Theological Thought for the Day

The Sabbath is more than a day, more than a name for the seventh part of the week, It is eternity in time--the spiritual underground of history. 

Keeping the fourth command is rather specific.  Just stop-tarry here a while and learn that you are more than your work or what you do.Sabbath  is a reminder of every persons royalty.  it is to affirm work without being a slave.  Sabbath is holiness in time. 

~ Abraham Heschel

When is the last time you...

...counted your blessings?

Yesterday I presided over a communion service at Green Hills retirement community.  To start the service, I let the residents choose a few hymns to sing from their hymn book.  Almost immediately someone suggested the hymn "Count Your Blessings".  This hymn is over a hundred years old - it was written in 1897.  So it contains some more "old-fashioned" language.  It's message however, is timeless.  As we sang the song, I noticed that many of the people singing were not even looking at the hymn book - they had the words memorized.

The chorus of the song goes like this:
      Count your blessings, name them one by one,
      Count your blessings, see what God hath done,
      Count your blessings, name them one by one,
      And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

See what I mean by "old-fashioned"?  No, that wasn't a typo - it really is the word "hath".  It is a beautiful song and I found that it has really stayed with me.  I woke up this morning with the music stuck in my head!  At first I was a little annoyed, I don't really like having songs stuck in my head.  But then I thought -  maybe it's there for a reason.  Maybe God is trying to tell me something.

And I realized, I need to take those words to heart.  I couldn't remember the last time I counted my blessings.  I can remember the last time I thought about things I didn't have, or something I really wanted but couldn't afford.  But I couldn't remember the last time I sat down and really looked for and appreciated the blessings in my life.  So I took some time this morning to do just that.  And as the song says, I was surprised by what the Lord "hath" done.

I am incredibly blessed to be the Associate Pastor at First UMC.  I have a wonderfully loving and supportive congregation and I am having so much fun learning and trying to follow God's call on my life.  I am blessed beyond belief to live in the beautiful parsonage that the church owns.  I am blessed with a family I am close with, and friends both near and far that are always there for me.  And these are just the big things!  There are lots of little every day blessings as well - like the sun shining, the weather starting to cool, and the road construction finally being finished by the church :)

Sometimes, I might say I'm "lucky" to have these things.  I'm "lucky" to have a job I enjoy, I'm "lucky" to have a beautiful house to live in, I'm "lucky" that I get along with my family.  But truly, I think it is beyond luck.  These things are truly blessings - and blessing come from God.  I want to take a moment each day to remember that, and to thank God for the blessings in my life.

And I want to challenge you to do the same!  Because really, when is the last time you counted your blessings?   I hope after reading this you can answer with " today".

ASP - Mission Accomplished!

Oh my goodness that was one whirlwind week!   I had SO much fun getting to know all of the youth and helping out some Appalachian families. Below are my reflections on the trip.  I hope to be back later this week to share some reflections from the youth!


 My Reflections on my first ASP Experience:

Throughout the week my crew worked on three different sites painting, installing trim, building a tin roof for a porch, and installing a window, among other things.  We worked hard and accomplished a lot. . 

Throughout it all (even the times when I was hot, tired, and wanted to go home!), I really felt God's presence.  There were amazing things accomplished - things that I could never have imagined doing before this week.  I learned how to use a miter saw (no hands were cut off!), a drill (only one drill bit destroyed), and how to put up drywall (that mud is messy!).  I came away with an exhausted body but a renewed spirit.

I loved seeing the way the youth from Ames and Nevada bonded and formed quick friendships.  We had a blast each evening playing cards and making ice cream runs.  The opportunities for fellowship were everywhere and we definitely took advantage of them. 

I've come away from the trip with a renewed respect for how blessed I am in this life.  I was grateful to come home to running water and air conditioning in my own private home.  I pray I never forget that having a safe, warm, dry place to live is a privilege that unfortunately  not everyone in our country has.  I want to continue to do what I can to make it a reality for all people - through working with ASP and other forms of ministry. 

With God's grace we will continue to serve.

Blessings,
Bethany