Where They Are

I love Sunday afternoons, there are so many activities to choose from after church. I can drive over to Navarre Beach and head west taking in the sand, the sun, and the view of the Gulf. There are football and other sports opportunities to watch on the television from my recliner. Meal prepping, a walk, and a nap are options as well. Twenty one persons from age 5 up from our church family chose a different scenario this past Sunday, February 2. They traveled to Pensacola to serve dinner to 62 persons at Bright Bridge Ministries at Richards Memorial UMC.

 Their mission and purpose states “We’re committed to being a bridge to brighter days for individuals who are experiencing homelessness, addiction, hunger and more. Anchored in Christian values, we provide essential programs and resources that offer community members an opportunity for hope, healing, and life renewal.”

Our participation in this ministry is not new, it has just been on pause since COVID. It is now no longer on pause. I was humbled to witness this group of people from different small groups and areas of our church come together to serve those who needed a hot meal and a kind word. Many hands prepared meat loaves, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and homemade desserts. They then served, yes, actually served the food to those who were present to hear God’s word spoken and to partake in communion at 4 p.m. next door in the sanctuary. They served with joy, they served in a spirit of humbleness. They then rolled up their sleeves to clean.

It is easy to come to church on Sunday mornings, participate in worship and maybe attend a small group. I believe that there is more to Christianity than just that. I believe we need to meet people where they are. Navarre UMC supports many outreach and ministry opportunities through monetary means. I challenge you to go beyond that and serve. You can do that through our Thrift Store and We Care Program. We have a bed build with Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Saturday, March 22 and we will be back at Bright Bridge to serve dinner on April 6. Find a place to meet people where they are as we carry out the mission of Jesus, to make disciples.

Snow Days

Growing up in the woods of middle Tennessee after the holiday break and post celebration exhale of what was the most awesome frenetic two-week period of the year, the letdown of a looming long cold wet January was always the most miserable time of the year for me. As the daily slog back to the school routine set in and the monotony of each day was broken up by the excitement of an ear infection or the thrill of strep throat, these were days of great despair. There was of course one glimmer of hope that every child held deep in their heart of hearts; we might get a snow day.

The rumors of snowfall coming would fill the halls and every classroom days before it would potentially arrive. Staring up out the window at the desolate grey sky searching for a big fat cloud filled with snow ready to drop that could take us to a wonderland of big blankets, hot chocolate, and a vacation from school.  It could happen at any time, even the school board knew it and had allotted 7 Snow Days a year into the school calendar that we wouldn’t have to make up school for “just in case.” Long before social media would tell you the instant school was called off, you’d wake up early, turn on your tv, and watch the excruciatingly slow crawl at the bottom of the screen as the counties would roll by holding the fate of your day in its hand. As a child, living in Williamson County you were taught a few things: 1. Patience- we’re going to be at the end of the list so don’t get excited till Van Buren County shows up 2. Jealousy- White County gets out EVERYTIME a snowflake falls 3. Heartbreak- Wilson County will devastate you as you will hold on each letter as it emerges from the right corner of the screen like a childhood version of the Powerball; “W” (good start) “I” (now we’re talking) “L” (Oh baby, here it comes!) . .. . . . . .”S” (COME ON!! The Superintendent must hate us.! I can’t live this way! When I grow up, I’m moving to Florida and I never have to deal with this emotional snow-llercoaster AGAIN!)

That brings us to the present where a historical amount of snowfall has just befallen our coastal town. A paint stroke of white blankets every surface in uniformed beauty, my teenage sons have chased each other and wrestled in the snow like I haven’t seen since they were much smaller and are currently in the midst of an entire week home from school, (you always want more for your kids than you had…right?) meanwhile our whole area has had to hit pause while we thaw out. That last part is secretly my favorite; the pause. I find when everything stops, I am more reflective and contemplative. That seems to be the moments I am most thankful as well. Many of the daily blessings that sometimes drift by without much fanfare are suddenly brought to the forefront as the distractions of our responsibilities are sidelined and we can just be still and know. Instead of listing all of the many blessings I have, I think of the source and know we are not alone as all our blessings come from the Lord. In 2nd Chronicles 16:9, it is written, "For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him." A thankful heart and a joyful spirit in the great many blessings we receive daily and throughout our lives are where my thoughts are on these snowy days.

I Thought I Had More Time

Over the winter school break, my daughter Katie and I experienced a moment of sheer panic that

taught me an important lesson about time. Her high school band had planned a trip to Pigeon

Forge, Tennessee, which Katie had eagerly anticipated for months. She’d saved money, counted

down the days, and made plans with her friends. When we first signed up, the departure date was

set for January 2nd.

As time passed, various updates came through the band’s communication app, but most seemed

trivial, so I began to tune them out. By the time Christmas rolled around, I was running on fumes

and ready to unwind. My husband Chris and our son Henry visited family in Iowa, leaving Katie

and me at home. What did we do? We lived in pajamas, indulged in too many Netflix marathons,

and barely moved from the couch. It was a much-needed reset—or so I thought.

On January 1st, around 3 PM, I figured we should start packing and doing laundry for the trip. I

casually asked Katie to check the communication app for snack suggestions. A moment later, her

panicked voice broke the stillness: “MOM!! It says we’re supposed to be at the school

TONIGHT, not tomorrow!”

I froze, sure it had to be a typo. But when I checked for myself, there it was in black and white:

the departure date had been moved up, and we were supposed to be at the school in six hours.

Panic doesn’t begin to describe what followed. Her laundry wasn’t done. Snacks weren’t bought.

Her suitcases weren’t packed. A typical teenager, Katie didn’t handle the abrupt schedule

changes gracefully. I kept repeating to myself, I thought I had more time!

By some miracle (and a few tears), we managed to get her ready and to the school on time. But

after the chaos subsided, I couldn’t shake the nagging question: How did I let this happen?

This wasn’t the first time I’d fallen into the trap of thinking there was “more time.” Just last

February, I’d planned to visit my grandmother in Colorado. I kept putting it off, convinced I’d

get to it soon enough. Then I got the call: she was gravely ill. I booked the earliest flight, but

before I even boarded, I received the heartbreaking news that she had passed away. Once again, I

was left with the painful realization: I thought I had more time.

Time Is Precious

These experiences have reshaped how I think about time. The Bible repeatedly reminds us that

our days on earth are fleeting and precious. Psalm 39:4-5 offers a sobering perspective:

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.”

Life is fragile and brief. But this truth doesn’t have to be discouraging. Instead, it calls us to live

intentionally. As Psalm 90:12 says,

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Every moment is a gift from God, and how we spend our time reflects our values and priorities.

Are we investing in eternal things—our relationship with the Lord, serving others, and building

His kingdom? Or are we coasting through life, assuming we’ll get around to what matters later?

Psalm 103:15-18 contrasts the brevity of human life with the everlasting nature of God’s love:

“The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it

and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s

love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those

who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

Living With Purpose

These scriptures challenge me to make the most of the time I’ve been given. Yes, rest is

important. God Himself rested on the seventh day, and Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to

pray. But there’s a difference between intentional rest and mindless complacency. We must

remain vigilant and aware of the opportunities God places before us.

Hug your loved ones. Make that phone call. Write that note. Schedule that dinner. Invite that

friend to church. Build God’s kingdom. Time is fleeting, and there’s much work to be done. As

believers, we know that Christ is coming back. Let’s not waste the precious days we’ve been

given.

So often, I hear that small voice whispering, “You still have time.” But the truth is, we don’t

know how much time we have. Let’s live today purposefully, knowing that our time on earth is a

gift meant to be stewarded well—for God’s glory and the good of others.

When Love Becomes the Norm

The past two months have been a whirlwind of emotions. Not only was it Christmas (you probably already know how I feel about that), but my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There is rarely any good news with this type of cancer, and so far, my mom has not been the exception.

However, one of the things I have been incredibly thankful for throughout this entire process has been the support of our church, and especially my parents' church in Milton. I’m constantly reminded that people are praying for her, that we are loved, and that there are people here to help us with whatever we need. But my parents have been shown an entirely different level of support. Members of their small group have come and sat with her in the hospital. They’ve waited with my dad during surgery, brought food, ensured my dad went home and showered, and when they heard my sister was flying in, they catered a meal for us all to share.

I am beyond thankful for the love that their church has shown my parents. But the recurring thought I have is that this shouldn’t be surprising; it should be the norm. There are only two ways to get there.

The first is that our small groups need to be a place where people genuinely care for each other. That almost happens naturally just by spending an hour or two together each week, but going out to lunch after church or catching a game together on the weekend goes so much further in building those connections. My parents haven’t bragged about how the senior pastor stopped by (even though he has), but they can’t stop telling others about the laypeople who have taken the time to visit. Both types of visits are important in their own way, but one seems almost more obligatory and therefore not as special. Small groups are where you can truly build community and come together to support one another through the highs and lows of life.

That brings us to the second thing that must happen to get to this point. You must actually be in a small group. I know, it’s a radical idea. But unless you intentionally position yourself to be surrounded by people who will care for you, what hope do you have?

The hard part about small groups is that you don’t join them just so you have a support system or so you can help others. We do them to ultimately grow closer to God. But in the process, we form community, then support others in that community, and when the worst things in life come our way, we find ourselves being supported.

So, while I have appreciated and will always remember the love and support you all have shown me over the past few months, the best way to help at the moment is to make sure that everyone in our church is taken care of the same way. Invest in their lives. Invite them to your small group. Start your own small group. Then take care of each other the way you would want to be taken care of. Jesus may have said something about that at one point.

Messy Christmas

It is no secret that life is messy. Just turn on the news and/or walk out the front door. People are recovering from natural disasters, and some are victims of war and violence. Others are just trying to make ends meet by feeding and housing their families. Sometimes life seems dark. Many people look at our children and youth and talk about how they are our future, the future of our communities, our world, and our churches. I believe they are the communities, the world, and the churches TODAY! This picture is of the gifts my mother received at her assisted living facility this past week. Gulf Breeze Middle and High School students came and sang Christmas Carols with the residents. They then handed out gifts and visited with them. They didn’t just hand them a gift and say, “Merry Christmas”, they took time to sit and visit with each resident. As we quickly approach Christmas Day, we are reminded in John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." Thank you to all who encourage our children and youth to be lights that shine!