Friday’s Musings: How Many Times Did the Rooster Crow?

Mark 14:30 Jesus said to Peter, “I tell you that before the rooster crows two times tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.”  ……72 At that very moment, a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered what Jesus told him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down, sobbing.

As I was walking through Master Park yesterday morning I actually heard a rooster crowing. That’s not a usual sound in this urban area.  It made me think about how connected we are across our country. Still I’m more used to seeing chickens packaged in the grocery story than walking around. Then I thought about the rooster crowing when Peter denied Jesus.  The Hapeville rooster crowed once, twice, three times… I said come on, “one more time.”  I remember Peter denied Jesus three times and that I’d heard people talking about the rooster crowing three times.  However if one reads the accounts, Mark writes that the rooster crowed twice while in the other 3 Gospels it crows only once. Does it matter? Not really.  What matters to me is that it served as a reminder that we too can deny Christ especially when we fail to share our knowledge of him or fail to act in ways he taught us.  I asked myself as the rooster did crow the fourth time how I might have denied Christ this week.  Can you answer that for yourself?

Thank you Lord, for planting reminders in our life of your Word.  Help us to stay on the straight path and to celebrate our relationship with you and our salvation through Jesus Christ.  It’s in his name we pray. Amen.

Have a great weekend.
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Who Do You Trust?

John 14:1(CEB) “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me.

A friend recently shared a link on Facebook to what turned out to be a lengthy infomercial selling a certain brand of Fish Oil.  For some reason the fact that two other brands melted through Styrofoam cups and this brand didn’t equated to greater effectiveness for humans. Like many sales pitches this one mixed some accurate information such as the effects of stress on cortisol levels, with suspect claims. The nutritional supplement generated $32 billion in 2012. There are many false claims being put forth as to effectiveness of these supplements.  Who can you trust?  Who can you trust when trying to improve your health, when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, when seeking investment advice or in any other number of scenarios?  It’s sometimes difficult to know whose promises are really true.  I’m so glad that there’s one thing that I can really trust and that’s Christ’s promises of grace and eternal life for those who believe in him and accept him as Savior. “Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32)

Lord, we want to know the truth in order to make the best decisions yet there are many sheep in wolves’ clothing trying to deceive us. Please give us discerning minds.  Thank you for your Son whom we can trust completely and without reserve.  It’s in His name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Wednesday’s Devotion: Concerns of the Heart

Hebrews 13:1-3  Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.  Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!  Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Yesterday I heard a lot about hearts.  I started the day by talking to a friend about pacemakers. During a segment on The Doctors, one of the docs told the TV audience that it was possible to die from a broken heart. On the news, the local health editor said that to prevent heart disease people needed to not smoke, to eat a low fat diet and get aerobic exercise. Then I read an article in the July 10^th Christian Century that said,
“Long-lasting loneliness can make humans sick and even cause death.  Emotional isolation and lack of intimacy is as high a risk a factor for death as smoking. The diseases exacerbated by loneliness are Alzheimer’s, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancer.”  Maybe there is something to say about sites like Match.com!  When we drive down the street we never know who is sitting all alone in the houses we pass and struggling with loneliness.  The Beatles sang, “All the Lonely People.”  As Christians, we are called to reach out to those people and to share the love of Christ.  If you can, invite them to church where they may find genuine care and fellowship.

Loving God, we ask that you lead us to the lonely so that we may offer them friendship and Christ-like love.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Christ,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: I’m Not a Patient Person

Tuesday’s Musings: I’m Not a Patient Person

James 5:8  You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord's coming is near.

I have never been a very patient person. Last night at the Fellowship Class dinner I told someone that I’d seen a recipe for fried chicken that called for the chicken to be marinated overnight in brewed tea.  I don’t make things that take two days to prepare. I don’t even make Jello.  The other day a friend shared the events of an almost comical evening as he went from store to store only to be repeatedly made to wait in long lines because of various problems or store inefficiencies.  I said the Lord was testing his patience to strengthen it.  I’m a person of action and really want to see results, but I have learned controlled patience.  The people James was addressing were impatient.  They faced hardship and persecution for their faith.  They all thought Jesus’ return to earth was imminent and that he would end all of their trials.  They were mistaken, but what we know now is that the Holy Spirit was there bringing a bit of heaven to earth. We call it the in-breaking of the Kingdom.  When we become anxious for something to happen, it helps to take a deep breath and pray for patience and peace.  In the meantime, I think I’ll go make some instant pudding.

Loving God, we often become anxious for things to happen.  Yet you have told us not to be anxious but to believe and trust in you.  Help us in these times to seek your perfect timing.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessing,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: Hearing Voices

John 10:24 He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Yesterday morning I stopped by my office to put on my microphone and pick up my Bible before going to the chapel for Jeans and Jazz.  As I headed down the stairs, I heard voices drifting upwards from the atrium where people gather for coffee and breakfast.  I began to recognize the various voices: Russ, Johnnie, Tommy, Virgie.  I smiled as I thought about those who would be there to greet me and who would be at the service.  Sometimes when we are sad or anxious about something it’s just comforting to hear a friend’s voice.  Later in the day a pastor friend shared a beautiful prayer by A.W. Tozer about listening for God’s voice. It went well with my thoughts about voices.

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them...let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking voice. Amen.

Have a blessed week,
Paige

Friday’s Musings: Round the Clock Christ

 

Ephesians 3:18-19  I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.

Last night I had a discussion with some friends about what time we got up in the morning and if we were morning people or night owls.  One friend walks at 6:15 every morning.  I’m barely human at that time, yet I’m really good at midnight.  We may not all want to be up to see the sunrise but I do hope that the Son will rise in our hearts each day.  Have a great weekend.

Holy Lord, we hope to know your fullness in our lives. Fill us with love for Jesus and with His love.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Thursday’s Musings: My Evening With a Cop

Psalm 139:13-14  You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb. I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart. Your works are wonderful—I know that very well.

Tuesday night I rode along with one of Hapeville’s fine police officers. A lot happened in the four hours I was there as part of the Citizens’ Police Academy training.   “We” arrested a man who had a warrant out on him for violation of probation.  After he was handcuffed and put into the back seat the officer remained parked where we picked him up. When the arrested man and I both asked why stay there, he remarked that we were waiting on an answer as to when and where we’d make the transfer to Fulton County authorities.  A few houses up a young woman stood in her front yard as she talked on the cell phone.  Eventually she approached the car. The officer told me that they always drive with their window either down or cracked so they can hear if people call out to them. The woman said to the officer, “Would you like to see my baby’s ultrasound picture?  Someone needs to see it because its daddy doesn’t want to look at it.” That made me so sad for her. She showed us the picture she was carrying in her hand.  The officer asked how far along she was and she said, “five months.”  He then kindly told her that he hoped all went well for her. As she walked back home, I said a prayer for her and the baby.  The Psalmist reminds us that every child is a creation of God and known by God, no matter how the parents might feel about it.  I hope that all does go well for this one.

Father God, Help us to remember that you are the First parent that you love us even if our parents didn’t and you care for our children as if they were your own.  We pray in your one true Son’s name. Amen.

Have a lovely day,
Paige

PS.  I wrote this Musings last night.  This morning as I was walking at the ball fields I saw a young couple standing on the sidewalk ahead chatting with a Hapeville employee who had stopped in his truck.  As I passed I realized it was this girl.  I turned back and ask if she remembered me and asked how she felt.  We talked a moment as I explained to both men how I had met her and who I was.  I told her that I prayed for her the other night and she responded that she prayed for people every day, too.  She introduced me to her boyfriend.  As I neared my house I saw them once again.  He reached out and took her hand and they walked by me hand in hand.  I think this encounter was a God appointment.  Praises to Him always.