Devotional 2-26-16

I can honestly say that I've never experienced a time when I've witnessed, firsthand, so much sickness and death. I've watched as people have grappled with medical diagnoses or unexpected illnesses. My heart has been broken for families who have had to say goodbye to loved ones much earlier than they ever expected. Through it all, here's what I've been reminded of over the past four months...

God is as near to us during the times when we feel the loneliest as God is during ti...mes when we feel the power of God's presence right beside of us.

God is standing watch in hospital rooms and funeral chapels, ensuring that we never lose sight of just how close God is- closer than the very breath we breathe.

God is doing something strangely beautiful as we near our final moments on Earth. God is holding tight to our hand, whether we're the one taking our final breath or the one saying our tearful goodbye. 

God is there. Holding us. Comforting us. Loving us.

God is always with us. In the best of days. In the worst of days. When we feel like we have it all together. When we feel like everything is falling apart. God is always with us.

Though we experience heartache and pain and grief, the promise of Scripture, the assurance of the Christian faith, is that God is here. Among us. Within us. Beside us. I don't know exactly what you're going through, but I do know this- God is going through it with you.

Look for God's glory. Listen for God's goodness. Experience God's grace. And through it all, find hope and assurance in the reality that you are precious and treasured in God's sight. You are loved. And you are not alone.

Rev. Jarrod Caltrider

Sandyville United Methodist Church

Devotional 2-19-16

Sacrifice

In June of 2013 I had the honor, for the second year in a row, to bicycle from Huntington, WV to Washington DC for the purpose of raising money and awareness for a cause near and dear to my heart – Homeless Veterans.

The trip began with great fan fair on Veterans Memorial Boulevard. As a ‘thank you’ to all of the cyclists who had supported the effort, Day 1 was a police escorted ride all the way to Charleston. It was a spectacular day. We rode and talked and laughed – with no traffic worries. One couldn’t help but feel good.

Day 2 had the nine Tri State Cyclists for Veterans on the move 66 miles towards Sutton. We were within five miles of this day’s destination when it became apparent to me and to anyone riding near me (especially behind me) that something was VERY wrong with my back wheel. I ‘limped’ along to the church where we would spend the night. One of our riders happened to be a super bike mechanic. After he had spent some time with the wheel, I knew from the look on his face – and the grease on his fingers – that the news was NOT good. I could not continue on the trip with this wheel. Thanks to the generosity of the local bike shops in Huntington we had a great many spare parts with us. They wanted us to go prepared. But a replacement wheel was not part of our gear.  

                                                                        

  I knew that I had a set of wheels – at home – in Huntington – two hours away…

I pulled my cell phone from pocket and made a call. It was Sunday afternoon, and I knew Kim would be out of church by now. She was at home. I explained what had happened. I told of the spare wheel at the house. I don’t think I ever really got around to asking her to bring it – she said, “I walked to the garage while we’ve been talking. I’m here now. Where is it?” I guided her to the cubby hole where it would be and without a moment’s hesitation she said, “I have it. I’m on my way.”  After nearly 30 years together, she could no doubt hear the despair in my voice. I had trained for months. I had helped raise money for the Center. I had my heart set on this trip. And now it was over, two days in. But such is the nature of my wonderful wife. Kim is a giver-er. Spare time is not an abundant resource in our lives. This trip to help me was going to pull no fewer than four hours out of a Sunday afternoon when there were a million things I’m sure she would rather be doing.  The phone had disconnected and two hours later she was pulling up in front of Christ United Methodist Church in Sutton.

When other members of group were quizzing about my plan for repair, I said that Kim was on her way with a wheel. The responses were priceless. “Where is she?” “Huntington.”  “Wha…?” (you know how that sounds – Wha…, we don’t even give it its full measure. No ’t’. Wha…? You mean she’s driving all the way up here for JUST that? “Yes.” “Wha…?” Heads shook in amazement. Some muttered as they turned,  “My wife would never do that.”

After greeting the group, a far too inadequate Thank You from me and a kiss, she was back in the car headed to Huntington. Her sacrifice that day will remain in my heart forever.

Tell someone who is broken and grieving that there’s this guy named Jesus. It’s Easter and he is about to knowingly ride into a city where the residents are going to kill him. “Wha…?” Why would he do that? Because he loves you! Wha…?  He knows when you hurt. He knows when you stray. He knows when you have a broken wheel and can’t go on. And he loves you all the same. It is never “Wha…? I should sacrifice myself for THAT one?” It’s, “I’m on my way.” He is here.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 2-12-16

Standing on the edge of Lent
Standing on the edge of a journey.

Jesus stood at the edge of his journey
From ministry to sacrifice
From freedom to torture
On the edge of pain and humiliation
On the edge of the beginning of the end.
Jesus stood, looking forward
Peering around the path,
seeing the future
and knowing what it held.

He stood on the edge of his future
In full knowledge of the outcome
and yet
He took the step,
beginning his walk to Jerusalem
His path to the cross, the nails, and death.
He chose the pain,
the sacrifice
the humiliation
For us.

We stand on the edge of Lent
On the edge of service.
We can't see around the corner
We don't know what the future holds.
We just can't predict the consequences
of letting go.
Of leaving control behind.

And yet, we stand on the edge of Lent,
God calling us into service
with the poor, the downtrodden, the lost.
Do we count the cost?
Do we wonder if the cross is too heavy,
or if the path is too dark?
Do we question if we travel with God
or alone?
Do we take the step through the portal into Lent?
Or do we stay at the edge?

Standing on the edge of Lent.

(Thanks to Bill Wilson, many years ago, for the phrase "on the edge of Lent.")

Kim Matthews

Devotional 11-20-15

We have a dog.  She is a beagle, and her name is Molly.  She is quite possibly the sweetest animal I have ever known. We met her when she was about two weeks old; she joined our family at six weeks old, and has been here ever since.  She is beloved.

Molly is not without flaws, and one of them is that she pretends, when it suits her, that she does not understand English.  She can't fool me; I know she understands me when I speak.  I say, "Back," and she turns around and walks the other way.  I say, "Let's go downstairs," and she runs full speed down the stairs.  If I say, "Treat," well, you can imagine her reaction.  But when it's time for bed, and I say, "Let's go upstairs," she just stares at me as if I am speaking Portuguese or Cat.

She knows my voice, she understands the words, but she doesn't like them.  So she ignores me.

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday. Like any seeker of knowledge, I googled it this evening. The Feast of Christ the King was established in 1925 by Pope Pious XI.  He wrote in December of that year that even though World War I was over, there was still no true peace. He believed that true peace could only be found in the recognition of the Christ as King.

John 18:37, from this Sunday's lectionary, says, "Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

"Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Do we listen to Christ's voice?  Or are we as stubborn as our family's beagle, ignoring words we understand but choose not to obey?  When Christ says to feed the poor, do we?  When he says, "Forgive that person so many times that you can't keep count," do we? When he says that the most important action we can do with our lives is to love God and love each other, do we?

Or do we stare at our savior as if we don't understand him at all because it's not the words we want to hear?

Kim Matthews

Devotional 11-13-15

Recently, my husband Tim and I were at the doctor’s office. There was a little blue-eyed blond boy sitting in the waiting room. He was about 6 years old. I wondered why he was there alone. Suddenly the door between the waiting room and the examining room flew open. An even smaller, younger boy with exactly the same blond hair and blue eyes came sailing through.

He ran to the first little boy waiting in the chairs. “I have to get a shot!” he said, as tears welled up in his eyes. They were clearly brothers.   As difficult as it must have been, the older boy took the younger into his arms. “Well,” he said. “You’ll be OK. Do you want me to come with you?” The younger one nodded. Holding hands, they started for the door. As soon as it door opened, I saw their mother. She showed no surprise at the way they interacted. The boys relied on one another.

Their relationship made me reflect on some of mine. It takes courage to ask for help. Sometimes it takes great love and understanding to offer it. No one is every really sure how help will be received.

I thought of the time Jesus said that if we want to inherit the kingdom, we have to become like a little child, perhaps like these two boys. Sometimes, we have to be vulnerable and willing to let our fears show.  We have to be unafraid to show other people we love them. We have to risk a willingness to help and be helped. We have to walk with people, even into tough situations.

Dear God, help us always to be willing to give and to receive your love, however you send it to us. Amen.

Rev. Dorcas Linger Conrad

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