Devotional 7/29/16

One of my favorite devotional books, given to me by a dear friend, is JESUS CALLING: ENJOYING PEACE IN HIS PRESENCE. It’s a beautiful little book of daily devotions written by missionary Sarah Young. Her devotional writing, written as if Jesus himself is speaking, is especially meaningful—a  wonderful way to begin your morning. More often than not, He speaks about just what seems to be happening in my life on any given day. It’s amazing how that happens sometimes! I bet it’s happened to you, too!

In the following devotion taken from the book, Jesus speaks about what He calls the golden cord of hope.

ROMANS 12: 12  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

“HOPE is a golden cord connecting you to heaven. This cord helps you hold your head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting you. I never leave your side, and I never let go of your hand. But without the cord of hope, your head may slump and your feet may shuffle as you journey uphill with Me. Hope lifts your perspective from your weary feet to the glorious view you can see from the high road. You are reminded that the road we’re traveling together is ultimately a highway to heaven. When you consider this radiant destination, the roughness or smoothness of the road ahead becomes much less significant. I am training you to hold in your heart a dual focus: My continued Presence and the hope of heaven.”

Sarah Young has a degree in philosophy from Wellesley and holds graduate degrees in psychology/ counseling from Tufts, Georgia State, and Covenant Seminary. She and her husband travel widely in their missionary work.

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to strengthen your relationship with Christ, you will find it in this special book of daily devotions.

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 7-22-16

How often we take everyday things for granted. At least, I find that I do. Things like streets not lined with mud, a creek that stays within its banks, a house without water in the basement. Yes, you know of which I speak! In other words, the recent tremendous rainfall which caused creeks to overflow, houses to be flooded and even the loss of life.

 

Nevertheless most of us were blessed by God's goodness and did not experience these dire consequences following Nature's fury. As I think of things I take for granted, how happy I was following the epic rainstorm to find a Captain from the Huntington Fire Department knocking  on my door to see if I wanted to move to a drier and safer location. And also to know that not only the Huntington Fire Department but also the Huntington Police Department  was patrolling the area of the flood to help wherever needed and to prevent criminal  activities. Our local emergency services are without equal.  Whenever you have the opportunity, let them know how much your appreciate them. 

 

Not least of all I am thankful for neighbors who offer assistance. I'm reminded of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). What a lesson for each one of us. May God help us to see where we can be a good neighbor. 

 

Jean Dean

Devotional 7-15-16

Read Psalm 82

In this psalm, the writer calls out to “defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

As people of faith, we are called to action!  But- how can we respond?

Today’s culture touts material gain, personal achievement and upward mobility as the standard to be measured.  Society tends to block our vision when it comes to the weak and the poor!  There are programs out there to help “these” people.

As the psalmist suggests, even thousands of years ago, wicked people used and abused those who are disadvantaged.  He was reminding the people of Israel of their moral and spiritual obligation to protect the oppressed.

This scripture reminds us today that our faith comes with work to do.  God uses us to do his will here on Earth. So- when politicians cut funding for the poor/needy/hungry we must stand up and let our voice be heard! At work, in our neighborhoods and our social circles we need to be alert to actions that come at the cost of others. 

Jesus Christ ministry was based on this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.  As we await that house not built with hands but eternal to the heavens- may we strive to protect those in need.

  

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, forgive us for our materialism and continue to remind us that as your servant we need to protect and defend those who can not protect themselves.  Thank you for all that you have given us and may we respond with love to others as Jesus did.  In your name we pray.  Amen.

Marv Jones

Devotional 7-10-16

Living Vicariously vs. Skin in the Game

"I wish I could do that.” "I wish I could go there." If I had a nickel for each and every time I've said that I would look like Scrooge McDuck pushing a wheelbarrow full of coins > there would be MANY. We are offered a lot of opportunity in these modern times to live vicariously through other people's adventures: FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter and the like. We read their journals and thumb through their pictures and say, "I wish I could do that." 

Beginning July 2nd we have been deep in the throes of the Tour de France. The Tour is the absolute ultimate biker's event. This year the Grand Depart was hosted in the La Manche region in northwest France. Before Stage 1 was complete, the riders would pass by the stunningly beautiful abbey, Mont Saint Michel.  Helicopters carrying commentators flew above and around the bikes and flashed scenes of incredible architecture, history and topography. I am a casual cyclist. As one who occasionally turns the pedals, I sit in my easy chair, watching the race and saying, "I wish I could do that." I live vicariously through the riders who are actually there. Well, heck. That's no good. I will NEVER ride in the Tour de France. Does that mean I should ONLY watch and wish? It does not. I climb on my bike and (hopefully) with some friends, take off along the roads of our wonderful Tri-State area. Along with the great country bi-ways, the smell of newly cut grass and the fresh air - I get to experience flat tires, pot holes and dogs dead set on chewing the pedals off my bike. But I've got skin in the game.

50 miles not 100+. 20mph not 45. Fitness and pleasure of the ride; not the yellow, green or polka dot jersey. Skin in the game!

Parts of our state were recently ravaged by flooding. Before and after photos placed side by side leave us in a condition of un-belief. That can't possibly be the same place. I have, as many have, been moved by all of pictures on TV of people who have poured into the area to help. We watch the stories and say, "I wish I could do that." Well, here's your chance. These folks need prayer - no doubt. But we need not sit in front of the television and live vicariously though those helpers we watch. Pope Francis is quoted as saying, "You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. That's how prayer works." Can we substitute (for a brief moment anyway) 'hungry' for 'those affected by flooding'? Maybe you can't go to Clay or Clendenin or Rainelle and muck out a house or remove debris. But you can...shop for cleaning supplies, pack a flood bucket, send a meal, take out your check book. Put some skin in the game.

I have been moved by the stories of those that have been the hands and feet of Christ. Groups from my home church have gone to work. I have seen contributions arrive from all over the country. Physical supplies from neighboring states. Monetary gifts from as far as the west coast. Many with notes; praying for WV. First you pray for the flooded. Then you help them.  That's how prayer works. 

Jesus moved from  town to town with his friends. He prayed and taught and healed. A pretty good gig - right? Luke, chapter 9 tells us of the moment when Jesus 'turned his face towards Jerusalem'.  He knew that a journey into that town was not going to be all knuckle bumps and high fives. Self sacrifice would be the order of the day. God's plan required skin in the game.

Take a glance around your house. Look at all of the things that represent your life and have deep meaning...now imagine that they are underwater. Say a pray and put some skin in the game.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 7-1-16

The woman

Ninety, if she was a day

Stood on her porch. 

The trash on the sidewalk embarrassed her

but what could she do?

As she watched, 

a man with a garbage bag

walked into her yard

and started clearing away the mess.

At her look of puzzlement,

he said, "I'm here to help.

I'm from the church."

Greater things have yet to come

and greater things are still to be done

in the city.

There is no God like our God.

The father sat with his son

on the bench outside the principal's office.

The teenager had been caught

His locker yielding pills.

The father's heart was broken.

The son's future hung in the balance.

Neither knew what to do.

Except pray.

Greater things have yet to come

and greater things are still to be done

in the city.

There is no God like our God.

The child hid in the backyard

Trying to be invisible.

She hurt, and she knew worse was coming.

If he found her.

If he saw her.

The sound near the tree startled her,

She didn't trust the voice of the neighbor,

but to the neighbor, she wasn't invisible.

She took her hand, 

and they went in the neighbor's house.

The kind woman called someone

and told her she would be safe.

Greater things have yet to come

and greater things are still to be done

in the city.

There is no God like our God.

Quote from God of This City (Chris Tomlin)

Kim Matthews

Devotional 6-24-16

The following devotion is not of my thoughts and words but  of my belief.
From Mountain Prayers - A Vacation for Your Soul,  Honor Books.

( Imagine you are at a cabin in our beautiful and contentment mountains of West Virginia.)

"True Contentment"

 

As night closes in, you step onto the deck of your cabin and gaze at the brilliant sliver of moon.  Darkness surrounds you.  Stars, like shimmering crystals, light up the sky.  A cool breeze flowing down from the mountain kisses your hair and skin.  The world once again is peaceful and quiet--content.

What a contrast to things back home---everyone pushing for bigger, better, and more.  But as you examine the vast canopy above your head, you realize a simple truth; real beauty, real value, real life, is often covered up by city lights.  The never ending advertisements urging you to buy this and eat that.  The constant pressure to be like those around you, to provide for your children the things others are providing.  The push to achieve more, make more, gain a higher position.  These are all loud and unnaturally bright, keeping your eyes from seeing the stars sparkling overhead.

  

Fortunately, the place has given you the opportunity to consider what you really have, what you really want, who you really are.  It has succeeded in screening out the noise and the distractions so that you can see 

clearly.

You will never be happy chasing after the things of this world.  God has placed a desire for eternal things in your heart and it will always be there deep inside, waiting to be discovered when the distractions have  been removed.  As you leave this wonderful place and travel back to your home in the city, don't forget the lesson you learned tonight.  The temporary, materialistic things of this world are only amusements. They cannot bring you true and lasting happiness.  They cannot bring you contentment.  Only God can do that.

Let us pray:  Heavenly Father, even here I close my eyes in prayer. I can see the precious things you have provided for me--love, courage, peace, family, friends, and most of  all, personal relationship with you.   When the things of this world begin to press in on me, demanding my attention, give me a nudge and I'll return to this quiet place where I know the meaning of contentment.  Amen
 

Kay Lewis

Devotional 6-10-16

CARING AND SERVING

In John 13:4-5 are found these words:  “So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron.  Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.” (The Message)

In the New International Version and many other versions it says he wrapped a towel around his waist, but I like the image from the Message of an apron.  Aprons were a common piece of apparel for my grandmother and she was a wonderful example of a caring servant.  She never took her apron off while she was at home unless she entertained company in the ‘front’ room. Her aprons served as splash collectors, pot holders, egg carriers and wash cloths. She dried our tears with a tissue she always kept in the pocket and let us borrow an apron to “help” knead the bread dough. I never saw her use it to wash or dry feet but I might have been away that day.

Her kind of service was quiet and loving.  She wasn’t boastful or attention seeking.  She fed her neighbors with the bounty from my grandfather’s garden, worked tirelessly on many church projects and served as a caregiver to many in the community who lacked other resources. And she passed on this gentle steady approach of serving others to all of her 9 grandchildren and countless others.

I recently (although I’ve been told it’s been around for a while) read a story of how an ethics professor at Princeton Seminary asked for volunteers for an extra assignment. About half the class met him at the library to receive their assignments. The professor divided the students into three groups of five each.

He gave the first group envelopes telling them to proceed immediately across campus to Stewart Hall. He told them that they had 15 minutes and if they didn't arrive on time, it would affect their grade. A minute or two later, he handed out envelopes to five others. They were also to go over to Stewart Hall, but they had 45 minutes. The third group had three hours to get to Stewart Hall.

The students weren't aware of it, but the professor had arranged for three drama students to meet them along the way. Close to the beginning of their walk, one of the drama students had his hands on his head and was moaning aloud as if in great pain. About half way to Stewart Hall, on the steps of the chapel, the seminary students passed a man who was lying face down as if unconscious. Finally, on the steps of Stewart Hall, the third drama student was acting out a seizure.

In the first group of students, those who had only 15 minutes to get across campus, no one stopped to help. In the second group, two students stopped to help. In the last group, the one that had three hours for their assignment, all of the students stopped to help at least one person. The professor had clearly shown these seminarians that “hurry” gets in the way of caring.

I don’t know how many extra points were given for participation or if the final exam was on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, but this story certainly shows us that our daily life sometimes gets in the way of our calling to be a servant.  Sometimes our busy schedules keep us from noticing when someone needs a hand-up.

So I challenge you to find a way to don your aprons and be on the lookout for ways to care for others.  Sometimes it might be a random act of kindness – like allowing someone to go ahead of you in line or picking up an item that someone has dropped.  Or other times it might be some activity that you plan ahead of time, like serving at the Food Pantry or Common Grounds. Maybe you are called to “Pay it Forward” in some way or to send a card or make a phone call.  Listen for the call to service and God will bless the care you have shared.

Dear God of the lonely, the poor and the needy, we are sorry when we have let busyness get in the way of our service to you.  Please forgive us for our failings and guide us to reset our priorities to include your plan for our days.  Help us to put on our aprons to care for your children whoever they may be. AMEN.

Chyrl Budd