04/24/2023
Yesterday, after Pastor Daisy’s excellent sermon, I had a few moments with the 10:30 folks and I mentioned two other ways God’s mission becomes our mission.
First, we are a congregation are working on refining our mission statement. My current favorite is this:
We’re called to be the Heart of Jesus,
in the Heart of Carmel:
helping our neighbors
make a difference in the lives of their neighbors
for Christ’s sake.
Secondly, I always think it’s helpful to have a personal mission statement, especially when it comes to guiding how we relate to others with the heart of Jesus. Here is one of my favorites in that category as well:
When it comes to those closest to you:
If you find a need, fill it.
If you find a hurt, heal it.
If you encounter a problem, help solve it.
If you cause a division, bridge it.
And pray that you can be to them
what you would like them to be for you.
I’ve been reminded by the baptisms we’ve had the pleasure of witnessing over the last few weeks, that God has a unique purpose and plan for each of us. Discerning that plan and hewing to it is a big part of what it means to live a faithful life. May the Spirit fill you with everything you need to grab a hold of that plan and make it your own.
Archived Posts
Prayer Changes Things
Here is a transcript of the prayer I prayed at the end of yesterday’s sermon.
Optimism, Faith, and Hope:
Practical Steps For Increasing All Three
Here are some practical, spiritual, and relational ways to grow faith, hope and optimism:
Listening Heart
It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. Wisdom in the Bible is all about listening. Of course it makes sense that wisdom would start with listening to God, to God’s law and commandments, as well as the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Here are some quotes that
didn’t make it into Sunday’s sermon.
(But it doesn’t mean that they don’t offer real insight into the power of risk over the fear of failure...)
Such A Rich Passage (Luke 19:1-10)
I reflected a lot on the passage about Zacchaeus because it has been written off as “been there, read that, little guy in a tree.” But it is so rich in getting to the heart of what it means to be saved by grace through faith—to live our lives out of gratitude rather than obligation.
The Power of Presence
This last Sunday I had so much more to share than time to share it. The last Emotional Management Technique was to stay present in the process. Just as Jesus stayed with the woman who was judged and found guilty by the angry crowd, we stay by our children and our friends, especially when they need us the most. Here a couple of examples...
What’s In A Benediction?
Last Sunday I used one of my favorite benedictions.
It was inspired by a saying from about ten years ago: