A Note From Pastor Laura
Dear friends,
This year, I’ve decided to begin each day in Lent by reading 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible’s famous “love” chapter. Why? Because as we’ve discussed over our many years together, LOVE and DISCIPLESHIP are two sides of the same coin. From its beginnings, the season of Lent has helped Jesus’ DISCIPLES seek pardon and healing for those things that are barriers to a LOVING relationship with God and others.
One of the biggest barriers that prevents us from being LOVING DISCIPLES is fear. Many people think that hate is the opposite of love, but perhaps fear is the opposite of love? Fear manifests itself as anger, abuse, greed, addiction, violence, and corruption. All of these “hateful” things that we think of as opposite of love are really symptoms of fear. For example, when we fear loss of power, we may demonstrate anger and violence; if we fear loss of status or not having enough we might exhibit greed; when we fear loss of control, we can develop addictions. You get the picture…
In 1 John 4, we read, “God is love. And he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him…” (here is the part to really notice) “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” As children of God – God’s love resides within each one of us. Perfect love lives inside each one of us.
On one occasion, Michelangelo was asked how he had created such wonderful sculptures as David, and Moses, and others. He said it was God, who created these great works of art. “My job,” Michelangelo said, “is to remove the excess marble that surrounds God’s beautiful creation.” And, so it is with you and me. The perfect me or the perfect you is not something that we strive to create. The Divine Love of God, is already in us – within you and within me!
I invite you to join me in Lent, by reading 1 Corinthians 13 each day to focus on “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious; love is not boastful; love is not rude.” Together too, let’s focus on God’s love that lives within us, even as we allow the Holy Spirit to chisel away at those things, which cause us to live and act out of fear. Let’s surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit, that can chip the fear away, until all that remains are the marvelous masterpieces – the LOVING DISCIPLES – God is creating us to be!
Surrendering to the chisel of the Holy Spirit with you,
Pastor Laura
This year, I’ve decided to begin each day in Lent by reading 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible’s famous “love” chapter. Why? Because as we’ve discussed over our many years together, LOVE and DISCIPLESHIP are two sides of the same coin. From its beginnings, the season of Lent has helped Jesus’ DISCIPLES seek pardon and healing for those things that are barriers to a LOVING relationship with God and others.
One of the biggest barriers that prevents us from being LOVING DISCIPLES is fear. Many people think that hate is the opposite of love, but perhaps fear is the opposite of love? Fear manifests itself as anger, abuse, greed, addiction, violence, and corruption. All of these “hateful” things that we think of as opposite of love are really symptoms of fear. For example, when we fear loss of power, we may demonstrate anger and violence; if we fear loss of status or not having enough we might exhibit greed; when we fear loss of control, we can develop addictions. You get the picture…
In 1 John 4, we read, “God is love. And he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him…” (here is the part to really notice) “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” As children of God – God’s love resides within each one of us. Perfect love lives inside each one of us.
On one occasion, Michelangelo was asked how he had created such wonderful sculptures as David, and Moses, and others. He said it was God, who created these great works of art. “My job,” Michelangelo said, “is to remove the excess marble that surrounds God’s beautiful creation.” And, so it is with you and me. The perfect me or the perfect you is not something that we strive to create. The Divine Love of God, is already in us – within you and within me!
I invite you to join me in Lent, by reading 1 Corinthians 13 each day to focus on “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious; love is not boastful; love is not rude.” Together too, let’s focus on God’s love that lives within us, even as we allow the Holy Spirit to chisel away at those things, which cause us to live and act out of fear. Let’s surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit, that can chip the fear away, until all that remains are the marvelous masterpieces – the LOVING DISCIPLES – God is creating us to be!
Surrendering to the chisel of the Holy Spirit with you,
Pastor Laura
