Tuesday’s Devotion: Celebrating Parents

Proverbs 22:6 Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.

I’ve been watching the Olympics and am seeing much emphasis placed upon the parents of the athletes.  Whole families have made tremendous sacrifices in order for this athlete to train and compete at higher and higher levels.  I enjoyed seeing tapes of some of the current gymnastics team in the gym when they were very young girls.  Think of the hours and hours their parents spent on the road and of the money spent on training, costumes, travel and entry fees.  Most parents wouldn’t have the resources to do this. Yet I think the ordinary can always be inspired by the extraordinary. Wherever we are there is no greater calling for a parent than to devote his or her self to the nurture of a child.

Heavenly God, we ask your special blessings upon parents today.  Give them strength and wisdom as they raise their children.  We also ask for your care and protection of all neglected and abused children. Please bring them to a place of safety and love.  We ask in the name of the one who did not deny children His presence. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Competing yet Connected

Romans 12:4-5  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

During one of the Olympic swimming events I watched one swimmer move over close to one of his lane’s ropes in order to gain a benefit from the wake of the swimmer in the next lane.  Drafting is a common part of NASCAR racing.  I caught a little of the men’s cycling Saturday morning.  Once again the sportscasters spoke of the benefits of the group staying together and of teamwork even though this was an individual event. There is fierce competition between the five members of the USA women’s gymnastics team but in the end they are a team.  If one member struggles it affects the entire team.  Humankind is a bit like this.  We’re made up of many different individuals, cultures, nationalities, races and groups.  Sometimes we’re in competition with one another; sometimes we work as a team.  But it still holds true that we are all part of this one huge group and whenever some suffer, the entire group is affected.  Maybe we could all take a cue from these competitors.

Holy God, you created us male and female after your own image and you set us in charge of your creation.  Help us to feel the connection with one another that makes us one in you.  Help us to lift one another up and to care for one another as you care for us.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Paige

Friday’s Devotion – A New Word from God

Psalm 8:1-4  O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.  You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.  When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

As I watched the morning news I started thinking of my TV as a box.  This box contains people doing all sorts of things.  It is a marvel if you think about it.  Really smart people make it happen.  When I opened my laptop there again was a magic box. It can do even more than the TV.  It just chimed to remind me to remind me of a phone call I need to make in 15 minutes.  At the same time my iPhone sitting on the table beside me flashed the text reminder for that call.  Another magic box that does so much.  It takes a lot of people to control all that happens with these devices and although most of us don’t understand the technology we know that it is something under the control of those who do.  The problem as I see it is that we begin to put God in a box.  That we create our own vision of who and what God is.  We think for God and assume that God thinks like us.  We keep God in the past assuming that God has not changed his opinions of anything. Even in the bible we have examples of God changing his mind.  The nature of God is unchanging but that doesn’t mean God doesn’t have new thoughts or opinions. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach us all we need to know.  That is because God knew the world would change and we would need new words to address new ways of life – not bad ways of life – just so very different than the ancient cultures of biblical times. The Bible is our guide but we also need to be open to God for a new word in this new world.  Let’s not put God in a box.

Holy God, help us to look to you for a new word each day.  Give us wisdom and discernment.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have a good weekend,

Paige

Thursday's Devotion: The Tutu Project

(Augmented and used for 5/27/20 Musings & The Franklin Press)
Bob Carey is a professional photographer who began to take self portraits of himself in a pink tutu about nine years ago when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.  He had taken a few before her diagnoses but decided to continue in order to help other women.  A book will be published with the proceeds going to help several charities that are helping women who have cancer.  He also hopes to raise awareness for breast cancer.  He has taken pictures of himself in places all over the country and in other countries.  They are funny, touching and amazing.  To see more and learn more about the project you can go to http://www.thetutuproject.com/.

Mostly this is a testimony to the human spirit and to originality.  It tells me that God puts within us amazing abilities.  This is a little outside of the box from my normal devotions but then so is what Bob Carey is doing.  God bless him!

We thank you God for the resilience that you give us.  Thank you for people like Bob Carey who take risks and give so much to help others. Inspire us as we seek ways to use our gifts to better our lives and the lives of others.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Blessings,

Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Why Can’t We Love Ourselves?

1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Do you ever look in the mirror and just not like yourself?  It might not be anything you can put your finger on.  Or maybe it is a general sense of low self worth.  If so, you’re not alone.  Many people feel the same way.  I’ve heard the question asked, “If God loves me so much, why can’t I love myself?”  Scripture says “God so loved the world.”  God may not love the way we are but he loves us in spite of the way we are.  We have a lot of worth in God’s eyes.  We are valuable to God as His children. 

I know of one little boy who was down after having a falling out with his friend.  His mom trying to comfort him said, “You know how much I love you.”  He responded, “But you’re my mom, you’re supposed to love me.”  It’s God’s nature to love us; family members are supposed to love us but that often leaves us wanting someone beyond our family to love us because we are special to them not because they have to love us.  Even while we seek that, if we don’t have it now, we still need to find the good qualities within ourselves that we can appreciate.  Jesus was the only perfect person; the lamb without blemish.

There’s an exercise technique that focuses on getting the head and neck in the right alignment with the belief that when this happens the rest of the body will follow.  When we make Christ the head of our life and focus on our strengths using them for His glory, the rest of our attributes will soon follow.  That’s how I see it.

Gracious God, you told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Help us to love ourselves more so that we can likewise love others.  Show us our worth, yet keep us humble.  Restore your image in us.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion: Seeing Evil Face to Face

Matthew 12:34-36  You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Yesterday the news showed coverage of the first court appearance of James Holmes, the man accused of the recent massacre in Aurora, Colorado.  He looked weird, with dyed yellow / orange hair. Yet even stranger he appeared drugged.  Perhaps he was or maybe subjected to round the clock questioning or maybe he was acting. Maybe something snapped.  Regardless of any of that, he committed heinous acts.  The legal analysts said that it would be up to the victim’s families to decide whether they wanted the death penalty pursued. I’m struggling to determine how I feel about this man.  Should I want to spew hatred toward him?  Should I write him off as insane?  Should I pity him as a child of God gone awry?  My heart goes out to the wounded and the families of those killed and yet I can’t help wonder what turned this person into a cold blooded killer.  I can only pray for everyone and leave the rest to God and the justice system.

Holy God, We can’t understand why people commit such evil acts.  Instead we pray for wisdom on considering how we should react and we pray for those who are injured and grieving after acts of violence anywhere.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Peace,

Paige

Monday’s Devotion: All Knotted Up

Proverbs 12:25 (NLT) Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

It never fails doesn’t it?  Whenever you’re in a hurry, things start going wrong.  I was trying to get out of the house and grabbed the necklace I intended to wear only to discover a knot in the chain.  First I had to find my glasses so I could see the knot!  I quickly found that the weight of the pendant was pulling the knot tight as I was trying to loosen it.  I dawned on me to rest the pendant on the bed and relieve the tension.  The knot immediately came out.  Sometimes, I thought our burdens and anxieties weigh us down so badly that we can’t function.  Our body is tense, our muscles are knotted and nothing seems to go well.  That is when we should cast our cares upon Christ, to lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross.  I’ve never seen anxiety make anything better.  Instead seek that encouraging word through scripture and through those who love us.  Need an encouraging word?  Call me.

Heavenly Father, come to us in our troubles and calm our anxious hearts.  Bring us your peace and insight. We ask this in your Son’s name. Amen.

Have a blessed week,

Paige

Friday’s Devotion: God Wish for Our Happiness

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13  I know the best thing we can do is to always enjoy life, because God’s gift to us is the happiness we get from our food and drink and from the work we do.

It is my practice and privilege to spend time each morning in prayer.  I try to prepare for the day and all that it might bring.  To go into the day without prayer would be like walking down the road barefoot, or out into a storm without an umbrella.  Pray puts a hedge of protection between me and the irritants of the day.  There are some people who seem to seek out things to be dissatisfied about.  They don’t seem to be happy unless they are unhappy if that makes sense.  I feel sorry for them.  God wants us to be happy, to appreciate the gift of life and joy he gives to us.  A life well lived is not a life complaining about others or about things.  It is a life enjoying the things both large and small that are all around us.

Lord, forgive us our complaints.  We know that you wish for us to enjoy life. Open our lives to the blessings you offer and help us to complain less.  Help us to respect the opportunity for a good life that you give us and respect that same opportunity for others. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

As we focus on enjoying life, let’s be in prayer for those victims of the mass shooting at the movie theatre in Aurora, CO. 

Blessings,

Paige

Thursday’s Devotion: The Bible on Physical Fitness

Hebrews 12:11-13  No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees! Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously.

I thought how true this scripture was for me on a literal basis.  I’ve been doing special exercises to strengthen areas of my body to help heal the tendonitis in my left foot and to prevent it from getting worse.  Part of that is even finding straight (or level) places to walk.  The exercises are not fun and some are painful, but they bring results.  Our member Archie is in rehab now after surgery to repair a broken leg.  I know his exercises are also painful, but will result in a stronger leg.  On a spiritual level, this scripture is talking about the Lord disciplining us.  We have to be careful about not blaming really bad things that happen to us like illness or death on the Lord’s discipline. However God will discipline us.  It will not be cold-hearted punishment, though.  God’s discipline is the correction of a loving parent.  Perhaps plans fall through, or we embarrass ourselves or find ourselves humbled.  So far as straight paths, we should make an effort at right – straight and narrow- living before the wrong things we’re doing harm us further.  Once again a short section of scripture proves to be rich in meaning. 
Thank you Lord for your instruction and discipline. May it make us stronger and more prepared to follow your will.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: Pedaling Along

John 8:12  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Our next door neighbor Kyle loves to ride his bicycle.  He has a tandem attachment that allows his daughter Skye to ride behind him.  Yesterday they passed me as I was on my morning walk. He told me once that Skye doesn’t want him to go too fast.  She becomes a little scared if he does.  I noticed that she has own set of pedals and was pedaling  along with her dad as they went down the hill on Old Jonesboro Road. Maybe she’s getting a little more comfortable.  Thinking theologically, God often takes us in places that seem a little scary at first.  We’re asked to visit the sick, feed the poor, witness about his Son and love the unlovely.  At first we may just follow God, learning as we go to trust God.  As we gain experience doing that we then begin to pedal along.  The rewards of the ride are beyond measure.

Heavenly Father, thanks for leading us into ministry and help us to gain trust in you.  Bless us and keep us each day.  We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion – Matching Socks

Proverbs 31:10-12, 17  A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.  She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

I don’t like matching socks.  Joe must have 20 pairs of dress socks and I don’t think any two are alike.  They are all different patterns, colors and brands.  I guess if I didn’t wait until almost all of them were dirty to wash them, it wouldn’t take forever to match them up. As I stood there yesterday, not having fun, I thought maybe I’d just grab socks two at a time and roll them together regardless of color or pattern. Maybe if he wore his pants long enough no one would notice. The thought that I loved Joe and that I was doing something for him helped a bit.  As my mind wandered while trying to dig through the pile for matches I considered the fact that I also love God and perhaps I should spend more time with God through reading scripture and prayer.  I’ll get right on that, as soon as I finish matching all these socks.

Loving God, help us to find joy and satisfaction in the little tasks we do, including spending time in your Word.  We ask your special blessings this day that we may achieve all we set out to do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Starry, Starry Night

Psalm 136:1, 7-9  Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.  Who made the great lights, His love endures forever.  The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.  The moon and stars to govern the night, His love endures forever.

Saturday night Joe and I attended an anniversary / birthday party at the home of members of our church family.  With so many friends and neighbors there we enjoyed going from room to room visiting with different ones.  Later we stood on the deck admiring a beautiful cloud formation and watching planes fly across its face.  The conversation turned to stars and the fact that with the light pollution around Hapeville and Atlanta, it’s difficult to see them.  Those in our group related times when we had been at the beach or in the mountains and had marveled at the many stars visible in the dark night sky.

I have a rubber stamp in my card making collection that says, “When it’s dark enough you can see the stars.”  Sometimes it is in our darkest hours that we can most see the presence of God.  During those times our strengths become the most evident, too.
Someone wrote, “The blacker the outlook, the brighter the uplook.” Scripture says to give thanks in all things, even the darkest places through which we may be walking.  These places may be a sign that the stars are about to shine.

God of love and light, we ask that you show your stars to those walking through troubled times. We need you with us at all times. We ask for your loving, saving presence in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a good week!
Paige

Friday’s Devotion – The Greatest Equalizer

Ephesians 2:8-9 (CEV)  You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.  It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.

When I walked yesterday morning I came upon my neighbor Clark Simpson coming down his steps to get his newspaper.  Mr. Simpson who is over 100 years old was walking without any assistance except his stair railing.  He told me he was moving slowly.  I told him so was I!  A while later a runner greeted me as she blew past me.
I was able to move better than one but not as well as the other.  In this world there are always going to be those who are worse off than us and others who are better off.  I don’t know how much good it does to compare ourselves to them and yet it seems to be our nature to do that. I chose this scripture because it tells us that we are all able to be recipients of God’s salvation if we have faith.  Some may be more or less devout or stronger or weaker when it comes to character.  Yet we who believe are equally able to approach God’s throne and receive his grace and mercy. Faith is the greatest equalizer.  How blessed is that!!!

Holy God, we are not worthy of your grace. We thank you for this undeserved gift. As we deepen our faith help us to respond with the good works you then expect in return. Thank you that Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners. In his name we pray. Amen.

 Have a great weekend!

Paige

Thursday’s Devotion: Gone in the Blink of an Eye

Modified and used 9-11-20

Friday's Musings - Gone in the Blink of an Eye

2 Corinthians 4:17-18  Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison.  We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal.

According to the morning news, the number of home foreclosures has risen for the second month in a row.  There were several pages in the local newspaper of homes listed by the City of Union City for property tax default.  Stories showing the results of flooding yesterday showed sudden and unexpected property destruction.  A young woman related, “One day I’m doing laundry in the basement and the next day my house is uninhabitable.”  There are very few things that we can say will be “forever” in life. Two thousand years ago Paul recognized that and urged people to focus on the eternal.

Yesterday our minister of Hispanic ministries told me that our Hispanic neighbors are suspicious of church.  They see it as business trying to pull them in for money or other reasons.  I advised Efrain to always make Jesus Christ and the blessings that come from a relationship with him as the center of conversations.  “Tell them what Jesus means to you and that you invite them to church because you want to share that with others,” I advised him.  Paul is addressing people who are facing opposition for their faith; Efrain is facing people who are showing opposition to the faith.  Which group do you think is going to fare best in the long run?  Where are you?

Holy God, thank you for Jesus.  Nothing we have in this earthly life compares to this gift. Bring us today into an awareness of your presence and love.  We ask in your Son’s wonderful name. Amen.

Have a great day,

Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Life’s Lived in the Small Stuff

Luke 19:29-31(NIV)  As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,  “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

With my assistant on vacation, it was very quiet when I went into the office yesterday and I was all alone.  I had a bunch of little tasks that needed to be done. I rearranged the directories on a computer, answered e –mails, filled out forms, called my ministry mentee, compiled some statistics for the Vital Signs reports and scrubbed our old stained office coffeepot.  I checked on several members and met with someone about a table I want to donate to charity.  At the end of the day I wondered what I had done of importance for the kingdom.  Teddy Roosevelt wrote, “The lives of truest heroism are those in which there are no great deeds to look back upon.  It is the little things well done that go to make up a successful and truly good life.”  Little did the disciples know that this seemingly insignificant task of procuring a colt for Jesus would be part of one of the most significant entries ever into the city of Jerusalem and would be remembered forever.  Sometimes the best of life is in the little things.  Enjoy each task.  You never know just how important it may be.

Lord, help us to appreciate the small things in life and to recognize that the things that we believe to be big and important are often themselves just groups of small things. Help us to feel your presence as we go about our day today. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion: Many Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

She walked into the nail salon yesterday wearing olive drab and black combat boots with a service weapon strapped to her leg and all sorts of accessories attached to her belt. Her arm patch said Atlanta Police Department. She said she wanted her eyebrows waxed.  I tried not to giggle because it just struck me as somewhat incongruous.  I didn’t want to be sexist.  I knew that in civilian clothes without all the hardware she would be an even more attractive woman. I really admire men and women who step out of traditional roles and follow their calling.  We all do have different skills and gifts. We’ll be most fulfilled when we can use those gifts to earn a living and also use those gifts to serve Jesus Christ.  How are you doing with this?

Gracious God, thank you for our gifts and talents. We ask for opportunities to use them to bring us an abundant life and to serve you.  Guide us in all we do.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Enjoying Nature

Isaiah 55:12 (NLT) You will live in joy and peace.  The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

During my July sermon series on Treasurers on Your Own Back Yard I’ve asked members of the congregation to bring treasures from home.  Yesterday’s topic was beauty and I asked for beautiful things.  Someone brought cameos she purchased in Europe, another brought a photo of her father, I brought vintage hand decorated ladies handkerchiefs.  Our other treasurers were from nature; fresh flowers, a print of a scene from the Blue Ridge Parkway and seashells.  Joe used a beautiful picture of day lilies as a background for our power point. Nature is an integral part of our planet. God’s special gift to us is the ability of nature to bring us joy and to bring comfort to our troubled souls. In a book I’m reading the author wrote how seeing the sun shining through dewdrops made her forget about the pain in her ankle.  I hope that this week we can each spend some time enjoying nature although it may be looking out the window from the interior of our cool homes!

Gracious God, Thank you for the beauty of nature. Thank you that it can bring us joy and peace.  Open our eyes to its beauty and help us to find time to stop and enjoy your gift to us. We ask in Jesus name.  Amen.  

Have a great week!

Paige

Friday’s Devotion – New York or San Diego?

Matthew 13:20-21 (NLT)  The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

We stayed home at night on the 4^th. While it would have been fun to go watch the fireworks somewhere, Joe’s getting up time of 4AM makes it difficult for him to stay up very late.  So I watched the fireworks on TV from DC, New York and Boston. I wondered at the cost of those fireworks that seemed to go on forever. Then yesterday morning newscasters reported that all the San Diego fireworks unexpectedly went off at one time. The show was over in 15 seconds!  When people first come be believers they are often very excited and enthusiastic.  But if not nurtured and encouraged they can be more San Diego than New York. Let’s encourage Christians who are growing in their faith so that they can grow deep roots.   One way we can do this is to encourage church members, especially new ones to become involved and integrated into the life of the church.

Loving God, help our faith to be deep and sustained, not shallow and tenuous. Guide and bless us each day that we may be good examples to others, too.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a great weekend!
Paige

Thursday’s Devotion – Red, White and Blessed.

Psalm 23:1  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

This is a good thought from one of our most beloved Psalms. Still yesterday I found myself vacillating between being very grateful for being born in this country and having the privilege to spend the day at a nice pool with friends and being envious of other things.  I was envious of people who were able to run in the Peachtree Road Race while I continue to struggle with tendonitis.  It’s not that I would really pursue running in that race, but would love just be able to run around the ball fields again.  I was envious of the women at the pool who looked slim and pretty in their bikinis.  I was envious of those able to be in Washington DC for the celebration and fireworks.  I started to beat myself up for my attitude – after all, “thou shalt not covet” but gave myself a break.  I think we all have things to be thankful for but also want more of something.  It’s that desire that pushes us to excel, to strive for a new goal, to reach for the prize.  We just need to find balance and fend off bitterness when we are disappointed.  I am incredibly blessed and thank God for that – still I really wish I had the dress Jennifer Hudson wore last night as she sang with the Boston Pops – sigh!

Holy God, forgive us our excesses and distractions.  Help us keep our eyes on the real prize which is the salvation offered by your Son Jesus Christ.  In his name we pray, amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: Happy 4th!!

Used 7/5/19 for newspaper along with prayer

Matthew 22:20-21  And he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”  “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Happy Fourth of July!  I hope everyone has a happy and safe day. I am so glad to have been born in this great country.  I’m the type who cries at the town parade when the flag goes by.  It’s a great blessing to be born an American citizen yet I know that I also belong to another.  My citizenship also lies in the Kingdom of God which knows no boundaries. Sometimes we get caught up into acts of protectionism when it comes to our country that may not be in the best interest of others in our kingdom.  Whether we are Americans, Mexicans, Germans or Australians we who believe in Jesus Christ are all co-citizens of God’s Kingdom. Christ’s love for all blurs political borders. Maybe we should be more attentive to that, also.  When one part of the body hurts it affects the entire body no matter where that body is from or resides.

God of Creation, thank you for your blessings on our country and yet we know you bless other countries, too. Help us to reach across borders to bring your blessings to others.  In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Stay safe and cool!
Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion – True Treasure

1 Timothy 6:6-10  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I watched several episodes of Antiques Roadshow last night.  Some people brought items that turned out to be worth a lot of money, while others brought items that proved to  be fakes, reproductions or just of little value. One woman had a painting that she said would continue to be passed down through her family.  It was valued at $150,000.  I wonder how long it will remain in the family!  For many the true value lay in the story behind it; who it had belonged to and how it had been obtained. Paul’s letter to Timothy warns him not to put his faith in monetary wealth but to cultivate godly traits. Some items we obtain may decline in value over time; some may have little value on the open market no matter how much we like it.  A godly life however will never decline in value and is a treasure to be pursued.

Blessed Father, help us to see the true value in life. For those who think they have nothing, show them the real treasures available to them.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Dry Spells and Deep Roots

Psalm 1:3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

The scripture we discussed last night in our connect group was Psalm 1.  I love the poetic rhythm of that psalm especially from the King James Version.  We honed in on verse 3.  I remembered that Jesus said that he was the Living Water. I live in a geographic area that is green even in the driest weather.  When I went to Israel I discovered that within an hour you can go from a lush fertile valley to an arid desert. I understood a little more why so much of scripture concerns water and fertility.  In order for us to bear fruit, to have a good life that produces happiness we must stay close to a source of nourishment.  For me that is the refreshing, living water of Jesus Christ.

Dear God, We are facing a new week.  For some they may have dry spells in need of your care and nurture. We can dry up spiritually if we are not rooted in you.  Help us to grow deep roots so that we will not be moved or be harmed.  Bless us in this week.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.