1st Presbyterian Church Coeur d'Alene ID
  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
      • Prayer Request
      • eNews Archive >
        • 2020 eNews Archive
  • Who We Are
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership & Staff >
      • Job Opportunities
      • Blogs >
        • Blog Archive 2021
        • Blog Archive 2020
    • Elders, Deacons & Ministry Teams >
      • Christmas Families
      • Annual Clothing Givewaway
    • History >
      • Past Ministers
    • What Presbyterians Believe
    • Annual Reports
  • Ministries
    • Children & Families
    • Youth
    • Missions >
      • Niños Con Valor
    • Serve >
      • Choir
      • Church Ministry Teams
      • Ecumenical Kitchen
      • Family Promise
      • Handbell Choir
      • Knitting for Warmth
      • Praise Team
      • Reception Team
      • VBS Planning Team
    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
      • Christ Care Groups
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Presbyterian Women's Association
      • RightNow Media
      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
    • Connect >
      • Basketball Dudes
      • Dinners at 6-ish
      • Flying Solo
      • WW2 (Widows & Widowers 2)
    • Venture
  • Sundays
    • Classic Worship
    • Contemplative Worship
    • Sermons
  • Giving
  • Pastor Search

Bless them. Change me.

10/4/2021

2 Comments

 
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

This week a friend died. I’m sad. I’m angry. I’m not angry with the person, but rather the circumstances that led to this death … because I believe it could have been avoided. How could I know that specifically? I don’t.
​
Picture
Janet Starkey
​Bless them. Change me.

Those four words have appeared several times this week, so I’m thinking I need to pay attention.

I want to ask this friend what led to decisions that likely ended with devastating consequences. Do I think that I’m owed an apology for a decision that has robbed family and friends of their company and a happy future life? Maybe. Because that bit of anger keeps rearing its ugly head. But that conversation can never take place. And, I’m quite certain I am not owed that explanation, curious as I may be.

Bless them. Change me.

So I have a choice. I can dwell in this hurt, or I can think back to Pastor Neal’s recent sermon that explored back stories. I don’t know the back story that led to this decision, and, truth be told, it’s none of my business. What I can do is remember this amazing friend and the gift of their life that I had the honor of enjoying. I can look inward to where I myself fall short and consciously focus my efforts on the only soul I can control: my own.

So bless them, Change me.

God, I’m here and I’m available.

In His Name, Janet
2 Comments
Ray Weaver
10/5/2021 08:12:29 pm

Janet! Such good words. Where I am, totally. Love others! Look inward to see that my heart stays humble and not angry or prideful.

Reply
Kent Kimball
10/5/2021 08:55:32 pm

So sorry for the loss of you friend. Bless you. A powerful story.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    What's Up

    Our staff is voluntold each week and with grace they share their thoughts.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

Home
Calendar
Connect With Us
Giving
Giving
Staff
Worship Schedule
 First Presbyterian Church | 521 Lakeside Ave | Coeur d'Alene | ID  83814
​Copyright © 2022
​
  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
      • Prayer Request
      • eNews Archive >
        • 2020 eNews Archive
  • Who We Are
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership & Staff >
      • Job Opportunities
      • Blogs >
        • Blog Archive 2021
        • Blog Archive 2020
    • Elders, Deacons & Ministry Teams >
      • Christmas Families
      • Annual Clothing Givewaway
    • History >
      • Past Ministers
    • What Presbyterians Believe
    • Annual Reports
  • Ministries
    • Children & Families
    • Youth
    • Missions >
      • Niños Con Valor
    • Serve >
      • Choir
      • Church Ministry Teams
      • Ecumenical Kitchen
      • Family Promise
      • Handbell Choir
      • Knitting for Warmth
      • Praise Team
      • Reception Team
      • VBS Planning Team
    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
      • Christ Care Groups
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Presbyterian Women's Association
      • RightNow Media
      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
    • Connect >
      • Basketball Dudes
      • Dinners at 6-ish
      • Flying Solo
      • WW2 (Widows & Widowers 2)
    • Venture
  • Sundays
    • Classic Worship
    • Contemplative Worship
    • Sermons
  • Giving
  • Pastor Search