Thursday, November 08, 2007
Changing Seasons
Fall is having a hard time arriving in my panhandle state. We have had freezing night temperatures this week, but our daytime temperatures continue to hover in the upper 60's and will reach the mid 70's during the weekend.
Our red maple tree was the prettiest color I have seen it since planting it a few years ago. Its brilliant color is already fading. Yet our native elm and other large trees are just beginning to dress themselves in their fall colors.
The berries on an ornamental tree are turning bright red, yet the hot pink geraniums beside it continue to bloom proudly.
A limbo of sorts seems to exist in my yard. Soon the changes of fall will fully arrive - it is inevitable for the seasons always change. God made it that way.
This year my yard seems to be a mirror of some things going on in my life. There are some changes that are coming - they are inevitable. Yet the timing of them seems to exist in a limbo that only God truly understands.
A new season in our spiritual journey will soon begin. God is bringing changes. Much like I wait expectantly the newness of the changing seasons in my world, I also wait expectantly this change.
Celebrating the beauty of the passing season and anticipating the beauty of the new season.
simple faith
Fall is having a hard time arriving in my panhandle state. We have had freezing night temperatures this week, but our daytime temperatures continue to hover in the upper 60's and will reach the mid 70's during the weekend.
Our red maple tree was the prettiest color I have seen it since planting it a few years ago. Its brilliant color is already fading. Yet our native elm and other large trees are just beginning to dress themselves in their fall colors.
The berries on an ornamental tree are turning bright red, yet the hot pink geraniums beside it continue to bloom proudly.
A limbo of sorts seems to exist in my yard. Soon the changes of fall will fully arrive - it is inevitable for the seasons always change. God made it that way.
This year my yard seems to be a mirror of some things going on in my life. There are some changes that are coming - they are inevitable. Yet the timing of them seems to exist in a limbo that only God truly understands.
A new season in our spiritual journey will soon begin. God is bringing changes. Much like I wait expectantly the newness of the changing seasons in my world, I also wait expectantly this change.
Celebrating the beauty of the passing season and anticipating the beauty of the new season.
simple faith
Labels: Life, Spiritual Journey
Friday, June 29, 2007
And the rains came
My panhandle state has had the oddest weather this June. We are setting records daily as the month comes to an end - wettest June, most consecutive days of rain, etc. Even as I type my street has once again become flooded.
I like this Newsboys song on days like this:
Let it Rain
Music by Peter Furler
Lyrics by Steve Taylor & Peter Furler
a fisher of men remembers...
and I have watched in wonder
as with a word You calmed a raging sea
I have seen You make the wine from water
mud and water made a blind man see
water still reminds me of the seaside where our eyes first met
let it rain
Lord, we're waiting for Your rain to fall
let it rain
bringing back the wonder of it all
and I can see Your face again
when You let it rain
and I've been bathed in mercy
by every gesture, every word You've said
once I spoke of power and high position
you took a towel and washed my feet instead
water, like a promise
heaven opens, but I'm not there yet
let it rain...
I've been foolish
thought I knew it all
three times I denied Your name
Your forgiveness, like a waterfall
washes away my shame
a new dawn is breaking
another hour, and then I leave this place
I am ready, Lord, to give my life up
I'm so ready, Lord, to see Your face
water, like a promise
and in this final hour, I think my final prayer shall be
would You let it rain?
let Your Spirit fall afresh on me
let it rain...
Just seeking the wonder of it all.
simple faith
My panhandle state has had the oddest weather this June. We are setting records daily as the month comes to an end - wettest June, most consecutive days of rain, etc. Even as I type my street has once again become flooded.
I like this Newsboys song on days like this:
Let it Rain
Music by Peter Furler
Lyrics by Steve Taylor & Peter Furler
a fisher of men remembers...
and I have watched in wonder
as with a word You calmed a raging sea
I have seen You make the wine from water
mud and water made a blind man see
water still reminds me of the seaside where our eyes first met
let it rain
Lord, we're waiting for Your rain to fall
let it rain
bringing back the wonder of it all
and I can see Your face again
when You let it rain
and I've been bathed in mercy
by every gesture, every word You've said
once I spoke of power and high position
you took a towel and washed my feet instead
water, like a promise
heaven opens, but I'm not there yet
let it rain...
I've been foolish
thought I knew it all
three times I denied Your name
Your forgiveness, like a waterfall
washes away my shame
a new dawn is breaking
another hour, and then I leave this place
I am ready, Lord, to give my life up
I'm so ready, Lord, to see Your face
water, like a promise
and in this final hour, I think my final prayer shall be
would You let it rain?
let Your Spirit fall afresh on me
let it rain...
Just seeking the wonder of it all.
simple faith
Labels: Life, Spiritual Journey
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Marking Time
Our small church began about 8 1/2 years ago as a group of believers who came together convinced that church really could and should be done differently. We were an interesting mix of people,each carrying their own baggage and seeking somewhat the same goals. It has been an incredible journey.
We had the challenge of making decisions for all sorts of things, big and small. What time would our classes and services start? What was our belief statement? How do we accept members? Baptism practices? It was the first time in my life I had to actually sit down and ask myself what I truly believed and why I truly believed it. As I said - it was a challenge.
It was also our Pastor's first job of pastoring a church. He made a choice for our congregation to observe the Christian calendar and follow the Lexcionary for scripture study. This was not a very Baptist decision, but it opened up a new way of marking time in my life.
I would be fooling you if I even tried to say I understood what all the seasons of the Christian calendar represent. As you will see, I am still learning on my journey.
So, today is the "Last Sunday after the Epiphany." Basically that means we have been marking Sundays after the Epiphany (January 6) and that we are about to move in to the season of Lent.
My tiny town in the southwestern part of my panhandle state did not have a Catholic church, although there was one in my husband's metropolis about 14 miles away. The word Lent was not a part of my vocabulary until I was an adult - well, that is if you don't count lint. . .
Learning to experience Lent has been at times comical, at times frustrating, and at times a really cool spiritual season in my life.
But first, we must make it through the next few days. . .
simple faith
Our small church began about 8 1/2 years ago as a group of believers who came together convinced that church really could and should be done differently. We were an interesting mix of people,each carrying their own baggage and seeking somewhat the same goals. It has been an incredible journey.
We had the challenge of making decisions for all sorts of things, big and small. What time would our classes and services start? What was our belief statement? How do we accept members? Baptism practices? It was the first time in my life I had to actually sit down and ask myself what I truly believed and why I truly believed it. As I said - it was a challenge.
It was also our Pastor's first job of pastoring a church. He made a choice for our congregation to observe the Christian calendar and follow the Lexcionary for scripture study. This was not a very Baptist decision, but it opened up a new way of marking time in my life.
I would be fooling you if I even tried to say I understood what all the seasons of the Christian calendar represent. As you will see, I am still learning on my journey.
So, today is the "Last Sunday after the Epiphany." Basically that means we have been marking Sundays after the Epiphany (January 6) and that we are about to move in to the season of Lent.
My tiny town in the southwestern part of my panhandle state did not have a Catholic church, although there was one in my husband's metropolis about 14 miles away. The word Lent was not a part of my vocabulary until I was an adult - well, that is if you don't count lint. . .
Learning to experience Lent has been at times comical, at times frustrating, and at times a really cool spiritual season in my life.
But first, we must make it through the next few days. . .
simple faith
Labels: Spiritual Journey
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Being Bathodist
Growing up in a tiny town in the southwest corner of my panhandle state provided an interesting mixture of religion for me.
My Dad's family was Baptist and my Mom's family was Methodist. In my very early years I attended the Baptist church with my Granny. Sometime during grade school my Mom returned to church and I attended the Methodist church with her. In junior high I went back to the Baptist church - attending where most of my friends attended and where the "good" youth group was.
I once stated that paragraph to my pastor. He looked at me and immediately said, "Wow, you must have really dealt with a lot of guilt!" I had never thought about it in those terms, but he was so right.
My Methodist roots and family practices allowed me much more freedom than my Baptist church taught. I could never get my mind around why dancing and drinking were going to condemn me to hell, but I can assure you that I was taught to believe that way.
The conflicts of my two religious bases were many. Confirmation vs. Salvation Experience. Sprinkling vs. Dunking. Open Thinking vs. Rules, Rules, and more Rules. It put me on a religious and emotional roller coaster and it took me years to get off.
And I have journeyed to where I am today. Bathodist. No, you won't find that in any official listing of world religions, but you will find it if you sit in a pew next to me some Sunday morning at my little church in my small city on the plains of my panhandle state.
Seriously. Some people say we are too Baptist. Other people say we are too Methodist. And yet others say we are just right. Definitely not for everyone, but definitely best for me.
I share this with you to give you a backdrop for the coming weeks. Tomorrow is officially "The Last Sunday after the Epiphany" at our church. (Stay tuned for further explaination, because if you grew up like I did you have no earthly idea what I am talking about!!)
Journey on my series of discoveries - perhaps you can enlighten me!
simple faith
Growing up in a tiny town in the southwest corner of my panhandle state provided an interesting mixture of religion for me.
My Dad's family was Baptist and my Mom's family was Methodist. In my very early years I attended the Baptist church with my Granny. Sometime during grade school my Mom returned to church and I attended the Methodist church with her. In junior high I went back to the Baptist church - attending where most of my friends attended and where the "good" youth group was.
I once stated that paragraph to my pastor. He looked at me and immediately said, "Wow, you must have really dealt with a lot of guilt!" I had never thought about it in those terms, but he was so right.
My Methodist roots and family practices allowed me much more freedom than my Baptist church taught. I could never get my mind around why dancing and drinking were going to condemn me to hell, but I can assure you that I was taught to believe that way.
The conflicts of my two religious bases were many. Confirmation vs. Salvation Experience. Sprinkling vs. Dunking. Open Thinking vs. Rules, Rules, and more Rules. It put me on a religious and emotional roller coaster and it took me years to get off.
And I have journeyed to where I am today. Bathodist. No, you won't find that in any official listing of world religions, but you will find it if you sit in a pew next to me some Sunday morning at my little church in my small city on the plains of my panhandle state.
Seriously. Some people say we are too Baptist. Other people say we are too Methodist. And yet others say we are just right. Definitely not for everyone, but definitely best for me.
I share this with you to give you a backdrop for the coming weeks. Tomorrow is officially "The Last Sunday after the Epiphany" at our church. (Stay tuned for further explaination, because if you grew up like I did you have no earthly idea what I am talking about!!)
Journey on my series of discoveries - perhaps you can enlighten me!
simple faith
Labels: Spiritual Journey
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Sunday Morning
I am one of those people who enjoys Sunday mornings in church. My Sunday School teacher is blessed with the gift of teaching and constantly challenges my thinking and attitudes. Most days I love my church family dearly - some days I just love them, but most days dearly. My pastor is skilled at planning the service and presenting the Word of God in a way that leads me, for at least one hour each week, in to worship.
Our church is eight years old. We have undergone many changes in this time, but one aspect of our worship that remains the same is our greeting. Someone, usually my husband, begins the service by welcoming us all there and then we spend a few moments greeting one another. We all enjoy this time. It is not unusual for choir members to run to the choir loft after the music has stopped playing (our sign that the greeting time is over).
Sunday morning I position myself skillfully between my two sons. They are 12 and 14, you would think this would not be a necessity, but it is. The music begins and I excuse myself around my 14 year old. Within half a step, I am all but tackled from behind by my 14 year old as a melee has obviously began to occur in my pew. Thankfully I have not fallen in to the aisle on some poor passerby.
I turn to grab the offender and begin a not so holy tirade at both boys in as hushed tones as possible between my clenched teeth. Sensing my fury, they do not meander long in the world of "it was him, not me." I turn to greet an understanding friend in the aisle and then position myself, again, squarely between the two boys. A couple of other friends wander by to bestow their condolences. These friends know if I am standing guard during the greeting there are obvious reasons.....they are positioned on my right and on my left.
Please also note that we sit close to the front of the church. This was not a missed production!
Where did I begin? Oh yes, with worship......
This "pew incident" is not too commonplace anymore, but is also not a rarity. I have learned to take a couple of breaths and refocus. That is what worshipping with children next to you is like.
The last song of our singing time was a familiar and always (in my life) an attitude adjusting chorus. We only sang it once, but it continues to run through my head even now.....
I love you with the love of the Lord.
Yes, I love you with the love of the Lord.
I can see in you the glory of my King,
And I love you with the love of the Lord.
Isn't that just like the Holy Spirit? When I am at my wit's end with my boys, I am given a song or led to a passage that speaks to my heart.
Boy, do I need this song this week!
simple faith
I am one of those people who enjoys Sunday mornings in church. My Sunday School teacher is blessed with the gift of teaching and constantly challenges my thinking and attitudes. Most days I love my church family dearly - some days I just love them, but most days dearly. My pastor is skilled at planning the service and presenting the Word of God in a way that leads me, for at least one hour each week, in to worship.
Our church is eight years old. We have undergone many changes in this time, but one aspect of our worship that remains the same is our greeting. Someone, usually my husband, begins the service by welcoming us all there and then we spend a few moments greeting one another. We all enjoy this time. It is not unusual for choir members to run to the choir loft after the music has stopped playing (our sign that the greeting time is over).
Sunday morning I position myself skillfully between my two sons. They are 12 and 14, you would think this would not be a necessity, but it is. The music begins and I excuse myself around my 14 year old. Within half a step, I am all but tackled from behind by my 14 year old as a melee has obviously began to occur in my pew. Thankfully I have not fallen in to the aisle on some poor passerby.
I turn to grab the offender and begin a not so holy tirade at both boys in as hushed tones as possible between my clenched teeth. Sensing my fury, they do not meander long in the world of "it was him, not me." I turn to greet an understanding friend in the aisle and then position myself, again, squarely between the two boys. A couple of other friends wander by to bestow their condolences. These friends know if I am standing guard during the greeting there are obvious reasons.....they are positioned on my right and on my left.
Please also note that we sit close to the front of the church. This was not a missed production!
Where did I begin? Oh yes, with worship......
This "pew incident" is not too commonplace anymore, but is also not a rarity. I have learned to take a couple of breaths and refocus. That is what worshipping with children next to you is like.
The last song of our singing time was a familiar and always (in my life) an attitude adjusting chorus. We only sang it once, but it continues to run through my head even now.....
I love you with the love of the Lord.
Yes, I love you with the love of the Lord.
I can see in you the glory of my King,
And I love you with the love of the Lord.
Isn't that just like the Holy Spirit? When I am at my wit's end with my boys, I am given a song or led to a passage that speaks to my heart.
Boy, do I need this song this week!
simple faith
Labels: Boys, Spiritual Journey
