By the time you receive this letter, most of the nation will acknowledge that summer is upon us, even though officially, summer doesn’t begin until June 21. As early as June, we begin seeing signs of summer like children being out of school, summer camps and vacation plans and maybe even some vacationing is already underway.  I personally am looking for “spare” time that will allow for me to work on some art projects; either a painting or some woodwork.  I actually have begun a project of a wood cross that carries an Easter theme on one side and the Christmas theme on the other.

I’ve been working on sketches for the cross and as I do this, some of the sketches lead me to think that perhaps I could do a painting.  So I have found myself working on sketches for a painting, which I would love to do and at the same time, working on sketches for a cross.  One idea leads to another.  Oh, there are so many ideas!  There’s so much I want to do in regard to artwork.  And here is the problem I face; it seems that there’s too much I want to do.  It seems that throughout the year, I don’t schedule and take advantage of the time I have been given to do art.  In this lacking of time management skills, I find there are a whole lot of ideas in me that want to get out.  There’s so much I want to do that I don’t know where to begin and in that, it seems that nothing is getting done.  I want to do too much rather than focus on one thing and get that one thing done.

To a great extent it seems, that this dilemma often holds true for our faith life and faith development.  There are so many things that we want to do,  we often find ourselves thinking and preparing to do all these wonderful things, but never actually start taking action in order to get some of it done.  How often have we thought, “I’m going to start reading my Bible every day,” or “I’m going to start attending that Bible Study,” or “I’m going to invite that neighbor to church.”   Following these thoughts, we think of all the things we need to get lined up in order to make it happen.  We spend a great deal of time finding that “One Year in the Bible” series that helps us through the Bible.  Or, we put time aside to go to the Bible study, but never seem to find the car heading in that direction, at the right time, with the right Bible and the mechanical pencil for notes in hand.  We talk to the neighbor about our church, week after week, but never hear the words of invitation come out of our mouths.

This June, take time to prepare to do one thing for your faith development that you have not done this year, as of yet.  Make a plan to accomplish it and then, focus on accomplishing that one thing.  Perhaps you will get in the habit of daily scripture.  Or maybe, you will invite that neighbor you have been intending to invite.  Whatever you do, prayerfully consider it, pray about it and then pray that God’s will be done. 

Have a great June and I pray by the end of June you will feel a sense of growth in faith as you have faithfully considered and accomplished what God and you have taken on together.

In the living hope of our Risen Lord   
Pastor Dan
Contact Pastor Dan at: pastor@mtzionelca.com