WATCHWORD:
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalm 46:1-3
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Mark 10:27
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
Meditation:
Rain
If you have never read Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, you have missed out on wonderful excursions into fantasy drawings and poems, that tell stories, that frees your imagination, that sharpens your God-given gifts. It is not an adventure you should miss. Consider these 12 lines:
I opened my eyes And looked up at the rain.
And it dripped in my head And it flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly, I walk very slow,
I can’t do a handstand— I might overflow.
So, pardon the wild crazy thing I just said—
I’m just not the same since there’s rain in my head.
So, with that as inspiration, this is what the good Lord tell us about gifts given. Some are for this, and some are for that, and some are for a cat in a hat. So, we will take His way this way, and we will take our way that way, and as we journey we’ll find out just where we’re at. We’ll discover the new, and rediscover the old, then we will know what the Lord has already told. So, whatever you do, whether up or down, if you go to the country or go to the town, always beware wherever you go, the spirit of the Lord speaks to you, you know.
Talents, gifts, graces. Never under estimate, never minimize. Run with the inspirations, build on them, create on them, sing with them, but, just don’t let them lie dormant. Your gift leads to another’s inspirations. Your story unleashes another’s story. Your creation is the start of another’s discovery.
And God’s plan unfolds, and unfolds, and unfolds. Seeds thrown into the air, land and grow, and new things sprout, new ideas, cures, amazing ways, and beautiful thoughts.
“I opened my eyes, and looked up at the rain. And it dripped in my head, and it flowed into my brain,” and a new idea is born in the silliness of the rhyme, and we are refreshed, in God’s own time.
Stan Escott
Bulletin Board:
The Garden of our Memories (reprieve)
We sat on the porch swing, you and me, taking our evening ease.
The sun had just begun to set in the west, and I said, this is the time of day when the breeze is at its best.
You pointed to the far corner of our garden of memories and said do you remember the time you proposed to me?
You slipped your age old hand into mine. Like it was yesterday. I was never so nervous until you said yes.
Your diamond ring still sparkles with the light that guides our love to this very night.
The first few years, weeds of misunderstanding, selfishness, and mistrust, grew and tried to choke our love.
Together we uprooted these evil weeds and planted the seeds of trust, hard work, faith in God, and in the children.
Each of us will remember good, and bad times, in our garden of memories.
The garden of our memories belongs to just you and me; for no other people have lived our lives.
Look the sun has almost settled in the west over our life full of memories.
Then as I squeezed your hand, I said this prayer.
Dear Lord God
Although our bodies age day by day, our spirits will always remember the love we shared together. We give you
thanks God for always being present in….The Garden of our Memories
–Mac McKinley
2010
Morning Prayer:
Lord, we ask today for more of Your Holy Spirit in our lives. Lord, it can be easy for us to become consumed with the fears that surround us in life, but we know that just as Your eye is indeed on the sparrow, so also do You care for and see us. Teach us today to become more reliant on You. Bring us into a greater discernment of how You operate, so that we may come into a deeper understanding that all we see with natural eyes is not all that is. Today we ask for eyes to see Your hand in all matters, and hearts open to Your work. Amen.
