Happy Valentine's Day

Remember the kind of Valentine mailboxes we had in grade school?  If you had construction paper, lace doilies, scissors, glue and crayons - you were good to go.  I remember wondering all week what kind of Valentines I would get from each classmate.  I recall the year I received cookies from one boy and chocolates from another.  I was so embarrassed!  Why?  Because there were kids in my class who weren't so fortunate.  I never wanted anyone to feel left out or not have everything I did.  

Looking back, I have always had a heart for those less fortunate.  One of the real lessons from my childhood and church family was to treat everyone with dignity and respect regardless of circumstances.  So as I sat in the den floor making out my Valentines I picked out a special one for each child, not just my best friends or the little boy I had a crush on.  Who would have thought that exercise in diversity and inclusiveness would make me the person I am today?    

At the end of Valentine's Day, my daddy would bring home a box of chocolates with winking eyes on the front.  It was the leftover holiday candy from his Variety Store.  I think his message to me was clear.  You are special and it has nothing to do with Valentine's Day.    It has to do with a Father's love.  It was a simple reminder which is stated in scripture, "We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)."

So on this Valentine's Day, remember to show love to ALL of God's children because of his  commandment that teaches us love one another.

Dear God,

Because love is patient…
Help me to be slow to judge, but quick to listen.
Hesitant to criticize, but eager to encourage,
remembering your endless patience with me.

Help me have a heart that is humble and sees the good in others. May I celebrate and appreciate all that I have and all that I am, as well as doing the same for those around me.

Help me stand up for what is right and good. May I defend the defenseless, and help the helpless. Show me how I can make a difference.

Help me to be a refuge for those around me. When the world outside is harsh and cold, may my heart be a place of acceptance and warmth.

Finally, because love always perseveres…
Help my heart continually beat with love for You and others. Thank you for this day when we celebrate love, and for showing us what that word really means. 

Amen.

Words of Comfort

An empty place at the table...a voice missing from the laughter...a hand not there to hold.  These are the things I have missed this year.  While occasionally I experience sadness, the majority of memories are happy ones. By not focusing on mother's death, I am comforted by the legacy of a saint, the power of the resurrection, the love of God, the abundant life I will inherit.  While there is a hole in my heart that can never be filled in this lifetime, I look forward with confidence to a heavenly jubilee.

Prayer for the New Year

Dear God,

You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.

You are with me in good times and bad, in ordinary days and extraordinary ways.

I know that nothing can separate me from your great love.  Forgive me when I struggle to hear your voice in the busy-ness of life or even worse when I hear it but choose not to walk in your light.

Help me to acknowledge you in all that I do.  Restore in me a clean heart and a right spirit so that I might live my faith out loud for you.

Amen

THE FIST BUMP

How about a Knuckle sandwich?




Back in the day, the term "knuckle sandwich" was used to mean looking for a fight, cruising for a bruising or worst case scenario a blow with the fist to the mouth.



Fast forward to 2013 and knuckle sandwich could mean fist bumps. Who knew the simple act of pumping fists could be the new normal. Just this Christmas, Charlie received a card from one of his students that said " I love how you greet us with a fist punch when we come into class". You have done well when you impress a middle school student! At the Boys and Girls Club the girls want a hug from me and the boys stand in line for fist bumps. They greet me with such excitement! The other day at lunch Kendall, Jim Westmoreland's 2 year old grandaughter, held up her fist and told me "knuckles" when I asked for a hello hug. And at a recent ladies high school basketball game, the captains met the referees with a fist bump rather than the traditional handshake in center circle.



In church ministry, we often resist moving away from traditional to accept a new normal. However, I have learned in youth ministry that the needs are the same just how we communicate is often the difference. So instead of bemoaning the lost art of the handshake or the high fives, embrace the fist bump, it's a term of endearment for youth who still need recognition and relationships with adult role models.

We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.  Matthew 2:2

One of my favorite childhood decorations was a piece of plywood with cut- out stars of different sizes that fit over the entire front door.  Behind each cut- out star was colored cellophane paper with bright lights shining behind them.  You could see those twinkling stars from the highway! 

To this day, it reminds me of the many stars in my life that come in different shapes, sizes, ages, and personalities.  This past week alone I have been blessed by star builders at IHN, wrapping stars at Potter's House, morning prayer stars, college students shining on campuses, elves preparing for children's party, and the littlest angel in the camp sunshine Christmas play.

During this advent season, while  we eagerly await the star that shone bright at Jesus birth, perhaps  you can find a way this Christmas season to make someone else's world a little brighter.

Time is Ticking

I am reading Mitch Albom's book "the time keeper".  I was intrigued by a question he posed which was basically try to imagine a life without measuring time.  So I asked this same question of my senior highs at prayer breakfast.  We all agreed it would be an enormous challenge because we are reminded of time by clocks on the wall, on our car dash, on signage,  and on our iPhones.   Even at church "we chime the hour"!

My favorite part of Albom's observation is that "man alone measures time".  For instance, birds don't care if they're late, dogs don't check their watches and a deer could care less about his birthday.  Human beings  are the ones living in fear of running out of time.

So we closed our time together at prayer breakfast by taking off our watches, promising not to be burdened by time this day and repeating this variation of scripture

                             This is the day the Lord has made

                              Let us rejoice and be glad in it, and

                              Live every minute!

Seasons of Life

One of the things I like most about living in North Carolina is the changing of seasons.  It seems I am always ready for the next period when it arrives. 

When the leaves begin to turn colors and turn loose, temperatures become much cooler and colder, and daylight savings time ends, we are aware of the passage of Summer to Fall, and soon to be Fall to Winter. I marvel at this glorious display of God as Creator.

While the timing of these occasions are fairly predictable, the seasons of our life are not so scheduled.  I'm talking about the period of time when our cups are full or empty or possibly even broken.  The defining moments in our lives when time seems to stand still, move too fast but inevitably marches on.  This is when the God of Comfort shows up.  In the darkest nights of our souls, the bleak mid-winters of our hearts and the bare brittle bones of our emotions, we find peace and hope in Jesus the Christ.    Regardless what "season" we are living, God is faithful.  And that my friends, is a promise you can count on!