Thursday's Musing: Tumbling Waters USED

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in time of trouble. That's why we won't be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.

A group of us took a beautiful afternoon walk yesterday around the lake and over the waterfall at Camp Glisson.  The thing that caught my attention was how smooth Cane Creek was until right up where the falls began.  It made me think of the old song, "Deep and Wide."  The falls, however, were violent, roaring, displaying masses of water tumbling over huge rocks.  The falls came suddenly and were fraught with danger.  They were not the type of falls one would attempt to slide down.  Incredibly, a short distance from the falls, the water became calm and quiet again.  I see it as a metaphor for our lives.  Sometimes right in the middle of our calm, controlled existence, life takes a tumble; life becomes turbulent; we fear for our survival. In those times, I frequently remind myself that, "this, too shall pass."  And through it all, I am confident of God's presence and care, even if I don't sense it every minute.  God is my refuge and strength.

Holy God, thank you for being an ever present help in time of trouble.  We praise your holy name today and always.  Amen.

Wednesday’s Musing: Overcoming Fear

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Yesterday I wrote about baptism. Let me share that I have a pretty strong fear of water and especially of someone holding me in or under water.  Growing up, I knew that to join the Baptist church you had to be “dunked” completely under water.  I thought, I will never be a Baptist. Besides, I was baptized as an infant in the Methodist Church. Still it’s surprising sometimes how fearfulness can keep us from doing something that’s really a good thing. Fear can be a good thing, it’s a God-given defense mechanism, however sometimes we need to push past fear and step out to try something new. When those opportunities arise, pray to God for help and direction.

Father, you did not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power and love. Help us to tap into that power when we are afraid.  Help us to feel your presence.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tuesday’s Musings: The Cleansing Power of Water

Ephesians 5:25-27  For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

The other day my morning walk took me by the ball field complex. It had rained and there were many puddles around the fields.  I observed a large flock of robins on the ground. Several were sitting right in the middle of the pools of water – just sitting there.  I thought, even the birds know the importance of the cleansing power of water. We use water in baptism to symbolize cleansing from sin. In the Holy Land, our group did a “remember your baptism” ceremony at the Jordan River. What if whenever we took a bath or shower we stopped and asked God to cleanse us of all impure thoughts, to wash away the residue for our failings of the past day and to purify us as Christ was pure. Just a thought.

Holy Lord, life seems to be a cycle of sin and repentance, successes and  failures.  Keep pointing us in the right direction, Lord.  We need you every day. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Monday’s Musings: Goodbye Favorite Socks!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways

.

I have a pair of favorite socks. I guess I could say I had them.  They were gray ragg socks with a small amount of crochet trim around the edge of the cuff.  I put them on a few days ago only to discover nickel sized holes in the heels. I think the last time I wore them Joe and hiked about 8 or 9 miles in North Carolina.  I remember the last 5 miles I walked with huge blisters on my heels.  I had on good hiking boots.  Instead I discovered these socks were slipping around and rubbing my feet.  I take away two lessons here.  Things that are appropriate in some instances of life might not be appropriate in another.  We have to match our actions to the situation. Second,  sometimes we have to say goodbye to things we care about.  I can be appreciative of having those socks. It’s time to move on.  I now hike in socks made for running and hiking. But if you ever see some ladies ragg socks with narrow crochet trim, let me know.

Loving, God help us to know when to hold on and when to let go.  Thank you for all of our blessings.  We ask that you bless this week and all we do. Amen.

God Bless,

Paige

Friday’s Musing – Wanting to Fast Forward

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

We often record TV shows because we will be away from home or because two we want to watch air at the same time.  The advantage of watching recorded shows is of course that we can fast forward through the commercials.  We get to the end of the show sooner.  Sometimes in life we would also like to be able to fast forward.  We are in a crisis, we are waiting for a diagnosis, we are close to meeting a goal but can’t quite get there, we have a bad cold that just won’t go away.  We become impatient for a resolution.  Psalm 27, one of the scriptures I’m preaching from this Sunday says to wait on God and to look for God for strength.  Once again we need to be patient.  Sometimes God doesn’t work on our time table. God is always with us; when we can’t sense God’s presence we pray and then pray some more.  The more we can shut the world out and quietly focus on God, the more apt we are to sense God’s presence.

Holy God, help us to find strength for you.  Please give us patience when we want to fast forward through life.  Help us to savor every moment of the precious life you give to us.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend.  I will be at a pastor’s retreat next week and am not sure if I will be able to post devotions. 

In Christ,

Paige

Thursday’s Musing – The Difficulties of Judging

James 4:11-12 (NIV)  Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

American Idol has finally gotten to the stage of simply singing.  Last night was a sudden death competition. Ten women would sing; five would move on and five would go home.  I decided to try to predict who would be in the top five.  Some of the performances were not that great and the choice was easier.  But with others it was difficult.  They all were good singers with high hopes.  The judges admitted they had difficulties in making their decisions.  The outcome could have life-long effects for the competitors. I decided I didn’t want to be in their place – well maybe I wouldn’t mind wearing killer clothes and getting paid lots of money – but judging is difficult.  I try not to judge people’s character, either.  Numerous scriptures warn us against doing that.  Only God knows others’ complete stories.  Only God can truly judge character. 1 Corinthians 4:5 says, “ So don’t judge anything before the right time—wait until the Lord comes. He will bring things that are hidden in the dark to light, and he will make people’s motivations public.”

Lord, it seems so easy to judge others, especially those who are not like us.  Help us Lord to remember that others may be judging us, too.  Help us to simply love others as you command us instead of judging them. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

God Bless,
Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Patience and Perseverance Pay Off

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

I walked 6 miles yesterday – 3 ½ in the morning and the rest in the evening.  If I had tried to walk it all at once, I might have given up. I get bored after an hour or so of walking around town even though I vary my routes.  The last time I walked 6 miles at once we were in the mountains.  The only way to get back to the car was to keep walking.  Whatever we may need to accomplish, sometimes it’s better to take a slow and steady approach.  Sometimes it’s better to be deliberate and patient than impatient and hasty.  We get anxious over situations and want our goals met quickly, but things take time.  If the situation calls for it, ask God for help and trust God to help you get through whatever it is. Celebrate small accomplishments. Many small accomplishments will eventually lead you to your desired goal.

Loving God, help us to be patient and remain steady, trusting in You in all situations.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Keep the Faith,

Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion – Godly Guidance

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NIV

My Lenten sermon series theme is wandering in the wilderness.   Last week we defined our wilderness as places of anxiety and despair. They are places out of our comfort zone.  In my sermon “Where Am I?” I spoke about recognizing that we are lost from God and need to turn towards God.  We need to ask where we are and where we would like to be.  This Sunday we ask, “Who Will Be Our Guide?”  The scripture above says that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Scripture describes God as our light and our salvation.  With God as our guide we should be able to stay on the right path.  Yet there aren’t clear, definite instructions on how to hear God and feel God’s guidance.  This week in preparation for the sermon or perhaps a message you might hear elsewhere if you aren’t in Hapeville, let’s meditate on how we hear God speaking to us. 

Holy God, help us to hear what you are saying to us as individuals and as a church.  Bless us today and guide us along the right path.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Christ,

Paige

Monday’s Devotion: A Habit of Excellence

Ecclesiastes 9:10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

I used to have a friend who would call and ask, “Are you working hard, or hardly working?”  If I was at work, I’d reply,” working hard.” My previous careers in data processing and accounting were precision and deadline driven.  It adds a layer of intensity that many other jobs do not, although most work has standards of performance.  With that training and my belief that anything that’s worth doing is worth doing well, I admit that I hold high standards for my work and for those who work with me.  I still have a somewhat deadline driven profession.  It’s Monday but I know Sunday’s coming!  And every weekday I have a devotion to produce.  I say all this because while we will apply ourselves diligently to our earthly work, we sometimes fail to apply ourselves with the same effort to our relationships with our spouses, family members, friends, and with God.  We let things roll with the punches or put the burden of effort upon them.  We don’t know what heaven will be like but the writer of Ecclesiastes says to do your best now because this is the only earthly life we’ll have. It is only now that we have a chance to excel. Let’s make the most of each day!

God you have created us and giving us work to do as we care for your creation, ourselves and one another.  Give us strength each day to forge ahead with those tasks. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Paige

Friday’s Devotion: Sometimes We Just Need to Keep Our Mouth Shut

Proverbs 11:12  Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

I decided a long time ago I would rather have a root canal than to listen to radio talk-shows. Acerbic-tongued people turn me off.  But it’s not only media personalities who think they have to be brutally honest.  We encounter these people in our lives, too.  Sometimes we even fall in to that roll for a moment.  Before being openly critical or having to voice our displeasure of a situation or of someone’s actions maybe we should ask ourselves some questions.
1. What’s the point?  Will my critical remark really make the person change?
2.  What’s the point?  Is expressing my opinion more important than someone’s feelings?
3. What’s the point? Is it really my place to critique what’s going on or what someone is saying or what they are wearing, or how they are doing something?
4. What’s the point? Will my remarks make everyone in the room uncomfortable, and / or put a damper on the event?
5. What’s the point?  Do I have to be brutally honest (making me a brute and subject to criticism, too) or could I speak in a kinder, more godly way?

Jesus said this:  “But what goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight.  Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adultery, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, and insults. These contaminate a person in God’s sight” – Matthew 15:18-20

Holy Lord, help us to use our tongues to encourage others. Help us to speak kindly and to bridle our tongues even when we can’t control our critical thoughts. Lift us up and help us to lift up other, too.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a great weekend!
Paige

Thursday’s Devotion: The Ties of Love

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Happy Valentine’s Day!  I hope it’s filled with hearts and expressions of love. Thanks to some help by a friend we even received a card from our dogs. I love that we have times that encourage us to be extra loving to someone. Not everyone has a romantic partner but everyone can love others. One of Atlanta’s Episcopal Churches is offering a Lovingkindness Meditation Retreat this Saturday. The goal is for participants to learn techniques to help them have a more loving attitude towards all beings. I’d like to go, as a matter of fact; I’d like the whole world to attend. But we won’t be there.  We are too busy with the stuff of our own lives. Still, in our own way we can strive to be more intentional in our care for others and ask God to give us more loving hearts.  Agape love isn’t about having to like others, or approve of their opinions or actions.  It’s about recognizing that they are also loved by God, that we are all enveloped by the love of God and share the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that we are tied together in a manner much bigger than ourselves.

Loving God, help us to grow into the loving people you have created us to be. Help us to learn how to love our enemies, to love neighbor as ourselves and to express love to those important to us.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless,
Paige

 

 

Wednesday’s Devotion: Dead Ends and New Directions

John 21:3-6 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”  He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

A week or so ago just as Joe and I were about to pull out of our driveway five, count them five Hapeville police cars came flying by.  We turned in the same direction to try to find out what was up.  When we saw that they had congregated in the cul-du-sac at the end of our street we turned around and went on to eat. Later we found that they were pursuing someone who obviously didn’t know North Avenue was a dead end street. This person jumped from his vehicle and ran.  When he encountered a dead end, he was forced to take a new direction.  That happens to us, too. Sometimes that can be a blessing in disguise.  We often find that God will close doors in our life in order to open new ones for us.  When you come up against a dead-end, stop and ask God if perhaps he has another direction for you.  Maybe you need to cast your net on the other side of the boat.

Holy God, help us to recognize the dead ends, the closed doors, the barren fishing spots and to seek new direction from you.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I hope that you will worship us tonight to mark the beginning of this meaningful season of Lent.

God Bless,
Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion: Ghost Towns

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

I’m still fondly remembering our last year’s vacation down historic Route 66.  Over the years the original road was replaced with wider, straighter interstate highways. Our guidebook took us to the remnants of the old road.  Once it took us through a ghost town.  After the new road was built people no longer drove through to dine at the restaurants, and purchase souvenirs or gasoline. As we walked up and down the block taking pictures I thought about another ghost town.  It is our ghost town, created when we come to Christ and move from the attitude that life is about fulfilling our own desires first to walking the way of God.  This ghost town contains the diner of despair, a house of hatred, the pathway of prejudice, and the hotel of hopelessness.  It is one that we can joyfully leave behind. Praise to God who always has a better way available for us.

Thank you Lord, for calming our anxieties and giving us strength.  We ask that you be with us today and as we move through the week.  Help us to leave behind things that are not good for us, striving always towards the Kingdom life you offer. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Saying NO to never.

1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

I’ve been encouraged by stories I’ve seen this week of people who defied the odds and wouldn’t take “never” for a prediction relating to their circumstance.  You’ve all heard the nevers: he/she will never walk again, she will never be able to return to her home, he will never make it in the military, she will never overcome her additions, on and on we hear the negativity and see people who went on to accomplish exactly what they were told they couldn’t do.

It’s easy to be surrounded by negativity and not only that, sometimes it’s our own self-talk that holds us back.  Paul knew that Timothy might face opposition to his preaching and teaching because of his youth but he told Timothy to do it anyway.  We may not be able to do everything we set our mind to do but we can certainly do more than if we didn’t try at all.  Always remember to pray about new endeavors and to ask God for strength and guidance. God wants to help in all areas of our lives, not just those specifically spiritual. 

Loving God, help us to shut out the voices of negativity that would hold us back from living life to its fullest. We pray for your strength and guidance this week.  Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Friday’s Devotion: Living in Hope

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Medical researchers have recently discovered clumps of protein in the brain that are associated with dementia.  At this point they don’t know if they are merely indicators of dementia or if they actually cause it.  If it is the latter, then there is hope in finding a cure.  Wouldn’t that be wonderful?  I know so many people who have loved ones struggling with dementia who live out the old saying “Losing my mind.”  Researches must operate with an attitude of hope.  If not they would give up.  When we are faced with challenges in life, we too should encourage ourselves with the hope that we can overcome those challenges.  We have a God of hope who will help us.

Thank you Lord, for you constant care, for your love and for your help.  We pray that you will keep us strong in our hope that life can and will be good and joy-filled.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend!
Paige

Friday’s Devotion: Living in Hope

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Medical researchers have recently discovered clumps of protein in the brain that are associated with dementia.  At this point they don’t know if they are merely indicators of dementia or if they actually cause it.  If it is the latter, then there is hope in finding a cure.  Wouldn’t that be wonderful?  I know so many people who have loved ones struggling with dementia who live out the old saying “Loosing my mind.”  Researches must operate with an attitude of hope.  If not they would give up.  When we are faced with challenges in life, we too should encourage ourselves with the hope that we can overcome those challenges.  We have a God of hope who will help us.

Thank you Lord, for you constant care, for your love and for your help.  We pray that you will keep us strong in our hope that life can and will be good and joy-filled.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend!
Paige

Thursday’s Devotion: Battling Deception

1 Corinthians 3:18-19  Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

One cold blustery afternoon I looked out the church windows to see a wedding taking place in the park across the street.  The bridesmaids must have been freezing in their strapless dresses and the bride’s full length veil was “blowin’ in the wind.”  Who would get married on a Thursday afternoon in the cold, I wondered. Then I spotted the movie production equipment.  When our grandson was in his second movie with Steve Martin, Joe and I went to Toronto to be with him.  We learned little film tricks from being on the set like wetting down the roads made them pop more on the screen.  I read an article in “Christian Century” magazine defending movies like “Zero Dark Thirty” for not being totally historically accurate saying it offers us alternate realities to consider.  My point is that while we can enjoy films and fiction and presentations of alternate realities, we must also keep a grip upon what really is real.  God is real.  The true light and life God offers those who believe in Jesus Christ is real.  Scripture says Satan is a deceiver and all of us who have experienced temptation can attest to that.  Let’s keep our eyes upon Jesus and beware of those who would lead us astray.

Loving God, we ask that you will continue to lead us and give us discernment. Help us to detect falsehood and to speak in truth.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

God Bless,
Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Nature’s Music

Psalm 104:12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.

I envy guys who can just throw on some sweats and shoes and go out walking or running.  I won’t leave the house without doing hair and makeup.  This morning I secured my Virgin Health Miles pedometer, took my iPhone for the I Map My Walk app and for Pandora, grabbed the ear buds and my house key, set the alarm and then I was ready to walk after stretching.  As I was trying to decide what music I was in the mood to listen to this morning I heard a bird singing and then another and another. It was a beautiful chorus.  I imagined them singing in praise of the mild temperatures and the sun shining after a couple of cold, dreary days.  I thought that nature’s music is so much more beautiful than anything I could hear on the radio or from my playlists. I appreciate musical talent and the enjoyment of listening can be a blessing, yet I hope that we all will take time to appreciate the music that God gives us through His creation, from the birds and squirrels chirping, to the sound of the breeze or a waterfall, or rain falling on metal.  That can also sooth our souls and bring us close to our Creator.

Holy Lord, thank you for the birds of the air and the songs which cheer us.  Thank you for the ability to walk in your world and experience the beauty of nature with all our senses.  We praise you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Day,

Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion: Every Hour I Need Thee

Romans 12:12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

One of my favorite hymns is “I Need Thee Every Hour.”  Personal experience leads me to know that my sense of well-being is directly proportionate to the quality of my prayer life. One of my seminary professors Luis Wesley posted this Howard Thurman prayer this morning on Facebook.  It says what I’d like to share so very eloquently. 

O God, I Need Thee

“I Need Thy Sense of Time
Always I have an underlying anxiety about things.
Sometimes I am in a hurry to achieve my ends
And am completely without patience. It is hard for me
To realize that some growth is slow,
That all processes are not swift. I cannot always discriminate
Between what takes time to develop and what can be rushed,
Because my sense of time is dulled.
I measure things in terms of happenings.
O to understand the meaning of perspective
That I may do all things with a profound sense of leisure—of time.

I Need Thy Sense of Order
The confusion of the details of living
Is sometimes overwhelming. The little things
Keep getting in my way providing ready-made
Excuses for failure to do and be
What I know I ought to do and be.
Much time is spent on things that are not very important
While significant things are put into an insignificant place
In my scheme of order. I must unscramble my affairs
So that my life will become order. O God, I need
Thy sense of order.

I Need Thy Sense of the Future
Teach me to know that life is ever
On the side of the future.
Keep alive in me the forward look, the high hope,
The onward surge. Let me not be frozen
Either by the past or the present.
Grant me, O patient [God], Thy sense of the future
Without which all life would sicken and die.”

Amen.

 Have a great day!
Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Me and My Shadow

Psalm 139:7-10  Where could I go to get away from your spirit?  Where could I go to escape your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there. If I went down to the grave, you would be there too!  If I could fly on the wings of dawn, stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean— even there your hand would guide me; even there your strong hand would hold me tight!

Years ago we took in a little black dog that someone had put out in our neighborhood. He was very thin and scared.  It took awhile for us to gain his confidence to even get near him.  Yet he quickly settled in and wanted to be wherever we were in the house.  I started to name him Shadow but because we had Daisy and Dino we named him Dandy. He is a dandy little dog yet even after all these years he still sticks close.  If I go into the basement to exercise or work on my computer, he is there.  If I get up to do anything he immediately starts up the stairs.  If I go upstairs, he is there.  If I go out on the deck he goes into the back yard.  This morning as went down to walk on the treadmill he followed me down and sat near me. Suddenly I thought of Psalm 139.  God’s presence is ever near us.  I hope you will take the time to read the entire Psalm sometime. It is a beautiful praise and prayer.

Thank you Lord, that wherever we go, there you are.  We ask that we sense your presence this week, especially when we are tired and feel challenged by life’s obstacles.  In all things we give you thanks. Amen.

Have a blessed week,
Paige

Friday’s Devotion: True Confessions

Psalm 38:18  I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

When I was growing up, of all the magazines on the stand in the grocery stores, “True Confessions” intrigued me the most.  Please remember I grew up in a much more conservative era. The magazine is still being published, but the contents are certainly not a scandalous as they would have been in the past. I see that as a sad thing.  What we would have called immorality in the past has now become just the norm. I don’t think that makes for healthy individuals or a healthy society. Admittedly, not all is bad news.  I’m happy that we have gotten over the extreme racism of the days of segregation and that women are having more opportunities in the workforce. Yet I wish all those out there living unhealthy lifestyles would come to know Christ and change their ways.  While society may have relaxed its moral standards, the Word of God calls us to truly confess our sin and change our lives.   I know that Joe and I and those among whom we live and work are in the center of a group of people trying to live according to God’s standards.  Maybe the answer to change is to try to influence those between us and the very outer fringes and hope that there is a ripple effect going ever outward, bringing the Gospel and all it offers to everyone. 

Holy God, we live in a society where children are having children and children are killing children.  We pray that you will give us, your followers strength to witness to others in love and to offer them the vision of a better life. We ask in the name of the one who died for our sin. Amen.

Have a grace-filled weekend.
Paige