Choosing a Word of the Year Some folks choose a word to guide their year. It functions like a mantra to help them manifest a goal.
My word of the year comes to me. She chooses me. She appears one day, bags in hand, ready to move in. As the months pass and we get to know one another, the word offers me much-needed lessons and wisdom.
What’s surprised me most about receiving a word for the year is the way they abide. So far, all my words have their home in me. They continue to offer grace year after year like a tribe of dear friends. They collaborate with one another and encourage one another to share even more with me as I’m ready to receive it. (or need to receive it)
In 2019, Practice arrived. She gives me permission to experiment, risk, prototype, and fail.
In 2020, it was Rhythm. She’s not a driving, disciplined march. She’s like jazz, the pulse underneath improvisation and adaptation that holds everything together.
Truth joined us in 2021. She helps me say what needs to be said, making space for deep conversation, healing, and peacemaking.
Last year, Curiosity surprised me. I didn’t know how much I needed her. She helps me lead with questions rather than answers, opening the way for unexpected possibilities.
Struggling For My Next Word My word for the new year usually appears sometime in December, but that didn’t happen last year. The new year came, no word. Weeks went by, no word. Would one come?
I stepped outside myself and went searching for my word. Risk – Abide – Courage. Wonderful words but they weren’t my word. Others began sharing their word with me. Their words weren’t my word.
I wandered. I wondered. I worried. Was my grief blocking the way? Did I need to spend more time with the words I already have? It was unsettling. Where was my word? I knew I needed her.
Then last week, the knock came. I went to the door to meet Adventure. What a word! Expansive. Inviting. Eager. Daring.
I’d felt myself shrinking in recent months. Pulling back. Second guessing. I know it’s the shadow side of grief but knowing is not the same as making your way through it. Adventure is here, machete in one hand, compass in the other, cutting the clinging vines from the path, helping me move forward into places I’ve never been. Welcome, to the family Adventure.
What word is choosing you this year? I’d love to hear your story.
Matthew 6:7-8 Jesus said, “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
You are there in the midst of my prattle
and my hiding
Thank you for your patient presence
Thank you for calling me again to what is deeper and true
Forgive me for defaulting to well-worn words
Empty language borrowed from ritual or even scripture
Help me come to you honest and real
nothing veiled, nothing hidden
Help me come to you present and fresh
new every morning
Matthew 6:9-10 Jesus said, “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Glory to You, Heavenly One
Abba, Maker, Creator
I long for your kingdom, the fullness of your grace and victory
The longing is a sign of you in me
Abide more and more, so I not only long but look and see
Abide forever, so I not only long but pray and speak and act
Full-filling your words
now mine
Sermon Series: Pursuing Peace Message 4 of 4: Helping Things Go Right
Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:8-22
These are the notes from a message offered 10/7/18, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota Florida. This is the last post in the series. I pray they’ve empowered and inspired you to be a peacemaker.
Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Can you have a heart of peace in the midst of violence?
Can a soldier have a heart of peace? War is part of the job
Can a survivor of violence have a heart of peace toward their attacker? It’s complicated. There are issues of safety and justice.
The short answer is “yes.” David shows us it’s possible. Here’s the way he did it.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DAVID AND KING SAUL
After David killed Goliath, King Saul puts him in charge of his army.
David wins many battles, and he becomes well known and popular
Whenever David comes home from war, the women would come out dancing and singing: “Saul has struck down thousands, and David has struck down tens of thousands!”
If King Saul had a heart of peace how would he respond when he heard this?
Celebrate along with the others
Praise God for sending a person with such bravery, faith, and skill
But, King Saul has a heart of war
Furious, suspicious, jealous of David. So jealous he wants David dead.
A Heart of War puts us in the box. We are imprisoned by our wounds and sinful desires.
I’m better than David, I’m the anointed king
Maybe I’m actually worse than David. Is he a better leader? A better warrior? More beloved of God?
But, I deserve to be honored more than David. I’m the king.
And it’s important that I’m seen as the one in charge. I must be seen as the king.
As a result of his heart of war,
King Saul is more and more troubled in his mind and spirit so David would be summoned to play his harp to soothe the king. One day while David was playing the harp for King Saul, the king hurls his spear at him. David dodges it just in time, and the spear shot into the wall. Saul throws another spear; David dodges that one, too
King Saul sends David again and again into incredibly dangerous battle situations. David is victorious.
King Saul then starts sending people to kill David
In 2 chapters, 1 Samuel 18 and 19, Saul tries to kill David 12 times. David runs away and hides in the desert
Finally, King Saul decides to go after David himself, taking 3000 men with him.
They come across a cave, so King Saul dismounts and heads into the cave to relieve himself (verse 3, yes it means what you think it means). What the king doesn’t know is that David and his men are sitting deeper in the cave
David’s men start encouraging David to kill the king. Then they volunteer to kill the king for David.
Here’s what David does
He sneaks up behind the king and cuts off a corner of his cloak lets him leave unharmed.
Then David scolds his men for wanting to attack the king. David has a heart of peace.
I Samuel 24:8 Afterwards, David also rose up and went out of the cave and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
David initiates a conversation rather than letting Saul just leave
David approaches with no weapon and bows exposing his neck to the king
David shows respect for Saul’s position as King and respect for him as a human being.
1 Samuel 24:9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of those who say, ‘David seeks to do you harm’? 10 This very day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave, and some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not raise my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
We have the power to choose how we respond. We call on the Holy Spirit to help us choose well. David was a man after God’s heart, consistently seeking God’s strength and guidance.
David chooses to break the cycle of conflict. The war stops with me.
1 Samuel 24:11 See, my father, see the corner of your cloak in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the corner of your cloak, and did not kill you, you may know for certain that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting me to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you! May the Lord avenge me on you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the ancient proverb says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A single flea? 15 May the Lord, therefore, be judge and give sentence between me and you. May he see to it, and plead my cause, and vindicate me against you.”
David reminds Saul of their relationship- Saul had been like a Father to David. Saul’s son Jonathan was David’s best friend. David was married to Saul’s daughter Michal.
Another reminder of relationship- Saul is a powerful king and David is his loyal servant (a dead dog, a flea).
David reminds us how to help things go right. He starts by cultivating his own heart of peace. He builds a relationship and reminds Saul of their relationship professionally and personally. It’s not hard to imagine David listening to Saul poor out his anguish as he played the harp for him. This built empathy within David for Saul. David communicates with Saul when he didn’t have to. David speaks the truth about how his actions show he is not at war with Saul.
Jesus does the same. Come to us with a heart of peace. Reaching out to us to establish and build a relationship. Jesus understands our deepest dreams, needs, pains, and hope. Jesus listens and empathizes. Jesus is compassionate toward us. Jesus communicates with us, revealing the truth of who he is and who we are and who we can be when we are reconciled to one another.
1 Samuel 24:16-22 16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19 For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 Now I know that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father’s house.” 22 So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Mark and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9:00 am or 10:30 am, or join us live on our Facebook page at 9:00 am Sundays or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
Sermon Series: Pursuing Peace Message 2 of 4: Recognizing a Heart of War
Scripture: James 3:13-18
These are the notes from a message offered 9/23/18, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota Florida. I’ll be posting this series on Fridays in the coming weeks. I pray they empower and inspire you to be a peacemaker.
Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
We can see behaviors- our words and actions. But these are the tip of the iceberg. Behaviors are born deep within us coming from a heart of peace or a heart of war.
As we read the scripture, look for the heart of peace and the heart of war.
James 3:13-18 The Voice 13 Who in your community is understanding and wise? Let his example, which is marked by wisdom and gentleness, blaze a trail for others. 14 If your heart is one that bleeds dark streams of jealousy and selfishness, do not be so proud that you ignore your depraved state. 15 The wisdom of this world should never be mistaken for heavenly wisdom; it originates below in the earthly realms, with the demons. 16 Any place where you find jealousy and selfish ambition, you will discover chaos and evil thriving under its rule. 17 Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy. 18 The seed that flowers into righteousness will always be planted in peace by those who embrace peace.
Pastor Lisa picks up a hand mirror and tells the story of growing up watching a children’s program called Romper Room. The teacher often used a mirror to say goodbye to the children and to encourage them to be “do bee’s,” those who do good.
Every time you see your reflection remember you are made in the image of God.
God’s intention for you is wholeness. Salvation means wholeness. Wholeness looks like
Vs 13. wisdom and gentleness
Vs 17. wisdom, purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, good fruits
God’s intention for you is clarity- for you to clearly see your talents, your beauty, your value, your purpose, how beloved you are to God
Max Lucado quote If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning… Face it, friend. He is crazy about you!
God came in Jesus to reveal all these things about you and to prove God’s love. Jesus lived, healed, taught, imprisoned, tortured, crucified, died rose again so we could know that we know that we know this. So we could become this. When we know this and live out of this we have a heart of peace.
But the mirror is broken. Shattered by sin- our own choices, choices of others, circumstances of life, the brokenness of our world.
All we have is a shard. It’s hard to see with just this little bit of mirror. We forget who we look like, that we look like God. This is why we need Jesus.
Forgetting colors how we see situations and how we see others. It’s like looking through at the world through tinted lenses, or with blinders on like a horse. Or like we have an eye disease- only seeing the periphery or only seeing the middle.
This limited view boxes us into how we respond to situations and people.
Better-than box
I see the world as competitive, troubled
I’m better than most folks because I know what’s right and I do what’s right. The world needs me to be the example and to fix it.
I get impatient with all these incompetent fools who screw everything up
Worse-than box
I see the world as hard, against me, ignoring me
I’m not as good as others. I’m broken, helpless.
If I’m truthful, I’m jealous and bitter towards those people with all the advantages
I Deserve box
I see the world as unfair, unjust. It owes me.
People constantly take advantage of me and don’t appreciate me
I resent those ungrateful people depriving me and mistreating me. I deserve better.
Must be seen box
I see the world watching me, judging me. I always wonder what people are thinking.
I feel anxious, stressed because I need to get it right. I need to be well thought of.
Do you recognize yourself in any of these boxes? Does it color how you view situations and people?
My friend, there is no shame. You have just forgotten who you are. Instead of holding on to the truth of who you really are you’re holding on to the mirror shard. You’re holding on to the wounds and brokenness and separation and sin
What happens if you hold on to the shard. You continue to wound yourself. And you wound others.
You’re living out of a heart of war. Here’s the good news. You can change. You can live out of a heart of peace.
Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV). The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 9 Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus tells this parable to people who have a heart of war so they can receive a heart of peace. The first step is honesty, transparency, confessing our need and desire for a heart of peace to replace our heart of war.
If you desire a heart of peace, please join in this prayer.
Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. You can give us a heart of peace. Jesus, we bow in wonder at the expanse of your embrace, the breadth of your inclusion, the surprise of your grace. You seek and seek and seek, including those we write off as beyond hope, including me.
Jesus, You are the Great Physician coming to those in need of healing. You are the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world. You are the Prince of Peace granting me a heart of peace.
Forgive me, Jesus. Forgive me for forgetting who you are. For forgetting who I am in you.
Forgive and heal my wounds. Forgive and heal my brokenness, my sin.
Forgive me for judging. Forgive my hurtful words and actions. Forgive my self-righteousness.
Forgive me Jesus for limiting you. I am so desperately in need of you.
Create in me a clean heart and renew your Holy Spirit within me.
Create in me a heart of peace. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The new is coming. The new has come. Amen.
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Mark and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9:00 am or 10:30 am, or join us live on our Facebook page at 9:00 am Sundays or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
Sermon Series: Pursuing Peace Message 1 of 4: Cultivating a Heart of Peace
Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48
These are the notes from a message offered 9/16/18, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota Florida. I’ll be posting this series on Fridays in the coming weeks. I pray they empower and inspire you to be a peacemaker.
Read Matthew 5:43-48, from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. God desires to perfect us in love.
Video: Tiffany Jenkins, A lady got mad at me at the drive through, my response
What stands out to you in this video?
She’s honest about her feelings (punch her in the throat)
She broke the cycle of conflict with an act of generosity and kindness. She used made a choice about how to respond.
She looked below the surface to imagine what might really be going on empathy
“Those people who are hardest to love need love the most”
She saw the person as a person
She believes changing our words and actions can change the world
Tiffany Jenkins has a heart of peace.
Bishop Ken Carter Quote: A heart at peace is not about just being nice to another person. It is the refusal to exaggerate our differences, and the refusal to go to war with another person. A heart of peace seeks to break the cycle that escalates our conflicts through working at the relational level and sees the other as a person created in the image of God.
What we see is the behavior. What a person is doing and saying. This is only the tip of the iceberg.
Below the surface is where that behavior is born- our thoughts, feelings, wounds, beliefs, and sin color how we see the situation and how we see others.
The angry woman in the drive-through had a heart of war. We see her behavior- the frustration, anger, impatience, overreacting. We don’t know why she has a heart of war- what’s going on below the surface, but we can see the result.
She didn’t see Tiffany or her child as people. They’ve become an obstacle to be overcome, a problem to be fixed.
The angry woman felt her needs mattered more than the needs of those around her, including Tiffany
A Heart of War can lead to all kinds of destruction and injustice. If you are no longer a human being to me, I can take advantage of you, hurt you, oppress you, enslave you.
There’s another option- a heart of peace.
Seeing people as people, not as objects or obstacles or problem to be fixed
You are real to me, as real as I am to myself. I see you.
Your cares and concerns matter just as much as my own. I value you.
This idea, seeing and valuing people, is rooted in Genesis 1:26-27.
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
You are made in the image of God. You and every person you meet. God’s intention for you is goodness and wholeness, freedom and blessing. God has the same intention for every person you meet.
Thank You for extending me your heart of peace, your generosity of spirit towards me and my family following the death of my grandmother. We were wrapped in a warm blanket of cards, prayers, words of consolation and help.
Ten family members gathered around the table following my grandmother’s graveside service. Yes, we remembered her, but there was also laughter and a spirit of hope, of looking to the future.
We hadn’t all been together for 7 years. I was hoping and praying for peace. It isn’t always that way when a family gets together, when we go to work, go to school, go to the condo board meeting, or even in a drive-through. Now the political season is in high gear with its ugliness and accusations.
Yet, as followers of Jesus Christ, we’re called to foster peace in the midst of evil, controversy, and conflict.
How do we do it? Psalm 34:14 says, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. We can’t do it in our own strength. This is about hearts of stone becoming hearts of flesh and that is a work of God.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Depart from evil. Ask God to reveal the ways you contribute to conflict and leave them behind. Pray for healing, forgiveness, and strength to live a new life in Christ.
Do good. Seek Peace. Pursue it. Intentionally learn new ways of being and behaving.
Cultivating Peace
See people as people made in the image of God
Look below the surface for what’s really going on
Break the cycle of escalation. The war stops with me. Choose carefully how to respond.
Help the situation, do good
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Mark and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9:00 am or 10:30 am, or join us live on our Facebook page at 9:00 am Sundays or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
This limited view boxes us into how we respond to situations and people.
Revlisad.com 