February 28, 2009

Try Gratitude

Read: Psalm 30
"The mass of men [women] lead lives of quiet desperation." Henry David Thoreau, 1817
1862

Does the above quote send a chill down your spine, or does it actually ring true for you?
How does a person accept the daily gifts that flow from God and still live a life of "quiet
desperation?" Could it be possible that a lack of gratitude is supporting the despera-
tion?

I would like to suggest that gratitude can brighten any day and any life. In fact, I think
that desperation and gratitude are incompatible opposites. Gratitude opens one's heart
to the splendor of each little pleasure in life: a warm shower, a cool summer breeze, a
comfortable bed, good water to drink, sunrises, sunsets, a stranger's smile, a baby's fin-
gers and toes, good music, the five senses...I could go on indefinitely, and so could you.
None of those pleasures costs much money and yet they add immeasurably to our en-
joyment if we are conscious of them.

How, then, do we cultivate gratitude in our lives? Start with a quick "gratitude prayer" at
least once a day, thanking God for five simple pleasures that come to mind. After that,
you will find it difficult to feel desperate for at least a short while. And the more we de-
velop our consciousness of pleasures we're grateful for, the more we will leave despera-
tion behind, until one day we come to the realization that we feel grateful and happy a
lot more than we feel desperate and miserable.

If you have been on the wrong road, God allows U turns! Try gratitude.

Inspiration comes from the apostle Paul: "...for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to
be content." Philippians 4:11.

Joy Baker (from March 25, 2003)

February 27, 2009

God Is Faithful

Read Psalm 46

I am delighted to be included in this year's GPUMC Lenten book! I have such fond memories of spending 20 years in the church office. God blessed me with the most wonderful job of working with great ministers and making many friends. I have been retired now for 15 years (unbelievable!) but still enjoy reading the Pointers and keeping in touch with several at the Church. I enjoy being in touch with Carol Ann Maleitzke who always made my day when she came into the office. Doug Dykstra and I keep each other up to date, too. Doug outdid me though! He went ahead and took the Number One spot for working at GPUMC longer than me! I love keeping in touch with Jack and Ruth Mannschreck, they are very special. Some of you will remember Melba Drew who worked in the office a few years. She is one of my best friends and a special prayer partner. And it's great to keep in touch through E-mail with Sharon Haskell who was a member and worked with me many years in the office, too. There are more who stay in contact, including Rev. Mary Frost and my old bosses, those super ministers!

Since retiring a lot has happened in my life, mostly good, some not so good. But God is faithful and has been with me through it all and continues to be with me. He is my strength and power. Six years ago I fell and broke my leg, a very bad break that required four surgeries (ever hear of titanium plates breaking? I have the pieces I can show you!) I am still handicapped and using a walker. Thus I cannot drive but am blessed with a wonderful family who takes me to church and occasionally restaurants, does my shopping and laundry and much more. I cannot complain. Life is good! And I am thankful that I can still live in my cozy home of 55 years. I am truly blessed to have four terrific children, their great spouses and 11 grandchildren, plus two great-grandchildren. They are all active in the church and my son and son-in-law are both ministers. God has been very good to me!

Two years ago I lost my dear husband of 53 years after a battle with cancer. I know Archie is with the Lord he loves and God gave us His strength, comfort and perfect peace through those difficult days. I am convinced that God's grace is sufficient. Since then I have hit a milestone birthday of 75! Who me? How can that be!

Two of my favorite verses that have stayed with me all through the years:

Isaiah 40:31 - They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

May God continue to bless the important ministry and special people of GPUMC. I love you all!

Dorothy Yerke

February 26, 2009

The Lenten Jive

Read: Romans 5

If you know me, this probably comes as no surprise: I like coffee.
I like the way coffee tastes; I like the way coffee smells; I like the way coffee feels in my mouth.
I like coffee.

For several years, it was my practice to give up coffee for Lent. The big surprise, especially the first year, was to discover just how much of my time was spent making, drinking, pouring, cleaning up, or just walking to the pot to get: coffee. The reason for making a sacrifice at Lent is not just to give something up that I ought to avoid anyway. Rather it is to make real to me the Sacrifice made by my Lord on the Cross; to identify with Him through an act of self-denial, however small it might be.

I have found that this exercise has carried over for far longer than any season - long though Lent seems when I'm deprived of my coffee - right through the months and the years. In the second or third year of this Lenten discipline, I changed to giving up the caffeine rather than the coffee. This meant that I still had the taste and so forth (at least as much as that decaffeinated stuff has to offer), so it might seem that it couldn't have been as meaningful to me. In fact, this was when it really hit home.

Whenever I poured a cup of decaf (yuck) that Lent, I prayed over it: "Remember, Christ died for us when we were yet sinners. That is God's proof of His love for us." It's surprising how often that line comes to mind as I fill my cup.

I like coffee. I like the taste and smell and all of that, but I also like the fact that because of my Lenten ritual of years ago, coffee reminds me that Christ died for me.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for Your Love which was demonstrated in Your Son's Life, Death, and Resurrection. May I make each everyday occurrence an opportunity to remember and thank You for it. I ask this In Jesus' name. Amen.
Thought for the Day:
Any act can be an occasion for prayer and thanksgiving.


Charlie van Becelaere (from Feb 18, 1999)

February 25, 2009 - Ash Wednesday

He Sends The Snow In Winter

Read Methodist Hymnal #513 - We Plow the Fields (1964-66 Hymnal)

Over the past years I have tried to make a habit of beginning each day with a devotion and prayer. I began this practice many years ago using Charlie’s Lenten Devotional Booklet. The past couple of months I find myself beginning my day with snow shoveling followed by devotions.

I’m one of those strange folk who enjoys the snow. Maybe I like it because I grew up in the U.P. but more likely because it is a time for me to get exercise and fresh air. When I go out early, in the morning the beauty and quiet is a marvel to behold it is also a great time to chat with God. Today I was noticing that today’s snow was heavy, the perfect kind for snowmen. Much of the snow so far this season has been the light fluffy or grainy type. I was wondering why God sends us different kinds of snow and what about this “global warming stuff”. Two things occurred to me … 1 – the good packing snow is for play and I should do more of that and 2 – the light fluffy snow is to make the shoveling easier and save my back.

I know everyone (even some in my family) do not appreciate or even like snow but it is a beautiful, quiet way for God to water our earth. The snow covered ground is a time for the Earth to rest. Maybe we should take the cue and try to do the same for just a few minutes of our busy day. When Spring arrives our grass, flowers and leaves will burst forth new with renewed hope for a better world.

Dear Lord, we thank you for the snows you send. Help us to remember that you are sending the snow for play, rest, peace, beauty, and to renew the Earth. Remind us to take a moment to rest and enjoy your quiet beauty. Amen

Gretchen Brammer

Lent 2009 - Introduction

After last year, Lent could never seem to come early, to sneak up on us, could it?
Of course it could.

After all, we don’t live in eternity (yet), so silly things like time still manage to trip us up on a regular basis. Oh, and this year was quite regular in that respect.
Sadly, there wasn’t quite the creative “outreach” [you may prefer to think of it as “begging” or “badgering” if you prefer] of previous years. No endless harangues, no threats of “this page left blank courtesy of ,” nor even purple Lenten Stockings hung in the hallway with care.
This translated into not very many submissions for this year’s book.

Imagine that. We’ve done ten years of these already, and it’s looking like we won’t have enough to publish the book this year.
Wait a minute. Ten years of books? Already sitting there?
Well, if we can’t have all new devotions, we can certainly supplement them with some favourites from the past.

And so we did.

Even more than in past years, it seems perfectly appropriate to repeat the introduction from our congregation's first book of devotions of more than thirty years ago:

Keeping a true Lent requires us to be vigilant in many ways: in prayer, study, worship, sacrifice, giving, meditation, and fellowship.

One or all may take precedence, depending upon our daily commitments. From these devotions, lovingly prepared, may you find a well spring of faith to renew and sustain you, so that the Glorious Triumph that is Easter will remain with you always.

The Lenten Committee


Again, we can but say, “Amen.”

Charlie van Becelaere, Editor