August 2, 2019

Macy will be attending the University of Texas. I’ll miss her.

Rerun from August 12, 2016

I am now starting my eleventh year serving as the pastor of the church.

One of the real blessings of being a longer tenured pastor is that I have had the privilege of watching the children grow up. For many of them, I am the only senior pastor they have ever known.

One of the ones I have watched grow up is Macy.

Every Sunday, as everyone is leaving the sanctuary, I stop Macy and say, “What did I preach about today?”

Seeing her teenage daughter get put on the spot always gives Macy’s mother a great deal of joy.

Macy’s answers are both entertaining and usually make me feel like a failure as a pastor.

This past Sunday, when I asked Macy the usual question, she handed me the three bulletins she had drawn on during the worship service. They were entitled: The Adventures of Spinach the Chicken.

Knowing that Macy had been too distracted by drawing to hear any of the sermon, I said, “Nice drawings but what did I preach about?”

Macy looked me in the eye with a mischievous grin and said, “Jesus.” Now how am I supposed to argue with that?

When you come to church, you are going to hear about Jesus because that’s what church is about. He is the reason we celebrate life and know that we are going on to eternity. It is Jesus that gives our lives meaning and purpose. He is our everything.

But do we really live that way? Do we let others know what gives our lives joy and illuminates our path?

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; those who follow me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

So put Jesus at the very center of your life and live in the light.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for sending your son into this world and into my life. Help me to live a life that honors what you have done on my behalf. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Sunday is coming and Macy and I will have our usual conversation. Please pray for me.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins