Thursday, September 30, 2010

Devotional 10-01-10

One Size Fits All

I am, I admit it, a satellite radio junkie. Despite the 150+ channels offered, it’s not the variety that attracts me – it’s the consistency. Since my job takes me in and around the geography of four states, I am delighted to be able to drive from Huntington to Roanoke without a single spec of effort being expended on seek, search or find tasks. The only knob twiddling necessary is an occasional adjustment to the volume. CD’s in the car aren’t my thing and keeping the iPod connected to the AUX port, well – ok, sometimes I do that, but I am a satellite radio kind of guy. My palette includes a wee bit of national news (too many commercials), a jazz channel called Watercolors and the channel that I am almost always, probably, certainly, maybe, for sure, usually tuned into, number 66, The Message. It is tagged with the genre Christian and given the description Christian Pop and Rock. They play songs by artists such as Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and our own Michael W. Smith.

On a day in late August of this year, the station was ‘taken over’ by singer, song writer Natalie Grant. She was promoting the release of her new record (see, I’m old school) - her new album. She took on the role of DJ. (Do we still call them DJ’s? We have come full circle from record discs, to 8 tracks, to cassettes to compact discs and now to Digital – DJ’s). Natalie would tell about the making of the album, highlighting interesting factoids about an individual song as it would begin to play. She shared a particular story that reached into my mind as much as my heart. While traveling to the airport from her home in Nashville, she saw ahead a group of people working on the side of the road. They were all wearing orange vests. Her assumption was that they were simply a road crew, possibly picking up trash. As the car drew closer she said she noticed that the individuals seemed to be stooped over (almost as if weighted down or hiding) and were making a conscious effort NOT to make eye contact with the passersby. As the car was now even closer, she saw that on each vest were the words “I AM A DRUNK DRIVER”. Her point; what if we were all given a vest with our sins spelled out and forced to wear it in shame for all to see?

As I reflected on this story I wondered what the officials must have been thinking as they issued the vests. Did they lift up a silent prayer, “Thank you Lord that I’m not like THOSE people?” I, too often, am willing to play that role. ‘You don’t know what your sin is? Well, here friend, let me tell you.” I’ll even go the closet and find you the perfect vest with the sin written in the perfect font so that no one will have to squint. But wait, what’s this? Oh, it is my side of the closet; a hundred times wider, a hundred times higher and a million times deeper. My past, my present, my future – my sins. Vest after vest as far as the eye can see.

It is with a grateful heart I say “Come friend, let us go arm in arm, together, to get our new vests. They are here at the foot of the cross. They are one size fits all, and they bear only one word -- FORGIVEN.

Luke 6:39-41 41Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42Or how can you say to your neighbor,* “Friend,* let me take out the speck in your eye”, when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

Steve Matthews

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Devotional 9-24-10

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16

There are many people who argue that we are living in the end days. Hate and tragedy seem almost to multiply from one year to the next. When there is so much pain throughout the world, it is sometimes difficult to find a reason to smile. I’m hoping I can help you with that today.

Our daughter Devon is a shining example of the ability to endure and thrive despite adversity. From her twenty week ultrasound through her first six months of life, we went through many potential diagnoses. What began as a fear that she might not survive birth, to assuming she would possibly not see her second birthday, to thinking she would only make it to her adolescent years, turned into a prognosis much like anyone else’s. Devon has been hospitalized more in her three years than many of us have in three or more decades. You might be wondering where the reason to smile comes into the picture. Have you met this child? Through so many challenges, she continues to live with faith in others and joy in her surroundings. This angel spontaneously sings multiple times each day. It is not uncommon for her to hug and kiss a toy when she puts it down, to give it a fond farewell.

Much like others, today’s Psalm is a reminder that the faithful and godly will be saved. Stand without fear in the midst of personal, national, and even global tribulation. Have faith that the Lord’s arms will embrace us when we fall. While we should put forth effort to make a positive difference, we need to remember to hand over our burdens to God and live with joy.

Though it seems there are so many reasons to live in fear or anger, there really are so many more reasons to live with love and happiness. We should all see the world the way that Devon does. I challenge you to find a blessing in everything you see. God’s gifts are absolutely everywhere.

Natalie Wray

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Devotional 9-17-10

This was a devotional that my sister sent to me from her church in Alabama. It's not only timely but it made me think about the Convocation Sunday we are having at church this Sunday. I think the only thing that could actually spoil the joy of heaven would be to be there and not have the people you love with you. To me, that would be more like the alternative.
Please think about....


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It was one of the most compelling television documentaries I'd seen in a long time. It aired on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The stories of rescuers and of survivors, told first-person, took the viewer into what that day really felt like for the people who lived it. One story I just can't shake was told by a British young woman who worked in a brokerage firm high up in Tower Two. She recalled with remarkable composure the confusion in her office on whether or not to evacuate the building. She's alive today because she made the right decision. But many of her coworkers never made it out. She broke down for the first time as she talked about her good friend in the office. All she could say was, "I keep thinking, 'I should have asked him to go with me.' I can't get that out of my mind."

Okay, change the scene. You're in heaven, and you're looking for a coworker you cared about...a fellow student or a teammate, a family member, or a neighbor, maybe a friend. You ask Jesus, "Lord, is (there's the name) here? Is he here? Is she here?" What if He says, "Oh, did you bring her? Did you bring him?" "You never asked him. You never asked her to go with you." Another scene: I've been to funerals where I looked at someone I'd been close to and I realized I had talked with them about everything except one thing - Jesus. And now I couldn't.

We can't have back any of those missed opportunities, but the future is yet to be written. I want to turn my regrets for the past mistakes of not telling someone about Jesus into a passion to be sure I don't make that mistake again. You and I have been placed in the lives of some people who are not ready for eternity, who have never been to Jesus to have their sins erased. God put us here to be their spiritual rescuer - to be their link to Jesus. To help them be in heaven with us.
Our assignment comes crystal clear in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Corinthians 5, beginning with verse 11. "Since we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men...for Christ's love compels us...God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." No doubt about it. You're the one God is counting on to deliver His life-saving message to the people who are within your reach.

You can't just depend on your life to rescue them. They won't guess Jesus died on the cross for them. You have to tell them that. Start by loving them in their language of love. Pray with them when they share a burden. You'll be showing them your personal relationship with God as you pray with them. Share the difference Jesus is making in your life at a point where the conversation allows you a natural opportunity. In fact, each day pray for...look for opportunities. They're all around you. Let your hope story open the door for you to ask, "Has anyone ever shown you what the Bible says about how to have a personal love relationship with God and how to go to heaven?" And, in some cases, you might want to put your love for them and God's love for them in a letter where they can receive it without distraction and without debating.

You only have to be God's glove; Him inside you helping you to do and say what you could never do without Him. But silence? That's just not an option. Not if you want them to be in heaven with you. You know what they must know to get there. You're safe. You got out. They're still in the collapsing building. Life's biggest regret would be having to say, "I should have asked them to go with me." You still can. There's still time.

From "Ronald P. Hutchcraft"

May we never be afraid to ask someone to church or share our joy in Christ because we don't want to look silly or pushy or worse yet, judgmental. Would that be worth the risk of now inviting some to heaven ?

Debbie McGinnis

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Devotional 9-10-10

LOST & FOUND


Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14; 1Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10.
“…there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7

I don’t like stopping to ask for directions. If I’m traveling to a new place, I’d rather anticipate where I’m going and research the maps or directions from someone who has been there before. And before computer programs like “Map-Quest” I enjoyed being a member of AAA so that I could request the “trip-tiks” and all the travel brochures. Now that there are GPS systems in cars and phones, I have to rely on stopping for those directions even less. So, one would suppose that I would never be lost again. How wrong could anyone be!!! I continue to get lost by not getting those directions first. Every time I think I already “know” where I’m going and set off on my own without getting directions, I lose my way. When I allow myself to think that I am independent of assistance, I am lost!

The Gospel lesson for this week reminds us of the shepherd who lost one member of his flock. He had 99 sheep safely corralled, but he left these to search for only one who was lost. The next part of Luke 15 relates the story of the lady who threw a party because she found one lost coin. And Luke tells us in both instances their neighbors and friends were so happy for them, but that the angels of heaven will be even more joyful when a sinner repents.

These examples support the mysterious ways in which God interacts with us in the world. If left to human inclinations, we might be content with our flock of 99 or our bank account of 9 remaining coins. We are reluctant to ask for God’s direction for our path and then even more reluctant to follow God’s plan when we get a glimpse of it. We, like the sheep and the coin are lost. God is searching for us with constant and abiding love. In order for God to “find” us, we must surrender—to admit that we are lost and cannot find our true direction by ourselves. When we allow God to “find” us, we become the cause for heavenly rejoicing. God uses each moment to reach out to us. We tend to ignore the whispered voice and the knocks on our hearts. However, God continues to use everyone in our path and every circumstance as a means of contact. No matter our imperfections and brokenness—all can be used to further “God’s Plan”.

We sang this hymn last Sunday during communion and I was moved by the line: Let us be bread, broken and shared. In order to fulfill God’s plan we surrender ourselves as we are, in whatever condition or state of wholeness and we will be “found” and saved to become a blessing.
Let us be bread, blessed by the Lord,
Broken and shared, life for the world.
Let us be wine, love freely poured.
Let us be one in the Lord.

Words by Thomas Porter #2260 in the Faith We Sing


Dear Shepherd of this worldly flock, We thank you for your persistence in gaining our attention and saving us from our pride and self-reliance in not asking for assistance. We are sorry for ignoring your message and for not following your directions for us. We thank you for the gift of amazing grace which “saved a wretch like me…I once was lost, but now I’m found”. Heal us from our tendencies toward stubbornness and apathy so that we might live as one loved by God to share that love with the world. Open our hearts to understand the path we are to take and the mission we are meant to accomplish. AMEN.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Devotional 9-3-10

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men! -- Psalm 107:6-8
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

--The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
I just returned from taking my youngest son to Boston University. The night before he left, his oldest brother, who went to college in New York City, gave him some advice for living in a big city. First, he said, don't take the same route when walking from place to place--go a block out of your way or get off of the subway a stop early so you are always seeing new neighborhoods and exploring new territory. Second, don't walk around with earphones in, rather, listen to the sounds of the city.

I was thinking that this might be good advice for our spiritual lives as well. Do you read the same devotional materials all the time? Maybe it's time to try something new. Sing the same hymns continually? Try some new ones (hopefully the choir will lead us!). I'm sure we all have our favorite books of the Bible. You might be surprised what's waiting for you in the ones you usually skip over. This past year I read The Shack. I really didn't think I'd like it. I can honestly say I set out not to like it, but, surprise, I loved it and felt that it really spoke to me.

I don't walk around with earphones, but I'll admit I turn on the radio as soon as I get in the car and usually turn on the TV or radio as soon as I walk in the house. That background noise just seems necessary for some reason. However, when I'm outside walking the dog or working in the yard I like to listen to the sounds of nature. I often say I do my best thinking and perhaps my best communicating with God when I'm mowing the grass. The sound of the mower shuts everything else out and I can get down to what's really on my mind. We like to talk to God but we also need to listen for God. How can we hear the "still small voice" when we are bombarding our ears with all manner of sounds?

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" -- Psalm 46:10
Anita Gardner Farrell