Devotional 2-8-13

Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness..." 2 Corinthians 3:12

What does it mean to act with boldness?

Have you ever thought of being bold in listening? One of the devotions I read this morning spoke about “bold listening.” Are you bold in your listening? Do you hear what people are telling you? I often say my husband has a face that encourages people to talk to him. He has a great face, but that's probably not why people tell him their stories. He's a bold listener.

Being a bold listener means opening your mind to hear what another person is saying. Bold listening requires that we set aside everything else, for just that moment, and give listening to the person in front of us our highest priority. Hearing that person’s words becomes the most important thing in that moment. It means we set aside judgement and self-righteousness in order to hear the heart of another person.

Bold listening creates a kind of vulnerability -- opening up oneself to the idea that someone else could change your mind -- or change your actions. It means opening up to the idea that someone else's story might prompt you into a response that could help the other person. Bold listening implies that the words spoken by someone else might ring with the truth of God. It requires allowing oneself to love that other person. It’s not easy, but it is bold.

Being bold for Christ means being vulnerable. Bold listening is bold because it places our own needs behind the call of God on our lives. God calls us to bold love. Bold love is patient and kind. It is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way.... Sound familiar?

Have the courage to love each other with boldness. You have a great hope, so you can act with great boldness.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Grace and love,
Kim Matthews

Devotional 2-1-13

Once in a long while the internet will cough up something that is a real treasure – and I believe that the following “Poem for Children” does, indeed, qualify as a treasure!  Keep in mind the unspeakable murder of the twenty little children in Newtown, Connecticut a few days before Christmas and imagine what is must have been like when those children reached heaven.  A scripture comes to mind:  Mark 10:14-16

“Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.  I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Then he put his arms around them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

And here is a “Poem for Children.”  I hope that you treasure it as I have.

Poem for Children

"Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms, and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King,

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

 
And as if He could read all the questions she had,
He gently whispered to her, I’ll take care of mom and dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below.
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes, and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

 
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

 

Thanks and God bless