Wandering Heart: Jesus Sought Me

 Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;

-Come Thou Font of Every Blessing

This Lent we are figuring out faith with Peter.  I have always loved Peter’s story.  I love his passion and impulsiveness and how he charges ahead without really thinking things through.  I also love his curiosity and cluelessness and how he never fully gets all that he hears or experiences as a follower of Jesus.  I think I love Peter because I can see myself in him!

As we begin our journey with Peter this week, we meet him on the shores of Galilee (Luke 5:1-11).  Peter was a fisherman, your average-ordinary-hard-working-guy.  There was nothing special about him, yet Jesus saw something, sought him out, and invited him on a life changing adventure. 

No matter how many times I read Peter’s story, it is his first encounter with the man who changes his life forever, that truly has me amazed!  We see Peter’s cluelessness about the miracle that was about to happen, even though he had witnessed earlier the healing of his Mother-in-law, he still questioned Jesus.  Then we witness Peter’s impulsiveness as he walks away from everything and did not think about the consequences.  We glimpse Peter’s devotion even in the midst of fear and his own inadequacies he faithfully accepts Jesus’ invitation.

How has Jesus sought you?  How have you responded to His invitation?  How much are you like Peter?  I hope you join us these next 6 weeks of Lent as we figure out faith like Peter.  Jesus sought him, and Jesus always pursues us.

Blessings,
Pastor Jenni

Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.

-Come Thou Font of Every Blessing

Creatures of Habit: Isolation vs Community

 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

(Ecc 4:9-10, NIV)

I have been a pastor for almost 25 years.  I have preached countless sermons on the importance of community and being a part of the Body of Christ.  I have worked most of my career to create community and help people feel they have a place to belong. Over the past week I have experienced Community in a new way.  I have always known that community, being a part of a fellowship of believers, is an essential piece of our faith…but I have never truly been on the receiving side of it before.

In Seminary we were taught the importance of boundaries in ministry, keeping a healthy distance from people.  The reality is this is difficult, and I am not very good at it…except when it comes to very personal things.  I am very good at shutting myself off from people in the moments that I really need community the most.  It is hard for me to ask for help, to be vulnerable, to show signs of weakness. My default is to isolate myself and figure it out on my own.  Well, you can probably guess how that has worked out for me! 

This past week I have been reminded of the importance of community, of allowing people to come alongside me in my journey.  Having emergency surgery will do that!  I am grateful for the ways my community has rallied around me…text messages, emails, phone calls, flowers, cards, meals.  Encouragement and support that lifted my spirit and helped in my recovery.

I have always loved this verse from Ecclesiastes, Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  What a great reminder that we are created for community! 

As we wrap up this sermon series on Creatures of Habit, I believe we have saved the best for last!  It is the best because all of our other godly habits are strengthened when we are in community…gratitude, generosity, prayer, truth, and rest.  Each good habit is easier to maintain when we walk with others in the journey.  Proverbs 27:17 says, As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.  Friends may we continue to sharpen one another as we grow together in community

Blessings,
Pastor Jenni

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day 
until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:3-6)

When things don’t go as planned

I am a person who likes a routine.  Every morning I wake up, have a cup of coffee, snuggle with Merriweather as we watch the Today Show before I get on with my day.  In the evenings I watch a little TV, snuggle with Merriweather, and most nights talk with my mom for a bit before heading to bed.  I don’t like surprises, I like to know what to expect.  I like to have a plan!

So what happens when things don’t go to plan…well funny you should ask!  Last Monday I woke with a dull pain in the lower back.  It happens from time to time so I didn’t really think much about it.  The next day, I had a doctor’s appointment to establish care with a new doctor.  I told her about my pain and we talked about symptoms and possible causes.  She ordered an abdominal ultrasound for the next day.  Lo and behold I have a “significant” gallstone embedded in my gallbladder!  (No wonder I have pain that won’t seem to go away!) Fast forward and today (Wednesday) I am having surgery to remove my gallbladder!

Normally when things go awry and I am thrown off course, I panic and let stress and anxiety run the house!  But not this time! I have found myself calm, cool and collected with only a small bit of anxiety on the side.  I have prayed A LOT this past week…turning my worry into prayer (habit 3).  I have let God’s truth wash over me…relying on truth over uncertainty (habit 4).  And most importantly I have leaned into rest…breathing in Christ and breathing our stress (habit 5). 

So, as I write this I am doing my best to only use the good habits…and let the bad habits go.  I am going into this surgery with just a little bit of anxiety because I don’t know what to expect which makes it hard to plan.  But what I can plan for is to know that I am covered in prayer head to toe.  To know I have on repeat in my mind those verses of scripture that give me comfort.  And to know that God has control, so I don’t need to worry.

Thanks for your prayers!  I will be out of the office for the remainder of this week, Rev. Terry Palmer will be with you in worship on Sunday as I recover. I will be back in the office next week.

Blessings,
Pastor Jenni

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, 
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

Creatures of Habit: Stress vs. Rest

 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
(Mark 6:31)

I don’t think I have shared with you my word for the year…“Breathe!”  This is the word that I need as my focus for the year!  For me it is a great reminder of the importance of stopping every now and then to simply pause, breathe, and rest.  It is a word of intention and perhaps the one habit in this sermon series that I need to work on the most!  My default is stress!

I often feel that life is just plain busy, often feeling too fast-paced and chaotic to even keep up. Technology keeps us connected around the clock, yet many people feel more distant from peace and rest than ever before. Breathing in Christ means finding our true rest, peace, and renewal in Him—learning to pause, release the weight of the world, and rest in God’s presence.

In my life rest isn’t really a thing.  I run on adrenaline and stress is my motivator.  I am a huge procrastinator which adds to the stress in my life.  I am trying to build a new habit, to not let stress run my life.  I am creating a habit of not working all the time and instead taking time to rest…body, mind and soul.  It is a work in progress for sure!  But, I am finding the importance of the pause, pushing the reset button, spending time nurturing my soul by doing things I love. 

Jesus is a great example of someone who knew the importance of rest.  He was always finding time to himself to pray, not letting the “schedule” dictate his day. I love his words to his disciples when things were getting busy.  He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  They all climbed in a boat and got away from the crowd for some peace and rest!

Creating a habit of rest involves intentionality, it doesn’t just happen on its own.  It is an act of surrender—recognizing that we are not in control and choosing to trust in God instead. Resting in Christ requires slowing down, letting go of the need to constantly strive, and allowing God to be our source of peace. It takes an awareness of when stress starts to creep in and knowing when we need to pause and simply breathe.

Blessings,
Pastor Jenni

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
(Matthew 11:28-30)