“Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went to a quiet place where he prayed.” –Mark 1:35 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana, and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding.” –John 2:1-2
Hello Gloria Dei,
Happy June! I hope and pray your summer is off to a good start. As the summer schedule stays busy, but changes a bit, I’m hoping to get out on the golf course with friends a bit more often.
Next month Lorrie and I will enjoy a long weekend, Selbo family reunion out near the beaches of central California. It will be so good to catch up with my siblings and their families, all the while enjoying the beauty of God’s magnificent creation. All of us should be mindful of doing it always, but summer is a time to renew and refresh our souls.
In Jesus’ life he practiced the ebb and flow of doing his work, but also always found time for rest and re-creation. The gospels tell us that Jesus did lots of teaching, preaching, healing, and mentoring of his disciples. The gospels also tell us that Jesus enjoyed going to dinner parties and weddings. Furthermore, Jesus always took the time to be alone in thought, prayer, and to check emails (okay, I just wanted to see who is paying attention). Jesus took the time to refresh and renew his spirit.
I believe Jesus serves as a good example for you and me. I hope, amidst your busy schedule, you find time to relax this summer and catch up on relationships. I hope too, that you make time to be alone in thought, prayer, and Scripture reading. As we take time to renew our souls, we find that our relationship and friendship with Jesus deepens as well.
And speaking of Scripture reading, I’ve so much enjoyed this year reading through the New Testament with you. It is a discipline I hope we all continue for a lifetime. Regular time in God’s word, along with a priority to be in worship each week, is like breathing in and breathing out. As we gather for worship and hear God’s word, we breathe in God’s love, grace and presence. As we go out into the world, we breathe out the love, grace, and presence of God to others. Our lives are marked by the ebb and flow of Worship and Discipleship.
May God bless you this summer as you enjoy some rest and relaxation with family and friends. And may you know of God’s deep and abiding love for you as you set aside time for prayer and worship with God. Again, it is good for the soul.
One Reminder. Gloria Dei has a FT position open in our Children, Youth, and Family area of Ministry. This position will focus on ministry with our Middle School and High School Youth and their families. If you, or someone you know, is interested and has some experience in this area, we’d love to hear from you. Here is a link to the job description, which can also be found on our website.
Again, happy June! I’ll see you in worship.
Pastor Tim
