| 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 hear—A Christian Mystic. When it comes to certain parts of my identity and life—the good parts—I want to hear them. I’m ready to hear them. Actually, can’t wait to hear them or see them. 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. In essence, I practice denial. If I acknowledge that it is there, then I have to confront it and address it. Frankly, it is easier to lock it away and the longer I do, the easier it is to forget it. Yet, it is exactly in those broken and deprived areas that the Holy Spirit wants to work. 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. As I think about it, a willingness to accept God’s grace, plant my feet firmly on the hope of resurrection, requires courage–vulnerability. It is not the courage to pretend I’ve got it all together which is really a sacred weakness. It is the courage to stand before God knowing I’m in desperate need of God, and if there is transformation, it is an act from his hand. So, before I do anything, I need to come to grips with what I cannot see nor hear. Therefore, my prayer is: “Dear Lord, I’m open to seeing and hearing what you want to say. Scary as it may be, revealing as it may be, I’m ready. Trembling but ready and trusting in your Spirit to make all things well. O God, please begin. Amen.”  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. |
| “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 |