RANDOM THOUGHTS

The other evening I was sitting in the sanctuary and began to have fun. I started writing down random thoughts. Ready? I saw --

the piano, keyboard and organ just sitting there. Not being used. What in my life is not being used?

the pulpit in front of the altar. Actually, I don’t like it sitting there because it blocks the view and makes you walk around it to get to the altar. What in my life is blocking my way to God? What is blocking my view?

the high ceiling. I like that because it makes me look up and when I do that I see the stained glass window of Jesus praying Wow! Jesus prayed! Get with the plan, Mary! Prayer is a priority!

the exit sign. A sign to show how to escape. Jesus is my exit sign. He shows me the way to escape the grip of sin.

scriptures beautifully lettered. Scriptures are God’s true word.

I looked in another direction and I saw --

emergency lights that will come on when the power goes out. This one is easy. These are a reminder that the light of God means I am never in the dark.

speakers placed around the sanctuary so all can hear. Oh, God, I do not want to miss any of Your words and when I hear them grant me understanding.

hymnals holding faith set to music. Hymns - a chance to worship with a joyful noise.

prayer shawls loving made by women in the church. I see these and am reminded that I must always have concern and compassion for ALL!

sacks with items to help children make it through the service. Bless the children. Thank you for putting a special place for children in my heart.

And as I sat there, I thought about the --

pews. A place for me to sit and spend time with God and other believers.

Why random thoughts? Because they are fun and I love to look at things and figure how they remind me of God in my life.

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 9:10

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

NOW -- SEEK GOD

Yup. Have some fun. Look around and tell God what you see and how it reminds you of Him.

Leave a comment and let me know what you come up with.

PACKED AND READY

SORRY:  I thought this posted on the 15th but apparently it got lost in cyberspace.  So, here is a repost.  Hopefully this one will work. But was great to get back from vacation and realize my blog had been missed.  -- Mary

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This is, for sure, the year of the vacation. I am going on my first cruise with our son and his family! Bill is keeping his feet on solid ground. He seems to think having vertigo and motion sickness means he should stay home and keep the air-conditioning going. So o o --

· Information: check -- Atlas, Hampton Inn directory and cruise info complete

· Destination: check -- Florida, cruise, Florida and home

· Passport/Important stuff: check -- Passport, insurance information, cash and credit card in purse

· Reservations: check -- Rooms while traveling and cruise are reserved

· Packed: almost -- Will have that finished by this afternoon

· Excited: yes -- Extremely! But the part about looking out and seeing no land might just be a bit scary

· Departure: planned -- Leaving Saturday around noon

Cruise here I come. This reminds me of another trip I am looking forward to.

INFORMATION I NEED: check -- The Bible - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

DESTINATION: check -- Eternal Life -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

PASSPORT: check -- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

RESERVATIONS: check -- (Jesus speaking) “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

PACKED: nothing to pack -- God will provide and I will have a new life: (Jesus speaking) “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” Luke 12:28 -- We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

EXCITED: yes -- In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4

DEPARTURE: uncertain -- (Jesus speaking) “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:36, 42

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Are you ready for your final trip?

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I will post again June 29. Until then, think about heaven and talk to God about your chances of getting in. And celebrate each day while you are waiting.

MY YARD - THE CHURCH

The other day I was sitting on the deck and just quietly looked around. I saw a tree with dark red leaves. It is a beautiful tree that stands a bit off center. A really hard wind gave it quite a ride and it never went back to completely straight. I worry that the wind will take it someday and I would miss its red leaves.

I saw Bill’s garden. He loves to tend the plants and watch things grow.

I saw grass that should be green but is brown and dry because it needs a big drink. And I saw new flowers growing where old flowers used to bloom. There are also two urns that are old. Old in age and memories.

I saw our home. A place of work, rest and love. A place where we feed our souls and our bodies.

I saw a sky with clouds that look heavy with rain but clouds that are greedy and keep the rain.

Then it dawned on me that I had just seen the church.

SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 29:12

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

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Hello Lord, as I sat here, I realized the church is like my backyard. The church has many people like the tree. They do not stand straight and tall because they have been blown around by life. Lord, help all stay rooted strongly in your Word so we will not be blown over.

The church is also a garden full of people who need cultivated and weeded so we can bloom and grow. Lord, may the church tend and watch over all who enter so they may grow in faith.

The church is like the grass; we need watered. Watered with the living water you - and only you - can give.

Lord, the church is like the new flowers too. Those that have gone before have left a strong legacy and a firm foundation for us to stand on and grow deep roots of our own.

And the church’s “urns” old in age and memories are the elders who teach and guide us. Their memories and knowledge can be building stones of faith.

Lord, I pray the church will always be a welcoming home where people come to work, rest, love and a place where our souls and bodies are fed.

The clouds held onto their rain, but I pray no one in the church is ever greedy and selfish enough to keep the Word for only themselves.

All this I pray for the church, in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God. Amen

RAIN

Well, God, we finally got rain. It’s about time. I have been praying for rain. And I’m not the only one who has been sending requests for moisture.

You do know it is mighty dry in this area, don’t you? The grass is brown, the trees are drooping and the flowers are all showing signs of stress. Not to mention the farmers that are so worried about their crops. What took you so long?

Really! What took you so long? Are you on vacation? Not taking requests right now? Ignoring the corn belt? What gives?

Talk later. I need to put the clothes in the dryer, another load in the washer, order ink for the copier, read the paper, get a drink of water, and who knows what else will need done this afternoon.

Oh, yeah, thanks for the rain,

Mary

You are laughing, right? This prayer to God was written tongue-in-cheek.

Our Sunday School lesson for this week suggested we say thank you to God so I thanked God for the rain.

I am very thankful for the rain we are blessed with. We need it, but did you notice in my talk with God that I did not thank him for clothes, for a washer, dryer and copier all which makes my work easier, for the ability to read, for fresh water to drink and for being able to deal with the rest of the afternoon?

The lack of rain - one thing - became a big deal. Is one thing really that important?

SCRIPTURES

Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Matthew 18:12-14 (Jesus speaking to the disciples) “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”

QUESTION

Is one thing - one person - really that important? YES! To God each of his sheep is extremely important.

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Lord, my God, Thank you for sending your Son to save me, a lost lamb. Amen