Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

Ephesians 1:3-6 – I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.  I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. (NRSV)

My first day as the pastor of Vista La Mesa Christian Church was Tuesday, November 15, 2011. There was a Board Meeting that night. Lunch Bunch was the next day, at the Omelette Factory’s old location in Santee. George Bailey told me I was going to have to get a tan if I was going to live in California, but Norma scolded him and reminded him that skin cancer is a thing. All of which is simply to say that the first couple days were a bit of a whirlwind.

Re-entry from my recent renewal leave has been very similar. I’ve arrived back smack dab in the middle of Lent, three days before Welcome Saturday, preaching again for the first time on the Sunday when we’ve all lost an hour of sleep! And in the midst of all that, I’ve been trying to catch up on what I missed. You’ve lost loved ones, prayed with people having surgeries, come together to help those impacted by flooding, celebrated Week of Compassion, and more. I can’t wait to hear about the rest of it!

It's weird how six weeks can be a long time and a short time, all at the same time. On the one hand, it feels like I’ve been gone for a while. I had enough time off to frequently forget what day of the week it was. I did a lot of reading and coloring, took a trip to see family and friends, and made a lot of baked goods!  It was lovely (even if I didn’t get a tan!).  But on the other hand, now that I’m back, it feels like it all went by in a flash! Longer leaves like this are intended to help us all commit to living life at a slower, holier pace. I would love your help in making that possible.

But I’m also aware that I can only relax so much before I start making plans for things we can do! I hope you’ve had some time to think about this too. We have been given this wonderful church where we are invited to “share in the gospel” together. To be part of a community of love and service is a wonderful thing. I do give thanks for all of you, with joy. And I give thanks to God, who is doing a good work here among us.