Happy New Year all! A time where everyone evaluates what the last year has been like and what they are going to change for this one. I am not sure why we always wait until Jan 1st to start changing things, maybe because it is a good mark on the calendar. The point is, it is a time for change, to start new and fresh and do it better in the new year then we did in the last.
I think the mistake we make is that often times we have such high hopes for what we will get accomplished in the new year that we don't make them attainable. Like making a goal to run a marathon when you have never run a day in your life. I am not saying that it would not be possible to run a marathon in the new year, if you start training right away and stick with it, you could totally do it but it is a huge goal. Having large goals are important but it is also important to have small goals. Small goals that might lead to your large goal. To stick with our marathon example, maybe you make smaller goals to run a 5k in the spring and a 10k in the fall and then in 2016 you can run a full marathon.
Our relationship with God is like running a marathon. It is a long term goal. Yes we should all have the best possible relationship with God. We should fully rely on him for our every decision, our every move, through the good and the bad...but the reality, at least for me, is that I often fail at this. I forget that he will guide me through it all, and I start thinking that I am smarter then God and that I really know that is good for me. Now, I don't full out have that kind of conversation with God but when I act selfishly, which I do often, it is like saying those things. And then I must remind myself of the truth. So for a goal of the New Year, I want to better my relationship with God. Become more dedicated to that relationship. I have a goal of seeing and connecting with friends that I don't see that often, to which at least once a month, I will hang out with someone that I have not seen for awhile. I have a group of old work friends that we always talk about getting together and never do. I have a friend that is living in Denver that I haven't seen in over 6 months, and I don't talk to her as much as I should to be the good friend that I like to think that I am. I will continue to reach out to these friends, because being a better friend to them and others, makes me a better disciple of God. Because being truthful, honest and loving to them, means that I am being truthful, honest and loving to God. Just a small goal, to get me to the larger goal of having a better relationship with God and being a better disciple of his on the ground.
Just something to think about. How are you going to make yourself better in 2015?
Keep leaving your input, get others involved and share. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time,
~Michelle
Monday, December 29, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
And wuv tru wuv will fowow you foweva
Sorry for the delay in writing today. I have been having problems
figuring out exactly what I wanted to talk about this week. In the past
that would mean that I would just not write but since I have promised to
write once a week, here we go.
We have made it! It is the final week of Advent. The week of love. For the last four weeks we have been working on being prepared for the great celebration of the coming of Jesus. Are you ready?
We have been talking about being prepared, finding your passion, and figuring out how to share the word most effectively to those around us. What have you done to get prepared?
The theme this week is love, hence the title. If you can name the movie it is from, I will give you a prize! In our society we talk about true love all the time. Often we relate it to the feelings we have to our significant other but in truth I think the only one that can give us true love is God. By letting his son be born and having Him sacrifice himself for our sins, His true love is shown. The challenge for us as humans is to love each other in a way that is as close as possible to that of God's love for us. We are the hands and feet for God in the world. Love is a powerful tool and I feel often times it is underestimated. Media has watered down the power of love to something that is wishy washy and can easily be turned off. But it just isn't true. When we are talking about true love, Godly love, it is powerful. We need to figure out what we can do with the love that has been given to us, and how to show it to others.
Today, I was at the has station, filling my car up and some person that I didn't know paid for my gas! That to me is true, Godly love. It was not a big display, although super nice, but it was a true display of love. This time of year, people feel the need to show what average people call "random acts of kindness" but why should it stop on Dec 25? Even though Advent is almost over it is a yearly reminder that we have to keep preparing and working to be ready for the return of God.
So how are you going to finish this season strong that will carry you into the new year? I want to hear from you and your thoughts.
Merry Christmas all! I hope you have a joyous celebration as we continue to prepare for the 2nd coming of the Lord!
Until next time.
~Michelle
We have been talking about being prepared, finding your passion, and figuring out how to share the word most effectively to those around us. What have you done to get prepared?
The theme this week is love, hence the title. If you can name the movie it is from, I will give you a prize! In our society we talk about true love all the time. Often we relate it to the feelings we have to our significant other but in truth I think the only one that can give us true love is God. By letting his son be born and having Him sacrifice himself for our sins, His true love is shown. The challenge for us as humans is to love each other in a way that is as close as possible to that of God's love for us. We are the hands and feet for God in the world. Love is a powerful tool and I feel often times it is underestimated. Media has watered down the power of love to something that is wishy washy and can easily be turned off. But it just isn't true. When we are talking about true love, Godly love, it is powerful. We need to figure out what we can do with the love that has been given to us, and how to show it to others.
Today, I was at the has station, filling my car up and some person that I didn't know paid for my gas! That to me is true, Godly love. It was not a big display, although super nice, but it was a true display of love. This time of year, people feel the need to show what average people call "random acts of kindness" but why should it stop on Dec 25? Even though Advent is almost over it is a yearly reminder that we have to keep preparing and working to be ready for the return of God.
So how are you going to finish this season strong that will carry you into the new year? I want to hear from you and your thoughts.
Merry Christmas all! I hope you have a joyous celebration as we continue to prepare for the 2nd coming of the Lord!
Until next time.
~Michelle
Monday, December 15, 2014
Is Sunday Service outdated?
As I was driving to church yesterday I began noticing the multitude of people out and about and I started wondering where they were going. Some were obvious, like the lady jogging with her child in a stroller and her dog on a lease, and the guy in his biking gearing on the bike path. But others were not so much, like all the people driving around in their cars or just walking down the street. I wondered how many of them were going to church, or brunch, or just working out and then starting another busy day in their lives.
I certainly don't know where all those people were going, nor do I know how many of them do or don't attend church on a regular basis, but as I was looking across my congregations on Sunday, I wondered how many people we are missing because we do service on Sunday mornings and really no other times. I mean sure we have a Saturday night service once a month and we do a Wednesday noon service once a month as well. But at the same time how many people are we turning away because we are still under the impression that to worship God we must do it on a Sunday morning and in the church?
The question I keep hearing is where are all the young people? Why are they not coming to church anymore? And honestly, it is kind of a hard question for me to answer because I don't know. I mean I am at church, all the time really. It is my life's work, I feel that the work that the church is doing both on Sundays and throughout the week is important so I am not sure where they are or why they don't feel the need or want to come to church on Sunday.
But then again if I am honest with myself, if I look back a few years before I had a job at the church I remember that I too was one of those young people that didn't go to church. And I can honestly tell you why I didn't. I didn't feel connected. I have always believed in God, and in Jesus Christ as my savior. I grew up in the church, so I have always known the importance of the church and the importance of worship. But yet once I moved out of my parents' house and went to college, I stopped going to church. Part of that has to do with my Grandfather's death, it was timed at a point in my life where I was really questioning what I believed and didn't feel like I fit in the Catholic church but didn't know where I really did fit. And so it became easy to just be mad at the Catholics, and not look for anywhere else to go. The ironic part is that every summer from when I was 16 to when I was 22 I worked at Camp Norwesca, a United Methodist Camp and I knew that my connection was there. I knew that the Untied Methodist Church was where I would end up, I guess it was just all part of the journey.
Even with my strong connection to Camp and to a key pastor or two in my life, I still didn't seek out a church in my community. When I moved to Atlanta it was the same thing. I was a United Methodist missionary and still didn't attend a church regularly because I didn't feel connected. There was no real reason for me to go.
So the question is what was missing? What would it have taken for me to get involved. Well between ages 18-25 I can tell you for me it was a service where I didn't have to wake up so early! I love to sleep in and the last thing I wanted(still want most days) was to sleep in! And secondly, I didn't know where I wanted to go. I needed a partner in crime so to speak. Someone that would have invited me to church, sat with me, included me in what was going on. And that right there is key I believe, at least for me.
So what is it for you? What is keeping you away from the church? Or are you attending regularly and in that case what is keeping you going? What traditions should we be doing away with and what ones should we be keeping? The season of Advent and the beginning of a new year is a time for change. Let's transform the church together and make it a place that is welcoming, friendly and gets people involved again. Tell me what needs do you want to quench?
For all those in school good luck with your finals this week! I look forward to hearing from you all.
With love,
Michelle
I certainly don't know where all those people were going, nor do I know how many of them do or don't attend church on a regular basis, but as I was looking across my congregations on Sunday, I wondered how many people we are missing because we do service on Sunday mornings and really no other times. I mean sure we have a Saturday night service once a month and we do a Wednesday noon service once a month as well. But at the same time how many people are we turning away because we are still under the impression that to worship God we must do it on a Sunday morning and in the church?
The question I keep hearing is where are all the young people? Why are they not coming to church anymore? And honestly, it is kind of a hard question for me to answer because I don't know. I mean I am at church, all the time really. It is my life's work, I feel that the work that the church is doing both on Sundays and throughout the week is important so I am not sure where they are or why they don't feel the need or want to come to church on Sunday.
But then again if I am honest with myself, if I look back a few years before I had a job at the church I remember that I too was one of those young people that didn't go to church. And I can honestly tell you why I didn't. I didn't feel connected. I have always believed in God, and in Jesus Christ as my savior. I grew up in the church, so I have always known the importance of the church and the importance of worship. But yet once I moved out of my parents' house and went to college, I stopped going to church. Part of that has to do with my Grandfather's death, it was timed at a point in my life where I was really questioning what I believed and didn't feel like I fit in the Catholic church but didn't know where I really did fit. And so it became easy to just be mad at the Catholics, and not look for anywhere else to go. The ironic part is that every summer from when I was 16 to when I was 22 I worked at Camp Norwesca, a United Methodist Camp and I knew that my connection was there. I knew that the Untied Methodist Church was where I would end up, I guess it was just all part of the journey.
Even with my strong connection to Camp and to a key pastor or two in my life, I still didn't seek out a church in my community. When I moved to Atlanta it was the same thing. I was a United Methodist missionary and still didn't attend a church regularly because I didn't feel connected. There was no real reason for me to go.
So the question is what was missing? What would it have taken for me to get involved. Well between ages 18-25 I can tell you for me it was a service where I didn't have to wake up so early! I love to sleep in and the last thing I wanted(still want most days) was to sleep in! And secondly, I didn't know where I wanted to go. I needed a partner in crime so to speak. Someone that would have invited me to church, sat with me, included me in what was going on. And that right there is key I believe, at least for me.
So what is it for you? What is keeping you away from the church? Or are you attending regularly and in that case what is keeping you going? What traditions should we be doing away with and what ones should we be keeping? The season of Advent and the beginning of a new year is a time for change. Let's transform the church together and make it a place that is welcoming, friendly and gets people involved again. Tell me what needs do you want to quench?
For all those in school good luck with your finals this week! I look forward to hearing from you all.
With love,
Michelle
Monday, December 8, 2014
Peace be with you!
Peace, what an amazing concept. That all things and people can live in harmony without conflict. I like to think that peace is possible. In a world where there is so much conflict, anger and hate, it would be nice to know that peace is real and can happen. But how do we accomplish such a large thing like peace? I suppose like all things it starts with our own personal peace. We have to find the place within ourselves where we are satisfied with what we are doing and the part we are taking. Finding inner peace can also be a battle ground but overall I think that is where spirituality, religion and belief in God comes in. In a time when we really can't control what goes on around us...to a point anyway, we much control what we can. And what we can control is how we react, act, and feel about what is going on.
I think that conflict is a natural part and a necessary part of our lives. Things never change without some conflict, but at the same time is it possible to have peaceful conflict? Is it possible for things to change without the violence, anger and hate that often comes with conflict?
I believe that the answer is yes. I think that Jesus came to change the world, and he added some conflict into his message, he asks us to reevaluate what we are doing, how we are worshiping, the direction we are going, how we are thinking about things and how we are living our lives which can cause a lot of conflict but I think if we do it right it can be peaceful. It can be a peaceful change a conflicting change at times but peaceful all the same. Jesus challenged his disciples to go out and change the world through His message but to do it peacefully. Christians have not always done that very well. I think the time is now. It is our turn as Christians to go forth peacefully and change the world for the better. In a season of preparation and anticipation of a great celebration it is time to resolve the conflict peacefully for God. How are you going to resolve the conflict you see in your life, both internally and externally in your world?
I want to hear from you, how did your week go? Where is your conflict and how can we work together as Christians to resolve it? Join the conversation. I would love to hear from you all.
~Michelle
I think that conflict is a natural part and a necessary part of our lives. Things never change without some conflict, but at the same time is it possible to have peaceful conflict? Is it possible for things to change without the violence, anger and hate that often comes with conflict?
I believe that the answer is yes. I think that Jesus came to change the world, and he added some conflict into his message, he asks us to reevaluate what we are doing, how we are worshiping, the direction we are going, how we are thinking about things and how we are living our lives which can cause a lot of conflict but I think if we do it right it can be peaceful. It can be a peaceful change a conflicting change at times but peaceful all the same. Jesus challenged his disciples to go out and change the world through His message but to do it peacefully. Christians have not always done that very well. I think the time is now. It is our turn as Christians to go forth peacefully and change the world for the better. In a season of preparation and anticipation of a great celebration it is time to resolve the conflict peacefully for God. How are you going to resolve the conflict you see in your life, both internally and externally in your world?
I want to hear from you, how did your week go? Where is your conflict and how can we work together as Christians to resolve it? Join the conversation. I would love to hear from you all.
~Michelle
Monday, December 1, 2014
The meaning of Advent
Yesterday we celebrated the first day of Advent. A time of celebration for the coming Savior. It got me thinking about what the true meaning of Advent is. The word Advent means coming or arrival. So I did a little research and came about an interesting article about how Advent is not just the celebration of Jesus' birth but also of the anticipation of his second coming. I had never thought about Advent in such a way. To me Advent had always been just a celebration of a baby being born in a manger that came to save us all. It had never occurred to me to also be celebrating the idea of Jesus coming back to save us once again, or a "second Advent" as this article called it.
The second coming of our Messiah is something to anticipate, something to be ready for. The Bible tells us that we will not know when it is coming so we must always be prepared. However, in our humanness, we often fail to be ready for God to come and rule justly over the Earth and his people. We live in a time in between Advents. A time that as Christians we were given the challenge to go into the world and make disciples for God.
The longer I think about this celebration of Advent and preparation of the celebration of both the birth of Jesus and the second coming, I am looking at what I am doing to be as prepared as possible. How am I serving God to the best of my abilities so that when it is my turn to leave the Earth or when the final ruling comes that I can show God exactly what I have done to better his creation. I can honestly say it is not anything I have ever thought about in this season of Advent before. And is something that I challenge you all to do this week. As we prepare in this great season of celebration, I challenge you all to not get so wrapped up in the commercialism, the business, the finals, and the celebration that you forget to examine what you are truly doing to make this a better place, a place that when it comes judgement day that you are proud to say that you are ready for a great celebration at the end of this Advent season. Thoughts?
The second coming of our Messiah is something to anticipate, something to be ready for. The Bible tells us that we will not know when it is coming so we must always be prepared. However, in our humanness, we often fail to be ready for God to come and rule justly over the Earth and his people. We live in a time in between Advents. A time that as Christians we were given the challenge to go into the world and make disciples for God.
The longer I think about this celebration of Advent and preparation of the celebration of both the birth of Jesus and the second coming, I am looking at what I am doing to be as prepared as possible. How am I serving God to the best of my abilities so that when it is my turn to leave the Earth or when the final ruling comes that I can show God exactly what I have done to better his creation. I can honestly say it is not anything I have ever thought about in this season of Advent before. And is something that I challenge you all to do this week. As we prepare in this great season of celebration, I challenge you all to not get so wrapped up in the commercialism, the business, the finals, and the celebration that you forget to examine what you are truly doing to make this a better place, a place that when it comes judgement day that you are proud to say that you are ready for a great celebration at the end of this Advent season. Thoughts?