Pastor's Ponderings February 2012

As we approach the season of Lent, those weeks set aside for the church to prepare for Easter, many of us will find ourselves so busy that we may neglect time for “spiritual self-care.” As your pastor, and as a fellow sojourner in this event called “life,” I too can find myself not taking the time to remain “grounded” in the Word of God. All of us can fall into the trap of being so busy that our time for reading, prayer, study, and even healthy exercise are pushed to the side. But as I stated at the beginning of this article, Lent is a time for the church (you & I) to prepare for Easter. It’s a time to prepare for the celebration of the resurrection of our Savior!

In an attempt to help in that time of preparing, I am inviting you to be a part of a Sermon Series that I will be preaching titled: “The Finish Line Is in Sight!” (based on Adam Hamilton’s book: 24 Hours that Changed the World). As a complement to the sermon series, Rev. Cathee Miles will be offering a class to discuss the points brought out in the sermon(s). I am hopeful that this will be a part of your Lenten journey and a time of God “speaking” to you in a fresh, new way.

Recently, I was reading a book titled: Lost in Wonder by Esther DeWaal. The book discusses the practices of rediscovering spiritual attentiveness – those practices that help us “re-connect” or remain connected to our Loving God. In this reading, I found these words:

“I am a gardener, I know plants grow at the bottom first,
Root before stem, stem before flower.
The soil must be rich, dark; I must water until it’s soaked.”

And just as any garden knows that a healthy, fruitful plant requires healthy soil and a good root system, so must our spiritual practices help us to maintain healthy and vigorous connections with God, His Word, and His Grace. During these coming months, seek out ways to stay connected to God. Maintain healthy spiritual practices that will help you be prepared to bear fruit, to “bloom and blossom,” and to withstand the challenges of life.

Another opportunity to allow God to “speak” to each of us is an upcoming trip to the Holy Land. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I have been working to plan a trip to visit the Holy Land this coming December (December 3rd – 15th). On this trip, we will visit many of the sights that we find as we read Scripture. I have been blessed to have visited this part of the world twice now and both times I have come away with a richer understanding of God’s Holy Word. I am looking forward to sharing this experience with you! Stay tuned for more information!

May God bless you and yours throughout all the seasons of your life, especially during this season of preparation for the Resurrection Sunday!

Pastor Ray