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Hello again!
I hope you are well hydrated and air conditioned at the moment. Walking out into today's heat has been described as "hitting a wall" and I have to say that's about right. When even the breeze is hot, you know it's bad! A Moment Apart…
For some of us, that period of life is often childhood. When you were a child, bills were paid for you, dishes and clothes were washed for you, your life was scheduled for you. Now, I make no mistake: our child-selves are usually eager to break out of this kind of lifestyle, to "do it by ourselves." But oh, once you realize what you gave up, don't you sometimes want to go back and advise your child-self to, "enjoy it while you have it"? It's so easy to get distracted by the responsibilities that now consume us. We have ourselves to look out for, then sometimes our spouses, of course our children - and even our parents. So much goes into coordinating our lives, so many areas of concern and details… We carry these roles around and often don't realize the weight bearing down on our shoulders. As Christians, we are called to be responsible and make certain decisions to reflect who we are in Christ. Unfortunately, that means the dishes are still in the sink, the trash will still smell after a day or two, and there will still be conflicts to deal with. BUT - listen to this passage from Romans 12: "And so, dear Christian friends, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is." Romans 12:1-2 Do you see a pattern? Notice how we are to give ourselves over to Someone Else - God. We are to allow ourselves to be a living and holy sacrifice. We are to let God transform us into new people, and we will know what God wants us to do. This does require action on our parts - we are to "give" ourselves, "think" of what He has done for us, "know" what we are to do - but it also requires a lot of letting go on our parts. We are to release ourselves to the guidance and direction of God. Now, here's another question: Have you ever tried to move a big piece of furniture with one or more other people? Say three of you are working together to move a large dresser. You are huffing and puffing and desperately trying to hold on to this piece of furniture, even as your hands grow sweatier and arms grow more tired. Then, all of a sudden, the weight lifts significantly. All of a sudden, you realize a fourth person has stepped in and lifted your burden. You couldn't see him coming, but you could feel the difference! God does the same thing. Perhaps it's through prayer - as you admit to God your concerns, fears, failures, you feel your shoulders drop and the weight lifts a bit. Maybe through reading Scripture, maybe through talking with others. Life doesn't have to be (and really isn't supposed to be) a one-man-show. We have responsibilities, yes, but we are not alone trying to find our way in the dark. God actually wants us to give up some of what we hold on to. This week, take a moment to let the weight go, trusting that God is there to step up and do His part. This Week at Wesley… We have a pretty low-key week, but please note the other activities going on as well:
*** Our School Supply Collection is going on now! We are accepting donations for the following items for Shepherd's Staff through August 7th (3 Sundays from now): ~ Pre-K/1-2 Grade: composition books, crayons (24 max), glue sticks, yellow highlighters, blunt scissors, pocket folders, pencils, block erasers ~ 3rd Grade through High School: 3-ring binder (1 1/2"), 3-ring binder paper (wide-ruled), sets of tabbed dividers, pocket folders, pencils, blue or black pens, yellow highlighters, colored pencils (12 count), packs of index cards (3x5 - white) ~ Head Start: composition books, glue sticks, pocket folders, blunt scissors Especially Needed: "fat" crayons (8 per box), "fat" pencils Office Changes... Most of you are probably aware that things will be changing here at the office for the next couple of months. We'll have some lovely assistants helping out to cover while I'm gone; please pay special attention to the new office hours and other changes that may arise during the next few months. Susan Ehrgott is scheduled to cover the office from August 1st through the 26th, while Linda Yost will be covering the office starting on August 29th until September 30th. I will hopefully return on October 4th. This week, the office is open today until 5 PM and Friday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Upcoming Events…
August 7, 2011 at 2 PM Roast Corn, Hot Dogs, Burgers, and Drinks Will Be Provided. Bring a covered dish and dessert to share. Also bring a lawn chair or blanket & swimsuit. There will be live music throughout the afternoon, with a ministries report and testimonies at 4 PM. Free will donations will be accepted at the picnic – just look for the white donation boxes. Please give generously to these worthy ministries. This afternoon of food and fun will be located at: 3740 Maple Grove Rd., Manchester, MD 21102 Call 1-410-374-2832 or 1-410-374-2822 for more information. Have a Good week! Jessica Sichel |
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This Week at Wesley - 7/19/11posted Jul 19, 2011 1:29 PM by Wesley UMC [ updated Jul 19, 2011 1:48 PM ] |
