In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
DEVOTION
Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It is a day set aside to remember all of those people, in military service, who gave their lives for the cause of freedom and to secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all of God's children.
After reading Mary's Song of Praise, I was struck by the words, "Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed..."
Indeed, we do call Mary "blessed," as we remember her as the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave his life in service to humanity in order to attain the forgiveness of our sin, reconciliation with God and our eternal life.
On this Memorial Day, we rightly remember those people who died to defend our country; but, let us also remember The One who truly made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend all of humanity from the power of sin, death, and the grave--His Name is JESUS!
When Elizabeth heard Mary at her door, she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Once filled, she correctly bore witness to The Truth that Jesus is Lord.
On this day, I pray that we too will be filled with the Holy Spirit and that we will offer comfort those who mourn the loss of a beloved son, daughter, father, mother, sister, brother, or friend who died in combat. Let us share the sure and certain good news message that God offers blessing, comfort, and peace to all who mourn, as well as the blessed assurance that when we are in Christ, eternity awaits us.
Let us pray:
Dear God, thank you so much for all of those people who are peace makers and peace keepers throughout the earth. Please protect those who seek a just peace for all of your children and may the day soon arrive when the work of soldiers will no longer be necessary and the fullness of the angels' prophesy on Jesus' birthday will become manifest--PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TOWARD ALL PEOPLE. We pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
DEVOTION
Today is Holy Trinity Sunday.
Many people are mystified by the Trinity and in my opinion that is okay. We cannot know--or understand--everything about God. Sometimes we just need to live with sacred mystery.
But, I do remember my mother teaching me about the Trinity when I was a little girl. I asked her how The Three (e.g., Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) could actually be One.
Mom answered my question with some questions. She said, Is steam water? (yes). Is ice water? (yes) Is liquid H2O in a glass water? (yes)
In that moment I realized that one substance could present in three very different ways and with three very distinct purposes!
Likewise, God chooses to present in three different ways with three distinct purposes, but God is no less God in each manifestation. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all GOD. The One God whose love caused the creation, salvation, and redemption of the entire world and everything in it!
Together, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit declare Truth and Love, and God's love makes all things possible!
I am so glad that The Triune God chose to manifest Love by giving Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.
On this day, you are invited to fall into the Love of The One God who loves you more than you could hope, dream, or imagine! You'll be glad you did!
Let us pray:
Holy God, thank you that in all three of your manifestations your attitude toward me is love. Thank you for giving Jesus to die on the cross to forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Please forgive me of my sin and help me to share your love with everyone that I meet. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
SPECIAL NOTE
If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today you are a Christian! I would be so honored if you would take a moment to let me know that you put all of your hope in Jesus today by clicking YES in the upper right hand corner of this blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"
I also pray that you will tell a Christian friend about your decision, so that s/he can help you find a good Bible believing church to attend where you can be baptized and grow in your faith.
Congratulations! Your salvation is our good news. Please share the good news with someone today!
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
DEVOTION
I am glad that Jesus gave us the example of being "obedient" to our parents!
If anyone should have been able to do whatever he wanted to do, and thought best, it was Jesus.
Even as a child, he must have had more wisdom than they could have ever hoped to possess and yet he chose to be obedient to his earthly father and mother.
This is a good lesson for all of us who have difficulty getting along with our parents for reasons known and unknown to us.
We are taught in scripture to "honor our fathers and our mothers that our days may be long upon the earth." (Exodus 20:12)
This is easier said than done for some of us, but God does know best.
Even if we do not always agree with our parents, we can honor them by loving them unconditionally and ever seeking their good.
As our parents age, the day will come that we must care for them, as they cared for us. It will be in these days that we find out what we are truly made out of! Although it is true that many of us may have had rocky relations with our parents when we were children, we must still treat them with dignity, grace, and compassion when they are no longer able to care for themselves.
It has been said that, "An eye for an eye leaves everybody blind!" (Ghandi)
Let us remember that LOVE is always in order; and it is through LOVE that we will always find our greatest salvation!
I am so glad that God did not give me what I deserved in my weakest hour; rather, God showed forth LOVE by sending Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life.
It is my prayer, that we will offer love and mercy to our parents, when they need it most!
Let us pray: Holy One, thank you that Jesus gave me such a good example regarding how to interact with my parents. Please help me to love and honor them whether or not I feel like they deserve it and please help me to be the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus in their lives when they need it most. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
DEVOTION
A friend of mine recently shared with me his struggles to maintain unity and peace in a difficult situation.
I was impressed by his resolve to be faithful to his Christian beliefs, whilst at the same time giving honor where honor is due by being humble, gentle, patient and loving.
It occurs to me that sometimes we will find ourselves in circumstances that are less than ideal and other times we will have to interact with people who pluck our last nerves. But, it is at times like these that we must lean into Spirit trusting in God's ability to help us maintain the character of Christ.
It is especially important to remember these lessons when the person driving us nuts is a brother or sister in Christ, for scripture teaches us that we must maintain our unity, remembering that there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.
We are all children of the same God and it is never a good witness for non-Christians to see Christians fighting like we do not know Jesus!
Sometimes, we will have to agree to disagree. Other times we may need to part ways. But, at all times, we must allow Spirit to cause us to walk in love, joy, and peace so that the world will know that we are Christians by our love!
Let us pray:
Great and Wonderful God, please help me to walk worthy of my calling in Christ! Please help me to show forth your Spirit of Love, even when I disagree with someone. Please help me to be a good and faithful witness to those who do not know you. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
DEVOTION
Today I am struck by the call to know "the immeasurable greatness of God's power for us who believe."
Sometimes, we think of power solely as might--or the ability to strike down those who oppose you. In a world wracked by war, we often think in terms of winners and losers, strong and weak, powerful and feeble.
Often, people use their power to oppress others, or to make them do what they want them to do. And we all know that God is the All Powerful One. God can snuff out life with a thought. God can strike the liar or blasphemer with lightning. God could destroy the earth in a heartbeat.
Truly God is more powerful than any other being past, present, or future--AND YET, today's scripture reminds us that God ultimately uses power to love and to save sinners just like you and me.
It is my prayer that Spirit will grant us the wisdom and revelation to know God, and God's son Jesus, and that we will truly know the hope of a life in Jesus! Although we may deserve to be snuffed out because of our disobedience to our God, God meets us again and again with love, grace, and mercy. Isn't that amazing?!
I am so glad that God used power to allow Jesus to live, die, and rise again to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life! Now, that's real power!
Let us pray: All Powerful One, thank you that you have chosen to use your power to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life with you. I am so thankful and honored that instead of giving me what I deserve, you gave me what I do not deserve--Your love, joy, peace, and salvation! I praise you Mighty One and pledge to serve you all of my days--sharing the good news that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
Then the kings assembled, they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight; trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor, as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah
We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory. Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.
DEVOTION
There is no God like our God! God is powerful, mighty, strong, and loving!
In today's scripture we are invited to consider God, and God's sanctuary, that we may tell the next generation that God is our God, forever and forever...
It is so important that we are bold in sharing our good news testimony with others. God has been so good to us in Jesus, giving Him to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.
As I look at my beautiful children, I realize that there are many things that I would like to give them, but more important than any--THING that I could provide, is the sure and certain knowledge that JESUS SAVES and He saves to the utmost!
As you think about the inheritance that you will leave to those whom you love most, don't forget to make up your mind to share Jesus! You'll be glad you did!
Let us pray: Holy One, please help me to be faithful in sharing the good news about Jesus with all of your children near and far. This faith is the greatest legacy that I could bequeath to anyone. You are my greatest treasure and I am blessed to share you with anyone. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Then the word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, your kinsfolk, your own kin, your fellow exiles, the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, "They have gone far from the Lord; to us this land is given for a possession." Therefore say: Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far away among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone. Therefore say: Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. When they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, says the Lord God.
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. And the glory of the Lord ascended from the middle of the city, and stopped on the mountain east of the city. The spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen left me. And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me.
DEVOTION
It never ceases to amaze me that even when I sin and fall short of the glory of God, exhibiting a heart of stone, God still acts as a sanctuary for me.
I love the line in today's reading which states, " Though I removed them far away among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone.
Isn't God good?! Even as we are being disciplined for our poor choices, God is still protecting and shielding us from consequences worse than we can imagine.
Some of us will admit that we know about this. When I was a teenager, I did some things of which I am not proud. Sometimes there were consequences...I got lost. I got grounded. I lost friends. I became embarrassed.
But, when I think about what could have happened--I could have gotten kidnapped. I could have gotten carjacked. I could have gotten raped. I could have gotten killed; I am so grateful that God was my sanctuary even in the midst of my stupidity and sin.
I love God so much! And God loves me! God loves you too and has kept you from dangers seen and unseen, known and unknown, even in the midst of your sin.
So, today, let us give thanks to God who is always our sanctuary. Praise God!
Let us pray:
Thank you God for loving me so much! Thank you for being my sanctuary. Thank you for Jesus who is the greatest sanctuary, giving his life upon the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I love and praise you and will share our love with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people. In response to his people the Lord said: I am sending you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a mockery among the nations.
I will remove the northern army far from you, and drive it into a parched and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its rear into the western sea; its stench and foul smell will rise up. Surely he has done great things!
Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield. O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
DEVOTION
Yesterday we celebrated Pentecost, or the coming of the Holy Spirit.
I am so glad that the Spirit is the great equalizer.
In today's reading Joel prophesies about the coming of the Holy Spirit and upturning of the social order. Joel 2 says, "I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
Isn't it wonderful that God's Spirit is for men and women, old and young, male and female, slave and free, rich and poor?
God is no respecter of persons! God is willing to pour out Power and Spirit on all flesh without regard to any defining characteristic!
I am thrilled to serve a God like this. I can't wait for the coming of the Kingdom of Love where all --isms (e.g., racism, classism, sexism, etc) will be banished and all will be--and feel--truly equal in God's sight.
That's going to be a great day! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Let us pray:
Oh God! Please pour out your Spirit on me. I need more of you and less of me. Please help me to show forth your Love to others and to treat all of your children equally. I love you and I ask you to help me to love others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs - in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
DEVOTION
Today is the Day of Pentecost! It is the day that the Christian Church remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit and the filled of the disciples gathered in Jerusalem.
When the Spirit comes The Church is truly birthed out into the world and into the streets. People see, hear, and experience the joy that is found in Jesus as the disciples are led by Spirit to proclaim the good news in the language of every person gathered in the city.
Spirit always insures that people can hear and understand the good news. Spirit always drives us outside of the safety of the four walls of buildings and out into our communities where we can encounter people in need of Jesus.
Spirit is always bold, radical, and fearless in declaring Christ has died, risen, and will come again.
And wherever Jesus is proclaimed, whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, is saved!
Hallelujah! What wonderful good news!
Today I hope the wind and fire of Spirit blows into and over your life so that you will be bold in sharing Jesus with everyone you meet.
Let us pray:
Holy God, thank you for Pentecost Spirit. Thank you for the joy I have in Jesus! Thank you for my desire to share good news with others. Please fill me to overflow with your Holy Spirit so that I will be empowered and equipped to tell others that Jesus saves and he saves to the utmost! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
DEVOTION
I love the words, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard."
Many times I have heard these words in my own spirit. "Do not be afraid, Yolanda, for your prayer has been heard."
Prayer is a powerful means by which we connect with the Divine. It is one way that we can adore God, confess our sin, thank God for our blessings, and ask God for what we need.
As we pray, we can be sure that if our desires, line up with those of God, our prayers will be answered.
God has answered me in many ways--sometimes yes, no, or wait. Other times through the words of the Bible or wise elders and sometimes through nature, song, or silence.
God is mighty to bless us with the desires of our hearts when we walk in faith. And even when we are not always full of faith, or laugh at and questions the plans of God, God still blesses us--Zechariah's story is proof positive of that!
I am so humbled that the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe has time to talk with me. Won't you talk with God today? You'll be glad you did.
Let's pray:
Dear God, thank you that you can see into the very depths of my heart and that you know what I need. Thank you that you are good beyond my imaginings and that I can trust you. Thank you for always giving me what I need--most notably a relationship with you through Jesus Christ! Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can declare the good news that Christ has died, risen, and is coming again! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
DEVOTION
Today I am inspired "not to grow weary in doing what is right."
In my case, I am waiting (not so patiently) to adopt a child. It is very hard to wait; but I know that it is the right thing to do. Sometimes, I get so anxious, I consider throwing in the towel, but I know that I cannot. It is never appropriate to grow weary of doing what is right in the eyes of God.
Even if we are unappreciated, things don't go our way, we grow impatient, other people mock us, or we run out of energy, we must call upon the Lord to renew our strength.
It is always the right time to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strengths and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Today we are reminded that we reap what we sow. Let's make it our business to sow much seed of love. Jesus did this, dying on the cross and rising on the third day to make atonement for our sin and gift us with eternal life.
Since, Jesus is our example, we know that we too must "work for the good of all" as often as we can and for as long as we can.
We don't work to earn our salvation (Jesus already did that); but we work to show forth our faith and to share the good news that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost!
Let us pray:
Dear God, please let me sow the seed of Love. It is good seed and it produces good fruit. Please help me not to grow weary in well doing and to trust that in due season, if I don't give up, you will reward my efforts for you. I love you and I pledge to share our love with others, in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
DEVOTION
Oh how I wish I could always, at all times, and in all circumstances exhibit the fruit of the spirit.
I wish I always did the loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle, self-controlled thing both inside and outside of the church.
I wish God's work in me was perfected and that I allowed Spirit to be in full control of my body, mind, and soul. But, alas, there is a war between my flesh and my spirit and sometimes, I must confess, that my flesh wins.
I am "fleshy" when I am jealous of a friend. I am "fleshy" when I quarrel with a neighbor. I am "fleshy" when I allow my anger to get the best of me. To be "fleshy" is to sin or to do that which is contrary to the Law of Love. Thank God for Jesus who crucified the flesh to the cross, conquering sin, death, and the grave! Thank God for Jesus who died and rose again attaining our forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
I could not be more grateful for the call to live by the Spirit and be guided by the Spirit! Although I confess that I have a ways to go, I know that as I walk with Jesus--and mature in my faith--I will become more fruity day by day!
Now, aint'a that good news?!
God, please forgive me for being so fleshy. Please help me to be more fruity by the power of the Holy Spirit. I want to live and be guided by you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
DEVOTION
Five years ago, I preached on this passage of scripture. The title of that message was "Glory Shout!"
Even today, the determination to live a "glory shout" kind of life drives me in all that I say and do.
I acknowledge that bad things happen: hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, oil spills, lay offs, illness, murders, etc., but I also acknowledge with every fiber of my being that God is good (all the time) and all the time (God is good).
The determination to live a glory shout life is not sticking your head in the sand; rather it is a made up mind which declares, "Glory!" even in the midst of trial, tribulation, or hardship.
I love what the psalmist says. Essentially, he says, "We shout glory because God is king forever and he gives strength and peace to his people."
I love all of the attributes ascribed to our good God in this psalm. It says that God is honor-worthy, glorious, strong, splendid, holy, thunderous, powerful, and majestic all of the time.
Living a "glory shout" life means keeping our eyes and thoughts on who GOD IS, rather than on who we are and what we're going through. It means remembering that our faith allows us to praise God in the storm, rather than just waiting for it to be over. And it means trusting that the same God who loved us enough to send Jesus to live, die, and rise again to forgive our sins and grant us eternal life, is the same God who will either rescue us out of our mess, or join us in it!
God will never leave us nor forsake us friends and God will never be dethroned. Since this is true, let everyone shout, "GLORY!!", on this day!
Let us pray:
God, I am determined to shout "GLORY!" no matter what my circumstances for you are always good, powerful, and in control. I love you and I know that you love me. Thank you for giving Jesus to die and rise again to atone for my sin and open Heaven's door to my eternal life. I cannot begin to repay you for such a precious gift, that is why I am so thankful that it is free! But, with all that I am and ever hope to be, I shout GLORY and I pledge to share our love with others, as your Spirit leads me....I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the Israelites assembled before the king at the festival that is in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites carried the ark. So they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be numbered or counted. Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside; they are there to this day. There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel after they came out of Egypt.
Now when the priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their divisions), all the levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kindred, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with one hundred twenty priests who were trumpeters. It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever," the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
DEVOTION
When I am most stressed out, it helps to recite the song of praise that is found in today's scripture, "For he is good and his steadfast love endures forever."
When I recite these words, singing in my heart, I am reminded that despite my trials, tribulations, and circumstances, God is still good (all the time) and God loves me (no matter what)!
It's easy to sing this song of praise and thanksgiving on good days, such as the day that Solomon and his people brought the ark to the holy house of the Lord! What a day of triumph and victory!
But, it is much harder to sing on our bad days--when we are sick, loose a job, break a relationship, or don't know how to pay our bills.
In my experience, it is just as important to affirm God's goodness and love in our bad times, as in our good.
As we encourage our souls with the good news message that God Loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life, we will have cause to celebrate even in our darkest hours!
It is my prayer that all of us will sing today, ""For he is good and his steadfast love endures forever."
May our praises ring out, touching souls, and leading people to Jesus.
Let us pray:
God you are good and your love endures forever! Please let that be the testimony of my heart today as I share the good news about Jesus, everywhere that I go. I pray this in His Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark; and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain, and set the bread in order on it before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and set up the lamps before the Lord; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the curtain, and offered fragrant incense on it; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He also put in place the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle. He set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering as the Lord had commanded Moses. He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed; as the Lord had commanded Moses. He set up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and put up the screen at the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.
DEVOTION
I am entranced by the words, "Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him."
Now that's RADICAL obedience!
I wish I could say that I do everything just as the Lord commands, but I do not. Unfortunately, like all human beings, I am prone to sin and fall short of the glory of God.
I fail to love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and I fail to love my neighbors as myself. Furthermore, sometimes I fail by what I do (shame on me) and sometimes I fail by what I don't do (equally shameful when I know better).
I thank God for Jesus who is the atonement for sin and the means by which we are reconciled with God and inherit eternal life.
I know I'm not good enough to get into heaven; thank God my salvation is not dependent upon my behavior. Rather, it is wholly dependent on the behavior, work, and LOVE of Jesus who chose to go the cross for me. Jesus, is the only one, who did everything just as the Lord commanded, every day of his earthly and heavenly life!
Now, ainta that good news?!
Let us pray:
Lord, I confess my sin today and ask for your forgiveness. Please help me to do everything as you command to the best of my ability so that I can experience your glory, filling the tabernacle of my heart. Please be for me a cloud by day and a fire by night, that I may follow you wherever you may lead. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
DEVOTION
Oh! It touches my heart so much that Jesus chose to pray for us in his last hours upon the earth!
Isn't it amazing to read the words, "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one"?
Hallelujah!
(Singing) Somebody prayed for me, had me on his mind, took the time to pray for me. I'm so glad he prayed, I'm so glad he prayed, I'm so glad he prayed for me!"
Jesus prayed for us! And his prayer was that we would be united with God and with each other and that Love would rule the day!
This prayer makes me more committed than ever to squash any animosity between myself and another Christian. It makes me more determined to never gossip about a brother or sister in Christ. It makes me more steadfast in my desire to sow the good seed of Love everywhere that I go! And finally, it makes me totally sold out to sharing the good news about Jesus, so that everyone can feel and know His great love for us!
Praise God for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Hallelujah and Amen!
Let us pray:
Jesus, thank you for praying for me! Thank you for wanting my life to be filled with unity and love. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will be faithful to the work of sharing the same with others. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
NOT SO GLORIOUS
We have seen your glory but life It isn't glorious Day after day we labor making mess after mess because we fail to truly embrace Grace and Truth.
Living is hard Dying is harder And I don't feel so graceful just now...
But, you promised me grace upon grace Please make Jesus known to me in my final hours help me to believe that my living has not been in vain Forgive my sins Known and unknown and Please Grant me your peace I want to come home now I need to behold your glory Full of Grace Full of Truth Jesus I need Thee now.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus -- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) "For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'Let another take his position of overseer.' So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us -- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
DEVOTION
Today I am positively struck by the fact that there were many, besides the disciples, who accompanied Jesus and his disciples from the beginning to the end of his earthly ministry!
So often, I fail to remember that great crowds of people followed Jesus everywhere that he went. While we know the names of the twelve disciples, there were many more faithful followers whose names we will never know.
This gives me Holy Ghost boldness as I go about my work and ministry for the Lord. Although others may not take notice of those things that I do to bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus, God knows and appreciates my service.
It is a wonderful thing to be able to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, comfort the dying, preach and teach the good news, and lead worship as Spirit allows.
I love that God invites me into partnership, even when I am sometimes the "silent partner." (giggles)
My utmost goal is for Jesus Christ to be glorified. If folks forget my name, may they NEVER forget the name of the one I love and serve; HIS NAME IS JESUS!
Today, will you make up your mind to love God and neighbor humbly and without recognition?
Let us pray:
Lord God, thank you that every moment of my life is known and remembered by you. I do not have to receive the accolades of man. I only strive to make you smile. I pray that you are happy with the work of my hands and heart. I love Jesus and thank You for allowing him to die on the cross to forgive me of my sin and make provision for my eternal life. I want to share our love with others. Please help me to be faithful to do this. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
DEVOTION
Today, we remember the Ascension of our Lord. This is the day that we recall the moment when Jesus was lifted up into heaven!
After reading this scripture I was suddenly so grateful that Jesus spent 40-days on earth after his resurrection!
It is easy to forget these 6.5 weeks in the life of Jesus; but we must not! Our Savior chose to reveal himself to many, many people so that there could be no doubt that he was the Risen Lord!
As a result, all of those people who saw Jesus, took their testimonies into the world--and one person told another who told another unto this present day!
I know that I am only a Christian today because many people chose to boldly share the news of the resurrection with me! (Praise God for them!)
Today, I take to heart the words of the two men in white who said to the disciples, "why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
This is wonderful good news, but it is also an encouragement to get moving!
We have a good news story to tell. We have the blessed opportunity to tell people that "Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ shall come again!"
As we share our testimonies, may others come to believe in The One whom we love and serve!
AMEN! So be it...
Won't you pray with me?
Holy One thank you for Jesus' life, death, and resurrection! Thank you that Love gave Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life! Thank you that you have given me the opportunity to share this good news with others. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will be an effective witness for Jesus. I pray this in His Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
more majestic than the waves of the sea,
majestic on high is the Lord!
Your decrees are very sure;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.
DEVOTION
Many of us have looked on with dismay as we have surveyed the flood damage in Tennessee.
I have a brother-in-law in the state and he told me that there is much devastation and many people have lost their homes, property, furniture, mementos, and even their pets!
Worse than that, more than thirty people even lost their very lives, as the floods lifted up their roaring voices!
It is at times like these that we need to turn to God who reigns above the floods!
As we turn to God, we will be commissioned to offer prayer, love, and care to our brothers and sisters in need. No matter where we are, or what our financial situation, we are called to do our best to pray without ceasing and to provide for food, water, clothes, shelter, health care, and education to those experiencing this terrible emergency!
I believe that as God's people rise up and lead the recovery efforts needed in Tennessee, and all over the world, many people will be blessed by the good news message that God loves, gave, and saves!
Won't you please pray for the people of Tennessee, and then join me in making a gift to the American Red Cross in order to help in that state?
If so, please pray with me:
Dear God, we lift up our brothers and sisters in Tennessee. We pray for your grace, mercy, and provision as they put their lives back together by your Spirit. We pray that you will lead us to offer care as we are able. We pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
TO DONATE
To make a donation to the American Red Cross to aid the survivors of the floods in Tennessee, please click here http://newsroom.redcross.org/ Thank you!
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
The spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law; but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. In those times it was not safe for anyone to go or come, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. They were broken in pieces, nation against nation and city against city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord. He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing as aliens with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him. They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. They sacrificed to the Lord on that day, from the booty that they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and with all their soul. Whoever would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. They took an oath to the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with horns. All Judah rejoiced over the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.
DEVOTION
Mercy! Mercy!
Today am reflecting on the words from 2 Chronicles, "The Lord is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you."
This side of the cross, I am so grateful that God has chosen never to abandon humanity.
Jesus is the once and for all time sacrifice for the atonement of sin.
Jesus didn't die for one or even a few--He died for all.
Rather than us seeking God, God sought us, sending Jesus into the world to live, die, and rise again as a brother, friend, and savior to humanity.
Now, the Bible says, "whosoever will call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved..." (Romans 10:13)
There is always an open invitation to turn away from our sin and into the love, hug, and smile of Jesus.
Recently I visited a hospice patient. S/he said to me, "Pastor, I'm just not good enough to go to Heaven." My response--"Neither am I."
No one is good enough to earn a ticket into heaven. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our eternal life is not contingent upon anything that we do; instead, it is solely contingent upon the work, blood, and sacrifice of Jesus who gave his life on Calvary's Tree.
As a result, all that we needto do is put all of our faith in Jesus. We must trust that only HE can do the work necessary for our salvation. This knowledge gives us a blessed assurance, peace, and rest.
Will you put all of your hope in Jesus today? If so, please pray with me...
Dear God, I believe--by faith--that you love me and have sought me out to spend eternity with you. Thank you for Jesus and for his life, death, and resurrection. Thank you that because I am putting my all of my hope in Him today, my sins are forgiven and I am assured of eternal life. Please forgive me of all of my sin and fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can walk with you. I pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.
SPECIAL NOTE
If you prayed this prayer for the first time, today you are saved! Welcome to the Christian Family.
I want to encourage you to tell a Christian friend what you did today. Ask him or her to help you find a good, Bible believing church, where you can get baptized and grow in your new faith.
I would be so honored if you would take a moment to let me know about your decision by clicking "YES" in the upper right hand corner of this blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"
I am so happy for you and I promise to hold you in my prayers! Peace...
Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David. David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment." Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, "We are yours, O David; and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you! For your God is the one who helps you." Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops.
Some of the Manassites deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, "He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.") As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh. They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all warriors and commanders in the army. Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.
DEVOTION
Today's scripture puts me in mind of the Bible verse, "If God be for you, who can be against you?" (Romans 8:31)
In David's day he needed a mighty army of warriors. In our day, God needs a mighty army, but not one armed with swords and shield, but with love, joy, peace, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Just as Amasai and his men came to David pledging their allegiance, so too do we come to God with the promise to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The King of Love, sends us out to do battle with the forces of darkness--hatred, malice, fear. And we are not powerless against these adversaries, for Jesus lives inside of us and His Light overcomes the darkness (every single time).
Today, I pray that you will allow yourself to be used by God to show forth Love on this day. As you feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, love the unlovable, and forgive the unforgivable, God's Kingdom will come on earth as it is in Heaven.
I can't wait for that glad and glorious day when Jesus returns in all of His glory. But, in the meantime, we are called to be in service to the Kingdom of Love, as we share the good news that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost!
In Christ, we will always be victorious!
Praise be to God!
Let us pray: Thank you God that we are able to overcome the darkness with your Light. Help us to love and serve others, as you have loved and served us. As we do, please advance your Kingdom until you come again. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
9During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. 11We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
GOSPEL
John 14:23-29 (NRSV)
The Father will send the Holy Spirit
Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
SERMON
Today we celebrate Mother’s Day and as I stand to proclaim good news, I have been made acutely aware of the fact that for some this is a day of great joy and for others it is a day of tremendous sorrow. Wherever you may find yourself on this spectrum, I honor your feelings and hold you in my prayers.
As I meditated on the lectionary scriptures it occurred to me that for some of us this is rightfully a day of great rejoicing. Perhaps you had a little one, running around at 6am, bringing you breakfast in bed and a gift made at school for her Mommy. Or maybe you had a teenage boy sneak up behind you, give you a quick hug, and a gruff, “I love you,” before running away. Or perhaps you will get a call later this evening from a child who is now grown and living far away, raising children of her own, who will be thinking of you and wanting you to know that she still cares and now values your new role as a grandma. Finally, you may have a mother who is yet alive and who continues to brighten your days with her smile, love, advice and prayers.
For others of us this may be a sad day. Some of us are thinking of mothers who have died and flown to Jesus. Others of us have lost children to illness, accident, separation, or violence. Still others of us have broken relationships with children--or mothers--and forgiveness has not been quick to come. Finally, there are undoubtedly some amongst us, who have a brutal ache in the chest every Mother’s Day, because you have desperately wanted to have children, but have none.
On this day, and in this place, we recognize that there are many ways to feel on Mother’s Day. And for most of us, there is both joy and sorrow, and that’s okay too.
As we allow ourselves to be honest with God and with each other, I pray that we will all be able to give thanks as we recognize and celebrate all of the women in our lives who have been used by God to offer us motherly care.
I don’t know about you, but God has used innumerable women to bless my life, love me well, and offer me motherly care when I have needed it most. I have but one biological mother, yet I have many spiritual mothers who have cared for me along the way.
In this category I think of my stepmother who raised me and my sister during our teenage years. I think of my Sunday school teacher who faithfully opened up the Bible to me, week after week when I was a child. I think of my Mama Riddick, an older mother of the church, who carefully watched over me during my college years so I would not get into trouble while I was away from home. And I think of one of you—who recently came into my office and said to me, “I haven’t known you that long but I want you to know I love you and you are a good kid!” (giggles…)
To every woman who has ever lifted a child up in her arms and given her a kiss, bandaged a scraped knee or arm and put a child back on a bicycle, or mentored a child in any other way—this day is for you!
Today is a day to celebrate the many ways in which the Holy Spirit moves in the female heart to offer tender loving care and unconditional love to those in need.
In Jesus’ final days he said to his disciples, “"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you… And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.”
I am so grateful for the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. I am so glad that Jesus did not leave us comfortless, but sent forth God’s Spirit into the world to be our teacher and guide. I am so thankful that Spirit continues to blow on--and through--each of us, helping us to believe.
Well, in today’s scripture reading we see the work of this Holy Spirit in a wonderful way. Paul has a dream, inspired by Spirit, which leads him to the city of Philippi to share the good news about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection!
When he arrives, it appears that he is unable to find a synagogue, so he goes outside of the city gate and down by the river where God fearing people were known to gather under the open sky, hoping for a travelling teacher to share scripture and pray with them.
At the river, Paul encounters a bunch of women waiting for a word from God. Now, we all know that he could have said, “Let’s go! This isn’t going to be worth our time. It’s just a bunch of women gathered here.” But, he did not.
Instead, the Holy Spirit led him to sit down and visit a while, sharing his faith in Jesus—who lived, died, and rose again to atone for our sin and make provision for our eternal life.
Well, amongst those gathered was a woman named Lydia. She was a very, very wealthy and powerful business woman, who sold purple cloth.
In her day, purple cloth was said to be “worth its weight in silver.” It was a very rare commodity and hard to make. Only those with wealth and power were able to have even just a little bit purple on their clothes and it was usually reserved for nobility or royalty.
Lydia could have been a proud and haughty woman unwilling to learn or to pray, but she was not. When she heard the words of Paul, the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus opened up her heart to believe the good news.
Immediately she and her entire household were baptized, after which she offered the disciples a place in her home to continue the work of evangelism in her city.
Lydia is a wonderful example for all of us on this Mother’s Day weekend. Although we do not know anything about her family situation, we do know that she had a household of folks who believed and were baptized with her. Was she married? Did she have children? Did she care for her aged parents? Did she have brothers, sisters, nieces, or nephews? Did she have servants who cared for her, and for whom she cared? We do not know because scripture and tradition are fairly silent on these matters.
But, we do know that she must have offered motherly-care to her family members and friends. We know this because she is remembered as a God-fearing woman. We know this because on the Sabbath day she was gathered with other women at the river. We know this because she was a businesswoman who worked hard to provide for the needs of her household. And we know this because when she got a-hold of The Word regarding Jesus, she did not keep it to herself, rather she freely shared it with her household and then her city—allowing her home to become The First Church of Philippi.
So, what can we take away from today’s Gospel and Epistle readings? Well, first of all it is important to be a God-fearing person, ready to listen and learn from scripture, and to pray whenever possible. Secondly, it is important to hear and heed the word of God, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead you aright. Finally, it is important to share the good news with your family, friends, and city, so that they too might have the joy of knowing Jesus!
I believe—by faith—that all of us knows someone who lived into these principals throughout his or her life. If it were not so, we would not be in this room today. Someone offered us motherly-care, teaching us the scriptures, praying over our lives, and leading us into a relationship with Jesus.
Whoever that person was, let us give thanks for every single woman (and man), inside, and outside of this room, who has ever been used by the Holy Spirit to offer care, unconditional love, and faithful witness to us. And let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who has loved us with an everlasting love and with loving-kindness drawn us into the eternal circle of God’s love, hug, and smile.
The world is a better place because of all of the people like Lydia, who have been led by Spirit to open up their hearts and homes to Jesus and to God’s children. And we are all a better people, for having experienced the love of God, as revealed in Christ Jesus, that will never, ever let us go.
Alleluia! He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Let us pray:
Thank you for all of the people who have ever offered me motherly love. Thank you especially for Jesus who allowed Love to abandon him to the cross all in order to make atonement for my sin and gift me with eternal life. I am amazed by your love and pledge to share it with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaL
