5/09/10 Sermon by Pastor Cindy Bullock

This morning I’d like to start by having you take a few moments to think about how you have been blessed in your lifetime. What has God given you that you consider a blessing? A gift? Sit still for a minute, listen to the quiet, and think about your blessings.

Would anyone be willing to tell us a blessing? ..... Thank you. I want to add a few. Some little things we don’t always think about.

1. breathing - taking in air, energy, wind... the very essence of the Holy Spirit with every breath

2. colors - has anyone thought to say, “God, thank you for the color purple and all the ways it appears.

3. chocolate - one of God’s better ideas.

4. water - that cleanses and strengthens. Think about cold water on a hot day.... (think about a hot day -- that would be a blessing too!)

God is good. And God gives us these blessings all around. But that’s not all. God gives more. God didn’t just give us a rich world abundant with resources, and leave us to our own devices. (5) God came to live with us so we could know him. We could know what God wants for us and how God cares for us. And more than that, God could know us - know what it’s like to be human. It’s an amazing gift. But that’s not all. God gives more.

Jesus spent his adult life healing and teaching, so we could understand that there’s more to reality than we see... that this creation is heading somewhere, there’s a plan, a “kingdom” a dream that God has for us. That is an empowering gift. But that’s not all. God gives more.

On the cross, all the dark side of power and fear, of abandonment and grief are hurled at Jesus, and he responds with, “Father forgive them.” Forgiven for the mistakes of humanity and our own failings. An offering of love from one betrayed. Its a heart wrenching gift. But that’s not all. God gives more.

God gives resurrection- new life -- knowing that even on the darkest most awful day that I could have, Christ offers me a new start, a new birth, a regeneration, a resurrection that very day, and the promise of new life forever. It’s a gift of a future. But that’s now all. God gives more.

As Jesus prepares to leave his disciples, he says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” There is a Spirit in this world that is guiding us, pushing us, wooing us, helping us see the way God is opening before us. Because you and I... we are a part of those blessings that God gives the world. Let me say that again. You and I are blessings that God gives to the world.

Okay, so I know you’re thinking, “Me? God’s blessing? Like all that other stuff we were talking about? I mean, I do my job well, I take care of my family & friends, and I don’t kick the dog... but am I really a blessing to this world? I look at what’s going on around this world and wonder how do I make a difference in any of that. Half the time I can’t figure out where God is let alone what God wants. What kind of blessing could I be?

In the middle of the first century, (10) the man we know as Saint Paul, was doing everything he could to follow the will of Jesus. He was the first to admit he wasn’t the perfect poster boy for Christianity. He had done some horrible things in his earlier life, he was pushy, he was hard headed, and he had some physical issues. But he knew he was blessed, and he was determined to be a blessing.

So he kept trying to follow the Holy Spirit. Now as you and I well know, God doesn’t speak in a grand voice. He doesn’t put banners across the sky saying, “Paul, go do this.” So Paul, listened to his life, he watched for opportunities, and he followed them. He failed as much as he succeeded, but he kept trying. Because he knew he was blessed and he wanted to be a blessing.

Think back to the lesson this morning. Paul has gotten permission to preach to the Gentiles. So he meets up with Timothy in Lystra and heads in a new direction....east to Asia. And he’s stopped. The Holy Spirit keeps them from speaking in Asia. Who knows what happened. There may have been an issue in the synagogues they wanted to visit, or a road that was washed out... who knows, a volcano erupting in Sweden. Something prevented their travel. So they headed northeast to Mysia, and decided to go north to Bithynia. And they’re stopped again.

There’s something I want you to notice about that map up there. When these men try to go to Asia and are stopped and try to go to Bithynia and are stopped, it’s not like hitting traffic on 694. It’s not like having to take a detour on 35W. These guys are crossing continents. And they’re stopped. They go hundreds of miles out of the way across nations. And they’re stopped. There are weeks lost.

Can’t you just hear Paul now. God? This isn’t working? What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go? Have you ever been there? God, I need some guidance here. What’s next God? I’m trying to follow your will here....Then Paul has a dream. A man in Macedonia asks him to come and help. A new opportunity opens and Paul ever open to the Holy Spirit, takes it. That’s the brilliance of St. Paul. Not that he does everything perfectly, not that he has a hotline to God, but that he never stops trying. He sees and opportunity to be a blessing, and he takes it.

He and Timothy head across the Aegean sea to ... then to Philippi. And God presents a different opportunity. Not to help a Masadonian. not even a man. He meets Lydia, weaver of purple cloth. who is open to the working of the Spirit. With Lydia, Paul is able to establish a church in Philippi that is not only a blessing to a major European city, but becomes a blessing for Paul throughout the rest of his life. And it only took a half continent detour, a dream and a chance meeting with the right woman in a prayer meeting outside of town.

You think God didn’t have a hand in this? But it couldn’t have happened if Paul and Timothy weren’t willing to keep at it. If they weren’t willing to fail, try, sacrifice and be open to the Spirit’s call. You and I live in the midst of blessings every day. The legacy of those who have gone before and the new gifts that God dreams up every day. We are surrounded with beauty and love. we are enveloped by grace But those blessings are not trivial. Many of them come with cost, with work, with sacrifice. No blessing in your life should ever be taken for granted.

And as we are called to be blessings, remember that that, too, is not simple. God works with us, opening doors and placing opportunities and people in our midst. And we have to continually listen to the Spirit, And we will fail... magnificently.... and we will succeed - only if we keep trying, keep listening, keep following.

So may you know the blessings in your life. May you be comforted, upheld and energized by the gifts of God that surround you. And may you know that you are a blessing as well. May you hear the Spirits call, know the Spirit’s power, and be the way God blesses this world.

GUIDED BY THE GOSPEL: GATHERING • GROWING • GIVING