Thursday’s Devotion: Let the Child Lead Us

Colossians 3:12 (CEB)  Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

My friend from Loganville Fran Bagley had this experience yesterday which she shared on Facebook:   While I sat in the reception area of my doctor's office, a woman rolled an elderly man in a wheelchair into the room. As she went to the receptionist's desk, the man sat there, alone and silent. Just as I was thinking I should make small talk with him, a little boy slipped off his mother's lap and walked over to the wheelchair. Placing his hand on the man's, he said, I know how you feel. My Mom makes me ride in the stroller too. 

For some reason this reminded me of Isaiah 11 and the prediction of a future of peace:

The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.

Could we not follow the example of kindness to others that we see in this child?

Gracious and holy God, teach us to be kind and compassionate to one another as you are to us. Help us to be a blessing to others, both friend and stranger.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: We May Not Know What We Think We Know

John 7:24 (CEB) Don’t judge according to appearances. Judge with right judgment.”

When Jesus spoke these words it was in his own defense.  He was being attacked by Jewish leaders for healing a man on the Sabbath. People were saying he had a demon. I guess there are times in each of our lives when we are judged unfairly by someone else. It hurts when we find out about it.  Yet that doesn’t always keep us from judging others.  As Joe and I walked out to the concourse last Sunday we passed a series of statues that always impress me.  They are of figures carved from great blocks of rough gray stone. The sculptor then polished the stone on only parts of them; the hands and faces, arms or legs of the men and women. The polished parts were smooth and ebony black.  When I saw them I thought about the above scripture.  On the outside we might only see something plain and apparently of not much worth – but when we look deeper or put some effort into encouraging someone we may find something very different.  Jesus knows what it’s liked to be judged and he says the first (those who think they are the better people) shall be last. 

Creator God, help us to look deeper than outward appearances or economic circumstances or language or orientation when we encounter others.  Instead let us see the precious person you created and when we look down on them may it be to offer a helping hand.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion: When Words Fail

Romans 8:26 (CEV) In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.

At one point during out trip last week I was trying to navigate as Joe and I sought to find our way to part of the original Route 66.  We had the Rt. 66 guidebook and set of turn by turn maps and I was reading the directions to him.  Joe asked some questions I couldn’t readily answer.  Finally I read him the paragraph and said “These are all the words I have to work with.”  Immediately I was reminded of Romans 8:26.  Sometimes when we pray we are limited by the ways in which we can express our desires.  Thankfully the Holy Spirit takes our few words and translates them into just what we need for God to hear.  On our trip we had the book and maps. Using my iPhone apps we could find hotels and restaurants along with their addresses and also the addresses of points of interest mentioned in our guidebook. We put these into our GPS and went straight to them. It might not have been the Holy Spirit but the marvels of modern technology are pretty neat.

Thanks, Lord that we have the Holy Spirit to intercede for us when we don’t know how or what to pray.  Thanks for not letting our loss for words hinder your ability to discern our deepest desires.  And thanks Lord for GPS and Google!  Amen.

Have a great day,

Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Back from Route 66!

Proverbs 18:15 (ESV) An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

We had a wonderful time on our Route 66 trip and as promised, I found many inspirations for devotions as we traveled.  Before we left our son gave us a Route 66 Adventure Handbook and a set of state by state Rt. 66 picture maps that helped us find the old route and discover points of interest along the route along with suggested side trips.  In Hinton OK, we were directed to the Hinton Historical Museum.  It has one of the largest collections of antique buggies and carriages in the state and the third largest collection of examples of barbed wire in the country along with lots of other interesting historical artifacts. The president of the museum took us around and was a wealth of information.  For instance one large enclosed carriage had a sign noting the stationary windows on the wagon.  It is actually from this that station wagons received their name.  You know I’ve actually owned station wagons and have never once given any thought to why they are called that.  Car, truck, SUV – all make sense but station wagon - - I should have wondered about that. Now I’m still not sure how the transition from stationary windows on a horse drawn wagon translated into a vehicle being named station wagon.  Still it is good to learn new things especially when it makes us wise.  The Bible can be the source of wisdom if we study it diligently.  There are many scriptures that speak of the importance of knowledge and wisdom.  If you want to learn something new, just delve into your bible or maybe visit our new friend at the Hinton Historical Museum.

Lord, help us to never tire of seeking to learn new things about your world and your Word. May we continue to grown in the knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ and the wisdom of his ways.  We ask in his holy name, amen.

Have a blessed week!
Paige

Friday’s Devotion: Sand in my Shoes

Ephesians 4:26 (Weymouth) If angry, beware of sinning. Let not your irritation last until the sun goes down;

 Midpoint in yesterday morning’s walk I felt sand in my shoes.  I don’t know how it got in there but it made walking unpleasant.  It’s amazing how these little tiny grains of dirt could be so irritating. I pressed on and after I got home I emptied my shoes. During my walk in the park I prayed over other issues that were bothering me.  As I did I spied a bright yellow feather, maybe from a yellow shafted flicker.  It was as if God said it will be fine. Whatever might cause us irritations, I recommend going to God in prayer and look for signs that God is hearing that prayer.

Holy Lord, We pray for your comforting balm when things of life irritates us. Bless us as we go into the weekend.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Joe and I will be on the road (Rt. 66) next week.  Musings will return the following week.  I promise I will still be observing and making notes of things I want to share with you.  Please be in prayer for traveling mercies for us.

God Bless,

Paige

Thursday’s Devotion: Those Out-Of-Place Sounds

Yesterday I was surprised when a large hawk swooped down across the road in front of me.  I’m used to seeing them overhead but recently have seen a couple just sitting on fences or low in the trees.  After seeing the hawk I continued my walk and heard a rooster crowing and crowing.  Roosters belong on Old McDonald’s farm, not in the middle of Hapeville!  At a dinner Tuesday night Matthew Pinson said that he has a pair of whippoorwills behind his house even though he lives in Atlanta near I-85.  A bird expert sitting with us said that was highly unusual. But the song of a whippoorwill is unmistakable. Our birding friend related the time he and his wife were in Germany when one of the other tourists complained that there were cuckoo clocks all over the hotel.  He explained that it was really cuckoo birds she was hearing.  Our ears are attuned to our surroundings and we notice something that sounds out of place – even the odd click or squeak in our car.  Yet often, we don’t hear God’s voice trying to break into our normal surroundings.  That’s because God doesn’t always crow loudly or sing incessantly like the mockingbird that used to perch in the tree outside my bedroom and keep me up all night.  God often comes in a still, small voice.  We have to listen a little closer; but wow when we hear his voice – how sweet it is.

Holy God, help us to hear your voice above all the others that would crowd you out.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless,

Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Change Points

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

On an episode of Perception a while back a football player was told he could never play again.  It would be too dangerous because of a brain condition he had. Very distraught he asked, “If I’m not a football player, what am I?” You see his whole life from a young boy had been aimed towards a career in football.   He was going to have to find a new identity.  Having to do that isn’t that uncommon although it can come in many flavors.  We go from single to married life or vice versa – new identity.  We go from being outside the church to becoming a member of a congregation – new identity.  We go from being Catholic or Baptist to being a United Methodist – new identity.  From student to graduate, from gainfully employed to unemployed, from healthy to ill – it goes on and on.  When we become a Christian we change as we grow in our faith and relationship with God.  And we can’t put this new identity into the trappings of our old life any more that we can put new wine in old wineskins.  A new identity requires a new mindset and sometimes a new change of environment.  To try to hold on to that old identity will hamper our acclimation into a new life.  I saw a segment yesterday on a man who is teaching young adults with cancer how to kayak on river rapids. They aren’t trying to hold onto a pre-cancer identity.  They are creating a new bold identity within the new situation in which they have found themselves.  Adopt and adapt to whatever life brings you – however always do that with both eyes on our Lord and Savior who will help us through all our changes.

Creator God, we know that change is difficult but always inevitable.  We ask your direction and support as we encounter change points in our lives.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Have a good day!
Paige