Simple Can Be Best

This past Saturday afternoon, I was on my flight home from New Orleans. I boarded the plane and sat down, got out my book with the intention to just sit back, relax and read. As the plane started filling up, a young lady came and sat next to me. She had earphones in and was listening to her Ipod. We both exchanged a pleasant smile and went about our own business. As we were preparing to depart, the flight attendant came up and told the young lady that she had to shut her Ipod completely off. This is when I noticed something...she didn't understand. Her lack of the English language created a major barrier between her and the flight attendant. So the flight attendant told her again, a little more sternly, but she didn't understand. So I leaned over and used one word..."off" and pointed to her Ipod. She smiled and shut off her Ipod. So now a small bond was made and throughout the flight, she asked me questions with her limited English and I tried to explain with words that she could understand.

Simple words -- simple terms say a lot. We want to share the Word of God, but the language, the terms, the way to share creates a barrier. Not everyone is at the same level in the faith walk. Some are still needing the simple words while some are needing the deep discussions. We want to say the right things, but maybe, we need to spend time focusing on how we say it. We can share the love of Christ through simple words. These words can be a witness. These words can ignite a fire in someones heart. There are so many that don't understand, so simplify it...say it in a way that those around can understand. It doesn't have to be fancy. It doesn't have to be mind boggling. It doesn't have to be so spiritually deep. Sometimes the simple is the most meaningful. To that young lady...simple meant she understood. To those longing for the love of God, the simple can show them that love. Sometimes, simple is best.

Did You Notice?

One of my favorite verses in scripture comes from Psalm 46:10. It says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." What a powerful verse. But what strikes me the most is the 8 words. "Be still, and know that I am God;" But today, as I was looking at the plaque in my office with this verse, I noticed something for the first time. My plague reads, "Be still and know that I am God" and the bible reads "Be still, and know that I am God". Notice anything different? It is there. The only difference is the comma. Yes, a comma. I never noticed it before, but that comma adds so much to those 8 words. That comma forces me to pause, to be still. That comma separates the two actions. According to Harper's writing center, the purpose of a comma is to indicate to a reader when a sentence calls for a brief pause. This verse has one.

I'm not sure how many times I've read this verse and never stopped to think about it in this fashion. As I read, "Be still", I need to be still. I need to pause and let all that God is, sink into me. I need to listen to His voice, see His creation, feel His presence and power, then...then I will know that He "is God". I will never look at this verse again the same way. A comma. A simple comma serves as reminder to pause and see the wonders of our God. "Be still, and know that I am God;" (Psalm 46:10)

Bad to Blessing

I heard the most amazing thing this past week. It wasn't something so profound that every person in the world needs to hear, but it made an impact on me at that moment. While making one of my treks to church, I was listening to the radio. I wasn't impressed with 97.1 so I was scanning the radio dial. On one stop, I heard this statement, "I have to thank God for everything. Even the bad stuff turns out to be a blessing." Then the radio moved on.
Bad stuff a blessing? Sure it is. I have found that when "bad" things are happening in my life, there are other things that helps refocus my faith. I know that there have been times when I have had the "woe is me" attitude, but then someone or something reminds me that this is a way for me to see the amazing power of our Lord and Savior. I have seen this happen many times in my life. Bad things turn out to be blessings. I grow closer to God through others or through His Word and Sacrament. I change the focus from me to Him...from bad to blessing.

A Blessing

Tuesday before Christmas was an amazing day for me. I was at church preparing for Christmas Eve rehearsal, when there was this loud knock at the front door. As I looked out of the church, I could see this person standing at the front door, pounding their fists against the glass. As I approached the door, the person waved, pounded some more then motioned at me to open the door. The gentlemen...well, he was in his mid-40's, well dressed and looked very cold. So I approached the door and cracked it very slowly. The gentlemen...was a blessing. He wasn't there to cause trouble, but he had read about our troubles. He talked to me about his job, his income, his heart...then he gave me a check. It was all he could afford to give, but he wanted to give to the church and school to help replace the lost items. It was enough to cover even one item, but it he wanted to give all that he could afford. The gentlemen...he was a blessing. I will never forget that conversation. With tears in my eyes, I thanked him and offered him a quick prayer and he left. On that cold night with snow flurries in the air, Living Word was blessed. I was blessed. God does work in miraculous ways.

Perfect Gift

Another Christmas season has come and gone. Some of us got what we wanted and some...well, we will say that we might not have gotten exactly what was on our list. So we made our way back out to the store to return the NSA (aka. Not-So-Awesome) gift. We smile and say thank you then start making plans on returning the gift to find something that we want. We return that NSA gift so we can find that perfect gift we desire.
The perfect gift. During the Christmas season, we are reminded that we have been given the perfect gift. We have the gift that doesn't require that fake smile or that not so sincere "thank you". We have been given the perfect gift...the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This gift never stops, never needs batteries, never breaks...it always is perfect.

A big thank you to everyone who added with special music and programs throughout the Advent and Christmas season. Living Word was blessed with an ECC and Kindergarten Christmas program, 1st and 2nd grade choir, 3rd-5th grade choir, 6th-8th grade readers, church choir, handbell choir, soloists, Kingdom Quest Christmas Service, sound managers, worship teams...and the list can go on. Each child and adult played an important part in sharing the message of Christ's Birth with all of us. Thank you again for all your time and efforts in preparing and presenting the story of Christ's birth.

It is God's Plan

I have had the privilege of serving at Living Word about three years now. There are been struggles, but the positives outweigh the negatives. So as sit and write this music minute, I am contemplating one question..."God, what is Your plan? I know that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." It says it in Romans 8:28. I also know that "it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose". It says that in Philippians 2:13. But do you ever stop and wonder what God's plan is for you? For Living Word? Through all this, I was reminded of the story of Joseph. He went through many struggles in his life. He was hated by his brothers, thrown into a well, sold as a slave, accused by Potiphar's wife of an extra marital affair, thrown in prison, lived through a famine...all to become Pharaoh's second in command. From hardships to riches. From thinking God had left him to knowing that God was always leading him. I'm sure through all the hard times, Joseph wondered what was God's plan for him. But through all his hardship, his struggles, He allowed God to lead and God's plan took shape for him. So what is your famine? What is your imprisonment? What is your well? What is your slavery? Through all the hard times in life, we need to learn from Joseph. We need to put our our trust in God and allow God to lead. Our struggles are nothing for God. He has a plan. He has a purpose for us, for Living Word, for His people. What it is and how it will take place...that is up to Him, not us. We need to have faith and understanding that through Him "all things work for the good of those who love him...according to His purpose."

Icy Roads

It has happened again. We have had to drive carefully because of icy roads. On Sunday morning as I was heading to church on Silver Bell, coming over a hill was a Hummer. The road looked ok, but it was still dark. The road looked only wet, but looks can be deceiving. Now we all know that this past Sunday morning wasn't the greatest of road conditions. The driver of the Hummer didn't care until they hit a patch of ice and swerved up an embankment, only to come back on the road safely. No matter what vehicle you drive, icy roads can cause you problems.

How many times are we like the driver of the Hummer? There are times when we live our lives like nothing will ever happen. We think we are protected and indestructible. But the world around us is hard. We are surrounded with temptations that cause us to slip off the path that God intends for us. We see things and assume that nothing can harm us, but when we hit those stumbling blocks we swerve out of control. Thank God that he can steer us back on the right path. He guides us back onto the road so we can continue living our lives for Him. There are a lot of icy patches in our lives. We just need to allow Him to steer us through the icy parts of life.