Ron’s Reflections

Here at Faith UMC we had a wonderful Easter worship and celebration.   At the start of Lent I asked the question, What if Easter was the end of the story.  (See prior blog.)   On Easter Sunday we came back to that question.

Of course, Easter was the beginning of a new story.  A story where God desired to come close to us, redeem us, and be in close and constant relationship with us.

We spoke how that was of significant benefit for us in two ways.  First, and the one many Christians point to first, is eternal salvation.    Being with God in eternity.

But we too often in modern times forget the second.  Christ wants to help us today!   In this life!   Accepting Christ is not just ticket to heaven, God desires to help us in real ways in this life.

If we will include God in our lives God will give us the strength and courage to face anything that comes up in our life.   And if we but look around our lives and the lives of those around us, we can see God still at work in today’s world.   Miracles big and small.    Coincidents that are really Godincidents.    We often don’t notice God’s activity in this world because we do not look, with eyes to see.

Watch!   Look around!   Notice what God is doing in the lives of ordinary Christians, and also seekers, and even atheists.    Lives are saved from illness or death.   Relationships are healed or at least improved.  The hungry are fed.   The unemployed find opportunities.    The weak are strengthed.   Those in grief or emotional pain are comforted.   The list goes on.  God still acts!

Those seeking, find.   Take some time.   Time to look.  Time to pray (communicate with God.)   Time to listen for that still small voice.   Time for Christ and Christ’s Spirit to work in you.

The graces, gifts, of God are all around.   Will you accept the gift?

Ron