. . . comes from "living against" this quote which hangs above my desk in my office:
"We fear failure more than we love life, so we refuse the great adventures. We are careful to do only what we have always done and know how to do well, so we never break the dull repetition of the old routine for the new creation of God."
- C.S. Lewis
May it never be so with me, with us!
Faithfully,
Janet+
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Going for a (prayer) walk
Dear Friends in Christ -
The goal: getting to really know the needs and glories, the regularities and changes of the town God has given us to minister in. The method: going for a prayer walk all the way around it.
Estimated time of departure: September.
What's happening between now and then: preparation! For all of us, that means praying some kind of prayer every day for our town. For some of us, that means preparing to walk all or part of the 31 miles it takes to "beat the bounds" all around the town. For me, that means I have to get my walking shoes on, because I've never done anything like this before!
With training schedule in hand, I'm getting on the move. Today, I walked farther than I think I ever have before in my life: 7.5 miles. All the time I was walking, I was just noticing things that I haven't noticed before in driving around here - the texture of the land, the sound pattern of the rain as it increased and decreased, where various businesses are located.
By the time I was done, I was exhausted, a little sore, and humbled to realize that this was only about 1/4 of the distance I need to eventually travel. But it's onward and upward, one day at a time, one step at a time.
Faithfully,
Janet+
The goal: getting to really know the needs and glories, the regularities and changes of the town God has given us to minister in. The method: going for a prayer walk all the way around it.
Estimated time of departure: September.
What's happening between now and then: preparation! For all of us, that means praying some kind of prayer every day for our town. For some of us, that means preparing to walk all or part of the 31 miles it takes to "beat the bounds" all around the town. For me, that means I have to get my walking shoes on, because I've never done anything like this before!
With training schedule in hand, I'm getting on the move. Today, I walked farther than I think I ever have before in my life: 7.5 miles. All the time I was walking, I was just noticing things that I haven't noticed before in driving around here - the texture of the land, the sound pattern of the rain as it increased and decreased, where various businesses are located.
By the time I was done, I was exhausted, a little sore, and humbled to realize that this was only about 1/4 of the distance I need to eventually travel. But it's onward and upward, one day at a time, one step at a time.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Two Challenges
Dear Friends in Christ -
Just when we think it couldn't get any busier . . . ring, ring . . . God's on the line! In this season of Resurrection, God doesn't want spring busyness to so overwhelm and distract us that we forget about Him.
The good news is that the things He's asking us to do don't require much time from our schedule, our most precious, only non-renewable personal resource.
What God is calling us to this spring is some intentionality in our living, to keep a bookmark in place in the workbook of daily life.
I talked about these challenges in my sermon today . . . A DOLLAR A DAY -AND- the prayer walk (starting with, now, A PRAYER A DAY for our community [which I wasn't specific about in my sermon, but which you can read more about in the soon-to-be-in-your-mailbox Visitor].
We don't have any control over the times or the seasons. Here in Shelton, Spring is a pretty busy season for most folks - with graduations and weddings and end-of-school celebrations and sports . . . We only have so much control over the convergence of these things.
What we do have COMPLETE control over is whether and how we stay in touch with God in the midst of these things. These two challenges are God's way of throwing us a lifeline in the midst of choppy seas. Grab hold - and you'll be amazed at how grace pulls you through your days in unexpected ways.
Blessings,
Janet+
Just when we think it couldn't get any busier . . . ring, ring . . . God's on the line! In this season of Resurrection, God doesn't want spring busyness to so overwhelm and distract us that we forget about Him.
The good news is that the things He's asking us to do don't require much time from our schedule, our most precious, only non-renewable personal resource.
What God is calling us to this spring is some intentionality in our living, to keep a bookmark in place in the workbook of daily life.
I talked about these challenges in my sermon today . . . A DOLLAR A DAY -AND- the prayer walk (starting with, now, A PRAYER A DAY for our community [which I wasn't specific about in my sermon, but which you can read more about in the soon-to-be-in-your-mailbox Visitor].
We don't have any control over the times or the seasons. Here in Shelton, Spring is a pretty busy season for most folks - with graduations and weddings and end-of-school celebrations and sports . . . We only have so much control over the convergence of these things.
What we do have COMPLETE control over is whether and how we stay in touch with God in the midst of these things. These two challenges are God's way of throwing us a lifeline in the midst of choppy seas. Grab hold - and you'll be amazed at how grace pulls you through your days in unexpected ways.
Blessings,
Janet+
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Another beautiful day . . .
Dear Friends in Christ -
As I put my head on my pillow tonight, I give thanks for this day, in which I've hiked with my family and celebrated with friends and danced with my husband and worked in preparation for our time together with God tomorrow morning. The song in my head as I shut out the light . . .
"Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
vast unmeasured, boundless free
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me."
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Janet+
As I put my head on my pillow tonight, I give thanks for this day, in which I've hiked with my family and celebrated with friends and danced with my husband and worked in preparation for our time together with God tomorrow morning. The song in my head as I shut out the light . . .
"Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
vast unmeasured, boundless free
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me."
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Janet+
Friday, April 23, 2010
Lolloping through Easter
Dear Friends in Christ -
I have a deep longing for perfection. I love hospital corners and clothes that drape just right and having the kitchen counters cleaned off each day. With the celebration of the Resurrection and Easter talk about possibility and new things, I always secretly hope that the path to all good and right and lovely things will be made easier and smoother.
But here we are almost two dozen days into the 50 days of Easter, and my bed's not made and my closet is full of things that fit better last year and the counters are cluttered. And you know what? I'm happy. I have everything I need and a few of the things that I want. My life if FULL of meaning and delight - even without magazine-photo perfection.
Happiness doesn't come easy to me. I've always been a little afraid of how quickly happiness can change. Danger encroaches. Suffering breaks through. It can feel crushing to be reveling in great glory and then run smack into great pain that pops out from around a blind corner. In addition, the old German Calvinist theology of the church I grew up in said that I should be constantly mindful of my own sin and willing to carry my share of the burden of the suffering in the world.
Not only all that, but I've also found that folks can be suspicious of happiness. "Isn't it inconsiderate to be 'that' happy if people are waiting for replies to their emails and things are left ragged or undone?" "Can we have confidence that we're together in the struggles if some of us are 'flying high' while others hurt or mourn?"
As I move deeper in relationship with Jesus, though, I'm learning that I can risk being happy, throwing myself into the goodnesses of life. Sure, bad stuff will continue to happen in my life and in the lives of those around me and in the world. But the reason that Jesus could bear our sins and suffering was that he had some perspective on the whole situation. Jesus lived with both feet firmly planted on earth, but an ear always cocked to hear the Father's voice reminding him that good always comes, suffering is temporary, evil never triumphs because God's love holds sway over all.
Deep truths like these may sound like platitudes, but they're really the bedrock under our feet, solidly supporting us as we lollop happily through fields of life springing up fresh, again.
Blessings,
Janet+
I have a deep longing for perfection. I love hospital corners and clothes that drape just right and having the kitchen counters cleaned off each day. With the celebration of the Resurrection and Easter talk about possibility and new things, I always secretly hope that the path to all good and right and lovely things will be made easier and smoother.
But here we are almost two dozen days into the 50 days of Easter, and my bed's not made and my closet is full of things that fit better last year and the counters are cluttered. And you know what? I'm happy. I have everything I need and a few of the things that I want. My life if FULL of meaning and delight - even without magazine-photo perfection.
Happiness doesn't come easy to me. I've always been a little afraid of how quickly happiness can change. Danger encroaches. Suffering breaks through. It can feel crushing to be reveling in great glory and then run smack into great pain that pops out from around a blind corner. In addition, the old German Calvinist theology of the church I grew up in said that I should be constantly mindful of my own sin and willing to carry my share of the burden of the suffering in the world.
Not only all that, but I've also found that folks can be suspicious of happiness. "Isn't it inconsiderate to be 'that' happy if people are waiting for replies to their emails and things are left ragged or undone?" "Can we have confidence that we're together in the struggles if some of us are 'flying high' while others hurt or mourn?"
As I move deeper in relationship with Jesus, though, I'm learning that I can risk being happy, throwing myself into the goodnesses of life. Sure, bad stuff will continue to happen in my life and in the lives of those around me and in the world. But the reason that Jesus could bear our sins and suffering was that he had some perspective on the whole situation. Jesus lived with both feet firmly planted on earth, but an ear always cocked to hear the Father's voice reminding him that good always comes, suffering is temporary, evil never triumphs because God's love holds sway over all.
Deep truths like these may sound like platitudes, but they're really the bedrock under our feet, solidly supporting us as we lollop happily through fields of life springing up fresh, again.
Blessings,
Janet+
Monday, April 5, 2010
50 Days of Easter
Dear Friends in Christ -
For 40 days in the season of Lent, we focus on repentance, on exercising our will to turn from bad to good, darkness to light. In the season of of Lent, we exercise our "giving" muscles, giving our bodies to fasting, our time to prayer, our money to help fill the greatest needs.
For 50 days in the season of Easter, we focus on resurrection, on opening ourselves to God's will. And what is God's will? To fill us with goodness and healing and love and joy. In the season of Easter, we exercise our "receiving" muscles, opening our bodies to feasting (hint: feasting is about enjoyment not about excess!), our time to celebration (hint: celebration is about focusing on the One sponsoring the party), and our money to investment (hint: investing in things that last forever).
If you were hoping for post-Lent vacation, this isn't the season! Vacation (from the Latin 'vacare,' meaning 'to empty') isn't what we're doing now . . . because GOD IS IN THE HOUSE! Since He's here, what we're doing now is FILLING UP on the best God has to offer, right from the source.
God has amazing stuff in store for us. Witnessing again Jesus' resurrection was just the beginning!
ALLELUIA - CHRIST IS RISEN!
THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED! - ALLELUIA
Rejoicing,
Janet+
For 40 days in the season of Lent, we focus on repentance, on exercising our will to turn from bad to good, darkness to light. In the season of of Lent, we exercise our "giving" muscles, giving our bodies to fasting, our time to prayer, our money to help fill the greatest needs.
For 50 days in the season of Easter, we focus on resurrection, on opening ourselves to God's will. And what is God's will? To fill us with goodness and healing and love and joy. In the season of Easter, we exercise our "receiving" muscles, opening our bodies to feasting (hint: feasting is about enjoyment not about excess!), our time to celebration (hint: celebration is about focusing on the One sponsoring the party), and our money to investment (hint: investing in things that last forever).
If you were hoping for post-Lent vacation, this isn't the season! Vacation (from the Latin 'vacare,' meaning 'to empty') isn't what we're doing now . . . because GOD IS IN THE HOUSE! Since He's here, what we're doing now is FILLING UP on the best God has to offer, right from the source.
God has amazing stuff in store for us. Witnessing again Jesus' resurrection was just the beginning!
ALLELUIA - CHRIST IS RISEN!
THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED! - ALLELUIA
Rejoicing,
Janet+
Sunday, April 4, 2010
How wonderful! How marvelous!
Dear Friends in Christ -
As I'm writing this, it's still dark outside, but that doesn't make the reality of this day any less glorious. As I'm writing this, there are many preparations for the celebration still unfinished, but whether or not all that stuff gets done, Jesus' resurrection is no less powerful.
On this beautiful Easter day, let your heart open to God like the lilies, your feet skip through the grass, your voice sing like the birds. Join all creation in praise: HE IS RISEN!!! Because of THAT, everything is possible and we are renewed.
How wonderful! How marvelous!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Janet+
As I'm writing this, it's still dark outside, but that doesn't make the reality of this day any less glorious. As I'm writing this, there are many preparations for the celebration still unfinished, but whether or not all that stuff gets done, Jesus' resurrection is no less powerful.
On this beautiful Easter day, let your heart open to God like the lilies, your feet skip through the grass, your voice sing like the birds. Join all creation in praise: HE IS RISEN!!! Because of THAT, everything is possible and we are renewed.
How wonderful! How marvelous!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Janet+
Saturday, April 3, 2010
I know the Final Four's on, but . . .
Jesus is rising and He wants to take you with Him.
You won't want to miss this!!
With anticipation,
Janet+
You won't want to miss this!!
With anticipation,
Janet+
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Triduum I - Maundy Thursday
Dear Friends in Christ -
Things in the Church often have such strange names, words that you don't even hear in any other context, like "triduum" and "maundy." How can you get motivated to come to church - much less to take a risk and open your heart to new things - if you don't even know what's going on.
The word Triduum (Latin origins) means three days. Three worship services mark this holy time: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Participating in these three services provides the worshipper a sweeping experience of the central event of our faith: the death and resurerction of Jesus.
Maunday Thursday is Act I of this three-act drama. The word "Maundy" is from the Latin "mandatum," which is the first word of the phrase, "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you"). Jesus thus instructed his disciples to serve and love others in the humble way he did, by washing their feet.
Today, we'll do lots of things Jesus told us to do: pray, wash feet, eat the bread, drink the cup. All of these draw us in, right where Jesus wants us to be, close to him. Close enough so that what is true is real. To us. Now.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Things in the Church often have such strange names, words that you don't even hear in any other context, like "triduum" and "maundy." How can you get motivated to come to church - much less to take a risk and open your heart to new things - if you don't even know what's going on.
The word Triduum (Latin origins) means three days. Three worship services mark this holy time: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Participating in these three services provides the worshipper a sweeping experience of the central event of our faith: the death and resurerction of Jesus.
Maunday Thursday is Act I of this three-act drama. The word "Maundy" is from the Latin "mandatum," which is the first word of the phrase, "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you"). Jesus thus instructed his disciples to serve and love others in the humble way he did, by washing their feet.
Today, we'll do lots of things Jesus told us to do: pray, wash feet, eat the bread, drink the cup. All of these draw us in, right where Jesus wants us to be, close to him. Close enough so that what is true is real. To us. Now.
Faithfully,
Janet+
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