Reflection and Meditation

Monday May 7, 2012

"My strength is made perfect in weakness"

                                         - 2 Corinthians 12:10

- Our social construct does not accept weakness, only the strong is recognized. Often expressing one's feelings is seen as weakness. But God wants us to love one another. Non judgmental listening to each other's concerns, accepting each other for who we are, is part of this commandment to love each other. 

- Do you feel weak because you show love and help someone else? God sees this as strength. 

- Have you judged people that have cried?

-Love may make one vulnerable on earth but in God's dimension it is seen as being perfect. Are you able to love? 

Tuesday April 24, 2012

"A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever"

- Ecclesiastes 1:4

- What does this mean for your life?

- What are you building/buying in your life that you have to leave behind?

- What is it that remains of you?

April 8, 2012 - Easter

From Darkness to Light - EASTER


"Why do you look for the living among the Dead?"
                       - Luke 24:5b


How does 'the Easter Alleluia' transform your life?


Are you living your life as a bright light that shines for others?






Intersection - ourselves and the other




"You shall love your neighbor as yourself" 
                      - Mark 12:31




Are we able to let the self, our ego, behind us to enable us to love others as ourselves?


What stands in your way to love with all your heart?


Are we able to forgive ourselves, freeing ourselves to experience love again? Only in allowing us to be loved we enable ourselves to love others.




Heavenly Father, today I ask for your help that I may be able to forgive myself thereby letting the past behind me and opening myself up to your gift of love.  AMEN










"Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, 
 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, 
 and give the money to the poor, and you will have 
 treasure in heaven; then come, follow me" 
                 -  Mark  10:21




- Where are you on your spiritual journey? 


- Are you ready to leave everything behind you and to follow Jesus?


- You are able to read my blog, hence, I assume that you are blessed 
  by God. How are you helping others that are less fortunate? 


Heavenly Father, I pray that the gifts you have given to me may become a blessings for my community. Amen










Stewardship

YOU . . . . . .   Are The Vital Link For The Survival Of The Enterprise Church

My beloved sisters and brothers,

The image above shows a strong chain with solid links. What would happen if only one of these links would become weak?

Imagine, that one end of the chain would be connected to a boat and the other end to an anchor. If one link would become weak the boat would be at risk. The wind and storm would have a chance to break the boat free to take it into the open sea. And the waves of the tide would pull the boat and the chain would become weaker and weaker. If the chain would break, the boat would drift purposeless with no direction on the open sea. Sometimes it would follow the wind and sometimes it probably would just turn in endless circles unable to follow any directions, not having the ability of returning. This boat, I am talking about, represents the secular world.

As you probably already have guessed by now, the anchor represents God, hence the church. On the one hand, the church as embodiment of Christ provides liturgy, prayers, spiritual care, and guidelines and directions about how to live a righteous Christian life. On the other hand, it provides a community support system welcoming the lost and hungry. A church loses its significance if we are unable to make a positive impact in our village, city, and surrounding areas. Becoming the anchor for people in their lives requires being strong as a church community. Working together, helping one another, being family for one another, and last but not least, loving each other as Christ loves us. These are the main factors that make a church strong. In the enterprise church every single hand is needed. Only in getting involved in ministry and mission work will the church be able to fulfill Christ’s work on earth. And only in doing His work can the church become significant for the secular world initiating transformation in the here and now as well as providing hope for today and the future.

Look once again at the image above. You are the links of the chain my sisters and brothers: The links that makes OUR church possible. We need you! We need your gifts and talents. We need you to keep the chain connected and strong against all winds, waves, and storms.

God Bless you and God Bless your ministry in His name.

Your brother in Christ,

The Rev. Walter V. Hillebrand, Curate
Friend, Family, Humble Servant