Forbearance – Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23

Ask my older grandchildren, “What’s Grandma’s favorite word?” and hopefully they still remember that it is “Patience!”.  Waiting for stuff when you’re a little kid is HARD work!  Waiting for stuff as a big kid is also HARD work!  How difficult is it to wait for healing when we are ill? How tough is it to suffer through a challenging workday or persist at an unfulfilling job?

Not getting angry when things don’t go our way is also HARD!  Flying off the handle when we are misunderstood or cut-off in traffic or rudely treated by someone is EASY – but it is not Patience!  Patience is HARD!  So how do we live in patience? with the help of the Holy Spirit, of course! 

The benefits of living by the Spirit is found in Galatians 5:22-25 - 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

We hear a lot about the first three – Love, Joy and Peace – especially during the pre-Christmas season called Advent and also throughout the year.  But what is this word – “forbearance”?  Nobody speaks like that anymore, do they?  So – being the word-geek that I am – I looked it up on Biblehub.com.  Here are all the synonyms for the word “forbearance”:

patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, especially as shown in bearing troubles and ills, a willingness to stick with things; and also: long-suffering, fairness, considerateness, gentleness, slowness in avenging wrongs; waiting a sufficient time before expressing anger (count to 10); embracing steadfastness and staying-power, resisting retribution.

The Greek word for forbearance found in this passage (Gal 5:22) is makrothymia – makro – “long” and thymos – “passion”.  Strongs 3115

Now we know what it means, let’s see if we can determine HOW to have Forbearance!  

First, let’s look at the first set of synonyms – patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness and perseverance.  What image comes to mind? Perhaps a favorite scripture passage?

Heb 12:1, … And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,… NIV

            or … and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, NLT

Jam 5:10 - 10Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

James 1:2-4 – 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

         4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. NIV

or And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ESV

or But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NKJV

{I absolutely love biblehub.com because you can type in any keyword search or specific verse and get great results.  Also, it has a feature for “Parallel” where you can line up different translations side by side, verse by verse.  And – my favorite feature – you can choose to go to the Greek translations or the Strongs concordance, which is loaded with great information and so many references your head might spin a bit.  But it’s a great way to really dig in to the Word, to look at different English translations to find words that you can understand, that have meaning in today’s language.  Did you know that there is a direct link to biblehub from the Gruene UMC app?  We always hear about “pushpay” in the app, but there are actually 4 functions included in the app – Contact us (for prayer requests and general questions); Pushpay to donate; Bible to follow along with the service or do additional study on your own and a link to the Facebook page profile.}

Thank you for your forbearance while I digressed down the technology rabbit hole.  😊

The first set of synonyms seem to relate to waiting, or enduring something that is taking a very long time. We are encouraged to lean upon the strength and wisdom of the Spirit that all things will come to fruition in Gods time. 

The second set of synonyms - long-suffering, fairness, considerateness, gentleness, self-restraint – seem to relate to a calmer sense of being.  When I first read these words, I thought of “count to 10”, as is suggested when dealing with a petulant toddler or an aggressive driver.  A statement I found on Biblehub - If in English we had an adjective 'long-tempered' as a counterpart to 'short-tempered,' then makrothymia could be called the quality of being 'long-tempered'.  Wouldn’t that be great?  Instead of flying off the handle or having a knee-jerk reaction to any perceived offense, we could be long-tempered, or slow to anger?  I remember this liturgy from my childhood: “Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”  from Psalm 86:15. This is the image of God I grew up with.  If we are to be mirrored in His image, isn’t this the perfect phrase to practice ourselves in our daily interactions?

Lastly, let’s look at the rest of the Galatians Passage: 

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control.

Kindness… Goodness… Faithfulness… Gentleness… and Self-control

Doesn’t seem like these words are almost all synonyms for each other?  Hopefully, we learned that Forbearance is maintaining Faithfulness in suffering and treating others with kindness, goodness, gentleness and using self-control to manage our temper and negativity? 

Okay….  we’ve had a great language lesson and explored some definitions and terms of what the words in Galatians mean, but HOW do we do it?  How do we maintain Faithfulness in adversity? Maintain Gentleness in times of conflict? How do we maintain Self-control when we’re under great stress? 

We pray, we speak to our Lord, our Savior, and study His Words of Holy Scripture.  We seek the Holy Spirit by learning what the words mean, by putting into practice what we learn from those meanings, and we share the Gospel with everyone we know and meet. – God is Love, and we honor him by sharing that Love!  The first three “fruits” point to the solution – Love, Joy and Peace.  I will close with two more scripture passages and pray that these passages may bring Peace, Joy and Love to your life and world. 

1 Cor 13:4-7 - 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Phil 4:4-9: 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

#bylauramcfall #ministrymessage

What do you think of when you hear "The Bread of Life"?

I gave another sermon at Gaddis Memorial UMC in Comfort TX at the beginning of February.  Here is the video:

https://youtu.be/smmXlL4Zegg

The beginning is cut off - here is the intro:

Our reading today is from the Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verse 51:  “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

This verse is towards the end of chapter six.  In vv 25-59, Jesus continues using the metaphor of bread from Heaven.  The day before Jesus had been teaching by the shore and performed the miracle of feeding the 5000 with five loaves and two fish.  

Now start the video.

Let me know what you think - I really want to improve and get good at this speaking/preaching thing!

#bylauramcfall #ministrymessage

I love to tell the story...

This past Sunday I had the humble honor to guest speak at Gaddis UMC in Comfort, TX. It was my first time in front of more than 20 people, at an actual church.  The congregation at Gaddis was very welcoming and gracious.  My instructions from Pastor Carolyn McGuire were to speak for about 10 minutes... I must truly be a preacher, because the video is just about 17:30 minutes.  lol

I welcome constructive feedback on content, delivery, etc.  Please leave a comment below, or on my Facebook Page.  Thanks, Russ, for driving and also recording the video.

click here to view the video

#ministrymessage

Copy & paste if the link above doesn't work:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOgOrF_lARjoOhC8Gs16WeiX6buMBG48rZ6S8zXyESBiKxlI07rHfSFhJ7qDj8_Tw?key=V1JYeGl2UHlOSnc3QTRTakVtY3o0TU13LW5xOS1R

Ascension & Pentecost.... Now What?

The last time we were together, it was Easter Sunday!  We were mourning the trial, judgement and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Rejoicing at the miracle of his Resurrection and the promises of His return.  I feel we sort of left the story in a state of turmoil….  Yes, we know the end of the story and what comes next, but perhaps we could revisit those days after Easter again.

We’re sort of in that same place right now…  it’s near the end of May, Spring is Springing and there is new life and growth all around us.  School is almost out for the summer break and there will be different schedules and new adventures to go on over the next few months.  Probably even some grown spurts and new clothing and school supplies to be gathered as preparations are made for the next season.  It’s also graduation time – from Pre-school, kindergarten, elementary school, junior and High school, even college and beyond.  Graduation is also a time of beginnings and new life – a time of turmoil and transition – what’s next? how do I do this next thing? Where do we go from here?  Not only for the children, but the parents of those children – why is my baby growing so fast?  Are they ready for this next thing?  Who will take care of them?  Will they be safe in the world on their own?

Even at Gruene we’re in that same place of transition.  Pastor Karen has been appointed to the Conference office to work with new church plants and fostering growth and bringing new life to struggling congregations.  One of our ministerial candidates who has been running our food pantry has also received the call and has been appointed to a new church.  Our children and family ministry director has already moved on to a different position and our Youth leader will be moving back to Tennessee to finish her Master’s degree and also pursue a call in Ministry.   Gruene is getting a new Senior Pastor, and additional Associate pastor, a new Youth director and a new Children and Family ministries director.    That’s a LOT of change!  Pastor Brock and the admin staff will remain the same, but about 75-80% of our staff is changing.  Needless to say, it’s going to be an interesting summer at Gruene UMC!

This is where we find the Disciples…  they had an encounter with the Resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus, the same day that they found the empty tomb.  In the 40 days following the Easter resurrection, there were many similar encounters as Jesus continued to teach the disciples.  On the 40^th day, was the Ascension.   This year, it is on Thursday, May 25^th.  According to “Got Questions.org”:  

“Ascension Day is the celebration of Christ ascending into heaven after His death, burial and resurrection. Ascension Day is observed primarily in Catholic and Anglican churches, and it occurs on the Thursday 40 days after Easter. Ascension Day is also called the Feast of Ascension. 

“The story of Jesus’ Ascension is told in Luke 24:49, Mark 16:19 and Acts 1:3, 9. Putting these accounts together, we find that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared several times to His disciples and others. During this time, He spoke to them further about the kingdom of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit, for whom they were to wait (Acts 1:2-9). After 40 days of these appearances, He was taken up to heaven for the last time (Acts 1:9-11). As the disciples watched Him go, two angels appeared and declared to them that, just as He ascended, Jesus would return in glory.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Ascension-Day.html)

Our reading today is from Acts 1:3–11:

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.  4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”   9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

WOW!  I can’t even imagine!  Perhaps this is when the phrase, “Will miracles never cease?” came about.  Being a disciple or believer in this time must have been amazing!!  40+ days of death, resurrection, walking and talking with a person that you watched being crucified and died on a cross.  Then to watch him ascend – float up – into Heaven? And the angels…  smart alecs that they might have been… “Why are you still standing here with your mouths open?  Get to work!!  There’s much to be done!!!”

A short time later, 10 days to be exact, was the Pentecost.  This year it is on June 4^th.  Again from “Got Questions.org”:

“Pentecost Sunday is a commemoration and celebration of the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the early church. John the Baptist prophesied of the first Pentecost when Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). Jesus confirmed this prophecy with the promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples in John 14:26. He showed Himself to these men after His death on the cross and His resurrection, giving convincing proofs that He was alive. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit, from whom they would receive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:3-8). After Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the men returned to Jerusalem and joined together in prayer in an upper room. On the Day of Pentecost, just as promised, the sound of a violent wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on each of them and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were given the power of communication, which Peter used to begin the ministry for which Jesus had prepared him. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples did not stay in the room basking in God’s glory but burst out to tell the world. This was the beginning of the church as we know it.”  (https://www.gotquestions.org/Pentecost-Sunday.html)

Baptized by fire!!  We have often heard that expression during times of great turmoil, stress or transition, haven’t we?  The disciples had warning, they knew it was coming, but somehow I don’t think what they had in mind was what actually happened to them!  But is it ever?  Do we ever really know what’s next?  Is our expectation ever the reality?  I think the reality is often way more grander and miraculous than we could ever imagine.  We went to a wedding yesterday – another new beginning this spring.  This couple was a little different than most newlyweds in this season.  I say this with great love – the bride and groom are not “spring chickens”.  😊 They are both “of retirement age” and are entering this new season of their lives in a new marriage, a new household, lots of “new”.  And I bet a couple years ago they both thought they were done with “new”!  Ha! 

So what does this all mean for us?  I suppose it simply boils down to this:  There’s always  - ALWAYS – something new.  There will always be changes and new seasons and something different.  But one thing is ALLWAYS consistent and constant:  Gods Love and Steadfastness.  God will ALLWAYS be with us – through the turmoil and transition and stress and change.  God is WITH us in every little detail.  God’s spirit lives within us – right in our very hearts and souls.  Our challenge is to listen – to bow down, to humble our Selves and obey His will, not our own.  What is He going to show us today?  What is He going to teach us?  Do we need knocked down a peg?  Do we need lifted up?  Do we need to show Him off?  Do we need to teach our friends about His love?  Do we need to simply “show up”? 

Also at Gruene today was a baptism.  I’d like to share part of the liturgy with you now.  I will ask you a series of questions and you may simply respond “I do”.   

“Do you renounce the forces of wickedness, reject evil in this world and repent of sin?

“Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

“Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord?

“According to the grace given you, will you remain faithful to Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?

Let us Pray:  As we make these promises to you, O Christ, may we be filled with the power and presence of your Holy Spirit.  As we prepare to receive the Living Body and Blood of the New Covenant, may you take away everything that isn’t You and Fill us with your love and grace and mercy so that we may be your hands and feet in the world around us.  We ask you to help us, every day, to surrender our lives to you, to open our hearts and minds to your will and reflect your love outward to all we encounter.  In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…  Amen.

20170521 #ministrymessage

Easter Message

We’ve all experienced loss.  That gut punch of pain and breathlessness when we hear the news that someone we love has been taken from us.  But I can’t imagine the emotions and feelings that the disciples were experiencing…  Not only had they lost their teacher and friend, but they had witnessed the brutal and humiliating trial, beating and crucifixion of Jesus.  And the probable danger that they themselves were in – the crowds were thirst for blood.  Can we really blame Peter for denying Jesus to an angry mob?  I’m sure they spent Saturday in hiding, mourning and grieving their loss, but also in fear and confusion, the uncertainty of what now?  What’s next?  What do we do?

Then, because all of this stress and anxiety wasn’t enough upheaval, the women go to the tomb, and Jesus isn’t there!  The stone is rolled away and his body is gone.  If it were me, I doubt I would have been able to take anymore.  I would have dropped to my knees and just sat there, sobbing.

When we’re lost in pain, drowning in grief, or overwhelmed by illness, sorrow, even busyness and everyday drudgery and routines, we sometimes can’t see out.  We have on “blinders” – like the horses used to wear so they could only see what was in front of them.  And we are very near sighted – we can only see what’s right in front of our nose.  We can’t see beyond the next step, if we can even see that far.

This is where we find Mary, outside the tomb.  Reading from the Gospel of John 20:11-16:

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”  She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

In Mary’s distress, her eyes were probably downcast.  She was probably vaguely aware of someone else’s presence in the Garden, but perhaps she never even acknowledged him until he spoke.  Lost in her grief, she probably barely heard him.  But when he said her name, “Mary”…  That familiar voice, warm and comforting.  She immediately recognized him.  We’ve all experienced that – scanning the crowd for a loved one, and then finally SEEing them.  All the anxiety, the fear, the worry – it immediately melts away.  “Mary”

Paralleling the verses in John, we’re going over to Luke’s gospel now, to Chapter 24, Verses 13-32. This is a bit after Mary’s encounter with Jesus, and after she has gone back and told the remaining disciples that he is resurrected.  Luke 24:13-32:

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.  “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Cleopas and the other disciple were also consumed with grief and confusion.  Perhaps the only thing they knew to do was to start walking.  As they walked along, they were joined by someone with a lot of questions.  It was Jesus, but they didn’t recognize him.  “Their faces were downcast”  Have you ever had a conversation with someone, especially while walking, without ever really looking at them? Maybe a clerk at the store, or a server at a restaurant?  They speak, you speak, but you never really LOOK at each other.  This is how I imagine the walk to Emmaus was going.  The disciples were distracted by their grief and couldn’t believe that someone was in the area and hadn’t heard the news and goings on of the last few days.

But Jesus was persistent – he walked right along with them, taking the time to review with them everything they already knew.  He started with Moses and covered all the Scriptures and prophecies. We find out later, “weren’t our hearts burning?” they asked each other.   When they were at the supper table and he said those familiar words, just like when Mary heard her name, suddenly they could SEE him, he was revealed to them.  But Jesus didn’t change – he had been with them the whole time.  But the weight was lifted from them, the blinders were removed, their hearts were opened and they could SEE.

Today we share the GOOD NEWS:  Christ has Risen!  He has Risen Indeed!!

As we share the bread and the cup, let our hearts be opened and let our ears hear and our eyes see! Jesus is Alive, Emmanuel, God with us!

#MinistryMessage

Heavenly Father,   As we participate in Holy Communion, open our hearts, remove all barriers so that you are revealed to us and we can know you and experience your presence with us in our every day lives.  Amen.

The eye is the lamp of the body. 01-15-2017

Happy New Year!  We hope 2017 has started well for all of you!  Over at Gruene, our sermon series is “Zoe Life”.  The Greek word Zoe means “derived, sustained by God” it is an “absolute fullness of life where we are created in His image with the capacity to know His eternal life.”  Our aim is to be Joyful, Healthy and Whole in our minds, bodies and souls.  Even as we look at each of the individual parts, we are to remember the oneness of Zoe – all the parts are connected and cannot be treated separately.

Today’s Scripture reading is from the book of Matthew, Chapter Six, verses 22-23:

“The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is the darkness.”  The word of God, Thanks be to God.

At the age when Matthew was written, before the science and technology of today’s world, people believed that there was actual light emitted from the body through the eyes, that caused us to be able to see.  Healthy people could see well – their “lamps” worked properly.  Unhealthy people had broken lamps and could not see well.  There are many stories of blind people in the New Testament where they believed they were cursed or possessed in some way.  In Roman times, the body was separate from the mind and soul.  That’s why Romans were known for their immoral behavior, decadent eating and otherwise physically unhealthy lifestyle – the body didn’t matter – how they treated it was irrelevant to the salvation of their soul.  We know now - that’s not how it works. 

In Modern times, we know that you cannot separate the two.  There is a definitive connection between mind and body, body and soul.  We may be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, but our outlook and emotional and spiritual health will give us the strength we need to fight the physical battle.  Or perhaps we’re feeling blue and have a case of the “blah’s”.  Going for a walk, getting some sunshine, visiting with friends – all of these things can cheer us up and make us feel better.  Isaac Newton’s Law of Inertia states, “An object in motion stays in motion.”  We’ve heard this paraphrased in TV ads, “A body in motion stays in motion.”   When I was a kid and didn’t feel well, my Mom usually wouldn’t let me stay in bed – I always had to get up and get moving.  Probably 9 out of 10 times, I’d feel better and be able to go to school and get on with my day.  Likewise, people who eat junk food or unhealthy diets – lots of fat and grease, or way too much bread and pasta, too much sugary sweets and drinks – they not only have physical symptoms, but can also have negative outlooks on life, be grumpy or depressed.  Some people have actual changes to their personality if they eat too much sugar or other damaging foods.  Science and medicine has proven that we cannot disconnect our mind and soul from our bodies.  We seek to find the balance of healthy and wholeness that works for each of us individually.  We are also all created differently, so what works for one does not necessarily work for another.

Even though there was originally literal meaning or intent of this passage – (“The eye is the lamp of the body. “) - darkness was attributed to actual, physical circumstances – it is also figuratively true.  How many of us know someone who is ill or unhealthy with a dark, dreary outlook on life?  How many of us know people with numerous burdens and stresses that makes them physically ill?  It’s been scientifically proven that stress is bad for our heart.  Being physically burdened can affect our psychological health.  But we also know people whose light is so bright that even a diagnosis of cancer cannot put it out.  Their faith is strong, their souls are steady – even though their bodies are being challenged and ravaged, they are filled with joy and peace.  They’re like the Energizer Bunny or Timex watch – they just keep going and going and going!  Luckily – we know what their secret is!  They are filled with the light of Christ and his love and mercy flow through them into every situation and circumstance.  It is possible to “recharge” our batteries, to be lifted up when we are down, to return to the light when darkness begins to creep in.

Another way to consider the verses from Matthew is to think about what we see with our eyes.  Do we study scripture and look for God throughout our day?  Do we seek out beauty and light?  Richard Rohr writes in his book Breathing Under Water, “Anything exposed to light will become light.”  Do we use our eyes to gain God’s perspective on the world around us?  Do we see others through Jesus’ eyes of mercy and compassion? 

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.  This is your true and proper worship.”  If we seek light and goodness with our eyes; fill our minds with love and the words of scripture; share with others what we have learned and our experiences with our Savior; if we Intentionally invite God into every day, every action, every moment of our lives – This would be “True and Proper Worship.”

And God is so great, isn’t He?  He even sent his son to teach us how to recharge our batteries!  By reciting the Lords’ prayer, by remembering the words of institution and receiving Holy Communion, by sharing the bread and the cup, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice for us – His great Love, given for all, sent by our Heavenly Father for the forgiveness of all our sins and the salvation of our eternal souls, no matter the condition of our worldly bodies. 

Let us Pray:  O Lord, fill our Bodies, Minds and Souls with your love and mercy.  Guide us to a Zoe life – a life filled with your light – that we may experience You in every way, and Know that you are always with us, guiding us with your Holy Spirit.

Gratitude is all about Attitude, 11-20-2016

Philippians 4:4-9   New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord [is near]. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to speak a bit about giving thanks, about gratitude.  In preparation for this message, I read some commentaries that really pick apart these verses from Philippians.  Everything I read can be summed up in one phrase, “Gratitude is a matter of Attitude”.    When I read this text in preparation, I realized that I have heard each of the verses before, but not necessarily all together.  We hear them as platitudes, stand-alone tidbits of advice and comfort.  But putting them all together really makes for a bigger, deeper message. 

We say “rejoice always, in all things.”  But sometimes that’s really hard to do – what if we are sad, what if something awful has just happened?  How do we rejoice in tragedy?  But yet that is what we are called to do.  But I don’t think that it means we are to laugh and joke in the face of misfortune or heartbreak.  When we rejoice, we remember that the Lord is with us, in all things.  The Greek word for rejoice is Kaírō (from the root Kar-, "leaning towards" and Káris, "grace") – literally, to experience God's grace, to be conscious of  His grace.  Lean into God, trust Emmanuel to be present at all times. 

We can also trust, and rejoice with our fellow believers, our friends and neighbors.  We are all in this together and we should be always ready to help each other.  Verse 5 says Let your gentleness be known to everyone, or Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Gentleness and consideration are forms of moderation.  When we are joyful in the Lord, we are raised above strictness towards others and we are prudent in our own affairs.  When we are harsh or strict towards others, we are prematurely judging them, and that privilege belongs solely to the Lord.  When we wallow in sadness and let ourselves be pulled down into negativity, we are harsh towards others and restless or troubled in our spirits.  Maintaining Joy in God is of great benefit to Christian living and we often need to be reminded to do so.  It is easy to be dragged down into the muck, but we need perseverance to rise above, to show compassion, kindness and grace to others around us – even those who test our patience.  By doing so, we show the love of Christ and God’s peace.  People around us can see that we are steady in our daily lives, even when we experience loss and hardship we have the assurance of God’s peace and mercy.

The next familiar verse is  “Do not worry about anything…”  The King James version uses the word “Careful” for “worry” and the NIV says “do not be anxious”.   There are two kinds of cares – those that are due diligence,  our responsibilities and obligations – and those that are anxieties or worries – fear and distrust, sin and folly, things that perplex and distract the mind.  By praying about everything (in all things, at all times), we keep our mind in a state of grace, of joyfulness.  Worries and Joy cannot occupy the same space – “Care and Prayer are as mutually opposed as Fire and Water.”  Say that again…. 

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Supplication means to ask earnestly for something.  We should make our requests with confidence, with familiarity.  We know we don’t need to or shouldn’t hold anything back – God already knows our hearts.  We have been promised that even a groan will do when we have no words.  But we must begin – we must GO to the Lord in prayer.  We must reveal our hearts to him.  God is our protector, our confidante – our greatest ally.  We can trust his love and mercy, patience, grace and love beyond all of our understanding.  When we pray with Thanksgiving, we are putting our prayers into effect.  Thanksgiving proves results, recognizing outcomes to our prayers.    When we live with a spirit of gratefulness, with joy and thanksgiving, by giving praise in all things, we acknowledge and immerse ourselves in the Peace of God – the sense of being reconciled to God and having a part in his favor.  The hope of the “heavenly blessedness”, a greater good, can be fully expressed.  “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”  This peace stands guard over our hearts and minds, it will keep us from sinking under troubles and keep us calm with inward contentment.

“⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned^[b] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In the last two verses, I believe Paul is telling us to Do as Jesus says and also to Do as Jesus did.  All our privileges and salvation arise in the free Mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct.  In everything, when we perform daily tasks in our everyday lives, when we offer our prayers and concerns to God, when we work to benefit his Kingdom by serving others, we can be faithful in the knowledge that surrounding our own efforts is the ongoing workings of God.  God is with us – Emmanuel! 

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving which ends with the beginning of Advent, the season where we prepare for the coming of the Messiah, our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ…  as we undergo preparations for a meal, or travelling, welcoming family and friends…  May we always remember to Rejoice in the Lord Always, All Ways. 

Let us Pray, “Father in Heaven, Creator of all things, we humbly lay our cares at your feet, knowing that you will bear them for us, that you guard our hearts from all troubles and that you Bless us in all circumstances with your presence and Peace.  We believe that you are with us, that you will not forsake us, and that you sent your only son to be our Redeemer and Savior.  As we prepare our hearts with gladness to receive your gracious gifts, show us the way to reveal your presence to those around us. By the Spirit and your son Jesus, Amen”

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV New International Version)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Gratitude is all about Attitude, 11-20-2016

Philippians 4:4-9   New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord [is near]. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to speak a bit about giving thanks, about gratitude.  In preparation for this message, I read some commentaries that really pick apart these verses from Philippians.  Everything I read can be summed up in one phrase, “Gratitude is a matter of Attitude”.    When I read this text in preparation, I realized that I have heard each of the verses before, but not necessarily all together.  We hear them as platitudes, stand-alone tidbits of advice and comfort.  But putting them all together really makes for a bigger, deeper message. 

We say “rejoice always, in all things.”  But sometimes that’s really hard to do – what if we are sad, what if something awful has just happened?  How do we rejoice in tragedy?  But yet that is what we are called to do.  But I don’t think that it means we are to laugh and joke in the face of misfortune or heartbreak.  When we rejoice, we remember that the Lord is with us, in all things.  The Greek word for rejoice is Kaírō (from the root Kar-, "leaning towards" and Káris, "grace") – literally, to experience God's grace, to be conscious of  His grace.  Lean into God, trust Emmanuel to be present at all times. 

We can also trust, and rejoice with our fellow believers, our friends and neighbors.  We are all in this together and we should be always ready to help each other.  Verse 5 says Let your gentleness be known to everyone, or Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Gentleness and consideration are forms of moderation.  When we are joyful in the Lord, we are raised above strictness towards others and we are prudent in our own affairs.  When we are harsh or strict towards others, we are prematurely judging them, and that privilege belongs solely to the Lord.  When we wallow in sadness and let ourselves be pulled down into negativity, we are harsh towards others and restless or troubled in our spirits.  Maintaining Joy in God is of great benefit to Christian living and we often need to be reminded to do so.  It is easy to be dragged down into the muck, but we need perseverance to rise above, to show compassion, kindness and grace to others around us – even those who test our patience.  By doing so, we show the love of Christ and God’s peace.  People around us can see that we are steady in our daily lives, even when we experience loss and hardship we have the assurance of God’s peace and mercy.

The next familiar verse is  “Do not worry about anything…”  The King James version uses the word “Careful” for “worry” and the NIV says “do not be anxious”.   There are two kinds of cares – those that are due diligence,  our responsibilities and obligations – and those that are anxieties or worries – fear and distrust, sin and folly, things that perplex and distract the mind.  By praying about everything (in all things, at all times), we keep our mind in a state of grace, of joyfulness.  Worries and Joy cannot occupy the same space – “Care and Prayer are as mutually opposed as Fire and Water.”  Say that again…. 

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Supplication means to ask earnestly for something.  We should make our requests with confidence, with familiarity.  We know we don’t need to or shouldn’t hold anything back – God already knows our hearts.  We have been promised that even a groan will do when we have no words.  But we must begin – we must GO to the Lord in prayer.  We must reveal our hearts to him.  God is our protector, our confidante – our greatest ally.  We can trust his love and mercy, patience, grace and love beyond all of our understanding.  When we pray with Thanksgiving, we are putting our prayers into effect.  Thanksgiving proves results, recognizing outcomes to our prayers.    When we live with a spirit of gratefulness, with joy and thanksgiving, by giving praise in all things, we acknowledge and immerse ourselves in the Peace of God – the sense of being reconciled to God and having a part in his favor.  The hope of the “heavenly blessedness”, a greater good, can be fully expressed.  “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”  This peace stands guard over our hearts and minds, it will keep us from sinking under troubles and keep us calm with inward contentment.

“⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned^[b] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In the last two verses, I believe Paul is telling us to Do as Jesus says and also to Do as Jesus did.  All our privileges and salvation arise in the free Mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct.  In everything, when we perform daily tasks in our everyday lives, when we offer our prayers and concerns to God, when we work to benefit his Kingdom by serving others, we can be faithful in the knowledge that surrounding our own efforts is the ongoing workings of God.  God is with us – Emmanuel! 

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving which ends with the beginning of Advent, the season where we prepare for the coming of the Messiah, our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ…  as we undergo preparations for a meal, or travelling, welcoming family and friends…  May we always remember to Rejoice in the Lord Always, All Ways. 

Let us Pray, “Father in Heaven, Creator of all things, we humbly lay our cares at your feet, knowing that you will bear them for us, that you guard our hearts from all troubles and that you Bless us in all circumstances with your presence and Peace.  We believe that you are with us, that you will not forsake us, and that you sent your only son to be our Redeemer and Savior.  As we prepare our hearts with gladness to receive your gracious gifts, show us the way to reveal your presence to those around us. By the Spirit and your son Jesus, Amen”

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV New International Version)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.