Devotional 1-1-09

“But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

Read Luke 2: 15-21

What all did Mary “ponder in her heart?”

Perhaps she “pondered” the last year … the angel’s announcement to her nearly a year before, “Mary you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Or her cousin Elizabeth’s declaration, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Maybe she “pondered” Joseph’s and her trek to Bethlehem and Jesus’ lowly birth. Perhaps Mary “pondered” the shepherds’ account of the angels proclaiming “for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!”

Mary had much to reflect upon in the marvelous events of the last year of her young life.
What all did Mary “ponder in her heart?”

Perhaps, Mary wondered, “What was the meaning of it all?” “What kind of Savior would Jesus become?” “What would her son teach?” “How would the history of God’s people reflect the consequence of Jesus’ coming?”

Philippians 2: 5-11 reads, “…….. Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

What “ponderings” are in your heart this first day of the New Year? What does the significance of all we have celebrated in the past week call us to now, today - and in all our days to come? What difference does it all make? What then shall we believe or do?

The “ponderings” in my heart are mostly a challenge.

We are called to be a holy people - special, different, set-apart - just as God is holy. In a world that often ignores God, we are called to worship and pray, and witness to the Good News of the Gospel that Jesus Christ is Lord, while serving all people and continually striving for peace and justice.

May each of us rejoice today and always in this high calling.

Rev. David R. Peters
Hurricane, WV (retired UM pastor)

Devotional 12-31-08

Baggage
If you fly very often, you appreciate the need to travel lightly. When you’re trying to hoist that bag into the overhead bin while 75 or so other angry travelers are waiting in the aisle, you begin to realize that maybe next time you can do without that extra pair of shoes and the bowling ball.

I’ve learned to travel lightly. Taking only the essentials makes the trip so much easier and more enjoyable. When packing, I have to let go of some stuff I might otherwise like to take along. Sometimes it’s hard to decide what to leave behind.

I look around airports and see that some people have yet to learn to travel lightly. They push the envelope with the number and size of their carry-on baggage. Their rolling luggage has so many strapped-on and tied-down attachments, they wear themselves out pushing and pulling from concourse to concourse.

Tonight, we’re on the cusp of a new year. Will you travel lightly into 2009, or will you hoist those unresolved burdens of the prior years into tomorrow? Consider these words of the Apostle Paul, from his letter to the church at Colossae.

Put these all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. …Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all else, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3: 8-11; 12-14)

What are you holding onto that will impede your experience of a joyous new year? Travel lightly into tomorrow, and leave it behind. Put on your new clothes of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, patience, and especially love.

It seems so simple and perhaps naïve. Yet, it’s what we profess that we believe. In 2009, let’s live like we believe it.

Dear God, as we prepare to soar into the new year, give us the courage to leave behind those things that will unnecessarily weigh us down, so that we might be renewed in Your image and live like Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 12-30-08

Read Exodus 13:11-16

Christmas has past. Our checkbooks are empty and our credit cards are smoldering. Our budgets are blown. If your house is like mine, there is Christmas wrapping paper scattered across the floor, gifts opened and left forlornly under the tree, and too many old leftovers in the fridge. The sad truth is that the holy day of Christmas often becomes the holiday of waste and overindulgence.

In this passage of Exodus, we are told about God’s command to the Israelites to consecrate the first born of their livestock and their children to the Lord in gratitude to their rescue from slavery in Egypt. My instinct is to object – I’ll gladly give whatever is leftover to the Lord, but to give him the “first fruits” is to run the risk that I will run short. Me first, then God.

And yet…

I, too, have been rescued from slavery. I have been freed from the burden of sin and guilt by the death of God’s first and only son. I have been brought into freedom and joy by His sacrifice.

God asks for the first fruits. He doesn’t need the sheep or the donkey. He loves the first born child, but he doesn’t ask for his or her consecration out of selfish reasons. What God really wants from us is that we would finally recognize our freedom – that we have been freed from the chains of this world. He wants us to realize that we live in His kingdom, and that our world is now one of abundant blessings, rather than scarcity.

God asks us to sacrifice our selfishness and fear. He asks us to let go of all of those things that blind us to the truth. He yearns for us to trust him enough to open our hands to receive the gift of grace.

Anonymous

Devotional 12-29-08

Scripture: Luke 1; 67-80

There is a store in the Ashland area called “Hobby Lobby”. For those of you who have not seen this business, it is a hobby supply store extraordinaire. If you enjoy anything that remotely resembles hobbies you may want to make the trip especially during the Holiday Season. The place is huge.

It is a very overwhelming sensorial experience for those of us that do not share the joy of that particular group of activities. The inventory that they have is by far the most complete and varied of any store I have ever been in.

One of things that I tried to occupy my time with while there was looking at the wooden banner signs that were up along the perimeter of the interior walls. All of the clichéd and humorous bits of wisdom that most people would recognize were displayed.

One, though, caught my eye and made the trip very bearable. I have seen it written or heard it spoken before, but at this moment it resounded and has remained with me since that August afternoon. The sign said, “The quality of your life is not judged by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away.”

During this season let us all beware of looking for those moments. It may be in the face of a child, the smile of someone that maybe more chronologically advanced, in the beauty of music, a hug from a friend, fellowship of other Christian brothers and sisters, or in the quiet of the presence of God.

Mike Bowen

Devotional 12-28-08

Instant hot chocolate. Fax machines. Email. McDonalds. Remote controls. Jets. Federal Express – when it’s got to be there overnight.

We are a society that has grown accustomed to instant results – results that are in our control and are established according to our own time tables.

I was in a conference in November. One of the topics of conversation was the utility of email as a communication tool. The facilitator of the class warned that while email could be useful, we should be careful, because it could create difficult to meet expectations. If you email me, you might be waiting for an answer to arrive within an hour of two.

Consider the stories of Anna and Simeon as recorded in Luke 2:22-38. Simeon had been waiting in expectation of seeing the Lord’s Messiah. We are not told how long the wait had been, but I imagine that it was long and difficult. He waited and waited and waited until finally a young couple arrived in the temple with their infant son. His waiting had finally been rewarded; he was a witness to the Christ.

There was also a widow, Anna, living in the temple as a widow of 84 years old – quite old for her time in history. She spent her time in fasting and prayer, but when Jesus and his parents arrived at the temple, she was drawn to see them. Her life of waiting had been interrupted by a moment of worship and praise.

Anna and Simeon could not control the timing of what happened. They certainly did not see instant results to their prayers. What they did find, though, was the light of the world – the salvation of the gentiles. Their lives were changed by what they witnessed.

Can we do the same as Simeon and Anna? Can we give up our desire for control and instant results and learn to trust God? If we did, can we even begin to imagine the transformation that would occur in our lives when we witnessed the Christ?

Kim Matthews

Devotional 12-27-08

Saturday, December 27

Luke 1:39-55
Blessed Among Women

Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You're so blessed among women,
and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
believed every word would come true!

And Mary said,

I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It's exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

From the Message

We know the God–News, our Savior has been born. What we need to remember is that God, his father, is the one and only God. Our God is a merciful, loving, forgiving God. That he is a strong and an awesome God. That he will protect us from those that oppress his people. That person’s in need will be cared for, by his people. And this is his promise to us going back to Abraham.
All we are to do is have faith. Pray, open our hearts and mind to God. Then listen and follow what our awesome God has in store for us.

“Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above,With wisdom, power and love, Our God is an awesome God! “ Lyrics Copyright Michael W. Smith

Peace on Earth,

Fred Herr

Devotional 12-26-08

Scripture: Luke 2: 8-20

The Old Testament contains numerous references to shepherds, the kind who tended sheep and those who "tended" people. Though there are plenty of reports of shepherds who unfaithfully carried out their duties, those who answered God's call and were exemplary leaders, guiding people in their faith and actions, represented God's love for his people. Moses was one of these shepherds, leading the Hebrew people on an extraordinarily important and difficult journey unlike any other. His faith and love for God and his people made him an excellent choice as a shepherd.

With the important roles that shepherds played at various times and places in the Old Testament, it occurred to me how fitting it was that God chose a group of shepherds tending flocks near the town of Bethlehem to be the first people to meet his son, who later described himself as the "good shepherd" but who also died as a sacrificial lamb to save his "sheep."

The shepherds in Luke's account of Jesus' birth demonstrated qualities which we should seek to emulate. Despite their fear upon being visited first by one angel and then by many in an unbelievable display of God's glory, they exhibited faith in the words of God spoken by those angels, trust in God to lead them where he intended them to go, and action by not only going, but "with haste" to seek the newborn child. Their faith, trust and action were rewarded by finding Jesus and his parents just where and how they had been told. Meeting this ordinary-seeming family was clearly an overwhelmingly extraordinary experience for them. There was no doubt these people were a part of something life-changing, world-changing.

What was the shepherds' response to this unforgettable experience? Gratitude, joy, and action. They praised God unashamedly and in fact became the first evangelists, bringing the good news of Jesus to all who would listen. The shepherds' story teaches us that God calls all of us to listen, trust and to bear witness to the presence of him in our lives and in the world. While we don't always see it or believe it, he has uniquely equipped each of us to play a role, be it large or small, in his ministry here on earth-- to help shepherd others, if you will. What better time to earnestly begin listening for how and where God would have us be shepherds than now in response to our experiencing yet again the wonder of our savior’s birth. "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born." Amen.

Mary Taylor

Devotional 12-25-08

Not So Silent Night

Please read Luke 2:1-20

Last night, in countless churches, people sang the beautiful poetry of Joseph Mohr to the music of Franz Gruber: “Silent Night, Holy Night.” In the beauty and holiness of a place of worship, lit with the soft, warm glow of candlelight, the rush of the Christmas season came to a stop – perhaps a brief respite – with a beautiful hymn, reflecting on the birth of a baby in a feed bin in a barn.

I am willing to give Joseph Mohr some poetic license for this beloved carol, but I am sure it was anything but a silent night. The town of Bethlehem was overrun with travelers making their way to their hometown for Caesar’s census and taxation. The streets were bustling – the hotels full to overflowing. The stable at the inn would be full of the travelers’ pack animals and other critters which paid no mind to the “quiet after lights out” sign and which most likely ‘brayed’ and ‘mooed’ their protest at being squeezed by the arrival of two poor humans, soon to be three. If that were not noisy enough, a baby was born, not likely a quiet event. To top it off, shepherds arrived at the barn that night; shepherds – not known for respectful, quiet graces.

Surely, one might reasonably expect, the Son of God would be born in royal comfort – not amid noise and confusion, in an animal barn, in an impoverished small town. While the people of first century Palestine likely had become used to God’s surprises, this one was the pièce de resistánce!

Our lives can be chaotic in a hundred different ways. We might well expect that God would find a more peaceful and calm place to reveal the incarnation. We might wonder how we could deserve God’s graceful gift to us. Yet as God chose the most unlikely people in the most unlikely place for the birth of Jesus, so God reveals the fullness of love and peace to us, even in our most unlikely or even unlovely moments.
Before anyone else knew of Jesus’ birth, the angel declared to those pathetic shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. To you is born this day a Savior who is Christ, the Lord.” To us, and to all the world, God reveals the love and saving grace of our Lord. Good news: yes?

Christmas Peace be with you. “With the angels, let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!” Grace and Peace! Love, Jack

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 12-24-08

JOY
Last Thanksgiving my husband, Steve and I had our whole family together for a holiday for the first time in five years. We had a wonderful time. The next day our son, Mark and his family headed out route 10 to Hamlin to spend some time with his wife, Sylvia's family. An on coming car clipped a mail box and careened into their path. The call came about 2:30, "Mom, we've been in a bad accident, the girls and I are ok, just a little beat up, but Syl is bad. They wanted to airlift her out, but couldn't land here. The ambulance is leaving with her now. The girls and I won't be far behind. Meet us at Cabell Huntington." My husband and I were waiting when the ambulance arrived. We were finally taken back to the ER. Our son was strapped to a gurney, Layken, his 16 year old was strapped to one at his feet. His 7 year old twins were in separate rooms. The head nurse wanted a grandparent with each twin. They, of course were terrified. Sylvia was in intensive care. Everyone else but Mark (his ankle was broken) was admitted for observation. I stayed with the 3 girls, Steve stayed with Mark in the ER. Around 2:30 AM, after I had finished settling the last one in (they came up one at a time, thank goodness), Steve came down the hall pushing Mark in a wheel chair. He had to check on his girls before he could go home. They had just left Sylvia and told us that she would be fine. I finally settled down on my chair bed. It had been a long, very scary day and night to say the least! All I could think of was a multitude of heavenly angels praising God and singing, "Glory to God in the highest!" My family was safe and I was filled with joy!

I think sometimes you have to hit a low before you can experience the highs of joy. People who have just found Christ seem to exude a joy that those of us who were raised in the church have a hard time feeling. What we feel (or what I feel) is more of a quiet thankfulness. We know what Christ did for us and truly appreciate it, but it is not new to us. In fact we have never experienced life without Christ's love and grace. Take a minute and try to imagine your life with out hope, filled with pain, filled with sadness, always pursuing happiness, but never really finding it. Take your worst day and imagine living it without God. Now, let your soul be filled with the miracle of Gods love and grace, "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given."(Isaiah 9: 6). Joy to the World Our Saviors Born!!!

May this Christmas fill you with the joy of the miracle of Gods love for each of us!

Margaret Williams

Devotional 12-23-08

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1: 19-28: “And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Verses 26-28

The verses above are a part of the story of Hannah who was the wife of Elkanah. Hannah was the second wife and she was very sad that she could not conceive a child. Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah had given him many children and liked to taunt Hannah about her situation. However, Elkanah loved Hannah more which only seemed to make the infertility much harder to bear. So Hannah prayed and prayed and was observed by the priest Eli as she prayed. In her prayers, she vowed that if the Lord of hosts would grant her a baby boy, then she would give him to the priests to become a nazirite. God eventually heard her petition and the baby, Samuel was born. True to her vow, Hannah cared for him until an appropriate age when he was taken to the priests for the remainder of his life.

On this day before Christmas Eve, we are fully into the anticipation of the birth of Baby Jesus. We’re down to the last minute preparations—probably a frenzy of activity. But I ask you to pause with me as we contemplate another baby—a baby that was promised to God before he was conceived. Hannah bargained for his very life. She desired to be a mother so much that she promised an excruciating exchange. Are there any similarities to Jesus’ birth?

Perhaps the two stories are entwined because they are both based on a matchless love. Hannah wanted a child and loved God enough to bargain with God to grant her petition. God saw her need and through His grace, sent Samuel to her. She in turn carried out her vow to give Samuel back to God as a priest-in-training. With the gift of Jesus, God examined the hearts of men and found that there was a lack of God’s presence. God loved the human race so much that he sent his only begotten son as a promise of a new covenant with us. Jesus came as Emmanuel: “God with us”.

Both Hannah and God were presenting their children as gifts to others. Both gave away something so very precious and priceless. I cannot imagine this sacrifice. Although there were times that my boys tried my patience and I desired a vacation from them, I could never have given them to someone else to rear. I dedicated them to God at their baptism and they have been nurtured and cared for by a host of spiritual leaders, but I have never felt the pain of sacrifice as great as Hannah’s. I cannot begin to interpret the mystery of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God’s only son. Let us simply rejoice that this miracle has been given to us. As we await the birth, scheduled to arrive in two days, may we all rejoice in all our gifts, especially the best, most precious gift of God’s LOVE. “Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.”

Dear God, caretaker of all our needs, help us to open our hearts and minds to accept your gifts to us. We thank you for all we have been given and all that is yet in store for us. We are especially grateful for the gift of your Love that was so freely presented in the form of the Baby Jesus. Be with each of us as we attempt a closer relationship with You. Grant us a greater faith and everlasting peace. Amen.

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 12-22-08

Lectionary Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-18

Marjorie was ecstatic as she pressed the numbers of the telephone when calling her parents with the news that she was pregnant. Marjorie and Greg had been told years before that the probability of her having a child was doubtful; however, she and Greg had, with their families, prayed for a miracle. They had been trying for several years to have a baby. The young couple had spent thousands of dollars on doctors and fertility drugs and were ready to stop trying, believing that perhaps adoption would be a more successful route when she learned they were going to be parents.

Unfortunately, Marjorie carried the baby for only two months. The family, naturally, was extremely saddened by their loss, yet their constant belief and trust in God gave them comfort. Marjorie frequently read the words of 1 Samuel 1:1-18 which told the story of Hannah who, too, was unable to have a child. Hannah vowed to God that if he gave her a son, she would give him to the Lord for all the days of his life. God at long last blessed Hannah, giving her a son named Samuel.

God works in ways we cannot see; he remains active in our lives even when we don't realize he's there. God is always with us. The scriptures tell us that God can sometimes tell us "no" or "wait," even when we vehemently think just the opposite. Romans 8:9 tells us that God has placed his Holy Spirit within each person who has received Christ. When at times God's plan and our plan disagree, we can feel the power of God's spirit filling our souls and giving us the strength we need during our disappointment and sadness.

Like Hannah, Marjorie believed the Lord would bless her with a child; she knew that God had a plan for her life. Following Samuel's birth, Hannah praised the Lord saying, "There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no rock like our God." God is our rock and our salvation; God will take care of us and will bless us. We, as Christians, must never forget that God has a plan for our lives.

Theo Tippett

Devotional 12-21-08

Love and peace to you all from your Youth Sunday School Class!

In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster writes, “Imagination often opens the door to faith.” As preparation for our devotion, we allowed ourselves to re-enter the Christmas stories, found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, as observers – taking in the words, the images, and then responding to that experience with comments, leading to questions to ponder.

Matthew and Luke both tell of Mary’s response to these events; she treasured them and pondered them in her heart. Likewise, we invite you to join us in visiting the Christmas stories with new insights – perhaps using our questions, perhaps adding your own, as we try to imagine what it might have been like to witness the awe, wonder and mystery of that Holy Night…

Questions to Ponder:

• Why was Mary chosen to be Jesus’ Mother?
• Why was mary’s cousin chosen to bear a son (John the Baptist?)
• What if Mary wasn’t willing to be Jesus’ mom?
• How did Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem?
• What if the shepherds never saw the angels?
• Did anyone other than the shepherds see the angels?
• What if the kings got to Jesus before the shepherds?
• What if the innkeeper would have let Mary and Joseph into the inn?
• Why couldn’t King Herod’s people who were trying to kill Jesus see the star like the kings?
• Why didn’t people in Bethlehem see the angels or the star?
• Why didn’t they go back to Nazareth with the baby?
• Why part of the Christmas story will you treasure and ponder in your heart?

Youth Sunday School Class

Lee Chirpas, Sam Oxley, Austin Budd, Matt Shideler, Sam Shideler, Grant Matthews, Josh Matthews, Erin Taylor, Hanna Taylor, Christian Griswold, McKenzie Cooley, Vinny Farrell, and Savannah Myers, Linda Summers, teacher

Devotional 12-20-08

Christmas Homecoming
Last December 21, I was discharged from a nursing facility. I broke my femur on August 28. I had spent four long months away from home after surgery and extensive rehabilitation.

Upon returning to my home, I was greeted with a beautiful Christmas tree and all the traditional decorations I enjoy each year. This was the work of my grandson, Alex Laneggaer.

My daughter Kathy and her husband Paul had arranged for delivery of a plush, cranberry colored lift chair and a new therapeutic mattress.

Needless to say I was so happy to be home to share Christmas with my family. The day after Christmas, my grandson Brent Reams, who is a drama student at The University of South Florida, paid me a surprise visit.

Christmas is a time of anticipation and is extra special when spent with family in my own home.

Audrey Brown

Devotional 12-19-08

Acting in Ignorance
Acts 3:17
I was assigned Acts 3: 17 – 4:4 as my reading for this advent devotional. It is October, and we are sitting in the midst of the worst financial crisis that we have experienced since the Great Depression that started eighty years ago. Does history repeat itself? Yes, it does, and if you read the assigned reading you will see that it was just as true 2000 years ago as it is today.

I must admit that I am always amazed by the psychological defense mechanism know as “denial” and the sin of “greed”. For the last 50 years we have been living in denial of what our sins are costing us. We have hidden behind a Pollyanna attitude and a distrust of those who warn us of what our lifestyles will cost us. I include myself in our culture’s “making of a self-centered bed” that we now have to lie in.

We want to blame this economic crisis on the sub prime borrower. This is part of our “denial” and the sin of “greed”. Is it because we do not believe poor people should have a home? Is it because we would rather blame poor people than the lenders who were getting rich off of origination fees and repackaging the loans? Is it because we have a cultural bias against the poor? Is it because a disproportionate number of the sub prime borrowers were black? The reality is that many of us have been living beyond our means. The saving rate in the United States was in the minus column, which meant that for every dollar everyone was earning they were spending $1.01.

We also hear a lot about the polar ice cap melting and global warming. Some say that it is true and others say it is a lie. What does it matter whether it is true or a lie? Would our planet be better off if we practiced being more ecologically efficient? Our self-centered greed says we want it the way we want it. Our denial says it will never happen. Our world continues to slide toward not only economic implosion but an environmental one too.

Jesus was born into this world to show the world a better way. He was born to a poor couple in a stable. He was not born rich, well known, or with a lot of fanfare. He lived a simple life and took up for the poor, dispossessed, and outcast. In the end he was killed because he did not fit the mold or play the role. Peter was telling his fellow Jews in Jerusalem that they had acted in ignorance, even though the story had been laid out in history and scripture.

In terms of the last 50 years our rulers and we have been acting in ignorance. We have to wake up and begin to live a simpler and efficient life in peace with one another and our world. Jesus came into this world to teach us a different and better way. I wonder if our denial and greed will let us listen.

Rev. David Johnson

Devotional 12-18-08

“Are We Prepared?”

Malachi 3:16 – 4:6

Malachi, like his fellow prophets, rooted his understanding of the present in his convictions about the future. Because we can know the future, because we can see what will be, we can understand the reason why we are called to live as we are in the present moment. The book of Malachi is filled with that kind of insight. They feared God; they revered his name.

Malachi is a short book, but it uses one particular phrase 24 times. The phrase is repeated so often that it almost fades into the background; we become so used to it we almost stop hearing it. That phrase is, "the Lord of Hosts," the Lord Sabaoth. Those words mean that Yahweh is the Lord of armies. It is a dread and powerful way of describing our Lord. He is the victorious master of a great army­ the angelic host arranged behind him, his servants in bright array­ that will sweep aside his foes. Our awesome God deserves to be treated with respect, with fear.

The people who love their Lord, both in ancient times and today, speak of him. Whether in a formal worship service, or in the ordinary course of events, at work, in the homes, those who love the Lord are willing to praise him, reach out to one another with words of encouragement about him, to hold his name up to honor.

What we should focus on is the last phrase of Mal.3:16, where it says, ''those who fear the Lord and who esteem his name.'' The idea behind the word ''to esteem'' is to critically think about, to judge, to make a decision. I think what the prophet may be suggesting here is that these people not only spoke about the Lord in the ordinary course of their day, but they also thought about him in all the events that befell them. When they looked at current events they wondered what God was doing, what was in his heart and mind as the events of the day passed before them.

What about us? When we interact in business do we think about the Lord, about the ramifications of Christian truth for a certain business transaction? We must learn to think Christianly, in the phrase that is becoming more familiar to us; to take thoughts captive to the Lordship of Christ. Esteem for the Lord in this sense means that in every environment we think critically about the Lord and about the ramifications of his truth for the way we live. Three things then characterized the people in the Book of Malachi: they feared God; they spoke about him; they thought of him. Can we say the same?

The last three verses of Malachi give us something to ponder upon. Remember that the book of Malachi tells us that by knowing the future we can deal with the present. We have been told clearly by this prophet, as we have been told clearly for years in our lives, about who the Lord is; what the future holds, that he is coming for us, that we can trust him in these things. We need to make a choice: have we prepared the way?

O mighty and righteous God,

May we be the kind of people who repent, who fear the Lord rather than test him; people for whom the coming dawn will bring healing, not ashes. May we open our hearts, minds and doors in preparing the way of our Lord. Amen.

Amy Inghram

Devotional 12-17-08

Magnify the Lord

Please read Luke 1:47-55

After Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth and began to fully realize her role in God’s plan, she burst into the song recorded in this coming Sunday’s lectionary Gospel reading. This passage is known traditionally as “The Magnificat” because in the first line, Mary says “My soul magnifies the Lord...”

What does it mean to magnify the Lord?

I think first of a magnifying glass. My grandmother kept a magnifying glass near her bible on the table next to her chair. She used the magnifying glass to enlarge the print on a page or the eye of a needle. Mary acts as a magnifying glass to help people see God: “Look how big our God is! Look what God has done through a lowly girl like me!”

But to magnify also means to extol or to laud. The origin of the word comes from the Latin word that means to make something big or great, to make it magnificent. When Mary said that her soul magnifies God, she was emphasizing God’s greatness. She sang, in effect, about God’s magnificence—although she was the one who would give birth to the Savior of the World. I see it as a song of humility, emphasizing not what she has done, but what God has done through her.

Mary is not the first person to have such a response to God’s blessing in her life. Her song echoes that of Hannah, who upon learning that she was pregnant sang “My heart exults in the Lord! My strength is exalted in my God!” (See 1 Samuel 2:1). Consider also David’s song, recorded in this Sunday’s Psalm, “I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.” (Psalm 89:1-2). These are just a few of the many scriptural examples of the exuberant joyous songs of those who recognize God’s presence in their lives. What about you?

Do you recognize God’s blessing on your life? What is your response? Does your soul magnify the Lord?

Dear Magnificent God: Help us to resist the temptation to magnify ourselves and take credit for the good things in our life when we know that all we are and all we have is only by Your grace. Thank you, Magnificent God, for the abundant blessings you freely bestow. We magnify your name! Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 12-16-08

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." ...Hebrews 13: 5

You are reading this in December, but I am writing it in October, when the newspapers and media broadcasts are brimming with news of the economy. On a morning TV program this week, the host and an economist were discussing a magazine article titled "Will There Be A Holiday This Year?" I smiled and thought to myself, "Clearly, these people have never heard of The Grinch."

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, first published in 1957, tells the story of the Grinch who hates the Christmas celebration of the Whos down in Who-ville, so he conspires to stop Christmas from coming. He sneaks into town and steals every Christmas tree and decoration, the stockings and presents, even the roast beast meant for the Christmas feast. He goes back to his cave and waits to hear the wails of disappointment on Christmas morning. But as the sun rises, he hears a sound but it's not what he expected...........

But the sound wasn't sad!
Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so!
But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville!
The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook!
What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN"T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!...

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

It came without packages, boxes or bags!....

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas....perhaps....means a little bit more."

And in that moment, the Grinch is transformed. He returns everything and the forgiving Whos invite him to their Christmas feast.

...HE HIMSELF...! The Grinch carved the roast beast!

And this year, Christmas will come again. I don't think I'll be quoted in any economic journals, but you can take that to the bank!

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 12-15-08

PLAN A and PLAN B
"Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?"

"Hey, it's only December 15, there's ten more days to go."

How many times have you heard this type of conversation. Actually, ten days does seem like a lengthy period of time to shop if, (and I do mean IF), you have a plan. What to buy for the children, the grandchildren, the aunts, uncles, cousins and, of course, most importantly, your ever-loving spouse (better get that gift first).

Making plans is a fun thing to do. In fact, if you are going on a vacation trip planning it is as good (well, almost) as actually going. It's a good idea to have two plans for anything you want to accomplish, Plan A and Plan B. If Plan A doesn't work out you can always use Plan B as a back-up. It saves a lot of stress and frustration.

Our Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us and each of us. Sometimes we are not willing to obey Him and follow His plan. The wonderful thing is that even if we thwart God's Plan A in our lives He gives us a Plan B to carry out.

As we experience the air of expectation surrounding us in this Advent season we are so blessed to be part of God's great plan. As we celebrate the birth of His Son, our Savior, it doesn't matter what stage of life we are in at present. Perhaps Plan A didn't work out, and we went to Plan B or even Plan C. The important thing is to be part of God's plan and that is what being a Christian is all about. It is the reason for the Christmas season when we receive the greatest gift of all, JESUS.

Jean Dean

Devotional 12-14-08

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is His name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

This beautiful poem, known as “The Magnificat,” is Mary’s song of praise about her relationship with God, found in Luke 1:47-55. Mary, a lowly, young, faithful Jewish teenager, has been selected to bear the Son of God. How can she possibly understand this awesome responsibility? Because she has accepted this role, she can be shunned by her community and family. She can be put to death by her betrothed. What a terrible predicament for anyone. Could we be as sure – as strong – as faithful?

And yet, Mary readily accepts this role of Theotokis - “Godbearer”, and composes this awe-inspiring hymn to the one who is always there in her life – God. Mary knows that God is always grace-filled and merciful – always remembering the lowly and using them to show others the faithfulness of God. Mary is so filled with awe and reverence, that she can only rejoice that God can use her. Mary is right when she says we will continue to call her blessed.

In this season of Advent, let us be like Mary – mindful of our lowliness, yet rejoicing that God can use us - yes even us - to further God’s kingdom, and spread God’s love and care to all of God’s children every where in this world. We are so fortunate that God has selected us to be “Godbearers” - telling others the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord – who was sent to be our perfect example of love and to save us all. What an awesome responsibility for us – but God is always faithful.

Amen!

Rev. Suzanne Ellis

Devotional 12-13-08

Be Still
BE STILL! As a child (and youth) I heard that from parents, grandparents, school teachers, Sunday school teachers, my brother, my bowling coach, neighbors and… well, the list is long and distinguished. Needless to say that at the top of my priority list was letting anyone and everyone know what was on my mind. Listening – that was for other people. I know people even today that only halfway listen because they are thinking about their response, BEFORE you are finished with your story. I try hard not to be that person but, alas, I’m sure, that at times, I am. We are not good listeners.

I personally, and my wife will back me on this, am a fixer. I fail to totally listen because I am thinking of a way to fix whatever may be troubling you. I’m working on that. While with a previous company I attended a two day seminar called Selling Through Active Listening. It was designed to point out the listening shortfalls and practice skills for r-e-a-l-l-y listening. Once again, I’m still working on that.

I like to relate real life to the movies. (Kim will back me on this also) A scene from Waterworld has Kevin Costner compelling the busy, busy, busy little girl on his boat to listen to what is going on around her. The world is covered by water and they are out in the middle of it. She stops for perhaps a nanosecond and then declares, “I don’t hear anything”. His answer, “You’re too noisy.”

Do we sometimes think we are listening, to our kids, our parents, our friends, our god - only to discover that with cell phones, cable TV, internet and iPods that we are too noisy? I attend a study group with a gentleman that is as secure and deep in his faith as anyone I have ever known. He has related to the group on several occasions a milestone in his faith journey. It involved him asking God to tell him what to say and do while witnessing to a particular group. My friend was deeply committed to hearing the answer and after meaningful prayer time, he did. From then on he says “I ask and then I listen. God doesn’t speak to me in an audible voice but I hear it loud and clear”.

I was once forced to listen because there was no other recognizable sound. Before Kim and I were married, I left her house in Garden Farms following a fairly deep snowfall. I traveled the half mile along Norwood Road to Crossroads (Norwood’s intersection with Norway Avenue) and there met more resistance than my little car could overcome. I left the car in the parking lot at Cummings Hardware and began the one and a half mile walk home. I walked right, smack dab in the middle of Norway Avenue down the hill past Stamford Park and Forest Road, up the hill to Fatima and then down Avondale into the Walnut Hills area where I lived. I did not see another person, nor did I see or hear a moving vehicle. The snow that had fallen had dampened all of my surroundings and the crunch of my boots on the snow sounded like a drum and my shallow breathing sounded like a brisk wind. It was an incredible experience. I traveled a road that I had traversed by automobile a thousand times but had moved across so quickly that I never really listened – even with the windows down. That night I could almost hear the snow flakes falling on each other.

This advent season as we stand at the opening to a stable let us Be still and listen for the star that is shining, the mother that is praying and the baby that is sleeping, and know that it is God.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 12-12-08

“There once was a man, his man John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.” (John 1:6-8) THE MESSAGE

The lectionary readings for this week in Advent come from Psalm 126; Jeremiah 61:1-4, 8-11; John 1:6-8, 19-28; and I Thessalonians 5:16-24. Each passage expresses a grateful response to God - as He restored Israel from exile; as He empowered John the Baptist to be a witness to the Light of Christ; and as He enabled Paul to proclaim the Gospel to a darkened world.

Several months ago I attended a Directed Spiritual Retreat – my first experience of intentional solitude. It was a 24-hour period devoted to centering prayer, spiritual direction, silence, rest. We were encouraged to walk through the center’s labyrinth and rooms – each offering its own focus for prayer or meditation. One such space was devoted to the women identified in scripture, beginning with Eve, spiraling outward to include “women looking through windows” (what women do when men go off to war – Ecclesiastes 12:3); “daughters compared to pillars” (supporting the family dwelling – Psalm 144:12); “God as mother” (Hosea 11:3-4); “the Canaanite Woman” (argues that both Gentiles [dogs] and Jews [children] are fed from the same source and so saves her child – Matthew 15:21-28).

Also included was “the widow who offered her last pennies” (gratefully offering everything to the source of her hope –Mark 12:38-44 and Luke21:1-4). Why did this reference stand out more than any other? I had heard this passage many times, yet I had never “heard” this passage speak in such contemporary language.

I was suddenly, and painfully, aware of my failure to witness to the Light of Christ – simply because I had been too preoccupied with my misguided perceptions of the depth or sincerity of someone else’s offering. More personally, for years I had been focusing on what I perceived to be a one-sided relationship with someone I love very much. Where was the warmth, love or confirmation I believed I desperately needed from the one who seemed to be unwilling to offer such reassurances? What a jolt this passage of scripture gave me! I realized that in this particular situation, I was being offered the very best, the epitome, the everything humanly possible, this person I loved could give me. How can anyone ask for or expect more than another’s all? How tragic that I had been ignorant of the love so freely expressed; blind to blessing upon blessing so sacrificially given.

This Advent Season I pray for the gift of insight and appreciation. I pray that my heart will no longer “measure” the depth or sincerity of anyone’s witness to the Light of Christ – other than my own. I pray for forgiveness for my judgmental attitudes, and ask for a humbled spirit, so that I too may be a loving witness to the Light of Christ. Amen

Linda Summers

Devotional 12-11-08

My Journey

My parents, the late Colonel Paul L. and Mary J. Riggs always taught my sister, brother, and me - “you are judged by the company you keep”. Even though I have never met this man; some day I hope to meet him, spending eternity with Jesus. He was the 18th President of the United States (1869-1877) and the Commander of the Union Forces during the Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant.

My Great, Grandfather Esau Powell Scott, a Infantryman fought in General Grant’s Army and following the war was a active member in the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). As you read on you will understand my connection to Gen. Grant.

In March 2007, I developed a sore spot in my mouth on the right side. It felt like my tongue was rubbing against my lower teeth. After several trips to a dentist; I was referred to an oral surgeon. Following a biopsy, the results were in...I had tongue cancer. I contacted my family doctor, a Huntington Internal Medicine physician who referred me to a H.I.M.G. Specialist. He recommended I go to the University of Kentucky Clinic to see a specialist there. After several visits, tests and exams by other specialist my surgery was set for May 2007.

I recall the day of my surgery. I had to be at the hospital at 6:00AM. As I was lying on the preparation table I prayed the most sincere prayer of my life. I prayed for the forgiveness of my sins - and if I didn’t pull through- for GOD to look after my wife, brother, sister and my fishing buddy - my father-in law. If by chance I did make it; I would serve the LORD, anyway I could. This is why I do volunteer cooking at the church and the Huntington City Missions and other organizations. Back in August I cooked for a 150 Boy Scout Jamboree at Yatesville, Kentucky State Park. I recently cooked for the Rivercities H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Chapter Annual Picnic. Being a school-trained U.S. Army Cook gave me the training and knowledge I needed. For me - “it’s pay back!”- “Amen”.

When my surgery day rolled around, a team of 4 surgeons assembled to do my surgery which ended up lasting 12 ½ hours. The University of Kentucky doctors fixed my tongue and
made me a new one using instruments so small they had to use a giant magnifier to pick them up correctly. I have large scar on my arm where the muscle was taken to make me a new tongue. They pulled all my teeth (knowing I would undergo follow-up radiation treatments); they repaired my carotid artery in my neck by removing a vein from my leg - I had 80% blockage. They also removed some lymph nodes in my neck. Tongue cancer will spread to the nodes. In my case - it had not spread. The doctors also put a trache in my neck to enable me to breathe.

Following my surgery, I was in recovery when around 1:00AM my trache came loose. The doctors and staff thought they were going to lose me, and I was going to be with Jesus! The doctors faced a dilemma, insert the trache quickly down my throat and possibly destroy all the work done during surgery or continue attempting to re-insert the trache back into the hole in my neck. My family was called “to pronounce me”. When they arrived, I had been resituated. “Not yet”! “I still have work for you on earth” my heart and soul tells me this. You have all heard the bible term - “be still and listen” - “I took heed”. At 4:00AM my lungs collapsed and my family was called back to “pronounce me again”. I returned again - tubes were put into my lungs, and I was placed on a ventilator.

Following my surgery I had several friends and family visit me and several I never expected. Most of my friends wanted to pray with me. One friend said “that GOD won’t lay on you anymore than what you can handle.” I also received flowers and gifts and numerous cards. One such cards “which brought tears to my eyes” was from my former Army Aviation Buddies and signed by many of them. At one time I was a flight medic assigned to a UH-1 Army Helicopter.
I remained in intensive care for 3 days and on the 4th day I was moved to the Markay Cancer Hospital. Ten days after my surgery I was released and on my way home. Before leaving Lexington, I wanted a Wendy’s Frosty. - I had a feeding tube in my nose, but I wanted a “Frosty”!

Summer of 2007 I did 6 weeks of radiation treatments at St. Mary’s Hospital. Before this treatment began I weighed 285 lbs. I’ve lost 100 lbs since then. My diet after surgery was Ensure Plus. Now it’s Ensure, soup, jello, pudding, yogurt, ice cream - basically soft foods and oyster stew (yummy-yummy). I also love fresh, grilled rainbow trout. My tongue reconstruct was so severe my dentures will not stay in place.

It has been a long journey - but it’s my story and I am sticking to it!!” I feel the late Gen. Ulysses S. Grant would be a kindred spirit----he died from tongue cancer.

Paul S. Riggs

Devotional 12-10-08

Faith in Action?
Mark 11:27 - 33

Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Are we like the priests/scribes, the pride in knowledge of tradition or of scriptures translates down into beliefs in the congregations. Are we proud of our faith even though many times it is dead?

The passage preceding this one spoke about the radical nature of a living faith in God. One could actually move mountains into the sea if he actually believed. Genuine faith, as James said, is one of action. Faith without works is dead. (James 2:17-18). We find it intriguing that the Jewish leaders – the chief priests, scribes and elders - (what a gang!) would challenge Jesus on the things which He was doing rather than teaching. Though they could publicly only refer to the action in the temple courts, they seem to clearly have had problems with all the things Jesus was doing. His actions were so closely interwoven with what Jesus was teaching and believing, that the miracles, the healings, etc. well portrayed Jesus' ministry.

The world starts getting concerned when the church starts practicing its faith. They can tolerate the dead faith which produces no fruit. Why? Because anytime their faith gets in their way, it can be easily shoved aside. They always compromise. They have not learned how to integrate action with their faith.

Some might wonder whether I am suggesting marches for Jesus, ministering to the homeless, buying computers for the inner city children, etc. As long as we look at these expressions of faith, we have totally missed the picture. The issue is not to try to mimic others but to find what God's Word is saying to us and respond to it. There are an infinite number of ways to do our Father's will. But we need to get intensely close to God to make our faith come alive and life-changing. If we do not get close enough to hear Him, then we will not know what to do. This calls for inner and outer transformation, the former preceding the later.

The Lord does not stop asking us to do things when we are ready. There is no sense for Him to ask if we can't or won't do what He wants. There are already enough commands in the Bible that many of His people totally and purposely ignore. But just like the time the Lord confronted Gideon about tearing down his father's idols, we tremble in our weakness about being able to do what He wants. I have boasted many times, "I will do all you want." But when He speaks, then I tremble. He asks for concrete and specific activities, I fear doing them. Like Moses with his stumbling, I can think of many excuses to what He asks. "Go and evangelize that person over there." "Take care of my children – talk with them, feed them" "Give my children a safe haven and minister to them in a different ways like on a Thursday night." He gives us opportunity for our faith to overcome our fears and doubts.

Jesus knew the leaders were not ready to hear the answer as to who gave Him authority to redecorate the temple yard and help out the desperate. He could not have done it without His Father telling Him to do it. But Jesus wasn't there for publicity. It wasn't a production. Jesus cared about how people disdained His Father's house of prayer. Jesus simply switched the question back to them and confused them.

Jesus had a long list of things He did on earth. John states that the list could fill all the books which were ever written!

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books which *were written. (John 21:25). They did not come to Him with problems about His teaching but about what He did. We are just too content to have church members do nothing but 'believe.' If we are followers of Jesus, then we should also have works that bring the world into confrontation with the holy Creator.

"Is there sufficient evidence by which others could convict you of being a follower of Jesus? Have you put YOUR faith into Action?”

Amy Inghram

Devotional 12-9-08

Who do we love?

I would venture to say that we as God's children love God. You are probably thinking "what a simple statement, of course we love God.” What I mean is, everything in this life that we truly love: nature, friends, beauty, our spouses, music, movies, family, children, etc. all come from Him. They are all gifts. We consciously or unconsciously see God in all of these things; therefore, it's God that we are truly in love with. I'm sure this is a concept that a lot of you have already figured out. It's taken me a while. I can remember being in high school and not finding the most popular boys attractive, and my friends thinking I was crazy. Well, it was simple. I didn't see Jesus in them. It didn't matter how good looking they were. Jesus was no where to be found.

Everything that is good in this world comes from God. Try paying more attention to all the gifts He gives us. The beauty of nature, sounds that please you (no matter what they are), smells that please you (mine are coffee, coffee and coffee ), a touch of a loved one; the list goes on and on. The next time any of these things happen just close your eyes and silently say "Thank you.” You will soon come to the realization as I did; that our lives are full of blessings and that what we truly love in this life is HIM.

Jenny Matthews

Devotional 12-8-08

The High Road of the Spirit

Many roads lead to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth along roads crowed by people from many villages at the command of Caesar were to be enrolled. The wise men crossed the desert wastelands. The shepherds sought new wonders along the familiar home-town byways. But the first road to Bethlehem is unlike all other roads. It is the highway of preparation, spanning time and circumstance. It is the high road of the Spirit.

Christmas did not just happen. For centuries men had anticipated Christmas in their hearts, looking forward to the hour of destiny when God would reveal himself in a more wondrous way than ever before.

The road of faith is an ancient road – and at times a dangerous and narrow one. It was not always crowded nor were there always travelers upon it, yet along it moved men of adventurous spirit and women of the pilgrim heart. They knew it was God’s highway although they didn’t know their destination, they knew that their traveling was in the Presence of the Eternal. So they walked hopefully, expectantly remembering the psalmist, “thou dost show me the path of life…” (Psalm 16:11)

Long before Christmas, God prepared His people. The words of the prophets radiate a faith in the coming of the Prince of Peace! The lives of men were changed, generation after generation as men of faith journeyed toward the day of Hope. The way of the Lord was built with human sighs and aspirations and the end of the road was a manger. From that manger led all the roads of our lives.

If we follow the route God has mapped for our lives we too will find a glory at our road’s end. There may be detours, hazards and delays, but the highway of the Lord leads to the heights of vision and promise.

God guided many faithful persons to Bethlehem. He still leads all who will follow His guidance.

Lord of the far horizons,
Give us the eyes to see
Over the verge of sundown
The beauty that is to be
Give us the skill to fashion
The task of thy command,
Eager to follow the pattern
We may not understand
-- from “Lord of the Far Horizons” by Bliss Carman

This devotion was taken from “Christmas in our Hearts” by Charles L. Allen and Charles L. Wallis. This book was one of Jim Ray’s.

Melanie Herr

Devotional 12-7-08

Anticipation

Please read Mark 1: 1-8

As I write this, it is October and our oldest daughter is preparing to go to her high school homecoming dance. So much to do. Will she be ready in time? She just called from the hairdressers’; she’s still waiting! We’ll go to the fountain at the park with all the other parents to take pictures. Plans are changing; everything is up in the air. She has been planning and expecting since she got her dress in August; things aren’t going just as she expected.

This is the context in which I sat down to write this Advent Devotional. And look at the gospel passage staring me in the face. It is about preparation and waiting. The Jews were waiting for the Messiah who would save them. The prophets had told of the coming of the Messiah that one would come before him who would be a voice in the wilderness crying, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” They had their own ideas about how the coming of the Messiah would take place. Things don’t always go as expected.

I am involved in the Walk to Emmaus, a spiritual renewal program of the United Methodist Church’s Upper Room Ministries. One of the guiding principles of a Walk to Emmaus weekend is “Don’t anticipate!” We would do well to adopt that attitude in our daily walk.

Anticipation leads to unrealistic expectations and, often, disappointment. Carly Simon wrote a song about anticipation that was made famous by a ketchup commercial: Anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting. We know it wasn’t really ketchup she was writing about, but that’s beside the point. When we anticipate, we are focused on the “not yet” and we might miss out on the “already.” Today is the day the Lord has made, and—think about it—today is the only day God made. At least it’s the only one God made today. If we get too focused on tomorrow, we will regret that we wasted this day. Carly Simon’s song concludes with a profound statement: These are…the good old days.

Many of us will be spending a great deal of time over the next weeks preparing for Christmas. We will sigh when it is over, and put everything away so that we can anticipate Easter. Perhaps our time would be better spent preparing our hearts to be the manger to cradle the Christ. Then when Christmas comes—when Jesus comes into our hearts—we will be ready to live! The Kingdom of God is here! These are the good old days!

Dear God, just as there was no room in the Inn for your son, too often there is no room in our hearts or lives for you. Prepare our hearts to receive you so that we can live out your love to the world. Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 12-6-08

The darkness surrounds us.
It threatens to smother us
As we battle against the strength of our own sin.
We find that we cannot win the battle
On our own power.
Despair coats the darkness
Like slippery oil.

And then a light appears.

My whole being shall exult in my God
For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.*

We center our whole being on the light.
Hope comes
The light seems to fight away the blackness
We are rescued.
We are saved.
We begin to believe that the impossible is true
And that we are not alone.

But when the fullness of time had come,
God sent his Son,
Born of a woman, born under the law
In order to redeem those who were under the law
So that we might receive adoption as children.**

Could the news be true?
Could the light be strong enough
To make our hope in grace
Truth?
As we focus on the light
We see that it grows and fills our spirits
We live in the light
The light lives in us.
And we are children of the Living God.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels;
Praise him, all his host.
Young men and women alike
Old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord
For his name alone is exalted
His glory is above earth and heaven.***

Alleluia. Amen.

*Isaiah 61:10a
**Galatians 4:4-5
***Psalm 148:1-2, 12-13

Kim Matthews

Devotional 12-5-08

As I was sitting around a campfire on a night with a full moon and the skies filled with shining stars, I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps men like Gen. Robert E. Lee, Gen. Stonewall Jackson, and their troops enjoyed the peace and solitude that I often enjoy or were they more concerned with their fate of what tomorrow will bring; will tomorrow be a victorious day - or will they go down in defeat??

This brings me to the words of the famous hymn found in the United Methodist Hymnal, "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Verse 2 goes like this. "I have seen Him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps; they have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on."

Verse 3: "He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgement seat; O be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant my feet! Our GOD is marching on."

And finally Verse 4 - "In the beauty of the lilies CHRIST was born across the sea; with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; as He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free; while GOD is marching on."

Refrain: "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. - Amen."

SFC (ret) Paul S. Riggs

Devotional 12-4-08

Readings: Micah 2:1-13; Luke 15:24

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Have you ever been to the Cornfield Maze in Milton, WV? I had always wanted to go, planned on going, but never got there or to any other, till this year.

I made the plans to get us in to the Maze. Us, being my 9 year old great nephew Alex and his friend Brandon, my sister Judy, my good friend Sharon, and myself. We arrived behind Milton Middle School and waited, like others, for the wagon to take us out to the cornfield. The ride out was fun, and Kim Cooper and all have quite a set up out there, with a concession stand and more.
We waited with unknown anticipation and then it came our turn. The corn was 'as high as an elephant's eye.’ We are not. The paths were well worn and bumpy to say the least. We also needed to watch for corn stalks and cobs on the ground. We got a paper with 10 questions to answer that would give us the direction to turn, left or right. Alex and Brandon begged to go on their own, but we begged them to stay with us; we needed their assistance. They ran along; we, being much older, plodded after. They would wait for us where the number for a clue was and we decided the answer and direction. Occasionally, we would run into another group, just as 'lost' as we were.

We went in around 6:30 PM and so was getting dark close to 7:30 PM. Did I think there would be lights of some sort? Yes. Were there? No. I had a little pen light and God provided us with a three quarter full moon, and that was all the light we had. Anyway, here we were, following the clues and Alex's instincts and LOST. We tramped around for so long, then used Judy's cell phone she had the foresight to stick in her pocket and the phone number Alex heard and remembered.

Soon, we heard a calling, LEWIS, LEWIS and we answered, HERE,HERE, until Kim Cooper found us. What a relief. We were SAVED. On our way home in the car, I said, "There must be a devotion here somewhere."

There is. How many times have I wandered, not knowing which way to turn and turned to God in prayer? How many times have I prayed, like that Oct. evening, to be found, and was? What a gift! What a blessing! Thank you, God, for Your saving Grace. Thank you for Your Son.
Will we go back again to the Corn Maze? Yes, but this time in the daylight and with flashlights just in case and with the belief that someone will rescue us even if we do not make all the correct turns. We know God and His Son are with us.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-3-08

X

She walked up to our booth and examined the wood crafts that my husband Don had created in the months prior to the fair. On the small wood ornament were the words Merry Xmas! in big red letters. The shopper threw the decoration on the table, threw her nose up in the air, and threw my husband and me for a loop. We finally understood her anger when she muttered, “I can’t stand it when people cross Christ out of Christmas.”

Being a teacher/ know-it-all/ fixer, I started to rise when I felt Don’s hand on my arm. “Let it go. She doesn’t know what it means, and you won’t change her mind.”

I stayed in my seat, but in my head I was following her down the aisle, explaining in my most patient voice that X – as – chi was associated with Christ even in ancient times. It was used in the acronym IXΘYΣ – ichthys – and in Christian churches today we may see the Chi-Rho symbol.

Don had not crossed Christ out of Christmas. But later, when I recalled the incident, I did wonder if I had been crossing Him out little by little, day by day. How many years had I been so busy getting ready for Christmas that I had missed it altogether?

So how can I keep Christ in my life when I am so concerned with gift giving, tree trimming, house decorating, and cookie baking? In today’s high-tech world, I could Google “keeping Christ in Christmas” and choose from the many lists that others have already prepared, but I don’t think I need to go to the world wide web. I need to go to my Heavenly Father in prayer. I hope that you will join me.

Heavenly Father, I am so blessed to be Your child. Please help me to remember that Christmas is Your son’s birthday, and when I help others in need, I am giving Him exactly what He’s always wanted. Amen

Merry Xmas!
Becky Warren

Devotional 12-2-08

Zechariah 14:1-9

In order to understand today’s lectionary reading it is helpful to view it in its historical context. The Old Testament Book of Zechariah was written in Palestine sometime between approximately 557 B.C. and 525 B.C. Zechariah was on of three prophets after the exile (Haggai and Malachi were the other two). He begins the Book with a series of ten clear visions and prophecies. The Book is Messianic in message, describing, among other things, the Grecian empire under the Antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, the re-gathering of Israel in the last days, and the final triumph and reign of the Messiah over all nations.

Verse one (1) of our scripture, commences with the day of the Lord. This is the second advent of the Messiah, and this day lasts until the end of the Millennium. After this day is finished, the day of God begins and continues through eternity.

How do the 2500-year old writings of Zechariah impact our lives and how are they meaningful for us? It is certainly easy in light of the recent history in the Middle East to believe that these ancient prophecies are a forecast of our future. However I am not sure that his visions are necessarily applicable to the current turbulent conditions in Israel and the surrounding areas, or that they are a prediction of specific military and political actions.

Theological scholars suggest that the writings of Zechariah were meant to encourage the people of Judah that they would be restored to their homeland after the captivity in Babylon. I believe that we can also draw inspiration from these writings. When verse 8 of the scripture states that “living waters shall go out from Jerusalem…” and verse 9 prophesies that the “Lord shall be King over all the earth…” we can be assured of the ultimate triumph of God over the forces of evil in our lives as well.

Lee Oxley

Devotional 12-1-08

This has been a year of big decisions and new beginnings for Joe and me. Should we leave our home in Salisbury, North Carolina, my home town, where we had lived for 19 years, and move back to West Virginia, my adopted state, where Joe and I had lived throughout his ministry? (When we told our Sunday school class that we were going back to West Virginia, one man said, “I never heard of anyone moving BACK to West Virginia!)

We had a list of reasons to stay and to leave. It seemed as if we were being led to move. When we found a buyer for our house in only one week, Providence seemed to be speaking to us. We trust that we have made the right decision. In the book friends gave us before we left, The Five Things We Cannot Change and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them, by David Richo, the author writes about the givens of life. The first is: Everything Changes and Ends. I think that we all need to accept that fact and to look forward in faith to whatever the future holds for us.

We are blessed to have Johnson Memorial as our new church home. We visited a number of churches and were welcomed wholeheartedly. I felt led to join JM. (Of course, Joe’s church membership is in the Annual Conference.) I like this church! I like the vision and mission statements that I believe are revealing of this church’s spirit. I like the morning worship and the music. I have had the feeling that God is moving here. I want to be a part.

Advent is a time for a new beginning and for spiritual renewal as we look forward to the birth of Christ. I look forward especially to this Advent season in our new church home. And I pray for God’s blessings on this church as we earnestly seek to follow Jesus this season and throughout the year.

“Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to thee we open wide;
Let us thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in us reveal."
-- Georg Weisel, 1642

Martha Casey

Devotional 11-30-08

THE WORK OF CHRISTMAS

When the songs of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherd are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins,

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nation,
To bring peace among brothers and sisters,
To make music in the heart.

--Howard Thurman

During the Advent season I always enjoy reading this poem and remembering that God is faithful. I Corinthians 1:3-9 reminds us that God is faithful. And like Paul, I give thanks to God always for you, the people of Ebenezer and Johnson-Memorial United Methodist Churches, because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus, and in every way you have been enriched in him throughout the Thanksgiving and Advent Season, in speech, word, deed and knowledge of every kind.

May you always remember that the reason for the season is celebrate Christ Jesus’ birthday. My prayer is that you and I will leave Christmas and Advent as the Wise men did another way, as we experience Christmas in our hearts. Amen.

Rev. Jeremiah A. Jasper

Devotional 1-6-08

Jesus, who are you?

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’

The scripture above and the title were used in a sermon last spring by the Rev. Jim Morrison of St. Andrew By-the-Sea UMC in Hilton Head, SC.

But, upon reading the passage again and thinking about the sermon title, “Jesus, who are you?”; I was trying to imagine how many people, not only in Jesus’ own time, but down through the centuries, have asked that very question. And, I wonder how many have gotten an answer as concise and meaningful as the one I received as a youth.

My recollection goes like this: many years ago I was sitting in the choir loft one Sunday morning (and, you know, I was in a seat about where I sit now) listening to Dr. Rolla S. Kenaston preach on this identical question, “Jesus, who are you?” His answer has etched itself in my mind, and I have remembered it all these years. He said, “Jesus was just as much of God as could be crammed into one human form.”

As a young man, I looked up to Dr. Kenaston as I have very few others in my life. I thought then, and still do – if that description of Jesus is good enough for Dr. Kenaston, it’s good enough for me.

Prayer

Oh, Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son to us –
To be our redeemer,
To be our savior,
To be our example for living, and
To being us the promise of eternal life.

It is with deepest reverence that we offer these thanks in the name of that self-same Jesus whom you sent to save the world. Amen.

Additional Scripture reading:
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Charlie Lewis

Devotional 1-5-08

Strong Tower

Please read Psalm 71:1-16

Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress. (verse 3)

Refuge

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray

When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way*

What is a refuge? It comes from the Latin word which means to escape or to flee, and it is defined as shelter or protection from danger or something to which one has recourse in difficulty (www.m-w.com). God is our solid refuge – the unchanging rock to which we can always go. Refuge shares a word origin with the word fugitive. Doesn’t that describe us sometimes? We are fugitives on the run, seeking protection from the problems and worries of life, desperate for salvation from our sin. We can run to our God, and he will give us help. It is a promise. It is a rock upon which we can build our lives and our faith.

Fortress

You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek*

What is a fortress? This word comes from a Latin word meaning strong. A fortress is a stronghold or a large and permanent fortification. God is our fortress. He is strong and permanent. He does not change, he never stops loving us, his grace is unending. Not only do we have a refuge, but our refuge is a strong fortress.

Hope

I go running to Your mountain
Where your mercy sets me free

In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul*

The Psalm describes the hope that we can find in God. Verse 5 says, “For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.” In God we find hope. Hope that believes that through him, all things are possible. Hope that will allow us to surrender our problems – everything that batters against us – to our God. He is our God. The Message version of this Psalm, in verse 3, says, “you said your door was always open!” God’s door is always open to us. He sent his son to us so that the door would be wide open to us.

So what is our response? As United Methodists we claim that our doors are always open. I know that we have a beautiful building, and sometimes it can feel like a refuge or a fortress, but that’s not our church, and those aren’t the doors that I mean. As a church, as a Body of Christ, are our doors open? As a church, are we a fortress for God’s children? Can people run to us as a refuge? Are we the light of hope to anyone?

We are called to be Christ-like. We are created in the image of God. When the fugitives of life – people just like us – look at us, do they see God? Do they feel God’s presence through our actions and our words?

Standing on this rock, secure in the hope we have in God, what is our response?

*(Lyrics from Strong Tower, Kutless)

Kim Matthews

Devotional 1-4-08

Lectionary Reading: Hebrews 11:23-28, 32-40

Hebrews talks about faith. It is because of faith, this belief in God, that I pray.

My praying consists of bedtime, morning time, praying while driving alone with the radio off in the car, and a plea or thank you prayer here and there, among other times.I have heard of prayer journals and recently read of a prayer bag. I was reading the October 24,2007 entry of The Upper Room. It was written by Robin Priestley of New Mexico, whose friend gave her a "God Bag". It is a brown paper bag in which she wrote in purple ink, "Robin's God Bag". The instructions were to write concerns and worries on slips of paper and to put the slips in the bag.

I think this is such a good idea and hope to use it to help me focus on praying. I do believe I have ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, and most of the time I will begin praying and end up thinking about something else. I need to focus and am hoping a Prayer Journal or God Bag will aid me in doing such. I do have faith that prayer works and need all the help I can get. I have a lot to pray about these days.

With that in mind, let's pray.

Dear God, I know You know my thoughts and my heart. Please help me to focus and express my joys and concerns to you. Thank you for your Son in whose name I pray. Amen.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 1-3-08

As 2007 ends and the New Year has begun and all the Christmas decorations and gifts have been packed away, we can relax in our warm homes with the love of God and family surrounding us.

Have you ever thought of the workers who were not able to be home for the holiday? Some of them work on the towboats on the inland waterways. Their work makes it possible for the coal, oil, gas, and other freight to be transported for our convenience. These men and women work 30 days at a time 12 hour shifts, in all types of weather. There work takes them far from their homes and not able to enjoy the holidays. They may even miss many important family events.

These persons have a support system that Johnson Memorial U.M.C. has been involved in for several years. This is the Seamen’s Church Institute’s program, Ministry on the River and the program Christmas on the River.

Every year we pack gift boxes for each boat. The boxes consist of devotional material, hand knitted scarves, and this year we added other small gifts for them. The outpouring of gifts from the congregation has sent the message that they are not forgotten and that God loves them.

This ministry is near and dear to our family’s heart, as we know first hand how hard it is for the towboat workers to be away from home. My father, Steele Fisher, was a crewmember until the day he died suddenly in 1976. A while back I met two men who were delivering supplies for us to pack. They had known my father which brought this mission project so much closer to my heart, knowing we were able to touch others who had known him.

Fred and I enjoy being involved in this Ministry, and appreciate all those who have participated in this ministry by providing gifts and packing the boxes to nearly 300 crew members. This act of caring let’s them know they are loved and not forgotten during Christmas.


Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind.
To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
If we think over these things, where will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of home to the world.
--Calvin Coolidge

Melanie Herr

Devotional 1-2-08

When I was 11 years old, and a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, I was baptized by Dr. Norman Cox. My sister, one year younger, was to be baptized too, along with 15 others – so Dr. Cox decided that he would (since we were small) put us on his arm together and baptize us as one. All went well until the was bringing us up out of the water – and my sister rolled off of his arm and fell back in! The congregation gasped, and of course, he immediately set me to one side and went back for her! She was fine, but what he thought we be the debut of a “first” – became a definite last double ceremony!

I thank God every day for Johnson Memorial and its beautiful traditions – especially our “safe” baptism ritual.

Quinn Van Nostran

Devotional 1-1-07

The Prodigal Son Revisited
Upon completion of his military service, a young man retuned to his family and the community of his youth with a wife from a different culture. Blending in and reestablishing old relationships proved difficult. Finally he concluded relocation would be in everyone’s best interests. Accordingly, he took his family and moved to a distant state. He promised his parents he would visit often. He did return shortly (alone) to attend his father’s funeral and renewed the promise to his widowed mother.

The years passed and the mother’s health began to fail. Her other children nurtured her and cared for all her needs. She took little note of the love and affection shown by them because her mind was occupied by the other son—the prodigal. He did not call, he did not visit, he did not write! Yet, she cherished each flowery birthday card and each elaborate Christmas card always containing a promise to visit soon. Figuratively speaking, she kept a lamp trimmed and burning in the window as her eyes scanned the horizon for signs of her son’s return.

Finally, the long awaited visit came. He stepped off the bus and greeted his brother. Together, they mounted the steps and went inside to see their mother—at the funeral home. The opportunity for reconciliation and the mending of a broken relationship had been lost.

The beginning of a new year is a good time for all of us to examine our relationships. Has pride or stubbornness caused us to delay mending a relationship with someone? More seriously, is our relationship with God a little frayed? If the answer is “yes” in either or both cases, some self-examination and action may be in order. There is no time like the present—it’s always later than we think.

Anonymous