Devotional 5-30-14

Harvesting

As a child in the 40's I grew up with my Dad gardening and harvesting. In the spring he would plant lettuce and onions and we would have wilted lettuce made with bacon grease from the pork we had. We had strawberries and gooseberries too. Later he would plant green beans, corn, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, beets and potatoes, white ones and sweet ones too. He even grew peanuts too that he roasted in the oven for us. My Mom would harvest the things that he grew and can them for us to live on in the winter.

In the fall my Dad would start to save seeds for the next spring. He would gather them and dry them and make sure they would be good seed for the next years planting. Did all the seed produce for the next year? Of course not. But my Dad knew that, and he allowed for the difference  - knowing that not all seed are alike and therefore you make allowance for the difference.

Is that not what God does with us? He made us to grow and he wants us to harvest and allow for the seed that may not grow the way we want it to. My Dad knew that not all seed are the same. Therefore you accept the fact and know that your harvest will be the same.

Jean Ramsey

Devotional 5-23-14

What Is Your Spiritual Gift?
Recently I have been seeking a greater understanding of one’s spiritual gifts, and determining just what mine may be. Do you know what spiritual gifts you may have?  We all have them.

From the website www.umc.org/spiritual  I found this:

“Each child of God is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, specially gifted to play a unique and valued role in the body of Christ.  No one is without gift or purpose.  Spiritual gifts are not our talents or skills.  They are the grace of God at work within us, empowering us to match our deep passions with the world’s deep need.  The gifts are given to individuals, but they are given to build and strengthen community and to meet the needs of those around us.”

What this tells me is that every member of our church has a spiritual gift—maybe several. Knowing our individual spiritual strengths and weaknesses helps us to have a better fit for all the opportunities we have to use those gifts, or to choose to work hard on one you enjoy but aren’t quite comfortable with yet.

Did you know spiritual gifts can be found in the epistles to Rome, Ephesus and Corinth? There within Scriptures is listed the gifts of the Spirit, given especially for the up building of the body of Christ: administration…apostleship…compassion…discernment…evangelism…exhortation…faith…
healing…helping…interpretation of tongues…knowledge…leadership…miracles…prophecy…  servant hood…shepherding…teaching… and wisdom.  I have explored these and found them very interesting. (http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/exploring-your-spiritual-gifts) .

 I have begun my journey in discovering my spiritual gifts. Why not begin your journey, too? It’s good that we talk about our gifts together, , and work together to understand them and know how they can be used.  Try the website above, and look at others which discuss spiritual gifts.  It’s fun with a purpose!  We have been gifted. Let’s use those gifts for God’s purpose.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are aware of your wonderful gift of grace through the Holy Spirit. And as we explore the spiritual gifts also given to us, may we feel your presence and know what you choose to have us do. Then Lord, help us to carry them out for the strengthening of the community in which we live, and for the needy within it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 5-15-14

Wearing of the Cross

My Sister and I were talking about my daughter’s birthday.  I told her that I gave Kimberly a sterling silver cross.  My sister, who is a Christian, told me that she could no longer wear a cross after hearing her minister’s sermon on the wearing of the cross. I found that very disturbing since I have always worn crosses.  So I got on line to do some research.  I found that there are definitely different schools of thought on the subject.  To some it is the same as wearing an electric chair around the neck.  The cross is considered an instrument of death.  I read where some people have been fired for wearing a cross to work. I read that some people had to sue their employers for the right to wear their crosses. I learned that some felt that wearing of the cross represented a dead Christ while others felt it represented a   Risen Christ.

I have always worn my crosses because my Savior died on the cross for me.  He rose from the dead to show that there is life after death and that I will someday meet my mother and father again.  I cannot imagine anyone telling me that I cannot wear it. I guess it is a personal choice of all.  I told my sister that perhaps she could wear a Fish pendant instead of a cross.  By the way, I have one of those, too.

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Carol Brown

Devotional 5-9-14

Feeling Sheepish

A Psalm of David
23 The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell[a] in the house of the LORD
Forever.

I have gone to way too many funerals this year. A few were for the parents of childhood friends, some were for friends from church, one was for a classmate, and the saddest was for the child of a couple I have known since we were teenagers.

It is no surprise that Psalm 23 was part of almost every service. Sometimes we recited it together. Sometimes it was read to those gathered. Always I dreaded it. That statement may shock you, but to me it was a signal that a life was over. All I heard was that someone was taking a walk through the valley of the shadow of death. What could be worse? How was that comforting?

You can imagine my dismay when David’s psalm came up as a scripture for the devotion for this week. I tried to write about one of the other lectionary readings, but God would not hear it. He decided that I needed to study this poem until I understood what it was about.

As a middle school teacher, I have spent my life trying to convince teens that they should not act like mindless sheep, following the loudest voice into who knows what. But in this psalm, David reminds me that God is not saying that I am mindless. He is taking care of me because I do not know what lies ahead. When bad things happen – and bad things will happen – He will find me and guide me through the tough times.

What does the table have to do with the sheep? Probably nothing. God knows that I am a visual learner, so He gives me one more picture.  I am sitting at His table, my feet are washed, my hair is anointed with fragrant oil, my wine glass is full, and God, my host, treats me with goodness and mercy because I belong to Him.

I am not looking forward to another funeral. But when I attend another one – and I will attend another – I will be ready, willing, and able to recite Psalm 23 with hope and love. You see, I finally understand that this psalm is not about dying. It is about living a life that takes the fear out of dying. It is about the shepherd taking care of His sheep - me.

Prayer - Heavenly Father, I am so relieved to know that when this sheep is too lost to find You, You will come looking for me. My cup truly does run over. Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 5-2-14

How could he do it?
Sitting before him
preparing to go to the Jesus leaders
and betray him
to his death,
to tremendous suffering and pain,
to crucifixion,
was Judas.

Jesus knelt near his feet,
dirty from the travels on the road,
and washed away the grime.
For Jesus, it was about love.

How could he do it?
How could he keep loving this man
who would betray him?

Did he think
that one more expression of love
would change Judas' mind?
I don't think so.

Did he think
that one more expression of love
would lead Judas to self-forgiveness
once it was done?
I don't know.

Did he think
that one more expression of love
would change this man's heart?
Only God knows.

What I know is this.
Jesus could be no other way.
Jesus could not fail
to love one more time.
He could not fail
to wash the feet of Judas.

How could he do it?
How could he not do it?

Thanks to Rev. Joe Hill whose sermon thought inspired this poem

Kim Matthews