"Do you take delight in doing the will of God? Or do you find it too difficult?"
Pray-As-You-Go, 8/22/19
Depends on the day, really...Tuesday, I found it too difficult! Yesterday, it was a bit easier. I look at the will of God as doing whatever we do with love and for the glory of God. Whatever our station in life, whether we are working or retired, parents or empty-nesters, volunteering or whatever-we-do, if we do it with love and offering our activity to bring glory to God, that is God's will. Thomas Merton said our desire to please God, actually pleases God, so our intention is important. Our success may not matter as much as our intention. We encounter people each day and if we encounter them with love and compassion, that's God's will. And sometimes, let's face it, it can be difficult. And God understands that. Let's go through our late-August Thursday with the intention of encountering others with love...and let's take delight in that--for that is God's will! Love, heidi
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Serve in love...
"There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is curiosity.
There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity.
There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is love."
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, as quoted in "Give Us This Day"
I wish I'd read this yesterday when I could have made good use of it! Instead, I wallowed around in the second verse, seeking knowledge to be known by others--in other words, in vain. Argh, that. We are experiencing what every other school experiences the first week; the stress of figuring it all out again. We'd settled into a rather lovely routine last year, but it was not without its growing pains either. What I need to remember is that God holds it all. God has placed us here, in this space, in this time, with these kids. All to accomplish God's will--that we serve in love. The knowledge we seek is so we can serve the best we can. No matter what we are doing, we are called to serve each other in love. We are called to cheerfully (that's a tricky part!) help each other navigate our lives on this planet. We all need each other, and God, to accomplish anything at all. So, today, as we embark on the Hump Day of the Trickiest Week Of All, let's remember what we are here to do and who we are here to serve! Love, heidi
There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity.
There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is love."
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, as quoted in "Give Us This Day"
I wish I'd read this yesterday when I could have made good use of it! Instead, I wallowed around in the second verse, seeking knowledge to be known by others--in other words, in vain. Argh, that. We are experiencing what every other school experiences the first week; the stress of figuring it all out again. We'd settled into a rather lovely routine last year, but it was not without its growing pains either. What I need to remember is that God holds it all. God has placed us here, in this space, in this time, with these kids. All to accomplish God's will--that we serve in love. The knowledge we seek is so we can serve the best we can. No matter what we are doing, we are called to serve each other in love. We are called to cheerfully (that's a tricky part!) help each other navigate our lives on this planet. We all need each other, and God, to accomplish anything at all. So, today, as we embark on the Hump Day of the Trickiest Week Of All, let's remember what we are here to do and who we are here to serve! Love, heidi
Monday, August 19, 2019
Growth from change...
"Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?"
Luke 12:51
As unsettling as it seems, Jesus surprised us in yesterday's Gospel by sounding sort of crabby. The division he speaks of in Luke 12:49-56 may make us uncomfortable and squirmy in the pews. But, there it is. What we learned in our sermon yesterday makes sense to me, though, as I see it played out in history. Sometimes division is necessary for growth and positive change to happen. Sometimes something disconcerting leads us to make a change in our lives--a change for the better. Jesus asks hard things of us. We can't have an encounter with Jesus and come out unchanged. And that change may come with division. As Pastor Gretchen said, unity at all costs may not always be the way of growth. One example she gave is that, nearly fifty years ago, the ELCA branch of Lutheranism decided women should be ordained. Fifty years ago! That must have brought division and discomfort, certainly. But as I listened to her powerfully reflect on the word of God, and watched her preside over the Eucharistic table, I thanked God for the division that led to THAT change. And speaking of change, after attending Immanuel Lutheran Church for over six months, I have officially become a member. Sometimes growth means change...Love, heidi
Luke 12:51
As unsettling as it seems, Jesus surprised us in yesterday's Gospel by sounding sort of crabby. The division he speaks of in Luke 12:49-56 may make us uncomfortable and squirmy in the pews. But, there it is. What we learned in our sermon yesterday makes sense to me, though, as I see it played out in history. Sometimes division is necessary for growth and positive change to happen. Sometimes something disconcerting leads us to make a change in our lives--a change for the better. Jesus asks hard things of us. We can't have an encounter with Jesus and come out unchanged. And that change may come with division. As Pastor Gretchen said, unity at all costs may not always be the way of growth. One example she gave is that, nearly fifty years ago, the ELCA branch of Lutheranism decided women should be ordained. Fifty years ago! That must have brought division and discomfort, certainly. But as I listened to her powerfully reflect on the word of God, and watched her preside over the Eucharistic table, I thanked God for the division that led to THAT change. And speaking of change, after attending Immanuel Lutheran Church for over six months, I have officially become a member. Sometimes growth means change...Love, heidi
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