Author: Cindy Lee

About 18 months ago, a friend of mine shared these statements with me: I can’t_____but I can… We don’t have____but we do have… My people won’t_____but I can lead them to… This won’t work______but what would work is… People won’t like it if_____but God will love it if… She was facilitating a conversation around leadership with a group of pastors. Lately, I wondered if these same statements could apply to relationships. Many times, relationships fall into ruts. The parties involved didn’t plan on a rut. It just happened, little by little. Words like “I can’t” or “it won’t” or “I don’t” frame a person’s outlook and can negatively influence the future of relationships. Sometimes, a change in vocabulary can lead to a change in outlook which starts a new pattern. Try it and see. First, notice the “I can’t”, “it won’t”, and “I don’t.” Then substitute with “I can…,” “this will…,” or “I will…,” and see what happens. When relationships are detailed in ruts, someone must be the more mature one to begin a new pattern. Often, a new pattern can begin with a new word. This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 2 Corinthians 11 *Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 12 *Wednesday- 2 Corinthians 13 *Thursday – Matthew 1 *Friday- Matthew 2 Prayer Requests: *Our Confirmands and High School Graduates as they transition. *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

The other day I went to the mall.  It has been years since I went to purchase something at a mall.  How things have changed because when I was a teenager, I think I went to the mall each weekend.  Often, my friends and I would go to the mall just to walk around and visit with other friends.  It was our hangout!   During my recent visit, I thought about those directional signs that were strategically placed to help people shop.  If you wanted to find a particular store, this was your guide.  The sign had a map of the mall with a large arrow that said, “You are here.”  It was your starting point to find your way.  Without it, one would be lost. God’s work of transformation has a starting point.  It might not be a sign with a giant arrow, but there is a starting point for each person which is the same:  Honesty.  John Calvin said, “A person can only know God to the degree they know themselves.”  The Holy Spirit’s work begins when we are honest with ourselves—this is who I am.  Without honesty, denial reigns and we play games with God and other people.  We run from who we are.  We present to others what we think they want or will approve.  God’s work of redemption begins with honesty.  It is our starting point. Maybe God is showing you a sign:  You Are Here!  Don’t run from it.  Sit for a while, and begin with honesty on the path to wholeness. This Week’s Readings: * Monday – 2 Corinthians 6 * Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 7 * Wednesday- 2 Corinthians 8 * Thursday – 2 Corinthians 9 * Friday- 2 Corinthians 10 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize, said, “If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied.”  I wonder how many people believe this to be true.  Does the same approach apply to the spreading of the gospel?  If you asked a thousand people to believe, join you for worship, participate in a Bible study, serve in a mission, and only one person responded, would you be satisfied?  On one hand, the answer would be no.   However, what if that one person who responded experienced conversion which led to a changed life.  Thinking of the Nobel quote, I am reminded of a parable Jesus told in Luke 15:3-7:   3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.   Perhaps this should be our response and maybe one person is enough to be satisfied.  The real issue is will you reach out with the gospel until one lost sheep is found?  This Week’s Readings: * Monday – 2 Corinthians 1 * Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 2 * Wednesday- 2 Corinthians 3 * Thursday – 2 Corinthians 4 * Friday- 2 Corinthians 5 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

In 2003, the San Francisco Zoo had forty-six penguins that spent most of their lives inside the zoo. They were well-fed, lived free from predators, and lived in a controlled environment. As one could imagine, they became very lazy. They spent most of their days lying around and would seldom engage others or swim. However, in that same year, six new penguins were introduced to the sanctuary. These new birds spent all their time swimming only quitting at dusk due to exhaustion. The new birds didn’t let the inactivity of the older birds determine their behavior. They wanted to swim. Eventually, the persistence of the new birds affected the older birds. Little by little the older birds started to join in and swim. I think this is a modern-day parable. There will always be resistance to change. There will always be those who desire the path of least resistance. However, it doesn’t have to be you. Because God has called you to live a certain way, be a certain person, then live into what God desires. Eventually, it will affect others. Transformation is a daily process, little by little, bit by bit. The more you stay the course, the more it will influence another. This Week’s Readings: * Monday -1 Corinthians 12 * Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 13 * Wednesday- 1 Corinthians 14 * Thursday – 1 Corinthians 15 * Friday- 1 Corinthians 16 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a day where The Church remembers and celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  It is also a day that marks the beginning of Holy Week, the last week before his death.  What do you think Jesus thought as he rode the donkey into the city?  As he saw the people waving palm branches and heard their cries, “Hosanna,” I wonder what Jesus pondered.   Was he melancholy?  Was there a peaceful acceptance of what was to come?  Did he silently think of the capriciousness of humanity where there were shouts of joy one day only to be shouts of crucifixion the next?  How did he balance the determination that would lead to a cross with all its pain with the desire to fulfill God’s design for salvation and the joy of accomplishment?   I believe a reoccurring thought was pure love that is far greater than one can imagine.  I hope Jesus was sustained by the endless, far-reaching love of the Father and the intimacy that existed between the Father and the Son.  In a mystical union of divinity and humanity, the incarnate Jesus rode a donkey into a city with the knowledge and acceptance that his life was a ransom for many.  How grateful I am for such a love. This Week’s Readings: * Monday -1 Corinthians 7 * Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 8 * Wednesday- 1 Corinthians 9 * Thursday – 1 Corinthians 10 * Friday- 1 Corinthians 11 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

It is through constant forgiveness that we become like God.  Forgiveness from the heart is very, very difficult.  It is next to impossible.  Jesus said to his disciples: “When your brother wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry,’ you must forgive him.”   I have often said, “I forgive you,” but even as I said these words my heart remained angry or resentful.  I still wanted to hear the story that tells me that I was right after all; I still wanted to hear apologies and excuses; I still wanted the satisfaction of receiving some praise in return—if only the praise for being so forgiving!   But God’s forgiveness is unconditional; it comes from a heart that does not demand anything for itself, a heart that is completely empty of self-seeking.  It is this divine forgiveness that I have to practice in my daily life.  It calls me to keep stepping over all my arguments that say forgiveness is unwise, unhealthy, and unpractical.  It challenges me to step over all my needs for gratitude and compliments.  Finally, it demands of me that I step over that wounded part of my heart that feels hurt and wronged and that wants to stay in control and put a few conditions between me and the one whom I am asked to forgive.   This “stepping over” is the authentic discipline of forgiveness.  Maybe it is more “climbing over” than “stepping over.”  Often, I have to climb over the wall of arguments and angry feelings that I have erected between myself and all those whom I love but who so often do not return that love.  It is a wall of fear of being used or hurt again.  It is a wall of pride, and the desire to stay in control.  But every time that I can step or climb over that wall, I enter into the house where the Father dwells, and there touch my neighbor with genuine compassionate love.”   This is from Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son.  I think it is a brilliant authentic description of what each person thinks and feels when confronted with forgiving another.  This Week’s Readings: * Monday -1 Corinthians 2 * Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 3 * Wednesday- 1 Corinthians 4 * Thursday – 1 Corinthians 5 * Friday- 1 Corinthians 6 Prayer Requests: *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty. *Help for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6