FAMILY OF FAITH

TODAY: Recognize that you are blessed, but not just in the "happy" or "joyous" sense. The root of the Hebrew word for blessed is "ashre," which comes from a verb meaning "to go forth, to advance, lead the way." Recognize that being blessed carries an obligation too. Start living a blessed life.

Ever since immersing myself in our congregation’s strategic planning process, I have prayed that every member of our faith family vows to work for the good of all, especially the family of faith, whenever we have the opportunity. Our life together in Christ depends on it!

God created us to be in relationship with Him and with one another. He loves and cares for us and wants us to respond. In other words, He wants His abundant love to be reciprocal. He saw the need for our salvation and chose to give us His only Son Jesus the Christ to guarantee that salvation for all of us. When we live in daily gratitude with one another, our own desires and disappointments lose their significance. Close-knit families listen, respond and care for one another. We put each other’s needs before our own. God designed the church for this very purpose!

As we grow together as a family in Christ, let us be willing to trust one another, to become more open and vulnerable so that we can help and encourage one another. And just as we attempt to do in our own primary families, let us find ways to simplify our lifestyles, even our "church work," so that we can enjoy one another even more.

— Ginny Johnson

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist