Many of you (those who follow my FB and IG pages) know that on December 4 I accepted a position as pastor of Mansfield 1st Church of the Brethren. This past Sunday, they had a “thank you” lunch for the exiting interim and a “welcome” lunch for me. The meal was wonderful and they gifts a plenty. Below are just a few. The poem brought tears to my eyes.
I’ve been working on my preaching schedule for the upcoming year, and getting on board with different committees at the church. Nelson and I have carved out a space for my office in our home. There’s still work to be done, but I am excited to have a place surrounded by my books where I can write and be productive.
I have also been thinking about what my guiding word will be for 2023. I have Nelson to thank for helping me decide. While I was working on rearranging/ordering my books (which I willy-nilly unpacked and loaded onto shelves to get them out of boxes), he commented how I needed to slow down and pace myself.
I had been thinking my word was to be discipline, but if I am to make this new position work I need to develop more than balance and discipline. I need a rhythm. l need a life-giving pace that I can maintain. Rhythm it is.
In the past I have set goals that I was unable to sustain and meet. This year I want to do better. I want writing here, at PotOfManna to be regular and something I look forward to, not dread. I will continue my Midweek Refresh Livestream on FaceBook but switch it to Thursday mornings. I will post here on Monday mornings. Right now I’m thinking about calling it, “Monday Mindset.” Then on Fridays I will post a devotion linked to something in the message for that week and call it “Hopefully Devoted.”
Feeling a bit “goldilocks” with this: it’s just right. I hope my finding rhythm will help you do the same.
To the journey ahead!
Pot of Manna 