Summertime - Relax, rejuenate, reveal

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."       

Meditation     
In times of confusion, I often return to this passage and the assurance that all will be revealed.  Honestly, I am not afraid of that.  I think that we people of faith are called to live our lives openly. As many of you have heard me say before, we celebrate a beckoning God who is forever calling us more and more into the open, wide expanse of God's love.  Therefore, we are being called to be forthcoming in our faith and how we treat one another.  I also believe that God always gives us the knowledge and the wisdom that we need.  

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