Devotional 9-15-16

Read Luke 15: 1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Read Luke 15: 8-10 The Parable of the Lost Coin

How often have you ever rejoiced?  Not just feeling good or happy but actually rejoicing over someone or some event.  As I think on this I realize not very often! Oh sure- the birth of our daughter and grandchildren.....maybe... but in the everyday living it is rare for me.

Luke sets the scene in Chapter 15 by stating that Jesus was with the tax collectors & “sinners” and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were objecting to this.  Does Jesus confront the leaders? Does he call them out for their hypocrisy? Does he ignore them?  No- he uses this opportunity as a teachable moment!

Jesus tells all who are there these 2 parables.  In both of them Jesus reminds the people that like the lost sheep or coin there is great REJOICING in Heaven and in the presence of angels when even one sinner repents!

We may not think of living in God’s Kingdom here on Earth...... but we do!  Just like the teachers of the law in Israel’s day we have a tendency to judge.  Unfortunately, I suspect when we see or hear of someone coming to Christ we may not celebrate it like we should.  However, today’s scripture serves to remind all of us that even when one lost soul is found -just like the angels in Heaven- we should join with them and rejoice!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day.  We thank you for all the blessings we receive.  Help us to celebrate every time someone comes to know you as we await that house not built with hands- eternal to the Heavens.  Amen

Marv Jones

Devotional 9-10-16

Anger Management

1 Peter 5:7  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I knew I was in trouble when I cursed the bar of Ivory soap. For weeks I had watched it slowly slide across the shower stall shelf and fall to the floor. “I need to buy a soap holder,” I would think, but I hadn’t followed through. Of course, having to pick up the soap again was not really the problem. I was just seriously, destructively angry.

There are things going on in my life right now that are not pleasant. I am angry. But I want to make it clear that I’m not angry with with anyone in particular. I am not angry with or feel deserted by God. My anger comes from an inability to fix things, to put them back the way they were.

When the soap incident happened, I knew I needed help. In the past when anger of this magnitude reared its ugly heard - my father’s stroke, my mother’s cancer- I would work as hard as I could to fix it and then self-medicate. That didn’t work then; I knew it wouldn’t work now. I asked God for help and my answer came in the strangest form.

As I ate my Sunday morning breakfast ( Yes, I have breakfast before I eat second breakfast in my Sunday School class), I flipped channels until I landed on the show “In Touch” with Dr. Charles Stanley. I have always loved his Southern accent, and on this particular day, he looked up from his TV podium and into my eyes. “You have to deal with your anger,” he said. “It’s a destructive behavior!” For a moment I thought I was in the movie Pleasantville. My mouth dropped open, I retrieved pencil and paper, and for the next hour I listened and took notes.

He said that to be victorious over anger, one must do several things.

She must identify it,

confess it,

purposely deal with it,

take emotional time outs,

replace it with something meaningful,

benefit from it,

and prevent it from reoccurring.

His explanations and examples helped clarify each stage; I could see that this might help.

Kim Matthews recently wrote about her experience with a bottle of water and making a real connection with a lady in need. Her story reminded me that God puts us where we need to be to hear His message or share His message. That Sunday morning I heard God’s message for me. I hope that sharing it will help you.I imagine all of us could use a little anger management from God.

Dear Father, we have lived long enough to know that everyone must deal with anger. We also know that it can’t be quantified or qualified. What we sometimes forget is how physically and spiritually damaging it can be. Please give us the strength, support, and information to help us when anger takes over our lives. We need You and Your peace now and forever.

Amen

  

Becky Warren

Devotional 9-2-16

The other evening, Steve was out of town, and I had a meeting at church. I parked at church and walked downtown to grab some dinner. If I'm eating alone, I often read, as I was that evening. I read a chapter out of Brene Brown's book, Rising Strong. This is what I read:

When you look away from a homeless person, you diminish their humanity and your own. (Quote from Father Murray Powell)

In the chapter, Brown struggles with her reaction to people in need - how she looks away from them instead of connecting with them. I was feeling the guilt of looking away as I read it. As I walked to dinner, a man had asked me for a quarter, and I had told him no.

After dinner, I was walking back to church. I walked by the yogurt store, and stopped, thinking a bottle of water would be great during the meeting, so I turned around and bought one, and dropped it down into my bag.

As I approached church, I saw a woman was sitting on our church steps. I started to go in, and she asked me for - you guessed it - a bottle of water.  No one has ever asked me for a bottle of water.

Do you think God was involved? I do.  I got a second chance to see someone who needed help and to respond. I was able to give a cold, unopened bottle of water to a thirsty woman. I drink water, but I rarely walk around town with an unopened bottle in my bag. And yet, God knew this woman needed water, and God knew I needed to give it to her.  Two humans, needing God.
Kim Matthews

Devotional 8-26-16

Prayer

Why do we pray? How do we pray? What answers do we want from prayer? How do I receive the answer to to my prayer? Praying is hard!

These are a few questions regarding prayer and I will not answer them.  I am not about to teach you how to pray.  What I will say is that prayer is a conversation with God.  Just as we converse with anyone in our daily lives.  The difference is that we are talking with God, one that we do not physical see.  Oh, we see and hear him in many away, just look around there he is.  And what we see or hear might be the answer to our prayer.  Sometimes our lack of an answer to what we want may be our answer.  Sometime ago my career had changed following many prayers.  But at a point in this new career I started having doubts.  Again I prayed, had I taken the right path?  I didn't feel I was receiving an answer until one day I realized that the lack of an expected answer was my answer.  This new career was were God wanted me to be.

In a recent reading by Norman Vincent Peale this quote; "prayer will bring you to the point where you will accept what God wants." The answer will not be immediate but it will come.

While you are praying let God and Jesus know that you love them and thank them for all that have done for you. Re-dedicate your life to them.  Be like a child, that is of love and trust in God.

"Prayer with this attitude can change your life wonderfully" (Norman Vincent Peale)
So pray daily have that cup of coffee or tea with your Father God. Enjoy the conversation no matter what is happening in your life he is there to guide you, even give you relief. 

From the Common English Bible:
Matthew 6:9-13 Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
Amen

With Peace, Love and Blessings
Fred Herr
Inspired by the Holy Spirit and the writing of his servant Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.  

Devotional 8-19-16

Hold Hands and Dance

My 16 year old granddaughter, Savannah, had just finished a very traumatic 24 hours, “Gramma,”  she asked, “Why can’t we all just get along? Why can’t we all just hold hands and dance?” My heart broke for her, but the imagery that her question inspired has stuck with me. Why can’t we all just hold hands and dance?

John 3:16-17 tells us that God sent his Son into the world, not to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. God sent Jesus into a chaotic world full of hate, greed, fear, jealousy, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings. Sound familiar? He sent Him to save us from ourselves. Jesus not only brought us forgiveness from our sins, He taught us how to live. He taught us not to judge others. He taught us to forgive ourselves and others. Most of all He taught us to love God and each other. I can’t help but wonder what would happen if all the world just lived by these simple precepts. Could we all just get along? Could Gods plan be for the world to hold hands and dance?

Margaret Williams

Devotional 8-12-16

This was taken from  book "Poems of Inspiration and Comfort" by Deborah Bell

God can Handle It

I an the vine, he are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.   John 15:5

I tried to do it on my own...I tried to work it out
I knew that God could handle it (with just a little doubt)
I was closer with each step I took...new hope each day arose
But when I'd near the end it seemed the book would quickly close.

From my Lord these words then came...My Child...just move aside
I heard your prayer...now here I am but both My hands are tied
Yes...I will give all things you ask...just ask in faith and believe
Then do your part...and step aside...do not My Spirit grieve
You ask but still continue on so what am I to do
I cannot work a mighty work until your work is through

So...I laid aside my selfish will and moved out of the way
I left it in God's loving hands and left it there to stay
He intervened so lovingly with timing and with skill
I laid my crown down at His feet...and yielded to His will....

Let us pray:
Thank you God for loving us and for always listening to us. All we must do is to let go and let you take care of us by believing in faith and the Holy Spirit to see us through! Keep all of your children in your loving arms and bless them all!
Amen

Melanie Herr

Devotional 8-5-16

SISTERLY ADVICE 

“This is the world today.”  Mass attacks, Terror Attacks, Killing policemen, Killing the innocent, Black Lives Matter, White lives matter, All lives matter, foul language in politics…….Enough!   Enough!  I hurt!  Stop it! And it continues….I cannot accept it, I will not accept it!  And it continues….I hurt!  I hurt!  What can I do?  What can I do?  I expressed this in my Sunday school last week. Every day and every night when turning on the news, there it is again! Some say turn off the news. That did not help.

I have a sister who is younger than me. If you have one of them, you know sisters. Sometimes when talking with your sister, one is thinking ahead of what to say next and not really concentrating on listening. So I was expressing my pain with the world and how I was hurting, when all of a sudden, I found myself really listening. She said, “Take yourself out of the picture, quit letting it be about you.” Think of the victims and their pain.  Pray to God to help them deal with their pain and sorrow.  Prayer can be a most powerful resource for them and the world.  Ask God to help THEM and not YOU. My little sister had definitely judged me and hit the nail on the head. I do not take sister criticism well but I finally saw what I was doing to myself.  So now I pledge to what a good Christian should do----Pray for God’s healing power for the victims of all the chaos that is happening in this country and world.

Today’s sermon by Rev. Deane was about Mary and Martha.  Martha was so concerned about food preparation and was upset with Mary’s not helping her that she complained to Jesus about it. Jesus told her that Mary had chosen best to listen to Him.  I think my sister told me that to quit complaining and Let God handle it. Sisterly advice that struck home.

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, Help us to keep in mind that prayer can be most powerful, especially when we consider others more than ourselves.     Amen  

Carolee Brown