So instead of listing all the ways I saw God yesterday, since yesterday's post about Monday got quite long, I thought I would just tell of one moment.
On my driving to the weekly text study I attend with other Lutheran pastors in the county, I was thinking about random things, about family and friends, about the gorgeous day and about some difficult conversations that I will have to have in the near future.
As I was thinking about all this, I passed a mini-van. In the dirt on its rear windshield someone had drawn something. It wasn't "Wash Me" or a name but it was a heart. A simple but elegant heart, in the dirt and grit on the back of a vehicle at the end of winter.
If I wasn't driving I would have taken a picture.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Spreading the Love
The more I reflect on where I've seen God's love, the more places I see it, both in people's actions and words and also in things and moments. Yesterday I saw God in both, but especially the former.
My day started with a phone call from a parishioner who was going to stop by on her way to work to drop of meals for me to deliver later in the week. This past fall we started delivering meals together, mainly to homebound members, but to any member that could use a meal in order to have one less thing to think about. This member has made meals about once every month or two and really looks forward to visiting with me. However she got a job recently (YAY) and therefore not able to join me. It was still such a show of God's love that she still prepared a meal even if she didn't have time to deliver them.
In the afternoon I delivered the food to two homes and was able to stay and chat for a bit at each. The husband at the second home I went to paid me a wonderful compliment when he said "even though I don't get there often, I'm so glad you came to Bethlehem."
I also found out that one of my cousins just got engaged. I'm really excited for him and his new fiancée. They are both wonderful people full of joy and happiness for life and I'm happy to know they are getting married.
In the evening Bob and I watched Everything is Illuminated as suggested to us by Netflix. It was such a great movie with a heart warming story of people finding their past and illuminating the future. It is one of those movies that you just see God in as people discover themselves and interpret what love means.
As I was falling asleep last night, cuddling with Bob (yes we were cuddling) I just had this moment of clam and thanksgiving for all that I had been given.
But probably the most exciting thing for me personally, while not the most God-filled but the most "yes I'm doing something right here" moment was that one parishioner called and another emailed me yesterday. Both contacted me to tell me that they read my sermon, neither were in worship on Sunday, and they both loved it and thought it was an incredible message they are sad that they missed the delivery. Yeah that boosted the ego a bit But considering that as I got up to start the gospel on Sunday, I was nervous because I know that telling people not to worry is not always the most well received message, I am thrilled and filled with God's love knowing how well people have heard it.
Where are you seeing God's love?
My day started with a phone call from a parishioner who was going to stop by on her way to work to drop of meals for me to deliver later in the week. This past fall we started delivering meals together, mainly to homebound members, but to any member that could use a meal in order to have one less thing to think about. This member has made meals about once every month or two and really looks forward to visiting with me. However she got a job recently (YAY) and therefore not able to join me. It was still such a show of God's love that she still prepared a meal even if she didn't have time to deliver them.
In the afternoon I delivered the food to two homes and was able to stay and chat for a bit at each. The husband at the second home I went to paid me a wonderful compliment when he said "even though I don't get there often, I'm so glad you came to Bethlehem."
I also found out that one of my cousins just got engaged. I'm really excited for him and his new fiancée. They are both wonderful people full of joy and happiness for life and I'm happy to know they are getting married.
In the evening Bob and I watched Everything is Illuminated as suggested to us by Netflix. It was such a great movie with a heart warming story of people finding their past and illuminating the future. It is one of those movies that you just see God in as people discover themselves and interpret what love means.
As I was falling asleep last night, cuddling with Bob (yes we were cuddling) I just had this moment of clam and thanksgiving for all that I had been given.
But probably the most exciting thing for me personally, while not the most God-filled but the most "yes I'm doing something right here" moment was that one parishioner called and another emailed me yesterday. Both contacted me to tell me that they read my sermon, neither were in worship on Sunday, and they both loved it and thought it was an incredible message they are sad that they missed the delivery. Yeah that boosted the ego a bit But considering that as I got up to start the gospel on Sunday, I was nervous because I know that telling people not to worry is not always the most well received message, I am thrilled and filled with God's love knowing how well people have heard it.
Where are you seeing God's love?
Monday, February 28, 2011
God's Love, God's Abundance
Yesterday in my sermon, I challenged the congregation to start bringing pictures and stories of where they see God's love and God's Abundance in this world. These pictures and stories will be collected through Easter as we see through each other eyes and words where we see God active in our lives.
I'm willing to accept this challenge myself. And as one of my friends mentioned a few weeks ago during a workshop at baby pastor school, he refers to these as "God moments", moments when you feel God's presence.
So here are my God moments from yesterday:
A few weeks ago I asked a newer member about getting together for coffee sometime just to get to know him a bit better. He came over to the parsonage after worship and the two of us and Bob had a great conversation. It was wonderful to hear him talk about his faith journey, how it has not always been easy, and about his dad who was so influential in his life. He also shared a story from this last week when he knew that both God and his dad were still watching over him as he is undergoing a huge career transition. I see God's love and abundance in people sharing their stories.
In the evening we went to the Lumberyard, our favorite local bar/restaurant. A couple from the congregation was there, actually just about to leave, but we joined them and ended up talking and laughing for over an hour. They knew the waitress and introduced us who when she brought me the bill, asked for the Bethlehem's address because she would like to come check us out sometime.
My day ended with talking to one of my best friends on her 30th birthday. When I asked her if she know felt old, she replied something like this: No, this birthday hasn't been bad for me because it is the first one in the last few years where I felt like I was where I am suppose to be in life. Even though she is now a 30 year old mother of two, going to school full time to be a nurse and working part-time, which just that description wants me to pull my hair out, she is in a wonderful place in her life and I'm so happy for her. I know that God is blessing her even in the midst of a crazy schedule (which includes a gym class that is 90% running).
I'm willing to accept this challenge myself. And as one of my friends mentioned a few weeks ago during a workshop at baby pastor school, he refers to these as "God moments", moments when you feel God's presence.
So here are my God moments from yesterday:
A few weeks ago I asked a newer member about getting together for coffee sometime just to get to know him a bit better. He came over to the parsonage after worship and the two of us and Bob had a great conversation. It was wonderful to hear him talk about his faith journey, how it has not always been easy, and about his dad who was so influential in his life. He also shared a story from this last week when he knew that both God and his dad were still watching over him as he is undergoing a huge career transition. I see God's love and abundance in people sharing their stories.
In the evening we went to the Lumberyard, our favorite local bar/restaurant. A couple from the congregation was there, actually just about to leave, but we joined them and ended up talking and laughing for over an hour. They knew the waitress and introduced us who when she brought me the bill, asked for the Bethlehem's address because she would like to come check us out sometime.
My day ended with talking to one of my best friends on her 30th birthday. When I asked her if she know felt old, she replied something like this: No, this birthday hasn't been bad for me because it is the first one in the last few years where I felt like I was where I am suppose to be in life. Even though she is now a 30 year old mother of two, going to school full time to be a nurse and working part-time, which just that description wants me to pull my hair out, she is in a wonderful place in her life and I'm so happy for her. I know that God is blessing her even in the midst of a crazy schedule (which includes a gym class that is 90% running).
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