Supreme Teacher

Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2: 23-26

I guess this means I can't hit people over the head either literally or figuratively. Ah, patience....it is so hard to come by. As I look toward next week and the start of my new ministry as Associate Pastor of a long standing traditional United Methodist Church, I know that there will be controversies, and things that make me want to bite my lip, or bite someone else.

This bit of wisdom reminds me to look at each situation and determine whether it is worth fighting for. What needs a gentle turn and patience and what needs to be prophetic. As a person who tends to be on the prophetic side, I must remember to walk with gentleness in order to turn peoples hearts.

In a church that is used to doing things a certain way, this is essential. How am I going to change their minds about including the "other". How am I going to teach them to see God in everyone, even those they don't understand or are at odds with? It's all teaching. I must take this advice given to Timothy as my own, and look at ignorance and hostility as teachable moments.


Supreme Teacher of all that is good,
Grace me with gentleness, patience, endurance
and fortitude to teach your people
about the love you have for all creatures
that unconditional love that we should
model as Jesus Christ did. Amen.

A prayer of strength and peace

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hears, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Colossians 3: 12-16

I need to clothe myself in everything but meekness. I do not need to be meek during this difficult situation. I need to clothe myself with love. Most of all love of self and love of my children. I long for the peace of Christ to rule, for wisdom to speak and for a just conciliation.

I need to be thankful, and let myself be nourished by the Spirit...through the psalms, hymns, songs, prayers, thoughts, and scriptures; secular and biblical.

Gracious and loving God,
I feel overwhelmed, fearful, and in need of your true love.
Be with me on this journey. I need your nurturing and guidance.
I need your strength and your steadfastness, Jesus.
I need your wisdom, Sophia.
Give me peace and patience, I pray.
Amen.

Not enough oil

As a woman who comes with oil to bear to anoint Jesus' feet, I wonder do I have enough oil.

You see, I am grateful for Jesus, his grace, his forgiveness of sins, his healing ways. Lately, I've been feeling like Mary Magdalene with her 7 demons. I don't think I have seven, yet I haven't really counted. I can come up with three off the top of my head though.

I think finally the grief of my mother, has caught up with other pressing griefs. And then there are the friendly demons....taking on a new ministry, graduating, annual conference.

I think I'm atop of the stressor scale, and haven't had much time to diffuse. Today and yesterday I had the urge to clean which is a sure sign that I need to process. I'm not a good processor by doing nothing......but when I'm busy physically I tend to think well. So tomorrow I hope my house is empty and I am able to do some thinking, processing, and grieving.