Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for January, 2019

Are You Baptized?

Baptism in Christ
A choice you can always make
It’s never too late

loleta & cake

Are you baptized? Or did you miss that ceremony as a child?

If it was like my baptism, you were an infant and don’t remember it. Does that make a “dedication” by your parents rather than a baptism for you into the family of God? Does it make a difference?

If you went through confirmation classes as a pre-teen and received your Holy Baptism at 12 or 13, you remember the occasion. But, was your confession of faith then done with the same understanding you would have if you confessed your faith and were baptized today?

My friend, Loleta, has always been a loving person. She has identified herself as a Christian for many years. But, she did not recall ever being baptized. She knows it was unlikely her parents had her “sprinkled” as an infant. So, in her enlightened “senior years,” God put it upon her heart to be baptized.

When my husband and I learned of her decision, we were thrilled. We asked her if we could attend the baptism ceremony.

“Why?” she asked. “Why would you want to travel so far to be here when I am baptized? Isn’t it just a private thing between God and me?”

“Because we love you!” we told her. “It is your PUBLIC acknowledgement of your faith. We are thrilled that you have decided to do this – and we want to be there to support you.”

We were not alone in our presence. Loleta had people from three states come to witness her baptism… and then we all celebrated together at a rental house in a lovely spot in southern California where we are sharing the time for awhile. The Holy Spirit is alive and well in this place!

Here are a few of the celebrants.

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Do you remember your baptism?
Mine was a sprinkling as an infant.
I wonder if I would have the courage
to be “dunked” if the Holy Spirit nudged me
to do so today.

How about you?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, friendship, God, Haiku, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love

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Martin Luther King’s Example

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It is Martin Luther King Sunday! We celebrated this momentous day at the Bloom in the Desert Ministries in Palm Springs, California. Rev. Kevin A. Johnson delivered the message. As is my habit, I took notes poetically during the sermon. Here is what I heard Rev. Kev say after the sharing of Bible story of Jesus’ first miracle:

Isaiah held firm and encouraged
The people to speak out.
Do not be silent; be encouraged.
Let your convictions eek out.

Exclusion and hate are taught
In many places in our land,
But pockets of humanity exist –
Some are right here where we stand.

We are called to be up-lifters.
In authentic ministry we speak.
Our call is to the Glory of God.
Love and kindness are what we seek.

In John 2:1-11, Jesus performed
His first miracle; quite a display!
Hundreds of gallons of water into wine!
My, what would we do with such today?

The point isn’t the miracle of wine.
It is the extravagance of Christ’s love.
It is the way Jesus helps in more
Ways than we can imagine – way above!

Jesus was only beginning His miracles.
He was tolerated until He messed
With the money of the church.
Then His ministry was put to the test.

Today is the celebration of MLK Jr.’s life.
We recall the way His life was given
In compassion for the poor and the sad,
For the disenfranchised and the imprisoned.

Martin Luther King lived out his faith
With a call to action in the power of peace.
Like Jesus and MLK Jr., we are called
To make our world more lovely and eliminate grief.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
Only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
Only love can do that.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is the unison prayer we read as a congregation. It touched my heart. I hope it impresses upon your heart, too:

“O God, all people are your beloved – across races, nationalities, identities, religions, sexual orientations, and all ways we are distinctive from one another. We are all manifestations of your image. ‘We are bound together in an inescapable network of mutuality and tied to a single garment of destiny.’ You call us to action for your unending work of justice, peace, and love. Reassure us of your presence among us now. Awaken us to delight in our diversity, which glimpses the mosaic of your beauty. Strengthen us in your steadfast love. Transform despair and fatigue into hope and action. In the protection of your wings, carry us to find rest, renewal, strength and hope. We are inspired by the example of your modern prophet and Christian disciple, our brother, Martin. Thank you. Amen.”

How did you celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? Did you honor his legacy in a way that recognized his example, his passion for equality, non-violence, and love for all humankind? Tell me about it!

Category:

Faith, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, prayer, writing

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Don’t Pretend

I’ve never been good
At pretending or faking
I give it away

Whatever it is
You can read it in my eyes
Eyes never tell lies

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Genuinely love
Don’t pretend your affection
Sincerity wins

Love with a clean heart
Hold tightly to your loved ones
They are your pure joy!

 

Here we are today with our dear friend, holding tightly to one another, appreciating the pure joy of being together. Enjoying the opportunity to see them in their new home. Lovely, isn’t it? It was a beautiful day in southern California… the kind of blue sky, sunshiny day that drew us here. And the friendships maintained are true bonuses. No pretending necessary.

 

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Who do you love with a genuine affection? How do you delight and honor one another?

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, friendship, Haiku, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love

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Sky Writers’ Haiku

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Enjoy Sky Writing
The sky writers had a ball
Messing up the sky

Category:

Haiku, happiness, Love, writing

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Why Rise Early?

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I miss the sunrise
If I rise a little late
Begin in beauty

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Category:

Haiku, Love, nature, writing

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Writing Haiku

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Writing’s a habit
Breathing in and breathing out
Comes naturally

Category:

blogging, Haiku, writing

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World’s Six Best Doctors

The World’s Six Best Doctors

 

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  Steve Jobs Died a Billionaire at age 56

This is his final essay:

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world.  In some others’ eyes, my life is the epitome of success.  However, aside from work, I have little joy.  In the end, my wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.  At this moment, lying on my bed and recalling my life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in have paled and become meaningless in the face of my death.

You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone bear your sickness for you.  Material things lost can be found or replaced.  But there is one thing that can never be found when it’s lost – Life.  Whichever stage in life you are in right now, with time, you will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Treasure love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat yourself well and cherish others.  As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, we realize that a $300 or a $30 watch both tell the same time.  You will realize that your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world.  Whether you fly first class or economy, if the plane goes down – you go down with it

Therefore, I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness!  Don’t educate your children to be rich.  Educate them to be happy.  So when they grow up they will know the value of things and not the price.  Eat your food as your medicine, otherwise you have to eat medicine as your food.

The One who loves you will never leave you for another because, even if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will find a reason to hold on. There is a big difference between a human being and being human.  Only a few really understand it.  You are loved when you are born.  You will be loved when you die.  In between, you have to manage!

The six best doctors in the world are sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self-confidence and friends.   Maintain them in all stages and enjoy a healthy life.”

 

Thanks for reading this, my blogging friends. I found it to be sad, and yet very inspirational. Certainly worth reading and heeding. It’s not the six “doctors” I expected to hear about! The absence of faith or any mention of God hit me. I wonder if that void accounted for his sentence, “… aside from work, I have little joy.”

Steve wrote, “You are loved when you are born.” I pray that is true of everyone, but sadly, I fear it is not. I am painfully aware of the fact that some children are born to a parent who does not want him/her. Some are abused, neglected, or abandoned.

Steve wrote, “You will be loved when you die.” I wish that were true for everyone, but sadly, I fear it is not always the case, either. Some people die alone, feeling very unloved.

He said, “… in between, you have to manage.” Yes, we do! But how? What guides your “management”?

Which of his pieces of advice were most meaningful for you? What bits of wisdom would you add?

Thought-provoking, isn’t it?

 

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, Family, friendship, Gratitude, health, life, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, music

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Finding a Horse

Have you ever looked

To purchase the perfect horse?

Is there such a thing?

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Category:

Animals, Haiku, pets

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Wordless Wednesday

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Written

on January 15, 2019

Coming Alive

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The hills and the fields

Are coming alive

Coming alive with green

The hills and the fields

Are drinking again

Greening the gray

Of a desert scene.

Thank God for the rain

Thank Heavens for gray –

The color of clouds –

Making grass out of hay.

Category:

Love