Old Fish Bones and Bent Puppy Dog Tails
Peggy Mack
January 14, 2014
I wish you all could have been with me at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church. It was one of those gorgeous Sunday mornings on the inlet and marsh where a cool crisp breeze is blowing gently as the warm sun warms our backs. The congregation is growing so quickly that the ushers have to bring in dozens of folding chairs to serve as extra seating while this little ultra conservative congregation literally battles over whether or not a contemporary worship service is part of its future. There's also been quite a feud over the need to replace the old organ (on its last leg). A group of "elder and influential" members who have supported the church for decades have become quite adamant about their dislike over either. Meanwhile the church is bursting at the seams and the organ was straining to produce music.
When we entered the church Sunday a large roll of black plastic was draped behind the altar on the wall where the organ once resided. Time has moved on and the new organ is being built in Pennsylvania and will be delivered the first week of February. Preparations to make room for it have already begun. Meanwhile, we have no organ and I wondered with the pews overflowing if we would be able to even hear the piano well enough to sing our hymns. Then, I wondered if the choir would sing an anthem. The choir in recent months has been somewhat lack luster and unenthused. Now, with no organ, I silently wondered if we should have come to worship.
The chimes rang and I whispered a prayer for God to be with us in this place of worship. I asked God to bless all those gathered to worship Him and asked that he be present in our hearts and minds. The service began and I was pleased the piano had been amplified well so those in the far back pews and even seated in the Narthex could hear well enough to follow in the singing. It was becoming a lovely service after all.
Time came for the congregation to be seated and the choir to stand. That is when I noticed the choir appeared to have grown in numbers. There seemed to be forty or fifty members in their robes. Then an amazing music recording began and my heart soared. You see, years ago I became an "undercover" contemporary Christian. The music speaks to my heart and the experience is wonderful. I know the power of this "newfangled" concept of worship and am hoping our church continues to work toward adding it as part of their Sunday morning services. The music intro. was playing and my heart felt a burst of joy. As the song continued to build, I can best describe it by comparing it to baseball, I can only say the choir knocked it out of the ball park. Their voices were perfect and strong. Their faces were lights of joy. I was overwhelmed with the message in its words and I knew I was about to blast out one of those loud, messy ugly cries because I could no longer hold in all my joy and emotion. I was hemmed in on both sides on my pew with no way to move anywhere. I kept hearing the message return in the chorus, "All of my past has been erased, nothing ahead but amazing grace.....I've been changed!" No truer words have ever danced inside my heart! I resorted to an old trick to save myself from embarrassment by bursting into ugly tears. As the choir kept building on the chorus, repeating those precious words, changing keys and building to a crescendo and finale, I was secretly whispering, "Old fish bones and crooked puppy tales". Ha, ha, ha! I laugh out loud now thinking of what I had to resort to but my friends, those old fish bones and crooked puppy tales helped force me to concentrate on something other than the sheer power of the music in the church and kept me from making a fool of myself on a perfect Sunday morning.
What followed was even more amazing in this tiny, ultra conservative, does not like changes, congregation steeped in tradition and clinging to the good old days. The broke forth into a glorious round of applause for "I've Been Changed"! What a morning! What an experience! But the blessings have not ended there for me.
You see, I have carried the burden of guilt for two "unforgivable" sins for dozens of years and while I knew logically God forgives our sins, I had not experienced total, freeing forgiveness.
Since Sunday, the phrase "all of my past has been erased", keeps ringing in my mind and playing in my heart. The image of those two events in my life being erased from my soul has been so freeing and so complete.
This morning in gratitude, I realized there were others I had not completely forgiven. Oh sure, I had come to a place of logical understanding and had no ill will toward them but the hurt remained. I thought of the two instances where others deeply and repeatedly hurt me and I erased their sins from my heart. The past has been erased. Their trespasses against me are forgiven. The burden of dragging my own guilt and hanging on to their hurtful ways are gone. Now, in their dark and heavy corner has come light and hope and joy. The transformation was immediate.
It all began with a song in a tiny church on the inlet facing the marsh on a perfect Sunday morning.
Dear Heavenly Father,
What joy is ours when we release the burdens of old hurtful memories caused by ourselves and others! We praise your name and although we cannot understand your power, we know nothing can separate us from you! Nothing is ahead of us but amazing grace and your endless love. We are so blessed and remain in a place of gratitude.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
New Year's Peace
New Year's Peace
Peggy Mack
January 1, 2014
A new year has dawned for us all. For me, it began quietly and quite early. I took Rooney for a first morning walk and realized the day promised to be damp and grey with rain, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.
No matter how we tried to bundle in warm clothing, share morning coffee by the fireplace or even, pull out and crawl under a favorite blanket, we felt the chill. Instead of the expected joy and anticipation of the new year filled with new joys and memories, my heart seemed to beat with a steady melancholy rhythm. My thoughts wanted to linger with those no longer here on Earth whom I continue to miss daily. I made a concerted effort to redirect my thoughts to a place of gratitude and positive goal making for 2014, but in spite of my efforts, a silent blanket of sadness wrapped itself securely around my heart. I wondered how our human nature has a flaw for creating thoughts, independently of our own wishes, that seem to weigh us down.
As we rode through town to run a few errands, we noticed the totally empty streets. They added to the emptiness I had been feeling all morning. As we rode, I prayed. I simply found the words to say, "I do not understand why sadness fills me today, Lord, but it is here. I ask you to love me through this and redirect my thoughts."
Another year has arrived without my mom and dad, their brothers and sisters and our grandparents. The list seems endless and grows as we age and grow closer to our own destiny. We continued with our check list of things we needed to do today.
I began hearing lines from one of my favorite hymns. I learned it from listening to Emmy Lou Harris' rendition.
Where can I go?
Oh where can I go, seeking the refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to help me to the end,
Where can I go but to the Lord?
Again, I prayed. "God, this sadness that blankets my heart will not leave me. Grief has come, again, uninvited and unexpected. It arrived with the early morning. Comfort me and all those who feel great sadness today. Families are searching for missing loved ones. Prayers are being whispered for those who linger near death. Others have recently had to whisper goodbye to someone they love. Only you can feel our sadness. Only you can dry our tears. Only you can comfort those who cannot push grief away. Amen"
We arrived home and I crawled up under my favorite electric lap blanket in my recliner and near the front window. I continued my study of Romans, "Understanding God's Grace and Power." My mind seemed to wander as I struggled to absorb the lesson on Chapters 9-11.
Within a few moments, I dosed off into a welcomed sleep, a respite for my heart, mind and soul. When I woke, the day had not changed. The cold, damp, greay day continues outside my window and winter's chill insists on creeping inside the walls of our home.
When I woke from my "senior nap" my thoughts were calm. I found myself thinking about a package I need to mail to Allison tomorrow and what time we will have dinner this evening. The difference came in my immediate sense of calm and peace and even a sweet joy! I sense a smile at this totally unexplainable shift in my mindset as I walk in faith.
The blanket of sadness no longer holds me in a thought pattern of grief for those I can no longer hold in my arms. Yes, I miss them, as always. But God has brought me gifts of comfort and peace. I am able to gather my thoughts and write, which l love to do, with a sense that God heard my prayers. My dad and mom used to love to address my youthful dilemmas with, "This too shall pass!" My response was a deep sigh followed by frustration when they did not solve life's problems for me. Now, I am smiling, realizing their wisdom. So often we want life to immediately adjust itself to our needs, but that will not happen. I see, once again, my parents wisdom.
The sadness I felt this morning has passed. God has replaced it with peace and joy and hope and contentment. I look forward to a blessed and wonderful new year filled with challenges and rewards. I anticipate wonderful opportunities to continue my growth in faith. What lies ahead for me in 2014? I do not know, for certain. But I find my peace in God.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am more aware each day how you listen to our prayers throughout our day. You know the plans for our future and you shelter us in your loving comfort, peace and grace. We have nothing to fear in your love for you are always with us.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Peggy Mack
January 1, 2014
A new year has dawned for us all. For me, it began quietly and quite early. I took Rooney for a first morning walk and realized the day promised to be damp and grey with rain, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.
No matter how we tried to bundle in warm clothing, share morning coffee by the fireplace or even, pull out and crawl under a favorite blanket, we felt the chill. Instead of the expected joy and anticipation of the new year filled with new joys and memories, my heart seemed to beat with a steady melancholy rhythm. My thoughts wanted to linger with those no longer here on Earth whom I continue to miss daily. I made a concerted effort to redirect my thoughts to a place of gratitude and positive goal making for 2014, but in spite of my efforts, a silent blanket of sadness wrapped itself securely around my heart. I wondered how our human nature has a flaw for creating thoughts, independently of our own wishes, that seem to weigh us down.
As we rode through town to run a few errands, we noticed the totally empty streets. They added to the emptiness I had been feeling all morning. As we rode, I prayed. I simply found the words to say, "I do not understand why sadness fills me today, Lord, but it is here. I ask you to love me through this and redirect my thoughts."
Another year has arrived without my mom and dad, their brothers and sisters and our grandparents. The list seems endless and grows as we age and grow closer to our own destiny. We continued with our check list of things we needed to do today.
I began hearing lines from one of my favorite hymns. I learned it from listening to Emmy Lou Harris' rendition.
Where can I go?
Oh where can I go, seeking the refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to help me to the end,
Where can I go but to the Lord?
Again, I prayed. "God, this sadness that blankets my heart will not leave me. Grief has come, again, uninvited and unexpected. It arrived with the early morning. Comfort me and all those who feel great sadness today. Families are searching for missing loved ones. Prayers are being whispered for those who linger near death. Others have recently had to whisper goodbye to someone they love. Only you can feel our sadness. Only you can dry our tears. Only you can comfort those who cannot push grief away. Amen"
We arrived home and I crawled up under my favorite electric lap blanket in my recliner and near the front window. I continued my study of Romans, "Understanding God's Grace and Power." My mind seemed to wander as I struggled to absorb the lesson on Chapters 9-11.
Within a few moments, I dosed off into a welcomed sleep, a respite for my heart, mind and soul. When I woke, the day had not changed. The cold, damp, greay day continues outside my window and winter's chill insists on creeping inside the walls of our home.
When I woke from my "senior nap" my thoughts were calm. I found myself thinking about a package I need to mail to Allison tomorrow and what time we will have dinner this evening. The difference came in my immediate sense of calm and peace and even a sweet joy! I sense a smile at this totally unexplainable shift in my mindset as I walk in faith.
The blanket of sadness no longer holds me in a thought pattern of grief for those I can no longer hold in my arms. Yes, I miss them, as always. But God has brought me gifts of comfort and peace. I am able to gather my thoughts and write, which l love to do, with a sense that God heard my prayers. My dad and mom used to love to address my youthful dilemmas with, "This too shall pass!" My response was a deep sigh followed by frustration when they did not solve life's problems for me. Now, I am smiling, realizing their wisdom. So often we want life to immediately adjust itself to our needs, but that will not happen. I see, once again, my parents wisdom.
The sadness I felt this morning has passed. God has replaced it with peace and joy and hope and contentment. I look forward to a blessed and wonderful new year filled with challenges and rewards. I anticipate wonderful opportunities to continue my growth in faith. What lies ahead for me in 2014? I do not know, for certain. But I find my peace in God.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am more aware each day how you listen to our prayers throughout our day. You know the plans for our future and you shelter us in your loving comfort, peace and grace. We have nothing to fear in your love for you are always with us.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Steady in a Storm
Steady in a Storm
Peggy Mack
August, 2013
It has been one month since I made the commitment to practice my faith by setting aside the first 30 minutes of each morning for devotions and Bible study and prayers.
As part of my promise to live my faith, I have been trying to make Sunday worship a part of our weekly plans. In recent weeks I feel like I have been mutinied and was determined that tomorrow we would be in church. The past two weeks there has been a reluctance on my husband's part to do something as simple as choose what he is going to wear and have it ready Saturday night before bedtime. I go through that routine because he was on his own and independent for the past 26 years and is used to taking care of his own clothes from laundering to ironing, so it has been a win-win situation for me.
Until two weeks ago, when he woke up Sunday, had not pressed his slacks and could not get them pressed in time for church. I had not realized we were down to one good shirt and pair of slacks with his recent weight gain. The following week, I made the same request and Sunday morning, we could not go because of another clothing issue. I cannot remember what it was. By now, I was beginning to feel the tension and the resistance although he says he loves the church we have found together. My plan this week was to take him shopping early Saturday morning for new slacks and shirts so we could move past the last minute problems.
We were successful in finding one pair of gorgeous slacks at Penney's. They were $45 and more than I would spend on myself but I was focused on this goal to worship. We drove to Tanger Mall and found, again, only one shirt but we were pleased. On the way home, I asked, "What is it you need to get these ready by tonight.?" I need to wash and iron the shirt and press the slacks and I want to get my black shoes and polish them. "Ok, I said. Great! I don't want to miss church tomorrow. We'll leave at 8"
Three hours later I am coloring my hair and I hear a scream...a scream from the laundry room. "NO! No!" is all I hear. And then I look. He's standing at the ironing board and the new, charcoal grey, gorgeous slacks are on the board. He looked at me. I looked at him. And he said, "I'll pay you."
I was heartsick in an instant......it wasn't about the $45. It was this sinking feeling that roadblocks keep being thrown in front of every effort I make to do something as simple as go to church.
In the past I would have let it escalate. Reclused myself and felt lost. That's how I deal with stressful issues, retreat and ache and give up.
I could not help but believe that the Devil knew me well enough to believe I would do just that, give up on trying to keep my promise to go to church.
But today is different. Today is part of my journey to being a maturing Christian and having a living relationship with Christ. I am new at it so it is a bit like having training wheels on a bicycle. But I am still on the bike and making progress. But I will figure it out with time and practice and determination.
My friend, Dottie, had posted a devotional from Chris -------which dealt with our natural instinct to go into a mode of panic, demanding resolution when something happens in our life, much like a boat on stormy waters that begins to bounce uncontrollably on the waves.
When that happens, we have to make a coscious choice. We have to practice choosing to be calm when our nature is to panic.
Here's an exerpt that helped from Chris ......'s devotion:
"Conformed to be Free
God’s Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ. That means that we should be reforming from the image of the anxious people around us—that urgency and panic should be disappearing from our lives. So the question we should ask ourselves daily, or even hourly, is this: What am I worried about today? Whatever the issue, the way we deal with it will tell us volumes about what we think of God.
Christians should be people who float in the current of God’s Spirit, not bounce on the waves of circumstances. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care or that we should be lazy and irresponsible. It does mean, however, that our compassion and fruitfulness are never defined by heavy burdens and overwhelming demands.
Other people measure love and concern by the degree of anxiety and hands-on compulsions we exhibit. Jesus doesn’t, and neither should we. Sometimes the most compassionate, responsible approach is to trust and to wait. The tyranny of the telephone—the tyranny of anything, for that matter—can never be allowed to rule the Spirit who lives within us."
The words of this devotion were exactly what I needed on this day....and its message changed my way of handling life.
So, I chose to pray and I chose to talk to God about how hard I had worked to get us to church only to know that we would not make it now. And then peace came over me and I thought about what Bill's mom would tell me if she could, "That's my son, be good to him". And I prayed the Lord's prayer and spoke the words out loud, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." And finally, the thought came to me. This is a pair of pants....that's all it is....pants. If you want to feel disappointment and cry, think about how you would feel if the storm you face is Bill having a stroke or heartattack. It's just pants!
When Bill returned, he walked in with a new pair of pants from Belks! We are going to church in the morning. He was angry at himself and I told him that learning to forgive others begins with forgiving yourself. And I repeated to him several times, "It's just pants. It's just pants. You are important to me. These are just pants."
The ruined pants are gone, in the trash, never to be mentioned, again. Forgiven and Forgotten.......it was "just a pair of pants". I have Bill and Bill's love.....and a new chance to practice "floating" and not bouncing on the waves. I have seen God working in our own home and I am a witness to the difference God makes if we only call on Him.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the gift of Dottie and her willingness to share devotions and other words of encouragement with others. I thank you for Chris --------- and his message of remaining calm in a storm and training ourselves to "float" through a difficult situation. I thank you for the time I had to learn and live a lesson in faith. Most of all, I thank you for my husband, Bill.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Peggy Mack
August, 2013
It has been one month since I made the commitment to practice my faith by setting aside the first 30 minutes of each morning for devotions and Bible study and prayers.
As part of my promise to live my faith, I have been trying to make Sunday worship a part of our weekly plans. In recent weeks I feel like I have been mutinied and was determined that tomorrow we would be in church. The past two weeks there has been a reluctance on my husband's part to do something as simple as choose what he is going to wear and have it ready Saturday night before bedtime. I go through that routine because he was on his own and independent for the past 26 years and is used to taking care of his own clothes from laundering to ironing, so it has been a win-win situation for me.
Until two weeks ago, when he woke up Sunday, had not pressed his slacks and could not get them pressed in time for church. I had not realized we were down to one good shirt and pair of slacks with his recent weight gain. The following week, I made the same request and Sunday morning, we could not go because of another clothing issue. I cannot remember what it was. By now, I was beginning to feel the tension and the resistance although he says he loves the church we have found together. My plan this week was to take him shopping early Saturday morning for new slacks and shirts so we could move past the last minute problems.
We were successful in finding one pair of gorgeous slacks at Penney's. They were $45 and more than I would spend on myself but I was focused on this goal to worship. We drove to Tanger Mall and found, again, only one shirt but we were pleased. On the way home, I asked, "What is it you need to get these ready by tonight.?" I need to wash and iron the shirt and press the slacks and I want to get my black shoes and polish them. "Ok, I said. Great! I don't want to miss church tomorrow. We'll leave at 8"
Three hours later I am coloring my hair and I hear a scream...a scream from the laundry room. "NO! No!" is all I hear. And then I look. He's standing at the ironing board and the new, charcoal grey, gorgeous slacks are on the board. He looked at me. I looked at him. And he said, "I'll pay you."
I was heartsick in an instant......it wasn't about the $45. It was this sinking feeling that roadblocks keep being thrown in front of every effort I make to do something as simple as go to church.
In the past I would have let it escalate. Reclused myself and felt lost. That's how I deal with stressful issues, retreat and ache and give up.
I could not help but believe that the Devil knew me well enough to believe I would do just that, give up on trying to keep my promise to go to church.
But today is different. Today is part of my journey to being a maturing Christian and having a living relationship with Christ. I am new at it so it is a bit like having training wheels on a bicycle. But I am still on the bike and making progress. But I will figure it out with time and practice and determination.
My friend, Dottie, had posted a devotional from Chris -------which dealt with our natural instinct to go into a mode of panic, demanding resolution when something happens in our life, much like a boat on stormy waters that begins to bounce uncontrollably on the waves.
When that happens, we have to make a coscious choice. We have to practice choosing to be calm when our nature is to panic.
Here's an exerpt that helped from Chris ......'s devotion:
"Conformed to be Free
God’s Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ. That means that we should be reforming from the image of the anxious people around us—that urgency and panic should be disappearing from our lives. So the question we should ask ourselves daily, or even hourly, is this: What am I worried about today? Whatever the issue, the way we deal with it will tell us volumes about what we think of God.
Christians should be people who float in the current of God’s Spirit, not bounce on the waves of circumstances. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care or that we should be lazy and irresponsible. It does mean, however, that our compassion and fruitfulness are never defined by heavy burdens and overwhelming demands.
Other people measure love and concern by the degree of anxiety and hands-on compulsions we exhibit. Jesus doesn’t, and neither should we. Sometimes the most compassionate, responsible approach is to trust and to wait. The tyranny of the telephone—the tyranny of anything, for that matter—can never be allowed to rule the Spirit who lives within us."
The words of this devotion were exactly what I needed on this day....and its message changed my way of handling life.
So, I chose to pray and I chose to talk to God about how hard I had worked to get us to church only to know that we would not make it now. And then peace came over me and I thought about what Bill's mom would tell me if she could, "That's my son, be good to him". And I prayed the Lord's prayer and spoke the words out loud, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." And finally, the thought came to me. This is a pair of pants....that's all it is....pants. If you want to feel disappointment and cry, think about how you would feel if the storm you face is Bill having a stroke or heartattack. It's just pants!
When Bill returned, he walked in with a new pair of pants from Belks! We are going to church in the morning. He was angry at himself and I told him that learning to forgive others begins with forgiving yourself. And I repeated to him several times, "It's just pants. It's just pants. You are important to me. These are just pants."
The ruined pants are gone, in the trash, never to be mentioned, again. Forgiven and Forgotten.......it was "just a pair of pants". I have Bill and Bill's love.....and a new chance to practice "floating" and not bouncing on the waves. I have seen God working in our own home and I am a witness to the difference God makes if we only call on Him.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the gift of Dottie and her willingness to share devotions and other words of encouragement with others. I thank you for Chris --------- and his message of remaining calm in a storm and training ourselves to "float" through a difficult situation. I thank you for the time I had to learn and live a lesson in faith. Most of all, I thank you for my husband, Bill.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
It's Just Pants
It's Just Pants!
Peggy Mack
August 17, 2013
It has been one month since I made the commitment to practice my faith by setting aside the first 30 minutes of each morning for devotions and Bible study and prayers in order to learn more and develop a private, personal, daily conversation with God.
As part of my promise to live my faith, I have been trying to make Sunday worship a part of our weekly plans. In recent weeks I feel like I have been mutinied and was determined that tomorrow we would be in church. The past two weeks we were not successful due to last minute issues and I felt a growing disappointment with each week.
Part of the problem was that I had not realized we were down to one good shirt and pair of slacks for Bill and needed a new, more comfortable size. My plan this week was to take him shopping early Saturday morning for new slacks and shirts so we could move past the last minute problems.
We were successful in finding one pair of gorgeous slacks at Penney's. They were more than I would spend on myself but I was focused on this goal to worship. We drove to Tanger Mall and found, again, only one shirt but we were pleased. On the way home, I asked, "What is it you need to get these ready by tonight.?" I need to wash and iron the shirt and press the slacks and I want to get my black shoes and polish them. "Ok, I said. Great! I don't want to miss church tomorrow. We'll leave at 8!" I knew we had made it!
Three hours later I am coloring my hair and I hear a scream...a scream from the laundry room. "NO! No!" is all I hear from Bill. And then I look. He's standing at the ironing board and the new, charcoal grey, gorgeous slacks are on the board. He looked at me. I looked at him. And he said, "I'll pay you." I knew without him telling me, they'd be scorched and burned beyond salvaging.
I was heartsick in an instant......it wasn't about the money. It was this sinking feeling that roadblocks keep being thrown in front of every effort we make to do something as simple as go to church.
In the past I would have let it escalate. Reclused myself and felt lost. That's how I deal with stressful issues, retreat and ache and finally give up. I could not help but believe that the Devil knew me well enough to know I would do just that, give up on trying to keep my promise to go to church.
But today is different. Today is part of my journey to being a maturing Christian and having a living relationship with Christ. I am new at it so it is a bit like having training wheels on a bicycle. But I am still on the bike and making progress. I will figure it out with time and practice and determination.
This morning, my friend, Dottie, had posted a devotional from Chris Tiegreen, which dealt with our natural instinct to go into a mode of panic, demanding resolution when something happens in our life, much like a boat on stormy waters that begins to bounce uncontrollably on the waves.
When that happens, we have to make a conscious choice. We have to practice choosing to be calm when our nature is to panic.
Here's an exerpt that helped from Chris Tiegreen's devotion:
"Conformed to be Free
God’s Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ. That means that we should be reforming from the image of the anxious people around us—that urgency and panic should be disappearing from our lives. So the question we should ask ourselves daily, or even hourly, is this: What am I worried about today? Whatever the issue, the way we deal with it will tell us volumes about what we think of God.
Christians should be people who float in the current of God’s Spirit, not bounce on the waves of circumstances. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care or that we should be lazy and irresponsible. It does mean, however, that our compassion and fruitfulness are never defined by heavy burdens and overwhelming demands.
Other people measure love and concern by the degree of anxiety and hands-on compulsions we exhibit. Jesus doesn’t, and neither should we. Sometimes the most compassionate, responsible approach is to trust and to wait. The tyranny of the telephone—the tyranny of anything, for that matter—can never be allowed to rule the Spirit who lives within us."
The words of this devotion were exactly what I needed on this day....and its message changed my way of handling life.
So, I chose to pray and I chose to talk to God about how hard I had worked to get us to church only to know that we would not make it tomorrow. Peace came over me as I thought about what Bill's mom would tell me if she could, "That's my son, be good to him". And I prayed the Lord's prayer and spoke the words out loud, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." And finally, the thought came to me. This is a pair of pants....that's all it is....pants. If you want to feel disappointment and cry, think about how you would feel if the storm you face is Bill having a stroke or heart attack. It's just pants!
When Bill returned, he walked in with a new pair of pants from Belks! He had left the house determined to make this right. We ARE going to church in the morning. He was angry at himself and I told him that learning to forgive others begins with forgiving yourself. And I repeated to him several times, "It's just pants. It's just pants. You are so important to me and these are just pants."
The ruined pants are gone, in the trash, never to be mentioned, again. Forgiven and Forgotten.......it was "just a pair of pants". I have Bill and Bill's love.....and a new chance to practice "floating" and not bouncing on the waves. I have seen God working in our own home today and I am a witness to the difference God makes if we only call on Him.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the gift of Dottie and her willingness to share devotions and other words of encouragement with others. I thank you for Chris Tiegreen and his message of remaining calm in a storm and training ourselves to "float" through a difficult situation. I thank you for the time I was given to learn and live a lesson in faith.
Most of all, I thank you for my husband, Bill.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
As a post script: The last thing Bill said that night to me was, "I am sorry". And I replied, "What pants?" The next morning I woke with a new, clear understanding forgiveness is about surrendering your pain, disappointment, frustration, loss of trust to God and saying I have tried and I can not find a way to heal my heart. Heal my heart so I am in a place of forgiveness. When that moment comes...you experience....total peace. Now ....who chooses to hang on to the burdens of negative thought and pain....over a total sense of peace. I heard God whisper....and Peg, as for all your sins......the ones you asked forgiveness for....I say..."what sins!?"
I better understand God's forgiveness for all our sins.....and I am in awe and filled with gratitude.
Peggy Mack
August 17, 2013
It has been one month since I made the commitment to practice my faith by setting aside the first 30 minutes of each morning for devotions and Bible study and prayers in order to learn more and develop a private, personal, daily conversation with God.
As part of my promise to live my faith, I have been trying to make Sunday worship a part of our weekly plans. In recent weeks I feel like I have been mutinied and was determined that tomorrow we would be in church. The past two weeks we were not successful due to last minute issues and I felt a growing disappointment with each week.
Part of the problem was that I had not realized we were down to one good shirt and pair of slacks for Bill and needed a new, more comfortable size. My plan this week was to take him shopping early Saturday morning for new slacks and shirts so we could move past the last minute problems.
We were successful in finding one pair of gorgeous slacks at Penney's. They were more than I would spend on myself but I was focused on this goal to worship. We drove to Tanger Mall and found, again, only one shirt but we were pleased. On the way home, I asked, "What is it you need to get these ready by tonight.?" I need to wash and iron the shirt and press the slacks and I want to get my black shoes and polish them. "Ok, I said. Great! I don't want to miss church tomorrow. We'll leave at 8!" I knew we had made it!
Three hours later I am coloring my hair and I hear a scream...a scream from the laundry room. "NO! No!" is all I hear from Bill. And then I look. He's standing at the ironing board and the new, charcoal grey, gorgeous slacks are on the board. He looked at me. I looked at him. And he said, "I'll pay you." I knew without him telling me, they'd be scorched and burned beyond salvaging.
I was heartsick in an instant......it wasn't about the money. It was this sinking feeling that roadblocks keep being thrown in front of every effort we make to do something as simple as go to church.
In the past I would have let it escalate. Reclused myself and felt lost. That's how I deal with stressful issues, retreat and ache and finally give up. I could not help but believe that the Devil knew me well enough to know I would do just that, give up on trying to keep my promise to go to church.
But today is different. Today is part of my journey to being a maturing Christian and having a living relationship with Christ. I am new at it so it is a bit like having training wheels on a bicycle. But I am still on the bike and making progress. I will figure it out with time and practice and determination.
This morning, my friend, Dottie, had posted a devotional from Chris Tiegreen, which dealt with our natural instinct to go into a mode of panic, demanding resolution when something happens in our life, much like a boat on stormy waters that begins to bounce uncontrollably on the waves.
When that happens, we have to make a conscious choice. We have to practice choosing to be calm when our nature is to panic.
Here's an exerpt that helped from Chris Tiegreen's devotion:
"Conformed to be Free
God’s Spirit is conforming us to the image of Christ. That means that we should be reforming from the image of the anxious people around us—that urgency and panic should be disappearing from our lives. So the question we should ask ourselves daily, or even hourly, is this: What am I worried about today? Whatever the issue, the way we deal with it will tell us volumes about what we think of God.
Christians should be people who float in the current of God’s Spirit, not bounce on the waves of circumstances. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care or that we should be lazy and irresponsible. It does mean, however, that our compassion and fruitfulness are never defined by heavy burdens and overwhelming demands.
Other people measure love and concern by the degree of anxiety and hands-on compulsions we exhibit. Jesus doesn’t, and neither should we. Sometimes the most compassionate, responsible approach is to trust and to wait. The tyranny of the telephone—the tyranny of anything, for that matter—can never be allowed to rule the Spirit who lives within us."
The words of this devotion were exactly what I needed on this day....and its message changed my way of handling life.
So, I chose to pray and I chose to talk to God about how hard I had worked to get us to church only to know that we would not make it tomorrow. Peace came over me as I thought about what Bill's mom would tell me if she could, "That's my son, be good to him". And I prayed the Lord's prayer and spoke the words out loud, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." And finally, the thought came to me. This is a pair of pants....that's all it is....pants. If you want to feel disappointment and cry, think about how you would feel if the storm you face is Bill having a stroke or heart attack. It's just pants!
When Bill returned, he walked in with a new pair of pants from Belks! He had left the house determined to make this right. We ARE going to church in the morning. He was angry at himself and I told him that learning to forgive others begins with forgiving yourself. And I repeated to him several times, "It's just pants. It's just pants. You are so important to me and these are just pants."
The ruined pants are gone, in the trash, never to be mentioned, again. Forgiven and Forgotten.......it was "just a pair of pants". I have Bill and Bill's love.....and a new chance to practice "floating" and not bouncing on the waves. I have seen God working in our own home today and I am a witness to the difference God makes if we only call on Him.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the gift of Dottie and her willingness to share devotions and other words of encouragement with others. I thank you for Chris Tiegreen and his message of remaining calm in a storm and training ourselves to "float" through a difficult situation. I thank you for the time I was given to learn and live a lesson in faith.
Most of all, I thank you for my husband, Bill.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
As a post script: The last thing Bill said that night to me was, "I am sorry". And I replied, "What pants?" The next morning I woke with a new, clear understanding forgiveness is about surrendering your pain, disappointment, frustration, loss of trust to God and saying I have tried and I can not find a way to heal my heart. Heal my heart so I am in a place of forgiveness. When that moment comes...you experience....total peace. Now ....who chooses to hang on to the burdens of negative thought and pain....over a total sense of peace. I heard God whisper....and Peg, as for all your sins......the ones you asked forgiveness for....I say..."what sins!?"
I better understand God's forgiveness for all our sins.....and I am in awe and filled with gratitude.
Drowning the Gratitude Jar
Drowning the Gratitude Jar
Peggy Mack
August 29, 2013
I woke this morning at 4:45am, not because I have to but, because I seem to flourish in the early hours of each day. I usually take Rooney, our mixed terrier, outside for a few moments and I return to make coffee so Bill can have a fresh pot waiting for him when he wakes. I prefer one of those new fancy Keurig single cup coffee makers.
This morning I know I have learned a lesson, but I am not certain what it is, so I have taken to writing to organize and clear my thoughts.
You see I decided, while making coffee in the Keurig, to quickly fill a mug with water and add it to the coffee maker reservoir. At the same time, in my sleepless state I reminded myself that I needed to write out a thought of gratitude for my gratitude jar. Somewhere in those two thought processes, I got the wires crossed in my sleepy brain and poured 12 ounces of water in my gratitude jar soaking each tiny slip of paper. I have hundreds now having started the jar last November.
My first reaction was to dump the water quickly. Having done that, I grabbed two kitchen towels and began methodically and carefully peeling each slip from the watery clump of soaked paper. As I did that, I kept hearing the thought, "salvage what you can." In the midst of a foolish mistake, I was given a focus. "Salvage what you can!"
As I methodically worked to ease one soaked slip from another I realized how unneccessary it is to criticize ourselves when we make mistakes. There should be a manual for forgiveness and focus issued to each of us for those times when things seem so foolish and appear to be a disaster.
Step one seems to always be to say, "You idiot!" But why are we programmed that way? Why is criticism even part of a mistake. I cannot tell you the number of times I witnessed parents, usually rushed to drop off kids at school and to get to work, who realized the child forgot to grab something on the way out of their house and into the classroom. Often the forgotten item was a packed lunchbox. The first reaction when the child said, "Mom, I forgot my lunchbox!", was to say "I told you so!" or "I can't trust you to remember anything!" or "You'd forget your head if it weren't screwed on to your shoulders". When you looked at the child you could feel the shame, embarrassment and deep sadness over disappointing her parent.
This morning I revisited those first feelings of recognition when you realize you have made a mistake. Those first feelings revolve around, "What am I going to do now?" and "Why did I do that?"
There is no room for criticism or degrading thoughts and comments when a mistake occurs. The manual on how to deal with mistakes in life should begin with: focus on what can be done to make this as right as possible. "Salvage what you can!"
So I gently separated the slips in the darkness of my own kitchen not knowing when the sun rises what I will face. There is a possibility the ink has smeared and my thoughts of gratitude are lost, but there's also a chance they have been saved in time to make choices later as to what can be done now.
How we treat ourselves and others in making mistakes should have rules. As Christians, the first step we need to take is to throw out negative words of criticism in our homes. There is no need in a moment when mistakes take over normalcy that we should go to degrading ourselves or others.
Our first step should be to "Salvage what we can" and the second should be to make a plan for how to move forward. For me and my slips of gratitude, I am going to let them dry and I will evaluate what I have with the morning sunlight.
For the little Kindergartener who forgot her lunchbox, I often intervened by quickly offering to pay for the child to have a school lunch and the parent could pay me back within the week. As the mother rushed out of my classroom still fuming, I followed close behind and said, " You are leaving your daughter feeling embarrassed and hurt that she has let you down. Go back in there and hug her, tell her you love her, smile at her and tell her to have a great day!"
There is no need for words of criticism in a world when mistakes are normal parts of our lives. As the day goes by today, I encourage you to pay attention to your own thoughts and whether or not you use words of criticism on yourself or others. Ask God to remove angered criticism from your walk with Christ and from your home. We are called to be gentle, humble, kind, caring and at peace. There is no excusable reason and no room for degrading ourselves or others.
I began my early morning hours by dumping a gigantic glass of water all over small, colorful slips of paper in my gratitude jar and I gained insight into how we can positively handle the mistakes in ourselves and with others. All in all, there was little lost and a whole lot gained.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We are prone to make mistakes on a daily basis. In those times, please call our first reactions which lead us to criticize and replace them with thoughts to "salvage what we can" and to "make a plan" on how to make things right, again. You ask us to forgive others and that includes times when we feel frustrated and upset. Teach us to feel your presence and to seek your calmness in the tiny storms of life,
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
As a footnote: I returned to the two towels covered with soaked pieces of gratitude and discovered, they all dried and are fine. I dried out the gratitude jar and placed the slips back in the jar. All is well.
Peggy Mack
August 29, 2013
I woke this morning at 4:45am, not because I have to but, because I seem to flourish in the early hours of each day. I usually take Rooney, our mixed terrier, outside for a few moments and I return to make coffee so Bill can have a fresh pot waiting for him when he wakes. I prefer one of those new fancy Keurig single cup coffee makers.
This morning I know I have learned a lesson, but I am not certain what it is, so I have taken to writing to organize and clear my thoughts.
You see I decided, while making coffee in the Keurig, to quickly fill a mug with water and add it to the coffee maker reservoir. At the same time, in my sleepless state I reminded myself that I needed to write out a thought of gratitude for my gratitude jar. Somewhere in those two thought processes, I got the wires crossed in my sleepy brain and poured 12 ounces of water in my gratitude jar soaking each tiny slip of paper. I have hundreds now having started the jar last November.
My first reaction was to dump the water quickly. Having done that, I grabbed two kitchen towels and began methodically and carefully peeling each slip from the watery clump of soaked paper. As I did that, I kept hearing the thought, "salvage what you can." In the midst of a foolish mistake, I was given a focus. "Salvage what you can!"
As I methodically worked to ease one soaked slip from another I realized how unneccessary it is to criticize ourselves when we make mistakes. There should be a manual for forgiveness and focus issued to each of us for those times when things seem so foolish and appear to be a disaster.
Step one seems to always be to say, "You idiot!" But why are we programmed that way? Why is criticism even part of a mistake. I cannot tell you the number of times I witnessed parents, usually rushed to drop off kids at school and to get to work, who realized the child forgot to grab something on the way out of their house and into the classroom. Often the forgotten item was a packed lunchbox. The first reaction when the child said, "Mom, I forgot my lunchbox!", was to say "I told you so!" or "I can't trust you to remember anything!" or "You'd forget your head if it weren't screwed on to your shoulders". When you looked at the child you could feel the shame, embarrassment and deep sadness over disappointing her parent.
This morning I revisited those first feelings of recognition when you realize you have made a mistake. Those first feelings revolve around, "What am I going to do now?" and "Why did I do that?"
There is no room for criticism or degrading thoughts and comments when a mistake occurs. The manual on how to deal with mistakes in life should begin with: focus on what can be done to make this as right as possible. "Salvage what you can!"
So I gently separated the slips in the darkness of my own kitchen not knowing when the sun rises what I will face. There is a possibility the ink has smeared and my thoughts of gratitude are lost, but there's also a chance they have been saved in time to make choices later as to what can be done now.
How we treat ourselves and others in making mistakes should have rules. As Christians, the first step we need to take is to throw out negative words of criticism in our homes. There is no need in a moment when mistakes take over normalcy that we should go to degrading ourselves or others.
Our first step should be to "Salvage what we can" and the second should be to make a plan for how to move forward. For me and my slips of gratitude, I am going to let them dry and I will evaluate what I have with the morning sunlight.
For the little Kindergartener who forgot her lunchbox, I often intervened by quickly offering to pay for the child to have a school lunch and the parent could pay me back within the week. As the mother rushed out of my classroom still fuming, I followed close behind and said, " You are leaving your daughter feeling embarrassed and hurt that she has let you down. Go back in there and hug her, tell her you love her, smile at her and tell her to have a great day!"
There is no need for words of criticism in a world when mistakes are normal parts of our lives. As the day goes by today, I encourage you to pay attention to your own thoughts and whether or not you use words of criticism on yourself or others. Ask God to remove angered criticism from your walk with Christ and from your home. We are called to be gentle, humble, kind, caring and at peace. There is no excusable reason and no room for degrading ourselves or others.
I began my early morning hours by dumping a gigantic glass of water all over small, colorful slips of paper in my gratitude jar and I gained insight into how we can positively handle the mistakes in ourselves and with others. All in all, there was little lost and a whole lot gained.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We are prone to make mistakes on a daily basis. In those times, please call our first reactions which lead us to criticize and replace them with thoughts to "salvage what we can" and to "make a plan" on how to make things right, again. You ask us to forgive others and that includes times when we feel frustrated and upset. Teach us to feel your presence and to seek your calmness in the tiny storms of life,
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
As a footnote: I returned to the two towels covered with soaked pieces of gratitude and discovered, they all dried and are fine. I dried out the gratitude jar and placed the slips back in the jar. All is well.
If I Could Only Lift Your Pain
If I Could Only Lift Your Pain
Peggy Mack
August 30, 2013
On this morning of August 30, 2013 I am deeply aware of the grieving hearts of others. Facebook, a 21st century form of communication, has opened my world to the awareness that we have new ways of making a positive difference in others' lives. However, in that level of caring, we can also become aware of the burdens others have in life and feel helpless and hopeless in making a true difference. In recent months, I have learned to form my morning prayer list based on the needs and requests of others and I hold them in my heart.
Today, on this one single Saturday alone, nearing the end of summer, I am acutely aware of so many who are grieving today. They have experienced great loss of a loved one and feel immense sadness. It is in those moments, I see how little a few typed words can do to help in the comforting of those whose hearts are broken.
Three of my friends will be attending funerals today for someone so dear to them that they cannot imagine life without them. Three of my friends or acquaintences are still deeply grieving for someone who was their world and they no longer have them to be near each day. And finally, one of my dear friends has lost two beloved pets within a few short weeks for medical reasons and parted with them in the office of a veterinarian. It is such a public, cold, sterile place for one to say good-bye to a precious companion and imagining the depth of sadness feels like a gigantic, rogue wave washing over them.
What can I possibly say or do that has any effect on today's happenings for them? What do I do with all this grief? Having known grief in the loss of several beloved persons in my life and the loss of a beloved pet, I have a true sense of their thoughts and feelings this week. I am connected to them with an empathetic heart. But sympathy and empathy only soothe in the moment and do little else to lift the burden of heartache. An old hymn began singing in my mind's memory, "Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows bear? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer."
While holding them each and all in prayer, words came to me in poetic form. You see, I don't always write in prose, though it has, in recent months, become my favorite form of expression. Once in awhile, the heart leads its way with a poem.
For those whom I love....whose hearts are heavy with grief today.....know that you are in my prayers.....and I walk with you in love.
If I Could
Peggy Mack
August 29, 2013
If I could lift your pain away
I would carry it beyond the seas,
the stars, the moon and leave it
far into the universe's night.
If I could mend your broken heart
I would soothe it with my perfect words
the touch of healing filling my fingertips
As you feel their healing power.
If I could comfort you with words
I would find the perfect thought and phrase,
Erase this weight of life's sad state
And replace it with pure love and grace.
Oh it is......
in times like these
I sense the limits of my power....
and through your loving friendship
I have learned...
within these moments
of helplessness
I find my power...
not within my own life's walls...
but in God's precious power.
I cannot lift your pain away,
mend your broken heart
or comfort you from a distance...
but God can...
and He does....
He hears your prayers....
He feels your needs.....
and blesses you...beyond belief....
and whispers to your heart......
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
"I cried out to you O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent." ~Psalm 30:8,11-12~
Peggy Mack
August 30, 2013
On this morning of August 30, 2013 I am deeply aware of the grieving hearts of others. Facebook, a 21st century form of communication, has opened my world to the awareness that we have new ways of making a positive difference in others' lives. However, in that level of caring, we can also become aware of the burdens others have in life and feel helpless and hopeless in making a true difference. In recent months, I have learned to form my morning prayer list based on the needs and requests of others and I hold them in my heart.
Today, on this one single Saturday alone, nearing the end of summer, I am acutely aware of so many who are grieving today. They have experienced great loss of a loved one and feel immense sadness. It is in those moments, I see how little a few typed words can do to help in the comforting of those whose hearts are broken.
Three of my friends will be attending funerals today for someone so dear to them that they cannot imagine life without them. Three of my friends or acquaintences are still deeply grieving for someone who was their world and they no longer have them to be near each day. And finally, one of my dear friends has lost two beloved pets within a few short weeks for medical reasons and parted with them in the office of a veterinarian. It is such a public, cold, sterile place for one to say good-bye to a precious companion and imagining the depth of sadness feels like a gigantic, rogue wave washing over them.
What can I possibly say or do that has any effect on today's happenings for them? What do I do with all this grief? Having known grief in the loss of several beloved persons in my life and the loss of a beloved pet, I have a true sense of their thoughts and feelings this week. I am connected to them with an empathetic heart. But sympathy and empathy only soothe in the moment and do little else to lift the burden of heartache. An old hymn began singing in my mind's memory, "Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows bear? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer."
While holding them each and all in prayer, words came to me in poetic form. You see, I don't always write in prose, though it has, in recent months, become my favorite form of expression. Once in awhile, the heart leads its way with a poem.
For those whom I love....whose hearts are heavy with grief today.....know that you are in my prayers.....and I walk with you in love.
If I Could
Peggy Mack
August 29, 2013
If I could lift your pain away
I would carry it beyond the seas,
the stars, the moon and leave it
far into the universe's night.
If I could mend your broken heart
I would soothe it with my perfect words
the touch of healing filling my fingertips
As you feel their healing power.
If I could comfort you with words
I would find the perfect thought and phrase,
Erase this weight of life's sad state
And replace it with pure love and grace.
Oh it is......
in times like these
I sense the limits of my power....
and through your loving friendship
I have learned...
within these moments
of helplessness
I find my power...
not within my own life's walls...
but in God's precious power.
I cannot lift your pain away,
mend your broken heart
or comfort you from a distance...
but God can...
and He does....
He hears your prayers....
He feels your needs.....
and blesses you...beyond belief....
and whispers to your heart......
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
"I cried out to you O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent." ~Psalm 30:8,11-12~
Can God Be Found in Facebook?
Can God Be Found in Facebook?
Peggy Mack
September 8, 2013
In these last few weeks of summer, I am looking back on my new found adventure in faith. It is one that includes being more committed to a disciplined approach of opening my mind and heart to God's presence through quiet morning devotions. I always looked at "suggested daily devotions" as a routine too restrictive to my free spirit and not unlike brushing your teeth, washing your face and taking your vitamin. I felt it was one more "to do" in a long list of many for my already tight morning schedule. Retirement has brought me so many new joys, but this may be the finest of them all! I truly have time to spend with God in meditation, prayer and reading each morning.
In this new summer adventure into faith, I am able to take time to notice special words of encouragement, hope and faith from (who would believe it?) Facebook. Let us be honest for a moment. We must be "part of the world, but not in the world" as we are admonished in:
Romans 12:2 and be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
You cannot make a positive difference in others' lives if you have become monastic in your faith for fear of being exposed to the "negative" influences we see. I love that the United Methodist Church, who I "friended" on Facebook, by the way, leaves me a positive thought and a Bible verse to consider with each new morning. The same is true of a special congregation in the Golden Isles of GA, named The Grace Place, which is a Baptist Church lead by and attended by many high school friends. Both Facebook sources seem to be a beacon of light as I read through all the daily posts.
Each morning, as I weed through the cranky discourse associated with current events and politics and the endless recipes which make me salivate while trying to read, I can keep up with friends recent adventures. It is interesting mix of negative thoughts of hopelessness intertwined with words of encouragement, strength and hope. I remember shortly after the most recent Presidential election, I was overflowing with fury and dissatisfaction with the results and was "babbling" not "bubbling" over with contempt. I was in the world without any connection to God each morning. I was "all me" running amuk on the internet with confusion and revulsion, until finally one morning, I woke and was silent. I made the personal choice to "give it up." All the angst was making me weary and causing me to begin each new day with negative thoughts. The more I struggled with the fear for our country, the more I seemed to seek out others who were ranting and raving, also. This search for those who agreed with me lead me to end a friendship with a songwriter whose friendship I valued for five years. Something had to be done to end the negative, destructive effect it was having on my life. I was not only "in" the world, but I was "of" the world. And when we are "of the world" we are subject to losing sight of God's light and His love and blessings.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Our great, daily challenge in being part of our world through its many new forms of technological communication is to be "of" the world but not "in" the world. By being part of the Facebook community we can become aware of the daily needs of others who ask for prayers, support and suggestions. We can offer them words of encouragement, hope and prayer. Our challenge is not to be "in" the world where our focus becomes one filled with anger, discord and divisiveness. Help us find ways to be a light reflecting your message of love and hope and salvation.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Peggy Mack
September 8, 2013
In these last few weeks of summer, I am looking back on my new found adventure in faith. It is one that includes being more committed to a disciplined approach of opening my mind and heart to God's presence through quiet morning devotions. I always looked at "suggested daily devotions" as a routine too restrictive to my free spirit and not unlike brushing your teeth, washing your face and taking your vitamin. I felt it was one more "to do" in a long list of many for my already tight morning schedule. Retirement has brought me so many new joys, but this may be the finest of them all! I truly have time to spend with God in meditation, prayer and reading each morning.
In this new summer adventure into faith, I am able to take time to notice special words of encouragement, hope and faith from (who would believe it?) Facebook. Let us be honest for a moment. We must be "part of the world, but not in the world" as we are admonished in:
Romans 12:2 and be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
You cannot make a positive difference in others' lives if you have become monastic in your faith for fear of being exposed to the "negative" influences we see. I love that the United Methodist Church, who I "friended" on Facebook, by the way, leaves me a positive thought and a Bible verse to consider with each new morning. The same is true of a special congregation in the Golden Isles of GA, named The Grace Place, which is a Baptist Church lead by and attended by many high school friends. Both Facebook sources seem to be a beacon of light as I read through all the daily posts.
Each morning, as I weed through the cranky discourse associated with current events and politics and the endless recipes which make me salivate while trying to read, I can keep up with friends recent adventures. It is interesting mix of negative thoughts of hopelessness intertwined with words of encouragement, strength and hope. I remember shortly after the most recent Presidential election, I was overflowing with fury and dissatisfaction with the results and was "babbling" not "bubbling" over with contempt. I was in the world without any connection to God each morning. I was "all me" running amuk on the internet with confusion and revulsion, until finally one morning, I woke and was silent. I made the personal choice to "give it up." All the angst was making me weary and causing me to begin each new day with negative thoughts. The more I struggled with the fear for our country, the more I seemed to seek out others who were ranting and raving, also. This search for those who agreed with me lead me to end a friendship with a songwriter whose friendship I valued for five years. Something had to be done to end the negative, destructive effect it was having on my life. I was not only "in" the world, but I was "of" the world. And when we are "of the world" we are subject to losing sight of God's light and His love and blessings.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Our great, daily challenge in being part of our world through its many new forms of technological communication is to be "of" the world but not "in" the world. By being part of the Facebook community we can become aware of the daily needs of others who ask for prayers, support and suggestions. We can offer them words of encouragement, hope and prayer. Our challenge is not to be "in" the world where our focus becomes one filled with anger, discord and divisiveness. Help us find ways to be a light reflecting your message of love and hope and salvation.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
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