Weekly E-Votional

WORD Mark 1:42-44 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

THOUGHT Can you keep a secret? It is hard to keep secrets isn’t it? At times you feel like you’re going to burst if you don’t share your secret with someone. I am certain that you can imagine how the man with leprosy felt. Christ Church is one of the best kept secrets in Rochester. When I tell people what I do and where I work they usually respond by asking “Where is that church located?” We don’t have to keep our church a secret. Go and tell everyone about the exciting things happening at Christ Church.

PRAYER Help me to be bold, O God. Open my lips so that I can share the Good News of the blessings I receive through Christ Church. Good things happen here and I hope other people will become a part of this church. Place before me the opportunities to share the story of Christ Church with other people.

Help my faith to become strong enough to give it away freely to my friends and coworkers. Help me, O God, to say something to everyone about my church.

Mike Wuehler

Weekly E-Votional

This week the e-votional comes from Pastor Mike.

WORD Romans 8:11: If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

THOUGHT What does it mean to lead a spiritual life? You will get a very different answer from a variety of people. For me leading a spiritual life means I attempt to do God things. That means I try to do things the way I think God would want then done.

The phase WWJD, or “What Would Jesus Do” comes to mind. In short it is always wanting the best for someone and never doing harm. When I do things that are helpful to people, then I am doing God’s work. When I do things that hurts people I am far from walking in the spirit of God.

PRAYER Help me to walk by your spirit, O God. Let my hands be your hands of compassion and love. Allow my feet to carry the message of your grace and my lips to speak your words of love.

In all that I do and all that I say, lead me with your Holy Spirit so I can do your work. May hurtful gestures become a thing of the past as your Spirit guides my life in the future. Make me an instrument of your peace, O God.

Michael Wuehler

Read Along:The Lost Symbol

"It's a talisman, of sorts."

I don't know what's in the box, wrapped in twine and sealed with a signet ring. I'm to a point in the Lost Symbol where it is looks like it might be significant. Peter's carried around this box for years, then gave it to Robert for greater security. It must be awfully important.

I have a bunch of friends who knit, and they knit socks. I've been told that when you knit someone a pair of socks, you want them to be worn, not "saved for special occasions." Often the recipient of a pair of socks doesn't want to wear them, for fear of wearing them out. In my house, that's the case with special candy or cookies, or treats. I want to save them for a special occasion. Sometimes they go bad before that special occasion comes along.** For other people it's the good china, or the bottle of wine. We don't use what we have, because we want to use it at just the right time. But what is just the right time?

Should two or three generations of Peter's family have carried around an unopened, mysterious box, because they were waiting for the right time?

What are you missing out on now, because you are waiting for the right time?

** Case in point. I found a box of my favorite Christmas Trees wedged in between my cookbooks this week. While they are in the Twinkie family, I'm pretty sure they are no longer a pleasure to eat. I'd hidden them form myself last Christmas. No Little Trees for me!

Weekly E-Votional

This week the e-votional comes from Pastor Mike.

Word Exodus 33:15 And he said to him, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here.

Thought Life seemed to be going as planned. Mosses led the people of Israel out of Egypt. God lead them by day and night so that they would never lose sight of the divine presence. Moses makes it to Mt. Horeb and receives the Ten Commandments. While he is away the people lose sight of God.

When neither God nor Moses is visible the people of Israel go back to what they knew in Egypt. They worship a golden calf. They need something visible to hold up as their image of God. What draws you back to God, or pulls you away from God?

Prayer Keep me close, O God. Draw me near to you with every breath I take. Let the beating of my heart remind me that I am forever yours.

I do not seek you out of fear or desperation, but I seek you with a desire to be close to you. Help me to travel through life always aware of your presence. Truly it is your very own Spirit that sustains me and guides me.

Michael Wuehler

Weekly E-Votional

Word Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD and great shall be the prosperity of your children.

Thought Do you pray for your children? I continue to pray for my children every day. Although, my children have grown into adults and are now married with their own children or children on the way.

It is not a very difficult task to pray for my children. Praying for my children and grandchildren on a daily basis keeps me connected to them through God. Perhaps the best gift I can give to my family is the gift of prayer and knowing that God is with them throughout their days.

Prayer Keep them safe, O God. Allow my children and grandchildren to walk through this day without fear or worry. Let them know that your grace precedes them in everything they do.

Throughout the day remind my children and grandchildren that they are loved by so many people in this world. I also pray that you will instill in their hearts that no matter what they may encounter, they can always come home. Help me, O God, to be a living model of your love to my children.

Michael Wuehler

Read Along: The Lost Symbol

Robert Langdon is

a)really the only person who can solve this "Lost Symbol" problem
b) someone who has a over-developed sense that he alone can save the world
c)someone who knows he has a particular, unique mix of wisdom

Do you ever have a sense that you are really the only person who can resolve a particular crisis or problem? Are you, are you really? I often get caught in the loop of thinking "I'm the only person who can do this." I end up doing more and more and getting increasingly frustrated with how much I have to do. Much of this frustration stems from me not delegating well. I do have a particular, unique mix of wisdom-- nobody else is me. This does not mean I am uniquely qualified to do all the things I do.

But, like Robert Langdon, there are some things where I am really the best person in the world to do something. Granted, what I'm best qualified to do has to do more with relationships than facts and figures. I can make my sister laugh like nobody else. I can calm my other sister down better than anyone she knows. I can convince my daughter she is loved.

This week I'm going to try asking myself, when I'm stuck, if I need to take on the "save the world" complex, or instead ask for help. It doesn't seem to be very healthy to believe one is indispensable in the way Robert Langdon does.


*note to self- you must let go of your antagonism toward Robert Langdon/Dan Brown's "ah ha! I knew this and it's been secret from you. . .mwa haa haa." The antagonism is not helpful.

Weekly E-Votional

This week the e-votional comes from Pastor Mike.

Word Job 10:12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.

Thought People often find fault or blame God for their difficulties in life. In fact the entire book of Job is based on the premise that Job will curse God if all of his possessions are lost. The book is a statement on theodicy, God’s justice and human suffering.

The book ends with an understanding that whatever our condition, God treats us justly and forgives. In this verse Job realizes that life itself is a gift from God.

Prayer Remind me O God, of the times you loved me. When trouble arises, let your love surround me. When I whimper about my life situation, remind me that I am your very own creation.

I know that you always want the best for me. Even when life seems so very difficult, you walk with me through the very valley of the shadow of trouble. Keep me strong, hold me safe but most of all love me.

Michael Wuehler