Everything!

Find a way to celebrate EVERYTHING!

Have a special dessert when you see the first robin, hunningbird, or daffodil in the spring.
Light candles when you eat, even if you just having a simple sandwich.  Use good dishes and silverware - just because.
Organize a croquet tournament and potluck with your neighbors.  Anything you can do to bring joy and laughter to people is worth doing.

Most people have no problem celebrating the big, onetime happy events in our lives; it's learning how to practice this every day that takes discipline.

Where will you start today?

Easy

As you begin practicing this discipline...  how about something EASY to start with?

Think about what nurtures you - and then do it!

Is it finding tie to curl up with a good book?  Taking a walk in nature?  Doing a craft of some kind, such as needlepoint or knitting?  Playing the piano or listening to music?  Playing a sweaty game of racquetball with a friend? 

Mark the time on your calendar for the activity.  Treat the time as you would a doctor's appointment: Don't miss it unless there is an emergency!

Celebrate this time you have to nurture yourself!

Days of Drear

"Because of how good God is, we can always find something to celebrate - even in the darkest of times... When we train ourselves, in the midst of unpleasant or difficult circumstances, to focus intentionally on the gifts God gives us, it helps us put our own lives into proper perspective.

"...But in our eagerness to develop gratitude, we must not 'stuff' or deny negative thoughts and emotions.  God asks us to be honest about how we feel, even if we are angry, frustrated, depressed, or afraid.  Negative emotions like these don't mean we can't simultaneously acknowledge what we know to be true about God's goodness.

"...So as you seek to practice this discipline, be honest with yourself and God about how you feel, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture.  Celebration offers us the opportunity to transform those hard places, rising above 'our light and momentary troubles [that] are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all' (2 Corinthians 4:17)."
--Valerie Hess, "Habits of a Child's Heart"

Days of sadness and drear happen.  But God is there, too.  Try to find a way to see God's goodness in the midst.  Celebrate God's presence, if nothing else...  For it's in those moments, when we can celebrate, that we feel God's presence overwhelmingly!

Moments

"Every moment has the potential to be lifted up and sanctified by our attitudes and actions.  Indeed, every moment holds the potential for being aware of God's love.  And when that happens, we are better able to show love and joy to others."
--Valerie Hess, "Habits of a Child's Heart"

What moments do you find joy in today?  What moments do you see God's love in today?

How are you showing that joy and love in God to others?

Birthdays

"One of the central human needs is to be acknowledged and loved for who we are.  That is why birthdays are high holy days.

"'Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it.  On a birthday we do not say: "thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished."  No, we say: "Thank you for being born and being among us..."  Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to to celebrate people's birthdays everyday, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection.  These are ways of saying: "It's good that you are alive; it's good that you are walking with me on this earth.  Let's be glad and rejoice.  This is the day that God has made for us to be and to be together.'"
--Henri Nouwen, "Here and Now"

We are glad to be alive - and to be with you!

Sunday at SPUMC - April 25th, 2010

Happy Birthday Sunday!  Happy Birthday to you, and you, and YOU!

Today, Education Hour kicked off with:
*  The Children being reminded that God loves EVERYBODY.
*  The Confirmands and Adults listened to John G. share stories about his life and faith.  (If you haven't gotten to one of these "Celebrations of Life and Faith" sessions, please come next week for Cathy D. - they're great!)

Worship was a celebration of creation and life - the gift that God has given each of us!  It was a celebration that God loves us, has faith in us, and is always with us!  The handbells were wonderful, Andrea's solo was beautiful, and Mark's children's sermon kept us on our toes!  Included below are just a couple of excerpts from the sermon:

"...This week, in our reading for book group, we came across a paragraph that when read aloud on Tuesday night, made all of us take a deep breath and let out a sigh. This is from the book, Amazing Grace, by Kathleen Norris. “God loves to look at us, and loves it when we will look back at him. Even when we try to run away from our troubles, as Jacob did, God will find us, and bless us, even when we feel most alone, unsure if we’ll survive the night. God will find a way to let us know that he is with us in this place, wherever we are, however far we think we’ve run. And maybe that’s one reason we worship – to respond to grace. We praise God not to celebrate our own faith but to give thanks for the faith God has in us. To let ourselves look at God, and let God look back at us. And to laugh, and sing, and be delighted because God has called us his own.”

What has God done in your life? What miracles have happened – big or small? What hills have you climbed? What things have you tried to run away from – only to face them head on? How has God been present and shown faith in you?"

"...As we look back at our lives thus far, and look ahead at what’s to come… I invite you to write down those words as a blessing to yourself. “You are beloved, precious child of God, and beautiful to behold.” God is at work in your life. God loves you. Even right now, right here, no matter what has come before… When you turn to God, he’s already waiting… You are part of his creation – he wanted you and loved you from before your time on earth began. When you feel alone or unworthy of God’s love – try looking at Psalm 139 – it’s gotten me through many dark times… And it’s given me hope for the uphill climbs ahead. And it’s given me joy – given me reason to celebrate my life, your life, and a life of faith!

So today, though it might not be your actual birthday… I invite you to celebrate! Take a moment to look back, take a moment to look ahead, take a moment to delight in God’s love of you! I believe it was Max Lucado that said, “If God has a refrigerator, your picture is on it!” That’s how much you are loved."

God gave you life, because God loves you - how will you celebrate today?

Write it Down

Today "write down the things you want to praise God for, such as your health, family, security, friends.  Then read your praise aloud.  Tomorrow add more things to the celebration list, perhaps expanding your view to thank God for Jesus or for things he has done for the world, the country you live in, your town, and so forth.  Continue adding to or refining this list over the next ten days, reflecting on how you feel that day...  Remember that your act of reading... is a way of celebrating, praising God for all he has done and all he is.  Allow joy to bubble up in you as you think about all the blessings in your life."
--Richard Foster and Julia Roller, "A Year with God"

We've been asking the congregaton over the last week to write down the things they are celebrating - on a post-it note - and hang it on our sanctuary windows for all to see!  It's been so fun to walk into the church everyday and be reminded of the celebrations going on in people's lives as I see these colorful pieces of paper scattered over the entry to our worship space!  Here are just a few of the celebrations of this congregation:

A newly painted living room!
An awesome report card!
A sister's birthday
A husband's birthday
The beautiful colors of spring flowers
A new great grand-son!
Hope - to heal and to change
The River Bend Mission Trip to New Orleans
A Father-in-law's 95th birthday!
Relatives returns to good health
A 15th Birthday!
Green grass and leaves, Flowers, and Blue Sky!
A clean house!
Skateboarding
A 50th birthday!
Winning a Softball tournament
A grandson's 12th birthday
A new job!
Spring!
A new, great, student-teacher!
A 16th birthday!
A grand-daughter's wedding
Going to the Science Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls
The St. Paul Art Crawl
Baptisms!
A 39th wedding anniversary!
A warm spring!
Bike rides
Parents coming to visit
Spending 2 days with a grand-daughter
Massages
Pedicures
Lacrosse
Unemployment (with a fun job search, good severance package, and a beautiful spring to enjoy)
More birthdays!
A new and reliable car!
Grand- and GreatGrand- Sons and Daughters!
Music
Friends
A Grandson's 9th birthday
A finished basement re-model!
Weddings
Easter
Spring Break
Vacations!
Tulips
Cake
Big Crowds and Big Singing in Worship
A lovely daughter-in-law
Music
Art
Knitting
Talent
Creativity
Rain
Family - holy and earthly
Family gatherings - games, food, and fun
A friendly church
A 4th birthday! (with #4 cookies!)
A new Great-grandchild
A reconnection with an old friend
Birds singing
Mowing the lawn (1st time of the season!)
Life, love, and family
Safe travel
Children
A frist ballgame of the season
Digging in the garden
Getting the fridge fixed - cold food again!
A 1st round of chemo completed
More birthdays this month!
Health
Filling the bird feeders
My favorite finch is nesting
A god-daughter's birthday celebration
Beautiful weather!
The youngest grandchild's graduation - in Alaska!
The publication of a book!
The Arboretum
A 61st wedding anniversary!
A grandson passing the test to be an Arborist!
A new dog - Peanut!
Vanilla Lattes
Zumbro Cafe
A nephew's birthday
Making a college decision!