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 3-2-10

We raised our daughters in Lexington, and like the youth here at JM, they had a wonderful youth group. It amazed me from time to time when I, the parent, had my duties usurped by a teen within the group. They were truly family and kept one another “in line.” It was a real gift to us that we had good daughters and friends that cared and were strong. I have felt that we were sent to Lexington so that our daughters could be in that particular group. “ MANNA,” the name the youth group used when singing, traveled to many places singing for other churches. MANNA was a good name for the group as they were forced into a deeper understanding of what ‘manna” was to them. They realized that they were also “manna” to others as they sang in praise of their Lord. One of the songs they sang at every concert was a catchy and lively song called “Let it Rain.” It might have been a theme song of sorts. I watched them sing with all the happiness and joy of knowing that they were enjoying what they were doing, and also making others happy.

LET IT RAIN, LET IT RAIN, LET IT POUR,
LET TROUBLES KEEP KNOCKING AT MY DOOR

I felt my heart tug and feel heavy as I knew that it would rain on all their lives, and that sometimes things would be hard for them. I occasionally hear from members of that group, and I know that they are being tested, and I have suffered as I have watched my own daughters feel the pain of the storms around them.

We are all tested, but as we are told in the Bible, God is faithful, and he told us he will not let us be tested beyond our strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that we may be able to endure. These are reassuring words and I have found myself reminding myself and other family members of these Bible verses many times.
As church family we too must always know that God is with us. We do have times that are hard to endure, when the rain comes and the storms are all around. We must remember that God is with us to sustain us and give us peace.

We are reminded during this season of Lent of what Jesus had to endure, we know that he went through his pain for each of us, and his suffering is one of Gods gift for each of us. We must remember and be thankful.

Dear God, be with us in all of life’s journey. May we have the faith of MANNA that with God we can endure all things, and in all things be thankful. Praise to our father who has made us in his image, and to his son who has shown us how to live in his image. Thanks also for the Manna in our lives.

Amen Amen

Marilyn Holleron

Devotional 3-4-09

As I sit in church on Sunday morning and gaze at the beautiful surroundings of the stained glass windows it is so easy to have a thankful heart. The light shines on the windows and creates a variety of colors, the intensity of that light changing often during the worship service. As we share in a time of praise we share the joys of friends being healed, a new child or grandchild born, tests confirming no problems, families united. Do we stop to think that these are gifts that we are given?

Then there are days when the light in the windows is not as bright and shining. Days when we do not feel surrounded by this beauty. The days when friends share their fear in facing chemo or surgery, the days we share the loss of a member of our church family, the days we face losses that devastate.

In Genesis we read God’s word as he makes a covenant with Abraham, where he commits to be the God of Abraham and all of his descendants. This means we are assured that God is with us, and if we let go and let him he has wonderful gifts to give to each of us. Gifts like sun shine, rain, fresh air, a purpose in life, the colors of the glass, a smile, food to eat, knowing that there are those around us who care. As we look at the windows can we remember the gifts that we take for granted, the gifts that God gives us each day.

I am reminded of the words of a song written by Natalie Sleeth.

Hymn of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise;
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there’s a spring that waits to be,

There’s a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,

In our end is our beginning;
in our time infinity;
In our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

Dear God, May we always be reminded of the gifts we are given, may we not take them for granted, but celebrate them as we celebrate your life. Amen

Marilyn Holleron

March 4: Like to make things? Give a penny for every hand made item displayed in your home.