Hearts in Service

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT) ~ Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.   And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. On Sunday, as I looked around the congregation after the service, I was encouraged.  Some were praying together for somebody going through a health crisis, others were fellowshipping.  Some were busy using their gifts in serving and others were using theirs by ministering. There was laughter from many and there were tears from others.  No one was being ignored and all felt connected.  Even though Sundays can be busy, I am always so glad that I went to encourage others and to be encouraged. I love this passage in Hebrews because it affirms why we are to meet...

Mark 10:46-52 (MSG) ~ They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.” They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.” In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road. The crowd cringed as the blind beggar shouted over and over again, "Jesus! Have mercy!"  The more they tried to hush h...

Luke 24:28-35 (HCSB) ~ They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.    Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”  That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together,    who said, “The Lord has certainly been raised, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. It is the day of the resurrection and...

I was sitting here at my computer this morning and realized that I hadn't even thought about Easter dinner.  At this point, it's going to just be Dan, Emily and myself since Stephen's at college and Nathan has to work.  So at this point, I don't know what to make. Easter weekend is such a busy time of the year when you are in ministry.  So often, by the time, Easter afternoon rolls around I am not interested in cooking or food at all.  A friend and I were talking recently and she mentioned that most people have no idea what goes on behind the scenes to make a service go smoothly. My Easter plans for the week have gone as follows: Wednesday afternoon.  We had worship practice from 4:30-6 to go over the songs for Sunday.  I know our worship leader is also meeting with two other members of the team who were unable to make practice yesterday. Thursday afternoon.  Dan & I are running to the store today to pick up some item...

Two months ago, I stepped off my back step and onto a patch of black ice.  I didn't fall, but my left leg, below the knee, shot out to the left and at an angle it was never meant to go. The doctor told me that it was like a nutcracker cracked a nut and, in this case, the bony protrusion at the top of the tibia. That little act has put me out of commission for the past 2 months, and I still have another month to go in the leg brace.  I decided that during these 3 months, I would be still enough to try and figure out what God was telling me.  Accidents happen, and while I joke that God had to trip me to get my attention, I don't believe He always works that way.  But I do believe He uses these trials to demonstrate His love and often, He does bring us a message when we are listening and looking for it. So during this time of inactivity, I've been praying, reading, listening and also chatting with my husband about some of what I've been hearing...

Yesterday afternoon the following song kept running repeatedly through my head. Wny?  As I reflected back on the week, I thought of the following situations that either I faced or friends face... I was down with the stomach bug for much of the week. A friend has an inoperable brain tumor Another friend is in the hospital with seizures and the doctors are trying to figure out why Our car died on the side of the road yesterday Our finances are always extremely tight and now made tighter Stephen has to go another semester of college because of a glitch in his credits So many concerns, and yet that song, "Blessed Be Your Name" was playing over and over again.  God's name is blessed.  I am blessed.  Why? Because, as the song says, my heart will choose to say, "Blessed be Your name."  Thankfulness is a choice.  And I am choosing to remain thankful today and trusting that God will provide exactly what we all need...