Winners R Us! In God's Image!

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)

Letters?

Good News 030111 Letters?

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts,

 known and read by everyone.

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry,

written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,

not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

(2 Corinthians 3 vs. 2&3) 

            Wow, it sure is scary to think that we are a letter from Christ. Are we really qualified to represent Jesus in our everyday lives? That is certainly a challenging thought and Paul was certainly challenging the people of Corinth. Was he challenging us or can we discount his word here as too ancient?

            I really want to talk today about the difference between qualified and certified- two words that are not interchangeable but are often used in the same context. In the world of the spirit, when it comes to representatives of the Lord, there is a strong difference. Ordained pastors are certified to give communion, Baptize and I am sure many other things that I do not even know about. However, we are all ministers of the gospel and through our spirituality; we are the light, the message and the Spirit. We are qualified through our covenant to shine that light. 

Thought for Today: Today I recognize my qualifications given to me by my covenant to my faith. I will share them and use them through the spirit given to me.

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, for today help me live as an example of you, as a window into the spirit. For today let others see you through my eyes.

Amen

 

 

 

           

Patience and Perseverance

Thought for the Week: We are all living through trying times. There is too much to do, too much work, not enough playtimes. However, we have God and through Him we have our Christian friends. Let's look toward the future knowing that patience and perseverance will bring us tranquility and happiness.

St James said this about Perseverance:  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance .Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,

because when he has stood the test,

he will receive the crown of life that God

as promised to those who love him."

(James 1 verse 12)

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.