What Would You Do?

As we begin the Lenten season on Wednesday, I started thinking, what if I only had 40 days to live? Perhaps we have all known or heard of someone who went to the doctor for one minor problem, and then was told they had cancer and only months to live.  I can’t even imagine how that would feel, or what I would do.

While Jesus didn’t need a doctor to tell Him of His fate, He was still a man and had human feelings.  I can’t help but think that Jesus had this question on His mind because He did know the exact day and time He was going to die.(Matthew 26: 1-2)  How could He go on each day, knowing that His time was at hand?  Well according to the Bible He did just that..He went on each day doing the work His Heavenly Father sent Him to do.  He continued to preach and heal people.  He continued to walk with the poor and eat with the sinful and He continued to prepare Himself as a living sacafice for us.  

 As Jesus went about His business, what was He thinking as each day passed and He grew closer to the cross?  I think if I were in His sandals, I would be spending most of my time either begging God to change His mind, or trying to find a good place to hide!  

Thank goodness Jesus was faithful and brave.  He was God, but He was also a man.  He was a man who let His human side show when he prayed to His Father in the garden, “My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:38  And He was God when he defeated death for our salvation. 

What would you do if you only had months to live?  I hope I would be like Jesus and be faithful to my Heavenly Father.  I hope that I would spend my last days living for Him, knowing that “not my will, but His will be done.”

Peace,

Kelly

1 Corinthians 13

The Way of Love

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Peace,

Kelly

My Sweet Husband

Get to Know the Rev. Steve Spining: Minister new to Baldwin but no stranger to the Gulf Coast   

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- The Rev. Steve Spining started his career as a youth minister.

"I felt God calling me into the ministry. I started off in youth ministry. I was in youth ministry for about 10 years. That was all I ever wanted to do," he said.

"And then slowly but surely, I just kind of felt God nudging me toward becoming a pastor," Spining said. "I was scared to death. I probably used up every sermon I had ever preached in my first two weeks. I was petrified. But I wouldn’t want to do anything else. It’s the greatest privilege in the world, in my opinion, to be part of the greatest work in the history of the world and actually get paid for doing it. It’s an honor to be a part of it."

In late June, Spining, 48, was appointed pastor of Robertsdale United Methodist Church. The congregation gathered after its July 11 service to welcome the new pastor.

The pastor said that in his short time there, he has found the Robertsdale community to be warm and friendly.

A native of Harvey, Ill., Spining grew up all over the South and the Midwest.
He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1984 from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
"But you can’t really do anything with a BS in psychology," he said.

Spining then attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., where he received his master’s in divinity in 1989.

While Spining is no stranger to the Gulf Coast, this is his first time living in Baldwin County, he said.
He spent time as a youth minister at churches in Andalusia and Dothan before serving as pastor of churches in Pensacola and Grand Bay. For the past five years, he was pastor of Hope Hull United Methodist Church, near Montgomery, until receiving his appointment to Robertsdale earlier this summer.

"I love it," he said. "I have found the people to be friendly."

Spining said he’s in discovery mode with his new congregation, which has been averaging 200 to 225 in attendance at services.

I think we have some wonderful worship services. I’m still kind of in a process of discovering exactly where we are right now," he said. "I’m sure there will be some changes that will be made, but at this point I’m kind of still in the process of discovering and then discerning and then we’ll decide where we need to go. It’s change enough for people to get used to a new pastor coming in," he said.

He expects to remain in discovery mode through August, learning as much as he can. Then he said he plans to spend September and October discerning where God is leading him and the church and then in November and December making those decisions on where the church needs to go from there.

Along with its various ministries, the church has a history of helping the needy by providing food, medical and utility assistance, school supplies and uniforms, and temporary shelter as part of its Family Promise program.

"It’s a great church. There’s just some wonderful, wonderful people here," Spining said. "I’m just very, very happy to be here. Robertsdale has a great history."

When time allows, he enjoys hiking and backpacking in the Appalachians and is a college football fan, particularly of Auburn.

A Change

As you can see I changed the background of my blog.  I thought it was time for something new.  I know I could have been a little more creative, but I really don't know how to make a lot of changes to my blog.  I need to get the book "Blogging For Dummies"  Maybe I would learn something!  Oh well.

I will probably change it again in a few weeks.  Let me know if you have any ideas or things I can add.
Peace,
Kelly

Peace

"Today may there be peace within.

May you trust that you are exactly
where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities

that are born of faith in God, yourself and others.

May you use the gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

Let this settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.."

Thank you to my friend Terri who sent this beautiful message to me.

Peace,

Kelly

Doggone!

Thank you to my friend Carol for putting this on her facebook page. I love it, and the advice is good. It does help to sit down and think about things when we are angry and feel like biting someone's head off!

But have you ever felt like the puppy on the bottom? Sometimes the things in life can just overwhelm us, and "sit" on us until we want to cry UNCLE! Next time that happens, don't cry uncle but cry GOD. He is the one who can lift the weight from us and get us back on our feet. Puppies are cute and fuzzy, but our problems aren't. Take comfort in knowing that God feels our pain and is there with a helping hand.

Peace,
Kelly