Devotional 10-28-11

“Precious in the Sight of the Lord…”
Psalm 116 Verse 15

Have you ever had the experience of participating in the responsive Psalter reading during worship and wondering a short time later just what you read? I have. Perhaps my mind was distracted by other thoughts or concentrating more on which verse was for the leader and which for the congregation, the pulpit or lectionary side of the church. Members of the choir can find themselves multi-tasking, reading and opening music for an anthem which immediately follows. Yet, thankfully, there are times when the words of the Psalm leap off the page and speak to us as if they were directed just for us. Such was the case for me several months ago.

The setting was Mother’s Day Sunday and the reading was Psalm 116. Since my mother had died just six weeks before, the feelings of loss were still quite fresh. I contemplated staying at home that Sunday but because of responsibilities, I decided to attend worship and “stay detached.” The Psalm speaks of God’s mercy in hearing our voice, our prayers and supplications. The particular focus of this devotional, however, is simply on verse 15. “Precious in the Sight of the Lord” the verse begins and then takes an unexpected turn. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (The New Revised Standard Version says “the death of his faithful ones.”) What comforting and reassuring thoughts those were to me. Since that Sunday I have pondered this verse a great deal.

Surely God’s ultimate will for us is wholeness, health and well being. Surely God loves all his creation equally with no partiality or favoritism. Still, the passage states that the death of his faithful ones is precious to God: those who have known the Lord, loved the Lord, served the Lord, meditated on his word and tried to walk in his ways. These words certainly described my mother but many others persons, too.

It seems that as a church family we have gathered far too many times this year to celebrate the lives of deceased members and mourn our losses together, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. As All Saints Sunday approaches, we are reminded once again of those who have gone on before us. If we have not encountered a very personal loss this year, we have in past years or will in years to come. Perhaps if we are able to shift our focus slightly from our personal feelings to God’s perspective, precious is the death of his saints, then we can rejoice in their triumphal homecoming.

Prayer: Lord God, one of Thy saints from long ago said that “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” We offer thanks for those dear to us who are now in Thy presence. May we pattern our lives after their example that we, too, may someday join them in a place prepared for us. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

Sue Darlington Woods

Devotional 10-21-11

When I was in high school, I briefly attended a church in which congregants were encouraged to create their own harmonies to the songs and even add their own words.  There was a man who often sat close to the youth, whose name I don’t remember.  It was his singing that was unforgettable.  Despite being admittedly tone deaf, the man sang with reckless abandon.  I enjoyed his singing because of the deep-hearted love behind every atrocious note. 

Verse five of the hymn God, Whose Love Is Reigning o’er Us is as follows:

Lift we then our human voices in the songs that faith would bring;

live we then in human choices lives that, like our music, sing:

Alleluia, Alleluia, joined in love our praises ring!

 The verse makes no mention of perfect harmony or uniform sound.  The act of singing solidifies the faith, not the accuracy of the performance.  It is our responsibility to make our lives sing loud enough that others hear it, turn toward us, and hopefully join the singing.  The man I remember from my youth opened his mouth every week with thanksgiving.  I suppose he stays in my memory not as much for his awful singing but for his awesome faith.

Psalm 90 is one of many perfect prayers, saying in verse four, “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”  If we could only remember this prayer throughout the challenges and frustrations of the day.  Sometimes it is hard to choose the Christian action, especially when our thoughts are betraying us.  If we work harder to keep God in our hearts, we can ‘live in human choices’ that bring Him glory.  We need to ask Him to fill our hearts with spiritual contentment and joy:

Lord, thank you for every day, every person, and every thing with which you have blessed me.  Help me to be satisfied with your everlasting love so that my life sings your praises and helps others see you.  Amen.

Natalie Wray

Devotional 10-14-11

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. -- Romans 12:15-18
As I write this, a beautiful purple aster is is full bloom in my front yard. It's huge, as big as a bush! It was given to me some years ago by my "surrogate mother-in-law," Jenny Lou Linsenmeyer. My mother-in-law passed away in 1994 and Jenny Lou, my sister-in-law Charlene's mother, moved in to fill the void. She never announced that she was going to be my surrogate mother-in-law, but she started taking a special interest in me. At family gatherings she would make a point of talking to me--really talking to me, not just the usual, how are you? She would ask, how's it going with your job, how are your parents, what books are you reading, what are your grandchildren up to, did you catch the sale at Elder-Beerman. My birthday is the day after one of Charlene's son's, so we generally were together for his celebration. Jenny Lou started bringing me a birthday gift on those occasions. When she discovered I enjoyed gardening as did she, she would give me a plant from her own yard. Thus, the aster, that started out in a small pot and is now as big as a bush. My yard is full of coral bells and other perennials I've forgotten the names of which started in Jenny Lou's yard.

My own mother was only 37 when she lost her mother. Over the years I watched her be a surrogate daughter to many older ladies at church. For years she was the youngest woman in her circle and I always felt she was honoring her mother by attending to the needs of "her ladies." Like so many relationships, her efforts to help them were rewarded by their love and devotion to her.

Today, many families are scattered all over the country. Someone who lives in West Virginia but has parents in another time-zone may appreciate some motherly advice from one close at hand or a father-figure to talk with. Could you play the part of a surrogate? Is there someone whose life would be brightened by a surrogate son/daughter, sister/brother, mother/father, grandmother/grandfather.

Jenny Lou Linsenmeyer passed away last Thanksgiving, but her gifts are still bringing beauty to my life. I thank God that she chose to be my surrogate mother-in-law.

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 10-7-11

Inspired by Philippians 4:4-8

Celebrate!

Find joy, again and again, in the Lord!

Allow others to see the Lord through you.
Approach them with a gentle spirit, for
in your actions,
in your words,
in your witness,
they will see God.
Others will move closer to God
because of you.

Stop fretting.

Cast all of your worries on God.
His shoulders are wide,
and he can carry you.
He yearns to free you
from the prisons you make for yourself.
Take everything to God in prayer.
Bring him your needs,
your worries,
your gratitude.
Take all of it to God.

God will bring you peace.

It will cover you,
envelope you,
surround you,
beyond what you can understand.
Beyond what you can imagine.

My beloved sisters and brothers,

Start focusing on what is of God.
Truth
Honor
Justice
Purity
Joy
Praise
Excellence
All creation, worthy of praise.
Fill your minds, your lives, your hearts
with these things.

Celebrate!

Find joy, again and again, in the Lord!

Kim Matthews