Live in Peace

“Now we ask you, brothers,
to respect those who work hard among you,
who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
Live in peace with each other.
 ...be patient with everyone.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,
but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
(1 Thessalonians 5; 12-18)

        Each week our pastor starts out with similar words. Something like, "We gather together to celebrate what we know is true; Our God is a loving and caring God who loves all humanity."  Hold that thought and realize that we were made in his image.

        If we accept those statements as truths, then why are we sometimes resentful, angry, depressed and concerned?   Certainly, none of us are perfect and we have these emotions and thoughts. Truly, if we could "...Live in peace with each other.  ...be patient with everyone…" we would be meeting God's expectations and free ourselves of many of the anxieties of life. Paul in his letter tells us how, "...Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances...”

Thought for Today:  Today things will not always go in our favor. We will have opportunities to be resentful or angry. We must choose to be thankful, caring and joyful. In the words of Nike, "Just do it"!

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, our world seems to have slipped into a hate driven society. Around the world there are wars, terrorism and discrimination based on too many issues. We are confused by it all. Today we pray for some understanding, for knowledge of your role in this and insight on how we should react.
We pray that each of us may find a way to contribute to a joyful and peaceful society.
Amen

Fitness

Thought for the Week: Fitness! This week let us focus on our physical selves. Let’s park a bit further from the door, say no thanks to the desert tray, walk the stairs as we are able. Let us be as fit as we can be.

Abe Lincoln put it this way:   I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end. 

The Psalmist said:

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex…

Your workmanship is marvelous.”

(Psalm 139, Vs 13 & 14)

 

 

Stess

Good News 020420 Stress 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving,

present your requests to God"

(Philippians 4:6NIV). 

            Stress is becoming an American, if not a worldwide tradition; part of our lifestyle. We often go through our week wound up like a rubber band that has been twisted tighter and tighter. However, we all recognize that the rubber band eventually breaks when it is wound too tight or stressed too long; it snaps! We are certainly a higher life form than a rubber band; however are we also may snap when over stressed.

                        We all need a way of unwinding during the most stressed of times. Mine is by writing "Good News" to people that I care about. Yours may be different; many exercise, some use meditation, often we a chat with a friend or read. There are many ways to release stress. In Paul's writings to the Philippians 4: 8 & 9, he suggests that Faith is a tool to help us. 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—

put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." 

Focus for Today: Today let us focus selfishly on ourselves. Let's feel the peace and presence of God in our lives. When the "stress monster" wants to control our lives, let's read this passage and let "the peace of God" into our lives. As Christians we deserve peace. 

Prayer for Today:  Heavenly father, the world seems to be a breeding ground for stress. Everywhere we look there is something to worry about; terror, hate, employment troubles, stock market woes- even severe weather. Today we pray that we may keep you and peace in our thoughts, that we have the presence of mind to make wise choices and release our stresses to find tranquility.

Amen

 

 

 

Happiness Is….!

Thought for Today:  Be Happy!

 

Allen Wallace says happiness is: 

“Genuine Happiness is gained not through the outer conquest of nature or the acquisition of wealth and fame, but through the conquest of our inner obscuration and the realization of the natural resources inherent in our hearts and minds.” 

Paul said it also:

"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his

work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find

enjoyment. To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, power and happiness,

but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth..."

(Ecclesiastes 2:24-26).

Allen Wallace, PHD is a progressive scholar and

a prolific writer and translator of Tibetan Buddhism.

Used with permission.

Our Shield!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield.

 My heart trusts in him and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."

 (Psalm 28:7)

    Is there joy in our lives? Let us face it; most of us have a lot more joy (positives) than negatives. Our family, friends and associates are sources of great joy. It is summer and the grass is green; the warm days are relaxing, vacation time is special and our gardens are productive. It is easy to see this kind of joy.

    In today’s world a lot of people have a problem seeing the joys in their lives. Several of my good friends are still in career crises. Two others are battling cancer. There are always two sides to our lives. When we are down and fighting battles it is important to remember the Lord and his place in our lives. As Paul said to the Romans (15:13); "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

    Yes, in our lives there are physical and emotional joys. Our surroundings and life styles generate them. The real joy, however, comes through our Christian beliefs. It is this belief that gives us the "strength" and "shield" mentioned by the Psalmist above...

Thought for the Week: Let us keep joy at the forefront of our thoughts. When we are challenged with life, let's put up our shield.

Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, many of our friends are fighting battles. Illness, unemployment, unwanted career changes and many others. We pray for them to understand your strength and love. We pray that they may find the joy that is only available through trust in you.

Value Added!

 

Thought for Week: This week we will have battles we do not expect. With God’s help, let us be winners no matter which way the battle turns out! Plus: We have the parts and the image to be of value. Enjoy your week! 

From Reverend Michael Miller: “…My theology and values are centered on the conviction that because we are created in the image of God, each of us is valued and has deep within us the potential to reflect the goodness and beauty of our Creator. Therefore, being of Norwegian or German descent, African or Korean, tall or short, gay or straight, rich or poor is not a determining factor in our worth as a human being. We are valued because we are created in the image of God.”

Michael Miller is a retired Methodist Minister in Minnesota.

This is used with his permission.

Note: Mike is my spiritual advisor and blessed friend. 

(Psalm 139 vs. 13 & 14)

“For it was you who formed my inward parts;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

(Psalm 139 vs. 13 & 14)

 

Let's Talk- Share Your Faith!

Good News 020806- Let's Talk 

“You must go to everyone I send you to

and say whatever I command you.”

(Jeremiah 1vs7) 

            The city of Boston has a public area called Boston Commons. It is a central park that was set up as a common grazing ground for city owned live stock. I believe that even today, all Boston residents have the legal right to graze their cow on “the common”.

            “The Common” is now and always was a meeting place where people meet to discuss the issues of the day. It still serves that function today. There are people on every corner, some literally standing on soap boxes, discussing everything from gay issues to the mid-east. In fact, you can generally find a “talker” that is representing your ideas no matter what you feel.

            The most common subjects the talkers address are issues of faith. There will be conservatives on one corner and liberals on the next using the same Bible passages to reinforce their beliefs. Often, they engage their audience in debates that may be very intense. “The Boston Common Talkers” represent America’s free speech at its finest.

Most of us shy away from publicly sharing our faith with others. Jesus clearly wants us to share but we generally do not have the confidence to speak out in public. We need to realize that we need to share and “…say whatever I command you.” 

Thought for Today: Today, let us all look for a chance to tell someone about our faith. Let us invite some one to share, someone we may help and possibly even invite them to join us at a service.  

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father today I pray for the strength to do your will here on earth. I pray that I may share my story of my life with You with someone.

Amen