April 13th, 2024
by Matt Miofsky
by Matt Miofsky
Phuket, Thailand by Grace Basler
Earlier this week, there was heavy rain overnight. The next morning when I woke up to walk the dogs, there was an incredible vibrance to the spring colors. The grass was bright green, the irises in my front yard were a deep shade of purple. The reds, pinks, and blues of our emerging flowers almost seemed to be lit in neon. The gloomy and windy rainstorm the night before dissipated and was replaced by a beautiful and electric spring morning. I know I am not the only one who noticed this. I got online and saw several other morning people who snapped pictures of their bright yards and colorful landscaping. It is one of my favorite features of spring.
This phenomenon of gloomy rainy days transforming into gently sunny and vibrant mornings reminds me that conditions in our world and our life change fast. There are days and even seasons where life is hard. Maybe relationships are extra-strained, work or school is fraught with drama, or maybe internally we are battling anxiety and stress. There are moments when life does not seem to be with us, where we struggle with faith in what St. John of the Cross called “A Dark Night of the Soul.” There are times when our grief, despair, worry, complacency, boredom, or busyness just hang over our lives like a thunder cloud. When we are in one of these seasons, it feels like they could last forever, like we will never see the sun again.
In these moments, it is important to remember that just as a rainy night can break forth into a beautifully vibrant morning, so do the seasons of our life change. Seasons of struggle, hardship, suffering, or pain do develop, dissipate, and change. They do not last forever. And often, these seasons of difficulty can and do break forth into something new and beautiful in our own lives. Enriched understanding, greater wisdom, strengthened spirits, a more mature outlook, and a deeper sense of what it means to be happy.
The Psalms say this:
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)
Springtime reminds me that no matter the length or darkness of the night, no matter the severity of the storm or the volume of the thunder, morning is around the corner. And with it a new and more vibrant day.
For all of you that are in a season of struggle of any kind, know that I am praying for you and that you are not alone. Most of all, remember joy comes with the morning and the night never lasts forever.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. This weekend, I am continuing our series Screen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology. Last week, I talked about the challenge of unlimited streaming and the temptation to give too much of our time over to phones and screens. If you missed it, please check it out and share it with your friends (or teenagers). This week, I will be talking about social media and the temptation to look around at what everyone else is doing and compare our lives to theirs. This comparison culture can often leave us feeling inadequate, inferior, and alone. But scripture has some hopeful words about how we can resist the temptation to compare our lives to others. It is an important message for people of all ages, and I hope you will be in church on Sunday to hear it.
This phenomenon of gloomy rainy days transforming into gently sunny and vibrant mornings reminds me that conditions in our world and our life change fast. There are days and even seasons where life is hard. Maybe relationships are extra-strained, work or school is fraught with drama, or maybe internally we are battling anxiety and stress. There are moments when life does not seem to be with us, where we struggle with faith in what St. John of the Cross called “A Dark Night of the Soul.” There are times when our grief, despair, worry, complacency, boredom, or busyness just hang over our lives like a thunder cloud. When we are in one of these seasons, it feels like they could last forever, like we will never see the sun again.
In these moments, it is important to remember that just as a rainy night can break forth into a beautifully vibrant morning, so do the seasons of our life change. Seasons of struggle, hardship, suffering, or pain do develop, dissipate, and change. They do not last forever. And often, these seasons of difficulty can and do break forth into something new and beautiful in our own lives. Enriched understanding, greater wisdom, strengthened spirits, a more mature outlook, and a deeper sense of what it means to be happy.
The Psalms say this:
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)
Springtime reminds me that no matter the length or darkness of the night, no matter the severity of the storm or the volume of the thunder, morning is around the corner. And with it a new and more vibrant day.
For all of you that are in a season of struggle of any kind, know that I am praying for you and that you are not alone. Most of all, remember joy comes with the morning and the night never lasts forever.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. This weekend, I am continuing our series Screen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology. Last week, I talked about the challenge of unlimited streaming and the temptation to give too much of our time over to phones and screens. If you missed it, please check it out and share it with your friends (or teenagers). This week, I will be talking about social media and the temptation to look around at what everyone else is doing and compare our lives to theirs. This comparison culture can often leave us feeling inadequate, inferior, and alone. But scripture has some hopeful words about how we can resist the temptation to compare our lives to others. It is an important message for people of all ages, and I hope you will be in church on Sunday to hear it.
Posted in M-Note
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Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25Lent Devotional Day 26Lent Devotional Day 27Lent Devotional Day 28Lent Devotional Day 29Lent Devotional Day 30The Power of Easter and Invitation // M-Note 3.24.23Lent Devotional Day 31Who Is Jesus: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 32Lent Devotional Day 33Lent Devotional Day 34Lent Devotional Day 35Lent Devotional Day 36Lent Devotional Day 37You Can't Miss This Part // M-Note 4.1.23Lent Devotional Day 38
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