Category: First Steps

Christians have a long history of seeing everything through the lens of Jesus Christ.  Many of the Christian holidays have their origin in something that wasn’t initially Christian but was used by them to teach or evangelize.  Theologically speaking, since Christ is the means of transformation, followers of Christ repurposed just about anything to help people walk the road of faith.   I do something similar with songs and movies.  I try to see them through the lens of Jesus Christ.  I know the origin of the songs and movies has nothing to do with faith, Jesus, or Christianity; however, that doesn’t stop me from using them as a means of reflection or prayer.  Like the early church, I want to repurpose it for and with Christ. For instance, I’ve always been a fan of George Harrison.  I like his music.  One of my favorites is Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) and I’ve used his lyrics as a form of prayer.  Perhaps it was a prayer for him.  I also realize there is a line in the lyrics that nods to reincarnation which is not a Christian concept.  But all that aside, I like the song and have borrowed it to be words of prayer.   If you are unfamiliar with the lyrics, then here you go: Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life; Keep me free from birth, Give me hope, Help me cope with this heavy load, Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul, Om My Lord, Please take hold of my hand that I might understand you.  Won’t you please, Oh, won’t you?  Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life, Keep me free from birth, Give me hope, Help me cope with this heavy load, Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul, Om My Lord Won’t you please Oh, won’t you? Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life, Keep me free from birth, Give me hope, Help me cope with this heavy load, Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul. Give me love, Give me love, Give me peace on earth, Give me light, Give me life, Keep me, keep me free from birth, Now give me hope.  Help me cope with this heavy load. Trying to touch and reach you with Heart and soul.   As you begin this week, pray for love, peace, light, and life.  Pray for God to help you carry burdens and envision that Christ walks with you.  Pray for God’s touch in your life, your heart, and your soul.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Acts 8, Acts 9 *Tuesday – Acts 10, Acts 11 *Wednesday – Acts12 *Thursday – Acts 13, Acts 14 *Friday – Acts 15, Acts 16 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

“We may not have the capacity to become what Saul of Tarsus became, but we may be in the channel of God’s will just as truly as was Paul, and our lives may have the smile of God upon them, though in some hidden way that the world may never know” (Elizabeth Morrison).   Throughout my ministry, I often hear people describing their lives as not important to God’s Kingdom. Because they don’t teach, preach, sing, or evangelize, then their work is not effective to the Church or to God. How untrue!  Granted, those whose gifts edify the ministries of the Church seem to be highlighted because those gifts are witnessed by all. They are easy to see. However, what someone doesn’t see is the one on their knees praying for all.  What someone doesn’t see is the gentle witness of encouragement and love that cultivate a life.    These gentle servants of God are the real salt of the earth. They are the ones who believe they can change the world by living out Micah 6:8. They are the ones who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. They are the ones who treat people equally and with fairness. They are the ones who are forgiving because they give what they received. They are the ones who are modest and meek. If you ask me, they will be the ones who change the world because every step they take is a step of incarnational witness as a follower of Christ. They are the real effective servants because they live according to the most excellent way—the Love of God.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Acts 2 *Tuesday – Acts 3 *Wednesday – Acts 4 *Thursday – Acts 5 *Friday – Acts 6, Acts 7 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Last week I mentioned Aunt Bettie Morrison (Elizabeth) and her words on success and values.  She also wrote: “It would be a great thing if each of us could realize that even our little life is planned of God, and if we would fit into that plan how much better it would be for us and all concerned.  Our catechism says that we are created to ‘glorify God,’ and if we miss the purpose for which we were created, we have deliberately thwarted God’s plan and purpose for our lives, and we shall inevitably fail of that which is highest and best in this life, and that which is to come.”   I would add that when we see our life as part of God’s plan of salvation, we live in peace.  How often do we live beneath our calling?  A call to follow Jesus is more than an occupation, it is a lifestyle of glorifying God in all things.  From something grand and glorious to the humblest of daily activities, all are considered important to God and part of living in God’s Spirit.  It is not something to be achieved or earned, it is something to be experienced with every single breath.   I’m sure you have enjoyed floating on an inflatable at some point in your life.  Either in a pool, a lake, or in the ocean, floating on an inflatable can be relaxing.  While one floats, one simply is—nothing is needed but to rest on the float.  In a similar way, when we realize our life is part of God’s larger narrative of salvation, we float.  We resist the temptation to be more or less than what we truly are—a child of God.    You are part of God’s plan, His work of redemption for all things.  Begin today seeing yourself as part of that narrative.  Everything you do, even the simplest of things, is part of the story.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Luke 21 *Tuesday – Luke 22 *Wednesday – Luke 23 *Thursday – Luke 24 *Friday – Acts 1 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Dr. Henry Morrison was the founder of Asbury Seminary (one of my alma maters).  He was a visionary, dynamic preacher, and believed in the theological training of young ministers.  Equally as effective was his wife, Elizabeth. She walked step-by-step with him in the planning and implementation of ATS.  A skillful and avid writer, she became the Associate Editor of the Herald until her death in 1945.   She would often write, “the success which counts, counts for this world and that which is to come, is being and doing what God sent us here to be and do. When we fail to get into the channel of God’s ordering we are out of the way of true and abiding success.” Two things stick out to me about this quote.  First, the image of the channel of God’s ordering. On a recent vacation, I witnessed little boys body surf as waves crashed to the shore.  The ones who could ride the waves all the way to the shoreline were able to harness the momentum of the wave.  They were in the channel of the wave—the sweet spot.  The boys that couldn’t harness the power of the wave faltered a few feet after take-off. Spiritually speaking, when we harness the power of God’s Spirit in our lives, we live in the channel.  The energy and force of God’s Spirit guides us, gives us power to live differently in the world—to live in the channel of God’s ordering.   Second, success is valued differently for the follower of Jesus.  Perhaps the prime example of a different value system is The Beatitudes (Matthew 5).  In his sermon, Jesus depicted a system that is counter-cultural to his and our world.  Whereas strength, wealth, prestige, beauty, and power are valued by our surrounding society, the Kingdom of God’s values are different.  In that kingdom, humility, empathy, authenticity, obedience, and peace are the goals. Followers of God are to strive for that type of success.   Aunt Bettie’s words still ring true today.  Live in the channel of God’s ordering and strive for success that brings glory to God.  I encourage you to set your course in that direction and may God bless you.  This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Luke 16 *Tuesday – Luke 17 *Wednesday – Luke 18 *Thursday – Luke 19 *Friday – Luke 20 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Teresa of Avila, a 16th Century Carmelite nun, once said: “Our soul is like a castle created out of a precious jewel. There are many interesting rooms in this beautiful castle of the soul.  How do we enter? Is that a foolish question?  After all, if the castle is your own soul you are already intimate with it.  What you must realize is that there are many different ways we can exist within this castle.  You can remain with the guards in the courtyard outside the gate.  You can live your entire life and never discover what it’s like inside.” Prayer and meditation are doorways into your castle. Routine and quoted prayers are helpful and a good starting place.  They can help form the words, and concepts, or give the food the chew on; however, authentic words come from the person and is the means to journey inside the soul.  In this first week of the year, began the journey inward.  Make prayer and meditation a priority this year. Start small, focus on a few minutes each day, and build that foundation. Only after the foundation is laid and the daily habit is created can it be expanded to the level where one moves freely around their own castle.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Luke 11 *Tuesday – Luke 12 *Wednesday – Luke 13 *Thursday – Luke 14 *Friday – Luke 15 Prayer Requests: *Continued blessings in the New Year 2023. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

There is a word that Luke used in his gospel that is a bit unnerving.  It is diaskorpidzo (squandered or wasted).  I bet you recognize it in connection to the younger son in Luke 15.  The younger son, The Prodigal, squandered or wasted what was given to him by his father.  You know the story, the father welcomed him back into the family, no questions asked. However, what you might not know is that the same word, diaskorpidzo, is used in the next chapter (Chapter 16) to describe the actions of the Dishonest Manager in a different parable.  He squandered what was given by the landowner.  Both of them wasted and misspent things making a mess of their lives.  Yet, what both received was grace.  The son is welcomed back into the family and not excommunicated, and the manager is not jailed.  Both should have received punishment or at least the repercussions of their actions.  They did not get what they deserved.  Shockingly, the son received a party and the manager a commendation.  The parable endings have always interested me.  They are open-ended.  We don’t know what the next day entailed suggesting there is no agenda to do, no makeup for the wrongs.  What we see is an open invitation to receive something one can never achieve.  This is the purpose of the parables and ultimately the heart of God—a grace giver—and it can only be received. The celebration of Christmas is the recognition that we are, first and foremost, receivers of a gift of grace that becomes the means for one to be made whole.   Notice again the angelic message: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord…“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”          This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Luke 6 *Tuesday – Luke 7 *Wednesday – Luke 8 *Thursday – Luke 9 *Friday – Luke 10 Prayer Requests: *Families traveling this holiday season. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6