December, 2019
A message of love:
Once again, the season of Christmas is upon us. As we all know this is one of the happiest times of the year. Filled with warm memories of past holidays and full of excitement of planning this year's Christmas with family and friends. Our hearts are so full of gratitude toward one another and it seems easier to forgive a hurt or an unkindness when we remember that tender and timeless story of the birth of the baby Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem nearly 2000 years ago.
What's so beautiful about Christmastime is the love that Jesus has for each and every one of us. A baby had been born and this baby was surely the demonstration of God's love for us. The presents we open on Christmas morning are nothing compared to the gift God gave to us all wrapped up in a manger in Bethlehem.
Experiencing a meaningful Christmas is not about buying gifts or decorating the tree, it's about putting Christ first. It's about sharing Christ's love with each other. This Christmas celebration can be a time to pause and reflect on the love that God has for us, and then find a way to share that love with others.
For this Christmas I encourage all of my sisters and brothers from both congregations I am privileged to serve to strive to look closely at the true gift of Christmas even as we enjoy the beauty and joy of the holiday season in all of its many manifestations. Let us learn to see the Christ child in every decoration, every gift, every Christmas tree, every candle, and every light. All of it is there to remind us of the love that shines down upon us.
Peace and Joy,
Mother Annie
May each of us be blessed during this joyous time of year, and may we acknowledge with gratitude the love we have for each
other.
November, 2019
Where do I begin...?
I have witnessed a time or two in the past four years when we have failed to be kind to those that are vunlnerable. It has pierced my heart because, as you know, I'm a Mom to a child with intellectual disabilities. Perhaps we have forgotten that life is a journey, and the ultimate healing will come as we stand before God, our bodies restored, our brokenness gone.
When I see our ignorance crush the spirit of those with special needs, I question our lack of faith. I have prayed daily to try to understand why this is happening. Should we educate ourselves about this topic, should we reach out to those who are trying and give them courage to keep going? Should I personally preach from the pulpit one Sunday and give personal testimony?
God did not make a mistake when he made Megan or any other child with a physical or intellectual disability.
Some time ago I even witnessed someone being short to our beloved Dwain and it made me so sad, it still makes me sad when people are unkind to Megan. Statistics say that 80% of families have someone with a disability that has impacted their family. Maybe we do need to be more educated on this subject! I feel that when Dwain was alive, we were more aware. We have some Easterseals workers who work weekly cleaning our buildings and I often hear complaints that they don't do a good job [and I] imagine if I'm hearing this, so are they! Shame on us!
Disability is a part of life. It has nothing to do with healing, it has everything to do with being human, it has everything to do with being the body of Christ. People with disabilities are part of the Body, and we need them. We need them just as much as they need us. We are all connected in this journey, all of us.
This beautiful Church has much to learn, a reeducation of sorts. We must create awareness and extend grace and forgiveness. You and I can be part of the solution. A Church that understands and connects with children, families, and adults with disabilities. I will in the near future offer my talk on "Disability Matters: Encouraging Every Church To Embrace Disability." Until then, God be with us!
Peace,
Annie
October, 2019
Greetings my friends,
May this prayer bring you joy during one of my favorite seasons!
Blessed are those who believe in the organization they serve, for their work will have dedication.
Blessed are those who guide rather than dictate, for they shall have cooperation.
Blessed are those who respect the opinions of others, for they shall be admired.
Blessed are those who present their point tactfully, for they shall succeed.
Blessed are those who search out the facts and ignore the gossip,for they shall be respected.
Blessed are those who give credit to others, overcoming jealousy, for they will have willing helpers.
Peace and Happy Fall Y’all!
Annie
August 2019
"For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the sky"....this hymn popped into my head as I gazed at WYOMING'S picturesque landscape. The unspoiled splendor of the Wyoming wilderness is almost too beautiful to be believed. Nature is one of God's beautiful creations for sure. Through nature, God is able to teach us, speak to us, and provide for us. For this reason, we can find in scripture that we humans are called to protect all which is created. Psalm 96:11-12 says, Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them, let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
God nourishes our souls through the beauty of nature. The face of the sun shines upon us and warms our soul. The moon and the stars remind us that God's light and love shines to us even in the dark. Throughout the Bible we read testimony of God communicating to us in the skies, ocean waves, breeze rustling through the trees, fields and flowers, and birds that sing cheerfully. Nature reveals to us God's beauty, glory, power, wisdom, presence, creativity, and, most of all love. This is why we're drawn to spend time in the beauty of nature.
When we surround ourselves in nature, we begin to automatically contemplate nature. As we contemplate all this beauty it brings us closer to God. This the source of true goodness and happiness is the beauty we see in nature.
As I spent time encircled in this beauty I was led to a deep appreciation of GOD'S wonderful creation. Something inside my soul came alive as I surrounded myself with the outdoors. I started to see that God will take care of us by looking at nature. As I walked and prayed, I found that God was speaking to me.
I wonder what GOD wants to say to you today through his creation. Open your window and breath in the fresh air and hear the birds in the early morning hours. Slip outside into the darkness of night and gaze at the sky above. Sit by a creek and let the water run through your fingers. Head out the door and take a walk with God today..........
Peace & Love Always
Mother Annie
July 2019
"Let there be no gossip"
I recently saw another church's bulletin where the sermon title that week was called "Gossip." Immediately following was the hymn "I Love to Tell the Story." While that hymn concerns telling the story of the gospel, all too often God's people love to tell someone else's story. I think that, along with pride, gossip is the most widely tolerated and most destructive sin in the church.
We tolerate gossip because we've all been guilty of it. It's so very easy to condemn people for sins you've never committed, but it's not so easy to face up to sin which you have done and have encouraged others to do by listening to their gossip. So, we tend to shrug it off. Or we spiritualize it: "I just wanted to let you know so that you could pray." But we need to own up to gossip as a serious sin that can destroy people.
So, what is gossip? Webster's dictionary defines gossip as either "a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts," or as "rumor or report of an intimate nature." One of the biblical words used means "a whisperer" (Rom. 1:30, 2 Cor. 12:20)
I'm just going to be blunt and say sharing information which damages another person's reputation with those who have no need to know is WRONG! It may be completely factual but its not our place to share, judge or use it to hurt someone. More often, the facts become distorted and then the information does no one any good. The Hebrew word most often
translated "slander" means to give an evil report about someone. The Greek word means to speak against someone. James says that if we do that, we make ourselves the judge of both our brother and God's law, usurping God's rightful place (James 4:11,12).
I'm reminded of a verse my grandma told me long ago from Proverbs 12:18 - "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." With all that being said would it not be better to build someone up and not tear them down? Would it not be better to fill our lives with meaningful work? Should we not examine our motives and rethink the information?
It's never easy because sometimes it sneaks up on us. But often gossip will test your spirit before you patiently meditate on that information and realize its not yours to share! If we want to develop and protect loving relationships in this church, we've got to deal with gossip. So, let's deal with it by sharing the story of Jesus and spread love and peace to one another.
With love and gratitude, may your days be filled with joy and abundant blessings,
Mother Annie