May Blog
On Easter Sunday we celebrated the most important event for our lives - Christ's resurrection. For too many people Easter is now over, but for us the Easter season is just beginning. This is a joyful time for the Church. The Christian calendar marks this time as the Great Fifty Days, more specifically it's the time between Easter and Pentecost. We are reminded of the presence of the risen, living Christ in our midst! We are also reminded that it is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we can know the risen Christ.
Here in Michigan the Great Fifty Days is a time when God's creation is bursting forth with new life. As I write the sun is shining so brightly and the buds on the trees are turning a brighter red, the grass looks greener and soon we will be mowing our lawns. Yellow daffodils, pink, purple and white hyacinths are in bloom in my yard. Soon our yards and parks will be filled with the brilliant colors of new life. During this time, we begin to take notice of birds singing at sunrise and we watch as they begin building their nests knowing soon, they will have little ones. All of creation seems to be bursting with joy. These are daily reminders for us to continue to celebrate the new life we have in Christ.
During these Great Fifty Days, I encourage you to be faithful in your prayer, study and worship. May your time with God be one of discovery, renewal and refreshment for your soul until you are bursting with joy like a fountain overflowing. In John 7:38 we read, "Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him." The more time we spend with Christ the more we get to know him. The next time you go for a drive or take a walk invite Christ to go with you, sing praises to him and tell him everything that's on your heart. Christ will bless the time you spend together and your stream will begin to flow deeper and stronger.
As you and I seek to grow in our life in Christ it is my prayer that we will each experience the words of Isaiah 55:12. "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Then we will be experiencing the world as God intends for us too - with hearts full of joy and overflowing in love to others.
God bless you in these Great Fifty days,
Pastor Becky
April Blog
During this Lenten season I am reminded often of how I fail to be all Christ wants me to be, yet there is still hope and joy in the midst of this because of Christ's resurrection. I am reminded that I still allow the busyness of life to draw me away from the time I need most -- time spent studying God's word, time spent with God in prayer and time spent with God through worship. Our God is a God of mercy. The compassion shown to us by God is new every day. We are never abandoned by God, we are the ones who walk away. We are the ones who fail to understand why we are here and what we are about.
In our Lenten sermon series based on Rev. Adam Hamilton's 24 Hours that Changed the World we are becoming more and more aware of the details of the events that took place in Jerusalem on the last night and day of Jesus' life on earth. We are gaining new understanding of what happened and what it means for each of us. And we try to find ourselves in the story. Who are we like Peter, Judas, John Nicodemus....?
People haven't changed. Paul wrote to the church in Rome telling them they needed to be changed by God. He told them to look beyond what society holds as valuable and important and look to God for their standard of how to live. In Romans 12:1-2 Paul said, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect."
We are like the Christians in the church of Rome. We listen and act on what our society says is good and worthwhile. We get caught up in materialism and addictions. We develop bad habits that separate us from God. We spend more time in front of the computer, TV or on our phone than we do with God. We get so busy we forget to seek God first each day and we set our day according to what we want. BUT, God can transform us if we seek to change and God will help it to happen in our lives.
It's time for us to take seriously what Jesus did on our behalf. It's time to focus on the cross that bought our redemption. It's time to draw closer in our relationship with Christ. Make a commitment to not miss going to worship. Make a commitment to grow closer to Christ through study (the Adult Sunday School will be starting a study on Romans soon). Make a commitment to spend more time in prayer and meditation, song and silence. Then see what God will do in your life! I can guarantee God will move in your life and mine in a powerful way if we are intentional about spending more time with God. Actually, doing those spiritual disciplines on a regular basis will transform your life forever and what better gift could you receive this Easter!
May God continue to bless your faith journey,
Pastor Becky
