You Snooze; You Lose

It seems that on Sunday mornings my snooze alarm gets hit more often than on any other day. Oh, I still get up before six; but, it is a temptation. Fortunately, I have a snooze alarm so that when I hit the button, I get a second and third chance if it's needed.

God provides us with many chances or opportunities to love, to worship, and to serve Him as well as to love and serve our neighbors. There comes a time; though, in each of our loves that the opportunities will come to an end. We do not know the day or hour when we will breath our last breath. .

When our children and grandchildren were young and didn't want to get up and moving so that they could participate in some activity, my husband would often tell them: "You snooze; you lose."

Wake up, sleeper. God gives us many opportunities to live life in Christ. We are told that He delays His coming so that we all have the opportunity to turn to Him. But, don't delay. The time is now, not tomorrow. Who knows if there will be a tomorrow, here on earth, for any one of us?

May God help us to grab hold of the opportunities to love and serve the Lord with all our hearts, and souls, and minds; even now.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rise and Shine!

Ephesians 5:14

I woke up a bit late this morning. A younger (but, not that young) person in my house got me up about 6:00 a.m.. This is a good thing! A few months ago, it was me waking her up sometime not too long before noon on many days. This morning, she was wide awake and anxious to see if she had work today or not. She is learning.

She is learning that with privilege comes responsibility. She is learning that there is a cost to things that we desire. The cost is that sometimes (no, often) we have to get up and work for those things that we want and need. Even the necessities of life are not a given. Someone has to work for them.

How long will you lie there, O lazybones?
    When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want, like an armed warrior.
                                   Prov 6:9-11

Wake us, dear Lord, that we might serve you most fruitfully, glorifying your holy name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Adulting; May the Lord Teach Us How





Adulting: Taking on adult responsibilities.
 

Psalm 143:7-8

Answer me quickly, O Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
    or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
    for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

 

 Making the transition from teen-ager to adult can be a bit scary for many. Graduation from High School and prospects of either further education and/or learning to care for and support themselves can be daunting.

 

My granddaughter, who is a teen working on this transition, taught me a new word this past week. It is adulting. I laughed when I first heard her use it. I thought she had made it up. But, I checked the Urban Dictionary and it appears to be a word that is being used today. Adulting is when a young person begins to take on things that would be considered adult-like. These might be things as simple as getting out of bed on time without anyone having to wake them up or filling out a job application without assistance. Of course, this is a process; and, the training of a young person to make this transition should actually begin at birth. But, that jump from teen to adult is not always easy even for those who have been adulting (bearing the responsibilities of an adult) for many years.

 

My granddaughter is actually a bit shy around people she does not know well. But, she is learning that if she ever wants to be independent of me; she will have to break out of that shell and quickly.

 

The psalmist prayed that the Lord would teach him the way that he should go. This is my prayer for all of our young people. That the Lord would be with them; guiding them in His Way as they learn how to be mature and fruitful adults. It is not easy to make that transition from teen to adult. Aging is a process that cannot be stopped. Prayerfully, as we all age, we will also all grow and mature in Christ. May God be with our young people as they learn to follow in the way that He would have them go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Revelation 3:1-6 I Know Your Deeds

Revelation 3:1-6 NIV

Sometimes we can seem so faithful to the world outside because of all our good works. But, to the angel of the church in Sardis, Jesus says, "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but your are dead." (vs 1) Wake up and repent! Walk with Jesus, dressed in the white robes of his righteousness.

May we always remember that our good works might fool some of the people; but, they can never fool God. We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ephesians 5:1-20 Wake Up Sleeper.

Ephesians 5:1-20 NIV



Sunrise over Huron Bay;
Mouth of Silver River

I have a grandchild that likes to sleep very late. She often gets to hear variations of Ephesians 5:14 from me.

"Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you."

Yes, she gets that I mean this in two ways. First off, don't sleep away the time you have to live the life God has given you; and secondly, fill your life with the love and light of Christ. Follow the example of Christ and love as he loves us; giving of yourself so that others might also learn to live in the love and light of Christ.

My grandchild is not the only one I would share Eph 5:14 with. It is Sunday morning. In a few hours we will see who was able to get out of bed this morning, in the light of day, to worship God and to allow the light of Christ might shine on them. It might also be evident who was dwelling in the darkness into the wee hours last night so they are not able to rise this morning and receive the love and light of Christ. 

Rise, oh, sleeper from the dead and let the light of Christ shine upon you!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 22:39-46 Wake and Pray

Luke 22:39-46 NIV
I remember a prayer vigil years ago that began following Worship on Maundy Thursday and ended Good Friday at Worship. At least one person was signed up to be in the sanctuary every hour praying. No one signed up for the hours from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. so I took those hours. I probably didn't last an hour. I woke up a little after 6 a.m., on my knees, leaning against the baptismal font. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were Ken and Anita L., on their knees, praying, at the altar rail. They had not disturbed me. When they saw me sleeping, they just walked around me to pray. Now, Jesus, on the other hand had something to say to his disciples about sleeping while they should have been praying. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (vs 46)

What a lesson for me! I could not stay awake for those three hours. Sleep was too great a temptation. Pray that we may not fall into temptation and may God help us sleepers to rise and wake up from the dead. (See Eph 5:14).

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 5 - Get Out Of Bed; Answer the Door

A couple of days ago, I wrote about knocking. In light of our reading today, I will repeat that. When Jesus knocks, get up and answer the door!

As the woman in this love story sleeps, she is awakened by the knock on the gate and the call of her beloved. But, her slumber was deeper than she thought and she answered the door a bit too late. She has missed her beloved.

Here is your beloved, standing in your garden, knocking at your door. What are you doing? Sleeping? Don't miss the opportunity to be wrapped in the arms of the one who loves you above all others.

"YOLO," was how my granddaughter responded when I asked her about sleeping in 'till 9 a.m. the other day. She had a few things she had promised to take care of that she ended up not having time to take care of because she slept in. "YOLO" or "You only live once" was her reply. My response was "Then get up and live life."

If you're going to sleep all day, I guarantee that you will miss out on the best things that life and love have to offer.

"...“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Eph 5:14 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 127 - Children Raising Parents

"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him." (Psalm 127:3 NIV)

For a few of generations now, I have witnessed children being  neglected.  Sure, most, but not all, have adequate food, shelter, clothing, etc.. Most of the children are physically provided for. But, not all of them. This morning, the neglect that I'm thinking of isn't due to lack of caring for physical needs. The neglect that I'm thinking of is when love is withheld. This neglect happens when these precious gifts from God are ignored by their parents. Some are even left to raise their parents because their parents put themselves before all others. They put themselves before God. They put themselves before their children. Sometimes, they have a lot of fun with their children. They horse around and play with them because that makes the parents feel good for the moment and then they are off to do their own thing.

There are some who say that their are many children raising children. Sadly, in many cases it has gone beyond that. The children are raising their parents and they are not equipped. I am not saying that the whole world or all parents are being raised by their children. But, way too many are. It really is up to the parent to raise up a child in the way that they should go. It is not up to the child to take care of the parents needs and desires.

"Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Eph 5:14)

Wake up, as they say, and smell the roses. Your children are a gift from God. Care for them, guide them, teach them, love them as God loves you. Love your children even as they love you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.