Can someone please tell Summer to slow down!?!?! How are we at the end of August already?!? It seems like this crazy year just began and here we are with school back in session for many, and before you know it the Holiday Season will be kicking into high gear! (Side note, I am crazy when it comes to Christmas and decorating for Christmas. I have already started to get some of my lights ready for the trees I am putting up this Season!) It seems we can barely take a breath before we are on to the next day, and so it continues on and on like this.
It’s a great time to stop and check ourselves. How are we breathing, yes I want us all to check our breathing. Are we breathe rapidly every time we take a breath? Stop and say a prayer, and than take a deep, cleansing breath. What are we putting in our bodies? Are we stress eating? Put the food down, pray, and take a deep cleansing breath. Are we con-stantly worrying about things that are out of our control? Stop, pray, and take a deep cleansing breath! Hopefully by now you are catching on to the pattern of what is necessary to get the worry under control; if not…Stop, pray, and take a deep cleansing breath!
It’s so easy these days to let life get out of control and when this happens we have to remember who we are and to whom we belong! We are children of the One, True living God, and we are His! He wants nothing more for us to know Him and to know His love! I don’t care how many times a day it takes to remember this, so take as many pauses throughout the day as necessary to focus on Him. Believe me when I say I know this is hard to do, but our inner peace is at stake. So never give up!
In our Gospel reading this weekend we see the Pharisees challenging Jesus once again over the laws of religion, and He quickly reminds them that they have lost focus on God. He reminds them that evil comes from within, and when we allow our pride to get in the way, we have no room for Gods love and mercy. We are always so quick to judge others for not “worshiping the right way.” However if we are more concerned about worship style and being right; there will be no room for the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts. Let us always remember why pray and worship the way we do, to hopefully grow closer to Jesus Christ!
I just want to pray for all of our teachers and students as they make their way back to school in these uncertain times. May our Lord and Savior protect them and their families, as the “halls of learning” open back during these challenging days. I also want to wish all of our 4-H students the best of luck as they compete in the upcoming Canfield Fair! I hope all of these incredible young people have an amazing time and enjoy the fruits of their labor!