of entertainment, commit crimes, and otherwise get into trouble, simply because they are bored. They have no idea that their lives can be filled with purpose. This lack of understanding is so unnecessary, so far from what God intended for every human being.
From Isaiah 55:1-2 we hear these words (NIV), "Come, all who are thirsty, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
It has become abundantly clear to me that we can come to God, receive the blessing and power that comes from His waters, and experience the abundance of life. God has made it abundantly clear what brings life to our souls and what brings joy to our lives. Maybe it's time to start listening and discovering for ourselves that His promise is true!
"God of Living Water, bring nourishment to my spirit and soul. Forgive me for looking to other things to fill the voids within my life. Destroy the idols I have erected, and become the One for Whom I live. May Your waters of joy, strength, and abundance overflow in my life. May my cup runneth over as I live in the abundance You offer. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen."
Yesterday was my Dad's 62nd birthday. His birthday had a deeper impact on me than any of the previous birthdays I spent with him have had. I know why - it is because almost three months ago we easily could have lost him to the serious heart attack that he suffered. I am thankful and grateful that I was able to call my Dad on another birthday, hear his voice, and tell him I love him. The gift is more precious this time because of the profound reality that it was almost taken away.
When I reflect back on that journey with my family, I am reminded of what is most important in life. It has become abundantly clear that it is not the things I possess or the positions I hold. It is the simple things of faith, relationships, and being able to call someone and say, "I love you". It is abundantly clear that Jesus calls us to live an abundant life with Him. That does not mean that we pursue the abundance of things, but the abundance of LIFE He offers. Whatever emptiness and whatever voids are in our lives, they can and will be filled by the abundance of Christ's presence living in us.
In John 7:38-39 (The Message) Jesus says, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says."
Have you ever stood by a powerful river and watched the current? I have many times. A big river carries enormous power and force—and Christ understood this when He chose this analogy. God’s Spirit flows like a river, and it produces mightily in the lives of those who have it. It radiates out of one who has it and brings love, faith, joy and peace from its Source—God.
This Spirit will help you meet challenges, defeat enemies, conquer fear and reflect cheerfulness. It will bring wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It will drive anger, bitterness and anxiety away. It will replace discouragement with energy and hope. It will bring zeal to accomplish and remove confusion and indifference. It will take shattered dreams and shriveled feelings, and expand them to new horizons—and bring an expectation of success. It will take stress and turn it into productivity and fulfilling accomplishment.
In James 1:17, God says that He gives every good and perfect gift. People cannot offer or bring to you the truly good things of life, but God can—and He says that He will if you come to Him and ask for help when you are in “time of need.” His answers are satisfying, and His strength is real—life-changing.
I am saddened when I see so many who are completely empty— so utterly devoid of joy, happiness and abundance. Many try drugs, fall into immoral lifestyles, pursue the wrong kind of entertainment, commit crimes, and otherwise get into trouble, simply because they are bored. They have no idea that their lives can be filled with purpose. This lack of understanding is so unnecessary, so far from what God intended for every human being.
From Isaiah 55:1-2 we hear these words (NIV), "Come, all who are thirsty, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
It has become abundantly clear to me that we can come to God, receive the blessing and power that comes from His waters, and experience the abundance of life. God has made it abundantly clear what brings life to our souls and what brings joy to our lives. Maybe it's time to start listening and discovering for ourselves that His promise is true!
"God of Living Water, bring nourishment to my spirit and soul. Forgive me for looking to other things to fill the voids within my life. Destroy the idols I have erected, and become the One for Whom I live. May Your waters of joy, strength, and abundance overflow in my life. May my cup runneth over as I live in the abundance You offer. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Good 'Ole Copper Top
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I pray all is well with you this week and that you have experienced the powerful presence of our Mighty God moving in your life.
Earlier this week I was having an email conversation between some men in the church and one of them metioned that he was trying to get a slang term to catch on in reference to our church. He said, "I'll see you around the copper-top." We then had some other email exchanges. I responded with, "You can't top the copper top" because we worship "The One the Lasts" (of course referring to some duracell slogans).
Then another email came across saying, ""copper top, you'll always be, home sweeeet home to meeee. Good ole' copper top, copper top u-m-C, copper top u-m-C". I had to laugh at the exchange, but I was also encouraged by the love for our church community and the desire to reflect on our church in new and exciting ways.
It got me to thinking about FUMC and in what ways the rest of the Body perceives the ministries and in what ways the ministries of our church have touched your life. So, I would like to hear from all of you about why you love our church body and in what ways the ministries have touched your life. Next week I will post all of your responses. I hope that this will be an encouragement to the church as we continue to journey together and minister in the places that God is showing up in our community!
You can write your comment below in the comment section of this blog, or you can email me at donbird@canonumc.org. It can be one word, a short paragraph, or a short story. Or, you can stop by the copper top and share your story with me in person. I look forward to your comments as we strive to be the best copper-top UMC, home sweet home to you and me.
"Precious Lord, You have created the church for our benefit. Thank you for leading us as we support, love, and equip each other. Thank you for the opportunities to encourage each other along the challenging path of life. Thank you for revealing Yourself to us in the midst of our fellowship together. Help us to not take the church for granted. Help us to not take You for granted. May our fellowship and our relationships with one another honor and glorify You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
I pray all is well with you this week and that you have experienced the powerful presence of our Mighty God moving in your life.
Earlier this week I was having an email conversation between some men in the church and one of them metioned that he was trying to get a slang term to catch on in reference to our church. He said, "I'll see you around the copper-top." We then had some other email exchanges. I responded with, "You can't top the copper top" because we worship "The One the Lasts" (of course referring to some duracell slogans).
Then another email came across saying, ""copper top, you'll always be, home sweeeet home to meeee. Good ole' copper top, copper top u-m-C, copper top u-m-C". I had to laugh at the exchange, but I was also encouraged by the love for our church community and the desire to reflect on our church in new and exciting ways.
It got me to thinking about FUMC and in what ways the rest of the Body perceives the ministries and in what ways the ministries of our church have touched your life. So, I would like to hear from all of you about why you love our church body and in what ways the ministries have touched your life. Next week I will post all of your responses. I hope that this will be an encouragement to the church as we continue to journey together and minister in the places that God is showing up in our community!
You can write your comment below in the comment section of this blog, or you can email me at donbird@canonumc.org. It can be one word, a short paragraph, or a short story. Or, you can stop by the copper top and share your story with me in person. I look forward to your comments as we strive to be the best copper-top UMC, home sweet home to you and me.
"Precious Lord, You have created the church for our benefit. Thank you for leading us as we support, love, and equip each other. Thank you for the opportunities to encourage each other along the challenging path of life. Thank you for revealing Yourself to us in the midst of our fellowship together. Help us to not take the church for granted. Help us to not take You for granted. May our fellowship and our relationships with one another honor and glorify You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Balancing Act
Good afternoon!
This morning, as I was driving to the church, I heard an interview with Ted Cunningham on Q102.7. Ted is a pastor that co-wrote a book with Dr. Gary Smalley called "Great Parents, Lousy Lovers". I was drawn into what Ted was sharing about parenting in today's world. He was speaking straight to me about the struggles of having our kids involved in every activity under the sun and not losing that connection with your spouse.
In the interview, Ted talked about the Sabbath and how the commandment of keeping the Sabbath holy (Exodus 20:8-12) is the one commandment that the Lord elaborated on the most. It must mean He is serious about this commandment. God realized that if we are left to the craziness and busyness of our world, we will surely out-run our souls. Remember, at the time God wasn't talking to the Information Age of the 21st century. Yet, He knew the tendency of our human nature to not take time to slow down, rest, and become renewed and restored.
Pastor Ted mentioned that we do not do a good job of keeping the 4th commandment and that has now negatively impacted the lives of our children and it has impacted our marriages. Ted spoke of the importance of keeping the sabbath as a family. Making it a priority. Teaching our children how to make it a priority in their lives as well.
I know this is a balancing act and it appears impossible. But, I also believe, that many of us are instinctively aware of this need to slow down. We have been duped into believing that our adult lives have to be busy and that they have to revolve around keeping our children busy. God's command is counter-cultural. To Him it's not a balancing act (how much can I put on my plate and balance at one time). To Him it is the way it works. It is the way that helps us maintain our sanity and our health and our relationships.
One of the main victims of this busy-way-of-life is marriage. Husbands and wives are so busy driving the mini-van taxi, they don't take time for themselves. We don't realize that the greatest gift we can give our children is that of a strong, healthy, loving, vibrant marriage. A marriage that is centered on God and a marriage that loves each other as Christ loves us. It is not a marriage that is centered on the children, where everything revolves around them. It is not a marriage that makes decisions based on keeping the kids happy. It is a marriage based on loving each other and following God together.
When I think back to my childhood, yes I remember vacation to Hawaii and the soccer games and piano lessons and road trips, etc. But, what I CHERISH are the family devotion times before bed, worshipping with my family in church, and reading the Christmas story on Christmas day with my Grandpa. It was the spiritual nurturing that has kept me going. It is the spiritual upbringing that has become my Rock. Not all of that other stuff.
If you would like to read more about this book, you can go to: http://greatparentslousyloversthebook.com I know that am going to be getting myself a copy.
So, if you are living the balancing act and trying to figure out how to balance your life, your kids' lives, your marriage, your work, your faith - you don't have to look too far for the answer. God tells us to put one foot in front of the other, sit down on that balance beam of life, and regularly spend a day with Him.
"O God, my Rock and my Redeemer, there are times I feel like I'm about to tip over from all of the things I feel I have to do. I get off-balance and when I do, I see you as something else I need to deal with. Forgive me. Take Your hand and bring me back to the balance I seek. Remind me again and again of Your commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. Remove from me any temptation that will distract me from You. I seek the balance only You can bring to my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
This morning, as I was driving to the church, I heard an interview with Ted Cunningham on Q102.7. Ted is a pastor that co-wrote a book with Dr. Gary Smalley called "Great Parents, Lousy Lovers". I was drawn into what Ted was sharing about parenting in today's world. He was speaking straight to me about the struggles of having our kids involved in every activity under the sun and not losing that connection with your spouse.
In the interview, Ted talked about the Sabbath and how the commandment of keeping the Sabbath holy (Exodus 20:8-12) is the one commandment that the Lord elaborated on the most. It must mean He is serious about this commandment. God realized that if we are left to the craziness and busyness of our world, we will surely out-run our souls. Remember, at the time God wasn't talking to the Information Age of the 21st century. Yet, He knew the tendency of our human nature to not take time to slow down, rest, and become renewed and restored.
Pastor Ted mentioned that we do not do a good job of keeping the 4th commandment and that has now negatively impacted the lives of our children and it has impacted our marriages. Ted spoke of the importance of keeping the sabbath as a family. Making it a priority. Teaching our children how to make it a priority in their lives as well.
I know this is a balancing act and it appears impossible. But, I also believe, that many of us are instinctively aware of this need to slow down. We have been duped into believing that our adult lives have to be busy and that they have to revolve around keeping our children busy. God's command is counter-cultural. To Him it's not a balancing act (how much can I put on my plate and balance at one time). To Him it is the way it works. It is the way that helps us maintain our sanity and our health and our relationships.
One of the main victims of this busy-way-of-life is marriage. Husbands and wives are so busy driving the mini-van taxi, they don't take time for themselves. We don't realize that the greatest gift we can give our children is that of a strong, healthy, loving, vibrant marriage. A marriage that is centered on God and a marriage that loves each other as Christ loves us. It is not a marriage that is centered on the children, where everything revolves around them. It is not a marriage that makes decisions based on keeping the kids happy. It is a marriage based on loving each other and following God together.
When I think back to my childhood, yes I remember vacation to Hawaii and the soccer games and piano lessons and road trips, etc. But, what I CHERISH are the family devotion times before bed, worshipping with my family in church, and reading the Christmas story on Christmas day with my Grandpa. It was the spiritual nurturing that has kept me going. It is the spiritual upbringing that has become my Rock. Not all of that other stuff.
If you would like to read more about this book, you can go to: http://greatparentslousyloversthebook.com I know that am going to be getting myself a copy.
So, if you are living the balancing act and trying to figure out how to balance your life, your kids' lives, your marriage, your work, your faith - you don't have to look too far for the answer. God tells us to put one foot in front of the other, sit down on that balance beam of life, and regularly spend a day with Him.
"O God, my Rock and my Redeemer, there are times I feel like I'm about to tip over from all of the things I feel I have to do. I get off-balance and when I do, I see you as something else I need to deal with. Forgive me. Take Your hand and bring me back to the balance I seek. Remind me again and again of Your commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. Remove from me any temptation that will distract me from You. I seek the balance only You can bring to my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Round 12
Good afternoon!
I am going to sound like a broken record in what I am sharing this week, but you'll understand when you here of our ongoing saga...
The mouse is baaaaack!
You may remember a few months back in my blog, "It's On!", the story of the mouse that we couldn't catch in our garage. Since that time, we had caught two mice in the garage. I thought that would be the end of the story. Unfortunately, a couple of weeks back I noticed a quick movement out of the corner of my eye by one of the bathrooms in our home (the kids' bathroom, no less). Wouldn't you know, a mouse was running rampant, but this time it is in our house!
We laid some more traps and got some of those pulsating deterrents you plug into your wall sockets and we didn't see the mouse again for a couple of weeks. Until yesterday. It was back and I am tired of it messing with my mind!
It is one thing that the mouse was out in our garage, it is a whole other story now that the mouse is in our house.
I was reflecting on this situation again this morning. Who would have known that a tiny rodent would bring so much spiritual reflection to my life? Is God trying to tell me something? I shutter at the thought.
I think about my own life and how sin enters my life. I think about those things that tempt me and in their own subtle ways remind me that they are around. At first, these temptations stay out in the garage of my life. Every now and then they appear. I focus on them and then try to get rid of them. However, if I don't completely take care of the temptation and those things that cause me to stumble, eventually they move in to the home of my heart. They run around unnoticed, nibbling and hiding in the deep recesses of my heart. Now, when I am at home and comfortable, they come peering at me, inviting me to turn my attention, my energy, towards them.
After chasing it around a bit, I realize that I need to get rid of this temptation, this stumbling block that has taken up residence in my life. I set out traps to try and kill it. I tempt the tempter and try to chase it out of my heart home, but still, I struggle.
How do you get rid of these temptations and stumbling blocks in life? I want to, but once I think it's gone, there it is staring back at me again. It's like going round after round in a boxing match, with no end in site. I'm tired, but I won't give up. It's Round 12 and if I don't get a knock out, I may get leveled myself.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this very struggle we all have. Listen to what he says in Romans 7:14-25 (The Message translation):
"I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different."
May those last two verses give you hope, as it gives me hope. That in this life of contradictions, the answer is always JESUS CHRIST!
"Gracious God. Forgive me for opening myself up to allowing sin to take up residence in my life. Forgive me for enjoying it. Take away any sense of guilt and make right my life which I give to You. I want to serve You. I want to worship You. I want to live my life fully for You. Remind me that it is not my job to take away the temptation. It is my job to allow you to defeat it and remove it from my life. I am willing. This round is Yours. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
I am going to sound like a broken record in what I am sharing this week, but you'll understand when you here of our ongoing saga...
The mouse is baaaaack!
You may remember a few months back in my blog, "It's On!", the story of the mouse that we couldn't catch in our garage. Since that time, we had caught two mice in the garage. I thought that would be the end of the story. Unfortunately, a couple of weeks back I noticed a quick movement out of the corner of my eye by one of the bathrooms in our home (the kids' bathroom, no less). Wouldn't you know, a mouse was running rampant, but this time it is in our house!
We laid some more traps and got some of those pulsating deterrents you plug into your wall sockets and we didn't see the mouse again for a couple of weeks. Until yesterday. It was back and I am tired of it messing with my mind!
It is one thing that the mouse was out in our garage, it is a whole other story now that the mouse is in our house.
I was reflecting on this situation again this morning. Who would have known that a tiny rodent would bring so much spiritual reflection to my life? Is God trying to tell me something? I shutter at the thought.
I think about my own life and how sin enters my life. I think about those things that tempt me and in their own subtle ways remind me that they are around. At first, these temptations stay out in the garage of my life. Every now and then they appear. I focus on them and then try to get rid of them. However, if I don't completely take care of the temptation and those things that cause me to stumble, eventually they move in to the home of my heart. They run around unnoticed, nibbling and hiding in the deep recesses of my heart. Now, when I am at home and comfortable, they come peering at me, inviting me to turn my attention, my energy, towards them.
After chasing it around a bit, I realize that I need to get rid of this temptation, this stumbling block that has taken up residence in my life. I set out traps to try and kill it. I tempt the tempter and try to chase it out of my heart home, but still, I struggle.
How do you get rid of these temptations and stumbling blocks in life? I want to, but once I think it's gone, there it is staring back at me again. It's like going round after round in a boxing match, with no end in site. I'm tired, but I won't give up. It's Round 12 and if I don't get a knock out, I may get leveled myself.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this very struggle we all have. Listen to what he says in Romans 7:14-25 (The Message translation):
"I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different."
May those last two verses give you hope, as it gives me hope. That in this life of contradictions, the answer is always JESUS CHRIST!
"Gracious God. Forgive me for opening myself up to allowing sin to take up residence in my life. Forgive me for enjoying it. Take away any sense of guilt and make right my life which I give to You. I want to serve You. I want to worship You. I want to live my life fully for You. Remind me that it is not my job to take away the temptation. It is my job to allow you to defeat it and remove it from my life. I am willing. This round is Yours. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Another Breakthrough
Good afternoon!
Today I read from Luke 14:15-24 (I encourage you to read it) and it talked about the Kingdom of God. Actually, there are over 100 references to the Kingdom of God in the gospels...which means it was a pretty important topic for Jesus. Therefore, it should be an important part of our conversation as well. The story talks about how the Jesus is ready to invite all of us to the banquet table to experience the Kingdom of God (God's full presence around us), yet many make excuses or are distracted by other things this world has to offer.
Recently, I read about Gary Kildall. In 1973 he wrote the first popular operating system for personal computers, named CP/M. The story goes that IBM approached Kildall in 1980 about developing the operating system for IBM PCs. But Kildall snubbed IBM officials at a crucial meeting. Instead, Kildall chose to fly his new airplane.
IBM executives were frustrated with Kildall and instead turned to Bill Gates, founder of a small software company called Microsoft, and his operating system named MS-DOS. Fourteen yearss later Bill Gates was worth more than 8 billion dollars.
Kildall, who has since passed away, was not aware of what was right in front of him and how big the market would become for operating systems. In a similar way, we don't often realize how big God's Kingdom really is and when God comes calling with the offer of a lifetime, we tend to find other things to do.
Personally, I don't want to miss out on the Kingdom of God. I'm not just talking about Heaven here. I'm talking about seeing God at work around me and within me. The Kingdom of God is breaking through all around us in small acts of mercy, in words of kindness and compassion, in standing up for injustices, in speaking for those who are on the margins of society, in standing for the truth that comes through Jesus Christ, in a child's innocent look, and a baby's cry. The Kingdom of God is HUGE and I don't want to miss it.
Let me leave you with a thought that I was left with in a clergy gathering earlier today. It is a question I will ask myself everyday - "Where have I seen the Kingdom of God break through today? This week? How did I block it from breaking through?"
Imagine how our perspective of life and faith would change if we were always on the look out for the Kingdom of God - I think we would recognize just how BIG our God is and how BIG the opportunity is to live for Him.
No more excuses.
"Almighty God, thank You for breaking through the mire and mess of my world, to show me a glimpse of You every day. Forgive me when I have been a barrier to Your Kingdom being made a reality here on earth. Forgive my excuses and my desire to do other things that take me away from You. I don't want to make excuses anymore. I want to see You and Your greatness every day of my life. If You can use me God - I am Yours. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
Today I read from Luke 14:15-24 (I encourage you to read it) and it talked about the Kingdom of God. Actually, there are over 100 references to the Kingdom of God in the gospels...which means it was a pretty important topic for Jesus. Therefore, it should be an important part of our conversation as well. The story talks about how the Jesus is ready to invite all of us to the banquet table to experience the Kingdom of God (God's full presence around us), yet many make excuses or are distracted by other things this world has to offer.
Recently, I read about Gary Kildall. In 1973 he wrote the first popular operating system for personal computers, named CP/M. The story goes that IBM approached Kildall in 1980 about developing the operating system for IBM PCs. But Kildall snubbed IBM officials at a crucial meeting. Instead, Kildall chose to fly his new airplane.
IBM executives were frustrated with Kildall and instead turned to Bill Gates, founder of a small software company called Microsoft, and his operating system named MS-DOS. Fourteen yearss later Bill Gates was worth more than 8 billion dollars.
Kildall, who has since passed away, was not aware of what was right in front of him and how big the market would become for operating systems. In a similar way, we don't often realize how big God's Kingdom really is and when God comes calling with the offer of a lifetime, we tend to find other things to do.
Personally, I don't want to miss out on the Kingdom of God. I'm not just talking about Heaven here. I'm talking about seeing God at work around me and within me. The Kingdom of God is breaking through all around us in small acts of mercy, in words of kindness and compassion, in standing up for injustices, in speaking for those who are on the margins of society, in standing for the truth that comes through Jesus Christ, in a child's innocent look, and a baby's cry. The Kingdom of God is HUGE and I don't want to miss it.
Let me leave you with a thought that I was left with in a clergy gathering earlier today. It is a question I will ask myself everyday - "Where have I seen the Kingdom of God break through today? This week? How did I block it from breaking through?"
Imagine how our perspective of life and faith would change if we were always on the look out for the Kingdom of God - I think we would recognize just how BIG our God is and how BIG the opportunity is to live for Him.
No more excuses.
"Almighty God, thank You for breaking through the mire and mess of my world, to show me a glimpse of You every day. Forgive me when I have been a barrier to Your Kingdom being made a reality here on earth. Forgive my excuses and my desire to do other things that take me away from You. I don't want to make excuses anymore. I want to see You and Your greatness every day of my life. If You can use me God - I am Yours. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Quick Thought
Hello Friends and Family,
I pray all is well with you.
I have a quick thought for you today that has guided my prayers and my thoughts today. It was my devotion today and it comes from "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis. Read the words...read them again...let them sink in...reflect on their meaning and say, "God, speak."
"The life of a good religious person should shine in all virtue and be inwardly as it appears outwardly. And it should be the much more inward, for Almighty God beholds the heart and we should always honor and reverence him as if we were always in his bodily presence, and appear before him as angels, clean and pure, shining with all virtue.
We ought every day to renew our purpose in God, and to stir our hearts to fervor and devotion, as though it were the first day of our conversion. And we ought daily to pray and say: Help me, my Lord Jesus, that I may persevere in good purpose and in your holy service unto my death, and that I may now today perfectly begin, for I have done nothing in time past."
God speak...
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray all is well with you.
I have a quick thought for you today that has guided my prayers and my thoughts today. It was my devotion today and it comes from "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis. Read the words...read them again...let them sink in...reflect on their meaning and say, "God, speak."
"The life of a good religious person should shine in all virtue and be inwardly as it appears outwardly. And it should be the much more inward, for Almighty God beholds the heart and we should always honor and reverence him as if we were always in his bodily presence, and appear before him as angels, clean and pure, shining with all virtue.
We ought every day to renew our purpose in God, and to stir our hearts to fervor and devotion, as though it were the first day of our conversion. And we ought daily to pray and say: Help me, my Lord Jesus, that I may persevere in good purpose and in your holy service unto my death, and that I may now today perfectly begin, for I have done nothing in time past."
God speak...
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Say Awe
Good afternoon!
What a beautiful day God has created for us to enjoy today. The sun is shining, my family is healthy, and my spirit is good.
Have you ever had one of those days where it just seems nothing could go wrong? Your spirit just smiles through the day? Well, today is one of those days and I am going to enjoy it because I know that these days don't last forever. Maybe that is why they are so special. I want to drink in the feeling, absorb the moment into my soul, so that when my days aren't going as well I can be reminded of this time.
I sometimes wonder why we experience these ethereal moments in life. I wonder, "why today?". But, my spirit responds in a way that reminds me to allow myself to be in awe of the moment and to be in awe of God.
As I think through my day, it is nothing different than any other day. I got up. Went to the bank. Went to the grocery store. Went to work. Lunch plans were changed. Had an unscheduled meeting. Did some paperwork. Now I'm writing this blog. Nothing different - on the outside.
Internally though, it's like I've been living in a sense of awe all day. Awe of what God has done, is doing, and will do.
In awe that our puppy didn't have an accident last night - Praise the Lord!
In awe that my son is doing well after oral surgery - Praise the Lord!
In awe that our friend mows our lawn for us (because I'm lazy) - Praise the Lord!
In awe of God's provision - Praise the Lord!
In awe that I have a family that loves me, in spite of me - Praise the Lord!
In awe that God has called someone like me to tell people about Him - Praise the Lord!
In awe of God's creation and how His Son continues to shine in my life - Praise the Lord!
In awe of how God is working in another man's life (thanks for sharing your story with me Darryl) - Praise the Lord!
In awe that the little squirrel made it to the other side of the road, even after being knicked by a car - Praise the Lord for His protection!
In awe that God has blessed me with so many friends that I got to reconnect with while on vacation last week - Praise the Lord!
In awe of the staff I work with and their dedication to our Lord - Praise the Lord!
In awe of GRACE, LOVE, and HOPE that comes from our AWEsome God!
Whether you are struggling today, or going through the humdrum of life, or you are having a good day - take some time to say "Awe" and take in the wonders of our incredible Creator.
"Most awesome God, thank You for all that You have blessed me with - great and small. Thank You that I do not have to walk through this life alone. Even when all have seemed to abandon me, You are with me. When all seems lost, You remind me of the victory You had over death. When I am weak, You make me strong again. I am in awe of You - my Mighty Savior, my Dependable Deliverer, my AWEsome God! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
What a beautiful day God has created for us to enjoy today. The sun is shining, my family is healthy, and my spirit is good.
Have you ever had one of those days where it just seems nothing could go wrong? Your spirit just smiles through the day? Well, today is one of those days and I am going to enjoy it because I know that these days don't last forever. Maybe that is why they are so special. I want to drink in the feeling, absorb the moment into my soul, so that when my days aren't going as well I can be reminded of this time.
I sometimes wonder why we experience these ethereal moments in life. I wonder, "why today?". But, my spirit responds in a way that reminds me to allow myself to be in awe of the moment and to be in awe of God.
As I think through my day, it is nothing different than any other day. I got up. Went to the bank. Went to the grocery store. Went to work. Lunch plans were changed. Had an unscheduled meeting. Did some paperwork. Now I'm writing this blog. Nothing different - on the outside.
Internally though, it's like I've been living in a sense of awe all day. Awe of what God has done, is doing, and will do.
In awe that our puppy didn't have an accident last night - Praise the Lord!
In awe that my son is doing well after oral surgery - Praise the Lord!
In awe that our friend mows our lawn for us (because I'm lazy) - Praise the Lord!
In awe of God's provision - Praise the Lord!
In awe that I have a family that loves me, in spite of me - Praise the Lord!
In awe that God has called someone like me to tell people about Him - Praise the Lord!
In awe of God's creation and how His Son continues to shine in my life - Praise the Lord!
In awe of how God is working in another man's life (thanks for sharing your story with me Darryl) - Praise the Lord!
In awe that the little squirrel made it to the other side of the road, even after being knicked by a car - Praise the Lord for His protection!
In awe that God has blessed me with so many friends that I got to reconnect with while on vacation last week - Praise the Lord!
In awe of the staff I work with and their dedication to our Lord - Praise the Lord!
In awe of GRACE, LOVE, and HOPE that comes from our AWEsome God!
Whether you are struggling today, or going through the humdrum of life, or you are having a good day - take some time to say "Awe" and take in the wonders of our incredible Creator.
"Most awesome God, thank You for all that You have blessed me with - great and small. Thank You that I do not have to walk through this life alone. Even when all have seemed to abandon me, You are with me. When all seems lost, You remind me of the victory You had over death. When I am weak, You make me strong again. I am in awe of You - my Mighty Savior, my Dependable Deliverer, my AWEsome God! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Dogged Faith
Good Afternoon!
Have you ever done something you didn't want to do? Yesterday, I did. You see, for a while now, my two kids have been annoyingly consistent in voicing their desire to get a new dog. Our beloved Charlee died almost one year ago. Over the last couple of months, the kids have felt a need to get another dog to be a companion to our other dog, Radar. I had many reasons for not wanting to get another dog, but I won't go into those here. Suffice it to say, I was able to effectively deflect the barrages of "Dad, please!" What I didn't know is that my children were created with an innate ability to effectively practice the ambush tactic, known to be effective in warfare. Between you and me, I think they got if from their mother (she was in on the whole thing!) : )
Anyway, while I was away at a staff retreat on Monday, the plan went into action. My wife thought it would be a good idea to take my children to the Humane Society..."just to look". Yeah, right. They knew what they were doing, they had done it before (when we got Charlee). I should have known. My love for my family blinded me. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The ambush was in full operation!
Without going into all of the details, we got the dog they fell in love with. A cute, 11-week old, Old English Sheepdog/Australian Shepherd mix. She is almost pure white. Since my children actually paid for her, they got the naming rights and named her...are you ready for this...Snowball. Original.
I must confess, she is a cute little dog and reminds all of us of some of the qualities that Charlee had. She is a little odd in her looks. One eye has a black patch around it while the other eye has pink around it. She looks like a little misfit. But, her story was heart-wrenching as well. In her 11 weeks of life, we are her 4th-5th family. She has been moved from one home to another. She is a bit timid and appeared at first to be depressed. Can't say I blame her. Lost, with no one place to call home. A misfit dog, not able to find a place that would accept her and help her fit in.
In the middle of the night, I remembered one of the reasons why I didn't want another dog, especially a puppy. She would wimper and cry. My son and I would take her out to the back yard so that she could go to the bathroom. One time it was for real, the other time was just a ruse. It takes a lot of time and investment to welcome someone new into the home. Thanks to the dogged determination of my children (pun intended), we now are a two dog family. Pray for me.
I liken this experience to the church. In many ways we want to keep the family as it is. It is comfortable that way. We know what we can depend on. We can get to know the people. Once we are a part of the family, it takes less investment on our part to keep it all going.
Then, all of a sudden, some misfit comes in with a history, a past, and even a present that makes us uncomfortable. They have been wandering from one place to the next, lost in their lives, with no place to call home. They have baggage. Their theology isn't sound. Their language isn't Christian. Their clothing isn't clean. Their body is a walking collage of different pictures and piercings. Their music isn't holy. They wear a hat in the sanctuary. They think they can even drink coffee while they worship. They don't know the rules. They don't know the way "it should be".
Maybe if we saw them outside of the church, it would be different. We'd be able to not engage them. We could walk right by them. Or, we could have a quick conversation, and go on our merry way...leaving them to their wanderings and us to our righteousness.
If they are in the church, we may feel a spiritual obligation to engage them - even if we don't want to. "Maybe another church would be a better fit?" we ask ourselves.
Maybe you don't think these things, but today more than ever, the Church needs to remember that there are billions of people lost and wandering. They are looking for a place to call home. If we are always focused on what it takes to be a member of the family of God (right doctrine, proper style of worship, keeping tradition for tradition's sake, going to meetings, etc.) then the homeless wanderer will never be able to fit in - because he/she is looking for a home, not an institution.
It takes time and investment when we welcome a new person to the family of God. It takes our patience. It takes walking with them at odd times and in uncomfortable places. It takes a willingness to see the world from their perspective. It takes an authentic love for them as God's children and the willingness to create opportunities for them to see Jesus and have a transforming experience with Him. It takes dogged faith in God to provide us the boldness, courage, and direction in reaching out. That faith is unrelenting and it will not rest until the mission is accomplished - making disciples in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Are you willing to invest the time in those who are wandering and lost? Or, is it enough for you to pat them on the head, love on them a little, and send them on their way?
One will build the Kingdom. The other will be its demise.
"Almighty God, forgive me for my biases and prejudices of those who do not know You. Forgive me that my thoughts, my words, and my actions have not made it possible for wandering souls to find a pathway to You. Allow my life to reflect the fullness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Give me a dogged faith to pursue the wandering soul and love him as you love him and serve her as you serve her. I want to invest my life and my faith in You, so that others may find a home in Your Body, the Church. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Have you ever done something you didn't want to do? Yesterday, I did. You see, for a while now, my two kids have been annoyingly consistent in voicing their desire to get a new dog. Our beloved Charlee died almost one year ago. Over the last couple of months, the kids have felt a need to get another dog to be a companion to our other dog, Radar. I had many reasons for not wanting to get another dog, but I won't go into those here. Suffice it to say, I was able to effectively deflect the barrages of "Dad, please!" What I didn't know is that my children were created with an innate ability to effectively practice the ambush tactic, known to be effective in warfare. Between you and me, I think they got if from their mother (she was in on the whole thing!) : )
Anyway, while I was away at a staff retreat on Monday, the plan went into action. My wife thought it would be a good idea to take my children to the Humane Society..."just to look". Yeah, right. They knew what they were doing, they had done it before (when we got Charlee). I should have known. My love for my family blinded me. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The ambush was in full operation!
Without going into all of the details, we got the dog they fell in love with. A cute, 11-week old, Old English Sheepdog/Australian Shepherd mix. She is almost pure white. Since my children actually paid for her, they got the naming rights and named her...are you ready for this...Snowball. Original.
I must confess, she is a cute little dog and reminds all of us of some of the qualities that Charlee had. She is a little odd in her looks. One eye has a black patch around it while the other eye has pink around it. She looks like a little misfit. But, her story was heart-wrenching as well. In her 11 weeks of life, we are her 4th-5th family. She has been moved from one home to another. She is a bit timid and appeared at first to be depressed. Can't say I blame her. Lost, with no one place to call home. A misfit dog, not able to find a place that would accept her and help her fit in.
In the middle of the night, I remembered one of the reasons why I didn't want another dog, especially a puppy. She would wimper and cry. My son and I would take her out to the back yard so that she could go to the bathroom. One time it was for real, the other time was just a ruse. It takes a lot of time and investment to welcome someone new into the home. Thanks to the dogged determination of my children (pun intended), we now are a two dog family. Pray for me.
I liken this experience to the church. In many ways we want to keep the family as it is. It is comfortable that way. We know what we can depend on. We can get to know the people. Once we are a part of the family, it takes less investment on our part to keep it all going.
Then, all of a sudden, some misfit comes in with a history, a past, and even a present that makes us uncomfortable. They have been wandering from one place to the next, lost in their lives, with no place to call home. They have baggage. Their theology isn't sound. Their language isn't Christian. Their clothing isn't clean. Their body is a walking collage of different pictures and piercings. Their music isn't holy. They wear a hat in the sanctuary. They think they can even drink coffee while they worship. They don't know the rules. They don't know the way "it should be".
Maybe if we saw them outside of the church, it would be different. We'd be able to not engage them. We could walk right by them. Or, we could have a quick conversation, and go on our merry way...leaving them to their wanderings and us to our righteousness.
If they are in the church, we may feel a spiritual obligation to engage them - even if we don't want to. "Maybe another church would be a better fit?" we ask ourselves.
Maybe you don't think these things, but today more than ever, the Church needs to remember that there are billions of people lost and wandering. They are looking for a place to call home. If we are always focused on what it takes to be a member of the family of God (right doctrine, proper style of worship, keeping tradition for tradition's sake, going to meetings, etc.) then the homeless wanderer will never be able to fit in - because he/she is looking for a home, not an institution.
It takes time and investment when we welcome a new person to the family of God. It takes our patience. It takes walking with them at odd times and in uncomfortable places. It takes a willingness to see the world from their perspective. It takes an authentic love for them as God's children and the willingness to create opportunities for them to see Jesus and have a transforming experience with Him. It takes dogged faith in God to provide us the boldness, courage, and direction in reaching out. That faith is unrelenting and it will not rest until the mission is accomplished - making disciples in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Are you willing to invest the time in those who are wandering and lost? Or, is it enough for you to pat them on the head, love on them a little, and send them on their way?
One will build the Kingdom. The other will be its demise.
"Almighty God, forgive me for my biases and prejudices of those who do not know You. Forgive me that my thoughts, my words, and my actions have not made it possible for wandering souls to find a pathway to You. Allow my life to reflect the fullness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Give me a dogged faith to pursue the wandering soul and love him as you love him and serve her as you serve her. I want to invest my life and my faith in You, so that others may find a home in Your Body, the Church. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Thursday, August 5, 2010
A New Chapter
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I pray that you have been able to experience the power of Christ in your life this week.
This week I have had the wonderful pleasure to delight in one of my daughter's accomplishments. My daughter is 9 years old and she loves to read and write. She has a very creative side to her. In late January of this year, some 6 1/2 months ago, she decided that she wanted to write a book. A lofty goal and one that, quite honestly, I thought was too lofty. My daughter has the habit of starting many things and not finishing them.
As with most goals, she started off strong and with great gusto. She would write a paragraph or two and have to read it aloud to the family. We encouraged her and recognized some latent talent that was starting to come out. After a while, she wasn't picking up the computer as often and the writing of the book was put on the shelf, so to speak. At least, that is what I thought.
From time to time, my daughter would start the project back up and focus on her book. Over the last month she has been really determined until earlier this week she looked up from the computer and said, "My book is done!" I was excited for her and proud of her, as she accomplished a very large goal.
When you think of a 9 year old writing a book, you may think, as I did, that the "book" would be only a few pages long. After printing it out today, her book is 39 pages (roughly)! Not only that, she has a "book cover" with pictures and title, along with 9 chapters, each with their own title. It is really impressive! I printed out the pages and formatted it in book form for her and when I brought it home she shouted, with giddiness in her voice, "My first published book!" How can you not smile?
So, to make it really official, I would like to be the first person to quote from my daughter's book, "Fighters: Newcomer", from the 6th chapter titled "The Grouping". (by the way, this book is about a pack of dogs as they establish their pack and the other packs they encounter) "'Snowfight, do you promise to train as hard as you can, and protect the pack even at the cost of your life?' Samuel asked. Snowfight replied firmly, 'Yes, I do.'" Samuel then asks another dog named Wolfmix, "'do you promise to train your apprentice to be a noble fighter and a dog I can trust?'...'Yes sir, I promise.'"
If that little snippet doesn't impress you, I don't know what will! If you'd like to read the book, I'd be happy to get you a copy. Let me know! I think Birdhouse Publishing has just been established : )
This is a great story, and even more fun to tell, but why did I share that particular quote? Why did it catch my eye?
Recently, the leadership of our church has been talking about what it is going to take to reach a generation of people that we struggle to reach. The question the wise leader above asks, can be a question for us as we strive to fully live behind our mission and vision. Do we promise to train hard (read our Bibles, pray hard, love well, meet together on a regular basis) and are we willing to protect the truth of the gospel, even at the cost of our lives? (we sacrifice our time, we sacrifice our agendas, we sacrifice our power and position, and yes, even sacrifice our lives)
Do we promise to train and equip others to become trustworthy disciples of Jesus Christ...no matter the cost? Are these promises we can make to God in order to keep the church pack strong and healthy?
I wonder, sometimes, if we know what it really takes to provide ministry that will impact our current and future generations. I am not saying that we compromise the message or water it down - the gospel does not change. Our approach to ministry changes. Our worship changes. Our communication changes. Our perspective changes. It is not that we are trying to write a completely different book. We are just needing to start a new chapter.
Are we up for it? These are things we need to explore...together. I look forward to the journey. If you have insights of what the church can do to reach the new generations of people, comment on this blog or email me - donbird@canonumc.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Precious Lord, we seek Your guidance and direction as we strive to tell others about your love and grace in new and exciting ways. We know that you have called us to protect the integrity of the church while at the same time making it relevant for the world we live in. Give us courage to see with Your eyes, love with Your heart, and proclaim with Your voice. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray that you have been able to experience the power of Christ in your life this week.
This week I have had the wonderful pleasure to delight in one of my daughter's accomplishments. My daughter is 9 years old and she loves to read and write. She has a very creative side to her. In late January of this year, some 6 1/2 months ago, she decided that she wanted to write a book. A lofty goal and one that, quite honestly, I thought was too lofty. My daughter has the habit of starting many things and not finishing them.
As with most goals, she started off strong and with great gusto. She would write a paragraph or two and have to read it aloud to the family. We encouraged her and recognized some latent talent that was starting to come out. After a while, she wasn't picking up the computer as often and the writing of the book was put on the shelf, so to speak. At least, that is what I thought.
From time to time, my daughter would start the project back up and focus on her book. Over the last month she has been really determined until earlier this week she looked up from the computer and said, "My book is done!" I was excited for her and proud of her, as she accomplished a very large goal.
When you think of a 9 year old writing a book, you may think, as I did, that the "book" would be only a few pages long. After printing it out today, her book is 39 pages (roughly)! Not only that, she has a "book cover" with pictures and title, along with 9 chapters, each with their own title. It is really impressive! I printed out the pages and formatted it in book form for her and when I brought it home she shouted, with giddiness in her voice, "My first published book!" How can you not smile?
So, to make it really official, I would like to be the first person to quote from my daughter's book, "Fighters: Newcomer", from the 6th chapter titled "The Grouping". (by the way, this book is about a pack of dogs as they establish their pack and the other packs they encounter) "'Snowfight, do you promise to train as hard as you can, and protect the pack even at the cost of your life?' Samuel asked. Snowfight replied firmly, 'Yes, I do.'" Samuel then asks another dog named Wolfmix, "'do you promise to train your apprentice to be a noble fighter and a dog I can trust?'...'Yes sir, I promise.'"
If that little snippet doesn't impress you, I don't know what will! If you'd like to read the book, I'd be happy to get you a copy. Let me know! I think Birdhouse Publishing has just been established : )
This is a great story, and even more fun to tell, but why did I share that particular quote? Why did it catch my eye?
Recently, the leadership of our church has been talking about what it is going to take to reach a generation of people that we struggle to reach. The question the wise leader above asks, can be a question for us as we strive to fully live behind our mission and vision. Do we promise to train hard (read our Bibles, pray hard, love well, meet together on a regular basis) and are we willing to protect the truth of the gospel, even at the cost of our lives? (we sacrifice our time, we sacrifice our agendas, we sacrifice our power and position, and yes, even sacrifice our lives)
Do we promise to train and equip others to become trustworthy disciples of Jesus Christ...no matter the cost? Are these promises we can make to God in order to keep the church pack strong and healthy?
I wonder, sometimes, if we know what it really takes to provide ministry that will impact our current and future generations. I am not saying that we compromise the message or water it down - the gospel does not change. Our approach to ministry changes. Our worship changes. Our communication changes. Our perspective changes. It is not that we are trying to write a completely different book. We are just needing to start a new chapter.
Are we up for it? These are things we need to explore...together. I look forward to the journey. If you have insights of what the church can do to reach the new generations of people, comment on this blog or email me - donbird@canonumc.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Precious Lord, we seek Your guidance and direction as we strive to tell others about your love and grace in new and exciting ways. We know that you have called us to protect the integrity of the church while at the same time making it relevant for the world we live in. Give us courage to see with Your eyes, love with Your heart, and proclaim with Your voice. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Monday, July 26, 2010
Do You Have the Time?
Can you believe how time has flown this summer? I look back to my kids' last day of school and I cannot believe that we are now making arrangements for school shopping and that the new school year starts in 33 days. Our time this summer has been filled with conferences, vacation, and a multitude of wonderful ministry events here at the church.
I'm sure if you were to ask me a few times this summer if I had time to do something, I would have answered "No!" (rather emphatically) It seems that when I am in the midst of a busy time in my life, I feel I don't have the time to do anything else or add anything else to my plate. I am a person that needs my down time and my alone time and when I don't get it, I can quickly become overwhelmed.
As I reflect on this quick summer months, and in conjunction with my message in worship on Sunday, I realize that I have the same amount of time every day to do whatever it is that I need to get done. But, there are times that I don't manage myself very well when it comes to the time in my life.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr, the author of "Life's Little Instruction Book", said, "Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."
It isn't that we don't have the time, it is what we do with the time that we have that can either make a difference in the world around us or create chaos in the world within us. So, as we quickly approach another school season and as I look at my calendar getting full by the minute, I hear God asking me to take another look at my time and decide how I am going to use it the best. Will I use it by running frivolously from one appointment and event to another, or will I invest it in making a difference in this world for the sake of Jesus Christ?
Do you have the time?
Creator of all time, You have blessed me with this life and with the gift of time. I want to walk so close to You that I see the opportunities You place within my path and I take the time to experience my time in a new way. I want the time I have been given on this earth to make a difference for the sake of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I'm sure if you were to ask me a few times this summer if I had time to do something, I would have answered "No!" (rather emphatically) It seems that when I am in the midst of a busy time in my life, I feel I don't have the time to do anything else or add anything else to my plate. I am a person that needs my down time and my alone time and when I don't get it, I can quickly become overwhelmed.
As I reflect on this quick summer months, and in conjunction with my message in worship on Sunday, I realize that I have the same amount of time every day to do whatever it is that I need to get done. But, there are times that I don't manage myself very well when it comes to the time in my life.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr, the author of "Life's Little Instruction Book", said, "Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."
It isn't that we don't have the time, it is what we do with the time that we have that can either make a difference in the world around us or create chaos in the world within us. So, as we quickly approach another school season and as I look at my calendar getting full by the minute, I hear God asking me to take another look at my time and decide how I am going to use it the best. Will I use it by running frivolously from one appointment and event to another, or will I invest it in making a difference in this world for the sake of Jesus Christ?
Do you have the time?
Creator of all time, You have blessed me with this life and with the gift of time. I want to walk so close to You that I see the opportunities You place within my path and I take the time to experience my time in a new way. I want the time I have been given on this earth to make a difference for the sake of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Days of Our Lives
Greetings!
It has been another amazing week at FUMC! Our Children and Family Ministry team has done an outstanding job with Vacation Bible School. We have 69 children enrolled and 72 active volunteers! I now understand the deep emotion of Paul when he said to the church in Corinth "Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives." (1 Corinthians 1:4-6, The Message)
That is the exact emotion that springs up in my heart when I think about YOU and the ministry you are called to provide in our community! Praise be to the Lord!
Lately, we have been talking a great deal about God's call on our lives to serve Him with our gifts and talents. Our church continues to respond in amazing ways. If you are still on the fence about whether you have the time or the gifts to serve, may the reflection below be a challenge and an encouragement to you today.
There is a story of an old mountaineer and his wife. They were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening just whiling away the time. After a long silence, the wife said: “Jed, I think it’s raining. Go outside and check, will ya?” The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fire for a second, sighed, then said, “Aw Ma, why don’t we just call in the dog and see if he’s wet.”
Sounds like one of my responses. There are times that we have a tendency to get lazy, don’t we? We want to do only what we need to and that transfers over, quite frequently, to our spiritual lives. At least I know it has for me. I have to pray that God helps me overcome my desire to be lazy in my physical life because it tends to easily influence my spiritual life as well.
I am reminded of John Wesley, the Father of Methodism. He traveled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging twenty miles a day for forty years. He preached 4,000 sermons, produced 400 books, and learned ten languages. At age 83, he was annoyed that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes. At age 86, he felt ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.
In comparison to John Wesley, my life is rather calm. It is not that we need to add more to our lives and get as busy as we can. The blessing comes with how we spend our lives. Do we spend it on ourselves or in service to God? There is much to do for the Kingdom today — none of us should be bored! Let’s get up and do something for God today, and tomorrow, and throughout every season God’s blesses us with. There’s so much work to be done!! Will you join me?
God, You and You only have created every aspect of my life. You alone know the days of my life. Protect me from apathy and laziness. Challenge me to use my days and the time you grant me for Your purposes and for the building up of Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
It has been another amazing week at FUMC! Our Children and Family Ministry team has done an outstanding job with Vacation Bible School. We have 69 children enrolled and 72 active volunteers! I now understand the deep emotion of Paul when he said to the church in Corinth "Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives." (1 Corinthians 1:4-6, The Message)
That is the exact emotion that springs up in my heart when I think about YOU and the ministry you are called to provide in our community! Praise be to the Lord!
Lately, we have been talking a great deal about God's call on our lives to serve Him with our gifts and talents. Our church continues to respond in amazing ways. If you are still on the fence about whether you have the time or the gifts to serve, may the reflection below be a challenge and an encouragement to you today.
There is a story of an old mountaineer and his wife. They were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening just whiling away the time. After a long silence, the wife said: “Jed, I think it’s raining. Go outside and check, will ya?” The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fire for a second, sighed, then said, “Aw Ma, why don’t we just call in the dog and see if he’s wet.”
Sounds like one of my responses. There are times that we have a tendency to get lazy, don’t we? We want to do only what we need to and that transfers over, quite frequently, to our spiritual lives. At least I know it has for me. I have to pray that God helps me overcome my desire to be lazy in my physical life because it tends to easily influence my spiritual life as well.
I am reminded of John Wesley, the Father of Methodism. He traveled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging twenty miles a day for forty years. He preached 4,000 sermons, produced 400 books, and learned ten languages. At age 83, he was annoyed that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes. At age 86, he felt ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.
In comparison to John Wesley, my life is rather calm. It is not that we need to add more to our lives and get as busy as we can. The blessing comes with how we spend our lives. Do we spend it on ourselves or in service to God? There is much to do for the Kingdom today — none of us should be bored! Let’s get up and do something for God today, and tomorrow, and throughout every season God’s blesses us with. There’s so much work to be done!! Will you join me?
God, You and You only have created every aspect of my life. You alone know the days of my life. Protect me from apathy and laziness. Challenge me to use my days and the time you grant me for Your purposes and for the building up of Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Simply Incredible
Hello Friends and Family,
What a week it has been, personally and professionally. As I type this blog, the church is a buzz with 100 people from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as our church is hosting The School of Christian Mission. The staff has been fantastic meeting to the needs of our guests. Servants have offered their time to greet all of our guests and help them find rooms in the church where their workshops are taking place. Some have put together copies of packets needed at the workshops, while others helped us make paper fans on the spur of the moment (it is HOT here!).
Even while all of this is going on, we have servants coming in and out of the church getting everything ready for Vacation Bible School starting on Sunday. I am extremely proud of our church for its willingness to take on such big projects in the name of our really big God. It fills my heart with joy to see the church serving and living out of its purpose. Praise be to God!
Now onto the personal side of my week. As many of you know, my dad had a major heart attack on Sunday after church. I got the news that he was being transported by ambulance when we were at the LIFE Group celebration. My family quickly got up to leave and, as we were leaving, I could hear Pastor Emily start a prayer for my dad. In that moment, I felt the love and support of this church and it took away any anxiety about what was to come. I was reminded in that simple act that my dad was in the arms of his Creator and there was no better place for him to be (whatever the outcome).
We got to the hospital emergency room and didn't know where to go. I had stopped by the security desk and I was so impressed with the man behind the glass. He knew who my father was and my sister (who was there with my mom) and he walked with us to the elevators and told us where we could find my family. His gentle, kind, and compassionate spirit put us at ease and I thanked God for putting that man in our path on Sunday. We entered the waiting room just as the doctor was coming out and he told us that he was amazed how my dad handled the heart attack. He told us that this was one of those attacks where you typically see the person clutch their chest and fall over dead.
To make a long story short, my dad exceeded all expectations. He was released from the hospital after two days and there is no major damage to his heart. He had a stint put in the artery that was 100% blocked, but other than that he is doing very well. The doctors kept saying how they were amazed and how there was no real explanation for it. However, I know the explanation - GOD'S GRACE and the prayers of His people.
I share these stories with you because this week has reminded me and solidified my belief that we are all ministers and called to God's work. Without the gifts and willingness of the servants who have filled our church this week, FUMC would not be able to host our Conference event or provide an opportunity for children to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ through VBS. Without the gifts of prayer and faithfulness, our family would not have felt the comfort and peace in our drive to Colorado Springs. Without the gift of compassion from a security officer, we would not have experienced the extended hand of God in our time of need at the hospital.
These all seem like simple acts - but they make incredible impact when we choose to allow God to use us and when we are willing to serve Him with our lives. Thank you for serving our Lord and making an impact on my life and the life of my family.
Gracious God and Loving Savior, by Your hand we are comforted. By Your Word we are put at ease. By Your love we are filled with strength. By the willing lives of those around us, You are made real in our lives. Thank you for those people in my life that love You, grow with You, and serve You. Remind me of the seeds they have sown in me when You call me to be Your hands, feet, and voice in this world. I thank you, Lord for being simply incredible! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
What a week it has been, personally and professionally. As I type this blog, the church is a buzz with 100 people from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as our church is hosting The School of Christian Mission. The staff has been fantastic meeting to the needs of our guests. Servants have offered their time to greet all of our guests and help them find rooms in the church where their workshops are taking place. Some have put together copies of packets needed at the workshops, while others helped us make paper fans on the spur of the moment (it is HOT here!).
Even while all of this is going on, we have servants coming in and out of the church getting everything ready for Vacation Bible School starting on Sunday. I am extremely proud of our church for its willingness to take on such big projects in the name of our really big God. It fills my heart with joy to see the church serving and living out of its purpose. Praise be to God!
Now onto the personal side of my week. As many of you know, my dad had a major heart attack on Sunday after church. I got the news that he was being transported by ambulance when we were at the LIFE Group celebration. My family quickly got up to leave and, as we were leaving, I could hear Pastor Emily start a prayer for my dad. In that moment, I felt the love and support of this church and it took away any anxiety about what was to come. I was reminded in that simple act that my dad was in the arms of his Creator and there was no better place for him to be (whatever the outcome).
We got to the hospital emergency room and didn't know where to go. I had stopped by the security desk and I was so impressed with the man behind the glass. He knew who my father was and my sister (who was there with my mom) and he walked with us to the elevators and told us where we could find my family. His gentle, kind, and compassionate spirit put us at ease and I thanked God for putting that man in our path on Sunday. We entered the waiting room just as the doctor was coming out and he told us that he was amazed how my dad handled the heart attack. He told us that this was one of those attacks where you typically see the person clutch their chest and fall over dead.
To make a long story short, my dad exceeded all expectations. He was released from the hospital after two days and there is no major damage to his heart. He had a stint put in the artery that was 100% blocked, but other than that he is doing very well. The doctors kept saying how they were amazed and how there was no real explanation for it. However, I know the explanation - GOD'S GRACE and the prayers of His people.
I share these stories with you because this week has reminded me and solidified my belief that we are all ministers and called to God's work. Without the gifts and willingness of the servants who have filled our church this week, FUMC would not be able to host our Conference event or provide an opportunity for children to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ through VBS. Without the gifts of prayer and faithfulness, our family would not have felt the comfort and peace in our drive to Colorado Springs. Without the gift of compassion from a security officer, we would not have experienced the extended hand of God in our time of need at the hospital.
These all seem like simple acts - but they make incredible impact when we choose to allow God to use us and when we are willing to serve Him with our lives. Thank you for serving our Lord and making an impact on my life and the life of my family.
Gracious God and Loving Savior, by Your hand we are comforted. By Your Word we are put at ease. By Your love we are filled with strength. By the willing lives of those around us, You are made real in our lives. Thank you for those people in my life that love You, grow with You, and serve You. Remind me of the seeds they have sown in me when You call me to be Your hands, feet, and voice in this world. I thank you, Lord for being simply incredible! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Thursday, July 8, 2010
What do you do with the lemons?
Good afternoon!
I pray all is well. I am finally back from vacation and we appreciate the prayers while we were gone. We had a wonderful time as a family, but it is always good to be home. However, I am struggling a bit getting back into a "normal" routine. When you have 11 days off, new habits start to form. It's all good, though!
I don't know how many of you enjoy comedy, but I really enjoy listening to and watching comedians perform their craft. I find it such a wonderful gift that God has created in these individuals to bring laughter and joy to the people around them. I especially enjoy improvisational comedy and am in awe of those who do it so brilliantly.
One of the things that makes for a good comic (in my view) is the ability to surprise you by looking at a situation or event differently. To do this, the delivery has to be perfect, but when done with perfection, it can have you rolling on the floor. As I was surfing the internet this week in search of something else, I came across the beginning of a well known phrase. See if you can finish it for me: "When life gives you lemons..."
I am sure that many of you finished the phrase with, "...make lemonade". I did the same. But, on this particular occasion, I was suprised by the comedic ending that was in front of me. The whole phrase said this: "When life gives you lemons, give them away and drink a Dr. Pepper!" I loved it! It had me laughing! Not only because it mentions Dr. Pepper as the ONLY soft drink that can effectively take away the sourness of life, but because I didn't expect it and it had me thinking of that phrase in a different way.
After laughing and making sure I printed out the quote to put on the wall in my office, I got to thinking of its deeper significance. I thought about the lemons in my life. The annoyances. The distractions. The sins. The open wounds. The scars. I wondered, "What do you do with the lemons?"
The old adage of "making lemonade" is still good advice. Take the difficult situations of life and difficult experiences and turn them into something good...something that honors God. We are reminded in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
But sometimes I think that the lemons in my life are too sour, too rotten to turn into lemonade. I think there isn't enough sugar in the world to make that lemonade taste good. What do I do with those kinds of lemons?
Luke 5:37-38 tells us, "And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins." 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a NEW creation, the old has GONE, and the new has COME!" (emphasis added)
There are times in which I need to discard completely the sour lemons in my life in order to experience the newness Christ wants to see in me. The new life cannot live with the old one, nor the old with the new. As the new adage says, I need to get rid of the lemons and "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8)
So, do you have some lemons in your life? If so, you may be wondering what to do with them. You may be able to make them into lemonade, or you may have to discard them completely. But, one thing I know for sure, when you give them to God you won't have to worry about them any more!
Precious Lord, there are lemons in my life. I have been sour in my attitude, my thinking, my speaking, and my living. I have wounds that will not heal and a heart that tends to be acidic at times. Save me from the lemons in my life. Take them from me and create within me a new heart, a new mind, and a new life. Restore me and reconcile me to Your will and purpose so that I may share the sweetness of living life with You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray all is well. I am finally back from vacation and we appreciate the prayers while we were gone. We had a wonderful time as a family, but it is always good to be home. However, I am struggling a bit getting back into a "normal" routine. When you have 11 days off, new habits start to form. It's all good, though!
I don't know how many of you enjoy comedy, but I really enjoy listening to and watching comedians perform their craft. I find it such a wonderful gift that God has created in these individuals to bring laughter and joy to the people around them. I especially enjoy improvisational comedy and am in awe of those who do it so brilliantly.
One of the things that makes for a good comic (in my view) is the ability to surprise you by looking at a situation or event differently. To do this, the delivery has to be perfect, but when done with perfection, it can have you rolling on the floor. As I was surfing the internet this week in search of something else, I came across the beginning of a well known phrase. See if you can finish it for me: "When life gives you lemons..."
I am sure that many of you finished the phrase with, "...make lemonade". I did the same. But, on this particular occasion, I was suprised by the comedic ending that was in front of me. The whole phrase said this: "When life gives you lemons, give them away and drink a Dr. Pepper!" I loved it! It had me laughing! Not only because it mentions Dr. Pepper as the ONLY soft drink that can effectively take away the sourness of life, but because I didn't expect it and it had me thinking of that phrase in a different way.
After laughing and making sure I printed out the quote to put on the wall in my office, I got to thinking of its deeper significance. I thought about the lemons in my life. The annoyances. The distractions. The sins. The open wounds. The scars. I wondered, "What do you do with the lemons?"
The old adage of "making lemonade" is still good advice. Take the difficult situations of life and difficult experiences and turn them into something good...something that honors God. We are reminded in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
But sometimes I think that the lemons in my life are too sour, too rotten to turn into lemonade. I think there isn't enough sugar in the world to make that lemonade taste good. What do I do with those kinds of lemons?
Luke 5:37-38 tells us, "And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins." 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a NEW creation, the old has GONE, and the new has COME!" (emphasis added)
There are times in which I need to discard completely the sour lemons in my life in order to experience the newness Christ wants to see in me. The new life cannot live with the old one, nor the old with the new. As the new adage says, I need to get rid of the lemons and "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalm 34:8)
So, do you have some lemons in your life? If so, you may be wondering what to do with them. You may be able to make them into lemonade, or you may have to discard them completely. But, one thing I know for sure, when you give them to God you won't have to worry about them any more!
Precious Lord, there are lemons in my life. I have been sour in my attitude, my thinking, my speaking, and my living. I have wounds that will not heal and a heart that tends to be acidic at times. Save me from the lemons in my life. Take them from me and create within me a new heart, a new mind, and a new life. Restore me and reconcile me to Your will and purpose so that I may share the sweetness of living life with You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
Greetings in the joy and grace of our Lord!
I pray that you are all having a wonderful summer so far. My family is getting ready to go on vacation this week, so this is my last post for the month. I will be back at it again when I return to the office on July 6th.
As we get ready for our vacation, I am coming to realize that I need a vacation from the work that it takes to get out of town for a little while. I try to get ahead in my work at the church so that I don't have too much waiting for me upon my return. Mandy likes to make sure the house is really clean for our housesitter and so that we have a clean house when we get back. I need to make sure that the car is in good working order, that certain bills are paid before we leave, that our itinerary is set, and that we are able to pack "light" for our trip.
There is so much work to be done, I am taking a couple days off before we leave to try to accomplish everything and to try to unwind before I leave for vacation. Whether that is realistic or not, time will tell, but that is the plan.
It is amazing the preparations we need to make for the journeys we take. As I spend the next couple of days getting ready to leave for a week, the thought crosses my mind, "Am I this intentional with my spiritual journey?" "Do I put as much thought into being sure that I am prepared for my daily walk with God?"
Preparation is important to a vital Christian life. We are encouraged in 1 Peter 3:15 to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have." Like a good athlete or musician, if I am not practicing the basics of my faith, then I am not preparing myself for those times when my faith will be challenged and those times when others may ask where my faith is grounded.
If I am not praying, reading my Bible, going to church, being involved in worship and outreach, and giving myself fully to God, I will find that I am not adequately prepared for the detours, u-turns, and dead ends that creep into my life. When those obstacles get in my way I quickly become discouraged and it is hard to make my way out of the maze I find myself in.
However, when I make the conscious effort to actively engage God and His activity in my life, when I commit myself to practicing my faith and staying in love with God, I find that when those obstacles get in my way, I am prepared and I have the ability to overcome and find my way back to the One who is always willing to guide and lead me on my life journey. Besides that, I feel better equipped to share in whom my faith is grounded and in whom my hope is found - because I have a daily experience with Jesus in my life.
While I need to be prepared for my vacation, more importantly I need to be prepared for the most important journey of my life - my spiritual journey! What preparations do you need to make?
God of Life, You are my guide and my helper. Thank you for Your Son is the cornerstone of my faith. Thank you for walking with me and preparing me for the challenges that life brings. Reveal to me the areas of my life that are not fully grounded in Your grace. Destroy the obstacles that keep me from living my life with You and prepare within me a heart that is grounded in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray that you are all having a wonderful summer so far. My family is getting ready to go on vacation this week, so this is my last post for the month. I will be back at it again when I return to the office on July 6th.
As we get ready for our vacation, I am coming to realize that I need a vacation from the work that it takes to get out of town for a little while. I try to get ahead in my work at the church so that I don't have too much waiting for me upon my return. Mandy likes to make sure the house is really clean for our housesitter and so that we have a clean house when we get back. I need to make sure that the car is in good working order, that certain bills are paid before we leave, that our itinerary is set, and that we are able to pack "light" for our trip.
There is so much work to be done, I am taking a couple days off before we leave to try to accomplish everything and to try to unwind before I leave for vacation. Whether that is realistic or not, time will tell, but that is the plan.
It is amazing the preparations we need to make for the journeys we take. As I spend the next couple of days getting ready to leave for a week, the thought crosses my mind, "Am I this intentional with my spiritual journey?" "Do I put as much thought into being sure that I am prepared for my daily walk with God?"
Preparation is important to a vital Christian life. We are encouraged in 1 Peter 3:15 to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have." Like a good athlete or musician, if I am not practicing the basics of my faith, then I am not preparing myself for those times when my faith will be challenged and those times when others may ask where my faith is grounded.
If I am not praying, reading my Bible, going to church, being involved in worship and outreach, and giving myself fully to God, I will find that I am not adequately prepared for the detours, u-turns, and dead ends that creep into my life. When those obstacles get in my way I quickly become discouraged and it is hard to make my way out of the maze I find myself in.
However, when I make the conscious effort to actively engage God and His activity in my life, when I commit myself to practicing my faith and staying in love with God, I find that when those obstacles get in my way, I am prepared and I have the ability to overcome and find my way back to the One who is always willing to guide and lead me on my life journey. Besides that, I feel better equipped to share in whom my faith is grounded and in whom my hope is found - because I have a daily experience with Jesus in my life.
While I need to be prepared for my vacation, more importantly I need to be prepared for the most important journey of my life - my spiritual journey! What preparations do you need to make?
God of Life, You are my guide and my helper. Thank you for Your Son is the cornerstone of my faith. Thank you for walking with me and preparing me for the challenges that life brings. Reveal to me the areas of my life that are not fully grounded in Your grace. Destroy the obstacles that keep me from living my life with You and prepare within me a heart that is grounded in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Unashamed
Blessings to you and yours on this beautiful day!
In just a few hours I will be leaving for Annual Conference and gathering with about900 clergy and lay people from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to share in our unity as United Methodist Christians, but to also discern the future path of the Church. As many of you know, I am not a "political" person and I do not enjoy the political nature that these conferences tend to possess. I do enjoy seeing colleagues I have developed friendships with and I do enjoy doing work that I feel is helping to build the Kingdom of God. I often get lost in the discussion of the issues and become quickly frustrated with how complex we have made our faith. But, even in the midst of all of this, I know that God is moving and leading. My prayer is that we, as a unified body of United Methodists, will hear that call and be bold witnesses to the faith we possess.
With that said, I was reminded of The Fellowship of the Unashamed poem that was in an email devotional I receive from my friend, Pat Castle. As I go to Annual Conference this year, this is my prayer for myself and for all of those who gather in Denver over the next four days.
"The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God's hands. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith. I lean on Christ's presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God's grace. My face is set. My gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give until I drop, speak out until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no difficulty recognizing me." (author unknown)
Powerful and Almighty God, by Your Spirit and Truth, I have the power to make a difference in this world for You. Give me Your words and Your heart as I journey the roads this world offers. Remove from me any compromising Spirit that takes me away from You and create within me a heart that is rooted in the foundation of Your great love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
In just a few hours I will be leaving for Annual Conference and gathering with about900 clergy and lay people from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to share in our unity as United Methodist Christians, but to also discern the future path of the Church. As many of you know, I am not a "political" person and I do not enjoy the political nature that these conferences tend to possess. I do enjoy seeing colleagues I have developed friendships with and I do enjoy doing work that I feel is helping to build the Kingdom of God. I often get lost in the discussion of the issues and become quickly frustrated with how complex we have made our faith. But, even in the midst of all of this, I know that God is moving and leading. My prayer is that we, as a unified body of United Methodists, will hear that call and be bold witnesses to the faith we possess.
With that said, I was reminded of The Fellowship of the Unashamed poem that was in an email devotional I receive from my friend, Pat Castle. As I go to Annual Conference this year, this is my prayer for myself and for all of those who gather in Denver over the next four days.
"The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God's hands. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, the bare minimum, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, frivolous living, selfish giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith. I lean on Christ's presence. I love with patience, live by prayer, and labor with the power of God's grace. My face is set. My gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give until I drop, speak out until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no difficulty recognizing me." (author unknown)
Powerful and Almighty God, by Your Spirit and Truth, I have the power to make a difference in this world for You. Give me Your words and Your heart as I journey the roads this world offers. Remove from me any compromising Spirit that takes me away from You and create within me a heart that is rooted in the foundation of Your great love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Thursday, June 10, 2010
It's ON!
May you experience God's joyful presence in your life today!
Over the last couple of months we've had a visitor come and go at our house quite frequently. But now, it seems, this visitor is here to stay. About three months ago I was in our garage minding my own business when I was surprised to see and hear movement in the area by our trash can. Being the type of person that doesn't like surprises from unknown and unwanted varmints, I was startled and quickly went inside without any further investigation. Call me a sissy all you want, but visions of Caddyshack come to my mind and I'd rather not put myself in the position of removing an animal from my face!
I could have sworn the animal was only there for the night and by the sound it was making I had envisioned it to be a large animal. Come to find out, the culprit is a cute little mouse with a voracious appetite for dog food. Every now and then we would catch a glimpse of Speedy Gonzales as he scurried from one part of the garage to another. The other day I caught him back in the dog food and this time he was more bold as he paused for a moment, looked at me, as if to say, "catch me if you can!"
I had found some mousetraps that didn't require one to look at the dead mouse, but they never seemed to work. Finally, my wife got frustrated that her "man" lacked the necessary hunting skills that would take care of the problem. So, she decided to go to the store and get some real mousetraps. She loaded them up with everything a mouse could desire...and we waited.
The next morning I went out to the garage expecting to see a mouse, 1/2 dead, writhing in pain which would require me to finish the act (something I did NOT want to do). Instead, I saw the two mousetraps sitting there, trap ready to be sprung. Only this time all of the bait was gone! Speedy was at it again. I envisioned him running around our garage yelling, "Andale! Andale! Aribba! Aribba! I'm the fastest mouse in all of Colorado!"
The last three nights we have gone through the same routine. We put more bait out only to find that this rascally rodent (say that with an Elmer Fudd accent) steals the bait again...never springing the trap. Yesterday Mandy said to me as she made the discovery, "It's ON!"
While this story has yet to meet its final conclusion, I wonder if there is a faith lesson in all of this? As I think about my own faith journey I have a vision of how I want my life and my relationship with Jesus and my family, friends, etc. to be. I also know that when I take stock of my life and look in the mirror I notice the things I thought I offered to God have been snatched back up again. I also tend to notice that the things that brought me joy have been removed from my life - either by my own choices or situations that are beyond my control.
When I come to these times, I realize that I have often lost the boldness of faith in my life. When I come to this realization, there is a part of me that looks at those traps in my life and I say, "It's ON!"
"We are in a relentless, violent spiritual battle against an enemy who doesn't want us to fulfill our calling, either individually or corporately. The obstacles and opposition that come against us take numerous forms—frontal attacks against our faith, adverse circumstances in our lives, "friendly fire" from other Christians, subtle erosion of our understanding of truth, distractions from sensing God's presence, and more. Most Christians go through long seasons of feeling extreme pressure from life's trials. Our struggles can be intense. Whether we have been persecuted like Christians in a hostile culture or not, Peter's words to the persecuted still ring true for us." (adapted from A Walk Thru the Life of Peter: Growing Bold Faith)
The 1st and 2nd books of Peter offer us some wonderful words of encouragement, strength, and hope. They offer us warnings and caution against the lies and deceptions that can steal away our vibrant faith in Jesus and lead us down a path that takes us away from God. If you get a chance, read these two letters in the New Testament of your Bible. May the words inspire within you a boldness of faith and encouragment to continue in the way of God.
"A Christian focused on his or her true identity and on God's truth will be indestructible - maybe not as the world defines "indestructible," but certainly as God defines it. In a crisis, whatever form it takes, there's no truth more reassuring than that."
When we face the struggles and challenges of daily living, let's live with bold faith in Jesus Christ. Let's look at the world dead in the eye and say, "It's ON!" As we avoid those traps in life that try to keep us from our freedom in Christ, may we say with boldness, "Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba!, " meaning "Go on! Go on! Up! Up!"
Faithful, Almighty, God, give me strength when I am weak. Instill deep within me a bold spirit that is able to look the struggles and challenges of life in the eye and keep moving forward. Give me a faith that doesn't back down, but always looks up! Give me a spirit of strength and not of fear. Help me endure and never give up! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Over the last couple of months we've had a visitor come and go at our house quite frequently. But now, it seems, this visitor is here to stay. About three months ago I was in our garage minding my own business when I was surprised to see and hear movement in the area by our trash can. Being the type of person that doesn't like surprises from unknown and unwanted varmints, I was startled and quickly went inside without any further investigation. Call me a sissy all you want, but visions of Caddyshack come to my mind and I'd rather not put myself in the position of removing an animal from my face!
I could have sworn the animal was only there for the night and by the sound it was making I had envisioned it to be a large animal. Come to find out, the culprit is a cute little mouse with a voracious appetite for dog food. Every now and then we would catch a glimpse of Speedy Gonzales as he scurried from one part of the garage to another. The other day I caught him back in the dog food and this time he was more bold as he paused for a moment, looked at me, as if to say, "catch me if you can!"
I had found some mousetraps that didn't require one to look at the dead mouse, but they never seemed to work. Finally, my wife got frustrated that her "man" lacked the necessary hunting skills that would take care of the problem. So, she decided to go to the store and get some real mousetraps. She loaded them up with everything a mouse could desire...and we waited.
The next morning I went out to the garage expecting to see a mouse, 1/2 dead, writhing in pain which would require me to finish the act (something I did NOT want to do). Instead, I saw the two mousetraps sitting there, trap ready to be sprung. Only this time all of the bait was gone! Speedy was at it again. I envisioned him running around our garage yelling, "Andale! Andale! Aribba! Aribba! I'm the fastest mouse in all of Colorado!"
The last three nights we have gone through the same routine. We put more bait out only to find that this rascally rodent (say that with an Elmer Fudd accent) steals the bait again...never springing the trap. Yesterday Mandy said to me as she made the discovery, "It's ON!"
While this story has yet to meet its final conclusion, I wonder if there is a faith lesson in all of this? As I think about my own faith journey I have a vision of how I want my life and my relationship with Jesus and my family, friends, etc. to be. I also know that when I take stock of my life and look in the mirror I notice the things I thought I offered to God have been snatched back up again. I also tend to notice that the things that brought me joy have been removed from my life - either by my own choices or situations that are beyond my control.
When I come to these times, I realize that I have often lost the boldness of faith in my life. When I come to this realization, there is a part of me that looks at those traps in my life and I say, "It's ON!"
"We are in a relentless, violent spiritual battle against an enemy who doesn't want us to fulfill our calling, either individually or corporately. The obstacles and opposition that come against us take numerous forms—frontal attacks against our faith, adverse circumstances in our lives, "friendly fire" from other Christians, subtle erosion of our understanding of truth, distractions from sensing God's presence, and more. Most Christians go through long seasons of feeling extreme pressure from life's trials. Our struggles can be intense. Whether we have been persecuted like Christians in a hostile culture or not, Peter's words to the persecuted still ring true for us." (adapted from A Walk Thru the Life of Peter: Growing Bold Faith)
The 1st and 2nd books of Peter offer us some wonderful words of encouragement, strength, and hope. They offer us warnings and caution against the lies and deceptions that can steal away our vibrant faith in Jesus and lead us down a path that takes us away from God. If you get a chance, read these two letters in the New Testament of your Bible. May the words inspire within you a boldness of faith and encouragment to continue in the way of God.
"A Christian focused on his or her true identity and on God's truth will be indestructible - maybe not as the world defines "indestructible," but certainly as God defines it. In a crisis, whatever form it takes, there's no truth more reassuring than that."
When we face the struggles and challenges of daily living, let's live with bold faith in Jesus Christ. Let's look at the world dead in the eye and say, "It's ON!" As we avoid those traps in life that try to keep us from our freedom in Christ, may we say with boldness, "Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba!, " meaning "Go on! Go on! Up! Up!"
Faithful, Almighty, God, give me strength when I am weak. Instill deep within me a bold spirit that is able to look the struggles and challenges of life in the eye and keep moving forward. Give me a faith that doesn't back down, but always looks up! Give me a spirit of strength and not of fear. Help me endure and never give up! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Images of Life
Hello!
May God's peace surround you and bring strength to your soul this week!
I wanted to share an experience with all of you that I had this evening with my son, Ethan. We gathered at Merlino's Belvedere for the McKinley Elementary 5th grade graduation dinner. It was a wonderful event that truly honored the kids and their growth into budding teenagers. The meal was good, as well as the fellowship. Parents watched as the children got awards and were presented with certificates of their completion of their elementary education. The Student Council thanked their teachers and gave their gift to the school. All of these events during the evening were nice, but none prepared me for the thoughts that would flood my mind as the kids were presented with their 20 minute slide show.
As I watched the pictures flash in and out on the screen, my mind went back to when many of these kids were in 1st grade (when we came to Canon). It wasn't only my own son that I had watched grow up, it was everyone else's child as well. I've watched as the bonds between these kids got stronger. I remembered birthday parties, baseball games, pool parties, field days, and holiday parties in the classroom. I remembered how some would come up and give me hugs, whereas now they give a quick wave, a quirky smile, and some knucks if I'm lucky.
I was reminded of how quickly the time flies. I've always known that our kids grow up fast, but tonight was a searing reminder of just how fast that time slips through our fingers. I remember when Ethan was born I wrote an article in our church newsletter giving him back to God - knowing that I am blessed to have Ethan as my son as long as God allows. I remember thinking, and still do, that my kids are safest in the arms of their Creator than they will ever be in mine. I remember thinking that I didn't want to take the gift of who they are for granted. Yet, over time, I did. Until tonight.
So the pictures flashed and I caught glimpses of my son with his friends. I heard them all laughing when pictures came on the screen (they all sat together) and I thanked God that He blessed Ethan with such a wonderful class of young people. I prayed for them as the images danced across the screen. I know that Middle School is coming and I know the challenges they will face. I prayed that this night may be a night that they remember the innocence and joy of life as it should be. I prayed that the bonds they have made over the last 5 years may be strengthened, even through the changes that life will bring. I prayed that their future teachers would be as invested in their lives as the teachers they have been blessed with at McKinley - ones who not only cared about their education but also about developing their character as one of the kids said tonight.
Yes, my son is growing up and life will bring some new experiences. There will be other pictures to be taken, experiences to be had, and stories to be told. I pray that when he looks back on his life - the images that come to his mind will bring a smile to his face and remind him that God has had him in the palm of His hand the entire time.
Almighty God, thank you for the time I have on this earth with those I love. Thank you for the gift they are to me. Forgive me for taking them for granted. Be with those I love and continue to faithfully walk by their side. May Your joy be complete in them and may they know the fullness of Your presence in their lives. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
May God's peace surround you and bring strength to your soul this week!
I wanted to share an experience with all of you that I had this evening with my son, Ethan. We gathered at Merlino's Belvedere for the McKinley Elementary 5th grade graduation dinner. It was a wonderful event that truly honored the kids and their growth into budding teenagers. The meal was good, as well as the fellowship. Parents watched as the children got awards and were presented with certificates of their completion of their elementary education. The Student Council thanked their teachers and gave their gift to the school. All of these events during the evening were nice, but none prepared me for the thoughts that would flood my mind as the kids were presented with their 20 minute slide show.
As I watched the pictures flash in and out on the screen, my mind went back to when many of these kids were in 1st grade (when we came to Canon). It wasn't only my own son that I had watched grow up, it was everyone else's child as well. I've watched as the bonds between these kids got stronger. I remembered birthday parties, baseball games, pool parties, field days, and holiday parties in the classroom. I remembered how some would come up and give me hugs, whereas now they give a quick wave, a quirky smile, and some knucks if I'm lucky.
I was reminded of how quickly the time flies. I've always known that our kids grow up fast, but tonight was a searing reminder of just how fast that time slips through our fingers. I remember when Ethan was born I wrote an article in our church newsletter giving him back to God - knowing that I am blessed to have Ethan as my son as long as God allows. I remember thinking, and still do, that my kids are safest in the arms of their Creator than they will ever be in mine. I remember thinking that I didn't want to take the gift of who they are for granted. Yet, over time, I did. Until tonight.
So the pictures flashed and I caught glimpses of my son with his friends. I heard them all laughing when pictures came on the screen (they all sat together) and I thanked God that He blessed Ethan with such a wonderful class of young people. I prayed for them as the images danced across the screen. I know that Middle School is coming and I know the challenges they will face. I prayed that this night may be a night that they remember the innocence and joy of life as it should be. I prayed that the bonds they have made over the last 5 years may be strengthened, even through the changes that life will bring. I prayed that their future teachers would be as invested in their lives as the teachers they have been blessed with at McKinley - ones who not only cared about their education but also about developing their character as one of the kids said tonight.
Yes, my son is growing up and life will bring some new experiences. There will be other pictures to be taken, experiences to be had, and stories to be told. I pray that when he looks back on his life - the images that come to his mind will bring a smile to his face and remind him that God has had him in the palm of His hand the entire time.
Almighty God, thank you for the time I have on this earth with those I love. Thank you for the gift they are to me. Forgive me for taking them for granted. Be with those I love and continue to faithfully walk by their side. May Your joy be complete in them and may they know the fullness of Your presence in their lives. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Go Deeper
Hello Everyone!
I pray you have been able to experience the peace of Christ this week, no matter what curveballs life threw at you!
This week, my spirit has been overly burdened with the pains and burdens of many in my life and in the life of our church and community. So many are hurting or have gone through experiences that literally bring us to our knees - either from exhaustion, prayer, or both. As I gathered with some colleagues today to celebrate the retirement of one of them, the one who is retiring mentioned that they found out yesterday that her husband's cancer was back. My heart dropped. Here was a couple, excited about the experiences retirement held for them, only to be beaten down by the news that retirement was going to hold a whole other experience. One they are very familiar with and would rather keep at bay.
You may be in a place right now where it is all you can do to hold on. What does our faith have to say about these life burdens that we all experience?
I will draw my comments from an article written by Francis MacNutt titled Spiritual Dryness: A Call to Go Deeper as found at www.christianhealingmin.org. The article was given to me within the last few months and it has some good wisdom to share for the burdensome times and difficult challenges in our lives.
When we go through difficulties and trials, it can be easy for us to get discouraged and lose our focus. MacNutt proposes that during these times we need to understand what is really happening..."God is calling us to come deeper into His life. The problem is that just when we are about to move forward in faith, we feel like we are going backward, so we quit." He goes on to say, "He wants us to seek Him and love Him for Himself alone and not just what He can give us."
Often times, we seek God to deliver us from pain, tribulation, and difficulty. We seek God because of what God can give us, not because of who God is and the relationship that God wants to have in our lives. In times of trial, it is important to turn from our self-motivations and seek the fullness of God. The important thing for us to remember is that, "so long as we continue to hold on and continue to be obedient to those things God calls us to do, we are still on the right path." It's in these times that we have not lost God, or God hasn't lost us, but we are going into a deeper understanding of God and His purpose for our lives.
MacNutt offers some practical advice when going through trials:
1. Remember that most of our initial religious breakthroughs are accompanied by great joy - or at least comfort. If we know "that great joy alternates with times of desolation, we will be able to endure the process of purgation (God stripping us of our self) until we become more like Jesus."
2. In time this (the trial) usually fades
3. Be careful to not judge our relationship with God by our good feelings, because we could see our trials as backsliding instead of an opportunity to go deeper.
4. Resist the human tendency to slack off in your prayer life or to try and recapture the early honeymoon stage with God by wandering around to churches that feed your emotional needs and desire for control.
5. Look for what God is doing and what is really happening: "that God is letting us be stripped of self-seeking so that we may seek and find Him alone. We have been using God to achieve pleasurable feelings or selfish goals (even seeking healing can become a somewhat selfish quest) instead of seeking God for Himself.
6. Find a spiritual director that can reassure you and help you discern what God is trying to accomplish in your life.
7. Hold steady and move beyond your feelings and "what the world defines as success, that we will grow to full maturity in Christ."
In what ways is God calling you to go deeper with Him? Do you see your trials, difficulties, and burdens as opportunities to discover more about your Creator and Lord?
Gracious, steadfast, God. Thank you for Your faithfulness in the midst of my trials. Forgive me for my unfaithfulness and my desire to have You meet my every whim and desire. Strip me of all selfishness so that I can see the path You have laid out for me to walk. Strip me of an ego that feels I can do it on my own. Fill me with Your presence. Fill me with Your strength. Fill me with Your peace and patience as I journey into a deeper relationship with You. Open my eyes to the beauty of Your presence even in the midst of my own mess. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray you have been able to experience the peace of Christ this week, no matter what curveballs life threw at you!
This week, my spirit has been overly burdened with the pains and burdens of many in my life and in the life of our church and community. So many are hurting or have gone through experiences that literally bring us to our knees - either from exhaustion, prayer, or both. As I gathered with some colleagues today to celebrate the retirement of one of them, the one who is retiring mentioned that they found out yesterday that her husband's cancer was back. My heart dropped. Here was a couple, excited about the experiences retirement held for them, only to be beaten down by the news that retirement was going to hold a whole other experience. One they are very familiar with and would rather keep at bay.
You may be in a place right now where it is all you can do to hold on. What does our faith have to say about these life burdens that we all experience?
I will draw my comments from an article written by Francis MacNutt titled Spiritual Dryness: A Call to Go Deeper as found at www.christianhealingmin.org. The article was given to me within the last few months and it has some good wisdom to share for the burdensome times and difficult challenges in our lives.
When we go through difficulties and trials, it can be easy for us to get discouraged and lose our focus. MacNutt proposes that during these times we need to understand what is really happening..."God is calling us to come deeper into His life. The problem is that just when we are about to move forward in faith, we feel like we are going backward, so we quit." He goes on to say, "He wants us to seek Him and love Him for Himself alone and not just what He can give us."
Often times, we seek God to deliver us from pain, tribulation, and difficulty. We seek God because of what God can give us, not because of who God is and the relationship that God wants to have in our lives. In times of trial, it is important to turn from our self-motivations and seek the fullness of God. The important thing for us to remember is that, "so long as we continue to hold on and continue to be obedient to those things God calls us to do, we are still on the right path." It's in these times that we have not lost God, or God hasn't lost us, but we are going into a deeper understanding of God and His purpose for our lives.
MacNutt offers some practical advice when going through trials:
1. Remember that most of our initial religious breakthroughs are accompanied by great joy - or at least comfort. If we know "that great joy alternates with times of desolation, we will be able to endure the process of purgation (God stripping us of our self) until we become more like Jesus."
2. In time this (the trial) usually fades
3. Be careful to not judge our relationship with God by our good feelings, because we could see our trials as backsliding instead of an opportunity to go deeper.
4. Resist the human tendency to slack off in your prayer life or to try and recapture the early honeymoon stage with God by wandering around to churches that feed your emotional needs and desire for control.
5. Look for what God is doing and what is really happening: "that God is letting us be stripped of self-seeking so that we may seek and find Him alone. We have been using God to achieve pleasurable feelings or selfish goals (even seeking healing can become a somewhat selfish quest) instead of seeking God for Himself.
6. Find a spiritual director that can reassure you and help you discern what God is trying to accomplish in your life.
7. Hold steady and move beyond your feelings and "what the world defines as success, that we will grow to full maturity in Christ."
In what ways is God calling you to go deeper with Him? Do you see your trials, difficulties, and burdens as opportunities to discover more about your Creator and Lord?
Gracious, steadfast, God. Thank you for Your faithfulness in the midst of my trials. Forgive me for my unfaithfulness and my desire to have You meet my every whim and desire. Strip me of all selfishness so that I can see the path You have laid out for me to walk. Strip me of an ego that feels I can do it on my own. Fill me with Your presence. Fill me with Your strength. Fill me with Your peace and patience as I journey into a deeper relationship with You. Open my eyes to the beauty of Your presence even in the midst of my own mess. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Friday, May 14, 2010
God of Second Chances
Happy Thursday Everyone!
I pray that all is well with you and that you have been able to experience the power of God's spirit in your life in new ways this week.
Recently, I received an email with the following link, http://www.godtube.com/featured/video/god-second-chances-w-danny/all. This is a great video that had me smiling and praising God for the wonderful holy moments He blesses us with. I must admit, my eyes were a bit moistened at the end. If you were to walk into my office, I would have told you it was my allergies (a man thing!). This video is moving and powerful.
To be for-warned, it can be difficult to hear the video at times because it is done outside and it is windy on this particular day. In the video a homeless man, Danny, starts singing with a gentleman who is making a video for one of his songs called God of Second Chances. The homeless man has a very heavy accent, but most of what he is saying at different parts throughout the video is this: "One God, One Creator, One Father...O the Holy Ghost is moving like a magnet...Jehovah remember me when I go down on my knees to pray...Hallelujah is the highest praise!"
It is a touching moment that reminds me that whatever our circumstances in life, we can still give praise to our God and sing hallelujah because of His continued presence and movement within our lives.
The video also reminded me that we do serve a God of second chances (and third, and fourth, and so on down the line). We serve a merciful, loving, and forgiving God who remembers us and journeys with us when we fall down on our knees before Him. Without that mercy and deep love, I know that I would be lost in the abyss of my own life, my own failures, and my own inadequacies.
Since I serve a God of second chances, maybe I should be more willing to offer those same chances to those around me. Maybe I should also demonstrate the mercy, love, and forgiveness that has been showered upon me. In doing so, maybe I'll experience God in a new and deeper way. What do you think?
O God of second chances, I praise you and thank you for your mercy and grace. I thank you for taking me from the miry clay of my life and molding me into the person I am today. I know, God, that there is still much work to be done on my soul, my heart, my life. I place myself into Your hands every chance I get. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I pray that all is well with you and that you have been able to experience the power of God's spirit in your life in new ways this week.
Recently, I received an email with the following link, http://www.godtube.com/featured/video/god-second-chances-w-danny/all. This is a great video that had me smiling and praising God for the wonderful holy moments He blesses us with. I must admit, my eyes were a bit moistened at the end. If you were to walk into my office, I would have told you it was my allergies (a man thing!). This video is moving and powerful.
To be for-warned, it can be difficult to hear the video at times because it is done outside and it is windy on this particular day. In the video a homeless man, Danny, starts singing with a gentleman who is making a video for one of his songs called God of Second Chances. The homeless man has a very heavy accent, but most of what he is saying at different parts throughout the video is this: "One God, One Creator, One Father...O the Holy Ghost is moving like a magnet...Jehovah remember me when I go down on my knees to pray...Hallelujah is the highest praise!"
It is a touching moment that reminds me that whatever our circumstances in life, we can still give praise to our God and sing hallelujah because of His continued presence and movement within our lives.
The video also reminded me that we do serve a God of second chances (and third, and fourth, and so on down the line). We serve a merciful, loving, and forgiving God who remembers us and journeys with us when we fall down on our knees before Him. Without that mercy and deep love, I know that I would be lost in the abyss of my own life, my own failures, and my own inadequacies.
Since I serve a God of second chances, maybe I should be more willing to offer those same chances to those around me. Maybe I should also demonstrate the mercy, love, and forgiveness that has been showered upon me. In doing so, maybe I'll experience God in a new and deeper way. What do you think?
O God of second chances, I praise you and thank you for your mercy and grace. I thank you for taking me from the miry clay of my life and molding me into the person I am today. I know, God, that there is still much work to be done on my soul, my heart, my life. I place myself into Your hands every chance I get. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Thursday, May 13, 2010
I've Been Waiting My Whole Life
Happy Thursday!
I hope and pray that God has revealed Himself to you in a special way this week and that you have experienced an extra dose of His joy and peace.
This week I had a conversation with my daughter, Haleigh, that made me laugh. I was sharing with her that she was going to be getting her 4th grade Bible from the church this Sunday during worship. You see, it is our tradition to give a special Bible to all children who are entering the 4th grade. It celebrates their continued growth and it encourages them to stay connected to God's story in our lives.
When I shared with her the news, I was not prepared for her reaction. She said, "Yeah! I can't wait! I've been waiting my whole life for that, Daddy!"
In all honesty, I figured I'd get a response more down the alley of a quick, "OK", or maybe even no response at all. But, much to my chagrin, she found joy in the news that she was going to be receiving her Bible. It is a moment she has been anticipating and looking forward to.
Because of Haleigh's response, I will approach the giving out of the Bibles in a different way. Sometimes things become ritualistic over time and we forget how holy and set apart these moments can be in our lives. When I hand out the Bibles this Sunday, the moment will be a holy moment - a moment in which God is alive, working, and speaking to those precious children that will be receiving His word.
Haleigh's response also got me to thinking about how we receive God's Word in our lives. Do we look forward to God speaking to us? Do we acknowledge His presence in the words we read and the pages we turn? When you read God's Word, is it a holy moment?
I know I run the risk of offending some, and it is not my intent, but I think Christians today have lost the joy and excitement of God's Word in their lives. I think it has become a ritual we do in the mornings, or in our weekly studies, or in worship. We have failed to enter into the holy moments God offers when we enter into His story. We have become lazy in our approach to Scripture, thinking that all we have to do is read the words and we've completed our spiritual duty for the day or week. We have lost the joy of anticipating what God is going to say to us through His Holy Word.
How do we get that joy back? Maybe we listen and learn from a 9-year-old girl. Maybe we take stock of how we have treated God's word, approached God's word, listened to God's word - we repent and we ask for a new heart. A heart that desires to see life spring from the words we read. A heart that desires to embrace the hope that is not bound by the covers of the Bible. A life that approaches God and His word with the sense that we've been waiting our whole lives for what He is going to share with us.
Gracious God, help me to experience holy moments with You. Grant me a heart that joyously receives Your Word for me and a life that embraces the change You want to see in me. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
I hope and pray that God has revealed Himself to you in a special way this week and that you have experienced an extra dose of His joy and peace.
This week I had a conversation with my daughter, Haleigh, that made me laugh. I was sharing with her that she was going to be getting her 4th grade Bible from the church this Sunday during worship. You see, it is our tradition to give a special Bible to all children who are entering the 4th grade. It celebrates their continued growth and it encourages them to stay connected to God's story in our lives.
When I shared with her the news, I was not prepared for her reaction. She said, "Yeah! I can't wait! I've been waiting my whole life for that, Daddy!"
In all honesty, I figured I'd get a response more down the alley of a quick, "OK", or maybe even no response at all. But, much to my chagrin, she found joy in the news that she was going to be receiving her Bible. It is a moment she has been anticipating and looking forward to.
Because of Haleigh's response, I will approach the giving out of the Bibles in a different way. Sometimes things become ritualistic over time and we forget how holy and set apart these moments can be in our lives. When I hand out the Bibles this Sunday, the moment will be a holy moment - a moment in which God is alive, working, and speaking to those precious children that will be receiving His word.
Haleigh's response also got me to thinking about how we receive God's Word in our lives. Do we look forward to God speaking to us? Do we acknowledge His presence in the words we read and the pages we turn? When you read God's Word, is it a holy moment?
I know I run the risk of offending some, and it is not my intent, but I think Christians today have lost the joy and excitement of God's Word in their lives. I think it has become a ritual we do in the mornings, or in our weekly studies, or in worship. We have failed to enter into the holy moments God offers when we enter into His story. We have become lazy in our approach to Scripture, thinking that all we have to do is read the words and we've completed our spiritual duty for the day or week. We have lost the joy of anticipating what God is going to say to us through His Holy Word.
How do we get that joy back? Maybe we listen and learn from a 9-year-old girl. Maybe we take stock of how we have treated God's word, approached God's word, listened to God's word - we repent and we ask for a new heart. A heart that desires to see life spring from the words we read. A heart that desires to embrace the hope that is not bound by the covers of the Bible. A life that approaches God and His word with the sense that we've been waiting our whole lives for what He is going to share with us.
Gracious God, help me to experience holy moments with You. Grant me a heart that joyously receives Your Word for me and a life that embraces the change You want to see in me. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
What Lies Ahead?
Hello!
There is a television program that my son, Ethan, likes to watch. When I have time, I like to watch it with him. It is the new series on the History channel called America: The Story of Us. You see, Ethan has always been a history buff. He knows more about history than I do, I think. He soaks it in and it facinates him. I remember that we took a family vacation out East a few years ago and we went to Gettysburg. An awesome experience and one that I would recommend to anyone - whether you are a history buff or not. Ethan gave our tour guide a run for his money - asking almost every question imaginable. We even have pictures of him walking with our tour guide ahead of the rest of us - engrossed in passionate conversation.
Anyway, we were watching the program that was on this week (we had it recorded) and they were talking about the move West and how the American spirit was formed by the rugged individualism of those who dared to risk it all to make a new life for themselve and their family. The American spirit of independence, the pioneering spirit that leads us to find a way when there seems to be no way, was an identifying mark of the American individual and family. The show talked about the willingness of our ancestors to travel into the unknown, so that a new land could be conquered and a new life made.
I wonder if we, as Americans, Christians, and human beings, have lost some of that willingness to journey into the unknown in our lives and blaze new paths for those that will come after us? It seems that we live in more fear of the unknown now-a-days, than we do with a willingness to embrace it. I'm not saying it is easy to embrace the mystery of our lives and the mystery of what tomorrow may bring. In all honesty, it can be downright scary.
But, as people of faith, we realize and understand that we don't have to have it all figured out, because our faith and our trust is in the One that has it all under control.
I believe there is something deep in all of us that wants to know what lies ahead. But, somewhere along the journey of life, that desire is wrought with fear of what lies ahead verses the excitement of what tomorrow may bring. For instance, when we are young, we dream of what lies ahead (our imaginations can run wild with excitement). When we grow older, we become anxious of what tomorrow will bring (our imaginations run wild again!).
Today, you may be wondering what lies ahead in your future. You may be struggling with fear and discouragement. You may be weighted down by the burden of things you see as limitations or walls you cannot overcome. You may be fearful of what you cannot yet see.
When we search and seek answers for what the future may hold, we can often times focus on our fear and on what lies ahead, instead of focusing on what is right before us and we don't even recognize it...Jesus...the One in whom our future is secure.
It is in Jesus that our ultimate needs will be met. It is in Jesus that we are offered life everlasting. No matter what may be around the corner, or where our life may take us, we can be confident and secure in knowing that Christ is with us the entire way. And even if that is all we know, we will feel more secure in what lies ahead and approach the unknown with a willingness to embrace the mysteries of life as we journey into unknown territory and conquer new lands in our lives.
What lies ahead? With Jesus...Security of life with Him.
God of yesterday, today, and forever, give me courage to face the future unafraid as I put my trust in You. Guide me through the mystery of life and lead me through the unknown territory with a spirit of strength and hope. Help me to conquer new lands in my life, secure in the knowledge that You are with me the entire way. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
There is a television program that my son, Ethan, likes to watch. When I have time, I like to watch it with him. It is the new series on the History channel called America: The Story of Us. You see, Ethan has always been a history buff. He knows more about history than I do, I think. He soaks it in and it facinates him. I remember that we took a family vacation out East a few years ago and we went to Gettysburg. An awesome experience and one that I would recommend to anyone - whether you are a history buff or not. Ethan gave our tour guide a run for his money - asking almost every question imaginable. We even have pictures of him walking with our tour guide ahead of the rest of us - engrossed in passionate conversation.
Anyway, we were watching the program that was on this week (we had it recorded) and they were talking about the move West and how the American spirit was formed by the rugged individualism of those who dared to risk it all to make a new life for themselve and their family. The American spirit of independence, the pioneering spirit that leads us to find a way when there seems to be no way, was an identifying mark of the American individual and family. The show talked about the willingness of our ancestors to travel into the unknown, so that a new land could be conquered and a new life made.
I wonder if we, as Americans, Christians, and human beings, have lost some of that willingness to journey into the unknown in our lives and blaze new paths for those that will come after us? It seems that we live in more fear of the unknown now-a-days, than we do with a willingness to embrace it. I'm not saying it is easy to embrace the mystery of our lives and the mystery of what tomorrow may bring. In all honesty, it can be downright scary.
But, as people of faith, we realize and understand that we don't have to have it all figured out, because our faith and our trust is in the One that has it all under control.
I believe there is something deep in all of us that wants to know what lies ahead. But, somewhere along the journey of life, that desire is wrought with fear of what lies ahead verses the excitement of what tomorrow may bring. For instance, when we are young, we dream of what lies ahead (our imaginations can run wild with excitement). When we grow older, we become anxious of what tomorrow will bring (our imaginations run wild again!).
Today, you may be wondering what lies ahead in your future. You may be struggling with fear and discouragement. You may be weighted down by the burden of things you see as limitations or walls you cannot overcome. You may be fearful of what you cannot yet see.
When we search and seek answers for what the future may hold, we can often times focus on our fear and on what lies ahead, instead of focusing on what is right before us and we don't even recognize it...Jesus...the One in whom our future is secure.
It is in Jesus that our ultimate needs will be met. It is in Jesus that we are offered life everlasting. No matter what may be around the corner, or where our life may take us, we can be confident and secure in knowing that Christ is with us the entire way. And even if that is all we know, we will feel more secure in what lies ahead and approach the unknown with a willingness to embrace the mysteries of life as we journey into unknown territory and conquer new lands in our lives.
What lies ahead? With Jesus...Security of life with Him.
God of yesterday, today, and forever, give me courage to face the future unafraid as I put my trust in You. Guide me through the mystery of life and lead me through the unknown territory with a spirit of strength and hope. Help me to conquer new lands in my life, secure in the knowledge that You are with me the entire way. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)