Devotional 4-24-11

Please read Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”  So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

We blend the birth stories of Matthew and Luke into one nativity story so that our collective memory of the Nativity includes both shepherds and wise men. The same is true, I think, with the gospel accounts of the first Easter. In our memory, there is only one story, albeit with differing details and emphases.

As you read this Easter morning’s Gospel lesson from Matthew, you may be so familiar with the details of the story that your mind filled in details that aren’t present.

Try taking this quiz after reading the above scripture: Why were the two Marys going to the tomb?

If you answered that they were taking spices to prepare the body, and they had to wait until after the Sabbath, then you are, well, wrong. Okay, you are not necessarily wrong; you have demonstrated that you paid attention in Sunday school and church and that perhaps you have knowledge of the various gospel accounts of Jesus’ post-crucifixion appearance to the women. But if you only had Matthew’s version of the events, and you could divorce your mind from other memories, then you should have answered, “They were going to see the tomb.”

Matthew says nothing of spices or preparing the body; these two women, devout believers in Jesus’ words, were going to see. The two Marys had been witnesses to the words and acts of Jesus during his lifetime. They had seen him do great things and heard his great teachings. Matthew recounts several times when Jesus had said that he would be killed and arise on the third day; no doubt the two Marys had heard him.

It had been a dreadful weekend for Jesus and his followers. There was nothing to be joyful or hopeful about. Jesus had been betrayed, arrested, denied, abandoned, mocked, and crucified. Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus had died.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 4-23-11

Thankfully, we know the glorious end of the Easter story, and we know that Christ has given us the key to heaven’s gate. It is a never-ending challenge, though, to carry that key. Our Father’s disappointment in us must sometimes be unfathomable. It is on this day that all our sins are brought into perspective. 

We are unworthy of so great a sacrifice. At the very least, we can take the time to contemplate what was given for our salvation. We realize today, when the price of our redemption seems so tangible, that we must more diligently walk in love and humility.  

Today is the Day of Preparation. The body is being treated with myrrh, wrapped in linen, and is placed in the tomb. Imagine that we are sitting next to the stone after it is rolled into place. In our mourning, we might pray the following:

In the midst of life, we are in death;

From whom can we seek help?
From you alone, O Lord,
Who by our sins are justly angered.

Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts;
Shut not your ears to our prayers,
But spare us, O Lord.

O worthy and eternal Judge,
Do not let the pains of death
Turn us away from you at our last hour.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,

Holy and merciful Savior,
Deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.

(A burial rite anthem from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer,
© 1986 by the Church Pension Fund)
Natalie Wray

Devotional 4-22-11

As I write this devotion for Good Friday, it is a spring-like day in the middle of February after a length of weeks and months of cold, cold weather that seemed would never end. An obscure text from the 19^th chapter of Leviticus is the Old Testament lectionary reading for the week. The text is a reminder that God is God – we are not God. God is holy, and because of that, we also ought to be holy. And the text defines holiness, not with sanctimonious behavior and smug prudish glares at others but with a reinforcement of God’s holiness codes, including the 10 commandments.

Holiness is defined in Leviticus by not harvesting the entire field: leave some for the poor or the traveler. Holiness is not stealing or dealing falsely or telling lies. Holiness is not withholding the wages of others until the next day when they need the pay now to provide food for their families today. Holiness is caring for those who are disabled and certainly not providing hindrances for them or making fun of them. Holiness is loving the neighbor as you love yourself. Holiness is not showing partiality to anyone or deferring to those with high position. Holiness is remembering that God is God and that we belong to God – we are not God. Holiness simply means being ‘different’ from behaviors that are motivated by self-centeredness or by the ways of the world.

The teachings of Jesus and our heritage from John Wesley reinforce this. Jesus taught that we should be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Wesley said, “There is no holiness but social holiness.” Filling ourselves with self-centered pietism is, well, unholy.

On this holiest of days, when we recall the crucifixion of our Lord, we would be well served to remember the teachings of Jesus. Not that we can attain that level of perfection, Jesus was teaching the same lesson as the Levitical holiness code, making the same demand of his followers as taught in the early days of Judaism: we are to be holy as God is holy. We are to be different from worldly ways. We are to imitate God – the same God who demands social holiness. To be holy is to put on our work clothes and join in the labors of God in this troubled world.

Put another way, perhaps harshly sounding, to serve only ourselves and not to remember the expectations of God that we love and serve one another is to mock the gift of God’s son to the world and to join with those who stood at the foot of the cross jeering, taunting, making fun.

“Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; abide in him always, and feed on his word.  Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak; forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek.”

Prayer: Gracious and merciful God, forgive us when we fail you. Help us to seek holiness, not as we might define it but as you do. Empower us, with your Holy Spirit, to answer “yes” to your call for holiness at work, at school, at play – for holiness with friends and strangers, at home and at worship. Enable us to be different – holy – from the ways of the world. Strengthen our desires to be your faithful people. Give us the boldness we need to live our lives as though the crucifixion of your son means something to us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 4-21-11

Scripture: “And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him”.   Luke 22:14

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread and blessed, and broke it , and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him. . .” Luke 24:30-31

When I was about four years old growing up in Parkersburg, West Virginia my family moved from our house on Lynn Street to what I have affectionately called my home-place on 19^th Street and Oak. One of the stories told in our family is how my mother wanted the kitchen remodeled before we moved in. She wanted cabinets all around and lots of counter space. Mom wanted a large oversized kitchen bar. The builder/contractor argued she didn’t want it large. But, our mother insisted she wanted it oversized with room to sit all around it on three sides. Needless to say, she won! That kitchen had a large kitchen bar with bar stools all around it. It was the center of the kitchen and even the house!

I have special memories of that kitchen bar because so much of life in the F. Kase Wilson family centered around it. We ate our evening meal there promptly at 5:15pm every weekday evening when Dad would come home from Parkersburg Steel Company. We laughed and talked and yes, even argued many times around that table. Sometimes I would spread my homework out on the kitchen bar. Sometimes my parents would do their paperwork there. My father would spread out the newspaper all over it. I sat across from my mother at the kitchen bar many times late in the evening to share my struggles and life decisions. It was there I discussed with my family that I was going to be a Methodist preacher.

Every Sunday when we gather as the Church to worship we gather around a table. We call it the altar or the communion table. How special for those who gather at United Methodist churches each Sunday to sit around the table (some literally, others symbolically by what we call the “altar” or “worship center”). Like my memories of that kitchen bar in my home-place in Parkersburg, we who are in the Church gather to share life together around the table. We laugh, we cry, we make decisions and yes, we even argue and have our differences around the “table”. A powerful image of Jesus is that of being at the table with his disciples. On this day (Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday) we remember the special meal Jesus had at table. He shared his life with and for each of us as he gave his body and blood. He gave us that memory as sacrament – “a visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace”. Like growing up and having a wonderful family in Parkersburg, the Church gathered around the “table” is where we are nurtured, fed, and nourished in order for us to go out and share his love with others. What a special place to be fed as we gather time after time as the Church.

Dr. William H. Wilson (Bill)

Director of Connectional Ministries-Assistant to the Bishop
West Virginia Annual Conference – The United Methodist Church          

Devotional 4-20-11

The scripture readings for the day include: Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12: 1-3, and John 13:21-32. These are wonderful readings (and I hope you will take time to read them all). Please focus for a moment or two on the passage from Hebrews 12.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right had of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

I was surprised to find this as a text for the Wednesday of Holy Week. I usually think of these words as a text for All Saints’ Day celebration. I find great comfort and hope in remembering the faithful cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and are now cheering us on as we share in the race that is our own life. In a memorial service years ago at annual conference, Bishop William Boyd Grove, offered a picture of the church with no roof. The balcony then extends heavenward with those saints filling the pews, looking in upon us, concerned for us and our race, cheering us on as they pray for us. It is a wonderful and comforting image. Reading these words during Holy Week reminds me that I find that comfort and sense of hope only because of what Jesus has endured for us.

It is Wednesday and we have been through all this before. We know the story of the next few days. We know what had to be endured before that great cloud of witnesses could take their place. We know that tomorrow we will gather in remembrance of a Passover table where bread and wine were shared as an enduring covenant of love and everlasting life. We know that after the supper there will be shame and humiliation as Jesus is taken and tried. We know that Friday will bring pain and suffering and ultimately death. Yes, we know those are not the last words, for we are an Easter people.

 know there is Easter joy coming. I know there are new life possibilities through Christ. But sometimes life is tiring. Sometimes I get so caught up in the “busyness” and the everyday things of life that I lose heart. I whine (one of my “spiritual gifts”) and think that I am running this race alone. The preacher/writer of Hebrews encourages us to keep on in faithful living (even when it is difficult) because we have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus endured the shame and pain of all that we humans could do to him. He did that for us. He didn’t count the cost. He gave himself for us. That cloud of witnesses is there to cheer us on because Jesus loved us enough to give himself for us. (There is even the promise of a place for us in the balcony seats among those great witnesses because of Christ’s great life gift.)

Sometimes it is helpful for me to hear these words of life and hope in a different voice. Hear this paraphrasing of this Hebrews text as Eugene Peterson offers it in The Message.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over the story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Prayer:

Loving Christ, we are amazed at the way you faithfully lived through all of life’s humiliations, shame, and pain. Help us to keep our eyes focused upon you that we may faithfully live today and tomorrow as we run this race of life. Amen.

Mark Conner

Devotional 4-19-11

We say, “I could never do that; I don't know how, I would be too nervous, I would not do a good job, I am not gifted to do that.”

Paul says, “Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Several years ago, I would decline when asked to pray in public. I would pray, but I wanted time to prepare. I wanted to know what I was going to say before I actually said it – and there is nothing at all wrong with praying that way. In fact, when prayers are prepared ahead of time, they can be beautiful and poetic, and they reflect time spent with God.

God has moved me from the comfortable place where I was to somewhere else. What I do now – both at church and at work – requires that I pray in public with no notice and no preparation. I fought it at first, but I finally came to realize that if God has brought me here, he will equip me. So I stepped out of the boat, and just prayed. Now I find joy in it.

God did that, not me.

We say, “I could never do that; I don't know how, I would be too nervous, I would not do a good job, I am not gifted to do that.”

Isaiah says, “Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me.” (Isaiah 49:1)

He called you before you were born. He knows every inch of you and every dark corner of me. He knows your strengths, my weaknesses; he certainly knows the gifts he has given to us. He loves us, in spite of it all; because of it all. And, knowing all of that, he calls us.

A few months ago, I asked someone to be lector. The person said no (which is fine!). A few minutes later, the person came back to me, and told me yes. God was calling, and this person listened, and said yes, even though it was out of the normal comfort zone. When the time came to answer the call, she was perfectly equipped and did a wonderful job.

God does that, not us, and we can trust him to be faithful.

The Psalmist says, “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you.” (Psalm 71:5-6)

We say, “Send me,” and we lean on the Lord with faith and trust.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 4-18-11

For many years the Upper Room Disciplines has been one of the devotional resources that I use. This publication is a sister piece to the bi-monthly devotional resource that is available through our church. The primary difference in the Upper Room Disciplines is that it follows the Common Lectionary and the writers are responsible for an entire week’s devotional pieces.

Last week’s devotions were written by Ray Waddle of Yale Divinity School. He reminded readers of a phrase first made popular in the 1990's. The phrase asked the question: What Would Jesus Do or W. W. J. D.? Obviously that phrase was intended to challenge believers to live a more Christ centered life. It was, and it is, something that we all need to follow throughout our lives.

Ray though, in these devotional meditations has taken it a step further. He added three letters: D., U., and T. So, now the letters make up the acronym W. D. J. W. U. T. D. Can you guess what the difference is? Spelled out the message now becomes What Does Jesus Want Us To Do? In some ways the message and its implication are the same. The implication being that we are to live so others might see Jesus in us.

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday and the triumphantal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The crowds had received him gladly. What a difference the next few days would bring. These same crowds and even the disciples themselves would betray him. What will this week reveal about our own following of Jesus and our willingly putting him first within our thoughts and actions? Will W. D. J. W. U. T. D. enter our thought at all? When all is going well in our lives it is easy to profess our faith and our loyalty to Christ Jesus but what about when the dark clouds of doubt and despair darken the horizon. Will we too fall asleep at a time when our witness is most needed? Will we too deny that we know him by our actions and words?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may WDJWUTD be in our thoughts and actions this day and every day. Amen.

Thom Malcolm

Devotional 4-17-11

Scripture: Luke 15:17-24

But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

Part II: The Solution

. . . CONTINUED FROM MARCH 24, 2011

Once upon a time there was a man who had come to realize that he had spent his life trying to avoid sin by doing the right thing (actions) and in doing so, had fallen victim to Sin (estrangement from God). He wanted so bad to fix it, but he did not know how. So he decided to pray. First, he sat in his recliner and laid back and looked up at the ceiling (as if to look toward heaven). He prayed for three whole MINUTES and his prayer focused on how much he loved God. He decided that this prayer was too soft (like his recliner, his prayer was easy and comfortable). He knew that he had not fixed his relationship with God. Second, he climbed to the top of a nearby mountain and kneeled on the hard rock and closed his eyes and bowed his head. He prayed for three HOURS and his prayer focused on all the things that he had done wrong in his life. He decided that this prayer was too hard (the confession hurt as much as his knees did). He knew that he had not fixed his relationship with God. Third, he sat in his car and said “I don’t know what to do. God help me. I just don’t know what to do.” This prayer was (as in all Goldilocks type stories) just right.

Somewhere in the silence following his words, he realized that God loved him despite all his actions (bad or good). He had been loved by God the whole time! It wasn’t up to him to get everything right. The answer to Sin was not some three step prayer or five pronged approach or even some ten step sermon (which tends to be more like my grass in the summer – too long!). The answer to Sin is Grace! And Grace does not depend upon our actions, because Grace is God’s action!

The prodigal had his approach laid out. He would go to his father and say that he had sinned and was not worthy to be the son and surely he would be given a job as a hired hand. But the father didn’t get that memo. The father never stopped loving him as a son. A robe, a ring, sandals, and a fatted calf party were symbols of the even more powerful gift: LOVE!

The man realized that it didn’t matter where he prayed or how he prayed (kneeling or sitting or standing, eyes open or shut, head bowed or not). What mattered is that he shared his life with God (he pictured walking in the door from work and hearing God say to him, “how was your day?”); what mattered is that he his attempts to do what is right were a response to God’s love rather than an attempt to earn it.

. . . TO BE CONCLUDED, through the living of our lives!

Prayer

Gracious God,
you love us, yet while we are still sinners;
you don’t make us earn your love,
because real love can’t be earned!
So we thank you,
and we respond to your love with our love for you
and we ask that you surround us with your love,
so that we will be empowered to love others, the way you love us:
UNCONDITIONALLY!
In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

David A. Stackpole, M.Div., J.D.

Devotional 4-16-11

Atomic Batteries to Power
Turbines to Speed

As a boy of the 60’s we loved to hear those words. That meant that Batman and Robin were on their way to Wham, Pow, Zonk some bad guys. We are Easter people and we are about to enter “our time”. Once during a discussion about the star in the east, the magi and the virgin birth, I heard a minister say, “Come to Christmas by way of Easter. If you believe that Jesus came, died and rose AND He did it all for you, then Christmas is easy.” We are Easter people. As this beautiful season unfolds we are reminded of life anew. By the flowers and trees greening around us. By the warm sun on our faces. By the breeze in our hair not forming icicles in its wake. We are also charged up and with utility belts firmly buckled on are ready to go Wham, Pow, Zonk some sin. We will see people at Easter who haven’t been to church for a while. We will want them to know all that they have missed. We will want to immediately immerse them into our world – our church. I know I will. Early vacationers to the eastern shoreline learn as they emerge from a dark, cold winter and run scantily clad, into the surf, unaware of what awaits - they get scorched by the sun. As our friends return to church, perhaps following a long, dark period and run to the Son for warmth, let’s not scorch them with a chronology of exactly how long it has been since we saw them last or a needs list -- you need to come to our Sunday School class, you need to come to early church, you need to join this committee, you need… (Possibly the single best word to distance me from as task).

When Jesus traveled, he walked. No 24-valve, dual overhead cam, high horsepower chariot. Hurry was not on the agenda. “Jesus, come quick. There’s this dead guy.” Still no hurry. “Jesus, come quick. There’s this guy’s daughter -- she’s sick.” So much not in a hurry we get the story headlined in our Bibles – ‘The miracle on the way to a miracle.’ When He spoke, he didn’t use a hi-amp microphone. He spoke softly. He talked the talk and walked the walk, showing us how to live by his actions. And when the road was ended, He showed us, slowly and quietly, how much we are loved -- “It is finished.”

When we see our friends, let them see and hear the Son through us.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 4-15-11

It seems appropriate to me that for a devotional that is going to be published on April 15, we take a look at Matthew, the tax collector. Tradition says that he wrote the first Gospel. We know that he lived in the region of Galilee. The people who lived there were not important in the eyes of the world, farmers and fishermen, regular folks. Unfortunately, the position that Matthew held in society was one of the most despised ones in all of Israel. He was a tax collector, also called a publican. Tax collectors were hated by all of Jewish society, even more than the Romans who occupied Israel at that time.

Publicans bought tax franchises from the Roman emperor and then extorted money from the people of Israel, money that was added to the Roman treasury and also padded the publican’s own pockets. Tax collectors were considered lowlifes and were treated as such. For a Jewish man like Matthew to be a tax collector was even worse. He was a traitor to the nation, a social outcast. He was also a religious outcast. He could not go in any synagogue. He was forbidden to worship and sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem. In terms of religion, he was worse than a Gentile.

But God had other plans for this man. Matthew 9:9 says “as Jesus passed on from Capernaum, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me.’” So Matthew got up and followed him without thinking. He put his old life aside and followed Jesus. He did not lie about his past. He did not try to hide anything. He did not make any excuse for what he did or what he was doing. He just agreed to follow Jesus.

Even though he lived on the fringes of respectable society, I think he must have known the Scripture well, because in his Gospel, he quotes from it time after time, the Law, the Psalms, the Prophets, every section of the Hebrew Scriptures. Since he couldn’t hear the word in any place of worship, he must have studied it on his own. I have no idea what went through Matthew’s mind when he decided to become a tax collector in the first place, something that he must have known was wrong for a pious Jew. Whatever prompted that choice, he believed in God and through his study of the Scriptures was waiting for the Messiah. He must have heard about Jesus long before me ever met him. He learned about the miracles, the healings, the teaching. So when Jesus asked him to follow Him, Matthew had enough faith to drop everything and follow. Then he invited all of his friends (tax collectors and other sinners) to meet Jesus. Of course the Pharisees found fault with that.

I think this is a great story for Lent because these are supposed to be forty days of discipline and examination. I wonder sometimes if these stories have not lost their edge over the centuries as the Christian church has become more and more a part of mainstream society. Many of us would be Pharisees who criticize Jesus for being with the sinners and outcasts of society. Today that means the homeless, the child abusers, the drug addicts, the people that I often think I’ m better than. But if Lent is a time when we examine ourselves honestly, we have to admit our own sinfulness, our own poor choices.

At my church in Fairmont I have been doing a preaching series called “Fearless, the Courage to Question” for Lent this year. It’s about not being afraid to take anything to God. Anything, the things we’re proud of, the things we’re ashamed of. Anything. I am trying to honestly look at my life right now. What relationships are important to me and which ones aren’t anymore? If they are important, what lengths am I willing to go to maintain them? I am also looking at the lifestyle choices I’ve made. Am I treating my body well? Am I on Facebook and the Internet too much? Spiritually, I am discerning if God is leading me on the same path that I’ve been on for years, or should I go in a new direction? And, oh my, what if I did make those changes? What would people say?! I don’t know what goes through your mind this year, but I am convinced that there is nothing we cannot take to God.

Matthew took himself with all of his flaws and offered them to Jesus for His use. Jesus used him. He can use our brokenness, our completeness, our joys and our sorrows for his service. Lent is a time to remember that in spite of our sinfulness, God still uses us, just as he used that tax collector Matthew.

Rev. Dorcas Linger Conrad
Highland Ave. UMC
Fairmont, WV

Devotional 4-14-11

Ever since the Memory Garden was built at Johnson Memorial, I have tried to make it grow and thrive. The Memory Garden to me is so important because it was established to remember all the loved ones that have been a part of our church from time immemorial. I have planted many plants there and most of them have struggled to survive. Was it because of poor soil, lack of water, or neglect after original planting? Scott and I amended the soil, mulched the plants, and watered them, but they never did well. The garden was supposed to be a place where we could go and reflect on the people who have made our church what it is today, and I could not find anything that would grow and flower there until last fall. I finally planted winter pansies. Winter pansies are such a delicate looking plant. They really do not display the attributes of a species that could survive freezing temperatures. To my amazement those little flowers bloomed even in our harshest cold this winter and even when covered with snow. This spring they are even more beautiful than they were when I planted them in the fall. Not many members of our church have seen those pansies. I know they are there, just like I know that God takes cares of us, and we do not know it. If God can make frail little pansies grow in the harshest of times, what else can He do for us that we do notice? We daily take advantage of his many blessings that we pay no attention to. I worked to find the right plant for the Memory Garden, but I know he finally helped me to make them grow through all the efforts of finding the answer to my wishes for our Garden. It is there for those who can only find access to our sanctuary because they can no longer climb our steps or are on their last journey into their church. Have you seen those pansies? They will be there until about May then I will try to find a plant that will survive the summer. Is my seeking the right plant for our garden not unlike our seeking of Christ? We are constantly trying to find the answer to what will work to make our life what we want it to be, but we have to try out a lot of things before we discover that He is the way for us to bloom and flourish even if nobody sees it.

Jean Ramsey

Devotional 4-13-11

WISHING

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever. Let Israel say: His love endures forever.” Psalm 118: 1-2.

A friend shared with me that he would soon be retiring. My immediate was response was to say, “I’m so jealous, I wish I could, also”. I started paying attention to the number of times I wished it was some other time, that I was in some other place or that I could bring back some ill-said words. It seemed I was doing a lot of “wishing”. I was wishing that the day’s duties were completed; that the semester was over; that the snows (and now the rain) would end; that I hadn’t embarrassed someone with my words; that I could go to the beach for spring break, etc. Lent is almost complete—have I also been wishing Easter would hurry up and arrive?

Was that what Judas had in mind when he went to the Jewish leaders? Was he wishing that the kingdom that Jesus spoke of would be revealed sooner rather than in some distant future? Wasn’t Judas just “helping Jesus out” by providing a little jump start push? Did Peter wish he hadn’t betrayed Jesus 3 times? Did the other disciples wish they had acted or said something differently? Surely there were more regrets than were written about in the scriptures.

We have the benefit of knowing the sequence of events of Holy Week from a wider perspective and even we can’t seem to act without regret. We wish we were more faithful, or more generous, or more loving. We have betrayed Jesus in any number of ways with our neglectful behavior and sinful actions. I wish I were a better person but even as willful and stubborn as I am, I cannot change on my own. My regrets are many.

How totally uplifting, in light of these regrets, to read in the psalms that God is good and his love endures forever. My regrets can become a plea that God will grant my request for mercy. God uses our choices and failings in ways that we cannot fathom or discern. God’s plan is revealed only as we live in the “today” of our lives. Wishing ourselves into the future or wishing we had acted differently in the past, does not bring us joy. Only when we surrender to God’s plan and time frame do we find forgiveness and peace. In these last days of Lent may we celebrate the infinite grace and enduring love of God that grants us all that we need for each moment of our lives.

“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”
Thomas Chisholm~~~

Dear Loving and Gracious God,
We are ever grateful for all that you have done for us and for supplying all that we need even before we became aware of our need. We are sorry for our many shortcomings. We regret that we have wished for other times and places when you have placed us where we need to be. We regret uncaring words and actions when you have shown us in the life of Jesus the actions that we should be modeling. Please grant us your forgiveness once again. Grant us mercy in spite of our lack of worthiness. Fill us with your love so that we might live as Easter People—redeemed and reborn. Amen.

Chyrl Budd

Devotional 4-12-11

Worry, Worry, Toil and Trouble

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.” (Psalm 118:24 NIV) But, how can you do that when you feel like every time you take 2 steps forward, the world knocks you back 3? We can sometimes feel overwhelmed with worries and grief as David did when he wrote, “Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.” (Psalm 31:9 NIV)

Do you sometimes lay awake at night thinking of problems, running different scenarios through your mind? I do, and because things never turned out the way I had planned I started playing a game with God. I think of every possible way a situation could unfold--plan A, B, and C. God inevitably comes up with D! I am definitely not in charge! There is something very freeing about that. I don’t have to have all of the answers. All I have to do is my best. But, what about the things I can't do anything about? Most of my worries seem to be about things I have little or no control over. I worry about other people. It is easy to have all the answers for someone else--so much easier than dealing with your own problems! But once again, I am not in charge. I can’t make someone else do something they don’t want to do. The only person I can control is myself, and I need a lot of help from God to accomplish that! Why would I even think that I have all of the answers for someone else? All I can do is love them, support them, and offer their problems up to God. Again coming to that realization is very humbling and freeing.

David gave us the answer when he wrote, "But, I trust in you, O Lord,...my times are in your hands,...Let your face shine on your servant, save me in your unfailing love.” (Psalm 31:14-16 NIV). We are to humble ourselves before God, admit we don’t have the answers, give the problems and the worries to God to solve. Instead of telling God what needs to happen, tell Him you don’t have a clue what to do and ask Him to show you the way. In other words trust God to be in charge. Then thank Him for all of your many blessings. All too often we let our worries over shadow our blessing.

Humble yourself, trust God, and thank Him for your blessings. Then you can truly rejoice and be glad in the day the Lord has made because He is in charge!

Margaret Williams

Devotional 4-11-11

The Brother With the Donkey


Matthew 21:1-11

“Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will quickly find a donkey tied there with its colt. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks you why you are taking the donkeys, say that the Master needs them and he will send them at once.”

I love Holy Week and I love this story. I love a parade. And this was the beginning of a parade for Jesus. A few weeks ago I was in New Orleans for a church conference, and I saw two parades -- one in downtown New Orleans and another in Biloxi, Mississippi. They both were wonderful. I loved them both. I thought about all of the preparation it took for the bands to practice and people to build the floats. I thought about where this brother had met Jesus before this day.

How did you know? How did you know it was Jesus who needed a donkey? Did you have a vision? Did an angel appear in a dream? Was it hard to give? Was it difficult to give something for him to use? Did you have any idea that your generosity would be used for such a noble purpose? Did it ever occur to you that God was going to ride your donkey? Were you aware that all four Gospel writers would tell your story? In making such a request, Jesus is claiming to be king.

It could be that God wants to use your donkey during this Lenten season and enter the walls of another heart, another city, another community or another nation. Will you let him? Will you give it? Or will you hesitate?

That brother who gave Jesus the donkey is just one in a long line of folks who gave little things to a big God. Scripture has quite a gallery of donkey-givers. In fact, heaven may be a hall of fame to honor God’s uncommon use of the common.

It’s a place you won’t want to miss. Look through and see Joseph’s coat, Rahab’s rope, Paul’s bucket, David’s sling, and Samson’s jawbone. Put your hand around the staff which split the sea and smote the rock. Sniff the ointment which soothed Jesus’ skin and lifted his heart. Blessed is he or she who comes in the name of the Lord.

Rev. Jeremiah Jasper

Devotional 4-10-11

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE

JOHN 11: 1-45

I thought of the admonition “You can run but you cannot hide” when I read John 11:7. Joe Louis is attributed the author of the saying when he stated, “He can run, but he can't hide" about his fight with Billy Conn, the light-heavyweight champion and a highly-regarded contender. Jesus and the disciples had just left Judea and made their way across the Jordan after a close call with being stoned. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was severely ill or dead he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea.” The disciples were incredulous. They could not believe what they were hearing. The scripture lesson gives Jesus a lot of metaphorical words and examples as his response to the disciples when he heard their response to his desire to go back to Judea. These are the words I wished the writers had put into the dialogue. Jesus replied to the disciples, “You can run but you cannot hide”.

In terms of our spiritual walk with the Lord truer words have never been expressed. We do run and we do hide, but not well. It is difficult to hide from God. We fool ourselves into believing that God is like our family and neighbors or worst yet the media. It is all about “spin”. If we say something enough times and frequently, it will be believed. God knows us. God know our limitations as well as our gifts and graces. God knows our sin as well as our blessing.

During this Lenten season we need to travel the road to Judea where the possibility of being stoned resides. This road to Judea is the road to salvation. At the end of the road lies the death of all the ideas, images, and beliefs that keep us from growing spiritually. It is fearful to travel this road. Scott Peck called this the road less traveled. It is a road that at times is not only scary and difficult but painful. That is why we do not want to travel on this journey. We have grown comfortable in our spiritual pain. We believe that if we buy some new toy the pain will recede. We believe we will feel better but that never works. The spiritual pain continues to lurk and wait to inflict itself upon us.

As you move through this Lenten season, I invite you to travel this road to Judea and repent. Repent the self centered nature that keeps you from being honest with yourself. Repent the petty feeling of jealousy, envy, hostility, and negativity that you have for others. Repent the ill will that you hold toward those who created the hurts, slights, and misdeeds done to you in the past. Repent the emptiness that pushes you to fill the hole with drugs, alcohol, possessions, and noise. Repent because “You can run but you cannot hide”.

Rev. David C. Johnson

Devotional 4-8-11

Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Lord whispered my name.
I felt his hand upon me,
and I saw a valley
through his eyes.

Bones. Death. Disconnected pieces of ruined life.
Scattered across the ground.
Silent and dry.
He led me into the valley.
With my steps, I tried to avoid the white decay,
but it was everywhere.
Bone dust rising with our steps.

"Child, is there life?
Anywhere around you?"
I doubted it.
I couldn't imagine life among these bones.

"Tell them about me," God said.
"Have enough faith to just speak about me.
Tell them to listen to me.
Have that much faith.
Believe that I can bring life from death.
Believe that my breath, my spirit, can do
what is unimaginable.
Have enough faith to say it."

I lay my doubt like a dry bone
upon the ground
and believed.
I did as I had been commanded,
and spoke of life to death.

As I did, with a great noise
the bones began to move.
Click and clack, snap.
Chalk rubbed against dust
and the bones stood together.
Assembled into the ghosts of life.
The bones were covered with flesh,
dry and wrinkled, holding the skeleton of life
into the appearance of men and women.

"Pray, my child, for life.
Ask for the spirit to enter this death.
Ask for my breath to come.
Ask for me to make a difference."

I asked.
I took from God the faith to ask.
To believe.
To have enough faith that God can make a difference.
That God can breathe life into death.

Death became life
and before me stood uncountable people
Once dead, now alive.
Once bone, now breathing flesh.
Alive in God's spirit.

In the valley of death and bones
God changed everything.
Where there was no hope,
God created hope.
Where there was no life,
God breathed his spirit into death.
And bones stood and came to life.

Do we ever stand among death?
Do we ever think a church is dying?
Do we lose hope; do we see only bones?
Do we have enough faith to speak of God?
Do we believe enough in the power of God to pray?

And you will know He is Lord
when he opens the grave of death and bones
and brings forth life.
Even you. Even me. Life.
And he will put his spirit within us, and we shall live.
Not a life of dry bones, but a life lived in God.
Awakened by his breath.
God among us.
God abiding in us.
Life.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 4-8-11

Please read Psalm 91
Here are two more Biblical references that might start us thinking about worship and music:

Chronicles 16:8-9 – Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name; make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.

Proverbs 8:17 -- I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.

Worship and Music

It seems to me that our worship of God is an ongoing, continuous thing. Yes, we worship in church. We also worship at home, maybe at work or just about anywhere or any time. There may also be times when we would like to go to a secret place to be alone with God. Such a place could be a special room where we can shut out the noises of the world – or our favorite place could be a hilltop with a beautiful view of the landscape below; or perhaps, a spot on the bank of a quiet stream --- any place where we can commune with God with no distractions.

Woven into the tapestry of our prayers and praise is our love of music – hymns, anthems, requiems and glorias; or maybe, just humming a simple tune while we pray.

While meditating about worship and music, I rediscovered a piece that seems to combine the various facets of our worship: a singable tune written by a great composer – Felix Mendelssohn with lyrics adapted by Carl Fredrickson from the familiar 91st Psalm. The title is Thy Secret Place.

Here are the lyrics. I hope they aid you in your worship as they have me.

In Thy secret place, Lord most high –
In the secret place of the Almighty,
I shall dwell in peace and in safety.
I shall dwell in safety in His presence.
His wings shall be my refuge, my God,
In Him I put my trust.
No evil shall befall me.
In thy secret place there is safety.
I shall never fear the noisome pestilence.
I have made the Lord my refuge,
And His secret place my habitation.

To Thy secret place, Lord, I come.
I shall dwell in safety in Thy presence.
I will trust in Thee, Thou my fortress,
And Thy truth shall be my shield and buckler.
Thy wings shall be my refuge,
No evil shall befall me.
He shall send His angels to keep me.
They shall watch and guard me from the fowler’s snare.
He hath set His love upon me.
I shall praise and show Him my salvation.

Prayer
O God, our creator
We have so much to thank you for –
Our very life
Our health
But we pause now to give you special thanks for your constant care and protection in our daily lives.
Surely, if we had to depend only on our own wits and abilities to solve the problems and dilemmas that assail us, we would be lost in no time; but, because you have aided us and sheltered us from the storms of life, we raise our joyful songs of praise to you. Amen.

Charlie Lewis

Devotional 4-7-11

My definition of treasure changed drastically when my daughter, Rachel, died.  In her closet I had stored several brand new miniature tea sets.  Each set represented a different animal. I had enough tea sets to give her one for her next ten birthdays. I had many more items that were precious only to Rachel, and I had to decide whether to part with, or keep them.  whether to part with, or keep them. Silly as it sounds, a pencil she used, or hair bow was a major decision. Every picture she drew, unmatched pair of mittens, or socks became “treasure” for a while. I stumbled through her favorite dresses, shoes, toys, books, etc… A desolate feeling would come over me when I thought about keeping all these personal things, but then knowing that someday these same “precious items” would be part of an estate sale where people would not have any idea in what way they were significant to her or us, was heartbreaking. It was stressful. Everything was a treasure but a burden also. I began to need to give things away. I needed to give them to someone who would know what they meant while they still meant something. Mainly, though, what I did was begin to re-think treasure.

I realized my memories were my treasure to keep. I humbly acknowledged that my true treasure was Christ because He was with me every moment through my life. I became conscious that each moment with my sons, my husband and my family where we found joy or grief was my treasure because we were living. I grasped the tiniest bits of hope every moment that I could, and labeled them treasure.

When treasure comes to mind now, I do not think of money, gold, or stocking away tea sets for days that might not happen. Instead, I think of a moment spent with someone I love, or the hope of shared time. I hear a child’s laugh. Beautiful fall colors come to mind shimmering bright in my mind. I imagine digging in dirt, and planting a beautiful blue spruce that will live. I cherish walks where I see a deer, living free, and hearing music that makes my heart soar. In my mind’s eye I see a smile on someone’s face because I made their day easier, or fulfilled a need. I treasure reading a book in my hammock while the wind rustles through the trees above me. I think of God, and I am overwhelmed because the God of all things considers me, and you, His treasure.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

Barbara Smith Lavalley

Devotional 4-6-11

As we move through the days of Lent, we must focus on the meaning of these days preceding Easter. God sent us his only son to suffer on the cross and to die in order to save us from our sins. What a sacrifice to make for all mankind. Unfortunately, there are those in our world who hold grudges and grievances against other people. Sometimes words are spoken that may hurt another's feelings. Satan then takes hold, and blame, accusation, and an unforgiving attitude emerges. Christ died for us, but on Easter Sunday, Jesus arose from the dead, giving us the promise of new life, joy, and happiness.


Are we willing to forgive those whom have hurt us, or do we allow Satan to perpetuate our hatred and continue to hold anger against others? God tells us to forgive as He forgave us. When people look at you, do they see Christ's kindness and humility, or do they see anger, the lack of compassion, and an unforgiving spirit?

We must allow the power of Easter to overtake our lives, understanding that God has forgiven us of our sins, and for us to enjoy and to appreciate all the gifts He has given to us. When we look at the beauty of the Earth, we know that God lives within all of us if we allow him into our hearts. Let us be like the beautiful season of spring, refreshed, renewed, and forgiving of others.

Matthew 6:14-15
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (NIV)

Colossians 3:13-14
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (NIV)

Theo Tippett

Devotional 4-5-11

No More Dry Bones

Almost every time a violin student quits taking lessons, parents usually say that they don’t have time to practice. The novelty wears away, and the well of interest becomes hopelessly dry. It’s such a shame to hear, because they rarely give it a fair chance. A little bit of sincere effort can lead to such a gratifying experience. To “deny oneself” by putting time into something can yield great results. We all have something we’d love to do… if we just had more time.

To give up a luxury during Lent, while keeping genuine spiritual focus, always leads to personal fulfillment. To sacrifice of our time is even better, because it can also positively affect others. Donating time to the church-- from pulling weeds outside to attending services within-- would be the best form of giving more to get more. In most cases, we know it’s not about having time; it’s about making time.

One of this week’s scriptures is Ezekiel 37:1-14. I’ve read an encouraging comparison of those “dry bones” to some churches, saying that God can breathe new life into a church just as He did those bones. It would be amazing to see our Church revitalized. More fellowship, more unity, and more children!

Ezekiel didn’t believe those dusty bones could be revived, and we might sometimes feel as though the church is beyond (literal and spiritual) repair. God can make the dead walk. One bone connects to the next, which connects to the next, and so on… until the body is complete. Just think how He can use the living to wake a slumbering church. One person’s actions add to those of the next, and the next… until the complete body bustles with renewed vigor. Let us make time now to pray for the life of the church and find ways today to help it along. In closing, I quote the closing line of the well-known song about Ezekiel’s dry bones: Hear the word of the Lord!

Natalie Wray

Devotional 4-4-11

Jim Perry

PEACE BE WITH YOU

Read John 20:19-23

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

(John 20:21, NIV)

I volunteer at the VA Hospital twice a week as well as help with Common Grounds, and I see many sad looks and faces that show a beaten down spirit. It seems as if many people are merely existing.

Everyone has to deal with heartbreaks and challenges. Jesus’ words to his disciples, “Peace be with you,” brings me solace no matter what I face. For me, remembering that Christ offers us peace takes a heavy weight off my spirit so that I can live a fuller life.

Some of the people I see reflect peace in their appearance, their mannerisms, and how they treat others. I feel drawn to these people. As a result, no matter where I am, I have tried over these years to share Christ’s peace. Giving peace to another person involves more that our words. We can communicate Christ’s peace with our smile, the kindness in our eyes, or the touch of a hand when someone is going through tough times and by doing so we draw others closer to Christ.

As we open our hearts day by day, Christ’s peace can fill us so that we are able to freely share it with those we encounter.

Lord, fill us with your love and peace so those we meet will want to know you because of what they see in us.

AMEN

Devotional 4-3-11

Valley Property for Sale

What does your “valley” look like? We have all experienced valleys. Are you living in yours? I’ve sent a change of address form to the Post Office because my valley has become so comfortable. It seems that’s how I’ve chosen to live the past several months…becoming complacent, self-absorbed, grieving the loss of a job, living with my parents while I recuperate from surgery brought on by my failed attempt to rescue a baby raccoon. I have almost found myself believing Kenny when he jokingly says, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Don’t you feel sorry for me? My attempt to do what I believed a good, valiant deed resulted in nothing but loss. The raccoon died. I can’t wear “big girl shoes,” or walk without limping, or lose weight, or maintain the belief that I’m irreplaceable at the office because I truly care about doing my job honestly and well. By now I’m sure you get the general idea. I’m just a joy to be with, especially because I’m a Christian, and my life demonstrates my faith, a life transformed by God! Really?

The first verse of the Old Testament lectionary reading for this week stopped me cold. “The LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’” (I Samuel 16:1) NRSV

Looks like I need to reassess the property value of my valley. Even though it has been my preferred pouting place several times, this particular pilgrimage has been filled with God’s blessings, and I chose not to see or appreciate or be thankful for them. My husband, my children, my parents have all been cheering me on – especially during my frequent melt-downs; my church family has visited me, prayed for me, stayed in touch with me, given me reassuring hugs; the love of Christ has been given to me on a daily basis, but I let the darkness of my valley blind me to the light of love these wonderful people continue to bring.

I must confess and ask forgiveness for grieving over past failures – and sins – and ask that God’s grace will allow me to see how God is opening a new chapter in my life. And in the process, I’ll be completing another change of address form …. and if you’re my neighbor here, let’s move forward together in the warm, loving light Christ shines on the path out of this valley, confident that God has better plans and a better place for us. Amen

Linda Summers

Devotional 4-2-11

A part of my morning routine is working the Sudoku puzzle that is in the newspaper. “They” say that the activity keeps our minds sharp. It sounds so easy –just get nine numbers into the correct boxes- but if they are not in the correct place (box), the result affects all nine boxes which make up the entire puzzle. Just like our lives, when we put just one area of our life in the wrong place, our entire life does not feel right, and in fact things just don’t go the way we want them to go, and then it is difficult to put the puzzle pieces (our lives) back in order. What do we do? Fortunately we do have a guide book to help us through these problems, and the answers are included. How good is that? But there is more. We have another guide. We have not put the puzzle pieces in the right places, we are in trouble. We can talk to God about this problem. Time goes by, and we do not get the answer that we want. Has God forgotten us? Did you ever look back and realize that his answer to you was no. I have. You did not get the answer that you wanted. Sometimes as you reflect on events you realize that no was the best answer. It was hard to realize at the time. Or perhaps you did not do your part in helping a thing to happen. God wants us to be proactive and positive. We cannot expect God to do it all. That is why he made us with abilities that we might use them- to solve the Sudoku puzzle or to be a positive force in our world.

Matthew 9:27-29 As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, ”Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us! When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him, Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why yes, Master!” He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened.

Marilyn Holleron

Devotional 4-1-11

Read John 9:1-41

“You can’t see the Forest for the Trees”

How many times have we heard this in our lives? We are working on a project, and at every turn, there seems to be another wall. Then, usually from what we believe to be an unlikely source, the answer drops in like a lightning bolt. That “Ah-Ha” moment, and everything continues to fall into place.

In John 9:3, we read, “he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed to him”. After this, Jesus makes some mud on the ground, rubs it on the man’s eyes, and tells him to “Go wash in the pool of Siloam”. He goes, and washes and is granted the gift of sight.

I believe this story is teaching us much more that the fact that Jesus was able to restore a man’s sight. In verse 39, Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind”. The scripture explains this further, explaining that we are neither gaining nor loosing physical sight. What we are made to see is the Glory of God in the example of the works of Jesus on earth.

So, when does our “Ah-HA” moment come? When do the walls come down, so that we are granted sight? That is up to each of us because God’s grace is given to us freely. We don’t deserve this gift, but all we need to do is say, “Yes Lord, I believe”, and we will be made to see.

During this season of Lent, we reflect on our lives, and listen for God. Hopefully we find ourselves saying “I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now, I see”.

Grace and Peace,
Hulse Budd