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<\/figure>\n\n<\/p>\n
\nFor me, the key to being able to
\nbring my attention to \u201cwhatever is true, whatever is honorable,
\nwhatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is
\ncommendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
\nworthy of praise\u201d isn’t in just trying harder to focus on
\nthe good things. \u00a0For me, at least, the way to bring my attention to
\nthe good is to attend to what I need to be whole, and then the rest
\nflows.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nNow, some of you are great at
\nletting yourselves have the things you need. \u00a0I commend you, and
\napologize for this mostly useless sermon as far as you are concerned.
\n However, for a wide range of reasons (including \u201ccapitalism\u201d) a
\nwhole lot of us aren’t great at letting ourselves have what we need.
\nSometimes there are external factors that make it hard (or
\nimpossible.) \u00a0But often, there are \u00a0internal ones. \u00a0I can tell you
\nthat I believe God wants you to have your needs met. \u00a0I can tell you
\nthat if you stop fighting what you need as too much, or too selfish,
\nor unreasonable, or \u2026 whatever you tell yourself… that other
\ngoodness flows from letting yourself get what you need.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nNow, I continue to believe I’m
\nlikely not alone in needing quiet time with God, but I also think
\nthat my need is a little different than other people’s. \u00a0This week I
\nwas given the gift of a GREAT descriptor of this church as a group of
\npeople who love kinetic prayer. \u00a0That is, many of us around here NEED
\nto give back. \u00a0Some people NEED to hear gorgeous music and just feel
\nthe wonder of it in their bodies. \u00a0Some people NEED to move in nature
\nor their souls start to shrivel up. \u00a0Some people NEED connections
\nwith others, regularly. \u00a0(I think we all do, but more so for
\nextroverts.) Some people NEED to create. \u00a0I can’t tell you what you
\nneed, but I suspect you already know. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nThe key is to let God help you
\nwhittle away at the internal barriers to allowing yourself to
\nprioritize what you need. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nSo, a quick hot take on
\nDeuteronomy. \u00a0This is the story of God giving the people what they
\nneed. \u00a0Land to work, food to eat, homes to settle into. \u00a0And the
\npeople give back to God of what they have. \u00a0That is, they RECIEVE the
\ngifts of God, and they give back from what they have RECIEVED.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nMaybe I’m wrong, and maybe it’s
\njust me, and if so I’m sorry for wasting your time but I’m really
\nhappy for you. \u00a0That is, maybe I’m the only one still struggling to
\nreceive God’s good gifts, and let myself have what I need. \u00a0If not
\nthough. \u00a0If you still struggle too, may this be a moment of
\nassurance. \u00a0We have to receive what God gives us before we do
\nanything else with it. \u00a0It is hard, TRUST ME I KNOW, but God wants
\ngoodness for you.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nPlease don’t stand in God’s way.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nAnd when you let God’s good
\ngifts fill you up, the gratitude comes on its own. \u00a0And it is
\namazing. \u00a0May you see it too. \u00a0Amen <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
November 20, 2022<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rev. Sara E. Baron
First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305
Pronouns: she\/her\/hers
http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/<\/a>
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FUMCSchenectady<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"