“I realized it for the first time in my life: there is nothing but mystery in the world, how it hides behind the fabric of our poor, browbeat days, shining brightly, and we don't even know it.”
― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19: 1-4 One of the things I love most in the world is the novel The Secret Life of bees by Sue Monk Kidd. She has a way of writing about God by writing about we, His delightful, painful, wild-hearted people. And the reason she's able to do this is because she knows and believes that God is in the midst of the ordinary. The mystery is everywhere. We see it the opposite way, as if we have it all figured out. Then, when something doesn't fit, we get frustrated, confused, angry, or afraid. But dear friends, the world is all mystery, the hiding, seeking miracles of this world. Psalm 19 reminds us that creation is practically crying out loud the goodness of God. When we can our open our eyes to the mystery of the world, we will glimpse the overwhelming wonder of God. Consider reading the Sue Monk Kidd's delightful work:  Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 I love this quote from the musical "Hairspray". Those are big plans for the day! Eat some breakfast, check. Change the world, check. Sometimes, my to do list is pretty full, but if I held it up against "Change the world", it would look a little small. And even then, it doesn't always get done. I get frustrated when my plans have to change, or things take longer than I'd thought. But I get much LESS frustrated about those things if I have put my plans in the hands of God. When I've dedicated my day to the Lord, I trust a little easier that what HE wants done will get done. I trust that something that I do that wasn't on my list may have been part of God's purpose. So plan your day. Breakfast first. Then pray that the rest of your tasks, no matter how big or how small, may change the world into a better reflection of the Kingdom.  "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
Ok, a cupcake is still a cupcake. But too often, we sell God short. Lent begins this week, and it concludes a journey that began before the world did. The miraculous love of God was grace made manifest on the cross, and life conquered death. Think about the way that God worked this miracle. Think about how many things had to go just so to bring this about, and how many more things had to be right for you to know about it. So, muffin, dream big. Ask big asks. Pray big prayers. God is a big God. Who are you to say what's possible? And please, if you don't already have a church home, consider this my invitation to join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11.
Today, I feel like I don't have enough: enough energy, enough organization, enough gifts, enough of me. When I feel this way, I like to listen to this song as my prayer, and my affirmation. I shall not want. Listen to the music by clicking above (sorry for the ads) and read the lyrics below. And join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11.
I Shall Not Want by Audrey Assad From the love of my own comfort From the fear of having nothing From a life of worldly passions Deliver me O God From the need to be understood And from a need to be accepted From the fear of being lonely Deliver me O God Deliver me O God And I shall not want, no, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want From the fear of serving others Oh, and from the fear of death or trial And from the fear of humility Deliver me O God Yes, deliver me O God And I shall not want, no, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness I shall not want No, I shall not want, no, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness I shall not want When I taste Your goodness I shall not want I shall not want I shall not want Songwriters: Audrey Assad / Bryan Brown I Shall Not Want lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group You can digitally download this song by clicking below: |
AuthorRev. Jana Quisenberry is the minister at Brightwood Christian Church. She's an ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington, KY and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN, She now resides in Mt. Lebanon with her husband, two children, and dog, Sookie. Pastor Jana loves the church, science fiction, and coffee. Affiliate Links
Please note, links in the blog send you to Amazon, and a portion of the proceeds of the sale go to benefit the ministry of the church. Pastor Jana only includes those resources that she endorses and that can be of benefit to your faith life. Thank you for your support. Archives
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