Today I went to a worship service to remember the life of my friend Shirley, an every-day Christian. Granted, she was a Sunday morning Christian as well, but her faith in Christ sustained her throughout the week in all that she did. When I think of Shirley I always think of integrity. She was never excited about the latest craze. Her actions were based upon what God would have her to do. You always knew where she stood on a matter. When she spoke to give her opinion, we all took note.
Yet, she was not demanding that her way was the only way. She did not belittle the opinions of others but was gracious in hearing out another. Others may have different ways of doing things and that was okay by her, but she was not swayed. She knew what God wanted of her and she stayed on that path.
Shirley has been ill with cancer for several months now. This last Monday night, she left this life of pain for a better life with Christ. I am certain that she is at peace.
I don't have to wonder about this.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hope
You, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.
- Psalm 71:5-6
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I've said before, "There's no hope," and usually, I was making a joke about something insignificant. Maybe a cake didn't turn out looking like I wanted. Maybe my hair wouldn't lay straight. Maybe my desk was in shambles. Those things really don't matter in the long run.
But, in the important things of life, I always have hope -- not in my own goodness or abilities. Rather my hope is in God who can make something out of nothing. God is still in the business of creation, hope, healing. I trust God for those things that seem hopeless to me.
Now...... off to work to approach my desk that's in a shambles. Actually, it's all in boxes. The office is being carpeted, painted and rearranged. The cubicles are all being moved. I wonder where I'll find my belongings today.
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.
- Psalm 71:5-6
------------------------------------------------------------
I've said before, "There's no hope," and usually, I was making a joke about something insignificant. Maybe a cake didn't turn out looking like I wanted. Maybe my hair wouldn't lay straight. Maybe my desk was in shambles. Those things really don't matter in the long run.
But, in the important things of life, I always have hope -- not in my own goodness or abilities. Rather my hope is in God who can make something out of nothing. God is still in the business of creation, hope, healing. I trust God for those things that seem hopeless to me.
Now...... off to work to approach my desk that's in a shambles. Actually, it's all in boxes. The office is being carpeted, painted and rearranged. The cubicles are all being moved. I wonder where I'll find my belongings today.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday morning Christian
Why do I get up and go to church every Sunday? I really love to sleep in, but then I would miss:
- Smiles
- An opportunity to sing boisterously and unabashedly
- The chance to be with a community of believers who bring their joys, cares and concerns to God.
- The opportunity to hear another person tell the stories of God.
- A quiet time for me to reflect upon how God is working in my life.
- Faith-sharing.
- A time to visit with my friends, (who also feel compelled to get up on Sunday mornings.)
- Hugs. Lots and lots of hugs.
- Shy little girls who sing along with the hymns, even before they have learned to read.
- Family. Not biological family, but brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Food for body and soul. Spiritual food to help me thru another week. Lunch out with friends to help me make it to my Sunday afternoon nap.
- Did I mention that I like to sing? Loudly and often. God is so very good!
- Peaceful, safe sanctuary.
That's all for now. Maybe more later.
I wonder what an everyday Christian looks like....... hmmm.........
- Smiles
- An opportunity to sing boisterously and unabashedly
- The chance to be with a community of believers who bring their joys, cares and concerns to God.
- The opportunity to hear another person tell the stories of God.
- A quiet time for me to reflect upon how God is working in my life.
- Faith-sharing.
- A time to visit with my friends, (who also feel compelled to get up on Sunday mornings.)
- Hugs. Lots and lots of hugs.
- Shy little girls who sing along with the hymns, even before they have learned to read.
- Family. Not biological family, but brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Food for body and soul. Spiritual food to help me thru another week. Lunch out with friends to help me make it to my Sunday afternoon nap.
- Did I mention that I like to sing? Loudly and often. God is so very good!
- Peaceful, safe sanctuary.
That's all for now. Maybe more later.
I wonder what an everyday Christian looks like....... hmmm.........
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Chill out folks!
Ok...... I know Christmas is coming. We received the LL Bean Christmas catalog the other day. I've seen Wal-Mart Christmas commercials on TV. My mother-in-law loaded up one closet with packages in August already. Tomorrow we will start shopping for the silly gifts we always buy the family.
Yesterday, I got the first of many emails bemoaning the secularization of Christmas. There are many of these things circulating. Most tell you not to patronize stores that say Happy Holidays or to refuse to buy certain products or some other silly thing. The author of these emails is never stated. What really irritates me is that friends mindlessly forward all this rubbish.
It's not just that people warn you "don't take Christ out of Christmas." I also get warnings not to buy products manufactured by certain companies because they are agents of the devil. And then there's the admonition to refuse certain US coins because they don't include the words "In God We Trust."
Yes, words matter, but if a person's life doesn't mirror the words, then the words are not real to the person anyway. (Does that sentence make sense?) A quote from St. Francis of Assisi seems appropriate here. "Preach the Gospel always....if necessary, use words." In other words, let your actions do the bulk of your talking.
Honestly, I just can't get all bent out of shape about a person saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." The intention is to greet me and wish me well. I just wonder why some folks are so all-fired upset about it.
Yesterday, I got the first of many emails bemoaning the secularization of Christmas. There are many of these things circulating. Most tell you not to patronize stores that say Happy Holidays or to refuse to buy certain products or some other silly thing. The author of these emails is never stated. What really irritates me is that friends mindlessly forward all this rubbish.
It's not just that people warn you "don't take Christ out of Christmas." I also get warnings not to buy products manufactured by certain companies because they are agents of the devil. And then there's the admonition to refuse certain US coins because they don't include the words "In God We Trust."
Yes, words matter, but if a person's life doesn't mirror the words, then the words are not real to the person anyway. (Does that sentence make sense?) A quote from St. Francis of Assisi seems appropriate here. "Preach the Gospel always....if necessary, use words." In other words, let your actions do the bulk of your talking.
Honestly, I just can't get all bent out of shape about a person saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." The intention is to greet me and wish me well. I just wonder why some folks are so all-fired upset about it.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
An intruder
Tonight I feel so terribly inept, inadequate, unable, useless. I feel as tho I've stuck my foot in my mouth and really don't know if I should apologize or not. Perhaps it's just my perception... or maybe it's real. Here's what happened.
My friend Shirley is in the hospital. She has cancer and is very, very sick. Because of her illness, she has not been able to come to church for quite some time. Shirley has been active in the church, serving many roles, ever since I have been there. She would say her primary spiritual gift is teacher. She was one of the first women called as an elder in the congregation and for that, we honored her with Elder Emeritus status today.
Since Shirley couldn't come to church, we came to her. Shirley and her family were there. The elders and the pastor were there. The nurses kept bringing us folding chairs so that we could get more people into the room. We probably had fifteen of us there. I hope that our presence was accepted in the spirit in which we intended. I am certain that God was present with us in that hospital room.
But, somehow I felt as tho we were intruding upon a very private, intimate family time. I left the room as soon as possible, even tho I would have loved to visit with her and the family more.
----------------------------------------
O God........ show me the best way to be supportive to my friend Shirley. Be with her and guide her along this journey. Give her hope for tomorrow and let her rest in your strength. My prayer for her family is the same, as her husband, daughters and son face the challenge of learning how to care for her. She loves you God. Be with her.
Love, Nancy
And God says, "Be still......... and know that I am God."
My friend Shirley is in the hospital. She has cancer and is very, very sick. Because of her illness, she has not been able to come to church for quite some time. Shirley has been active in the church, serving many roles, ever since I have been there. She would say her primary spiritual gift is teacher. She was one of the first women called as an elder in the congregation and for that, we honored her with Elder Emeritus status today.
Since Shirley couldn't come to church, we came to her. Shirley and her family were there. The elders and the pastor were there. The nurses kept bringing us folding chairs so that we could get more people into the room. We probably had fifteen of us there. I hope that our presence was accepted in the spirit in which we intended. I am certain that God was present with us in that hospital room.
But, somehow I felt as tho we were intruding upon a very private, intimate family time. I left the room as soon as possible, even tho I would have loved to visit with her and the family more.
----------------------------------------
O God........ show me the best way to be supportive to my friend Shirley. Be with her and guide her along this journey. Give her hope for tomorrow and let her rest in your strength. My prayer for her family is the same, as her husband, daughters and son face the challenge of learning how to care for her. She loves you God. Be with her.
Love, Nancy
And God says, "Be still......... and know that I am God."
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Grapefruit
Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
------------------------------------------------------------
Today, a friend introduced me to a group of folks I didn't know and who didn't know me. Her introduction was accurate, as far as it goes, but it makes me realize that she only knows one part of me.
We all have associations with folks in different capacities. How many can you name? The family relationships alone would take a long time. Then there's work, church, social, professional, casual relationships, intimate friendships. We show a different part of ourselves to each person we meet, depending upon how much we trust that other person, what we hope to gain from that relationship and how long we want the relationship to last. For instance, a relationship with my husband is very different from a relationship with the cashier at the grocery store. They each see a different part of me. I am willing to share a larger portion of myself with my husband than I am the cashier. (By the way, I have no doubt that the cashier is just fine with that.)
But all this got me to thinking about how I compartmentalize my life. Just like the sections of a grapefruit. I have a spouse section, a mother section, a grandmother section, a daughter section, a friend section, a church section, a work section and on and on. I even have a section reserved for self, that no one else knows. Like a grapefruit, sometimes life is sweet, sometimes sour, sometimes bitter. It all depends on how deep you dig into the section. Sometimes a grapefruit is whole, but sometimes it's cut open and the juices flow. When it's whole, no one sees the different sections, but when it's cut open, we see that some sections are larger than others.
And then I wondered..... do I even know all the sections of my life? I know how I feel about other people, but how do others see me? What things are there that I don't even admit to myself? Am I even aware of all that is within me?
No........ The answer to the last question is 'no.' But, God knows me. God knows all there is to know about me. God knows all the parts of my life and helps to make me whole. That's what the psalmist is saying.... O Lord, you have searched me and know me.
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
------------------------------------------------------------
Today, a friend introduced me to a group of folks I didn't know and who didn't know me. Her introduction was accurate, as far as it goes, but it makes me realize that she only knows one part of me.
We all have associations with folks in different capacities. How many can you name? The family relationships alone would take a long time. Then there's work, church, social, professional, casual relationships, intimate friendships. We show a different part of ourselves to each person we meet, depending upon how much we trust that other person, what we hope to gain from that relationship and how long we want the relationship to last. For instance, a relationship with my husband is very different from a relationship with the cashier at the grocery store. They each see a different part of me. I am willing to share a larger portion of myself with my husband than I am the cashier. (By the way, I have no doubt that the cashier is just fine with that.)
But all this got me to thinking about how I compartmentalize my life. Just like the sections of a grapefruit. I have a spouse section, a mother section, a grandmother section, a daughter section, a friend section, a church section, a work section and on and on. I even have a section reserved for self, that no one else knows. Like a grapefruit, sometimes life is sweet, sometimes sour, sometimes bitter. It all depends on how deep you dig into the section. Sometimes a grapefruit is whole, but sometimes it's cut open and the juices flow. When it's whole, no one sees the different sections, but when it's cut open, we see that some sections are larger than others.
And then I wondered..... do I even know all the sections of my life? I know how I feel about other people, but how do others see me? What things are there that I don't even admit to myself? Am I even aware of all that is within me?
No........ The answer to the last question is 'no.' But, God knows me. God knows all there is to know about me. God knows all the parts of my life and helps to make me whole. That's what the psalmist is saying.... O Lord, you have searched me and know me.
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