Well, so far it's been a good, interesting day sharing with colleagues and really feeling your Spirit at work. What a true blessing to be able to address issues and have solid confirmation that our hearts are in the right place. I thank you for Mary's wisdom and Brad's openness and for their friendship. I feel blessed to be able to work with them.
Thanks also for Ed and his support and friendship. Please be with him and Carol in their work for the church and in their own lives. Help me to be a good a friend to them and to bless them as much as they bless me.
Lord, I also ask that you push new folks a little bit so that they can visit St. James and see what a blessing it can be for them. Give those folks that haven't been out for a while a little nudge too, please, or help me know how best to make them feel welcome again.
Had a really good day to start; accomplished some good work and had a couple of good visits with folks. Things turned south thinking about David's grades. He's so smart but he isn't motivated to try for some reason. He's doing poorly in subjects in which he should be excelling. It's frustrating and I don't understand how he could be failing in subjects he loves. Help me know how to help him better and to be patient with him. Be with him as well and do what it takes to get him to succeed as he best can. He's so capable and has so many gifts, it's hard to watch as he seems to be throwing it away.
God, I accomplished two simple tasks and didn't do much else for the rest of the day. It was a good, restful day. Took a great walk with the dog, hung out with Lois for a bit, didn't worry about anything or anyone. Thanks
Very tired but overall satisfied. Worship went well; Communion was served in what many hold to as the traditional way, and it satisfied them, so I feel satisfied. It's such a tight balancing act trying to make things work in a way that satisfies your needs and constantly trying to know what they are.
It's the same prayer I always have: to know how to grow the place, whether it's simply being patient and letting things mature as we continue to do what we're doing, or if we need to shift.
It was great just to sleep a bit, get up the Christmas lights and enjoy myself a bit. I'm very thankful that David's friends are willing to hang out here and eat with us; it's a good sign.
I'm especially thankful that Anna is having more good days than bad, and that it really seems to be a gluten related issue. Help us, God, do what it takes to make her fully well.
Once again I have to credit my ability to think quickly and act appropriately for avoiding, once again, an accident as I drove to work this morning. This situation happens all too often: a person will turn into oncoming traffic without regard to the approaching vehicles. They simply drive out, completely without a care in the world, either trusting that nothing bad will happen, or totally oblivious to the fact that they are risking not only their lives, but those of the drivers they are so thoughtlessly cutting off.
The incident this morning, however, was a bit different. Rather than diving into traffic and praying for the best, the woman first stuck the tip of her car out into the lane and, presumably when she saw me coming, slowed down for an instant. Believing she rethought her move and would wait, I kept on my way, placing my foot on the brake just in case. To no-one’s surprise this less than intelligent person then cut me off. Since I already had my foot on the brake I slowed down safely and did not have to swerve to avoid disaster. Thanks, God, for quick reflexes and experience.
What really bothers me about this incident is the fact that this woman clearly knew she was in the wrong. The fact that she slowed down and stopped before dashing out into my path indicates both forethought and planning. My car is small but, as always, I had my lights on and the day was sufficiently bright and clear as to offer no excuse for her not seeing and being aware of my oncoming vehicle. No, she clearly knew what she was doing and despite the obvious risk, went ahead and did it anyway. Her choice was absolutely foolish and forgivable only because I was able to avoid hitting her.
We often do the same thing when it comes to breaking God’s heart. We know we are making a bad and risky decision for ourselves, but we go ahead and do it anyway. Hesitant at first, we then plough ahead full-speed onto the dangerous roads of sin. I don’t know if it’s because we think we’ll get away with it or because we like the danger, but for whatever reason we more often than not know the full depth of our behaviour’s wrongness.
It is bad enough that our sins hurt us and God. What makes things worse is, like that lady choosing to pop out in front of me, our bad decisions often put others at as much risk of injury as it does us. Very few sins are victimless. Their impact cuts a much wider swath than we can imagine. Even when we know we are putting others in danger we just can’t seem to help ourselves. Whether is the sin itself or simply the sense of danger, we go ahead no matter the risk.
Thankfully, God’s forgiveness is greater than our capacity to sin. He reacts to our mistakes just as quickly as we decide to repent and seek His mercy. I just wish that we would all think twice before acting in a way that needs Him to be forgiving, and maybe try making Him praise us a little more often.
A good day off; good final show and some quality relaxing time. Even got to finish off the kitchen, except for one small task. Things are good. I'm still anxious, though. Just praying St. James can grow and move forward in it's service of you. That's what's on my mind these days. Still need patience and wisdom.
A fun show tonight and a pretty good day overall. Thanks, God. It's good to be part of that group.
Things are in an interesting place right now. Got some good work planning for worship and ideas are flowing for beyond Christmas. I'm wondering about where things are going next and what's happening at the church. It's good in many ways, we struggle financially, but we need to grow somehow.
It was so great to be able to meet with a couple of folks that want to join the church; it's a great sing of the possibilities at the church and I pray that we can achieve them. We have good people and good programs; somehow we have to get the word out about what's going on so we reach out to those in need of a good church home. I'm really encouraged by the number of kids that god to church in Theatre Kent; I just wish there was a way of drawing in more kids. What more can we do? Or is it just your timing? Help me know, Lord; grant me patience if that's what I need, and the the insight I need if that's the case.
