Being open to the Spirit

This is a super exciting time in my house. My first grader can’t wait for all the Halloween parties, and my preschooler is loving the idea of Trick or Treating. They are both finding new costumes to dress up in every day, and they cannot contain their joy. 

When were you last that excited? 

Adults seem to find a number of reasons not to show emotion. We have to keep things under control. We don’t want surprises, and we can even dismiss beautiful moments of joy. Perhaps we have learned that if you feel great joy, then you will also feel great pain. (This is certainly true of the kids in my house… We can go from the best day ever to the worst day possible!) It may just be easier to close our hearts off to the world. 

Five hundred years ago a German monk named Martin Luther opened himself to new possibilities. He opened his heart to the possibility of being surprised, overwhelmed, and delighted. This monk opened his heart to God’s Spirit, and this led him on a journey with many twists and turns. He faced a number of dark valleys, but he also found a joy that surpassed all understanding. 

Today I hope we can tap into the joy of the Spirit. This means that we will also experience moments of darkness and fear. However, God promises to always be with us. Following the Spirit can lead us to some wild places, but we will always be surrounded by God’s grace!

Blessings!

Brian 

You are called

Have you ever felt called by God? 

Is there a person that you feel called to reach out to and share God’s love with? 

There are times I do not feel adequate as a messenger for Christ. I can find reasons to dismiss any gifts that I may have. There are people who seem uninterested in the Good News, and I don’t feel like my words are very helpful. Other times people have interpreted my words and actions as careless or even harmful. I may have a wonderful opportunity to serve others, but one angry critique can fill me with doubt. As human beings, many of us lose sight of our callings due to fear, resentment, and uncertainty.

We all experience doubt, but God calls each of us. It is our duty as followers of Christ to believe in the gifts we have and share these gifts with the world. Christ did not come into our lives to blame us or shame us. Jesus came to create a church that would give the world new life. We are a part of this church today. God believes in us. Christ has faith in us. We simply need to open our hearts and follow the Holy Spirit.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah 2:1-2

In our sermon series, we are reading through the book of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet who did not believe in his ability to serve. He also struggled to decide where he was called to serve. God had to call him multiple times to the people of Nineveh. Jonah wanted to love his own people, but he hated the idea of reaching out to his enemies. 

Where God is calling you today? 

Perhaps you need to find God among those that make you feel uncomfortable. Perhaps you need to see God in yourself?

God loves us, calls us, and God has made us his own. We are all the church. It is my hope that we might believe in our callings and reach out to the world in love.

Blessings,

Brian