Tag: blessings

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Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Christmas Joys

Christmas at Gramdma's

What brings joy at Christmas?   It’s not just one thing.  It’s a combination of many.

Family get-togethers

We started the season early, heading out to Keely’s and Mark’s  in mid December as they go West for Christmas.    Their large townhouse was elegantly decorated and it was so good to spend time with them; exchanging gifts, playing games and going to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Then there is my annual birthday dinner; always a joyous time with friends from church who come to help me celebrate another year with a big dinner.   We also try to drive down to Bath and Haskinville, NY too.  That way we can touch base with JoAnne’s side of the family and also attend the big extended family Christmas celebration at my Mom’s house.  I think there were just shy of 30 people in Mom’s house this year.    There is always a program at that Christmas celebration, which JoAnne discovered is very Victorian.

Special movies with just the right touch

Continue reading “Christmas Joys”

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Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

My Results of Fasting and Prayer through Pray & Act

I have been participating in the national Pray & Act emphasis led by Jim Garlow and Chuck Colson.  October 30 marked the formal end of this forty-day fasting and prayer effort on behalf of sanctity of life, sanctity of marriage and religious liberty.   While some key leaders such as Jim Garlow were on a liquids-only fast for the entire 40 days, everyone was asked to fast in some way as health requirements and God’s leading dictated.   Daily emails and attached video clips have edified and inspired participation.

Prayer & Action

My fasting commitment was one 32-36 hr fast (water/apple juice/tea only) per week.    I have completed that and have decided to continue it until the week before Thanksgiving.  I have not talked about my fasting, but have decided I needed to write about it for an example. Other actions included signing the Manhattan Declaration, praying much in public and private about marriages and our country, becoming more knowledgeable on political candidates, blogging about issues such as sanctity of life and sanctity of marriage, standing up in the annual Life Chain demonstration, speaking for the causes in public messages and prayers, and voting with them in mind tomorrow, God willing.  

Deeper Renewal

I have found some things happening that I did not expect from my prayer and fasting commitment.   First, I have felt a greater closeness to God in prayer and a stronger identity with his cause in the world.  At the same time, I am hungry for more of Him.  Second, I have found myself praying more at times that were not particularly scheduled times of prayer – just talking to God about the issues on my heart – crying out to him for needs that came to my attention or that were impressed upon me to pray for.   Third, I noticed as I and we as a congregation and people across the nation prayed for God to uphold the sanctity of marriage in our nation, God moved mightily during these forty days to expose deep needs in marriages in our own church.  We felt the fruit of this overall effort.  I have had multiple opportunities for counsel and correction.  These are opportunities for me but especially for the couples involved.  That is one reason I am continuing the fast.  I see the need for much more healing of relationships by God’s power.  I believe this period of prayer and fasting was a big part of why these breakthroughs are happening.   God is answering prayer for the sanctity of marriage.

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Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

A Climate of appreciation returns to us on Pastor Appreciation Sunday!

As a pastor, you never quite know what the congregation will do for pastor appreciation Sunday, a verbal roast, a vacation you weren’t planning on, a hearty dinner or…?  And they like to keep us in suspense too.  But it is always worth the wait.

This year there were so many wonderful parts of it.   There was, of course, a great meal — a multi-course Italian dinner.  But there were also many cards of appreciation.  And so many people came up to us personally too and expressed private words of thanks for our help, support, discipleship and leadership in their lives.  That is so meaningful.   These would have been enough reward to last a long time, for as Paul said, you are our crown (1 Thess. 2:19).   

But the congregation added more.  They brought thoughtful gifts too.  Knowing that we enjoy going out to eat but seldom do, the congregation gave us gift cards to restaurants including my favorite fast-food  lunch spot –Subway and JoAnne’s favorite “my-birthday-treat” place – Red Lobster.    Then they brought out 2 huge bags, one for the Jones’ and one for Paashaus’.    Inside were gorgeous handmade quilts lovingly completed by the quilting fellowship group, done in our favorite colors.   JoAnne got it out nearly as soon as we were home and put it on our bed.   She loves it.  The ladies said that I had wandered through downstairs at church one day when they were working on it and remarked that it was a beautiful one.   But I had no idea it was for us.  It is the Dresden Plate pattern, one of my favorites too.

As I thought later about the wonderful day, I was humbled as I was reminded that I have tried to build into our church leaders a climate of appreciation.  I frequently write notes thanking them for their work.   I encourage them to do the same for others.   I teach how important it is to look for the gifts God has given to others and how God wants to use them in his work.    And now, on pastoral appreciation day, this climate of appreciation was coming back to us as pastors.   Perhaps in some way I am experiencing what Solomon was talking about, “He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward” (Pr 11:18 NIV).   It seems I am reaping multiples of what I have sown.  It’s a God thing!  Awesome!

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Journal Joy Notes

An abundance of blessings

We have just felt so blessed on our trip west.   So I decided to make a list of some of the special blessings we have noted.   The messianic blessing promised to Israel and received also by the church is pronounced in Isaiah 65:23 (NIV),  “They will be a people blessed by the Lord!”   We have certainly felt His care and provision on this vacation.   Here’s a small list to celebrate the last Sunday of our vacation.

  • It was a special joy to connect with loved ones on the West coast.   At the beginning of our trip, we so enjoyed our stay with our son-in-law’s parents in Eugene, OR.  We had not seen them since the wedding.   We were also happy to meet Mark’s brother, Bill and his wife Fatima for the first time.     Then at the end of our trip we had the privilege of seeing our nephew’s wife, Kim and their son, Lincoln, who is not quite 2, in Seattle, WA .                 
  • We sighted so many animals on this trip including elk, moose, black bear, grizzly bear, pica, prairie dog, ground squirrel, marmot, mule deer, and mountain goat. I’ll be blogging more about this.
  • We had unusually good weather – very few clouds on our trips to places that usually have clouds like Olympic National Park and Mt St. Helens.  We had almost no rain at all. 
  • We found safety while driving about 3100 miles in a little cherry red Nissan Versa the trunk of which surprising swallowed our large suitcases perfectly.   We had a couple close calls on the road, but God rescued us.
  • We worshipped on August 15 with Staters and it was communion Sunday at their church.   It is special refreshment for me to be able to receive communion while on vacation.
  • We were able to find places to stay that were quite nice.   The first night at Glacier was a little problematic because there was a state fair in Kalispell. Montana.    But we ended up at an East Glacier guest house, the most luxurious housing of the trip.  It was only available because the person renting it missed a plane for that evening. 
  • We repeatedly commented how much we enjoyed traveling together.  We work together while we travel.  JoAnne plans, reads tour books and maps and navigates.   I drive, handle luggage, and make choices that she hasn’t already figured out.  For us, it was a joy to be away from our routine, away from our responsibilities,  and doing something we love for vacation – seeing national parks.   It is a great way to celebrate our 40th summer together as a married couple.
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Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Collecting Serendipities

It was a beautiful morning for a walk as JoAnne and I took our morning exercise at Green Lakes Park today.   We usually walk in the hills for an hour or so to get the blood moving.   I always enjoy the translucent teal water of Round Lake, the soft mulch-padded path, fresh moist air, bird sounds, shaded lanes, and the mammoth old-growth trees.  But one of the great joys of being outside is to watch for a serendipity,  something beautiful and/or unusual that arrests my attention.   I react with unspoken wonder, or maybe with a audible, “Wow!” or a trademark, “Cool.”  

This morning there were at least three.  First, on the curve just below the camper dumping station, I saw a smallish raptor, sitting very upright.  I had left my binoculars in the car since I was supposed to be focusing on exercise.  But I still stopped to get a closer look.  (When I got home I looked him up- a Merlin- one of the few times I have seen one.) Then as I headed up the hill at the far side of Round Lake, I heard the familiar clunk clunk that could only be made by a Pileated woodpecker at work close at hand.   I looked but could not see him.    Soon he flew and as I continued to watch he returned and let me know where the pair were working.   They were under some loose brush pecking away at an old decaying fall.   The food must have been abundant because they were still at work when I returned 20 minutes later.   To top the morning off, I met a very friendly giant schnauzer, glossy haired, taller than Plato was and jet black.   She was a gem and she enjoyed a dog-lover’s attention too.     

I guess being alert for small moments of joy like those is just another moment by moment way of counting my blessings.   It provides joy along the path of life, lifts one’s spirits and sparks gratitude to God for the day.