photo by: Darrell Eudell

Today's Peace and Praise is brought to you by Larissa Carter, Chaplain of the Connectional Young Adult Ministry in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

“ And Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein and sanctified them” (Leviticus 8:10)

Imagine being a farmer. One day your sheep are fine, healthy with the fluffiest wool, and the next day, they die.   You know that something has gotten into your sheep; it could be poison or spoiled food. You research the matter and find out lice and other insects are killing your sheep. They get into the wool of the sheep, and when they get near the sheep’s head, they burrow into the sheep’s ears and kill the sheep. The solution, as shown by the ancient farmer, is pouring oil on the sheep's head. This made the wool slippery, making it impossible for insects to get near the sheep's ears because the insects would slide off.

We are all familiar with the saying, “What’s gotten into you?” When someone we know begins to act out of character, we want to know what brought about the change. The problem occurs when, just like with the sheep, we allow things (gossip, lust, envy, pride, jealousy, lack of patience) to get to close to our head (our mind) and once they do, they get into us.  Romans 12:2 states, to be ye in this world but not of it, but it is so easy for the insects to get to our minds, whether this is through music, movies, TV or books.

 But, thank God for the oil. Leviticus 8:10 states, “And Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein and sanctified them”. The anointing provides protection and deliverance. Another meaning for the word anointed is "chosen one." The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the anointed one sent from God, and sent to free those who have been held captive by sin. Fasting and praying is the opportunity for us to use our oil and wash some things away that we may have taken on over time. From anger or doubt, fasting allows us to give it to Christ and allow him to wash it away.  And, like the sheep, when the oil is applied, all the insects and worldly distractions will slip away.

Consider, as you continue your Lenten fast from things that may be a hindrance replacing them with pray and scripture.  For example, if you chose to not listen to secular music on the radio for 2 hours a day, replace it with gospel music, or include prayer time or reading your word for 30 minutes each day. 

photo by: Darrell Eudell

This week's guest writer is Larissa Carter, Chaplain of the CME Connectional Young Adult Ministry. This is her first post. 

“The first step is to admit there is a problem” ~ Anonymous

There is a saying, coined by many groups focused on healing and recovery, which states, “The first step to getting over or conquering a problem, is to admit there is a problem”.  In our Bibles, from the very beginning, we see that once the forbidden fruit was partaken of, we had a big problem on our hands.  Later in the Old Testament, the struggling Israelites were promised the Promise Land, redemption, acceptance, and blessings as long as they did one thing… Obey God (Deuteronomy 8:29).  However, they would act right for a few years, depending on who was king, and sooner or later they would fall back into old habits. There was a problem: a sin problem. 

Entering into 2013, the sin problem is still evident and present.   We live in a carnal word, and as much as we aim to please God, we sometimes take on attributes that occur around us, including small curses we heard in a song and white lies to spare another’s feelings.   After a while, larger sins become easier to commit, the remorse now a distant emotion, and soon we are just like the Israelites. It is what Romans 3:23 states, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We, in fact, have a problem.

So now that we admit we have a problem, we can provide healing for it, and the only way to conquer this problem, is through Christ.  In the New Testament, Jesus was asked the question why his disciples never fasted and prayed. Jesus said, “I walk among them now, but there will be a time when I am not physically among them and they will fast.” That time is now. Fasting and praying brings us closer to Christ because it draws out a relationship that is reliant on God.  As we approach the end of this season of lent (beginning February 13^th until Easter Sunday), I encourage us to admit that we need a savior, and then focus on ways to draw ourselves more towards him.

This week, consider taking time out for sincere mediation and reflection, being honest with yourselves and God.  Moreover, consider laying your struggles at his feet; then go one step further in your fast by choosing one more thing, something that is not convenient, but will draw you closer to him, and will require his help to overcome.

The Best That We Can

We had a little delay, and will instead have our guest writer’s post next week.  In the meantime, here is your inspiration for today.

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you’ve already mastered, you will never grow.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Often times, we wait, without a plan, to see what the day will bring. We will wait to see what happens at the job to determine our attitude; we’ll wait to see what happens with our family to dictate our reactions.  It is like a never ended chess game where we are getting attacked on all sides, only defending ourselves.  This places us in a situation where we are reactionary people – simply charging our energy to respond to the situations life places in front of us.

Every morning we ought to vow to get as much accomplished and do a many things as we can before the day is up.  It can be a day full of taking care of all the small things or just handling one mammoth task that can set a larger chain reaction.  Whatever it is, we ought to be ready.   We ought to plan our course and set our day, allowing flexibility for change, so that no matter what comes our way, we’re ready for the world.  We ought to prepare to be positive against all odds and be proactive in our quest to fulfill our calling. 

So why don’t we just walk in our purpose and be the best we can be? Why don’t we just vow, today, make a covenant amongst ourselves, even if it is between you and this computer, to just go forward.   "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto You" (John 15:7).  Together, we can support each other in making it happen, no matter what. 

Maybe your goal is to make a conscious effort to be on time. By thinking it, gradually, you will see you move toward doing it naturally to one minute before time, then five to maybe even fifteen.  Maybe your goal is to take up a new instrument, lose a little weight or just be the best person you can be to everyone around you.  Maybe it is just to be the strongest vessel God is developing you to be.

Consider making a covenant with yourself, or maybe even with members of your Circle of Love, family and friends who support and pray with you, to be your best self.

Amina S. McIntyre

The Value of Self

There are only two weeks left on our Lenten journey….Congratulations!  Next week we will have a guest writer, Larissa Carter, Chaplain of the Connectional Young Adult Ministry in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.   Enjoy your weekend!

What if there was a way to measure the amount people invested in themselves?  Imagine there was literally a budget sheet, with a grid like one used for household expenses except the categories would say “Exercise”, “Meditation”, “Grooming”, “Spiritual Life” and “Relaxation”. Maybe the relaxation category has subcategories.  But how much time is each one of these areas adding up to in the life?  Sadly for most, the results are that there isn’t anywhere near enough time budgeted and allotted for self-growth.  How hard could it be to really invest in oneself?

Think about: we oversleep one morning, we rush the kids to the school, we go to work, we eat lunch at our desks, we run a few errands after work, we pick up kids, we eat dinner. By the time evening comes, we’re busy preparing for the next day.  It is easy then to see how, while withdrawing energy from ourselves for others, we miss even adding a small deposit into ourselves.  And why is that?  Truth of the matter is that we perhaps do not value our own selves enough. 

Lent is very much about placing more value on the self.  Jesus understood the importance of taking a moment to prioritize the body, as there are many instances where he sleeps or carves time for renewal (in the boat, sitting at a friend’s table, at a well).  We, as ministers, are not fulfilling our end of the bargain of being good spiritual followers if we do not take this time to rest.  Psalm 23: 2-3a reads, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” Odd as it sounds, we are being directly disobedient if we do not take time to be renewed. 

Rest and renewal are a form of worship; it is in dreams and moments of peace that we receive our mission and details of our calling.  Just as we find time on the Sabbath to fellowship with others in the Word, we have to observe time to develop our spiritual relationship.  Perhaps it is as small as going to bed earlier to avoid oversleeping, or eating lunch outside, with the sun shining down on you.  Whatever it is, developing it during the time where we are actively dedicating more time to ourselves will make it easier to transition once Lent is over.

 

Consider doing a little time management; write out everything you do and strategically place the information and times all together.  Consider somehow having 1 hour allotted each day for self (which can be split up however you want).

Recovering Ourselves

Hear this post at the above link.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes things get so busy we lose ourselves.  It's odd to think that one can get so caught up in the expanse of everything that they become only a pale imitation of the person they once were.  But it happens.  Somewhere in the midst of the struggle, we don’t consider that a thought is not our own until we are so far off course we can't even recognize the scenery.  Spiritually, this can also happen, when we get excited about the Word and different ministries that we get involved with everything, even things we do not actually have gifts in. And we sow the seeds until there's nothing left but another's vision fulfilled.

Lent is a time to focus on our God selves, particularly how our gifts can be used to build the Kingdom on Earth.  This time is to remind us of how giving up something can make us, in fact, more in tune with the walk we have. Doing without tends to remind us of that talent we've left unnurtured or even just were too busy to cultivate.  It can also bring back skills we forgot we had, whether it's crocheting, hitting a 3 point shot or renewing our love for making music. Not everyone will be supportive of these pursuits, after all, some of these may seem a little out there, but they serve a higher purpose.

When considering recovering ourselves, the authentic person we first were, we first must remember to develop the relationship with our God selves as we would any other. Lay ourselves out in the open, vulnerable, to surrender our strengths and points of progress to be reordered and mended in to a Master creation.  Psalm 139: 5 reads, "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand on me".  Even if we've long since become a new creature, the renewal of gifts only further solidifies our covenant and dedication to call.

Consider having some quiet time - an hour or a full weekend - to recover the gifts we may have forgotten and meditate on how to use them in your future ministries.  

The Lesson of the Small

Hear this post at the link above!

“When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.” ~ Anonymous

Right when a major event – a speech, a production, graduation or just trying to get out of the house on a day when you’re running late – is occurring, inevitably, something gets lost or damaged.  It could be as small as not being able to find your keys or dropping your cell phone in a puddle of water.  Whatever it is, it suddenly shifts focus to something small that had nothing to do with the goal of the day. And nothing can bring the attention back, or so we think. 

Perhaps this small event is a way of easing the tension of the day. The little distraction of lost keys may have kept the car from being in the middle of an accident.  Or perhaps the puddle reminds us to come back into the house and pick up lunch before a long day’s journey.  Sometimes we move so quickly throughout our days that we stop paying attention to the little things God may want us to capture.  What about small things we don’t mind finding, like a dime on the ground or a four-leaf clover?  These events can be used to slow our speed and provide a large blessing in a petite package.

Elijah, before hearing the voice of God, was told he would hear this voice.  Many things occurred, including strong winds, earthquakes, and a fire, but it was the small voice that denoted the holy presence.  This voice probably was a distraction to the fear of the vastness of the elements.  1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”  The small voice was more powerful than any loud, seemingly earth shattering occurrences.  The significance of the still small voice, more than that fact that there was a voice, is where Elijah placed his attention, and the challenge that ensued from his willingness to listen.

Consider the small things, the phone call, the small rocks in the road, or the small light that flashes on your car, to see what bigger thing it may be leading you.

Far From Here, But Not Quite There

Hear this post at the link above.

Ever been right in the middle of something?  It could be a thought or a project that required more attention and focus, demanding a posture of concentration, with the power to consume us in the atmosphere of the details.  Ever have, at that moment of perfect clarity and diligence, the phone ring, breaking the development process? This annoying distraction makes it difficult to return to the previous state, often losing the thoughts previously generated. 

Such emotion could be described as what happens to our spiritual life when we decide to stop moving on the path of our call.  We get sidetracked by daisies or storms, tested or begin to doubt, and suddenly, we are not progressing, perhaps even standing or sitting on the road.  Far enough away from the beginning, but not yet able to see the end, we feel like a ship in the middle of the ocean, relying only on a compass and the sky to guide us back.  Sometimes we feel like drifting off and want to go overboard, abandoning the project all together.

Elijah, the prophet, went to Mt. Horeb to hide after being threatened by Jezebel and becoming frustrated with this calling.  After God questions him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9b), Elijah is sent back out, this time with Elisha as an aid.  Elijah is repeatedly given revelations and prophesies, and is constantly resent by God to complete the task.  And he does, with the fire of Heaven coming down to overtake the land.

During this Lenten season, while at the very midpoint, understand that discouragement and the desire to quit are natural emotions.  However, our calls are supernatural and do not operate on earthly laws.  Remind yourself of the larger scope, the reason you are on the path to begin with, and know that the vision you are sent to execute will be completed.

Consider developing a Circle of Trust, 2-3 partners on your same profession, vision scope or ministry path, to keep you focused during the distractions, and help you stay in pursuit of your calling.

~ Amina S. McIntyre