Monday’s Devotion: A Precarious Position

Modified and used 12-1-20 Giving Tuesday

Matthew 25:34-40 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;  for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'  Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it……………?’  And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'

I have seen several things on the Internet recently that disturbed me.  Both insinuated that charity should be extended to those who “deserve” it.  I know that some people are lazy and avoid work, some are freeloaders, and some are scam artists.  I also know that we can find scriptures that say people should work, and should be industrious and that we reap what we sow.  Still, to me it would be a terrible burden to set ourselves up in the precarious position of judging just who is deserving.  We cannot know everyone’s story.  Did they have parents who taught them the value of work?  Or did they have parents who left them to fend for themselves?  Have they been damaged by life in some way?  It’s very easy to look at an able bodied poor person and categorize him or her as lazy.  It’s easier to make jokes about welfare Cadillacs than to let go of our hard earned resources.  In this scripture Jesus extends compassion to the prisoner just as he did to the thief on the cross.  He did not say have them fill out some forms to see if they qualify for compassion before extending charity.  Just my thoughts.

Holy God, help us to judge less and love more.  As the weather turns colder, warm our hearts towards the indigent and homeless.  Guide us to those whom you would have us to help, Lord.  Help us to listen to their stories.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed week,
(and pray for those who won’t have one)

Paige

Thursday’s Devotion: Spanx for Sinners

Thursday’s Devotion:  Spanx for Sinners

Galatians 5:19-26 (CEB)  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.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified self with its passions and its desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit.  Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other.

I saw today that Spanx, those undergarments that makes people look slimmer are now getting their own stores.  Both men and women wear Spanx to control the lumps and bumps usually resulting from eating indiscretions.  What if we could have Spanx for our other indiscretions, our sins?  These Spanx would control our tongue, out tempers, and our temptations.  If we read this scripture closely we can see that the Holy Spirit can be our Spanx for Sinners.  We don’t have to go to the store to get these special control garments.  We simply have to open our hearts and invite the Spirit in and then let the Spirit help us control what we need to keep in check.  We will soon see that our new inner beauty will shine through to outer beauty, too.

Holy God, we would rather try to hide our sins than to control them.  Be with us, sending your Spirit to help us overcome our temptations and to be blessed with the fruits of the Spirit.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Reading Tea Leaves

Wednesday’s Devotion:  Reading Tea Leaves

Lamentations 3:22-23  Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

After I finished a cup of hot tea yesterday evening I noticed some tea leaves in the bottom of my cup.  I remembered when I was young hearing of people who could read tea leaves.  I hadn’t thought about that in a long time. I looked into my cup and wondered what a fortune teller might make of my leaves.  I don’t know if anyone can really predict the future. I know most of us would like some degree of increased certainty about what our future might hold.  On the other hand I don’t want to know some things like the date of my death or if something bad is going to happen.  I want to live each day without worrying about those things. I can predict one thing: God will be with me through all things in my future.  In a world full of uncertainty, that is a great comfort.

Thank you Lord for you continued faithfulness; your constant care and grace in our lives.  We ask for strength for today and each new day as they come.  In Christ’s name, Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Unclean, Unclean USED

Luke 17:11-13   Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.  As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

Notice that the men stood at a distance from Jesus.  In those days lepers had to stay in less populated areas, keep their faces covered and call out , “Unclean, unclean” as they moved about.  Family members would leave food for them at agreed upon areas.  They were outcasts from society through no fault of their own. 

I took a couple of days off from writing over Thanksgiving.  We had a blessed day with family and friends and hope you did, too.  Yesterday instead of writing, Joe and I both were in the doctor’s office getting prescription antibiotics and cough medicine for these lingering bad colds.  I coughed through most of my sermon Sunday and have not had much relief since from the coughing.  I tried to keep a distance from people, not hugging or shaking hands as I usually would.  And I have felt some empathy for these lepers.  People haven’t wanted to be near me; I’ve been told to stay away. And I discovered that even though it’s certainly understandable, it really hurt my feelings, too.  It’s hurtful to be rejected.  I comforted myself with the knowledge that I will soon be over this cold and will no longer be treated like Typhoid Annie.  Yet there are other people in our society who are shunned for who they are instead of some contagion they may be carrying.  Teens and gays and people of color are bullied and rejected and some even subjected to hate crimes. Have you ever been rejected?  I hope you came away with a more tender heart towards others who suffer the same thing. 

Holy God, As I pray for healing for our colds, I also pray for those who are rejected by others.  Help us to grow in our kindness towards others, even those who are different.  We pray in the name of the one who reached out to heal others, even lepers. Amen.

Peace,
Paige

Modified and used for Franklin Press and Thursday Musings 12-1 & 12-2 2021

Wednesday’s Devotion: Trash to Treasure

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

Lara Spencer on GMA loves to take flea market finds and rework them into something beautiful.  I think that’s a great idea.  We are too quick to cast things off that still could have a useful life for someone.  Last week I rescued two nice crates from someone’s trash pile.  We needed more storage for past newsletters and bulletins in the office and these will fit nicely in our cabinets. We throw people away, too. Not literally, but we write them off because of some failure, because of our failure to see the good that might still lie within them.  We all fail at times, there are just different degrees of failure.  The good news is that Christ is greater than all our failures and that through Christ we can become renewed and even better than before.  Christ is also in the trash to treasures business for which I am very thankful.

Thank you Jesus, for giving us the opportunity to become new people.  We don’t always live up to our own expectations, much less the expectations of others. Yet we know that your love and care for us is unfailing.  We praise your name, and put our trust in you. Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Tuesday’s Devotion: Hearing from God

Isaiah 50:4 (NIV) The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

I realize that people are at many different places in their walk with the Lord.  Some people come as seekers, not quite sure of their faith and the true existence of a supreme being.  Others have moved beyond that and are trying to decide just how to be in a relationship with God since God cannot be seen.  How does one carry on a conversation with God?  Still others have come to the point of a deeper spirituality.  They have learned to open their hearts and minds to God and feel God’s presence in their lives. The good news is that God meets each of us right where we are. God desires us to reach out to him, but we don’t have to do all of the work.  As with Isaiah, early mornings, before we become overcome with the duties and concerns of the day are a good time to connect with the Divine. 

Holy God, we want to hear from you but don’t always know how to listen for your voice.  Speak to us as you did to the prophets of old.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Monday’s Devotion: Praying for Peace Today

 

Psalm 117:1-2  Praise the Lord, all you nations! Worship him, all you peoples!  Because God’s faithful love toward us is strong, the Lord’s faithfulness lasts forever! Praise the Lord!

I mentioned an experience I had in Jerusalem yesterday in my sermon.  Later someone remarked that I was lucky to have gone earlier this year in light of all the shelling going on in and around Gaza now.  As we prayed during the service one of the requests was for the people of that area.  I prayed for all the people.  Often we want to take sides, saying one nation has a right to defend itself. While this may by factual I am always aware that nations are comprised of people; men, women, little boys and girls, grandmothers and grandfathers.  This week as we give thanks for the life we have in this country, let’s also pray that peaceful solutions may be found in others so that the ordinary people like us will no longer live in fear of dying as a result of conflict.

God of All Nations, thank you that we can live in a country that is not torn by war. Thank you that we don’t live in fear of missiles exploding our homes and killing our loved ones.  We pray for the people of Israel, people of all faiths that one day they may live in peace.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a blessed week,

Paige