...and to dust we will return.

"Made by God from mud, dust of the earth, we remember that to mud and dust and God we will eventually return."

A pastor friend posted this earlier today, and while Ash Wednesday is a concept and theological ideology I comprehend, today these words hit me differently. Amid finishing statements for my upcoming DCom meeting, agreeing to serve as a confirmation mentor at my home church, and the ups and downs of life this idea of being made by and from struck a chord in my spirit.

Its easy to forget my worth as an individual; not my worth as a daughter, sister, wife, friend, leader...just me. How wonderful to have this day where we are reminded that we were created from dust and mud because God believed the world needed each of us and that we will return to that original state once our time here is done.

It's a charge of sorts for this first day of Lent-how am I being the best mud/dust/God breathed individual in this world? And that's the hope for these 40days, that we discover (or rediscover) what we have been created for and called to.

Potential and Possibility

Potential and Possibility
January 31st, 2016
Jeremiah 1:4-10

Have you ever watched a baby learn to walk? There is unsteadiness of feet and body, uncertainty in their eyes, surprise as they fall time and time again, confidence growing as they become more and more sure in their ability to do this new thing, and suddenly you can't remember a time when they weren't walking. 

 Now, have you ever watched the adults watching a baby learn to walk? “Come on, come on” “You can do it” “Uhoh you’re ok” “one more, one more”. It is a comical sight to behold!
Yet while we giggle at this scenario it's amazing how time and time again we do this same dance with God. You see it doesn't matter how old we are, how grown we may feel, how grounded we may be in scripture or theology, we all have our “learning to walk” moments as we journey in this life, moments where we take unsteady steps towards a steady God.

 When Pastor Francie asked me if I’d be interested in preaching I said sure, we picked the date, I looked at the scripture for the day, and I began to try and figure out the word God had for us. 

 As ideas began to swirl in my mind one clear statement made its way to the front... We have been destined to do great things, wonderful things, despite our size, our race, our age, our gender, our immense amount or mustard seed size faith. God has equipped each and every one of us to do something amazing in this world, to help create the kingdom of God here for ourselves and each other. What is your potential? What are your possibilities?

Friends as I have prepared and prayed those are the two questions that I have asked myself and now I ask you; What is your potential? What are your possibilities?

It seems to me we have certain expectations of these words. Immediately my mind thinks of perfection and perfect moments yet that is not who any of us are, that is not what any of us bring to the table. I hate to break it to you but we are all imperfect, including me. We all make mistakes, and poor decisions. We all have moments of doubt and fear and uncertainty. We say hurtful things and are too stubborn to make things right.

But the beautifulness of this faith thing is that this is just what God wants. And God waits with open arms encouraging us to keep going.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary the word potential is defined as “existing in possibility”. The word possible is defined in three ways;

• being within the limits of ability, capacity, or realization 
• being something that may or may not occur or may not be true or actual 
• having an indicated potential

So again I ask you to think what is your potential? what are your possibilities? What are the things that exist right now in your life that you are capable of doing yet fear holds you back from?
Can I read the scripture to you one more time from The Message version? 
 This is what God said: “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you.” But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!” God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there. I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul. I’ll be right there, looking after you.”

Our passage from Jeremiah that we’ve now heard twice tells us that God has given us the answer to these questions I have put before us. God knows what we are capable of, what we can create and make, what we can be! 

The story of Jeremiah tells of a man called to be a prophet, something he was unprepared for, and frankly didn't want. Yet God spoke to him, to tell him that not only was this his purpose but that God had ordained it and would be standing by for each and every step of the way. His story resonates so fully with me because I have asked the same questions as I’ve tried to figure out my call to ministry. Why would God call me to do this thing I feel so unprepared for? Yet as I look back on my life, as short as it may be, I see the moments where God was moving. The interactions that have strengthened me, the relationships that have built me up, the ways I have been pushed and pulled in preparation for this call on my life. 

And I bet that when you look back at your life you see that God has prepared you for your call whether you sit in this place fully understanding what it is or not. Now I must admit when I heard my call it was not like the conversation God and Jeremiah had, although I do have friends who clearly heard God in this way. And one of the biggest struggles for me was understanding that even though THAT wasn’t how God called me to my purpose did not mean I wasn't called. And when I struggled the most, someone-stranger and friend, spoke words of encouragement and affirmation in my life. 

 Beloved do you hear me? The God of infinite possibilities, and potential has ordained for each of  us, you and me, a purpose in this world. 

 Elohim (God), Adonai (Lord, Master), Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah), Emmanuel (God is with us), El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty), Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord that heals), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will provide), Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts), God the Father, God the Mother, God-Almighty has met each of us in different ways with the name we needed to hear to encourage us, challenge us, and support us at the highest and lowest moments of our lives and God will continue to do so. Our potential is wrapped up in the possibilities we untap by deepening our relationship with the Holy One, by knowing God by name. How have you made space in your life for God to move and work and speak to you and through you?

Today’s Hymn of Preparation is a fond reminder of childhood for me. It is the first song I remember reading as a musical score, it’s one of the first hymns I ever memorized, and as I grow older and deeper into my faith I appreciate the simplicity of the chorus; “Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord if you lead me, I will hold Your people in my heart.” This is more than a song, it's a prayer! To be in the depths of God's love, to strive to know God more fully, means we embrace that God will put us where we need to be and surround us with those who will encourage our spiritual growth and shape us to be love those around us-the friend, the neighbor, one seen as unloveable, outcast, stranger, other. The struggle for each of us is not whether we can do it but to figure out how to embrace what we are afraid of. To embrace the potential and possibility that God has laid forth for each of us, even when the outcome is scary or unknown.

 Beloved, to say yes to potential and possibility, my goodness, anything could happen.

As we leave this place today with many answers, and even more questions, I hope that we each make time and space for God to speak and guide. There is no age limit on who can expand the kingdom of God! And that is our charge if we claim to be a Christ follower. Consider as you leave here today why you are here at Christ United Methodist of Piscataway. Consider what God is calling you to do in this place to help share the love we have come to know in this amazing God. This looks differently for each of us. For you it may be joining the Cantata or Gospel Choir or Bells, for you it may mean volunteering in some way for MusicFest in June, for you it may mean speaking to Beth Hart about becoming a Stephen Minister or to Mary Staynings about teaching Sunday School, for you it may mean signing up for the next Trustee work day, for you it may mean just showing up in this space week after week. There is an opportunity for each of us to get involved, connected and begin to live out our full potential as people of faith who commune in this place.

John Wesley, one of the founders of our Methodist tradition, wrote a covenant prayer that he is believed to have prayed daily, and I have found myself turning to it recently. This covenant between the pray-er and God while simple in words is powerful, just like the hymn of preparation. It speaks of a promise to let go of self and recommit to God. It is a reminder to trust in the promise God made to Jeremiah, that God will be there looking after me through it all. It is a promise that God awaits for me with open arms like a loving parent as I stumble and fall along the way saying “Come on, You can do it, One More.”. It is a sign that while I am in this space, this church, this fellowship I must do all the good I can in all the ways I can to all the people I can. It is a reminder that my potential is powerful and my possibilities are endless when I truly open myself to hear God’s voice.

Will you join your hearts in prayer with mine? 
I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.