"I'm too busy."

That is the number one excuse I hear for people not doing something- especially in church.
Even if they like to do whatever it is, even if the commitment is minimal,
people will only do what they really want to do.

Here's a great message about commitment and busyness from the book "The Treasures of the Transformed Life" by Rev. John Ed Mathison, a 40-day study that our whole church is doing:

"One of the top reasons people give for not going to church is that they're just too busy.
The reality is that we live in a busy world. And everybody in the church is busy, too. Let's look at the story of Mary and Martha to put things in perspective. It's found in Luke 10:38-42. Jesus was traveling with his disciples, and a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister named Mary, and when Jesus arrived, Mary planted herself at the feet of Jesus and hung on every word. Martha, on the other hand, was the more industrious of the two. Verse 40 tells us that she was worrying over the big dinner preparations. In the midst of all her rushing around, she became frustrated with her sister, and said to Jesus, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."
But Jesus didn't tell Mary to help her sister. Instead, he rebuked Martha: "My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it--and I won't take it away from her."
There's simply no excuse for being too busy. If you're too busy to study God's Word and to pray, then you're too busy. If you're too busy to come and worship together as God said to do, then you're too busy. And when you're that busy, there's no telling what you're missing out on."

That doesn't mean do what you don't want to do, or go to church because you feel you have to.

It's all about priorities. And joy.

You should be excited to go to church!
You should be breathless to hear the wonderful things that God can and will do in your life!

You should want to spend time out of life's busyness in a place where you can be restored!



That is my prayer for you this week. That you find a place where you can be renewed.


Grace and Peace,

Virginia Yates

I want to walk as a child of the light.

Good morning and happy 2010!

This Sunday is crisp, clear, and cold, but a day to be thankful for.

As we begin this new year on Epiphany Sunday, the day we celebrate when the "we 3" kings followed the star to give gifts to the baby Jesus, we come into a time of hope.

And light.

Our sermon today is all about light.

Light is needed for sustenance and only very few creatures live fully in shadow.
Plants grow towards the light.
Plants grow fuller and richer with light.
Even my sister was told to go outside more for vitamin D and other
health benefits that only light can give.

We each have a light inside of us.
We also have a star we can choose to follow.

How are you going to spend this new year?

Are you going to follow the "light of the world?"
Are you going to live in the light?
Are you going to be the light to someone else?

Living filled with and surrounded by light brings hope.
Brings joy, peace, and love.

Perhaps your world is filled with darkness and you cannot see the light.
Maybe you have been told you cannot have the light.
You can.

There is a place where the light shines and the darkness cannot overcome it.
This is a place where we want to help nourish your light.

As we begin a new year filled with new choices, may you choose light over darkness.
May you choose hope over despair, joy over sadness.

May you choose love, so we may all live in a world of peace.

Truly,

Virginia Yates