An inspiring Sunday Sermon...

I have always prided myself on NOT being a CEO Chiristian aka Christmas. Easter. Outta there.  You know the type, some of you may even be the type.  However, over the past couple of years, that is exactly what I've become. 

I used to be much more dedicated to my faith then that.  (I am Lutheran.)  Even when I had four children under the age of ten, and my husband was never home, I somehow always managed to get there (and generally had the fun of juggling an infant who wanted to eat or who got a tummy ache and loaded their diaper and soiled their clothes right before having to walk up to the altar for Holy Communion, or something of the sort).

But somehow, I have constantly let L-I-F-E (I say it like a four-letter-word expletive) get in the way and have lost site of what is truly important.  Now, keep in mind that I somehow kept up with all of my responsibilities to the different boards and committees that I was on, but let my position with God slip in the process.

I have struggled immensely since September as most of you know, and every Saturday, my little boys especially start in with, "Mom, are we going to church tomorrow?"  I generally respond with something like, "I don't know.  Maybe.  We'll see."  I'm sure you get the point, and the next morning, mainly due to my inability to sleep; we never quite make it.

Well, with the Lord's help, we made it this morning and I am SOOOO very glad that we did.  I know in my heart that he wanted us to get there today, just to hear his voice through our pastor's words.  So, I'm going to recap it for the rest of you, so that maybe you can find some of the same much needed advice that you might have been looking for recently.
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By:  Pastor Bob Stone  (Paraphrased)

There once was a farmer who had a very old Donkey who fell down an old well.  It was the farmer's opinion that the Donkey wasn't worth saving, and so he called his friends and neighbors and asked them to all grab a shovel and come help bury this Donkey that was in the old well.

While waiting for his helpers to arrive, he threw the first shovel full of dirt down on top of the donkey, and as he did, was inspired with an idea:  Shake the dirt off of your back Donkey, then step on it and get back up."  So, shovel-full by shovel-full, the Donkey shook the dirt off as it hit his back until he was able to just step out of the well, that was of course his plight to begin with.

The lesson:  What seems to bury you, might actually be your personal avenue to freedom.  Shake it off and step up!

Also, to help and to prepare is not to be a helpless victim or circumstance.  Are we prepared? 
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There was some amazing Advent ponderings as well, but I'll save those, before this turns into a book.  I just absolutely was inspired by Pastor Bob's words today.  Maybe all of the weight that has buried me the last few months is my own personal avenue to get to where I need to be.  Something that definitely deserves some further thought......

God's blessings to you all,

Christy