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March 10, 2023
Dear Noblesville First Family,
One of the spiritual practices I’ve added to my routine this Lent is a daily prayer walk. I try to crisscross my neighborhood from 5:30-6:00 each morning while listening for and speaking to God. Getting out there has not always been easy. I have to talk myself out of the litany of excuses I give myself like ...
“Jesus never lived in Indiana weather!”
“You had a meeting at church last night until 9:00!”
“God can hear your prayers just as clearly in this bed!”
Walking this morning was especially difficult. The sky was overcast, the temperature dropped 20 degrees and the wind was relentless. I thought I’d cut my time short but then I noticed something curious. Around the corner there was a bright light shining. I walked a bit closer and noticed a neighbor still has their Christmas tree lit on their back porch ... in March! Seeing it shine on this dreary morning, I couldn’t help but recall one of my favorite scriptures: “There is a light in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”
I wonder if this is a reminder you too might need today. Maybe you feel surrounded by the darkness of grief, loneliness or illness. Maybe the darkness you see is the worry or concern you carry for someone else or our community. Whatever it may be, I find that God puts light in our path. The challenge is, we may have to bundle up and brave the winds of life to see it.
I pray you find that light wherever your spiritual walk takes you and that it leads you to worship at church this Sunday. Parish Care Coordinator Bonnie Zickgraf will share the message, "Are You Included?" as we continue our Lenten series, Prepare the Way: Celebrating Christ's Victory. This week we focus on victory over exclusion and the love of Christ that adopts all of us into the family of God.
Keep the Faith@First,
Pastor Nicole