Wednesday’s Devotion: Stain, Stain Go Away

Jeremiah 2:22  Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,” declares the Sovereign LORD.

One night while in Jerusalem some of us spent an hour out in the driving rain. I’ll save the entire story for my Travel’s Through the Holy Land study series but I’ll share that I had on my favorite red shoes and now I have pink socks.  We’ll have to see if my cleansing powder will get the stains out.  God is speaking through the prophet to a people whom God accuses of turning away from him and towards the worship of false gods.  In addition they have denied that they sinned. When we mess up and it’s so easy to do the best thing is to admit it to ourselves, to God and to others; to ‘fess up to our failings.  We can’t undo what we’ve done but God can take the guilt away.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can obtain the forgiveness we can’t earn for ourselves.  “What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Loving God, during this period of Lent, help us to look inward and see the stains we carry from our sins.  Cleanse us and make us whole in your eyes.  Help us to walk the path you would set before us.  We ask in our Savior’s name.  Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: When Things Don’t Go as Planned

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned.  I was watching the Indy 500 last night and things got really weird.  Already delayed a day this race will go down in the annuals of unusual races. Sometimes the drivers get really upset when they are caught in a pileup but often they seem to say, “That’s just the way the bumper crumbles sometimes” and move on to the next race. Our trip home from Israel was delayed when the plane we were scheduled to fly on was damaged by the ground crew.  Our group of twenty five went to the restaurant area and sat quietly while we waited for our Delta representative to find us a way home.  The fact that we had been up and touring Jerusalem all day and the flight was scheduled to leave at 12:40 am might lead some to become agitated. Yet we seem to have that peace that passes all understanding.  Our rep noticed and actually commented on that. During my prayer time this morning I considered that it is easier to praise God when things are going well in our life. I wondered if I could praise God if it weren’t.  Then I thought about the problems and loss and challenges I could name about my life. I guess I have learned how to give thanks in all things and trust God to walk with me in the hard times until they don’t seem quite as difficult.  

Father God, I ask that you be with everyone who is facing serious life challenges.  Please walk with them until the going seems easier. We pray in the name of the One who understands our suffering, having suffered for our sake.  Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Back from the Holy Land

Matthew 15:29 [ Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand ] Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 

Jesus performed to miracles of the feeding of the multitudes along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  Last week we went to Tagbha the site of the feeding of the 5,000.  We took a boat trip on the sea (it stormed) and we went up a mountain and sat down where I read the Beatitudes to our group of clergy and their spouses at the very spot where by tradition Jesus taught them.  I suppose you could call all of this a mountaintop experience.  While I am still processing my experiences in the Holy Land I do know that to walk where Jesus walked is a life changing experience.  While everyone may not be able to go to this historical and holy place we can all continue to dig into God’s Holy Word.  There is still so much to learn.  I am glad to be back home although I could have stayed much longer.  I hope my studies and writings in the future will be enhanced by my experience. 

Gracious God, you chose to place your people in a special land.  And yet through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit your presence can be felt throughout this earth of your creation.  No matter where we are we ask that you draw us close to you.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Off to the Holy Land!

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

I’ve read this scripture many times and I guess visualized what these places looked liked.  In a few hours our flight will leave for New York and then on to Tel Aviv.  Over the next week and a half, Joe and I will have the amazing opportunity to actually see the places that we’ve read about for so many years. We will be with our Bishop and many other pastors and members of area United Methodist churches.  We’ll take plenty of pictures and will definitely share with those around when we return.  I don’t know if I will be able to post a daily devotion while I’m in the Holy Land but you will all be in my thoughts.  I wish everyone could be there with us.  Peace and grace to you while we’re gone.

Dear Lord, there is a land that your Word calls holy and yet we know that every place where you are is holy.  We pray for your blessings upon us all this week and during our travels. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: When Something Isn’t All It Appears to Be.

Matthew 23:25-28  (CEB)  “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of violence and pleasure seeking.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup so that the outside of the cup will be clean too.  “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. They look beautiful on the outside. But inside they are full of dead bones and all kinds of filth.  In the same way you look righteous to people. But inside you are full of pretense and rebellion.

I often walk up Russell or Wheeler Street as they go from the ball fields and Master Park to my street.  On these streets one finds small rental houses and duplexes.  While it may not be the best of neighborhoods, I never feel unsafe there.  On several occasions I’ve seen a pretty dark blue Jaguar parked on the street.  Of course I think how can anyone who lives here afford an expensive car like this.  One day last week I walked by the car and glanced inside.  While the outside looked fine, the inside was worn and dirty.  One could better see the age and quality of the car by looking at the interior. Americans spend billions on fashion, cosmetics, hair products, plastic surgery and exercise programs trying to look good on the outside.  But the measure of our true worth really is on the inside.  Do we have a clean heart?  Do we desire to live in harmony with others?  Are our thoughts focused on God’s desires for our lives?  Beauty on the inside will shine through to the outside.  It rarely occurs in the reverse.

Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday's Devotion: The Knarled Tree and Me

Thursday's Devotion:  The Knarled Tree and Me         

Jeremiah 23:24  Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.

John 7:3-5   Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."

Winter brings us a more intimate view of the hardwoods in our neighborhoods.  As I walked this morning I noticed the unique shape of the branches.  On some trees the branches are straight and angle up or out.  On other the twist and curve.  A branch on one tree I see near Colorado Ave. curves completely back on itself.  It started out growing to the right and now grows to the left.  Another tree I saw this morning had a large burly growth on the trunk.  What causes this, I thought.  What causes branches to dip here and go up there, to twist and turn?  What caused that great growth? Was it internal or external forces causing the change?  I know from studying botany that plants and trees have many secret things going on inside; especially trees who become home to a variety of insects and worms. Doesn't that in a way reflect us as humans?  People have many secret things going on inside.  To look at people from the outside we can't easily tell what causes their life to dip and go up, to twist to turn.  Nor can we discern the secret emotions, or the effects of events, or potential, or strengths and weaknesses.  Sometimes we only see the bare branches and judge unfairly only to see spring come in that person's life and like this first redbud of 2012 in our neighborhood, they blossom is something beautiful and pleasing to God and to others.

Loving God, You know the secrets of our lives and we trust you to give us strength.  Help us to blossom through your love and grace that we might live lives pleasing to you and in peace with one another.  In Christ's name we pray.  Amen.

 

Wednesday’s Devotion: Ignorance Can Lead to Weighty Matters

Ephesians 4:18-19 They are disconnected from God’s life because of their ignorance and their closed hearts.  They are people who lack all sense of right and wrong, and who have turned themselves over to doing whatever feels good and to practicing every sort of corruption along with greed.

We didn’t make a regular practice of it but occasionally Joe and I liked to eat a IHop. 
I love omelets. The last time we went to one, I noticed the calorie count was now by each menu item.  I can only say ignorance was bliss.  I had a difficult time then finding something to order that wouldn’t add pounds overnight.  We haven’t been back.  Most overweight people have no clue how many calories are in the meals they eat.  I know the only way to really keep my weight under control long-term is to be very aware of calories burned vs. calories consumed. When it comes to our spiritual walk, I hope we are not ignorant like the people described in today’s verses.  Ignorance is not bliss.  Joe and I participate in and support the work of the World Methodist Evangelism Institute.  One of their key phrases is “That the World May Know Jesus Christ.”  I hope that comes to fulfillment beginning with each of us knowing Christ better ourselves. Then we can proclaim the fulfillment of Jeremiah 24:7 in our lives. “I will give them a heart to know me, for I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”

Creator God, forgive us the times we have failed to seek knowledge of your ways so that we might live by our ways.  Draw us ever closer to you.  We ask in the name of the one who came to give us understanding to know that you and only you are the one true God.  Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Listen to the Mockingbird

Ecclesiastes 12:4 (CEV) The noisy grinding of grain will be shut out by your deaf ears, but even the song of a bird will keep you awake.

I love birds.  We have two feeders and I keep a bird book handy to help me identify new species.  I’d like to learn to identify birds by their call, too.  Once I purchased a clock with birds on it.  Every hour had a different bird pictured and on the hour that bird call would sound.  The clock was defective.  The birds weren’t supposed to sound during the nighttime hours.  It would wake me up at 2am. I finally took out the batteries to that part.  One night a mockingbird sang all night long outside our bedroom window.  They have an amazing repertoire.  They mimic what they hear and will even imitate car alarms and cats.  A male may have 50 to 200 songs.  And while they are imitating others, they take those tunes and make them their own.  A mockingbird is one bird that I always know by its song. 

Thomas a Kempis wrote the Christian classic book, The Imitation of Christ.   We are encouraged to imitate our Master.  Yet of course just like a mockingbird is not the bird it mimics, we are not Christ.  We must take the ways of Christ and make them uniquely our own in community with one another.  May others always know us as Christians by our song.

Gracious and Heavenly Father, we give you the praise today for the birds of air and the beauty they add to our lives.  Like the mockingbird, help us to learn by listening.  Help us to grow as Christians by hearing your Word.  Help us to then share that word with others.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Monday’s Devotion – Use Words if You Have To

2 Corinthians 10:11 These people need to think about this—that when we are with you, our actions will show that we are the same as the words we wrote when we were away from you.
1 John 3:18  Little children, let’s not love with words or speech but with action and truth.

Friday night Joe and I went to see “The Artist.”  This contemporary silent movie has already won important awards and is nominated for many more.  I hear that when it was first released people who attended that hadn’t realized it was a silent film got up and walked out of the movie.  They wanted a “talkie.”  And the movie itself is about the advent of motion pictures with sound and its effect on movie stars of that day.  I will tell you the movie was excellent and I didn’t miss the words at all.  Of course there was script flashed occasionally but not as much as in the original silent films.  The actors told the stories with of course, actions and their expressions.  We used to have a pastor whose benediction always told us to “go share Christ with others; use words if you have to.”  Let’s remember that our actions must meet our words and when we are at a loss to use words to share Christ, we can do so with our actions.

Dear Lord, this day help us to be both professing and practicing Christians.  Bless us this week with your strength, your guidance and your joy.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Spiritual Weight Lifting

Psalm 59:16 CEB   “But me? I will sing of your strength! In the morning I will shout out loud about your faithful love because you have been my stronghold, my shelter when I was distraught.”

I love our Wednesday night fellowship meals. Each week I present a short program or study.  As always, I learn grow as I prepare for them. This week I used some visual aids.  I wanted to share about physical and spiritual strength so I brought some of our dumbbells and a kettle bell.  When I was young and not in a close relationship with God I had to face life’s challenges without the strength God provides. My challenge might be like a 20lb weight but I was only able to comfortably lift a 5lb weight.  As I became a regular church-goer in my late 20’s I learned more about praying for strength.  I was able to carry heavier burdens – like my 15lb kettle bell.  Now God is truly my strength.  I have met many challenges successfully with God’s help.  I can carry the 20lb weight now although not yet with great ease.  I still have more to grow both spiritually and physically.  That growth comes from perseverance in prayer and in my physical workout with those weights.  God wants us to be fit spiritually, mentally, and physically.  Let’s all pray for direction and help in getting into shape.

Lord, you are our strength. Help us to rely on your strength and now try to function only under our own power and understanding.  Be our help and salvation today.  We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: Feeding the Hungry

Acts 20:35 ESV In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Mark 16:15 ESV And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

She was yellow, long-haired and scoping out trash cans.  It was after all trash day in Hapeville.  It’s hard to know whether she was a feral cat or someone’s pet.  There’s an abundance of both in my neighborhood.  She seemed well fed yet watching her (or him) made me think about the poor and how pitiful it is when they must resort to dumpster diving to get enough to eat; or to stand in a soup line somewhere – having to depend completely upon the kindness of others for sustenance.  I pray often for charities that feed the poor.  But my wandering mind which tends to relate the physical to the spiritual then imagined those who sit in their comfortable homes with well stocked kitchens yet hunger and thirst for spiritual nourishment.  Many have the nagging and gnawing without being able to pinpoint the source of their neediness.  When we think about providing for the poor we should think in terms of both.  Those who lack food for the body and those who lack food for the soul all need our caring help.

Gracious God, Give us the hearts to reach out and care for others.  We know that your desire is that none should perish from lack of knowing you.  Encourage and empower those who feed the bread of life to others.  We ask in your holy name. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: Sitting in a pile of regrets

Romans 8:28 (CEB) We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We are so fortunate in Hapeville to have a truck that comes by and picks up the piles of leaves we rake up and put by the road. In our case we pay someone to rake them because we have no time to do it.  Somehow today while walking by a neighbor’s leaf pile I envisioned a person sitting neck deep in a pile of regrets or self-pity.  No matter how much we want life to be “fair” things don’t work out that way. A less deserving person gets the job or promotion, a millionaire wins the lottery, and sweet kind people have bad things happen to them through no fault of their own.  If I were to counsel that person I would share Romans 8:28.  I’ve seen proof of this biblical teaching over and over.  I claim this scripture almost every day.  I’d tell that person to be on the lookout for that good God is working and then to work with it.  If we don’t recognize the good but remained buried in that pile, it may pass us by unclaimed. 

Thank you Lord for continually taking our bad situations, even the ones that sometimes seem overwhelming or hopeless, and bringing good from them.  Help us to see your hand at work and to then join in that work with you.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.