This past Sunday we reflected on the theme of where our lives may be heading. The sermon can be found here.
One of the problems in seeking direction is that we are often just too caught up in the journey to stop and ask. Commitments on our time impede from all directions. Work, family, travelling in between appointments, meeting deadlines… our schedules are not our best friend!
It is sometimes only when are forced to stop travelling on the crazy train that we find the time to ask where it may be heading. Times of illness, weather related cancellations, simply getting caught in the traffic can create a space where we suddenly become reflective and ask; “Just where is my life heading?”
In a society that rejects sabbath such momentary pauses can be our ‘little sabbaths’. Time to take stock and evaluate the journey. Space to ask where the direction of God and the things of God’s Kingdom fit into the picture.
Make the most of such moments. They can be revolutionary!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we hear Your call to follow You. We confess we often do so without truly thinking it through. We get caught up in the everyday madness. Direct us and lead us. Show us where changes need to be made and grant us the strength of Your Holy Spirit to make them! Amen.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
What are you looking for?
It’s hard to find what you are looking for if you are not exactly sure what it is. Such is the dilemma that occupied our thoughts during our sermon this past Sunday, which can be found here.
I feel that for many of us the spiritual quest is one that we really cannot define. We kind of know what we are searching for, but we can’t frame it with words. It is not certainty. It is not conviction. It is not answers (particularly when we are not even sure what the questions are).
Yet we are attracted to the message of Jesus Christ and to the way that being part of a spiritual community enables us to follow Him. Maybe it is just as well that in the passage we were considering today (John 1:29-42) Jesus frames His invitation in the words “Come And See!”
There is something about the journey that is a revelation all of itself. Along the way we discover things that we hadn’t even realized that we were looking for. Sometimes when we find them we wonder how we ever managed without them!
And if that sounds rather vague then I make no apology. Even Paul spoke of only ‘seeing through a glass darkly’. Jesus invites us “Come and See”. Come and see what? We can only find out by following.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the encouragement to follow that not having to know all the answers can bring to us. You welcome the curious. You invite the seekers. Help us to stick with the journey and seek the company of others to travel it with. Amen!
I feel that for many of us the spiritual quest is one that we really cannot define. We kind of know what we are searching for, but we can’t frame it with words. It is not certainty. It is not conviction. It is not answers (particularly when we are not even sure what the questions are).
Yet we are attracted to the message of Jesus Christ and to the way that being part of a spiritual community enables us to follow Him. Maybe it is just as well that in the passage we were considering today (John 1:29-42) Jesus frames His invitation in the words “Come And See!”
There is something about the journey that is a revelation all of itself. Along the way we discover things that we hadn’t even realized that we were looking for. Sometimes when we find them we wonder how we ever managed without them!
And if that sounds rather vague then I make no apology. Even Paul spoke of only ‘seeing through a glass darkly’. Jesus invites us “Come and See”. Come and see what? We can only find out by following.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the encouragement to follow that not having to know all the answers can bring to us. You welcome the curious. You invite the seekers. Help us to stick with the journey and seek the company of others to travel it with. Amen!
Monday, January 10, 2011
What are you doing here?
As a New Year gets underway we rapidly become busy. After a brief pause for reflection and resolution making it seems things soon get back to the state we describe as ‘normal’. Yet is into the midst of our normality that God often chooses to step. This past Sunday we reflected on the experience of John the Baptist who was rather surprised when Jesus showed up at the banks of the Jordan. The sermon can be found here.
It is as Jesus is baptized that a voice from heaven describes Him as a beloved son with whom God is ‘well pleased.’ The sacrament of baptism declares to us that God is pleased to claim us as sons and daughters. We may not always feel pleased with our spiritual progress, or even feel there is much for God to be pleased about in our lives but… nevertheless… God continues to desire our utmost good.
In the light of our faltering steps and uneasy commitment we have those days when we question our ability to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. There are times when we ask ourselves; “What are you doing here?”
Then, unexpectedly, God shows up. Shows up in the voice of a friend or someones random act of kindness towards us. Shows up by placing before us an opportunity to bless another. Shows up in the words of a song on the radio or by an insight in the midst of a comedy routine on TV. Shows up in places we weren’t looking.
And then we remember that we are not disciples because we are good at it! We are disciples because God is a God of Grace and refuses to despair of us. Through the influence of God’s Holy Spirit prompting us to have eyes that see and ears that hear, we can discover God in ways and places we had never expected!
Prayer: Lord, help us to stay awake to Your presence within us and around us. Remind us that we are children of Your pleasure. Encourage us to keep listening and keep serving, especially when we have more questions than answers. Amen.
It is as Jesus is baptized that a voice from heaven describes Him as a beloved son with whom God is ‘well pleased.’ The sacrament of baptism declares to us that God is pleased to claim us as sons and daughters. We may not always feel pleased with our spiritual progress, or even feel there is much for God to be pleased about in our lives but… nevertheless… God continues to desire our utmost good.
In the light of our faltering steps and uneasy commitment we have those days when we question our ability to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. There are times when we ask ourselves; “What are you doing here?”
Then, unexpectedly, God shows up. Shows up in the voice of a friend or someones random act of kindness towards us. Shows up by placing before us an opportunity to bless another. Shows up in the words of a song on the radio or by an insight in the midst of a comedy routine on TV. Shows up in places we weren’t looking.
And then we remember that we are not disciples because we are good at it! We are disciples because God is a God of Grace and refuses to despair of us. Through the influence of God’s Holy Spirit prompting us to have eyes that see and ears that hear, we can discover God in ways and places we had never expected!
Prayer: Lord, help us to stay awake to Your presence within us and around us. Remind us that we are children of Your pleasure. Encourage us to keep listening and keep serving, especially when we have more questions than answers. Amen.
Monday, January 3, 2011
The New Year
Yikes! It’s 2011 already. The years just seem to zoom on by. In church yesterday we reflected on our need of the grace of God to get us through the times of our lives. After reflecting on a sermon (which can be found here) we shared bread and wine and sought spiritual nourishment for the journey ahead.
Whilst we can make some inspired guesses at what a New Year may bring, the truth is that it remains a blank page. There’s most likely going to be some great things and some nasty stuff that gets written on the pages. That’s usually what happens.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth setting ourselves some goals for the coming days. I’d say ‘making resolutions’, but somehow ‘goals’ feels like a less demanding concept.
See… I was never a very good soccer player. I could mis-kick a ball in more ways than I knew how to do it properly. If I ever got near to scoring the adrenaline would kick in and I’d end up hitting the ball with way too much enthusiasm or just completely missing altogether. I was never offended when folk didn’t choose me to be on their team. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on my team!
But the thing is… goals are things you keep pursuing and working at. Resolutions, well you either keep them or break them. Goals, you can keep on trying!
So forget the resolutions and set yourself some goals. They don’t have to be anything super-impressive or mega-spiritual. Things like ‘a little less TV and a little more exercise’; ‘occasionally eating out less and putting the money aside to help the local food pantry’; ‘signing up for something at church that I haven’t done before… just to give it a try’.
It often seems that lasting changes in our life come through little steps. May you have a grace filled 2011!
Prayer: ‘Lord, help us to set ourselves some attainable goals for 2011. Guide us to the best use of our time, talents and treasures. Whatever the year brings our way, help us to allow Your love and hope to be a part of it. Amen.”
Whilst we can make some inspired guesses at what a New Year may bring, the truth is that it remains a blank page. There’s most likely going to be some great things and some nasty stuff that gets written on the pages. That’s usually what happens.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth setting ourselves some goals for the coming days. I’d say ‘making resolutions’, but somehow ‘goals’ feels like a less demanding concept.
See… I was never a very good soccer player. I could mis-kick a ball in more ways than I knew how to do it properly. If I ever got near to scoring the adrenaline would kick in and I’d end up hitting the ball with way too much enthusiasm or just completely missing altogether. I was never offended when folk didn’t choose me to be on their team. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on my team!
But the thing is… goals are things you keep pursuing and working at. Resolutions, well you either keep them or break them. Goals, you can keep on trying!
So forget the resolutions and set yourself some goals. They don’t have to be anything super-impressive or mega-spiritual. Things like ‘a little less TV and a little more exercise’; ‘occasionally eating out less and putting the money aside to help the local food pantry’; ‘signing up for something at church that I haven’t done before… just to give it a try’.
It often seems that lasting changes in our life come through little steps. May you have a grace filled 2011!
Prayer: ‘Lord, help us to set ourselves some attainable goals for 2011. Guide us to the best use of our time, talents and treasures. Whatever the year brings our way, help us to allow Your love and hope to be a part of it. Amen.”
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