Thankful Thursday is on its way out. There is so much to be thankful for. I observe this day every week, Because even though we may not need a special day or special holiday or special season to be thankful, it helps to have those special times. The truth is that in the stress and drama and hardship, gratitude, joy and contentment have to be intentional. They don’t come quite as naturally are easy as the more negative emotions and emotional states. So, maybe it seems a little Hallmark or hokey to celebrate Thankful Thursday, but I’m going with it! There’s a lot to be thankful for.
So Thankful For
My new mentor.
My resourceful, patient and amusing friend, Ainise.
Great tacos after a long day.
My Bible Study Class.
Hot water.
Of course, there is so much more than these five to be thankful for. I wanted to make a list short and name things that perhaps I don’t mention all the time.
Do you keep a daily gratitude journal? What are you grateful for today?
I mentioned being thankful for my Bible study class tonight, and I am. I highly prioritize being there every week, because the study, fellowship and probing question of how is it with your soul makes Christ real to me in a way I need. This is what the church is for: to nurture, nourish, equip and then… To send us out to share that peace, joy and wisdom with the world.
Specifically, from today’s class, I want to sit with Matthew 5:40 and Matthew 5:45 for a while. Jesus tells the crowd whatever we have done to the least of these we have done to him and conversely what we have failed to do for the least of these we have failed to do for him. So, as Wesley reminds us, John Wesley that is, we not only have to do no harm but as Christians we are best served to do all the good we can do. There is no more powerful message to carry with us on this Lenten journey as we continue struggling forward and pulling others along with us, and from time to time, crawling or tiptoeing or bellying our way up the steep mountain.
Minus the Scripture, HufPostc published this image with a story about a lost autistic child. The lost, last, least
Pope Francis states rather bluntly at this site that hell awaits those who abandon, ignore and add to the plight of the pooR.
Let Us Pray
Lord, open my eyes and heart to see all the people especially those who are among the last, lost and least by the world standards. No matter how hard it is to look, give me the strength, courage and compassion to look and see and be your instrument of healin, love, justice and mercy in the world. Amen.
I am, as you are, part of God’s great story. Writing is my way of putting voice to the chapters of my story. I wrote my first little story in Braille in elementary and have loved writing poetry, articles, short stories and even newsletters ever since. I have always had the feeling I should write a book, but no idea has quite solidified yet. Should I write an autobiography, creative nonfiction, the first Systematic Theology Text by a Black female Methodist? What?? Time to try my hand at blogging!
So, as you know by now, my name is Christy! I am a mother to Shaun, who is 11. I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have a Terrior Puppy! All of us are life-long Californians!
Vocationallly, I am Minister Of Children, Youth & Young Families with Saint Mar, Los Angeles. Concurrently, I am working toward ordination in the United Methodist Church as an Ordained Deacon, called to word, service, justice and compassion ministries. As our children, youth and families grow in faith and receive the vital nurture they need to thrive, they will take their stories out into the street and be the bridge to Christ for a broken world who so strongly needs hope, love and healing. My Master’s In Divinity (M.Div.) from Fuller Theological Seminary (2015) and B.A. in Collaborative Health, Human Services and Public Policy/Social Work reflect my conviction that the Child Welfare System and policies of our nation must be overhauled and our children must be protected and defended and the church has a key role in making sure this work is done.
Much of my childhood was spent in foster care, and so I am dedicated to being the light especially for at-risk youth and young adult populations, but also for all of those whom God sends my way. In 1985 at the age of three, I lost my vision and I’m to this day partially sighted, so I also have a special need to serve as a light for those with physical disabilities who the world often pities and/or shuns. We give lip service to justice for all, including children, the disabled, people o( all sexual orientations and races, but this is not the reality in many cases. So, the fight is going strong for social, political economic and all other forms of justice in the world.
For this, my first blogging attempt, I will journey through Lent with you. Starting Wednesday, which is Ash Wednesday, and leading up to Easter, which falls on April 21 this year, I will post daily on my journey to the cross with Christ and you all. I post pretty regularly on Facebook and Instagram anyway and figure it is time to try my hand at blogging. This is also a spiritual discipline and a way to hold myself accountable to daily reflection on journeying with Christ. My goal is to provide you with solidarity, resources, which will help you along your journey and have a lot of fun in the process. I hope to hear from you as to what you think, what would be more helpful for you, and any prayer requests you may have. May God bless you today and always. Shalom! Thank
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So Thankful For
Pope Francis states rather bluntly at this site that hell awaits those who abandon, ignore and add to the plight of the pooR.
Ministry With Christy Clark 