I was writing notes for my devotionals the other day, and thanks to The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, I came up with a happy and healthy theme.
Category: Sketch notes
Over the years, I’ve written and drawn dozens of sermon notes. One of my regrets is that I didn’t create any of my grandfather’s sermons when he was active. I had not developed the skill by the time he retied. But one of my thrills was to do it today of my wife’s debut.
As recently as last year, if you asked her if she would speak before a crowd beyond presenting the kids during a special or giving the announcements, she would have politely declined. But as she has grown deeper through spiritual disciplines, something has changed within her.
Here is a copy of my notes. They are two pages since she spoke both hours. It’s interesting to me to see what I got out of one hour versus another when you hear a speaker more than once.
Her topic reflected that. She has learned the value of being still as opposed to being busy, busy, busy! It has caused her to reevaluate what her calling is in this stage of her life.
I love how she has grown and continues to grow in this stage of her life. Whether you are new in your career or have been in the workplace for decades, we all need to grow. We all need to change and experience new beginnings. But as she has learned, it takes the courage to end some things.
Part of her journey has come from a book she quoted in her sermon. We recommend it. It is Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud.
I am proud of my wife because she is leaving her role at our church under great circumstances. She didn’t wait until she developed a bad attitude, or when her work began to suffer. She left under great circumstances and with a staff in place that will continue to make great strides in the children’s ministry. Now we shall see what the new beginning will be in the coming weeks.
A Christmas Story Sermon Sketchnotes
Yesterday, my pastor delivered a sermon based on A Christmas Story. I love the film partly because it’s based in Indiana and the school Ralphie goes to looks just like the elementary school I went to as a child.
I drew my notes for this session. I just had to! I had to get Fleck at the flagpole and the leg lamp in a sermon sketch note! Yes, I know Fleck had an aviator’s cap on and my sketch doesn’t. But I am pulling out my creative license for this violation.
I resonated with the sermon of what to do when you’re stuck. We all get stuck from time to time. This time of year, we can feel like we’re stuck in the same Christmas traditions that used to mean something but no one can remember the why. We can begin to think about regrets over the year and start to think about new year’s resolutions.
Regardless, if you are a person of faith, there is always a way to get unstuck! Romans 7:15-25 has it all set up for us. There is hope for the person who feels stuck… even to a frozen flag pole!
At least once in our lives, we are running away from something. Jonah was the classic example of someone who knew better. When he ran away from his calling, things went from bad to worse.
This is one of the Bible stories that has caught the attention of people for years. Today, avoidance is hardly an effective technique!
There are lies we believe all the time.
- We think we’re not good enough
- We think we’ll be happy once we get something or once someone accepts us
- We think we are victims of our thoughts and circumstances and nothing will ever change
- We think we are too young or too old and that it’s useless to try
For me, yesterday’s sermon from my pastor was a good reminder we can get stuck in a lie and deceive ourselves into believing it. You may disagree with me or the faith I claim. And that’s okay. For me, scripture is the cornerstone of my belief.
- It has allowed me to see the good in others and myself
- It has shown me my selfishness and where I need to change to love others
The renewal of my mind allows me to
- Replace anxious thoughts with peace-filled thoughts
- Replace earthly concerns with eternal concerns
- Acknowledge reality while seeing the glass half-full versus half empty
May you have a blessed day today!
I recorded these notes at Salem Church of God, Clayton, Ohio.