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Come Holy Spirit!

5/27/2012

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Romans 8:22-27           
This was the second reading this morning in worship for the Feast of Pentecost.  I love this whole passage. Today a phrase jumped out at me from these verses.
              
             We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22-23)
      
We are “groaning in labor pains”. Don’t you feel that way sometimes? Groaning and growing inwardly
towards….something? What? It is the unanswered question that sometimes gets to me. If I at least knew what I am growing towards, then, maybe, the unanswered piece wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable. I know the end answer is my final reconciliation with God. But it also feels like the labor pains are alerting me to new ideas and new possibilities in this life – now.
    
As both a parent and someone who works with children, I see this questioning happening in most of our children. The questioning seems to begin around middle school and doesn’t slow down until young adulthood.
(And in my case middle adulthood!)      
Knowing my own frustration with questions of purpose, I believe they must experience similar frustration. How can we help them be patient in waiting for answers? What conversations may be helpful as they wonder about the gifts God has given them and how to use them in the world? How do we let them know that this inward groaning is God nudging them toward discernment?

For me, peace comes in the purpose of this feast day of Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to accompany each of us on this journey. She is there giving encouragement during times of
clarity and comfort in the uncertainty. Thank God we are not alone!

 So my prayer this day is: Come, Holy Spirit. Come!

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The Year of Challenge

5/24/2012

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This is the year of challenge. In January I read a blog post whose author picks a word for herself each year. The word acts as a guidepost, giving direction and inspiration. The idea of having a guidepost
intrigued me.  I was feeling very uninspired about ways to spend both my work and my play time. That led me to
choose the word- CHALLENGE-as my inspiration. (Yes! All in caps!)

Today I sit at the edge of the Mississippi River in McGregor, Iowa having just completed a challenge I dreamed for myself in January.
    Go hiking: somewhere new, somewhere challenging, somewhere beautiful.
This morning I hiked the trails in Pikes Peak State Park. (Yes, it is the same Zebulon Pike known for his more famous namesake in Colorado.) Even though the trails were not dangerous, this was an adventure as I am directionally-challenged.
Could I trust my instincts as I hiked alone?

This blog and website are part of my year of challenge. While my hike had a definite finish, this challenge will be
on-going. It will unfold in front of our eyes. My dream is that this website will be a guidepost of its own.

Creative Family Ministry will be a place to celebrate families:
~ to share stories – the joys and frustrations of loving
~ to provide a wide range of resources for families as they grow in faith together and see God at work in their
lives.
~ to mark the moments of coming together and letting go
~ a place to trust our instincts and find support from others along the journey

I invite you to join me in this challenge. For me, just as for you, there are more challenges to come…

Pam

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    Pam Voves

    On my own journey as a dabbling artist, a lover of stories,
    and grounded by my call to accompany people on their journey of faith.

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