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This is the day... |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 10/21/2009 4:34 PM | Greetings!
I woke up this morning with a song in my head. When I got out of bed and looked out the window, I have to admit that my mood did not fit the song that was running through my head. Once again, I woke up to a drippy, drizzly, overcast, dreary morning. Yet the song kept playing:
“This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made….I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it…” Bah Humbug!
The streets were no better. People unsure how to drive in the rain are still a mystery to me. The trick is slow down – not speed up! Traffic lights were out. A tree was sticking into one road. An accident made me go a different route. Still, the song kept playing: “This is the day that that the Lord has made…I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Oh pipe down, would ya’?!
As I grew closer to the church, the rain picked up. No longer was it a slight drizzle, but a downpour was beginning…and just as I was going to have to get out of the car. “This is the day that the Lord has made”. Struggling with a couple of things to carry in I dropped my lunch bag in the middle of a big puddle. “I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Bending over, papers fell out of the pocket of my briefcase and started to sink in the puddle. “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!” Yeah, right.
I finally made my way into the back door of the church and began to walk toward the office. Grumbling to myself, I opened the door toward the Child Development Center and was stopped in my tracks by the sound of laughing, shouting, giggling, squealing children. Is there a better sound in the world? Is there a more hopeful, joyful noise anywhere? Is there a more life affirming feeling than being in the presence of happy children?
Suddenly, the gloom of the day started to recede and I said a quick prayer asking for forgiveness and for a chance to start the day anew. And of course, now the song in my head was welcomed!
If you are having a bad day or a bad week or a bad year…remember that God is always with us in small ways and big. Remember that each day is a day to begin again, to step back and celebrate the good that has been given us and decide how we are going to react. As Doris Guzman has said to me on more than one occasion, “When I get up every day, I have a choice on how I face the day. I choose to celebrate.” So, step back, take a deep breath, and make the choice to celebrate the day. It will make a difference for today, tomorrow and in facing whatever challenges are thrown your way.
“This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made!”
You know, I think I’ll sing that every morning….and I know we’re going to sing it this Sunday!
For updated an updated prayer list and list of upcoming events, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list
Please keep all those who are still recovering from flood and rain damage as they deal with another round of wet weather in your prayers.
Please keep Pat Money in your prayers as she continues to progress. She entered the hospital very dehydrated and they are working on that so they can turn their attention to some other nagging issues. She is feeling better and would welcome your phone calls and continued prayers. She is at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. The switchboard number there is 678-474-7000.
Please keep Byron Wells and his family in your prayers. Byron is the pastor at Chestnut Ridge Christian Church in Marietta. Byron’s mother passed away last weekend in North Carolina.
Upcoming Events
Many thanks to all those who unloaded the pumpkins in record time! And thanks to Crystal and Terry Evans who once again are coordinating this event wonderfully. But your help is still very much needed! Go to www.brookhavenchristian.org , click on the pumpkin, scroll down and sign up for 2 or 3 shifts of working on the pumpkin lot. When we all chip in, it will go smoothly. This is a great way to meet folks from the neighborhood and be the face of BCC! And remember, with Pat Money temporarily out of commission, we all have to cover the 50 slots that she would work! Please, sign up today.
Due to several conflicts, the date of the next official board meeting and the next congregational meeting have changed. The Official Board will meet Sunday November 1st following worship. This is a very important meeting where the budget for 2010 is presented and approved, and where the slate of candidates for leadership, deacons and elders for 2010 will be presented. The next Congregational Meeting to approve the budget and nominating slate for 2010 will be Sunday November 8th immediately following worship. This is a brief meeting that should only last 15 – 20 minutes.
Mark you calendar for Sunday November 8th at 4:00 at Keswick Park in Chamblee…that is when and where we will gather for our annual fall picnic. There is great indoor pavilion in case of bad weather and lots of playground space for games, so make your plans to come. More information will be forthcoming.
Calling all couples: A one-day Marriage Enrichment Mini-Retreat will be held here at BCC on Saturday November 14th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Marriage Enrichment is a chance to spend time focusing on you most important relationship. It is not marriage counseling, but rather a tool to help make good marriages even better. Nursery care will be provided and lunch and snacks will be provided. The cost of the day is a low $20 per couple and the retreat will be facilitated by Brad and Carol Miller, who are certified facilitators of marriage enrichment events.. For questions or to sign up, contact me at 404-237-3030 or by e-mail at brad@brookhavenchristian.org This is for couples of all ages, no matter how long you have been married, there is always something to learn!
I hope to be able to see you in worship Sunday as we once again celebrate the Lord’s Day together. We will be continuing our sermon series “Becoming the Church” with a sermon titled “Risky Business”. The scripture is Luke 4:18-19. Have a great rest of this week…all days that the Lord has made!
Be peaceful,
Brad
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