This month, as I have been living in the Advent season and preparing for Christmas, I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on love - the love that God has for us and the love that we have for one another. I ran across an older video that I had seen before, but it spoke to me, once again. It is the story of a father and son, and all that the father does out of the love for his son. It's moving - let me know what you think.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Advent
This week we enter into the season of Advent, and this is one of my favorite seasons of the year. Advent is where we live on a daily basis - in the in-between times. it is a season of hope and a season filled with preparation. It is also a season that is filled with promise.
Last week Pr. Jennifer's grandmother passed away. She was 91 and lived a wonderful life. Her wit and sassy nature will be missed by everyone. During her last few days I was filled with a sense of awe - for her was this wonderful lady preparing for the end, and yet she had this spirit of hope continuing to permeate her being. She knew that she was embarking on a new journey where the promise of God would continue to hold onto her and bring her to the new life that was promised to her.
And that is what Advent is all about - the promise of God that we are his children and always will be. For now, we live in the gray, we live in the season of Advent, holding onto that hope and remembering that God will always be there for us - blessing us, loving us, and caring for us - as we are his beloved.
Last week Pr. Jennifer's grandmother passed away. She was 91 and lived a wonderful life. Her wit and sassy nature will be missed by everyone. During her last few days I was filled with a sense of awe - for her was this wonderful lady preparing for the end, and yet she had this spirit of hope continuing to permeate her being. She knew that she was embarking on a new journey where the promise of God would continue to hold onto her and bring her to the new life that was promised to her.
And that is what Advent is all about - the promise of God that we are his children and always will be. For now, we live in the gray, we live in the season of Advent, holding onto that hope and remembering that God will always be there for us - blessing us, loving us, and caring for us - as we are his beloved.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Diving into Job
Tonight we started a Bible study on the Book of Job (we are doing the same thing on Thursday at noon if anyone is interested). So I read through the book again and was reminded of how this was such a troubling book for me.
I have always struggled with the idea of bad things happening to good people - as I believe most of us have. But I also know the realities of life, and I know that bad things do happen to good people. As we have started this book on of the things that really stood out to me were the three friends of Job. Later on they are problematic, but at the beginning, they do just what I like to see friends do - they come and sit with Job as he is going through a difficult time.
Having friends like that is a true treasure. Having someone who will come and just be with you as you endure trials and struggles is a true gift. I have a few of these friendships, and I treasure them.
So today, I invite you to think about the people who have come and sat with you during difficult times. Think about the support and live you have been given. Then let them know. So often we take these friendships for granted - let's try not to do that anymore.
I have always struggled with the idea of bad things happening to good people - as I believe most of us have. But I also know the realities of life, and I know that bad things do happen to good people. As we have started this book on of the things that really stood out to me were the three friends of Job. Later on they are problematic, but at the beginning, they do just what I like to see friends do - they come and sit with Job as he is going through a difficult time.
Having friends like that is a true treasure. Having someone who will come and just be with you as you endure trials and struggles is a true gift. I have a few of these friendships, and I treasure them.
So today, I invite you to think about the people who have come and sat with you during difficult times. Think about the support and live you have been given. Then let them know. So often we take these friendships for granted - let's try not to do that anymore.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Grace
As we have been reading through the Bible in the Bible Challenge, I have come back to some gems that I had not spent a lot of time with recently. And it always amazes me how I see something new in the Scriptures, even if it is a story that I have read over and over again.
Today we covered the story of Joseph, and in reading through it this time my mind hung on the word "redeem." Even in the most difficult of times that Joseph faced, God was with him, empowering him, redeeming him, and using him to redeem others.
It is a reminder to me that God is a God of grace. He blesses us over and over again, sometimes without us even realizing it until after the fact. Even in the lowest points of our lives, or maybe especially then, God is there - lifting us up and giving us what we need to make it through those "valleys of the shadow of death."
So today, I invite you to reflect on the grace God has showered on you. Reflect on the blessings you have been given, and take some time to reflect on the ways God has entered into your life.
Today we covered the story of Joseph, and in reading through it this time my mind hung on the word "redeem." Even in the most difficult of times that Joseph faced, God was with him, empowering him, redeeming him, and using him to redeem others.
It is a reminder to me that God is a God of grace. He blesses us over and over again, sometimes without us even realizing it until after the fact. Even in the lowest points of our lives, or maybe especially then, God is there - lifting us up and giving us what we need to make it through those "valleys of the shadow of death."
So today, I invite you to reflect on the grace God has showered on you. Reflect on the blessings you have been given, and take some time to reflect on the ways God has entered into your life.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
90 Day Challenge
At Our Savior's we have started a 90 Day Bible Challenge. The Challenge is to read through the entire Bible in 90 days. We have reading guides and a ning site set up to facilitate discussion as we strive to read through this book of faith in a fairly short amount of time.
For me, this is a wonderful challenge. In the past I have read through the entire Bible, but it has been over a much longer period of time and sometimes the stories have lost a bit of heir power when they are broken up rather than read as a whole. This pushes me to dive back in and read these life-giving stories in their entirety in a much shorter period of time.
It also helps to focus me. Too often I get tied up on the busy-ness of church work that my devotion time is shortened. This forces me to take half and hour every day to dive in and live with Scripture again, something I love to do.
So if you are interested in joining us in this challenge, let me know and I will get info to you. Have a blessed day.
For me, this is a wonderful challenge. In the past I have read through the entire Bible, but it has been over a much longer period of time and sometimes the stories have lost a bit of heir power when they are broken up rather than read as a whole. This pushes me to dive back in and read these life-giving stories in their entirety in a much shorter period of time.
It also helps to focus me. Too often I get tied up on the busy-ness of church work that my devotion time is shortened. This forces me to take half and hour every day to dive in and live with Scripture again, something I love to do.
So if you are interested in joining us in this challenge, let me know and I will get info to you. Have a blessed day.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
141
That is the number of lunches we served today at our lunch ministry. Last week we had 86, this week we grew huge, even ran out of sandwich meat, twice! But boy, were they ever happy to get meals!
This ministry is really at the heart of how we live out our calling as Christians. We are empowered to serve God by serving others. We are gifted by the Spirit to share our gifts with others. We are enriched with God's grace so that we may enrich others in their lives. To be a follower of Christ means we need to get our hands dirty, and in the process we may see the face of Christ shining back at us. And I saw that beautiful face many times this afternoon as I was scurrying around trying to make sure we have enough for everyone to eat.
So may you be blessed with dirty hands as you bring the light of Christ to others.
This ministry is really at the heart of how we live out our calling as Christians. We are empowered to serve God by serving others. We are gifted by the Spirit to share our gifts with others. We are enriched with God's grace so that we may enrich others in their lives. To be a follower of Christ means we need to get our hands dirty, and in the process we may see the face of Christ shining back at us. And I saw that beautiful face many times this afternoon as I was scurrying around trying to make sure we have enough for everyone to eat.
So may you be blessed with dirty hands as you bring the light of Christ to others.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Challenge
A couple of weeks ago a pastor in the area issued a challenge to me - six months to see which of us can lose the most weight. I readily accepted it and have been in the gym pushing my body at least three times a week since then.
As many of you know, weight has often been an issue for me. And now, with this challenge, I am being held accountable by someone else, which is a good thing. As the time goes on I will update you to let you know how it is going.
The body is a wonderful gift, and we have the responsibility to take care of this gift. At times in my life I have lived up to this responsibility quite well, at others times I have not. So as I move forward with this I offer words of encouragement to you as well - get out for a walk, have an apple rather than the cookie that is on the counter, pair up with a friend and do something healthy together. Take some time to take care of your body and you will feel much better for it in the long run.
As many of you know, weight has often been an issue for me. And now, with this challenge, I am being held accountable by someone else, which is a good thing. As the time goes on I will update you to let you know how it is going.
The body is a wonderful gift, and we have the responsibility to take care of this gift. At times in my life I have lived up to this responsibility quite well, at others times I have not. So as I move forward with this I offer words of encouragement to you as well - get out for a walk, have an apple rather than the cookie that is on the counter, pair up with a friend and do something healthy together. Take some time to take care of your body and you will feel much better for it in the long run.
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