Monday's Devotion: The Comfort of Company

Acts 2:46-47 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity.  They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.

I was asked to prepare a sermon for our Church Conference last night.  I chose verses from Acts chapter two including these to illustrate the beginning of the Christian community which became the Church.  Fellowship and sharing were an integral part of the success of their movement. Students of the Bible know that these followers of Jesus were under tremendous persecution from outsiders. They were literally putting their lives on the line in order to follow Jesus. We don’t face that same type of stress but almost everyone is faced with some type of challenge in their life.  Living in the model that God wants for us, loving God and loving others, helps us face those troubles.  The love and care of friends makes the going easier.  When we love and care for others, it helps take our mind off our own concerns.  Last night we had our second annual Holy Ghost Weiner Roast.  My heart was touched as I looked around at the assortment of people who gathered for food and fellowship.  These people care for one another, help one another and pray for one another.  It is much better to make a friend and be a friend than to isolate when troubles come.  Church and small group fellowship is a great place to start.

Heavenly Father, you call us to love you and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I pray that you will bring friends into to our life for mutual joy and care.  Be with us this week and bring us together on Sunday for worship and fellowship.  We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Friday's Devotion: Stressing Less

Luke 10:41-42 (NLT)  But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This is the first time I’ve read this scripture from the New Living Translation and I like the way this is put.  The story is about two sisters. Martha toils in the kitchen to feed Jesus and the disciples.  Mary sits with Jesus to learn.  Martha gets upset – she’s doing all the work. Other translations say that Martha is worried and upset about many things.  What has Mary discovered?  She has discovered the joy of learning from the Master; of growing spiritually.  Our relationship with God is the One Thing.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God – then all these other things will fall into place.  How many of us worry and fuss over so many things that are trivial?  This scripture tells us to seek Jesus.  A relationship with him is more important than all the little bits and pieces that we get stressed about.  To understand our worth in Jesus eyes helps us see what is unimportant and what we should be concerned with.  The next time you find yourself getting worked up over something, go sit at Jesus feet for awhile and see what happens.

We worry over so much God.  Help us to let go and trust that you take care of our days. Give us wisdom and guidance to handle the big things and to not fret over the rest.  We ask in the name of our Lord and master. Amen.

Thursday's Devotion: Playing Dress-Up

Matthew 7:1-3 “Stop judging so that you will not be judged.  Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye?

I heard on TV yesterday morning that 50% of adults in this country now dress up for Halloween. 11% dress up their pets, also.  There’s just something about dressing up that’s fun.  It takes us out of the ordinariness of life.  I joked with a friend as we walked together the other day that one of the best part of horse ownership was the riding apparel – chaps, spurs, helmets, riding breeches. I almost forgot the lunge whips and riding crops used to guide the horse from the ground or under saddle.  Some conservative Christians question the appropriateness of participating in Halloween festivities.  I think for most people it is just good fun.  It gives people a reason to have a party and parents taking their children around the neighborhood to trick or treat get to meet their neighbors.  Sales of candy, costumes and decorations boost the economy.  It’s sad to see Christians focusing on activities that aren’t hurting anyone when they should be looking within their own churches to see if they are serving as the body of Christ by witnessing to the grace of God and working for justice and the welfare of the marginalized. Come to our second annual Holy Ghost Weiner Roast on the 30^th (7 p.m.) and then on Halloween go out and have a great time.  Pretend to be someone else for just a moment. Just never forget who you really are – a child of God!

Gracious God, bless us today in all our activities.  As Halloween approaches we pray that you will help us stay in touch with our inner child. We ask today that you would keep us healthy in mind, body and spirit and that you will help us resist temptation to sin.  We pray In Jesus name.  Amen.

Wednesday's Devotion: Going a Different Route

Deuteronomy 15:7 (MSG) "When you happen on someone who's in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don't look the other way pretending you don't see him. Don't keep a tight grip on your purse.

I know that my back is out of alignment because I often find myself running with one hand on my hip unconsciously trying to balance myself.  Some friends recommended their chiropractor on West Ponce de Leon in Decatur.  It’s been years since I’ve been to one but have been helped a lot in the past by them.  I’ve tried several different routes to get there and back.  My Tom-tom sends me out Freedom Parkway then down Ponce to West Ponce.  It takes me through a ritzy section with large, expensive old homes like Lullwater Estate set on beautiful grounds.  Another route takes me out I-20 to Maynard Terrace and then through some modest and poor neighborhoods on the way to West Ponce.  It brings me in on the “other side” of the railroad tracks as the old saying goes.  Which route do I favor?  The second one is my choice.  I think we get good at isolating ourselves from the poor and when we do we begin to feel privileged and forget how blessed we are compared to the majority of the world’s population.  That route helps keep me real just like walking in cemeteries (something else I like to do) reminds me that death is the great equalizer.  It’s not what we have, but how we treat others that will be the ultimate judge of our character. 

Dear Lord, Open our eyes that we may see what we would rather not see.  Take our paths out of our nice little neighborhoods to places where people need to be the recipients of care and compassion.  Help us to put on the loving heart of Christ.  We ask in his name. Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Recovery, Inc.

1 Corinthians 1:18  The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work.

A few years ago, I began seeing a new type of wrecker on the streets.  Instead of the old winch type these had a cross piece that went under the car for more stability. 

Every time I come up behind one like this one that I saw yesterday I think what a perfect visual example of the work of the cross of Jesus Christ. People make wrecks of their lives in so many different ways. Sometimes it’s through out and out sin and sometimes it’s through poor decision making. Thank goodness that God doesn’t abandon us completely to the consequences of our bad actions. Instead God sent his son to provide salvation and a new direction for our life. 1 Peter 2:24 says “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” The name on this wrecker was “Recovery, Inc.” Again how appropriate for a message on the cross! Through the work of the cross we recover some of the image of God in which we were created.  Through faith in Jesus Christ many people who are recovering from addictions to drugs or alcohol are finding help and new lives of sobriety. Jesus had to carry his cross on that sad day. Before that, in a foreshadowing of what was to come Jesus said, to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” And yet it is the cross that carries us in so many ways out of the wreckage and into a place where we can find recovery, new life and wholeness. Thanks be to God!

Thank you, Lord for saving us from ourselves. We get ourselves into scrapes and sometimes major wrecks because we take our eyes off you who are the pathway to a successful life. Help us to find reminders like this one that no matter how large a mess we make, you will be there with us if we call upon you. We ask this in the name of the one who carried his cross so that his cross could carry us. Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Bumping up against Scripture in Real Life

John 21:18  “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

I saw this scripture perfectly illustrated yesterday evening as Joe and I visited three of our church members. The afternoon was taken up with a meeting and chores at church so Joe and I ate an early dinner and then set out.  Two members were in the same hospital and one in a rehabilitation center.  I love all my members (we have the best!) and I love visiting with them but it isn’t easy to see people who were once young and vibrant now unable to live on their own, being led around and dressed by others and not always able to carry on lucid conversations.  On the way home I remarked that when we got old Robert (our son) could do anything he wanted with us and we wouldn’t even know what was going on.  I sincerely hope that’s not the case and that we will stay healthy, sharp and alert right up through the day we move into our heavenly home. One of the ladies we visited was pretty alert and looked good.  One, who really has an eye for Joe was in great spirits and sound mind and even sent Joe home with two Varsity chili dogs left over from some her daughter had brought to her.  The third woman was at Homecoming last Sunday.  I even sat with her at the luncheon. As she can’t drive any more she now attends church with her daughter so it was a treat to see her at church. Other than having mobility problems she was fine.  In the middle of the week she had a TIA and was taken to the hospital. She has also been diagnosed with low oxygen levels.  She knew who we were and talked with us but no sentence made any sense at all. I called her daughter afterwards who said that they were hopeful that through medication and therapy she will regain brain function.  How quickly life can change!  I came away wanting to be more intentional about making the most of every day. I hope you do the same.

Thank you for the gift of life, Lord.  We know that our days are numbered but that you have chosen us as your own and wish for us to have life in abundance.  We ask for your strength and for good health to carry us through this new week.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Friday's Devotion: Child of Wonder

 Matthew 11:25  At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

Matthew 18:2-4  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Summers in my early childhood years were magical thanks to my paternal grandparents. My Granddaddy Ba (short for Barney) was the head of maintenance at a classic Catskill Mountain resort in NY State. Every summer we made the drive up there from Columbus, GA to visit them.  My parents would stay awhile then leave me with Nana and Granddaddy for the summer. I spent much time at White Roe Lake – think the resort in the movie Dirty Dancing. I remember Latin bands playing in a cabana by the lake. The men wore shirts with big ruffled sleeves and I had rumba panties with matching ruffles. At the age of 3 I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to show them to everyone! The chef fed me blueberries and cream and petit fours. My favorite time was at the balls. There were banks of colored spotlights around the ballroom and a great crystal hung in the middle. Granddaddy would let me pull the big levers to change the lights from red and blue to green and yellow. Then at just the right moment I would flip the switch to turn on the revolving crystal that spangled the room with spots of light.

Life was simple.  I got pleasure from the wonders of changing lights and the faces on my Nana’s pansies. I would race getting ready for bed with the elderly Mr. Green across the street. We’d see each other’s silhouettes on the drawn window shades.  I respected my elders. I said the little prayers I was taught and accepted the existence of a God with childlike faith.  I was unencumbered with cares for my wellbeing or desires for material things, although I did enjoy walks with Nana Blanche to the Dolly Madison Ice Cream Shop for rainbow sherbet. The simplicity of this existence is what I believe Jesus was referring to in Matthew. What can we do now to become unencumbered and to make ourselves more receptive to God? What is enough in life?

Holy God, we would like to regain some of our childlike innocence and wonder. Although we are bound with responsibilities help us to simplify our lives so that we have more time to enjoy creation and to sense your loving presence.  We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: Unplugging – Well, Maybe.

Matthew 11:28  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

I love those words, “I will give you rest.”  It seems like life goes faster and faster.  I’ve learned that this is partly due to the explosion of information that bombards us each day.  Between entertainment media and our computers and smart phones we are exposed to more to think about than our ancestors could ever imagine.  When our brain gets tired, our body follows.  Every once in a while a friend posts that she is going to have an unplugged weekend.  That sounds restful or maybe a recipe for withdrawal symptoms!  Yet if we look at the first of this verse we see something interesting.  Jesus says, “Come to me.”  We don’t get the rest unless we first go to Jesus.  We can’t get to Jesus by watching TV or listening to playlists or checking Facebook or Tweeting.  We get to Jesus through genuine prayer, studying scriptures, and acts of kindness and mercy to others. Maybe we should all take some days when we unplug and accept Jesus invitation to come to him.

We are tired Lord of running in circles and being filled with useless facts. Help us to find quiet time when we can just focus on our relationship with the Divine.  Help us to find rest and peace. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

James 2:1-5  My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another. For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes. Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.” Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

My street ends at a cul-de-sac and a fence topping the bank along the expressway. Someone planted flowers there including orange trumpet vine and a variety of roses that climb the fence.  Yesterday morning I saw an almost perfect pink rose high up on one of the bushes. Near the ball fields I stopped to look at a pretty variegated rose in someone’s flower bed.  My rosy day wasn’t over. Imogene Valero brought me a vase of very beautiful pink, yellow and large lavender roses. When I saw the rose at the end of the road I had thought how this rose turned out healthy and beautiful even though it wasn’t privileged and tended like those in people’s yards, especially Imogene’s.  And yet it thrived.  Then I thought about all the wonderful, talented people who have come out of the poorest neighborhoods, not having the care and help that many others have.  I have a special admiration for urban neighborhoods like Reynoldstown and Edgewood where there is a mix of housing and where educated individuals are encouraged to live as resident mentors for others. This week’s travels have taken me though some rough looking neighborhoods and that gave me the opportunity to pray that God would help those living there have a good life. No matter where a rose may be planted, it’s still a rose.

Dear Lord, Help us not to judge people by where they live or how much money they have.  Help us to see all as people created by and loved by you. Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: A Lesson from My Dog.

 Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I was on my deck enjoying the beautiful afternoon yesterday when I heard an awful racket in the back yard.  Apparently Dino and Dandy our two male dogs were wanting to dig in the same critter hole and got into a fight. It was all snarl and show thankfully. I started to call to them to stop but then watched Daisy get between them and separate them. She scolded both of them by jumping on their shoulder and herding Dino away. She would have been a good mother dog.  I’ve observed her getting onto the others before for barking even though she does her own share of that.  My point is that if a dog can be a peacemaker, can’t we also do that?  Someone told me last night of two elderly siblings who got into an argument and didn’t speak to each other for several years. Life is too short to live it carrying resentments or being at odds with others. In addition, if we can help bring others back into a peaceful coexistence then hopefully we won’t ignore any opportunity to do that. As the scripture says, “let us love one another for love is of God.”

Heavenly Father, Help us to overcome all bitterness, resentment, and hurts in our relationships. Give us the boldness to intercede when others have problems with one another that we may truly be peacemakers. We ask in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

HAPEVILLE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
HAPEVILLE, GA

www.hapevilleumc.com

Monday’s Devotion: For Goodness’ Sake, Pay Attention!

Matthew 22:4-6 (NIV)  “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’  “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.  The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.

A king prepared a wedding banquet to celebrate the marriage of his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent even more servants but again they paid no attention to the servants and went about their own business. 

Yesterday afternoon to unwind after a great Homecoming Joe and I drove up to Highlands and Franklin, NC to see the fall leaves. On the way we passed three separate bad wrecks.  The first involved six cars, the second four cars and the third maybe two cars but one was upside down. Joe and I agreed that most wrecks on the highway are a result of drivers just not paying attention to what they are doing and / or what others drivers are doing. Not paying attention to the path your actions are putting you on and not paying attention to the needs, cares or maybe warnings of others can also cause disastrous wrecks in one’s personal life. In this parable Jesus is describing the kingdom of heaven. At the banquet one of the guests who does attend comes without the proper clothing and is evicted.  Jesus concludes his story with, “Many are invited but few are chosen.” Perhaps he is saying that the chosen ones will be those who respond to God’s invitation (pay attention) and who live out their relationship with God by responding to God’s desire for their lives – love God, love one another (put on Christ). 

God you are constantly inviting us to come into a relationship with you, but we prefer to tend to our own interests.  We give you our spare time, if there is any. Open our eyes, Lord so that we may be more attentive to you and to others.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Seeing with the Mind’s Eye

Leviticus 19:18  “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Matthew 7:12  “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

I want to continue yesterday’s theme of looking around. In addition to seeing new things it’s important to consider how we see the things we look at. Here are two things I’ve found to be true: 1. Everything and everyone we see is filtered through our own worldview. 2. People see what they look for.  The best example I can give is from a seminary trip to France for a World Methodist Evangelism Institute seminar for French-speaking Methodists.  Before our group went, more than one person told me that the French were rude people. I’m optimistic and really believe that for the most part people reflect back what you show them.  Our group learned and worshipped with the French delegates.  We went into the small towns and into Paris where we ate and shopped.  We went in the spirit of friendship and found friendly people – not one rude person. If we had gone with a chip on our shoulder expecting rudeness we probably would have found it because the people would have reacted to our negative attitudes. If you constantly encounter rude people, maybe you need to examine what attitude you are carrying with you.  Do you expect rudeness or do you smile, speak kindly and reflect the light of Christ?  It isn’t a magic formula but I truly believe that the more you look for nice people the more you will find them. 

Holy Father, Jesus taught us the Golden Rule.  Help us to live it in our actions, in our speech, in our judgment, in our gratitude, in our attitudes and in the way we serve and love others. We ask in His name. Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: Really – Stop, Look and Listen

Matthew 13:15 For this people’s senses have become calloused, and they’ve become hard of hearing, and they’ve shut their eyes so that they won’t see with their eyes         or hear with their ears or understand with their minds, and change their hearts and lives that I may heal them.

Although I like to vary my walking routes around Hapeville, when I need to get the most miles in the shortest of time I walk around the ball fields. Whether walking or running, my head is usually down so I can watch the sidewalks and not trip and bust my nose or worse.  I can be a klutz. Yesterday morning as I came around the front corner of the park I heard a bird singing. I looked up to see if I could spot it in the trees. Instead I saw something I hadn’t expected. On a streetlight hung a large hornet’s next. It had probably been there all summer but I hadn’t noticed. I was too busy looking down or maybe at the ball players & spectators.  When we get out of our rut and look in a new direction, we can make new discoveries. If you haven’t felt the evidence of God recently in your life, maybe you need to look somewhere new.  Read different scriptures; serve in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter; visit a shut-in; pray more and listen for a response with your heart. My feet become calloused from taking the same steps over and over.  Our senses become calloused from lack of variety.  We take things for granted and lose our sense of wonder as things become commonplace to us.  Look around and look up.  You may see something new.

God, you created a large wonderful world and populated it with many different types of things and people.  Help us to get out of our ruts and more fully sense and appreciate your creation.  We asked in the name of the one who healed the deaf and blind. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion – A Time to Dance

Jeremiah 31:13 Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

A remake of the movie Footloose will open soon. I can’t wait. I love the triumph of youth and exuberance over the prudish town folk who thought dancing should be banned. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. How did they not get that?  Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.” I believe music and dance were given to us by God as ways to express emotions and especially joy. 1 Peter 1:8 says “Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words” For this we have dance.  Babies dance naturally. We don’t dance enough.  “Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.” – Anonymous

Lord, you promised your people joy and that they would dance once more.  Please help us to find our dance, even when life brings us difficulties. Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Normal is neither good nor bad.

Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, [what we define as the norm] but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

I somehow got hung up on the word “normal” yesterday.  It appears that maybe too often we equate what is normal with what is good and right and cast that which does not conform to normal in a disparaging light.  One definition of the word is “conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.”  I thought about people who are left-handed and that being right-handed is normal in the sense that it’s the more common type.  Yet for lefties who are born in that state, having that particular trait is natural. Later in the evening while reading from Credo by William Sloan Coffin I was surprised to come upon a quote by him on the same subject.  He wrote in part, “Instead of harping on what’s ‘natural,’ let’s talk of what’s ‘normal,’ what operates according to the norm. For Christians the norm is Christ’s love. If people can show the tenderness and constancy in caring that honors Christ’s love, what matters their sexual orientation? Shouldn’t relationship be judged by its inner worth rather than by its outer appearance” When has a monopoly on durable life-warming love been held by legally wed heterosexuals?” My hope is that I will continue to learn to judge people by their character and not by what gender they are attracted to or other external characteristics and that more and more people will do that same.

Lord, help us stretch our minds and overcome our discomfort at anything that is out of the ordinary.  Help us to see all people as ones who have been created in your image. Lead us away from conforming to the values of the world that take us away from loving you and one another.  Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Four H’s of Prayer

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

One of my favorite times to pray is during my early morning walk. I especially like it when the air is cool and crisp. My prayers vary but they almost always include prayers for certain things. I pray for my church and its ministries. I pray for each staff member by name. I pray for members on our prayer list. I pray for my husband and my family. Sometimes I even remember to pray for myself. This morning it occurred to me that my prayers for myself and others fell under four categories that began with the letter H.  I pray for HOPE for those struggling with personal issues or grief or chronic illnesses.  I pray for God’s HELP in our lives; guiding us and protecting us.  I pray for HAPPINESS.  Life is filled with many challenges.  They are much easier to conquer when we are happy than when we are feeling down.  Finally I pray for HEALING for those who need physical, spiritual or emotional healing.  If you think about it, those categories aren’t that different from the Head Heart Hands and Health motto of the 4-H Club.  As I pondered all this, I heard the cry of a Hawk and looked up to see three of them circling overhead. I guess four would have been too spooky.  However as I headed home and turned to look at the hawks one more time the little dog in the house at the corner of Forest Hills and North Ave. began to Howl.  Well Halloween is close!  --Just a little Humor for the first of the week.

Hear our prayers, O Lord.  Our lives depend upon your helping and healing hands. Bring us hope and happiness in this new week.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

Friday’s Devotion: Mirror, Mirror Go Away!

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

I don’t know about you, but I try my best to avoid looking in the mirror first thing in the morning.  I do not wake up feeling lovely.  My hair is sticking up everywhere. I have dark circles under my eyes that are exacerbated by smudges of mascara that remained in spite of attempts to wash it all off the night before.  Sometimes I have creases in my face from a wrinkled pillow case.  Please don’t envision all this.  At least I don’t have a scruffy beard- yet!  A hairbrush, a splash of cold water and a pot of coffee helps a lot.  If I should gaze upon myself before all that I can get kind of down.  How we perceive ourselves physically does affect our feelings of self-worth.  Our scripture ends with “even as I am fully known.”  God sees us and loves us even in our most unlovely moments and looks not only at what’s on the outside but also looks into our hearts.  Because I am trying hard to be purer in my heart, I can dwell less upon the external and take comfort that God accepts me just as I am and then encourages me on towards being even better.  Thanks be to God!

Loving God, on this day please comfort those who are struggling with self-image.  Help them to know that they were created in your image and each day they have the opportunity to restore some of that broken image through faith in Jesus Christ.  Help us to be a witness of that to others.  In Jesus’ perfect name we pray. Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: How Did I Know That?

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I was half watching Entertainment Tonight last evening.  They featured a reunion of Glenn Close and Michael Douglas, the stars of the 1987 movie Fatal Attraction. I vaguely remember the movie being very intense and well acted. The host pointed out that Glenn Close did not win the Oscar for her performance and asked who beat her out for the award – answer to be given later. I’m not a movie trivia buff and thought I didn’t have a clue. I could barely remember what I ate for lunch.  Then I thought maybe it was Cher for Moonstruck.  That of course was the answer.  How did I know that?  I don’t think it was a lucky guess.  That answer was lurking in my subconscious. I think a lot of people who play trivia games have experiences like that.  It made me wonder what else is rattling around in my brain.

The human mind is capable of absorbing an enormous amount of material even if we don’t have instant recall of it all. Could it be that we are putting trash into our brains without realizing it that takes up residence to come out at unexpected moments?  We each have the opportunity to expose ourselves to good things, too. Everything we encounter in life becomes part of our make-up. Let’s choose carefully.

Heavenly Father, we need your constant guidance and protection from harmful things. Lead us in the path of right living so that we may be filled with thoughts that are uplifting and that bring us closer to you.  Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: Trying to be Patient is Trying my Patience!

Psalm 40:1  I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead.  ~Mac McCleary

It never seems to fail that when I leave early to allow extra time to get somewhere across town the traffic zips along and I’m there very early.  If I don’t give myself that extra lead time traffic is terrible and I’m barely on time or even late.  Traffic tries our patience.  There’s been a lot on TV this week about the new express lanes on I-85. It seems there will be a high price to pay to use this lane and as of yet not many people are willing to pay.  I’ve tried to get better about not letting bumper to bumper traffic get to me.  Of course I’m not perfect and was most unhappy yesterday afternoon after a mechanical failure in the toll lane I was in backed cars up as I was trying to get back to Hapeville for City Council. Yet at times I can use time in traffic to pray or just think about things.  Yesterday I considered that some things just take time.  I like to read fast because I have many books I want to read. Yet to really get the most from a book one should slow down and savor the words and think about what’s going on with the characters or the teaching. Counseling takes time.  One delves into a subject and then allows the subconscious time to ponder and absorb new ideas. We try to speed up cooking with microwaves and pressure cookers but the best roasts are cooked low and slow.  Sometimes we get impatient in our requests of God.  We want immediate action but God in God’s greater wisdom makes us wait.  Faith and hope and trust are all words we use to describe our waiting on the Lord.  I hope that you have all three.

Gracious God, help us to use the times we are slowed down productively instead of becoming impatient and aggravated.  Show us how we can take a deep breath or say a prayer or think kind thoughts. Help us to wait on you to answer our prayers, trusting always in your goodness and grace.  Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Blinded by the Light

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

I had a committee meeting last night at Poplar Springs UMC.  The church is on Cascade Road about 4 miles outside of the perimeter. Cascade is curvy and hilly but I was enjoying a pleasant drive until I topped a hill and the setting sun squarely hit my windshield.  Suddenly I found myself hurtling down the road at 50mph and unable to see anything beyond the windshield. Because of spots and streaks on the glass I was really blinded by the light. As a good friend says, I thought I might be shaking hands with Jesus sooner than expected. In spite of trying the windshield washer once I got in the shade I was blinded twice more before the road finally turned away from the sun.  It was a very unsettling experience. On the drive home in the beautiful dark of night I thought about the things in life that blind us. We are blinded by prejudice; pre-judging people because of a group or person they associate themselves with. We think we won’t like them or their teaching because we expect them to have attitudes or attributes different than what we care for.  We are blinded by drugs and alcohol – moving about in the stupor of a chemically induced fog. We can’t see the wrong decisions we are making. We are blinded by the pleasures of sin, convincing ourselves that it really won’t hurt us or others. We are blinded by our stubbornness.  We don’t want to listen to the opinions of others.  What blinds you?  What keeps you from living a life of love and acceptance of others?  What keeps you from seeing God’s work and Word in your life? Ask God to give you new eyes to see.

Open our eyes, God that we might see the real truth of our lives and the Truth of your Word. Help us to be more open towards others and to put aside habits that lead us in the wrong direction.  We ask in the name of the one who restored sight to the blind.  Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Blessings, Baggage & Garbage

Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

In Leonard Sweet’s book, Soul Salsa the author quotes another person who says people accumulate blessings, baggage and garbage.  That struck me as a good way to describe an old truth.  In my sermon yesterday I spoke of God’s blessings in our lives and of the fact that we are a priority to our Creator. We all have baggage, too.  Baggage may be the hurts and resentments we carry internally or our preoccupation with things that draw us away from God. Garbage may be a variety of things we need to rid our life of. It could be habits or unhealthy relationships or like the man in the Gospel, too many possessions. This morning I tried to pour the last bit of coffee from the pot into my cup without overflowing it. Like that coffee cup (a big one for me) our life will hold only so much.  If it is loaded up with baggage and garbage there is less room for blessings.

Creator God, we ask that you bless us today as we begin a new week. Help us to eliminate any baggage and garbage in our lives that keep us from receiving the blessings that you wish us to have.  Amen.