Hearts in Service

I got back from the district-wide conference I've been planning along with my committee since last November. It was an exhausting, exhilarating and encouraging weekend. I stayed home from church today because I've lost my voice, was wiped out from having two nights of almost no sleep and just feeling icky this morning. I didn't even wake up until around 8:30 and am still not feeling well. As I was sitting here and reflecting this morning about an interesting experience I had at the close of the conference, I was reminded of some truth I wanted to share here. A woman approached me at the end. I knew she was from a particular church and I knew she seemed apart from the rest of the group.   She said to me, "I'm so glad that I came and I'll be back for the next one." Then she said something that blew me away. She proceeded to tell me that she has been in recovery the past couple of years and that I was the reason she has stayed sober. Apparently, it was someth...

It was such a busy week and this one is shaping up to be the same. I'm preparing for a large woman's conference and have been working on all the last minute details for that.  However, I didn't want Monday to go by without stopping for a few moments and reflecting on the many things for which I'm thankful. Yesterday after church, Dan and I took a few hours and went on a 5 mile hike in the Allegheny National Forest at a spot we've been to a few times. It was the perfect day for it as it was warm and sunny. Being out in nature and hiking was the perfect way to rejuvenate my spirits. However, I must say that I need to do things in moderation because I went from hardly walking this winter to doing a 5 mile hike. I limped along the last mile or so and could barely walk last night. I'm thankful I'm doing better this morning! There are many things I'm thankful for this week. 💖 We had a wonderful Easter. I went and picked up Dan's parents and my sister-in-l...

Yesterday, my husband and I sat through a two hour meeting with our son and a case manager to assess his needs so a life-plan could be put in place for him. In February we went through extensive testing and Nathan was diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder and significant issues with adaptive functioning. As a result of that official diagnosis he was approved for services through the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Once we got the approval letter at the end of March, signed it and sent it back things have sped up exponentially. I have another meeting later this week to talk to a different case manager.  All of this is good and necessary to ensure my son will receive the help he needs when we are no longer in the picture. But it's brought a sadness to my heart when I reflect on his life as well as our own life-situation.  As parents, our goal has always been to see our children thriving and independent. We've taught them to work hard, be productive and ...

Matthew 26:36-45 ~ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he...

John 12:1-8 ~ It was six days before the Passover Feast. Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. Lazarus was the one Jesus had raised from the dead. A dinner was given at Bethany to honor Jesus. Martha served the food. Lazarus was among the people at the table with Jesus. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard. It was an expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the sweet smell of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot didn’t like what Mary did. He was one of Jesus’ disciples. Later he was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold? Why wasn’t the money given to poor people? It was worth a year’s pay.” He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor. He said it because he was a thief. Judas was in charge of the money bag. He used to help himself to what was in it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “The perfume was meant for the day I am buried. You will always have the poor among you...

Matthew 21:1-11 ~ As they all approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage. It was on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent out two disciples. He said to them, “Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a donkey tied up. Her colt will be with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them. The owner will send them right away.” This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would come true. It says, “Say to the city of Zion,     ‘See, your king comes to you. He is gentle and riding on a donkey.     He is riding on a donkey’s colt.’ ” (Zechariah 9:9) The disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do. They brought the donkey and the colt. They placed their coats on them for Jesus to sit on.  Whenever I read the Palm Sunday story of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem I have put myself in the character as one of the crowd. This morning I looked at it from the point of view of...

 I woke up at 2 a.m. to thunder, lightning and a heavy downpour. April decided to come in to the proverbial "April showers bring May flowers." As I lay awake listening to the rain, I found it hard to get back to sleep. Often my mind gets buzzing with things I need to do, concerns I have or just random thoughts. What I've found has worked is to spend some time praying. Yesterday, I was busy preparing for the upcoming Holy Week celebrations at church. It begins tomorrow with a Palm Sunday breakfast at church, followed by our service. On Friday, we will have prayer stations set up throughout the church for Good Friday and then our Easter Sunday service. This is my favorite time of the year in the church and I think it even trumps Christmas for me. It's a time of reflection and thanksgiving and worship. A time to remember Christ's sacrifice and a time for renewed joy in His resurrection. I want to savor every moment. I don't want to rush through it and I don't...