Where 3 or 4 are gathered...

Where 3 or 4 are gathered, there you will have 4 different opinions!

And, of course, there will be God as well! It is on my heart today to lift up the richness that comes with the diversity of the Kingdom of God. If the creation points to the Creator, than what a varied, unique, diverse, complex, rich, amazing God we have! May you see God in you in this day, may you see God in those around you in this day, and may you honor God with this day.

I am Mom

So the baby I and just got back from a field trip with Claire's 4 year old class at her Day School. We took 23 kids, and a mob of adults on a tour of the Friendswood Police Station. Day in and day out, when we are enjoying our normal living, I get about as much acknowledgment from my first born as a ghost. (A ghost who waits on her hand and foot, I might add.) Today, amongst all of Claire's classmates, I was a rockstar! She introduced me and her baby sister to each of her friends, held my hand the entire time, and continually smiled up at me. It was nice. I plan to hold on to this memory, and revisit it when I once again become the ghost.
I can't help but think of how Claire's interest/ignoring of me kinda parallels my interest/forgetfullness of Jesus. There are times when I look up to God minute by minute, walking in prayer and so thankful for knowing God is near. And then there are times when I am as aware of God as, well, as aware of God as Claire is of me. I wonder if God saves up the memories of when I am faithful to remember them when I am forgetful...

Brrrrrrr!

This morning as I got into my car (left out in the driveway last night again due to my laziness) I found not a blue pontiac, but a car-cicle. I'm pretty sure I didn't move to Montana as I slept last night - why in the world is it in the low 30's in Texas? My car was completely iced over, as were the house, yard, plants (nice) and pretty much everything else as far as I could see. As the sun is continuing to rise, I have been watching the ice melt - almost immediately - as soon as the sun so much as glances at it. Other patches of ice, hidden in the crevices of the houses and foliage are still as cold as ever. On days like today, I am so thankful for the warmth of our sun. Each and everyday I am thankful for the warmth of our Son. In just a moment the sun warms the earth, and brings forth new life. After just one request, Christ will warm our heart and bring forth new, and eternal life. Let us offer thanks and praise for our Son today!!!

Feeling like Mario...

I realized today on my drive in to the office, that Mario - the little red outfitted plumber on all the Nintendo games - and I are alot alike. No, I am not Italian, and no, I am not very handy with a wrench - but I do feel that we are in the midst of a similar game. Just like Mario, I am ever running, always trying to get through the obstacles of the day (or week or year). Sometimes, I make the right choice, and feel big and can run fast and seem to blow through the pitfalls. Sometimes, I am on fire - and then nothing can stop me. And sometimes, I am just a little guy, hardly visible on the screen, and just trying to get by. Today is a big Mario kind of day! After being affirmed and confirmed by the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry yesterday, I have finally arrived at the flag. What a journey this has been! Three years of residency, 2 years of being certified, 3 years of seminary, 8 years in process, 16 years since my initial calling into ministry, and 30 years of being in the midst of God's love. Go Melody - Go Mario! I cannot wait to see what the next level is going to look like!

Getting Sheepy...

Kirbyjon Caldwell, pastor at Windsor Village UMC has coined the phrase, "Shepherds don't make sheep, sheep make sheep." Now this makes painfully obvious sense for those in the wool industry, and should be just as clear for those of us in the Jesus industry. Don't get me wrong, pastors are great, but everyone has the opportunity to introduce our friends and neighbors to Jesus. Invite someone to church, bible study, choir practice, MOMS group, Sunday School. You worry about getting them in, and then we'll worry about producing that wool!

Calm, Concise and Clear

My prayer for myself today is to be calm, concise and clear as I do my best to reveal who Christ is in me, by sharing who I am in Christ.

Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am Be still and know Be still Be

May you find peace in this day.

People Need People

I heard a statement recently, that has continued to rumble around in my mind over the last few days.

Identity is not found in isolation, but in relatedness.

This seems so profound. I can only best understand myself, when I join together with other people. I understand myself in new ways, when I see myself through the eyes of my family, friends, colleagues, even my enemies (though I hate to think I have any). In the same way, I can best understand what it means to be me in the midst of a relationship with God: my Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. This is why community is so important in the Christian Life (or in any life for that matter). We best understand ourselves, we best understand God, and we best understand the innerworkings of the two when we are together. So - here is my new mantra for the day:

Don't just sit and mold, get up, get out and together in Christ let's be bold!

Opening act vs. stepping aside

In today's sermon, Pastor Randy spoke of how we are in effect the opening act for the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is our job as Christians, to help all the children of God to get ready for God. I am good with this - I am an action oriented kind of person, so I am good with going out and paving the way! As I sit in my office, and think of new things to do to get ready for Jesus (yes, I know I am a Martha to the core), a prayer I have posted to my monitor caught my eye.

I am no longer my own, O God, but yours.
Put me to what you will; place me among who you will,
Put me to serving; Put me to suffering.
Employ me for your sake, or set me aside for your sake.
Set me in high places or bring me to the depths.
Let me be filled, or let me be emptied.
Let me have all things, or let me have nothing.
I freely and with all my heart hand over to you my life, to do with as you please. Now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.

I love this prayer, because overall it speaks of all things we can do, or have or experience for Jesus. I struggle with the simple phrase: or set me aside for your sake. Set me aside? But then what would I do? Who would I be if I wasn't doing something? How could I serve God by being set aside? Am I still of value to God, if I'm not doing something for God?

Cheerios and the Church

I realized this morning, that I have been a racist breakfast cereal consumer. I generally tend to lean toward the plain flakey, or tan colored round varieties of cereal, maybe spicing it up with a raisin every once in awhile. Today, I enjoyed a bowl of Fruity Cheerios (my 4 year old's pick) and was impressed! The bowl was a blur of colors, each more vibrant than the last. Wouldn't it be amazing if, on Sunday mornings, our sanctuaries were as diverse and vibrant as my cereal bowl?

Passionate Worship

Today, I attended the "Passionate Worship" conference hosted by our South District, and was much fulfilled! If we truly believe that God's love for us is boundless, then why would we ever offer worship that is flat or dull, or less then what we are capable of? I think part of the human condition (at least in the USA) is being over programmed, and under planned. This leaves us harried, and struggling to be present, much less to be passionate in our day to day obligations. Bishop Huie said today, that when we lose ourselves in the urgent, we lose sight of the important. Obviously, part of life encompasses surprises, and unplanned urgencies. However, if we are intentional in our worship, if we truly "Take time to be Holy", as the familiar old hymn calls us to, then when the craziness of life intervenes we are much more prepared to react prayerfully. My prayer for myself is to never lose sight of what is important - my faith, my family, and worshipping my Savior with all that I have!

To speak, or not to speak...

This morning, I took the girls for Donuts at our favorite local donut shop. As Claire, Ely and I were sitting there enjoying a long john, pacifier and diet Dr. pepper (respectively), a mom walks in with her two kids, a boy and a girl. The boy quickly places his order, but the little girl - probably about 8 years old, is obviously kind of shy, and mumbles inaudibly to the server, and then turns to her mother. Mom immediately becomes irate, and loudly chastises her daughter to "Not be shy". The poor girl was completely embarrassed. Every mom bone in my body wanted to shake the woman for being so demeaning to her child. The Christian part of me (I'd like to think that all of my parts were Christian parts), was thrown. Do I say something, and risk making it worse, do I say nothing and basically validate what is going on in my abstentia... Right or wrong, I did nothing. So this brings me to my question for the day:
What would you have done?
What would Christ have done?
St. Francis is attributed with the charge to all Christians that we are to "Preach the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone we meet, using words if necessary." What would that have looked like in this situation?