Author: Gwenda Coté (page 11)

Our False Self continually wants to look good in the world. It is also called the small self or the ego. The False Self takes offense, compares, critiques, judges, and blames.

Prodigal means reckless abandon, wastefully extravagant, imprudent, lavish, unsparing, and bountiful. Our God is Prodigal.

Jesus told them it isn’t all about the magic. Living this way is hard. If you are in it and following me only to see a miracle, then get out of the way; you are not worthy of being my disciple.

Humility is not at all about being meek and withdrawn. Humility is about fun and celebration. It is living in the absolute truth of who we are and celebrating that truth. Humility can see and recognize the gifts I have been given and then use them.

The narrow door is small. It is a one-person-at-a-time door. The little door in Jesus’ story is His call to each of us to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him.

The purifying fire is already burning. Just look and listen. We do not see peace in our Church but division. We must ask ourselves, the same questions the Jewish people did long ago. 

Be kind, be gentle with one another, and don’t judge. We don’t walk another’s journey. But with awe, we respect it because the ground we each walk, whether filled with light or darkness, is holy ground. It is walked with God.

If we are to store anything, may it be love, compassion, acceptance, openness, caring, and wisdom. These are the traits of God, and they are only truly saved when given away.

I am reasonably sure God has selective memory. He remembers our good and our love.  God forgets the rest. Our simple sorrow is enough to erase any sin from the heart of God.

When our ministry stops being an expression of love and becomes burdensome and a cause for complaint, it is time to stop and reevaluate why we do what we do. It is time to hear His call to love and we do that best when we use our gifts.