Tuesday’s Devotion: That Special Ring

John 10:27 My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me, and I give them eternal life.

I’m at the nail salon. Someone’s cell phone rings and three other people reach for their phones.  One woman says, “I have the same ring.”  We reach for our phones because we know the sound of their ring.  Some people in my contact list have their own unique ringtone.  When these friends or family members call, I make every effort to answer immediately.  Their calls are a priority.  Jesus uses the metaphor of the Good Shepherd and his sheep.  He says the sheep knows the sound of his voice and respond to it.  He says they will not follow the voice of a stranger.  Perhaps that’s how we know which flock we are in.  Whose voice holds the strongest attraction for us? Only one shepherd can offer eternal life. I hope I never miss that call!

Gracious God, blessed are those who hear your call.  We confess that sometimes we get distracted by other rings.  Forgive us our inattention and keep drawing us towards you. We ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: A Walk We ALL Need to Take

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (CEB )  15 Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.

After several rainy weeks, I walked just under 25 miles this past week.  I could walk on my treadmill when it rains but I really don’t like it.  I told Joe yesterday afternoon as we walked that I like the wind in my face and the change of scenery.  However my outside walks just like my treadmill walks don’t really get anywhere. My phone app shows a map of each walk and while they differ and meander here and there, somehow they always make a circle back home. 

A few years ago I came across the Walk through the Bible study program.  It, like many others is designed to help people gain a deeper understanding of God’s Word.  While I’m in and out of scripture every day, Monday’s are a day of more intense and intentional study.  My partners are the writings of highly regarded pastors, theologians and commentators.  But my best partner is an observant and inquisitive mind.  For example I wondered why the first exorcism Jesus performed according to Mark took place inside the Synagogue. What word might that have for churches today?  When I walk through scriptures, I feel like I really do get somewhere.  I come away a better person because scripture has touched me in a new way and maybe opened up new directions for further exploration.  At any rate I hope others will take up this kind of daily walk, too.

Creator God, Thank you for the richness and instruction of your Living Word.  I pray we will all continue to study and learn that we too may be better equipped to do everything that is good.  And Lord, help us to then actually do what is good.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Lowering Our Center of Gravity

Modified and used 8-27-20

Philippians 3:14 (NLT)  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I’m reading a very good nonfiction book, Following Atticus by Tom Ryan.  Ryan is a small town Massachusetts newspaper editor.  Overweight and out of shape he decides of all things to climb all forty eight of New Hampshire’s four-thousand-foot peaks.  And to make this more unlikely he’s accompanied by his miniature schnauzer, Atticus M. Finch.  Turns out that Atticus is a natural hiker and loves it even in the winter snow where he wears mukluk booties and a body coat.  Ryan writes when snow covers the trail, Atticus instinctively follows the cairn trail markers.  When they meet heavy winds in the exposed areas above the tree lines, Atticus lowers his center of gravity, ducks his head and presses on toward the summit.  He likes to lead and never turns around to go back until he’s reached the top no matter how tough the going.   

I know that sometimes when I run I find myself lowering my center of gravity.  It gives me more power. When riding horses, having a lower center helps the horse move better. To lower the center of gravity makes extremities become less important. On a spiritual level, when we make God our center of gravity then superfluous things in our lives also become less important.  We become more stable and can better withstand the winds of life that buffet us.  It takes a little visualization and practice to lower one’s center of gravity physically and spiritually but you’ll get the hang of it soon.   

Heavenly Father, we ask that you continue to help us to press on toward the prize.  Show us what is important and give us the strength and guidance to make it through the joyous and tough times.  We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion – It Really Isn’t All About Me (or You!)

Philippians 2:3-4  (CEB)  Don’t do anything for selfish purposes but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.

When Joe and I married we evolved into a real partnership.  We shared the responsibilities of home, family and earning an income.  We were rarely apart and over the years became even closer. When I decided I wanted a horse, we both took lessons, we both bought horses, we trained, rode and showed together.  We worshipped and sang in the choir together and took Lay Speaking classes together.  Then, I received the call to ministry and life began to revolve around me.  I left my job to return to school and then seminary.  I received an appointment which put even more demands on my schedule.  Joe supported me in so many ways. Now where we worship, how we order our days, when we travel and even where we live revolves around me.  I sometimes struggle with that. It bothers Joe a lot less than me. 

I try to get a good walk / run in every morning when the weather is good.  I’m sometimes torn between stopping to speak to people and reaching my goal.  Yesterday morning I decided to put others before my run and to see what happens.  Instead of blowing past my neighbor Pascal walking his dog, I slowed down and strolled with him.  I stopped to chat with a 92 year old neighbor, Evelyn.  Then I saw my next door neighbors’ dog out of their fence.  It took a while to rouse Kyle who works the night shift.  Kyle decided that he and Jake would join me on my walk. I did get almost 5 miles in eventually. Sometimes I am self centered, but I believe our lives are so much better when we find that me/others balance; when we make life about us with God right in the center.

Thank you Lord for the good neighbors I have.  Thank you for the opportunity to spend time with and lift up others.  Help us all to find balance between fulfilling our needs and caring for others.  We ask in the name of the One who gave his all for all. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: When You Can’t Play Catch-up

2 Peter 3:9 (CEB)  The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives.

This past week I watched two TV series that were new to me. For whatever reason, I hadn’t watched them before. One is in its 2^nd season, the other in its first.  I liked them both a lot and now I’m wanting to catch up with the series and watch previous episodes. I hope to find them online or On Demand.  I can at least enjoy them moving forward. I thought how that might relate to finding God.  According to this scripture God is patient and always willing to save the one who turns to him, no matter how late in life. I know there are some people who do not believe in God and do not expect anything after death.  I believe they will get much more than they expected one way or the other! Others believe in God but put off making a decision for salvation until finally their need for God outweighs their resistance to God.  Even though we can come to God late in life, unlike with TV series, there is no catching up.  People miss the blessings a relationship with God brings in this lifetime.  They miss so much.  We rejoice if they come to eternal life, but is that really the more important thing? Or is the more important thing coming into the Kingdom now and becoming part of the body of Christ, carrying on his work in this world?  I vote for the latter. 

God of Heaven, We pray that you would continue to draw all to you.  We pray for those who don’t yet know the joy of being a part of your family and of having Christ as Lord and Savior. Thank you for blessing us with your love and grace.  Thank you for your patience.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Tuesdays Devotion: A Winter Surprise

Romans 15:4   For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

It had really been a rainy, dreary week!  I don’t remember the last time I emptied my rain gauge but yesterday it measured 10 inches of rain.  Even when it wasn’t really raining yesterday, the air was thick and wet. My roses and snapdragons have finally stopped blooming.  Everything in the front yard is brown except for one surprise in the flowerbed in front of the carport.  A few days ago I went out and found a yellow daffodil in full bloom.  It actually has three blooms and another bud about ready to open.  I thought about hope and I thought about the trinity.  Even when winter looks drab and dead, we know from the past that soon plants and trees will begin to bloom again.  When things don’t seem to be going well in our lives, perhaps we can look to God’s faithfulness in the past.  As the flowers spring eternal so does hope.  Life is in a cycle.  We can take hope in the thought that whatever the situation, this too shall pass. 

Great is your faithfulness O Lord.  When winter comes and takes away all that seems to be vibrant, we know that soon and very soon signs of beauty will return.  And we know that the world around us is not dead, it is just at rest and in your kairos time things will change once more, according to your will. May this be with our lives, also.  Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Be Still and Know

Psalm 46:10  He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

It was late fall and I was on yet another Appalachia Service Project trip with our group from Briarcliff UMC.  We had worked hard all day and returned to the center stiff and bone tired. We were the first of our two teams back that day and hurried to get showers and change into clean clothes so the showers would be free when the others returned. We gathered on the long front porch in rocking chairs waiting for our friends and for dinner.  The center leader’s yellow lab, Pax lay beside us.  We all sat there for 20 to 30 minutes with no one saying a word – just complete silence and peace.  Painted on the porch beam overhead were these words. “Be still and know.”

Thomas Merton wrote, “The deepest level of communication is not communication, but communion.  It is wordless, it is beyond words, and it is beyond speech, and it is beyond concept. Not that we discover a new unity.  We discover an older unity . . . We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity.  What we have to be is what we are.”   That day we discovered this unity, with one another as we served a family in need and with God without whom we would have never been able to complete the work that needed to be done on that home.  We rarely achieve moments like that while in our comfort zones.  But when we are willing to step out in faith to accomplish something for the kingdom, God rewards us with unexpected blessings.

Heavenly God, thank you for giving us glimpses of the greater kingdom.  Help us in the middle of our busy days to stop; to be still and know.  In Christ’s name we humbly pray. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Less is More

Matthew 6:7-8  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Yesterday, I had to unfollow friend on Twitter.  I had set some of my friend’s tweets to automatically push to my iPhone.  She was tweeting constantly and my phone’s dinging was bugging me. I couldn’t quickly figure out how to turn off the push feature. Generally my tweeting friends do so sparingly and I enjoy what they have to say.  I think Jesus was saying that we can accomplish much with fewer words.  Sometimes we don’t pray because we don’t think we have a big enough block of time to pray effectively but small short prayers during the day can be very effective. Maybe even in conversations and witnessing to others we can be conscious that quality of words are more important than quantity.

Creator God, we ask your blessing on us today. Teach us to pray and witness in ways that are pleasing to you.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.   

Thursday’s Devotion: The Lives We Write

Matthew 4:4  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Yesterday I had the honor of installing the new officers of the Hapeville Service League. The League does not have a set order of installation, so I sought ideas for the short ceremony.  I found on in which pens were presented to each incoming officer and I took that idea as a basis for yesterday’s installation.  As she performs the duties of her office each person will write part of this year’s chapter in the history of the Service League.

We each write our own history through our words, our attitudes and our actions.  As with most pens, these actions don’t come with an eraser.  Our actions are indelible. And yet our writing can improve with time and experience and through spiritual growth.  Most of my devotion readers are Facebook participants and you who are will understand when I say that we write on each other’s walls.  How I compose my life affects very many other people, especially since I am such a public witness for Christ. 

The phrase “it is written” appears 72 times in the NIV translation of the bible.  Present actions were very much affected by what had been written in the past.  What we write today will affect the future.  I hope your marks will be all you hope them to be.

Lord, you are the author of all life.  I pray that we will together write a chapter in which the Good News of the gospel reaches all people.  Help us to write lives that bring love, kindness, hope, help and healing to those around us and those beyond us.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: When the Future Shows Up

Isaiah 41:10  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Last night on Glee character Kurt Hummel bemoaned, “Now the future has the nerve to show up and it wants us to do something and it’s not willing to give a lending hand.”  Many if not most of us are procrastinators.  There’s always some reason to put off tackling a necessary task.  Sometimes we put off really important things; reconciling a relationship, planning for retirement, getting a physical, giving our pre-teens “the talk.”  Then suddenly the future has the nerve to show up and we are unprepared.  As a pastor, I am concerned for those who have yet to give their life to Christ.  There will be a day when we are each held accountable for our life.  For some that time may come sooner than expected.  Don’t put off making Jesus Lord of your Life.  When the future shows up God is there for those who believe.  Be a believer.

Dear God, We would like to put off things that need to be done.  We feel there is always tomorrow.  Yet God, help us in planning our priorities.  Help us not to be unprepared when the future shows up.  In Christ’s name, Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Straying off Course

Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT)  Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

I have always wanted to take a Mediterranean cruise but certainly wouldn’t want it to end up like the cruise that ended in tragedy off the coast of Tuscany this week.  Apparently the captain wanted to show the ship off to the island and veered off course to get closer.  To make matters worse the captain and some crew members abandoned ship leaving the passengers to fend for themselves.  Ships offer safety training to passengers, but this cruise was just beginning and that training had not taken place.

We might not steer a ship but we do direct our lives.  The bible provides safety training for us.  It shines light upon safe paths for our lives.  The closer we can stick to that path, the better chance we have for a godly and abundant life.

Dear Lord, “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Amen.  –Psalm 143:8

Monday’s Devotion: Strength in Adversity

Mark 9:47(KJV) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out:

Although it’s a little better this morning yesterday my left eye hurt most of the day.  I don’t know whether something has gotten in it and caused irritation or whether it is a product of allergies.  It just hurts.  It was difficult to see to review numbers in our finance committee meeting and bothered me in the next meeting.  I thought, Lord, I’m trying to do your work, why am I having to struggle so? I don’t want to pluck it out but sure wish I could make it feel better.  I also realize that the rain falls on the just and unjust.  Sometimes in we simply have to carry on and the reward is just the fact that in the face of adversity, we did carry on.  Here’s to all my friends who I know are carrying on in difficult situations.  May God continue to give you strength.

Loving God, we know that you do not cause all adversity, but that you walk through it with us.  We ask that you continue to guide, bless and protect us as we make our way in your kingdom.  We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Lost Fruit

Luke 3:11  John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.

I knew I had a long day facing me yesterday so I started it with a walk.  I prayed some, ran some (even up the hill at Master Park) and chatted with a neighbor as he walked his dog.  As I jogged down the road I saw a lime by the curb.  A few feet further on I saw another one. That’s strange, I thought.  Who would throw out perfectly good limes?  If that wasn’t unusual enough, about a mile away on another street I saw two fresh cherries at the edge of the road.  We throw away so much, but I wonder at wasting what is good.  I think to learn about the gospel and then to not make good use of it, or to not share what we have acquired is in a way throwing away good spiritual food.  Jesus told Peter that if Peter loved him to feed his sheep. Christ wanted all to be fed, to be cared for and that includes you and me.  I hope we can work together to carry out Christ’s mission.

Gracious God, as you give us physical and spiritual sustenance help us to find ways to do the same for others, especial those who don’t have a relationship with your Son in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: Finding the Attention Getter

1 Corinthians 14:3 The one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Our three dogs seem to be bottomless pits.  They are always looking for food.  If I open the refrigerator or pantry or the cabinet where we keep crackers and pita chips, at least one of them is right at my feet. As long as I have food in my hand, I have their undivided attention.  As a pastor I am seeking to find what we can offer others that will get their undivided attention.  What is it that our unchurched friends, family and neighbors want most that we can offer?  How do we let them know we can do that? As for ourselves, how do we find what we are seeking from a relationship with the divine?  Maybe in our journey towards spiritual self-fulfillment, we’ll discover ways to reach out to others.

Holy Lord, How blessed we are to be a part of your Church.  We pray for those who don’t know those blessings.  Help us to reach out to them and to draw then into your kingdom.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: A Bloom in Winter

Song of Songs 7:12  Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— there I will give you my love.

A house down the street has two Forsythia bushes in the front yard.  Even though it’s early January the bushes are speckled with yellow flowers. They are blooming because this usually cold season has been unseasonably warm.  If you think about it, people are somewhat like those bushes.  Put them in a warm and inviting atmosphere and they, too will blossom.  When we encounter others we sometimes have no idea the winter they may be facing in their life.  Maybe we can offer them a warm smile and a friendly word. 

Gracious and Holy God, Thank you for the warm sun that brightens our days and thank you for your precious Son who warms our hearts with his love.  Help us, Lord to be sensitive to those who need the warmth of our friendship and care.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Tuesday's Devotion: A Lesson on Salt

Matthew 5:13a, 14, 16  “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can saltiness be restored? You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

I know several things about salt.  Rachel Ray always tosses some over her shoulder for good luck when she cooks.  It makes food taste better but it can cause a rise in blood pressure.  Of course the good stuff is bad for us. 

Salt played an important in ancient biblical times also.  It was a mineral used in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, as fertilizer, and as currency. Salt was used to disinfect wounds and was rubbed on newborns. "As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths." (Ezekiel 16:4)  Leviticus 2:13 reads: "And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt." Salt was put on the burnt offering, was part of the incense and part of the temple offering included salt.  A form of salt was used and is still used in fertilizer.  An agricultural newsletter says that it’s a matter of dosage.  Too much in fertilizer will burn a plant, but plants can’t grow without salt either.

Maybe Jesus was saying that the disciples needed to be an essential part of the spreading of the good news like salt is an essential part of life.  If they let the salt become mixed with other (worldly) minerals or diluted too much, their ministry would be lacking.  We offer ourselves as the salt of the earth as a “holy and living sacrifice in union with Christ’s offering for us.” (Holy Communion liturgy)  In the life of our church and in the lives of others we too can be salt.  We can season (enhance) we can preserve (care for) we can disinfect (remove harmful things), sacrifice (offer our time, money and assistance) fertilize (help growth) and be of great value to others, to our church and to the kingdom.

Loving God, Help us to be the salt and light of the earth.  We ask that you show us ways to become useful resources where there is need.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Monday's Devotion: Come a Little Closer

 Exodus 3:2-4 (NIV)  There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.  So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”  When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”   And Moses said, “Here I am.”

I don’t like my picture taken but I love to take pictures.  We are already talking about which cameras to take to the Holy Land with us next month.  I have to admit I’m not a great photographer.  It seems very difficult to capture the beauty of a mountain scene.  The camera is not capturing what my eye is seeing. My favorite photos are the close-ups that I take.  I love to get very close to a flower, leaf, architectural element or other interesting object and then shoot the photo.  When you get really close you notice things that would have gone unnoticed otherwise like the pattern of the veins in a leaf or the variety of colors in a candle flame.  When Moses approached the burning bush to get a closer look he was able to hear God.   Sometimes we live life at a distance.  We don’t get close enough to others to see how they really are.  Sometimes we miss out on something great; sometimes we are deceived because we didn’t look closely enough.  Whether it is our relationship with God, or with others or maybe just our admiration of nature we could find blessings by getting a little closer.  What we find may surprise us.

Creator God, Thank you for the beauty you have created and our ability to recognize it.  Help us to see close up and to become closer to others and to you. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Caught in a Deluge!

Matthew 7:24-27  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

It seems that since I came back from our trip last week it has just been pouring. I’m not talking about rain outside.  Rather It’s the feeling that I am being deluged with things that need to be done and all done by yesterday.  There’s a lot of end of the year reporting and first of the year planning for churches.  I have thank-you notes to write, a ministerial candidate mentee to counsel, and I just agreed to plan and provide the new office installation for the Service League next week.  The parsonage is only half un-decorated and my vacuum cleaner died.  But looking on the bright side of things, my house is built upon a rock.  I know that I am steadied by the Holy Spirit and surrounded by people willing to help as they can.  I am grateful for them and for the strength that God provides me each day. I can’t say enough to people about the importance of having a strong relationship with God.  The rewards are both immediate and eternal.

Loving God, Thank you for reaching out to us and drawing us near so that we may know you and experience the strength and power in our lives that we can only have through the Holy Spirit.  We ask your continued blessing upon each day.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: You Can’t Hide a Goat.

Hebrews 4:13  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Joe and I were walking in a Hapeville neighborhood recently when I heard the unmistakable bleat of a goat coming from a backyard.  I have seen chickens around town but this was my first goat.  I remarked to Joe, “You can’t hide a goat.”  We wondered about the city code on goats.  Sin is that way, too.  You can get away with something some of the time but not all of the time.  Our deeds are prone to catching up with us.  Even if others don’t know what we’ve done God knows.  God knows everything.  I ran into Melissa Gibson at the funeral home Tuesday night.  She has really good girls.  Still she said that she reminds them like her mom did her, that disappointing their parents is nothing like disappointing God.  Do you think about that when you plan your actions?  Do you think about disappointing God?  As the saying goes, there is nothing that we can do to make God love us more and at the same time there is nothing we can do the make God love us less.  And yet, we can disappoint God.  I sure hate to do that.

Heavenly Father, Often we don’t mean to disappoint you.  We disappoint ourselves when we can’t act the way we know you want us to.  Human nature is sometimes just too strong.  Help us please to live life of love and kindness.  We ask this in the name of your perfect Son. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: The Drink of Life

John 4:10  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

It’s the New Year friends so we shouldn’t be surprised that every few interviews on the morning talk shows focus around diet, health and exercise. I know that good health is one of the greatest factors when it comes to quality of life so I pay attention.  The vast majority of folk say the same thing.  Exercise, get regular check-ups, don’t smoke, and eat a balanced diet of fruits, whole grains, colorful vegetables, fatty fish, etc. and watch salt, sugar and trans fat intake. This morning one nutritionist focused on the importance of drinking water. Not only does it keep us hydrated, it flushes the toxins out of our system.  It reminded me of the living water Jesus talked about.  There are several references to it in the New Testament.  I think the living water is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will give us spiritual nourishment and help us eliminate the toxic sin in our life.   According to Jesus’ words in John this living water is ours for the asking.  I hope this is a year when we will all resolve to be both physically healthy and spiritually healthy.  It all begins with water. Drink up!

Heavenly Father, we want the living water of the Holy Spirit in our life. We pray your blessings on this day.  We ask in the name of your Holy Son. Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: New Beginning; New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Happy New Year to everyone!  Joe and I really enjoyed our post-Christmas vacation. We visited our grandchildren in Indianapolis and my brother and his family in LaRue, Ohio. Side trips included the aquarium in Newport, KY and shopping in downtown Indianapolis and Cincinnati.  The point is that for this one week, I redirected my attention and activities from work to rest and exercise.  We all need time for self-renewal.  I read many devotions over the past few days that friends had written based upon this scripture.  I looked at a few translations and selected this.  Some say “If anyone is in Christ.”  To belong to or to be in Christ expresses a state of being when we have determined to live according to our belief in Christ as Lord and Savior and to model our life according to his teachings.  We all struggle with doing the right thing, being kind and loving to people who irritate us and considering the needs of others.  When we decide to follow Christ, a new life begins.  We aren’t there immediately but a new way of thinking and being begins.  The start of a new year is a good time to take stock of our lifestyle and set new goals.  Along with the admirable goals concerning work and health, I hope many will make a commitment to strengthen their spiritual life.

Gracious God, thank you that we have the opportunity each day to renew our life through our relationship with you.  We ask you blessing in this year that we may grow closer to others and to you.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.