Beatitudes-Matthew 5

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I, with some others, are going to be studying a book titled, “Forgiveness, the Passionate Journey” by Flora Slosson Wuellner. It is on the Beatitudes.

I have been reading chapter two, “Facing Our Hurt, Naming Our Need” on the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:2-3. The author gives us a more accurate translation of this scripture that she found from the root meanings: “Blessed are those who recognize their total need of God.”

In laying the framework for healthy forgiveness, Wuellner tells us that there are four questions we need to honestly ask “within the presence of God’s love: (1) What happened? 2) Who is responsible? (3) How do I feel about what happened? (4)What is my need right now?”

One thing I have gotten out of this chapter so far is that I have to be able to clearly name what happened in order to experience change. That is not easy and I am having to work on it.

The author ends the chapter by leading us in a meditation designed to help us enter and grow in the healing process. Even without Wuellner’s book, one can take on the study of the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5 from The NT. I think it is a good way to start 2018.

Link to Amazon for book if anyone is interested.https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Passionate-Journey-Forgiving-Beatitudes/dp/0835809455/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1515413351&sr=8-2&keywords=flora+slosson+wuellner

A Christmas Gift

“Capital Caring received a beautiful donation of dozens of poinsettias throughout our Adler Center for Caring in honor of Mary Grace Henry and the care she received. Thanks to her friends and family for brightening the holiday season of everyone at the Adler Center.”

Margaret Galles…Resource Development Coordinator…Capital Caring’s Adler Center for Caring on the Van Metre Campus…24419 Millstream Drive…Aldie, VA 20105

www.capitalcaring.org

MG’s Memorial garden being established at the Adler Center is a 🦋butterfly garden🦋 for others to pause, reflect, meditate and pray. Thanks to all that gave either financially, prayers and time to serve. A beautifully legacy to honor Mary Grace Henry. As my sister shared of this kindness as well as MG’s piano story, This is Christmas. The Merriest of Christmas to All!

MG’s piano

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In this midst of our grieving we find many ‘joy rest spots’. MG’s piano will always play for us regardless of where we are. But, having to relocate her piano which had not been tuned for years was not a ‘rest spot’. That was until the Holy Spirit brokered a perfect match for her little sweet piano.

One of MG’s prayer partners from our Community Church which had been so faithful visiting MG in rehab and helping in anyway she could told me a story about her eleven year old grandson.

He began playing piano before he was 5 years old when he could find one to play. He plays by ear. He comes from a Christian home but a single family home where buying a piano was not an option. They live in W Va maybe an hour or so from Leesburg. His grandmother began to inquire about MG’s piano. I asked her to bring the grandson to see how he liked the piano. He did but knew it had to be tuned since he played by ear. Then there would be the cost of moving down flights of steps and a distance drive to his home.

Our ‘rest spot’…Jerry has the piano as a gift from MG. Grandma paid to-move and tune. The first day he practiced 2 1/2 hours. He played a little video for us. (See below) Had to be short to text to us.

It seems God has given Jerry a gift of music much like MG’s. I am thrilled and hope you will join us in praying for Jerry to be greatly blessed as he blesses many with his gift. Yes, MG’s memorial stone gives a passage,  “Having gifts given to us let us use them. Romans 12:6

A Sweet thought…a child of God the Father

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16 NIV) Just take a quick mind snapshot of children asking Santa for gifts for Christmas. It’s so exciting for parents to watch their kids sitting on Santa’s lap and hearing their little voices tell Santa exactly what they want. 🎅🏻🤶🏻Parents take off to Walmart among other stores many times with credit cards in hand to make sure that Santa lives up to their child’s expectations. They make sure Santa deliverers to their tree the exact things the child asked for🎄 So Sweet🍪🍰🍿🍩 for parents and children alike. As well as Walmart and many other stores.🏈🥋⚽️🤹🏽‍♀️🎨🥁

My mind and heart keeps asking as a child of God what have I asked for? Did my Father deliver? Just how does this prayer of hope work as a child of God? Does God like Santa ask me have I been good? Have I shown love across racial and culture barriers? Have I been self-righteous in my deeds? Holy Spirt, as you are available to affirm with my spirit that I am a child of God I ask for Christmas that You speak truth to my heart according to Romans 8:16. And, vs 17 “if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.…”

Christmas has a way of joyfully awaking the truth in our hearts, strengthening our will to live within “The Light” that permeates our being. John 12;36 -37 (NIV) “For with thee is the fountain of life: In thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:9 ASV)

Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.…” What do we believe about Jesus?

Christmas Sale-Poinsettias

Poinsettias are ready and showing their colors for the annual Monroe Technology Center’s Christmas Sale. Wreaths, pine roping and fresh floral arrangements are also available for your decorating needs along with other seasonal plants such as amaryllis and Christmas cactus.Stop in and enjoy complementary cookies and cider made by the Culinary Arts department or purchase some of their fresh pizza rolls. All plant sale profits support student scholarships.

If you are in the Leesburg, Virginia area please visit us. Dates and hours are November 29, 10-7pm; November 30, 10-5pm; and December 1, 10-4pm.

Changing in Church…

My dear friend of NC posted this story of her church on FB. I xxx’s out the name of churches. Why, because we are seeing this often in many places. It happened to our church. We had our glory days of what we loved as church much like described here. This makes some of us wonder how to define today’s church?  Changes all around us. How do we move forward? 

“Today is a day that we’ve known for sometime was inevitable, and today was that sad day! We had our last regular Sunday worship service at xxx UMC! The reason: Too few people! One questions why oh why? Did we fail God? Did we not do enough? I’m sure the answer to those questions, at times, has to be a resounding yes! On the other hand, is it a sign of the times in which we’re living? That too, has to be answered yes. Church attendance in our nation is way down and many churches are closing. The members are older, with few or no young people. We have one 17 year old and the next youngest are 60 plus! 

We have watched young family members move away, members die, and members just leave! 

We see many people in our community not attending church anywhere or anytime? little children playing in the yard on Sunday morning!

If there ever was a time we all need to be in Church, it is now!

The UM Conference gave us two choices: close the doors and go our separate ways, or merge with another Church.

We are blessed in that we have a Sister Church, xxx with whom we share our minister. The official merger will not take place for a while, but we decided that it is in the interest of both congregations to begin worshipping together, and that will begin next Sunday.

We look forward to worshipping and serving with our new Church family! We are excited about the new opportunities we will have to worship and serve while promoting God’s Kingdom here on earth! 

TO God be the Glory!”

Church Shopping

“Today, the questions in the church are different. In the church, as in much of life, “Who benefits?” is more important than the validity of certain beliefs. So the primary question becomes, “How can the church benefit me?” For this reason we see persons “shopping’ for congregations that can provide the most.” – Joe E. Pennel Jr. “God, Cornbread, and Elvis”

Pastor Pennel also states,  “AS TIME PASSES, questions change. Back in the 1960s when I became a pastor, the primary faith question was, “Is it true?” College students, teachers, scientists, and others wanted to know the truth as presented by Christianity. Study groups, classes, conferences, and conversations went on and on about the convictions and claims of Christianity. …”

 When we read the Word of God it spans thousands of years.  When we read the words and opinion of Pastor Pennel he snapshots maybe 60 years or less. It sounds like we are facing a church that has veered in dangerous waters in less than 60 years. This type of thinking and reporting really gets my attention. My question that’s looking for an answer. Does either church, ‘the back in the 60’s or ‘the now church’  either model the church of over 2,000 years ago? If so, in what way?