Devotional 4-10-20

No Thanks. I Gave That Up for Lent

 Lent: a time period, by name anyway, that seems to have morphed from the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter to the “how long can you hold your breath” time period of GIVING SOMETHING UP. Based in the solid theology of sacrifice, it has grown legs and walked away. Posts on social media, and talk around the office water cooler bring out the ever-looming Easter question, “What are YOU giving up?” Almost as if comparing lawn mowers or bar-b-que grills, “My suffering is going to be greater than your suffering!” With the hope of actually thinking of suffering and loss when the desired ‘given up’ thing is wanted, we (notice I said WE? Me too) give up things like deep fried, caramel covered, dill pickles or only bingeing on five episodes of a favorite show instead of eight. Blah Blah Blah…

Notwithstanding the fact that Christ GAVE UP his life – the scriptures outlining his ministry and the narrative that follows his ride into Jerusalem…to die, never seem to point at him giving up – anything. Instead the focus seems to be on GIVING. Giving encouragement: “Blessed are the …For they shall…” Giving sustenance: “You give them something to eat.” Giving forgiveness: “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” Giving hope: “For today you will be with me in paradise.” Giving security: “Woman, behold your son.”

Two things near and dear to my heart are sweets and coffee. Over the course of the years I have given up both. Did I suffer? Enh…  Did it make me think? Maybe. Did it help ANYBODY else? NOPE!

I think my plan will be to only give up – self and to make everything else about giving. If asked for money on the street > don’t judge – give. If asked to help > don’t complain- give. If spoken to harshly > don’t retaliate – give. Give until it sinks in that THAT is way it is meant to be.

For God so loved the world that he gave…

Steve Matthews

Devotional 4-9-20

Lectionary Readings:  Exodus 12: 1-14; Psalm 116; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; John 13: 1-17, 31b-35.

“A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13: 34-35.

 In the passage from John’s gospel, the disciples were gathered with Jesus to celebrate a Passover meal.  This was a traditional meal celebrated according to the directions God gave to Moses and the Israelites on the night the angel of death would pass over to save their children.  They should be “ready to go” as they ate, not really knowing that they would be leaving Egypt the next morning. None of the disciples knew what the next 24 hours would hold for them and for Jesus after this meal either. However, the evening gathering became a continuation of the lessons Jesus was trying to impart to all of his disciples. One of the first lessons of that evening was an act of Agape love.  Jesus showed the disciples that all are called to become servants to show their love as he did when he washed their feet.

The next lesson is found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.  Paul also described the meal of bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus’ life as he wrote to the Corinthians.  We know this meal of remembrance as Holy Communion where the bread of life and the cup of salvation are shared with the community.  Jesus asks us to remember that his body and blood were given as a sacrifice for our sins. What an extravagant, marvelous, matchless gift of love.

The third lesson of that evening was described in the gospel of John as a new commandment: to love one another as He loved us.  Everything Jesus said and did in his entire ministry was to teach us to love one another using his own life as the example.  He showed with his actions how to become the giver of love, the servant who puts others first, the grantor of mercy shown to all who ask—even in the hour of his own death. His grace is radical and overwhelming!  We could never be worthy on our own merits and we will never find this depth of love from any other source.
           
In this time of crisis and physical separation from one another, we will not be able to participate in the sacrament of holy communion as usual on Holy Thursday.  We cannot physically wash one another’s feet or do any other acts of Agape that require us to touch, hug or gather in close contact.  That does not mean that we are not spreading and sharing love with one another. We can still be the Church!  Start with prayer and meditation to connect with God.  Ask to be filled with a renewed spirit of love, direction and service. Next find some ways to share love that show you are grateful, thankful, faithful, thoughtful or meaningful. Be “full” of love as you proceed.  It could be a simple gift of some wipes in the mailbox for the mailman or sending cards to those in a health care facility like Woodlands. Make loving others a way of life.  Practice tolerance, patience, gentleness, etc., and share the LOVE!! It won’t be easy but Jesus called us to this radical way of loving others by his example!!!

Our church leaders and staff are doing all they can to maintain communication and support.  We are encouraged to check in with neighbors, family members and Sunday school class members, our community elders and friends to share needs and concerns. Even electronic forms of communication help us to stay connected and share hope and humor. Those essential workers who continue to provide care, deliver our food, measure our prescriptions, etc., deserve our thanks and appreciation.  We can be supportive of those in our communities on the front lines with our donations and patronage when allowed. We can spread the love of Jesus so well that all will know that we too are his disciples.  We do not have to be in a building to show to others that We are the Church.  Loving becomes a habit too beautiful to give up!

Oh God, Loving Creator: we thank you for loving us so wondrously. We are astounded and overwhelmed by your grace and mercy.  Help us to surrender to your loving ways daily so that we might be your hands and feet in this chaotic world. AMEN

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 4-8-20

“A Severe Mercy”

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 70
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13:21-32

Wednesday, the eve of the three most despairing and sorrowful days for the followers of Jesus; those who love Him, believe Him, look to Him for hope, for truth, for encouragement to strengthen their infant faith. They believe their faith in God has been solid; Jesus has shown them a new faith.  A faith which is personal, actionable, with love of God and neighbor as the foundation.  Over the next three days, they will experience what author Sheldon Vanauken calls “A Severe Mercy.”

The Old Testament readings reveal the extreme physical and emotional cost for those who hear and follow God’s call to faithful service with commitment and determination:

• “Therefore, I set my face like flint.”  (Isaiah 50:7b)
• “Let those who seek my life be ashamed and humiliated!” (Psalm 70:2a) 

Both readings also reveal the faithful servants’ trusting belief that God will not only help, but will also deliver them from the perils they face:

• “Look!  The LORD God will help me.  Who will condemn me?” (Isaiah 50:9a)
• “But let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in your saving help say again and again, ‘God is great!’”  (Psalm 70:4) 

The reading from Hebrews calls to mind “a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”  As Easter people, we are told to “fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.  He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.”  (Hebrews 3:1b, 2)

The disciples, however, were not Easter people – yet.  John’s Gospel reading describes the beginning of the sorrow and despair soon to befall Jesus and His followers:

• “After he said these things, Jesus was deeply disturbed and testified, ‘I assure you, one of you will betray me.’  His disciples looked at each other, confused about which of them he was talking about.  One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved was at Jesus’ side.  Simon Peter nodded at him to get him to ask Jesus who he was talking about.  Leaning back toward Jesus, this disciple asked, ‘Lord, who is it?’ 

Jesus answered, ‘It’s the one to whom I will give this piece of bread once I have dipped it into the bowl.’  Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.  After Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.  Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’  No one sitting at the table understood why Jesus said this to him.  Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus told him, ‘Go, buy what we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor.  So when Judas took the bread, he left immediately.  And it was night.”  (John 13:21-30)

“And it was night.”  That simple sentence has stayed with me, disturbing me. John offers no light in this passage to offset the darkness about to overtake Jesus and His followers. There is no parable to take the edge off.   There is no “I am…” passage to tamp down the foreboding feeling.  Only “And it was night.”

• “When Judas was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.  If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Son of Man in himself and will glorify him immediately.’”  (John 13:31-32) 

How very thankful I am that we are Easter people. The despair and sorrow of those three days must give special meaning to how we respond to them. The mercy was indeed severe, but the followers were strengthened through their devotion to our Lord.  We should cherish the words of these Scriptures, which demonstrate the devotion, commitment, and love each and every faithful servant had for God and serving His purpose in their lives.  Every passage tells us we are never alone in serving our God.  We have “a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us” and a glorified Savior, Who intercedes on our behalf.  “Look, the LORD God will help me.  Who will condemn me?”

Loving God,
We offer our prayer to be faithful in completing the journey with courage, demonstrating the love of Christ for everyone, the determination of Christ to endure the hardships, and the strength of Christ to carry us forward when we fall. Please accept our willingness to be faithful servants, especially during this time of grave uncertainty.    Strengthen our faith, remove our excuses, and may we know Your loving presence always.  Amen.

Linda Summers

Devotional 4-7-20

Scripture: John 13: 1-17, 34-35

I was fortunate to travel to the Holy Land last fall with 5 bus-loads of West Virginia United Methodists. What an amazing experience, made even better by being there with friends. The trip involved a lot of walking over dry, dusty roads and hillsides. More than once my fellow travelers asked wouldn't I be more comfortable in sneakers. Nope, my trusty Nike sandals were (and are) my footwear of choice.  I can understand the need for washing the feet of people entering homes in Biblical times.  Of course, it was usually a lowly servant who washed the feet of guests, but at the Last Supper, it was Jesus, the host, who humbled himself to perform the task of washing the disciples' feet. Can you imagine their reaction? They were uncomfortable and confused. Jesus gave an explanation:

 After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you?  You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am.  If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.  I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them.  Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.--John 13:12-17

How many times have we experienced joy from helping others? How often do we note that when doing something for others, we get the reward of happiness?

Jesus concludes this conversation with an instruction to the disciples and to us:

“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other.  This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”--John 13:34-35

Beautiful words. Sounds easy. Love each other. Harder than it sounds most days. Love each other. With God's help, we can give it our best try.

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 4-6-20

Is this Holy Week different?

Read Psalm 36:5-11, Isaiah 42:1-9, Hebrews 9:11-15

My answer, to the title of this devotional, is yes and no.  As Holy Week began on Palm Sunday, we would have been celebrating Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem together at Johnson Memorial, or in other congregations, with our church Family, as a body of Christ.  But we could not.  We did celebrate together, as a Body of Christ in spirit, as we received the message, virtually from our Pastor.  We still had wonderful music from members of the Music Ministry and we heard the word of God. Thanks be to God!

God would still show us his love as in Psalm 36:7, "Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings."

What about the rest of Holy Week?  Well, things are different!  Many of us will be staying in our homes.  Some that are very needed, in their calling, will be working to care for others.  We will not be able to visit or be together in person with family, but we can still keep in touch from a distant.  Just like past years we can still be contemplating what we know of the days leading to Easter Sunday.  As written by the Prophet Isaiah 42:1,4,  ”Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”  42:4 “He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.”

As the week continues, we will celebrate Maundy Thursday, although differently, but it has the same meaning that Christ give his body and blood for our salvation.  We will cry on Good Friday as we remember Christ’s Crucifixion on the cross for us.  We will pray and contemplate all of this on Saturday leading to a Glorious Easter Sunday and the RESURRECTION of our Savior Christ the Jesus as he conquers death and leads us all to eternal LIFE.

In the message of Resurrection that there is life eternal.  There will also be life again in the world as we conquer what is happening today.  All of this through the Love of God and the Blood of our Savoir Jesus Christ.  Yes, this Holy Week will be different but the same. Halleluiah, Amen!!

Fred Herr

Devotional 11-22-19

Paul’s Warning
 

II Thessalonians 3: 6-13

As he began working on his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul remembered how well  his previous letter had been received by them. They were on their way to establishing their own church and it was wonderful! They were enthusiastic about what was happening! They were so eager to learn more about this man called Jesus, and to start their church in his name. Paul’s first letter to them was full of information about Jesus and Paul’s personal knowledge of him. There was much to be done to bring in new believers. Paul had given them a lot of encouragement and incentive to work hard. They were growing together through Christ’s love. They understood that Paul expected them to work together and keep busy to be successful.

But Paul had heard some disturbing news from his followers. Many of the Thessalonians were idly wasting their time while others continued working and doing the right thing. He believed it was time to set the record straight. Everyone was to be working! Paul’s followers told him that plain idleness had set in because everyone decided they would just wait for Jesus to arrive.

Paul must have thought long and hard about what he would say in his second letter to the Thessalonians. They must understand that certain things were to happen before Jesus returned. No one knew quite what those things were, or how long that would take, but Paul told them to get back to work! They must not sit idly around doing nothing. He warned that idleness would not be tolerated. He urged them in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down, work hard, and earn their meals. Most important, Paul just wanted them to do what he had asked, and to do it right.

Heavenly Father,
How blessed we are when we work together for the common good. Whatever the goal, we have fun doing it together, sharing the work, using the best of the talents You have given us. And when the work is over and the day is through, we smile. No need to worry, Father! There will be no loafing, no whining, no complaining, no waste of time, for this work, dear Lord, is done for You. Amen

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 11-15-19

The Song of a Baby's Cry

Lectionary Readings:  Isaiah 12; Isaiah 65: 17-25; Psalm 118; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20: 27-38     “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12: 2

I have a framed message in my living room that says: “God gave us music so we could pray without words.”  It is the end-part of an anonymous quote that starts with “Bach gave us God’s word; Mozart gave us God’s laughter; and Beethoven gave us God’s fire.” Music is a magnificent means of communication.  Most of us have chosen one or more genres that we enjoy and probably a list of examples that make a “favorites list”.   God created us in his image, so I joyfully jump to the conclusion that God loves music also.  I believe He gave us music to communicate with each other and with Him.

Some have speculated that music actually begins in the womb.  The rhythm of the mother’s heart, all of mom’s internal bodily noises, as well as the music of the fluid the baby moves in supply melodies to the developing baby’s brain.  Then after birth, the loving messages of those who cuddle and attempt to soothe the baby provide the first external notes.

Babies, however, cannot respond in kind (at least at first).  Babies mainly communicate with crying. The baby cries for food, warmth, dryness, relief of gas, fear, loneliness, etc.  Crying does not initially compare favorably to a definition of a song.  Many a care giver has been frustrated by the cries of a baby--especially when it seems that after multiple attempts to determine the cause of the cry, the baby is not soothed.  And yet, the song of crying signifies life—the child is sending out messages.

I have really enjoyed my volunteer hours at Lily’s Place and am thrilled when asked to cuddle one of these special little ones.  I am not always successful in the game of “soothe the baby to sleep” though.  Recently we’ve cared for a special one who frustrated many of his care givers.  He cried when he was being fed and therefore didn’t always eat his full measure, he cried when he was swaddled, and when he was unbound, cried when he was both wet and dry, cried when he was rocked and when he was still, cried when left alone and when he received attention. He was prayed for, sung to, loved, cuddled, rocked and snuggled. It seems nothing soothed him—at least for any length of time.  What was he trying to communicate?  What was he saying with his cries?

The baby’s cries were frustrating but not life threatening. But maybe the cries symbolize something else, like the collective cries of all those in pain or who grieve.  Perhaps they are the messages of all who are lonely and afraid.  They could also be a joyful statement: “Look, I’m alive in spite of my rough beginning and I want everyone to know it.”  He was communicating with us and we were trying to listen to catch his meaning. His song was not the one we expected, but it was his message.  What can this baby teach us about our relationship with God?

We are often too busy with our own agenda to listen for God’s message.  We fill our own silence with white noise and insignificant background sound to feel less alone and isolated. When we seek Him or respond, our song often sounds flat and out of rhythm because we have not truly listened to God.  God tells us to not be afraid, that He is with us.  However, God’s message to us is not always what we expect as He speaks to us in many voices and uses words, music, nature, silence, etc.. When we ignore His message we miss the chance to sing a new song that allows God to become our salvation and strength.

“I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you, O my soul rejoice!
 Take joy, my King in what you hear; May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.”
                                                                                                            Laurie Klein (the Faith We Sing)

Chyrl Budd