Not Where You Sit or Stand…
A Church with Purpose
First, something to make you smile…
While undergoing surgery for a heart attack, a middle-aged woman has a vision of God by her bedside. “Will I die?” the frightened woman asks Him. God answers and says, “No. You have 30 more years to live.”
So, with 30 more years to look forward to, the woman decides to make the best of it. Since she is already checked into the hospital, she enlists the services of a team of plastic surgeons. She gets the works, including breast implants, liposuction, a tummy tuck, hair transplants, and collagen injections in her hips. She looks great!
The day she is discharged, she exits the hospital with a graceful arch in her back and a sassy sway in her hips. She crosses the street and is tragically hit by a bus and killed instantly. Up in heaven, she sees God and asked, “You said I had 30 more years to live; what on earth happened?” “Oh, yes. That is correct,” says God. “So, what happened?” the bewildered woman asks. God looks at her, shrugs, and said, “Oh dear. I did not recognize you.” [1]
Something for the Mind…
In the first chapter of my book “Unwrapped …Musings of a Church Lady During a Pandemic”, I examine, as to its mission and purpose, what makes a church a church. Is it a person? Is it a building? Or is it a person in a building? After much consideration and thoughtful analogy, I decided that the definition is all of the above.
While the beginning stages of recovering from the pandemic of 2020 is a wonderful thing; millions can attest to the fact that bearing with it for more than twelve months—in isolation—created deep yearnings in the soul.
Many have learned (if they did not already know) that being isolated either forces us into reflection (which compels change) or it sets us up for apathy or a kind of inertia that overwhelms us and robs us of our will to accomplish anything.
No one knows what full recovery will look like after this. It is said that the recovery from the pandemic of 1918, (along with the end of prohibition), ushered in the Roaring 20’s where people tended to overindulge and partied like it was 1999, if that were a thing.
What most social scientists and observers believe is that things are not going to be the same after this current bout with the widespread disease. They believe that we will be left to adopt a new type of normal in all facets of life: personal interactions, work environments, social norms, and even spiritual identity.
There is an old cliché that admonishes us that when life gives us lemons, the most optimistic thing to do is to make lemonade. (BTW, being optimistic is indeed a choice).
The suffering and loss of 2020 that is continuing into the early months of 2021, tossed us lemon, after lemon, after lemon. In fact, there were so many lemons that those who made a choice to be more optimistic, made so much lemonade that it was no longer practical to do so. We had to come up with other creative ways to interact with the excess bitterness, the feelings of hopelessness and the repressed and pent-up energy.
There is a post circulating on social media that describes what some well-known individuals did during various forms of lockdown. It says that while in isolation, Sir Isaac Newton came up with the theory of gravity (with an apple tree in his view from his bedroom window). And William Shakespeare wrote King Lear (though this is sometimes debated). Author Mary Shelly crafted and wrote the Frankenstein thriller before that genre of writing had taken hold. And the Apostle Paul wrote 4 letters while in prison, that are books of the New Testament.
When we take our excess lemons and use them as battering rams to unwrap and discover our gifts that that are unique to us, and when we are then compelled to share those gifts in order to build up the church, the people of faith, or the body of believers—that is when we establish our true connection, and the doors of our personal church experience swing wide open and are welcoming to all who are within our reach.
As I pointed out in Chapter 1 of my book Unwrapped…Musings of a Church Lady During a Pandemic (I somehow cannot seem to mention that too many times): Though it is desirable and beneficial in doing so, sitting in a church does not make anyone anymore of a Christian than standing in a garage will make them a car.
There is no better time than now (in most of our lifetimes) to squeeze the life out of those lemons that just do not seem to quit. We need to rob them of whatever it is that gives them power and then sweeten the juice with a big dose of faith, then use that juice to empower ourselves and all who are in our sphere of influence.
Meditation Verse: Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”
It does not matter our age or perceived level of energy or vigor as long as there is breath in our body, and we have the ability to do even one thing. My mom would tell stories about how while her baby sister lied dying from disease, she would worship and witness by throwing up her little arms while humming a part of one of Dr. Watts hymns: “If I can’t say a word, I will just wave my hand.” Even as dire as the situation seemed to be, there was a blessing even in that.
There are circumstances that are more difficult than others, but if we have an ability to choose optimism, we will have a personal ministry that will make a difference.
Now let us affirm these truths:
- I am his workmanship.
- I am his work of art.
- I am reborn from above.
- I am spiritually transformed.
- I am renewed and ready to be used for good works prepared in advance for me to do.
- I am on the path set before me.
- I am walking in it.
- I am living the good life God prearranged and made for me.
- I am blessed.
Something for the Heart and Soul
Tip of the week
Let us create a community of worshipers within our personal sphere of influence. Let us choose to be optimistic about our future. Let us also make it our goal to devote time to self-care and wellness in order to create room in our lives so that we can inspire each other and become better versions of ourselves.
Let us continue to be both a lemon press and a sugar gin so that we will keep the lemonade flowing and never grow tired of doing good. And, most of all, in all of our doing, let us be intentional, and be inspired so that we can inspire.
Appeal for Purpose
God, you are perfect in all that you do. Everything that was made was made by you. Nothing can be hidden from you. Nothing is too difficult for you. Your love for your creation is without exception.
Lord, though you have already given us all that we will ever need. And though we are, or desire to be delighted by your word, we often fall down only to find ourselves getting up over and over again.
Father, we are thankful that you are bound by your perfect love, your perfect truth, and your perfect plan for your creation. We are thankful that you cannot betray yourself. We are thankful that your word will not return to you void. And we are delighted that you made room in your plan for each and every one of us.
For these reasons we ask you today to make our joy complete by enabling us to be like-minded as you in our endeavors while maintaining the same love: being united in spirit, and intent on one purpose.
Please continue to guide us by your spirit and let your angels of protection who keep watch over us, keep us on the path of everlasting joy in finding our purpose in your plan.
By your Spirit and in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
