The Christian Wallet: Work to Live or Live to Work?

   Sometimes we get confused about the purpose and meaning of work - forgetting that it is first and foremost about honoring God - because we have disregarded one of the commandments.

   Whenever I preach on the Ten Commandments I usually comment that there is one that we apparently are proud to break - number three, to honor the Sabbath.

    We live in a culture that tells us to go as hard as we can, for as long as we can, in order to make all we can. But when we live like that, our entire purpose becomes earning and consuming - and we weren't made for that.

     What we were made for is to honor the Lord. To keep this day of rest, set apart for us to worship God. When we honor the Sabbath, we are restored to do the work God has called us to do.

     How are Sabbath and work related in your life?

The Christian Wallet: Work to Live or Live to Work? Devo

October 27th, 2019

Devotional

“The Christian Wallet: Work to Live or Live to Work?” -

    Matthew 5: 13-16 and Ecc 5:12

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Salt” - Matthew 5:13

  In my second year of seminary, my ministry placement was at a retreat center where I created worship for guests coming in. And I cooked. A lot. Every weekend my supervisor and I would host a Biblical feast, teaching people about feasting as celebration in scripture. 

One of the things you learn very quickly in a setting like that is that salt is your friend. Whenever you boil water, you salt it. You put salt on food while it was cooking to draw out its natural flavors. If you fail to put salt on, it often wasn’t as good as it could have been. 

When Jesus is teaching his disciples that they are the salt of the earth, he is asking them to help draw out the God flavor. That may seem like an odd concept, but the Message puts it this way, “If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?”.

As the salt of the earth, we help point people to God. We help show them God and taste and see that our God is good. 

How do you help to point people to God?

Prayer: God of mercy and grace, we confess that sometimes we fail to point people to you. Sometimes we don’t live in a way that points people to the goodness of your Kingdom. Forgive us, O Lord. Help us to see the blessing in being the salt of the earth. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Light” - Matthew 5: 14-16

Light is meant to be used to illuminate the way for people. When Jesus teaches that we are the light of the world, it means that we are to shine forth as a message and the ones who lead people to the beauty and truth of the Kingdom. 

In a modern world, where we can flick on a light switch, we sometimes miss out on the power of what Jesus is communicating to his disciples. Have you ever tried to do something by candle light? Even when it is on a lamp stand, its not the same as having a lightbulb power on a room. Instead, a lamp stand, like a flashlight, helps lead people step by step to their destination. 

When we say that we are to let our light shine before others it does not mean that we need to have all the answers or have it all together. Instead, we are the light guiding people step by step to Jesus. 

How does your light shine before others?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we hide our light. We are afraid that people are going to ask us tough questions that we don’t have answers for. Free us, Precious Lord, to remember that our light simply points people to the much greater light in you, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Enjoy Their Work” - Ecc 3:22

Is your work enjoyable? Sure, we all can have rough days, but as a whole, is your work something that brings you joy? Something that you are passionate about? If not, why do you think that is?

We have been tricked into thinking that work, whether it is something that we are paid for or not, should be hard and burdensome. But back in Genesis, God gave Adam work, not as a burden but in order that he be part of this much bigger thing that God was doing in the Garden. 

Our work should give us value. This is not the same as what we earn on our paycheck. But value and joy because we know that we are doing something that brings honor and glory to God. 

Would you consider your work to be joyful? Why or why not?

Prayer: Lord, restore to us your joy this day. Not the joy that comes from ourselves, but the joy that comes from knowing that we are following your call on our lives. Equip us and use us, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “The Laborers” -Ecc 5:12

  What comes to your mind when you hear the word labor? Often we think of something incredibly demanding, but labor can also be rewarding. In Ecclesiastes we find the words that sweet is the sleep of labors. In other words, when we work hard we find our rest, not because we have exhausted ourselves, but because our rest is in God. 

Another way that we work or labor, is when we come together as the people of God. The word liturgy actually means work of the people. We labor together when we sing songs and pray to God. And as we worship together we are emboldened to go out and labor for what God is doing in the world.  

  How do we work together for the Kingdom?

Prayer: Lord, in your Word you tell us that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Lord, restore in us the zeal to go forth and labor for your Kingdom, sharing the Good News with all that we meet. Amen.

Friday: “Rest” - Ex. 23:12

  As we rediscover what the Bible says about work, so we must rediscover what the scriptures say about rest as well. Sabbath, or the day set apart to be restored, is one of the ten commandments. This idea traces its roots the whole way back to Creation, where God rested on the seventh day. If God, who never is exhausted, rested, should we not rest as well?

I often tell people that the pace of the world that we live in now is exhausting. Many people do not work 8 hours 5 days a week. Instead, they have to work two or more jobs, going all the time. There is not space to rest. And when we do rest, we run from one place to another, trying to catch up on everything that we were not able to fit in during the week while we were working. 

We are in need of Sabbath. Space to let God speak into our hearts and remind us who we are created to be. 

How are work and rest connected? How can we find rest in such a busy world?

Prayer: Lord, we come to you for refreshment. Give us space to find our rest, our peace, our very being in you. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Christian Wallet: The Joy of Simplicity” - Matthew 6: 19-21. 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Matthew 5: 13-16

          Ecc 3:22

From the Sermon:

Work was first mentioned in the Bible in _____________.

We need to ask does our work _________ God?

We often talk about work in terms of what we put into it, but God is also looking at what ______ from it.

Does our work ______ others?

Jesus isn’t saying we should be salt and light, or that we will be salt in light, rather that we ____.

Does our work bring us _______?

Reflection Questions:

Why do you work?

How are you living into your calling?

How are you being salt and light to other people?

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that we have become confused about work over time. We have looked at it as punishment, as something we must simply endure in order to do that which brings us joy. Reorient us, O Lord. Remind us of the holiness of work, but not just any work, but the work you have called us to do. Amen. 

The Christian Wallet: Those to Whom We Give

    Each of the Gospels tells the story of the Feeding of the 5,000 a bit differently. In the account in the Gospel of John, which is perhaps the most well known, a small child supplies the fish and the loaves from his lunch that goes on to feed the multitudes.

    Whether it was a child or the disicples, Jesus took that which was provided in order to meet the needs of the community.

    We continue to live into this model today as the church reaches out into the community through that which is provided in terms of time, talent, and gifts.

    We run into issues, however, when we, as the body fo Christ, start to see what we lack. When we forget the work of the Holy Spirit that can mutliple that which we faithfully provide, we start to focus on all of the things that we cannot do, instead of seeing that which we can provide through the power of God.

   What is God calling us to provide in this place and time?

The Christian Wallet : Those to Whom We Give Devo

October 20th, 2019

Devotional

“The Christian Wallet : Those to Whom We Give"

 - Matthew 14: 13-21 and Ps 41: 1

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Deserted Place” - Matthew 14: 13-14

  The particular scene in today’s Gospel passage is hard to imagine. Jesus has just received unbearable news concerning his cousin John, who has been killed in a merciless way at the hands of Herod. All he wants to do is get away, yet word of his travels has already reached far and wide. People have come to this deserted place just to be in the presence of Jesus. Just to hear what he has to say and to have him heal their sicknesses. 

In the Gospel of Matthew it is not until the end of the scripture passage that we are told that a great crowd of 5,000 men came that day. While 5,000 people may be hard for us to imagine, this number only represented the men, meaning it was probably closer to 20,000 when you included the women and children. It is possible that up to half of the people in the region came to hear him that day. How can we begin to wrap our minds around that? They came by foot to this place because of that which Jesus had to offer. 

What draws people to Jesus?

What drew you to Jesus?

Prayer: God, we confess that at times we get in the way of what Jesus is trying to do in our community and in our world. We forget what drew us to Jesus and when that slips from our hearts and minds it becomes so easy to unintentionally block others from the power of the Good News. Forgive us, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Disciples Came to Him” - Matthew 14: 15-16

At some point, dinner time was drawing near. People were still around. Still seeing what Jesus was doing. Hearing what he was saying. The disciples however, started to try to shut all of it down. They knew that the closest village to get food in was probably at least ten miles away. They needed the people to start heading that way if they were hoping to get food for dinner.  

Jesus, however, had other plans. He told the disciples to give the folks something to eat. 

How often are we like the disciples? How often do we get caught up in the enormity of what we perceive before us? How often do we try to second guess what God is trying to do amongst us instead of getting out of the way and letting God be God? Perhaps that is one of the hardest lessons of faith we will ever have to learn - to get out of the way and let God be God. We don’t like to give up control. We don’t like to face the unknown let alone the unpredictable. So we start to tell God what we think is possible and what we certainly think is impossible - as if our calculations and thoughts will stop God from being God. 

What did you once think was impossible, only to find it possible with God?

Prayer: God, help us to be free us from the bondage of our own perception. Sometimes, O Lord, we cannot see what you are doing because we cannot imagine it in our minds. Free us to dream big dreams with you anew, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Nothing But” - Matthew 14: 17-18

The disciples hear Jesus’s words to feed the crowds and all they could see was what they lacked. They told Jesus they had nothing but five small loafs and two fish. They couldn’t imagine what could be done with such a meager meal - a meal the would probably not have even been enough to feed them and Jesus. It didn’t seem to be nearly enough. What could they really do with that?

But so much could be done with that offering. When the disciples handed over what they had to Jesus there was so much provided. The disciples saw what they had as meaningless in the face of the magnitude of the situation, but Jesus saw a possibility.

Jesus understood what could be done with that which was before them. When we put what we have into God’s hands by faith, God can do absolutely amazing things. We get tricked sometimes into thinking what we have is not enough so why is it worth even giving. Our small offering can’t provide much in the face of the vast needs, so why give at all. On top of that we start to worry about ourselves. We worry that if we give more, then we will have less, but in the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 contests our mathematics with God. The people were so provided for, including the disciples, that there were left overs. 

How has God provided abundantly for you? How can you share that abundance with others?

Prayer: Almighty God, help us to recognize that which is right before us. Help us to trust you to take whatever we have to offer and multiple it for the sake of your Kingdom! Amen. 

Thursday: “Bring Them” - Matthew 14: 19-21

One of the things I love about the United Methodist Church is that we are connectional. We proclaim that we can do more together than we could ever do apart, and when we bring our small offering to God - God multiples it to meet the needs of so many people. This teaches us daily dependance upon God while at the same time reminding us what a difference we can make when we come together.

The founder of United Methodism, John Wesley, also believed in the power of God’s abundance and multiplication, even when they don’t make sense to anyone else around. One of Welsey’s most famous quotes is “Make all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.” In his life time, John Wesley gave away over 30,000 pounds which is roughly equal to about 1,764,706 in today’s money. How did he do it? His first year of ministry he was paid 30 pounds, but found that he only needed 28 pounds to survive - he gave the other 2 away. As his wages increased he continued to live off of 28 pounds, giving the rest away, and watching God multiply his gift and  God continued to multiple and multiple the gift beyond what is humanly fathomable.

What is Jesus asking you to bring to him in order for him to use to bless the world?

Prayer: God of Grace, take that which we bring to you this day and do amazing things. Things to bless the world. Things for us to testify about as we leave this place. Remind us that nothing is too small to offer, when it is given in faith. Amen. 

Friday: “Consider” - Psalm 41:1

  David writes that happy are those who consider the poor. Why are they happy? Is it because it reminds them of how blessed they are? No. Is it because they can walk by the poor in the community and not give it a second thought? Absolutely not.

I believe David is saying that those who consider the poor are happy because they can be part of what God is doing in the world. When we can reach out to a neighbor in need, either through meeting a material need or simply by being present, we are being given the opportunity to share the love of Jesus. That same love that was once shared with us. As we consider the poor, we are given the opportunity to keep pointing our lives back to God, to keep returning our hearts to God, and to be part of the work of the Kingdom of God. 

Why do you give?

Prayer: God, free us to give. To give abundantly. To give for the sake of your name, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic to prepare for worship: “Work to Live or Live to Work?” - 1 Tim 6: 17-19

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Matthew 14: 13-21

Ps 41: 1

From the Sermon:

There are ______ scriptures between the Old and New Testaments about the poor.

Jesus looked at the crowds and he had _________ for them.

The disciples should ______ them.

Sometimes we don’t ______ what folks need.

Jesus is still reaching out to the world through ____.

Reflection:

As people of faith how can we live our lives so we are attuned to other people’s needs and suffering?

How is the feeding of the 5,000 a stewardship lesson for us?

Do we know people’s stories and struggles enough to reach out to end an ear in a time of need?

How do we reach the world individually? How do we reach the world through the Church?

Prayer:

Lord, for the times we have seen a need and have not given, forgive us, we pray. For the times we have looked at others with eyes of judgment instead of eyes of compassion, forgive us, we pray. For times we have thought that we do not have enough, forgive us, we pray. Help us to trust in your abundance! Amen.

The Christian Wallet: Generosity

   Every time I am present at a funeral or a committal service I am always humble. This was a person of deep importance to God. This is someone who loved folks and was loved by them in return. This is someone who had one life to live.

   As I walk away from those services I always find myself thinking the same thing - I want to live the life God has blessed me with well.

   We each get one life to live. One life to make choices with each day. At the end of my time, when someone else is preaching at my funeral service I want the testimony given to honestly be that this is how I lived, with my best for God.

   At the end of the day, isn't that what the heart of generosity is about. How we lived. The choices we made and how they spoke about the ultimate generosity of our Lord and Savior.

   What does generous living mean to you?

The Christian Wallet Devo

October 13th, 2019

Devotional

“The Christian Wallet: Generosity”

                                Luke 6: 27-28

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Love Your Enemies” -  Luke 6: 27

There are some people in our lives that are just easy to love.  They are usually people who we know love us and we trust enough to give our love to in return. But, if we are honest, not all people love us. And we don’t love all people. 

In fact, if we are really going to be honest, we know that there are even folks who we consider enemies. The dictionary has a lot of words that are strung together to describe an enemy, and none of them are pleasant. Words like hostile. Feel hatred for. Causes harm. A foe. 

Sometimes enemies are people who have personally harmed us, so we keep our distance from them. Other times people become our enemy through generationally conflict or rumors without us ever getting to know them or know their heart.

It is easy to love those who love us, but Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us. Its different from the way of the world, because it is a mark of the Kingdom of God.

What is one concrete thing you can do to “do good” to someone whom you consider an enemy?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we would rather follow the way of the world and love those who love us and hate those whom we consider to be an enemy. Yet, you call us to something radically different. We confess that this call is not something that we can do by our own strength alone, so we humbly ask you to equip us this day to be people who love even our enemies, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Bless and Pray” - Luke 6: 28

Jesus did not stop by telling folks to simply do good to their enemies, even as hard as that may be. He went on to tell those who follow him to bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you. 

When we pray for our enemies, we often ask that God hold them accountable or judge them for their behavior. However, here I think Jesus is asking us to pray that they be blessed. Why? Because when we pray blessing into someone’s life it doesn’t just change them, it changes our very heart towards them. It changes our perception. 

This is a type of prayer that takes time to learn. Its not something that will come naturally to many of us at first. Yet over time, as our hearts are changed as well, this prayer will become easier and easier, by the strength and grace of God. 

Who do you need to be praying blessings for this week?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we just want to pray that you judge those who have harmed us. We don’t want to pray for them to be blessed. In fact, there are times that we don’t want to pray for them at all. Soften our hearts, O Lord, so that we can be changed by paying for our enemies as well. Transform us, O Lord. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Give Freely” - Proverbs 11: 24

One of the central beliefs of our faith is that God gives us free will. Free will to choose to love God. Free will to choose to be obedient to God. Free will in how we respond to the call of God on our lives. 

But the flip side of free will is sometimes we don’t follow the way and will of God for our lives.

This section of Proverbs sets up a series of choices, saying that some choose to give freely and others withhold what they give. But as with free will there are consequences. Those who gave freely were blessed, those who withheld suffered want.

Does that mean we should give so that we will be blessed? Certainly not. We give because it is what God calls us to do. We make the choice to give as a mark of choosing to be obedient to our God. 

Do you find it easy or hard to give? Why?

Prayer: Lord, there are so many choices that we are called to make every day. We ask that as we approach each decision, we do so with the heart of Christ and our eyes focused on the cross. We ask for open hands, generous spirits, and the strength to follow you, each and every day. Amen. 

Thursday: “Generous” - Proverbs 11: 25

  How is a generous person enriched? Proverbs tells us that “one who gives water will get water.” Those who freely give often find that those whose lives they have touched wanted to give to them in return. 

But to be the one who receives requires humbling ourselves before other and before God. It can be easy to be the one who gives - because that takes place from a position of power. But to be the one who gets, that takes and open heart and a different type of generosity of spirit. 

Would you rather give or receive? Why?

Prayer: Lord, we ask that in days of bounty that you encourage us to be generous with what you have blessed us with to others. But we equally ask that on days of struggle you open up our spirits to be ones who can humbly receive. Teach us no matter what our circumstances, to be like you, O Christ. Amen. 

Friday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Christian Wallet: Those to Whom We Give” - Psalm 41 and Matthew 14

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Proverbs 11: 24-25

Luke 6: 27-28

From the Sermon:

Some people have given their ______ to Jesus, they haven’t given their _______ to him yet.

Stewardship includes any other areas that we aren’t quite _________ yielding to God.

Do we want to give? This is a matter of the __________.

The one who blesses others is abundantly __________; those who help others are helped.

That as the people of God Jesus is calling us to a whole new way of living that is based on __________ values. 

Reflection Questions:

Do we want to give? Are we ready to give? And do we give?

Do we desire to give everything to Jesus, including our time? Or our money? Or what we hold on to the most?

Prayer:

Lord, we want you to this day, be the Lord of both our hearts and our lives. Loosen our grip on those things that we hold to so tightly, O God, and let it all be used for the sake of your Kingdom, we pray. Amen. 

Listen: The Mystery of Miracles

    I think we often gloss right over the amazing power behind the thought that God wants to communicate with us. God wants to talk with us. God wants us to be a part of what is happening in the mission and ministry of the Kingdom.

    But in order to claim this power, we must submit and listen. Two words that we don't seem to like in the English language.

     I grew up in a tradition that spoke of having a personal relationship with God, but I don't remember anyone truly teaching me how to listen to God. Sure, folks taught me how to pray and what to say, and that through prayer we can talk to God, but prayer is about more than talking. It requires listening as well.

     Perhaps listening wasn't something that was taught because listening means different things to different people.

     So maybe we need to relearn what prayer is. That it's not so much about what we say, as simply showing up. And in showing up we open up our hearts and ears to listen to the God who wants to speak to us.

     What are some of the ways you prepare your heart to lisetn to God?

Listen: The Mystery of Miracles Devo

October 6th, 2019

Devotional

“Listening: The Mystery of Miracles”

                                  1 Kings 19: 11-21

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Go Out and Stand” - 1 Kings 19: 11-12

  “The prophet Elijah came around during the time period of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Wicked rulers who despite multiple times where Elijah tried to enter into their lives and tell them a new story, still worshiped Baal, the god of weather. It wasn’t uncommon during this time period to worship different gods for different things. And every King and Queen want a good harvest - which requires good weather - because no one wants to rule during times of drought and famine. Yet, that’s exactly what Elijah told the King was on the way - a drought. Not a welcomed message to be sure. Elijah told King Ahab that this particular drought was going to be a bad one - lasting five years. Now, three years later, three years of no rain, three years of the people whom Ahab and Jezebel ruled over praying to Baal for the drought to end, God sends Elijah back, telling him that when Elijah goes before Ahab, God would send rain upon the land. 

While Elijah is venturing off to make this grand announcement, he first came across Obadiah, Ahab’s palace administrator who devoutly loved the Lord. Elijah tells Obadiah to go announce his presence to the King and Obadiah rightly freaks out a bit, worried that he would be put to death for such an announcement. But Obadiah went anyway, and Elijah presented himself before the King, who blamed him for the entire drought because of his prophesy. Elijah wasn’t having any of the blame game though - and switched it right around on the King, telling him that it was because of the King and his family following Baal that they were in this mess in the first place. Which is where we pick up today’s story.

For this and many other offenses in the eyes of the King and the Queen, Elijah found himself hiding out on the mountain. Waiting for the presence of God. 

  Have you ever expected God to show up one way only to have God come in a different way?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you keep defying our expectations. You show up time and time again in ways we do not expect, but which change our lives. Speak, O Lord, anew. Amen.  

Tuesday: “What are you doing here?” - 1 Kings 19: 13-14

Elijah spent his time as a prophet leading people to make choices. Just a chapter earlier, Elijah gave the people a choice about who they were going to follow: Follow God, the Lord of Elijah. Or follow Baal who their rulers worshiped. And the people said nothing. 

Isn’t this true of us also? Can’t you see your own story in the people of Israel? When we are faced with having to make a choice that we rather not make, we stay silent. Thinking that by staying silent we will save the skin of our teeth. Or by staying silent we avoid having to make a decision, when really not making a decision is a decision. 

Now Elijah found himself having to make a choice of his own - to go and answer God’s question or to ignore God. He chose to answer. What started out as a list of grievances became a holy moment where God sent him out again, renewed for the task ahead. 

How do you make choices?

Prayer: Lord, you do not force us to listen to you or to be in relationship with you. Instead, you offer us an invitation, over and over again. Help us to choose to follow you with all we have and with all we are. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Go” - 1 Kings 19: 15-18

We all have moments like Elijah where we become discouraged. Moments that we feel disconnected from God. The question is what we do with those moments. For Elijah, he fled, but then he listened for God and responded. For others, the moment of discouragement can become a moment of disconnection from our Holy God. 

The truth is, we desire to be connected to God. It is what we are made for. We want experiences with God. But when God does not live up to our unexamined expectations we don’t know what to do.

I was listening to a radio program this week that proposed this - when we feel like we don’t have the words, like we don’t know what to do, we still show up. We still show up for worship.  We still show up for prayer time. We show up like Elijah showed up. Because sometimes in the showing up we experience the presence of God in a new way.

What do you do when you are discouraged? How do you stay connected to God?

Prayer: Lord, all too often we turn away from you, but Lord we trust and believe that you do not turn away from us. Thank you, O Lord, for not giving up on us. Feed our spirits when we do not know what to say or do, Precious Lord. Amen. 

Thursday: “Mantle” - 1Kings 19: 19

  One of the gifts that God gave the prophet Elijah is that he was to raise up a new generation of prophets through Elisha. Someone to pass his mantle on to. Someone to teach about the ways of God.

However, if we are not careful we can turn even the passing of the mantle into an unrealized expectation. Sometimes we expect the way God showed up for someone else to be the same way God shows up for us. What would have happened if Elijah expected Elisha to have the exact same experience with God that he had? Or if he demanded that he do everything the same way that he did? It could have made the passing of the mantle into a burden instead of a promise.

We need to be careful to walk the line between raising up new leaders and placing the burden of our unneeded expectations on them. 

How can you be raising up a new generation of leaders?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that as part of the body of Christ we are to be constantly raising up leaders to come alongside us. Encouraging others. Helping them to live into their gifting. Equip us to pass on the mantle, dear Lord, all for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen. 

Friday: “Set Out” - 1 Kings 19: 20-21

  Sometimes our own expectations of ourselves can get in the way as well. Notices that Elisha seemed to have some reservations about following Elijah - as I’m sure any of us would. Often we can let our own selves get in the way when we think that we are not good enough, skilled enough or worthy enough for that which God is calling us to. 

But Elijah persisted. 

God persisted. 

And Elisha eventually went with Elijah. 

We give up on ourselves far more quickly than God ever gives up on us. Let us not let the expectations we have for ourselves block what God is doing. 

How can our own expectations block the movement of God in our lives?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling us. For using us. For not giving up on us. Build us up and send us out, we pray. Amen. 

Preparing for the Worship:

In order to prepare our hearts for worship next Sunday you are invited to read - Proverbs 11: 24-25 and Luke 6: 27-28

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 1 Kings 19: 11-21

From the Sermon:

God showed up in the _______________.

So often we let ______________, what we think or want or hope is going to happen, block us from seeing that which is right in front of us.

God is going to ____________  how God is going to show up and it is our responsibility to catch the movement of the Spirit and follow.

We need to set aside our expectation in order to ________ what God is doing right, here right now.

Reflection Questions:

Why would we expect that God would communicate with each of, who God created to be so different, in the same way?

How many times have we asked where God was in the midst of a situation only to realize later that God was there the entire time?

How many times have we completely missed God’s presence because we expected God to show up the way we wanted or in our timing?

Are we really listening or is there something in our heart that is blocking us from hearing and responding to the call of God in this time and in this place?

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that often we our own worst enemy. We get captivated by what we expected to happen instead of simply letting you be God. Forgive us, Lord. Speak to us, anew, we pray. Amen.

Listen: The Mystery of Ministry

    There is a saying that I love that I believe summerizes the faith - Jesus loves you and there is nothing you can do about it. What this statement is saying is that Jesus loved us even when we were far from it. Jesus loves us even when we don't always get it right. There is nothing that we can do to make him love us more. There is nothing we can do to make him love us less. 

    I would add on to this statement as well - Jesus has called you and there is nothing you can do about it. 

    We believe that by virtue of our baptisms we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. All of us have a calling. The question really is if we are lisetening and responding. 

    What do you feel like God is calling you do in the world for such a time as this and how are you living into this call?