Tuesday’s Musings: The Little Church that Can

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Last night Joe and I attended the annual clergy welcome dinner for the Atlanta-College Park District.  Clergy members and their families who are newly appointed to the district are introduced and officially welcomed. This time the meeting was hosted by Rico UMC.  We were all so very impressed with the level of hospitality we received. The members had prepared a large table of hors d’oeuvres before the meal. Each of the seven dinner tables had a different theme with different china, tablecloths and decorations.  The serving table was groaning with delicious home-cooked dishes. Dessert parfaits were served in especially engraved glasses that we were given to take home. If that wasn’t enough the Rico Pickers bluegrass group played before and during dinner. The pastor Richard Davies had copies for us of two excellent books he’s written and also cards depicting the beautiful stained glass windows created by Rico church members led by Judy Henderson.  Judy has been a Facebook friend who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time. Who knew she was such an artisan?  Here’s one of the most surprising things of all – this small church averages about 25 in worship on Sunday. They describe themselves as the little church with the big heart.  They are an inspiration for churches of all sizes but especially smaller ones because they show what individuals working together while serving God can do.  If we are faithful to God, God will be faithful to us. To cap off the evening as we left the church Joe and I saw a complete rainbow – the sign of God’s covenant of faithfulness.  It was a very good evening.

Loving God, we offer praises for your faithful care and support of those who love and serve you.  We ask that you strengthen all churches that they may fulfill the Great Commission and grow Your Kingdom.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: Painkillers Don’t Heal

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

I took some Aleve the other day for a backache. It did help a little and I was glad for the relief. Yet it got me thinking that painkillers only mask the symptoms, they don’t heal the body. We use a lot of things to try to stop the pains of life – shopping, alcohol, drugs, sex, dangerous risks, but the effects are temporary.  Unless we get at the root cause of our problems we cannot find true healing.   This scripture from Jeremiah is one that I discovered years ago and use as a breath prayer.  One of the best remedies for the discontents of life is a deeper relationship with God.  He is the source of peace and content.  Even when we face true medical illnesses, God can help us through it. Our state of mind does promote or inhibit healing. Our spiritual health has a bearing upon our physical health.

Heavenly Father, we ask today that you keep us healthy in mind, body and spirit. Give us strength for the week.  In the name of the Great Physician we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed week,
Paige

Friday’s Musings: Jesus and the Mama Dog USED

Used again 7/2/19

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Last week I saw the cutest video about the difference between dogs and cats.  It began by showing a chunky puppy sitting at the top of some stairs.  The puppy is afraid to come down them.  The dog owners tell their other grown dog to show the puppy how. Over and over the dog goes up the stairs and encourages the puppy to come down. Finally the puppy makes it down.  I was amazed at the intelligence and patience of this older dog.  I think of how patient Jesus is with us.  We can see his example through his teaching but sometimes it takes a while for us to get it.  We shouldn’t feel too bad, because the disciples had the same struggle.  Thank goodness Jesus took time to bring people to the Way he wanted them to travel.  If you want to see what happens with the cats, follow the video link below!

Holy God thank you for the patience and grace you show us each day. Help us to understand what you would teach us about living the Christian life.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKNfnQneQVM

Have a great weekend!
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: The Race We Can’t Run

Matthew 11:28 NIV Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Our son, Robert has finished the Peachtree Road Race and is posting photos. I’m tracking Joe via iPhone. He’s moving along!  I watched the wheelchair racers and elite runners finishing at their top speeds and see many others jogging and walking.  All of them have the finish line and the coveted tee shirt on their mind.  I read an interesting article on Christian conversion this morning. In it the writer pointed out that people come to Christ at different and in a variety of ways. It isn’t a competition; Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit draws us toward the finish and encourages us along the way.
Paul wrote: “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith” using the metaphor of a race as a journey together – moving forward to claim the prize which is salvation and a relationship with our Savior.

Loving God, thank you for your encouragement in our life.  Help us to encourage each other in finding their own relationship with your Son, Jesus Christ.  We ask in his name, amen.

Happy 4^th!
Paige

Wednesday’s Musings: It’s Going to Rain on our Parade

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I bet a lot of people, like me are bummed about the forecasts of heavy rain for the 4^th. Joe and Robert are running in the Peachtree Road Race; we’ve been invited to a cookout and I know for many the evening 4^th of July fireworks are a family tradition.
I guess we can watch the NY or Boston fireworks on TV if they are broadcast. In the meantime maybe we could spend some time reflecting on why we celebrate the holiday and thanking God that we live in a country where things may not be perfect but where we enjoy a living standard and freedoms far superior to much of today’s world.

Thank you Lord for this day. Help us to know that even though we experience disappointments in life, that you always care for us and that your ultimate plan will bring many good things. Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: Runaway Mouse

Modified and used 8-14-20

I’m not sure what causes this but on my home computer sometimes my mouse cursor gets out of control.  It seems to float across the screen instead of going directly where I’d like it to point.  This is exacerbated by the fact that I have dual monitors.  I have to look all over both monitors to try to find that little arrow and when I move it, the thing flies from one place to another.  The closest I can figure is that it has something to do with the fact that I have a cordless rechargeable mouse because when I place it in the little holder that charges the thing for a while things seem to improve. 

At times we have things in our lives that are like that runaway mouse.  We try to control events, to get things going in what we think is the right direction but instead we’re all over the place.  People don’t return our calls, traffic makes us late, the “check in the mail” doesn’t arrive and we seem to be taking one step forward and two steps back.  Maybe at times like those we need to stop and recharge ourselves by spending some time reading scripture or some devotional material and in prayer.  I love my cordless mouse and the fact I don’t have to replace batteries but I have to remember that it too, needs recharging. Maybe I’ll say a prayer for myself whenever I place it in the charger.

Loving God, it seems when I don’t spend time with you that things don’t seem to go as smoothly as when I’m seeking your power in my life.  Please help us all to remember to tap into this ultimate power source each day.  Help us to keep our life on the straight path.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Have a Good Day,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: The True Cost of Things

Psalm 82:3-5 (NLT) “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.  Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.

When I read this scripture I immediately think that we must absolutely help the poor and the orphan, the oppressed and the destitute.  I’m not just thinking about giving them money – like contributing to the UM Children’s Home.  Although it’s good to support, I’m thinking about speaking up for them where they have no voice or power; seeing that laws are passed that don’t make the justice they receive any less than I might receive.  To those who have much God has given the charge to help the poor and powerless to overcome both of those states.

Then I see the other verses about the oppressors.  “Oppressors” is a loaded word.  We think of the Romans oppressing the Jewish people.  The Psalmist says they are ignorant. That made me look a little closer to home. I immediately thought of the terrible building collapse of the garment factory in Bangladesh that killed over 1100 people, most of them women. Now building inspections have revealed that six out of every 10 factories there are unsafe and they are still full of workers. Most of the clothing produced in Bangladesh is sold in Europe and the US. At least 1,800 garment workers in Bangladesh have died in fires or other disasters in factories since 2005.

Since the April 24th factory collapse, more than 50 international retailers and brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein have signed the groundbreaking Accord for Fire and Building Safety addressing labor conditions in Bangladesh. Despite the public outcry since the collapse, two U.S. apparel giants, the Gap and Wal-Mart, are still refusing to do the right thing by signing the agreement.  Why? Because it would raise the cost of each garment by 10 to 30 cents.

Many people shop at Wal-Mart because they can get affordable clothing and other products there.  But are these shoppers like the oppressors living in darkness?  How aware are we of our participation in the existence of these unsafe working conditions? It’s certainly more complicated than what it might seem on the surface but as Christians I think it’s appropriate for us to make ourselves aware that sometimes our purchases come at a human cost that we would rather not know about. 

Father God, we ask your protection on all those working in terrible, oppressive situations whether they are agricultural workers, garment workers, miners or office workers. Help us to be aware of the true costs of things we buy and help us to do what we can to call for safe working conditions for those who provide the things that make our lives more comfortable.  I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Week
Paige