FOCUS ON THE VISION
DENISE WALTON
A few years ago, Bishop James King introduced the ten timeless values as the basis for personal and congregational plans of discipleship. Recently I was asked to name them. It was very easy to name nine but I continued to get stuck on the last value. The exercise reminded me that we often engage in the ten timeless values but we may not be conscious of the effort.
The Lord’s Supper, Sabbath, Scripture, Stewardship, Baptism, Fasting, Fellowship, Justice, Witness and Prayer. How does your spiritual journey include these ten timeless values?
Many of us began the Lenten season with a clear path of things we wanted to add or remove from our spiritual journey. How has your experience shaped you this year during Lent?
I invite you to read this familiar Christian poem by St. Francis of Assisi as you reflect on your personal discipleship. Where have you grown in your personal discipleship to Jesus Christ? What are some challenges as you engage in spiritual disciplines? How will you incorporate more of the ten timeless values in your life?
The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
(source: www.americancatholic.org)
May the Lord continue to lead and guide us as we seek to be better disciples each day.
Rev. Denise Walton serves as the Assistant to the Bishop for Connectional Ministries. Contact her at denise@sgaumc.org.