It’s Valentine’s month and my thoughts turn to chocolate. I love
chocolate! Some of you fellow chocolate lovers already know I keep a
dish of Hershey’s Kisses in my office. Although I say it’s for visitors, I
have been known to take a chocolate break many afternoons.
Snickers is my favorite candy bar. I never get a vanilla cone at DQ -
only chocolate. That is, when I’m not getting a hot fudge sundae. My
husband David has a tradition of giving each of us -- me, Luke & Laura--
our own box of Fannie Mae candies at Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
Just another reason I love that man!
Every year when I am surveying the contents of the box, I am
reminded of the famous quote from Forrest Gump: “life is like a box of
chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get.” He was
absolutely right. We make our plans each day, but we never really
know what the day will bring. The days that come with nuts in the
middle are my favorite. (Just another reason I love the people of
Bethany! Just kidding!!) The ones with caramel I like but the ones
with maple flavor I try to avoid. Then there are days when I don’t even
open the box. There is no sweetness to days of tragedy or difficulty.
Life is unpredictable. But in the midst of life’s uncertainties, we have a
God who is always there. His love is steadfast, constant, never failing,
and more powerful than anything we might ever face in a day. With
King David, who wrote these words in Psalm 34, we can say of our
God: “I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all
my fears… The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear
Him, and delivers them.” (4, 7) No matter what the day brings, we face
it with the strength of the Lord. Our faith and confidence and hope
come from His love for us. No matter what we pull out of the box of
chocolates today or tomorrow, we can trust in Him. King David knew
that. His psalm continues: “Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the one who trusts in Him!” (8)
In Christ alone,
Pastor Allynn
Rev. Allynn Walker was taught as a child about the Lord and nurtured in her faith at Jerome Methodist Church in Springfield, IL. That faith community developed in her a love for the local church that is still alive in her heart. She desires that those who come to Bethany will experience the love and grace of Jesus, and hopes to see them equipped to become His faithful followers in all they do.
She received a B.A. from SIUC and an M.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia. For many years she loved working with students, teaching Sociology and doing academic advising at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Texas-Austin.
After accepting God’s call to ministry, she completed an M.A. in Pastoral Studies from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. She was ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 2002. Her current status is Local Pastor as she transitions to Elder's Orders. In 1997 she began serving on staff at First UMC in Springfield, IL. She served at Main Street UMC in Alton 2002-2008.
She and her husband David Blackburn live with three cats (but she’s really a dog lover!). She has been blessed with two wonderful stepchildren, Laura in Collinsville and Luke in Edwardsville.
“For those who want to save their life will lose it,
and those who lose their life for my sake,
and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” Mark 8:35 |
