Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way
God is at work in us.
Ezekiel and Matthew warn us of what happens to people who turn away from God and Godly ways.
What about those who “Turn and live” as Ezekiel says, and listen to Jesus’ warnings? They base their lives on Jesus, the Rock of Ages. They pray Psalm 25:3: “Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.” And their lives become filled with the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As Paul describes to the Philippians: they draw on Christ for encouragement, consolation, and sharing in the Spirit. They focus on the needs and well-being of other people more than themselves. They see all they have been given, and all they do with what they have received, and give thanks to God and others. They share generously. They are good stewards of the people, places, things, and creatures in their lives.
Do you see that “they” are “us”? We see these signs of the Spirit of God throughout the ministries of St. Margaret’s. Being good stewards of the people, places, things, and creatures – especially pets – in our lives is what we are celebrating today as we launch a month of commitment to what God is doing at St. Margaret’s – past, present, and future.
Today we also bless our pets, in thanksgiving for the love and joy they bring into our lives. Their gift to us is much like God’s love for us, and so we ask divine blessing on them in gratitude. Let us not lose sight of our privilege and responsibility to care for all God’s creation – from the creatures we love as pets to all animals. Let us do our part and support others with more power to address the unprecedented natural disasters caused by human abuse of God’s creation, and work cooperatively to go forward.
As we prepare to commit to the immediate future of St. Margaret’s Church, let us also commit to renewing our faith in God’s unlimited mercy and abundance, and gratefully respond with generous hearts. “For it is God who is at work in us, enabling us both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
Amen.
