2021-12-15
“I feel doing for other people satisfies God and satisfies me as well. When I see the thanksgiving that people express not by their words, but by their expressions, it brings joy. I spend a lot of time working with the Food Bank and The Food Pantry year-round. This is not an easy task especially when there is so much need in the community. I dedicate days in coordinating with organizations to distribute food here at St. Mark. I could not do it without the dedication and commitment of the St. Mark family.
2021-12-15
I enjoy serving. It gives me the chance to meet, fellowship and have conversation with various people. When we were created, God fashioned something unique about us. Some people say we each were given certain gifts or talents. There are workshops to explore what your gifts or talents may be. I am not sure what all my talents may be, but I am sure the gift of helping people is one of them. I have a passion to help, and my soul is filled with joy when greeting and meeting people. I don’t have to try hard to let the light of Jesus shine through me.
2021-12-15
“I like to serve as the Lord has asked.” I truly believe we are placed here to aid and help one another. Not one of us can survive on our own but working with one another we have a better chance to enjoy life and the fruits thereof. Seldom do I grow weary in offering assistance to those in need. Guess what? When I am in need somehow God addresses that need by sending a comforter. It can be as little as lifting my spirit when I am a bit down, to embracing me during the loss of a loved one.
2021-12-15
“It is my nature to give.” When getting involved I feel that I have made a contribution to aid others. It is not robbery of my time, my abilities and/or talents. God has given me these gifts. And these gifts are best realized when they are shared. I thank Him every day for my health, my strength, and even though my mind may be waning at times, He still gets the Glory. I am not sure how long my God has for me to be on this earth, but I can tell you this: my God has been with me every step of the way.
2021-09-10
“… let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1John 3:18
Faith – Hope – Love in Action, the tagline for the United Methodist Women, is central to the mission to support women, children, and youth around the world. To do that, sacrificial giving is fundamental to accomplish its goals. Giving includes not only your treasures, but also your time and talents.
2021-08-02
“Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow" (James 1:17) The other morning, I was sitting on the front porch with my dad watching passers-by while drinking coffee. The conversation turned to giving and receiving. My dad mentioned "Give as God has given to You." I thought for a minute and said I can't give as much as God has given to me. Dad said think of it this way. God gives without strings attached and it's not necessarily money.
2021-06-03
“You have two hands, one to help yourself, the second to help others.”
I am not much of a writer nor talker in public but with my friends and family it may be a bit different. As a child and growing into adulthood here at St. Mark I mostly observed, analyzed and then chose my actions accordingly. My actions did not get me grounded and being reserved I did not take advantage of all that was offered here at St. Mark. And because of such, my church experiences were not always enjoyed. I could not wait until I got full grown to make my own decisions about attending church.
2021-02-27
I will lift my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. I "really" enjoy most army movies, especially the danger, excitement, and the violence of combat. Any era is good, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Afghan, Iraq just to name a few. I have often considered as a minister that perhaps at the least I should reevaluate my strong interest in war movies. This might be a good time to share, I am not a veteran, but I applaud the thousands who have served to protect this country.
2020-10-16
There are times in your life that you may feel stuck. Nothing seems to be working out for you and you may even feel like a failure. In all that you face you need to remember this: "But Jesus looked at them and said to them , "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26. If you are depending on someone to come through for you it may or may not happen. If you are depending on the Most High God for your help be encouraged that He can and will stop you from being helpless and defeated to being victorious and an overcomer.
2020-09-03
A Habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Often our habits are not necessarily good ones. As I was meditating this morning, I was thinking about all the not so good habits I need to get rid of. I also was thinking about how as a Christian what habits can I incorporate that will help build up my relationship with the Lord and be a blessing to His Kingdom. On a regular basis I need to be in the habit of trusting the Lord and not trying to "lean to my own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
2020-07-27
Incorporating "Monday Morning Blues" seems to be the natural thing to do after the weekend is over. We usually start on Sunday dreading that the weekend is ending and that Monday is upon us. Just a friendly reminder that no day is promised to us and life is precious. Ephesians 5:20 reminds us to "give thanks always for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". Let's take a stand as followers of Christ by washing away the "Monday Morning Blues" mood and turn it into a praise party thanking the Lord for another day of the gift of life. Praise God from whom all
2020-07-04
Each day that we live we are experiencing changes all around us. Unfortunately, many of the changes may not be beneficial to us and may even be harmful. Take comfort in knowing that our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ never changes. Hebrews 13:8 says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever". He is always present, (Omnipresent) and all knowing, (Omniscient) , and He is always working on our behalf. So, take comfort in knowing that while you are living in a world that is unpredictable you serve a Mighty God who is not affected by what the world is doing.
2020-05-31
Good Morning. We are faced with trouble all around us. These troubles affect each and every one of us in some way. All of it is so overwhelming. What are we to do? Psalm 46 teaches us what to do in these trying times (please read psalm 46 in its entirety). "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" Psalm 46:1-2. Be encouraged that the Lord is in the midst of us at all times and that He will protect us and keep us strong.
2020-04-29
April 29, 2020 Good Morning. As we rise up this morning many of us are facing some battles. Whether the battles are of the mind, body, or the soul I want to encourage you to stop fighting on your own behalf. The Lord is already working things out so let Him fight your battles. It's exhausting to fight our own battles and we are not going to get any good results out of it. Exodus 14:14 says: The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace".
2020-04-08
April 8, 2020 Good Morning. We need to be careful about how we talk to one another and what we say about each other. We have heard that "sticks and stones may hurt my bones but words will never hurt me". I have learned that words do hurt and sometimes it is not what is being said but how it is being said. I personally struggle with this problem because even though it is never my intent to say words that hurt; the way the words come out may hurt.
2020-03-08
We are blessed each day that the Lord gives us life and we shall rejoice and be glad for everyday that we are given. Unfortunately, we don't always feel like rejoicing and praising the Lord even though we know that He is worthy of the praise at all times. Life circumstances often cloud our view of how blessed we are, and we become distracted by the issues of life. Habakkuk 3:17-18 reminds us of the following: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines.
2020-02-05
Are you feeling unsure, uncertain, hesitant, perplexed, and even shocked? The state of the world and current events alone can contribute to these feelings as well as situations in our own personal lives. Stop. Look.
2019-09-24
Good Morning. Psalm 118:24 says: "This is the day that that Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it". Notice that the scripture does not state to rejoice if you feel like it. Rejoice if things are going well. This scripture instructs us to rejoice just because the Lord has made another day. As you get started today you may be facing some obstacles and you may not be feeling your best. Just remember that it is our reasonable service to rejoice and be thankful just because the Lord has given us another day of life.
2019-09-24
Here we are being invited by our dear Lord to come into another year. Coming into a new year may be exciting or we may be coming into the new year in the midst of a trial or tribulation. Just remember the same Lord who got us through 2019 will be with us on our journey in 2020. There is a song that says, “Don’t worry be happy”. Praise the Lord for He reassures us that we don’t have to worry about the future. “ For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11.
2019-09-24
When a New Year comes in we often feel the need to make some changes. We may even wonder if it is even possible to have an opportunity to leave the old behind and to obtain a fresh start. Well, you can stop wondering and doubting because we serve a mighty God who specializes in “fresh starts”. The Lord tells us in Isaiah 43:18-19 “(18) Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. (19) Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.