Friday’s Devotion: Finding Rest for the Weary

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I woke up at 9:00 this morning.  Thank goodness it’s my day off!  I rarely sleep this late at any time. This tells me that I was unusually tired after a busy week.  The world has become a faster place in which to live.  Communication is instantaneous; there is less down time waiting for things to happen – unless you’re in the check-out line at the local grocery store.  We can take care of work on our smart phones even while traveling or out to dinner.  Sometimes it feels like we are never “off.”  Jesus realized the need for rest and called others to rest with him.  Lent is a great time to increase the time we spend in prayer and meditation.  This can be a time of rest and rejuvenation as we release our burdens and revel in the love of our Savior.  I’m going to do that in a bit.  I might even relax so that I fall back asleep.

Gracious God, We are tired and stressed and anxious so much of the time.  Help us to slow down and rest and to find refreshment for mind, body and spirit.  We especially ask that you be with caretakers today.  Fill their cup so that it might overflow onto others.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion – What We Can Learn from Idol.

Isaiah 43:12 (NIV) I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—  I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.

The contestants on American Idol last night sang songs of Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston.  Each performer put his or her own unique voice to their song.  Skylar Laine’s version sounded like Reba meets Whitney. I talk a lot in my sermons and devotions of our call to share with others about our divine Creator and Jesus Christ.  To do so we must each find our own voice.  We can’t follow someone else’s formula or sound like our favorite televangelist. The Idol coaches told the contestants to relax and be themselves.  I think that’s a good idea for us, too! It enables us to be as good as we can be instead of trying to be as good as someone else can be and that will be the best of all.

Lord, help us please to find our own voices as we share about your love and grace to others.  Give us the boldness to speak truly and the heart to speak kindly.  We ask in the name of the One whose story we want to tell. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion – Can Fear of Change be Blocking your Blessings? USED

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

Change can be difficult.  In many ways we are fearful of the unknown that change might bring.  Yet there are times in our life when change is best.  This scripture warns about copying the ways of the world - more than likely referring to worship of other gods, oppressive power structures, neglect of the needy and other immoral behavior.  Yet there are other situations that call for new thinking. A friend recently left his place of employment.  A job that once was challenging but very enjoyable and rewarding became one of frustration and clashes of personalities. He stayed on long after he became unhappy because he needed the work.  Yet through prayer and discernment God was able to give him the confidence to move out of that toxic environment.  Sometimes relationships that were once wonderful also become toxic.  I always advocate trying to work things out, especially in a marriage yet sometimes it is not possible.  We can seek to eliminate bitterness and resentment and to care for one another while moving away after asking for God’s guidance.  It’s easy to become complacent, to get in a rut, to sit around and do nothing because we can’t do exactly what we want to be doing.  To be in relationship with God is to constantly ask God if our situation is healthy and in line with the path God would have us follow.

Father, scripture tells us for everything there is a season.  Help us to identify the changing of seasons in our lives.  Prod us when we become complacent and guide us in new and rewarding directions.  In all things let us glorify you.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: The World Speaks

 Psalm 19:1-4  The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

Last Sunday I included the Great Commission in my sermon. Jesus said for his followers go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel.  Last night while presenting a devotion, a pastor said the Greek word really translates “going” which changes the thought somewhat.  While you are going into the world, while you are going about your daily life, share the Gospel.  Either way, it’s not always the easiest task to work Jesus into the conversation.  Christians bear a large responsibility.  It comforts me to know that we are not alone in proclaiming the glory of God.  It also comforts me that those who need to find connection to God and don’t hear that word either because no one around them is sharing or because they have isolated themselves from others can still find that witness in the beauty and majesty of nature. When Jesus entered Jerusalem with crowds praising him, the Pharisees told Jesus to make them stop.  “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” It would do us good to periodically get away from the light pollution of the city and spend some time looking to the heavens to see what they are saying about our Creator.

We look to you, O God for strength, healing, guidance and comfort. Life can be overwhelming and we need you.  Thank you for constantly reminding us through the world around us that you are there and you are great and you will endure forever. Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Given or Broken?

John 19:36 (NIV) These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”

I served Holy Communion in both services Sunday morning.  I usually serve the bread and the person assisting offers the cup.  I love placing the bread in a person’s hand and looking them in the eye call them by name and say, “This is the body of Christ, given for you.”  One of my pastors was very adamant about using the term “given” instead of “broken.”  He pointed out that scripture is very plain that Jesus legs were not broken and that this was to fulfill prophesy.  When God laid out the procedures for Passover to Aaron and Moses, God declared that the legs of the sacrificial lambs were not to be broken (Exodus 12:46).  John the Baptist called Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  I like the term given because Jesus gave himself for us of his own free will.  The miracles he performed let us know if Jesus had chosen to escape he could have done so.  To play the devil’s advocate I would argue with that pastor that if something in Jesus’ body hadn’t broken he wouldn’t have died. What do you think, “given, or “broken”?  Have you ever given it any thought?  Which would / do you use?
The next time you partake of or serve Holy Communion you might consider what that term means to you.

Holy God, You loved us so much you give us your only begotten Son who was obedient to you even to die on the cross for our sins.  He gave himself for us, may we live our lives for you.  Bless us as we start a new week with the strength and guidance to get through each day.  We ask in your Son’s holy name. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Standing My Ground

Friday’s Devotion:  Standing My Ground

Mark 5:32-34 (NIV)  But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.  Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.  He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Yesterday morning as I walked in my neighborhood, a large dark-coated German shepherd ran across the street in front of me.  By his body language he appeared wary and submissive. He ran up some steps and sat on the front porch of a home watching me. I walked by trying to not appear as a threat but keeping an eye on him until I was past the house to make sure he was still on the porch.  As I went over a little hill and passed the next home I suddenly heard him running up behind me. For the first time in awhile I felt genuine fear.  I turned around and spoke firmly to him (I’m not sure what I said now) and then told him to go home.  He stopped and reluctantly started home but then as I backed away he came towards me again.  Once again I told him to go home then backed up until I was sure he was out of sight.  I don’t know if his intention was to attack me or join me on my walk.  If it were the former, running away could have been disastrous.  By standing firm, I prevailed.  The woman in the crowd who touched Jesus’ robe was afraid also but she didn’t run.  By staying she received a double blessing – physical healing and a compliment from the divine Son of God.  There are extreme circumstances when running is the best choice but more often we will do better if we take a stance and face our fears.

Dear Lord, give us the strength and courage to stand firm in the face of adversity. Thank you for keeping us safe in dangerous situations.  We pray for a hedge of protection around ourselves and those we love.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: In Memoriam

Romans 8:10  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

Joe and I suddenly lost a long-time friend yesterday.  He e-mailed Joe about 11:45.  When he didn’t come out of his home office for lunch, his wife checked on him and found that he had passed away. We are both incredibly sad and reminded that life can change with the blink of the eye. We are not guaranteed every day when we wake up that at the end of the day we will crawl back into bed anticipating the future. Let’s make sure that we use the time we have wisely; that we take time to tell others that we love them. That we make preparations to leave a living memorial – those whose lives are better because of our intentional efforts on their behalf.  That we are “right with God” because in the end that and only that will be the test of whether one day when we no longer have an earthly life, we will have new life in heaven.

Blessed God, Thank you for bringing Clint and other friends into our life. Help us to hold friends closer while we have them and to take comfort that those whom we love who have passed on have been offered eternal life.  We pray in the name of the one who died that we might have life. Amen.