pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: children


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Lead and Leading

Parents often try to nudge or encourage their children to try or do something they think their child will enjoy or benefit from.  Sometimes a parent sees something in their child and tries to develop that skill or gift.  And a lot of the time the child responds with some resistance!  This is the case in today’s passage.  Mary nudges Jesus to exercise the gifts He has.  He responds with basically “not now”.  Maybe those things she treasured in her heart and perhaps a thing or two she has observed since then are promoting her to ask Jesus to perform a miracle and to begin His public ministry.

Sometimes in our lives we too are encouraged, invited, nudged… by others.  Maybe it is our parents.  Maybe it is our spouse or a coworker or a friend.  People often see gifts or talents we have that sometimes we do not.  At times we too can do the same for others in our lives.  It is a wonderful thing to see and affirm the God-given gifts we see in each other.

Often the nudge or encouragement comes from the Holy Spirit.  We see or find ourselves in a situation and we can almost physically feel the guidance to do or say something.  In other instances we can hear the voice whispering to us.  It may be in the moment or it may be later as we reflection our day or as we spend time in prayer.  These “too late” or after the fact prompts prime us for action the next time out.  It is still God at work in us.

God always continues to be active and involved in our lives and in the world.  He encourages all followers to use the gifts and talents He gave us through the nudges, prompts, … of the Holy Spirit and those around us.  We too at times invite, nudge, … others.  In all cases, may we be willing servants of His kingdom, whether leading or being lead, all for the glory of God.

Scripture reference: John 2: 1-5


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Truly the Family

Usually we read the story of the sheep and the goats from the perspective of the sheep and the goats.  We think Jesus is talking to us as we mentally note which poor person we may have helped or what orphan or widow we may have visited.  And often I think we ponder the missed opportunities and wonder if we are doing enough to be a sheep.  No one wants to be a goat.

But what if we read this parable from the other side – what if we are the opportunity?  What if we are the ones that others are sheep and goats to?  In this case I’d rather meet a sheep than a goat.  In need, I’d take sheep hands down.

Yet many people would not.  They would rather cross a goat when they are in need because some people just do not accept help well.  For some it is pride, for some a deep rooted individualism.  But this limits our community.  And it is important to minister to each other.  This builds up the bonds of faith and strengthens our fellowship as children of God.  At times, we must all allow others to see our inner self and to know our vulnerable spots if we are to truly be the family of God.

Scripture reference: Matthew 25: 31-46


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Teach Them Well

Our faith has a long history to it.  Our common faith journey begins with the creation story and runs right to today.  It contains stories of Moses and Noah, of David and Solomon, of Mary and Esther, of Elijah and John the Baptist, of Daniel and Hezekiah, and of course, of Jesus and the disciples.

Our own faith story begins years ago as well.  It includes all of those family experiences with faith plus all that we each have experienced in our own lives.  All of this is simply an extension of that story that began only with God, before a word was spoken.

In Psalm 78 we are charged with the task of teaching all of these stories to our children so that they too can now them and make them a part of their own faith story.  And not only that, but also so that they too may teach the stories to their children.  These roots of our faith, these stories of who we are, for the foundation of who we are a Christian.  A solid foundation is important.  May we all teach our children well, so that they may be strengthened in the faith and encouraged in the way that leads to life eternal.

Scripture reference: Psalm 78: 5-7