Wednesday’s Devotion: Speak and Listen

Psalm 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.

Luke 11:27-28  As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”  He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

It used to be when you heard someone talking and no one else was around you thought they might be ready for the loony bin.  Now it’s not uncommon to hear people carrying on one sided conversations.  l like to greet people who are in their yards or on their porches while I’m on my walks.  If I get a chance I invite them to church.  This morning every one of them was talking to someone on their phone. Of course, I only heard bits of one side of the conversations.  I thought about a book on prayer that I have that says that prayer should be as much about listening to God as speaking to God.  I wonder how much that happens.  Most of the time when we pray, we offer thanks and give our requests and then say “Amen.”  After that we go about our business.  Our conversations with God are one sided. We need to cultivate a practice of listening for God’s voice. I had someone confess that she didn’t listen for God to speak to her because she was afraid of what God might say. I truly hope that we will each listen for and hear God’s voice. It may be a feeling of peace, a sense of inspiration or a quiet thought but God will speak – if we would but listen.

Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness ……make your way straight before me. Help us to hear your voice and not just our own.  Amen

Tuesday’s Devotion: The Half-Red Flower

Matthew 26:28  This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

I have not been very good with my flower beds this summer.  It’s been hot and I’ve been busy.  Yet I enjoy looking at my neighbors’ flowers when I walk around town.  One night I had to stop and look at a large plant with yellow flowers.  One single flower on the plant was exactly one half yellow and one half red.  I’ve never seen anything exactly like it. I don’t know why but I immediately thought of the blood of Jesus.  We sing in church, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Intellectually we know that the blood Jesus shed on the cross is part of his death for our sins. As a result, in spite of the fact that we continue to sin in small and large ways, we can live a life in relationship with a God who demands justice.  We don’t usually go around thinking about that, but it’s there in our life.  Times come when we mess up and then feel sorry.  We claim the grace God offers through the blood of Jesus and vow to do better.  It’s good to be reminded of that blood sometimes.  We need to remember the sacrifice made by one for the good of many including ourselves.  After a little research, I found that the flower was a four ‘o clock and that it is not unusual to have flowers of different colors and variegated flowers on the same plant.  I still like to think it was a sign from God, to remind me of the sacrifice he made for me.

Dear God, there are not adequate words to thank you for providing salvation for us knowing that living a sinless life is so hard for us to achieve.  Protect us from temptation and empower us to full living in your grace.  We ask this in the name of the one who shed his blood and died so that we might have eternal life. Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Goodnight Irene

Luke 8:24

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

I followed the progress of hurricane Irene a good bit on CNN Friday.  The newscasters said the storm was as big as Europe.  We were concerned about everyone in it’s path and in particular Joe’s brother Bob who lives in Morehead City. Bob did go inland for safety and thankfully the damage to his house amounted to the loss of a few shingles.  I prayed for life and property as the storm moved up the coast and I know my prayers were joined by thousands of others.  After all, the storm was being described as “epic” and who could forget Katrina.  Now in retrospect people in New York are saying the potential danger was over-rated.  Yet I wonder, what caused an epic storm to diminish as this one did?  Could it have been answered prayer?  Or was it just chance, another fluke of nature?  I can’t answer that, but I have thanked God in my prayers that the storm was not as terrible as it could have been.  I know that there have been times in my life when God has calmed the storms of difficulties.  Whether or not God did calm this hurricane, we know that our God can do it.  Our God is a powerful and mighty God, our everlasting strength and protection.  Praise be to God.

Loving God, I praise you for all that you do to protect us and to carry us through life’s storms.  Please be with us this week. Especially be with those who are recovering from the storm.  We ask in the name of the one who rebuked the wind and raging waters. Amen.

Friday’s Devotion: Side Effects

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

How many of you watch advertisements on TV for prescription medicines?  At first you think how great this would be for those suffering from whatever the condition in question.  Allergies disappear, pain from fibromyalgia – gone, need to be ready for that special moment – no problem.  But then the announcer, speaking as fast as a speeding bullet starts rattling off the side effects.  Maybe they hope you won’t notice!  As a pastor, I can’t offer a magic pill for healing but I can offer Christ.  And Christ, the great physician can heal in many ways.  The side effects of becoming a follower of Christ are however numerous.  They are listed in Galatians 5. So buyer beware – if you accept the work of Christ in your life though the Holy Spirit, you will be changed.  The Bible speaks of us becoming new creations.  I think I want a double dose today!

Creator God, we ask your healing touch on our lives.  We each suffer from the malady of sin and harbor hurts and resentments that do us harm.  May we soon bear the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.  Amen.

Thursday’s Devotion: I Feel the Earth Move Under my Feet

Psalm 75:3 When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.

The news stations are abuzz with stories about the Virginia earthquake.  I’ve only felt one small tremor which we had in Georgia a few years ago.  I can only imagine how scary it would be to experience a real serious quake.  For the most part they come suddenly and without warning.  Sometimes we experience other kinds of quakes in our life. Somewhere in the middle of a normal and mundane day we hear the news.  It could be the tragic death of a loved one, the word cancer or layoffs. The bottom of your stomach seems to drop out like the floors of a quake-shaken building.  Everything changes.  In times like that we are blessed that we have a personal relationship with the God who remains steady when our world shakes. 

Gracious and holy God, we rejoice that you are there for us to lean on when our world is suddenly stricken with bad news.  In all times, good and bad you remain constant.  We pray your blessings now on those in the path of the approaching hurricane.  Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: God and the Alphabet

2 Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
Psalm 33:1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

There are countless scriptures that call for God’s people to praise God. I believe strongly in praising God even before we ask God to help us with our needs or pray for others.  On Friday night during our Barnabas gathering, Rev. Jim Burt shared his practice of praising God through the alphabet.  I had heard him say that before and have done that.  Yesterday morning during my walk I went to Cofield Park where there’s a small play area with a short oval track.  I could walk around and around and pray without worrying about traffic, avoiding other walkers or tripping on uneven sidewalks.  I praised God through the alphabet and had fun trying to come up with a characteristic of God for each letter.  You can use ex for the letter X.  I recommend that if you don’t want to take time to go through the entire alphabet that you choose a word or short phrase like the word Faith.  God is Faithful even when we ignore him.  God is Awesome.  God is Invincible. God is Trustworthy.  God is our Help and our strength.  Just work those into a prayer of praise.  Oh God thank you for being faithful, you are awesome beyond our comprehension, you are invincible – nothing can conquer you, etc.  Prayer is one of the great blessings of our lives.  I hope you will be intentional about expanding your prayer life.

Gracious God, you are our hope and our strength.  You are immortal and an ever present help in time of trouble.  We lift our praises and prayer requests with confidence that you love us and hear our prayers. Help us to feel you presence in our lives.  We ask in the name of the One who sits on your right hand and intercedes for us. Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Catch a Falling Star

Yesterday on the way back from Carmel Church Cemetery in Mansfield, GA we passed Porterdale Road.  I told the others in the car about the night that Joe and I drove out that road to observe a meteor shower.  There was too much light pollution around our house.  The neat thing is that a number of cars stopped on the same country road also.  As I remember it wasn’t a spectacular shower but it was still fun to watch these “falling stars.”   In 1957 Perry Como, one of my favorite singers of his era recorded the very popular song, “Catch a Falling Star.”  It says to “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket; never let it fade away.  Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket; save it for a rainy day.”  The second verse goes, “For when your troubles start to multiplyin’, and they just might! It’s easy to forget them without tryin’, with just a pocketful of starlight!”

This Sunday we sang “Lily of the Valley” which describes Jesus as the Bright and Morning Star.  Revlation 22:16  says, "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."  Let’s combine the thoughts of these two songs.  Jesus the Morning Star, came to earth as our Savior. We can keep him in our heart (pocket).  For most of us, a little rain falls into every day – a sad memory, small irritations and troubles.  Sometimes we experience a deluge.  Yet we can always have Jesus near.  He is the star of our life; he is the light for our path. 

Dear God, when we look into the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and stars suspended in space, help us to know that you are both in the heavens and in our hearts.  Bless our days and our nights.  Help us to stay secure in your light.  We ask in the name of your Son, the bright Morning Star.  Amen.