Dr. David McLennon once wrote about his very first job in a small-town general store. At age thirteen he was hired as a handy boy. He would sweep the flour, bag items for customers, and put up stock. One Saturday, he heard the owner say to one of the clerks “It’s that time of the year again, it’s time to take inventory.”  He wasn’t quite sure what that meant, so he went up to the kindly older man and asked, “Sir, what is an inventory?” Patiently the owner explained that an inventory is when you make a list of everything that you have – from groceries on the shelves to wrapping paper and string. Still somewhat confused, McLennon asked the owner why.  “Well,” he responded, “it is easy to forget exactly how much you have each year. Every now and then you have to take an inventory just to see what all you have.”

This little story raises the question for us: Have I taken inventory of my life lately? Have I made an effort to count all the blessings I have in my life?

So often we are apt to complain about the challenges we face or about what we are lacking. What if instead, from time to time, we sat down to list the gifts, blessings, and opportunities God has given us?

It is easy to forget just how much we have. Every now and then, let’s take inventory. This week would be the perfect time to start!

Let us pray: You are good, O God, and you have been good to us. As we make our lists, may your peace rest on us. And, may we remember again that we are blessed to be a blessing. Amen.

Zig Ziglar once told a story about an old man who many years ago stood on a Virginia riverbank. He was waiting to cross the river and since it was bitterly cold and there were no bridges, he would have to catch a ride to the other side. After a lengthy wait, he spotted a group of horsemen approaching. He let the first one pass, then the second, third, fourth, and fifth. One rider remained. As he came close, the old man looked him in the eye and said, “Sir, would you give me a ride across the river?”

The rider immediately responded, “Certainly.” Once across the river, the old man slid to the ground. “Sir,” the rider said before riding off, “I could not help but notice that you permitted all the other men to pass without asking for a ride. Then, when I drew abreast, you immediately asked me to carry you across. I am curious as to why you didn’t ask them and you did ask me.” The old man responded, “I looked into their eyes and could see no love and knew in my own heart it would be useless to ask for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, I saw compassion, love, and the willingness to help. I knew you would be glad to give me a ride across the river.”

The rider was touched. “I’m grateful for what you are saying,” he said. “I appreciate it very much.” With that, the rider, who just so happened to be Thomas Jefferson, turned and rode off to the White House.

Following this story, Ziglar asked this question: “If you had been the last rider, would the old man have asked you for a ride?” 

I hope people see love and compassion in my eyes – and in yours. Many have in fact said that the eyes are windows into our souls. We know our souls are healthy when they are filled with love, compassion, and a willingness to help.

Let us pray: Loving God, I pray today, especially for those who are feeling depressed or who are carrying heavy burdens. I lift up all who are struggling to feel love and compassion even for themselves. Fill us again this day with your love, mercy, and hope. Bring healing into our souls and set us free again to be bearers of your grace; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our church has a partnership with a church across town. We have been working with them over the last few years to help restore a blighted neighborhood in West St. Augustine. 

One of the first times I went to help out, it was not on one of the scheduled work days, but I went with one of our elders, Cliff Calvert, to do some preliminary carpentry. By that point, Cliff had been down there so often that everyone knew him.  He had already made such a reputation in the community, that cars would honk and people wave enthusiastically, as they drove by his work site… “Mr. Cliff!”  And when we went to eat lunch at the BBQ place across the road, they wouldn’t let us pay.

The need in that neighborhood is tremendous. And the actual work we do down there does make a difference. But it’s the restoration work is not the most important thing. The relationships we’re building with our neighbors speak to the larger reality of God’s Kingdom.

Over the past few days, we reflected on John 12:21, where some outsiders find the disciple Phillip and say, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  

There is tremendous need in the world around us right now. Even right here in our own communities, many are lonely. There are parents struggling to raise their children in an age of social media and rapidly changing norms.  Others are genuinely hurting and in need. 

I can’t think of a time when the world has needed Jesus more than right now… I can’t think of a time when the world has needed us more than right now.

“They would see Jesus.”

May they see him in you, and in me.

Let us pray: God of Hope, meet us today at the deepest point of our need. Heal us where we need healing. Comfort us where we need comfort. Challenge us where we need to be challenged. And then use us as instruments of your love and grace, that the world might see Jesus, through us. Amen. 

Yesterday we reflected on John 12:21, where some Greeks find the disciple Phillip and say, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

By identifying them as Greeks, John is telling us that they are not Jewish. They are not religious insiders. But they have somehow found themselves at a religious festival. They must have heard about Jesus because they found one of his disciples, a man named Philip, and they asked to see him. They want to know more. 

It’s interesting.  Jesus doesn’t say, tell the Greeks I’ll meet them in Church. He doesn’t say: tell them they must first believe this, this, and this – then they will see me.  No. He says my hour has come.

Now, in the Gospel of John, the word “hour” is heavy. Jesus uses it to refer to the cross and the resurrection. So he is saying here – if these folks want to see me – they will see me in the clearest sense through the events that are about to unfold. They will see my teaching – lived out. They will see my life poured out. And they will see life being brought out of death.

Jesus goes on to say, “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit.  Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.

Jesus is talking about his own life and death. But he is also talking about ours. When we love, when we sacrifice for the good of others, when we die to ourselves, to our egos, to our pride, to our own agendas, we are showing people his love… 

There is no doubt, people are still longing to see Jesus. 

May they see him in you, and in me.

Let us pray: God of Hope, meet us today at the deepest point of our need. Heal us where we need healing. Comfort us where we need comfort. Challenge us where we need to be challenged. And then use us as instruments of your love and grace, that the world might see Jesus, through us. Amen. 

Today’s message was written by Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

A small dog had been struck by a car and was lying wounded by the side of the road. A doctor driving by noticed that the dog was still alive, stopped his car, picked up the dog, and took him home. There he discovered that the dog had been stunned, and had suffered minor cuts and abrasions, but was otherwise alright. He revived the dog, cleaned up the wounds, and was carrying the animal from the house to the garage when it suddenly jumped from his arms and scampered off. “What an ungrateful little dog,” the doctor thought to himself. He thought no more about the incident until the next evening when he heard a scratching at his door. When he opened it, there was the little dog he treated, with another hurt dog. 

That is the story of the “ripple effect.” Throw a stone into a lake and the water ripples out, and the circle widens. One of the great characteristics of the first Christians was their ripple effect. Something had happened to them that filled them with so much joy they just could not contain it. It was contagious. It spread out among the people in a ripple effect. And the circle of love grew wider and wider. 

Let us pray: Lord, help us to spread your love by being the gospel, the good news to others. Give healing to those who are ill or anxious today and remind us of the power of your spirit to transform every earthly situation. Give strength to the weak and hope to the depressed. Keep in safety all who travel. Watch over the poor and the homeless. Now let the ripple effect of your love and joy help us to make this day a masterpiece. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.