September 29th

God, thanks for a chance to sit and chat with a new friend today. Help me understand him and be open to him. Help me figure out why he's reluctant to go to church and to apply that to my own way of dealing with folks. Above all, help us to be friends that respect and admire one another, always seeking each other's good and never trying to fix one another.

September 28th

Lord, thanks for a chance to visit someone in need and to be really able to connect with them. Bless Steve as he recovers, and bless our new friendship in Christ.
Lord, thanks also for a chance to lead worship at one of our local retirement homes. It's such a blessing to have folks there that really want to be there. It's like Sunday, only shorter, and without coffee fellowship. Even though it's 'just' another worship service, it's still a joy and something fresh.
I realize that sometimes folks of that generation are out of my comfort zone, but on these occasions when I get out there with them, I have fun, and give you thanks for that.
Help me continue to serve this way with joy, enthusiasm and imagination.

September 27th

It's been a busy day, and just the start of a busy week. Lots on the go today!
I thank you for the folks I've seen and for the relationships you're helping me build. Help me get to know folks and to learn from them, and to trust myself and others a little more. Help me, as well, get the right person on board to enable me to work through some of the issues I need to deal with. In all things and all ways, help me grow closer to you as I grow closer to my true self and those around me.

September 26th

Thanks, God, for a safe trip to London with the family. Thanks also for the quiet time at home in the evening.

September 25th

Thanks, God, for a great day of worship, and excellent lunch and for the great folks at St. James.
Thanks also for the fun of Sound of Music and for the chance to have a life outside church.
Help us to keep growing and to keep serving our community.
Lord, I also ask you to inspire the right people to come forward and share a little more in the work needed at St. James. Bless them with the wisdom and generosity of Spirit they need to step forward and fill the roles of a tech. person, elders and the other areas where we need a few more willing hearts and minds.
Thank you for the folks who are committed and serving; help me to always remember their faithfulness.

September 25th: A Clean Slate

I was listening to CBC radio one day as they aired an autobiography of a Canadian musician unknown to me, but interesting nevertheless. As he told his story he shared his music so I got a sense of who he was. Mind you, he wasn’t entirely memorable. What I do remember, however, was when he said that one day, just before a concert, he looked over ninety or so of his songs and decided that none of them were any good.
You read correctly: this gentleman no longer like his own music. He didn’t think the songs were relevant; didn’t think they were who he was; didn’t think that they were suitable, for whatever reason. So, he chose to start fresh. He chose to write new songs, I guess. I didn’t hear much more of the story after that. I was so shocked to think he would see his own music in that light that I got lost in my own thoughts.
I wondered about how a person could see their own works as no longer valid. I wondered about how someone could negate their own efforts for no particularly good reason. I wondered about how fragile we humans are that we can be so self-critical about our own accomplishments.
Of course, there was also something very symbolic about his choice. He chose to basically wipe the slate clean of his past. Similarly, we humans are in constant need of having our slates wiped clean of our mistakes. In other words, we have to be forgiven on a regular basis. Not everyone might like to face that reality; not everyone may realize that it’s part and parcel of growing and maturing as a human being; nevertheless, without regular, constant cleansing of our souls we are less than who God fully intends us to be.
It isn’t easy to own up to that need. Admitting we’ve blown it accidentally is a pretty hard thing to do; it’s even harder to tell God we did something wrong on purpose. We still have to do it. We have to face God and tell the truth about ourselves. God, through Jesus, will take care of the rest. Forgiveness comes as easily to God as sin does to His creation. It might not be easy for us to forgive, but it is God’s nature to wipe the slate clean as long as we confess we’ve blown it.
Here’s the most amazing part of this process. Admitting our guilt relieves us of punishment, because being weighed down by sin is the best punishment ever. Our guilt, shame and separation from God cause us to suffer enough without any help from God. That’s not what our Creator wants for us; God wants us to be whole and holy, and all it takes to get back in His good book is to let Him know what we’ve done so that He can in turn forgive us. Come clean with God and He’ll make you clean as new. All that shame will go away. The guilt will be erased. It’s a new beginning, whenever you need it. And trust me, no if’s, ands or buts about it, there is no better feeing than starting out with a clean slate.

September 24th

Lots of little chores done today, Lord. A good day, some time alone, some with Lois and the kids. A nice time to relax and just be me. Thanks.

September 23rd

God, it's been a bit of a disappointing day in terms of our kitchen. I know that it's not a major thing, and that there are far more important things in life, but I just pray that we can finish the work and get on with something a little more normal.
Help me to be thankful for all that I have and to be a good steward of that and what I've yet to receive from you. Let the joy and relaxation that comes from having a comfortable home work it's way into making me a better person and within that personhood, a better pastor.

September 22nd

Lord, as the routine of life starts to settle in and I look ahead to a long, unbroken time here at St. James, help me plan and prepare and make the best use of this time. Help me organize worship until Christmas so that we can all be ready and able to lead St. James in glorifying you.
Give me the wisdom and imagination I need to speak and teach your word in a way that reflects you and the honours the folks we serve and those we'd like to reach.

September 21st

Lord, it's been a pretty quiet day, and a time to think. I know that I have a hard time trusting people; I'm working on it. Help me understand why that's so, and to trust a little more.
I also know that I'm not the most confident person, and that perhaps I don't see myself as honestly as others do.
Help me with that, too.
Help me honour who and what you've made me to be, and to take care of myself so that I can serve your people the best I can.

September 20th

God, what an amazing Presbytery meeting we had! Thanks for everybody that took part, especially Darryl and the praise team. Bless Scott as a gets ready for his new adventure and ministry, and watch over Zoe, Gabrielle and Dominique as they deal with this major change.
Thanks for Scott's friendship and support and help us maintain our close relationship despite the distance.
Help our Presbytery as well, as we seek a new minister for Knox, Leamington and a new Clerk as well.

September 19th

Lord, as I continue to reflect on the time spent at PoE I thank you again for the opportunity and for the people there.
I also give you thanks for the folks that responded to the necessary surveys and contributed to this insight into myself. Thanks for their willingness and honesty. Help me honour their effort by working towards excellence in my personal and professional Spiritual life.