Back to School

Pause

Paul writes to the Colossians: “Take off the old human nature with its practices and put on the new nature…”

Pause – to consider what God is inviting you to hear and to see today.

Pause to consider what God is inviting you to “put on.”

Listen

The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people.

Colossians 3:15

Think

“Be thankful people.” Emphasize people (Be thankful, people!) and it sounds like a tired leader, a grumpy youth pastor, an overwhelmed teacher. Emphasize the word “thankful” and it shifts. It describes the people rather than fussing at them. It invites the group (the group who is us, by the way) to be grateful, joyful, aware. Be THANKFUL people.

Being able to be thankful, as a community, as a people, is to BE people of peace. This isn’t a numb, unaware, dopey sort of peaceful. It’s a peace that has open eyes, thoughtful actions, forgiving attitudes, and even anger directed at righting wrong.

Peace and thankfulness go together. How will you and your “people” be thankful this day? This week? This year?

Think of the invitations you receive from God: to “put on love,” to be like Jesus, to practice tolerance, and to let go of the feeling of being alone. In these choices alone, a different life exists… Your life! The fresh start for your life. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Gina Yeager-Buckley

Pray

O God, I want to be a person who is at peace – at peace in you. I want to be a part of the thankful people. You have invited me to put on love, to be like Jesus, to let go of the things that make me feel alone and bitter. I pray that the things I have read and considered will develop into habits and into a mindset. In the name of the one who brings peace, I am thankful. Amen.

Go

Go – to put on love. To practice love. To offer the love that God gives to you to the world around you.