God is here.

Advent is by far my favorite season because it teaches a deep truth. It teaches us that if we put our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls in the right place... God will do amazing things through and for us. 

God uses a 14 year old girl named Mary who is engaged to be married in which to bring forth the Messiah in to this world. The savior of the world enters in to our skin in the same way that we all enter. 

But it is not without scandal. A pregnant, unmarried girl has suspicion written all over it. With all the room to doubt and fear Mary chooses to put her heart and soul in to obedience to what God was calling her to do. 

Her obedience doesn’t just carry weight for Mary herself but impacts all of humanity. It impacts us. 

This doesn’t mean that God’s grace is circumstantial but when we choose to let God mold us and shape us to BE the kind of people he has called us to be we are all better for it.  We can trust that he will work good out of what often times is our mess when we say here I am God mold and shape me. 

Tomorrow on Christmas Eve we will light the Christ candle. Making a bold statement that “God is here.” And how is the world to know this? By the way we treat each other, carry each others burdens, and the strength of our love for each other. For in these actions we are being Christ for each other. Displaying what Paul says in Ephesians that we are all God’s workmanship. 

And Jesus doesn’t look at all the places we fall short and condemn our actions with hate. But instead it says in Ephesians,”Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ...in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” 

I am so grateful for all the God is doing in and through our community at Pleasant Green and I wait with an expectant hope for what is next! Merry Christmas!

Raising the Perfect Child

I wonder what the perfect child looks like. Is it a child that does everything we say they should do? Says yes ma'am and yes sir? A child that doesn't perpetually question your authority? Or try to convince you, you are a bad parent if you don't cave in to their demands?

I know I was nowhere near this child for my parents. I always went out of my way to not do what my parents said, or wait till the last minute to do my chores because I had other priorities (video games of course!). Yet when it was time to go hang out with friends and I needed money I some how felt I earned it. Now as I look back I ponder, "how selfish could I be?"

My late grandmother and late aunt would always tell me in the most serious of voices to "love and respect my mom and dad for all they have done for me." Back then I seemed to tune them out when ever I felt a lecture coming on... now I take every word seriously (or at least try).

As I reflect on all these issues thinking that sometimes being a parent must be really awesome. A mountain top type of experience! I could only imagine being a parent is exhausting and emotionally draining.

So with all this said and in the spirit of advent where we reflect on what it means to be expectant for a savior in the midst of all the things that are "not yets." I want to tell you how grateful am for all of you parents. How in awe and inspired I am with the depth of character so many of you carry. It shines through your kids even in the midst of their "imperfections" (or telling them ten times to do something). I know all your kids are "not there yet" but man do I have hope they will lead lives of greatness.

I heard recently I think it was on the Steve Harvey show of all places. And he said that some folks say don't put all your eggs in one basket. But on the contrary if you really believe in something and you believe that the foundation is there you have every right to put all your eggs in to one basket! I believe I can put all my eggs in to one basket!

I believe God is doing great things in the lives of families here at Pleasant Green UMC. And I celebrate you and your youth this Christmas. Today I am simply grateful... I couldn't ask for anything more.

UMYF Christmas Party!!!!

This week is the UMYF Christmas Party!! And it is going to be awesome.

If your youth brings a friend both of them will be entered in to a drawing of a $50 gift card of their choice! Also each person should bring a gender neutral gift of $10 or less. 

This past week we re-enacted the Christmas story as told by Luke and Matthew. We will show the full movie this Sunday, but here is trailer for what is to come. Starring your youth... and me as Mary. We had a wealth of boys last Sunday but not many girls... so I ended having to play Mary. It was the roll of a lifetime...

Enjoy!