Devotional 11-22-13

A question I heard this morning:  have you ever considered how difficult it would be to explain that Jesus is the Lamb of God to someone who is very familiar with a walrus, but has never seen a sheep?

There is a truth in the phrase "Jesus is the Lamb of God" that those who heard it understood -- because they could understand what the metaphor means.  They knew sheep.  They knew Jewish sacrifice.  They got it.

How does that metaphor play in a different world?

How do we understand the same metaphors that a person in 1st century Israel would?  Many people say they take the Bible as the literal truth of God, but it isn't written as literal truth.  Jesus is not literally a lamb.  The phrase is a metaphor that we seek to understand, even though we are living 2000 years later.

If I only know walruses (is that the plural of walrus?), then I might not understand everything about the lamb metaphor.

We need to be careful when we say that the way you or I interpret the Word of God is the one and only way to understand the truth of what is written. We are as distant from the original setting and hearers of the word as a Walrus caretaker is from shepherds.  That doesn't mean we can't understand the truth - it means we have to work harder, listen to each other, read more than just one verse, and listen to more than just one voice of interpretation.  We have to listen for God speaking.

And we have to admit that we only know the walrus.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 11-15-13

           A Conversation With A Fav’rite Psalm:
           The Twenty-seventh One, To Be Precise

My light and my salvation is the Lord.
With God beside me, there are none to fear.
I have no cause to shrink or be afraid
Because my stronghold guardian is the Lord.

          Is God’s protective care for me alone?
          Or does the Lord look after others, too?
          While others fear, is that for me to care?
          Is God’s protection from the likes of me?

Though hosts of armies camp against my wall,
I have no fear; my heart in safety rests.
When evil ones and adversaries rise,
They stumble, fall; and I am safe, secure.

          But what if I the adversary be?
          Against the Lord am I an enemy?
          Are they my words and deeds that proffer harm
          To God’s own people?  Is it I that sin?

I seek to live within the house of God
For all the days of my eternal life.
I dream the beauties of the Lord’s abode.
I long to learn within the courts of God.

          But wait!  I learn what God reveals to me:
          That those whom I distrust are also there
          Within the house I thought was saved for me
          Alone!  What dreadful comedy is this?

I feel the hand of God who raises me
Above my enemies who wish me harm.
I sing the song of triumph!  Hear me, Lord?
Be gracious unto me and answer me.

          But there, in other hands of God, I see
          The ones who cause me great distress and fear.
          Is this some kind of joke?  Malevolence?
          That others in the hands of God sing praise?

When I the sinner am, forgive me, Lord.
Allay my fear and use my strength to serve
You all my days while waiting patiently
To see the fullness of your love and grace.

Devotional 11-8-13

Then Eli answered, ‘Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.’ 1 Samuel 1:17

 The night was still thick and heavy
 across the land.
 The sun was only a hoped for light.
 Hannah couldn't sleep.
 She traveled with her husband.
 They were returning home.

 In the darkness, she touched flame
 to kindling,
 encouraging the fire to burn again
 in the dark.

 Her life had been hopeless, empty,
 but now, the spark of Eli's words
 burned small and tiny in her mind.
 "Go in peace,
 God will grant your petition."

 She blew gently on the flame
 to keep it alive,
 as she prayed for the hope within her
 to continue to burn.

 Was it better, to wait now in the midst of hope,
 fearful that the hope would die within her?
 Or was the security of hopelessness better,
 without the fear of loss?
 She blew the gentle breath of prayer on the flame within her.
 "Please, God..."

 To wait.  To hope. To fear.
 To fear even to believe.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 11-1-13

St. Ambrose, archbishop of Milan, was one of the most influential church figures in the 4th century. He was a strong advocate of faithful church doctrine and worked hard to repel heresies that arose. His hymn which follows has been translated with several variations though it is a beautifully reflective poem that contemplates the presence of God in the arrival of the dawn. I've kept his hymn handy for morning prayer. I cobbled together some text from varying sources into a hymn which we will use to open our "All Saints Sunday" service of worship this week. May I offer the thought that you read this as a prayer. And come sing it with us on Sunday!

Dawn Sprinkles All the East with Light

Dawn sprinkles all the east with light
Day o’er the earth is gli-ding bright;
Morn’s shi-ning rays their course be-gin;
Fare-well to dark-ness and to sin.

May phan-toms of the night, we pray,
And trace of guilt be cleansed away.
What-e-ver weighs u-pon the heart
Let it with dark-ness now de-part.

Then, when that fi-nal morn ar-rives,
With hum-ble faith we hope our lives
May see, il-lu-mined by new sight,
What we now sing by ear-ly light:

Praise God from whom all bles-sings flow,
Praise God, all crea-tures here be-low.
Praise God a-bove ye heav’n-ly host.
Praise Fa-ther, Son, and Ho-ly Ghost.

“Aurora Jam Spargit Polum”
St. Ambrose, 4th c.
Text ed. jwl 2013
Tune:  Tallis’ Canon; Thomas Tallis 1505-1585

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 10-25-13

"FEAR knocked at my door but when FAITH answered it there was nobody there."

A friend of mine who experienced a devastating tragedy in the loss of his wife and daughter in an automobile accident shared this with me a few weeks ago. It has helped me and I hope it will do the same for you.

Fear is a strong word that can cover anxiety, worry, panic, apprehension, agitation, disquiet, dread. I had no idea there were so many definitions of fear until I checked the dictionary. We have all experienced one or another type of fear some time in our lives. Maybe a big fear like a health issue or losing a job or perhaps a more every day event like having to step outside our comfort zone. However big or small we can always send FAITH to answer the door.

When FEAR coming knocking on your door, send FAITH to answer it.

2 Timothy 1:7   For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

What a wonderful promise!

Jean Dean

Devotional 10-18-13

I’m pretty sure I speak for most parents in saying the birth of a child is in many ways the most intense experience of love.  When baby Devon was born six years ago, there was no doubt that we loved her.   Instead of the usual quick tests and then time in our arms, Devon had extensive evaluations and treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit.  The attached wires and tubes made it nearly impossible to hold her, so we didn’t do much of it in her first few days.  We went to see her quite a bit, but it seemed like every visit was another opportunity for the hospital staff to tell us about something else that was wrong with her.  I found myself reluctant to hold her.   I didn’t realize that I was protecting myself in the event that we might lose her.  For many reasons, though, this bonding issue resolved itself in a very short period of time.

I look back at all the relationships I have had throughout my life to this point.  I certainly don’t like some of the things I did or said, but I would never say I regret having met any of those people.  I am glad to have had an experience with every single one of them, including those with whom things did not end well.  A few that come to mind are a college roommate, a church acquaintance, and a middle school student.  In all cases, there are memories that still make me smile.

As I did at first with infant Devon, we all spend so much of our energy trying to protect ourselves from pain, but we are also avoiding some of the most fulfilling relationships.   There are people we see every day, but one reason or another will keep us from going just that extra inch to reach out to them. I am confident that when I make a connection with someone, I’m sometimes the one who most needs the relationship or the one for whom God has put the opportunity in place.  Why not choose just one this year?  Take the time to listen to what God wants for you and how He wants to use a new friendship.  My prayer is that we all take full advantage of the love that He provides everyday through one another, and that He strengthens the Church through us.

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. (1 Peter 4:8-10)

Natalie Wray

Devotional 10-13-13

Keep It Simple

I have recently been reading the book of Matthew. It struck me how much emphasis Jesus put on the intent of the law rather than the technicalities. He preached heartfelt obedience over legalistic observance. When questioned by the Sadducees about the greatest commandment, “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the laws and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV) How simple! And yet over 600 laws and rules had been put in place to govern everyday life. Jesus called the Pharisees and the Sadducees hypocrites because they held others to standards they couldn’t meet themselves.

We still do this today. A few years ago I was talking to a gentleman about church. He told me he attended his wife’s church but was not allowed to join because he smoked! There was also a rule about not drinking alcohol. He thought that was okay ((he didn’t drink), but that the ‘no smoking’ rule was going a little far. I know this is an extreme example. Unfortunately it is this attitude that has made being a Christian synonymous with being a judgmental hypocrite. We all admit we are sinners. Where did we get the idea that someone else’s sin was worse than our sins? Where did we get the idea that we had the right to make that judgment? These attitudes certainly didn’t come from Jesus. Jesus was the epitome of loving acceptance and called the Sadducees and Pharisees on their hypocrisy many times. As Christians we need to hold ourselves to higher standards--not others!

Jesus kept it simple: Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and your neighbor as yourself. Do this and everything else falls into place.

Margaret Williams

Devotional 10-4-13

THE MUSTARD SEED

The mustard seed has a long history and religious importance in Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. The tiny size, 3mm in diameter, has been significant and referenced in the texts of these major religions.  Today, mustard seed is popular due to its distinct flavors and added health benefits.
                                                                                                        L.H. Lee, e-how contributor

When I was a young girl about ten years old, I received an unusual gift from my grandmother for my birthday.  It was a beautiful necklace, and hanging from the end of it was an encased oval glass piece with a tiny seed inside. Do I pretend to know what it is, or do I ask Grandmother? Though I didn’t know it at the time, Grandmother (not Grammy, Grandma, Nana, Mimi, etc. but Grandmother!) had been an activist in the Women’s Temperance Union, was a staunch Methodist, and had whispered secretly to me on occasion that I was her favorite grandchild! So rather than pretending I knew, I thought it was best to ask her what this mysterious little seed inside this beautiful bobbled necklace might be.

“It’s a mustard seed,” she said. “Wear it when you need to do something you don’t think you can do, and you may be surprised to see what happens.”

I didn’t quite understand her explanation, but I wore the necklace every day for the longest time.  I’m not sure what happened to it.  But over time I think I began to understand the significance of the mustard seed.

We learn about that significance in a parable of Jesus to his disciples in the New Testament.  In the Gospel of Luke 17:5-10, the disciples seem to be looking for an easy way to increase their faith by going directly to Jesus.  They simply say, “increase our faith!” and expect it. After all, Jesus can do anything! But Jesus indicates to them that they don’t need more faith.  They just need to believe in the faith already given them by God.

Jesus is using the tiny mustard seed as an example that little becomes much when it comes from God. “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”  Jesus explains in this verse from Luke  that even the tiniest bit of faith--God-given, true and free of doubt--will be there as your journey through your discipleship.

We have seen the truth of this lesson as we look at the growth of Christianity from the time of the apostles through today. Personally, for the apostles then and Christians worldwide now, we sometimes struggle as our faith is challenged. We worry that our faith will not see us through. But we need not worry. We need only to remember that little is much when it comes from God. Even the smallest bit of faith will work for us when it is true faith from God.

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible unto you.”
The Book of Matthew
 
Diane Feaganes

Devotional 9-27-13

Jesus

          There once was a man, who was born very low,
His name I am sure that you know.
          He was born very low, but has risen so high,
In fact he is even higher than sky.
          The older he grew the wiser he became
I am sure that you know of his wonderful name.
          He helped the people wherever he went
He truly was a Savior heaven sent.
          He died on the cross for sins yours and mine
So we might know of heaven divine.

Rev. Thom Malcolm

Devotional 9-20-13

My Father’s World

God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.  And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”  And it was so.  God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.  Genesis 1: 29-31

On a beautiful spring day in 1997, my husband looked up from his dinner plate and said, “I really don’t like my job.”  This really was not a newsflash because I had suspected for some time that he did not like it.  In the twenty-two years that we had been married, he had worked for other contractors, had done his own contracting work, remodeled rooms, and built decks.  He had been poisoned by the treated lumber of the ‘70s and was still suffering as a result.  I knew he was tired of tearing out and rebuilding.

It was that year that he and I began our treks up and down the alleys of Huntington, WV, in order to find wooden treasures that others had discarded. He then turned them into beautiful objects that were sold at our little store on Norway Avenue.  I was so proud that he had thought of recycling to make his furniture.  Not only did we make money without the overhead, but we also did our part to cut down the amount of recyclable trash being dumped into the landfill.  Faderay  Furniture was born.

Now flash forward sixteen years. We still get in the truck three evenings a week and look for treasures.  They come fewer and farther between because the economy is worse and there are more of us in the alleys looking for items. But finding a bedstead, table, or unusual chair still gives me a thrill.

Since 1997 we have also added more recycling in our home.  We recycle all paper packaging, newspapers, and junk mail; plastic bottles and cartons; aluminum cans; and plastic bags.  Where do we take them?  The Cabell County Solid Waste Authority, in conjunction with the City of Huntington and Cabell County Commission, has distributed bins all over the city.  We take our paper and plastic items to Kroger, our aluminum cans to Rt. 2 Metal Recycling, and the plastic bags to Wal-Mart’s service desk. Most weeks we have less than one bag to put out on trash day.
Recently my Sunday school class has been marveling at how God puts us in places to help others and to get help.  I think He wants Don and me to encourage you to recycle.  You don’t have to do it all.  Choose one type of recycling that you think would help and enlist the help of family and friends if you do not have a car or truck to transport the items. We must work together to preserve our Father’s world.

Please sing this hymn of praise for the world God has given us.

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 9-13-13

Milestones

September this year brings the milestone of the 65th anniversary of my birth.  In a letter accompanying a birthday card from my 96-year-old mother, she said she remembers the day like yesterday and gushed some about how she could have held me forever.  She cannot believe it has been 65 years.  O’course, neither can I!

A couple weeks ago in a sermon, I contemplated the characteristics of time.  When looking forward, time seems endless – to the next Christmas, to graduation, to a significant birthday.  When looking back, time has flown so swiftly.

Milestones can be millstones, depressing anchors holding us back, drowning us in the stream of life, weighing us down along the journey.  Or they can be opportunities of gratitude to God or to others with whom we share the journey.

Milestones give me pause for reflection, and may I be so bold as to offer this suggestion as a devotional moment.  Take the time, at milestone events, to give some prayerful thought to your journey through time.  Take time to be aware of the world around – both the beauties of the world and the horrors that plague the evening news – appreciate the beauties, and take an active and prayerful part with other followers of Jesus who grapple with war and hunger and discrimination and homelessness.  Take time to be fully human – to recognize that you are a child of God which makes all of us, that is, ALL of us, sisters and brothers of one another.  And take time to be holy.  Not smoke and magic, not that mysteriously unknown quality we attribute to God, but different.  Holy simply means different.  Be different from the ways of the world which can be self-absorbed and greedy, belligerent and hateful, distrustful and unwelcoming.  Take time to reflect upon being the image of God that others will see.

Take time to “BE”.  Be aware.  Be human.  Be holy.

“Take time to be holy, the world rushes on.
Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like him you might be;
Your friends in your conduct his likeness shall see.”

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 9-6-13

Love our friends, Love our enemies!!!

Philemon 1:4-7
⁴ When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God ⁵ because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we  may do for Christ. ⁷ I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. (NRSV)

When I read these words above from Paul I cannot help but think of all our JM family and the many acts of good that you do for all those in our congregation and for those not in the congregation. Loving our friends!!

Then I read these words below from Dietrich Bonhoeffer about loving our enemies.  And my thoughts turned not to my enemies or even if anyone else has an enemy (do any of us have enemies?), but to the affairs occurring in our world today.  Now I am not making a political statement here but just asserting how we should treat others.

Are we not being encouraged or even lead by Paul’s words above and those of Dietrich Bonhoeffer below to do good and fill the needs of others -- of even those we call enemy?  When we do this we will be sharing our Christian love for all we encounter. This love received may just be the strength people need to help change their situations from within. Just by showing one simple act of love for someone else, even an enemy. Love our enemy!!

Words and thoughts are not enough. Doing good involves all the things of daily life. “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink” (Romans 12:20). In the same ways that brothers and sisters stand by each other in times of need, bind up each other’s wounds, ease each other’s pain, love of the enemy should do good to the enemy. Where in the world is there greater need, where are deeper wounds and pain than those of our enemies? Where is doing good more necessary and more blessed than for our enemies? (40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Luke 6:27-28

Pray that your “enemies” might receive every good from the hand of God and in response become instruments of God’s love and justice. (40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Prayer for Today
Holy God, who loves us all with an everlasting love, let my love for my enemies be a matter not only of words or thoughts but of specific and concrete actions. (40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
Fred Herr

Devotional 8-30-13

Today as I was sitting out on our deck, I began to think about what all has happened in the last 8 months in our family. In January Fred and I had plans to go to South Africa to visit Melissa and Kevin, Aundrea and Cassie for 4 weeks, and we were looking forward to the trip to be with family and to see another country that God had made.  What a great new experience for all of them to live there. We were excited to go.

I had been care giver for my Mother, Betty Lemley, for the past year.  Mike, my brother, was coming to be with Mom while we were gone.  Michelle, our daughter, would be there to help, too.  Mom was continuing to hurt with pain and was admitted to the hospital to get help for the arthritis, or so we thought.

We left on Sunday........... Mom was in good hands.............Mike and Michelle were there ............. She would be given relief for her pain............and would be rehabbed and be home and recovering when we returned in a month. Well, God had other plans for all of us. In the week that followed, she was found to have bone cancer!!!!!!  I was in denial. "There is no cancer in our family!" How could it be?"  We were all praying for God to help her through the ordeal.  Well, He did, but the answer was not what we all wanted. We returned home in the next week on Wednesday, and she died on Thursday, 24 hours after we all came home.

Since she died, I had just been going through the motion, doing what I had to do with her personal items and the estate. I was questioning, “Why?” What did we miss that could have done to help her?  I was not mad at God; I was just putting my feelings and trust on hold for a while. Wondering what was to come, if I were doing what I should be doing, asking myself what could I have done if we would have stayed home and not gone on our trip.  I had doubty and didn't do my devotions and bible reading as faithfully as I should, and not going to God for help, really praying to Him for comfort and guidance.

I miss her every day and find myself wanting to talk to her as we did every day. Now there is a void in my life.

I read Psalm 81:1 and 10-16.

In verse 11 &12:  God will let us go on blindly, stubbornly, selfishly, when we should have been obeying and pursuing God’s desires. God sometimes lets us continue in our stubbornness to bring us to our senses. He does not keep us from rebelling, because he wants us to learn the consequences of sin. He uses the experiences to turn people away from greater sin to faith in Him.

God had provided in his covenant that he would restore his people if they would listen and return to him. I finally realized that I had to give it to Him and ask for his help for me to renew my faith and to go to him for guidance and remember Hebrews 13:5:  Keep your lives free from the love of money or other things away from God and be content with what you have been given because God has said, "Never will I leave you: Never will I forsake you." And 13:8   Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hosea 14:2:   Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously that we may offer the fruits of our lips.  A "sacrifice of praise" today would include thanking Christ for his sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it. Acts of kindness and sharing are particularly pleasing to God, even when they go unnoticed by others.

In the past months, God has given our family a joy from him:  the joy of the birth of our third Granddaughter, MaKenna Brook Herr, daughter of Anthony and Kelli Herr, born March 14th. Kelli was blessed to get a new opportunity for work, and we are blessed with the task of caring for MaKenna while Mom and Dad work. What a great experience to be able to see her every week for 2 days and to watch her grow and to experience her as she grows. It is a blessing to be involved in her care along with her parents and other family members, and to see all the changes happening to her day by day as she grows.

We miss our other 2 granddaughters,  Aundrea, and Cassie and enjoy seeing them develop into beautiful young ladies through face time.

Let us pray:  I just have to thank you God for all the experiences of sadness and joy, doubt and faith, and feeling of hurt and feeling the love of Jesus that He has sent our way. Thank you for being there through it all and thank you for reveling to me on this beautiful day that you are the truth and light and the one to lean on  in our life's trials. Bless everyone as they go through what you have in store for them.

In His Name,
Amen

Melanie Herr

Devotional 8-23-13

I was amazed by the number of our members that came to the church picnic. In faith they came despite the rain. I bought bubble bottles thinking it would be fun for the kids. Well, Cordie Jo loved them. She danced in the rain and showed us what being young is all about.  Pastor Joe talked to me about the good fish that fisherman catch and the bad fish that are put back in the water.  Is it better to be a good fish or a bad fish that is set free? Awe. Think about the good fish will be kept for us to eat and the bad fish will be put back in the water. We will not know what happens to those fish as we know that they were not good enough for us to keep.

How do we judge a good fish from a bad fish?  We look at people for what they do or maybe how they are dressed, or how much money they have.  Is it better to be a good fish or a bad fish?

I also have to share a story about the fly that landed in my bottled water.  As I do not drink soda if they are not sugar free and decaffeinated, I had a bottle of water at the picnic. Safe, right? Well, as I was taking a sip I noticed a fly had made its way into my bottled water just as I drank from it. I could not shoo it away, and being the person that I am I decided to drown it in that bottle. Jennifer Hill and Stephanie Malcom were sitting with me.  I did everything I could to kill that fly in my bottle, and no matter what I did that fly came up swimming the back stroke.  After several tries and even pouring some Diet Pepsi on it still survived.  I finally poured it out in a bowl and helped it out of the liquids it had been entrapped in. We watched as the fly patiently dried its wings and slowly overcame the situation it had gotten itself into. We watched as it eventually flew away despite the troubles it had gotten into.

Moral: Even though you think you are a good fish you are no better than a bad fish.  Most of us are like the fly in my water bottle, and we struggle, and then if we are lucky we are set free by our faith of someone who cares for us either earthly or by our faith in our religious beliefs.

A lesson I learned today.

Jean Ramsey

Devotional 8-16-13

Give Me Faith

1. Give me faith that I can know,
   Truth revealed so long ago.
   Creator of the wind and sea,
   Breath of Life, awaken me.
   .
2. Give me faith that I believe,
   Pardoned sin, your grace receive.
   God of mercy, loving Lord,
   I was dead, now life’s restored!
   .
3. Give me faith that I can trust,
   Self, denied, now right and just.
   Holy Spirit, move in me,
   Your disciple let me be.
   .
4. Give your church the faith to be,
   Joined in love and charity.
   Free us to unite as one,
   That we may see Your will be done.

Tune:  Canterbury (Holy Spirit, Truth Divine, UMH 466)
 
© 2013 Jeffrey A. Taylor.  All rights reserved.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 8-9-13

Actually, Strangers In A Train Station

I don't believe everything happens for a reason, but somehow God always seems to give me what I need at the right moment.

My oldest son and daughter-in-law recently moved from Huntington to the Philadelphia area. Unfortunately, they took my precious grandchildren with them! I accompanied them on the move. Instead of returning home, I took the train to Boston to visit my youngest son. The Philadelphia train station is a magnificent, grand old structure with wooden pews for waiting travelers.

It was time to say good-bye. I hugged each grandchild, my daughter-in-law and finally my son. Needless to say, it was an emotional moment. As they walked away, a lady sitting on the pew next to me smiled and said, "Your family?" I gave her the short version of the story. She said, "I have a son who lives in Brazil." Brazil? How could I complain that my son was moving to Pennsylvania when her's was in South America? We talked like old friends. She also has a son in New York City, where two of my sons went to college. We laughed as we wondered why these kids want to live in concrete jungles. When my train was called, I gathered my things and we wished each other well and safe travels. I told her, "You are my angel today; thank you." I think she liked the designation of angel.
Did God make sure that lady was there to comfort me when I needed it? I don't know. All I know is that she was there when I needed her.

You never know when you might be someone's angel. Don't miss the opportunity.

Look what someone posted as I was thinking about this devotion:

Devotional 8-2-13

The Bishop's sermon at Annual Conference this past June was centered around the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9).  There were many "ah ha" moments for me in the sermon, and when I returned home, I wrote this poem -- my image of the sower.  Remember as you read this, that the sower is God, and that we are called to act in God's image.

The sower,
hands callused from work,
ageless in appearance,
reached into the bag of seed
with determination.

His hands had large palms
and long, artistic fingers.
He filled them with seed.
He lifted his hand,
heedless of the seed that spilled between his fingers,
that slid out of his palm,
that piled on the ground at his feet.

The sower slung seed across the ground.
With prodigal abandon.
With radical generosity.
His eyes were not on the dirt at his feet,
but instead were focused on some distant future.
It was as if he could see the plants that would spring forth
From the seed scattered.

He sowed the seed on dry ground.
Fertile ground.
Rocky ground.
Land choked with weeds and thistle.
He sowed recklessly.

He kept reaching into the bag at his side
Filling his hands with seed,
Unworried that his supply would dwindle,
for, indeed, it did not.
Seed was not scarce;
It was abundant.

A child walked along side the sower,
trying to learn how to follow in his footsteps
but perplexed by his actions.
"You are doing it wrong!
You must choose the ground wisely,
not wasting seed.
If I plant as you plant,
most of the seed
will not grow.
Surely you do not want me to do this?"

The sower answered,
"To be a sower,
all you must do is sow.
I do not hold you accountable for how much seed you plant,
only for the seeds you do not plant.
I do not expect you to make the seed grow,
only to plant it.
I will not judge your failures,
for if you sow, you have not failed."

"Hold out your hands," the sower told the child.
Seed poured forth from the hands of the sower
into the cupped hands of the child.
Overflowing.
Piling up at their feet.
The two looked at each other and grinned.
The child gathered his courage,
turned,
and tossed seed into the air.
As they watched it cascade to the ground,
they both laughed with the joy of it.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 7-26-13

Colossians 2:6-7 -- So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,and overflowing with thankfulness.

Every morning that I can, after getting out of bed, I get a little fruit juice, and go to a place I have set up to read the devotional, "The Upper Room".  This includes Bible scripture and then a story and prayer someone has written.

I enjoy this quiet time and pray for the rest of my day to please the Lord. By doing so, I feel I am doing as Jesus wants me to do.  He is helping me through my day.  I am also learning and renewing my faith in Jesus Christ.

What a glorious feeling to be rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith I was taught as a child and overflowing with thankfulness.

Let's pray:  Our gracious heavenly Father, bless me as I take my quiet time to strengthen my faith in you and Christ Jesus.  I am overflowing with thankfulness at being with you.  Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 7-19-13

In Luke 10:38-42, Martha has opened her home to Jesus. She is scurrying around making preparations for the visit. Her sister Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to what He has to say. Exasperated Martha asks Jesus to intervene and tell Mary to help her. Jesus answers, ”Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it won’t be taken away from her.” (NIV)

Pressures, demands on our time, tasks to be finished, appointments to be kept; everyone wants a piece of our time. Yet, Jesus is telling Martha that Mary has made the better choice. Relationships are important--with God, our families, our friends, and even strangers that we meet. Time is a precious commodity, but it doesn’t always take a lot of time to show someone you care and that they are important to you. My daughter and my grandson (almost 21 and no longer living at home) both work at Amazon. Their paths usually cross as he is coming to work and she is on her lunch break. He never fails to give her a hug and a kiss and tell her he loves her. When his friends give him a hard time, he said, “Hey, it only takes a minute, and it makes her day. When was the last time you hugged your Mom?” A minute out of his day and she feels loved and appreciated. A minute out of your day to smile at a stranger or say hello, and maybe offer a helping hand. A little act of kindness that can brighten someones day.

Of course the more time and effort you put into a relationship the closer you feel to that person. My mother-in-law recently passed away. We all would have liked one more hug--one more conversation with her. But, it really made me appreciate the long chats we used to have, the stories of her life she told me and that she allowed me to know her not only as a mother-in-law, but also as a person.

The more you open yourself up and honestly share your life, your dreams, your failures and your joys the closer you feel. It is the same with God with one big difference. There is no reason to fear His reaction or His rejection. He already knows and loves you and accepts you. But, in the telling you become closer to God. In the quiet listening after you finish you often come to new insights, a new peace and a closer relationship with God.

It is all too easy to get distracted by life, work, chores and worries. But relationships are not to be taken for granted. They need to be nurtured. Take care of your relationship with God, your family, and your friends. Don’t take them for granted. Schedule the time if you have to, but make them the priority that they deserve to be.

Margaret Williams

Devotional 7-12-13

Others

Psalm 82:1-4, Luke 10:25-37

The two readings above are from this week’s lectionary; their overall theme is helping others.  And the passage from Luke is one we are all familiar with, the “Good Samaritan”.

When have we helped “others”? Has it been outside the walls of the church? Have we walked past someone in need? These questions are not to point a finger at inactivity but to make us think about how we should reach out to those in need.

Helping “others” may be as simple as making a monetary gift to an organization like UMCOR but why not go a step further and be part of a recovery team following a disaster, like flooding.  Why not come down to JM on Thursday evenings and help serve food and even lend a listening ear to our neighbors attending Common Grounds? Trust me, you will be blessed.  How about checking on your own neighbors during a prolonged electrical outage? Are they cool, do they need something from the store?

When you see someone that may need help and your gut feeling or inner voice says, stop and help, do you listen?  I recently observed some young people doing just this on US Route 60 near Barboursville.  (I had stopped at a traffic light to make a turn, and I observed what was unfolding).  See, there is a gentleman who has everything he owns stacked high on a cart that he pulls behind a bicycle as he travels around the Route 60 and Barboursville area.  Well, apparently the cart had gotten stuck, and he was trying to free it. (This I learned later)   The young people had stopped to help him, when everyone else just passed by.  Remember the Good Samaritan, stepping out of his comfort zone.

God has charged each of us to do “give justice to and rescue the weak”.  Micah 6:8 “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.”

Pray;
God of justice, your word is light and truth.  Let your face shine on us to restore us, that we may walk in your way, seeking justice and doing good. Amen. ¹

1: from Revised Common Lectionary 

Fred Herr

Devotional 7-7-13

Feeling Insignificant – in a Good Way

 
Recently the congregation of Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church was blessed with a visit from a former pastor, David Johnson.  I always look forward to David’s sermons because he takes me down memory lane, reviews the lessons I was taught as a child, and then reminds me that I am breaking God’s heart with my disobedience. What really amazes me is that he makes me laugh and cry all the while. He has a way of making me feel insignificant – in a good way.
 
David shared a story about a hiking trip he took through the Appalachian Mountains when he was a young man.  I will not go into detail because I will probably get it wrong, and besides, it will not be as funny as when he told it. As he described the trip, we could imagine the endless trees, heavy backpacks, and blistered feet. Just when I was thinking, “I’m glad I wasn’t there,” he continued his story.  After he had put down the backpack and doctored his feet, he stepped away from the group into a clearing.  He drew in his breath as he surveyed the vista before him.  He said that at that moment he felt – insignificant – in a good way. As he admired all that God had created, he knew that he was a small part of the universe.  Insignificant, yes. Worthless, no.  The God who shaped the Appalachian Mountains was the same God who imagined, loved, and guided David Johnson.
 
As I listened to his story, I searched my recollections for a time when I felt particularly unimportant.  Those of you who know me know that I have never been accused of suffering from low self esteem, so this was no easy task.  Then I remembered.  I was twelve years old, traveling to Boise, Idaho, on the train. As I watched the sun set over the Rocky Mountains, I remember thinking to myself that the beauty I beheld at that moment was no accident.  And I felt insignificant – in a good way.  The God who had created all that I surveyed was the same God who had taken a moment to imagine, love, and guide me.
 
I’m not saying that the twelve-year-old Becky Wright suddenly became the perfect child.  There wasn’t a sunset long enough for that. But somewhere in my mind I tucked away the realization that I was part of something big, and that, maybe even more than my parents, kept me going back to church to learn more about that God.
 
Have you had a similar experience?  It may not have included sunsets in the Rockies, hiking trips in the Appalachians, or a cruise on one of the vast oceans.  It simply would have been a time when you knew God was there, and you were lucky to be there, too, no matter how insignificant it made you feel.
 
Please sing the following hymn as a devotional prayer.
 
“How Great Thou Art” by Stuart Hine   p.77 in The United Methodist Hymnal
 
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!

Becky Warren

Devotional 6-27-13

Born Free!

Lectionary Readings for the Week:  2 Kings: 1-2 & 6-14; Psalm 77: 1-2 & 11-20; Galatians 5:1 & 13-25; and Luke 9: 51-62.      "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life.  Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom.  Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows.  For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence:  Love others as you love yourself.  that's an act of true freedom.  If you bite and ravage each other, watch out--in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?"  Galatians 5: 13-15

This week's passage from Paul's letter to the Galatians provides several instructions on how to live a God-like life. God has given us freedom to choose our life style. In verse 23, Paul invites us to take on the fruits of the Spirit:  love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as behaviors that signify that we are allowing God to guide our actions. The key to accomplishing this God-filled life seems to hinge on relying on God for guidance in all our choices and living out the commandment to love one another.  When we choose to love, our actions and behaviors become more God-like.

At first reading, the freedom idea seems great. "You can choose any behavior or activity you desire."  But then Paul shares the "rest of the story".    "Be prepared:  if you choose to live without God--you will have a life filled with all manner of negative emotions and heartache."  In verses 19-21, Paul warns of results that occur when we try to get our own way all the time and that if we continue to use our freedom to live only as we choose, we will not inherit God's kingdom.  God gives us freedom and with the freedom to choose, we must understand that there will be dire consequences when we choose to ignore the commandment to love one another.

I don't know about you, but my daily walk usually starts out with all good intentions for making wise use of my freedom of choice, but when I examine it at the end of the day, I am highly disappointed and I'm sure God is also.  Loving my neighbor is easy enough for my friends and family, but what did I do for those not in my "inner circle"?  It has been said that what we spend the most time and money on are the things that we value the most.  My lack of regard for following God's will for my life shows up in my checkbook and debit card receipts.  God is asking me to examine my DAILY choices.

Freedom is not easy.  Freedom is not to be ignored or taken for granted, either.  And it seems that the more we struggle with our personal freedoms and when and how we should be protecting other's freedoms, we begin to see how living a God-like life requires a greater effort on our part.  We live in a very "connected" world.  But are we connected to God and have we listened for His voice of guidance?    Are we connected to the needs of those in our backyards?  Have we noticed those around us who are not free to make their own choices because of poverty, infirmity or the prison of a lifetime of poor choices?  What is God calling us to do with these observations?  How can we "love our neighbor" a little better each day?

Paul says in verses 25 and 26:  "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.  that means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse.  We have far more interesting things to do with our lives.  Each of us is an original." (The Message)

Dear Gracious and Loving God, you have provided all the tools to guide our behaviors and you call us daily to listen to your guidance.  We thank you for the bounty of love that you shower on us without reserve and the freedom to choose our path.  We are heartily sorry for all our missed choices to serve one another in love. Please forgive our negligence and selfishness.  Help us to make better choices each day that serve to increase our connectedness to you and to ALL our neighbors. AMEN.
 

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 6-23-13

A Prophet Loses His Nerve

I Kings, chapter 18 and 19

The lectionary texts in recent weeks have followed the life of Isaiah.  In one story, Elijah quite boldly, and derisively, challenged the prophets of Ba’al to a contest on Mount Carmel.  Let the true God send fire to consume a sacrifice.  The prophets of Ba’al cried out to their idol to no avail.  “Call him louder!” Isaiah mocked.  When their prayers failed, Isaiah modestly called to the one true God to send fire for the sacrifice.  Fire came; and it consumed not only the bull offered for sacrifice but also the wood and stones of the altar as well as the moat Isaiah placed around the altar to flood the sacrifice.  Isaiah then supervised a general slaughter of the prophets of Ba’al.

King Ahab learned of this and told his wife, Queen Jezebel.  Jezebel, quite displeased with this news, threatened Isaiah with a painful, torturous death which, frankly, frightened the bejezebel out of Isaiah.

Isaiah discerned the voice of God telling him to go to God’s mountain, Mt. Horeb.  He went, but rather than standing boldly on the mountain, Elijah hid in a cave.  He listened for the voice of God which he did not find in the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire. Rather, the voice of God spoke through a still, small voice.  While God can choose however God wants to speak, in this case, it was in a “sheer silence” as some translations put it.  “What are you doing here?” God asked him.  Twice.

Eventually, Elijah emerged from the cave to stand on the mountain and receive his next marching orders from God.

Many readers of this text focus on the “still small voice” that spoke to Elijah.  While it is important to listen for God to speak in whatever form God chooses, from the dramatic to the subtle, this text is more about God pursuing a prophet who had become frightened and who lost his prophetic courage.

Pastors and laity alike are called to serve God and to be in ministry.  There are times when we can stand boldly with Elijah and speak for God.  There are other times when peer pressure, criticism, desire to get along, or social fear get in the way and we feel weak or timid, perhaps embarrassed, to speak the word from God to an unreceptive audience or to a hostile world.  Battle scars can make us weary for the work of God. 

Even so, this text reminds us that God still pursues us, as the Lord pursued Isaiah into the cave, with a claim on us and an embrace that can give us the nerve – the courage – the guts, if you will – to be bold in our faith.

In the church, we draw strength to serve God in the world outside.  And in the church, others look to us for strength for their daily ministries.  Let us faithfully and boldly emerge from Isaiah’s cave; and let us also be the support others need to stand firmly for the Lord.

Dear God, you gave your prophets difficult tasks and you gave them strength.  When they faltered in sin, you chided them.  When they stumbled with fear, you gave them new courage.  Forgive us when we fail you and one another, and strengthen us for our daily walk with you.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 6-14-13

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ Fr I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ --Matthew 25:34-36

A + B = X

A. In Alice Hoffman's book The Third Angel, a country doctor tells his daughter that when he makes house calls he usually encounters The Angel of Life, The Angel of Death, or The Third Angel. The first two are obvious but the third one needed an explanation. When one helps a Third Angel, one becomes a better person. In my Koinonia Sunday School Class, Theo Tippett was our Third Angel. By loving and caring for Theo during her fight with cancer, we all became better people and a more cohesive, purposeful class.

B. My friend Marv Jones taught our Koinonia Class on May 19. In the course of his lesson, he told us that in college he was not always the best money manager and more than once went hungry due to lack of funds. "I know what it's like to be hungry," he said. Therefore, when someone asks him for food, he'll give it to them. Not handing them money, but physically going to the nearest restaurant and buying them a meal.

X. My birthday was three days later. I had a good morning with my co-workers treating me to gifts and the parents of my students (thanks to a couple of well-placed signs) stopping by to wish me a happy day. As I left work I was feeling pretty loved. I stopped at Speedway on the way home. Since it was my birthday I got 200 extra Speedy Points! As I got out of my car and started the process of pumping gas, a young woman came up to me and asked if I could help her. She said she had not eaten in a while and was hungry. (Marv's words were ringing in my head). She said, "You can watch me eat if you want to." Translation: "I am not going to use your money to buy drugs." I told her to go inside and pick out some food and I would pay for it after I finished at the gas pump. When I went inside she'd selected a pizza. "This is big enough, I can have some now and save some for later." I told her to pick out a drink too. As I paid for it (and got my 200 points), she thanked me and hugged me. As I walked back to my car, it dawned on me that I had been sent a Third Angel for my birthday, and that was the best gift of the day.

Anita Gardner Farrell

Today, June 14, is my son Marty's 27th birthday. He was born the day before Fathers' Day. When my Dad came to the hospital to see us, I said, "Your Fathers' Day gift is on my dining room table." He nodded toward the baby and said, "That's gift enough." That's a nice memory. Happy Fathers' Day to all the dads reading this.

Devotional 6-7-13

Lectionary:1 Kings 17:8-24, Psalm 146, Galatians 1: 11-24, Luke 7:11-17

 

Psalm 146:5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

 

A Sure Thing

 

"Oh, I hope I can make it to the top.", pants a hiker midway up a steep and rocky trail.  With sore feet and aching muscles, the hiker has good reason to wonder whether or not he'll be

among those who reach the summit of the mountain. It's not a sure thing.
 

You place your hope in God, but not the uncertain hope of the hapless hiker. In his Word, God has shown you his path and the direction he wants you to take. Yes, sometimes the way gets steep and you face barriers, crevasses, and canyons that make you believe the way impassible. Sometimes you tire in mind and body and you are tempted to say, "I just can't make it any further." God knows all the obstacles alongyour path and he knows your strength and endurance. Therefore, he helps. He comes to your aid in the form of his spirit, who increases your faith....by the hand of a friend who helps you out.....in the discovery of a bridge that allows you to move past the hardship and forward on your journey.This is the kind of assistance he promises you, and it's the kind of assistance that makes you say with confidence, "I place my hope in him." Though you cannot yet see the summit, you proclaim with certainty, "My hope is sure. In him, I will make it to the top.

God has promised to take you to the summit--eternal life with him in heaven. He has also promised to help you get there.You might not always know how. Nonetheless, you know he's going to come through for you. You know he will never leave you stranded on any part of the path. Your HOPE rests in the fact he has promised you his strength and power. And since he has promised, it's a sure thing.

 

Taken from Mountain Prayers: A Vacation for Your Soul.

Honor Books
 

Kay Lewis

Devotional 5-31-13

BE SAD…BUT NOT FOREVER

Memorial Day’s parades, speeches and celebrations have ended. The meaningful tributes to our fallen veterans remind us once more of the cost of war and the sadness of lives lost.  While the purpose of Memorial Day is to pay tribute, we can’t help but be sad at the same time.

Since the day I was born, our country has been involved in five wars.  America has taken upon itself the responsibility of upholding the freedom of the world. I can’t begin to theorize about God’s probable/possible/non-existent involvement or influence in war.  But whether based on religion, politics--whatever, the fact remains: war is war. 

I do know, however, that those who have seen combat and those who continue to fight in these wars have experienced something none of the rest of us can begin to imagine.  The physical, emotional and mental impact of war changes these men and women, and many, many lives are lost.  I know that God is waiting to become involved through our prayers for these soldiers, now in combat, or living with the memories of their war experience years ago.

When I was 20, my 24-year-old brother followed his dream to become a Navy pilot. When his tour of duty was about to end, he extended his tour one more year and volunteered for duty in Vietnam.  I don’t know if it was his passionate love of flying or his belief that the United States needed to be in this conflict--perhaps both--but he was compelled to follow through with his decision. It required additional training in Nevada before he left. On October 29, 1966, his plane crashed during a training mission because of mechanical failure, and suddenly he was gone.

We were devastated.  It took me some time to learn that anger does not heal.  I still remember the words of my mother’s close friend: “Be sad, but not forever.”   Though difficult, over time thoughts of my brother were no longer in the context of tragedy, but of the wonderful experiences we shared growing up.  My family suffered greatly from our loss--especially my parents.  But the support of so many through their kindness, their love and especially their prayers, made it possible to grieve and in time move on.

Though Memorial Day is officially over, it is so important that we remember our soldiers  past and present, as well as their families, with a simple mention in our prayers. As long as there is war, there will be sorrow and sadness, but our sadness will not be forever with God’s help.  All we need do is ask.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please protect our combat soldiers, comfort our war veterans, heal our wounded soldiers, and be with each of their families. This we ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 5-24-13

One Triune God[1]
 
We believe in One God
Mother of Creation
Seen, un-seen, of earth and heaven
Ev’rything that is.
We believe in one God,
Father, Son and Spirit.
One Church, one baptism, Everlasting life!
 
We believe in One God
Our Lord Christ Jesus
God from God, Begotten Son,
Slain and ris’n again.
We believe in one God,
Father, Son and Spirit.
One Church, one baptism, Everlasting life!
 
We believe in One God
Life-giving Spirit
Holy Power, Comforter
Worship, glorify!
We believe in one God,
Father, Son and Spirit.
One Church, one baptism, Everlasting life!
 

Jeff Taylor

---

[1] Words copyright © 2012 Jeffrey A. Taylor