Thursday’s Musings: Off-Center!

Modified and used 8-3-20

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

My right knee started hurting a year ago especially when I walked / jogged daily. While at the Emory orthopedic clinic for an impinged shoulder I asked the doctor about it. The clinic policy allows only one body part to be addressed in an appointment but he said it was probably bursitis and to rest it so it could heal.  I did that and it improved, but as soon as I resumed my walking exercise the pain returned. Monday I made an appointment for my knee with a specialist in that office.  X-rays revealed that my patella (kneecap) is off-center.  I begin physical therapy today to correct that.  When something is off center it causes imbalance. Things don’t work properly.  Let us remember that the center of our life should be God in Jesus Christ.  That is what will bring the proper balance in our lives.

Loving God, help us to make you the center of our life.  Bless us today in our endeavors that they may be pleasing to you.  In our Savior’s name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: My Madras Didn’t Bleed

Modified and used 11-20-20

Matthew 6:25  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Before my recent CHS reunion I did some clothes shopping.  It was time for a few wardrobe updates anyway. Still I remember clothing angst during those high school years.  Many of my classmates came from families that had more income than mine. I have loved fashion for as long as I can remember, designing clothes for my dolls and dreaming of being a fashion designer when I grew up.  Therefore I noticed the girls wearing Bobbi Brooks and Villager clothes; dyed to match skirts and sweaters; bleeding madras and Bass Weejuns loafers. My clothes for the most part were the Sears, K-Mart and Penney’s imitation of the real thing. Close but no cigar.  My sweaters didn’t match and my madras didn’t bleed. I don’t believe my parents really understood how badly I wanted these things.  Now that I am older and wiser I realize that the person is more important than the clothes.  I still love nice, stylish clothes but I am budget minded, too. I value my relationship with Jesus Christ as the highest thing. Yet with my children, I tried to be sensitive to their desires.  While people need to learn healthy priorities, their feelings and desires are very real to them and should be respected.

Loving Father, as our parent, we know you provide for our needs if we but seek your provision.  We praise your holy name today and give this day to you.  Help us to make wise decisions and to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a blessed day,
Paige

 

Friday’s Musings: Blessed are the Trash Picker Uppers

1 Peter 3:18 (NLT)  Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Maybe “picker uppers” isn’t a proper English term, but you know what I mean.  It just gets all over me that people will throw cans, bottles and food wrappers on the ground within sight of a park trash receptacle. I see this over and over at Master Park. What’s up with these folk?  The other day I thanked two city workers who were walking through the park with their pickers and trash bags cleaning up after these ill-mannered people. As I continue my mental rant I was reminded that Jesus cleaned up my trash and yours, too. Blessed be the One who saved me from my sins.

Loving God, thank you for all who work to make this city clean and safe.  We ask your presence with them and with us that we might have a good week-end.

Happy Friday!
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: In Step with Jesus USED

Modified and used 7/25/19 and again 3-16-21
1 John 2:5-6 (NRSV) … whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked.

I was turning the corner onto King Arnold Street during a walk when I saw two women get off the Marta bus.  They were dressed alike in the hotel housekeeper uniform of gray tops and black slacks.  As they walked away I noticed that they were walking in perfect step with one another.  I was going in the same direction and watched them continue to walk in step for quite a ways. It reminded me of scriptures that tell us to walk in step with Jesus – meaning to live as he lived seeking God’s will, showing kindness to others and sharing with them about God’s love.

Holy God, today help us please to walk as Jesus walked.  We ask in His name. Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Wednesday’s Musings: Silently Soaring

Updated and used 8-8-19

Philippians 3:14  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

On my morning walk today I saw a red-tailed hawk.  It was silently circling near the end of our street. The hawk was very focused on finding its next meal.  It reminded me of our need to have goals and to press onward toward them.  We don’t always have to do a full on charge toward them.  Goals are most often reached through silent persistence. 

Holy God, help us in setting beneficial goals for our lives and the Kingdom. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Happy Wednesday!
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: Equal Billing

Isaiah 2:4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Yesterday we had an excellent Memorial Day service in Hapeville. It is a great thing to come together and remember those who lost their life while in our armed forces. As I sat with friends, experiencing national pride with the rest I was also quietly sad. It is right and good to honor or war heroes but maybe we should also take a moment to remember the pain and finality of death.  Maybe we should weep with those who lost spouses, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers to the terror of war. 

On November 11^th we will celebrate another important national holiday – Veterans Day.  On it we celebrate and honor the service of those who served and returned home alive.  I’m so proud of my father who served in Europe and North Africa during WWII.  Did you know that November 11^th was first called Armistice Day?  Established in 1938 it was created to commemorate the signing of the peace treaty that ended the “war of all wars.”  It was a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans” so on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

I think this was a grave error.  We should have and observe Veterans Day. Yet we should also continue to celebrate world peace.  I would like a national holiday celebrating all peace treaties and the efforts of leaders and diplomats that either ended or prevented warfare.  I pray for the day when there will be peace on earth. Let’s give peacemaking equal billing.

God of love, we ask your comfort upon all surviving victims of war and their family members along with those who lost loved ones in war.  God we pray for the day when all nations will seek peace before making war.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Authentic or Artificial? USED

Modified 9-12-19 for Musings

2 Timothy 3:5 (CEB) They will look like they are religious but deny God’s power. Avoid people like this.

When I served as assistant pastor at Winder First UMC the lady who served as chairperson of worship would absolutely not allow artificial flowers on the altar table. I guess she had her reasons.  Maybe her decorating theology was based on this scripture. She was very creative in her altar designs, especially for the contemporary service but what she created was also always genuine and thoughtful.  Are we always genuine and thoughtful?  In my life as a Christian I have too often encountered people who look like a Christian on the outside but their behavior betrays their authenticity.  We all sin; we all have failings and that’s one reason to be in a committed relationship with a Christian community like our wonderful church.  The person who is inauthentic is the person who comes to church but refuses to let the Holy Spirit change them. 

Open the eyes of our heart, Lord.  Help us see ourselves as you see us.  Help us to be authentic Christians with both the form of religion and Your power. Amen.

Have a great day,
Paige