Devotional 8-15-14

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

A dear neighbor of mine sent me an e-mail that began with this verse from Jeremiah. The e-mail describes life as a train ride that begins at birth when we board the train to meet our parents, and we believe that they travel at our side until they step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. As time goes by, other people will board the train; some will be significant such as siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life. Many will leave a permanent vacuum when they step down.  Others will go unnoticed so that we do not realize they have vacated their seats! This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, and farewells.

Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers….requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery is we do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So we must live in the best way—love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.  It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

The remainder of the e-mail consisted of my sweet neighbor wishing me well on my journey and thanking me for being one of the passengers on her train. If only all of us could be the kind of passenger that she is.  She is always there.  She even planted my flowers this year!

I have had some major health problems this year.  To be honest, I have thought that I might have to get off the train at times.  I wondered about the memories I would leave behind.  As Jeremiah said, God has a plan for me and I feel that He has “Touched Me” and I hope to live life in the best way as I continue my train ride. Come join my neighbor and me to make the best memories on our ride!

Carol Brown

Devotional 8-8-14

Please read the scripture for today’s devotion:  Genesis 37: 1-28

Genesis can be such a challenging book, full of lots of information. But what I like to call the “short stories” of the Old Testament can indeed be full of intrigue, holding my attention.

In Chapter 37, I find this to be true in the story of Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son. In the beginning of the story, we learn that Jacob has presented a beautiful coat of many colors to Joseph –something none of his brothers have ever received. We learn that, of all his sons, Jacob favors Joseph the most.  His brothers are well aware of this favoritism, and have grown quite jealous of Joseph. They become so angry about it that they begin plotting to get rid of him. They are even more convinced this is a good idea after Joseph shares two of his dreams with them—dreams of his greatness and power over them. This is just the beginning of Joseph’s story and, like a good novel, we want to read on to find out what happens to him.

Reading this story for the first time in a very long time, details become more significant. Joseph’s dreaming reminds me of times in my life in which I’ve dreamed, or hoped, or wished  for something specific to happen. How often have I said, “I wish…” or “I hope…”?  Was Joseph’s power and superiority going to happen because he had dreamed of it happening, maybe even wished hard for it to happen? Or was it already God’s plan for Joseph?

I have come to believe that God has always had a plan for me.  I believe He knows me better than I know myself.  And I’m quite sure God expects my active participation in His plan!  With this realization, I’ve tried to quit wishing and dreaming  (not always so easy!) and begin instead to hear what God has to say.  Simple steps, really—just  listen ,understand, and follow through. Seems to make a lot of sense, don’t you think?

Prayer:
Dear God, help me to take time each day to talk with You, and to listen. Then, I ask that You be with me as I follow through.  Thanks, Heavenly Father.  Amen

Devotional 7-31-14

Why Go to Church?

Twenty years ago our churches were full. It was the socially accepted thing to do. Fast forward and many of our churches are half empty. Church attendance is no longer a social necessity. Churches are all too often seen as being full of judgmental hypocrites. There are many people who consider themselves Christians who feel no need to attend church. They feel they can worship God anywhere - which , of course is true, and something we all should be doing.

So, why attend church? I’ve thought a lot about this. Weekly church attendance is very important to me. It feeds my soul. During some of the most difficult times in my life my faith has gotten me through. I might have been physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, but spiritually I was doing well. I can’t remember ever attending a service that I wasn’t touched in some way - the music, a prayer, the sermon, a reading, a hug. Attending church helps me to grow - as a Christian and as a person. It keeps me in tune, not with what I want, but with what God wants. The sharing of faith and fellowship with caring friends adds depth and joy to worship. Church gives me a way to worship God that would be impossible to do on my own.

Why do you go to church? Who do you need to tell?

Margaret Williams

Devotional 7-25-14

Matthew 10:29-30. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of these shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING

Did you ever explain something to someone and what you intended for them to understand was not what they actually understood? Hopefully when this happens the issue can be straightened out without serious consequences......but not always.

Here's an example: Every woman reading this has at one time or another said to herself, "I want to do something different with my hair." I confess that I fell into that trap recently. What I explained to the hairdresser I wanted and what she understood I wanted were two very different things. The result was not a happy one (at least not for me). I hated the result. Not her fault, just one of life's misunderstandings. I'm happy to say it was not irreversible and I'm looking pretty normal now but it did teach me a lesson.  Be very sure both parties are on the exact same page when explaining something to one another.

Part of the lesson I learned is something wonderful. WE DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO GOD. Jesus knows us completely, inside and out. He knows when we need His help whether it be for something large or small, we only have to ask. Trust me on this, I prove it every day. He knows what we need even before we know it ourselves.

And how comforting to know that to Him we are of greater importance than the tiniest bird or the least valuable of the coin of the realm. NO GREATER LOVE.

 Jean Dean

Devotional 7-19-14

Psalm 139: 1-12,23-24

"Where can I go from Your spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?" Psalm 139:7

In Jean Ramsey's Devotion of last week, she said that maybe Jesus was with her as she was planting and caring for the beautiful flora around Johnson Memorial UMC. I believe she is right.

There is nowhere we can go from the spirit or presence of God. God is always with us and how comforting is that? Right here, where you are reading this devotion, is God. No, we cannot reach out and physically touch him, but we can ask for comfort, healing, wisdom, whatever our heart and mind needs at the time. He is there.

I remember driving back from a vacation at the seashore, where I had felt God's presence in the ocean, the sand, and sun: all around. But as much as I hated to leave the beach, I felt such a comfort in God's green mountains of West Virginia, my home. Being in the mountains, I felt as though God had placed a comforting blanket around me.

God is everywhere! God is always with us! Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 7-11-14

If by chance I should actually meet Jesus when I was planting flowers at Johnson Memorial UMC, what would I do or say? Never really thought about that happening, but if it happened what would I do? I guess I would say, "Hey I am working to make JM look really good on the outside so that people will like our church where we meet to show how much we love you. I guess I would show him around the church outside and show him the Memory Garden and the playground for the kids. I would invite him inside to our sanctuary and show him where I sit.  I would tell him that I love to sit and point out the stained glass windows. I would take him to our Sunday School rooms and let him meet the kids in our preschool, and Miss Anita and her staff. I would then show him the Fellowship Hall and the kitchen where we feed not only our members but the hungry at Common Grounds. I would tell him about the people that make that happen. I would have him say hey to Ron and Hilda who take care of our church, too.  I would have him say hello to Bruce Rous who leads us all in beautiful music every Sunday. I would then have him  take the elevator to the fourth floor to meet the staff there that serve us so well. I guess Amy, Mace, Linda, Joe, and Jack will be surprised when he meets them. I think he would be pleased at what he sees.

So many times I have taken others to see our great church just the same way as I would take Jesus. Maybe he was there beside me, and I did not know it.

Jean Ramsey

Devotional 7-4-14

Faith AND Fear

Please read Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22-33 contains the story of Peter walking on water.  He steps out of the boat, willing to follow Jesus, even to do this thing which is impossible, because Jesus calls him to do it.  In his fear and doubt, he sinks.  Jesus rescues him and then rebukes him.  I identify so much with Peter that sometimes I feel the sting of that rebuke and count it as failure.

We are so much like Peter.  We are not without faith, but with our faith lives our fear.  Barbara Brown Taylor talks about this in a sermon in the book The Seeds of Heaven.  Read this quote from Taylor's sermon:

Why do we doubt?  Because we are afraid, because the sea is so vast and we are so small, because the storm is so powerful and we are so easily sunk, because life is so beyond our control and we are so helpless in its grip.  Why do we doubt? Because we are afraid, even when we do have faith.

It isn't a lack of faith that causes Peter to sink; it's the presence of fear.

Paul, in the second letter to the Corinthians, spoke of his desire for a "thorn in his flesh" to be removed.  He writes that God said to him, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Corinthians 9)

It's a hard verse to understand for me, but it came  to mind as I read the Taylor sermon.  If Peter had walked across the water in confidence, with no fear, then Christ would not have had to pull him out of the water.  In his fear, he needed Christ.  In our fear, we come to realize the necessity of salvation.  In our strength, we do not always see it.  God is always powerful, but in our weakness, we rely on his power instead of our own.

That doesn't mean that Christ caused Peter to sink so that Peter would come to realize the necessity of Christ, and it doesn't mean that God causes fearful things to happen to us so that our faith will be strengthened.  Really, we have enough fear on our own with God needing in any way to add to it.  It does mean that when we sink, God is there, and we come to understand that.  God offers grace - the hand that lifts Peter out of the water.  God offers accountability - the rebuke Christ spoke to him.  And God offers salvation - Christ returns Peter to the boat.  In none of that does God offer rejection.

And what do the disciples do?  They worship Christ in the boat.  As should we.

Kim Matthews