Do you ever feel like you are running a marathon? Some of you are actually runners who compete in marathons, half-marathons, and 5Ks. You are awesome! You might find me competing in a 1K Fun Run – but only if I can walk! Sometimes life can feel like you are running a marathon. Only on …
From Worship Experiences
He Must Increase But I Must Decrease
In my Lenten devotions this week, I was reminded of John 3:30. John the Baptist’s disciples are not happy about Jesus coming along and taking the spotlight off John. John, however, tells them that he is filled with joy because the Messiah has come. John’s mission means that “He must increase but I must decrease.” …
Bringing Out the God Flavors and God Light
Living on a low sodium diet means that sometimes food doesn’t taste as good as it should. It turns out that salt enhances natural flavors and makes them more flavorful to our taste buds. I was recently thinking about this as I read the verses about salt and light in the Gospel of Matthew. Is …
Later On, However
There have been times in my life that have been very difficult. While I was going through those times I cried buckets full of tears. I would pray out the desires of my heart and feel like God was not listening at all. I’m sure you have experienced horrible times like these. While we are …
Fighting Temptation: A Lenten Discipline
During Lent, Rev. Patton’s sermon series at Wesley United Methodist Church is on fighting temptation and yesterday he gave us a broad overview of what he will be covering. Jesus faced temptation while he was on earth and we can learn from his example. Fighting temptation is an excellent topic of discussion during Lent. As …
Old Testament versus New Testament God
Tom and I have attended the Seekers Sunday School Class at Wesley UMC for five weeks now. We have been enjoying the Epic of Eden study, learning something new from Dr. Richter every week. Today she talked about the differences that some people perceive between the God of the Old Testament and the God of …
Beware of Dogs and Hogs
Rev. Patton, at Wesley United Methodist Church here on St. Simons has been preaching a series on the Sermon on the Mount. Today we started Matthew 7, which begins with several difficult verses. The first section is a prohibition about judging. The second section tells us to beware of dogs and hogs. Both sections have …
Take What You Want and Pay For It
An old Spanish proverb has God saying to people, “Take what you want and pay for it.” I don’t know who first wrote this proverb, although many writers have quoted it including Tana French, Robert Jordan, and Agatha Christie. Think about this proverb. Take what you want and pay for it. Every choice we make, …
Be Perfect As Your Heavenly Father is Perfect
Matthew 5:48 has troubled me most of my life: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” It comes at the end of a list where Jesus not only endorses the Jewish laws, but intensifies them. He talks about murder, divorce, adultery, swearing, and revenge. As he lists each one, he talks about the Old …
Sunday School and Feeling Like We Belong
For three weeks we attended worship at Wesley United Methodist Church and only talked to three people: the greeter at the door, the minister after the service, and the lone member of the congregation who welcomed us. Wesley is a big church (over 1,000 members) with lots of snowbirds. I’m sure the members there are …