Friday’s Musings: Listen to the Mockingbird

Psalm 96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Used 5-5-23

A mockingbird serenaded me the other day as I walked up Wheeler Street.  It sang at the top of its little lungs. I recognized it as a mockingbird, but its song was very different from the usual one.  Even though mockingbirds make a variety of sounds, generally the repertoire is the same. The squeaks, squawks, chirps and whistles were odd.  I stopped to listen and shortly I had my answer.  I was hearing the songs of shore birds.  I’ve never heard a mockingbird imitate a seagull before!  I can pull two ideas from this.  First we tend to imitate those we hang with. Second, variety is a good thing!  We may have different things to say, but there is completeness in diversity.  Whom do you sound like?  Do you enjoy hearing other voices?

Dear Lord, thank you for the beauty of the song of birds. Help us to appreciate all living creatures and to learn from them.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend!
Paige

05-30-13 Thursday’s Musings – Rethink Something!

Romans 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

A couple of years ago the United Methodist Church devised a new advertising slogan, “Rethink Church.”  It was aimed to let church folk know that church doesn’t always have to be a worship service in the sanctuary at 11 AM on Sunday.  And it was to encourage those outside the church to give church a chance.  That’s all good but I think that also in our private lives we need to be willing to rethink things.  We need to be open to change whether it’s the way we look at who should be able to marry or where we keep our hair dryer.  Let’s not assume that the status quo is always best.  An 89 year old friend told me the other day that she never wanted to stop growing as a Christian. To stop learning and growing is to speed up dying.

Holy God, help us never to close our mind to new ideas. Thank you for those who teach us and help us to rethink the interpretation of your Word. We hope that we will also be transformed by the renewal of our minds.  We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

It’s good to be back to musing after a vacation to Washington DC and a few day’s recovery!

Blessings,
Paige

Wednesday’s Musings: So Many Choices!

1 Kings 18:21  "And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word."

 As I prepare to take a trip to DC I have to make choices.  We’re allowed one suitcase but must also have an overnight bag for two nights to be carried inside the bus. Which of my suitcases constitutes an overnight bag? Which outfits should I pack for that first and last night?  What clothes should I take for the rest of the trip? I love to read as I travel so what books should I take?  Should I take paperbacks, or do I want only electronic books.  Should I read them on my Color Nook or my iPad?  Choices; life is full of them. Some are silly like these and others are serious yet none are inconsequential.  All things work together in life – just read up on the Butterfly Effect.  In this scripture Elijah is giving people a choice presented numerous times in the Bible.  Choose God and life or choose evil and death.  That choice is still continually before us.  I choose life.

Holy God, how glad I am that I chose to join the church and worship you.  Thank you for the blessings I’ve received since I chose to give my life to Jesus.  Help us, Lord to bring more people to the point where they can choose to follow you.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Musings will return next Wednesday morning.  Until then, please avail yourselves of the many excellent online devotions.  Start with Biblegateway.com if you aren’t familiar with any.

God Bless,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: Evil or Inspiration?

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I’m so happy that our missions committee organized a book, music and movie fair.  I have some great additions to my music library now and loaded up on books.  I’m a fast reader and so is Joe.  We’ll donate most of what we purchased back for the next sale. The last three books I read were murder mysteries. I like those but by chance these three had particularly evil villains. Two of the books included the paranormal.  When I finish the one I’m reading now I’m going to read something light and funny.  I can sense a change in spirit.  What we take in to ourselves become part of us.  It is locked in the memory cells of our brains. What are you watching, listening to, passing along on Facebook or e-mails? It is negative or uplifting? Maybe you should consider how it might be subtlety affecting you.  Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is excellent – think on these things.  It will make a difference in your attitude and spirit.

Holy God, help us to consider all the excellent things you provide for us.  Help us to move out of the darkness into your light.  We pray in the most excellent name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: Remembering Graduation

Isaiah 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Today is Commencement Day for Emory University.  I thought back five years to the day I sat among other graduating students on the Quad both eager and anxious about what was to come after that day.  Then I thought back to three years before that when I entered Candler School of Theology and two years before that when I entered Reinhardt University to finish my undergraduate degree.  I had so many doubts.  After all I had been out of school for over thirty years.  I had been a good student before, but did it still have it?  Frankly I worried if my brain was spry enough and if I could balance work, school and family.  However I had one thing on my side that pretty much guaranteed my success.  God had called me to become a pastor and school was part of the process of getting there.  I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God was with me during those years and it is only by the grace of God that I graduated from both institutions with high grades.  I had a discussion with our son yesterday about how to tell someone who doesn’t attend church about God.  I said to witness about the strength God has given and the ways we’ve felt God in our lives.  There is no greater proof of the existence of the Divine than personal experience. 

Holy God, thanks for being with me during my school years.  We pray for those graduating from colleges and universities this year and ask that you continue to touch your children’s lives so that they, too may testify to your love and the strength you provide. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Have a Blessed Week!
Paige

Friday’s Musings – The Complete Package

John 14:5-6  Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Yesterday morning while walking, I did stop to smell the roses.  Beautiful yellow roses were growing around a neighbor’s mailbox along with some pretty pink roses.  The petals of the yellow roses were a prettier shape than the pink ones and the color was striking.  Yet the yellow roses had no fragrance at all. The plainer pink roses had that classic rose smell. I thought that the pink roses were the complete package – they were pretty and fragrant.  Jesus is the complete package, too.  He is the way – he gives us the example of the way we should live – in charity and love of one another and resisting temptation of sin.  He is the Truth – to get to the real meaning of scripture for our lives we filter them through the teachings of Jesus.  He is the life – he offers us eternal live which is a quality of life here on earth lived in relationship with God and then everlasting life in heaven. 

Thank you Lord, that we have your Son in our life.  Help us to remember that we can find guidance and peace by seeking his example.  We ask your blessing upon us and our families this weekend.  In his name we pray, amen.

Have a blessed weekend,
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Rest, Sweet Rest!

Genesis 2: 2-3 “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

I recently saw the cutest picture of a kitten that had fallen fast asleep right in the middle of his bowl of food.  Thank goodness it was dry food!  That’s the thing about animals, they are much better at resting when their bodies need rest. Their priority is self-care.  We push on past fatigue until we wear ourselves down. Right at the first of God’s Word we are given an example to emulate.  We’re to interrupt our cycle of work with a time of rest.  Sometimes it’s easy to feel guilty when we take time for ourselves. Yet if we work hard when we work, we deserve some down time and we need it.  Ask God to help you find a healthy balance between work, rest and play.

When I relax, Lord I wonder what else I should be doing.  Help us to find time for rest and rejuvenation. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Be blessed today,
Paige