Devotional 10-26-18

John 11: 32-44     Raising of Lazarus

³²  When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” ³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴  “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see they replied. ³⁵  Jesus wept.  ³⁶  Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” ³⁷ But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”  ³⁸ Jesus ,once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.  ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.  “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”  ⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”  ⁴¹ So they took away the stone, Then Jesus looked up and said “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” ⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice,”Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The story of Lazarus is a well know scripture for most Christians. It serves as a reminder that true faith can sustain and heal us no matter the situation.  I like this scripture for several reasons. First- it is an example of genuine faith on Mary’s part!  There was no doubt in her mind that had Jesus been with Lazarus he could make him well.  Another reason I like this passage is because it tells us that Jesus wept!  What could this be?..... the son of God has feelings?  Being fully human entails enjoying all the good that can exist in our lives. Likewise, there will be days where we will experience pain, suffering, loss and regrets.  Lazarus demise can represent our own spiritual death for a short time. It could come with the ending of a relationship, the sudden, unexpected  loss of a loved one or a change in a medical diagnosis.  Each event in and of itself leaves emotional scars.  But todays’ reading reminds each of us that Jesus is with us.  He too sheds tears when we cry out asking “WHY did this happen?”  The good news is that Jesus will call out to each of us to “Come out” from our self-imposed spiritual cave and remove that which burdens us as we await that house not made with hands but eternal to the Heavens. May it always be so!

Prayer: Father- help us as we struggle with pain and loss. Give us strength to carry on and be bold in our spiritual walk with you. Forgive us when we get angry or withdrawn and forget that you are with us always. Turn our tears of sorrow into tears of joy for all you have given. In Jesus name we pray-Amen

Marv Jones

Devotional 10-20-18

Not Just Lip Service

Mark 10:35-37, 41-45 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
³⁵ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him (Jesus) and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. ⁴² So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³ But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Dear Becky,
Thank you for participating in the Laity Day Service. I really appreciate how you said “yes” immediately and didn’t make me beg. It is good to have someone I know I can always count on.
Love, Anita

I received this sweet note in the mail yesterday. Keep in mind that all I did in the service was read two scriptures. I’m sharing this not because I’m special but because I think Anita and so many others in my life are.

Why are they special? Because they do so much for so many for no other reason than it’s what Jesus taught us to do. They are leaders in the church and the community, not because they demand it, but because they serve those in the church and community.

How do they serve? They work to provide scholarships, organize the backpack ministry, work at food and clothing pantries, prepare dinners and serve them to those in need, and tutor children at area schools. They preach, teach Sunday School classes, write devotionals, sing and play bells in the choirs, and provide the church and other community groups with financial and spiritual guidance and support.

As Christians, we know that we will gain the Kingdom of Heaven not through good works but through Grace. But we also know that if we truly love one another, we must do good works to show that love. I am so glad that I have role models who encourage me to serve others. They make it very hard to say “no” on Laity Sunday or any other day of the year.

Dear Anita,
I am the one who should be thanking you. I loved being part of the Laity Service. But more than that, I love that you depend on me. You and the other leaders/servants in our church and community make me a better Christian.
Love, Becky

Let this hymn be your prayer:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.
Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 10-12-18

God Brings Me Peace!

Job 38: 1-7, 34-41

¹And now , finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm.  ²He said: "Why do you talk without  knowing what you're talking about?  ³ Pull yourself together, Job!  … ⁴ Where were you when I laid earth's foundation?
³⁴Can you get the attention of the clouds and commission a shower of rain ?  ³⁵ Can you take charge of the lightning bolts and have them report to you for orders?"

Job had been questioning God, but God did not think Job's questions were of the issue. So God threw out questions to Job, more of the moral order.

In today's world of news reporting, I question much. I listen, think, feel, believe, and assume, what is true or not. Right now we are  bombarded with political ads, many attacking the opposition. How do I determine what is best for my home, city, state, country, and world?  Do I truly know?   NO!  But God knows! This is why I pray for wisdom, trust, belief, to know the truth, to know what to do, how to vote. I get so sick of what is going on in my/our world today, that most of the time I am physically and emotionally sick.  No standard is higher than God himself to judge.  My only option is to submit to God, to rest in his care, and wisdom in order to give my opinion, vote, and gain peace.

God, I pray for your  guidance and direction for us all and blessings and peace for our earth.  Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 10-5-18

Prayers for a Friend

Lectionary Readings:  Job 23: 1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22: 1-15; Hebrews 4: 12-16; Mark 10: 17-31.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7: 6-8

I’m not very proficient in memorizing Bible verses. However, the above passage is one of the exceptions.  I remember memorizing Ask/Seek/Knock in elementary school.  It was like the opening of a door and revealed the power of the Almighty to me. Little, insignificant me could go to God with a request and He would hear me.  For an Omnipotent Power to be responsive to a speck (me) in the sea of humans was a clue to the individual relationship that would develop. This passage has continued to point me to the importance of prayer for myself and for others. As we pray for ourselves and for others, we grow a little closer to God.

Life is not easy, fair or carefree.  We all have struggles, trials, challenges and heartaches.  Prayer is a primary key to dealing with all of the ups and downs of the journey.  Corrie Ten Boom asks “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”  Do we pray first or as an after-thought?  The example Jesus set in his ministry was definitely to pray first.  He spent 40 days before beginning his ministry in prayer and fasting.  He prayed before calling the disciples, before healing, before sharing a meal, before offering his life as a sacrifice for us.

Perhaps the most satisfying part of my conversations with God is the chance to offer prayers for others who are in need.  I certainly have been the recipient of the uplifting and support of other’s prayers for me and my family.  This sharing of prayers for each other, our neighbors, friends, city, country and world help us to shoulder the burdens and challenges of life.  The JM choir will offer an anthem on this very topic soon.  The words of Mr. Choplin are very meaningful and the melody is beautiful, as well.   It reminded me of what a privilege it is to prayer for each other, to connect to God without worrying about personal gain or request. To pray for the welfare, comfort, sustenance or healing of another is probably the most unselfish we can be.  Here are some of the words of the anthem:

Sweet are the Prayers of a Friend by Pepper Choplin

Friends pray for healing, they pray revealing-- the heavy burdens of our souls.

They pray for courage, unfailing courage--asking God to make us whole.

Friends pray through troubles, pray through struggles-- when life seems to fall apart.

They pray us through grieving, always believing, God can heal the broken,

God can heal the broken heart-- God can heal.

O how sweet are the prayers, are the prayers that are offered up by a friend,

by a friend who calls, calling up to heaven-- calling, “Lord come down, come down and bless again.” Sweet are the prayers of a friend—for a friend.

Dear Father and Mother of us All:  We call on you to come to us again.  We ask that you make your presence know to all that need you.  Heal them of their hurts and pain and grief.  Allow us to be supportive and demonstrate Your care for them.  We seek your blessing to continue to serve one another by using our time, our resources and our gifts.  We seek a greater understanding of your Word and the purpose you have for our lives.  We knock on your heart, knowing that you have already answered our pleas to open the door, to help us understand and become your obedient child.  Guide us as we continue to learn to more faithfully serve you in our neighborhood and world.  Thank you, O merciful One, for hearing and answering our prayers.  AMEN.

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 9-28-18

Please read Psalm 26

In preparation for this devotion, I found several listed scriptures for this Sunday’s liturgy, and randomly selected the above. Silly me! As I’ve gotten into it, I find I’ve picked a somewhat difficult scripture. Let me explain.

At first read, the speaker is bragging about how good he is. In fact, he sounds like he’s perfect: “…I have led a blameless life….” “…I walk continually in your truth….”; “I wash my hands in innocence….”; “…I love the house where you live….”

And he gives assurances to God: “I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.” What’s this? I learned we should be humbled in the presence of the Lord.

I read on only to discover that the psalmist says it again! “…I lead a blameless life!” Then he’s defending himself, not knowing where he stands when it comes to eternal life.  His declaration moves full circle from an attitude of certainty to one of uncertainty! So what’s the explanation here?

Well —something I have learned about Bible Study over the past few years is something that, in a rush for time, I forget. And it’s this: If your Bible has a study guide or editors’ notes, read them—preferably first! I did not read the notes for this scripture. But here they are for you:

“This claim to be blameless or righteous…should not be stretched too far. Whenever the psalmists examined themselves before God, they acknowledged their deep need for forgiveness. Here though the issue is God’s fairness. Knowing little about life after death, the psalmists expected that good people would do better in this life than bad people…. In calling for justice, they emphasized that they had been more faithful to God than their enemies. Compared to the people plotting murder and betrayal against him, the psalmist was blameless. In a wholehearted, sincere way he had followed God. He doesn’t mean he never makes a mistake. He means only that he doesn’t deserve punishment.” (The Student Bible, New International Version, Psalm 26:11, page 506)

And now, we understand.

Heavenly Father, when we are challenged by something—be it great or small, let us not dismiss it in frustration. Rather, help us to be patient, to find help, and to never give up until that challenge is resolved. Amen

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 9-23-18

Give a little, save a little, spend a little.

We are created to be generous. Genesis 1:26 tells us that we are created in God’s image, and our understanding of God is that God is loving and generous. But, we also have a bent to selfishness. The disobedience in the Garden of Eden caused humanity to struggle with sin. Pride and selfishness interfere with our desire to be generous. We struggle with fear and scarcity, even as we desire to be generous.

We live in a consumerist culture that leads many people to struggle with debt. Generosity must be learned and practiced in a culture where money and possessions have almost a mystical power. Our relationship with money and possessions can interfere with our living into the call to be generous. That relationship is often rooted into how money was treated in our family.

Was money a taboo subject when you were growing up? Did you know how much money your parents made? Did you know how much your parents had?

Was money talked about at the dinner table? Did your parents teach you skills in handling money? Were family conversations around money filled with anxiety? Hopefulness? Gratitude? Anger?

I was humbled and honored to do serve at Dave Ohl’s funeral recently. At the evening visitation time with the family, I had a chance to visit with Dave’s grandchildren. I learned that Dave Ohl sent cards to his five grandchildren all their lives. He sent cards for all occasions, even Halloween. Dave picked out five specific cards that matched the individual personalities of each of the five grandchildren.

In each card, Dave wrote each grandchild a personal note. He also included money and ended each note with the admonition to, “give a little; save a little; spend a little.” In his loving and generous gifts to his grandchildren, Dave Ohl passed on to them a healthy attitude toward money that focused first on giving.

What seeds Dave Ohl planted for nurturing generous grandchildren!

You are created in God’s image. What will your family say was the attitude about money and possessions in your household?

Rev. Jeff Taylor

Devotional 9-14-18

Help yourself with God !!

James 4:7-8 (Common English Bible (CEB))
⁷ Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. ⁸ Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Back in the 70’s there was a TV show called “Laugh In” and during the show a phase was often used “the devil made me do it !! ”.  Well this phrase caught on and it seemed as everyone would use it at some time.  We all thought it was funny to use and blame everything that we did on the devil and depending on how it was used, we would laugh.
There are times though that the devil does try to disrupt our lives.  It is those times that we need to come closer to God.  Pray for God’s almighty hand to guide us and strengthen us to make right decisions.  To help us reject the what the devil is placing in front of us.

When a person in the United Methodist Church; joins the church, is confirmed into the church, is baptized for the first time or even wishes to reaffirm their faith.  A Litany from the UMC Book of Worship is used.
Below is a portion of the Litany that is asked of the individual.
“On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you:
    Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
      reject the evil powers of this world,
      and repent of your sin?

    Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you
      to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
      in whatever forms they present themselves?

    Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior,
      put your whole trust in his grace,
      and promise to serve him as your Lord,
      in union with the Church which Christ has opened
      to people of all ages, nations, and races?”
Reference UMC Book of Worship

When we reject evil (devil) forces of this world, call upon God to help us and for us to accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we can be a powerful force !!!!  Our life and the life of others can be made whole.

Prayer
God, I call upon you to help me through my troubles and decisions.  Guide me away from whatever the evil is placed in front of me, so that my life will be as full as it can be.  Then God, help me become the disciple that Jesus wants me to be to all I encounter, so that they too will have the joy I have through you and Christ Jesus.

Amen

If you have not accepted Christ as your Savior or you are in need of guidance, please seek the guidance of a pastor at our church or one close to you.

May the peace of God be with you.

Fred Herr