Friendships 

"Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church
and gave himself to her."
(Ephesians 5:25, NIV) 

            In his book Bread for the Table, Henri Nouwen stated, “Strange as it may sound, the table is the place where we want to become food for one another. Every breakfast, lunch, or dinner can become a time of growing communion with one another.”

 

Intimacy is not only a marriage or "significant other" issue. In my business world, several of us have met the evening before sales meetings for a prayer dinner. Yes, we skipped the welcome happy hour and free buffet to be together. There is a closeness that exists within that group.        

 Another business associate shared with me that his small company starts each week with a prayer breakfast. You can feel something special when dealing with those guys, even when you do not know exactly why.

     Within a relationship, husband-wife, parent-child, good friends or in other instances, intimacy makes a partnership. Closeness and intimacy create trust and confidence between friends and family!

Thought for Today: We all like to feel comfortable and intimacy within a group creates a warmth that we all love. However, we are often guarded with our feelings when in groups. We are conservative and hold back. This week let us think more about letting our inner selves be seen by others. Let us share our Christian love and create more intimacy with our friends and associates.

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we seem to be living in a world with hate and revenge commonplace. Young mothers as human bombs, nations terrorizing other nations and in business, there are too many lose-lose negotiations. We of faith are searching for your will in all of this. Today we pray that we can understand and contribute to friendships and worldwide Godly solutions.
Amen

MLK Birthday!

 

MLK Birthday

“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me,

But it can keep him from lynching me,

And I think that’s pretty important.”

Martin Luther King               

                This quote is neither biblical or spiritual but very true and real. It does not make a great philosophical statement, there is not a spiritual or social justice meaning; it is a simple truth. Living and having the right to pursue freedom always needs to be protected.

             Other quotes by MLK have a deeper meaning, spiritually and are more often used. Below are the ones that seem to be popular in the media: 

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.

"Strength To Love," Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

A favorite is:

 

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

And as Christians, we need to demonstrate that we have the faith to take the first step. 

Thought for Today: One word; acceptance!                                                                                                            

 Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, today we do not pray for forgiveness of the past discrimination and separatist social acts of our forefathers. We need to accept them and move forward. Today we pray for the guidance and will to contribute to peace and acceptance through Jesus's love.

Serenity!

 

Serenity Prayer

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courageto change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

    As we go into the New Year, peace and tranquility always seem to be part of our NewYear’s goals. Last year we did too much. One more committee at church, the kids need a

coach, how can we get everyone to every game, lesson class, etc? Oh, the boss wants us

50 hours a week too!!

    It takes faith and courage to let go and let God play a role in our lives.

"I... will have sufficient courage so that now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body..."Philippians (1:20). 

At work and in our daily lives, we often fail to take the risk of allowing God to take control. How often we do not accept the spiritual help available. We will handle it all. Where is our humility when we try to do it all?

"... humbly accept the word planted in you,

which can save you." James (2:1).

 

    We tend to forget the basic rules taught to us by our faith. When we are taking control, adding stress to ourselves, do we ask for the help available?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God...and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)

 

    We are told to keep God at the forefront in our search for this inner peace."And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:7)

 

    The serenity prayer is simple. We all know that simple is good Let us start the “NewYear” with this thought in mind.

Thought for Today: Let us focus on peace and tranquility in our lives; with our families, neighbors, and coworkers.

Prayer for Today:  Let's use the serenity prayer, this week and for the year,especially when overstressed. 

Happy New Year

 Happy New Year 

"Not that I have already obtained all this,
or have already been made perfect,
but I press on to take hold of that
for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “
(Phillipiens3:12-14; NIV) 

        Happy New Year. For the next few weeks, athletic clubs will be filled with "New Year’s resolutionists". Diet programs will come and go, self-improvement books will be purchased or at least the dust will be blown from last year’s cover! Does that sound familiar? Have you had a few resolutions fall by the wayside? Paul would not have written the above on New Year’s Eve, but it is appropriate. There are a lot of new goals today: weight, fitness, financial goals, etc. Paul is asking us to look at our spiritual goals. "...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize.” Hold that thought as you proceed through the New Year.

Thought for Today: Let us look ahead at the opportunities that exist for us.

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father as this New Year begins, hear our serenity prayer:

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference." 

Hear this for all the world's people so that your love and peace may dominate this New Year.
Amen

AA This Week- Let Go!

Let Go 

“But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”

(1 Corinthians 6 vs. 17) 

            Thousands of people that did not believe have taken a step to believe a power greater than themselves would restore them to sanity; people that were so down and out that the concept of God was beyond them. That is how someone in AA starts their journey to sanity. It is a process of turning over control and trusting; one of spiritual growth. 

            More people than not fail and are not capable of grasping the concept, even when God was referred to as a higher power. They are afraid to let go of control and their dependency wins. Let’s face it, we all desire to be in control and live in fear of letting go!          

  Thursday night is New Year’s Eve and many are making resolutions and setting goals. It was a year of COVID fear, shut-downs, and fear. For next year I ask you to think about something other than exercise and weight. Think about adopting the slogan “Let go and let God.” Make that your New Year’s resolution, seek spiritual growth, and you will have a great year!

Thought for Today: Today let us think about what we can turn over to God so that we may have a less stressful New Year!

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, today we pray that we may trust in you and allow your control and spirit into our daily lives.

Amen

Christmas!

 

 Bottle? 

“There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens”

(Ecclesiastes 3 v1)           

            Today we awaken a week before the Christmas celebration. We are tired, weary, and excited. Our hearts are full of the joy and spirit that this wonderful season creates. It would be great if we could bottle it all up so we could drink it year-round.         

            Several years ago, good friend Paige said it well on her Facebook site, “I wish it could be Christmas every day..... I'm getting the best present of all this year.” She was moving into a new home near her daughters and grandchildren and they will celebrate Christmas together.

           

            This year our family is having a COVID Christmas. We are busy scheduling small group family visits. We will be masked, socially distanced with knuckle and elbow bumps replacing hugs! The smiles, tears of joy, love, and spirituality will still be there. It will still be warm inside of us on a cold week in Minnesota. 

            Each year one of my best gifts is you; what I like to call my Good News buddies. (Those of you that put up with my weekly emails!) You drive me to read, write, and consider what Christ means to me and the world. Wow, that is a great gift-Thanks. 

“Down in a lowly manger

the humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn.”

(Verse 3, Go Tell It on the Mountain)(John W. Work Jr. 1907) 

Thought for Today:  Today let us all enjoy the celebration. The birth of Christ is fast approaching. Today let’s focus on the excitement, blessings, and spiritual meaning of it all. Also, let us remember that this spirit can be with us all year long- we do not need a bottle, it is in our hearts! 

Prayer for Today: Today we pray for the many families that are experiencing holiday loss. It is sad when there is an empty place at the Christmas table. We also need to pray for peace and give thanks for our friends, loved ones, and the joy of the season.

 Amen

A COVID Christmas

 Problems? 

“From them will come songs of thanksgiving
and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers,
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,
and they will not be disdained.”

(Jeremiah 30 vs.19) 

            Every day is a day to rejoice. We are between our formal day of Thanksgiving and Christ’s birthday celebration. Most of us are enjoying what we call the holiday season. The message above tells us that God wants us to rejoice; to be happy. We need to pay attention to that. 

            An additional reason to rejoice is the pending COVID 19 vaccine. It is great that there is hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. Also, yes this year there is an “also”; we need to keep in mind the losses suffered during the time of COVID. Christmas 2020 will be different because most will not be assembling in large family gatherings and there will be an unprecedented number of empty plates at the table; people who passed due to COVID. We need to pray about that!           

Thought for Today: Today we will be happy! We will work through the busy schedule, deal with the CIVID style holiday stress, and in the end, we will rejoice! 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we rejoice in your name while not forgetting the COVID months, past, and future. We pray that the scientists have the vaccine correct and that by Summer we can look back in relief.  The next two weeks we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the gift of grace, love, and spirit he brought to us.

Amen