Religion...

I have just finished the book, Where God was Born by Bruce Feiler. In the last few pages, Feiler quotes Rabbi Saks saying, "Religion is sustained reflections on humanities place in nature...it fuses people to one another and to God." Being a pastor, I guess I thought that I reflected on God often. Since beginning this blog back in January, I've realized how little time I regularly spent seeing God reflected in the world around me. Overly touching things, extraordinarily poignant God moments were obvious to me - but just a casual awareness of God's work in the world around me was missed. Knowing that I had a blog to write about how I see God each day forced me to kick it up a notch - and I am thankful! God is overflowing in the world around us - reaching out in the flowers that bloom up, kissing our cheeks in the drops of rain that won't seem to quit falling lately, smiling out at us through the strangers we encounter each day. I pray that I will always be keenly aware of God at work in the world around me.

Today, may each of see the face of God in the world around us!

Bedtime Stories...

My family and I watched BedTime Stories starring Adam Sandler last night, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I know it came out some time ago, but since I can count on one hand the number of movies I have seen since having children, seeing any movie at all (even late) is pretty impressive. The premise of the movie is that Skeeter (Adam Sandler) is watching his niece and nephew for a week while their mother is job hunting in another state. Skeeter and the kiddos tell bedtime stories each evening, which amazingly come true for Skeeter the next day. Skeeter soon learns that it is the kids who control the stories (and therefore his life) and so he tries to work the system, telling tales that paint successful and happy outcomes to his rather mundane life.
I love the idea behind this movie - that essentially we are in control of the happenings of our lives. Since her entry into this world, I have told my 4 year old, "If you can dream it you can do it!" I believe this with all of my being. I think the biggest obstacle in life is just seeing yourself the way you want to be - happy, successful, productive. Once we can visualize ourselves being the people God has created us to be, then anything is possible!
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9 verse 11-13, right after sharing the words to the what we now call the Lord's prayer, Jesus shares these words with his disciples: "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" In BedTime Stories, Skeeter finds out the stories always unfold as they were told, but not always in the literal way we might expect. A life lived for God will always turn out to be successful and beautiful - but it might not look the way we first crafted them to be.
In this day, let us dream - dream of a day, a week, a year, a lifetime of love and happiness lived in and for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wow - the world is still here!

So, after 3 months of faithfully blogging every day, I took a break over the last two days. Surprisingly, the world didn't fall apart, or quit turning! Being a pastor and a mom and a wife can be overwhelming at times. Regularly it seems that there are just not enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done. I had the opportunity to rest this weekend at an awesome retreat in the woods of Livingston with other Young Clergy Families. What I took back with me this weekend, is that I am my biggest critic - I am my biggest obstacle. I want to be the best that I can for my family and my congregation, I want to serve God with all that I have, but true service includes rest; time to rest ones heart and mind, to lay down the busyness of the world and recenter in ourselves and in our God.

In you, sweet Lord Jesus, I rest.

A Prayer for the Struggling...

Adoration

I came, stumbling
Across the threshold of Your house
Falling into pieces on Your floor.
Once again, the vessel broken
Scattering across the Holy Ground of Your Presence.

Only so precious few hours, no minutes, before
Had I petitioned for Your Strength,
Your Wisdom, Your Holy Silence and Your Peace.

And here I was, in pieces,
Broken intentions, fallen to the floor
As my tears of failure.
I love you so much
Why can't I do what I intend for You?
Why do I always fail?
Why can I not step into
The Silence of Your Love
When I am tempted?
Why is it so hard?

Your precious hands picked up my pieces
So lovingly holding them together
And making me whole again
With the glue of your Love.

And then,
As if that wasn't enough,
You poured Yourself out into my chalice
To overflowing,
Baptizing me once again
In Your Love,
Holding me together with Your Strength,
Picking me up with Your Courage
Molding me.

Into my ear You whispered
Words of Love and Hope,
Words of comfort,
In Your plan.

You poured Yourself out
To overflowing.
Overflow, You said,
Into my people.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, my Life,
For Your loving kindness and mercy.

Whats in a word?

Devotion

De*vo"tion\, n. [F. d['e]votion, L. devotio.]1. The act of devoting; consecration. 2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness. Genius animated by a fervent spirit of devotion. --Macaulay. 3. Act of devotedness or devoutness; manifestation of strong attachment; act of worship; prayer. "The love of public devotion." --Hooker. 4. Disposal; power of disposal. [Obs.] They are entirely at our devotion, and may be turned backward and forward, as we please. --Godwin. 5. A thing consecrated; an object of devotion. [R.] Churches and altars, priests and all devotions, Tumbled together into rude chaos. --Beau. & Fl.
Syn: Consecration; devoutness; religiousness; piety; attachment; devotedness; ardor; earnestness.

May each of us express our profound gratefulness and joy in our Lord today in acts of devotion!

Choking out the Sun...

This morning on our drive into school, Claire was looking out the window and suddenly cried out, "Oh no mommy - I see clouds!" She sounded so distraught! Confused, I turned to her and said, "Okay honey, I see some clouds too..."
"They're choking out the sun!" cried Claire.
After the awful weather we had last weekend, and the lake which was our street and front yard, I do understand that a few clouds might seem ominous to my poor kiddo - a warning of something much more sinister. I had Claire look up at the clouds again, and we named them - there were both cumulus and sirrus clouds floating around in a beautiful blue sky. Then we began to describe what the clouds looked like, and what shapes we imagined them to be. "That one is an elephant!" Claire exclaimed excitedly, no longer afraid at all of the fluffy balls, but now rather fascinated in their ever changing shapes.
I thinking the unknown poses such fear for kids of all ages. Once we can identify and name the bump in the night, the shadow in the dark, the dread peaking in on our lives - then things are not as scary, in fact some of them might seem quite beautiful.

Psalm 91 says:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the Lord, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
May today be a beautiful day, a peaceful day spent not in fear of the unknown, but in honor of the Lord our God.

A Nice Reminder...

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
First painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
Wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
Stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
To animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
Favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
Things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
Prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
Talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
Meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
Learned that we all have to help take care of each
Other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
Your time and money to help people who had nothing,
And I learned that those who have something should
Give to those who don't.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
Of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
To take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
Handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
Feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
Responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
From your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
Hurt, but it's all right to cry..


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
Cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
Productive person when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
Wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
You thought I wasn't looking.'

Just because...

This picture spoke to my heart today...so I thought I would share it!
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Drawn to the Divine

I am in the midst of reading an interesting piece of non-fiction entitled Where God Was Born: A Journey by Land to the Roots of Religion by Bruce Feiler. It is journal of Feiler's travels through the Holy Land, as he endeavours to dig in and better understand his faith. In chapter 2 of book 2, Feiler says that it is a hallmark of civilization that humanity longs for a relationship with the divine. I have to say that I agree with Feiler. I believe that all of humankind has a desire to connect with our Creator, to see and feel and embrace our God. Some of us have clearly identified this need, this yearning as wanting to connect with our Maker. Others try to fill this void with everything the world has to offer - always to no avail. We were made for relationship - to be in relationship with our God and with one another. This world has absolutely everything to offer us, except this integral and vital piece of the human condition - a need for the love and connection of God. Caedmon's Call says in one of their songs, "This world has nothing for me, and this world has everything; all that I could want and nothing that I need." Today, my prayer is for discernment; to be able to distinguish between what I want, what I think I need, and the part of me that is calling out for the Divine!

Amazed...

I am in such awe today of the power of the Holy Spirit. God can take my meager offerings and turn them into good to the glory of the Kingdom of God. Praise to our God who dwells within each of us. May you see God in my this week, and may I see God in you!

I'm just racooning!

Claire has been beyond excited about caterpillars at her school. Apparently, the class has been watching 10 caterpillars grow and eat. "Soon", Claire tells me, "they get really fat, and then they snuggle up inside a nice, soft raccoon, and then they rest. Then once their not tired anymore, they jump out of the raccoon, and the caterpillar turned into a butterfly!"
Today, I plan to take a cue from Claire and the weather, and just snuggle down into a nice, soft, 'raccoon'. Maybe, just maybe, if I can get enough rest, one day I'll emerge as a butterfly!!!

Upgrade = Mom 2.1

So I apparently have been upgraded in the the eyes of my 4 year old. She used to say that she was a kid, her sister was a baby, and I was a mom. If asked if I was a person, she would say "no - you're not a person, you are a mom." Today, for the first time, Claire referred to me as a 'people'. I asked her if I was a mom, and she said, "yeah (and rolled her eyes), but you're also a people" (duh mom!).
So today, I write to you as a proud 'people'. I wonder what I will be tomorrow? :)

1John 3:2 "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

NOISE!!!

My life is full of noise; My baby babbling, my 4 year old chattering, phones ringing, tv's blaring, cell phones chirping, horns honking, radios jumping, clocks ticking, mouths coughing, noses sneezing - sometimes I all but scream out for just a moment of "QUIET"!
My prayer for today, is that God can break me out of all this noise, or break in to all of this noise and reach me. I truly want to hear God in the noisy soundtrack of my life, or in despite of it.

The Lord's Prayer...kid style

Hello Daddy!
We want to know you.
And be close to you.
Please show us how.
Make everything in the world right again.
And in our hearts, too.
Do what is best - just like you do in heaven,
And please do it down here, too.
Please give us everything we need today.
Forgive us for doing wrong, for hurting you.
Forgive us just as we forgive other people
when they hurt us.
Rescue us! We need you.
We don't want to keep running away
and hiding from you.
Keep us safe from our enemies.
You're strong, God.
You can do whatever you want.
You are in charge.
Now and forever and for always!
We think you're great!
Amen!
Yes we do!
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Zondervan

Easter People

Easter has come and gone for another year, and as a pastor, I cannot help but heave a sigh of relief. This Easter was especially wearisome, as Rev. Rusty Watkins, a colleague and friend died while in preparation for Sun Rise Service at Lakewood UMC, where he served as an associate pastor. The tulips and lillies have all been distributed, the eggs are being put up for another year, and all of the candy has almost been eaten. The trappings of Easter are being stashed away, but the eternal message of Easter is and must be ever in our hearts and minds. We are an Easter People. A reconciled, forgiven people of God. We celebrate the earth changing happenings of that first Easter only once a year, but as Easter people, we must celebrate the joy of living as a loved and complete child of God every moment of every day of this life. We have been given the gift of forgiveness, the gift of eternal life in Christ, the keys to heaven; a heaven that has become so much richer and funnier with Rusty reeking havoc!

Watering Away

The Prayer of Oscar Romero

"It helps now and then to step back and take the long view" - wise words from Archbishop Oscar Romero. The Archbishop served the people of El Salvador and was assassinated in 1980 while he was saying mass in San Salvador.

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

Easter Sunday

By Kayleigh Thomas, age 10

Lent - Day 39

Prayer for Holy Saturday

This prayer is designed to be said within the family on Holy Saturday.

Mother or a child: "May our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who alone by his powerful word governs all things, yet has buried the shame of the Cross and iron bonds, who has broken the bars of the bronze doors and has descended into hell, who has shone with the brightness of a new light on those who were sitting in the shadow of death — may he, the sun of justice, rising from the tomb, shine upon our darkness with the marvelous light of his risen Body."

Father: The women sitting at the sepulchre

Family: were weeping and lamenting for the Lord.

Father: Let us pray. O God, who makes this most holy night illustrious by the glory of the resurrection of our Lord, preserve in the new children of your family the spirit of adoption which you have given, that, renewed in body and soul, they may give you a pure service. This we ask of you through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.

Family: Amen.

Father: Let us bless the Lord.

Family: Thanks be to God.

Father: May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.

Family: Amen.

Prayer Source: Holy Lent by Eileen O'Callaghan, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1975

Lent - Day 38

“A father’s legacy is not riches, possessions, or worldly goods of any kind; it is the way he lived, the lives he touched, the promises he kept. It is the kind of man he was”

Author Unknown

Submitted by: Charlie Menn

Lent Day 37

1. What do you want to tell God?

I love you.

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

My dog Nike go sick so he had to go to Heaven. Toys in Heaven for Nike to play with.

3. What do you like best about Easter?

Hunting for eggs and playing with my brother and my new dog, Annie and Lucky and my Daddy.

By: Presley McRee, age 5 1/2

Lent - Day 36

Chicken Crescents

Ingredients:

2 lg chicken breast, boiled, boned and chopped

1 bunch gr. onions chopped

1 med jar chopped pimentos

1 med jar sliced mushrooms

1 1/2 8 oz. cream cheese (room temp.)

3 cans crescent rolls

· Combine all ingredients

· Put a teaspoon of filling into a piece of roll

· Pinch 2 opposite corners together

· Brush each with beaten egg with a little milk

(adds to browning and flakeness)

· Bake at 350° til golden brown, 12-15 minutes

By: Betty Clare

Lent - Day 35

St. Theresa’s Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sin, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Submitted by: Paula Shock

Lent day 34

What Does It Means to Give More Than 100 Percent?

From a strictly Mathematical Viewpoint

What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%? What equals 100% in life?Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1 9 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the love of God will take you

L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Submitted by: Charlie Menn

6th Sunday in Lent

“Heaven” By: Claire Kraus, age 4 1/2

Lent - Day 33

1. What do you want to tell God?

If He could help Ryan.

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

Probably kind of fun.

3. What do you like best about Easter?

The Candy

By: Trey Hiller

Lent - Day 32

30 Books of the Bible (puzzle)

There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus; there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless.

Submitted By: Charlie Menn

Lent - Day 31

God is our Protector

After my husband, Billy passed away, I had trouble sleeping. I felt very alone and scared (Even though my 3 boys never left my side). Every sound I heard, I imagined someone trying to break in the house. I was also worried that I would not be able to pay the bills or even remember when trash day was. Billy was my security, and I depended on him for that. After several months of being afraid it occurred to me that I was not alone. I did not need to carry this burden by myself. I prayed to God that he would help me trust Him with my future. It was comforting to know that He would be my Protector. Nothing in the world could happen without Him allowing it. I am still not a great sleeper, but I do not lie awake in fear anymore.

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8

By: Shannon Carlisle