Tuesday’s Musings: For the Love of God’s Creatures

Proverbs 12:10 The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.

On last night’s national news a local story from John’s Creek was featured.  It seems that a family adopted a dog that had been severely abused before going to an animal shelter. These warm hearted people were then blessed when the dog and their autistic son instantly bonded.  The dog connected to the child in ways humans couldn’t.  It opened up a new world for the boy. As I write this I see dog toys scattered about the den floor.  The little stray, Dandy that we took in many years ago is sleeping peacefully.  He loves to sit in our lap and snuggle up against our chest.  A pet does take some care but can bring triple the joy.  I’m so glad my grandmother had her little dog after my grandfather passed away.  It kept joy in her heart.  If you are petless, would you consider adopting one?  We are charged by God to care for his creation including his creatures.  You will be rewarded with much happiness in return.Holy God, thank you for the gift of animals and the love that they bring into our lives. Thanks you for the care we receive from them. Help more people to be called to adopt those who might not live otherwise.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed day, Paige

Monday’s Musings: Keeping it Together

Ephesians 4:2  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

I learned in seminary that part of a pastor’s role is to be a calming presence for their congregants. In situations where emotions run high we need to keep our cool. That's good advice.  However today as I officiated at the committal service of a beloved member I lost it during the Marine's portion at the end. The playing of taps and presentation of the flag to the widow was so moving. I hope people know that as we pastors minister to others that we may be telling ourselves, “the pastor is not supposed to cry. Be the calming presence.” But our hearts break along with theirs.

Thank you Lord, for giving us hearts to love and serve one another.  Bless us each day. We especially pray today for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless,

Paige

Friday’s Musings: Three Wishes

Modified and used 1-30-20
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Often when I walk I let my mind wander to help pass the time.  This morning I played the “What if I was granted three wishes” mind game.  More times than not when we see this happening in books or movies, the person makes unwise choices and the wishes backfire.  Instead of wishing for fame, fortune, youth or beauty I thought about skills I’d like to have.  I’d like to be able to run 10k races well enough to finish in the middle of the pack; to have a great memory and to be more musically talented. The last two gifts I could use in my ministry.  Still every time I fall into those imaginary games of suddenly acquiring what others worked for years to get, I feel a little guilty.  It wouldn’t seem fair.  This morning I concluded how thankful I am for all that God has given me.  I am rich in faith and that’s absolutely the most wonderful gift one can have.

Thank you God that when we have a relationship with you that we can find satisfaction in life, no matter what our position.  We ask that you help each of us to be the best that we can be. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a blessed weekend!  Please come to the church Sat. for our big book, music and movie sale.  Proceeds will go to fund mission outreach. 

Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Blessed be the Pure

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
James 1:27  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

I am trying to be better about drinking water.  I know adequate water consumption is vital for good health.  Along the same lines, I want to drink water from which the impurities and chemicals found in tap water have been removed.  At home we have a Brita pitcher that filters the water.  I have to continually refill the pitcher.  It would be nice to have a whole house filter that would make the water coming from the taps pure.
I thought about our lives and the concept of purity and did a scripture search on the word.  Our first scripture talks about our heart – basically our thoughts and attitudes. Impurities make it more difficult for us to relate to God.  Sin separates us from God.  The second shows that God will reveal ways to capture the purity of heart by seeking the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  James reveals our response as a church is to care for the needy and to be “in the world, but not of the world.” 

Holy God, we ask that you touch our hearts today with your peace and wisdom.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have a beautiful day,
Paige

Wednesday’s Musings: In My Father’s House

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Yesterday afternoon I took a nice long walk. It was good to be out.  I encountered our 104 year old neighbor and his daughter, stopped to watch the little boys playing ball, and spoke with a dad who was watching, too. They were so cute in their uniforms.  As I walked up Wheeler Street towards home I greeted a woman who was standing in her driveway next to the sidewalk.  When I asked how she was, she immediately started a conversation.  Her response was that she was blessed to have woken up that day. “There’s many people who don’t,” she said. She was missing a lot of teeth and I imagine she’d had other challenges in life.  But she was claiming that what blessings she lacked on earth, she knew were waiting for her in heaven.  “I know that in heaven there’s a mansion waiting for me because in my Father’s house there are many mansions.”  We sprinkled our conversation with quotes from scripture.  When I shared that I was a pastor she threw her arms around me saying that God must have arranged for us to meet.  Before I left we held hands right there by the street and I prayed for her.  This happens often to me as I carry Christ outside the church to the people of Hapeville. Early this morning we lost our beloved member Archie Trundle.  He is now checking out his mansion. I know he left this earth believing that he was loved here and in heaven. What the world needs now is more believers like these two.

Loving God, thank you for life.  You have given us the knowledge that when this earthly existence is over, it is not the end of life, but rather the beginning of new life; one in which we will see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face.  Be with those who are grieving today, and help us to spread the Gospel so that all may be saved. Amen.

God Bless,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: Heart Prayers

1 Corinthians 14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

Someone posted this unattributed quote on Facebook this morning and I liked it. “God is the best listener. You don’t need to shout nor cry out loud because He hears even  the very silent prayer of a sincere heart.”  Another said, “When you fall in love with God, wonderful things begin to happen.”  I think these are related.  In my 20’s I found myself in a life and relationship that just wasn’t working.  I grew up believing in God, but not having the advantage of regular church and Sunday school attendance, I didn’t know how to love God or be in a relationship with God.  The first Sunday I ventured into church after my divorce my life began to change.  The more I learned about God working in our lives and that we could ask for that, the more wonderful things happened to me.  I do spend time in intentional prayer each day but I also know that God listens to my heart because it is attuned to Him.  I carry my love of so many people in my heart. My hope is that even when I’m not consciously doing it, I am lifting them up to God for strength, guidance, health, healing and happiness.  I hope you lift me up, too.

Holy God, help us to keep our hearts attuned to you and to the needs of others. May we be a bridge to you for those who don’t yet know you and don’t know how to pray.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: Seriously?? Yes Seriously!!

Luke 9:57-60 (NLT) The Cost of Following Jesus   As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”  But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

Last year the master shower in the parsonage started leaking water through the basement ceiling. A contractor came, tore out the bottom, put in a new shower pan and drain & retiled it.  They tore out the moldy ceiling & replaced it without checking if their work had really stopped the leak. It hadn’t.  Two months ago they came back, tore out the ceiling once more.  They finally determined that water was getting behind the tile walls.  As of today the project is still not complete. The contractor shows up four hours late then leaves.  His workers wait for supplies he’s supposed to be bringing but he never comes. My patience with this irresponsible person has now given out.  We have wonderful trustees, but they can’t make the man finish any sooner than I can.  I was brought up to make commitments and then to keep them. I could never operate like this contractor runs his business.

Yet I’ve seen the same lack of adherence to commitment in churches. They don’t take their involvement with Christ’s church seriously.  Pastors and members are responsible for the wellbeing and ministry of the church.  These days, however we see too many people who come to church when they don’t have anything better to do.  The schedule work on Sunday, they stay up late on Saturday night and “can’t get out of bed,” they agree to family parties that conflict with church attendance.
I admit that sometimes people really don’t have choices. But I’ve also seen over many years that when people make Sunday worship a priority in their life, employers cooperate more with scheduling, relatives plan family events differently, and people understand that Saturday nights need to end earlier because they have a Sunday morning commitment to God.  The commitment is to be loyal to Jesus Christ through the church.  Jesus understood the cost of following him.  There is a direct correlation between someone’s faithfulness to Christ and their church attendance.  Churchgoers, your presence is a sign of a commitment and worship attendance is not just for your benefit.  Your presence or absence affects the vitality of worship for everyone else, especially in smaller churches when each absence is felt.  You are a priority to God. Can you let God be a priority to you?

God Bless!
Paige