Just when you think things are going great, changes start bombarding you. Up early to speak to the 7:30 crew (did I tell you my favorite thing is to sleep in?) Stay between services to prepare for the Bishop’s Committee Meeting (BCM). Then dash to the altar to reset it for the 10:00 service, dress in a robe and try not to trip as I follow the acolyte in the procession towards the altar. Yikes!
After, I remove my alb so that I can grab a snack before the BCM meets. Low and behold…I can’t find my car keys which I need so that I can take a swig of my caffeine filled diet coke. Oh yes, did I mention that between services and altar settings I prepared the EV kit and will be taking it after the BCM. God, I have to ask you, is this really what you want me to be doing?
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverb 3:5-6
Sometimes it takes me a while to figure out what I think I need to do and what God wants me to do. Sometimes I just need to stop and breathe and ask myself, “Am I truly serving God when I do all this? Am I bringing Jesus to others? “
After thinking about it I feel that the answer may be NO. Truly part of bringing Jesus to others is sharing in the breaking of the bread and receiving communion, but building a relationship with Jesus is so much more. And yes, there is an easier way. Bringing Jesus to others is to engage them in developing their relationships.
As a teacher, I know that there are many ways to learn. One way is to watch and observe others. Another way and one that seems to be more meaningful is to engage others in the learning process.
So really I am keeping others from truly knowing Jesus by doing all these things. I have been told by a wise person that there are times when I should say no. Another wise person told me I need to delegate. I believe they were thinking of me and my stress level when giving me this advice. Looking at it now I think that saying no, is important for another reason. It gives someone else an opportunity to build a commitment with Christ. When I delegate others get involved and a deeper, meaningful relationship builds between Jesus and them.
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path. Psalm 119: 105
Dear Heavenly Father, Maker of All Things,
Thank you for providing a path for me to follow. It is not always easy for me to stay on this path, nor to follow you. There are times when I want to race ahead and I stumble and fall. Thankfully you are always there to pick me up and set me straight again. Please, dear God help me to bring Jesus to others in ways that are meaningful to them, help us all to follow your way, the only way. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen
Think about it. Pray about what ministry God is calling you to do? Where do you see His light shining and how can you shine it for others? How can you deepen your relationship with Christ?

Today’s blog is to share a cause very near and dear to my heart. Before I turned 40 I lost 3 friends, to breast cancer. Before I turned 45, I lost another friend. Before I turned 50 I lost a very dear friend and mentor to ovarian cancer. A few years later, I lost my mother, as she lost hers, and my grandmother lost her mother to the same gripping disease. That doesn’t paint the best future for my daughters or me. But there is hope through Jesus and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The fight against cancer goes on. There is no one I know who can say they DO NOT have a friend or relative that has battled this terrible disease.

Relay for Life is a team event that celebrates cancer survivors, and raises funds for the American Cancer Society research, education, prevention, advocacy and patient services. It is an outdoor and overnight fundraising event where teams take turns walking or running around a track. My team, Prince of Peace Episcopal, will be joined by hundreds of others on June 10 – 11 for the Logan County Relay For Life. We are very blessed to be holding a prayer vigil at our campsite throughout the night. Stop by and join us in prayer or leave the name of a loved one who we will pray for during the event.

The Relay starts off with a Survivor’s Walk, where cancer survivors walk the initial lap, symbolizing the courage that survivors and their families display and sustain in their lives. On the opening night, there is a beautiful and touching Luminaria Ceremony that pays tribute to cancer survivors and to loved ones who still live on in our hearts.

How can you help?
You can support me by making a tax-deductible contribution to the American Cancer Society. You may copy and paste the link below into your browser bar to make a contribution on line. No amount is too big or too small. The $5 or $10 you give will add to other $5 or $10 donations and together, we have a huge impact.

Additionally, you may purchase a Luminaria to honor someone fighting cancer or in remembrance of someone who has lost their battle with cancer. You may do this on line also, and we will decorate the bag on your behalf.

During the Luminaria Ceremony, candles are placed in Luminaria bags and will be lit. The votives burn throughout the night and light the path for the walkers. They serve as a reminder of the purpose of Relay for Life.

Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day, cancer will be eliminated.

For more information on how to support team: Prince of Peace Episcopal and the American Cancer Society, contact our team captain, Susan Emmerling at 303-880-1463, or follow the link below.
Thank you for helping me to support the fight against cancer!

Relay For Life – There IS no finish line until there’s a cure!

Link to ACS website: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=34143&pg=entry

Happy Easter!!! My mission today: Seek out Jesus! Obviously I found Him at church. One of our church leaders asked a young member to come forward and help find the Alleluia Eggs. At the beginning of Lent some chalk eggs were hidden away – Alleluia Eggs – and today they were remembered and brought out to share with others. Alleluia! Christ is risen indeed. FAITH

After church I headed to the nursing home as a Eucharistic Visitor. I arrived early and waited for lunch to end. At the front area of the home a large aviary sits with many doves flying from branch to nest and back again. As I sat waiting, residents wheeled up one by one to watch the birds’ activities and listen to them coo. PEACE

A husband and wife wheeled up and waited for family to take them out for Easter Dinner. They sounded excited about going out for a meal. When their family arrived the husband, dressed in his leather vest and cowboy hat, hollered, “Head ‘em up, move ‘em out!” They laughed and the son and daughter wheeled their parents out towards the waiting van. JOYAND LOVE

I ministered the service for Holy Eucharist to a member of our church who is a resident at the nursing home. We talked about Jesus being inside our hearts and felt Him there as we prayed and asked for His help. HOPE, FAITH, LOVE

When I finally got home the aroma of dinner filled the air. The Mexicali Round Steak cooked in the crock pot all day and was ready to set on the table. A Very Berry Rumble pie waited to be taken out of the oven. I am so very fortunate to have a loving family prepare a meal while I am away. LOVE AND KINDNESS

After we finished dinner I stood by the kitchen sink washing the dinner dishes. My husband yelled, “Look! Look at the neighbor’s yard!” Then my daughter said the same, “Wow! Look at the yard across the alley.” I had no idea what was going on, so I left the dishes and slinked my way to the window, worrying that something dreadful awaited me. The trees in the neighbor’s yard were peppered with little black spots. Some patches of yellow shown brightly atop the contrasting black. We were witnessing the migration of the yellow-headed black birds. AWESOME

Dear God,

You are an awesome God! I love You dear Lord, and I praise You. Your love and kindness that You spread throughout our world overwhelms me. As I go through my day, help me to open the eyes of my heart to all around me; to reflect Jesus’ light on all and to bring faith, peace, joy, hope and love to everyone I meet. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What a day filled with Jesus. As you go out tomorrow, look around you. Make it your mission to find Jesus wherever you go and spread His love from your heart. Then share your encounters with others. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

Spring…a time for renewal, a time for rebirth, a time for growing, the beginning of the cycle of life. God is pretty amazing.

Each year the Lenten season presents itself in a different form for me. I have been thinking about how Jesus died for my sins and I pray deeply for forgiveness; and after emptying myself in prayer, I can’t help but feel an excitement bubbling out of me knowing that Christ will come again.

Whenever I look around me I am joyous with the newness that the season brings, and excited with the thought of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection.

Today on the way to work I passed a burnt area of land. Several days ago a field caught fire, and fortunately burnt just a few acres. Left behind was an area of black bare ground. Every day that I drove by, it looked so bleak against the dryness of left over winter. Today I noticed green blades of grass springing up among the black earth and giving new life to the charred soil.

I feel that the bleakness of the charred earth describes what my life would be like if Jesus was not my savior. It is through Him that I find hope where there is a vast barrenness. It is Jesus who I count on when there is no one else to turn to.

I give thanks for the cycle of life and change. With it comes hope; hope of new growth replacing the old. Hope that children living in abusive families will break the cycle. Hope that food will be abundant for the needy. Hope that I will be forgiven for the things I have done and things I have left undone.

Hope that God’s vision will soon be unveiled to us at Prince of Peace. Hope that our church will continue its movement forward in this time of sacrifice and forgiveness.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all the joy and hope that you bring to us through nature, through our families, through our love for you and through Your son Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we get so wrapped up in “life” that we forget that you are our stronghold. Please open our eyes and hearts to Your vision for us, and give us strength and courage to overcome any obstacles that veer us from the path, which leads to You. I pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

With the change of seasons, where do you find hope on this spiritual journey? I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Sitting on my sofa, I read over the scheduled reading for our Lenten Study. Our chosen study this year is “A Call to Live”. It begins with stating various facts about the global food crisis.

As I read the first question for reflection, the TV went from commercial to the devastating headline in which Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and slammed by a killing tsunami.

The question started with, “Before starting this study, were you aware that there is a global food crisis?

On the TV it showed debris lying skewed all over the town, piled up to the roofs of the few houses that were left standing. The town was flattened and few survivors were reported.

The question was a mute point. All I could think to do was pray.

Please pray with me.
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen. (BCP)
Dear Lord,

So many are in pain right now, through the loss of family and friends, through the loss of homes and provisions, through the devastation of this crisis that has hit Japan, we ask for your mercy and healing for all. Strengthen all to be able to face every challenge that must be faced until full recovery is made, which only you in your mercy can provide.

Bring safety to those in danger; guide the emergency teams, doctors and all of the unknown heroes who are Your hands and feet; give them the wisdom to know what to do; provide them the strength in body, and courage in spirit; grant them patience in pain.

Shelter the homeless, heal the sick and broken, give comfort to those who are in mourning. We entrust all who are dear to us to Your never-failing care and love for this life and the life to come, knowing that You are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for. Let us put our faith in You to ease our hearts and minds. This we pray in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen

Whenever you turn on the news, read a newspaper or listen to talk among friends, economic concerns come up. Things like “Wow! The price of gas jumped 30 cents last week?” Or, “I can’t believe that nine jobs will be cut at school.” Or, “The price of cotton has gone up 80%; you know what that will do to the cost of clothing!”

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:31-34

One morning before school began; I noticed Christ’s work in the eyes of a young child. She approached me with a big grin and was excited because the cupboards at home were “full of food” and there was plenty to eat. Her mom was finally able to get food stamps.

A friend came to my class after school to talk about a student whom we share instruction. The conversation led itself to worry over our jobs. During this conversation we looked toward God for strength and gave thanks for all that He provides.

Another dear friend has struggled over the past two or three years with many challenges. There was divorce, financial and family health problems; all of which impacted her mentally and physically. Many times we wondered what God’s plan was for her. Just as one struggle ended another would begin. During this time she prayed and we all prayed for her and her family. Then she called the other day to tell of a job which will enable her to put food on the table without worrying where the next will come. A job that she can shine Jesus’ love on those that she encounters. Thanks be to God.

“Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.” Philippians 4:6-7

Dear Heavenly Father,

There are times when I hear about others needs and am so grateful for the provisions that You have provided for me; forgive me when I take those things for granted; help me to see the needs others have and to reach out to help them in the way Jesus has taught us. I am thankful for all that you have provided for me and those around me. I pray for the continued provision of food for my students; for the teachers who are unsure of their futures; and for us to put our faith in You to ease our hearts and minds. I pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Open the eyes of your heart on this spiritual journey, and tell us where have you encountered Christ during these difficult economic times?