08/12/2019
A few weeks ago, I shared something in my message that I read byJohn Piper, a well known preacher. He says that every day God is doing perhaps 10,000 different things in our lives but you will only be dimly aware of perhaps three of those things. The number is arbitrary but the point is absolutely right. We barely get a glimmer of all that God is doing in us, through us and for us. It made me think of a painting by Michelangelo. I share this with you assuming as with any piece of art--you may find the beauty in this or you may think it's odd. Either way, just pause before it and really think about it.
I happen to find this to be a fascinating reminder of how God’s presence is with me and around me every single moment no matter where I am. I am never lost to God. I am never away from God. When I feel this way, I need to put on my spiritual lens to see my life more closely. God is in my life in ways that I don’t see. There are glimpses of God all around me. When I think about this, I am almost afraid of all the moments that I have missed seeing God around me and seeing God working through me.
Next stop...an appointment to have my spiritual glasses adjusted!
Blessings, Patti
Archived Posts
The Lost Benediction
Depending on the length of the sermon, I try to add a little something extra in my benedictions. This week I wrote up a benediction but then realized we’d be singing and waving our umbrellas to some New Orleans jazz.
Change of Focus This Week
Instead of sharing with you about yesterday’s sermon I’d like to invite you to do some background reading for next Sunday’s “Only Murders in the Bible.” Seeing that it is All Saints Day this Sunday, we are going to look at the very first Christian martyr, Stephen.
You Might Be Thinking It’s All About You If…
In working on Sunday’s sermon I asked my computer’s AI if she/he could come up with a few suggestions in answer to the above: "You Might be thinking it’s all about you, if…."
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...)