Read Luke 24: 13-35
Many Christians are faithful in attending worship, volunteering to serve in many aspects of their church; such as singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, serving on different Committees and helping out wherever called. This was my Christian life--just going through the motion. I knew that Jesus loves me-------but I had not felt his Love!
My life changed when I attended my walk to Emmaus. Fred had attended a walk first, I had not planed on attending until later. But when he came home after his walk, I saw such a difference in him, a big smile and a changed Christian man, with the love of Jesus in his heart.
I wanted that too! I attended my walk two weeks later and I am glad I did!
I have experienced the Love of Christ that he has for all of us! i know that some are not interested in attending the walk, but if you would like to have a closer relationship with Christ you might consider giving it a try, if someone should approach you. It is something that will change your journey with Christ. You might just like it and come back to your home and church a changed Christian. It is out there for you to experience for your self.
Just like the two men walking to Emmaus discussing what was taking place in their home land, when a stranger joined them and continued on with them.......they didn't know who he was until he was gone.
Their eyes were opened and they saw Jesus more fully!
Pray,
Dear Father please let your children have the desire to know you and experience your love that you have for them. Lead and guide them the way that you desire them to follow.
Thanks you for the love and blessing you spread to all your people.
Hold everyone in your hand and comfort them all no matter where they are in in their journey with you.
All Gods children say,
Amen
Melanie Herr
Friday, April 28, 2017
Friday, April 21, 2017
Devotional 4-21-17
Shadow of Doubt
Lectionary Readings: Psalm 16; Acts 2: 4a, 22-32; 1 Peter 1: 3-9; & John 20: 19-31
“You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him---with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation”.
1 Peter 1: 8-9 (The Message)
It was a week of highs and lows, pain, disappointment, wonder, and awe. Was it only last week?? We started Holy week with a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, a celebration with a parade and then the week ended with the amazing miracle of the resurrection. In between these two mountaintop experiences were some of the lowest of “downer” events: the anger of Jesus in the temple that had become a marketplace, the Upper Room Last Supper, the trial, mocking and scourging and then the ultimate crucifixion and death of Jesus. It was a traumatic week filled, to say the least, but filled with miraculous love and redemption.
It is no wonder that after the crucifixion, the disciples experienced much anxiety and fear. And after Easter, when he appeared to them on several occasions, they thought they were dealing with an imposter or a spirit of some kind. I don’t think I would be any different. Doubt is easy for me. I can second guess myself and the circumstances of my life without any trouble at all. Is that what God is really saying to me? What is God sending me to do? Who am I supposed to care for??
And here we are, more than 2000 years past the actual events and we are still dealing with our doubts about these riveting events. How do we cope with the unreality of the Holy Week events?? What do we do with those shadows of doubt?? What do we do with our lives to show that we do believe?? We can’t touch Jesus’ nail wounds to give us physical proof. We don’t have a time machine so that we can go back and observe and “take notes” to fill in the gaps of time and knowledge. We have to take it on faith that Peter and the gospel writers were relating the events as they happened.
There are not many “sure things” in this world. But as the writer of 1Peter affirms: “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!” Peter was convinced of the truth of the situation beyond a “shadow of a doubt”. He had no room for error, speculation or vacillation. He was absolutely convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and through His amazing and wondrous love, had willingly sacrificed himself for our sins.
We are not promised a life free of aggravation, suffering or heartache. Peter tells us that even pure gold must be refined in the fire. Our faith in the resurrection means that our suffering in this life will be the proof of the fire that refines us for the wholeness and healing of the next life. When we surrender our doubts to the God of Grace, His grace is sufficient for our every need, including our eternal life.
Dear God of Power and Grace, we thank you for your many gifts. Most of all we are grateful for the gift of your son, Jesus. We cannot easily believe that you love us so much that you would allow the death of your son for our sins, but we pray that you will help us with our unbelief. Be with us as we struggle with this precious gift. We thank you for the grace of your love for us and that we can be sure, beyond a doubt, that your love is dependable and faithful. We are thankful that we are yours and do not need to fear, because our eternal life has been arranged
. AMEN!!
Chyrl Budd
“I serve a Risen Savior, He’s in the world today! … You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart!!!”
“You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him---with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation”.
1 Peter 1: 8-9 (The Message)
It was a week of highs and lows, pain, disappointment, wonder, and awe. Was it only last week?? We started Holy week with a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, a celebration with a parade and then the week ended with the amazing miracle of the resurrection. In between these two mountaintop experiences were some of the lowest of “downer” events: the anger of Jesus in the temple that had become a marketplace, the Upper Room Last Supper, the trial, mocking and scourging and then the ultimate crucifixion and death of Jesus. It was a traumatic week filled, to say the least, but filled with miraculous love and redemption.
It is no wonder that after the crucifixion, the disciples experienced much anxiety and fear. And after Easter, when he appeared to them on several occasions, they thought they were dealing with an imposter or a spirit of some kind. I don’t think I would be any different. Doubt is easy for me. I can second guess myself and the circumstances of my life without any trouble at all. Is that what God is really saying to me? What is God sending me to do? Who am I supposed to care for??
And here we are, more than 2000 years past the actual events and we are still dealing with our doubts about these riveting events. How do we cope with the unreality of the Holy Week events?? What do we do with those shadows of doubt?? What do we do with our lives to show that we do believe?? We can’t touch Jesus’ nail wounds to give us physical proof. We don’t have a time machine so that we can go back and observe and “take notes” to fill in the gaps of time and knowledge. We have to take it on faith that Peter and the gospel writers were relating the events as they happened.
There are not many “sure things” in this world. But as the writer of 1Peter affirms: “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!” Peter was convinced of the truth of the situation beyond a “shadow of a doubt”. He had no room for error, speculation or vacillation. He was absolutely convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and through His amazing and wondrous love, had willingly sacrificed himself for our sins.
We are not promised a life free of aggravation, suffering or heartache. Peter tells us that even pure gold must be refined in the fire. Our faith in the resurrection means that our suffering in this life will be the proof of the fire that refines us for the wholeness and healing of the next life. When we surrender our doubts to the God of Grace, His grace is sufficient for our every need, including our eternal life.
Dear God of Power and Grace, we thank you for your many gifts. Most of all we are grateful for the gift of your son, Jesus. We cannot easily believe that you love us so much that you would allow the death of your son for our sins, but we pray that you will help us with our unbelief. Be with us as we struggle with this precious gift. We thank you for the grace of your love for us and that we can be sure, beyond a doubt, that your love is dependable and faithful. We are thankful that we are yours and do not need to fear, because our eternal life has been arranged
. AMEN!!Chyrl Budd
“I serve a Risen Savior, He’s in the world today! … You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart!!!”
Friday, April 14, 2017
Devotional 4-14-17
Please read Acts 10:24-43
Have you ever read something many times only to be suddenly hit by a passage that you had never really noticed before? That’s what happened to me when I read Acts 10:24-43. I was hit by not one, but two passages. The first was the second half of verse 28: “But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.” (NIV) The second came in verse 34: “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what’s right.’” (NIV) This reading is Peter, at God’s insistence, bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles, bringing God’s love and acceptance to us. At that time Jews were not allowed to associate with us. We were the impure and unclean.
Peter arrived at the home of Cornelius, the centurion (a Gentile) with some of his brothers from Joppa. Cornelius was expecting him and had called together family and close friends. While Peter was telling them about Jesus, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The men who came with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out--even on Gentiles--even on us!
Is there any group of people that you would be astonished to find accepted by God? God does not show favoritism. We should not call anyone impure or unclean. We are each special to God.
The dark day is here, the day that Jesus died a horrible death for our sins. The good news is that Easter morning follows. On Easter we will shout Hallelujah! Christ the Lord is risen today! He is risen indeed--for everyone! Hallelujah!
Margaret Williams
Have you ever read something many times only to be suddenly hit by a passage that you had never really noticed before? That’s what happened to me when I read Acts 10:24-43. I was hit by not one, but two passages. The first was the second half of verse 28: “But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.” (NIV) The second came in verse 34: “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what’s right.’” (NIV) This reading is Peter, at God’s insistence, bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles, bringing God’s love and acceptance to us. At that time Jews were not allowed to associate with us. We were the impure and unclean.
Peter arrived at the home of Cornelius, the centurion (a Gentile) with some of his brothers from Joppa. Cornelius was expecting him and had called together family and close friends. While Peter was telling them about Jesus, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The men who came with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out--even on Gentiles--even on us!
Is there any group of people that you would be astonished to find accepted by God? God does not show favoritism. We should not call anyone impure or unclean. We are each special to God.
The dark day is here, the day that Jesus died a horrible death for our sins. The good news is that Easter morning follows. On Easter we will shout Hallelujah! Christ the Lord is risen today! He is risen indeed--for everyone! Hallelujah!
Margaret Williams
Friday, April 7, 2017
Devotional 4-7-17
"You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
James 2:1-4
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
Do you remember in the movie West Side Story, Anita sings to Maria, "Stick to your own kind, one of your own kind..."?
I'm glad I have not followed that advice in my life. When I was in grade school, I was fascinated by my Jewish friend's matzo sandwiches during Passover. Not one of my own kind, but my friend to this day. I'll admit, I didn't have an African-American friend until high school. Not because I came from a racist family. Unfortunately, that's just the way it was back then. My horizons broadened during college, but not a lot.
I taught in a rural WV community for 3 years. I was in my 20's and knew everything and was quite superior and my first impression was "these poor country people." Well, guess what? Those poor country people had plenty to teach me!
Over the years, I made many friends via my children and their activities. I discovered over and over again that people who I first judged as a little rough around the edges were the very ones who would give you the shirt off their backs and would work long hours to send their kids on a band trip or make sure a sports team had a coach and uniforms.
Some years ago, a Muslim woman was my substitute co-teacher for a year. We could easily share our faiths with each other and were eager to learn from each other. I consider her a precious sister.
Jesus said, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit._ (Matthew 28:19). Notice he said ALL THE NATIONS. He didn't say, "Go minister to people just like you."
Stick to your own kind? No thanks!
Anita Gardner Farrell
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