United Methodist Church

NOVEMBER 2007

Volume 1  ISSUE 59 

The Cornerstone

Inside this issue:

FROM THE PASTOR’S PEN

OPEN HEARTS

OPEN MINDS

OPEN DOORS

“Praise the Lord, all you nations!  Extol our God, all you peoples!  For great is the love of God toward us, faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  Let us thank and praise the Lord!”    Psalm 117

Have you looked up lately and realized that the year’s end is coming upon us?  Some days I feel as though I have just gotten here to Palacios, and then I realize that I have been here almost a year and a half.  But as they say, “time flies when you’re having fun.”

Are you having fun yet?  In this day and time when we know we are so blessed, despite our burdens, how can we not have fun?  I mean, how can we not glorify God, and at the same time, find joy in all that we do, knowing that we, of all the peoples of the world, have so much to be thankful for?

As I shared in a recent message, it is easier sometimes to remember to talk to God about what we want and what we need, than it is to remember just to give thanks.  However, it is through loving the Lord and remembering who is truly in charge of our lives, that we can find peace and—with peace, joy.

I read an email recently about a farmer who came to town to have breakfast at the café, and when he had his food in front of him, he bowed his head and gave thanks to God.

A man sitting nearby, intending to scoff at the farmer and make fun of him, asked, “Hey, fella.  Does everybody where you come from do that?”  The farmer answered, “Everybody but the pigs!”

I tell you, even as I laughed, I had to remember that often I am like a pig, wanting only to be fed, when I want to be fed, and left to wallow in my own world, unencumbered by cares.  But then I remind myself that the food comes from God, and that my    response should be to give thanks and praise for it and all else that I have, but more than that to give back through God’s purpose for my life.  It is then that I feel God’s presence in a big way in my life.

While I sometimes think my congregation might tire of hearing about how we should love God and we should serve God and we should praise and thank God, I must share with you that I feel a strong responsibility to be true to God’s message for God’s people.  There are messages I don’t like to hear either, and sometimes, I am sure the message for a particular day is pointed directly at me.  Even so, I give thanks and praise to God from whom all blessings flow, and believe it or not, I couldn’t be more thankful nor joyful about where God has sent me.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!                                                                 Pastor June