At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?" Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.” – Matthew 18:21-22 (The Message)
Have you had to forgive one person a lot of times? How hard was it? What about Jesus’ message made forgiveness this important? Have you ever wanted to give up on someone? Did you? Would Jesus?
The following is an anonymous story that was e-mailed to me.
When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"
Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
We have no idea how close anyone is to giving up on himself or herself. Each of us has had others give up on us, and then wanted to throw in the towel too, to say, “I’ve had enough!” God created us to live together, and let’s be honest; we don’t always live together well. That is why we need forgiveness, without it love cannot win, because without it love cannot exist. Sure forgiveness is hard sometimes, most of the time really, but not forgiving is worse.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Way Toward Life
There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. – Proverbs 14:12 (NRSV)
What way seems right to you? How did you discover this as the way? Might the way that seems right to you lead to death? What way leads to life? What is life?
I’ve heard this story before.
A university professor went to visit a famous and important theologian. While the theologian quietly served tea, the professor talked about theology, God, and the like. The theologian poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted out.
"You are like this cup," the theologian replied, "How can I help you to see God unless you first empty your cup."
When it comes to life I think sometimes Jesus shouts out, “How can I show you God and give you life unless you first empty your cup!” We go about our days filling ourselves up with all kinds of things, and then calling that life. Then if we go to church, or if we pray, or if we pick up some sacred writing, we wonder why we do not seem to be filled with peace. Perhaps it is because we are too filled with things that are not God, or false ideas of God, to be filled with the presence of God, and to be filled with life and life abundant. If the way of Jesus isn’t our way, then even if our way seems right its end is death. In each of us something needs to be emptied in order that we might be filled. What in you do you need to empty? Jesus is waiting to fill that emptiness.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What way seems right to you? How did you discover this as the way? Might the way that seems right to you lead to death? What way leads to life? What is life?
I’ve heard this story before.
A university professor went to visit a famous and important theologian. While the theologian quietly served tea, the professor talked about theology, God, and the like. The theologian poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted out.
"You are like this cup," the theologian replied, "How can I help you to see God unless you first empty your cup."
When it comes to life I think sometimes Jesus shouts out, “How can I show you God and give you life unless you first empty your cup!” We go about our days filling ourselves up with all kinds of things, and then calling that life. Then if we go to church, or if we pray, or if we pick up some sacred writing, we wonder why we do not seem to be filled with peace. Perhaps it is because we are too filled with things that are not God, or false ideas of God, to be filled with the presence of God, and to be filled with life and life abundant. If the way of Jesus isn’t our way, then even if our way seems right its end is death. In each of us something needs to be emptied in order that we might be filled. What in you do you need to empty? Jesus is waiting to fill that emptiness.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Never Give Up!
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. – 2 Corinthians 4:1 (The Message)
What has God let you in on? Have you started the work that Christians are called to do? What hard times have come your way? Did you want to give up? Have you given up? Has God given up?
The following is from a biography on Edward Bennett Williams by Evan Thomas:
In 1986, Mother Teresa came to [Bennett’s] office in the Hill Building to ask for a contribution from the Knights of Malta to a hospice for AIDS patients. “AIDS is not my favorite disease,” Williams told Paul Dietrich, a fellow member of the order who helped him raise funds. Williams and Dietrich rehearsed a polite refusal to Mother Teresa. Her head peeking over Williams’s enormous desk, the diminutive nun made per pitch, and Williams apologetically, but firmly, declined. “Let us pray,” said Mother Teresa and bowed her head. Williams looked over at Dietrich, and the two men bowed with her. When she was done, Mother Teresa gave exactly the same appeal. Again Williams politely demurred. Once more Mother Teresa said, “Let us pray.” Williams looked up at the ceiling. “All right, all right,” he said, and pulled out his checkbook.
When the things we do are what God wants done we can never give up! Sometimes it seems like all options are exhausted, but prayer is never finished. Prayer is as much action as it is conversation with God. So pray on when the work seems too hard. Pray on when the way seems narrow and path is dangerous. Pray on and know that as long you have breath in your lungs there is something you can do to help change the world for glory of God!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What has God let you in on? Have you started the work that Christians are called to do? What hard times have come your way? Did you want to give up? Have you given up? Has God given up?
The following is from a biography on Edward Bennett Williams by Evan Thomas:
In 1986, Mother Teresa came to [Bennett’s] office in the Hill Building to ask for a contribution from the Knights of Malta to a hospice for AIDS patients. “AIDS is not my favorite disease,” Williams told Paul Dietrich, a fellow member of the order who helped him raise funds. Williams and Dietrich rehearsed a polite refusal to Mother Teresa. Her head peeking over Williams’s enormous desk, the diminutive nun made per pitch, and Williams apologetically, but firmly, declined. “Let us pray,” said Mother Teresa and bowed her head. Williams looked over at Dietrich, and the two men bowed with her. When she was done, Mother Teresa gave exactly the same appeal. Again Williams politely demurred. Once more Mother Teresa said, “Let us pray.” Williams looked up at the ceiling. “All right, all right,” he said, and pulled out his checkbook.
When the things we do are what God wants done we can never give up! Sometimes it seems like all options are exhausted, but prayer is never finished. Prayer is as much action as it is conversation with God. So pray on when the work seems too hard. Pray on when the way seems narrow and path is dangerous. Pray on and know that as long you have breath in your lungs there is something you can do to help change the world for glory of God!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, October 7, 2010
God's Rosebud and Our Faith
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5,6 (NRSV)
What does it mean to trust in the Lord? Do you? How have you tried to rely on your own insight? What happens? How will you acknowledge God in all ways?
The following was e-mailed to me and is called “GOD'S Rosebud”
A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.
It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...
"It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine."
"The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die."
"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?"
"So I'll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step of the way."
"The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose."
Mother Teresa said, “I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.” Oswald Chambers said, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows and loves the one who is leading.” We are God’s beauties, and God will make us bloom when the time is right, if we are still following. So let us follow with faith!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to trust in the Lord? Do you? How have you tried to rely on your own insight? What happens? How will you acknowledge God in all ways?
The following was e-mailed to me and is called “GOD'S Rosebud”
A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.
It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...
"It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine."
"The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die."
"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?"
"So I'll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step of the way."
"The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose."
Mother Teresa said, “I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.” Oswald Chambers said, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows and loves the one who is leading.” We are God’s beauties, and God will make us bloom when the time is right, if we are still following. So let us follow with faith!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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