The Best Sunday Ever

I have visited several churches while in the US. It is amazing to me to see how many churches are unfriendly. Unless I go with a friend, or am the "missionary speaker" for the day, no one greeted me or noticed that I was a visitor. They just handed me a bulletin.  Hmmm....am I that way in Kalsagri? Anyway, this past Sunday, I returned to a church that I had visited with friends. But, I was by myself and at an earlier service. I was handed a bulletin...walked in...and someone greeted me! Asked if I was visiting and had a conversation with me! I sat down, introduced myself to the people who were sitting in the same pew and read the bulletin since the service had not started yet. And, I read...

the prelude was to be The Birthday of a King. I love that song! Sure wished the choir sang it, but, the music was the next best thing! As I continued to read, I saw that the service included John Wesley's Covenant Service. Thank You, Jesus! Love it. It is the ONLY way to start the new year. And, to top it off...communion! O, what a blessed service. The Spirit of the Lord was definitely in that place!

 

So, now, I will leave you with Wesley's Covenant Prayer. As you read it, meditate on the words...can you really pray that prayer with all your heart?

I am no longer my own, but Thine.Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for Thee or laid aside for Thee,

exalted for Thee or brought low for Thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thou art mine, and I am Thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

 

Words for a New Year

The other day I was in a bookstore in Erie, PA and came across the book, Shepherd of Many. It is a book of "lessons" or sayings of Msgr. James Peterson. I knew Father Peterson many, many years ago. As the old year has ended and a new one has begun, I would like to leave with you some of his lessons:

 

~The future will be no more important than today, not in its work or ministry or prayer. No moment is more important or valuable than the present moment.

~God is in charge. I'm the director. I'm only here.

~You have to forgive, not excuse.

~Don't ask about changing the situation. Ask about changing your heart.

~Remember Mary doing laundry pleasing God where she was.

~It takes humility to accept God's gifts and courage to use them.

~God wants your friendship more than your ministry.

~Seek trust, not understanding. When you trust, nothing else is needed.

~You're in God's care. You don't have to rush Him. Stop trying to help Him so much.

~There's a world of difference between the uncertainty that is frightening and the uncertainty that is promising.

 

There are many more lessons in this little book. But, if I learn the ones listed above, I will have learned a LOT!

 

May God be with you and draw you close to Him in this New Year.