Monday Morning Musings ...

Yesterday was a day of transitions. With the coming of May we are into summer thoughts, even when it doesn't feel like summer. We had a wedding shower for a young couple in anticipation of their summer wedding. Last evening we added one to our household as a college student moved in for the summer. In my sermon I moved us even more into acting on what we have been discovering about living the life Christ has called us to live.

There was a good energy in the room as we worshiped yesterday. People were very engaged as we sang, they were also very engaged during prayer and the message.

The question of the day in my message was "What if we exercised Holy Imagination?" God/Jesus has used creative ways to reach people forever. Who would have chosen the cross to bring salvation? Who would have chosen Peter to preach the monumental sermon on the day of Pentecost? Who would have pulled money out of a fish to pay the bills? (I wonder how that would go over on the BASSmasters tour?) Who would have thought it possible to feed 5,000 from one kid's lunch? Then what about the friends who lower their buddy through the roof to get him to Jesus? We looked another event with real imagination, Luke 19:1-10 tells of Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was an unlikely convert in most people's eyes.

It requires holy imagination to see the opportunities all around us. In order to see the opportunities God is providing we must pray for them. Jesus prayed a lot, he prayed before every major event and instructed his disciples to pray as well. What do you spent time praying about? Are you praying for opportunities or just praying about what isn't going the way you want in your life? We must look for the opportunities as well. Jesus looked up in a tree to find Zacchaeus! Where are you looking? Are you looking in some of those unlikely places for some of those unlikely people? Are you looking for people in need? Are you looking for ways in which you can help meet those needs? We must take action as God shows us the needs and opportunities. This requires our time, our touch and taking steps away from our comfort zones. We must be creative using our holy imagination. Quit thinking in the box. Quit thinking out of the box. Throw the box away and let God move you in the ways he wants you to move.

"Fear is the wrong use of imagination. It is anticipating the worst, not the best that can happen."

Great composers do not set down to work because they are inspired, but become inspired because they are working. They didn't waste time waiting for inspiration.

How is your imagination? Where are you looking? Let's get creative and imaginative in meeting needs and showing people the love of Christ.