"Midweek and Looking Up" Pastor Cindy's Devorion 04/22/2020

Good morning everyone! 

How are you?  Life’s a roller coaster right now.  Yesterday’s sunshine was fabulous.  And later in the day, I learned of someone who was struggling.  Up/Down. 

Our hearts are being challenged.  During these pandemic days, I have really become conscious of my ups/downs.

• Talking with my family and friends on the phone.  Up, up, up.
• Watching too much news.  Down, down, down.
• Spending time worrying.  Down, down, down. 
• Getting outside.  Going for a walk.  Moving my body.  Up, up, up. 
• The creepy sense of fear.  Down, down, down. 
• Calling an old friend.  Up, up, up. 
• Baking muffins.  Creating anything.  Up, up, up. 

What about you? 

Lord, we are living up/down lives right now.  It is so easy for our minds to wander into uncertainty and fear.  There is so much we don’t know and it feels like we have lost so much.  We had plans for spring and summer.  Prom and graduation.  Mission trips.  Birthday celebrations.  We had plans for what we would do at work.  And we planned to make more plans, and be able to carry them out. 

And now we wonder when or if what we had dreamed about will happen. 

We have lost the wildly generous freedom we have had to move through our lives accepting handshakes and hugs and the excitement of being in a community of people together.  We know we are still surrounded by family and friends, but we feel distanced. 

Up/Down. 

Lord, we know, you hover over us.  Reaching down when we feel defeated and hemmed in.  Rising up, celebrating with us when our spirits soar and we discover what we can do in this time. 

We are riding the roller coaster.  We don’t like it.  But we are on board.  It helps that you are sharing the ride with us.

In the heights of heaven, hear our prayer. 

Amen

Blessings this day,

Pastor Cindy

Pastor Cindy Hickman

West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Avenue
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
515-279-0826

We worship at 9:30 on Sunday mornings via Livestream.  Like us on Facebook to follow along, or go to our website, wdumumc.org.  And our worship services are posted on our website—you can watch any time! 

Up, Up, Up News! 

Today is Earth Day!  What can you do today to say thank you for this good earth we have been given? 

Stimulus Checks!  The goal of the stimulus payment is to strengthen our country.  Some members of Centennial United Methodist Church at Ivy, located east of Des Moines, decided that they didn’t need their stimulus checks. Their income hadn’t changed.  They decided the funds would be better used by the local food pantry.  They invited others in the same circumstances to join them.  They are supporting the economy by feeding their neighbors.  How about you?  What can you do to make a difference? 

Looking for Sweet Gossip!  Reply to this email with your Sweet Gossip, good news happening in your life!  We will share it in the Link. 

#Just Read is back on Tuesday afternoons at 4:30 via zoom.  If you would like to join in, reply to this email and Pastor Cindy will send you the information to connect.