For lovers of music and/or pictures, it’s worth spending 3 minutes and 45 seconds watching this Youtube with the music of For the Beauty of the Earth accompanied by some fabulous pictures of our wonderful world.

As you go along your day, may you notice all of the little beauties of this earth right in the neighborhood where you are…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, July 30, 2017:

• Genesis 29:15-28 and Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128
• 1 Kings 3:5-12 and Psalm 119:129-136
• Romans 8:26-39
• Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ~ Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Angels on Wheels is what Edward Grinnan describes in this Guideposts article ; folks who brought his mom meals while she was dealing with Alzheimer’s issues at home. His mom wouldn’t eat, he says and “When we told the volunteers this, they were wonderfully wise and pretty soon they got Mom to eat.”

Our family has been blessed by my mom’s example in empowering others to be angels on wheels. She helped orchestrate the Bowling Green “Meals on Wheels” initial program over 40 years ago – – she still drives meals around today. What a wonderful example of the Matthew 13 mustard seed of an idea that is now a tree, continuing to thrive!

As we seek to do God’s work in this world today, may we help seed ways to “help bring others nourishment” – whether of a physical, spiritual or other nature!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, July 30, 2017:

• Genesis 29:15-28 and Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128
• 1 Kings 3:5-12 and Psalm 119:129-136
• Romans 8:26-39
• Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

By the title alone, many of you likely know who the focus of today’s posting will be…

Fred Rogers was awarded the Emmy Lifetime Achievement award in 1997. In this Lifetime Achievement award speech, Mr. Rogers encouraged everyone to spend 10 seconds thinking of others who loved us into being who we are. The video is less than 4 minutes in length – if you watch it, close your eyes and think of those who loved you into your current role. The approach Mr. Rogers took with almost all topics was action-oriented, love-focused and genuine. What a gift.***

A nod to Pastor Peter for prompting today’s post in the aftermath of his 7/23/17 sermon mentioning the Emmy speech. Along with that sermon, the Vacation Bible School (VBS) kids really added energy to MWPC’s Sanctuary with their singing and discussions about the week. They shared this 2017 VBS motto:

• do good
• seek peace
• go after it

May we follow this motto today and in the days ahead (with a nod to Mister Rogers…)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, July 30, 2017:

• Genesis 29:15-28 and Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128
• 1 Kings 3:5-12 and Psalm 119:129-136
• Romans 8:26-39
• Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

*** Amazingly, the book The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers, was just put back in the “keep” pile in the past few weeks… One quote that jumps out today from that book:

“One woman even remarked to her husband upon meeting Fred for the first time, ‘I think I just had a religious experience.’ He had the unique, transforming presence: Mother Teresa in a cardigan.” ~ The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers, p. 20

In this Guideposts devotional, Bob Hostetler discusses 6 ways to allow more silence, offering opportunities for even better prayer time. Maybe this weekend will offer an opportunity to try one of these six ideas?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, July 16, 2017:

• Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112
• Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13
• Romans 8:1-11
• Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

– Isaiah 55:10-12

Rain has been abundant lately in SW Ohio, including flood watches/warnings. The scripture above describes water accomplishing larger efforts. I particularly like the image of hills bursting in song and trees clapping, especially when rain results in softball postponements due to sopping fields or missed kayaking due to dangerous water levels.

This visual from Sight Psalms captures a certain sense of purpose when dealing with water bursting forth… Sometimes we just have to be unconventional, getting out our air mattresses and rakes while seeking new purpose?

ACTION: If you’re looking for an additional devotional, try Sight Psalms by signing up HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, July 16, 2017:

• Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112
• Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13
• Romans 8:1-11
• Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sticking with songs and the joy theme…

HERE is a Michael Card tune called Joy in the Journey which includes these lines:

“There is a joy in the journey,
There’s a light we can love on the way.

There is a wonder and wildness to life

And freedom for those who obey”

– Michael Card’s Joy in the Journey

The lyrics go on to talk about the challenges and still the joy. A little like what we read in this week’s Lectionary verses from Matthew

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

– Matthew 11:28-30

May good perspective be with us, enabling us to be more Christ-like and providing more joy in the journey even when the traveling is hazardous…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, July 9, 2017:

• Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 and Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13
• Zechariah 9:9-12 and Psalm 145:8-14
• Romans 7:15-25a
• Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Joy is Like the Rain – – – This song title makes one wonder…exactly how is joy like the rain?

Maybe our current trip to northern Ontario provides some insight? Rains are causing work stoppages and making fields into ponds. Not necessarily joy-inducing for outdoor laborers and farmers, for sure.

Yet, those same rains produce healthy crops, happy animals, radiant rainbows plus conversations while waiting out the storms.

Songwriter, Miriam Therese Winter, describes it this way: “Laughter runs across my pain, slips away and comes again.”  Sometimes we need laughter to help ease the pain.

This certainly relates to our Christian lives. If we’re always trying to be “devout as a Pharisee,” where are the laughter and the joy? Finding the right balance is critical (and yet still worry-inducing for many of us “sparrows.”)

ACTION? During this Sabbath day and in the week ahead, may we continue to look for the rainbows amidst the downpours

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, July 2, 2017:

• Genesis 21:8-21 and Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
• Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18
• Romans 6:1b-11
• Matthew 10:24-39

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Gedeon (rainbow)