Devotional 10-26-12

The following is taken from the book:Mountain Prayers: A Vacation for the Soul, Honor Books

Taking in the View

It's surprising how you can limit your own perspective at times. Worries and concerns can so easily cause you to see only what is directly in front of you. It's as if God is offering to show you the vista from a ski lift high in the Alps, but instead you crouch, with eyes downcast, on a hill the size of a pitcher's mound!

It can be hard to grasp the truth that this life on earth is incredibly brief compared to eternity---like a mist, or a wildflower that blooms for a little while and is gone. The finite mind cannot understand eternity! How can you ever begin to glimpse its enormity when your circumstances tie you to the ordinary, day to day events right around you?

An amazing transformation can take place within you, when you allow your Father's arm to lift you to the heights for a better view. Suddenly you feel both very small and very safe at the same time. You realize that the few years we are given on this earth must certainly be very precious to him: you want to know the purpose he's laid out for your life, once you see your existence for the brief, exquisite flash of light that it is.

“I’ll lift my eyes up to the mountains," says the psalmist. Lift up your eyes from the "boulders" that stand as obstacles before you and look to the endless peaks beyond. Take in the vastness of God's creation as a reminder that he is himself vast beyond your imagining.

Be encouraged, when problems seem to block your spiritual vision. God sees and knows all and he cares about you deeply. His promises and blessings are not just for this life--but life eternal!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I can hardly imagine spending eternity with you. It's one of those things that I believe but cannot grasp. You might say it's a promise too great for me. Teach me to live my life in light of eternity, for it is only then that I can see my life here as it truly is ---endless. Amen

Eternal life does not begin with death:
It begins with faith.
Samuel M. Shoemaker

Submitted by Kay Lewis

Devotional 10-19-12

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world—
Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight;
Jesus loves the little children of the world!
Bible School song

The Children in Our Lives

The young children in our lives are such a blessing, aren’t they? We have eight grandchildren ranging in age from 15 months to nearly 18 years, and we treasure each moment we spend with them. Recently I spent most of the day with two of our eight grandchildren—my daughter’s two youngest, ages 15 months and four years. The day was filled with fun and laughter, and an exuberant amount of energy! No matter which of the grandchildren we share time with, we can count on lots of snuggling, the approval of art masterpieces, silly books, adventure books or school books, walks in the park, or a very competitive card game. There is always a big hug and kiss or two when our time together comes to an end and we have to say goodbye, at least for awhile.

There are children, however—perhaps in our own neighborhood and certainly in our region, our state, our world, who have rarely felt much joy in their lives. They encounter loneliness, fear, hunger and despair, neglect and abuse beyond what any of us can imagine. They may appear to live a “normal” life, but they may never feel the deep love and joy the children in our lives share every day.

The happiness and well-being of the children in our lives make it hard for us to think about these other children. It’s just more comfortable not to. And it’s easy to just take for granted that all children are like our own—happy, well-adjusted kids who have an abundance of toys and entertainment, eat three good meals a day, have a bath before bedtime, sleep soundly in a clean, comfortable bed, and start again the very next morning.

We hear about incidents of abuse and neglect, and we are shocked and saddened by the horrific story on the news. What we’re not aware of are the daily calls to Child Protective Services which hold no interest by the media because they’re too common. But abuse and neglect at any level is just that--abuse and neglect.

As a court appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer I have learned first-hand what many of these children have gone through in their young lives. While I can’t share the stories of “my kids”, I can tell you that their sad encounters have been permanently imprinted on their lives. The court process of determining their future can be overwhelmingly long and frightening for them. I sometimes question my ability to be of any real help to them.

Jesus, however, tells us that we all can be of help to them by simply praying for them. We can pray for their safety and well-being; we can pray for the CPS workers who may have a case load of 30 to 40 kids; and we can pray that God will give us insight in learning other ways in which we can help. The power of prayer will open our hearts to these fragile kids, and they will also become the children in our lives. May we, through prayer, remember the thousands of abused and neglected children in our world. 

"God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it."
John Wesley

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 10-12-12

WHEN WE CANNOT FIND GOD

Read Job 23 1-9

Job feels that if he could personally talk with God, He would understand and acquit him but he cannot find God to personally speak with him. Job feels his punishment outweighs his fault. Almost all of the chapters contain Job's complaints about the unfairness of God. Elihu tells Job how ignorant he is acting toward God. Finally, God does speak to Job and eventually, He blessed Job at the end of his life. But, are there times in our lives when we cannot seem to find God? Does it seem that God is hiding from us?

In my research about this Book of the Bible, I read a sermon by Rev. Amy Butler. It reminded me of the time in my life when I felt utter desolation and devastation. I prayed so hard for help but felt totally abandoned. I was angry with God. I felt God did not care. I am sure that some of you have felt that way at one time or another. Then another event not related to the first reason for pain and desolation happened.

I had to think of someone else and not myself. I got down on my knees and started talking to God, asking for help for someone else, not me. I begged God to place my loving mother in His arms and keep her as she went through open heart surgery. It was in 1968 when that kind of surgery was not to as safe as now. I learned to place my burden in His hands. I finally felt peace. I made it through the first situation, also. I like to think God had better plans for me.

I have learned in the years since then that we can find God in others when we feel alone. There is always someone whom we feel is close to God. The touch of a hand on your arm or shoulder by that particular person can mean so much. Our church family is part of that safe nest when we cannot seem to find God. But, I have learned that He walks beside us. He will be there when we turn it all over to Him.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father,
When we feel all alone, help us to remember that you are always there when we need you. Help us to trust in the God in your children. This way we will be surrounded by your love and understanding even more. Help us to be a Blessing to others. Amen

Carolee Brown

Devotional 10-5-12

In this mid-Pentecost season, a number of the lectionary readings have said some pretty powerful things about what we do with our lives if we are to be true disciples of Jesus.  As one example, the reading in Mark about Peter’s confession at Caesarea Phillippi asks some harsh questions.  Mark is the earliest of the gospel accounts written and is most direct and terse.  Matthew and Luke tame this story.  In Mark, Peter is rebuked for his understanding of who Messiah is.  In Matthew, Peter is praised for acknowledgment of Messiah and told that he is the rock on which Jesus would build his church.  Luke says nothing of what Matthew says, but he softens the exchange between Jesus and Peter, saying nothing about any harsh words between them as found in Mark.

 

Read this exchange between Peter and Jesus in Mark 8:27-38.

 

As the passage proceeds, Jesus says some scandalous things about who he is.   Peter believed that the Messiah is the one they had been expecting for centuries whom God would anoint to lead the revolt and overthrow their dictators and oppressors.  “You’re the one!”, Peter thought.  “We’re ready to pick up the sword and to be your captains to stir the people up to follow your lead.”  But Jesus in turn rebuked Peter in front of the other disciples:  called him a name – Satan.  “Shame on you, Peter!  I’m talking about the ways of God and your mind is trapped by your own expectations.  I am NOT going to be a worldly liberator who will free the people from tyranny.  You have your mind set on your own earthly expectations and not the ways of God.” 

More scandalous, Jesus told them that Messiah must suffer and be rejected by their own religious leaders – must be killed and rise again.

Still more scandalous, Jesus told the listening crowd that if they wanted to save their lives, they were to take up their crosses and follow Jesus.  “You who try to save your lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives for my sake and the gospel will save them.”

At first reading, we are not really threatened by this.  What are the chances that something will force us to make a discipleship choice that could cause us to lose our lives?  Actually and physically to suffer and die for Jesus?   For most of us, this is pretty remote, really.  But read the text again with the understanding of “trying to save our lives” meaning saving the way of life that is known, comfortable, prosperous, and safe when discipleship calls us to relinquish that comfort or prosperity or safety in behalf of the compassionate and merciful and peaceful ways of Jesus.   That’s different.  Threatening.  Hard.   Discipleship has its ultimate reward of blessing with God.  In the meantime, discipleship may be costly – costing us a way of life that is contrary to our Christlike calling.

O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me see thy footprints, and in them plant my own,

My cross to carry fully, to trust your strength alone.
Let me deny my lifestyle when varied from your ways.
Receive me then in Heaven at the ending of my days.

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 9-28-12

Win Place or Show

 I certainly will not be in the running for the award given to the band parent who has attended the most high school band competitions, but I have certainly been to several.  Mobilizing a marching band is not unlike putting a military force in motion; neat fitting uniforms, equipment vehicles, tools for the mission and loads of preparation. At these competitions, I have been witness to bands that were indeed of collegiate quality, bands that absolutely delivered a stellar performance and ‘also rans’. Some came from far away, some from right in the same county. Some bands have large numbers, some not so much. Some bands have members who have all memorized their music, some carry small folders containing the sheets of music required to get through the show. I would be a terrible band competition judge; I would give everyone top marks due to their effort, their enthusiasm, their devotion to the group and well, because they showed up.  It would be hard to select a winner that way.  Kind of like church. Come from near or far, memorize Bible verses or not, all are winners.

This past Saturday I saw maybe the coolest thing I have ever seen at one of these competitions. The band had taken the field, the music began and the marching started. All at once I noticed what seemed to be two people standing in one location. As I followed this image, low and behold it was two people – in the same spot. The trumpet player, in full uniform, was blind.  The young lady behind him, also in full uniform, was grasping his uniform near the shoulder blades and was ‘guiding’ him throughout the formation.  They moved as one.  He didn’t trip on her, and she did not push or tug him in a direction that he was not already ready to move. They marched, walked and crabbed sideways in step. It was incredible to watch. He had clearly put forth the effort to learn the music and to learn the sets. (I learned that word from my band student.)  She had also taken the time and commitment to learn the movements of the show. She believed in him, and he trusted her. Kind of like church. We study and learn but still may not have a complete picture of what is unfolding. A more experienced Christian ‘takes us by the shoulders’  and guides us along, interpreting scripture, offering a valued opinion or giving advise so that we don’t trip or bump into things. They believe in us and we trust them.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 9-22-12

Ode to a Virtuous Woman

Please read Proverbs 31:10-31

There are two kinds of people in the world:  those who love the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, and those who don’t.

Some people hear the description of the virtuous woman and think of a virtuous woman who has had an impact on their lives.  Others complain that the description of the virtuous woman (ostensibly written by a man) sets up a standard that is unattainable and unrealistic.

Count me among those who like it.  Consider my re-write, in honor of another virtuous woman, Jerry Taylor:

A capable mom who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

The hearts of her children trust in her, and they will have no lack of gain because of her.

She does them good, and not harm, all the days of her life.  There were a few times when she may have threatened harm, but she never followed through with it.

She seeks cotton and polyester blends and, with the help of McCall patterns, works with willing hands to make formal dresses.  With wool yarn and needles she knits sweaters and even ascots like Mike Nesmith from the Monkees used to wear.

She shops on Thursdays, bringing her food from the A&P, dividing the candy into four equal portions.

She rises while it is still night and provides food for the bake sale her youngest son forgot to tell her about.

She considers a field and decides to play golf on it.

She girds herself with a 3-wood, and makes her arms strong.

She puts her hands to the grip, and knocks it straight down the middle.

She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Although she hates snow days, she is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are wrapped in hand-made Afghans. 

Her husband is known all over town, taking a leadership role in the community.

Strength and compassion are her clothing, but she loves to laugh.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness, but loves a good board game.

Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Mom is not made virtuous by what she does; her actions are the fruit of her virtue.  Thanks, Mom.  And my apologies to Solomon.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 9-16-12

You are my child
When you were a child,
I loved you.
I called you to join me
Even before you could hear me
Even before you knew I existed.
I called you
I loved you.

The more I called,
The more you were deaf to me
The farther you moved away from me.
You revered that which did not love you.
You sought after those gods that would bring you pain.

I taught you how to walk,
I taught you how to love each other,
I held you when you were broken,
I healed your pain.

I led you with ties of kindness.
Out of love for you
I lifted your burdens away.
You were nurtured and fed by me.
I can still feel the softness of your hair
As I held you close
Kept you safe
Tried to protect you from yourself.

And yet you turn away.
You worship money, possessions, yourself
You rebel against my love
You will not follow my guidance.
You are determined to turn your back on me.

How can I give you up?
How can I leave you to your sin?
How can I watch as you destroy your lives?
As you hurt each other?
As you forget me?

My heart breaks.

There are times when you deserve my anger
When you have earned the consequences
Of your sin.

But I am your God.
I am not man.
I am the Holy One among you.
I will not come in anger.
I can only come in love.

The time will come when
You will follow me.
You will hear my voice
See my vision.
And you will come to me

Like the birds of the air
That I set into flight.
Like the fish in the ocean
That swim because I taught them how,
You will come to me,
And I will take you in,
Settling you into my arms
Like the child you are.
Kim Matthews