I'm just getting out of church and wiping the tears away. My pastor has buried a son who was in the service. While his sermon wasn't at all focused on death or grief, I couldn't help but think about it anyway. My heart goes out this weekend to all the families who have buried a son or daughter fighting for our freedoms. I like to stay politically neutral but don't take for granted the sacrifices that others have made.
Earlier this week I saw a post on facebook of a friend that's served in Iraq remembering two fallen soldiers. It's so easy to focus on the beach or bar-b-que on these Memorial day weekends rather than the sacrifices made. And I think there's a time and place for beaches & bar-b-ques... but we must not forget the lives that are now gone or the families and friends left behind.
The sermon today was on spending time together and making the most of each moment. Gathering around the table, breaking bread together. Not just making small talk during those moments though but focusing on the things that truly matter.
I always think back to Genesis when people say Christ is sufficient for all their needs. When God made Adam he said that it was good but then looked and said it wasn't sufficient for him to be alone and crated a help-mate for him. We weren't designed to go through life alone. Yes, we need Christ but we also need each other. That's not to say that God isn't able to meet each and every need we have... but we need each other too. I think on another level we need to be needed. We need to sit together at the table and truly fellowship (not just socialize), allowing ourselves to sometimes be served and sometimes to serve. We need to come together regularly & break bread (and not just in times of crisis).
That's one of the things I love about having a coffee shop. People come here for their caffeine yes, but also come to sit and talk over a cup of coffee. Normally we're on the serving side of that equation but last night we sat down with our employees for a Christmas dinner (Yes, I realize it's now May & almost June). We wanted to take them out for Christmas after our busy time but then it didn't work right away with everyone's schedule and January followed so it got pushed aside for a while. I try to keep my word though and so we finally found a date that worked for everyone... even if it is in May... and we all went out to dinner together. (We even placed candy canes on the table to put us in the Christmas spirit and I laughed as Tommy whistled Christmas tunes all morning yesterday) It was nice spending the time away from work, breaking bread together. There weren't any deep conversations but I'm glad we spent the evening with some people that mean a lot to us.
I wish I could say that I make the most of each moment given to me but I don't. I don't always focus on the truly important things in life but sometimes just the things that are temporal. I sometimes try to get through life on my own rather than asking for help and I sometimes forget to help others who are in need of a hand. As always though, I'm working on it & I'm thankful for God's patience with the work in progress that I am! I'm also grateful for all those that have laid down their lives so that I might have freedom but more so for The One who gave His life so that I might be free!
Earlier this week I saw a post on facebook of a friend that's served in Iraq remembering two fallen soldiers. It's so easy to focus on the beach or bar-b-que on these Memorial day weekends rather than the sacrifices made. And I think there's a time and place for beaches & bar-b-ques... but we must not forget the lives that are now gone or the families and friends left behind.
The sermon today was on spending time together and making the most of each moment. Gathering around the table, breaking bread together. Not just making small talk during those moments though but focusing on the things that truly matter.
I always think back to Genesis when people say Christ is sufficient for all their needs. When God made Adam he said that it was good but then looked and said it wasn't sufficient for him to be alone and crated a help-mate for him. We weren't designed to go through life alone. Yes, we need Christ but we also need each other. That's not to say that God isn't able to meet each and every need we have... but we need each other too. I think on another level we need to be needed. We need to sit together at the table and truly fellowship (not just socialize), allowing ourselves to sometimes be served and sometimes to serve. We need to come together regularly & break bread (and not just in times of crisis).
That's one of the things I love about having a coffee shop. People come here for their caffeine yes, but also come to sit and talk over a cup of coffee. Normally we're on the serving side of that equation but last night we sat down with our employees for a Christmas dinner (Yes, I realize it's now May & almost June). We wanted to take them out for Christmas after our busy time but then it didn't work right away with everyone's schedule and January followed so it got pushed aside for a while. I try to keep my word though and so we finally found a date that worked for everyone... even if it is in May... and we all went out to dinner together. (We even placed candy canes on the table to put us in the Christmas spirit and I laughed as Tommy whistled Christmas tunes all morning yesterday) It was nice spending the time away from work, breaking bread together. There weren't any deep conversations but I'm glad we spent the evening with some people that mean a lot to us.
I wish I could say that I make the most of each moment given to me but I don't. I don't always focus on the truly important things in life but sometimes just the things that are temporal. I sometimes try to get through life on my own rather than asking for help and I sometimes forget to help others who are in need of a hand. As always though, I'm working on it & I'm thankful for God's patience with the work in progress that I am! I'm also grateful for all those that have laid down their lives so that I might have freedom but more so for The One who gave His life so that I might be free!
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