Month: May 2019

As we look forward to saying goodbye to our brother in Christ next Friday we, of course, cling to the promise of eternal life for all those that believe in Jesus (John 6:47) and as Paul said, we grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)!

Of course the passing of a beloved member of our body ought to remind us of our own own mortality.  Causing us to appreciate again the gift of salvation bought with the blood of Christ and secured by faith alone; but I for one, would also like to be remembered well; and to that end, I offer you this poem I found stashed away in my files.  It’s dated “1992” but sounds a bit older than that, still I think it’s worth a minute or two of your contemplation.

It isn’t the thing you do;
It’s the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent,
Are your haunting ghosts tonight.

The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother’s way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were harried too much to say.

The loving touch of the hand,
The gentle winsome tone,
That you had no time or tho’t for
With troubles enough of your own.

The little acts of kindness
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be helpful
Which everyone may find.

No, it’s not the things you do,
It’s the thing you leave undone
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.

Pastor Scott

Tomorrow the stock market could crash.

Tomorrow Russia and China could bomb the USA back to the Stone Age.

Tomorrow a 767 could fall on my house.

Tomorrow the sun could come up and the day could go pretty much like today…..

The truth is I CAN’T know.

You CAN’T know.

Worry (overthinking, dwelling on) tomorrow will not change tomorrow.

Do today!

If you think of something you need to do tomorrow, write it on tomorrow’s list and leave it there.  But only concern yourself with today.

Does that sound too simplistic?  

Maybe a little sophomoric?  

If it does, it’s because we’ve been listening to the enemy.  

Our Creator, the Lover of our souls says we can only handle today.  

And if He said it, I imagine I’d be a fool not to believe it! Amen?

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  ~Jesus

“God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6

Laughter is a blessing from the Lord. It’s the best stress-reliever there is. Through laughter, we can get through some of the darkest moments in life with a small smile. We can become closer with the people around us, celebrate moments of joy, and be thankful for the best friends we have. Laughter and smiles are the best universal communication available. Everyone understands the happiness that comes from laughter and its necessity in our daily lives. Today, laugh a little harder. Smile a little bigger. Appreciate the things that make you feel just that good.

 

{The other day I was encouraged by the simple inclusion of laughter into a conversation; you ought to give it a try – it worked for Sarah.  ~Pastor Scott}

Do you remember learning how to tie your shoes?  Me neither. Yet, I can do it without a thought, totally on autopilot.  That said, I vaguely remember my kids learning and I’m watching one of my grandchildren learn now.  There are steps.  They have to learn the steps.  They have to practice the steps.  Yes, they even have to fail a few times in their execution of the steps, but rare is the person who never learns to tie his shoes, because there are executable steps to learn, practice, and perfect.

What if I told you that blessing someone each day was as easy as tying your shoes?  It really is! PJ has already challenged us on more than one occasion to ask God to show us one person we can bless each day.  Let me break it down into five steps we can learn, practice, and, yes, perfect.

1. Add to your morning and/or evening prayer list a line something like, “Lord, please help me to see one person who needs a touch from Your hand, through me, today.”  (Luke 15:1-7)
2. Add five minutes of margin to your day.  Get up earlier, leave earlier, get done earlier.  I don’t know what you might need to do to feel less rushed, but many of us blow past opportunities because we are in a hurry!
3. Equip yourself.  Make sure you have your One Million Stories card in your wallet OR your WOGF postcard invitation in your purse OR your Living Water Gospel of John in your backpack.  Be ready to follow up.
4. BELIEVE God is going to do His part.
5. Just ask the question, “How can I pray for you?” as God lays it on your heart.  (People of all backgrounds are genuinely open to this question!)
   1. Beginner – jot down a request.
   2. Intermediate – quietly bow right there.
   3. Advanced – pull him/her aside, put hand on shoulder, pray intercessorially, invite him/her to call or come by church.

Yes, this is WAY more detail than you need, but just like tying your shoes, if you learn the steps and practice the steps, it becomes second nature.  If instead we simply acknowledge from a distance that this is something – like jogging – we could do, but never actually do…well, at minimum, we miss the blessing.

So at minimum, pray with me about this challenge!

Yours,

Pastor Scott