ps from ps – Season FinaleYou can almost feel the excitement of the teachers. I remember year after year, this very week, running out of a school building excited to launch into summer (and get home before my report card arrived to make “minor adjustments” if needed). But clearly exceeding my excitement was the excitement and joy and relief of my teachers. “No more Steve for two and half months! Thanks be to God!”
I remember them holding the door as we ran toward home or boarded the bus (remember buses? in the days before every kid got picked up and dropped off by parents??). I seem to remember them wishing us well, encouraging us and sharing greetings of good health. In all actuality, they were probably yelling: Don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out!”
But let’s be clear though, those teachers invested into each student for months. Through ups and down, hard lessons, poor behavior and a few laughs. Clearly they wanted the best for all their students and hoped that the lessons that were taught actually sank in and would guide and shape the future of each student. They were preparing each student to change the world. They were hoping to create a future filled with hope.
As we launch into summer and all that you and I have planned for the weeks and months ahead, I wonder what Jesus would be saying while standing at the door and holding it open as we stride forward. Clearly he’s been with us through the hard lessons…the ups and downs…the bad behavior…and even some laughter. We’ve sat through the classes where we’ve seen him feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick. We’ve listened to the lectures on sharing grace, forgiveness and compassion. We’ve been part of the labs where fish and bread were broken for more than we could have imagined and water was made into wine.
So what must Jesus be thinking as we propel through those doors this summer? Surely he has invested into us. Surely he’s not just happy to get rid of us. Surely he wants us to change the world. And surely HE prepared a future filled with hope for us.
If only we will live into it.
When we come to church throughout the year and walk out the doors at the end, it’s not the conclusion of the lessons. It’s the start of the application. As we finish a school year of faith, it’s not the end of the lab portion, it’s the beginning of the internship. If we think that arriving at church for 45 minutes is the end game, we’ve missed the teaching point.
As you go through those doors this week and enter into summer, hear Jesus’ wish for you: May the things we’ve experienced together this year become part of your very being. May the things you’ve watched me do, the lessons I’ve shared with you and the instructions that I’ve given you be put into action today in a new summer-like way. And may you, sent into the world, change that world and be the future filled with hope for it.
Lord, may this summer of worship and action in the world reflect what you taught us. Amen
ps from ps – storms”Every time I think of you, I thank my God.” – Paul, to the church of the Philippians.
But do we?
Because I know that I can very easily slip up on showing thankfulness to and for the many things that God has placed into my life, I thought there also my be a chance that you might do that as well.
So, for the next few weeks, we’re going to dwell in thankfulness for just a few of the many things that God has blessed us with and I bet that you have/are blessed by the same things!
Being thankful physically rewires the brain to lower stress hormones like cortisol, improves sleep, and boosts feel-good neurotransmitters (dopamine/serotonin), leading to higher happiness and lower anxiety. Spiritually, it fosters peace, deepens connections with others, and helps individuals find meaning by focusing on positive outcomes rather than just hardships.
So let’s get after it!
Today, I remember storms and I thank God for them.
I’m sitting in my garage writing this afternoon during a quick thunderstorm. I’ve always loved storms. Rain, wind, snow, thunder, lightning, baramoter drops….bring it all on.
I don’t like the devastation and loss of life that comes with them sometimes. It reminds me that we have set up our lives in a very “alive” place and creation always has the last word.
But I do love the quick bursts that water the lawn. They remind me I’m part of something bigger. A creation that is for sure alive and well and renewing itself. One that God put into action. One that we get to care for and enjoy.
Most storms are short lived. And can even be beautiful. They change our schedules sometimes. They reroute are plans and remind us that we can’t always be in control of everything. And maybe that’s a really good and needed reminder.
May we look forward to the upcoming storms that remind us for God’s creation renewing itself, and thank God for them. Amen. Still in One Peace, PS
ps from ps”Every time I think of you, I thank my God.” – Paul, to the church of the Philippians.
But do we?
Because I know that I can very easily slip up on showing thankfulness to and for the many things that God has placed into my life, I thought there also my be a chance that you might do that as well.
So, for the next few weeks, we’re going to dwell in thankfulness for just a few of the many things that God has blessed us with and I bet that you have/are blessed by the same things!
Being thankful physically rewires the brain to lower stress hormones like cortisol, improves sleep, and boosts feel-good neurotransmitters (dopamine/serotonin), leading to higher happiness and lower anxiety. Spiritually, it fosters peace, deepens connections with others, and helps individuals find meaning by focusing on positive outcomes rather than just hardships.
So let’s get after it!
Today, I remember those that work for freedom and I thank God for them.
As we moved through Memorial Day weekend, hopefully you had a chance to remember those that died that served our country.
At St. Paul’s, it’s always powerful to invite those who served, and are still with us, to stand and receive our thanks for their service time.
Jesus said in John’s gospel: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” That is sacrifice and eternal love shared.
Today, I invite you to draw outward and onward that spirit of thankfulness for those who did and continue to work for freedom, across the globe and around the corner. Can we lengthen out our thankfulness from one day or one weekend into a longer period of thanks? Can we move beyond military thanks to thanks for local folks who govern? Neighbors and friends that teach peace and compassion in our schools? Law enforcement that operate with grace and healthy direction? Mental health professionals that work with clients to bring personal freedom from anxiety and trauma? All who work to bring freedom to others.
There are very good shepherds all around.
May we lengthen out and widen our search who those who work for freedom, and thank God for them. Amen. Still in One Peace, PS
“Every time I think of you, I thank my God.” – Paul, to the church of the Philippians.
But do we?
Because I know that I can very easily slip up on showing thankfulness to and for the many things that God has placed into my life, I thought there also my be a chance that you might do that as well.
So, for the next few weeks, we’re going to dwell in thankfulness for just a few of the many things that God has blessed us with and I bet that you have/are blessed by the same things!
Being thankful physically rewires the brain to lower stress hormones like cortisol, improves sleep, and boosts feel-good neurotransmitters (dopamine/serotonin), leading to higher happiness and lower anxiety. Spiritually, it fosters peace, deepens connections with others, and helps individuals find meaning by focusing on positive outcomes rather than just hardships.
So let’s get after it!
Today, I remember my editors and I thank God for them.
I need an editor. Not just for these devotions, which usually contain spelling errors, incorrect words and grammar nightmares, but for life.
An editor’s role is to be part of your team and make suggestions for you on what you put out into the world. They are supportively corrective. They have your best interest at heart but aren’t afraid to call you out.
Jesus was The Editor for the disciples. Time after time, they missed his points and needed loving correction for the kingdom of God they were putting out into the world. In Mark’s gospel, we heard the story of the crew walking along and arguing about who was the greatest among them. That needed some correction! So Jesus pulls some children into the mix (some of the “least of these” in that time and day) and says: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Who have been the editors in your life? Can you think back to some key corrections they helped you make?
Who is editing you now? And are you receptive to what they are encouraging you to change and who they are encouraging you to become?
And if you’re reflecting on this and realize you don’t have an editor right now, who can you invite to play that role in your life today? Maybe Jesus can play part (or a larger part) of that role as you read Scripture and worship in community?
As imperfect humans, we make spelling and grammar errors all the time. And I don’t just mean in our writings.
May we be open to the editors in our lives, and thank God for them. Amen. Still in One Peace, PS
ps from ps”Every time I think of you, I thank my God.” – Paul, to the church of the Philippians.
But do we?
Because I know that I can very easily slip up on showing thankfulness to and for the many things that God has placed into my life, I thought there also my be a chance that you might do that as well.
So, for the next few weeks, we’re going to dwell in thankfulness for just a few of the many things that God has blessed us with and I bet that you have/are blessed by the same things!
Being thankful physically rewires the brain to lower stress hormones like cortisol, improves sleep, and boosts feel-good neurotransmitters (dopamine/serotonin), leading to higher happiness and lower anxiety. Spiritually, it fosters peace, deepens connections with others, and helps individuals find meaning by focusing on positive outcomes rather than just hardships.
So let’s get after it!
Today, I remember those that nurtured me, and I thank God for them.
Hopefully, you had a chance this weekend to celebrate a mom-type or someone that played that sort of role in your life. Brunch. Flowers. No bickering at home. Dads/Kids making meals. The whole thing.
But I know that this day brings up loss and grief as well. It’s a mixed bag for many. I celebrated my step mother, but grieved the loss of my mom and mother-in-law. And many of you are in the same boat.
And also hard for those wanting children or the one-in-four women that lost children during their pregnancy. So much of life are these bittersweet and sacred moments.
Which makes thankfulness even more important.
“So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.” – Luke 2:16. Jesus’ earthly story started out with being nurtured by Mary and Joseph. Did he celebrate her on Mother’s Day? (Joseph sort of got gypped on Father’s Day, right?). But from what little we know in the Biblical story about Jesus’ younger days, they both played a role in nurturing him.
And since there was no Dad’s or Mom’s Day, I wonder if Jesus recognized them for that nurturing. I would guess so considering we know he checked in with thankfulness to his Heavenly Father.
So, will we?
Who has nurtured you that you can reach out to with thankfulness? Beyond parents or parental figures, who can you write to or call and just share some gratitude for their care?
And if that person is no longer with us, what attributes of their care-style can we be thankful for and share those same things with those in our charge and reach?
This week, may we be thankful for all those that nurtured us.
Every time I think of those that nurtured me, I thank my God. Amen. Still in One Peace, PS
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