Weekly Thought from Lisa - Week of 10-25-10

The other day I was reading in the Psalms.  As I read Psalm 141, verse 3 really stood out to me.  It says

            Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.  

Wow.  That is a short verse with a powerful message.  I don’t know about you but at least once a day something (that something being words) comes out of my lips that shouldn’t.  It might be an unkind word about a friend.  It might be an angry word to my daughter.  It might be something dismissive to a clerk in a store.  It might be a sarcastic comeback to someone’s legitimate comment.  It might just be a word of agreement to a bit of gossip.

Have you ever stopped to think just how powerful words are?  I have always believed that words, that language, have the power to shape the way we think.  Our words may have a huge impact on what others think or what others believe.  When I think about how powerful words are and how easy it is to say the wrong thing it can be scary.  I mean we always talk about how a bomb can be launched with a single push of a button.  Aren’t our words like that-a single word can change a relationship, can tear someone down? 

In the same way, an encouraging word can bring a smile.  It can build up someone who is feeling down.  It can bring hope to someone who is hopeless.  Jesus’ words brought hope and faith and love to those who heard them.

I really wish God could set a guard over my lips and some buzzer or something would go off when I was about to say something I will regret.  But you know, I think God has given me the ability, with God’s help, to guard my lips.  I have been praying that God would help me think before I speak.  Think before I agree with an unkind comment.  Think before I neglect to say something kind to someone is a down.  And certainly think before I say anything that does not glorify God. 

I hope you have a great week.  And that you will think about your words and how powerful they can be.

Weekly Thought From Bill - Week of 10-17-10

Hey Friends!  Bill here. 

I love to work on the house and build stuff with my hands.  Not that I’m overly good at it, but it’s rewarding to look at a job when you are done – for some reason, I really enjoy looking back at something and realizing that I helped create that.  It doesn’t even matter how big or small the job is.  Doesn’t matter if it’s something as small as painting a wall or as big as helping build a whole house with Habitat for Humanity.  I love looking back at a job and knowing that I got to help make a dream into a reality.

I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way.  I’ve seen the artwork that some of you have created, and it’s really cool stuff.  Some of you have crazy gifts and you love to draw and paint and edit videos and play music and just make stuff – I think some of you know what I’m talking about. 

Why?  Why do we enjoy spending our free time to make stuff?  Why spend our energy on making things, instead of goofing off or having fun?  Why do we like to put some of ourselves out there for people to critique? 

I think it has something to do with our very natures – the first thing we learn about people is that we are created in the image of God – we are created to look like our creator.  I don’t think that means that we have the same hair color as God or the same height or some other physical characteristics.  I think it’s much deeper than that – to me, it means that at our core, we have a longing to be like God.  

That’s the real core of our identity – we are created by a loving God.  That’s the first thing we ever know about ourselves, and it’s definitely one of the most important. 

This genius theologian named St. Augustine put it this way – “our hearts are restless until they find rest in you”.  We’ve got this imprint from God at the core of our being.

God loves us.   That’s why he made us.  But even better than that, God loved us so much that he created us in his image – He was proud enough of his work that he signed it.  He claimed us as his own. 

Congrats friends – You are made in the image of God.  You are loved by God.  Nothing you did to deserve it.  Nothing you can do about it.  God loves you.

Love you guys. 

Bill

Weekly Thought - Week of 10/10/10

          Sometimes I feel that it is easy to forget that there are people in need in the world and in our communities.  I know that I can fall into a place where I take for granted the things that I have.  I forget that they are gifts and blessings from God.  I fear that it is really easy to remember to be grateful for the things we have and to help others during the holiday season, but harder through the rest of they year.  I have worked with some soup kitchens in the past during Thanksgiving and Christmas - and they always say they are booked with volunteers.  I think we forget that there are people in need all year round!

          This past week in Sunday School we talked about the life family of 5 with both parents that work at minimum wage.  This represents about a 3rd of the work force in the US.  The scary thing - if these parents are working 50 hours a week each, they are still short almost $1000 per month.  These families have to make up the difference so they can make ends meet.  My hope is I can remember that I am blessed by God and I can give, not out of excess, but give when there is a need.

          We also learned about Meals on Wheels - a program that helps people make up the difference in the amount of money coming in as opposed to the amount going out.  They also give some lonely people a friend for a few minutes each day!  We wrapped Christmas “presents” for the meal recipients that were hygiene items.  The sad thing is that for many of the people this may be their only present for the Christmas season.
          Not that we should feel guilty for what we have, but I hope we can remember that we are blessed when we have the basic needs to keep us clean, have clothes, and have a home.
          I was so proud of the youth this past Sunday, after we talked about the program - we went to work wrapping over 300 items for Meals on Wheels to distribute.  Each youth there did the best job they could with wrapping and the end result showed tons of love and care for each present!
          I hope that I can live a life that shares the love and blessings that Christ has given me! I hope I can share His love with others by helping when there is a need, not just the huge things but in the little things. Sometimes its the little things that make the largest difference!


Drew