Search

Jonas Clark Gifts & Baskets

Gifting To Everyone

Yes, our church has a new Pastor. We knew he would be arriving this weekend, we just did not expect that he would think to come by the church and hall and check his new congregation out in advance. We were all there, well, most of us. It was Granny Newton’s 93rd birthday and pretty much everyone came by to wish her well.

I was in the kitchen, filling serving platters with meat when the door opened and in walked the new Pastor. Of course everyone was glad to meet him, and he seemed like a very nice man. I just had to stop and think about it though. How it must feel for him to be now in a new home, with a new group of people, with so much to learn about his new congregation.

I stopped to say a small prayer that he will feel welcome and at home with us before the first week is up. I prayed that he would be happy in his new home, doing the work of our Lord. I ‘m sure others prayed as well. We all know what it feels like to be in a new home, a new place and among new people. I am looking forward to knowing our new Pastor better, I’m sure he will be happy here.

Every day I try to do something for someone besides my family. Today I taught a friend how to get the most out of shopping with coupons. She isn’t the greatest with numbers so she can’t do the math in her head quickly like I can. I am a patient person, but her lack of addition skills tests my ability to stay calm at times.

What usually takes me 30 minutes in the grocery store now takes an hour or longer. When I feel myself becoming frustrated, I just put myself in her shoes, then realize how grateful she must feel to have someone mentor her in the art of saving money.

July 22nd is St. Mary Magdelene day. Everyone knows the story of Mary Magdelene the sinner approaching Jesus and cleansing his feet. We know she was forgiven of her sins and became an important figure in His life and Death. She was chosen to anoint His body for burial. She discovered his body missing.

Did you also know she was sent away on a boat with no oars, landed in a foreign land? She helped convert people to Christianity in her early days in this new land, but longed for solitude. The angels granted her wish and bore her to a secluded mountain and lived the rest of her days in a cave. Angels from above gave her a basket of food consisting only of the Holy Eucharist. This was the only thing she partook of for the rest of her life

Our country has became so afraid of offending anyone that they have actually considered removing the words “In God We Trust” from our money and “under God” from our National Anthem. This country was built under God. We openly laid our trust in him for all to see. And now our forefather’s ancestors want to desecrate everything they worked so hard to establish.

I am very tolerant of pretty much anything, but I am passionate about this issue. I love this country. Our country invited and took in refugees, immigrants and even illegal aliens with open arms. We gave them gifts of food, land, even health care. Now we don’t want to upset them, therefore our country’s foundation is in danger. I’ll pray for us.

It concerns me that religion is becoming less and less prevalent  in our society. People these days are more verbal and speak out against what they don’t like. Since religions expect people to follow certain moral paths and adhere to strict guidelines, young people are choosing not to believe. No one is gonna tell them what they do wrong or what they can’t do, not even God. Heaven forbid they have to give up sleeping with two different people or not get drunk on a Saturday night so they can attend church on Sunday morning. Gift giving with no strings attached has also become rare. People expect and want something in return. If your going to give a <a gift or gift basket with expectations of gaining something – don’t bother.