Sickness as a Gift?!

So the quick recap is this.  Since the beginning of February everyone in my immediate family has gotten one or several bouts of sickness...ear infections, sinus stuff, chest colds, and da da da da pneumonia.  I can't seem to help turning to complaining.  I sick and tired, and I don't wanna be anymore...

problem is, that I have been telling my community that we should use our everyday ordinary happenings...that we should look for the simple, the sacrificial, the sacramental in everything...


so to take my own prescription for transformation...

I can be reminded that with every wipe of every nose, I get the privilege of care for my children...
I can pick up tissue without complaint because in some very small way, it is unselfish and unselfish is like Jesus...
I can remember that Jesus is the great Healer when I give the antibiotics to my little ones...
And maybe being sick can be a gift to remind me that this world is not done being redeemed yet, and that every time I sniffle or sneeze, I can pray and work for that Kingdom to be revealed more fully...

may you be blessed even if your sick like the habermans

shalom,
matt

Lenten Thoughts 1

So our community is walking through Lent this year by following the idea that God gives us grace to cooperate with the transformation that He desires for us.  This has been something that has found its way into my body, mind and soul.  I've been wrestling with it for several years now, and I am finally starting to get it...a bit...sort of. 

So here's how I've been trying to cooperate:

Week 1: The Body

Ashes

Prayer of anticipation

Breathing the Breath of God

Tuning my senses to sing His grace

Week 2: The Body

Give it away

Build something for someone else

Don't change your clothes

Invite someone to your table

I'm gonna take some individual posts to flesh these out and give a bit of my experience with these practices.  I hope and pray that you have taken, are taking, and will take the opportunity to live into the grace that God is bestowing on all of us. May these things help you look my like Jesus.

shalom,

matt

going live

so i figure it's probably time to put some thoughts out there and solicit some response in regards to what the future looks like for those who are trying to make their life around and in and through the way of Jesus...

now there's a mouthful, huh?  

welcome in...I'll set up some ground rules later.  but taking the initiative is the hardest part for me, so I felt like getting the first post up, without too much fanfare.

peace,

matt