Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace Archives | Page 11 of 33 | St. Luke's United Methodist Church

6 03, 2020

Coronavirus, and more

Sally Penning2020-03-06T09:45:15-06:00March 6th, 2020|Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

Dear St. Luke's Family, As cases of the coronavirus begin to be present in the Houston area, it is even more important that we all take precautions to ensure our health and safety. At St. Luke's, we take this situation very seriously, and we encourage you to follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and other public health leaders to take the following steps: Please stay home if you are feeling ill. Any sneezing and coughing will raise the concerns of others. Remember that in worship, there may be people who are of higher risk than you are. [...]

28 02, 2020

A Fearless Moral Inventory

Sally Penning2020-02-28T09:03:10-06:00February 28th, 2020|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER Dear God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, The twelve steps teach that there comes a time to take a "fearless moral inventory" of my life. Lent is that time. A "moral inventory," because there is a need to be specific, to recognize that in my preoccupation with my own needs and wants, my own agenda and desires, I have hurt other people, and my sin separates me from you. God, you know they aren't intentional, these shortcomings. Mostly, they are just failures: Failures of self-discipline. Failures of generosity. Failures of understanding. Most of all, failures to [...]

21 02, 2020

Boundaries

Sally Penning2020-02-21T13:34:27-06:00February 21st, 2020|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, I need to learn some things. I need to learn when to say no, and when to say yes. I need to be clear about what I am responsible for, and what I am not responsible for. I want to know how to help others without being a "fixer." I need to understand when it is ok to say "Sorry. It's not my problem." How do I know when it is time to intercede for someone else and when it is none of my business? I watch people struggle, sometimes people I love, and [...]

14 02, 2020

Rage and Delight

Sally Penning2020-02-14T09:11:02-06:00February 14th, 2020|Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, There are moments. There are moments it feels like there is something inside me that takes me over. It is anger. Rage. Fury. The frustration just bubbles inside me. And then, small things trigger me and I lash out. I often lash out and say ugly things to the people I love the most. Sometimes it is at those who are defenseless. I don't know what to do with this anger. I know anger is a natural emotion, but why do I use it and say and do hurtful things? I hear your son tell me [...]

7 02, 2020

We are all parents…
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We are all parents…

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We are all parents…

Sally Penning2020-02-07T09:00:48-06:00February 7th, 2020|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, It is the greatest joy in the world to be a parent. Looking back, I remember mostly good times when our kids were smaller, speckled with a few hard ones. I have regrets about how I parented, and I can openly confess those to you now. I talked about faith at church but didn't speak much about it at home. I either withdrew from conflict or screamed and yelled. I taught my kids virtually nothing about money, or sex, or drugs and alcohol, or any of those important things they should know about. And [...]

31 01, 2020

A New Take on Forgiveness
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A New Take on Forgiveness

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A New Take on Forgiveness

Sally Penning2020-01-31T09:14:49-06:00January 31st, 2020|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, So many things seem to rob me of joy. Fear about the future. Anxiety about meeting other people's expectations. Frustration and anger and disillusionment that others don't meet my expectations. Wounds I have received. Regret about things I have done or left undone. Sins I have committed against you. Expectations of myself, and disappointment that I don't meet them. So many things I just need to let go of. I just need to let it go. Letting it go isn't easy, God. How can I do it? But you have let go of my [...]

24 01, 2020

The real joy of life
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The real joy of life

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The real joy of life

Sally Penning2020-01-24T09:04:20-06:00January 24th, 2020|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, Helping you to grow your Kingdom is hard work. Sometimes, I am weary. Sometimes, I am discouraged. But you told me that if I gave myself fully to your mission, I would find joy, and that is what I have discovered. There is so much joy in putting my shoulder to the wheel to do something that matters. There is so much joy in seeing the fruit of your Spirit, the impact of the movement of your people in the world. There is so much joy in finding others who care deeply about the [...]

17 01, 2020

Missing the moments
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Missing the moments

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Missing the moments

Sally Penning2020-01-17T09:00:15-06:00January 17th, 2020|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER Gift-giving God, You pour into my life so many blessings that I just miss. You design for me moments that are beautiful and holy, but I fail to experience them in their fullness. Sometimes, I remain too concerned with what seem to be "matters of consequence." Sometimes, I am too lazy to pursue opportunities or dreams. Sometimes, I am riddled with guilt or anxiety or fear, and these steal my joy. But you have put me into a garden of delight, with "every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food," and [...]

10 01, 2020

Rejoice Always!

Sally Penning2020-01-10T08:45:56-06:00January 10th, 2020|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God of Love, It seems that in my spirit, there are two songs playing, both demanding my attention, both wanting me to sing along. One song is full of discord, anxiety, worry. It is a song with many voices, the voices of expectations at work, the challenges of relationships, the nitty-gritty demands of getting from one day to the next. It is the song of a world that is in turmoil, of fussing and fighting, of regrets about the past and fears about tomorrow. But the other voice, God, is your voice. It is a [...]

31 12, 2019

Special Edition: Forty Days of Joy!

Sally Penning2019-12-31T10:55:14-06:00December 31st, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER Gracious and Loving God, Today, I am filled with joy. I am so grateful that on Sunday morning, you finally healed my mom, taking her to be in your presence. Her confusion and anxiety are replaced by perfect peace, her pain and isolation have now disappeared. Before, she saw you only through a glass dimly. Now she sees you face to face. She has fought the good fight. She has finished the race and received the crown of righteousness you have for her. How can one be sad, grieve, and be joyous all at the [...]