First Steps – February 28, 2022

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It seems that human beings cannot see what they are not readied to see, and they cannot hear what we have not been prepared to hearā€”A Christian Mystic.Ā 
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When it comes to certain parts of my identity and lifeā€”the good partsā€”I want to hear them.Ā  Iā€™m ready to hear them.Ā  Actually, canā€™t wait to hear them or see them.Ā  But the parts that I keep hidden, the parts of my identity that I want to keep under lock-and-key, I definitely want no part of them.Ā  In essence, I practice denial.Ā  If I acknowledge that it is there, then I have to confront it and address it.Ā  Frankly, it is easier to lock it away and the longer I do, the easier it is to forget it.
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Yet, it is exactly in those broken and deprived areas that the Holy Spirit wants to work.Ā Strange as it may sound, the more I try to stuff it in a box, the more the Holy Spirit wants to get it out, in the open, to redeem it.Ā  As I think about it, a willingness to accept Godā€™s grace, plant my feet firmly on the hope of resurrection, requires courage–vulnerability.Ā  It is not the courage to pretend Iā€™ve got it all together which is really a sacred weakness.Ā  It is the courage to stand before God knowing Iā€™m in desperate need of God, and if there is transformation,Ā it is an act from his hand.
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So, before I do anything, I need to come to grips with what I cannot see nor hear.Ā  Therefore, my prayer is:
ā€œDear Lord, Iā€™m open to seeing and hearing what you want to say.Ā  Scary asĀ it may be, revealing as it may be, Iā€™m ready.Ā  Trembling but ready and trusting in your Spirit to make all things well.Ā  O God, please begin.Ā  Amen.ā€


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This Week’s Readings:
* Monday – Acts 27
* Tuesday – Acts 28
* Wednesday- Mark 1
* Thursday – Mark 2
* Friday- Mark 3

Prayer Requests:
*An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine.
*Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not.
*Comfort those who are grieving and in distress.
*Give our leaders extra wisdom as they navigate this pandemic and economic uncertainty.
*Help for those seeking to find their way.
*Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.
ā€œDonā€™t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.ā€ – Philippians 4:6