Pastor’s Ponderings…

Read 2 Corinthians 3:18

"Next year I'm going to be a changed person!" Charlie Brown tells Lucy. "That's a laugh, Charlie Brown!" she says. "I mean it!" he replies. "I'm going to be strong and firm!" "Forget it," she says as she walks off. "You'll always be wishy-washy!" "Why can't I change just a little bit?" Charlie Brown asks himself. "I'll be wishy one day," he shouts, "and washy the next!"

It is February and we all know what that means. It is the month that we begin Lent. We celebrate Ash Wednesday on February 22 and that begins our Lenten journey. Sometimes we enter into this month with trepidation. We know that it is a tradition to give something up for Lent - something that we will most likely not succeed at. We become frustrated for our lack of discipline and will power. I’ve been there and it is not pretty.

But how about if we look to Lent as an opportunity to enrich our lives through the way we relate to God? What if we begin to search God in ways that are new and different? Many of our Creekside members expressed their closeness to God in outdoor settings. What if you decided to find God in the grocery store? What if you entered the store and began to say now God speak to me about your presence here? What do you think would happen? God would begin to change the lens of your spiritual glasses to see God in ways that you did not see.

Let me give you an example. In our last Outreach meeting, each member received a $25 gift card for a local store. Sharon and Ang asked us to give these cards to someone in need. I received a Martin’s card. I thought of many people who I thought may need the card but I opted to give it to a stranger. I decided to shop a few days at the Martin’s in Dunlap. Each time I entered the store, I prayed for an opportunity for God to show me the needs of people. This experience opened my eyes to the people who are around me. I did not head into the store with my list and my thoughts on how much time I had to finish and what I needed to accomplish for the day – which is always the case for me. I went in looking for God to speak to me in the midst of my daily routine. And in my desire for God to reveal himself to me, I found someone to minister and to bless.

My illustration is an opportunity to reflect on the new COB Vision statement.

Vision Statement
Through Scripture, Jesus calls us to
live as courageous disciples by word and action:
To surrender ourselves to God,
To embrace one another,
To express God’s love for all creation.

This is something I plan on changing in my life – I want to create places to experience God in new ways. Centering all my day in God without the rush and harried lifestyle. What is Jesus calling me to do today? This is the COB vision. Jesus calls us in our daily routine and we listen to God’s voice guiding us into a new way of living out our discipleship.

During the Lenten season, we are creating means of grace that embrace this new vision. Calls to Worship, Invocations and Prayers will be designed to reflect the spirit of the Statement. A new Bible study and devotional ideas will be offered. This is a life changing opportunity.

It is not easy to change but when we see the world through the lens of God’s love for humanity, our heart, minds and spirits are open to the calling of God in our lives. We are changed. Well, gotta go, I think I hear God calling me.

In the Lord’s love and joy, Pastor Janet

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