"Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs."  (Psalm 100:2)

Sabbath, and worship, seem to go together.  We can even think of the Commandment - remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy. (Exodus 20:8)  The question is do we "worship the Lord with gladness"?  When we get around to worship -- which sometimes is on a different day than we expect - are we thinking of gladness?
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Today is a fifth Sunday which for the churches I serve means a hymn sing.  Singing songs of worship and praise, (joyful) with gladness.  The hymns vary, depending on the church season, including the way we "do" them.  Sometimes we try to "stump" the accompanist.  Usually, though, we talk about the story, or history, of the hymn.  We also have this as a time of joint worship where all three churches can worship (joyfully?) with each other instead of separately.

As Caregivers we have very busy schedules, and we get very tired, but we DO NEED the time of worship - Sabbath.  Are we stopping to take the time to celebrate God's love?  When we DO take the time are we worshiping with "gladness" and "joyful songs"?  Something to think about......

"He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?""  (Mark 4:40)

Say what?!  Do you really believe that?  What DO you believe?  Do you believe the weather person when you are listening to the weather?  Do you believe your kids when they are telling you about something that happened to them?  Do you believe what YOU are telling someone?  I don't know about you but I don't usually believe the weather person until I "see" what the weather is actually doing.  I do watch the radar....but even then it may, or may not, be right.  

Believing is what the readings are about today.  David is telling King Saul how God has protected him (David) from "the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear and will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine."  (1 Samuel 17:37)  Paul is reminding the Corinthians, and us, how "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."" (2 Corinthians 6:2)  It has been a little busy for the disciples and Jesus.  They are crossing the lake, Jesus is asleep "in the stern" when "waves broke over the boat."  (Mark 4:36) They wake Jesus up (v. 38) asking Jesus if he cares about what is happening.  Jesus stops the storm and then asks about the disciples, and our, faith. (40)

We have had a lot happening also.  We are facing changes, challenges (and giants?) and storms too.  So where is our faith?  Do we REALLY believe God IS with us?  As Caregivers are we taking time to    s-t-o-p and be with God? Do we make sure others see our faith?  Do other people know what we believe?  Are we living our faith?  Something to think about......

"Yet it is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on the earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in the shade.."  (Mark 4:31-32)

When we think of seeds and growing we think of plants - right?  When we think of "growing" we think of how fast our kids, and grandchildren, grow.  The only thing that seems to grow faster is the weeds in the garden we just planted.  I remember, from years ago, a song about "Turn Around" starting out with a small child then "turn around and they are a young person going out of the door."  I also remember planting the seeds, for a friends vegetable garden, in the greenhouse and then in the garden so we could enjoy the fresh veggies.

Seeds are what is being talked about in the Scripture today.  Samuel is anointing David - the smallest, youngest of Jesse's sons.  (1 Samuel 16:13).  Then "the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David." (v. 13)  Paul is reminding us we are new in Christ - "the old has gone, the new is here."  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  And Jesus is pointing out how small the mustard seed is but how big the plant grows. (4:31-32)

Something to think about.....  What if the seed is the "seed of an idea"?  What if what God has been laying on our hearts to try is growing?  What if it can grow even more?  Earlier in the readings about Samuel anointing David we are reminded God see things differently "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them." (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT)  Definitely something to think about.....

"Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."  (Mark 3:35)

What do you think of when you hear, say, or read "listen!"?  What keeps going through my mind is the "old" commercial - "Can you hear me now?"  Or...maybe...someone going "did you HEAR me!?"  Then there is the instructor, teacher, professor saying "are you paying attention?"  For any, and all, of these you can probably remember looking like you are listening but really you are totally ignoring whatever is being said.

The readings today are about paying attention, listening and doing what God is asking us to do.  In 1 Samuel God is pointing out to Samuel how the people have "rejected" God as their king, but they haven't rejected Samuel, serving "other gods." (1 Samuel 8:8)  Paul is pointing out, to the Corinthians and to us, how the power of God "will also raise us" if we are being "renewed day by day."  (1 Corinthians 4:16)  And Jesus, himself, is pointing out how we are (like last week) adopted into God's family if we doing "God's will." 

So.... Back to the beginning.  Can you "hear" God speaking to you?  Are you listening?  If you are listening are you paying attention or pretending?  In this busy, crazy, changing schedule and challenging world God's presence, strength and guidance is what will get us through.  Something to think about......