Day #2372

June 29, 2020

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Ordination of Women in the ELCA. This woman (the one on the right) was the first. She is Elizabeth Platz, a graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary of Gettysburg (my alma mater). I am thankful for her and appreciate her trailblazing the way. 

This symbol, created by the ELCA, includes the names of female pastors. We were invited to share it with the hashtag #thankyoupastor. I know many of these pastors! They are amazing and they make me smile. 

Also, I am humbled by FaceBook comments thanking me for answering God’s call. You all are amazing! But really, thanks to all the women, and men, who answer God’s call to be pastors, disciples, and apostles. All God’s church.

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2371

June 28, 2020 

Today brought another wonderful morning of worship. Thanks be to God for being able to gather, albeit with restrictions and protocols. But thanks be to God, also, that folks are willing to do what seems necessary to protect one another. It has been said the church is dying; not as long as it is God’s church. And it is!!

Later in the day, I received a text message that brought tears to my eyes. How thoughtful of folks to reach out and let you know they are thinking of you. Which brings a challenge to mind - is there someone who needs to hear from you that you are thinking of them? I know there are some for me. I need to be more diligent in letting them know how important they are to me. After all, we never know what tomorrow might bring. So please know, if you are reading this, you are important to me. 

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2370

June 27, 2020 

We are sad today. This marks one year since hubby’s cousin died tragically in an airplane crash (see Day #2005). We wonder how a year has passed. And we pray for all those who hurt because of this tragedy. Lord, have mercy! 

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2369

June 26, 2020 

Memorial Falls - part of our “out and about” today. Pretty falls and a nice, short hike. Not to mention a beautiful day! Ahhh....

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2368

June 25, 2020 

The word for today - thankful. For an extra day off to spend with the hubby after about two weeks straight of being busy. Time to do a little sight-seeing and getting out and about. :-)

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2367

June 24, 2020 

The word for today is prayer. I am thankful for the power of prayer, especially the power prayer has to transform us. Not bend God’s will to ours, but our will to God’s. And God’s will is one of forgiveness. 

Only prayer can change someone’s heart of stone to a heart of love and forgiveness. I saw it today - firsthand. And I am thankful! And I have to admit, am in awe, once again, of the capacity of God’s love.

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2366

June 23, 2020

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from Romans 6, verse 14: For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (NRSV)

My pastor used this illustration to explain how God sees us: when we are united with God through baptism, we are laminated to Jesus, just as wood that has been laminated can no longer be separated. Therefore, when God looks at us, God sees us through the lens of Jesus. And that is a lens of grace, not a lens of law. Therefore, sin is no longer able to have a hold on us, because sin cannot have a hold on Jesus. And we are laminated to him, unable to be separated. 

I was reminded (and comforted) of his explanation when I read the verse for this week. As Children of God, we are under God’s grace. No exceptions. And sin, the separation of God from humans, has lost. Thanks be to God!!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2365

June 22, 2020

Just as I was having a difficult time finding a “smile” for this week, this came across my desk - a tribute to librarians with a sense of humor. This one made me smile the largest, and hope it will you, also:

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2364

June 21, 2020 

Happy Father’s Day! 

Today I choose to celebrate all male figures - fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, uncles, nephews, friends, etc. And I have many in my life.

• My husband is my hero - not a dad himself, but a caring man with great gifts. 
• My first pastor (who later became my boss) is like a father to me and has been there for me in so many situations, teaching and guiding me. 
• My father-in-law was a man I respected and loved. 
• My nephew is a man I admire as a father to his daughters, and a fun person to be around. 
• My first Godson is now a college graduate, moving on with his life, and we are proud.
• And my Godson Simon is a young man growing into himself and I love him! 

And there are many others - uncles, friends, pastor colleagues, etc. Notice, however, I have not mentioned my father. As they say, that was a complicated relationship. I am thankful for the things he taught me, but he was challenging in many ways. Yet, I did love him.

So, as we celebrate this day, I hope you have male figures in your life you can depend on, respect, look up to and love. Thank you, men, for being all those things. Happy Day!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2363

June 20, 2020 

Things are much different this summer - trips cancelled, vacations on hold. But, we can still get outside. So, I hope you can/will enjoy the season!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2362

June 19, 2020

America (and I) is learning about Juneteenth, and its significance in striving to end racism. I am sad this is something many of us didn’t much know about until recently. I suppose it is like Kwanza, an important holiday to many that I never heard about in my youth. 

How much history is lost? How many people’s lives, and the things that were important to them, are not known to others? It makes me realize, as I get older, that every person’s story is important. How can we make certain they are heard? And celebrated?

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2361

June 18, 2020 

I saw this today and it seemed appropriate to share. My question - does it have to be only one person?!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2360

June 17, 2020

Five years ago today, these nine Children of God were killed by another Child of God (yes, a Lutheran with a very disturbed understanding of grace!) in a horrible and unbelievable way at the end of a Bible Study at a church in South Carolina. We remember and we mourn. 

But we also have hope that their lives did not end in vain. With trust and faith that God’s promises are forever, it means their lives, and their deaths, were cherished. And that they are known by God, and now know God fully. 

Eternal peace be with you all!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2359

June 16, 2020 

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from Romans 6:4: Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (NRSV)

Once again, I find myself thinking of funeral services. This is an often read scripture in those times, because of the comfort that comes in knowing that with Christ, there is newness of life, even into the eternal future. 

But these words also bring comfort, and responsibility, for our lives now. Being buried with Christ in baptism into death means that his life meant more than simply teaching and healing, even though those were amazing qualities. Jesus’ life had a purpose, a reason for happening, that makes a difference right now. 

Again, God did not choose to send Jesus (God’s self) to earth for no reason. Or for the sole purpose of teaching and healing, important as they were for those who experienced them. There was a purpose that reached far into the future, and the past, and we are a part of that promise. 

So how can our lives not mean something, right now? How can our lives not be a living out of God’s mercy and grace, right now? How can our lives not mean newness of life and hope, right now? We are, after all, united with Jesus in a way that my mind cannot fully wrap around, yet the faith the Holy Spirit gives assures me of its truth. Should not our lives be lived as new, right now? And every day?!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2358

June 15, 2020

Here is a smile for today:

Guess everyone has a “Monday” now and then when they would rather take the day off. What better than a cute puppy to help us out. ;-)

Then a late afternoon rain shower and clearing skies brought this rainbow over the city, giving a “double” reason to smile for the day/week. 

The picture doesn’t really do the colors justice - it was truly vivid.

Blessings. And prayers.