Watching for "Wows"

Learning how to pay attention for God - not only when we gather as church but, also, wherever we go in our everyday lives - is one key to living and working in more life-giving and renewable ways.

There has been a tendency for some Christians to focus on how bad the "fallen" world can be and how sinful it is "out there." Combined with a "good old days" kind of thinking that often makes us think things are getting worse, we can easily get pretty discouraged about things! But throughout the Bible we are confronted by a God who is constantly at work in the world and routinely inviting people to get with the program and join in. As tempting as it might sometimes be to see the world as a godforsaken place, it is anything but. The world is right at the center of God's attention.

What do you see?

Every good gift is from above! Can you see it?!

The Bible reminds us that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and "Every good and perfect gift is from above..." (James 1:17). In other words, wherever we see love - there we see God at work. Wherever we experience goodness and blessings - there we see God at work. These cues, taken from scripture, help followers of Jesus to train their eyes to see things that we can claim and name as "God."

Watching for these things - love, gifts and goodness - can be a place to start seeing the world in new ways. When you see a parent and three kids in the grocery store and the kids are screaming for a candy bar, the parent who uses restraint and love to deal with them is a little glimpse of God at work. When a neighbor goes across the street to help another neighbor start their car, again we see God at work. When you encounter an organization that is serving people honestly and well, and improves the quality of life for the people whose lives it touches, we are watching God in action.

Pay attention!

If you are paying attention, these acts of love, goodness and giftedness are things that make life look more like the dream God has for us. They bring joy, hope, caring, compassion, concern, and transformation to so many people in so many ways. They may just make you say "Wow! Did you see that?" That's the natural response to seeing all that God is up to.

Note that a whole lot of the places that make you say "Wow!" may not have anything religious happening. Seeing God in the world can and does happen in every corner of life. In the daily lives of all people - Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Agnostic, and Atheist - God is at work. They may not see it that way but you can.

These "Wows" are places for people of faith to give thanks and express gratitude and joy about the things that are already happening that bring a smile to God's face. Start watching for things that make you say "Wow!"

Don't be afraid to say it out loud. Make it a point to say thanks or to write a note to the people involved in these things. They'll be glad you noticed and you'll feel better knowing that the world isn't just spinning around the sun on its own - that God is on the loose and working in all sorts of places already. Wow!

Every good gift is from above! Can you see it?

The Renewable Church Newsletter - Vol. 1, Issue 2
© A Renewal Enterprise, 2011. Permission to reproduce is granted to members of the Renewable Church Learning Community. All other rights reserved. For more information and permission visit www.RenewableChurch.com

Redeemer Lutheran Church 2920 Cassia Street Boise, ID 83705 Office: 208-344-6758 Fax: 866-284-7501

Church Staff
Rev. Dick Sansgaard (Interim)
Admin. - Marilyn Smith
Music - Sherry Georgeff
Choir Dir. - Pat Engel
Youth - Justin Malek
Nursery - Roz Baldwin
Custodian - Charlene Etoka

Church Council
Carol James - Pres.
Steve Knick - Vice Pres.
Heather Reddy - Treas.
Darren Beckley  - Secty
Dale Frank
Shirley Gilcrest
Larry Kidd
Laurel Simos