Tuesday’s Devotion: Losing Things

Luke 15:8-9 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’”

I have lost my pressure cooker.  How can one lose a pressure cooker in a medium sized kitchen?  I looked in every cabinet twice and even had Joe look.  The rocker is in the drawer but no pot. It’s not like a casserole dish you take to the covered dish dinner then forget to take home.  Last week Joe did leave a baking dish at church and it has disappeared, too.  In Israel, I lost one of my favorite gold hoop earrings.  Jesus told a parable about lost things to show that when we get lost from God, God will seek us and rejoice when we come back into the flock.  Deuteronomy 22 instructs us to help people who have lost things: “If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner.  If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back.  Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it.  If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet.”  Maybe we should help God look for lost sheep, too.  We can all rejoice when we find one and bring it into the flock.  In the meantime, where can I get a deal on a new pressure cooker?

Gracious Lord, how often we meet people who don’t know of your love and grace or people who have wandered off from their relationship with you.  If we ourselves have strayed, please draw us back to you.  Help us to seek the lost and to help those who are struggling with their faith.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Stuck in the Middle

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Paul has just written to the people to let their lives be governed by the Spirit instead of the flesh that desires what is contrary to the Spirit.  The Common English translation describes these desires: “The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good,  idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry,  jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom.” 

I wonder how many of us are stuck in the middle somewhere.  We love God and sincerely sincere to let the Spirit work through us and exhibit those fruits and we are not morally corrupt in the ways described in this text.  But we get cranky, critical, and find our foot in our mouth too often.  How do we get closer to the ideal?  I think part if it is working on stress by staying connected to God through prayer throughout the day.  Everyone needs to have some stress management tricks.  I’m going to try to be more conscious of that this week and see what happens.  Let’s do that together.

Holy God, It’s often when we’re stressed that we lose our patience and kindness towards others.  Help us to feel your calming presence; save us from our self-serving actions and help us to love you and others according to your desires for us.  We ask in Christ’s name.  Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Finding God in a Fast Food World

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

We visited so many places in and around Jerusalem that it made our heads spin.  One of the more memorable locations was the steps of the Temple Mount. Our guide (surely the best in Israel) pointed out that the steps are not even; there are alternating narrow (1 stride) and wide (1 ½  to 2 strides).  The unevenness of the steps caused those approaching the Temple to do so slowly and reverently.  We live in such a fast paced, instant gratification world that it’s easy to lose that sense of doing things slowly, savoring the moment. I hope one day to return to Jerusalem and take it more slowly, too so that I can savor the moment in each place.   God won’t be rushed. Seeking God with our whole heart involves slowing down, walking up slowly, appreciating the journey. In our life, we are the guide.  We can have some say about slowing down and not rushing to get back on the bus (busyness) to hurry to the next place.  Between now and Easter let’s practice doing more of that.

Lord God, help us to slow down and appreciate the life that you have so graciously bestowed upon us.  Help us to quiet our minds and direct them towards you.  Help us to open our lives to you so that we may seek you with our while hearts.  We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday's Devotion: Rose Sunday Coming Up

Psalm 122:1 It made me glad to hear them say, "Let's go to the house of the LORD!"

This coming Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent.  Like the third Sunday in Advent it is unique.  Here we take a break from the otherwise penitential attitude of the season. It’s called Laetare Sunday or Rose Sunday. Laetare Sunday is also known as "Mothering Sunday" because of the Epistle reading that speaks of how not the Jews, but those who come to Christ, regardless of their ancestry, are the inheritors of Abraham's promise. The old practice of visiting the cathedral or "mother church" of the diocese on this day is another reason for the name. In England, natural mothers are honored today, too, in a manner rather like our Mother's Day.  Spring bulb flowers (daffodils, for ex.) are given to mothers, and simnel cake is made to celebrate the occasion. Those who recognize this Sunday often put roses or other flowers on the altar and the paraments can be rose.  I most like the sense of joy on this day.  Of course I am always glad to go into the house of the Lord.  I always leave uplifted from the worship and from the fellowship. 

Blessed Lord, we are glad to come worship you and rejoice that we participate in the work of your Kingdom.  Thank you for the blessings that come to us for our participation in your divine plan. We ask for your continued power and strength.  Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: The God of the Needy

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

All of our dogs are attention craving, but one, Daisy is especially needful.  We adopted Daisy from Jack Russell Rescue and don’t know much about her past.  She seems to be insecure and needs constant reassurance that we love and care for her.  If we shoo her out of our lap she stands at the arm of the chair or couch with her head outstretched to be petted. If we pet Dandy or Dino she tries to push them aside.  I wish there was a way to assure her of our love without constantly holding her.  We try to give equal attention to all three.  None suffers but they don’t always get all the attention they ask for.  Thank goodness that God is always available for us.  We can constantly approach our Father with our prayers and supplications and be confident that God hears our prayers. We know we can rest in Christ with full assurance of His love.  He gave his life for us and has not abandoned us in this age. Thanks be to God!

Thank your Lord, for you deep love for us.  When the world rejects us, you continue to gather us to yourself. May today we find peace in your care.  We ask in the name of the one who is the perfect image of your great love.  Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: New Every Morning

Psalm 143:8 "Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, for in you do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you."

Life is about finding a balance between trust in others and trust in God. I trust my wonderful husband in so many different ways. I trust my trainer not to direct me to do exercises that would cause me physical harm. There are many people I need to be able to trust.  But there are limits.  I must test everything others offer against my own understanding and I must trust my own understanding against God’s Word.  Thank goodness we have a God so full of lovingkindness towards us.  I hope that along with me you will each seek and find God’s presence every morning before your busy day begins.

Gracious God, how we need your love and care every day. Our ultimate trust lies in you, our Creator and our sustainer. -- Because of your great love we are not consumed,
for your compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Amen

Monday’s Devotion: The Whole Shebang

1 Timothy 4:16  (NLT)  Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

I started the day with a mile walk / jog to warm up before my weekly Monday morning workout with Stephen, my trainer.  We (I) worked hard and by the end of the hour my muscles were trembling.  We visited for awhile afterwards and agreed that a health and fitness program must really be all encompassing.  It doesn’t do much good to start a physical activity plan if one is still eating hamburgers and french-fries regularly.  To be truly healthy comes from a broader commitment to a healthier lifestyle.  Don’t smoke, eat healthy but delicious food, control portions, work on stress management, plan good physical activity each day and avoid lack of sleep.  Spiritual fitness also requires a well-rounded program.  Coming to church once a week is great but it would be even better when accompanied by daily prayer, devotion, Bible reading and Christian companionship.  Like my diet / fitness program doing all the right stuff doesn’t happen all at once. Yet when it does all come together we will reap the benefits and so will those around us.

Lord, as we start this new week help us to find time to consciously plan ways in which to keep or get ourselves fit in mind, body and spirit.  Help us to seek the power promised – that we can do all things through Christ who gives strength.  We ask in his name, Amen.