April 2 Devotion

I Love You This Much

 

            I'm going to make a confession; I like country music.  Don't get me wrong; I'm still thrilled by Paul McCartney's Yesterday, and Handel's Messiah still sends chills up my spine, but I'm drawn to the lyrics of country music like a moth to flame. 

            It wasn't until recently that I would have admitted to such a thing. We West Virginians are constantly fighting against the stereotype of bad teeth and worse grammar; therefore, many of us don't want it to be known that we listen to such an unsophisticated genre.  But now that I have passed over into what my friends and I call "the dark side" (fifty and beyond), I find that I care less about appearance and more about substance.  I just don't have time for pretense anymore.

            One of my favorite videos features I Love You This Much, a song written and sung by Jimmy Wayne.  It tells the story of a little boy who is neglected by his father but continues to love him anyway.  At the end of each stanza, the video shows the child, pleading with arms outstretched:

 

I love you this much

And I'm waiting on you

To make up your mind

Do you love me, too?

 

How ever long it takes

I’m never giving up -

No matter what

I love you this much.

 

            At the end of the video, the boy, now grown into a man, attends his father's funeral.  We gather from the lyrics that the father never changes, nor does the boy's love.  As the grief-stricken man grapples with his feelings, his eyes fall upon the crucifix above the altar.  He asks forgiveness, for it is then that he realizes what Jesus, nailed to the cross with arms outstretched, had always been saying to him:

 

                                    I love you this much

                                    And I'm waiting on you

                                    To make up your mind

                                    Do you love me, too?

 

                                    However long it takes

                                    I’m never giving up -

                                    No matter what

                                    I love you this much.

 

We Christians have a tendency to think of Lent as a time of sadness, but we have it all wrong.  While it is sad that God had to go to such extremes to assure us that we are loved -- even when we're unlovable, what could be better than total forgiveness and eternal life?   All we have to do is ask.

            It shouldn't take a country music song to remind us that Jesus loves us this much; He gave up His life.  How much can we sacrifice?  How much can we love?  We need to make up our minds -- He's waiting on us. Amen.                       

 

Becky Warren

 

http://jmlent.blogspot.com

March 26 Devotion

FASTING

As far as I know fasting has not been one of the disciplines stressed in the United Methodist Church, although John Wesley expected Methodists to fast two meals a week, according to Von W. Unruh in this months preface of "Adult Bible Studies." Fasting is mentioned seven times in the Old Testament and five times in the New. Conversion on the other hand is mentioned one time in the Old and eight times in some lengthy passages in the New Testament.

We do need to be converted first, but is fasting something we should do as a way to increase our spirituality? I must confess that in my long life I have only decided to fast once and that was for physical reasons -- not spiritual. Some times we are asked to fast from midnight until we take a blood test, but that doesn't count.

The early church prayed and fasted (as recorded in Acts 3:2-3) when they were setting apart Barnabus and Saul (Paul) for the work which the Holy Spirit had called them.

The Pharisees and the teachers questioned Jesus as to why John's disciples often fasted and prayed, but his disciples went on eating and drinking. Jesus answered them "the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, in those days they will fast." (Luke 5:35)

Although one of the disciplines that Jesus taught his disciples was fasting, He didn't say: if you fast, but "when you fast." (Matthew 6:16-18). This is the section just after the one where he taught them how they should pray. Our fasting should reflect a corresponding inward belief or attitude" (Joel 1:14 note in the New International Study Bible.)

Synoptic Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke thought it was important. Maybe we should follow their example. Many of us can no longer fast even for a day because of our many medications, but we could give up "sweets," not only would it help our spirituality, but also our bodies.

March 19 Devotion

Third Sunday in Lent
March 19, 2006

"...If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

Peter experienced great things in his walk with the Lord. But he also failed at times, most notably when he denied the Lord three times just before His crucifixion. (Matthew 26:69-75).
            Peter's failures, however, did not ruin him or disqualify him from future ministry. The Lord recommissioned him after His resurrection.  When Jesus confronted Peter about his unfaithfulness and lack of love, Peter affirmed his love for Christ three times. The Lord did not give up on Peter. He reassured him that he was still an apostle and commanded him to exercise faith and obedience - as Peter had done in the past - and to follow Him.
            Have you fallen down in your walk with the Lord?  He hasn't abandoned you. He will cleanse you and restore you in response to your sincere prayer of confession (1 John 1:9).
            You can bounce back and know the joy of following Him once again!

Guide our feet, O God, on your path, for we are tempted to stray. We turn toward the cheap success, the fleeting fame, the passing fad. We are always looking to someone, or to some purchase, or some experience to fill our souls. But nothing lasts except the constant pull of your love.

Holy God, tune our hearts to your commands, fill our minds with your counsels, keep our eyes on Jesus, our companion and guide. Amen.

Amy Inghram

LENT IS:

 

A time of preparation for new life.

A time of reparation for sin and strife.

A glad time of examination.

A mourning time of tears and pain,

    leads to Alleluias of rising again.

The Springtime of life and light

    replacing the long, dark night.

 

As we pray and fast these forty days of Lent

    Love and almsgiving are well spent.

Easter Sunday has come, we should not be the same.

 

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

 

Stella M. Reed

Submitted by:  Gloria Peek-Rosenblum

 

http://jmlent.blogspot.com

March 12 Devotion

GIVING UP OR GIVING
Reading: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Lenten is traditionally know as the time for trying to make changes in our lives (for 40 days). People have been known to give up chocolate, coffee, desserts, colas, etc., etc. But where do we go from here?

In our Lectionary reading Abraham was ninety-nine years old and Sarah was ninety. God came to them to make what looked like a deal. It was a holy promise for all generations, a binding agreement. God's expectation was for them to walk before him and be blameless...He told them, "I will make nations of you and kings shall come from you." You know the story. Abraham fell on his face in laughter. How hopeless could this be, to have children at their ages and to expect to have kings to come from their lineage? But Abraham believed God and what He said He would do. He bought into God's desire, and Abraham and God made a covenant. Abraham and his family received a priceless gift in return

Just maybe we are going about this all wrong. God has priceless gifts for us also and not just for 40 days. What would God have us to do to be blameless and to walk with him? Instead of giving up, perhaps we should be giving. Time, talent, gifts, and service. A covenant that commits us and our families to walk before God. Knowing from the story in Genesis what God did for Abraham and Sarah and the blessings that they have received what wonderful blessings can we expect to receive

Holy Father, help us to recommit to the covenant that Abraham made. Help us to see what you would have us to do, help us to be loyal members of Christ's church and to allow the holy spirit to lead us in all that we would do that we might do it to glorify you. Amen

Marilyn Holleron

March 5th Devotion

Mark 1: 9-15

“You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. (vv. 11-12, NRSV)

I thought I knew the story of Jesus’ baptism. I hear it on this first Sunday of Lent every year. As I read today’s gospel passage, which is in Mark’s typical fast-paced writing style, I am struck by something.

Imagine being baptized in the River Jordan, and the Holy Spirit descending on you and announcing how pleased he is with you. How would you feel? Thankful? Proud? Would you feel as though you had accomplished something? What would you do? Would you celebrate the big day with family and friends? Take a few days off work to let it sink in? “With you I am well-pleased.” Wow!

But wait—Mark tells us that immediately after those words were spoken, the spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. Immediately! No time to relish in glory.

Jesus didn’t take a vacation or a spiritual retreat to the wilderness. The spirit drove him there—the same spirit that had come upon him at his baptism.

What is the message in this for us?

Being claimed by God, loved by God, and part of God’s family does not keep us from experiencing trials and temptations. Have you had time in the wilderness, time when you were tempted to trust in something or someone other than God?

If you are like me, you can look back at those times and see how they prepared you and strengthened you to be a better servant of God. And you can see that—however you got into the wilderness—it was God who ultimately led you out.

If it was necessary for Jesus to be tested in the wilderness before he began His ministry, how much more necessary is it for us to be proven?

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the blessing of the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us and comforts us during times in the wilderness of tribulation, and guides us through those times. Although we sometimes fail to recognize you, we can look back and see how you were there. Amen.

Jeff Taylor