Devotional 4-7-14

EASTER HOPE

In discussing with a journalist friend of mine what our topic of conversation would be when he joined me on my talk show, we agreed that whatever the "crisis du jour" turned out to be on that day would be our subject. What a sad commentary on our world, each day bringing news of yet another catastrophe; uprisings and rebellions, massacres and invasions abroad, weather related devastation, floods, tornadoes, earth slides, political dissension nationally. Is there an answer? Yes, indeed.

We are a Christian community, what can we do in this sorrowful world? We can't control the weather (which is a good thing, we would never agree on it), We cannot control what happens in other countries although sometimes it seems as though we would like to do so. Can we agree on political compromise, or at least listen to what others have to say? Can we be less judgmental of others?

It seems to me that in this Easter season we as Christians have the opportunity to show our little part of the world that there is hope, that in the deepest, darkest days of despair after Christ's crucifixion a new day dawned. We cannot avoid the "crises du jour" whether they be personal, national or international, but we can put our hope and trust in our risen Savior. We can share that hope with others by the joy we show after the bleak devastation of Good Friday when comes Easter Sunday and therein lies the hope of the world. HALLELUJAH, CHRIST AROSE! 

Jean Dean

Devotional 3-5-13

THE LINEN CLOSET As the season of Lent gets closer to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday it becomes a very sad time for me and, no doubt, for many Christians as we contemplate Jesus' crucifixion. We celebrate Palm Sunday and the triumphant entry into Jerusalem only to be reminded of humanity's fickleness as the crowd turns upon Jesus and seeks His death.

Just a few weeks ago I happened upon something in my linen closet of all places which reminded me that after death comes the risen life. The linen closet is not one I explore very often. After all, what does it need except to keep the towels and sheets neatly arranged and act as a depository for a few things that don't belong anywhere else. I decided to find out what few things were hiding on the back shelf and I came upon a glass bowl that seemed to be filled with dirt and had a few brown paper-like stubs in it.

I stared at the bowl for a few minutes and then I remembered that two or three years ago I had planted some daffodil bulbs in the glass bowl after they had bloomed and then looked for a really dark spot to place them in until the following spring. Yes, you guessed it, I completely forgot about them.

I took the bowl and placed it in a sunny window not really expecting to see any change in the little brown stubs but, lo and behold, in a few days I saw tiny green shoots coming up and now the bowl is filled with green leaves. Soon the flower buds will appear.

What a reminder that after Good Friday comes Easter Sunday. Life triumphs over death! Hallelujah! The scripture that comes to my mind is Psalm 30, especially verse five, "...weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning." (KJV).

As we journey through Lent let us remember that life and God's love will always triumph.

Jean Dean

Devotional 3-28-12

ANGELS and PENNIES

Have you ever seen an angel?, No, you say. Well, neither have I. But if we had seen an angel would it have been wearing a long white robe, have feathery wings and a golden halo? I wonder. Frankly, in my bible readings I never paid much attention to any reference to angels. They were just there, kind of fluttering around. (I have to say I am embarrassed to admit this but confession is good for the soul).

However, somewhere along the way I was told of a poem about angels and pennies the gist of which was that if you see a penny on the ground and pick it up it was placed there for you by an angel who was watching over you particularly if you were experiencing a difficult time.

Again, along with my cursory attention to angels in general I did not recall this poem until the most difficult time of my life occurred last year when my dear husband died unexpectedly. Keith had been rushed to the Emergency Room following a small routine surgical procedure and then moved to the ICU where he stayed for eight days.

On one of those days I left his bedside for a few minutes to get some air and there on the threshold of the ICU room was a bright shiny penny. As I bent down to pick it up from somewhere in my mind's recesses came the story of the angels and the pennies. I knew then that God had sent His angel to be with me and to give me comfort and strength.

That was not the last time that my angel's presence was shown to me in some places one would not expect to find a penny: inside my car, under a pile of laundry, in a box of steak knives. I suppose a skeptic could find an explanation for these different locations but I will never be convinced they were anything but a sign sent to comfort me. By the way, I have kept each one of these special pennies. They all have a meaning, a reminder for me. I hope that when you most need comfort and strength you will find a penny left for you by your angel and you will be reminded that God is watching over you come what may.

PS I don't know if it is inappropriate to add a postscript to a devotion but I think I will anyway. In Cruden's Concordance it defines "angel" as "a celestial being, a messenger of God". How true.

Jean Dean

Devotional 3-18-11

LIGHT, LOVE, POWER, PRESENCE.

Four of the many gifts bestowed upon us by our loving Heavenly Father are contained in this little verse:

The LIGHT of God surrounds me,
The LOVE of God enfolds me,
The POWER of God protects me,
The PRESENCE of God watches over me,

Wherever I am, God is.

GOD'S LIGHT SURROUNDS US

Buzz, bzzz, bzzz. It's 6:15AM and the alarm clock is doing what it is supposed to do.....get me out of bed. Reluctantly I throw off the covers and start the morning routine. At this time of year it is still dark outside, but the first of God's gifts for the day is knowing that soon it will be light. Maybe sunny, maybe not, but light.

GOD'S LOVE ENFOLDS US
Whatever happens on this new day I know that God's love will be with me. Even if my plans go awry and nothing works out the way I want it to, the warmth of His love is there to guide and comfort. His love comes to me physically as I adjust the thermostat and the house fills with warmth. How many people don't have this blessing and are shivering and cold?

GOD'S POWER PROTECTS US
We live in a dangerous world but remember how many times in your life God has protected you from harm, from the time you were small and didn't fall out of the tree you should not have climbed into until your adult years when you didn't see the STOP sign until you had run it but the driver of the car that could have collided with you saw you and stopped in time.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD WATCHES OVER US
What more can we ask than that his presence is with us guiding, guarding, loving us each second, each minute, each hour of the day? What a comfort to know that through Jesus we are in touch with God always, and He is watching over us 24/7

WHEREVER WE ARE, GOD IS.

Thank you, God!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will be glad and rejoice in it. Ps.118 v.24"

Jean Dean



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Devotional 3-5-10

WHO? WHAT? WHERE?

Do you ever question who you are, where you are, what you do? Sometimes upon hearing of something brave or self-sacrificing that another person has done, do you wonder if you are where God wants you to be, doing what He wants you to do?

This morning in the Herald-Dispatch I read of a fourth year medical student at the Marshall University School of Medicine who, upon learning of the earthquake in Haiti, took a month away from his family and his studies to go to the island and do whatever he could to alleviate the physical suffering and distress. How wonderful, I thought, to be able to do that, to have the skills to help in this way.

Then I read in the Upper Room Devotional Guide of a man, an accountant in Illinois, who wrote, "Often I am overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty.....what should I be doing for the Lord? When? Where? How?" Upon reflecting and reading from Jeremiah 29:4-7 he realized that God had put him where he is, to do what he is doing, to be a faithful witness, and to cease wasting time in needless worry and concern.

God has placed us where we are; we must do the very best we can for His glory and to further His kingdom in whatever way we can however ordinary it may seem. He has a purpose for each one of us. How blessed we are!

Jean Dean

Devotional 4-1-09

Psalm 51:10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and uphold me with They free spirit.

It may seem strange to begin a Lenten devotional with a commercial of sorts but here goes. Stay with me and you will see the connection. On April 25th and 26th the Musical Arts Guild will present concerts on the theme "Praises Through the Ages". The music chosen is uplifting with songs from different faiths and denominations. One of the numbers to be presented is based upon the scripture quote above, "Create in me a clean heart, O God" by Carl Mueller.

Our Director for the performances, Dale Capehart, has rehearsed us vigorously on what some might consider a simple four-part anthem. Perhaps that is why the word of the psalmist resonates so strongly with me particularly during Lent.

Lent is a time for reflection, a time to beseech our Heavenly Father to give us the strength, the desire and the grace to follow His way. CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME.

Lent is a time to examine our lives, a time when we realize how far short we fall and how gracious is God in His dealings with us. CAST ME NOT AWAY FROM THEY PRESENCE AND TAKE NOT THEY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.

Lent is when we experience the highs and the lows of Holy Week from Palm Sunday and Good Friday to the Glory of Easter, a time when we know the joy of salvation and God's infinite grace. RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THEY SALVATION AND UPHOLD ME WITH THEY FREE SPIRIT.

PRAISE THE LORD.

Jean Dean

Mission Reponse and Prayer Focus
March 31: SRSH encourages creativity in its children's development center. Agree? Then give a dime for every coloring book you have at home.

Devotional 3-1-08

What Should I Do During Lent?

When I lived in England before emigrating to the United States I was a member of the Anglican Church, and the Lenten observance was strict. As a teenager I enjoyed the Palm Sunday celebration and looked forward to Easter Sunday, but I dreaded Good Friday. Perhaps it was because I was a stranger to the thought of death. No one close to me, neither family member nor friend, had died.

On Good Friday many stores closed and it was observed as a religious holiday (my, how times have changed). Always on Good Friday I had this feeling inside me, a feeling of impending doom, and I could not understand, it was something very negative.

Now, many years later I have come to a different perception, but I wonder, should we feel less than positive during Lent? Yes, I know it can be a time of self-denial, but can it not also be a proactive time when we make an effort to do something that will take dedication on our part and will have a positive result. Perhaps it could be as simple as spending more time in bible study or reaching out to cheer someone going through a difficult time. Is Lent the time we should make good on a volunteer job we have been intending to undertake for awhile? What is it that we can do and, just maybe, whatever it is will continue on beyond our glorious Easter.

"Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice" (Phil 4:4)

The LIGHT of God surrounds me,
The LOVE of God enfolds me,
The POWER of God protects me,
The PRESENCE of God watches over me,
Wherever I am, GOD is.

Jean Dean