Happy May, Everyone!
I was young when the first Nintendo gaming system hit the shelves in American homes. Even my mother got into it after we kids teased her about how terrible she was at Mario Brothers. She practiced in secret when we went to school, and one day she surprised us by beating the game. From then on, she proudly wore the title “Mario-Mama.”
One remarkable thing about those early gaming days was the universal solution to technical glitches: blowing on the bottom of the game cartridge. Somehow, before the internet, it was a widely known and effective gaming hack.
Similarly, the beginning of a new year prompts us to reset, and May is a terrific time to reevaluate where we are at with Jesus.
In “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence, he emphasizes the importance of living in communion with God: “But how can we ask for help unless we are with Him? To be with Him, we must cultivate the holy habit of thinking of Him often.”
Would you consider taking a few moments for a mid-year checkup, a reset?
John 15:4-5 Reminds us of the importance of communion with Christ: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Remaining or abiding means that whatever happens in our lives, we are making a declaration that we are not going anywhere unless we are in Jesus. Like Moses, who pleaded, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Exodus 33:15), let us also express our desperation for God’s presence in our lives.
What are some holy habits that will help us to remain in Jesus? Prayer, solitude, serving others, scripture reading, worship, and engaging with Christian community.
As we kick off the month of May, will you consider pushing reset or metaphorically blowing on the bottom of the game cartridge by making a faith declaration to move forward only with the presence of God?
“Pursuing Jesus Together” echoes Joshua’s declaration in chapter 24. As for me, my house, and faith community, we are committed to obeying all that God commands.
Sincerely,
Pastor Dale DeMell