Category: First Steps

Matthew 6:5-14 (The Message) 5 “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? 6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in Heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—     as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty!     Yes. Yes. Yes. 14-15 “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. Jesus offers this primarily as a check on the person who wants to engage in religious practices to increase his or her standing in the world.  Perhaps there’s a wish to project an image for others to see, by the way one gives alms, prays, and fasts.  Living as a disciple of Jesus means that we become less and less concerned with what others think of us and our religious practice.  In the end, our religious practice is not about impressing or pleasing others.  Instead, we engage in spiritual practices quietly, privately, and unobtrusively. Spiritual practices (including prayer) open us inwardly to be shaped by God’s Spirit.  Those spiritual practices are means to an end, yielding an intimate relationship with the Living God. The goal is the connection with God, and in that connection, an inner shaping and transforming as God’s life comes alive within us. Ultimately, as God shapes us inwardly, that transformation is manifested in the way we live in the world.  There is a spiritual principle in place:  Transformed people transform the world.   But in this section on prayer, offered to God and not for the benefit of reputation or image, Jesus makes a couple of statements about the actual shape of prayer itself.   First, he says that prayer is only secondarily something one does in public – and then, only with great care and mindfulness.  Prayer is rather something one does within “the inner room” or “in one’s closet.” Ancient houses–except for palaces and homes of the wealthy–did not have rooms. Thus, to “go into your room and close the door” is an image of the interior room within the heart. It is an image that suggests quiet, privacy, and secret communion with God that is not on display for the benefit of others to see.  If you ever read the works of St. Theresa of Avila, you will recognize this concept, for this was her practice of prayer.   Jesus gave the image of retreat where one departs to the inner sanctuary within you, to the place where you are most deeply and intimately connected with God. We must learn to be with God in that place.   Second, Jesus does (in fact) give a pattern for prayer. What we call The Lord’s Prayer (and what Catholics call the Pater Noster or The Our Father) was probably not intended to be recited word for word as a prayer of repetition, but likely was intended to be a pattern for our praying.   The lines suggest some of the various “ingredients” that might be included in prayer by acknowledging who God is, submitting to the coming of God’s kingdom within our own lives, seeking God’s purpose for our lives and our world, asking for daily provisions, seeking forgiveness, etc.  Unfortunately, as many pray The Lord’s Prayer now, it is mostly recited with little meaning and with mindless repetition.   But it doesn’t have to be.  When you pray The Lord’s Prayer or any prayer for that matter, envision yourself traveling into your heart. Sense God’s closeness.  Wait a few moments in silence, welcome God’s presence, and then pray.  Be committed to prayer.  We learn to pray by praying.    This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 2 Timothy 1 *Tuesday – 2 Timothy 2 *Wednesday – 2 Timothy 3 *Thursday – 2 Timothy 4 *Friday – Titus 1 Things to Pray About: -The violence and finding peace in our city, state, country, and in the world. -Pray for guidance, healing, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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

From time to time, I will officiate a couple’s renewal of their wedding vows. There is no single reason as to why a couple will renew their vows.  Sometimes it is to mark a major anniversary (20 years, 25 years, 30 years, 40 years, etc.). Other times, couples sense a drifting apart or that things feel stale or stagnant. Therefore, a renewal of vows can be a reminder of past promises made. Whatever the case, they are no longer living out of the energy of the original vows. Those original vows have lost their vigor or lost a sense of their weight and importance.  In a renewal ceremony, the aim is not to return to the past or to be the people they once were when they originally entered into that commitment. That is impossible. People are never stationary but growing, and evolving, and it is impossible to become again the person they were at a previous stage of life.  Rather, when people renew their vows, they are allowing the commitments to continue shaping the persons they are becoming. In effect, the vow or commitment remains constant, as a kind of glue that holds them as they evolve and change. The renewed vows become guardrails that guide the growth. One question I ask is, “How do we evolve/grow continually throughout our lives, while still holding a commitment made in the past when we were in a different place?”  Maybe the answer is we renew that original commitment as it continues to guide and direct.  Each new year, I renew my vows to God and ministry.  I pledge myself to God’s Kingdom and the work he has privileged His children to be a part of and placed before them.  What about you?  Will you renew your vow to God and allow it to direct you this year? This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 1 Timothy 2 *Tuesday – 1 Timothy 3 *Wednesday – 1 Timothy 4 *Thursday – 1 Timothy 5 *Friday – 1 Timothy 6 Things to Pray About: -The violence and finding peace in our city, state, country, and in the world. -Pray for guidance, healing, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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

In a small, cozy house, there lived a six-year-old boy named Lucas. Lucas had a loving family, a room full of toys, and a heart full of imagination. But every night, as the sun set and the stars twinkled, a wave of fear washed over him. It wasn’t the darkness that scared him; it was the solitude, the absence of his parents’ comforting presence in his room. ‌ His mother, sensing his fear, installed a gentle nightlight that bathed the room in a warm, soothing glow. His father, in an attempt to ease his son’s anxiety, would leave the closet light on, the door slightly ajar, casting a reassuring beam across the soft carpet. But these efforts, though well-intentioned, didn’t completely calm Lucas’s fears. The nightlight and the closet light weren’t replacements for the comforting presence of his mom or dad. During these anxious nights, Lucas’s parents would take turns sitting by his bed, their presence a quiet fortress against his fears. As he drifted into dreams, their presence was his lullaby, a soft melody of safety and love. This routine worked for a while, but Lucas’s parents knew this wasn’t a lasting solution. Their beloved boy needed to learn to brave the night on his own, to find comfort in their closeness, even when not physically present. ‌ One evening, they came up with an idea. They took Lucas’s favorite toy, a Lite-Brite, and crafted a special message on its glowing pegboard. As bedtime approached, Lucas’s eyes were wide with the familiar tinge of fear. His parents, with a reassuring smile, plugged in the Lite-Brite, kissed his forehead, and wrapped him in a warm hug. “You have nothing to worry about, son,” they whispered, tucking him in. “We’ll be right in the next room, just on the other side of this wall. And if you start to feel scared, just look at your Lite-Brite. Read the message shining in the darkness.” ‌ With a final goodnight, they stepped out, gently closing the door behind them. Lucas lay in his bed, the shadows of the night dancing around him. His heart began to race, the silence of the room pressing down on him. He remembered his parents’ words and turned his gaze to the Lite-Brite on the other side of the room. In the soft, colorful light, the words “We will see you in the morning” glowed reassuringly. Lucas read them again and again, each word a whisper of his parents’ love and promise. The message was simple, but to Lucas, it was a beacon of hope, a reminder that though he couldn’t see his parents, they were always there, just a wall away. ‌ The glowing words became his nightly lighthouse, guiding him through the sea of darkness. Night after night, the message on the Lite-Brite reassured him, and slowly, the fear that had once seemed so overwhelming began to fade. In its place grew a sense of courage, a gentle understanding that even when alone, he was never truly by himself. As the days passed, Lucas learned to embrace the night, his fear replaced with quiet confidence. And every morning, as the sun peeked through his window, casting a warm, golden light across his room, he would wake up with a smile, knowing his parents’ promise was kept, just as the message on the Lite-Brite had said. (A Story by Rev. John Fugh). John shared this story with me a few days before Christmas. Some heard it first from the pulpit in a recent sermon. I think it is a great message as we launch into this new year. So much can happen from one year to the next for it will be filled with moments of love and fun as well as fear and pain. We need the security of God’s presence, comfort, and strength. The prophets of old never knew of a Lite-Brite but they did know of God’s message of “fear not for I am with you.” It is still that same message that he whispers to you today This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Colossians 1 *Tuesday – Colossians 2 *Wednesday – Colossians 3 *Thursday – Colossians 4 *Friday – 1 Timothy 1 Things to Pray About: -The violence and finding peace in our city, state, country, and in the world. -Pray for guidance, healing, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”…35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”… 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Selected verses from Luke 1). Lately, my focus has been on Elizabeth.  God used her to be the source of confirmation of his work in Mary.  Imagine that—God’s work in you can be the source of confirmation of God’s work in another person.  Sometimes we underestimate God’s work in us and the ripple effect it has in God’s Kingdom.  This Christmas, imagine the level of Mary’s confusion.  I shudder to do so; yet Elizabeth was a comfort and proof that with God, all things are possible.  This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Ephesians 6 *Tuesday – Philippians 1 *Wednesday – Philippians 2 *Thursday – Philippians 3 *Friday – Philippians 4 Things to Pray About: -The violence and finding peace in our city, state, country, and in the world. -Pray for guidance, healing, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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

Two weeks ago, I had an interesting 24 hours where I officiated a funeral service, said a blessing prayer for a birthday, and officiated a wedding. In those three events, I experienced the seasons of a typical life: celebration of birth, celebration of marriage, and celebration of a life lived. As I reflect on that day, I’m reminded of two quotes. One quote is a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer and the other is from Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides. First, the prayer of blessing for a person: Watch over thy child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be, keeping him unspotted from the world. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then, a quote: Teach them the quiet words of kindness, to live beyond themselves. Urge them toward excellence, drive them toward gentleness, pull them deep into yourself, put them upward toward [adulthood], but softly like an angel arranging clouds. Let your spirit move through them softly. As a parent, a husband, and a friend, I find comfort in both. For obvious reasons, I pray this prayer for the people around me. I want God to bless, guide, and care for them. Likewise, I want to influence people with kindness. I want my life to be a witness to God where others see Christ in me. What about you? As you think of your life, your influence, and your witness to others, I invite you to ponder these quotes and allow God’s Spirit to speak to you. This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Ephesians 1 *Tuesday – Ephesians 2 *Wednesday – Ephesians 3 *Thursday – Ephesians 4 *Friday – Ephesians 5 Things to Pray About: -The violence and finding peace in our city, state, country, and in the world. -Pray for guidance, healing, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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

Aristotle defined different levels of friendship centered around the Greek word Phileo (Love). This type of love is based on an interpersonal association similar to brotherly or sisterly love. Naturally, Aristotle believed friendships can take three distinct forms based on this interpersonal love: A Transactional Form where the relationship between the two is based on the mutual benefit for both parties. Business partners would be a good example. A Mutual Pleasure Form where two parties share the same hobby or affinities (like a team). Both parties in the relationship receive pleasure from the shared interest. The link between the two persons is not genuine affection for each other as much as the joint affection in the shared interest.   He believed #1 and #2 are lesser friendships because it is more about what one receives. The relationship is more one-way than two-way; however, there was a preferred friendship.  A Primary Loving Form—non-sexual in nature with the bond of friendship that is created is independent of how useful one person is to the other.   This type of friendship is risky but most rewarding for to love someone is to be willing to let them influence you, to show new things to want and to value—things you would have never wanted or valued if it weren’t for them.  This type of friendship exists between individuals to whom the power to change another is given.  It can be dangerous because one can never be sure what will become as a result.  But in the end, these friends help one become who they are.  To love this way is to invite risk because of the potential betrayal of trust.  This type of love requires vulnerability.    The New Testament challenges one to love this way because of the levels of meaningful relationships and friendships that will result.  We need those types of friendships in our lives because it adds to who we are.  Look at how the New Testament describes this need:   Romans 12:10–Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Hebrews 13:1–Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 1 Peter 1:22–Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Romans 12 *Tuesday – Romans 13 *Wednesday – Romans 14 *Thursday – Romans 15 *Friday – Romans 16 Things to Pray About: -The violence and finding peace in our city, state, country, and in the world. -Pray for guidance, healing, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -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