| Donât discount the impact of your witness.  Sometimes we do.  I write this thinking about the impact of Maryâs 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 Lukeâs Gospel, one sees her humble spirit:  âI am the Lordâs servant.  May it be to me as you have said.â Years later when Jesus was in the garden, he prayed something similar:  âNot my will but your will be done.â  Where did he learn this type of submission?  I guess one could place this ability in the superhero Jesus category, but  Iâm not sure that would give the full picture. I think it was modeled for him his entire life.  Maryâs 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. |
| âDonât worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.â – Philippians 4:6 |