Trusting the Holy Spirit

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in God, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

-Romans 15:13

Are you feeling the Hope of the Spirit?

This season of Covid-19 hasn’t been easy. People are facing uncertainty in careers, finances, and the overall economy. Nobody is sure of what is coming next, and I know I am ready to get back to normal.

Life is always going to have its ups and downs, but I like to convince myself that I am in control. I want to be able to handle any situation that arises. However, that’s not the way life works. It is always good to plan ahead, but I believe it is a mistake to think that we can control the world around us. Life is filled with uncertainty - even when we aren’t dealing with Covid-19. There are plenty of times we have to open our hearts, let go of our need for control and trust in God.

A couple weeks ago I had my own little moment of letting go. My six-year-old started public school. He finished Kindergarten last year, but this was his first experience walking onto a public school campus. It turned out to be a pretty moving experience for my wife and me as we dropped him off at the fence. (Parents weren’t allowed to take their kids to class because of the virus protocols.) We watched him walk off with a friend he made in kindergarten carrying his oversized backpack and new school supplies. The two of them wandered around to a couple different doors trying to figure out where to go. I wanted to run over there and help him, but I couldn’t. Eventually, the two of them made their way to the right door and slipped inside. A few hours later, we picked him up. It turns out he was just fine. He didn't need me to check on him every step of the way. In fact, he grew a lot. Sometimes we need to have faith.

There are so many people, myself included, who want to rescue others any way we can. However, sometimes the best thing for us to do is offer a bit of love and then trust that they will find their own way. Today I hope we can all believe in God's bigger plan for us. I hope we take time to feel the Holy Spirit moving among us. God is guiding us toward grace, and I hope we can all take a breath and follow that lead.

Blessings,

Brian

The BIG Questions!

Do you have any really BIG questions? 

I loved asking questions as a kid. I remember asking my parents for books about outer space, dinosaurs, biology, and so much more. Today I love my six year old son’s desire to become a scientist. (At least that his plan for the moment!) I think he would stay up all night asking questions if I would let him. There is so much about the universe that we don’t understand, and I think there is something deep within the human spirit that desperately wants to explore.

However, somewhere along the way I stopped asking so many questions. Adults are expected to have the answers, and people can become embarrassed by what they do not know. We tend to focus on the things we do understand and dismiss everything else. Why should we go searching for more? That only leads to trouble.

What if instead of judging people as ignorant, we started cherishing the opportunities we have to learn and grow. This week at Community Lutheran, we are beginning a new sermon series about the BIGGEST questions we have in our faith. What if we allowed our inner child to come out and ask all the creative, silly, or heart wrenching question we may have. That is my hope and prayer for all of us in this season.

Happy questioning!

Brian Ward

An Audacious Prayer

Ask and it will be given to you; 

Seek and you will find; 

Knock and the door will be opened to you.

-Luke 11:9

In Luke chapter 11, Jesus says our prayer should be shameless and audacious… He tells us to pray boldly to God, for God wants to hear everything that is on our hearts. However, I have always thought of being audacious as a bad thing. I don’t like making a big scene, and I don’t like asking for help if I can avoid it. However, Jesus wants us to pour our hearts out. We may not always get the answer we want, but God is listening. If we seek, the Spirit of Christ will guide us.

A week ago, I had the experience of boldly and shamelessly worshiping God at Vacation Bible School. This week long experience brings in kids from the church and the greater community to share in the good news of Jesus Christ. It is always a week filled with joy, love, acceptance, and healing. Kids are given the opportunity to know Christ, and volunteers speak to kids on their level. Bible stories are lifted up in fun and creative ways, and the music gets everybody moving. After reflecting a little bit on all the joy that was shared, I think accepting Christ’s invitation to shamelessly love God is one of the greatest gifts that we have been given. I am in awe of the hope that is found when people feel they can simply turn to Jesus with no strings attached.

Today, I wonder what is holding you back from shamelessly and audaciously turning to Christ. Are you able to let go of any concerns that may be holding you back?  Perhaps you feel that you are not good enough. Perhaps you feel like no one cares about you… least of all God. However, our scripture calls us to ask, seek, and knock. God is listening deeply for you. Although we may not get the answer that we are hoping for, God is present. God’s Love is inviting us into new life each and every day.

Blessings

Brian Ward

Chasing Greed or Blessings...

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

-Luke 12:15

Sometimes I look at all the stuff I have in my house. We have Legos, blocks, adventure sets, and action figures. We have piles of crayons, markers, and colored pencils. Then we have all the markers, crayons, and toys that we don’t use anymore. We have all kinds of stuff in our garage. We have piles of clothes. We have gadgets that seem important, but we don’t exactly know what they do anymore. It’s crazy to think that I actually pride myself on being able to get rid of things… I think all humans just have a desire for material possessions.

Jesus warned people 2000 years ago about greed. In those days people did not have nearly as many toys, gadgets, or clothes as we do, but greed could still disrupt and even destroy lives back then. Greed is just part of human nature, and if we don’t pay attention to the deeper blessings of God’s Love, we may miss out on some of the greatest rewards this world has to offer.  

A few days ago, my wife and I took the kids outside to the wash near our house. It had just finished raining, and the boys had an opportunity to splash in the puddles, climb on the rocks, and experience some truly simple joys. After being cooped up in the house for several weeks of hot temperatures, it was so nice to enjoy some of the things we typically take for granted. 

Today I hope we can open our eyes to the beauty around us. I hope we can realize that the path a better life is not found in simply obtaining more things. This world is filled with all kinds of wonder, joy, hope, and love. Let’s experience these blessings together!

Blessings!

Brian Ward

Diving into the story

Jesus constantly used stories when speaking to the crowds. For it had been

prophesied, “I will talk in parables; I will explain mysteries hidden since the

beginning of time.” 

-Matthew 13:34–35

I have two children, a six year old and a two year old.  Both of them love to hear stories.  Every night ends with them asking for just one more book.  It doesn’t matter if they have heard the story a hundred times already - they want to hear it again.  Even as adults, we are still drawn to a good story.  We look for the next book, TV series, or movie.  Kingdoms rise and fall… Rulers and empires may write their names in stone, but most of this is forgotten - unless you are a real history nerd. :). Instead, it is the stories that continue.  Whether it is Greek mythology or old stories from the Bible, these narratives continue to be past down and have influence.

Jesus was a storyteller.  We know from the Bible that Jesus frequently spoke in parables.  There is something about a story that walks along side us.  It often opens our hearts to something deeper.  It doesn’t tell us exactly what to believe, but it helps us expand our horizons.  I believe this was Christ’s goal.  He wanted us to dive into the mysteries of life and ponder the deeper meaning of grace, love, and the Kingdom of God.  

I love watching my two little boys engage in a story.  Sometimes all the questions they ask are really just a stall technique to avoid going to bed, but they are also both interested in the world.  They want someone to explain the world and help them dive a little deeper.  It is my hope that we could all look at the world with this kind of creativity and imagination.  I hope we can all follow the Spirit’s lead as we explore all the mysteries of God’s creation.  

Blessings,

Brian Ward

Taking time for our neighbor

“And who is my neighbor?”

-Luke 10:29

A scribe asked Jesus this question over 2000 years ago, and people are still struggling to answer it today.  The vast majority of us only want to think of ourselves and those close to us. However, this kind of close mindedness can lead to to demonizing the stranger if we are not careful.   

A few days ago, my wife had a conversation with a friend of hers who sees the world very different politically.  Their conversation wasn’t heated.  Her friend just asked about some of her views.  This friend was not trying to pick a fight or stir up trouble, he was simply curious.  When I thought about this, it almost shocked me.  When people ask about politics or religion, they usually want a fight.  It’s almost unheard of to find another person who simply wants to listen, learn, and grow.  

Throughout the scriptures, Jesus continually takes time for others.  He listened to the needs of individuals who were labeled unclean.  He patiently heard the questions and concerns of Nicodemus the Pharisee.  It didn’t matter if a person was a wealthy tax collector or a poor fisherman, Jesus had time to deeply care for all.  

Today I hope we can pause for a minute and consider the people who we have been ignoring.  Is there someone who annoys or frustrates you?  I know there are people who I can easily and subconsciously judge prematurely.  I can get caught up in the busy nature of the world, and I can lose sight of what really matters.  I hope we can take a breath right now, in this moment, and stop the judgement.  Christ valued everybody.  Christ values you.  Let’s take a little extra time and embrace the blessings we find in our neighbor.  

Blessings!

Brian

Let Go and Let God...

Is there something you need to let go of?

 

I love to have control.  That doesn’t mean I love controlling other people, but I really like to be prepared.  I want to know what I am getting myself into, and I want to feel like there is no situation that I can’t handle.  However, there are times I need to let go of this need for control.

 

Last week my family and I went on a vacation to visit my wife’s parents in Colorado.  We were really looking forward to this trip, because it was our first vacation since the virus locked everything down.  We prepared as much as possible, but there was also a lot I couldn’t control.  When my wife and I first started traveling with our boys, we would get so frustrated by the smallest things.  They wouldn't take their naps.  They complained too much.  They spilled their snacks everywhere.  Granted, all of this stuff can be frustrating, but I needed to slow down, develop patience, and open my heart to new possibilities.  

 

Amazingly, when I let go of what I thought the road trip should be, the kids behaved incredibly well.  I had to let go of some of my expectations, but most of those were not very realistic anyway.  We took advantage of many more scenic viewpoints and state parks that I may have otherwise just cruised past to get where I thought we needed to be.  The boys were incredibly blessed to get some time with Grandma and Grandpa, and we cherished the time way more than if I had forced it to happen on my timeline.

 

Letting go is never easy, but God is always offering us another opportunity to experience the grace around us.  We are in a sermon series at CLC that is taking a look at Living Generously.  A generous life is a life that is open to something beyond ourselves.  This week I hope we can all take a bit of time to cherish the grace we have and freely share it with others.  

 

Blessings,

 

Brian