June Newsletter

June 2011

Summer is here. It is an important time of the year. Vacations, festivals, and the lake take precedent over high production. All the seasons of the year are also important and I embrace each of them as they come. I know that summer can also be a lot of work just to relax, both at home and away, but part of the goal is to find those times for your family and yourself to relax and “re-create.” Recreation is an important part of the summer season. One of the many ways we can participate in this season as we try to stay cool, find activities for children and grandchildren is to not worry. I know that is easier said than done. Jesus makes it quite clear, in Luke 12 and Matthew 6 that worrying about this life will not add an hour to our lives, and we should consider the birds that neither sow nor reap and the flowers that do not toil nor spin, “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” (Luke 12:23) This is the season when we can most practice the discipline of not worrying.

Jesus’ message is not to worry about the worldly things. “For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12: 30-31) How can we practice relaxing and strive for the kingdom? I believe Paul sums it up best in Galatians 5:22-23, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” If we strive for these fruits we are striving for God’s Kingdom. Summer is a great time to strive for these fruits and shelve the worries of our world.

This year Pentecost falls on June 12, when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that works with us to help us and guide us toward the Spiritual Fruit. The Holy Spirit will help us to not worry, but to strive for God’s Kingdom. Jesus sends us out into the world to be that message as the church, according to John 20:21-22 “…‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” So when you find yourself worrying and fretting this summer call upon the Holy Spirit, call upon the church, call upon Jesus and you will find yourself striving for the Spiritual Fruit, for the Kingdom of God, and thus have a summer of relaxation and reCreation.