Devotional 11-26-12

Isaiah 30:18:Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

This devotional is late. Have you been waiting for it?

This morning I picked up a book by Paula Gooder called The Meaning is in the Waiting. I haven’t started the book itself yet, but I did read the forward by Lauren F. Winner. She says this:

We are told, by advertisements and by our Blackberries, to squeeze time dry, to use it well, to maximize it. The church tells us a different story about it (time) -- it is God’s and there is enough of it, more than enough. The church’s narrative about time is never clearer than during Advent, when we are invited to spend our time very foolishly indeed. We are invited to wait. Just to wait.

Take a breath. Take some time. Waste it. Waste it during a season when everything around you demands that you make the most of your time. Wait on God.

Lauren Winner tells us that something amazing happens when we do. We find that God is waiting on us. The image that came to my mind was of a parent waiting up at night for a teenager to come home. God is waiting for us. “The Lord waits to be gracious to you.”

I find myself in a time that feels like limbo. Thanksgiving has come and gone; Advent has yet to come. We are waiting to begin waiting. My devotional challenge to you this week is to give some thought to Advent. What will you do as you wait for God? How will you prepare yourself to begin?

My commitment this Advent is to find some quiet time each day for devotionals and prayer. I commit to more spiritual reading during this month. Our pastor this Sunday said that “we belong to the Truth.” I want to draw closer to the Truth during this time of waiting, and I am going to be intentional about it.

It is God’s time, and there is enough of it. Do what seems wasteful, and wait for God.

Prayer:

Creator God, who stretches a hand across the heavens and spreads the stars in the sky,
meet us in our waiting.
Loving Son, who came and comes and will come,
come today and meet us in our waiting.
Abiding Spirit, who waits with us,
speak to us in our waiting.
Loving God, grant us the courage to wait for you
and the grace to realize you wait for us.
Amen.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 11-16-12

This past June three cats were dumped off on my street. The first one that I met was a beautiful calico cat. She endeared me and my neighbor who had just lost her husband in May. My neighbor started feeding her and to my delight took her into her home. That was a total surprise as she was definetly not a cat person. Right down to, "I am allergic to cats and I must wash my hands if I touch one." We took the cat to my vet and found out that she had been spayed. She is now living the good life in my neighbor's home. To me that cat was divine intervention for my neighbor. She needed that cat to come home to and take care of after the loss of her husband.

Well, that leaves the other two cats that were dropped off. They were two black and white tuxedo cats. They started hanging around between my house and my neighbors {obviously missing one of their siblings}.

Well,what and I supposed to do? I have two older dogs and an even older cat. I have vowed that my" tubes are tied " for any more animals in my life or in my home. I also realized that those cats were starving. I, being a softy, started to feed them. Of course, they showed up morning and night for food. One was really dear to me as she was so sweet and reminded me of the sweet cat that I had lost recently at thirteen years due to diabetes. The only problem was that as a result of feeding them and our living near the woods raccoons appeared, and I feared for the cats' safety. I was scared for them but try as I might I could not accept them into my home.

I finally had to accept the fact that I could do the best I could by feeding and loving them as best I could from a distance. I realized that they could survive with my providing for them -- just by feeding them out my back door. I would try to find homes for them, but who wants a cat? Nobody.

I just think that this brings to mind how we treat the people that we meet that are in need. I will feed them from a distance but will not get too close to them because we already have our "tubes tied" and have no more room in our heart for those that need help . They may have their raccoons that show up and make them run and are also scared for their lives.. We think we are doing enough if we feed them physically but those two cats are still scared to death living outside in the elements. They trust me a little but run at the slightest noise. Trust ,when you are hungry, is not gained by being feed physically. It is only gained by being shown love right where you are. A person in need can do their best, but if the raccoons show up then you have to run. I just have to hope the raccoons do not overcome my trying to take care of them from a distance. Who will win? I do not know. It will be cold this winter. The sad part is , will I worry more about those two cats or the unwanted humans that will be out there in the cold too? Most likely both, but sad to say, it will be from a distance. Guess I have learned a good lesson from those cats. Anybody want a cat?

Jean Ramsey

Devotional 11-9-12

Please read Hebrews 9:23-28.
"Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary"
Christ's sacrifice takes away sin. He will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are eaagerly waiting for him.

Sacrificial rites in the old covenant were effective in cleasing the tabernacle and the furniture of worship. If this is true of the copy it is true also of the heavenly pattern. But whereas the blood of calves and goats was sufficient to cleanse the early shine, the heavenly tabernacle requires better sacrifices. And this the significance of Christ's self-offering. He does not minister in the early shine, a copy of the true one, but has entered heaen itself and there appears in the presence of God on our behalf. Moreover he does not perform this sacrifice repeatedly, as the high priest did annually in Israel but has accomposihed it once for all at the end of the age to put away sin.

The contrast between the earthly and heavenly shines, between the temporary and eternal, is joined with the biblical sense of God's purpose moving toward a goal The goal, or end, appears in the middle of history in Jesus Christ. Thus the author can speak of Christ's coming at the end of the age. But Christ still has his people on earth and therefore there is still movement toward the goal in the life of the church. Thus the author can speak of Christ's appearing a seond time, this time not the deal with sin -- his sacriice -- but to accomplish salvation for those who are waiting for him.

When Christ appears at the judgement he does not join the long line awaiting assessment but is Lord of the judgment and savior and deliverer to those who are waiting for him. He voluntarily shared our human experience and the outcome of his life and death is the trasnformation of the human situation. Death once meant only judgment. Those who are Christ's now can look beyond death to the deliverer.

Prayer:
Help us, O Lord, to be alert to signs of your coming. Help us to have our lamps trimmed and filled with oil, ready to go out to meet you. Help us ever to watch for your return, that we may not be found without oil in our lamps. Help us to be prepared when the cry is heard, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." Amen.

References:
The Wesley Study Bible (NRSV). Abingdon Press, 2009.
The Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible. Abingdon Press, 1971.
Prayers. H.S. Wallace. F.H. Revell Co, 1964.

Frank Hanshaw
 

Devotional 11-2-12

A Spiritual MRI

We can’t live with foreign objects buried in our bodies, or our souls!

What would an X-ray of your interior reveal?

A remorse over a poor choice? A shame about the marriage that didn’t work or the temptation you didn’t resist? The guilty lies hidden beneath the surface, festering, irritating, and sometimes so deeply embedded you don’t know the cause.

And you can be touchy, you know, understandable, since you have a shank of shame lodged in your soul, Interested in an Extraction?

Confess! and Request! a spiritual MRI. Like the one in Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Confessors find a Freedom that Deniers don’t. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins! He will cleanse us; Not might, could, would, or should. He WILL!

Prayer:
Oh God, look deep into my heart and find out everything I am thinking. Don’t let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true. In Jesus name, Amen.

In Love and Grace;
Jim Perry

Devotional 10-26-12

The following is taken from the book:Mountain Prayers: A Vacation for the Soul, Honor Books

Taking in the View

It's surprising how you can limit your own perspective at times. Worries and concerns can so easily cause you to see only what is directly in front of you. It's as if God is offering to show you the vista from a ski lift high in the Alps, but instead you crouch, with eyes downcast, on a hill the size of a pitcher's mound!

It can be hard to grasp the truth that this life on earth is incredibly brief compared to eternity---like a mist, or a wildflower that blooms for a little while and is gone. The finite mind cannot understand eternity! How can you ever begin to glimpse its enormity when your circumstances tie you to the ordinary, day to day events right around you?

An amazing transformation can take place within you, when you allow your Father's arm to lift you to the heights for a better view. Suddenly you feel both very small and very safe at the same time. You realize that the few years we are given on this earth must certainly be very precious to him: you want to know the purpose he's laid out for your life, once you see your existence for the brief, exquisite flash of light that it is.

“I’ll lift my eyes up to the mountains," says the psalmist. Lift up your eyes from the "boulders" that stand as obstacles before you and look to the endless peaks beyond. Take in the vastness of God's creation as a reminder that he is himself vast beyond your imagining.

Be encouraged, when problems seem to block your spiritual vision. God sees and knows all and he cares about you deeply. His promises and blessings are not just for this life--but life eternal!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can hardly imagine spending eternity with you. It's one of those things that I believe but cannot grasp. You might say it's a promise too great for me. Teach me to live my life in light of eternity, for it is only then that I can see my life here as it truly is ---endless. Amen

Eternal life does not begin with death:
It begins with faith.
Samuel M. Shoemaker

Submitted by Kay Lewis

Devotional 10-19-12

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world—
Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight;
Jesus loves the little children of the world!
Bible School song

The Children in Our Lives

The young children in our lives are such a blessing, aren’t they? We have eight grandchildren ranging in age from 15 months to nearly 18 years, and we treasure each moment we spend with them. Recently I spent most of the day with two of our eight grandchildren—my daughter’s two youngest, ages 15 months and four years. The day was filled with fun and laughter, and an exuberant amount of energy! No matter which of the grandchildren we share time with, we can count on lots of snuggling, the approval of art masterpieces, silly books, adventure books or school books, walks in the park, or a very competitive card game. There is always a big hug and kiss or two when our time together comes to an end and we have to say goodbye, at least for awhile.

There are children, however—perhaps in our own neighborhood and certainly in our region, our state, our world, who have rarely felt much joy in their lives. They encounter loneliness, fear, hunger and despair, neglect and abuse beyond what any of us can imagine. They may appear to live a “normal” life, but they may never feel the deep love and joy the children in our lives share every day.

The happiness and well-being of the children in our lives make it hard for us to think about these other children. It’s just more comfortable not to. And it’s easy to just take for granted that all children are like our own—happy, well-adjusted kids who have an abundance of toys and entertainment, eat three good meals a day, have a bath before bedtime, sleep soundly in a clean, comfortable bed, and start again the very next morning.

We hear about incidents of abuse and neglect, and we are shocked and saddened by the horrific story on the news. What we’re not aware of are the daily calls to Child Protective Services which hold no interest by the media because they’re too common. But abuse and neglect at any level is just that--abuse and neglect.

As a court appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer I have learned first-hand what many of these children have gone through in their young lives. While I can’t share the stories of “my kids”, I can tell you that their sad encounters have been permanently imprinted on their lives. The court process of determining their future can be overwhelmingly long and frightening for them. I sometimes question my ability to be of any real help to them.

Jesus, however, tells us that we all can be of help to them by simply praying for them. We can pray for their safety and well-being; we can pray for the CPS workers who may have a case load of 30 to 40 kids; and we can pray that God will give us insight in learning other ways in which we can help. The power of prayer will open our hearts to these fragile kids, and they will also become the children in our lives. May we, through prayer, remember the thousands of abused and neglected children in our world. 

"God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it."
John Wesley

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 10-12-12

WHEN WE CANNOT FIND GOD

Read Job 23 1-9

Job feels that if he could personally talk with God, He would understand and acquit him but he cannot find God to personally speak with him. Job feels his punishment outweighs his fault. Almost all of the chapters contain Job's complaints about the unfairness of God. Elihu tells Job how ignorant he is acting toward God. Finally, God does speak to Job and eventually, He blessed Job at the end of his life. But, are there times in our lives when we cannot seem to find God? Does it seem that God is hiding from us?

In my research about this Book of the Bible, I read a sermon by Rev. Amy Butler. It reminded me of the time in my life when I felt utter desolation and devastation. I prayed so hard for help but felt totally abandoned. I was angry with God. I felt God did not care. I am sure that some of you have felt that way at one time or another. Then another event not related to the first reason for pain and desolation happened.

I had to think of someone else and not myself. I got down on my knees and started talking to God, asking for help for someone else, not me. I begged God to place my loving mother in His arms and keep her as she went through open heart surgery. It was in 1968 when that kind of surgery was not to as safe as now. I learned to place my burden in His hands. I finally felt peace. I made it through the first situation, also. I like to think God had better plans for me.

I have learned in the years since then that we can find God in others when we feel alone. There is always someone whom we feel is close to God. The touch of a hand on your arm or shoulder by that particular person can mean so much. Our church family is part of that safe nest when we cannot seem to find God. But, I have learned that He walks beside us. He will be there when we turn it all over to Him.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father,
When we feel all alone, help us to remember that you are always there when we need you. Help us to trust in the God in your children. This way we will be surrounded by your love and understanding even more. Help us to be a Blessing to others. Amen

Carolee Brown

Devotional 10-5-12

In this mid-Pentecost season, a number of the lectionary readings have said some pretty powerful things about what we do with our lives if we are to be true disciples of Jesus.  As one example, the reading in Mark about Peter’s confession at Caesarea Phillippi asks some harsh questions.  Mark is the earliest of the gospel accounts written and is most direct and terse.  Matthew and Luke tame this story.  In Mark, Peter is rebuked for his understanding of who Messiah is.  In Matthew, Peter is praised for acknowledgment of Messiah and told that he is the rock on which Jesus would build his church.  Luke says nothing of what Matthew says, but he softens the exchange between Jesus and Peter, saying nothing about any harsh words between them as found in Mark.

 

Read this exchange between Peter and Jesus in Mark 8:27-38.

 

As the passage proceeds, Jesus says some scandalous things about who he is.   Peter believed that the Messiah is the one they had been expecting for centuries whom God would anoint to lead the revolt and overthrow their dictators and oppressors.  “You’re the one!”, Peter thought.  “We’re ready to pick up the sword and to be your captains to stir the people up to follow your lead.”  But Jesus in turn rebuked Peter in front of the other disciples:  called him a name – Satan.  “Shame on you, Peter!  I’m talking about the ways of God and your mind is trapped by your own expectations.  I am NOT going to be a worldly liberator who will free the people from tyranny.  You have your mind set on your own earthly expectations and not the ways of God.” 

More scandalous, Jesus told them that Messiah must suffer and be rejected by their own religious leaders – must be killed and rise again.

Still more scandalous, Jesus told the listening crowd that if they wanted to save their lives, they were to take up their crosses and follow Jesus.  “You who try to save your lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives for my sake and the gospel will save them.”

At first reading, we are not really threatened by this.  What are the chances that something will force us to make a discipleship choice that could cause us to lose our lives?  Actually and physically to suffer and die for Jesus?   For most of us, this is pretty remote, really.  But read the text again with the understanding of “trying to save our lives” meaning saving the way of life that is known, comfortable, prosperous, and safe when discipleship calls us to relinquish that comfort or prosperity or safety in behalf of the compassionate and merciful and peaceful ways of Jesus.   That’s different.  Threatening.  Hard.   Discipleship has its ultimate reward of blessing with God.  In the meantime, discipleship may be costly – costing us a way of life that is contrary to our Christlike calling.

O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me see thy footprints, and in them plant my own,

My cross to carry fully, to trust your strength alone.
Let me deny my lifestyle when varied from your ways.
Receive me then in Heaven at the ending of my days.

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 9-28-12

Win Place or Show

 I certainly will not be in the running for the award given to the band parent who has attended the most high school band competitions, but I have certainly been to several.  Mobilizing a marching band is not unlike putting a military force in motion; neat fitting uniforms, equipment vehicles, tools for the mission and loads of preparation. At these competitions, I have been witness to bands that were indeed of collegiate quality, bands that absolutely delivered a stellar performance and ‘also rans’. Some came from far away, some from right in the same county. Some bands have large numbers, some not so much. Some bands have members who have all memorized their music, some carry small folders containing the sheets of music required to get through the show. I would be a terrible band competition judge; I would give everyone top marks due to their effort, their enthusiasm, their devotion to the group and well, because they showed up.  It would be hard to select a winner that way.  Kind of like church. Come from near or far, memorize Bible verses or not, all are winners.

This past Saturday I saw maybe the coolest thing I have ever seen at one of these competitions. The band had taken the field, the music began and the marching started. All at once I noticed what seemed to be two people standing in one location. As I followed this image, low and behold it was two people – in the same spot. The trumpet player, in full uniform, was blind.  The young lady behind him, also in full uniform, was grasping his uniform near the shoulder blades and was ‘guiding’ him throughout the formation.  They moved as one.  He didn’t trip on her, and she did not push or tug him in a direction that he was not already ready to move. They marched, walked and crabbed sideways in step. It was incredible to watch. He had clearly put forth the effort to learn the music and to learn the sets. (I learned that word from my band student.)  She had also taken the time and commitment to learn the movements of the show. She believed in him, and he trusted her. Kind of like church. We study and learn but still may not have a complete picture of what is unfolding. A more experienced Christian ‘takes us by the shoulders’  and guides us along, interpreting scripture, offering a valued opinion or giving advise so that we don’t trip or bump into things. They believe in us and we trust them.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 9-22-12

Ode to a Virtuous Woman

Please read Proverbs 31:10-31

There are two kinds of people in the world:  those who love the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, and those who don’t.

Some people hear the description of the virtuous woman and think of a virtuous woman who has had an impact on their lives.  Others complain that the description of the virtuous woman (ostensibly written by a man) sets up a standard that is unattainable and unrealistic.

Count me among those who like it.  Consider my re-write, in honor of another virtuous woman, Jerry Taylor:

A capable mom who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

The hearts of her children trust in her, and they will have no lack of gain because of her.

She does them good, and not harm, all the days of her life.  There were a few times when she may have threatened harm, but she never followed through with it.

She seeks cotton and polyester blends and, with the help of McCall patterns, works with willing hands to make formal dresses.  With wool yarn and needles she knits sweaters and even ascots like Mike Nesmith from the Monkees used to wear.

She shops on Thursdays, bringing her food from the A&P, dividing the candy into four equal portions.

She rises while it is still night and provides food for the bake sale her youngest son forgot to tell her about.

She considers a field and decides to play golf on it.

She girds herself with a 3-wood, and makes her arms strong.

She puts her hands to the grip, and knocks it straight down the middle.

She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Although she hates snow days, she is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are wrapped in hand-made Afghans. 

Her husband is known all over town, taking a leadership role in the community.

Strength and compassion are her clothing, but she loves to laugh.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness, but loves a good board game.

Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Mom is not made virtuous by what she does; her actions are the fruit of her virtue.  Thanks, Mom.  And my apologies to Solomon.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 9-16-12

You are my child
When you were a child,
I loved you.
I called you to join me
Even before you could hear me
Even before you knew I existed.
I called you
I loved you.

The more I called,
The more you were deaf to me
The farther you moved away from me.
You revered that which did not love you.
You sought after those gods that would bring you pain.

I taught you how to walk,
I taught you how to love each other,
I held you when you were broken,
I healed your pain.

I led you with ties of kindness.
Out of love for you
I lifted your burdens away.
You were nurtured and fed by me.
I can still feel the softness of your hair
As I held you close
Kept you safe
Tried to protect you from yourself.

And yet you turn away.
You worship money, possessions, yourself
You rebel against my love
You will not follow my guidance.
You are determined to turn your back on me.

How can I give you up?
How can I leave you to your sin?
How can I watch as you destroy your lives?
As you hurt each other?
As you forget me?

My heart breaks.

There are times when you deserve my anger
When you have earned the consequences
Of your sin.

But I am your God.
I am not man.
I am the Holy One among you.
I will not come in anger.
I can only come in love.

The time will come when
You will follow me.
You will hear my voice
See my vision.
And you will come to me

Like the birds of the air
That I set into flight.
Like the fish in the ocean
That swim because I taught them how,
You will come to me,
And I will take you in,
Settling you into my arms
Like the child you are.
Kim Matthews

Devotional 9-7-12

A reflection written by Oswald W.S. McCall. I think it makes for a nice lead-in to a time of quiet prayer. I hope it blesses you…

“Not once in a life but again and again, and every day, and perhaps many times a day, it must be encouraged to come…the restoring sacrament of pause. It comes not easily at first without encouragement. Later it seeks one out.

It is the moment that corrects and counteracts our many moments that become destructive to us, snatching us away from and breaking the divine accord.

 
For the sake of all things good and beautiful and true in him, for the guarding of them in all of his life, one must seek again and again that lifting instant in which he rouses his soul to repair the impaired harmony. Back to God he must call his thought, lift his conscience to God for correction, bid his heart express again its chosen loyalty to God. His whole self must make an effort to re-set and re-establish and reconfirm itself in the life and love of God.”

I invite and encourage you today to accept the gift of pause, of stillness. Grant your heart a Sabbath moment to turn from all the demands that compete for our allegiance, to fix your eyes and heart firmly on the God who loves you, who redeems you, and saves you. Enjoy the presence of your God today!

Rev. Joe Hill

Devotional 8-24-12

He Cares About the Little Things

Friday, June 29, 2012, the day of the derecho. Temperatures in Huntington reaching 102 degrees, forest fires raging in Colorado, flooding in Florida and a huge thunderstorm approaching the tri-state from the west. It hit about 6:45PM, gale force winds, trees and tree limbs falling, power outages all over West Virginia. No electricity, no air conditioning, no lights, none of the conveniences we take for granted daily.

If you are like me and depend on air conditioning to get you through our Ohio Valley summers, this is going to be a problem if they don't get the power back on soon.

Darkness descends and I fumble around for a flashlight. Wouldn't you know the big heavy duty flashlight needs new Size D batteries, and I don't have any. I'm grateful for the little flashlight I keep in my car. It doesn't give much light. but it's better than nothing. I go to bed hoping that sometime during the night I will be awakened by the lights coming on.

That doesn't happen and Saturday morning looms with the prospect of another sweltering day. What I wouldn't give for my morning cup of hot tea! I pray, "Dear Lord, how am I going to cope with another day of 100 degree heat and no air conditioning". I feel like I am in panic mode.

I tell myself to stop whining and remember how much worse it must be for those fighting the forest fires, for those having to leave their homes as the flood waters rise. I am chastened but nevertheless I pray, "Please Lord put the power back on". He knows and numbers the very hairs of our head so I know He cares for our everyday problems.

I hear the chainsaws roaring, chopping up tree limbs which have downed power lines and blocked roads. I wonder if this means we will be back on line soon. I think maybe I should drive somewhere, at least my car has air conditioning. The day drags on, hot, hot, hot. What a wimp I am for complaining so. It is far worse for others.

Later that day as I stand at my dining room table, suddenly the chandelier lights blaze on. "Oh, dear Lord, thank you, thank you, thank you". I run from room to room saying over and over again, "thank you, thank you, Lord".

You may think I made a big deal over a small problem, but I share this with you to say that every day our Saviour loves us so much that He takes care of our every concern, little problems, big problems, intimate problems, family problems, every problem. Take them to Him, He understands, He cares, He will answer. Believe!

Luke 12, vs. 6, 7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Jean Dean

Devotional 8-17-12

"Living With a Thankful, Joyous Heart"

Earlier this summer we experienced major power outages accompanied by extreme heat. I was very impressed by the patience, ingenuity, and generosity most people displayed during this difficult time. I heard a lot more people talking about being thankful for what they had than griping about what they lacked. During those extraordinary circumstances we lived with thankful, generous hearts.

But, what about the regular days? Do we live with thankful hearts? In a Garfield cartoon, Jon announces that it has been a good day. Garfield looks surprised and says, “It has? I must have missed it.” How many good days do we miss just because we weren’t paying attention? How many gifts or blessings from God have we missed because we failed to stop our busy lives long enough to acknowledge them and thank God for them?

My youngest grandson, Mace, has a saying, “This has been the best day evah!” At 6 he has a lot of ‘best day evah’s.’ I bet we all could if we just slow down, take time to count our blessings, and live every day with a thankful, joyous heart!

Margaret Williams

Devotional 8-10-12

This week marked the 203th birthday of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. ( I only know that because I heard it on the radio). Tennyson was the Poet Laureate of Great Britain from 1850 till his death in 1892. When I heard his name, I was instantly reminded of two things:

1. His poem Crossing the Bar (1889) which has been part of a number of funerals I have attended. It bears repeating.

Crossing The Bar

Sunset and evening star,

    And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crost the bar.

2. One of my favorite lines or quotes is from Tennyson's 1833 poem Ulysses, I am a part of all that I have met. That reminds me of the famous quote from Gandhi, Be the change you wish to see in the world.

In looking through some information about Alfred, Lord Tennyson, I found the following poem that makes me think he pondered the same question I often ask while working in my yard, "Why does grass grow in the cracks in the sidewalk and not in the bare patches in the lawn?"

Flower In The Crannied Wall  (1869)

Flower in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies,I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower -but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is.

That reminds me of Job 38: 33-38
Do you know the laws of the heavens? 
Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?
 
“Can you raise your voice to the clouds   
and cover yourself with a flood of water?
 
Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?   
Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

Who gives the ibis wisdom   
or gives the rooster understanding?
 
Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?   
Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
 
when the dust becomes hard   
and the clods of earth stick together?

Anita Gardner Farrell
(On a personal note, my kid brother, Gene Gardner, the one who ruined my chances of being an only child, and his family are moving to Mississippi on Saturday. Please pray that they have a safe trip and a happy life in a new state. God Speed, Little Brother. Believe it or not, I will miss you).

Devotional 8-5-12

Bread of Life

Read John 6:24-35

Most all of us like bread. We like soft breads, white, wheat, rye, barley, bagels and biscuits. We like hard breads, French bread, Italian bread. But do we think of it as the Bread of Life?

Look at the ingredients in most bread: flour or whole wheat or another grain. Usually yeast unless unleavened, sugar, water maybe some other additions. And when they are all mixed together, allowed to rise and then baked, we get a delicious treat. This treat, though, feeds our bodies, gives us fiber and provides carbohydrates for energy, and it just plan tastes good.

But have you ever thought about this as a gift from God? God provided for Moses and his people on their forty year journey with “manna” from heaven. God provided each of the living, life giving items to make the bread. Thus Life provides for Life.

And didn’t God give life to his son Jesus Christ to be our ultimate “Bread of Life”! What we need to do is accept Jesus Christ as our “Bread of Life” so that when this earthly life is over your eternal life will continue and “we will never thirsty again” in eternity.

Prayer,
Heavenly Father thank you for your love, thank you for your son Jesus Christ the “Bread of Life”. This day I reaffirm or accept Jesus Christ as my “Bread of Life” so that I’ll never thirst again.

I pray this with the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

Fred Herr

Devotional 7-27-12

Tough Uphill Climb-Sweet Downhill – BLOWOUT

I remember learning how to ride a bicycle. It was a small neighborhood hand-me-down outgrown by a larger kid and given to my parents because I was just about the right size. Wow, did I feel free. Zoom zoom around the block I would go (that’s all the day I got it) until I accidently ran upon the heels of a walker as I tried to pass too closely. Ut-oh. That got my bike exiled to the storage locker assigned to our apartment in the military supplied apartment where we lived. I was crushed. Fast forward forty years. I have an opportunity to ride in a fundraising event for church. Well, heck, I’ve ridden a bike most of my life > what could go wrong with this? Let me count the ways! I was not prepared. I had not trained, and it was a rolling disaster. Yes, I finished, but it was not fun. I stayed away from bicycles for nearly ten months. When the fundraising event rolled around the next year, I at first said NO WAY. As I began to apply a tiny bit of logic, I realized that I really did like to ride and that if I trained for it perhaps things would be better. So I trained – and YES, it was a more pleasant and enjoyable ride.

Late in 2011, I was told by a friend that his father was an avid bike rider and that I should call him and ride sometime. Sure, I thought. Before I could call, my friend’s father had called me, and we set our first ride meeting. The friend’s father, two other cyclists and I rode 50 miles that brisk winter day. I almost D-I-E-D! We rode together several more times, and in February I was accepted, by the friend’s dad, as a part of the group that would get to ride from Huntington to Washington, DC. in support of a goal to raise money for Homeless Veterans. Way more of a challenge than I had ever given myself. Training would be the key.

In the months that followed I rode many miles with the dad. This man was not only an avid bike rider; he was/is a skilled bike rider. On all of those long training rides he always stayed near, passing on tips and hints to make me more proficient. This man could have mopped the street with me any day of the week and twice on Sunday – but he never did. He never chastised me for not keeping a faster pace or for showing signs of being tired when he himself could probably have done the ride all over again with only a water bottle change. And on the long ride to DC, able to arrive a day and half before everyone else, he stayed in the group fading and accelerating to be alongside each rider to encourage and check on them.

Faith in my mind is similar. I remember going to church as a child. I would listen in Sunday school and church. I would sing the songs, play the games and memorize Bible verses during VBS. As the challenges in life increase, so does spiritual training have to increase. We can no longer ride our small faith around the neighborhood with the wind in our hair and not a care in the world. We have issues to confront that force us to try and fix them on our own or rely on God to see us through. A spiritual mentor acting much as my bike riding friend can help condition us -- one who is well read and well versed in the scriptures yet never tries to speed past us or make us feel inadequate or inferior because we didn’t come to same conclusion to a question as quickly.

While on the bike ride to Washington my rear tire blew. It happened following a fairly grueling uphill climb and while nearly through a fairly steep descent. I was traveling 25 mph, and the BANG could be heard far and wide. While a rear flat does not carry with it the nearly immanent disaster as a front tire flat, it is still a bit unnerving. Because I had ridden so many miles in training and been coached so well by my friend’s dad I was able to keep my head about me (and not throw my hands up screaming “I’m gonna crash”), steady the bike, apply the brakes and get myself to the side of the road. It’s what came naturally.

When we have climbed a pretty serious hill in life, admire what we’ve done and then begin the sweet downhill ride - only to have a blowout, with our spiritual training as our foundation we can do what comes naturally and turn to God first.

At 50 years old I don’t know if I’m allowed to have a hero. Sorry Bill, you get to be that guy. You have not only molded my riding skills but have shown me how a ‘know-er’ can and should act towards one who is not yet as far along. As my riding ability increases and my spiritual knowledge strengthens and increases I hope that I can be as patient and encouraging as you have shown me is possible.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 7-19-12

Matthew 18: 21-22

Technology has taken things in my life and moved them from a leisurely pace to supersonic speeds and sometimes to my complete consternation and vexation.

One of the greatest inventions in my lifetime was the Ticonderoga #2 pencil. Not so much for the pencil end but for the wonderful brownish red device on the opposite end called the eraser.

I know computer keyboards have backspace buttons and delete keys, but to me it is not the same as rubbing a mistake off the page to the point of ripping through the paper product you were writing on. Additionally, you could make the mistake more than once which was a real big deal to someone whose strong suit was not arithmetic or much anything else mathematical.

I remember taking quizzes and tests when you were instructed to use a ball point device or other permanent marker. You want pressure?

I have thought about this too much but whenever I get a chance to speak with a younger person I know (whether they want it or not) that I know some mistakes in life are inevitable. But I encourage them to make their mistakes with a #2 pencil and not a permanent marking device. Tattoo is an art form, but it will sag at some point.

With God’s love and through the gift of Christ’s advocacy we have the universal solvent to cover our “mistakes” large and small. We are commanded by Christ himself to forgive others in multiples of 7 regardless of how much our natural instincts say differently.

Honestly, that seems a lot more practical than even the Ticonderoga #2.

Mike Bowen

Devotional 7-13-12

Clean Hands and Pure Hearts
Psalm 24: 1-6

A psalm of David.

¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
² For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
³ Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
⁴ Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.

⁵ They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
⁶ Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

A family was traveling toward Pennsylvania after leaving Hilton Head, SC. They had neither read nor heard about a massive storm that had ripped through a six state area, leaving toppled trees and downed power lines in its wake.

As they passed a gas station in Fayetteville, WV, the driver noticed an unusually long line of people waiting to buy gas. She began to get nervous when the lines disappeared and were replaced by pumps covered with plastic bags. Her gas tank was near empty; it was ninety degrees in the shade, and the only open gas station for miles was too far away for her to reach.
It was about that time that a stranger asked if she and her family would like to “sit on the porch and have a cold drink” while they figured out their next move.

As it turned out, the stranger was the son of the town’s mayor. He and his wife welcomed the families along with two others who were also stranded. Hamburgers were grilled and cold water was shared. Then the mayor brought out a gas can that he had filled the day before and divided it among the families. It was just enough to get them to the gas station so they could make their way home.

In Psalm 24:3-4, we are asked who may climb the mountain of the Lord. The answer is none of us because none of us have clean hands or pure hearts. We have all sinned. But when I read the story about the mayor and his family helping those in need, I could not help but think that God must have been so proud of his children taking care of their brothers and sisters with their hands and hearts. And what about the woman who connected power cords and pulled them across the street so her neighbor could share her electricity? Or the family who took in fifteen relatives and friends to share their air conditioning and pool?

The list is endless; that is the good news. Now all we have to do is follow in the footsteps of those who are climbing the mountain of the Lord in order to stand in His holy place. We need to come to the Lord with clean hands and pure hearts – or at least invite someone to come sit on the porch and have a cold drink.

Heavenly Father, you have given us everything we need and more. Let us remember to share our possessions, our time, and our love as you have shared them with us. In your name we pray. Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 7-6-12

I Corinthians 12: 2-10

This scripture speaks to us about the different gifts given to each of us and that we are all members of the body of Christ.

I think that this is a familiar piece and that at one time or another we have said. "I don't have any special gifts". We have probably also thought that we could really do a good job at something if we were only given the chance.

Now I am not saying that hear voices in my head, no matter what the Discovery Class believes, but if a thought keeps popping into my head, I have to believe there's a reason. I believe God, with the help of the Holy Spirit is giving me little nudges to do something. Sometimes it's way out of my comfort zone, and I try to ignore it, but it usually keeps coming back. Sometimes it's in disguise, and I agree to do it only to find out it's the very job I had been trying to avoid.

Because I like to cook and bake for people I care about does not mean that it is the gift I have to use all the time. Maybe sometimes I need to wash windows or clean closets at the church instead. Maybe I need to listen more to problems someone wants to talk about and stay silent and let them work it out themselves. Maybe there is a small gift in the back corner of my mind that I've been afraid to open for fear that it's something I really don't want to try.

The bottom line is that the "Giver" of these gifts already knew the ones I'd like, and the ones I've tried to avoid. He is very patient, and I might as well go ahead and open that gift. It might really surprise me.

Checked for any unopened gifts in your life lately? Why don't you? Maybe we can work together.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your patience with your stubborn children. May we always seek your guidance and listen for your advice.
Amen.

Debbie McGinnis

Devotional 7-1-12

The Power of PRair

Hold your hand close to your face. Now blow on it. Did you feel the air? Sure you did. Did you see the air? Probably not. Air is an interesting thing. It blows gently as a breeze to cool us. It blows violently and leaves in its wake destruction. It pushes against our bodies and our vehicles as we attempt to move forward. A really neat science experiment unfolds as two or more objects (cars, birds, bicycles) move into the wind. The very first object seems to take on the full force of the wind. The air ‘splits’ around it. The object(s) that follow – closely – are allowed to move in a way unhindered by the force of the air. The race car industry has sort of taken ownership of the word but what is happening here is drafting.

Our eyes are instantly drawn to the sky when we see a V formation of birds flying overhead. Scientists that study these birds tell us two things for sure; 1) a bird could never fly, by itself, as far as it does within this formation and 2) the lead bird has to change. The same bird cannot take on the force of the air for the entire journey.

I just completed a fairly long bicycle ride. Eight cyclists covered 445 miles in six days. There were many miles on this trip where the bikes would be in a single file line, very close to each other while the lead bike “pulled” the group. After a few miles that bike would drop back and the next bike in line would pull. No strings attached, all done by the power of unseen air. Together, helping each other, we were able to cover more ground, faster.

Prayer works like this too. You may have a friend or co-worker or family member that is visibly suffering even though you cannot see what troubles them. But you know it is there. By offering a kind word, a listening ear or a prayer you can be the lead bird, allowing them to tuck in behind you and your strength until they themselves feel strong enough to face the force.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 6-22-12

Thank You, Jesus

 On April first, 2009, I was involved in an automobile accident. It was on Fifth Street hill and three cars were involved. I was very frightened. I could not breathe and I thought the car was on fire. I thought that I saw smoke, not knowing that air bags are filled with powder. I hyperventilated, drawing the powder into my lungs. I heard myself screaming, "Get me out of here!" A nurse, who was on her way home, stopped, opened my door and released my safety belt. She calmed me down as she called 911. The ambulance put me in a neck brace, placed me on the gurney, and off we went to the hospital. My knee had soft tissue damage, and I was bruised. But, it was not over yet. I fell a few days later, knocked myself unconscious, and had a brain bleed. In addition to that, I had a reaction to the pain medicine and ended back in the ER.

All of this caused me to be very apprehensive about driving, especially getting on the interstate at Fifth Street where the accident happened. For over six weeks, I would take the long way, not the interstate. Finally, I made the attempt. When I made it, I started saying out loud, "Thank You, Jesus." I used to tell my students, “If you do something a least 12 times, it will become a habit and you will not have to think about it, it will just happen." On this statement, I have proved myself wrong. It has been three years and I still say, "Thank you, Jesus" and I think about it each and every time. It has become part of me, not a habit.

God has been so good to me. I have had several health problems but somehow, I always come through it. Do we take time in our lives to see that God is always there to get us through it? It might be as simple as successfully getting on the interstate or it could be opening your eyes after a major heart attack. We worry about what will happen instead of being appreciative of what has happened. He will see us through whatever happens. This reminds me of a poem that I read:

God
didn't promise
days without pain,
laughter without
sorrow or sun
without rain.
But God did
promise strength
for the day,
comfort for the
tears and a light
for the way.
And for all who believe in His
kingdom of love,
He answers their faith
With peace from above.

Thank You, Jesus

Carolee Brown

Devotional 6-14-12

Read Psalm 92

On Friday June 7, 2012 we participated in the “Relay for Life” Cancer fundraiser, at the Barboursville Park around the lake. We had never attended this before although we had supported the “Relay for Life” many times over the years during our employment at St. Mary’s MC.

On this Friday night we were there to support our sister in Christ, Elicia Bias, in her fight of cancer, along with her “Pac Man Team”. Elicia started out last year with ovarian cancer, she had surgery and treatment and was cancer free for 3 months, but it is back and she must fight on. She just went to the doctor at Ohio State and found that she must go through more chemo. She is a very upbeat person who shows her love for Christ. She knows she is in His hands and the Lord will take care of her as He has before.

The first lap around the lake was the survivor’s lap. There were survivors of all ages: young, teens, middle age, older people, those on crutches, in wheel chairs, and being carried by their parents. You could tell that they all had a bond with the Lord and that He was with each of them as they go through their lives. They were all there to help raise money to find a cure for cancer and to support each other.

Later that night there were luminaries, which were purchased in memory or honor of someone with cancer, by friends or family members. They were placed all around the lake. When they were lit, it was a humbling experience to see all of them, knowing they represent people who were courageous in their fight for life. They are not suffering now, and were looking down in awe, knowing that God is with everyone; and that He will be there for all of us in whatever circumstance we have, just for the asking.

Psalm 92 12-14
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon,
planted in the house of the Lord
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age
They will stay fresh and green
Proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him”.

The psalmist saw believers as upright, strong and unmoved by the winds of circumstance. Those who place their faith firmly in God can have this strength and vitality.

God is for everyone, not just the young. As we grow older, believers can remain fruitful. There are many faithful older people who continue to have a fresh outlook and can teach from a life time experience of serving God. Ask an older person to tell you about their experiences with the Lord and challenge you to new heights of spiritual growth.
We all need to keep the faith, like all of those fighting cancer, in whatever path we are led down, knowing we are God’s people and that He will be there with us through it all.

Dear Lord,
Continue to be with all your people on the paths you have opened for us to follow. We know you have a reason for everything and everyone. Help us to keep the faith in you and live our lives like you want us to. Open our hearts that you can come in and support all of your people where you know where we need you. Thank you for all you do for us and all that you will do in us in the future.
Amen

Melanie Herr

Devotional 6-8-12

Read 2^nd Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Lay Witness Missions are built around the testimonies given by the missioners who usually come from different places and sometimes a variety of denominations.  In coming to be part of a mission they give of their time and of themselves.  Their prime function is to tell the local congregation what God has done in their lives and of the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus.

This was the approach of the apostle Paul in his missionary work and in his letters to the churches.  He shared his faith in Jesus, the risen Lord, with all who would listen to him.  Paul had already visited the Corinthians and shared his faith with them, and now, in his letter, he urges them to do the same so that the abounding grace of God is shared by more and more.  The apostle spoke out about the resurrection of Jesus, and he assured his readers that the God who raised the Lord Jesus to life will with Jesus raise us too.

As the apostle called upon the Corinthians to speak out about their faith, we are called to do the same.  It is a faith in the risen Lord who gives new life to all who believe in him.  We who follow Jesus have been given that new life.  Our calling is to speak out about the risen Lord and to live as people who have been raised to life in Jesus.  We do so not only to win the victory of eternal life but so that other people may hear and enjoy new life in Jesus.

MY PRAYER

Lord God, I thank you for the gift of new life in Jesus.  Give me the love and courage to share that gift through my actions and words, so that I may be raised to life with you.  Amen.

Yours In Christ Jesus;

Jim Perry

Devotional 6-1-12

Lectionary Reading: Isaiah6:1-8

I, even I, am he who blots your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25

Irretrievably Gone

High on a sun-drenched ledge, you lean back and feel the breeze softly cooling your skin. With a deep contented breath of mountain air, you survey the lovely over-the-treetops view.

A small stone, just the right size for throwing, sits just within arm's reach. You lazily pick it up and watch transfixed, as your fist sends it sailing over the edge, down, down, to disappear far below. You do not see it reach the ground.

Think about God's forgiveness and how he assures us that he separates us far from our sinful deeds once we have confessed them, "As far as the east is from the west"----so far we cannot imagine retrieving them, any more than you can imagine retrieving that disappearing stone you just cast off the mountain.

The concept of forgiveness is all about casting off. In the original language, the idea of yielding up and casting off is central.

Your past sins need never become your identity. You are what you become from this moment forward. Satan, the Accuser, will try to tell you that your sins are not really gone; that their shadow will always hang over you. His lies can be very convincing, because we feel bad about the wrong things we have done and find it hard, sometimes, to believe God could really cast them away so far that they are forgotten! But don't allow doubts and self-destructive suggestions to invade your mind. If God says you are truly forgiven, then you are.

Remind yourself of the permanence of his forgiveness. In your mind's eye, return to that cliff whenever you are tempted to hold on to past sins. Pick up a stone, wind up, and hurl it as far as you can throw it into the thick, distant treetops. Is there any way you could find it after that? Why would you ever want to try?

Dear Lord, how wonderful it feels to know I am forgiven.

Mountain Prayers: A Vacation for Your Soul
Honor Books 2007

Kay Lewis

Devotional 5-24-12

Pentecost--Breath of God
 

Lectionary Readings:Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b; Romans 8: 22-27; John 15:26-27 & 16: 4-15.
"When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force--no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them." (Acts 2:1-4 from The Message)

One of my favorite choral works is "Elijah" by Mendelssohn. It contains many special passages, but one that inspires me is a tenor aria with the lyrics: "If with all your hearts ye truly seek me, ye shall ever surely find me. Thus saith our God." God promises to be available, to be approachable, to never leave us comfortless. His very breath gives us life. His word creates anew all living things. He asks that we seek Him and wait for His presence to fill us.

That was the instruction to the disciples--to wait in the upper room for the promise of a baptism of the Holy Spirit. No one in that room knew how or when the spirit would be made known. Luke describes the scene as a wind that came without warning--filling the entire building. Then each individual was filled with the fire of the spirit which ignited their very souls. The "fire" ignited the birth of the church--the spread of the "good news to the world."

As "modern" Christians. we are not very effective in the art of waiting. We live in the instant gratification era--cell phones, I-pads, Instant messages, Insta-grams, etc. Waiting, according to Paul, should be like the pangs of pregnancy where the waiting increases our longing for delivery. The longer we wait, the higher our expectations are for a joyful result. But do we approach the Holy Spirit with this high level of expectation? Do we seek the challenge of a creating God who will mold us and re-fire us? Do we just take it for granted that the Holy Spirit is somewhere 'out there' and never seek a true baptism of its power in our lives? What would happen if we became seekers of the Holy Spirit?

There is a song by Michael W. Smith : (hear him sing this by doing a "you-tube" search)
This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me

And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm, I'm lost without you.

Are we desperate for this wind which is the breath of God? The Hebrew word is ruach which can mean "air in motion", "breath", "life" and also "spirit". The Greek word used in the Acts scripture is pneuma. Translated into English,pnuema means "a current of air", "breath", a "breeze" or "spirit". As an adult we normally breathe 12-20 times each minute. Our brain takes care of sending signals that cause the diaphragm and rib muscles to contract to create an inhalation. We don't have to think about it. We are dependent on the exchange of air during the act of breathing for our very life. If there is a problem with the breathing process, we become desperate for air.

God is waiting for us to seek His breath. The Holy Spirit is our promise of relationship with Him. Let us take on the task of waiting for the Spirit to fill us. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." (Psalm 150)

Jeff Taylor wrote this prayer and although I don't have his permission, I include it as our prayer for this day:

Dear God, by the Power of Your Holy Spirit, create us anew. Give us the breath to sing your praises and the faith to soar with you. Give us power to discern what you call us to be and to do. Come Holy Spirit, come! Amen.

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 5-18-12

A Day of Miracles

John 6:1-13

The crowd was thick.
Anticipation was heavy in the air,
Carried on the heat of the day,
And on the wings of the flies.
Something was about to happen.

Philip stood next to Andrew,
His eyes squinted against the sun.
"He wants us to feed all of these people."
They looked out over the crowd.
A sea of faces.
Expectant and hungry.
Hungry for bread.
Hungry for the Bread of life.
He looked at the coins in his hand,
And said, almost to himself.
"He asks the impossible,
We do not have enough."
Philip left to speak with Judas,
Still shaking his head.

Andrew stood at the edge of the crowd,
Feeling the weight of scarcity.
A small boy, who had been standing nearby,
Came to him, and tugged on his robe.
He held up his basket, grungy and dirty.
He said, "I have this.
Will it be enough?
You can have it all."
Setting it down at Andrew's feet,
He looked up.
He was missing teeth,
But his smile was complete.
Andrew smiled back,
Patted the boy on the shoulder,
And thanked him,
For his food,
And for his generous spirit.

After the boy ran off to rejoin the crowd,
Andrew picked up the basket.
He always took everything to Jesus --
People, questions, fears.
He supposed this was no different,
Although he felt like a fool.
Shaking his head as he argued with himself,
He carried the basket to where Jesus sat.
"A boy gave me this.
Five loaves, two fish,
I know it's not nearly enough."

Jesus smiled at Andrew,
And told him to have everyone sit down.
They shared the field,
They shared in thanksgiving.
They shared the food.
They all were part of a miracle.

When everyone had been fed,
Jesus had one more transformation to perform.
He sent his disciples into the crowd,
So that they could be changed.
So that their small faith, their attitude of scarcity,
Could be enlarged by witnessing abundance.
What had been small, had been changed to excess.
What had been the generosity of a boy,
What had once been the seed of love,
Had born the fruit of a miracle.
Where the disciples had seen the impossible,
Jesus had shown them more than enough.

It had been a day of many miracles.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 5-11-12

I have been thinking about Mark Conner's devotion about being tricked. (Read it here.) I think I am a good person. I do things everyday to try and make a difference to others. Yet I know I fall short as I am only hunan. I had never thought about Jesus being tricked as he walked through those palms and recieved those joyous shouts on Palm Sunday. He knew what was lying ahead for Him. Did the people around him? I guess not. They thought that He was on his journey to be glorified. Do I not think that being a good person and doing good things and having people think that I am great will glorify me? Honestly, I do, but is only when I hear about the difference that I have made as a result of my deeds that I feel good about what I have done. I like to call it a double blessing. If I have made a difference in some way and heard how it has made a difference, I expierence a double blessing. The goodness I have done comes back to me and that is when I really feel good about -- what I have done.It is contagious. The more I do, the better I feel and the better I feel, the more I want to do good things.

Jesus walking on those palms set the example for me to experince the double blessings everyday in my life. Granted He had to die for us to figure this out. He allows us to walk on palms everyday and to glorify ourselves through his example. The good feeling is just waiting for you if you are willing to walk on the palms with Him.

Jean Ramsey

Devotional 5-4-12

I would like to share with you a recent experience of mine which confirmed to me once again that God is always with us and cares about everything we do or think or feel.

It was the evening before the first anniversary of my husband's death and I was feeling low in just about every possible way, emotionally, spiritually, physically. Each day in the week before the anniversary I had remembered the time one year ago when Keith was in hospital, in ICU, a time when we thought sure he would recover. Some days there were encouraging signs, a day when he was able to be off the ventilator, the day when he was able to use an IPad. But recovery was not to be.

Now, one year later, where to turn for comfort and strength. I felt devastated.

The Upper Room reading for this day had been from the Gospel of John,Chapter 14. I reread it and at first could not find the help and comfort I was seeking.Then I realized that what I needed was staring me in the face, in V.1, ."Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me" and again in V.27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".

I began to feel energized, to get up out of my chair, to stop feeling sorry for myself, to expect God's help. Help came in the form of an email with photos of the newest family member, little one-year-old Alison, a bright and smiling example of God's love. Help came in the form of a telephone call with an answer I had been seeking. Help came in the knowledge that He is always there to give physical strength to comfort both emotionally and spiritually.

How blessed that our great Got cares about each one of us so much that He is always there for us to give us strength and hope and comfort. We just have to seek Him."

Jean Dean

Devotional 4-27-12

Scars of His Love

He sat outside,

the heat of the day beating into his skin.
The wall at his back was rough
digging into his tunic.
The ground where he sat was hard
Parched.

As he had been
Eight days ago,
when he had left the other ten,
When he had struck out alone,
in desperation.
He had been empty,
scarred,
and he had sought emptiness.

Upon his return to the Upper Room
he had been told that his Master had returned
Risen from the dead.
That he had been alive and with them.

The news had been like
tales of rain in a drought,
thoughts of healing for a leper,
Unbelievable.
Unacceptable.
Unimaginable.
The scars of loss had been too parched
to admit any possibilities of grace.

He had held on to the loss.
It had been safer.
And he had been unwilling
to hear the sound of anything else.

Now, today, Thomas sat outside
having encountered the risen Lord.
He had seen the Rabbi’s scars,
Heard his voice.
And Thomas had believed.

He stared at his own hands,
remembering the look of the Master’s hands
where the nails had pierced the flesh.
The scars of the Master’s love
had left him breathless,
and finally,
he had opened his heart
To the flood of the grace offered.

He had believed.
“My Lord and my God.”

Inspiration from John 20:24-28 and from the line, "The scars of your love, they leave me breathless" from the song Rolling in the Deep by Adele.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 4-20-12

The Man I Never Knew

April 7^th, 2012 should have been a Saturday like any other -- hectic and full of the errands that didn’t get completed during the week. It should not have been a day for the news that was about to come. But come it did. The phone call said that my cousin had died the day before. My youngest cousin. My 43 year old cousin. What?? “This can’t be” was my first thought and most likely the first thing I also spoke out loud. John Matthew, dubbed Johnny Bugs by his Aunt Judy (my mom) when he was very nearly the size of a bug, was gone.

Society has a self imposed litmus test for success. Grow up, get married, have kids, retire, get a hobby. And there are ages that correspond to each stage. If an individual does not marry or works into his seventies or eighties we ask “What’s wrong with him?” The answer is simply this – absolutely nothing! Johnny was not married nor did he have children. Johnny chose a path that kept him in the hometown that he loved, allowed him to work in a place with immediate and extended family and gave him the freedom to travel and spend time with family and friends not living near.

The week approaching promised joy at seeing so many of the family and heartache at saying goodbye to one. I was not the first to arrive at the viewing nor the last to leave, but I did watch a three and a half hour steady line of people wait patiently to pay their respects to the family – the family that had just lost so much. I watched this family arranged in a horseshoe with Johnny’s casket closing the loop on one end. They graciously received each of the visitors. No member of the family, although each strong in their own way, could have single handedly borne the weight of that evening. But together drawing strength from each other, the stayed the course.

The celebration of life folder gave the agenda for the funeral service the following day. I read the list of speakers in disbelief; lifelong friends, his nieces and nephews, his sisters and his brother. I wondered how they would manage it, knowing full well that if I were placed in a similar situation I would crumble into a heap on the ground. But manage it they did with strength and composure. Classmates, teammates and friends spoke of friendships built so long ago. Nieces and nephews shared what Uncle Johnny meant to them. He was never too busy. One sister shared about Johnny’s “great laugh”. It was contagious. And his smile infectious – when Johnny smiled, the room smiled. And the eldest, his other sister, talked of acceptance. Johnny didn’t care about background or circumstance, Johnny took you just as you stood – baggage and all.

God has a funny way of getting our attention (or he does with me anyway). Music is a primary tool. On an August day in 2009 as we drove to the funeral home for Mom’s service, a song popped on the radio that almost stopped me in my tracks. Mom had battled Alzheimer’s for several years. Alzheimer’s is a disease that robs its victims of memory and cognitive thought – at first. Then it deprives them of remembering how to eat, how to breath and how to live. It had been months since I had seen her awake. She had withered into a wisp of herself and now the battle was over. The song was sung by Jeremy Camp and the particular section of lyrics that spoke to me was this:

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face.
A relief to think of no more burdens for her.

On this April Friday as I steered into the same driveway of the same funeral home, this time for Johnny, these words came over the radio.

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary…
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus.
Many cries going out this week. Comforting words.

God also puts people in our path who teach us things. When Jesus walked the earth, he preached and taught – by word and by example. Scholars can only point to one or two instances where Jesus actually wrote. They kind of agree that it was with his finger or the point of a stick and that it was in the dirt. He didn’t keep a journal. Fortunately those that were around Him found it important enough to document what went on. Today those words and actions are bound into a single volume and are our blueprint for life. They require study and reflection, but there they are. What if there was a person, now, 2000 years later, living those actions of caring and accepting and helping? Wouldn’t we try or at least want to try, to be like that? We may even tag them with the title of role model. That was Johnny. Never flashy or boastful but always there when needed. We find ourselves muttering, “I wish I could be more like that”, or “I would like to be like him”.

No one that spoke on Friday ever mentioned anger, malice or hatefulness. That wasn’t Johnny. The relationships they described are the kind forged in a fire of trust and respect. The kind that weather all that time imposes upon them. I have more respect for Dave than I can say in these paragraphs. He is a gentleman and the epitome of class. He used the words ‘best friend’ to describe his brother. I feel confident that those are not words he attaches to a person easily and they are not words I take lightly. David and Johnny were brothers by birth – not much choice in the matter. They were friends because they wanted to be. That was ALL a matter of choice.

To say that Johnny touched lives would be to dilute the true power he had on this planet. He impacted lives. To be helped, cared for or befriended by Johnny was to be changed forever. Johnny was six years my junior yet I can only hope that someday I grow into the man he was.

Godspeed Johnny Bugs. You will never know all that you did here on earth. Those of us that remain, that knew you and loved you, will do our meager best to pay forward your legacy.

Steve Matthews