Good morning, Monday!
Some people dislike Monday. I guess it’s that stretch past Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in order to get to Friday that bothers them. Somehow over the past few years I have come to appreciate Monday for some unique characteristics, which no other day of the week can lay claim to.
One thing is that Monday lands me squarely in a position to practice what I have preached on Sunday. In fact, on Sunday I get to preach a message of hope, encouragement, and empowerment three times. Yesterday I encouraged my small congregations to remember that everything we do matters, using a wonderful little book by Andy Andrews entitled The Butterfly Effect (2009, Thomas Nelson Publishers). So, on this Monday I now have the opportunity to practice what Andrews writes about when he says: “Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world” (Andrews, 2009). If I believe what I preach then on this Monday I now have the distinct privilege of looking for ways to live that out, with freshness and wonderful newness in this brand new week, which brings me to my next reason for loving Monday.
Every Monday can be like a mini-New Years Day…Each and every week we have the wonderful gift of life that has, hopefully, been renewed, and refreshed by worship on Sunday in our local church. When we say what Psalm 118: 24 says: This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it, that works for Monday also. A new week, with a refreshed soul, an invigorated spirit, and an empowered life offers each of us the opportunity to go out and be the unique people Andy Andrews writes about.
Have you ever given much thought to the fact that you are uniquely crafted by God? You are His handiwork? I can remember days when I thought that God had given up on me. Other people had and I could see them, and knew what they thought, what they were saying, and how they were forecasting a pitiful life for me. I was feeling hopeless, and as an addict it seemed impossible that any good could ever, ever come to me. Yet, here I am on this bright, beautiful, cool, late summer morning keying words to a blog I never really thought I would write. My experience has given me a unique witness to the power and GRACE of a Living God who Loves in a much greater capacity than I will ever be able to comprehend.
So, on this Monday I think I will seize this day like the wonderful gift it is, and I will go and find a way to be a blessing to someone else, because everything I do matters, and I like the idea of changing the world. In the United Methodist Church we love to say, Go out and make disciples for the transformation of the World, and this is our mission.
What about you? Are you hating Monday? Maybe a different perspective will help with that. If you were in church yesterday what did you hear that you can apply today? What did your pastor say that empowers you to live the Love of God in relationship with neighbors, co-workers, friends and family? This is a new week! Have you embraced its limitless possibilities empowered by God? Are you looking for ways to rejoice in this day and everyday? Most importantly, if you have stumbled across these ramblings of the fifty+ passionate preacher lady have you met the one who so radically altered my existence that I can now claim these truths? If you have not the universal invitation to His GRACE, mercy and forgiveness are waiting for you! He loves you without condition, or qualifiers. You don’t have to do anything to earn His love it comes from the heart of the Father through the cross of Jesus Christ just for you so that you may have the present possession of abundant and eternal life.
Go live Largely, and Love Radically!! It’s Monday! Praise God
Pastor K.