Avoiding the Crust by Madison Street UMC

Points to Ponder:

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.

– Desmond Tutu

Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.

– Jonas Salk

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.

– Anne Lamott

Points to Ponder:

The story of Christianity is that God does not throw us away as flawed but reworks us into something more beautiful. - Kenny Enright

Often the Lord allows a fall so that the should will be more humble, and when it returns to the right way of acting and grows in self-knowledge, it advances further in the service of our Lord, as we

see among many saints. - St. Theresa of Avila

Christ has turned all our sunsets into dawns. - Clement of Alexandria

God’s forgiveness and grace is bigger than anything wrong you’ve ever done or will do. - Rick Warren

Points to Ponder:

You are loved by, and matter to, God.

No pains lasts forever.

There is always hope.

Other can help - just ask.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway…And you can always, always give something, even it is only kindness! - Diary of Anne Frank

How are we called to be prophets in the paces where we find ourselves?

Have I said yes to God’s call upon my life? How am I living out my calling?

Points to Ponder:

I am loved. Isaiah 43:1-2; John 3:16; Romans 5:8

I am forgiven. Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; 1 John 2:12

I am free from condemnation. Romans 8:1, 34; 1 John 3:20

I am never alone. Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5

I was created for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me.

Romans 8:11

How does belonging to Christ influence how we interact with each other?

Am I willing to listen?

Can I disagree without being disagreeable?

Important Words & Practices in Our Closest Relationships:

Regularly say: “I love you. I love you because…”

Don’t be ruled by anger. (Be quick to listen and slow to speak.:

Apologize. Forgive.

The words we use can inspire, encourage, and comfort or they can hurt, harm, and destroy. What is the impact of our words at work, at school, in our neighborhood?

Question to Consider & Points to Ponder:

The 24-Hour Test Can I go twenty-four hours without saying any unkind words about, or to, anybody? If you can’t go for twenty-four hours without saying unkind words about or to others, then you’ve lost control of your tongue.

This week monitor how often you say needlessly critical, hurtful, and even cynical things about and to the people around you.

The [good news is that the] way we speak is something we can change. —Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, Words That Hurt, Words That Heal

Let's Start at the Beginning - with The Rev. Randy T. Brown by Madison Street UMC