Nadia, thank you for your reminder that God brings us joy. The weight of the world we place on our own shoulders. He doesn't expect us to carry it; we do. I look forward to your sermons and your prayers every week. Throughout this time of being sequestered, you have frequently been the voice of the holy spirit whispering in my ear lessons that I learned long ago, but somehow in our anemic existence/present I have forgotten them. God has worked so many small miracles around me every day. Instead of rejoicing, I have been too busy fretting about things that I can speak for (Black Lives Matter, Etc.), but cannot actually change.
Nice sermon! I wrote a reflection on that passage awhile back that also took a different path. I have to tell you though-- reading yours while remembering mine led me to another cool insight: Maybe WE could also be seen as the sowers... casting our good seed (with an utter lack of good judgment) onto all kinds of soil, and letting it grow however it wants to. Just a thought.
From here on I will think about 'judging the soil' when I am marching in the streets: The counter-protesters, "all lives matter" people, the white guy flipping us the bird, the other one wielding a tool to pop our bike tires - these are soil. The silent people, the skeptics, those who don't understand why people shut down highways, those who are frozen by white guilt and fragility- they are soil. Those in the movement who yell obscenities back at the opposition, who insult the intelligence of those who disagree- they are soil. My job is to help toss the seeds, to spread love, wherever I go. Toss enough seeds (and compost) and eventually the rocky, thorny, bird infested places- including those within my own heart- will become fertile gardens where love and justice can grow.
And that verse from Isaiah is a special one to me. During the Black Hole years, the early part of them, anyway, when I still left the house and tried to go to school and tried to keep pretending like I was normal and well, I was in my choir's vocal ensemble.
It was a mostly miserable time, largely because I was miserable, but because I was also alone, didn't know anybody, and being an unusually fat person, it kind of stops people from wanting to meet or include me in things. But we sang a song based on that verse: "For you shall go out with joy, be led forth in peace . . ." and it's been stuck in my head all these years.
Thanks for sharing this, Nadia. I’ve been wrestling with an interpersonal conflict the last couple days and am finding much-needed reorientation in these insights.
Thank you for such a powerful reminder of the joy that surrounds us in all times and the need to let go of judgement. I have been awake since midnight, contemplating the times; I remembered that I did not read your message from last week. My soul is full. So blessed to have found your work last January ~ your words & stories have been instrumental to me; an affirmation of God’s promises and an assurance that I really do belong exactly as I am. Bless you Pastor Nadia.
“God still is sowing a life-giving Word. Just wantonly and indiscriminately scattering it everywhere like God doesn’t understand our rules.” Thanks Nadia.
sent your prayer to my younger brother in Hawaii, 2 years sober (this time), who finally came back home last nite, stinky drunk once again after leaving 6 hours earlier for an "AA" meeting.
We all thought he was dead. Will bouncing his head on the table top help him find some joy? Arrrgh, but, thanks for your prayer.
Nadia, thank you for your reminder that God brings us joy. The weight of the world we place on our own shoulders. He doesn't expect us to carry it; we do. I look forward to your sermons and your prayers every week. Throughout this time of being sequestered, you have frequently been the voice of the holy spirit whispering in my ear lessons that I learned long ago, but somehow in our anemic existence/present I have forgotten them. God has worked so many small miracles around me every day. Instead of rejoicing, I have been too busy fretting about things that I can speak for (Black Lives Matter, Etc.), but cannot actually change.
Your ice cream is covered in Isaiah 55:2 “Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.” (And you would being eating it at Holden anyway).
I so needed this. I have felt so discouraged lately, and caught up in all the judgement. Thank you Nadia.
Nice sermon! I wrote a reflection on that passage awhile back that also took a different path. I have to tell you though-- reading yours while remembering mine led me to another cool insight: Maybe WE could also be seen as the sowers... casting our good seed (with an utter lack of good judgment) onto all kinds of soil, and letting it grow however it wants to. Just a thought.
Thank you, Nadia!
From here on I will think about 'judging the soil' when I am marching in the streets: The counter-protesters, "all lives matter" people, the white guy flipping us the bird, the other one wielding a tool to pop our bike tires - these are soil. The silent people, the skeptics, those who don't understand why people shut down highways, those who are frozen by white guilt and fragility- they are soil. Those in the movement who yell obscenities back at the opposition, who insult the intelligence of those who disagree- they are soil. My job is to help toss the seeds, to spread love, wherever I go. Toss enough seeds (and compost) and eventually the rocky, thorny, bird infested places- including those within my own heart- will become fertile gardens where love and justice can grow.
I needed this word today, thank you. <3
And that verse from Isaiah is a special one to me. During the Black Hole years, the early part of them, anyway, when I still left the house and tried to go to school and tried to keep pretending like I was normal and well, I was in my choir's vocal ensemble.
It was a mostly miserable time, largely because I was miserable, but because I was also alone, didn't know anybody, and being an unusually fat person, it kind of stops people from wanting to meet or include me in things. But we sang a song based on that verse: "For you shall go out with joy, be led forth in peace . . ." and it's been stuck in my head all these years.
Here's a version if anyone would care to listen: https://youtu.be/D7HKWFkn_Jc
Love to all of you today and always. <3
Thanks for sharing this, Nadia. I’ve been wrestling with an interpersonal conflict the last couple days and am finding much-needed reorientation in these insights.
I get so much out of hearing you... is there a place online where we can hear you give this sermon?
Thank you for this word - I'm a week behind but it was just what I needed this morning
Thank you for such a powerful reminder of the joy that surrounds us in all times and the need to let go of judgement. I have been awake since midnight, contemplating the times; I remembered that I did not read your message from last week. My soul is full. So blessed to have found your work last January ~ your words & stories have been instrumental to me; an affirmation of God’s promises and an assurance that I really do belong exactly as I am. Bless you Pastor Nadia.
How absolutely beautiful. I laughed and cried and was deeply moved to remember joy delight my humanness. Thank you.
“God still is sowing a life-giving Word. Just wantonly and indiscriminately scattering it everywhere like God doesn’t understand our rules.” Thanks Nadia.
sent your prayer to my younger brother in Hawaii, 2 years sober (this time), who finally came back home last nite, stinky drunk once again after leaving 6 hours earlier for an "AA" meeting.
We all thought he was dead. Will bouncing his head on the table top help him find some joy? Arrrgh, but, thanks for your prayer.
helpless on the east coast..
Thank you for joy!
Thanks, for all of this.
I am thankful you are online. I LOVE your ministry 💜🙏🥰great sermon 💋😷😇