Devotional 7-27-07

Our family loves the ocean, and so every year we make our annual trek to the beach - for rest, renewal and fellowship. We always look forward to beach week, and one of the main reasons is the motion of the waves and its consistency. I think all of us in this family agree, that the constant movement of the waves is so soothing and so relaxing. It just renews our spirits.

In Luke 11:9-10, Jesus says, "Ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." When we take stock of our life, the one constant throughout our entire life is God. Friends, family and loved ones move in and out of our lives, due to circumstances beyond our control, but God is always there. We may ignore, forget, take for granted or refuse to see or feel God's presence and love, but God is consistently still there. Jesus reminds us in this scripture passage that all we have to do is ask - search - knock - just open our eyes, ears, mind or heart, and there God is - always - consistently - no matter what.

God, God's love, God's presence, God's care. Consistently there. We just have to reach out. Seek God, feel God, praise God and pray to God for when we do, we are like a sweet aroma, so pleasing to God. As Fanny Crosby so aptly reminds us in her beloved hymn:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
and give Him the glory, great things He hath done!

Thank you God for being the one constant in our lives. You are always there - just waiting for us to ask - search - knock. You alone fill us and bless us. We are your children and we love you the best that we can. Amen.

Rev. Suzanne Ellis

Devotional 7-20-07

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. --Deuteronomy 32:2

Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. --Ecclesiates 12:9

In late May, I was distressed that I couldn't attend the funeral of a friend. It was the same morning as the last day of class for my 3-year-old preschool class. I called two substitutes who help us regularly, but neither could come, and I didn't want to leave "my" kids with a stranger on the last day of school. I consoled myself with the thought that John Paul Childers would certainly understand putting one's students first.

John Paul was one of the true saints of our church. He taught the College Class way-back-when, and all of us who were his students felt the warmth and commitment of one who put us first. It's not unusual for college students to drop-out of church for a few years, but John Paul kept us coming Sunday after Sunday. I recall one Sunday he showed up and announced he'd returned from vacation a day early because he didn't want to miss being with us. My friend Jean Simmons tells that several years later he came to teach the Sunday following his own son's tragic death in an automobile accident. I will always remember him hugging me the Sunday morning after the Marshall plane crash and saying, "Tears are for the living."

When I think back on those days, I can't recall many specific lessons, but I do remember that J.P. made us feel valued and loved and special. Many of John Paul's students are still active members of churches today. Hopefully we have made him proud.

Well done, good and faithful servant! .....Come and share your master's happiness!' --Matthew 25:21 Rest in peace.

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 7-12-07

Serving God

Lectionary Readings: Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10: 25-37.

The lectionary readings this week share a few examples of what it means to be a follower of Christ. The Psalmist urges us to “rescue the weak and needy”. God showed Amos a “plumb line” that would be used to measure the behavior of Israel. In Colossians, Paul recognizes the leadership of Epaphras (founder of the church at Colossae), who led the congregation to “bear fruit” after hearing and believing in the Good News. And in Luke, the story of the Good Samaritan—is almost too well known to retell.

I struggle on a daily basis with the conflict between desiring control and relinquishing control of my life to God. I guess I don’t mind helping others as long as I can choose the time and the place and all the “particulars”. I can contribute from a safe distance with my checkbook and feel that I’ve “done my part”. However, most of Jesus’ examples of servanthood: washing feet, caring for the injured, curing the diseased, etc. demand that we offer ourselves in a more personal nature: with our hearts and hands. The following is an inspirational song about servants from THE FAITH WE SING:

The Servant Song
by Richard Gillard

Brother, sister, let me serve you, Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to Let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey; we’re together on this road.
We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.

If we consider our history, we have had many shining examples of servanthood in the persons of Biblical figures, religious leaders, ministers, teachers, missionaries, family, friends and coworkers. What servant-like actions have we observed that we can model in our own lives? You can rely on the probability that all the best role models provided examples of person-to-person assistance—“up close and personal”. What endeavors, challenges or opportunities for service is God calling us to take on? It may be that a check is all that is required, but it also may be that we need to invest some actual muscle or sweat. Whatever is required, God promises to guide each step. The way has been prepared by those who have showed us their examples. Each of us has unique gifts and talents—What will be our response to God’s call?

Dear Father and Mother who provides all the loving examples for us to follow: Help us to do your will so that we may all be “caught being like Jesus” in our daily walk. Help us to hear Your voice above the din of the world’s noise so that our path may be clear. Thank you for our role models and the gifts of servanthood that they have shared with us. As Jesus taught us, AMEN.

Chyrl Budd

July 6, 2007 Devotional

Psalm 30
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."
7 O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
8 To you, O LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 "What gain is there in my destruction,
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

As I read this passage I could not help but to think of the people in Mississippi that our Mission Team had just served a few weeks ago. Here were persons that had been thrust into despair nearly two years ago when a devil of a hurricane (Katrina) turned their lives upside down. Some had lost everything, some had their homes damaged, others had fled, to what they thought was safety, but only to be followed by this same storm. And when returning home heard gun shots just down the street from their house. They were not in despair nor were they wailing from the destruction. For their GOD had lifted them out of the depths. How strong the faith of Miss Edna, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Hinchman, Diane and Vicki. As I refect upon this passage and on the people in Mississippi I know that know matter what falls on me GOD is there to lift me up. GOD will be merciful to me, "for his favor lasts a lifetime" and I will sing to the Lord my GOD and give him thanks forever.

Side note, Since March of this year GOD has called nearly 8000 persons to serve the people of Mississippi . Praise be to GOD!!!

Fred Herr