Category: First Steps

Many a teacher and preacher warn that if one desires to live a devout life, criticism and derision follow.  The thought is that friends will warn or pressure the follower of Christ about the unhappy consequences of their choice to pursue God.  This might be the case in some parts of the globe where Christian morals and ethics are not practiced by the majority.  In our culture, I’m not sure that is the case.  Regardless if one is a follower of Christ or not, the morality of the Gospel is still valued by the masses where love, kindness, and goodness are valued over their opposites.  To some degree, those Gospel attributes still lace our society.  Will they be here in future decades, I don’t know—I hope so—but that is a different debate.  For today, be it a believer or a non-believer, those attributes are still valued.   If this is true, then the temptation for the believer is not persecution where one is faced with steep opposition to a devout life.  The greater temptation is stagnation.  It is the slow erosion of faith by complacency.  Faith is always fluid.  It should grow by a constant openness to God’s Spirit yielding the nature of Christ.  What we face are not tumultuous waves of persecution but calmer waters that create an environment for drift.  In the middle of the storm, the captain and crew are fully engaged.  They stay vigilant and ready; however, in the still waters, it is easier to skip a few steps or fall asleep at the wheel.  Over time, the drift is so great one becomes lost.    Therefore, feed your faith. Give yourself to a lifestyle of discipline. Forming the nature of Christ in oneself is a lifetime process. Pray for God’s Spirit to lead you,  both in times of difficulty and in times of ease.      This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 2 Corinthians 6 *Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 7 *Wednesday – 2 Corinthians 8 *Thursday – 2 Corinthians 9 *Friday – 2 Corinthians 10 Prayer Requests: -Pray for guidance, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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. -Family restoration through forgiveness. -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

John Bradford lived in England during the early days of The Reformation (1500s).  He was a scholar and very proficient in accounting.  His talents were sought out by many.  When he was converted, he gave up his law and accounting practice to devote himself completely to the study of scripture.  It wasn’t long before he began his preaching ministry to the London masses and was much loved by the city of London.    In the tumultuous change from Protestant King to Catholic Queen, Bradford was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London.  It was in his cell that he did most of his spiritual writing.  Eventually, his sentence was passed, and he was executed via public burning.  It is not surprising to note that his execution was witnessed by many—some reports proclaim the biggest crowd ever to witness a public burning.    While in prison, he wrote a prayer that he prayed while getting dressed each day:   O Christ, clothe me with yourself.  Be for me a warm garment that will protect me from catching the cold of this world.  If you are away from me, dear Lord, all things will be cold and lifeless.  But if you are with me, all things will be warm, lively, and fresh. As I cover my body with this article of clothing, please become the clothing of my soul.  Put upon me mercy, meekness, love, and peace.  Amen.   Similar to Ephesians 6 where Paul reminded his reader to put on the armor of God, the imagery of putting on Christ has long been embraced.  I like the analogy for it is easy for me to incorporate a prayerful desire with something I do every day.  What about you?  Can you envision putting on Christ the same way you put on your clothes?  Give it a try.     This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 2 Corinthians 1 *Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 2 *Wednesday – 2 Corinthians 3 *Thursday – 2 Corinthians 4 *Friday – 2 Corinthians 5 Prayer Requests: -Pray for guidance, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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. -Family restoration through forgiveness. -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

If you feel like your prayer life is barren or nonexistent, then use this as a primer for the pump.  These are the words prayed by the Psalmist — Psalm 63: O Love, You are my Beloved, and I long for You, my soul thirsts for You; All that is within me thirsts, as in a dry and barren land with no water. So, I have called out to You in my heart, sensing your power and glory.  Because your steadfast love is Life to me, my lips will praise you. I would radiate your love as long as I live, becoming a blessing to others in gratitude to You. My soul feasts as with a magnificent banquet, and my mouth praises You with joyful lips, When I ponder on your kindness, and meditate on You throughout the night; For You have been my salvation, and in the shadows of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You, your love upholds me. The fears that seem to separate me from you shall be transformed and disappear; As they are faced, each fear is diminished; they shall be gone as in a dream when I awaken. And my soul shall rejoice in the Beloved; You who open your heart to Love will live in peace and joy! Amen.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 1 Corinthians 12 *Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 13 *Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 14 *Thursday – 1 Corinthians 15 *Friday – 1 Corinthians 16 Prayer Requests: -Pray for guidance, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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. -Family restoration through forgiveness. -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

Don’t discount the impact of your witness.  Sometimes we do.  I write this thinking about the impact of Mary’s witness on Jesus.  Granted, it is easy to assume Jesus blew through life with no worries, struggles, or hardships.  After all, Jesus was God incarnate.  Many times, I forget or downplay his humanity, because I overly focus on his divinity.  Frankly, I like the superhero Jesus coming in the clouds with power and force, able to brush off anything that confronts him but in doing so, I miss so much. His mother was a model of submission to God.  When she is introduced in Luke’s Gospel, one sees her humble spirit:  “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said.” Years later when Jesus was in the garden, he prayed something similar:  “Not my will but your will be done.”  Where did he learn this type of submission?  I guess one could place this ability in the superhero Jesus category, but  I’m not sure that would give the full picture. I think it was modeled for him his entire life.  Mary’s witness mattered to Jesus.   Likewise, your witness matters. If you are a parent, grandparent, coach, teacher, or in a place where someone observes you, remember your witness matters.  Followers of Christ are grown as much as made. Often, the growth process involves modeling one to another.      This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 1 Corinthians 7 *Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 8 *Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 9 *Thursday – 1 Corinthians 10 *Friday – 1 Corinthians 11 Prayer Requests: -Pray for guidance, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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. -Family restoration through forgiveness. -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

I have long been a fan of the work of St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  Having friends who have benefited from their care of children, I’ve seen the efficacy of their work up close.  Brooke and I were first introduced to their impact while serving in Macon, Georgia. It was incredible to watch the total care of not only the child, but the entire family.   One of the major fundraisers that benefit St. Jude is a PGA golf tournament held in Memphis, Tennessee each year.  During this year’s final round on the 18th hole, there were special marshals who greeted each golfer when they completed their round of golf.  The marshals were some of the children under the care of St. Jude.  I was moved as each golfer stopped their play to acknowledge the special marshals when their names were announced.  Each golfer then walked off the 18th green and personally acknowledged each child.  The faces of both the golfer and the marshal lit up with joy as they greeted each other. As I watched this, I thought it doesn’t take much to notice the people around you.  Do you notice the people around you?  What about the person at the grocery counter?  What about the attendant who greets you as you enter a business?  What about the person who serves you at lunch?  What about the person who stands in need at the corner of the intersection?   As I write this, I wonder how many people I don’t see because I’m not looking.  Yet, as I read the Gospels, I noticed that Jesus saw and acknowledged so many that others overlooked.  This week, join me in prayer for open eyes—to see what Jesus sees.  It doesn’t take much to notice the people around you.      This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 1 Corinthians 2 *Tuesday – 1 Corinthians 3 *Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 4 *Thursday – 1 Corinthians 5 *Friday – 1 Corinthians 6 Prayer Requests: -Teachers, students, and parents as they adjust to the new school year. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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

Every preacher likes object lessons.  Like parables, they help convey a deeper theological message.  While reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, I thought of a garden hose.   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. A garden hose doesn’t work properly unless water flows in and out of it.  It must have both.  The same is true for the Christians.  God’s Spirit flows in so that it can flow out.  It must have both.  In the above passage, God comforts one person (flows in) so that person can comfort someone else (flows out).   When we fail to allow God to flow in our lives or we fail to use what we have received, we stop the flow of things.  We miss out on how God is comforting us and how God would comfort someone else.  In and out—that is how it works.  This week, don’t stop the flow of God’s work.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Galatians 3 *Tuesday – Galatians 4 *Wednesday – Galatians 5 *Thursday – Galatians 6 *Friday – 1 Corinthians 1 Prayer Requests: -Teachers, students, and parents as they adjust to the new school year. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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