When Jesus appears as the "least of these" USED

Modified and used 11-5-20

Matthew 25:34-40 (CEB)
³⁴ “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. ³⁵ I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? ³⁸ When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’

My morning devotion about the eternal love of Jesus reminded us that Jesus promises to be with us even to the end of the age.  However, often we only envision that as Jesus coming to us in times of our particular need.  Jesus also inhabits the lives of those in need - the vulnerable, the poor, the oppressed, the hurting, the lonely.  In what ways does Jesus come to us in the form of one of the "least of these?"  During this season when our hearts are especially in tune with love and giving, let's all pray for Jesus to reveal himself to us both in our need and in the needy. 

Come, Lord Jesus we pray.  Give us the opportunities both to feel your love and to share your love by loving and serving others, especially the least of those whom you claim as your brothers and sisters. Amen.

Thursday’s Musings: Scars USED

Modified and used 7-30-19
Jeremiah 17:14  Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;  save me and I will be saved, for you are the one that I praise.

Looking down this morning I noticed on my ankle the remnants of poison ivy or oak that I got into while doing yard work well over a month ago even while wearing long pants. I wondered if it was going to leave a scar. I scar easily. I have a scar on the knuckle of my right ring finger resulting from a nip by my cocker spaniel when I got too close to her newborn puppies.  I was 5 or 6 at the time. The scar on my right knee is from a bike tumble and on my hand from the fingernail of a college PE teammate during a volleyball game. The one on my left knee is from a running fall on the sidewalk last summer.  I bruise easily, too but for the most part I can’t say how I got the bruise and they disappear. The scars, however tell stories of events in my life. Most of us probably have a scar or two from accidents, abuse or surgeries.  Some of them fade with time or ointments while others remain.  Yet we have other scars, too; scars from emotional pain.  Those are harder to heal.  For these we can look to the healing hand of the Great Physician.  In times of physical or emotional pain I often use the above scripture as a breath prayer, repeating it over and over. I know that God has healed the scars from past hurts although some of the memory lingers to remind me of God’s healing and of the lesson I learned from it all.  Look to God when you hurt and you can receive healing, too.

Healing God, you know our scars. You know our pain.  We ask your healing today. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Wednesday’s Musings: Duets with God USED

Modified and used 4/2/20

Leviticus 26:12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.

I have been listening to the new Barbara Streisand album “Partners” on my morning walks.  The playlist contains some of her most popular songs and then some newer ones. Each is a duet with another well-known artist. It even includes “Love Me Tender” with Elvis.  He sounds good for a dead man.  The addition of a new voice to an old standard like “People” or “Evergreen” brought new color and interpretation to the song. Instead of the singer accompanying Barbara on her arrangement, she adapted to new arrangements.  It is good to have others to do things with.  We can help bring out the best in each other.  Scripture tells us in many ways that God promises to be among and with us helping bring out the best in us, too.  Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil for Thou art with me.

Thank you Lord for walking with us and giving us strength, hope and inspiration for life. We ask your care this week for those who need you most but realize it the least.  In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige

Tuesday’s Musings: Everyday Memories USED

Tuesday’s Musings: Everyday Memories Modified and used Wednesday 2/26/20
Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

This morning’s walk inspired two Musings based upon the playlists on my iPhone.  I listened to songs Joe and I compiled for our trip along Route 66.  The trip wasn’t inexpensive but the memories of the good times we had and the things we saw are worth it.  I haven’t travelled as extensively as some folk but I have been blessed to have wonderful experiences to remember from trips among others to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Toronto, California and Wyoming and of course the Holy Land; from showing horses in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and Florida. These are special memories that will stay with Joe and me long after we are too old or infirm to make those trips. And yet as I thought through this, I realized that God has blessed us equally with everyday memories: “Good-bye, I’m off to work” kisses, holding hands and saying grace around the dinner table as a family, cheering our sons on in the Tucker High band, evening walks, trips to the park with the dogs, sitting at the kitchen table with friends and many more.  God blesses us in large and small things.  I try to remember each day that my blessings come from God and to offer thanks for that.

God of all Creation, sometimes I wonder at your attention to us, so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe and yet we constantly feel your love and care.  Thank you, thank you and again thank you, Lord for all you have done. Amen.        We have a special prayer request for Joe’s brother Bob Pritchard who was admitted to the hospital last night with shortness of breath and is on a respirator.  The event is coronary related and we are waiting the results of tests.

Blessings,
Paige

Monday’s Musings: Three Words

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Every morning during the week as he leaves for work Joe wakes me up by kissing me goodbye and saying “I love you.”  Don’t think I’m a late sleeper; he often leaves at 5:30 AM.   Those three words mean so much to me. When I get up I turn on the morning news, give the dogs their dental chew and pour a cup of coffee.  It’s then that I’m confronted daily with three more words, “Shot and killed.”  “Shot and killed” over and over along with the details of yet another overnight shooting.  Why do so many people grow up believing that a gun is the way to solve differences?  How can we bring the teaching of good core values back into parenting and our education system? Maybe the question should be how may we as the Church support parents, especially single parents and how may we show young children the love and affection and caring they must have before they can develop those attributes towards others? It is a subject that causes me as a pastor great distress.  My comfort comes from another three words, “God loves us.”  Let’s show that love to someone else today; even better, if given the opportunity, let’s show it to a child.

Father God, we pray that children will grow up with the type of love and care that will prevent them from living lives of crime and violence.  Bless and strengthen parents and families and those who love and serve them.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessings,

Paige

Thursday’s Musings: Answer the Phone!

Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

I have had a very frustrating two days when it comes to getting people on the phone. With the exception of our son and my husband or our church shut-ins, the vast majority of the time I call someone is because I need to get or to give information. I don’t call folks up just to chat because I’d rather do that in person.  It seemed that no one was answering their phone and I found some wouldn’t even be back in their offices until next week, leaving me with important unanswered questions.  I wonder why I seem to never get anything but voicemail for some folk to the point I’m surprised if they actually answer.  Expressing my frustration to my co-worker I said, “Thank goodness when we call God we can be assured that he always listens.”  Still sometimes I think we treat our prayers like leaving voice mails for God, not really expecting a response. While we may not carry on an audible conversation with God, we can hear his answer if we just open ourselves up to the ways in which God can and does communicate with us.

Thank you Lord, for always hearing our call.  Help us to be open to hearing you answer.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

On this day, let us remember those who lost their lives to terrorist attacks on our country and let’s continue to pray for justice and world peace to prevail.

Blessings,

Paige

Thursday's Musings: A Good Noticer is a Good Listener USED

Modified and used 12-11-20

1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed

It seems to be impossible to watch the local channels now without seeing the political ads of Michele Nunn and David Perdue.  Because I was raised to believe that truthfulness was to be highly valued, I really dislike political campaign ads.  They are so very often filled with half-truths that insinuate things that are not true at all.  We need more news casts that analyze these claims line by line and either affirm or refute them.
The sad part is that too many people just take these political ads at face value, believing them to be true because after all, they are on TV.  To be a good noticer, one must be a good listener, too.  Jesus says, “Listen.”  He says other things like, “My sheep hear my voice” and “He who has ears, let him hear.”  Jesus wants us to hear with understanding. Everyone we encounter has a story. We may never hear all of it.  Sometimes it’s difficult for folk to be trusting enough of others to open up and share.  Good listeners learn to read between the lines.  It is a key to understanding and to better relationships with one another and with our Heavenly Father.

Creator God, who has given us the power to hear and to understand, please help us to truly listen to all presented to us; to discern the truth so that we may be confident in the opinions we form.  Help us to notice those who need to tell their stories to someone.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige