Category: First Steps

When is the last time you had a lesson in patience?  Hopefully, it has been a while because those friction moments are never fun.  However, they can be useful because they test one’s metal resulting in an opportunity to grow on the inside.  This was my experience last week while traveling internationally with my family.   Normally when I travel, I like to be in control.  I realize that is a false sense of security because nothing about traveling lends itself to being in control.  Actually, it is the opposite because when one travels, one is at the mercy of many things beyond their grasp.  Because our initial international flight was delayed by 90 minutes, we missed the connecting flight to our destination.  Navigating a foreign airport where customer service isn’t a prized commodity was lesson number one.  I could either get angry and let it set the tone of the trip or realize there are some things beyond my control.  Eventually, we caught a later flight and arrived at our hotel, and it was worth the wait.    Lesson number two was a few days later when it was time to fly back to the mainland.  I mistakenly assumed that our return trip from our first flight (that we missed because of a late departure from the U.S.) was still valid.  However, because we missed the initial second leg of our arrival flights, we were automatically dropped from the return flight.  Long story short, new tickets had to be purchased for a later flight.  If that wasn’t bad enough while sitting on the tarmac, I saw my luggage, which was sitting a few feet from the plane, wasn’t loaded.  As the plane taxied away, we enquired with the flight attendant only to be told, “Don’t worry, it will be okay.”  As one would guess, it didn’t make it on the flight.  After two hours of waiting in line to file the report, my family and I made it to our hotel for the last few days of our trip.   The last few days didn’t disappoint, although those around me might argue that wearing the same clothes for about 50 hours might have created a different vibe for everyone else.   After the day’s excursion, a quick trip to a local department store remedied the clothing problem.  Eventually, the night before we were to leave, I did receive my luggage.  As I write this and I reflect on the experience and the shared memories with people I love the most, I am grateful.  We had a great time, witnessed some of the most beautiful places on earth, created some lasting memories, and arrived home safe and sound.    Nothing in this world is a guarantee.  Seldom are we in control of the things around us.  We can only control how we will respond to the events that happen.  Those events can either define a person or the person can rise above them and seize each moment for what it is…an opportunity.  Patience is always a lesson of reaction to things beyond one’s control.  Proverbs 14:17a says, “a person of quick temper acts foolishly…”. Perhaps in those uncontrollable situations, patience is the best guide.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Matthew 18 *Tuesday – Matthew 19 *Wednesday- Matthew 20 *Thursday – Matthew 21 *Friday- Matthew 22 Prayer Requests: *Children’s safety as they participate in summer activities away from home.  *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. *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

Recently I had the opportunity to address a few graduates and their families. I asked them to focus on this statement: Patterns eventually become behavior, which eventually becomes a lifestyle. What we become is the result of the patterns in our lives. Often one thinks life is determined by two or three major decisions. The idea is if one gets those decisions right, all will be well. Unfortunately, that is not the case.  It is the small daily decisions that will determine a life. The daily decisions prepare a person to make the big decisions. Both are needed. Paul encouraged Timothy by impressing upon him the importance of the small daily decisions: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:14-15). The word “continue” is important—keep on doing those daily things! These are words to live by so be encouraged—it is the small daily things that create a pattern, which becomes a behavior, that eventually becomes a life.   This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Matthew 13 *Tuesday – Matthew 14 *Wednesday- Matthew 15 *Thursday – Matthew 16 *Friday- Matthew 17 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. *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

Everyone longs for security.  It is a psychological human trait.  We want it for our surroundings, in our relationships, and for our futures.  When one is secure, one will move to a place of health.  When one is secure, one can focus and attend to the things that are larger than basic needs like food, shelter, and preservation.   It is not by chance that Jesus often redirected people away from the worry of basic needs, for they are already provided for us by God.  In Matthew 6, Jesus said:   25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. How interesting that we worry more about security when it is already provided for us.  Therefore, rest in him.  Listen to the urges to follow the Risen One and seek wholeness that he provides.  As we follow his path, we find fulfillment in the physical, the emotional, the spiritual, and the relational.  When we are overly concerned about security, we miss the greater blessing he desires to give.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Matthew 8 *Tuesday – Matthew 9 *Wednesday- Matthew 10 *Thursday – Matthew 11 *Friday- Matthew 12 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. *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

May 16, 2022 At a recent graduation ceremony for a daughter of a family friend, the CEO of UPS gave the address. She inspired the graduates to Lead to Inspire, Serve to Create and Give to Remain. Over this past weekend, I reflected on her words. Though she has a very accomplished resume, she realized her work recorded would never be the same as a legacy. What remains is not a work record but a legacy. What do you want your legacy to be? What do you want others to remember about you? Great questions! I think borrowing her words would do well. Lead to inspire people so that they are better because they knew you.  Serve others to create space and possibilities for those around you. Give to things that will long outlive you. You don’t have to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 Company to have a legacy. Begin now! Lead, Serve and Give.   This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Matthew 3 *Tuesday – Matthew 4 *Wednesday- Matthew 5 *Thursday – Matthew 6 *Friday- Matthew 7 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

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