In Love With God?

The smells of the first moments of spring in the desert are whiffs of musky animal scents and moist earth with greening grasses and shoots not quite ready to bloom. Late afternoon yesterday (Thursday) I walked a path that led me through these scents and more as the desert spring seems ready to pounce. As I walked my tense muscles loosened and my heart released its anxieties and I drew closer to God. All I did was show up and walk.  God’s grace poured over me. I found I had a smile on my face.

In worship we’ve been talking about John Wesley’s three simple rules for living as followers of Jesus. The first two are “do no harm” and “do good.”  “Stay in love with God” is the third rule and our focus for Sunday, Feb. 23.

I like to think of this rule as practicing ways that draw me close to God. Why? When I’m closer to God it becomes easier to do no harm and do good. Being closer to God helps me in my daily decision-making and in what I say and do.

What draws me closer to God? The obvious practices of prayer, Scripture reading and worship do that. There are more ways, one of which I described above – my desert walk. What draws you closer to God? How does that help you in your daily life?

This Sunday, Feb. 23, we’ll receive new members and get an update on our Helping Hands, Nourishing Hearts kitchen remodel campaign.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26.  You can receive ashes and a blessing in our Sanctuary from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. Worship is at 6:30 p.m. and includes Holy Communion and the chance to receive ashes. Watch for a mid-week Lenten devotion from staff members beginning on Feb. 26.

Thanks to the efforts of Susan Putt, and many of you, St. Mark’s Lenten devotional book Cry of Our Hearts is ready for you to pick up on Sunday, Feb. 23. I think you will find that this booklet will help you stay in love with God during the upcoming Lenten season.

Lent is a good time to commit to those practices that help us draw closer to God, like my desert walk. I can still smell the desert and see the fading light of yesterday, signs of God’s amazing grace. I am grateful.

Blessings, Sharon