Devotional 5-1-09

This was meant to be a re-telling of this week's lectionary Psalm -- Psalm 23. As I wrote it, I kept hearing the passage concerning love in I Corinthians 13, so you may find echoes of that scripture as well.

Oh, Lord, my God.
You care for me as if I am your own.
You fret over me.
You search for me when I am lost.
You never give up.
You love me.
In you, I can find everything I need.
In you, I am complete.

If I will just but breathe,
You will take me to lush, green fields,
Still waters.
You will take me to peace.
You will transform and renew my spirit with you own.
If I will just but listen and follow
You will lead me on right paths.
You will direct my journey
So that I am with you.
Always.

Even when I stumble.
Even when I walk in darkness
Even when the world around me seems too heavy to bear
Even when I feel alone
You are with me.
You lay your hand upon my heart
I am comforted.
You never fail, and
I am loved.

I am prone to fear
But in you, I have no fear.
In you, I am free of my sins
For you do not keep a record of my wrongs.
Your persevering presence is my strength.
Your love and your touch
Calm my soul.

You walk before me
You prepare the way for me
Even when I feel as if enemies surround me
Even when I cannot find a friend
You are my hope.

I am covered
Anointed with your grace.
It flows over me with abundance
Never ending.
My life is so full of blessings
That my heart cannot hold it.
My life overflows with grace.
You give me faith.
You give me hope.
You give me love.
And my life cannot contain it.

You have been with me from the very beginning
When I was a child, you walked with me
Even as I stumbled.
Even though I am no longer a child
You continue to light my path
Your goodness and your mercy
Follow me

Every day I am alive
Every day of my life
Even as my life ends
My life continues in you.
I will dwell with you,
I will live in you,
Forever.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 4-24-09

You are Witnesses to These Things
Read Luke 24:36b-48

When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death and resurrection, they were understandably frightened. Can you imagine what the disciples must have thought? Even though they had witnessed many of the miracles of Jesus from turning water into wine to reviving Lazarus, they were witnesses to the brutal death of Jesus. How could he be alive?

It is understandable to me that even Jesus’ closest disciples wanted proof before they believed. After all, seeing is believing. He showed them his scars and had a meal with them, and somehow that was enough. As they ate, Jesus “opened their minds to understand” and reminded them as to how the scriptures had foretold of the Messiah’s suffering, death, and resurrection on the third day. “You are witnesses to these things.”

I am blessed to be involved in a small group of men that meets together each Wednesday morning. We call ourselves Andrew’s Brothers, named after the disciple Andrew who brought his brother Simon Peter to know Jesus. Before the sun comes up, we sing (albeit off-key) and share scripture, devotion, prayer, coffee and—once each month—breakfast. We soothe each other’s pains and scars, and we celebrate each other’s joys. In that level of intimacy, the resurrected Christ is revealed.

Are you part of a group that reveals Christ to you, so that you can see and believe in the resurrection? Although I love church and worship, Sunday school and sacred music, devotional reading and Christian service, there is no aspect of my own spiritual life that is as important to me as my mid-week group. We encourage each other and hold each other accountable. We lift each other up, and at the same time keep each other humble.

I urge you to join or form a group where you can experience Jesus’ resurrection. You can meet in a home, a restaurant or coffee shop, or at the church. You can have a prayer group, a book study, or perhaps just good Christian fellowship. Share joys and celebrations and you may find that Jesus is revealed. “You are witnesses to these things.”

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 4-17-09

Chattingwith God

I have a good friend that I walk with a couple of times a week-when we can get our schedules together. My husband says it's not exercise, it's therapy! In many ways he's right. Over the years we have walked and talked our way through a lot-both good and bad. We have helped each other sort things out just by listening and occasionally asking a question.

Do you ever wish you could sit down and talk to God like that? You can! God wants us to have that same kind of relationship with Him. God is with us always, just waiting for us to slow down and open ourselves up to him-to 'run things by Him' when we are confused, to tell Him when we are excited and filled with joy, or over flowing with sorrow. He wants us to tell Him about our anger and hurt feelings. In the telling and the sharing we become closer to God. He becomes that close friend that gets us through the rough spots, the one we rush to share our good news with.
My daughter was recently talking to her teenaged son about God. She told him that if he talked to God, he was praying. She was so right. Talking to God throughout our day is a form of prayer. Prayer comes in many forms. It can be formal, group prayers, meditation, and quiet, private prayers. But don't discount having a quick chat with God throughout your day -- just like you would with a close friend.

Margaret Williams