Author Archives: Patricia Ann

Rebooting Relationships

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Dissension depletes my energy level. Somewhere in one of my self-reflections I admitted to disliking dissension, confrontation, petty peevishness, pessimism and poop scooping. (The only doggie bag I carry is from a restaurant!)

At times in 2014 all of the above (except the doggie thing) cropped up in my life to the detriment of some of my relationships. Some were remedied but one lingered on until today, when I decided it was not going to accompany me into a brand new year if I could help it.

And so I rebooted a relationship. It was frosty at first and I was tempted to abort the whole thing, but perseverence is one of my strengths and what could have been a three minute phone flop turned into an hour-long healing conversation.

Romans 12:18 says If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone.

Rebooting relationships is a good thing if it is possible, as far as it depends on you.

Church Fun

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The sole purpose of going to church is to worship, right? Yes. But, when the last hymn has been sung, the last “amen” uttered, and the last person has exited the sanctuary, the fun begins.

God has been served and will continue to be served as his people enjoy one another’s company in the C.E.H. (Christian Education Hall) after each morning service. It’s called fellowship.

This Sunday I had more fun than usual because I was on “coffee duty” in the kitchen with several other people. There was chatter and laughter as light-hearted conversation accompanied the preparation of ninety cups of coffee and sixty cups of tea. Even more fun was serving each person who came to the counter for their choice of beverage. “Just a half cup, please” or “Three quarters of a cup will be fine” or “Could you top that up a little more?” A young lad of perhaps twelve, smiling through his braces, said, “Coffee, please”. No fruit juice and cookies for him at the kid’s table!

It was even more fun because two of our members happily celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, and two giant strawberry shortcakes were a tasty addition to the tea and coffee.

Yes, we go to church to worship God, but I know he likes his children to have fun, too. Proverbs 17:22 says a cheerful heart is like good medicine, and for me that is a prescription for church fun.

The Wonder of Christmas

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Wishing peace, comfort, love, joy, and all the blessings of Christmas to each and every one.

THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS

The wonder of Christmas,

The birth of a Child,

The angels are singing His praises,

The people rejoice

At the sound of His voice

Echoing down through the ages.

Hope, love and laughter,

Peace and goodwill,

The message resounds loud and clear,

The birth of God’s Son,

His gift to us all,

This is the wonder of Christmas.

©1995

 

My Greatest Gift

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This morning I opened a forward that one of my daughters sent my way in 2012. It was a flashmob rendition of Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, and numerous other wonderful Christmas Savior songs.

As the music crescendoed from my Ipad, I raised my hands in response to the call for adoration.

Joyful tears flowed as I gave thanks not only for the Baby born over two thousand years ago, but for the babies that have blessed my life over the last sixty years: my sons and daughters, my grandsons and granddaughters and most of all my great-grandchildren; all truly wonderful gifts.

The joy that filled my heart at our family Christmas party yesterday, overflowed this morning in thanksgiving to the One whose presence in my life is my greatest gift.

“Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Peace in a Sack?

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I asked my ten-year-old grandson what he wanted for Christmas. His dimples deepened in thought, and his reply was, “Nana, I have no idea! I have everything now and don’t need anything more.” And then he looked me in the eye and said, “I’d really like world peace.”

I wanted to hug his little self and not let go, but we were in a hockey arena and ten-year-old hockey players have an image to keep up.

When a child of that age realizes how cruel our world is becoming, and wants world peace over toys and technology, how do we fulfill a Christmas wish like that?

Does Santa have world peace in his sack?

Ninety-Nine and Counting

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On Sunday I had the privelege of being a part our congregation’s congratulations to one of our members on his ninety-ninth birthday.

He sits tall in his second row pew every Sunday morning, and two weeks ago helped one of his daughters celebrate her seventienth birthday.

Does it get much better than that?

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he who will sustain you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV

Real Love

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Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting a couple still in love after sixty-one years of married life. They are a joy to behold.

That visit brought to mind a sentence from one of Robert Schuller’s books, Living Powerfully One Day at a Time. It reads as follows:

…the source of real joy is real love, which tears you from your own projects to care about someone else; bearing another’s burdens, sharing yourself with another person alone; truly being an instrument of God’s love.

Everything about this couple reflected God’s love, especially their love for one another which was so evident in every word and look that they shared.

I would be remiss in not mentioning another couple I know who have been married the same length of time and are truly devoted as well.

It was a blessing to have all four of these people and their real love touch my life on the same day.

Another Sunday Prayer

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It’s Sunday again and I’d like to share another prayer of the people:

Breathe on us breath of God as we welcome Your Holy Spirit into the silence of our hearts.

Father God, help us to realize that talking about You is not the same as knowing You, and talking to You.

Help us to overcome the obstacles that prevent us from enjoying a closer relationship with You. Help us to trust You completely in the problems we face and the decisions we make each day.

When we are self centered, help us to center on You and the needs of others.

When we are feeling depressed and anxious help us to rest in Your never-ending love and to feel the comfort and peace that Your love brings.

When we lose our sense of compassion, help us to remember Your constant compassion for us and make us aware enough to feel it in our lives.

Make us humble enough to know that You are our help in every need and without You we are incomplete.

Father we pray for our friends and families and for each other and ask that You would replace our grief with peace, our sickness with healing, our poverty with prosperity and our sadness with joy.

We pray for world peace, for unity among all people, for governments of all countries and for courage to stand up to the unacceptable acts of those who have no concern for the lives and welfare of their fellow human beings.

Help these people to find a way to channel their destructive behavior into productive action that they may become caring members of our society.

May our prayers today be acceptable in Your sight, and may we try to make our lives acceptable to You in every way. Amen.

 

It’s About Time

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Don’t ask me why I thought about this topic; it’s just the way my mind works sometimes. These are just a few of the things we say about time:

Time heals all things

Time is money

Time stood still

Time is of the essence

Time flies

It’s about time

The time is right

Time out…

And this from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)…

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

 

 

Sweet and Sour Love

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Why does a once sweet love go sour? Physical beauty, passionate intimacy, whispered promises of undying love; these are the sweetness. But then, in some cases, venomous accusations, disrespect, hurtful remarks, begin to take their toll on sweet love, leaving one or the other party wondering, rightfully, what went wrong.

And then comes the time to reflect. Does physical beauty really matter? Is passionate intimacy the crux of a relationship? Were those whispered promises made in the heat of the passion?

Unkind comments made under the guise of love are like razor blades in sweet dough.

Wise old Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:6, Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.

Sweet and sour love? Only if it’s tasty to both parties with no heartburn to either.