Pastoral Reflections

Greetings to the joyous people of East Zorra! 

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!  Psalm 126:3   

‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, . . . but the Lord delivers out of them all!’         Psalm 34:19 

Jesus said: ‘In this world, you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’  John 16:33 

If you don’t believe Jesus – how about Maya Angelou? She said: ‘Every storm runs out of rain’! 

Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of everything and to dwell more upon what they have gone through rather than what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, deep afflictions, sad adversities, or the sinfulness of their hearts, with scarcely any allusion to God’s mercy and help. 

It is possible to look at things differently and say, with the psalmist David: ‘I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.’ 

It is true that we endure trials, which James says can be grievous. It is just as true that we are delivered out of them. It is true that we have our shortcomings, but it is quite as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour, who helps us overcome. In looking back, it would be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond, or have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, as talked of by John Bunyan in “Pilgrims Progress”, but it would be wrong to forget that we have been through them safely and profitably; we have not remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader.  ‘We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.’ Psalms 66:12 

The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and preserved us, until now. Our griefs should not mar the melody of our praise, which we reckon to be the bass part of our life’s song, “He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.” 

Pastor Lloyd 

Greetings in the name of God who gifts us with today!

This week I have paused to reflect on the gift of “today”; the gift of each day and the many present moments within it. In Psalm 118 the psalmist is reflecting on the faithful love of God that has endured through the history of God’s people. They recognize that the challenges of life persist, and that the continuing faithful love of God is so desperately needed. As the Psalm nears the end the Psalmist proclaims,

24 This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118)

This psalm and proclamation remind me that each day should be received as a gift from God. But let’s be honest, some days don’t feel at all like a gift. Far from it! We are tempted to rush through “this day” like an eager child opening all their birthday or Christmas gifts. Maybe the next one will be better and exactly what I asked for, or at least better than this one. But when we set the present gift of “this day” aside too quickly we may miss the blessing it too has for us.

The following quote from Henri Nouwen gives us much to ponder. As you ponder these words, I invite you to reflect on the gift of this day, and the present moment of your life.

Being patient is difficult. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not waiting passively until someone else does something. Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient, we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later, and somewhere else. Be patient and trust that the treasure you are looking for is hidden in the ground on which you stand.

May we by God’s grace be able to receive the treasure to be found in the place we are in this moment of our lives.

Pastor Ray

Greetings to the Joyful people of East Zorra!   

When I was but a youth, the prevalent saying seemed to be ‘religion is serious business, therefore do not smile,” quoting Hezekiah 2:2. If I hear that untruth one more time, I think I’ll gag. I fully realize that too much humor can become offensive. I recognize that humour can be taken to such an extreme that it is inappropriate. But doesn’t it seem we have a long way to go before we are guilty of that problem? The final result of a joyless existence is sad—a superhigh-level intensity, borderline neurotic anxiety, an absence of just plain fun in one’s work, a lack of relaxation, and the tendency to take ourselves much too seriously. We need to lighten up! Yes, spirituality and fun do go well together. 

My late mother’s much-quoted verse was ‘a merry heart doeth good like medicine’.  And she lived it.  She was always cheerful.  When she worked for Ontario Public Health, her boss said: ‘Muriel Oakey is without a doubt one of the most consistently cheerful and cooperative persons it has been my pleasure to know.  Her rapport with the 4 personnel whom she supervises has always been excellent. She engenders a spirit of camaraderie, which greatly facilitates harmony and productivity.  She supervises without being authoritarian’.  Would someone nominate her posthumously as an honourary Mennonite? 

Scripture says: “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken” (Prov. 15:13).  Amazing how that proverb goes right to the heart of the problem (no pun intended). We’re not talking about a person’s face here as much as we are about the heart. Internal joy goes public. We can’t hide it. The face takes its cue from an inside signal. 

A well-developed sense of humor reveals a well-balanced personality. Maladjusted people show a far greater tendency to miss the point in a funny remark. They take jokes personally. They take things that are meant to be enjoyable much too seriously. The ability to get a laugh out of everyday situations is a safety valve. It rids us of tensions and worries that could otherwise damage our health. 

Do you think I’m exaggerating the benefits? “A joyful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Prov. 17:22). Isn’t that eloquent? Literally, it says, “A joyful heart causes healing.” What is it that brings healing to the emotions, healing to the soul? A joyful heart. And when the heart is right, a joyful countenance accompanies it! 

I think we need to lighten up a little. Spirituality and fun do go well together.

— Charles R. Swindoll

Pastor Lloyd

Habits that could Increase Happiness

Happy is the person who keeps on learning.      Proverbs 3:18

Happiness looks different to everyone. Maybe it’s being at peace with who you are. Or perhaps it’s having a secure network of friends who accept you unconditionally. Or the freedom to pursue your deepest dreams.

Regardless of your version of true happiness, living a happier, more satisfied and fulfilled life is within reach. Just a few tweaks to your regular habits can help you get there.

Habits matter. If you have ever tried to break a bad habit, you know how engrained and difficult they are. But good habits are engrained also. Why not work at making positive habits a part of your routine?

Remember, everyone’s version of happiness is a little different, and so is their path to achieving it. If some of these habits create added stress or just don’t fit your lifestyle, ditch them. Figure out what does and does not work for YOU.

Daily Habits:

1. Smile – you tend to smile when you are happy, and smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, which makes us happier. So, the next time you are feeling low, crack a smile and see what happens.
2. Exercise – regular exercise can help to reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and symptoms of depression while boosting self-esteem and happiness. Even a small amount of activity can make a difference. The trick is not to overexert. Walk around the block. Start the day with 5 minutes of stretches. Remember activities you used to do and enjoy and start again.
3. Get plenty of sleep – no matter how much modern society steers us toward less sleep, we know that adequate sleep is vital to good health, brain function, and emotional well-being. 7-8 hours per night, a quiet hour before going to bed, and your bedroom dark, cool and quiet are helps to a good night’s sleep.
4. Eat with mood in mind – carbohydrates release serotonin. A “feel good” hormone. Keep foods high in sugar and starch to a minimum and focus on eating complex carbs – vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Lean meats, poultry, and dairy are high in protein and these foods release dopamine and norepinephrine which boost energy and concentration.
5. Be grateful – a recent study found that practicing gratitude can have a significant impact on feelings of hope and happiness. Start each day acknowledging one thing that you are grateful for.
6. Give a compliment – performing acts of kindness can make you feel more satisfied. Do it with a smile and it is surprising how good it makes you feel.
7. Breathe deeply – you are tense, your shoulders are tight and you feel as if you might “lose it.” Close your eyes, take a slow deep breath through your nose, and slowly release it out through your mouth. Repeat several times until you start to feel yourself calm down.  
8. Acknowledge the unhappy moments – bad things happen to everyone. It is part of life. Acknowledge the feeling of unhappiness for a moment, then shift your focus toward what made you feel this way and what it might take to recover. Do a deep breathing exercise, take a long walk outside, perhaps talking it over with someone. Let the moment pass and take care of yourself. No one’s happy all the time.

These are suggestions for habits that you can do daily and there are many more suggestions for habits that you can work on weekly, monthly, and yearly to be happier, to feel more positive and fulfilled.

Weekly Habits

9. Declutter – what can you do in 20 minutes?
10. See Friends
11. Plan Your Week
12. Ditch the Phone
13. Get into Nature – 30 minutes in a greenspace can decrease both blood pressure and depression
14. Explore Meditation – sit with your thoughts for 5 minutes and deep breathe
15. Find a Self-care Ritual

Monthly Habits

16. Give Back
17. Take Yourself Out

Yearly Habits

18. Take time to Reflect and Re-evaluate your Goals
19. Take Care of Your Body
20. Let Go of Grudges

                                                          Resource :Healthline: Wellness Wire 

Grace and peace to you from our relational God!

I have been thinking a lot this week about the importance of connection and how good and meaningful relationship is so central to our mental health and total well-being.

Brené Brown defines connection, “as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

Because of the challenge of making in-person connections over the last few years, too much energy has been depleted from us and between us. By God’s grace we did find ways to stay connected but for many of us the connections were not all that we hoped for and needed. We have struggled as a result.

We were created for relationship, for meaningful connection. Already in Genesis 2 God said, “It’s not good for man [or all adults, youth and children] to be alone; I’ll make him [them] a helper, a companion.” (2.18).  We were created for relationship, for connection!

We all need helpers and companions on our life journey, and on our journey of faith. We are made in the image of God, and God, as the story of Bible reveals so clearly, is a relational God. God is Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— and trinity is a relationship of love, a flow of love being poured out and received. God invites us into that flow of love, with God and with each other.

Jesus modeled a life-giving way to be connected. He had a rhythm of life that included time alone and time in the company of others. He made room for many in his life but also had smaller more intimate circles of friends. He gave much and received much as he shared life in relationship with others. 

As more in-person connection is possible again, opportunity to be renewed through relationship is an invitation before us. Is there a relationship you need to initiate again? Or a friendship you need to catch up on? Or a peer/support group you need to start or re-start? Or a counseling relationship you need to begin? Is it time to get back to in-person worship? is it time for coffee and conversation at church again? (See announcement below about that possibility!)

³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13.34)

To love as Jesus invites us to love is about meaningful connection and relationship where we gain sustenance and strength. May we both offer and receive this kind love and connection!

Pastor Ray