I love celebrating birthdays. This year, we celebrated my 50th. Imagine my surprise, when I arrived at church this Sunday, with the words, “Happy Birthday” flashing on the screen. Of course, those words were not intended for me. Pentecost celebrates the birth of the church. I knew enough to wear my red, on that day, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, but had not given it much more thought. However, on this Sunday, I learned something new. The word […]
Living a Life of Love
May is mental health awareness month. So, I have to ask, how’s your mental health? Today might be the day you check in with yourself. Mental health is just as important as our physical health. Just like we need to take care of our physical health, we need to take care of our mental health too. The definition of mental health is “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” Our well-being is all […]
As the minister began his sermon, entitled The God who sees me, I was reminded of an old testament story and comforted that God not only sees me, God knows me. Genesis 16 tells the all-too familiar story of Sarai and Hagar. God promised Abram a child and 10 years later, he and his wife were still waiting. Ten years! Can you imagine waiting on God to fulfill a promise. Many of us would have given up on God. […]
As I recited the words, “free me for joyful obedience,” from United Methodist communion liturgy, it was like hearing them for the very first time. “Free me for joyful obedience.” I have recited these same words more times than I can count. Free me. Me. For obedience. Not just for any obedience, joyful obedience. What does that even mean? How can obedience be joyful? I have been on a path, a journey, for a while now. Sometimes I am obedient to what God has called […]
Do you ever doubt? I cannot count the number times I have doubted God. But Jesus asks us to “stop doubting and believe.” To move passed our doubt, into belief. What would it take to do just that? Last week, we looked at Thomas and discovered when in situations beyond our control, if we ask, God will show up! Thomas wanted to see Jesus just like the others had. So, he asked for it, in order to believe. […]
Do you ever doubt? If most of us are honest with ourselves, we do. Probably more than we care to admit. Today, we are going to look at the guy known for his doubting and discover, he is not too different from me and you. If I am going to be totally transparent, I need to admit that I doubt a lot. I doubt I am ever going to obtain my ideal weight, that I will ever be […]