Category: First Steps

A few days ago, I was asked to sit on a panel with four other preachers and answer a couple of questions. The first question was, “How do you remain non-anxious in a season wrought with anxiety?” Each of the panelists described how they manage themselves through disciplines like prayer, meditation, and the keeping of the Sabbath (Boundaries). Regardless of one’s practice of spiritual disciplines, the goal is to manage yourself more than to manage the environment. One can only control how one will respond or react to the chaos around them. By controlling one’s own anxiety, he/she can change the environment—not the other way around. It is along those lines that I appreciate Eugene Peterson’s commentary on Jesus and prayer: “The prayers of Jesus can never be isolated from the life of Jesus. Prayer is not a subject on its own. Prayer is not a specialist activity. In a symphony orchestra, some play the clarinet, some play the oboe, some play the violin, and some play the trombone. But in the Christian life, it is not that way: we don’t have some who visit the sick, some who sing the hymns, some who read Scripture, some who give money, and some who pray. In the Christian life we do not choose aspects, get some instruction and training, and then specialize in what we like or feel we are good at…Prayer is not something we pull out of the web of revelation and incarnation and then sign on to be prayer warriors. It is more along the analogy of breathing: if we are to live, we all have to do it…we don’t single out individuals and say, ‘She (or he) is a great breather.’ Prayer is woven into the fabric of life. Prayer is woven into the fabric of Jesus’ life. The notices of Jesus at prayer are part of everything else he does. None of his praying and none of his prayers can be taken out of context and studied on its own.” I like the analogy of prayer and breathing. It is vital to life; it steadies the soul and grounds the person in the life of Christ.  Pray for inward peace and allow the Spirit of God to flow over you creating a calm spirit and a quiet mind.  This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Mark 11, Mark 12 *Tuesday -Mark 13, Mark 14 *Wednesday – Mark 15, Mark 16 *Thursday – Galatians 1, Galatians 2 *Friday – Galatians 3, Galatians 4 Prayer Requests: *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance 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

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the interplay between generosity, greed, making money, and giving money.  Many times, Christ’s followers struggle with making money. Sometimes people feel guilty about prosperity.  It is interesting that the Bible never faults those who make money.  How they make money and how they spend money is a different story, but the making of it through honest and hardworking means is never faulted.  The opposite is true for it is seen as a blessing.   The key is the heart—as it is with all things. Not the blood-pumping organ in one’s chest, but the seat of one’s desire, their identity. In Luke 12, Jesus put his finger on the heart of the issue [pardon the pun, I couldn’t help myself].  Jesus addressed the crowd by telling a story about the connection between making money, spending money, and one’s heart.   Read Luke 12:13-21. The issue isn’t that the man’s fields prospered. The issue is that God ceased to be his supreme treasure. If God had been his treasure, what would he have done differently? Instead of saying, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry,” he would have said something like: “God, this is all yours. You have made my fields prosper. Show me how to express with my riches that you are my treasure, and the riches are not. I already have enough. I don’t need a bigger and bigger safety net. I don’t need better food, better drink, or better parties. I do indeed want to make merry, but not at self-indulgent parties with rich retirees. I want to make merry with the people who have been helped by my generosity. I want the fullest blessing of giving.  Because you taught me, Lord, it is “more blessed to give than to receive.” We are called to be generous which is never about a number or dollar amount. It is a lifestyle where one acknowledges God’s presence in the world and seeks to follow him by blessing others as one has been blessed. Find ways to bless someone this week!  This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Mark 1, Mark 2 *Tuesday -Mark 3, Mark 4 *Wednesday – Mark 6, Mark 7 *Thursday – Mark 8 Mark 9 *Friday – Mark 10, Mark 11 Prayer Requests: *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance 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

How good and pleasant it is     when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,     running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard,     down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon     were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing,     even life forevermore. (Psalm 133).     Do you look for what separates one person from the next or what draws people together?  Why is it that living in unity and harmony is so difficult?  I’ve often wondered.  Perhaps it is the need to define oneself by what is different.  Perhaps it is easier to live separately because harmony requires compromise and love.  Maybe it is the need to feel or believe we are in control.  Unity requires a larger objective than personal choice.  Unity requires unselfishness and the relinquishing of power and status.  Unity requires making room and giving space to someone else.  Though it is difficult, it was sought by God’s people in both the Old and New Testaments.    The above psalm is one of the Songs of Ascent that people sang during temple worship during the Feast of Tabernacles.  Living in peace was so vital that it is compared to the consecration of Aaron as High Priest—no small achievement.  Jesus prayed for relational peace and harmony for every follower of his in his High Priestly Prayer (John 17:20-23).    When we live in unity, we model God’s heart, glorify Him and give witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  There is glory in living in harmony and peace with one another.   This week, instead of seeing what separates, look for what draws people together.  Look for what you have in common with those around you.  Invite God’s Spirit to give you the eyes to see what God sees in another person.  Strive for harmony.  This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Acts 17, Acts 18 *Tuesday – Acts 19, Acts 20 *Wednesday – Acts 21, Acts 22, Acts 23 *Thursday – Acts 24, Acts 25, Acts 26 *Friday – Acts 27, Acts 28 Prayer Requests: *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance 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

Christians have a long history of seeing everything through the lens of Jesus Christ.  Many of the Christian holidays have their origin in something that wasn’t initially Christian but was used by them to teach or evangelize.  Theologically speaking, since Christ is the means of transformation, followers of Christ repurposed just about anything to help people walk the road of faith.   I do something similar with songs and movies.  I try to see them through the lens of Jesus Christ.  I know the origin of the songs and movies has nothing to do with faith, Jesus, or Christianity; however, that doesn’t stop me from using them as a means of reflection or prayer.  Like the early church, I want to repurpose it for and with Christ. For instance, I’ve always been a fan of George Harrison.  I like his music.  One of my favorites is Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) and I’ve used his lyrics as a form of prayer.  Perhaps it was a prayer for him.  I also realize there is a line in the lyrics that nods to reincarnation which is not a Christian concept.  But all that aside, I like the song and have borrowed it to be words of prayer.   If you are unfamiliar with the lyrics, then here you go: Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life; Keep me free from birth, Give me hope, Help me cope with this heavy load, Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul, Om My Lord, Please take hold of my hand that I might understand you.  Won’t you please, Oh, won’t you?  Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life, Keep me free from birth, Give me hope, Help me cope with this heavy load, Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul, Om My Lord Won’t you please Oh, won’t you? Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life, Keep me free from birth, Give me hope, Help me cope with this heavy load, Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul. Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life, Keep me, keep me free from birth, Now give me hope.  Help me cope with this heavy load. Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul.   As you begin this week, pray for love, peace, light, and life.  Pray for God to help you carry burdens and envision that Christ walks with you.  Pray for God’s touch in your life, your heart, and your soul.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Acts 8, Acts 9 *Tuesday – Acts 10, Acts 11 *Wednesday – Acts12 *Thursday – Acts 13, Acts 14 *Friday – Acts 15, Acts 16 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance 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

“We may not have the capacity to become what Saul of Tarsus became, but we may be in the channel of God’s will just as truly as was Paul, and our lives may have the smile of God upon them, though in some hidden way that the world may never know” (Elizabeth Morrison).   Throughout my ministry, I often hear people describing their lives as not important to God’s Kingdom. Because they don’t teach, preach, sing, or evangelize, then their work is not effective to the Church or to God. How untrue!  Granted, those whose gifts edify the ministries of the Church seem to be highlighted because those gifts are witnessed by all. They are easy to see. However, what someone doesn’t see is the one on their knees praying for all.  What someone doesn’t see is the gentle witness of encouragement and love that cultivate a life.    These gentle servants of God are the real salt of the earth. They are the ones who believe they can change the world by living out Micah 6:8. They are the ones who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. They are the ones who treat people equally and with fairness. They are the ones who are forgiving because they give what they received. They are the ones who are modest and meek. If you ask me, they will be the ones who change the world because every step they take is a step of incarnational witness as a follower of Christ. They are the real effective servants because they live according to the most excellent way—the Love of God.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Acts 2 *Tuesday – Acts 3 *Wednesday – Acts 4 *Thursday – Acts 5 *Friday – Acts 6, Acts 7 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance 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

Last week I mentioned Aunt Bettie Morrison (Elizabeth) and her words on success and values.  She also wrote: “It would be a great thing if each of us could realize that even our little life is planned of God, and if we would fit into that plan how much better it would be for us and all concerned.  Our catechism says that we are created to ‘glorify God,’ and if we miss the purpose for which we were created, we have deliberately thwarted God’s plan and purpose for our lives, and we shall inevitably fail of that which is highest and best in this life, and that which is to come.”   I would add that when we see our life as part of God’s plan of salvation, we live in peace.  How often do we live beneath our calling?  A call to follow Jesus is more than an occupation, it is a lifestyle of glorifying God in all things.  From something grand and glorious to the humblest of daily activities, all are considered important to God and part of living in God’s Spirit.  It is not something to be achieved or earned, it is something to be experienced with every single breath.   I’m sure you have enjoyed floating on an inflatable at some point in your life.  Either in a pool, a lake, or in the ocean, floating on an inflatable can be relaxing.  While one floats, one simply is—nothing is needed but to rest on the float.  In a similar way, when we realize our life is part of God’s larger narrative of salvation, we float.  We resist the temptation to be more or less than what we truly are—a child of God.    You are part of God’s plan, His work of redemption for all things.  Begin today seeing yourself as part of that narrative.  Everything you do, even the simplest of things, is part of the story.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Luke 21 *Tuesday – Luke 22 *Wednesday – Luke 23 *Thursday – Luke 24 *Friday – Acts 1 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance 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