Jumbled Thoughts September 30th:

In Philippians 3:4–14, Paul reminds us that following Christ means learning to look forward rather than living in the rearview mirror. Paul had quite a résumé—education, religious credentials, accomplishments, and plenty of reasons to boast. Yet after encountering Jesus, he realized that none of those things compared with knowing Christ. The same is true for us. Our identity isn’t ultimately found in our successes—or our failures—but in the grace of Jesus, who has claimed us as His own. We don’t earn God’s love through perfect church attendance, good deeds, or having everything figured out. Grace comes first, and our good works become a joyful response to that grace. Paul also reminds us that the Christian journey isn’t about arriving at perfection. Sometimes pressing on feels like running; sometimes it’s walking; and on some days, it may feel more like crawling! But even then, we’re still moving toward Jesus. Through prayer, worship, Scripture, kindness, forgiveness, and service, God patiently shapes us day by day. Small steps of faith can add up to a transformed life. So whatever season we find ourselves in, may we keep pressing on. When life is joyful, press on. When life is difficult, press on. When faith feels strong—or when it feels a little wobbly—press on. Our confidence rests not in what we’ve accomplished, but in Christ, who has already taken hold of us. The goal is the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus, and until that day, we keep walking faithfully, loving generously, and trusting in His grace.

As we begin this new month, I trust that you’ve all been able to get out and enjoy this little bit of fall we’ve had. I love fall. It leads us into the cooler months and into several of my favorite holidays. I know it’s only the first of October, but I thought we might take a moment to talk about them. Halloween is good for getting lots of candy and enjoying a caramel apple. Thanksgiving gives us a day to gather with family and friends, eat good food, and give thanks without having to worry about presents or decorating everything. Then comes Advent—a season of anticipation as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, which leads us into Christmas. There are lights, decorations, holiday cheer, and the overwhelming desire to eat a candy cane and drink hot chocolate! Yet, in all these seasons, there can also be an underlying rush—a push to get through one thing so we can move on to the next. We hurry, we plan ahead, and sometimes we spend too much money or wear ourselves out trying to make everything just right. But what if we handled things differently this year? What if, instead of rushing through each season and planning our Valentine’s parties during Halloween, we slowed down and spent some time truly thinking about what each season has to offer? As United Methodists, we celebrate All Saints Day on November 1. This is a time to reflect on and remember those who have gone on to glory before us. We celebrate because we recognize that who we are today has been shaped, in part, by our experiences with the people we call saints. Their lives, their faith, and their love have left a mark on us. Then comes Thanksgiving. The meaning of Thanksgiving is pretty straightforward: we take time to remember that we have so much to be thankful for. Even on our worst days, God is with us, and God’s grace is ever-present. Then we enter the season of Advent, when we focus our hearts on hope, joy, peace, and love. We reflect on each of these gifts as we prepare once again to celebrate the birth of our Savior. And then, of course, comes Christmas and the Christmas season—a time when we celebrate all that we are as the body of Christ. It is a season often filled with joy and the expectation of greater things to come. The smell of cookies, candy, and cider; the lights and decorations; the gatherings with family and friends—all of these things can help us experience the joy of Christmas. So, as we get closer to the major holidays of winter, let’s take some time to slow down, relax, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the seasons ahead. Rather than rushing from one celebration to the next, may we allow ourselves to experience the gifts each season brings: joy, love, hope, and peace—and maybe a few too many desserts along the way!

Have a blessed week, everyone. Ryan