Friday’s Musings: Living in Stereo

Romans 8:28  We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The other morning as I was jogging and listening to a favorite playlist one of my ear buds fell out. I noticed that the volume didn’t just get softer, I was actually hearing only part of the music tracks.  I remember when stereo was first starting to become popular. It was somewhat disconcerting to have music coming at me from different locations.  I had to warm up to the idea. 

A few years back we purchased a pre-owned BMW that came with the premium sound system. There were high quality speakers everywhere.  I really enjoyed listening to music in that surround sound environment. When it comes to my faith, I want to live in stereo or even better surround sound.  I want all the blessings available-- faith, hope, love, prayer, service, spiritual knowledge and many more. To be halfway Christians instead of letting our faith permeate our life, setting our priorities is like me running through the park and hearing music with only one ear bud. It just isn’t availing ourselves of the full experience.

Blessed God, we find joy as we grow in our faith and our commitment to make it the guiding force in our life. At the same time keep us from being single-minded and be open to learning new things from scripture and how they might inform our lives in this century.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Happy Friday!
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Never Ever Give Up!

Philippians 3:13-14 (NET)  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Over the past few weeks I’ve encountered many types of people, many of whom are facing significant life challenges.  I’m impressed by the fact that they fall into two categories: The “woe is me” category.  They are victims of life, flinching at every little pain or crying at every little sadness to make sure people know they suffer.  People who see themselves as victims tend to give up. The second is the “press on” category.  Some of these are older and more challenged with their health than the ones I’ve met in the first category but they keep on going.  They will live life every day to the best of their ability. 

We are the ones who hold ourselves back from living life to the fullest. We say we’re too tired or old to run – run anyway. We’ve been rejected in the past – love anyway.  We feel sad – laugh anyway.  We don’t think we can afford to give to church or charities – give anyway.   People live life somewhere on a scale from overly cautious to reckless.
Today, let’s try to give some thought to where we are.  Where do you need to stop being a victim and press on to the prize of a full life?

Give us strength and encouragement today Lord so that we can enjoy life.  Help us to keep going when we face challenges and to never, ever give up.  We praise you for your care for us and ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Blessings,
Paige

Wednesday’s Musings: Two Mysteries in One Day!

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NRSV)  Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Yesterday morning as I was getting dressed to go into the church after my run I heard a nearby boom.  It sounded like someone trying to break in the kitchen door or at least someone slamming a truck door in the driveway.  The dogs ran to the back door barking loudly.  My heart began to race; I ran for my iPhone in case I needed to dial 911 and ran to look out the door window.  I saw nothing.  I went outside and there was nothing unusual.  My neighbor wasn’t home so it wasn’t his car door. Nothing looked different.  The source of the sound was a mystery but I was still shaken.  It was a really loud noise.  Later while cooking supper I looked down to find one of my running socks in the kitchen floor.  How did it get there?  The dogs don’t usually bother my socks.  The match wasn’t anywhere to be seen. It was another mystery. I guess we just can’t know everything.  I know that there is much about scripture that we don’t understand even after all these years of scholarly analysis and study.  I take comfort in my belief that God knows everything and that I can trust that this is enough for now – especially when it comes to my faith.  We do see through a mirror darkly now, but one day we will see face to face and much that is now unknown will become known to us.

Thank you God that I was safe yesterday morning.  I pray that we will be able to accept what we cannot know and trust You to care for us in all things, at all times. We pray your blessings for this day. Amen.

Have a great day,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: Another Life Well Lived

Matthew 5:16(NLT)  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Yesterday afternoon I met with the family of our long-time and treasured member Joe Lamb. They told me many stories of his life.  From his growing up until his elder days when his body began to fail him, Joe was a man of integrity.  He loved and served family, country and community. He took time for himself, too.  While I’m sad to officiate at his funeral because of our loss I always love to celebrate the lives of those who set a good example for others.  In years past, I would attend funerals and come away feeling that my own life could never match the goodness of that particular life.  I hope that over the years I will grow as a person so that one day hopefully a long time for now, someone will listen to my eulogy and think – that was a life well lived.

Loving God, help us to live our lives so as to be good examples for others. We praise you for those who’ve been examples in our lives.  Give us strength for this day. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed day!
Paige

Monday’s Musings: Painting the Town with Love

Proverbs 19:17 (NIV) Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,  and he will reward them for what they have done.

Saturday teams of community volunteers began a week-long project of painting and sprucing up homes of some deserving homeowners in Hapeville.  The Hapeville Paint the Town project has taken months of planning.  It was exciting to see all the people who came forward to volunteer and all the businesses who contributed goods, services and even volunteers.  Joe and I painted at the home of a woman who had been shot during a robbery while working at the bank.  She tearfully thanked us for what we were doing and then baked us a delicious lemon pound cake!  Henry W. Longfellow wrote, “Give what you have. To someone it may be better than your dare to think.”  At least at our home site, giving went both ways. Her little gift meant as much to us as our painting and yard work meant to her.

Holy God, thank you for the opportunity to serve others and for all that is happing in our town this week.  Please continue to bring blessings on those who serve and those who are served. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Week,
Paige

Friday’s Musings: Pitfalls or Possibilities

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (GW)  A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.

Last night the Miami Heat won their second NBA championship in a row. One player said that it took hard work, but they succeeded. Player Dwayne Wade gave a thoughtful interview.  He said that you just have to close your ears to the naysayers and do what you need to do.  That’s good advice for everyone attempting to do something significant. That doesn’t mean ignore all advice; especially the advice of wise people but often people who aren’t involved in your venture will tend to see the pitfalls before the possibilities.  Listen to God who wants to inhabit every corner of our lives including our relationships, our work, our play and our working to share the Gospel and to help other people.

Lead us Lord as we share our hopes and dreams with you. Please bring wise people into our lives and help us also to discern your will. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Happy Friday!
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Better Digs for the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? Don’t you know that you have the Holy Spirit from God, and you don’t belong to yourselves?  You have been bought and paid for, so honor God with your body.
Romans 12:1  So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service.

My friend Stephen posted a funny picture on Facebook with a serious message.  The caption was “You are what you eat.”  The character had a hamburger head and was eating a hamburger.  The point was that eating unhealthy food can lead to health problems while eating more nutritious foods can help prevent them. This week in the U.S. obesity was officially declared to be a disease.  A doctor also shared that half a million people die prematurely each year from the effects of smoking.  We may not think that our poor health habits are a spiritual issue, but scripture says otherwise. God wants healthy children just like we want healthy children.  We can better serve the Lord, those around us and the Kingdom in general when we are healthy.  When we damage our bodies with food, cigarettes, other drugs and / or alcohol we eventually will pay the price and provide the Holy Spirit a less than a holy and pleasing dwelling place.  Self indulgence and living sacrifice don’t seem to be compatible.

ADDENDUM: After I wrote this I heard of the death of actor James Gandolfini at the age of 51 from a massive heart attack.  People were remembering him and asking why? A medical expert said three questions could be asked: 1. Was there a family history of early heart attacks? 2. Was he overweight? 3. Was he a smoker.  While we don’t know about his family history, pictures of him on and off screen show him to be an overweight smoker.  He leaves behind a wife, 13 year old son and 8 month old daughter.  His bad health habits have contributed to a family tragedy and the loss of his own life.

Help us Lord, to think about what we do to our bodies. Lead us away from temptations that would harm our health that we may better serve you and those whom we love. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Take Care,
Paige

Wednesday's Musings - Children of People in Bondage

Psalm 107:10-16 Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; they fell down, with no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.

I heard a saddening statistic on the nightly news last evening. They said that one in 28 children in the U.S. has a parent who is incarcerated.  That’s more than children with parents deployed in the armed forces.  That says a lot about the state of our nation.  I thought of all the criminals who are on the loose and all those who have been let off because of overcrowded prisons. The number could be even higher. The story showed a Muppet on Sesame Street talking as if his parent was in jail in an attempt to help child viewers know they are not alone. I don’t know the answer except to try to raise up people with a sense of honesty and justice and bring them into a relationship with Jesus Christ who can change hearts and lives. It is easier I think to grow a good person than to reform a bad one although God can do anything.  True freedom is found in loving and obeying the Lord, not in satisfying one’s own desires.  Let’s pray this week for all the children who have not had the best example in parents and pray for parents that they would do right by their children.

Holy Lord, we pray today for all who have parents in jail.  Help us to reach more people from Christ and to bring them into lives of right living that they will not commit crimes but will find honest ways of living.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings – The Woes of Worry

Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Yesterday morning the cameras showed a close-up of a television personality whom I particularly like. I gazed upon his completely smooth wrinkle-free forehead and thought, “He must have been Botoxed.”  Don’t worry lines come with being an adult?  I’m better than I used to be but sometimes it’s just difficult to “let go and let God.” William Ward wrote, “Worry distorts our thinking, disrupts our work, disquiets our soul, disturbs our body, disfigures our face, destroys our poise, depresses our friends, demoralizes our life, defeats our faith and debilitates our energy.”  So there!  Try not to worry. Not everyone can afford Botox.

Dear Lord, help us to cast all our cares upon you. You are our peace.  Let your love strengthen us and help us face things that cause us worry. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: What’s Your Fear Factor?

Deuteronomy 31:6  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Recently Sheryl Sandberg, the CEO of Facebook addressed a group of young women.  In her talk she asked this question: “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” I think that is an excellent question.  Fear holds us back from attempting many things.  That’s good and bad.  Fear is a natural defense mechanism.  It keeps me from risking my life by putting myself in dangerous situations.  But it also keeps me from taking risks that might improve my life. I try to ask for God’s guidance and to then ask for the courage to move forward and try things that would be beneficial.  I might not always succeed, but knowing I’m a valued person in the eyes of my Creator makes the thought of failure not so important.  What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Holy God, thank you for being with us each day. Help us to be strong and courageous. We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great week,
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Keeping Friends Close

Proverbs 27: 9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart.

Joe and I are enjoying Annual Conference, not just for the meetings and worship but also because we can reconnect with friends whom we see infrequently during the year.  Kim, Cyndi, Pam and I all say we should get together more often and yet our busy schedules keep getting in the way.  One of the retirees said he wished he had spent more time with people and less time with the administrative end of the UMC.  If there are people in your life whom you life but haven’t seen in a while think about getting together with them.  Friendships are an important part of life. If we don’t cultivate friendships during the good times, we won’t have them when times get tough. We need them in both!

Thank you for friends, Lord.  Help us to be friends and to have friends. We ask in the name of your Son who calls us his friends. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Wednesday’s Musings: Thanks to Those Who Served

I´ll praise my maker while I've breath, and when my voice is lost in death, praise shall employ my nobler powers; my days of praise shall ne'er be past, while life, and thought, and being last, or immortality endures.  V. 1  of hymn by Isaac Watts

Today in one of the sessions, we heard from the retiring pastors.  It’s always one of my favorite parts of Annual Conference.  Each retiree had three minutes to speak.  Most reminisced about their years of service.  How can you summarize years and years of service, prayers, worship, sitting by hospital beds, raising funds, marrying, burying, moving, meetings, and baptizing in three minutes?  One of those retiring officiated at our wedding.  I remember the day he showed up at our house and asked Joe and me to be MYF leaders.  I am appreciative of all the ministers who were my pastors before I became one and now appreciate those who serve with me and help support me in my ministry.  I hope that when I get my three minutes, there will be those sitting on the conference floor thinking, job well done.

Holy God, thank you for calling your children into ministry. We especially pray for pastors who sacrifice and serve.  Help us all to be open to your calls in our lives.  Kin Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Tuesday’s Musings: Loyalty – Missing in Action

1 Samuel 24:6-10  He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’

I’ve been thinking for awhile about writing something on the subject of loyalty. In the scripture we see David is still loyal to King Saul, even though Saul was seeking to kill David.  Last Tuesday night at City Council we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance. I remember saying the Girl Scout Pledge and Law. “I promise, on my honor, I pledge, until death do us part…” all of these are words associated with our promises of unfailing loyalty. And yet loyalty seems to have fallen from its place of importance among qualities of character over the decades.  Divorce rates have soared. People have more and more serial marriages if they even commit to marriage. We see less and less brand loyalty. It seems like we’re always looking for a better deal – in relationships, in jobs, in products. The thing which is of concern to me as a pastor is that this lack of loyalty carries over into our faith life.  In every church you can find those who are faithfully in worship Sunday after Sunday, year after year.  In the same church there will be others who come when there’s nothing better going on.  If they become dissatisfied with the pastor or some other aspect of the church they don’t hesitate to go elsewhere.  Of course there are those in between who cannot always be there but come when they can.  Loyalty to the Kingdom of God isn’t all about church attendance.  It is however about being loyal to Christ’s attitude of selflessness – of living out our faith. In any event, I think there’s a direct correlation between being a person to whom loyalty is important and one’s quality of life.  As always, being loyal to someone or something must also be tempered with good judgment.

Help us to be loyal to You, Lord God; to not stray when something else seems more attractive than your teachings and your ways. We ask in Jesus’ name Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: A Story of Selfless Giving

Phillipians 2:3-4 (NLT)  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

A human interest story on a morning news program last week told of an odd friendship between two men.  The younger is now 22 and the older 72 years old.  The young man was paralyzed in an accident as a teen.  It was a struggle for his family to meet all his needs.  Enter the older man who heard of their plight.  He decided to spend each day with the young man.  He pushed him to all of his high school and then college classes.  For eight years he pushed, cared for during the day and even took class notes for this young man.  When college graduation day came, the graduate’s parents were sitting proudly in the audience, but it was his friend who pushed him across the stage.  To his surprise, he was awarded his own diploma.  They are each going their own direction now but I’m sure this young man and his family will be forever grateful for someone who decided to look to the interest of someone else for no other reason than to meet a need out of the goodness of his heart.  May we all use him as an example.

It is easy Lord to become so intently focused on our own desires and daily tasks, that we don’t make the effort to see where someone else might need help.  Help us to be more aware of the needs of others and give us the desire to be givers as well as receivers in life.  We ask in the name of the One who gave His all for our sake. Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Paige

Friday’s Musings: You Just Gotta Laugh

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I started the day yesterday by knocking a glass bottle of spray body oil off the shelf in the bathroom closet and breaking it. Thank goodness it was almost completely empty. An hour later the entire back of a drawer in our wooden lateral file cabinet fell off when I opened it collapsing all the hanging files. At least I was able to purge some old files as I emptied the drawer. Tiring of that, I decided to do some laundry.  I forgot to mention that I had not gone to the church because for the second day I was experiencing a queasy stomach – something I rarely have.  When I opened the washing machine I discovered the automatic softener and bleach dispenser was full of water. After removing the cover I found gummy softener and black mold. Armed with a variety of tools, I unclogged the drainage holes and cleaned the machine. I managed to finish my sermon and go into the church without further mishap; that is until I decided to puree some leftover Brussels sprouts for a dish I was making for dinner.  The blender was not blending but when I attempted to carefully push the food down with a wooden spoon I caught the blade and the food exploded. It was all over the floor, on the counters, on the cabinets, on the ceiling, on my clothes and in my hair.  Sweet Joe came to help. He mopped the ceiling and cleaned the cabinet while I cleaned the counters. Daisy helped clean the floor.  He offered to take me out to dinner but by that time I was afraid to leave the house.  Burying my face in my hands I started to cry but instead of tears coming I found myself laughing. It would be easy to say yesterday was a horrible day. I certainly don’t want to repeat it!  Yet throughout it all I experienced the peace of Philippians 4.  While adversity isn’t pleasant, the upside is that in those times, we often are more aware of the Lord working in our lives.

Holy God, thank you for being with me throughout the challenges of yesterday.  Help me to continue to seek your peace and presence. Amen.

Hoping for a good day for everyone
Paige

Thursday’s Devotion: Absences in our Lives

Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Somehow the other day I remembered being in school and the teacher calling roll so she could mark students as either present or absent.  We still do that at our Service League meetings. There are times in all of our lives when we experience absence. We reach out at night in our sleep to someone who is no longer there; we have one less pet to feed; the time we once spent at a job is now free of obligation. Ever since our boys were small we had a Christmas Eve tradition of cooking a gourmet meal just for us.  Christmas days were always spent at grandparents.  This was our time to cook and celebrate together. The Christmas after our son Glenn died at the age of 33, we could not bring ourselves to do that just for the three of us. We decided to eat at one of our favorite restaurants in Loganville where Joe and I lived.  We were seated at a table for four.  We were still faced with that empty chair.  In subsequent years we resumed our tradition of cooking our own meal. Loss is difficult, but someone wrote that God can only fill an empty cup.  We have experienced God’s care and healing in our loss and pray that everyone will be able to experience the same in their lives.

Father God, When we experience the absence of something in our lives, help us to always remember that you are ready to fill that void with your presence.  We offer our thanks and praise, always and everywhere. Amen.

Blessings for the day,
Paige

Wednesday's Musings: Don't Look Back!

Genesis 19:17, 26 (NLT)  When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”  But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.

I read a Chinese fortune recently that said, “No one can walk backwards into the future.” That was pretty wise. Often we spend too much time looking back, regretting things of the past or not letting go of things when we should move on.  Our future lies ahead of us, not in the past.  It’s fine to reminisce about the good old days, when we were younger and all our body parts and our brains still functioned well, but we must not linger.  Instead let’s make the most of where we are now, with an eye on how today’s actions can make our tomorrows better.

Loving God, help us to not be like Lot’s wife who missed out on her future because she insisted on looking back.  Help us to live lives that will leave no regrets. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Day,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings – Straight Paths and Train Tracks

Hebrews 12:12-14 (CEB)  So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees!  Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously.  Pursue the goal of peace along with everyone—and holiness as well, because no one will see the Lord without it.

Someone posted a picture on Facebook this morning of train tracks with a quote about God making our paths straight.  I thought about the tracks that run through Hapeville.  When a train gets on the track it doesn’t have the option to wander around.  It can’t easily choose an alternate route. I’m not sure I’d like to be a train.  I like to vary my routes when I walk and run. Yet in my Christian walk, I appreciate a straight path.  I want the assurance of being able to live in a right manner.  There is much in the Bible that tells us how to lay straight tracks.  Even trains get in wrecks sometimes and / or get derailed.  It’s the same for us but for the most part, travelling the straight tracks is safer than the crooked highways.

Dear Lord, we ask that you go before us and help make our paths straight. Please keep us safe and show us the way to living in a manner that is pleasing to you and to ourselves.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

 

Monday’s Musings: Grab Those Pruning Sheers USED

Modified and used 3-3-21

Monday’s Musings: Grab Those Pruning Sheers

Matthew 5:27-30 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’  But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Recently someone suggested that each member of the Wood Valley pool adopt one of the ivy covered trees and cut the vines off as they are killing some of the trees. It brought to memory the first house Joe and I purchased.  Just before the hill leading down to a little creek was a long row of honeysuckle and vine covered bushes.  Not caring for vines, I worked for one whole day cutting and pulling and cutting and pulling until I had cleared all of them away.  Underneath I found some very scraggly red tipped photinias.  Within a year, freed of the strangling vines, they filled out and were big and healthy and beautiful.  Sometimes we have things in our lives that hold us back; that keep us from reaching our full potential as children of God. It takes some hard work but will we be better off when we can cut that out of our lives.  That’s what Jesus is saying using this hyperbole.  He’s not talking about literally disfiguring ourselves. Instead he’s saying get rid of whatever causes us to sin.  Whether they are causing us to sin, or just holding us back, we need to seriously ask if letting them invade our lives is worth it.

Loving God, help us to identify the things in our lives that hold us back. Help us to see what might be keeping us from being healthy and successful.  We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a great week!
Paige