Devotional 12-30-16

Untethered by time, God sees us all. From the backwoods of Virginia to the business districts of London; from the Vikings to the astronauts, from the cave-dwellers to kings, from the hut-builders to the finger-pointers to the rock-stackers, he sees us.
Vagabonds and ragamuffins all, he saw us before we were born.

And he loves what he sees. Flooded by emotions. Overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, “You are my child. I love you dearly. I’m aware that someday you’ll turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I’ve already provided a way back.”

And to prove it, he’d did something extraordinary.

Stepping from the throne, he removed his robe of light and wrapped himself in skin: pigmented, Human skin. The light of the universe entered a dark, wet womb. He whom whom angels worship nestled himself in the placenta of a peasant, was birthed into the cold night, and then slept on cow’s hay.

Mary didn’t know whether to give him milk or give him praise, but she gave him both since he was, as near as she could figure, hungry and holy.

Joseph didn’t know whether to call him Junior or Father. But in the end called him Jesus, since that’s what the angel had said and since he didn’t have the faintest idea what to name a God he
could cradle in his arms.

....Don’t you think.....their heads tilted and their minds wondered, “What in the world are you doing God?” Or better phrased, “God, what are you doing in the world?”

“Can anything make me stop loving you?” God asked. “Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts. Behold the maker of sight and sound as he sneezes, coughs
and blows his nose. You wonder if I understand how you feel? Look into the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth; that’s God walking to school. Ponder the toddler at Mary’s table; that’s God
spilling his milk.

“You wonder how long my love will last? Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. That’s me you see up there, your maker, your God, nail-stabbed and bleeding. Covered in spit
and sin-soaked.

“THAT’S YOUR SIN I’M FEELING. THAT’S YOUR DEATH I’M DYING. THAT’S YOUR RESURRECTION
I’M LIVING. THAT’S HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.”

Melanie HerrTaken from The Glory of Christmas by Max Lucas in The Gift of Grace

Devotional 11-18-16

New Beginnings

Colossians 1:11-20   (CEB)
... by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; ¹² and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. ¹³ He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. ¹⁴ He set us free through the Son and forgave our sins.

Hymn about Christ’s work
¹⁵  The Son is the image of the invisible God,
        the one who is first over all creation,
¹⁶  Because all things were created by him:
        both in the heavens and on the earth,
        the things that are visible and the things that are invisible.
            Whether they are thrones or powers,
            or rulers or authorities,
        all things were created through him and for him.
¹⁷  He existed before all things,
        and all things are held together in him.
¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the church,
who is the beginning,
        the one who is firstborn from among the dead
        so that he might occupy the first place in everything.
¹⁹  Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him,
²⁰         and he reconciled all things to himself through him—
        whether things on earth or in the heavens.
            He brought peace through the blood of his cross.

This is a time of new beginnings for our church, you the church, at Johnson Memorial UMC.  Eleven months, Dec. 27, 2015, many received a message that the church building had been struck by a fire.  Although the fire was quickly contained with minimal structural damage, blackness filled the whole building with soot.  We all felt some sort of blackness that day.  Where would we worship, how long before we could get into our beautiful sanctuary or even use the building on a daily basis?  Our prayers were answered and we, the church, were able to have function and worship the following week in JM.

The restorations have taken months but through the glory of God we celebrated our new beginning this past Sunday.

I don’t know how you heard the first choir anthem this week, “For the Beauty of the Earth”, but I heard a choir of angels descending but upon JM.  Wrapping us, the church, in Glory and letting us know that it is a time of new beginnings for us, the church, at JM.  Not only a revised space but with new leadership, by Rev. Deane and a revival in our mission to the community, not only in JM, but to all those around JM.

As in Col 1:13 He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.  And verse 20 “and he reconciled all things to himself through him— whether things on earth or in the heavens.  He brought peace through the blood of his cross.”

We are reconciled to Jesus Christ to be the church for all!

This is a time of new beginnings at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church.  A time to LOOK FORWARD and not back.

God Bless all in moving forward together as the CHURCH!!!
Fred Herr

Devotional 11-11-16

Reset Your Gratitude Meter
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Written by Daniel Darling, pastor and author

www.crosswalk.com

What are you thankful for? We gather, every year at this time, to reflect on the blessings of God over the past year. But in most families, Thanksgiving is less about real gratitude and more about stuffing your face, watching football, and hanging with the family. Some actually dread Thanksgiving, because they're forced to sit in a room with people they really don't enjoy. 

Now I'm all in favor of the food and the football. But this year, let's make Thanksgiving about giving and about thanks. This year, more than any, might force us to dig deeper. For many, it will mark a year since they've had employment. For others, Thanksgiving will bring another reminder that they haven't found that significant other. And there are those couples who have to face the family questions of why they still don’t have children. 

For many, this was a year marked by pain. So how do we summon the gratitude? Well, if you're a Christian, your basis is not your circumstances, but something greater. Paul tells the people of Thessalonica that they could "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ."

In other words, followers of Christ believe that hardship is a grace gift from the Lord, sent for their growth, sanctification, and further intimacy with the Almighty. We don't believe we're here on this earth all alone. We believe God is firmly in charge. Though life may get hard--and it does--it all falls under God's sovereign will. And so we give thanks. 

As Americans, we really have cause for gratitude. I have to periodically remind myself of this and remind my family. We so easily get caught up in the easy lust for more stuff. Bigger house, nicer car, better clothes, newest gadgets. But then I remember my travels to third world countries, where I've seen real poverty--and real gratitude on the part of the Christians there. 

Tonight, my kids will go to bed with full stomachs. They'll have a roof over their heads. They will have two parents in the next room. They will ride in a nice car. They will have a future that includes a good education. All of those are things most kids in the world don't have. And so, they should be grateful. 

Let's not sit around the table carping about the election, complaining about our job status, whining about injustices from friends. Let's instead reset our gratitude meters and offer genuine, heartfelt thanks to God. For salvation in Christ. For His daily care. And for friends and family He graciously provides. Oh, and for wives that allow us to stuff our faces and watch football.

Provided by Diane Feaganes

Devotional 11-4-16

In my latest of edition of Readers Digest there is an excepted chapter from a book by Bob Odenkirk's book "A Load of Hooey" entitled, "How to Pick a Tatoo".

One of the first things Mr Odenkirk's emphasizes is three things:
1. Do not be in a hurry.
2. Do not be drunk.
3. Do not be drunk and in a hurry.

Tattoos are everywhere these days.  It's art and I get that.  I suppose there is a lot self expression in that art. 

They do have the ability to let people know how you feel about things but they are pretty much forever.  I am sure that errors in judgement or spelling can be most humbling.

I really appreciate the tattoos in people's lives that are not quite as physically visible.  The lives that bear the mark of life spent doing the right things and in service to Christ are the ones that mean the most to me.  I see those whenever I am at church and see the folks that are there.  Those are the most impactful works of art I see.  And that ink never fades.  It's eternal.

Mike Bowen

Devotional 10-28-16

Please read Luke 19:1-10

This week's gospel text is the story of Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector who experienced a radical life-changing transformation when he met Jesus.

This was one of my father's favorite bible passages. It is compelling; who doesn't love a good conversion story. The ornerier the sinner/-cum-saint, the better the testimony. Although we don't know much about Zacchaeus, Luke gives enough details that the original audience would have made no mistake as to his deplorable nature. Zacchaeus, says Luke, was both a tax collector and rich.

I imagine first-century Palestinians didn't like to render unto Caesar any more than peoples of all times and places throughout history. Today we may have disdain for the IRS, but ancient Jews had a better reason for their hatred of tax collectors. These "publicans" were in collusion with the occupying nation to collect taxes from their own neighbors--they were seen as traitors. Moreover, tax collectors got rich by collecting more than the amount due and keeping the extra. No wonder the crowd grumbled when Jesus chose to eat with Zacchaeus.

What dad liked about the story of Zacchaeus is how, when we are looking for Jesus, He finds us. And life will never be the same.

I went to a United Methodist Men meeting with Dad at his church where he shared a devotional he had written based on Zacchaeus's conversion. For Dad, Zacchaeus experienced new life because he was willing to leave his place of comfort--the sycamore tree where he could view Jesus from a distance. How often we might be tempted to watch from afar without any personal commitment or participation. But Jesus says to Zacchaeus and, I think, to us, "hurry and come down!"

When Zacchaeus and when we respond obediently, our lives are changed.

Dad concluded, "Check your fingernails. Do you have sycamore bark from clinging on to keep your distance?"

May each of us seek Jesus and be found.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 10-21-16

Devotion comes from Luke 18:1-8

This is a story of a persistent widow and a hard hearted judge. He feared neither God nor man. The widow had a problem which the judge refused to solve. She tenaciously bombarded the judge until he caved, not because of fear or regard, but he just got worn down.

This tells me that whatever pursuit which we have, we must continue to attack the problem and not give up.

Years ago when I was fighting the nickel wars at INCO, problems would come up which had to solved. Early on, I gave up after a brief struggle. Later, after being battle hardened by many problems, I found out that not giving up solves a lot of problems.

A Consultant told us that one of our biggest problems is the lack of tenacity, that is, giving up too easily.

As we face our daily struggles in daily living and prayer life, we have to keep trying.

Of course some things are truly unattainable. I’ll never be as tall as Marv Jones or as smart as Gil Ratcliff. It would be foolish and a waste of time. However, every day I can strive to be a better Christian, friend, husband, and church member. Every day I have failures, but thank the Lord, I can get up in the morning and try again.

 A little poem a friend shared with me is titled; "Don't Quit". It gives the same message as the scripture.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

when the funds are low and the debts are high,

when you want to smile but you have to sigh,

when care is pressing you down a bit,

rest if you must BUT DON'T YOU QUIT.

Success is failure turned inside out,

the silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

you can never tell how close you are;

it may be near when it seems so far,

so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,

it's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Devotional 10-14-16

Please read Jeremiah 29: 1-7

In this reading, Jeremiah is writing to the Jewish elders, priests, prophets and to all the people who have been deported to Babylon.

Jeremiah is writing from Jerusalem to all of these people who have been sent from their lands and family and friends. He tells them that this is a letter from the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel.

The letter tells these people that they are to build homes, plant vineyards and plan to stay. They are to marry and raise families and multiply.

 They are to pray for peace and the prosperity of Babylon for if Babylon has peace and prosperity, they will also.

 When I read this I had to think about our upcoming Presidential election. It's hard not to when everywhere you look it seems to be the topic. I'm not saying it shouldn't be, it's very important. I guess that what I'm trying to say is that no matter who wins, lots and lots of people are going to be unhappy. There will be many reasons for that and so many of those reasons will be viable but, there is one thing that we can all do. 

Before, during and after this election, especially after, pray for peace in our country and around the world. Pray for prosperity in this city, this state and this country. Pray for our leaders, especially if you don't like them. Sitting back and saying  "I knew this would be bad for us" only insures it will be bad for us. Praying to our Heavenly Father for wisdom and understanding may not make things change in the blink of an eye but it may change how we look at things or at other people and that can change things, even if it takes a few years, like four maybe.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, As your children we always need your guidance and right now we could use lots of that. Please help us as we try to make the best decisions that we can in this coming election but even more important, help us to remember that we are all your children and we need to pray that whom ever wins this election will need your help and our prayers to do the best job that they can. That will benefit all of us. In your name we pray. Amen

Debbie McGinnis