Wednesday’s Devotion – Oh Those Egos!

Proverbs 18:12  Pride comes before a disaster, but humility comes before respect.

It’s told that after spending an hour one morning admiring herself in the mirror a woman confessed that to her pastor. “Do you think this is a sin of pride?’’ she asked.  Being rather blunt, he responded, “No, it’s a sin of imagination.”   Some people think too highly of themselves and others think to little of themselves.  Whether we wake each day with an inflated or deflated ego we really are who we are. Scripture tells us that the Divine shows no partiality. See Acts 10:34-35 and Luke 20:21. Let’s recognize that God blesses each of us uniquely. Boldly take that and soar into the future with it.

Father God, how wonderful it is to think that you love us just as much as the person we envy the most. Remind us that you also love us just as much as the person we regard the least. We asked in the name of the one who died for all. Amen.

Love in Christ,

Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion: Treasures for Now and Later

Colossians 2:2-3 (NLT)  I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.  In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I watched two shows I like a lot last night, Antiques Roadshow and American Pickers. Joe and I have always loved old things and the hunt for something of value.  I think this is a good hobby and it has been profitable for people on both these shows.  On the other hand I know where true treasure lies. Scripture tells us not to store up treasure on earth where moths and rust destroy but instead to store up our treasures in heaven.  According to this scripture Christ is the source of valuable treasure for us. It’s fine to like beautiful things, but let’s also keep all that in perspective.  Let’s not become so distracted by worldly concerns that we don’t have time for heavenly ones.  It’s the difference between what is temporary and what is eternal.

Loving God, we love beautiful things and thank you for giving us the ability to recognize the value of earthly treasure. Yet help us to remember that it is with you that our true treasure lies. Help us to balance all that we do.  In Christ’s name, amen.

Have a great day!
Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Put Your Ladder in the Right Place

Matthew 6:13 (CEB) And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

At Annual Conference last week one preacher quoted another preacher, Fred Craddock.  He said, “It doesn’t matter how high you climb up the ladder of success if your ladder is leaning up against the wrong wall.”  Sometimes we want to move our ladder to the wall of recognition, self-gratification, or wealth when perhaps God is calling us to something else, like a special relationship, a different career or service to others. Maybe it’s not always Satan that tempts us to place our ladders here or there.  It’s human nature to do what pleases us.  But I truly believe the more we operate within God’s preferred desires and purposes for our lives, the more fulfilled our lives will be.  How often do you consult God before making major decisions? 

Loving God, we ask your blessings upon this new week.  Thank you for the fact that we have choices in life and for the freedoms we have but please nudge us in the right direction when we stray too far.  Lead us not into temptation and protect us from temptation that we find on our own.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a blessed week,
Paige

Friday’s Devotion: Happy to be Home

Luke 9:58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Joe and I returned safely last night from our time at Annual Conference in Athens.  I was really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed with my own pillows.  We usually carry our pillows on our travels and we had forgotten to take them.  Jesus didn’t stay in one place for very long in his ministry.  This week I met a woman who will be leaving to serve her appointment in Uganda. Rev. Eddie Fox, our Conference guest preacher was leaving for Estonia. While most of us stay in our comfortable homes in our comfortable beds with food on demand in our well equipped kitchens, there are so many others out there serving God under difficult and trying circumstances.  The next time we ask you to serve on a committee or to volunteer for a short term project at church, please think of these others who give so much. In the meantime join me in praising God for traveling mercies and that I will be sleeping well!

Father God, while we ask your blessings upon ourselves and our churches we also ask you to bless those who are serving in ministry and mission away from home. Guide, bless and protect us all.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend!

Thursday’s Devotion: Size vs. Spirit

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 life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Rev. Jay Hodges a retired pastor was the guest pastor for the retiring pastors’ service yesterday. During his sermon he used a quote familiar to me.  “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” The saying immediately reminded me of the above scripture and Paul’s advice to his young co-worker, Timothy. We heard many say that while they were retiring from being active pastors they weren’t really retiring from ministry.  They might not preach every week but there is still much they would be doing.  Just like Paul didn’t want Timothy to be intimidated by those who might think him too young for ministry, we won’t think of these friends as too old.  God desires to reveal himself to each of us and to accomplish his purpose through us.  How might someone consider you a Timothy?  Know that God has a plan for every life.  Don’t let anyone look down on you, but set an example for others, showing that you are one of God’s beloved and chosen children.

Holy God, Thank you for equipping each of us to serve your Kingdom in some way.  We ask that you reveal those ways to your children and give them the confidence to withstand the criticism of others that seems to surely come when Kingdom work is being done. Bless and guide us today.  We ask in your Son’s holy name. Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Still Standing, Barefoot or Not

Yesterday’s highlight at Annual Conference was the ordination service.  It brought back the recollection of my own ordination as an elder in full connection on that very stage last June.  Rev. Eddie Fox preached a truly wonderful sermon for the service.  He has preached to Methodists world-wide.  One story he told was of preaching barefoot in India to a crowd of 100,000. It’s the custom to do that there as they believe pastors are standing on holy ground.  We didn’t have quite that many in the Classic Center theatre but it was standing room only.  A custom at these services is to stand up whenever the bishop lays hands on a friend or loved one and imparts the authority of clergy upon them. I stood for 11 friends of the 34 who were either commissioned as provisional deacons or elders or fully ordained. I thought of how many years each had spent between the time they answered God’s call until last night’s service.  It was probably anywhere from 4 (for commissioning) to 9 years or maybe even more of discernment, seminary, ministry and other hard work. I remembered how members of Hapeville First traveled to Athens to stand for me along with Joe and my son Robert and my clergy family. It meant a lot to me to see so many standing for me.  It still means a lot because they are still standing.  As I stand in the pulpit and impart the Good News of Jesus Christ, so many are standing behind me, helping me along.  It takes us all and I am so thankful for my wonderful partners in ministry. 

Holy God, we ask your blessing upon those who were commissioned or ordained this year and all whom they join, both lay persons and clergy who work to advance your Kingdom and to bring people into a saving relationship with your Son.  Help us all in this holy work. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Tuesday's Devotion: Yeast, Mold and other Hidden Things

Luke 12:1-3 (NIV)  Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

During the past month or so I began to notice a musty odor as I went down the steps into our finished basement.  I couldn’t pinpoint the source and kind of blamed it on stinky dogs.  Sorry, Dino, Dandy and Daisy. This time you didn’t do it.  Instead, the shower pan in the master bath had sprung a leak and water was seeping into the floor and ceiling and things were beginning to grow mold.  We finally discovered it when water began coming out of the ceiling and the plumbers cut a square into the ceiling to verify the source.  The church trustees are getting bids on replacing the shower and any of the floor boards and ceiling that shows water damage and mold.  Hidden mold can be very harmful to your health.  I thought about other hidden things that are harmful, like cancer cells that grow undetected. And I thought about things to do with our emotions that we allow to fester often without giving it much attention – bitterness, resentment, prejudice, a difference of opinion.  Like the mold and the cancer cells these are harmful to our health.  Quality life demands that we be attentive and seek out and remove what might be harmful to us. What hidden things might need your attention?

Blessed God, help us as we do self-examinations to find things that we are harboring inside. Help us to be truthful with ourselves, with you and with others that we might be healed.  We ask in the name of the Great Physician. Amen.