Devotional 12-25-14

In a noisy cave
in the heat of the night
amid worry and grime,
crowds and farm animals,
Hope was born into the world.

After accusations of unfaithfulness,
Following the threat of death by stoning,
At the end of a long journey
forced by a foreign government
Hope was born into the world.

To parents who did not expect
that their lives would be turned upside down.
To a world that ached with readiness
but was completely unprepared,
Hope was born into the world.

Shepherds, shunned by the world,
an unchosen people,
were illuminated by heaven’s light
as angels announced that
Hope was born into the world.

Creation opened its weary arms,
The earth groaned in relief,
and a few recognized the joy that
Hope was born into the world.

Into the sweltering night,
under the light of a star,
God worked to do
what couldn’t have been imagined.
Hope was born in to the world.

And our world has never been the same.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 12-24-14

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.

Have you ever heard the expression “the darkest hour is just before the dawn”?  For those who are struggling and fighting with darkness, seemingly wandering aimlessly, the dawn of a new day brings with it a sense of complete utter relief.  Darkness is used in film and in literature to represent the unknown, the dangerous, the terrible.

In our own lives, we tend to avoid darkness.  When the electricity goes out, we look for flashlights and candles.  Darkness deprives us of one of our most prominent senses, the ability to see what is around us.

Isaiah shared this image of the people who walked in darkness seeing a great light, I picture an even greater relief!  Those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.  As uncomfortable as we are with darkness, we have faith that SOMONE has light.  But here, we see that the nation, the people, the land, was in deep darkness.

But light came to them.  Like the dawn, first a glimmer of light - the stories told by angels, then the stories that spread across the land, and then the light himself, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God With Us, who was the light, spread his presence into that land of deep darkness, chasing our the shadows.

Even more importantly, you and I were given the responsibility of carrying that light with us, always and everywhere.  At the close of the 9:00 a.m. worship service, we sing “go light your world.”  Each of us has been given a lamp, a candle, a flashlight, in the gifts we posses.  Just as Christ came to bring the light, he has told us to go and take that light with us.  May this Christmas be a reminder that the best gift we have received, and the best gift we can give, is the light of love, hope, peace and joy.

Rev. Alan Williams

Devotional 12-23-14

Pray without Ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstance; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.   (Thessalonians 5:16- 18)

Earlier this fall one of the weekly devotionals focused on the question of what does it mean to “pray without ceasing.”  The idea expressed was that all aspects of our life can be offered to God through prayer, and there are many different ways to pray in addition to our intentional, quiet time of prayer. This meaningful devotional also reminded me of an illustration of the latter, intentional prayer.  

For many years there was a ministry at the church known as the Tuesday Morning Prayer Group. The associate pastor who began this ministry in the 1980’s , Rev. Dr. Charles Echols, is still remembered by many for his spirit filled life and teachings.  On one occasion during a meeting of the Prayer Group he encouraged those present to think beyond family, friends and immediate contacts, to choose a person for whom they had never prayed and do so each day “without ceasing” for one year.  My mother was among those who accepted this invitation.

Sometime after that year and the peaceful conclusion to the Cold War, we learned that the person for whom she had prayed was Mikhail Gorbachev.  When asked why she had chosen him, she mentioned several factors.  First, she and my father had been on a trip to the Scandinavian countries which also included several days in St. Petersburg, Russia.  They had seen the oppression of the people, Bibles banished under the Soviet regime, churches used as museums and even government offices.  They had also witnessed the courage of a lovely tour guide who said:  “Please enter the next room quietly; it remains a sacred place.”  Secondly, she had read that Mr. Gorbachev’s mother had been a Christian and that he was been baptized as a young child.  If accurate, and she believed it to be, this provided assurance that he had been claimed as a child of God years before, whether he knew it or not.  Thus she began a prayer journey that his heart and mind might warm to the needs of his people and that he might become receptive to God’s spirit at work in his life.   While many factors contributed to the peaceful end of the Cold War, these include, at least in my mind, the work of the Holy Spirit.  

God loves us, cares about each of us and covets the prayers of His people.  For whom might we “pray without ceasing” in the coming year?  The possibilities are endless in a time of crisis around the world, problems facing our nation, needs in our community and yes, needs in our church. What measures might we continue to take to identify, encourage and welcome children into our fellowship that they may be baptized, hear the stories of Jesus and experience the love of God?

“Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.  Yes, every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.”  Nudge us, oh God, to feel Thy spirit at work in us as we pray in Jesus name.  Amen.

Sue Darlington Woods

Devotional 12-22-14

A few moments of quiet contemplation

Today, please take the time to read the following passages in preparation for Christmas:

John 1:1-18
Luke 2:1-20
Matthew 1:18-25

Creating and sustaining God, who has never left us, never abandoned us, and will surround us through eternity, grant us the ability to understand, for just a moment, the immensity of what is written in these words, and increase our faith so that we will follow you.  We pray in the name of the son who came into the world to make you known, Amen.

Devotional 12-21-14

Nothing is Impossible with God (and support from friends)

Luke 1:26-38

It is during the birth and death stories about Jesus in the Gospels that women are mentioned the most often. In this short passage, we hear about two women, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary has received some unsettling news. She is going to have a baby even though she has never been with a man. I cannot imagine being told this in the first place, much less receiving this news from an angel. Mary must have been shaken up and frightened on so many levels. I wonder if maybe this conversation took place over a few days, rather than all at once, so Mary would have time to think about it and digest it before she finally agreed. She probably wondered what her parents and her fiancé would say. The Bible clearly says she was troubled. In order to reassure her, the angel tells Mary that her relative Elizabeth, who has been barren for years, is six months pregnant. The angel concludes, “Nothing is impossible with God!”

So we have two women both of whom are going to be giving birth soon. Mary was young, afraid and unprepared at this time for what was happening to her. Elizabeth had given up hope of ever becoming a mother. She must have been very happy about what was happening to her. They each had their own challenges, but were reassured in their unique ways that God would be with them.

I wonder about the nature of their relationship. Why did Mary go see Elizabeth? Was it to see for herself if the angel’s words were true? Did Elizabeth know what was happening to Mary? Apparently, she did, if we read down a few more verses. We don’t know what kind of contact these women may have had through the years as their sons aged and matured to become the truly special human beings God created them to be.  It is probable that Elizabeth was quite a bit older than Mary, so maybe she didn’t live to see her son John grown and baptizing people in the Jordan River years later. We don’t know.

I preach on this passage every year and I always see something new. This year, this traditional Advent passage reminds me of how important Godly friendships are. The Bible implies that Mary stays with Elizabeth for several weeks, even up until the birth of John. Imagine all of the things they would have found to talk about and to do together. Did they discuss their dreams for their boys? Did they make baby clothes? Did they laugh and cry together? Pray together? As the years went by and conflict around their sons broke these mothers’ hearts, did they remember the words of the angel that they used to encourage one another, “Nothing is impossible with God.”?

I invite you to think about your Christian friendships this Advent. Who are those people for you? Are you a special friend to someone? The gift of a strong friendship based on mutual understanding and unconditional love is a precious Christmas gift to give and to receive. I hope you give, and get, that beautiful gift this year!

Rev. Dorcas Linger Conrad
Weirton, WV

Devotional 12-20-14

This time of Advent is so special, because it is the time when I really want to make the effort to sit and ponder.  It is the time I ask questions and think about the mystery of it all.  It is the time I just stop and be in the presence of God.  It is the time I need to be quiet and listen while wrestling with my questions.

Mary wrestled with questions and doubt.  Can you imagine what she must of went through, during the time between when the angel came and told her what was going to happen, until the time of Jesus’ birth.  How can this be?  How can I do this? Why me?

The struggles must of seemed insurmountable, and yet in the end, Mary accepted what was to be, and her faith was strengthened and her relationship with God continued to grow.

Each Advent season, I realize that I have two needs – to question and to believe.  God always offers us the chance to voice our questions and wrestle with our doubts, so we may have the opportunity to continue to grow in our faith.

Jesus also reminds us during this time of questioning, that not only did he come to tell us about God, but he also came to show us what God is like.  When people questioned Jesus about theology and rules, Jesus moved the discussion to relationships.  Jesus shows us over and over again that God wants to pull us deeper into relationship. God hears our questions and our doubts, and reaches out to us, always trying to draw us closer.

After Mary questioned and worried, she responded by saying in Luke 1: 46 - 49:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me –
Holy is his name.

God continues to reach out to each of us, as we question and search.  How will you respond to God today, as we realize what we truly believe in out hearts?

Blessings,  
Rev. Suzanne Ellis

Devotional 12-19-14

Read Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-27 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Angels are God’s messengers and they appear in numerous places in scripture.  Often they carried a message from the Lord to either Israel or an individual.  Mary and Joseph were visited by an angel as God prepared them for the birth of His Son.  The angel of the Lord appeared at critical times in Israel’s history and was sometimes a pre -incarnate appearance of Jesus. Not only do angels appear in the Old and New Testaments, scripture describes their being with Jesus at the Last Judgment. Not all angels are heavenly though. Satan and his minions fell from heaven when Satan thought to make himself greater than God. Scripture clearly describes the awful eternal destiny of the fallen angels.

Taken from “Bible Wisdom for Your Life”, written and compiled by Pamela L. McQuade, Barbour Publishing

God’s restoring servants, His heavenly messengers, have encouraged, sustained, and lifted the spirits of many flagging saints; and they have changed many hopeless circumstances into bright prospects.

Billy Graham on angels

Prayer:  God of all, thank you for angels in which You have surrounded us and to help with Your work on earth.  Thank you also for the gift of Your Son.   Amen

Kay Lewis

Devotional 12-18-14

G I F T S

When we think of Christmas, besides the birth of Jesus we think of Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and among other things Christmas gifts. But God gave us not only the best gift of all, His Son, on that first Christmas, but he has given us some wonderful gifts, our spiritual gifts.

We all have different gifts, each of which come because of the grace God gave us. (Romans 12:6)

How do you use your gifts? Have you ever wondered…
What spiritual gifts God has given you?
How you can use them?

There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve, but the same Lord to serve. And there are different ways that God works through people, but the same God. God works in all of us in everything we do. Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person, for the common good. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom, and the same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge. The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And to another the one Spirit gives gifts of healing The Spirit gives to another person the power to do miracles, to another the ability to prophesy. And he gives to another the ability to know the difference between good and evil spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to interpret those languages One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things and the Spirit decides what to give each person. (I Corinthians 12:4-11)

In Hebrew 2:4 we read: God also proved it (salvation God’s greatest gift) by using wonders, great signs many kinds of miracles and by giving gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as he wanted.

Since God is the giver, he chooses what gifts to give each person. He selects from his infinite pool of talents and blessings and chooses something appropriate for you. Every gift is good. You can’t walk away slighted. It’s up to you to discover what gifts he’s placed in your heart and to use them.

Perhaps you wonder why God gives special gifts. In a “fair” economy every person would receive the same gifts, in the same measure, at the same time. But God’s economy operates differently. To some, he gives the gift of teaching. To others, he gives the gift of hospitality. These are very different gifts, right? God’s family needs all of the gifts in order to function smoothly. We are dependent upon each other.

Sometimes we “miss the boat” when we don’t pay attention to our passions. What did you like to do when you were young, play house, or play school, dance or sing? Just what were your talents? God gave the passion to us and it is up to us to follow through in choosing what we will do with our life. God has a plan for each of our lives and when we do not pay attention God has to adjust his plans. Sometimes late in life, maybe after retirement, we are able to follow through and make up for the lost time. If you are young and haven’t made up your mind, be sure to ask God what he would like for you to do. Then say: “As you wish”, Lord. If you are now retired, there is still time to do what God had wanted for you to do all along. Grandma Moses is a great example of someone who was able to make a career for herself, long after most of us would have given up. We bring glory to God, when we listen to him.

God loves you just the way you are. If you think his love for you would be stronger if your faith were, you are wrong. If you think his love would be deeper if your thoughts were his thoughts, wrong again. Don’t confuse God’s love with the love of people. The love of people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes. Not so with God’s love. He loves you right where you are?

Ask God what gifts he has given you. Ask your family, friends pastor and yourself. Consider your talents and your passions, and pray that God would show you how he wants you to serve the family. Then snap up your prize and use it for God.

Gloria Peek (with help from Max Lucado)
Originally published in our Advent Devotional 2007
Reprinted in memory of Gloria.

Devotional 12-17-14

The Christmas Cactus

Marleen, complete with a red Santa hat on her head,  pushed her cart into Room 3157. “Good morning, Mr. Davis and ho, ho, ho, it’s time for your breathing treatment.”

The frail-looking man sat up in the bed, “It’s Christmas day. What are you doing here?”

“Well, all the elves were busy, so I was elected to give you your treatment this morning.” Marleen had taken care of Mr. Davis several times over the past four years and he was one of her favorite repeat customers. 

“I thought you’d be spending Christmas with your family,” he said.

“It’s just me and my daughter and she’s in the marching band at Perdue. They’re playing for the Giants game this afternoon.”

He asked, “Didn’t you want to go?”

“Oh sure, but do you know what a hotel room in New York goes for? Cassie and I decided we’ll celebrate Christmas when she comes home for spring break.”

“Gee, that’s too bad.”

“Oh, it’s alright. Sometimes you just have to make do. Now, here, breath into this tube. You know the drill.” As she was entering data into her computer, Marleen looked around the room. There was one green plant on Mr. Davis’s bedside table. It occurred to her that she had never known him to have  any family member or visitor while in the hospital.

“I’m working a double shift today, but I get to take a break during half time of the game so I can watch Cassie’s band. Would it be alright if I came and watched with you? The TV in the lounge never works.”

“Sure. Will you bring popcorn and beer?” he asked with a mischievous smile. 

“I’ll see what I can do.”

That afternoon, she returned with cookies and soda. “It’s the best I could do,” she said. Mr. Davis was already watching the game. As the bands came onto the field at half time, Marleen strained to find her daughter. “There she is! Third clarinet on the left,” she pointed excitedly at the screen. 

Later, she came to administer Mr. Davis’ evening treatment. He was obviously tired. 

“I was able to talk to Cassie. Those kids are having the time of their lives.”

“You’ve work all day--all Christmas day. I want you to have this.” He pointed to the plant on his nightstand.

“Oh, I can’t take your plant. Someone gave it to you.”

“My son in Albuquerque sent it and I don’t know what to do with it.  Do I look like a person with a green thumb.”

“I’ll take it but you have to let me give you something in return.” Marleen was thinking fast. What could she offer? She reached into her pocket and felt her lucky penny, the one with a cross cut out of it that her friend Karen gave her eight years ago when she’d had medical problems of her own. “Here ya go, a lucky penny.” She pressed it in his hand.

“I can’t take your lucky penny” he wheezed.

“A deal’s a deal,” she said. A plant for a penny.” She picked up the plant and added, “I’ll see you in the morning. Have a good night.”

When she got home, she read the card with the plant: Christmas Cactus. Succulent green foliage with rosy red blooms.

“Ha,” she thought to herself, “I don’t see any red blooms. Probably false advertising.” She placed it in her kitchen window next to an African violet.

The next morning she was preparing for her rounds and looked at her schedule: Room 3157, George Farley.

She looked at the charge nurse and asked, “Where is Mr. Davis?”

Helen gave her a look that said, you know what happened to Mr. Davis. Don’t make me say it.

Two and a half months later, Marleen was driving Cassie home from the airport. It was so good to have her daughter home for a week. When they walked into the house, Cassie saw the small Christmas tree decorated with green and white shamrocks with wrapped presents underneath. Then she walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, “Mom this plant with the red flowers is amazing! What is it?”

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 12-16-14

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of the prophets... (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20)

Before I worked at the United Methodist Foundation, I was a research associate in the field of Vitamin A deficiency and diabetes. Part of what I did involved working with chemicals that would emit low level radiation – so low in energy that it was hard to detect it. I would add a liquid that would become “excited” by the radiation, and release light – light that could be detected by a sensor. In this process, it was important to avoid quenching. Quenching is physical, chemical or color barriers that could keep the radiation from being detected by the sensor.

You still reading?

In this passage from Thessalonians, Paul warns the church to avoid quenching the spirit. God’s light shines through our lives, but there are so many things that can be barriers to the light illuminating the Way for those around us.

If you were to make a checklist (I love lists!), what would you include as ways a church could avoid quenching the spirit and blocking God’s light from others? Perhaps a church should avoid focusing only on its own members, or offering an attitude that is built upon beliefs of scarcity?  Could disunity quench the light? Bickering? Gossip? What would be on a list of ways for a church to be a beacon of light? Hospitality that welcomes everyone? What about generosity of spirit that gives of itself freely? Service that extravagantly dies to self and lives for others?

To quote a favorite song of mine, “Let you light shine before others so they will know our God of love’s in the land.” Amen.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 12-15-14

Please read Luke 1, vs. 26-38

This scripture is about the angel appearing to Mary and telling her that she has been chosen by the Lord to give birth to the Son of God. Mary’s only question was how she, a virgin, could give birth to this child. What a truly amazing young woman Mary is. The plans that she has for her life are put on hold. She accepts this pronouncement and says she is the Lord’s servant.

What a wonderful acceptance Mary has. I hope that I would be eager to obey something that would change my life this much. I’m afraid I would not. I would have all kinds of excuses for why I couldn’t do what I was supposed to do. I’d be too tired, too busy, too old, too ,too, too.

The words to an old hymn occasionally run through my mind. It may be my own angel telling me that I need to do the things I don’t want to do or I’m afraid to do. Maybe, during this Advent season we can all think twice before we pass up a chance to do something that would make our Lord smile. Maybe we should have the faith of a young woman who not only took the step that many would have avoided but also gave her heart to be broken by the loss of a son.

This Advent Season let us remember to...

Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What he says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Dear Heavenly Father, as we celebrate this blessed season of the year, help us to have faith enough to accept your call to serve you even in places we are not comfortable, doing things we are not comfortable doing.

May we always be ready to trust and obey.
Amen.

Debbie McGinnis

Devotional 12-14-14

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

Lectionary Lessons:  Isaiah 61:1-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians5:16-24; & John 1:  6-8 & 19-28

There came a man who was sent from God:  his name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.  He himself was not the Light:  he came only as a witness to the Light.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.  John 1:  6-8  NIV

As I read the scripture readings for today, I was reminded of one of the first songs of the musical “Godspell” which was written by Stephen Swartz in 1970—“Prepare ye; The Way of the Lord”.  The musical is primarily based on scriptures from the gospel of Matthew.  We have very few verses in the gospels that tell of the life of John the Baptist.  By piecing the passages together from the gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, we know that John was a cousin of Jesus’.  John was the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Elizabeth had been considered “barren” and both of John’s parents were beyond a normal child bearing age. So because of the birth of John, many neighbors and friends identified John as a very special person.  They were in awe of the birth and asked:  ”What then is this child going to be? For the Lord’s hand was with him?  John was considered “special” and in God’s favor.  His father, Zechariah prophesied that John would become a prophet to go before the Lord to prepare the way for him.  John would shine a light in the darkness of the world.

John did indeed become a ‘Voice in the Wilderness’.  He called out to everyone who would listen to “Repent and Get Ready”—because there was one coming into the world who would actually be The Light of the World.  Many listened to him and were baptized in the Jordan River.  John was steadfast in his devotion to the task he had been given.  He denied that he was the Messiah or even a prophet whenever he was questioned by authorities.  He faithfully told his followers that they needed to be watchful, for Jesus would be coming soon.  His job was to “Prepare the Way” and that is exactly what he tried to do.

I am inspired by this review of John’s life and the holy task he fulfilled.  How can we learn to be more faithful with the tasks that God has asked of us?  How are we preparing for Christ’s birth this Advent season?  Paul urged the church at Thessalonica to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. (1Thess. 5:16-18)   These instructions seem like impossible tasks, to me.  I find that in this joyful season, my “to do” lists are long and my patience is frustratingly lacking.  I waste time on activities that keep me busy, but unfulfilled.  I fail to follow Paul’s instructions which are meant to urge us to remain close to God, to allow God to support and guide us.

I therefore challenge you (and myself) today—turn off all the electronic devices and put down your books and papers.  Spend some time in quiet reflection to renew your walk with God.  Allow his voice to fill your ears with guidance and instruction.  Shine the light in those hidden places of your life that are full of dust or neglect. Surrender yourself to your holy tasks or “calling” just as John did centuries ago. Allow the example of John’s life to help you (and me) to prepare for the Christ Child who is coming soon. God wants us to live in the light and sends His Son to shine the light into the darkness that keeps us apart from Him.  Find some time today to get ready to receive his love.

Dear Father, please forgive us for being such wayward children.  We do not deserve and are unworthy of your love.  But we are so very grateful that you love us anyway.  The gift of your love is so precious and awesome.  Help us to find a way to prepare our hearts for your love.  Help us to invest our energy in ways to draw closer to You, rather than continue to be caught up in superficial holiday busyness.  Come into our hearts, Lord Jesus.  Shine the light and help us to emerge from the darkness of our lives in the world.  AMEN

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 12-13-14

May I Have Your Attention Please

How many ways can you think of that someone gets your attention? Or perhaps the attention of a group of which you are a member. There is of course yelling, “HEY – BE QUIET!!” If the host has a public address system available there is always the thumping on the microphone > which by the way, audio/visual types tell me is the ultimate no-no in the A/V world. Maybe they view that as just walking up to someone and tweaking their nose. If you have been fortunate enough to have had hors d’oeuvres or a meal then there is the infernal clanging of a water glass with a knife, fork or spoon.  And inevitably  there will be someone in the crowd who has mastered the enviable trick of the hail a cab, summon an alien space ship, crack crystal (with or without their fingers) whistle. We jam our fingers in our ears as if to block the sound when in actuality we are simply trying to stop our partially liquefied brains from dripping onto our shirt collars.  All attention getters for sure. All with a dire consequence – the one on the receiving end is so shocked and startled at having been extracted from their current activity that they aren’t really ready to re-engage with the task or meeting at hand. Not prepared to be a good listener.

Annual Conference is a most wonderful thing. A time to worship and hear awesome music and well, yes, conduct a little business. It is a time when people across the Conference can re-connect after maybe not seeing or talking to a friend since the last Conference. The 10-15 minute breaks are a wonder to watch. It can’t be easy to reconvene a thousand people. With poise and grace and ZERO mic thumping or glass tinkling, our Bishop sings us back into session. She begins a hymn, a cappella, and before you know it, the room quiets and when the tune is recognized all join in, we finish the verse and voila, we are back in session. Ready to listen!

How many times have you been engaged in a debate and very soon into it know emphatically that you do not agree with the other person? Maybe it’s which translation of the Bible is best. Maybe it’s whether or not to clap in church. Maybe it’s political, troops in the Middle East, the nativity scene placed on government property. Whatever the topic - you have t-u-n-e-d o-u-t. You are waiting on your turn to tell them how wrong they are. Ready to whistle, thump, clang or just simply tweak them in the nose. However you get their attention, they probably aren’t going to be ready to listen to YOU.

Sing them into conversation. Zephaniah 3:17 says; The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

I pray that during this Advent season we don’t get so caught up in the LOUD that we fail to hear the still, small voice calling us back into harmony with God and others.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 12-12-14

Paul’s Call for Readiness, 

Fellowship and Faithfulness

I Thessalonians 5:16-24

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;  do not treat prophecies with contempt.  Test everything. Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil.  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

On occasion, I will go online to see what remarks are made by Taylor Burton-Edwards, Director of Worship Resources of the General Board of Discipleship, regarding the suggested liturgy for a particular Sunday.  His words for the third Sunday in Advent gave me reason to think a little more carefully about the meaning of Advent:

“Advent puts Christmas into its proper place, not as a comforting destination or early winter way station, but rather as nothing less than the completely disruptive inbreaking of the God who, through this birth, makes all things new.

Advent helps us understand just how the news of the birth of Jesus we celebrate during Christmas Season (December 24-January 6) is so very good.  In Advent, we see, decisively, how God’s reign marks the breakdown and end of every other reign.  What the biblical writers knew, and we still know, is that every human reign is disordered, sinful, full of injustice and oppression.  Those who hold power find ways to make their disordered reigns seem normal or even good. But those damaged by such disordered reigns—the silent or silenced ones including the poor, the sick, the dying, the outcast, the hungry and the persecuted, among others—know in their bodies and often carry in their psyches for generations, wounds and scars that give a very different testimony.

Advent lays before us starkly their usually silenced voices, the voices of prophets who speak to them from God, and the assurance that indeed the worlds that try to keep them silenced for their own benefit have only one future—utter destruction and replacement by God’s reign.

As such Advent can, if we let it, disorient us from the dominant culture’s experience and expression of ‘Christmas time’ and its many ways to ignore or domesticate the wild prophet, Jesus, loudspeaker and embodiment of this world’s end and God’s reign coming upon us.”

I now understand more fully that Advent is not only the anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Jesus.  It is also a reminder for every Christian to be prepared for Christ’s Second Coming.  It’s a time of self-reflection and recommitment, and as Paul so aptly pointed out to the Thessalonians in this scripture, a call for readiness, fellowship and faithfulness.

Diane Feaganes

Devotional 12-11-14

Hear the Good News

Read: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, Luke 1:46b-55, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28

This is the third week of Advent, the third week of the new Liturgical year.  As we read the various texts for this week we can see a theme emerging of “Good News” !  “Good News” for the oppressed, the hope of returning home has been realized, the Messiah has arrived and that we are now all “sound and blameless” by his coming.

We, those that know the “Good News” may use this Advent time for renewal.  But what about those that don’t know the “Good News”?  Those that are oppressed by injustice, poverty, addictions or circumstances of life not of their own doing. This Advent is a time for us to hear their cry to let us bring the “Good News” to them by letting their voices be heard.  Help them break the chains of; injustice, addiction, poverty and oppression.  Not just during Advent but throughout the year.

How do we do this at Johnson Memorial?  We support our Backpack Ministry, Common Grounds, Jim Ray Fund. The Cridlin Food Pantry, City Mission, Ebenezer Community Outreach, Habitat for Humanity, and Lily’s Place, to name a few.  And I am sure that many in our congregation also support other programs in our area.  All of theses to show the “Good News” that will help break those chains.

So during this Advent season let us not focus on the usual expressions of Christmas but focus on bringing the “Good News” to those that do not know it. Think how can I bring the “Good News”?  Just as Jesus brought “Gods reign coming among us”.

Pray;
Father thank you for all the Prophets of old, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ that brought the “Good News” to all.  Lead me now during this Advent time and throughout he coming year to to bring the “Good News” to all.  Amen.

This as been inspired by   http://www.gbod.org/resources/planning-for-advent-year-b-2014-2017

Fred Herr

Devotional 12-10-14

God’s Gift of Love

Last fall my husband and I spent two days in Israel. As part of that trip we went through what the Israelis call the “life saving separation fence” (the wall) into Palestine to the city of Bethlehem to visit Jesus’ birth place. In this part of the world, rich in the history of three major religions (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim)
many holy sites are claimed by more than one of them. We waited in line in a Muslim mosque, that was built over Jesus’ birth place. Our Christian Palestinian guide explained that in Jesus’ time stables were often in caves and that pilgrims had been coming here since His birth.

As we funneled down the narrow staircase I wasn’t sure what to expect. Orthodox Christians were in charge of this site. They had created a setting fit for a king. The walls were covered with beautiful tapestries. On the floor on the right there was a large gold star with a blue center marking Jesus’ birth place. On the left there was a gold manger. I touched each in turn and said a quick prayer.
There were many people waiting in line behind me for their turn. I was standing in the stable where Jesus was born. But I was having trouble feeling it in that rich setting. Where was the humble stable? Then I looked up. I could still see the cave walls. That brought me back to the reality of the stable. I really was standing where Jesus was born!

At Christmas, we do the same thing the Orthodox Christians did. We try to create a celebration fit for a king. We forget to stop and look up past the lights, decorations and presents to the humble stable and the greatest gift of all, Jesus, God’s gift of love.

Margaret Williams

Devotional 12-9-14

PSALM 126:  A Harvest of Joy

Most bible scholars believe this Psalm has two parts.

The Psalmist has a grateful heart.  He looks back on God’s mighty acts and faithfulness to his people, particularly God’s restoration of Israel to Jerusalem.  Oh, the magnificence of the city had been destroyed, walls crumbled, sacred sites desecrated or demolished; but the people who stayed behind to witness this day and time of God’s restoration gave loud and ebullient praise and exhortation about the mighty works of God.

God did accomplish what they had dreamed of and longed for, bringing those who endured a brutal political occupation from deep despair to estatic joy.  God was able to turn anguish into laughter and replace a life of sorrow with one overrun by joy.  Thanks be to God!

For these things past and all things to come, the Psalmist tells us to first, give thanks to God, for we know that God can give us an abundant life.

Modern day psalmist Leslie Brandt prays these words:
“Let us begin this day by rejoicing!
Wherever we go, we go forth as sons and servants of the living God.  And we go forth to touch the lives of all persons with His healing love.  Let us begin this day with rejoicing. And return to our homes with gladness. ”

Psalms/Now by Leslie Brandt

Dorothy Turner-Lacy

Devotional 12-8-14

A Checklist, Prayer, and Promise 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Lists are big deals this time of year.

I am finding the older I get the more a list helps me.  The value of a number 2 Ticonderoga and a scratch pad is a thousand times more valuable than my diminishing memory capacity.  Running out of “gigs” quickly.

In this scripture for today we find a very helpful list of things it might be helpful to do every day.

1. Rejoice always.
2. Pray continually.
3. Give thanks in every situation.
4. Don’t brush off Spirit inspired messages.
5. Examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good.
6. Avoid every kind of evil.

Paul knew this was a challenge for the people of Thessalonians and it is even a greater challenge for us today.  Paul thought these were worthy enough goals and very tough to hold fast to so he offered a prayer for the  new Christians he was addressing, and he offers that same prayer for us and we can use it to pray for each other.

Paul tells us that when we can check these items off our list, it offers us the assurance that we won’t be at this all alone.  The one calling you is faithful to do this for us today.

Merry Christmas to all.

Mike Bowen

Devotional 12-7-14

Mark 1: 1-8
¹The beginning of the gospel abount Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  ²It is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way.  ³A voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”  ⁴And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  ⁵The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  ⁶John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  ⁷And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”.
Advent is a time for reflection and preparation.  As Christians, we are good at celebrating Christmas Day and Christ’s birth!  However, how much effort do we expend in spiritual readiness?  I suspect no more than the well meaning folks of Jerusalem.  John understood this and so he tried to warn people that it was necessary to radically change not only their way of living but also their way of thinking!  This is the true purpose of Advent!  John is calling out today to the Tri-State region to not only confess our sins but change how we view this world.  Being baptized with the spirtual waters through Jesus’ birth - we are a changed people. It is quite easy to love family and friends during this Holiday season, but Christ’s life example requires us to love those whom we dis-like, fear or find repulsive. This is not easy. That is why we NEED Advent! To get ourselves spiritually right so that we can live as God intended. That is what I hope we all celebrate on Christmas Day!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for every day!  We confess that we have sinned yet know that you still Love us and forgive us.  Help us to make a straight path and live a life filled with the Spirit so that we may reflect your way.  Amen

Marv Jones

Devotional 12-6-14

Prepare the Way

If you look around my home, there are many examples of clutter and disorganization.  If you announce you’ll be visiting tomorrow, I’ll scramble to get it organized, but chances are good that some of that mess will be hidden in a drawer or a closet… and this is of course amplified during the holidays. What if God announces that he’s visiting tomorrow?  I’m pretty sure that none of us has the closet space for all the things cluttering our lives… especially those things we wouldn’t really want Him to see.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:8-9

It seems God has announced that he’s visiting tomorrow. Yikes. What a mess we have here. Today’s scriptures suggest that we have a substantial job. We are preparing to meet God face to face. Where do we start?

A message left ringing in my ears often over the last year has been regarding intentionality of action. We need to put God’s purpose behind absolutely everything we do. We are made for the purpose of praising God, so we should strive to consistently act with Godly intentions. Especially during the holidays, we tend to think of Christian charity as donating money or time to those in need. However, the concept of Christian intentionality applies to daily tasks as well. While we are to give in many ways, Godly actions also include freeing ourselves of the clutter we harbor in forms such as stress, worry, and anger.

…[W]hat kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter 3: 11-12, 14

From buying the meal for the person behind you at the drive-through (which is so much fun) to simply letting yourself enjoy a laugh during a stressful moment, there are countless ways to prepare our hearts for Christmas as well as for God’s return. Christ walked in love, and we are to share God’s love in our words and actions.

As we anticipate the birth of Jesus, let us remember to ‘prepare the way for the Lord’ (Isaiah 40:3) and keep Christ not only at the center of Christmas but also at the center of our actions. You’ve heard the saying, “God is coming. Look busy.” Perhaps it should be, “God is coming. Be intentional.”

Natalie Wray

Devotional 12-5-14

All is Calm.  All is Bright.

I have a favorite slogan which dates back to World War II. “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.”

At our Christmas Eve service we will probably sing that lovely carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright”. By that time in the Christmas season I am wondering if I will be feeling calm, let alone bright! Rush, rush, rush, get it all done, cards, gifts, parties. Help!

I’m going to seek the calm that was there in Bethlehem that first Christmas Eve, and this is how I imagine it in our modern parlance. What must it have been like on that night?

After the long trip to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph found that they did not have a hotel room, no Holiday Inn or Marriott. They had to make do with a stable, and not a nice clean stable, but one shared with the farm animals. But CALM prevailed. The star shone overhead.

Mary’s delivery may not have been easy, many first pregnancies are not. Who was there to help her? Was there a midwife available? Did Joseph know how to help bring this new life (in every sense of the word) into the world? Yet peace and CALM prevailed.

Over this seemingly difficult scene God’s great love triumphed as it does for each one of us when we seek His peace and CALM.

For each of us the Advent season can be a time when, if we ask it of Him, our heavenly Father, that same peace and love will calm us and our hearts will know the true spirit of Christmas. In the words of the hymn, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin in me.” Amen

Jean Dean

Devotional 12-4-14

God for You 

When you haven’t prayed in a while,

God is glad to hear you.

When you haven’t been to church in a while,

God is glad to see you.

When you haven’t been nice for a while,

God is there to help you.

When you haven’t been faithful for a while,

God is there to guide you.

When you lie and are dishonest,

God will purify you.

When someone is bad to you,

God will instill forgiveness for you.

When things are crazy and stressed,

God has peace and tranquility for you.

When you are alone and by yourself,

God’s friendship is there for you. 

Good or bad it doesn’t matter, 

God is there for you.

From beginning to end of your life,

 God is there for you.

Jerome R. Guerrein
Copyright © 2014

Devotional 12-3-14

Just Waiting

On my family room table sits a digital picture frame that rotates family photos from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sometimes I just stop what I am doing and watch my life and the lives of those whom I love most flash before me.

I love those pictures. My husband, Don, and I shot many of them, and I chose the rest from my parents’ albums. Some make me homesick for those who are no longer with us while others remind me that time is flying by too quickly. I would be hard - pressed to pick out a favorite picture, but there is one that always takes my breath away. I call it “Just Waiting.”

This particular snapshot shows my granddaughter, Ruby, when she was about eight months old.  She had crawled to a bedroom door; she could hear her older brother Landon playing on the other side. The door was closed, and since she had not yet learned to knock, she sat there waiting for her playmate/teacher/partner-in-crime to emerge.  She did not cry or give up.  She just waited.

Just waited? Who today sits and waits for anything?  We live in a society that makes fun of people, phones, TVs, or cars that do not do something at the speed of light. I get out of sorts if my hamburger takes too long to emerge from Wendy’s drive-thru window. If the Kroger cashier takes too much time talking to the person in front of me, my blood pressure rises.  And if my phone rings while I am driving, I pull into a parking lot to take an all-important call. Waiting is not my thing.

How glad I am that God is not like me! How thankful I am that he loved us enough to wait. He created us and waited for us to love him. He sent people to tell us about him and waited for us to love him. He loved us unconditionally and waited for us to love him. Finally he loved us so much that he sent his son who would show us how to love his heavenly father and each other.

How about Ruby? Did her waiting pay off or was it a big waste of time?  I don’t know when Landon came out of the bedroom, nor do I know if he played with her as she so desperately wanted. It didn’t matter.  The love she felt for him that day was evident in the picture. And God?  Did his waiting pay off? As we celebrate the loveliest of seasons, we should remember how much we are loved. I just hope we were worth it.

This beautiful hymn, written by Charles Wesley, makes a wonderful prayer. Sing it, say it, or think it. God is waiting to hear from you.


Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.  
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 12-2-14

The readings for today are:   Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15, and Mark 1:1-8.

I found that the overall theme of these readings was about the “coming” of the Messiah. In Isaiah, he offers comfort to the people of Jerusalem in that he feels that they have served their term of punishment and said that they now need compassion.  Troubles are removed in love when sin is pardoned. He says that we should speak tenderly to Jerusalem now that the warfare is ended.

Psalm covers the people of Jerusalem thinking that God is still punishing them because they had not obeyed Him.  Things were bad in Jerusalem when Cyrus, King of Persia, sent them back. They ask God to help make things better. Verse 8 begins with someone telling them not to go back to doing bad things.  Good things will happen if God’s people obey Him. When God forgives our sin, he gives it to Jesus.  When He died, Jesus took our sins away. Verse 13 is very important because it says that God will walk on the earth.  Many people believe it means Jesus because Jesus was the Messiah. They call these verses 9-13 the messianic part of the Psalm.

Second Peter covers the “coming” or Advent of Jesus.  Advent is the season of waiting, of expectation of Jesus’ coming on Christmas Day.  But there is another side to Jesus’ coming which we sometimes are nervous to discuss.  It could also mean the second coming or Christ’s Return.  It does not have elves, reindeer, or fluffy snow. It is that the day and time are vague. Peter talks about the fact that a day to the Lord could be a thousand years.  I myself have been known to say, “Not my time table, but the Lord’s,” when I feel that my prayer has not been answered.  Peter states that God will come like a thief in the night.  Others feel that there will be signs.  Others have different concepts about heaven and the earth’s destruction. Nevertheless, Peter says to “Rest in God’s Time, it is different than ours. Await in hope, but do so in patience.”

Our last reading is in Mark.  It seems like every time I attempt an Advent devotion, I find that John the Baptist in somewhere in my readings.  I can see him clothed in camel’s hair with a big belt around himself.  I remember the smell of camel’s hair when I was in Egypt. He is baptizing in the wilderness, but he is humble.  He may pour water on them, but only God can baptize them in the Holy Spirit.

So now we have finished the four readings.  What have we learned?  We have learned that God has forgiven our sins from the banished people of Jerusalem to people of today by permitting His son to die for our sins. But we should be joyful at the following:
                 Advent means “Coming.”
                 Christ has come, and Christ is coming again.
                 Wait patiently, and be at peace.

Carolee Brown

Devotional 12-1-14

Psalm 85: 10-13
Love and faithfulness meet together:
 righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
 and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good,
 and our land will yield it harvest.
Righteousness goes before him,
 and prepares the way for his steps.

As the Advent season continues, we must prepare for the Birth of Christ. To prepare for Christ birth we must remember what he has already done for us. He Loves you and will never leave you.
In our past we may have had times that we question why something has happened in our life: such as illness, loss of a job, or death of a loved one. When you go through a difficult time you must keep the faith that God will be there for you to comfort and keep you in his care.

When I lost my Mother unexpectedly, I was devastated! Fred and I had gone to South Africa to visit our daughter and family and my brother was here to stay with Mom, she was in the hospital to determine where her pain was originating.  We returned home after a week because she had been diagnosed with Bone Cancer.  The cancer was aggressive and her condition deteriorated rapidly, she was moved to The Hospice House— 24 hours later she passed away after our return.

I had so many questions and what ifs: I felt guilty that I had doubts about my faith. For a while I just couldn’t continue my devotions, and really felt I needed help. After a while I called Hospice Grief Counseling and set up and meeting with a wonderful counselor that helped Fred and I so much.

If you feel you need help with your situation during this Advent season, don’t hesitate contacting your pastor or other counselor for the help you need. They can and will help you in many ways.

Always remember that Jesus is Love and that He will indeed give you what is good for you if you believe and continue to keep your faith, no matter what!

Pray
Dear Lord,
Please be with us during this time of Advent as we prepare for the coming of Christ, help us cope with the situations that we may be in to seek help and keep our faith alive because you Love us, All of us. Be with all of our families and wrap them in your loving arms as we prepare for Christ’s birth.
We ask this in Jesus name,
Amen

Melanie Herr