Hearts in Service Blog

1 Corinthians 1:1-10 (MSG) ~ If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Neve...

After a bout with the flu, last week was a wash-out. I did a bit of sewing and some reading and not much else. By Friday night my cough was almost gone and I was feeling better but then I had a bit of a relapse over the weekend and spent most of it laying around.  I felt bad yesterday because it was Stephen's 25th birthday and I didn't put a whole lot of effort into it.  I made his favorite meal, but bought dessert (which turned out to be "meh"). Dan went bowling with him in the afternoon and we all played a board game he wanted last night but it was a fairly uneventful day. Usually I have a better plan. I also usually have a plan for Valentine's Day but that hasn't happened yet either. Sigh. For the past 6 years or so, I've done a special dinner for Valentine's Day with our family rather than just Dan and I.  It's always been something we all enjoy and Dan and I always get each other something to celebrate. But dinner is a family affa...

How does the saying go?  "The best laid plans of mice and men...." I had all these wonderful goals this week and plans to get much accomplished.  I mustered up the energy to go grocery shopping on Monday but chalked my lethargy up to recuperating from the weekend away with the teens.  However, by Tuesday it was obvious I was sick.  The flu to be exact. I've spent the majority of my week, popping cough drops and Advil while it felt like I was going to cough up my lungs. In fact, I've coughed so hard that I threw my lower back out and pulled all the muscles below my rib cage.  However, today was the first day that I woke up feeling more like me! The only thing I've done this week is a bit of sewing and even that felt like a huge effort.  Today will be more of the same. I did work on a bunch of correspondence this morning for an upcoming retreat but that mostly was because I had one of those crazy dreams where I was at the retreat and had forgotten ev...

Psalm 34:3-5 (NLT) ~ Send out your light and your truth;      let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain,      to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God,      to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp,      O God, my God! Why am I discouraged?   Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!   I will praise him again — my Savior and my God! There are times when we can feel so down and depressed. It may be for many reasons - family issues, work problems, financial issues and on and on.  As I was reading this morning, the Psalmist says he will go to the altar of God, which is the source of our joy. Are you feeling down, depressed and joyless today? Have you spent any time reading or in prayer? I want to encourage you to do that. Go to God’s altar and commune with Him. You won’t find joy in social med...

I survived my weekend away with our teens and everyone had a great time. They had fun snow tubing, playing board games, playing dodgeball, and other games. We ate tons of junk food. There were wonderful services and lots of meaningful conversations. No one got hurt or sick so overall, I'd say it was a success! I slept so late this morning and am not feeling the goal setting, but life goes on so here I go! Goals for the week of February 5-8, 2018: Spiritual/Personal Development 1. Personal Bible reading and prayer at least 5 out of the 7 days (goal met last week). 2. Required reading book for consecration: Wholly Sanctified by A.B. Simpson Husband/Marriage 1. Go on a date with Dan 2. Find one way to do something special to bless him this week. Children/Family 1. Send Emily a care package 2. Help Stephen with a project 3. Come up with birthday plan for Steve's birthday on Sunday 4. Get hair cut Weight Loss ...

I often compare our ministry to others and come away feeling a bit deflated. It seems as if other churches are growing with record speed, have wonderful programs, a plethora of volunteers and are doing great things for their communities. It's hard not to compare when our average attendance is in the 40s, it seems impossible to get people to volunteer their time or show up on a Sunday morning, let alone on a week night. Our building is one of the smallest buildings in our district and to be honest, is quite ugly on the outside. It needs a new roof, gets flooded with water when it rains too much or the snow melts too fast. Yet, we have a difficult time in getting volunteers to help with the upkeep. It can be frustrating and I can get bogged down in what is going wrong and forget about what is going right. Our building may be ugly on the outside but it is full of beautiful people and th ere are many good things that are happening inside our church. They may seem small compared ...

Mark 4:36-41 (HCSB) ~ On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him. A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!” I am always amazed at how many times the disciples lacked faith. They were with Jesus on a daily basis. They experienced his miracles and teachings first hand and yet, every time some new crisis arose they...