Thoughts on a blog I came across

Okay, so i came across a blog called "My wife is not the same woman that I married" by Matt Walsh. I am not married, but some day would like to be. This blog was quite interesting, in the sense that it emphasizes that people change, and it is NOT a reason to divorce someone. Walsh points out: "[My wife] still has the same DNA, the same biological identity, and she’s still the kind of girl who can appreciate a good beer and a fart joke. But she’s not the same. That’s because I married a human being, not a mannequin. I said my vows to a person, not a computer program." When I read this it reminded me that a marriage is not only about being together, in a commitment, but also about accepting the person for who they are, as Matt says: "We are linked now through the bond of matrimony, but she is still her and I am still me". 

It also made me think of a verse in 1 Samuel 16:7: "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" So, if I put this into the context of Matt's blog, It means in a marriage, a couple should accept changes, because "It’s not change itself they oppose, but changes that challenge them and make them uncomfortable". So why not feel more comfortable in a marriage to think of what may be going on inside of the life of your spouse? Yes, I am not married, but I will definitely consider this when the time comes: change needs to be accepted.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

God  Bless,
Paul

Reflection from my message: Sunday, May 25th, 2014

So, yesterday I preached my first sermon which was an interview style with a local pastor at the church where I am being mentored before heading off to do VBS. The bold are the questions the pastor had asked me. It was their youth and Grad Sunday, so I focused on something applicable to them. I had quite a bit of positive feedback and comments on how I did. I really enjoy those people who invest in my life in my path towards ministry.


Reflecting after the sermon, I keep saying that I must not worry and get stressed out over the small things. As well, that evening I read a passage in Mark 6:30-36 that reminded me that we have to rest, to get both our spiritual, physical and emotional life restored. Without that rest, those part of our lives will suffer.

I hope you enjoy the message and feel free to comment and/ or message me,

Paul


My Notes:

Scripture- Matthew 6:25-34

So Paul Branscombe, tell us about yourself.

• I was born into a loving, Christian home. Always attended Sunday School, and church each week (unless I was really sick :P ). Anyway, growing up I always loved God, but didn’t know what it meant to be a “Christian”. I always participated in Adventure Club (a kids club) and those kinds of things and I enjoyed it. 
•  I currently am studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies at Crandall University because I feel like God is leading me into ministry.

How did you come to know Jesus?

• At age 11… (church changes, realized something was missing in my, pamphlet)
• Age 12= baptised

What does your faith mean to you?

• One who loves God and has faith must have a strong relationship with Christ. Without that, one cannot lead youth to Christ as well as teach about the Bible, if they don’t know Christ themselves. 
• To live like Christ, and serve God wherever possible. I am active in the Church and currently studying to be a pastor. God has worked in my life and is continuing to work in my life. I praise him and thank him for all he is doing and will continue to do. Every day I spend time with God through the bible and in prayer as well as journaling. 
• Meaning, I make it personal, as well as use it to lead others to Christ.

What kind of Challenges did you face in your faith?

• I have faced quite a few, but the most significant was most apparent in Grade 12. I was experiencing much anxiety, and fear of the unknown to the point of sleeplessness. This was “worry”: I wondered what I would do with “what’s next” (future)…

So Paul, Tell us more about worry

• Worry, the greek word comes “from merizo, ‘to divide into parts.’ The word suggests a distraction, a preoccupation with things causing anxiety, stress, and pressure.”[1] It has overtones of fearful anxiety, often causing sleeplessness.[2]
• Statistics Canada: “Over the past 20 years, a typical school day for a teenager aged 15 to 19 has averaged about 7 hours of school attendance, and another 2.5 hours of homework, paid work and housework… Compared with nine other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries with time-use surveys Canadian teens ranked first in terms of average hours spent on unpaid and paid labour during the school week.”[3]
• This proves everyone gets stressed, whether through a job or taking on too much!
• Teens are stressed. Here’s what they say stresses them, according to a 1999 survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates: pressures [for]: good grades, 44%; get into [secondary schools], 32%; fit in socially, 29%; pressure to use drugs and alcohol, 19%; pressure to be sexual active, 13%.[4]
• I faced many of these “pressures”, but I some of them created stress and anxiety, and, as well as sleeplessness. I turned to God’s word for help: the passage in Matthew 6:25-34 came to mind.

What does Matthew 6 tell us about worry?

• The text’s background: Jesus to his disciples as a part of the Sermon on the Mount, a long discussion to his disciples on needed things, after he leaves earth. 
• “The disciples have a ‘heavenly Father’ who knows of their ongoing needs and who will supply them. The passage does not mean, however, that food, drink, clothing, and other such necessities will come to the disciples automatically without work or foresight. It addresses only the problem of anxiety about these things.”[5]
• Verse 25 expresses a similar expression as 1 Peter 5:7- “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” We have no reason to worry about the simple things in life. Here we see a major and a minor. Life as the major; and the need to sustain life as minor. Why not think of it as “God has already done the hard part”.[6] God controls our life!
• Verse 26: The thought of birds: “[we] are far more valuable to him than they” (NLT). Sounds promising to me, after all, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27, ESV).
• That makes me view as a reminder that God created us, as humans (to be more like him). As well, He created many other creatures on the earth. So why worry? 
• God created us knows us, knows our thoughts, what we do and say: Psalm 139:13-14 says: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” The phrase fearfully and wonderfully made… [demonstrates our] wonderful creator God [as almighty].[7]
• God knows me and you better than anybody! I am able to go places and KNOW he is with me
• When worry/ stress/ anxiety “adds a single moment to [our] life”, we must remember that “Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday”.[8] If we let our anxieties add up, like what we wear, our actions: we must remember the beauty of God’s creation. We have the wonderful spring (that finally came!), where they tried popping up when we still had snow (and cold)!
• Verse 30: “God cares so wonderfully… for you” reminds me of Christian music, as he took care of me through the power of music.

What does Christian music mean/ How did God take care of you?

• The words to some of these songs touch the heart and are usually from or inspired by scripture. E.g: words from “You are My All in All” say “You are my strength when I am weak…” are similar to the words Paul wrote that he heard from Jesus, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8.
• “Why do you have so little faith” are Jesus’ words. Many do not realize that God gave us strength for times of weakness and we need to have faith and trust in God.
• Jesus concludes this section & chapter with “[our] heavenly Father who already knows all your needs” and “Seek the Kingdom of God, above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” 
• Remember the word merizo from earlier? = distraction. That’s what we often do/ get, but he has his kingdom in store for us, where our needs are met.
• Close with “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” The “So” is also translated “Therefore”- meaning what is it there for, the no worries of tomorrow are connected with God meeting our needs, in any circumstance.
• We do not and should not have to worry about tomorrow, our worry should only be his kingdom.

Sources:
[1] Hagner, Matthew, 166–67.
[2]Hayford, Jack W.: His Name Is Jesus : Life and Power in the Master's Ministry. A Study of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995 (Spirit-Filled Life Bible Discovery Guides)
[3] http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-001-x/10507/9635-eng.htm , 2007
[4] USA Today “Snaphots” (November 8, 1999).
[5]Hayford, Jack W.: His Name Is Jesus : Life and Power in the Master's Ministry. A Study of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995 (Spirit-Filled Life Bible Discovery Guides)
[6] Evans, Crag A. (ed.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Matthew- Luke, 133
[7] Stott, John R. W., Favorite Psalms, 120
[8] author unknown

What to turn to in times of stress: God- Stress Buster!

So, I have been thinking lately that we are all facing something that causes us stress (no doubt about it!). In times of these stress, we often want to take it out on others, or other things, get anxious as well as possibly lead to exhaustion. Is this really the best thing to do? No, probably not.

The reason I have been thinking about this is because I am preparing for a sermon as a part of my internship/ mentoring at a local church, before I start doing VBS this summer. The pastor mentoring me thought I could do a sermon for their youth/ grad Sunday, in an interview form (with him asking me questions).One of the questions is "What kind of Challenges did you face in your faith?". I have faced quite a few, but the most significant was when I was experiencing much anxiety, and fear of the unknown, to the point of sleeplessness. The passage that really helped me get through was Matthew 6:35-34.

During my sermon preparation, I was told by the pastor to use a illustration in a book called 1001 Illustraions that connect (Larson & Elshof). One of the illustrations was on "Idolizing exhaustion", indirectly related to my sermon and not the one I am using (still about a challenge) by Barbara Brown Taylor entitled "Divine Substraction". It says "I do not mean to make an idol of health, but it does seem to me that at least some of us have made an idol of exhaustion. The only time we know we have done enough is when we are running on empty, and when the ones we love most are the ones we see least. When we lie down to sleep at night, we offer our full appointment calendars to God in lieu of prayer, believing that God--who is as busy as we are--will surely understand."

Barbara Brown Taylor writes this, I believe in hoping that we are taken away from the "busyness of life that we all face". We need to surrender ALL to God. As well as learn to say NO so that we do not face Exhaustion. Trust me, its not fun: I've faced it, and there are days you don't feel like doing anything and/ or just like sleeping. But one thing during this, just like Brown mentions, I know God does understand, and I keep putting my faith and trust in Him. The main verses that has always hit home when it comes to stress/ anxiety and even exhaustion were verses 34 & 35: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. We must seek him and his kingdom for guidance in any situation, and there is no need to worry!

I will post my "notes" after the sermon on Sunday, for those interested.

Until I blog again,

Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:23-24 (NIV)

-Paul Branscombe