Loving One Another

Posts tagged ‘joy’

Ubuntu!


Ubuntu!

 

Guest Minister

Today at church our guest minister was Dan Hollard, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bozeman, Montana. Our pastor for the past 25+ years has been Rev. Jean Johnson. Jean is on disability leave right now … in a rehab facility in Great Falls, MT.

Pray for Jean

Join me in prayer for Rev. Jean Johnson’s release from pain and ability to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

Sunday Surprises

Meantime, it’s a surprise each Sunday to see who is in the pulpit and to hear a different kind of message. Today’s message was titled, “Spirit of Peace.” I think Dan Hollard must have spent some time in Africa, because he put on an authentic African accent and told us the story of Ubuntu (Oooo-boon-too).

He based his message on the scripture of Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

Here’s what I heard through my filter and took away this morning:

lunch table

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

There was a woman in Africa named Dorothy
Who embodied the spirit of Ubuntu
She was all about community and humanity.
Her kitchen was open to all … she’d welcome you.

She lived the spirit of Matthew 25:
If you see someone naked, clothe them.
If you see someone hungry, feed them.
We’re all one; you should never loathe them!

Dorothy was like a mother to all
Who entered her village; she’d invite
The hungry and poor to dine in her kitchen.
The sense of community was pure delight.

Like Nelson Mandela who invited his captors
To enjoy his inauguration feast,
Dorothy welcomed one and all –
Didn’t label anyone as one of the “least.”

Instead she lived a life that demonstrated
“I am who I am because of who we are.”
She knew “We are all connected.”
Her love lifted all people to “par.”

Everywhere in the world what we need
Is more Dorothys who live out Matthew 25.
Regardless of religion or color or creed,
We need Ubuntu to spread far and wide.

We must fill our world with love and joy.
We must fill the world with God’s peace.
We must feed the hungry and show respect
And love to all. Come and join my feast!

Shalom!

Ubuntu!
Have a Matthew 25 Sunday.
“I am because we are.”
We are all connected.
colorful dancers
pexels-photo-887349-2
See you tomorrow.

 

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, food, friendship, Giving, God, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, peace, Poetry, prayer, respect, Serving One Another, writing

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Don’t Be Discouraged


Don’t Be Discouraged

Ps. 16:11

“You have made known to me

The path of life;

You will fill me with

Joy in your presence,

With eternal pleasures…”


Do not allow discouragement

To settle into your bones;

Face it, conquer it, and

Replace it with Hope.

img_8327-1

Set your net to the other side of the boat.

Catch plentifully the colorful fish waiting there.

Discouragement is a powerful destructive force.

We have the power to choose a different response.

With the Father’s help,

We can get through seasons of discouragement,

in spite of living in a flawed world as flawed people.

Face it. Conquer it. Replace it with HOPE.

Turn to God who turns to you

And lifts your spirits, putting your life back on track.

He loves you. He cares. Believe. Trust.

Do not be discouraged. Pray – and know

I’m praying for you, too!

 

person throwing fish net while standing on boat

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

What have you caught with your positivity lately?

Thanks, dear WP friends, for visiting.
Have a productive day.

Topo Photography
This photo was supposed to be just above the phrase,
“Do not let discouragement settle into your bones.”
Instead, with this new block editor, it keeps showing up down here.
I can’t figure out how to get things to go where I want them
with this new block editor program.
But I will not let it master me.
I will not be discouraged!
Tenacity, Jan, Tenacity!!!

See ya later!

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, God, happiness, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Poetry, prayer

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Start Sunday Silently


Silent Sunday

Enjoy Today!

If you are not with “your children” today,
you can substitute  “your children” for “your spouse”
or “your neighbors” or “yourself.”
Change “they” to “you” or “s/he”…

Enjoy Today

Ponder these thoughts –
Go somewhere to worship God today –
Pray –
Enjoy your loved ones.

I’ll be singing in the choir this morning
and listening carefully to the
message presented by Rev. Hundley.

Come back in about 5 hours for my sermon notes.

Have a beautiful Sunday.
pexels-photo-887349-2
See ya later.

 

Category:

blessings, children, contentment, God, life, Love, prayer

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Twin Falls, Idaho


We are at Elevation 486, an upscale restaurant “Food and Spirits for the New West.” We had a delicious dinner and have enjoyed beautiful 80 degrees lowering into the 70s as we ate, drank, visited and watched the sunset from our patio seats.

Come enjoy it vicariously with us.

We had a good night’s sleep after that beautiful meal.

Now we’re ready to continue my birthday week of celebrating!!

Good morning, my friends. Have a beautiful day. We’re headed home!

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, Family, food, Gratitude, happiness, Love, Travel

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True Colors


True Colors

colorful dancers

You Color My Life!
You’re there to spread the sunshine
When shadows hide joy.

Show your true colors
By joining hands all around –
Reaching out in love.

tough times

Do you agree with that?
Do you think leaving answers
Issues of Respect?

Thinking of abuse;
Considering disrespect –
Sometimes there’s no choice.

But, looking at most
Issues of the “toughest times,”
LOVE is the answer.

Demonstrate bright love!
Climb the rainbow of color
To the Pot of Gold.

 

scenic view of sky with rainbow

Photo by Jessica Lewis on Pexels.com

Compassion is gold.
Stick around and help others –
Absence creates voids!

What’re YOUR True Colors??
Are they Love and Compassion?
Or blackness and voids?

heart of love
See Ya Tomorrow!

 

Category:

friendship, Haiku, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, Poetry, respect

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Life is a Book


Life's a Book.jpg

Life is a book;
Each day a new page.
The story’s not written
By some far off sage.
.
You write it each moment;
It comes from your heart.
Today’s page is blank
‘Til you get up and start…
.
Start by breathing deeply;
Thank God for each breath.
Begin each day with gratitude –
From your birth to your death.
.
Praise God for Creation.
Look around and then start
To praise Him for His presence
In your life – every part!
.
Ask God for His wisdom
To help you every minute
As you choose your day’s tasks
And the JOY He puts in it.

man in red crew neck sweatshirt photography

Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

Have a joy-filled Tuesday, my friends.
Write this page with intention and love.

pexels-photo-887349
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Faith, God, Gratitude, happiness, Love, peace, Poetry, prayer, writing

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This is The Day


This is the day

That the Lord has made

I will rejoice

And be glad in it!

I pray you have reasons to rejoice, too.

Tell me one reason!

Thanks for visiting

See you tomorrow

Category:

blessings, children, contentment, Family, Gratitude, happiness, Love, mental health, peace

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