Devotional 6-28-19

Catch the Spirit

Please read Galatians 5:13-25 Common English Bible (CEB)

¹³ You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. ¹⁴ All the Law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.

 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires.

Some of you know that I taught middle school students for thirty-nine years. What you may not know is that in all that time I only had two items stolen from me. One was a cassette tape of “We Are the World,” and the other was my wallet/check book. That in itself may not sound like a big deal, but it is pretty remarkable considering that I did not start locking my classroom door until my twentieth year of teaching, coincidentally the same year my wallet/checkbook was stolen.

I know it sounds rather gullible of me to leave my belongings in an unlocked room, but I always was a trusting soul. I believed my school chum when she said she wouldn’t drop me on my tailbone as she helped me up from the gym floor. I believed a high school boyfriend when he said he was not going back to his former girlfriend. I even believed my doctor when he said that my mother’s morning sickness was not an indicator that I, too, would have morning sickness! Ha! But hope sprang eternal, and I continued to tempt fate.

The stolen cassette tape was not a big deal, but my wallet/check book was. Within the wallet were almost an entire book of checks, money that was to last me until payday, two credit cards, my driver’s license, my AFT card, my PEIA card, and my voter’s registration card, along with little notes I had collected from my children and husband. The cards I would later replace - at great cost. The notes were irreplaceable. Their loss WAS a big deal.

If I had the chance, what would I say to the person who took the wallet? I would say, “You really hurt me. You caused me inconvenience, you cost me money I did not have, but most of all you took some of my best memories.” And then maybe I would have that person read Galatians 5:13-25!

Recently I met a man who lived by the words and the spirit of that scripture. Jon and I were attending my granddaughter’s softball game, and I did not want to carry my purse to the ball field. I have a self-made money clip that I have fashioned from my credit card, debit card, and bills wrapped with a rubber hair band. I grabbed it, locked my purse in the car, and stuck the money clip in my pocket. In my defense, I want you to know that a woman’s jean pocket is not as deep as a man’s. Anyway, as we were leaving the game, the money clip fell out of my pocket and into a puddle. I did not see it. I did not feel it. We would have driven away if it had not been for the kindness and honesty of a man sitting close by.

He quickly grabbed it, chased us through the parking lot, and tapped Jon on the shoulder. I immediately recognized Ruby’s hair band. I thanked the kind stranger repeatedly; he just smiled and said that he was glad to be of service.

That was all there was to it. It did not last for more than a few minutes, but it made such an impression on me! Even as shallow as I am, I wasn’t just happy that he had not stolen my money and cards.  I was happy because a man who did not know me at all, knew how anxious I would be and how stupid I would feel. He put himself in my place!

Whenever I think of this experience, I will see that man’s smiling face and hear Paul’s words, “You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. All the law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Prayer - Heavenly Father, please let Your Holy Spirit fill my heart so that I, too, can serve others with love. Paul said that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I could use some help in all of those categories. I ask this in Your name.
Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 6-21-19

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
 

Hebrews 11:1 (King James Version)

Paul (although there is some disagreement among scholars that he was the author of Hebrews) makes the argument that faith, based upon the word of God, enables the believer to make the right decision when presented with a difficult choice.  Faith is synonymous with perseverance.  Chapter 11 of Hebrews recites the stories of several Old Testament figures to illustrate his point.

For example, Noah, when faced with the unknown after being warned of things not yet seen, was convinced by his faith in God that a flood was coming.  He persevered in the face of doubters and derision and stayed true to his belief.

Faith is the belief that God is right and if we pray and hold fast to our belief we will prevail in the end.  Whether the challenge is in our work, in a relationship, in school or even at Church, if we maintain our faith in God we will be all alright.
 

Lee Oxley

Devotional 6-14-19

That All May be One

Please read John 17:20-26

Have you ever had someone tell you that they had been praying for you? How did it make you feel--humble, touched, maybe even surprised because you hadn't realized that you were in need of prayer? I have read this passage many times, but this is the first time that it really struck me. Jesus prayed for us! He prayed for unity that we would be as one with God and with each other. Jesus prayed that the love God had for Him would also be in us! Words are hard to find that can explain how that makes me feel. God's love is in us, Jesus' love is in us! Do you feel the amazing awe of that?

In this diverse climate that we live in today, we surely need that prayer. How do we heal our decisive world? How can each of us use the talents that God has given us to replace hatred, distrust, and fear with hope? God's love is in us! Jesus' love is in us! How can we fail to share that amazing gift of love with the world?

Margaret Williams

Devotional 6-7-19

This Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the birth of the church, the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Disciples of Christ after his ascension.  But who/what is the church? Who are we today?

As I was contemplating this writing, the song “We are the church” came to mind.  As the song says “we are the church, you are the church”.  The church is not a building; the church is the people.  Many kinds of faces, ages, from many places and from many times.  There are times we march, times we hide but we are always learning.  When we the church gather we sing, pray, laugh and even cry.  But we are always saying WE ARE THE CHURCH!!

We the people of JM or any congregation, are many, we all have many gifts and talents that God has given us to share as one body.  (Romans 12:4-8).  For any church to live out our mission of making disciples for Christ (Matthew 28:19) .  We need to work together, and we are not to expect the clergy to do it all.  Jesus didn’t do his Ministry alone; he called on his disciples as well.

As the church we are called to love all.  “Romans 12:9-17 CEB: ⁹Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. ¹⁰Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. ¹¹Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! ¹²Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. ¹⁴Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. ¹⁵Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. ¹⁶Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. ¹⁷Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.

I believe that our JM Mission statement sums it all up, as a church/people of Christ.

“The mission of Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church is to bring others to Christ, embrace them with love, nurture everyone in faith, worship God joyfully, and reach out in service to the world.”

Let’s pray, God thank you for your love of all persons, thank you for our guide Jesus Christ.  May we be led to be the church for all in the world, as WE ARE YOUR CHURCH. May the Holy Spirit be our driving force.  Amen

The Holy Spirit be with you.

Fred Herr

Hymn “We are the Church”  BY DONALD S. MARSH; RICHARD K. AVERY

Devotional 5-31-19

For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. (John 13:15)

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (Romans 12:8)

 We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

I like that Facebook shows what I posted in previous years each day. Recently, a post was from 2013. I had had a cyst removed from my knee, and I was publicly thanking the doctor, nurses, and staff at the out-patient surgery center, plus my daughter-in-law who was my chauffeur, and finally my son, Marty, "who made me a killer peanut-butter and jelly sandwich that was so God."

My first reaction was, "stupid auto-correct," or, "stupid me and my typos." But the more I thought about it, the more I thought maybe it was right on. I would suggest that showing a kindness is a God-thing.

A little thing like a peanut-butter sandwich means a lot to someone who hasn't eaten all day, in this case because of the anesthesia. A simple smile or kind word might be just what someone needs to get them through a hard day. A meal or a visit during a time of crisis can mean the world to someone. God-things.

Does one have to be a Christian to deliver kindness? No, but as Christians, we have the example of Christ and because of his love for us, we are compelled to pass it on.

I challenge you to do a God-thing today.

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 5-24-19

Falling Apart
 

I have a terrible fear of heights. I haven’t always had it. There were times in my youth that I climbed neighborhood trees, dived off of the Riverside Club high diving board, and found myself on the roof of Meadows Elementary School. But sometime during my teen years, I found I could no longer do any of those things.

When I began driving, I noticed that I became very apprehensive if I didn’t know exactly where I would end up because steep roadways scared me beyond reason. When I learned to snow ski, I was very cognizant of black diamond signs that could lead me to certain death, or at least certain pain! I have never sought professional help for my phobia, but I suspect it has something to do with being a control freak. Anyway, because of my fear, I shy away from trips to Gatlinburg or celebrations of the New River Gorge Bridge Day!

Recently Jon and I attended his nephew’s wedding in Washington, DC. We decided to do some sight seeing while there, and I had already mentioned that I would not be taking the tiny elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. I couldn’t really think of any other “high” adventures to avoid, and he agreed to my terms.
We stayed in Arlington, Virginia, right across the Potomac River. I was really excited that we’d be taking the nearby subway into DC. We walked the few blocks to the Rosslyn Metro Station, purchased our Metro cards, and headed for the escalator. At the edge, I looked straight down 207 feet and froze. The black moving staircase was beckoning me to my death, and I was having none of it.

I looked at Jon and cried, “I can’t do this!” He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t cajole. He didn’t argue. He simply stepped in front of me, enfolded me in his arms, and said, “Close your eyes. I won’t let you fall.” I did as he said, knowing that he would keep me safe.
As we traveled into the bowels of the earth, a hymn from my childhood played in my head, and although I couldn’t remember all of the words, I knew it had to do with God holding me in his arms in times of trouble.

There are several stanzas, but the following are the ones that came to me that day.

“God Be with You till We Meet Again”
      By Jeremiah E. Rankin 1880

God be with you till we meet again;
by his counsels guide, uphold you,
with his sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
when life’s perils thick confound you,
put his arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

If you’re falling apart due to grief, fear, addiction, or loneliness, my escalator story may sound trivial, but Jesus and his modern–day disciples guided me through some pretty frightening situations. They want to help. Let them put their arms around you. They won’t let you fall.

Heavenly Father, thank you for those you have sent to help me through times of trouble. Let me now be that disciple who enfolds someone who is falling apart and say, “Close your eyes. I won’t let you fall.”

Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 5-17-19

Hallelujah!

The Message has been used for this devotion

 Psalm 148

As I sit on our screened-in porch writing, I hear the beautiful sound of birds singing. How long will it last, I ask myself, as the sky darkens in the west, and the wind begins to blow. I think to myself, not again! Is the rain ever going to stop?

And I pick up my laptop and head inside. Settled in and ready to continue, I read the Psalm listed for this week’s devotion, Psalm 148. The Psalm continues along the theme of giving praise, as I learn in verse13, " to the name of God--It’s the only Name worth praising.”  The psalmist mentions God’s angels and warriors in praise of Him. Then he jumps to some of the most beautiful of God’s creation as giving praise as well. Who would think that the sun, the moon, the morning stars, heaven, and yes--even the heavenly rain clouds, would join in praising the name of God!  “Praise, oh let them praise the name of God. He spoke the word, and there they were! He set them in place from all time and eternity, He gave his orders, and that’s it!”

The Psalm goes on to include listing of men and women of the whole world; and animals of all types, shapes and sizes, hills and mountains, and the acts of nature, such as hurricanes, all created by God, the psalmist says, and all should praise Him.

So what is the psalmist trying to say? How does an inanimate object, a non-human without a mind, or feelings, or understanding, praise God? Through their actions, just as we can. The rain beats down heavily on the earth, and its companions, the thunder and lightning, share their praise in concert with it. The stars? They twinkle or shine a steady beam of light from the heavens. The hills and the mountains are joined by the sun and the moon in praising their creator, all day, all night, as their light plays along their valleys.

God’s creatures, both wild and domestic, speak in their own way with growls and howls, with their music compositions, with their tramping and running. Some bark. Some meow. Some moooo. Some baaaa. Their ways of praise for their creator are many and diverse, and I believe they are praising God.

And us? What about us? We can sing our praises or pray directly; just like God’s creations, we can praise Him through our actions. It’s a curious thing that the psalmist includes the creations of God’s world in praise with us!

Lord, your amazing creations join us, and in their own way, praise your Holy Name with us. It is one way to let You know how much we love you, and how grateful we are for Your love.  Amen.

Diane Feaganes