Day #2764

July 26, 2021 

This made me smile. Perhaps it will bring one to you this week, also.

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2763

July 25, 2021

The word for the day is thankful - for more folks gathering to worship, including visitors and family who come “home” for a visit. It is wonderful to be in community and I give thanks for the weekly opportunity. 

I also am thankful for the wonderful conversations we have at our early service. Folks are willing to ask questions and dig deeper into God’s Word, and I so enjoy that aspect of worship. What a gift this summer early worship time continues to be!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2762

July 24, 2021

On this Satisfied Saturday, I give thanks for the pets in our lives. Yes, I am feeling this especially on the Fourth Anniversary of Boomer’s Homecoming, but those four-legged “children” certainly can add something to our lives - love, activity, humor, and even frustration. 😉 Thank you, God, for knowing that we can benefit and grow from all sorts of relationships in our lives, even with our furry ones. 

So from Boomer to all of you - Blessings. And prayers. 

Day #2761

July 23, 2021 

Retired Pastor Steve Molin shared this in today’s entry of the devotion, God Pause, reflecting on John 6:1-21. It seems appropriate and a good thing to remember:

Storms come in a variety of ways for us, not just on choppy seas. A sudden illness; the loss of a job, or a marriage; the death of a loved one. We cry, “Lord, help us!” not always sure if our prayer is answered by God. For such times, songwriter Scott Krippayne writes a hopeful song with this refrain,

Sometimes He holds us close

And lets the wind and waves go wild

Sometimes He calms the storm

And other times He calms His child.

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2760

July 22, 2021 

The Gideons usually make an annual trip to each congregation to pray with the pastor and for the ministry. For obvious reasons, they had to miss last year, but they visited today. I will admit, it is special as a pastor to be remembered in prayer. And I am thankful the congregation will be included in their weekly meeting on Saturday. What did I ask them to include? That we would be open to God’s leading and guiding. 

Thank you for the prayers and your dedication to your ministry!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2759

July 21, 2021 

When Firehouse first opened in our town, they immediately caught our attention - there was a Carolina Dog on the menu. Certainly, they are not the only place to get a hot dog here, but there are more reasons to go there than just the food. The owners are super nice, and we were excited to learn she was raised in NC - hence, the Carolina Dog. 

All that said, we happened to go there today for a meal and were surprised to find out it is National Hot Dog day. Well, there you go. As always, the trip did not disappoint.

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2758

July 20, 2021

Today's Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from Ephesians 3:18-19: I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NRSV)

To know and understand the breadth, length, height and depth of God? Could that simply be too much to ask. Besides, if we knew all that, what would be left of the mystery of God? 

But to know the love of Christ, now that is awesome, but not always easy. In a recent conversation with someone, I said well, no matter what, I believe this is God’s world and that God loves us. I am not certain of that, they responded. I wonder if God really does love us, as hateful as we are to one another. 

I was saddened by that response. I believe God does love us. God may not like all the things we do. God may be sad at the way we treat one another. God may even be angry, but I do not think God stops loving us. For any reason. 

Maybe the world would be improved if we all could really know - and believe - God loves us no matter what! Wouldn't our response to one another be different? I think so.

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2757

July 19, 2021

A smile for the week, that can also give us something to think about:

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2756

July 18, 2021 

Woohoo!!! It’s National Ice Cream Day. What better treat can there be on a hot day?!?!

Thank you President Ronald Regan for designating such a fun day!

Question: what is your favorite flavor? 

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2755

July 17, 2021

On this Satisfied Saturday, I am grateful for artists. Those who are able to transform something they see with their eyes into a work of art that others can enjoy amaze me. Those who paint, sculpt, work with fabric or yarn, etc., using their talents and gifts to beautify the world, are truly a gift. Thank you, God, for sending beauty through the hands and minds of so many. 

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2754

July 16, 2021 

Lots of prayers are being said by many people for some relief from a fire season that has begun too early and is already too much. Acres of land on fire, dry conditions, smoke, trouble breathing, etc. like this does not usually come until later in the summer, yet here we are. 

Lord, have mercy! Please send refreshing rain where it is needed, protect those who are in harm's way, and give everyone the desire to protect the environment by handling necessary fire safely. Amen. 

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2753

July 15, 2021 

The word for the day - thankful - for lots of conversation, some play and much laughter. There was even some work accomplished in the midst of it all. All in all, a wonderful day with parishioners, friends, colleagues and more!

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2752

July 14, 2021

In Richard Rohr’s devotion today, he shared something from Beatrice Bruteau (1930-2014), who he called one of the great contemplative teachers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The metaphor he shared is about how we can keep our concentration when Jesus says: love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole mind, your whole soul, and your whole strength. Finding this hard - nearly impossible - to accomplish, this explanation was helpful for me. Rohr shares this from Bruteau:

You just do what you’re actually doing in the moment, without thinking/feeling about the fact that you’re doing it. When you set your hand to the plow, you just concentrate on plowing and go straight ahead without looking back to see what you plowed or how well you plowed (Luke 9:62).

You put your whole mind onto plowing, the activity, in the moment in which you are actually doing it. You don’t allow the mind to divide into two, half on plowing and half on plowed. . . . And in fact, if you can put your whole mind on the activity, not dividing some part to look back and see what you have plowed, you will cut a beautiful furrow.

You put your whole will into plowing. You do not divide your will in two by partly consenting to plow, and partly resenting and resisting it and wishing you were doing something else. You “give yourself to” this activity totally, as you do it. The act of plowing and the act of willing to plow become the same thing.

Similarly, you do not allow your imagination to conjure up some other scene for you to enjoy in daydreaming while you plod behind your plow. The imagination must . . . “be here now.” This is where you actually are, this is reality. Don’t create a fantasy. . . . Know who you are and where you are and what you are doing and really be there.

Finally, put all your feelings into this plowing because this is where your life is at this moment. You have no other life here and now except this plowing. Therefore feel this plowing thoroughly, feel it in every way you can. Feel it through your body with all your senses, with your emotions. . . . Become plowing. This is you at this moment. This is where you really are and what you are really doing.

That’s how you center yourself, how you concentrate.

Blessings. And prayers.

Day #2751

July 13, 2021

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from Psalm 19:10: More to be desired are [God’s commandments] than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb. (ELW)

MANY years ago, long before I was baptized or a part of a church community, I remember having a conversation with someone about the commandments. They were trying to help me understand that I could not keep the commandments on my own and needed God’s grace. But I haven’t broken these commandments, I argued. For example, I certainly haven’t killed anyone. At that point, I had no idea of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism or his expanded explanation of what “kill” can actually include (like killing someone’s spirit). 

Then I remember arguing that these commandments were pretty restrictive anyway. I meant that God’s laws were all about keeping us from having any fun. At least that was my perspective. 

I wonder what my teen self would have thought about this verse from Psalm 19. More desired than gold are God’s commandments?!?! Well, when my focus is on caring for the other and the other’s focus is on caring for me, that IS sweeter by far than honey!

Blessings. And prayers. 

Day #2750

July 12, 2021

The smile for this week - Simon having fun on the trampoline. 

Joy!!!

Blessings. And prayers.