Giving Thanks

Have you taken time to consider what you are thankful for this season? 

I believe most of us know the importance of living with gratitude. Giving thanks has all kinds of physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. However, it is easy to lose sight of these blessings that surround us. I will often find myself looking enviously at what my neighbors have. I wonder if I have enough. Do I need a bigger house? A newer car? Why do other families seem to have everything figured out? Thanksgiving sounds wonderful, but we often neglect the hope it shares. We are just to tied into the worries and fears of the world.

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the other virtues.” 

-Cicero

The ancient philosopher Cicero believed that all the other virtues came from thanksgiving. That's quite a statement! Does every other joy and good thing start by appreciating the gifts that surround us in the world? Modern psychologists are still trying to understand this, and they are still finding all kinds of connections between better health and gratitude. It just remains a question why we let our scarcity mentality win most of the time.

Today I want to live with a thankful heart. I don't want to rush past all the blessings that surround me in my home or in my church. There are too many reasons to let the darkness win. Let's open our hearts so that we can see the good.

Blessings,

Brian Ward

Be still...

This morning felt particularly frantic in my house. The baby kept us busy all night, my 9 year old remembered he needed to finish a presentation, and the the neighbors called to ask if their 5 year old could come over before school. Add to all of this the regular list of cleaning, dishes, and laundry, and we had a full morning. As we were rushing around the house, my wife stopped and exclaimed that the baby smiled! It was an incredible moment. Our youngest just turned six weeks old, and he has really started to look deeply at people's faces. He is trying to mimic facial expressions, and we have just started seeing what could be smiles. It is incredible, and it would have been easy for us to miss. We are all just too busy to notice. 

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today... The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

-Exodus 14:13-16

This week we are looking at the Old Testament Bible story of Moses. Moses was asked to do something impossible. He was called to set his people free from slavery. In many ways Moses felt like he had to carry this burden all by himself. However, if we look at the text, God is consistently telling Moses, and the people, to "be still." God is saying if we let go, then the Spirit will begin to work through us.

In my life, I can get pretty wrapped up in the everyday details. It is important to let go and trust that God is trying to offer miracles everyday. That is my hope for each of us. Let surrender to the love, mercy, and goodness of God.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

Love Unites

We are living in a very important and emotional time... This year's election was particularly heated, and throughout the campaign, there has been a lot of animosity and division. Today I see people who are celebrating, and I see people who are grieving. Our lives are filled with emotion, but the Bible teaches us to put our hope in God first.

"those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.”

-Isaiah 40:31 

I was considering this while I was at my 9 year old's soccer practice. The kids were having a passionate discussion about who the next president should be, and they were cheering and booing each other for their beliefs. Now personally, I find it rather unlikely that these kids had a detailed understanding of each candidate's politics. However, they were still drawn into the emotion. They wanted clear lines to decide who was in and who was out. On the way home, my son was talking to me about the divisions. It bothers him that some of the kids, who he's become friends with, have drawn these lines. That kind of thing bothers me too. It hurts me to see so many wonderful people divide themselves from each other. 

We are beginning a new sermon series this week entitled: God is in Charge and that's a Good Thing. We will be diving into the Bible to discover people who found unity instead of division. Even in divisive times, God's love can unite us. Every person's vote is important, but it is also important to remember that Christ asked all of us to be His hands and feet. It is my hope that we would all search for God's love instead of division. Today I pray that we as a church can continue to share hope and grace around the world.

Peace,

Pastor Brian