Devotional 11-23-07

How many times I have heard the statement “I don’t know how to pray.” Maybe we are afraid of speaking aloud, maybe we fear making grammatical errors, or we are afraid that the content of our prayer may seem trivial to another person or to God. You may have another reason to believe you can not pray. There is nothing to fear as God is a loving God.

First of all what is prayer? It’s talking to God. From the book “Hearts on Fire,” Carlo Maria Martini says that when a person explores his or her deepest desires or questions-and talks about them with someone else who is on a similar journey- each person in the conversation receives new understanding, new insight. A good reason to pray.?

We may be concerned about what to say to God. What would you like to tell your mother, father or your best friend ? These are the exact same things God wants to hear about. God wants to hear about your joys, your hurts, what you want to do with your life, mistakes you have made, things you would like to change in your life, your deepest needs and desires.

There are prayers of praise, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of intercession (praying for others), prayers asking for forgiveness, prayers asking for protection, and prayers that search for a closer relationship with your God. In Matthew 6 we are given some guidelines for praying. Prayer always pleases God if we pray with sincerity, thinking of what we are saying. God loves a prayer that does nothing but give praise to God. Have you ever tried to stay on track and utter a prayer that has just one theme, as being a prayer of praise or of thanksgiving?

In Matthew we are told to go into our closet and pray. In other words find a quiet secluded place. It may be in your home, as you walk, in the car, or even in church. The emphasis needs to be on God. So get comfortable, look forward to talking to your best friend, and share with him. If there are times when you can not think of the right words, it’s all right, just spend some quiet minutes - God knows. Then don’t be surprised when you feel “strangely warmed.” Pray as often as you can, as often as you would want to talk to that best friend, as often as you feel drawn to Christ’s calling. And you might be surprised to know that God sends a lot of the answers that you have been trying to find, and along with the answers a wonderful sense of peace and joy, and a connection with God and with those around you.

Marilyn Holleron

Devotional 11-16-07

"A Note From Heaven"

Dear Beloved One,

I see your loneliness and fears, your guilt and frustrations. I see your endless search for love and fulfillment. All this must be in order for you to come to the end of your own understanding. Then you can hear My voice. Listen carefully amid the noise of the world and you will hear. "I love you." I shed my blood for you to make you clean. Give yourself completely to me. I created you to be completely as you are, and you are lovely in My eyes. Do not criticize yourself or become depressed for not being perfect in your own eyes. This leads only to frustration. I want you to trust Me-one day, one step at a time.

Dwell in My power and My love and be free. Be yourself. Don't allow other people to control you. I will guide you if you let Me. Be aware of My presence in everything. I'll give you patience, love, joy, and peace. Look to Me for answers, for I am your Shepherd and I will lead you. Follow Me. Listen and I will tell you My will. Let My love flow from you and spill over to all you touch. Be not concerned with yourself. You are My responsibility. You are Mine. Let Me have the job of making you like Christ. Do not struggle, but relax in My love. I know what is best for you. My will is perfect. My love is sufficient. I will supply all your needs. Look only to Me.

I love you,
Your Heavenly Father

In the book God Is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg, at the end of chapter 7, he states "No one else can sing your song." That really made me stop and think. Each of our relationships with God is unique. He doesn't expect us to be like anyone else. He made each of us different from anyone else-not better, not worse just different. He gave each of us special talents to use for Him, but also flaws to learn from and keep us humble! With His help we will be able to take that divine journey, we will find the pathway that no one else can walk and sing the song that no one else can sing.

Margaret Williams

Devotional 11-9-07

MUSIC IN MY HEAD

On a Wednesday night after the Sanctuary Choir finishes its rehearsal most of the choir members will go home with the melody of the next Sunday's anthem ringing in their heads. Having a tune ringing in your head doesn't happen only to people who sing in a choir. How often have you found yourself humming a song or a television jingle. Following the Musical Arts Guild recent performance it took me nearly two weeks to get "Doo Wop" out of my mind!

Television jingles are among the most easily remembered tunes. If you watch NBC or MSNBC I know you have heard, "Wherever you are, there we are." Which leads me to a small business-size card I found in my bible the other day. I don't recall how it came to me but as I read it I thought "wherever I am, at home, at work, in the grocery store, God is with me." I want to share with you what the card said:

The light of God surrounds me,
The love of God enfolds me,
The power of God protects me,
The presence of God watches over me.
Wherever I am, God is.

Could there be any greater promises to carry with us? The light, love, power and presence of God always with us to surround, enfold, protect and watch over us. Is there any greater blessing?

John 8:12, Romans 8:39, Romans 15:13, 1 Thess. 2:19

Jean Dean

Devotional 11-2-07

A Lasting Legacy—Remembering Dora
Through nothing of my own doing, I have inherited something of great value; something so precious I cannot put a price on it. I am heir to Dora. By worldly standards, she didn’t leave much. As a matter of fact, she lived long enough that everything she owned was “spent down.” The only material things I have to remember her are an apple butter kettle, a clay pot, and an assortment of Bibles. Dora was rich in the things that mattered, and I am legatee to her vast fortune of love and grace.

Dora was born in a rural farm county in central West Virginia. She lived her entire life in the county of her birth and is buried at the cemetery beside the old church building up the hollow. Dora married and had one child, my father. She was a bible scholar with a disciplined lifestyle that included daily bible study. As she worked in the kitchen, she sang the old hymns. Rock of Ages, Bringing in the Sheaves, Standing on the Promises, Blessed Assurance.

At her church on Sundays, the preacher would call on someone in the congregation for the morning prayer. Often, when I was visiting, he would call on Grandma. I was astonished at her beautiful public prayers—without notes and even without any advance notice. She did not get nervous about the thought of public prayer. For her, it was just carrying on a conversation; a conversation with someone she knew very well.

Dora’s life will not be memorialized in biographies. There will be no buildings or monuments bearing her name. No, her legacy is more lasting than any of that. She quietly and humbly lived the gospel; loving God and neighbor.

Paul said in his letter to the church at Ephesus, “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.”

Because of Paul and because of Dora and many other saints like them, we can live our lives for the praise of God’s glory! What better legacy! Thank you, Grandma!

Jeff Taylor