Devotional 4-29-16

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Lectionary Readings for this week:  Acts 16: 9-15; Psalm 67; Rev 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29

“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you.  The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request will make everything plain to you.  He will remind you of all the things I have told you.  I’m leaving you well and whole.  That’s my parting gift to you.  Peace.  I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft.  So don’t be upset.  Don’t be distraught.”

John 14: 25-27 from The Message

It has been one month since the miracle of Easter.  Our Lord sacrificed his life on the cross, overcame death and rose victorious from the grave.  What a story!!! What a gift of matchless, overwhelming love!!

However, have you (like me) lost some of the joy related to the Easter events??? Have you returned to your usual daily activities, challenges and trials, without thinking again of the impact that Easter has made on your life??? What do our words and actions show?  Are we living as evidence of such a special love?? Have we made it a priority to include prayer, service, worship and praise in our daily walk? Do we regularly ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction??

Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for the aftermath of his leaving so that the disciples would not dissolve and scatter.  But even they had great difficulty in understanding and believing the Easter events in spite of their own first-hand accounts. Possibly one of the least believable concepts in his teaching was that of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tried to teach the disciples about this special friend long before the events of Holy Week.  Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come as a friend and would be his parting gift—Peace.  This Peace promises that we are not alone or abandoned.  We seem to have trouble understanding how our relationship with the Holy Spirit works and what we are to do about it.

I once read a story about a little boy who was trying to understand the Sunday school lesson about the Holy Spirit and decided to talk with his father:

 “Daddy, how can I believe in the Holy Spirit when I have never seen Him?” asked Jimmy. “I’ll show you how,” said his father, who was an electrician. Later Jimmy went with his father to the power plant where Jimmy was shown the generators. “This is where the power comes from to heat our stove and to give us light. We cannot see the power, but it is in that machine and in the power lines,” said the father. “I believe in electricity,” said Jimmy. “Of course you do,” said his father, “but you don’t believe in it because you see it. You believe in it because you see what it can do. Likewise, you can believe in the Holy Spirit because you can see what He does in people’s lives when they are surrendered to Christ and possess His power.”

This explanation makes the concept a little easier to understand but doesn’t guarantee that I make use of the Holy Spirit’s power. I have had the benefit of multiple repetitions of the Easter story and yet I am so guilty of plunging ahead with my own plans, of ignoring the urgings of the Holy Spirit and omitting acts that would be pleasing to God.  I do understand, but my words and actions do not always show the world that I am a believer.  The Holy Spirit is sent by God to bring us peace, but we have not made use of it to guide and change our lives. Would others know that I am a Christian just by my words and actions????

 Please join me in prayer to ask God to change both our hearts and our words and actions to implement His will in the world today:

Dear Loving God,  Forgive us for our sins and failings.  Search us, prune our unusable parts and remake us for the purpose of serving you more completely and with greater love. As the words of the hymn convey:   Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, Mold me, Fill Me and Use Me. (Words and Music by Daniel Iverson #393 UM Hymnal)  Remind us to request the guidance that will help us follow your path and not our own. AMEN.

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 4-22-16

Simon Peter asked him, "Lord where are you going? Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

What am I striving to be as a Christian? Is it not an eternal perfect life?  Life without sorrow, pain, and suffering?

Right now I am anything but perfect.  I have faults and make bad judgments among other things.  I don't always say or do the things correctly.

But, even at my advanced age, I am working on being a better follower of Christ, a better Christian. So, I will keep reading God's word, sharing in fellowship to hear God's word, thinking of, listening to, and helping others, praying, and living a Christian life.  I will strive to be a better Christian here on earth, working towards that 'perfect' life with Christ our Lord.

Psalm 148

Kay Lewis

Devotional 4-10-16

A prayer for Easter Spring

Gracious, loving God we raise 
hearts and voices to adore
You who gave us springtime days 
and your mercy evermore. 
Thanks and praise we bring to you, 
Lord, for making all things new.

Crucifixion horrified 
those who shared the bread and wine.
Christ our Lord now glorified: 
resurrected gift divine.
Lord of all to you we raise
this our prayer of grateful praise.

Easter bears your promised word. 
Everlasting life you give.
One day we will see you, Lord. 
In your blessed arms we’ll live.
Thanks and praise to you again. 
In his name we pray.  Amen. 


Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 4-1-16

Forgiveness

A Service of Word and Table: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were
yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are
forgiven! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen

When my mother began her battle with cancer in the late ‘90s, I had no doubt that she
would beat it. She could be very determined when she set her mind to something.
Unfortunately the breast cancer we thought she had defeated metastasized into a lung
cancer that took her life on Maundy Thursday of 1997. That was an irony that was lost on
me until now.

In her last month, I was with her every day. Those were rough days for Mom because
she was in so much pain and rough for me because I couldn’t save her.Those of you who
have been “the one at home” know that a hard part of being that person is that you are the
bearer of bad tidings to family members who call. Because I was in the nightmare, I
couldn’t see that they were struggling, too. I began to resent those who called.

After the funeral, it fell to my husband and me to settle the estate and sell the family
home.It was quite evident to everyone that I had not become the matriarch, but a martyr.
As time passed, I met others who had been “the one at home”, and I commiserated
with them, but the time came when I was forced to point out the other side. With the help
of my husband and my faith, I realized that I had been the lucky one. I had had the
privilege of sharing my mother’s last days. I also came to the conclusion that maybe my
family didn’t visit often because it was too hard to leave. And they hadn’t helped because
they wouldn’t have been able to do it to my standards. I guess that’s when I forgave them-
if there was anything to forgive.

Mom wasn’t what you’d call a religious person, but I know she expected my family
and me to love and forgive one another. With God’s help and in His time, we have done
just that. I pray that if you’re in a similar position, you’ll find it in your heart to forgive. I
hope it doesn’t take you ten years to do it.

Heavenly Father, You have told us to love and forgive one another, but You never said
it would be easy. Thank You for teaching us. Thank You for believing in us. Thank You
for loving us. In Your name we pray. Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 3-25-16

Peace Be With You
 

Before I became a school counselor, I taught literature and composition for several years.  I taught my students how to write themes about literature.  Part of the teaching method was to give them a general statement and have them to apply a universal concept to that statement and develop it in a five paragraph theme.  For example, “Macbeth was ambitious.” The student might develop the paper using the thesis statement, “Ambition can lead to a tragic downfall,” applying it to today’s characters. “A 33 year old man in the small town of Jerusalem was hanged on a cross and buried in a tomb.” This is a general statement but what if we say, “The son of God gave his life for all of mankind and was raised from the dead three days later.” Yes, even though it happened over 2000 years ago, it still applies to us then and now.

Jesus had told of his death several times.  One example is in Mark when says he will be arrested and taken before the chief priests and then be given to the Romans to be killed. He also mentioned his being raised from the dead at other times. His followers loved him but did they really listen to him? Mary Magdalena took spices to the tomb for the body.  Were they really needed?  She thought his body had been stolen. Peter and John arrive, John hesitates, but Peter rushes in to see the empty tomb.  They seem confused.  Even the angels who appear before Mary seem upset at her thinking his body had been taken.

Even on the walk to Emmaus, Jesus’ followers seem confused and are thinking all is lost since their Messiah is dead.  Jesus appears with them and calls them foolish because they did not remember what the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. They finally recognized him and asked him to stay even though at first thought he was a ghost. They finally understood their role in spreading the word. There was a peace in the understanding as they saw him rise into the sky. The prophets’ prediction was complete. This completion was for all of mankind. The son of God had completed his mission for us, and we can say, “Peace Be With You,” because the Christ the Lord has Risen Today!

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, please let us remember how your son gave his life for us over 2000 years ago so that is seems as though it were yesterday.  It should be part of our present thinking as well as yesterday. His sacrifice for us is our gift from you.

Carol Brown

Devotional 3-18-16

SADNESS INTO JOY
 

As a youngster, the pending arrival of Easter meant a trip to our local department store to pick out a new dress, and perhaps a new pair of shoes. And if the budget allowed, we might pick out a pretty hat to match!   And of course it also meant the arrival of the Easter bunny on Easter morning, to fill our basket full of all sorts of good things to eat.  And it meant that we’d definitely be going to Sunday School and Church.

As a teenager, active in youth group and singing in the choir, Easter took on a more serious meaning and I seemed to focus on Good Friday for some reason, taking in the total sadness of the story of the crucifixion. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday made an indelible impression on my mind. I just couldn’t imagine how horrible it must have been for Jesus.  I can’t begin to explain why my thoughts centered on the pain and suffering Jesus endured, rather than the joy of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.  I was just being a teenager, I suppose.

Now as an adult, I look upon this time in our church year quite differently, of course—certainly more seriously. I think as Christians we all have our personal perspective on the events of this season. For a long time now, I have embraced Lent, The Last Supper, Good Friday and Easter Sunday as a collective and true gift from God. Each year, little has changed regarding that perspective, it seems. Lent offers me the opportunity to study more and think about what positive changes I can make in my relationship with God through the humanness of Christ.
   
The celebration of the Last Supper begins to settle in my thoughts as the last time Christ gathered his disciples together, preparing them to go on in his absence and yet leaving them confused as they struggle to try to understand what he is telling them. He knows what is to follow, and yet he is concerned about his devoted disciples, not himself.

Good Friday still saddens me greatly. I think about all that occurred during that day—Christ standing before the threatening crowd as Pontius Pilate questions him; the efforts of the soldiers to humiliate him with a crown of thorns as the King of the Jews; the long and agonizing walk to Golgotha where he would be crucified; his betrayal by those whom he loved, and the horrific suffering he endured.
   
And then Easter Sunday arrives. The tomb is empty, first raising fear, then hope, and at last, tremendous joy, for Christ has arisen! In just a short time we discover what has happened, and we know what is in store for us. We need only believe in him, serve him, become like him as God’s servant on earth, and be his witness to others. Now—just how wonderful is that? Let us prepare to receive God’s greatest gift.

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 3-11-16

EXPECTED or UNEXPECTED

 

Every Christmas Eve I enjoy watching the television presentation of "A Christmas Story". Remember some of the favorite scenes: the Christmas parade, Santa Claus at the Mall, opening presents on Christmas morning (especially the bunny suit), the BB gun ("you'll shoot your eye out, kid"). Remember in your family as in mine what each child really wanted for Christmas. As our children grew older their gift wishes grew more and more expensive. One Christmas both sons wanted a car of their own. With all three children in Marshall at the same time there was fat chance of that happening!  But it didn't hurt to have high expectations. If you don't ask you will never know."Hey, boys, how about getting a part time job?" (They did!)

 

The coming of the King, the Messiah, was long expected and foretold by the prophets, A king to lead his people out of bondage. As we observe Palm Sunday we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem, albeit not in a royal carriage fit for a king but on the back of an humble donkey. Not quite what was expected but close enough the people thought as they cheered Him on His way. They lined His path with palm leaves, they cheered, He was their expectation.

 

Fast forward a few days. Now comes the unexpected part. Jesus is brought before Pilate, tried, found guilty and crucified. Not expected by his followers. A devastating end to their hopes (or so they thought). What must they do now?

 

Sometimes our own personal expectations for our lives are high (and that is not necessarily bad). Perhaps we are looking for a new job, a promotion? Looking for a happy solution to a pressing family problem? Expecting it because we think we deserve it?

 

And then the unexpected happens. Our hopes are dashed as another person claims what we believed we deserved, There seems to be no answer to that big problem.  Where do we go from here?

 

That's when we learn that God has a plan for us, a plan we had not expected but He knew and He would make it a reality.

 

God doesn't have to expect, He knows. TRUST HIM. At this Easter season remember that God loves each one of us and if someone loves you as God loves us there is no end to His bountiful goodness toward us.

 

LORD, I BELIEVE. HELP THOU MY UNBELIEF.

 

Jean Dean