Skip to main content

Church

Slice of Life Challenge
Please join the challenge over at Two Writing Teachers!
(written Sunday night)


Attending church is part of my Sunday. There were years when I didn't attend and it always felt like something was missing. I'm so grateful to belong to a church where I feel like it's family. 

Today I settled into my seat after a few hellos and hugs and got out my notebook. Getting to church early is an opportunity for me to be silent, pray, write and prepare for the service. I noticed how grouchy I was this morning. 

Shoulders hunched, jaw tense...grouchy, grouchy, grouchy. I prayed for relief. Some problems that I can't seem to figure out. The more I struggle, the worse it seems to get. 

Grouchy, grouchy, grouchy. Unable to relax, I barely sang along to the music (and that's one of my favorite parts)! That made me even more grouchy...

The Pastor baptized a beautiful baby girl, the preschool kids sang some songs, and finally he began his sermon. Today he preached about Luke 23, Jesus' final words...about forgiveness. 


Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing."

Those were the final words of Jesus. Words of forgiveness...as he was on the cross. Suddenly, all of the stress was gone. I breathed deep. That was my answer...forgiveness. I'd been searching for words to help me...and there they were..."Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing."
I love when the sermon feels like it was spoken directly to me. Today I needed to hear those words. Forgiveness...
Here's a great song, by one of my favorite singers about forgiveness... Now comes the hard part...living them!

Enjoy...
Labels:

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 10, 2014 at 5:45 AM

    I appreciated your words today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JaanaMarch 10, 2014 at 6:34 AM

    Maybe there is a message to me this morning as well; this is the second post on forgiveness that I read this morning!

    ReplyDelete
  3. drferreriblogspot.comMarch 10, 2014 at 7:47 AM

    Sounds like we arrived in the same manner - TENSE - and STRESSED - and heard the same message :) I'm trying hard today....but then it's only 7:30 in the morning!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Laura M.March 10, 2014 at 8:57 AM

    Great, encouraging, convicting post! It's amazing that Jesus loved and forgave us even before we asked for it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. CatherineMarch 10, 2014 at 4:30 PM

    So happy for you, Michelle, that you found the answer you were looking for. It can be such a challenge to forgive but once we let go of our anger or frustration, it is so liberating.

    ReplyDelete
  6. LoraleeMarch 30, 2014 at 4:56 AM

    God is so good.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please share your thoughts. I love comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Whatever Happened To...

Sharing this post on Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Do you ever wonder whatever happened to your students after the year you spend together? I imagine how my students are finding life...are they happy? Successful? Do they still read? Write? What is going on with them?   I taught fifth grade for eight years. Fifth grade was such a fun year to teach because the students were still young enough that school was something they loved and old enough that they could show some real signs of independence. Fifth grade is the oldest grade in our elementary schools, so the students enjoyed their final year before moving onto middle school and the challenges that came with that new adventure.  2007 was a tough year for me personally. My dad collapsed in September of that year and then died in March of that same school year. He lived thousands of miles away, so my mind was definitely unfocused that year...but that year, Catie was in my class.  Catie was a quiet stude...
29 comments
Read more

Storms

Last night there was a thunderstorm. It was loud. It was bright. The rain was pouring from the sky. Everything stopped. I sat in bed with all of the blinds opened and watched the flashing lightning paint the sky over and over and over again. The thunder boomed and my poor Bella ran under the bed. The rain poured and poured and poured.  I thought about how cleansing a storm can be. While it's happening, it can be scary...just ask my dog...but after it's over, I wake up and feel renewed. Maybe we need to storm sometimes too. Let it all out and see what's left and how it feels. I storm...on the pages my notebook. When I'm frustrated or worried or ecstatic, I open the pages and let it all out. The emotions paint the pages of my notebook...it's all left there. And after, I feel renewed. I breathe more deeply, think more clearly, and feel better. Without thunderstorms, what would spring be? Without writing, who would I be?  I have always been deeply connected to th...
12 comments
Read more

Chasing My Dream

I'm doing it. I'm chasing my dream. I've always wanted to run writing retreats and workshops for people, but I've always been too scared to do anything about it...until now. I don't know what's changed...maybe I've changed. I'm not allowing the fear to stop me anymore. I've started Selah Writing Retreats.  The past couple of weeks I've been getting the business end in order. I thought I would hate that...I don't. It's scary, but I am surprising myself with how efficient I am. Yesterday I went to a bank to set up a bank account. The woman I met with was kind and helpful and so enthusiastic about my dream. My website is set up. I've done lots of work on it. I hope you stop by and let me know what you think. It's  selahwritingretreats.com . Balancing creative with business has been challenging but fun. Creating the website, getting a federal tax id, making business cards, planning dates... My favorite voxer group is called Butt Ki...
21 comments
Read more