Stop Hoping, Go For Faith

It isn’t uncommon to hear people say things like, “ I hope things will get better” or “I hope I can achieve my dreams.” Hope is just a desire, a wish, a dream. Faith on the other hand, is much deeper than that. It’s a belief, a conviction, a trust that things will work out.

Faith says whatever you are hoping for is here now. Hope says there is a chance of it happening sometime in the future. 

As our faith grows, we increase our study and knowledge, and we begin to apply the principle of hope. 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who come to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) 

Even emojis can be used to denote hope. They are the “body language” of written communication. The cross symbolizes faith, the anchor symbolizes hope, and the heart represents love. 

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”(Hebrews 6:19) 

Jesus said, “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) 

This is far more than the power of positive thinking. It is the power of God that makes what seems impossible possible. 

Nothing is impossible with God.(Luke 1:37) 

My prayer is that we all strive to be optimistic, hopeful and confident about today and our future with God.

The three pillars of Lent—prayer, fasting and almsgiving—serve as guideposts on this 40-day journey. Prayer, in particular, holds a special place in this season of repentance and renewal. Whether you are new to praying or seeking a deeper prayer life, Lent offers a perfect invitation to begin wherever you are.

For me, it is a time of deep introspection. A way to search my heart pondering who I am, that I might widen my connection to spirit.

Part of this process involves examining my weaknesses that act as stumbling blocks as I prepare to receive God's reconciliation in Christ Jesus on Easter as we celebrate Jesus' glorious resurrection.

May I share with you a poem that I am reading each morning during my time of silent meditation…each time I read it, Spirit sends me something new to reflect on. My prayer is that it might speak to you as well.

This poem was written by Dietrich Boenhoeffer in 1944 as he was imprisoned by the Nazis.

Who Am I

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Who am I? They often tell me I stepped from my cells confinement

Calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a Squire from his country house.

Who am I? They often tell me I used to speak to my warders

freely and friendly and clearly, as though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me I bore the days of misfortune

equably, smilingly, proudly, like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really that which other men tell of?

Or am I only what I myself know of myself?

Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,

Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing

My throat, yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,

thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,

tossing in expectation of great events,

powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,

weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,

faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.

Who am I? This or the Other?

Am I one person to-day and to-morrow another?

Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,

And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?

Or is something within me like a beaten army

Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely question of mine,

Whoever I am, Thou Knowest, O God, I am thine

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. –Psalms 121:1-2

The turn from January into February can be challenging. Sometimes we enter the new year full of hope. We may make resolutions. We exercise more. We eat better. We set aside time for prayer and meditation. We relish a fresh start, and look ahead with excitement and expectancy. And, by February, some of that shine may have started to fade. Old habits return. The realities of work and life and unexpected challenges crowd out time we’d set aside for prayer and rest and activities that recharge. 

Or maybe the new year was never very shiny to start—we finished the previous year under strain and looked ahead to another year that seemed likely to involve more valleys than mountaintops. 

Being human is messy. I know that I can find myself fully present to the smallest joys in one moment—watching birds flock to seed in a dusting of snow, or hearing children’s laughter when the school down the road is at recess. And in the next, I can fall into the trap of spending an inordinate amount of mental energy ruminating on what was—what has happened in the past—and on worrying about what I imagine will be, even though I know the future is unpredictable. 

Sometimes victory means just taking a single step forward, and navigating the present day, with the knowledge that we’re never making that effort alone. I’ve often taken encouragement and inspiration from a handful of spiritual writers—Henri Nouwen, Frederick Buechner, and Thomas Merton tend to always be in that mix. And of late, one prayer from Merton (a Trappist monk) has been focal in my quiet time:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. 

I do not see the road ahead of me. 

I cannot know for certain where it will end. 

Nor do I really know myself, 

and the fact that I think that I am following your will

 does not mean that I am actually doing so. 

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. 

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. 

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. 

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road 

though I may know nothing about it. 

Therefore will I trust you always 

though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. 

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, 

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. But I move through today in the faith that God will help me arrive where I am to arrive, how I am to arrive, as long as I walk with Him. Because my help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The holidays season, from Thanksgiving through New Years Day, can be a fun time, but also a crazy time.  I believe a good thought, for staying centered is:

"The Lord is very generous.  He has given us an abundance of people to care for.  Some need emotional care, others spiritual and others material care.  Let us enjoy the bounty!"

No matter our situation- pressed for time, strapped for funds, reeling from the blows life can bring- the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, has equipped us to care.  Prayer, a kind word; they may seem slight, but can carry a load of meaning and substance.  When we care for others, it fans the flame in our hearts, and makes the Kingdom of God more real, in our lives and others.

Enjoy the bounty!

My beloved Rush Creek Family, as we continue through this month of thanksgiving and gratitude, I am reminded of one of my favorite Rumi quotes calling us to be grateful for our lives. Part of achieving this goal involves us making choices of how we accept life’s joys and struggles.

“Be grateful for your life, every detail of it, and your face will come to shine like a sun, and everyone who sees it will be made glad and peaceful.”                   ~Rumi

THE CHOICE IS OURS

Life affords us opportunities 

They come in many forms

Welcome and unwelcome

Reaction to them is up to us

The choice is ours

We wear every life experience 

On our faces and

In our hearts and spirits

Reaction to them is up to us

The choice is ours

Our true self depends on

Reaction to every experience

We encounter can be either

Destructive or transformative 

Reaction to them is up to us 

The choice is ours 

May we seek the good

Grasping and holding it tightly

May we transform the bad and

Accept it as part of the sum total of our being

Reaction to them is up to us 

The choice is ours 

May we have “faces that shine like the sun”

Bringing joy and peace to all we encounter

The choice is ours 

Shalom Beloved Friends  ~Jeanette

As elders we are asked to reflect on a life or faith event that has been especially meaningful. I am going back many years to a decision making time that would impact the rest of my life. When I was in high school and trying to decide where I might go to college, my minister, Rev. Stanley Letchur Jr, (better known as Woody), played a very important role. When he came to our church as a senior minister (Clovis, NM), he was instantly popular with youth and adults alike. For the youth, we were impressed by his imitation of Woody the Woodpecker, a popular cartoon of the time, and for the adults, he was a great preacher and caring pastor.

Woody had gotten his undergraduate degree at Phillips University (Enid, OK), felt strongly that I would also love it, and was responsible for helping me get a merit scholarship. He was right; I felt very much at home at Phillips. That is where I met my future husband of over 61 years, Bob. As most of you know, Bob was dedicated to ministry over several decades. Although I just attended Phillips for two years and finished later at Butler University (Indianapolis, IN), that period of time was the beginning of my adult life. Even though teaching and educational diagnostics became my professional career, the church was the center of my married life to Bob and was the way we raised our children, Rob and Shawna. Unfortunately, Phillips no longer has an undergraduate school and is now a seminary only, but I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend Phillips as an undergraduate. The decisions we make in those early years are so very important and greatly influence our future. I thank God for guidance during that critical time in my life and for the kindness and counsel of a minister we called Woody.

Taken from The Good News Bible, Today’s English Version

Psalms 103: 13 - 18

As kind as a father is to his children,

So kind is the Lord to those who honor Him.

He knows what we are made of; He remembers that we are dust.

As for us, our life is like grass. We grow and flourish like a wild flower.

Then the wind blows on it, and it is gone - no one sees it again.

But for those who honor the Lord, His love lasts forever,

and His goodness endures for all generations of those who are

true to His covenant and who faithfully obey His commands.

I have a deep appreciation for hearing the stories of individuals who have triumphed over adversity, as it reminds me of the remarkable strength that God has bestowed upon each of us. Currently, I'm reading Anthony Ray Hinton's story in his book, "The Sun Does Shine." Ray, as he prefers to be called, endured an unjust conviction for murders he didn't commit, leading to a death sentence. Reflecting on Tiff's recent sermon about navigating life's "pits," Ray's own experience in a monumental pit speaks volumes to the challenges he faced.

In his journey, Ray grappled with hopelessness, a lack of freedom, and even anger directed towards God. Amid the darkness of his surroundings, a transformative realization emerged. He recognized his power of choice, understanding that despite his circumstances, he could opt for hope, faith, love, and compassion. This conscious shift in perspective ignited a profound transformation in him. He shared with his fellow inmates on death row, "God may sit high, but He looks low. He's lookin' down here in this pit." Although I've yet to reach the end of Ray's story, I do know that he eventually secures his freedom with the support of a dedicated legal team led by Bryan Stevenson from the Equal Justice Initiative.

Ray's journey underscores his unyielding resilience, unveiling the depths of his commitment to hope, faith, and compassion even within the darkest corners of injustice. His ability to make choices amidst dire circumstances echoes a message from Romans 8:37-39 – the enduring love of God that fortifies our endurance. Just as Ray's narrative casts light on the transformative impact of choice amidst darkness, this biblical message reminds us of God's unwavering love that sustains us.

Romans 8:37-39 (NIV):

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

May we draw strength from the message of unwavering love, as we navigate life's challenges with hope, faith, and compassion, knowing that God's light shines even in the darkest moments.

Dona Nobis Pacem

"Peace I leave you, my peace I give you..."

John 14:27

Am I receiving that peace you give for my soul? Jesus, You offer it, yet my part is to receive it. You especially extend it in my times of turmoil when I need it most, but I get so wrapped up with "me", that I miss "You". Your peace comes by focusing on You and putting other things aside. The more I forge forward the more I need to be quiet with You, to hand over all that I am carrying to You. Then I can receive Your perfect peace.

James 1:2 tells me to consider it pure joy whenever I face trials. Could it be that You are the "pure joy" because You are my refuge and strength? Psalm 41:1

Holy Spirit, help me to be still in Your presence. Control my mind with faith and trust as You bless me with Life and Peace. Romans 8:1 "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." I welcome Your peace.

In the powerful name of Jesus,

Amen

As I’ve thought about what to write this month, a theme kept coming back to me - connectedness. I remember sharing my story of how I got to Rush Creek during deacon training, and how connected I felt to those who were there with me as I heard their stories, and it helped me to get to know them. I feel it is very important to know each other beyond the pleasantries, so we continue to have that warm welcoming feeling we have all felt.

In an effort to connect with you, I will share my story with you, and I encourage you to share your story with someone who you may not know. I started coming to Rush Creek when I worked night shift, as there was an early service, and it gave me the opportunity to worship when I couldn’t attend my church when working nights. I never intended to leave the church we were attending. I felt welcomed, and after attending many early services, I decided to come to the late service with the rest of my family. Little did I know my daughter already knew another child there she attended daycare with, and I remember her mom coming to me after she dropped her daughter in children’s church asking if we’d been here all along? I told her no, we were just visiting. There was something drawing me and my family to this church, and we found ourselves attending services here rather than attending the church we were at. I never imagined developing an amazing friendship with several families here. I’m so grateful we found this church and that we are apart of this amazing church family.

LIFE 

By Mother Teresa 

LIFE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BENEFIT FROM IT. 

LIFE IS BEAUTY, ADMIRE IT. 

LIFE IS A DREAM, REALIZE IT. 

LIFE IS A CHALLENGE, MEET IT.

LIFE IS A DUTY, COMPLETE IT. 

LIFE IS A GAME, PLAY IT. 

LIFE IS A PROMISE, FULFILL IT. 

LIFE IS SORROW, OVERCOME IT. 

LIFE IS A SONG, SING IT. 

LIFE IS A STRUGGLE, ACCEPT IT. 

LIFE IS A TRADGEDY, CONFRONT IT. 

LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE, DARE IT. 

LIFE IS LUCK, MAKE IT. 

LIFE IS TOO PRECIOUS, DO NOT DESTROY IT. 

LIFE IS LIFE, FIGHT FOR IT.

I was looking through some of my devotional material when I found this amazing and simple quote from Mother Teresa. The precious “gift of life” from God is simply stated in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one & only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”Also, Ephesians 2:8. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

As this year ends and we begin a new year, we each have the opportunity to “begin again” ourselves. On the 25th day of December, we begin celebrating the 12 days of Christmas in our home, beginning with the precious gift of Jesus Christ (partridge in a pear tree), through January 5, which includes the 12 Drummers drumming (points of belief in the Apostles Creed).

Life is love freely given by God. All we need to do is keep his commandments. "Love the Lord your God with all all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22: 37-39. Always remembering-- "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

Matthew 18: 1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”

We can learn so much from children! It has been my joy and blessing to learn about God’s love with our wonderful children during our Growing Together time and Vacation Bible School. I learned many things from students when I taught elementary school, and now I’m learning from children as a substitute teacher. Daniel, my grandson, asked me recently, “When are we going to do Meals on Wheels again?” Not only does he enjoy the experience, but he understands the importance of helping others in this way.

Thankful for Valeska Fripp, our Children’s Director, for the opportunities she presents for adults and our youth to learn about God’s love with our precious children in many ways. Thankful for Jo Carolyn McVeigh for overseeing our Meals on Wheels outreach ministry, so that we can experience the childlike joy of helping others.

Jesus showed us perfect, childlike faith when He trusted His Father’s plan. He came to us as a baby, lived with and loved us. He trusted His Father through His suffering and death, and He trusted the Father to raise Him from the dead. Jesus died for the times we doubt the wisdom of His plan, for the time we doubt that we could even be forgiven.

We cannot see the big picture, as God does. God has a plan for us, a salvation plan that Jesus fulfilled.  All we need to do is put our trust in Him.  Jesus, help us to have childlike faith that trust in You always.

Amen

We Are All Beloved – Even our Relatives!

First off, I have to tell everyone that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. The thought of slowing down, gathering your family around a table, sharing good meals, telling and retelling family stories, or just being in the presence of those who you hold dearest in your life just fills my heart.

It can also be a tough time for families who struggle with relationships. I know many families deal with broken or damaged relationships. These feelings often strain or break the bonds of family. If you find yourself in the company of the “crazy uncle” or the sibling who you disagreed with over the years, try to remember that God has love for them. Seek to heal your heart for a few hours and remember that God called them his Beloved too.

I don’t expect years of hurt to fade away at one meal but set your heart as the Lord and try to remember the following verses.

Proverbs 3: 3-4

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Romans 12:10

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

May God bring peace to you and those around your table during this Thanksgiving season.

As I thought about what to share with you this month, an important lesson that came to me this past summer as a “God twinkling “ in a lovely way. Before sharing today, I received permission from my precious Isabel to use her name and our picture.

Those who are friends of mine on Facebook may have already read this, please indulge my resharing because the message is so poignant.

Since we are entering the season of holiday baking, my wish is that each of you, at some point, find time to……….

………Bake Cookies Like You Used To ♥️

Beloved brothers and sisters, our mighty God is so good if we just remain open to the twinklings no matter how large or small. If you’re like me, we spend endless amounts of time searching everywhere for answers….by just remaining open to spirit, living in each moment, all we seek is right before us, no banner headlines required.

Those who know me, know that children are my passion and ministry. So many life lessons and knowings have been gifted to me from them. One of the biggest understandings has been that, over time, it’s not the super splashy events they hold on to……it’s the simple things you share with them where they have your undivided attention no matter what the activity. I recently was blessed with a lovely reminder of this very lesson.

I love this young lady like a granddaughter. Since Don and I have no children, she is surely a gift in my life, cherished beyond words. Now that she’s in college, we treasure the small pieces of time we share. I met her when she was is 2nd or 3rd grade cementing our relationship when she spent 4th and 5th grade in my Sunday School class. We have shared many wonderful times over the years. So grateful her parents let me have a part in her life.

Apparently I needed a refresher lesson in the importance of the simple things. As we began planning a day together, I was suggesting going here, going there..doing this and that when she said “Ms. Jeanette, I’d really love to bake cookies in your kitchen like we used to.”…..There it was, Spirit twinkling….it’s the simple things, my daughter. So, a week ago, that is exactly what we did…..drank real crème soda, made a mess, licked beaters, giggled, shared secrets, laughed, cried, loving each other deeply.

My beloveds, I share this with you that you might slow your busy life for a time and “bake cookies like you used to” receiving God’s grace and blessing through the simple things.  Shalom.

In January, in a Prayer of the Elder, I prayed, “We often do not understand certain events in our lives, but the day will come when God’s will is revealed and made clear to us. May we always trust in Your greater plan for each of us and may we remain open-minded and open-hearted to live to the fullest of that plan.” At that time, I did not realize how prophetic those words would be. On the morning of June 15, 2022, my life changed forever. I heard the words, “I’m sorry, but you have cancer.” I almost fell to my knees. I was devastated. Before that day, for several weeks, I had kept the information that I was undergoing testing for possible breast cancer to myself, my close family, and a few others. But after that day, I could no longer keep the news confined to that close circle. I felt that my mind would explode if I didn’t talk through my fears, my worries, my concerns, my thoughts with others. And I truly believe that that sharing and talking through my diagnosis and treatment options is what helped me make it through my surgery and recovery.

I have tried to write a thank you note to all of you at Rush Creek Christian Church for weeks. I would start to try to express my gratitude in writing, but the words failed me. This church, with all of its members and its staff, has been my salvation. The outpouring of love and support, the many hugs and pats on the back - all of it has been soothing and comforting to my weary soul. The phone calls, the texts, the Facebook messages, the food, the flowers, the cards - all of it a balm on my frightened heart.  I have always watched this church rally around those who are sick, who are in need, who have lost, who are hurting outwardly and inwardly. And to experience that rallying cry personally in my darkest of days and weeks - I still feel like I don’t have adequate words. Thank you all for your loving mercies to me, Scott, Ryan, Hannah, and Molly. I promise to do all I can to be of service to you and to Rush Creek to repay that love and support.

I still haven’t quite figured out what God’s plan is with me and my cancer journey. I have not doubted His plans for me. I know that I am lucky to be able to continue my search for the answer. And I am blessed to have all of you with me on that continued journey.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. — Psalm 28:7

Psalm 105: 1-4

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Look to the Lord and his strength;

seek his face always.

As I was preparing myself for the upcoming CYF Mission Trip to Galveston, the above verse hit my daily reading. It resonated with me clearly that I am instructed to give God the Glory for all things. This sounds like an easy task – How hard is it to share with others the good God has poured out on me and my family. How hard is it to tell of the miracles he has blessed me with in my lifetime? How hard is it to share how God has delivered me through rough times? The answer to those questions for me is - it is hard.

I am lazy when it comes to doing what God asks of me and I am selfish of my time. Pride continues to block me from truly sharing these stories of blessings and triumphs. Part of it is embarrassment and lack of confidence in sharing my story. What I need to remember is that it is not my story but God's. My motivation should always be to bring Glory to our Creator and Savior.

Mission Trips are a great way to start spreading the Good News of Christ. Heck that is the purpose of the trip. From past experiences, I have seen God at work doing this very thing. Not just with the recipients of our help, but with the kids and other adult leaders of the group. For me this work is easy in comparison to the day-to-day task of sharing with others what God has done for me and giving him the Glory. Although we were unable to go on the Mission Trip, I hope to use the preparation and themes of the trip as a catalyst so I can continue with earnest to “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”

Our family received bad news this week that my Father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. God has been so good to our family and has poured out his blessings on us daily. I started this letter prior to receiving Dad’s news and again it hit home even in hard times we are told to proclaim, sing, tell, rejoice, look to the Lord and seek him. God has a perfect plan, and he will be Glorified!

Share what wonderful acts God has worked in your life and make known to the nations what he has done.

Years ago, curiosity led me to read (a translation of) the Egyptian’s “Book of the Dead”, the collection of ancient writings that described the Egyptians’ understanding of life, death and their cosmology.  I really struggled to understand how that stuff could mean anything to them- they wrote as if the dead were always around them, in or another states of non-life, but not non-existence.  Of course it is hard for us to wrap our minds around today, trained as we are in a cultural understanding (thanks to thinkers like David Hume) of the difference between real and unreal, actual and imagined.

The Bible, written centuries after the Egyptian myths, doesn’t go into a lot of explanation about the topic.  Sure, there are a couple of patriarchs, like Elijah, taken straight up into heaven, and also a couple of others encountering the disciples during the Transfiguration.  And then, there is the verse that preachers have struggled over what to do with for millenia- Matthew 27:52.  (If I ever get to do the Sunday School series, “Least Loved Stories From the Bible”, that verse will be one of the lessons).

I think, after the last 18 months, having lost my brother and mother, I am better equipped to understand what the ancients were trying to express.  My daughter has helped too- she was in a performance of “The Secret Garden”, and that show handled the theme of people dealing with loved ones that are gone physically, but whose presence is still felt.

This is a long and roundabout way of getting to: when we bury the bodies of our loved ones that pass, we don’t have to also bury their memories and even presence in our lives.  Yes, their lives on Earth are ended, but that does nothing to affect the reality of feelings we have for them, or even really the feelings they held of us, earlier.

Those emotions and interactions were real, and so are still real.  The impacts they had on us, in forming us into who we are now, are all still very real, and can even echo and ripple onward, through our interactions with others.

I feel as if it is ok still to talk with my brother and my mother.  We have enough history together for me to imagine their responses and views about the things going on in my life.  I don’t think this is exactly what is meant by “the life everlasting” of the old creeds, but it will do as a facet, until we all get there.

Grace and peace be with you.

At Easter we celebrate the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, the crescendo of Christianity, the miracle generations waited for and celebrate again and again.

But, what now? We spend time planning for significant events – weddings, the birth of a child, the trip of a lifetime – but sometimes we haven’t thought through what that event will change about us and what we need to prepare for going forward.

Jesus spent much of his ministry preparing his disciples and the world for his death, resurrection, and what will be expected of them as followers of Christ. In John chapter 16 verse 32 Jesus says to his disciples “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus goes on to pray for himself “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17:1-5

And then, Jesus prays for all believers, present and future, in verses 20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know you sent me.”

The good news doesn’t end with the resurrection, it begins there. The hope of unity with God through the Son is the most precious and eternal gift and the resurrection reminds us to celebrate and share that gift in our daily lives.

Lord, show me how to glorify You so that others may have the hope that only comes from You.

April’s here again; Easter beckons. I’m always fascinated by the Easter Story, Jesus heading towards Jerusalem and His eminent crucifixion and death. The story of his transfiguration and the various miracles and good deeds he performed on the way towards Jerusalem.

But I am enlightened by something else this year. It is amazing how the Bible talks to us; how things we’ve known and learned takes on new meaning. In my case, it’s about the last supper.

I once was tasked with talking to a feuding couple. They were at odds with each other, harsh words exchanged. To say it was serious was an understatement. Questions raged in my mind. Am I qualified to talk or mediate between anyone? What qualifications do I have? I mean what do I know? Someone more qualified is needed here - a pastor, conflict resolution expert, anyone but me.

Then it came to me. Words spoken each time I was invited to the table to dine, the lighting of the candle, the words “Come as you are”, everyone’s invited, and no one’s exempt. On the night that He was betrayed, he blessed the meal, taking the bread saying “take eat, this is my body, broken for you.” Likewise, he took the wine, blessed it and said this is blood of the Covenant poured out for the remission of sins.

The key words that struck me were; “Invite,” “Table,” “acceptance,” all being welcome and especially who was making the invitation. Light taking away “darkness” or bringing clarity. The elements - bread, symbolic of his taking on our sins, wine symbolic of his bloodshed for the remission of sins. “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world,” John declared.

We are honored guests seated at a “table” at the head of which is Christ Himself. Pride, arrogance, shame, disgrace, worry etc. is left behind. Here we come just as we are, and we are accepted.

We receive enlightenment; our load or burdens are lightened. Our deepest fears and doubts are removed.

There is the great invitation!

Jesus Himself sits at the head of the table. Come as you are, sit facing each other, leave anger and doubts behind. Forgive one another just as you (all of us) are forgiven. Acknowledge that we’re all not “worthy”. Christ has indeed paid it all. Bread (body) broken for my sins and wine (blood) that washes away our sins. It heals us and erases all that binds us. That is a great starting point.

The table as it turns out is indeed a special place. A place where we meet, cleansed, rejuvenated, humbled with the knowledge of our fragility and what it took to cleanse us and therefore with clear minds resolve differences.

An eye opener indeed!!!

Do you have a time set aside to meditate and pray with God? How many times did you stop today and say a short prayer? How many times did you stop and thank God for all your blessings? With what is transpiring in Ukraine, did you ask God to protect the population? Why do you pray?

Chris Wilson taught a class on prayer and he told us that when he was driving, he would pray for everyone in a black car, or every house that had a red front door or every child he saw. It was his way of staying in touch with God all through the day.

I am sure we all wish we did all of those things but life gets in the way. My fitness app tells me every day that it takes 180 times for an activity to become a habit.

Since we are entering the Lenten season, instead of giving up something for Lent, I am going to place my meditation time at the top of my to do list and start working on those 180 times and hopefully establish a new habit. I hope you will join me.

God bless you and Rush Creek Christian.

I am a creature of habit. I find comfort in the familiar. It’s not that I don’t like change or the shake ups of life (having 2 teenagers and a kid in college shakes it up constantly), but I am quite comfortable in my comfort zone. However, as I look back at some big choices I have made in my life, I have stepped well outside that comfort zone - in deciding to leave Deep East Texas to go to TCU instead of my hometown college of SFA; in staying in Fort Worth after graduating from TCU and taking a job in a field I knew little about; and in taking a new job in Dallas in a different legal field after 10 years at the same law firm weeks after having my third child.

Each of these choices was fretted over, made and unmade and made again. But what helped me ultimately make these choices was my faith in myself and in God. Two years ago, I was asked if I would be interested in being nominated to be an Elder. An honor I never thought I would ever be asked. I leaned heavily into my faith, took a deep breath, and accepted. Being an Elder, especially during a global pandemic, has kept me out of my comfort zone. It has made me listen to God’s calling to be more outspoken in my faith. It has made me study, pray harder, listen more, and make mistakes through my journey as an Elder. But I keep looking for that path that continues towards the Lord and his plans for me. The Bible is full of stories of those who feared and questioned stepping outside their comfort zones. But when we do take that step, it is because we have faith that God will show up.

• Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.  - I Chronicles 16:11

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

As we begin February with the commissioning of our new Church officers, Board members, ministry team leaders, Elders, and Deacons, I ask that each of you step outside your comfort zone and see what ministry teams you can help with at Rush Creek. You will find yourself welcomed with open arms. There is something for everyone and there is always a place for you at Rush Creek.

In these current times, matters of health and medical care are often close to mind.  As we recall, Jesus’ ministry on Earth was largely a healing mystery (one example of many- John 5: 1-15), as people came to him presenting ailments they were powerless to treat or handle.  Healing the body was always important to Jesus, as he also gently reminded His supplicants that the soul needed healing, too.

As citizens of modern America, we are in the top .1% of all humans that have ever lived, in terms of prosperity and security.  You could say that one of the biggest challenges in modern American Christianity is adopting the sincere humility called for in our relationship with God.  But, even in this blessed age, medical concerns will bring us to our knees, in humble, sincere prayer.  As Covid-19 has reminded us (I know some didn’t need the reminder), modern medicine doesn’t have the answer for everything.

A prayer for healing, for ourselves or someone else, can be a very intimate prayer.  I’ve heard it done two ways- either some version of “Lord, I pray that if it be your will, to heal” or the direct, “Lord, please heal”.  It’s funny- we live in a world of medical science marvels like mRNA gene splicing and T-cell counts, but in an instant, we can be peers with all of our ancient brothers and sisters before us when facing a medical emergency. 

(Side note- Once, entering the grocery store, I was engaged by a young man asking for change.  He said, “You don’t know what it’s like to need to ask for help to get by.”

I replied, “On the contrary- when my newborn daughter was so sick in the hospital as an infant, I was on my knees begging for her life to the only One who could help.”  We then talked about the importance of knowing what is really needed, so that the right help was requested.)

Which segues back to the topic of praying for healing.  My understanding of the faith, of our faith, of my faith, is that our relationship with our Lord is not a transactional relationship.  We worship God because He is worthy of praise.  He bestows blessings to us out of His loving grace.  There is no linkage between the two.  There are no promises we can make or actions we can take here on Earth that will drive any predicted response from the Lord above.

Under such (lack of) terms, my preference in prayer is to ask for God to heal who I am praying for, with no equivocation of “…if it be your will”.  I want to connect, so I pray honestly, without hedging, about my plea.  He will intervene, or He will not, and as Job learned, it is not for us to claim any right to understand why.  Also, as in Job, any speculation about the reasons for prayers’ answers is foolish.  This is real and it is humbling, crushingly humbling, almost to despair.  But Christ will not let us despair.

So, here we are.  This- praying to our Heavenly Father for relief and healing in the face of a deadly disease- brings us in unity with all our brothers and sisters who came before us.  Despite the wealth and knowledge of this modern age, we can still find ourselves as helpless and needy as the poor Christians of the early church.  We Christians are a community that spans millenia, connected both by the strings of our baptisms, extending back, saint’s hand by saint’s hand, to Jesus Christ Himself, and by the shared experience of vital needs.  When we go to the Lord in prayer, our intimate, humble lives become as grand as the heaven above.  

     I often find myself lost in the clouds, figuratively speaking. I find myself lost in the beauty of the clouds. Last week, while driving home from work, I found myself staring at the blend of dark and light clouds slowly making their way across Midlothian and wondering if they were from the remnants of Hurricane Nicholas. Wondering if they had been part of the storm that had created such chaos and damage a few hundred miles away on the coast and amazed at how beautiful they were now that they were overhead. In July, I gazed in wonder at the beautiful clouds mixed with Sahara dust that had drifted thousands of miles across the ocean and were now above my backyard. I stopped and took pictures so I could always remember the brilliant display of those clouds, their colors, and their dust. I will probably never be anywhere near the Sahara Desert in person, but tiny parts of it were there in Mansfield in my presence. What a journey those tiny specks endured. In June, I took in the magnificence of the clouds while sitting on the beach in Florida. Their beauty only further enhanced by the soothing, calming sounds of the waves crashing along the shoreline. It was intoxicating. It was relaxing. It was truly the best of God’s creation and exactly what I needed mentally, physically, and spiritually at that time. 

    The beauty of nature around us is, in my opinion, one of the simplest reminders of God’s love for us. In our own eyes we see his creation in abundance. As Psalms 118:23 reminds us, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” In Psalms 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” 

     I love to take pictures of clouds whenever I can to remind me of that brief moment in time when I was struck by their beauty. And in those moments when I am stressed or upset or just need reminding of God’s love for me, I look back at those pictures. In an instant, a calmness washes over me. God’s presence is all around me. That even in my most trying times, his love never fails. His love will help me through. 

    As we approach the upcoming holiday season, I pray that you take a moment in whatever brings you peace and remember, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17) God’s love will see you through. 

When you get to be my age, many Bible scriptures that have special meaning are embedded in one’s memory. Each person who has committed to memory particular verses find them meaningful for different reasons. One that I recall from my childhood is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Now I don’t remember all of the lines, but these were significant for me: For everything there is a season, and time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted. (RSV) 

 As we have endured the turbulent days of the last few years, I have spent a lot of time wondering how the world arrived at this place of discontent and divide. What is causing the pandemic? Why can’t we just acknowledge that we do not have all the answers? Why do we fight endless wars? Why do we fight with each other?

Why do some countries massacre their own citizens? Why do people ignore their own neighbors? The list could go on and on. But then I think back to the ‘50s and ‘60s, and the world was just as divided as it is today. I know many of you did not live during that time, but while we often look back at the “good old days” through the rose-colored glasses of hindsight, there was an equal amount of division and disagreement.

It gives me comfort in these uncertain days to look to the words of Revelation 1:8, in which God tells us, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” … who is and who   was and who is to come,  the Almighty. He is ours for all eternity, if only we would trust in him. The world is constantly changing, and that is difficult for us mortals to understand. Even our bodies change every day. We must know that our relationship with God and Jesus Christ is our rock-solid foundation, and we must trust in Him. Visit with the Lord every morning, and let him guide you through the day. We can change our small world by following the words of Jesus and being compassionate, loving, giving, friendly, happy and caring with all the people we come in contact with every day. A smile and a kind word can change a person’s whole day. 

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. – Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

After all these years, I have finally learned to leave the big problems to God to solve. Try it.