Persistence

 Persistence

"Then Jesus told his disciples... that they should always pray and not give up."

(Luke 18:1)

 Bob Dylan's lyrics said, "Times, they are a-changing…" and maybe not for the better. One of life's constants is change. It is like an endurance event or marathon. There will be ups and downs along the way that necessitates keeping our eyes on the prize. It takes persistence to get to the end. We need to "…always pray and not give up." 

There is a long year ahead, and there will be changes and some stresses; COVID, careers, financial, health, to name a few.

The holiday season is a period of stressful joy due to all the activities. January is when reality comes to the forefront, starting an annual endurance event called the year.

                 

Dr. Benjamin Mays wrote the poem "God's Minute."                                                               

                                                                I have only just a minute.

                                                                Only sixty seconds in it.

                                                                Forced upon me, can't refuse it.

                                                                Didn't seek it, didn't choose it.

                                                                But it’s up to me to use it,                                                 

                                                                I must suffer if I lose it,

                                                                Give account if I abuse it,

                                                                Just a tiny little minute,

                                                                    But eternity is in it!

 

Mays had it correct, but we need to think about a whole year.  

Thought for Today: Today, let us pray for people in need, dealing with challenging life issues: COVID, family stress, financial stress, or others. As charity begins at home, it is a given that prayer also does. Have a great day. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today we pray for smooth sailing through the rough seas of life. We pray for ourselves and others who are in need. We pray that we will do better and seek a way to do your will here on earth.

 

Sincerity

01230 Sincerity 

"Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
 Never be lacking in zeal,
But keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality."
(Romans 12:9-13) 

        During the Christmas season, we all share material gifts. It is a beautiful time of year. It is a time of love and caring with lots of hugs, kisses, and tears of joy. The love and spirit of Christ are a blessing. 

        Now we are faced with a New Year and the resolutions that come with it. We tend to go back to the grind of daily life and settle into our routine with very few changes. However, we need to continue to share this love, this zeal, and this joy. When we do, we all benefit and live better lives. Here are two of my favorite quotes and worth thinking about for the New Year. 

John F. Kennedy:  "One person can make a difference, and every person must try." 

John Wesley:"Do all the good you can,

by all the means you can,

in all the ways you can,

in all the places you can

at all the times you can,

to all the people you can,

as long as ever you can."

 

Thought for Today: As we proceed toward the New Year, let us focus on ourselves and our talents. Let us recognize that we have unique gifts from the Lord to use for Him.

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we are entering the New Year, and we wonder where it will have in store for us. We pray we can apply our talents and gifts in the New Year to pursue your will.

Amen 

 

Gifts 

  "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Just as each of us has one body with many members,
And these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts,
according to the grace given us."
(Romans 12:3-6) 

            Christmas has passed, and we were all involved in the materialism of it all at some level. The advertising, the gift-giving, the holiday cards all tend to lead us away from its meaning. It is not about the gifts that were given and received by people.  

            Earlier this year, we read about the gifts that God gave us.  Paul's letter to the Romans has a special meaning. When reading further through verse 9, God's many gifts to us are listed. It is essential to understand God's blessings and recognize our gifts. We need to know where we fit in God's world and how to apply His gifts in our lives. These are the gifts that matter- They are not advertised on TV or in the newspaper. They are given to us by Him to use.

Thought for Today: As we approach the New Year, let us think about who we are and what gifts God has given us. Let us learn to use these gifts to make our lives and the lives of others better.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, self-improvement always seems to be an objective at this time of the year. Each year I focus on "my improvement" and sometimes do not recognize the tasks you may have set forth for me. I pray that this will be the year that "my improvement" is accomplished by identifying your gifts to me and finding a way to do your work with them.

Amen 

 

Christ is Born Today

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!

 

"Good Christian friends rejoice

With heart and soul and voice;

Give ye heed to what we say:

Jesus Christ is born today!

Jesus Christ was born for this!

Jesus Christ was born to save!"

(1989 Methodist Hymnal # 224) 

            This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Christmas is a special day in our faith and our society. The public displays that represent our faith, the music, the crowded stores, and special events impact the world, as has Jesus. 

            June and I lived for several years in a complex over half occupied by Jewish families. In the lobby, there was a Christmas tree alongside a menorah. Several of the Jewish families put up lights and had Christmas trees. Recently, One of June's friends, Cheryl, invited her to see her first Christmas tree. Religion was not the issue. It was about happiness, sharing joy, and a beautiful tree. 

            My Jewish tennis friend Bobby has a daughter in college. Every year since she was very young, they would set up a tree for Christmas, and Bobby and his wife would share gifts to celebrate Christ's birthday. He and his wife wanted to acknowledge the spirit of the Christian celebration, and it gave them the chance to discuss openly the differences that exist in the world. Bobby also attends bible study and often contributes using his Old Testament knowledge. 

            My family is Unitarian, and my mom's grandparents were both Unitarian ministers. They view Christ as a great teacher/ philosopher. They do not recognize the holy trinity. However, Christmas is undoubtedly the most important day on their Church calendar. They share in our Joy of Christmas. 

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,and the baby, who was lying in the manger."

(Luke 2 vs. 16) 

Thought for Today: This is the day the Lord has made:

Jesus Christ is born today!\

Jesus Christ was born for this!

Jesus Christ was born to save!

 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, on this joyous day, we pray that we may follow Jesus' teachings and do your will here on earth. We pray for a world of peace and love.

 

 

Universal Hope

 

Universal Hope 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

 Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they display knowledge.

 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

(Psalm 19v1-4) 

The holiday season is a time of hope. The Psalmist notes that there is one clear message from the heavens, one God with one statement in all tongues to all peoples. We are encouraged to believe that there is hope for universal understanding and world peace. 

We live in a troubled world. There have been natural disasters, civil unrest, layoffs, and COVID and its various strains this year. They capture the headlines. Indeed, people question God's role in all of this. 

We need to remember that "The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." The press and news media report on other issues. It is up to each of us to focus on the message. We can infect the world with faith, peace, and hope with our example. 

             John F. Kennedy said it this way, "One person can make a difference, and every person must try." 

Thought for Today: OK, there will be bad news this week. We will hear it, see it, and sometimes feel it. We need to overcome it with the faith and hope of the Lord and show others our hope for future generations. 

Prayer for the Season: Dear Lord, this is the time of year when all faiths celebrate you. We honor your presence in different ways with the common thread of love and peace. We pray for the guidance to share our faith so that we may sow a seed in your mane.

 

A Blue Christmas 

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,

for in you, my soul takes refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.”

(Psalm 57:1) 

            This week Christian Churches have a particular service for people having a sad time over the Holidays. Often called a Blue Christmas Service after the Elvis Presley song, but also exists as a Service of Light and Hope. It is worth attending. We can always find reasons to be blue over the holidays, and it is good to take a look at those feelings, put them in perspective and pray to God for the support available to us.

            Our friends Bob, Carl, and Dave miss their wives who passed this year. There are too many to list with severe ailments and others with challenging career and financial situations. Also, we need to pray for what seems to be our new COVID lifestyle.  

            Christmas is a time of celebration. Through it, we remember those who are experiencing loss. June and I pray about aging, living in a new society with COVID, and our growing family’s future. We need to accept the joy of the season as we move toward the holiday. Take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. 

Thought for Today: Let us take note of our sad feelings over the holidays. Let us recognize that they exist. Rather than mask them with joy, let us pray about them and turn them over to God so we can enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we have special prayers for the holidays. We pray that your presence brings trust and love to the world. We pray for people who have lost loved ones and are spending their first Christmas with an empty place at the table. We give thanks for your role in our lives and the help you give us. Thank you for being available for us each day.

Amen

 

 

Christmas Love

Christmas Love "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not to love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13-2) The holiday season is a time of great joy and symbolism. There are bright lights in almost every neighborhood, stores are full of shoppers buying gifts for loved ones, and Christmas trees light up our homes. Special carols that we sing only once each year sound pleasing to our ears. Yes, the celebration of Christ's birthday is a beautiful experience. As Christians, we proceed through this season, and love abounds within our society. When we donate to the food shelf, Toys for Tots, serve at a shelter, or say Merry Christmas, we feel good because we are demonstrating our love for each other; through Christ. Love is a beautiful gift we have through our faith. Thought for Today: As we go through this week before Christmas, stress tends to build. Year-end activities pile up on top of holiday parties, annual budgets, and all the "to do" about Christmas. As we go through the day, let us focus on why we do all of this. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we are all wrapped up in the season's activities. We are concerned about all of the "hate" in the world. Everywhere there seems to be unrest and fear of terror and violence. We pray that somehow love can shine through all of this and that we as people may see through the negative forces and learn that love is possible. Amen