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Diocese of Florida Daughters of the King |
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Letter to Diocesan Presidents from Sharon
Lundgren, |
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Dear Daughters, Happy New Year! I hope that each of you had a blessed Christmas. Since January tends to be a time of self-discovery with New Year’s resolutions and getting back into the swing of things, I thought a message about passions and service would be fitting. Why do we all have different passions? Well I think God created us that way so that everything that is supposed to get done will get done. Sometimes we get overwhelmed because we are constantly exposed to people with various passions for service, and when they represent their cause, they are so committed to that which has captured their heart; we feel guilty for not sharing their zeal. We seem indifferent in comparison. The same thing happens in our churches. Sometimes we feel guilt because we don’t have the same passion as the last person who talked abut missions or ministry. What we forget is that there are so many needs because there are so many of us to meet them. We aren’t supposed to get our “bell rung” by every appeal that comes by. We are a body made up of different parts and different hearts; we don’t have to all be moved by the same issues and needs. This is where the concept and practical nature of spiritual gifts come in. There are a variety of gifts and a variety of ministries. The Lord works in all and through all. No one has to do everything; no one can. It is up to us to find out where we fit and what God put us here to do. It you ask God to reveal it to you, you will soon be passionate about something because it is “your thing”. We only get frustrated when we try to take on too much or take on something that really doesn’t interest us, usually because someone asked us to. When we all do our part in the body of Christ, everyone gets a job, everyone gets honored and everyone’s important. What is God calling you to do? Blessings, Dear Daughters, February is the season for Love and there is no greater love than the love of our Heavenly Father. Isn’t it awesome and amazing that we can be loved so unconditionally? I know I many times fall short of displaying the same unconditional love to others and ask God regularly to help me and correct me in that area. Think about those people in your life this month where you can do a better job of loving them just exactly as they are. I know that is what I will be concentrating on. We have some great events coming up and I hope that you plan to take advantage of the powerful teaching of Fr. Richard Turk at the Winter Retreat, February 18 – 19 at Camp Weed. If you have not done so already, please be sure to download the book, “Praying the Psalms” and read it before you come. It will definitely enhance your retreat experience. (See Upcoming Events for all the necessary links) Then, mark your calendars for March 25th and register early for the Spring Assembly. We are blessed to have Fr. Walter Saffran as our speaker on the topic, “The Humility of God”. We will also be installing our new Diocesan Officers at this event. Please come and show them your support. As I wind down my term as your President, I want to especially thank all of you for all the love and support you have shown me and my board of directors over the past three years. We have weathered many storms and made technical progress with the birth of our website. It has served us well as a communication and evangelism tool and for that I am both grateful and proud.
FHS,
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