Devotional 10-30-15

 MY FRIENDS

 “ No longer do I call  you  servants, for the servant does not know what his

Master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all I have heard from my 

Father I have made known to you.”  John 15: 15

A trip in September to see a Cincinnati Reds baseball game with friends from church brought back a memory of long ago.  As a youngster I loved watching major league baseball, particularly with my dad, and I knew uniform numbers and statistics for many players. One summer we went to Cincinnati to see the St. Louis Cardinals and spent the night prior to the game at a downtown hotel.  While at the registration desk I spotted four men dressed in business attire chatting in the lobby.  I said to my dad: “I believe that is Stan Musial in the group.” He replied: “You are right; it is.” “Will you go over with me to ask for his autograph?”  “No, he replied, but I will wait right here while you go.”

For those who have no idea of whom I am writing, Stan Musial was an outstanding player during the 1950 ties and 1960 ties whose entire career was with the Cardinals.   Know as “Stan the Man,” he was well liked and respected, an exemplary person both on and off the field,   So, I approached him.  “Mr. Musial, may I interrupt to ask you to sign my autograph book?”  He replied: “I would be glad to do that but first, let me introduce you to my friends.”  One was another player for St. Louis whom I would have recognized had I seen his uniform number.  The other two were umpires in town, I assume, to officiate.

While umpires are essential to the game of baseball, they are probably the most unappreciated, frequently criticized or ignored persons on the field.  Their work demands impartiality as they make critical calls in split second decisions.   Their schedules require frequent travel.  Beneath the protective gear, these persons were probably like any others who appreciated respect and casual camaraderie.  It seemed an unlikely group, yet without hesitation he said: “First, let me introduce you to my friends.”

In our scripture passage, we encounter Jesus with his disciples, another unlikely group of ordinary people from various walks in life, yet each chosen for a purpose. They have been with Jesus for some time now, listening to his teachings, witnessing healings and discovering who He is.  Jesus knows that his time on earth is drawing to a close and there is much to impart to them.  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. You are my friends if you do what I command.”  What follows are the words above.  Jesus tells the disciples that they are not servants who have no idea what the master is about, but friends with whom He has shared all that He has heard from the Father. The disciples have been chosen for a purpose: to bear fruit by witnessing God’s love to others.                                                                                                                                  

We are called to do likewise.  This can seem intimidating, so how do we go about it?  Certainly and importantly by the example of the life we live but also, I believe, in small intentional decisions we make along the way.   Several weeks ago a couple from a Sunday School class invited friends to a class dinner in a home.  I enjoyed meeting these persons for the first time, hearing a little of their story and sharing a little of mine.  As I observed them mingling with others, words from long ago echoed in my mind.  “First, let me introduce you to my friends.”

Prayer:  Loving God, you call us to be witnesses to your love. Empower us now to do just that.  In the name of Christ, we pray.  Amen.  

Sue Darlington Woods

Devotional 10-22-15

It only takes a spark to get a fire going. I learned this as a 4H kid sitting around a camp fire at 4H camp. I sang the words but learned later what they meant. With a little spark I learned I could do things to help others. I volunteer at Hospice of Huntington and meet all kinds of people .I make no judgments and just listen as I sit with their loved ones so they can have some time out. I help to give them prayer shawls as a touchable item that let them know they are loved. I guess the thing I try to do most is greet new people when they come to JM. I try to make them feel welcome and listen to them as I ask them about why they chose to be with us. The spark is there let us all try to get the fire going.

Jean Ramsey

Devotional 10-16-15

He’s My Brother

Mark 12:41-44 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Last year my husband, Don, and I decided it was time to get piggy banks for our grandchildren. Since we have a date with them every Saturday night, we have always made sure to have two dollar bills, eight quarters, or twenty dimes to be stuffed into the heads of Darth Vader of Star Wars and Starlight Sparkle of My Little Pony fame.

Recently we had noticed that it was getting more difficult to make a deposit, so we unplugged Darth and Starlight and let the contents spill out onto the floor. As we exchanged the ones and change into five and ten dollar bills, we explained to Ruby that she had the same amount even though it looked like less. Landon, the older of the two, nodded his head to assure her that we were telling the truth.

Just before we replaced the plugs, Landon extracted a bill. We saw Abraham Lincoln’s face and then Landon’s. He smiled and asked if he could take it home to his brother, Jesse. “He’s trying to save up for a new bike,” he said.

I could feel my mouth forming the word “no” when I heard Don ask Landon if he was sure that was what he wanted to do. Landon explained that Jesse had helped him get his bike. This would at least get Jesse closer to his goal.

When Anna picked the kids up the next morning, Don made sure that Landon had his five dollar bill. I was so glad that I had not been allowed to ruin a moment when my grandson felt the need to give to another.

Prayer - lyrics by Frances Ridley Havergal

Dear Lord,

Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 10-9-15

God’s Messenger

Romans Chapter 12, verse 12: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Like many of you, I’m sure, I watched with great interest a lot of the coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to our country recently.  I was eager to see and hear this Pope of the People, and I wasn’t disappointed.  It was quite evident that he seemed most comfortable when he was among those who had waited with great anticipation to see and hear him in person.  There were frequent moments that tugged at my heart as the Pope blessed the disabled, the children who were handed to him by security, or whom he greeted along the street as he traveled from one location to another.

I think Pope Francis is a very wise and intelligent man.  He carefully addressed our country’s controversial issues, yet offered much for us to seriously think about.  He shared quite directly his concerns about immigration, the homeless, the imprisoned, the economy, the environment, as well as others, and of course, the state of the Roman Catholic Church. While there is contention and division among our politicians about most of these matters, Congressional members of the House and Senate listened with respect and responded to this Pope’s visit in a very positive way.  We like to think that perhaps Pope Francis made an even greater impact on Congress than we thought.

If I were to summarize what I learned from watching and listening, I would say that he has urged us to simplify our life and to responsibly care for this place God created for us.  He has urged us to more actively help those in need.  He reminded us that most of us were also once foreigners to this country. He said we must be more responsible in helping the poor and more forgiving of the sinful.  Our children and our young people, he said, deserve our attention so they are more challenged to share their gifts within their communities, and guided to have more concern for others.  Perhaps most importantly, he took time to remind us to follow the Golden Rule—to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Pope Francis, during his visit, became for me God’s messenger of hope.  If we take this message to heart, if we are constant in prayer and follow through with this humble man’s advice, surely our world will be a better place.

Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 1:
 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 10-2-15

James 1:3  Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

As I am writing this devotional,  I am vacationing at Ocracoke, NC in the Outer Banks. When Kim gave me this date, I had every intention of writing this before I left.

So, here I am, in the quiet of a sunny Wednesday morning writing.

We, my sister Judy, niece Melinda, and our friend Sharon, and I, started driving Saturday, stopping overnight. It sprinkled rain off and on, but Sunday when we arrived for a 2 and 3/4 hour ferry ride to the island of Ocracoke, it was becoming a pretty day. Yea!  We could tell it had been raining a lot on Ocracoke because there were puddles and standing water on some roadways and in yards.

Nevertheless, with key in hand we made our way to the rental house and found disappointment in many ways.  One way was the parking situation which left us in a puddle of water.

It rained off and on Sunday night through Monday and the forecast predicted rain for the whole week. Why God, why???  We came to relax, eat at different local restaurants, enjoy ourselves, not to avoided puddles and use our umbrella all the time. My patience, as well as that  of others, was wearing thin.

As it was raining again Tuesday morning, I said to a worker in the gift shop a museum, "I think this is God's way of letting me know He is still in control." I had been praying for the rain to stop; it did that afternoon bringing sunshine.  It rained some during the night, but now the sun is shining and with a grateful heart I know God is in control.

Thank be to God!!!

Kay Lewis