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| ps from ps: What are you focused on? What are you spending your time on keeping up? Today, I share with you some Devo’s on the Go from Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center. Just click HERE to view. Lord, help me to focus on keeping up the important things. Amen Be well, safe and blessed, ps |
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| ps from ps: Are you well? Throughout Scripture, Jesus models wellness. Spiritual. Emotional. Physical. He prays and rests. He worships and serves. He reaches out and shares grace. He heals and gathers around meals for community. Spiritual, emotional and physical wellness. Are you well? Are you giving enough attention to all three of these areas? You are welcome to try “Wellness Walks” that blend all three. We created them last summer and will add to them this summer. They are 30 minute guided mediations and reflections to do during a walk outside or on your treadmill. (However, I highly encourage outside!) You can find Wellness Walks (by searching that and/or my name) on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer or most other places you find your podcasts. After trying them, give me some feedback or other topics you’d like covered. So take your time this week. This summer. And focus on your self. Making sure you are well! Lord, help me add wellness to my life. Amen Be well, safe and blessed, ps |
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| ps from ps:We’re going on a journey!! Well maybe. Hopefully! At least as followers of Jesus, we certainly should be. I know for me and my crew at home, our summer will be filled with lots of journeys. Trips backpacking. Trips to camp. Trips to the lake. Trips overseas. Trips with family. And each of them bring a different excitement and expectation. What I love about the days leading up to a trip is that we start “to keep our eyes on it.” We focus on it. Preparations. Conversations. Planning. And yes, as we slog through the details, road bumps and stressors of prepping for that trip, there are certainly things that can frustrate, distract and stress us out. Back in the day, Jesus invited his disciples on a trip. Invited them to “set their eyes” on Jerusalem. On the cross. On what he was here to do. On the kingdom breaking in. How did they do? Well, just like me, they got distracted, stressed and messed up. We’ll hear on Sunday about these same “cross focused” disciples, upon having some folks disagree with Jesus, requesting if they should “rain fire down upon them.” Not really “cross focused” guys. Nice work. Now in this day, Jesus invites us as disciples to take a trip. A trip of faith. Of living into and living out the kingdom of God in each and every one of our days. With all you might have going on this summer…in the midst of all your trips, how will you stay cross focused? How will your hearts be journeying toward Jerusalem? How will you avoid the pitfalls and asking to “rain fire down” upon the people that disagree with us? This is the challenge of being cross focused and not us focused. May you enjoy your trip this week. May the excitement of following Jesus be tangible and real. And may your heart continue to stay cross focused as you journey with Jesus. Lord, let’s go. I’m excited. Help me keep my heart focused. Amen Be well, safe and blessed, ps |
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| ps from ps:Happy Summer!! Well it’s not “official” yet but it sure feels like it. However, in the land of “PS from PS,” it’s summertime. That means that Devo’s will get a little sporadic over the June/July/August months. Sometimes they will be written. Sometimes they will be short videos (Devo’s on the Go!). Sometimes they won’t arrive because I’m on vacation. Today….they are Devo’s on the Go! video version. To access them, just click HERE and it’ll take you to our YouTube page. Enjoy them. Enjoy hope. Enjoy summer. And we’ll see you in church. Lord, bless my summer with hope, even when it rains. Amen Be well, safe and blessed, ps |
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| ps from ps:Since the shooting in Buffalo (and many others since then), several of you have asked what can we do? Dean Jeremiah Smith shared information with me about this March for Our Lives Buffalo on Saturday. This is just one of the many ways to turn our “thoughts and prayers” into concrete action. The issue is huge and diverse; from mental health to guns, from racism to social media. But we have to start somewhere! Here is his invitation: Dear People of God, You are invited to join myself and other members of Parkside at this Saturday’s March for Our Lives. The Event Coordinators write, “Buffalo-Niagara knows all too well the cost of gun violence. Given the horrific levels of violence that has occurred in our community and our nation, we believe it is time to shine a light on ALL areas that contribute to this violence perpetrated against innocent adults and children – including Gun Safety and Gun Responsibility. March with us in solidarity. We march for our lives and the lives lost to senseless and often racially motivated gun violence. Together we say NO MORE! By choosing to attend this event, you are committing to participate nonviolently and in accordance with the law, to work to de-escalate confrontations with others, and to obey the orders of authorized event marshals and of law enforcement.” “God will judge between the nations, and settle disputes of mighty nations. Then they will beat their swords into iron plows and their spears into pruning tools. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war.” Isaiah 2:4 The March begins at 10:30 and will end at Noon. The official gathering place is Jefferson and Glenwood. The total March will only be about a quarter mile ending in front of Top’s at Jefferson and Riley. However, if anyone would like to gather with other church folks, you can join Katie, Eleanor, and I, at 10:15am in front of the CAO of Erie County 1424 on Jefferson Ave. Here is the event’s Facebook Page if you would like more information. Buffalo Niagara March For Our Lives Facebook Event Page May our thoughts and prayers turn into faithful action. Peace,The Rev. Jeremiah SmithDean Dear God, may we work together in all ways to bring an end to this violence. Amen Be well, safe and blessed! ps |
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