The Word that Changes Everything - "Walk This Way" Reflection Week 2

“I wish I had the words to say to let them know how much I love them.” Those are the words my former youth pastor and pastor for many years after that said to me as I hugged him yesterday after church. This man, Pastor Larry Wagner, was celebrated at our church yesterday in honor of his 50-year ordination. As he said this, tears in both our eyes now, I looked at him and simply said, “We do know how much you love us. That’s why we’re all in line to give you hugs right now.” 

When we are loved, we know it. It shows in the way a person truly cares, is present for us, shows us the love of Jesus. That kind of love creates even more love, and that is a powerful thing. 

To me, Pastor Larry was not simply a pastor who gave messages on Sundays. I was in his first confirmation class years ago (I won’t admit how many, but you can assume it was more than a few) and was confirmed by him in eighth grade. I have vivid memories of real faith talks, silly youth games, his strumming on the guitar as we all sang along,  overnights where he’d wake us up bright and early singing, “Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day …” 

I later worked as the children’s ministry director, where he was my supervisor, and we met each week to discuss how things were going and plan future events. These talks always began with him asking how I was doing. He cared about me first, then the job. He listened, we prayed, we laughed - a lot! There was a toy school bus on the conference table in his office, always filled with candy and a sweet reminder of all the bus trips he led. When I later became youth director and saw that bus still in the office long after his retirement, it was the first thing I photographed. I hoped that photo would be a gentle reminder of how to lead and love like him. 

Pastor Larry and I at Ascension Lutheran Church Easter Breakfast 2024

I share this because this celebration of Pastor Larry at the end of my week was the perfect summation of what I’d been reflecting on all week with the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: 

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.”

Earlier in Galatians 5, Paul writes, “What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” (Galatians 5:6b) He reminds us to use our freedom to “serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13), and then he writes: “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14) It doesn’t seem a coincidence then that the first word mentioned in the fruit of the spirit is LOVE. 

It also doesn’t seem to be a coincidence that the word “love” kept popping up as I reflected and prayed on these passages last week. It really is the word that can change everything, and I don’t mean that in the cliche way we often think. For example, the fact that this word kept coming to mind doesn’t mean my week was all rosy and cheery, with birds singing and love songs playing in the background of my life. In reality, the word love came in when I wasn’t exactly having my best day.

The day I’m talking about started fine. I’d read Galatians 5 that morning, along with some other readings, reflected, journaled, and prayed on them. I continued with my day, a little more determined than usual to have a day filled with this incredible fruit.  Then life got real, or should I say, it got a little more challenging. I remember snapping a little unkindly back at my husband over something dumb, I felt a lack of peace about some things I had on my mind, my spirit didn’t feel so gentle or joyful. I wondered, “How had I moved out of step with the fruit of the Spirit so quickly? What was I doing wrong? Why am I feeling like this on the day I’m focusing on good fruit?”  And as I wondered this, I felt even less peace and joy, less gentleness, patience, kindness, and goodness, less love. 

Then something came to mind: “Maybe I’m trying to do this all on my own. That will never lead to anything truly fruitful." I was reminded that I can’t produce the fruit by trying harder to have it. It will only come to me with Jesus at my side. It will come to me when I give over my worries and fears and striving to Jesus.

Allen Arnold, author of The Story of With, says, "Intimacy with God always comes before impact for God. The order matters. Begin with 'with' rather than 'for.' "

So, as the day continued, on into the evening, I focused on being WITH Jesus, on REMAINING with him, especially when I felt like I was off track or distracted by thoughts that weren't from him. I sent up little prayers of help. I surrendered things to him, and peace began to take over. 

The next day, I was putting together bags and books for a donation to foster children, a project I’ve been working on for a while, hoping to complete soon. The bags have been decorated by incredible family members, friends, youth, children, and members of Ascension Lutheran Church with words like “You are loved,” “You are important,” and one of my favorites, “Wherever you are, you matter.” I've looked at the words on these bags many times, but they spoke strongly to me that day. I was reminded of the repeated phrase from my children’s book that’s inside the bags that ends with “Remember you’re loved and dream sweet dreams.” 

“Remember you’re loved.” 

That kept repeating in my mind, and I knew it was the answer to my recent prayers. I knew it was the reminder God wanted me to hear and share because with every stress-filled thought, I repeated these words, pictured Jesus right there with me, and felt an undeniable sense of peace and confidence in Him. 

Knowing I’m loved by him changes how I handle the hard things, the annoying little or big things, how I face uncomfortable situations, how I view others, and hopefully, then, how I live out each day.

A couple of bags decorated by youth at Ascension Lutheran to donate to Foster children.

This all reminded me how important the other reading for this week is: John 15:4-8, which begins with “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4) 

I remain in him when I pray to him, read his word, and follow what it says. And when I make a mistake or feel distant from him, I do that all again, and again, and again. If I have a setback, I don't give up. I don't believe the lie that he's no longer with me, or that my prayers aren't heard, or that I'm somehow not deserving of God's love and help. I keep remaining in him, and when I do, I am given fresh reminders of his faithfulness and his love, like I was this week when it all culminated with that hug from one of the people in my life who has demonstrated the love of Jesus to me since I was a young teen. 

Psalm 143:8 says, “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” 

This Psalm can be a great one to pray each day. By hearing his love, we are guided in truth. We are grounded in his goodness. We are changed at our very core. And that can change everything.

I thank God for the reminders of his love this past week, and I pray we can all hear his voice of love speaking to us daily and rest in that love in every good or hard moment. 

Journaling Ideas:

1.)Write the following question in your journal: 

Jesus, what do I need to surrender to you? What am I worrying about or feeling unwell about? Write your cares to him and thank him for his help.

2.)Read Romans 8:38-39:

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Next, write what comes to your mind. What words of love does God want you to hear? Write these down. Write a prayer of thanks for his love over everything.

3.) Read Galatians 5. What stands out to you? What things do you want Jesus to help you with - any struggles to surrender, or any fruit that you hope to produce? Write these and write a prayer asking Jesus to help you give these things to him as you patiently wait on his help and his answer. 

4.) Who is someone who shows you the love of Jesus? Write a prayer of thanks for this person. Maybe send them a note or a text to thank them.

5.) Write these words: REMEMBER YOU’RE LOVED in your journal or post them somewhere where you’ll see them. You can write them in bold colors, decorate them, and pray about them. The point is to really let these words sink in and then repeat them as you need them throughout the day. Let them be your fighting words, combatting any challenges you face or any lies that creep in. 

6.) Copy Psalm 143:8: “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” Write any thoughts that come from this, and let this be your daily prayer.