Day 16: Saturday, March 18, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 18, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions | Tags: 

Day 16: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Rev. Sela Finau
 
Love
 
Scripture: Luke 6:27-42
27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.[a] Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s[b] eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your neighbor,[c] ‘Friend,[d] let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s[e] eye.

Devotion: I know, you are thinking, why did I include so much of the biblical texts? Why did I not just reference it? The truth is I know that you would probably not take the time to look up the passage. Or for some of you, you may even skip through the pasted Scripture text thinking you already know what it says. Who are we kidding? We all do that. But studying and meditating requires that we read and re-read God’s words many times over. Our understanding of Scripture may be different today than a year or two ago, and it may be different a year or two from now. It is not that Scripture have changed, it is us who have hopefully changed as we grow in faith and knowledge of God. 

This passage is very important. Jesus said to love our enemies and to do good things for those who dislike or hate us. Essentially Jesus challenges us to be different, that is, to love like God. God is merciful and kind even to the wicked and ungrateful. Anyone can love his or her friends. But how do we treat someone well who has hurt us? How do we give without expectation of return? How do we begin to love as God love?
 
Similarly, Jesus said not to judge others but to first examine ourselves and deal with our faults while not being critical of others. Many times, we feel good about denigrating others and we talk about people behind their backs. We speak harsh words and expect the person to just take it. The Bible instructs us to correct one another when necessary, but in a spirit of gentleness, as harsh criticism is not a fruit of the Spirit.
 
During the season of Lent, may we all take the time to meditate on the word of God and study Scripture, have self-examination, sincerely repent, and be in prayer.
 
Prayer: Oh God, sometimes it is difficult to love those who have hurt us. May you help us to be merciful and gracious as you are. Help us to forgive and love our enemies. Amen
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Day 15: Friday, March 17, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 17, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions | Tags: 

Day 15: Friday, March 17, 2017

The Prayer of Saint Patrick
 
I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
The invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
 
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
 
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
 
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.
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Day 14: Thursday, March 16, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 16, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

Day 14: Thursday, March 16, 2017
Carmen Tucker

Roadmap

Scripture: Psalm 32:8 God will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. He will guide me with His eye.

Devotion: On my white board at work, I have laminated signs that say, ‘I understand’, ‘I learned’, ‘Main Idea’, ‘Objectives’, ‘I don’t Understand’, ‘Characters’, ‘Purpose of the Text’, ‘What did I read?’ and ‘Key Words in the Text’. The signs are designed for students to make sense of grade level material. It is supposed to be a roadmap for students, so they can organize their thoughts, curriculum and the design of a story.
 
In the same light, these laminated signs can also be a roadmap for our relationship with God! Without even thinking about it, we often ask God and even ourselves, ‘What is the objective of my day, of my meeting, of my life?’ Maybe we go to God when we do not understand something.
 
I believe Lent has less to do with giving up beloved things and habits, and more to do with the roadmap. Use the simple signs, meditate on them and apply them to your relationship with God. Let that relationship with God be the guide in every part of your life.
 
Prayer: Dear God, Be our roadmap and inspiration. Design our story and teach us the way. Amen
 
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Day 13: Wednesday, March 15, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 15, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

Day 13: Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Rev. Sela Finau
 
Hope
Scripture: Romans 5:2-4 (NRSV) through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
 
Devotion: As children, we may have dreamed about what we would be when we grew up. As we got older, we continued to dream of what our life may look like, and it may have changed from one day to the next. We continued to imagine ourselves as being successful in whatever career or position we held. As an adult, we eventually began a vocation and a career that we thought would last us the rest of our lives.
 
However, the problem is that the rest of our lives may change quickly if we lose our job. Terrible things happen in life and may leave us feeling hopeless. An illness may prevent us from working. A death or an accident may leave us distraught. A natural disaster destroys our home. Unexpected events shake every bone in our body. Our trust in the goodness of life vanishes. We’re suddenly set adrift, with nowhere to go and nowhere we want to go. We imagine that life has been unfair to us and God has left us.
 
Whatever the circumstance that brings a loss to our life’s direction, there is still reason to maintain a sense of hope. This kind of hope is built on trust, not in ourselves or others, but in God. Our hope rests on the awareness that God is in control. The same God that calls us by our first name and knows the number of hairs on our head. God holds us up in our times of need. Take comfort in that knowledge and pray that God will plant new seeds of hope in our hearts.
 
Prayer: Dear God, life is not easy. It is in your mercy that we are able to do the things today. We can do nothing more than trust in you. Help us to grow through this process called life, and comfort us who are experiencing difficulty with a change in our life plan. Please give us the strength and courage to continue hoping. Amen
 
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Day 12: Tuesday, March 14, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 14, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

Day 12: Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Tylor Cavender
 
Is God a Sports Fan?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
 
Devotion: “We gave it our all tonight, and walked away with a victory. We want to thank God for this win.” I’ve heard countless post-game interviews that went something like this. Football players might catch the long pass for a first down and point to the sky. A baseball player might step up to the plate, make the sign of the cross, and then get ready to hit. God seems to be invested in the victories of innumerable athletes. But, is He really a sports fan? Does he care that the Patriots won another super bowl? Did he have a hand in Amanda Nunez’s knock out of Ronda Rousey during UFC 207?
The problem with these kinds of statements is that the focus is on the wrong thing. People are focused on themselves and on thanking God for doing things just for them. These statements can seem like someone is saying God is on their side but not their opponents. Similarly, their opponents probably didn’t lose because they are less Christian. What is it that God should be thanked for? It almost certainly isn’t for a win. An easy alteration to these shows of faith would be to thank God for giving us the ability to do these things. It might be a good idea to also ask God for guidance so that we can use the abilities he gave us to glorify him.
 
In 2011, the former Denver Broncos quarterback, Jake Plummer, criticized the then current Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow, for always having his faith on display. Tim Tebow responded by saying that he does feel the need to say he loves Jesus all the time, and that he had no intentions to stop. Mike Sweeney, a baseball player who ended his career in 2010, said in an article with CNN, “Saint Francis of Assisi says preach the gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words. That’s something I’ve tried to live my whole life.” I think these are great examples of someone doing it the right way.
Aaron Shust sings a song called, “To God Alone.” The lyrics sum up the instructions Paul gave to the Corinthians. “To God alone be the glory- To God alone be the praise- Everything I say and do- Let it be all for You- The glory is Yours alone.” Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
 
Prayer: Awesome God, help us to remember these words from Paul’s letter. Help us to remember that these words can still be useful today. Help us to live in a way that glorifies you. It is in Jesus’ name we pray, amen
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Day 11: Monday, March 13, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 13, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

 

Week 3
Day 11, Monday, March 13, 2017
Vesta Ryan

Sun and Son

Scripture: Psalm 84:11a (NRSV) For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor.

Devotion: Are you like me? When the sun shines and warms me, I’m in a good mood – happy, jolly, bouncy. But when it’s cloudy and cold, the opposite is true – sad, solemn, quiet.
 
My breakfast room has two large windows facing east, so when the sun comes up, it shines on the table where my solar powered flower, daisy, sits near my coffee cup.
 
Daisy dances from side to side in the sun. She’s connected to the source. But when a cloud blocks the sun, she slowly stops, reviving, connecting, only when the cloud goes by.
 
I’m like that! When I do God’s will He shines on me and makes me happy. When I let worries block my thoughts, I get depressed. I need to keep connected.
 
I need the sun, but most of all I need the SON.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Be the sun of my life. Let your Son shine out of me to others. Forgive us, in Jesus’ name. Amen

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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Posted on Mar 12, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Prayer
God of life and death,
teach us to hold out for a deeper life,
for the prayerful consciousness that enables us to transcend our
petty desires for security and self-image,
so that we may be free to rest in communion with you.
We do want life, but we want the Big Life,
which includes you and everything else too.
Bring us to a new humility before you and give us one thing more,
a grateful heart. Amen

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Day 10: Saturday, March 11, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 11, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions | Tags: 

Day 10: Saturday, March 11, 2017
Rev. Sela Finau

Spiritual Discipline

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7b-8 (NRSV) Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
 
Devotion: I learned over the years that spiritual discipline is a necessary element of the Christian faith. Yet it is not an easy thing to do or practice. It requires discipline until it becomes a habit. Spiritual discipline can be a variety of things. In the beginning of Lent, the Church invited us to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; by worship, reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.
 
Spiritual discipline should lead us to a life that is more godly and Christlike. It is supposed to help us trust our personal experience with ourselves, which is, in a way also an experience of God. Sometimes we are amazed that the two experiences coincide. However, when we practice a spiritual discipline and seek to know God whether through repentance, praying, fasting, worship, or reading Scripture, we also come to know and accept our own humanity; when we meet and understand ourselves at deeper levels, we also meet and know more of God. Thus it can be said that we don’t have any real access to who we are except through God, and we don’t have any real access to God except through knowing ourselves through our humanity.
 
During Lent, may we find the time to practice spiritual discipline by spending time away from our everyday work, our everyday surroundings, and allow space for God to clear our mind, relax and simply be at peace with God and with ourselves. May this Lenten Season allow us to refocus and be renewed in our faith for an overall healthy mind, body, and spirit.
 
Prayer: Gracious God, when it seems like we’re drifting away, help us to find our way back to you through spiritual discipline. Amen
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Day 9: Friday, March 10, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 10, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions | Tags: , ,

Day 9: Friday, March 10, 2017
Belinda Moss

Rejoice

Scripture:
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
 
Devotion: Singing has always been what I fall back on when I am happy or sad.  God’s word thru song helps lift the spirit when all around may seem to be falling apart.  Growing up, my family would meet each evening for devotionals that would include my dad taking out his accordion and playing songs.  We would sing for an hour or so, every one of us suggesting songs that we wanted to sing.  (Can you just visualize 2 – 12-year-olds sitting around worshiping God in song).  We are told to rejoice always. This week, find times to rejoice in the Lord. 
 
Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for all good gifts, may we learn to use all our talents in service to you. Prepare us for the coming of your kingdom. Amen
 
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Day 8: Thursday, March 9, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Mar 9, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

Day 8: Thursday, March 9, 2017
Lynn Bedard

Starfish

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10 (NSRV) For by grace you have been saved by faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Devotion: In 19 years of teaching, I have met at least 3000 students. Occasionally, there is one who really doesn’t care about solving an algebra equation. He is just trying to survive. Before I tell you about one of them, a story…

“The Starfish Story”, adapted from the original story by Oren Eiseley.

An old man was walking on the beach after a storm. A woman was picking up starfish and throwing them in the ocean. He called out, “Why are you throwing starfish?” She replied, “The tide is going out, and they will die.” “But, there are thousands of starfish. You cannot possibly make a difference.” She threw another one. “I made a difference for that one.”

This student’s parents were both in prison. He was late to class every day, mad at the world, and clearly not interested in anything this old, square, white lady had to say. I tried to reach him, but he was failing and talked about dropping out and selling drugs.

One day, I put the class in groups, but every group said, “Don’t put him with us. He is trouble.” When he came in, I put him in his own group. He got mad. “I see how it is. None of y’all wanna work with me. Well, I don’t want to work with you either!” He turned his desk to the wall.

I let him stew a minute, but he kept peeking over his shoulder, and I saw my chance. I needed to draw him in. A few minutes later, he turned his desk forward, and said, “Miss, I’ve got a deal for you. If I pass your class, you have to shave your head”. (Where did THAT come from?) Shocked, I took my time answering. “I’ll tell you what… If you make an A in my class and pass all of your other classes… I will shave my head.”

Word got around and I found gifts of shaving cream in my teacher mailbox. He was like a whole new person: polite, on time, making good grades, staying out of trouble. I was getting a little worried about losing my pretty, curly, shoulder length hair, but if it would help him, it was worth it. Sadly, one day, there he was, slumped in a chair outside of the principal’s office. I asked what happened. “They jumped me after school and I had to fight back.” Zero tolerance would send him to alternative school. I said, “No… the little boy had to fight. The man could have walked away. You felt good when people respected what you were doing. After you serve your time, come back and do right. If you go to the streets, you’ll die. I was looking forward to losing my hair for you.”

He struggled but he finally graduated high school. I still have that shaving cream. So, the next time you see a starfish, throw it back. You can’t save them all, but you can save that one.

Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
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