Devotional 10-30-20

 Inspired by Psalm 90

We think we are strong.

We imagine, sometimes, that we are invincible.

Invisible to the pain of death.

And then we realize that we are not.

We dwell in your house, O God.

We were born in you - created in you.

As were all who came before us. 

At the beginning of time,

when the mountains rose from the sea,

and the earth was formed,

you were there,

and you created us.

You know, even when we forget, 

that we are dust,

and to dust we will return.

Time is nothing to you.

Hours and minutes are meaningless,

you sweep them away like a dream.

The grass grows,

the grass fades as the sun sets.

When we open ourselves to your presence,

we realize our sin.

Your righteous anger is justified.

Our sins overwhelm us.

Our disobedience overtakes us.

You set it before us.

Shine light on it.

And we cannot avoid it.

All our days pass by

and our years end like a quiet sigh.

Seventy. Eighty. Perhaps.

Even in your presence,

we do not live in heaven.

Life passes. Trouble passes.

And they are gone. And we fly away.

You are God.

Your majesty and divinity are great before us.

Teach us to count our days.

Grant us the wisdom it brings.

Shine your light, we pray.

Grant us grace in your compassion.

Fill us with your unending, loyal love

so that we may find joy

each day we have been given.

Open our eyes to your presence each day we have been given.

Let your favor be upon us,

and may the work we do

be the work you set for us

so that the days we have been given

have divine meaning.

Devotional 10-18-20

 The following devotion is reprinted with the person of the author. Veronica Timbers is the daughter of Sallie and Lynn Childres, former attendees of Johnson Memorial UMC.  Thank you to Anita Farrell for "recruiting" this devotional for our ministry.

__________________________
 

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory (Psalm 63:2 NIV).

Nature calms me and reminds me in times of doubt and feeling disconnected from God that the Creator truly is. I find assurance in the creativity of each leaf, tumbling stream, dipping valley, rolling wave, bird song and even the blade of grass surviving against all odds in the crack of the sidewalk.

The minute details of nature act like a balm to my weary soul. They remind me with a fierceness something has been here creating and is still here creating.

Remembering this brings me to God’s sanctuary. Sanctuary is a word too often equated with a building. It actually means “refuge” or safety.” It means God’s very presence.

Longing for more

During a recent hike in the mountains of North Carolina, I looked over the mountains and breathed in the sheer magnitude of the landscape. My heart cried, “Bigger,” even though it already was so big.

I was looking out at miles of wilderness, but I wanted more. Some probably would call this selfishness, but as I reflected, I saw my insatiable hunger for more and bigger as coming from the image of God woven into our very beings.

I have a longing for all God has created; for all justice to be accomplished now, not later; for all things to be made whole now, not later; for the church to be what Christ commanded now, not later.

My longing is not much different than the sentiment expressed in Psalm 13, “How long, O Lord?” How long until there is relief, until hope can break through to reality?

The object of our longing

I am comforted that God does not shame our ambition to see this world made right or to dream of bigger and better, even to demand it. I believe such ambition fills God with great joy, because it means we actually get God’s vision and power. When we are captured by this knowledge, we enter into the work of creating with God in a whole new way.

When we are dreaming and longing for “bigger” in the areas of justice, community, the meaningful participation of all and the thriving of creation, we can be assured we are in God’s sanctuary.

Even if we enter God’s sanctuary feeling weary and with our souls dried up, we are in the presence of Living Water. We are where we can grieve, celebrate, heal, rage, wrestle, laugh and question until we realize Christ is with us in it.

Then we can praise the name of God in all of our complicated mess as we sit with what is and what is yet to come. God delights in this exchange of our full self and welcomes our holy hunger for “bigger.”

A prayer

May the following prayer help you pray for more of God’s vision, power and way.

“Lord, the world is a bit of a mess right now. I am not sure of my place in it, but I am feeling overwhelmed by _____________; I am mad about _____________; I need _____________; I am feeling hopeful about/in awe of _____________.

I am feeling all of this, and today, I choose to remember this sanctuary and place of safety where I can bring it all and stay until I am comforted by your great love. Amen.”

*******

Veronica Timbers is a doctoral student in Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. As a licensed clinical social worker, she has 15 years of experience in mental health practice and has worked in ministry settings as a chaplain and part-time campus minister. 

Devotional 10-11-20

 A few weeks ago, I accidentally broke off a leaf of the little African Violet plant I had been tenderly caring for.  I put the leaf in some soil and kept it watered, not wanting to throw it away.  It turned a little brown around the edges; nothing happened. But surprisingly one day four tiny leaves began to appear! I hope to have another African violet plant someday!  Recently I read in a devotional book that to develop another plant, dip the stem in honey before putting it in the soil!

 
Some things such as our faith may grow slowly. Faith needs nurturing and “honey."  I believe my faith still is maturing after all this time. I feel more deeply the love of God.  This knowledge is life-changing. Jesus taught a great deal about love.  In the gospel of John, he said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34, RSV).
 
The 13th-century English Bishop Saint Richard of Chichester wrote:
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly.
 
Godspell follows the wording in Hymn 429 of the 1940  Methodist Hymnal:
Day by day,
Dear Lord, of thee three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
Day by day.
 
Let us all  rejoice in the knowledge of the love of God.  Pray that we all may love well and live with a blessing to all, including all God’s creation.
 
Dear God, fill our hearts with kindness, our actions with caring, our spirits with gentleness, so that we may become more of what we ought to be, through Christ our Lord.                          
Amen
                             
Martha Casey

Devotional 10-4-20

 An American Idol

 Exodus 20:1-4 CEB

20 Then God spoke all these words:

2 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 You must have no other gods before me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself – no form whatsoever - of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.

When you get up in the morning, what is your routine? For those of you still working, you may slowly rise, shower, have a cup of coffee, listen to the news, and then check your phone for messages or emails. For others, you may eventually roll out of bed, turn on the tv, have a bowl of cereal, and get ready for either in-person or virtual school. For those of us who are retired, the day may not begin until 9:00 when we stretch to get the blood pumping, pour a glass of prune juice, fetch the newspaper and our reading glasses, and settle down to watch a recorded morning news show. At my house it’s CBS This Morning with Gayle King, Anthony Mason, and Tony Dokoupil.

Wait a minute. Did you catch it? Did I leave something out? Oh, yeah! What about Facebook? Snapchat?  Twitter? According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans use one of these platforms every day. They are a part of our routine!

What does that say about many of us? I know what it says about me! It says that I’m probably being rude to Jon when he comes into the room wanting to share some news, but I’m flipping through post after post. It also says that I’m setting a terrible example for my adolescent grandchildren who are already way too controlled by their phones. It says that I am constantly thinking of something “clever” that I can post, or I am worried that I missed a birthday greeting to someone who barely remembers me from high school! Worst of all, it proves that I’m wasting so much time on looking rather than doing, and at my age I just don’t have that kind of time to waste. These forms of social media in conjunction with texting (I threw that in for my granddaughter) have become our American Idols. No, not the TV singing show, but something that replaces God and the good works that we do in God’s name.

This past week I have had some wonderful “good works” moments. The church I’ve attended for 67 years, Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, celebrated it’s 150^th anniversary and all of the good works and wonderful people that have come from it. Then on Monday members of our Sunday school class did some gardening and clean up around the church grounds! What a good time we had! Today Jon Parlier and I packed bags of food for the Pack for the Future Children’s Ministry. And now I get to share my thoughts in a devotional that will be distributed digitally as a part of the Worship Ministry!

I tell you this, not to call attention to the few things I do to make me feel good, but to remind us all to put the phone down! Step away from the computer! Go back out into the world (wearing a mask, of course), and do something to help others survive and you to thrive! Don’t worship at the altar of this American Idol.

Heavenly Father, help me to fight this addiction I have to my phone and the social media that attracts me. Guide me and lead me into a life of doing for others instead of envying what others have. And if all else fails, drain the energy from my battery. In your name I pray.

Amen|
Becky Warren

Devotional 9-25-20

Philippians 2: 1-13
The Student Bible; New International Version 

BE LIKE JESUS 

Much of Paul’s ministry during his time was done through letters he wrote to the members of the newly established churches. It was the easiest way to communicate. His letters were to the point, and if he had heard a particular church was having problems and needed attention, he handled it with a letter. From THE STUDENT BIBLE we learn that Paul’s usual sense of urgency has all but disappeared in his letters to the Philippians. Instead, he begins writing about Christian behavior and how church members can offer help when reaching out to other people. His letters to the Philippians are more like a conversation with them. Perhaps for the first time, he asks the big question: What is God’s overall purpose for this world? The answer is as important today as it was then. 

 Verses 1 through 4 of Philippians says it best: “¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.”

The Philippians have already learned from Paul that Christ lives in every Christian, and now he asks them to think about what it means to be a representative of Christ in the world. Isn’t Jesus the “perfect example” to follow? He tells them that, as Christians and as believers, they need to be just like Christ if they are to be his representatives in our world.

The scripture continues, and Paul says: “   ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of the servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸AnId being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.  ⁹Therefore God exulted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 Read the scripture once more as if Paul is speaking directly to us today. Are we living our lives as Christ lived His? Jesus lived a simple life. He was a humble man. He never hesitated to help others when He saw a need. He loved and accepted everyone without question.  As a man here on earth, he indeed was the perfect example for us to emulate.

In the hectic, fast-paced, self-serving world in which we live today, we often allow our emotions to get the best of us. We lose our temper. We get angry. We’re tired. We skipped breakfast AND lunch. We put in 12 hours at work today. And we’re supposed to be like Jesus? When? How? It’s just too hard.

Stop. We’ve lost control, and it’s time to turn to prayer. God always listens. Today we’ll take the time to listen to Him. We are Christians, and we want to be like Jesus, so just stop. Then refocus. There are others in this world who have greater needs than ours. What would Jesus do? Where should we start? What’s the best way to help? Refocus. Refocus. Be like Jesus. Get started. God and the Holy Spirit are here.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I want to be like Jesus. I want to be his disciple, to do what He asks of me, even though sometimes I think it’s too hard. Help me to respond to others needing the help I’m able to give. And thanks for reminding me that I will always have your help and the help of the Holy Spirit.  Now Lord, please. I know I can do this. Help me be like Jesus. Amen

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 9-18-20

 Read Matthew 20:1- 16. This is the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

 
There are several parables that Jesus shares that are illuminating but this is one of my favorites. We all know the story, a landowner hires workers in the morning/then more midmorning/and even more late afternoon. When the day is done- each worker gets paid a denarius whether they worked a full shift or a few hours! Scripture tells us they expected to receive more & were furious when they did not.
 
In legal circles there is a saying: "There is the law and there is what is right. What is the law may not be right & what is right is not always the law”. Most of us have a sense of fair play and this parable can speak to our sense of what is right.  However, thankfully, God is not like us.  Just like the parable, his grace is offered to us early and often. Many of us are “mature” Christians who have grown up in the church and know the mercy and gentle support faith brings to each of our lives. But there are others who may be early in their spiritual walk and what comfort it is to know whether early or late to the faith ... the gift of grace is for all of us as we await that house not made with hands but eternal to the heavens! May it always be so.
 
Prayer: Father thank you for the your gift of grace and forgiveness. Help us to nurture those who may be new to the faith as we are unworthy yet you continue to forgive. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
 
Marv Jones

Devotional 9-13-20

Exodus 14:19-31,   Psalms 114,   Romans 14:1-12     Matthew 18:21-35

And then there's St. Francis, "Lord make me an instrument of your peace".  In these days of disagreement & division, it's important we make ourselves available to the breath of God to breathe the music of peace.  We walk around empty - maybe we're flutes, ready to let the creative whisperings of God make music for peace in us to share with our neighbors.  Close the street & have a dance!

Today let's be aware of the song in our heart. If we hear no melody, seek til we have one!  We're too easily distracted & the day can escape us to no good end. Today let's be aware. Be present to the still small voice singing to us.  Let's open ourselves as an instrument to be played, making a melody for healing, comfort & community.  We all need one another and ALL that makes our world.  We're each God's favorite child. That's a fact to celebrate.  Feel the breath of God flowing through you, talking to your spirit, inviting you into the world to share love, making the world a better place.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand,   to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Jill Henton