To Be At Peace

The world around us is often creating distress for us. To have a sense of peace in the midst of the furry one must first be prepared to face it.

1. Nurture a modest and gentle spirit.
2. Discipline yourself to purge both material and spiritual ext reams.
3. Never do anyone harm.
4. Never judge anyone for any reason.
5. Take notice of your own faults rather than the faults of others.

Just For Fun

Two Little Old  Ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress. The thin one leaned over and  said, "Life is so boring. We never have any fun anymore. For $10 I'd take off  my clothes and streak through that stupid flower show!"
"You're on!" said the other old lady, holding up a $10 bill. The first little old lady slowly fumbled her way out of her clothes and,  completely naked, streaked  (as fast as an old lady can) through the front door of the flower show. 
Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause and shrill whistling.  The smiling and naked  old lady came through the exit door surrounded by a cheering crowd. 
"What happened?" asked her waiting friend. 


"I won 1st prize as the Best Dried Arrangement."

To Be Strong

The best athletes know that they must compete with stronger opponents to become stronger themselves. The same is true for our spirits so we do not runaway from the testing of the world but we prepare to enter the struggle.

 

The Apostle Paul wrote in the sixth chapter of Ephesians, ”Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

An Inconvenient Death

An old friend is dying and the timing of the death is most inconvenient. I don’t mean to startle you but this death is completely unexpected and distressing. I know that the bible says that there is a time to live and a time to die but this death is too early. It will require extra expense and some changes. It is just unacceptable and I won’t have it. Tomorrow I am calling in an expert to see what can be done to prevent this untimely departure.

 

 

Oh yes the death in question is my lawnmower which just barely made it through the task at hand today. It kept cutting out and stopping. 

A Lesson In Anger

I was sitting in my new office feeling enthusiastic about my new congregation. They all seemed like such wonderful people at the reception following worship on Sunday. So I was much surprised that a woman entered my office and began to ridicule everything I had done on Sunday. She was angry because I had changed so many things in the worship service.

 

As I listened I could feel the anger rising in me and felt the urge to respond in kind. I wanted to defend my self but the Holy Spirit reminded me of Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Well her harsh words were certainly stirring up anger in me.  So that proverb is true.

 

I prayed silently as I listened to her. Listening to the spirit speak to me I spoke to her gently expressing concern for her feelings and understanding that I was indeed very different from the former pastor. It was an amazing transformation in her and a good lesson for me as a young pastor. The irate woman standing at my desk began to relax and simmer down. We talked our way through the first of many visits about how things should be done in church. Though we often disagreed anger was never a part of our discussions again.

 

I often think of that day as a reminder to myself of how much better it is to follow God’s word and wisdom than to say the first thing I think. Allowing angry words to escape our lips only escalates the anger in everyone involved. On the other hand, we will never regret speaking kindly to others.

Iventory

I remember having a one day job every fall when the Ford dealer my father worked for had inventory. I usually was in the parts department counting all kinds of pieces of cars. Every part listed had to be counted and compared to the list of what should be there. They did not always match up. Sometimes there were not enough and sometime too much. I never knew what was done about the disarray in what was and what should be but that was not my concern.

 

Some times my life gets out of order too and my spirit gets in disarray due to haste or neglect. These are the times when I need to take a “Spiritual Inventory” and account for the difference in what is and what I know very well should be. Sometimes I need help and a spiritual director, Pastor, or really good friend can help me take an honest count.

 

Inventory is not easy but it is necessary if we are to be successful.