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From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Good morning, everyone. I pray that you all are able to find time for prayer and/or meditation, and that you are also finding ways to balance your work with your home and family life. Please take some time for recreation if at all possible, and remember that we are praying for the health of you, your communities, and your families. Do let me know when you are ready to explore worshipping with Zoom. These services can be surprisingly meaningful for all of us.
Meditation
I love the Psalms and it is rare when I do not begin a worship service with a reading from one of them. At times, however, some of the old militaristic language of these ancient songs and poems do not bring comfort. This week has been one of those times, so I have been sitting with Stephen Mitchell's adaptation of this Psalm. My mother had a phrase that she often declared when she felt she was embroiled in a task or situation that seemed to be taking too long to resolve or complete: "This is taking longer than a month of Sundays!" In other words, the usual rhythm and flow of life felt disrupted, and she wondered when things might get back to "normal." Yet, God is infinite and immeasurable. Impatience is a reaction of our restless minds. When we are impatient, we are really being impatient with God. May we all learn simply to sit in God's presence, and trust this time. God is always creating and re-creating. Let us accept that rhythm as our own and treasure it as the divine inheritance that it is. Prayer If we are having trouble putting words to our prayers, then let us simply and quietly turn to Jesus. Words are not necessary; only a willingness to sit and let God's radiant love and wisdom into our hearts. May we all linger in our prayers today, and discover the infinite patience that is waiting for us.
Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
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From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Dear Friends, I know that some of us may be feeling that we are experiencing a set-back, but know that we of SpiritCare are still with you, and praying for you. We are in this journey together. If you think you are in a position to offer your residents and patients a Zoom worship, let me know. If someone might need a phone call (and that includes you) let me know that as well.
Yes, the sparrow too has found a home there
the swallow has found herself a nest where she can lay her young beside your altars, Lord of heavenly forces, my king, my God
The psalmist reminds us that God will always lead us to cool waters. This Psalm also tells me that we are always in God's temple, whether we are in the desert, or sitting at the dining room table. Psalm 84 reminds us that God's temple, that is all of life, provides refuge for the sparrow and the swallow. We know that if they are being provided for, then so are we. Does not Jesus promise us that in Matthew 6:26 (see below)?
Our life journey is a pilgrimage, and we go together. Therefore, let us not despair, but rather look for those pools of spring water where we can pause and drink our fill. God is with us, and it is to God that we are journeying. This is the paradox of the faithful life: That we are right where we need to be to experience God, and God has been with us all along. Prayer I leave you with the first verse of the beautiful Advent hymn, "With Joy Draw Water," written by Anne McKinstry. "With joy draw water from the spring, salvation's living well. The Holy One is in your midst, glad praises sing and tell!" Holy One, thank you for guiding us. We know that whatever we need to move through, you are there. We are not stranded; we are held. Blessed be and Amen. Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Blessings to you all, and please, let us stay in touch. Rev. Sue Ann -- Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Good Morning, everyone. My apologies for being a little late with this week's meditation. Blessings on this day! Do let us know how SpiritCare can be of support to you and your community. I have a couple of Zoom services coming up this month with some of your residents and patients. I am so grateful. I miss being with you, your staff, and those you serve. May we find new ways of coming together.
We just need to listen.
Another insight I get from this passage is that in their frustration, disappointment, and sorrow, the disciples decided to go back to fishing. After all, it was a life they knew well, and the last three years had been confusing, and at times very difficult. However, Jesus knew that previous phase of their lives had come to a close. There is great tenderness in this passage, and I do recommend reading it in its entirety. I believe the lesson here is to remember that we are always being called forward into new life. Yes, sometimes we are reluctant to go. We want to return to what we once knew. Yet, a Christian life is one that follows the Good Shepherd into a life of transformation. Let us learn to trust the journey. We are being led with care, and we are being made anew in surprising ways. Jesus calmly waits. Let us go. Prayer This prayer comes from the wonderful book, Following Jesus, Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety, by Henri J.M. Nouwen. (Ed: See Resources For Caregivers on Henri Nouwen.org)
Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Dear Friends, The season is changing, so let us remain open to how God is moving in all our lives. These are uneasy times, but God has never abandoned God's people. We are held. When you are ready to try a short Zoom worship, do let me know. It will be good to connect with you and those you serve once more. Autumn blessings to you all!
Meditation
This scripture often comes to mind when I get frustrated and think that life is just not going my way. Well, I guess I should say I think of this scripture after my frustration subsides. Eventually, I catch my breath and ask myself, "Where is my treasure? What am I trying to hold on to?" There are all sorts of things we try to hold on to: money, reputation, expectations, even our indignation just to start the list. However, we know life is changeable, and what seemed so certain yesterday may not appear anywhere near that secure and solid today. Frustration usually is rooted in fear. We fear the loss. We fear what this means for our families and ourselves. Yet, the promise is that God is always with us. We forget that because God cannot be put in a box for safekeeping. God is not a thing to hold. No amount of worry of frustration will bring God any closer. We must let God be God.
However, life is richer for all of us if we aim for being calm, collected, and most of all grateful. There our treasure will always be found, safe and sound. What is our treasure? Love, of course. It really is all we have.
Prayer Our prayer today is a short reading from the Dutch writer, Etty Hillesum, written in July 1942. She died in 1943 in a concentration camp at the age of 29.
Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
When the time is right for visitors to return, I would be happy to lead a small group conversation or service as well. I would love to talk with you about what is possible either now, or in the future. In the meantime, blessings to you all as we move into autumn. May your fall harvest be abundantly blessed.
Meditation
Imagine you are Elijah. Despite your reputation as a prophet (or a teacher, pastor, director, or some other respected role), you are afraid. There are those who have vowed to take your life for your beliefs. Imagine the cave where you are hoping to hide. Imagine hearing the question, "What are you doing here?" At some point of our life, in the midst of struggle or worry, we can all become like Elijah. We just want to run and hide. Yet, we know that God does not call us to live in fear, at least for long.
Yes, even in a storm, if we listen closely, we will hear God asking, "Why are you hiding in fear? I need you to take part in love." These words are for us all.
Prayer There is much going on in our state, our country, and our world. I share with you a prayer from the beautiful book, Earth Prayers from around the World. This prayer was written by Helen Weaver, an American writer. Let us join her in prayer for our wonderful Earth.
Almighty God, who are mother and father to us all,
Look upon your planet Earth divided. Help us to know that we are all your children, That all nations belong to one great family, And all our religions lead to you. Multiply our prayers in every land Until the who Earth becomes your congregation, United in your love. Sustain our vision of a peaceful future And give us strength to work unceasingly To make that vision real. Amen
Even if we cannot "work" in the way we may have in the past, let us remember we can always pray. Let us do so with courage, conviction, and love.
Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Dear Ones, It is our prayer that you and those you love are safe. So much going on right now. Here in the East Bay our air quality is poor. I pray that the fires will cease and that the air quality will clear and that Covid-19 will soon pass. In the meantime, may we all know peace on this journey, confident that God is with us every step of the way. May your spiritual practices always bring you a sense of peace, love, and courage in this time. We are so grateful for you and the work that you do.
Meditation
The translation of this Psalm is from a book entitled, Thirty-Six Psalms: Let Us Praise by Betty Bracha Stone. In her introduction she writes, "In the summer of 2012, I entered into a serious Jewish practice: strenuous introspection and prayer during the month of Elul (pronounced uh lool) in preparation for our High Holy Days - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During the month of Elul the faithful are encouraged to pray Psalm 27 twice daily." She took that practice a step further and wrote her own translation of Psalm 27 and thirty five additional Psalms as well. Her book was given to me by her husband while I was standing in a parking lot. No, we did not know one another, and I was puzzled. However, as he was walking away, I realized that I was standing next to my car, which has a clergy sticker on the front windshield. I think I will always remember that moment and I am grateful for the gift of this book. This year, Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish New Year, begins on the evening of September 18th. I appreciate learning the spiritual practices of others, including those from other faith traditions. In these uneasy times, may we all respect and learn from one another. This will not weaken our faith, but rather make it stronger. May we celebrate one another's "glad songs" and listen to one another's prayers. God has made us all. Let us give thanks - all of us!
Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough, Hello Everyone, As Labor Day approaches, please know how grateful we are for all of your work. I do hope you will take some Sabbath time to rest and maybe even have some fun! While I have been leading Sunday worship services on Zoom since March, this afternoon was the first time I have led a service in a care community. I so enjoyed it and I certainly felt God's Spirit holding us. Not only could we see one another, we could hear one another, even with their physical distancing, so we were able to have a conversation. If you are thinking it might be time to try Zoom in your community, please let me know. Also, when your community is ready, I would be happy to meet with a small group. We have options! Blessings, Rev. Sue Ann
They began to yearn to return to Egypt. Yes, they might have been enslaved there, but at least they ate well. They forgot they had been praying for freedom, and that prayer was being answered in ways they could not yet see.
On one of my recent morning walks I came across some items packed in a box marked "Free." In the box, was a small note pad with pages that read, "Do more of what makes you happy." That seemed like both good advice and an item worth accepting. Frankly, the realtors' notepads that often grace our front porch are getting a little repetitive. The encouraging words and a bit of color and whimsy make me smile. The artwork on the pages also includes a picture of a bright red Vespa. No, I don't see myself hopping on one ever, but it is fun to dream of donning a helmet and motoring down the road, headed for freedom. It at least makes writing out the grocery list a little more entertaining. Lately, I have been thinking about healing. While that does bring to mind the wonderful stories of Jesus healing those so much in need of his touch and presence, I am also reminded that God has been in the business of healing for a very long time. Furthermore, we need to remember that God is active and bringing us healing right now. We are all being healed into a new life that we may not completely understand. The restoration we see before us may not look like the healing we have been praying for. Yet, the invitation to wholeness, which I think that is what healing ultimately is, is always being offered to us. Yes, in a time of pandemic and poor air quality we may have to put some of the activities we have enjoyed in the past on hold, but it is a good time to check in with God. How is God calling me to be present in my life today? How can I connect with others? There is healing to be found in those answers. Let us remember we have not been abandoned, but rather we are being led into a new time. Let us have the courage to not dream of returning to the way things were, but rather let us be on the watch for what is on the new horizon. We may not be able to see it clearly yet, but our faith leads us to believe we will see it soon. Prayer Holy God of Vision and Wonder, Help us to have the courage to willingly move forward with you. Where you lead, we will go. Forgive us when we grumble and cling to the past, and thank you for keeping us moving. Thank you for watching over us and those we love. We thank you for the freedom to love you and one another. We thank you for the courage to dream. In profound gratitude we pray, Amen Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Grace and peace to you always! I pray you and those you love are healthy and safe. We continue to hold you in prayer, knowing that these times are not easy. Please remember to take your Sabbath time for rest and relaxation. If I can possibly be of help, please let me know.
We will not be ignored. We will find our way over whatever threshold we need to cross. No matter where we need to go, or what we need to experience, let us look for the Christ who is always waiting for us to show up. The door to God's love is always open. Let us seek and find. It should not take too long. The door is always open.
Prayer Holy God, you who opens all doors, we thank you for your loving attention. We thank you that our place, our home is with you, and with you we find the safety of love. We pray that those who are searching will learn that your door is always open and that all are welcome to come and be with you. Forgive when we forget to extend your extravagant welcome. Help us to be as present to one another as you are to us. In Jesus' name we gratefully pray. Amen. Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Hello Everyone, I pray this email finds you and your loved ones well, and that you are taking time for your Sabbath rest. Do let me know if there is anything I can be of assistance with. We will be offering Zoom services when your community is ready, so do keep me posted! May we be able to come together soon. Blessings, Rev. Sue Ann Scripture: Psalm 86:11 "Teach me, Lord, your way that I may walk in your truth, single-hearted and revering your name. I will praise you with all my heart, glorify your name forever, Lord, my God." Meditation In the Book of Acts, we learn that the early Christians were known to be followers of The Way. In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." It seems like it should be easy to know the way. We know the Ten Commandments. We can look to the Beatitudes for guidance. We certainly have at least some knowledge. However, I think there is a deeper issue we may want to explore. Surely we yearn to be able to live this knowledge. We want to take it to heart and make it our own. We want to deepen our knowledge into wisdom.
He writes, "We are sent along the path he has chosen for us, but we cannot see it, and nothing we have read is any help to us. Were we acting on our own, we should have to rely on our experience. It would be too risky to do anything else. But it is very different when God acts with us. Divine action is always new and fresh, it never retraces its steps, but always finds new routes."
Prayer
Holy One, help us have the courage to surrender to your love. Help us to entrust our very lives to you, because you have given us life. May we realize our own worth, and the worth of others. May this knowledge be transformed into love as we follow The Way of Jesus. This is how we can love you, love our neighbors, and ourselves. May we remember that this is what we are called to do. May love be our new way. In Jesus' name we boldly pray, Amen. Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Dear Friends, My prayer for you and those you serve and love is that you know what a treasure you are. Please continue to take care of yourselves as you tend to others. Blessings in this time and always. Scripture: Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
Too often, we today bury our treasure. We hide our love for God and our family. We keep this love a secret, stashed away. We close our hearts, and our love just sits there, doing no one any good. Not ourselves, and not our family and friends. When we cut off our hearts from those around us, we are not serving God.
We do not know how the finder in today's scripture will use this treasure. Will he give some of it away? Will he keep it for himself? He may even forget about it, or forget to tell his family about it. These are questions for us all. What are we doing with God's love for us? Are we sharing it? Let us not waste a moment, but rather let our love shine. To share our love is our divine call. Let us not tarry, but answer God right away. Let's courageously love as God loves us. The kingdom is in our very own hearts, but we need love to show us the way. Let us not pass from this earth without letting people know our treasure. Prayer Holy One, you have given us a great treasure, and that gift is your love. Forgive when we forget to live into that love. Forgive us when we forget that these riches you have given us are for sharing. Love cannot be hoarded. May we always remember to celebrate that you bring us together in Christ, and may we also remember to give thanks that we each are held in such a love. Let us remember the words of St. Paul: "May the God of peace make us whole and holy."* It is your love that makes us whole in Christ. Holy God, we also ask that you continue to watch over our communities and our families. We thank you for those who are serving in so many ways in this time of Covid. For them, and in all the ways your love is manifested, we give you thanks and praise. Amen * 1 Thessalonians 5:23, adapted Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Good morning, and blessings to you all. Thank you for you work and service. May you always have a sense that you are serving in the House of the Lord and may you do so knowing you are blessed and loved. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you, or anyone, is in need of prayer or conversation.
We should always be prepared for a message from God. These messages can come from a dream, a piece of art, even someone we know. We can all be God's messengers of love and encouragement.
After he awakes, Jacob understands that he has slept in a sacred place, and he will name it, "Bethel" which means House of God. He then declares that "the Lord shall be my God". Life is not always comfortable and sometimes it does feel like we must find rest in a hard place. Yet, this beautiful story reminds us that wherever we are, God is with us. May we, too, dedicate our lives to God, declaring that we are in the House of the Lord. Let us watch and listen for angels, and live with one another, content to love God, our neighbors, and yes, ourselves. This is how we can make our very lives a sacred dwelling place for God. Such comfort can be ours. Prayer Let us open our hearts in praise and gratitude by praying Psalm 95. O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Psalm 95:1-7, New American Standard Bible Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Blessings to you all. I do hope that you are taking time to pray and to also have some fun with close friends and family - even if it is on the phone. Staying connected helps us to maintain our sense of humor, which is so important in times of stress. Please take good care of yourselves, and let us know if there are needs that SpiritCare might be able to help with. You are in our prayers.
Meditation
I return to Psalm 139 whenever I begin to feel lost or confused. It is, for me, a Psalm of knowing and being known. Yes, God knows us completely, and sometimes I need to be reminded of that. It is tempting to believe that if we are having difficulties, it must mean God has abandoned us. Yet, we know life will always have difficult moments. Rather than questioning if God has forgotten us, I suggest our questions should be,
This is true of our hearts. You know us deeply and completely. Therefore, we surrender all of ourselves to you. We know there is no holding back. We are yours, and we are grateful. Continue to help us live as fully and completely as we can. Thank you for watching over all of us. May all humans know your deep and wonderful love. May we learn to share that love with one another. Amen.
Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough Associate Pastor, San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com
From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
Hello Everyone, July is underway. I pray this note finds you well, and everyone is staying cool during the warm afternoons. Blessings on your work, and may you be finding time to enjoy the summer season while tending to your work and caring for your families and yourselves. You are in our prayers. Please let us know if there is a need we might be able to help with. You are loved and held. Scripture: Isaiah 55:12-13 Yes, you will go out with celebration and you will be brought back in peace. Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you; all the trees of the field will clap their hands. In place of the thorn the cypress will grow in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow. This will attest to the Lord’s stature, an enduring reminder that won’t be removed.
Aren't these beautiful images? I wish I were a painter. I would paint dancing trees, emerald green hills, and a beautiful river. I would include all kinds of flowers, and yes, the blooming myrtle. I just read that the myrtle is the Hebrew symbol for marriage. God is declaring that his relationship with us will endure the test of time. We belong to God and to one another forever.
We are often impatient for our time of exile to be over. However, in chapter 55:8, we hear God telling us that our ways and not God's ways. What I am hearing is that God is telling us to be patient, and to let God be God. We are often tempted to plead and demand our case with God. We feel we know exactly what we need. Yet, it is not God's way to always give us what we think we need right when we think we need it. That is the way of a child. We may be fussy now, but we will be brought back in peace. Let us not waste time in doubt and worry, but rather in prayer and preparation for the time when all will be revealed in song and celebration. Let us have the courage to believe these wonderful words of life. Prayer Holy Eternal God, we thank you that you speak to us of encouragement. You know at times we struggle with patience, even to the point where our faith begins to fray. We thank you for your forgiveness, and your steadfast love that never lets us go. Holy One, continue to stir our hearts in this time. We thank you for those who tend to our care. May we remember that we all wait together. Yet in this waiting, you give us the bread of life and the cup of salvation. You offer us reconciliation at the table of Christ that is always set before us. May we be content, knowing that your vast love is unlimited, and such love can fill our hearts to overflowing if we say yes to the invitation to rest and trust completely in your love. In Christ we gratefully pray, Amen. Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough Associate Pastor, San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Hello Everyone, I pray this note finds you and those you love and serve doing well. You continue to be in our daily prayers. I want to let you know that the board of SpiritCare has decided that we should move to a Zoom platform by September, and I have talked to a few of you about this possibility. While I am certainly far from the most technological informed person, I do have some experience with Zoom, and I know it to be an effective tool for helping people draw closer together in these times of physical distancing. I look forward to talking with you sometime after the 4th of July weekend. Also, just a reminder if any of your residents or family members need someone to talk to, I would consider it a blessing to take part in that conversation. I am grateful for the work that you do, and I hope that you are taking regular Sabbath time to rest. Scripture: Matthew 10: 40-42 “Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Welcoming the Christ among us requires that we always are opening the doors of our heart. We all struggle with that at times, but fortunately, we have been given the gifts of prayer and meditation. We can always practice by repeating, "Welcome, Lord Jesus. Be my guest." Remember, there is always a teaching in every moment for us. What are we learning? To love God with all our hearts, our souls, and our minds, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).
Prayer Come, Lord Jesus, be with us. We open our hearts to your teachings. We open our hearts to your love. We open our hearts to our neighbors. We know sometimes we fail at offering hospitality to all. We thank you for your forgiveness. Today, and every day we will try again to be the welcoming hosts you call us to be. We thank you for your steadfastness, even when we falter. You know these are not easy times for us, and we are grateful for your care. Thank you for answering our invitation to come and be with us. Our hearts are humbled and our spirits are grateful. Amen. Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough Associate Pastor, San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com P.S. Even when we move to a Zoom platform, I plan to continue sending a weekly meditation. From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Blessings to you all. The first day of summer is close at hand. I pray all of you can spend some relaxing and healing time in the sun. Yes, too much time in the sun is not good for us, but just a little can be just right. Do take your Sabbath time when you can. God always offers us rest and rejuvenation, but at times we get too busy to notice. Please take good care, and let us know if we can be of help. You are in our prayers. Scripture: Matthew 10: 26b-27, 31 "Nothing hidden will not be revealed, and nothing secret won't be brought out in the open. What I say to you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, announce from the rooftops...Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven."
We don't need to know, and can't know everything. Yet, we can be confident that what we need to know will not be hidden from us. God does not try to trick us.
Yes, living honestly takes trust. Learning to trust is a valuable spiritual practice. Sometimes, we need to trust a situation even when we feel uncomfortable. Fortunately, we can always pray to God to show us the path of truth, of how to get from Point A (where we are today) to Point B (where we want to go). However, in this scripture we hear Jesus reminding us that we need to acknowledge God's presence and guidance. Truthfully, I think all of us know that there are times when where we want to go is not where we need to be. It takes a loving and confident heart to acknowledge that God may be leading us in another direction. It takes courage, prayer, and patience to say, "God, where you lead, I will follow, for truly there is nowhere else I want to be." We may not be able to declare that from the rooftops, but we can announce it in our hearts. God is there and will hear. Heaven is that close. Blessed be. Prayer Holy and Ever Steadfast God, we thank you for your guidance that is ever being revealed to us through the love of Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we forget to trust your path, but rather want to go our own way. Forgive our impatience. Today, we acknowledge your love and guidance in our hearts, and we recommit ourselves to living your loving, honest ways every day. Help us to encourage and inspire one another on this path of trust. Help us to remember that if we claim to trust the teachings of Jesus, we must be willing to live in that trust. We know that in that trust, you will bring out the best in us, and this is what the world needs. In Jesus' name and love we gratefully pray, Amen -- Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough Associate Pastor, San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com |
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