Can You Hear Those Bells?

Christmas season is now upon us. It is that time again of the hectic schedules, Christmas programs, Christmas parties, worship services...it is go, go, go! As I was working preparing for the Christmas services, I was listening to the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns. As I was listening I couldn't help but think of the all the things that I knew had to be done before Christmas Eve. All those things started going through my mind until the words "Does anybody hear them?". Does anybody hear the bells on Christmas Day? I find that throughout this Christmas season, I get so caught up in what needs to be done, that I fail to stop and listen. I fail to hear those bells announcing the birth of my Lord and Savior. I work so hard to sharing the message with others, that I don't allow that message to sink into me. The message is clear...the message is exciting...the message is right before me. I know that I have a hectic schedule like a lot of people, but I must stop and hear the those bells. I need to listen and the hear the news of Christ's birth.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving has come and passed. We took the day to give thanks for the blessings we have been given. We are thankful for family, friends, home, food on the table, health, life...and the list could go on and on. Thanksgiving is a day, obviously, give thanks. But what about everyday? Shouldn't everyday be a day to give thanks? Scripture says, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 118:1) We should be giving thanks daily! Each day is a day to celebrate the grace that our Lord has given us. Each day is a day to celebrate the blessings God has bestowed upon us. Each day is a day to give thanks for life and those around us. God does want to hear the rejoicing also, not just on one day of the year, but everyday. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)

Where Is Your Focus?

Focus...so hard to do sometimes. Ever find yourself unable to focus while in church? The people across from you might be moving or have a different hair cut. The door opens in the back of church and you can see it where you are sitting, so you watch that person walking in. Focus...staying focused in worship is hard. Wondering what is on the menu for either lunch or dinner. What tasks we have to do on this day. Wondering who gave an offering or if your own offering was given. Focus...where should it be. Our focus should be on the cross. Our focus should be on the Word of God. As we examine our sinful nature and lift it up to the Lord, our focus shouldn't be on the sins of others. Focus...our focus should be on the forgiveness that Christ gave you as it is pronounced in absolution or as we receive the body and blood of our Lord. Focus...the focus should be on the message in the music. The focus should be on meaning of those powerful words of prayer. The focus should and needs to be God. So hard to do sometimes. Where is your focus in worship? Ever catch yourself not focused on the right things in worship? I do -- so I take a deep breath...and focus.

A Simple Smile

I'm sitting the back of the church packing things up when I feel this presence standing next to me. I look up and see this bright smiling face. I acknowledge them, but they just continue to smile. After an awkward pause, I thank them for coming. The response...nothing. No words, no head nod...nothing, but a smile. Then they turned and walked away. What a strange experience, but one that was powerful. A smile...a simple smile impacted my day. I wish I could tell you who it was or find that person again and say thank you, but I haven't see that person since. All I can remember is that smile.

We are people with many words. We sometimes feel that we have to say something. We have to respond or we have to be able to speak our mind or feelings. We are a people that sometimes feel we have to say words in order to share the love of Christ to people. But there are times when words mean nothing. All it takes is a simple and meaningful smile. When I picture Christ, I don't see a person who is talking. I don't see someone who is trying to tell me what I have done; good or bad. I see a face...with a smile. I see a loving God who knows when I have done wrong, but looks at me with those loving and tender eyes and smiles. It is the smile that impacts my day. Nothing fancy, it is just so simple. That smile that says, I love you. So I try to do the same...share the love of Christ...and smile.

Still In the Play

Volleyball season has ended. It was a fun time, but a lot of work. One of the things that the team finally started realizing was that even if the ball wasn't coming directly to them, they were still part of the play. It was their role, their job, to help tell their teammates what was happening on the court. It was their job to help their teammate make good decisions during play. There was no such thing as being "out of the play".

The same is true in the church. You are never out of the play. There are so many opportunities to bring Christ to the people. There are opportunities for you to use your talents help build up the ministry or build up someone. You are always in the play. I know that I'm not gifted in many different parts of ministry, but that doesn't mean I'm out of the play. I still have a major role and so do you. You might not be able to build a float. You might not be able to teach children in Sunday school or VBS. You might not be able to give a lot of your time at church because your schedule just doesn't allow it. But you are still not out of the play. Just like in volleyball, the other players have to help their teammates out. We must do the same. You aren't out of the play because you can help...help through prayer. Yes, you can help by praying. Asking God to bless the ministry. Bless the opportunities. Bless the efforts of His people. You are a vital part of the play. Your work builds up the team and keeps the play going. Stay in the play...just take the time to pray!

Member or Disciple

Member...very strange word to use in a church. I have often wondered why churches call their parishioner "members". To be a member of something means you are entitled to something. If you are a member of a country club, you are entitled to use their facilities. If you are member of an organization, you are entitled to receive their updates and attend their conferences. Member...is it really a word that a church should use? Who are the people in the church? Disciples. We are all disciples of our Lord. Our purpose is to bring Christ to others. Our purpose is to serve our Lord. You don't have to be a Pastor or a Lutheran School Teacher. You don't have to be strong in scripture or have the most powerful faith. You just have to be the way God created you to be. You have been called to be His disciple. In your job, you are a disciple. On vacation, you are a disciple. In worship, you are a disciple. God has called you to be His disciple no matter what job or position you have. Being a disciple is more than just filling a seat in church and expecting the message to be brought to you. Being a disciple is taking that message out...sharing it...living it...being it. Member or Disciple...which one are you?

Positive Marks

The thing I disliked the most as a teacher was grading papers. I knew that I had to assign homework in religion in order to base a grade on knowledge of our subject, but still, I really disliked grading. I would look at the 150+ papers I had to grade and just cringe. Not because I didn't want to see what the students knew, but because grading papers meant, I had to find what was wrong. I had to look at the negative aspect of their knowledge and there were a few that had a lot of negative marks on their papers. It was the hardest part of teaching for me. Because of the way I ran the class, I wanted to make sure that the positives were pointed out as well. Yes, I graded them. And yes, there were papers with a lot of negative marks -- it wasn't fun at all.

During hard times in our economy, families, work, etc., we tend to dwell on the negatives. We see where things are messed up or where things just didn't go right. When we talk about our lives, we dwell on what could have been or what is going wrong. It is easy for us to see the negative marks and that is all we share. Negative marks are easy to share with others or easy to ask people to pray about. Negative marks are easy to use as an excuse for lack of service to God or reasons why we might not serve our Lord. Negative marks can bring down a person and a church. It is during the hardest times, that the church is the strongest. We have the opportunity to share and thank God for the things we do have. We have things that God has provided to us. We have the opportunity to worship and praise His name. Why not, share that...share the positive marks. We should be thanking God for the gifts that He has given us. For the food on the table, people who love us, the opportunity to worship, and much, much more. When things are bad, you have to also look at the positive -- you have to be thankful for your blessings. It is positive marks that lift people's spirits and helps refocus our own hearts. It is the positive marks that show our Lord how much we are thankful for the blessings He has given. Yes, negative marks happen, but allow God to show you how He has blessed you and then...thank Him!