Thursday, June 4, 2015

The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotional for Saturday, 16 May 201516 May 2015

The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotional for Saturday, 16 May 201516 May 2015

Today please be in prayer for:


Leavenworth: Southern Heights UMC
Kansas City District

Lenexa UMC
Kansas City District

Kansas City: Trinity UMC
Kansas City District

Great Plains Annual Conference Daily Devotional for Friday, 15 May 2015

Today please be in prayer for


Fairmount UMC
Jarbalo UMC
Kansas City District

Kansas City: Metropolitan Avenue UMC
Kansas City: Mision Palabra de Esperanza
Kansas City District

Leawood: Church of the Resurrection UMC
Kansas City District
The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotional for Thursday, 14 May 2015

Today please be in prayer for:


Overland Park: Valley View UMC
Kansas City District

Lenexa UMC
Kansas City District

Lenexa UMC
Kansas City District

Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotional for Wednesday, 13 May /2015

Today please be in prayer for


 Roeland Park UMC
Kansas City District

Fairway: Old Mission UMC
Kansas City District

Overland Park: Valley View UMC
Kansas City District

Today please be in prayer for:

Bucyrus UMC
Spring Hill UMC
Kansas City District
Leawood: Church of the Resurrection UMC
Kansas City District
Leawood: Church of the Resurrection UMC
Kansas City District
This Week's Lectionary:
6th Sunday of Easter – White or Gold
Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17
Lectionary Scripture:

Acts 10:44 Kefa was still saying these things when the Ruach HaKodesh fell on all who were hearing the message. 45 All the believers from the Circumcision faction who had accompanied Kefa were amazed that the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh was also being poured out 46 on the Goyim, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Kefa’s response was, 47 “Is anyone prepared to prohibit these people from being immersed in water? After all, they have received the Ruach HaKodesh, just as we did.” 48 And he ordered that they be immersed in the name of Yeshua the Messiah. Then they asked Kefa to stay on with them for a few days.
Psalm 98: (0) A psalm:
(1) Sing a new song to Adonai,
because he has done wonders.
His right hand, his holy arm
have won him victory.
2 Adonai has made known his victory;
revealed his vindication in full view of the nations,
3 remembered his grace and faithfulness
to the house of Isra’el.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4 Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
Break forth, sing for joy, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to Adonai with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious music!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the shofar,
shout for joy before the king, Adonai!
7 Let the sea roar, and everything in it;
the world, and those living in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the mountains sing together for joy
9 before Adonai, for he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly and the peoples fairly.
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah has God as his father, and everyone who loves a father loves his offspring too. 2 Here is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God, we also do what he commands. 3 For loving God means obeying his commands. Moreover, his commands are not burdensome, 4 because everything which has God as its Father overcomes the world. And this is what victoriously overcomes the world: our trust. 5 Who does overcome the world if not the person who believes that Yeshua is the Son of God?
6 He is the one who came by means of water and blood, Yeshua the Messiah — not with water only, but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
John 15:9 “Just as my Father has loved me, I too have loved you; so stay in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. 11 I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.
12 “This is my command: that you keep on loving each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other!
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for
Acts 10:44-48
Verse 44
[44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
The Holy Ghost fell on all that were hearing the word — Thus were they consecrated to God, as the first fruits of the Gentiles. And thus did God give a clear and satisfactory evidence, that he had accepted them as well as the Jews.
Verse 45
[45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The believers of the circumcision — The believing Jews.
Verse 47
[47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost? — He does not say they have the baptism of the Spirit; therefore they do not need baptism with water. But just the contrary: if they have received the Spirit, then baptize them with water. How easily is this question decided, if we will take the word of God for our rule! Either men have received the Holy Ghost or not. If they have not, Repent, saith God, and be baptized, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. If they have, if they are already baptized with the Holy Ghost, then who can forbid water?
Verse 48
[48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
In the name of the Lord — Which implies the Father who anointed him, and the Spirit with which he was anointed to his office. But as the Gentiles had before believed in God the Father, and could not but now believe in the Holy Ghost, under whose powerful influence they were at this very time, there was the less need of taking notice, that they were baptized into the belief and profession of the sacred Three: though doubtless the apostle administered the ordinances in that very form which Christ himself had prescribed.
Psalm 98
Verse 2
[2] The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
Salvation — The redemption of the world by the Messiah: which was hitherto reserved was a secret among the Jews, yea was not throughly known by the most of the Jews themselves.
Righteousness — His faithfulness in accomplishing this great promise.
1 John 5:1-6
Verse 1
[1] Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
The scope and sum of this whole paragraph appears from the conclusion of it, 1 John 5:13: "These things have I written to you who believe, that ye may know that ye who believe have eternal life." So faith is the first and last point with St. John also.
Every one who loveth — God that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him - Hath a natural affection to all his brethren.
Verse 2
[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Hereby we know — This is a plain proof.
That we love the children of God — As his children.
Verse 3
[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
For this is the love of God — The only sure proof of it.
That we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous — To any that are born of God.
Verse 4
[4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
For whatsoever — This expression implies the most unlimited universality.
Is born of God overcometh the world — Conquers whatever it can lay in the way, either to allure or fright the children of God from keeping his commandments.
And this is the victory — The grand means of overcoming.
Even our faith — Seeing all things are possible to him that believeth.
Verse 5
[5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Who is he that overcometh the world — That is superior to all worldly care, desire, fear? Every believer, and none else. The seventh verse 1 John 5:7 (usually so reckoned) is a brief recapitulation of all which has been before advanced concerning the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. It is cited, in conjunction with the sixth and eighth, 1 John 5:6,8 by Tertullian, Cyprian, and an uninterrupted train of Fathers. And, indeed, what the sun is in the world, what the heart is in a man, what the needle is in the mariner's compass, this verse is in the epistle. By this the sixth, eighth, and ninth verses 1 John 5:6,8,9 are indissolubly connected; as will be evident, beyond all contradiction, when they are accurately considered.
Verse 6
[6] This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
This is he — St. John here shows the immovable foundation of that faith that Jesus is the Son of God; not only the testimony of man, but the firm, indubitable testimony of God.
Who came — Jesus is he of whom it was promised that he should come; and who accordingly, is come. And this the Spirit, and the water, and the blood testify.
Even Jesus — Who, coming by water and blood, is by this very thing demonstrated to be the Christ.
Not by the water only — Wherein he was baptized.
But by the water and the blood — Which he shed when he had finished the work his Father had given him to do. He not only undertook at his baptism "to fulfil all righteousness," but on the cross accomplished what he had undertaken; in token whereof, when all was finished, blood and water came out of his side. And it is the Spirit who likewise testifieth - Of Jesus Christ, namely, by Moses and all the prophets, by John the Baptist, by all the apostles, and in all the writings of the New Testament. And against his testimony there can be no exception, because the Spirit is truth - The very God of truth.
John 15:9-17
Verse 9
[9] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Abide ye in my love — Keep your place in my affection. See that ye do not forfeit that invaluable blessing. How needless a caution, if it were impossible for them not to abide therein?
Verse 10
[10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love — On these terms, and no other, ye shall remain the objects of my special affection.
Verse 11
[11] These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
That my joy might remain in you — The same joy which I feel in loving the Father, and keeping his commandments.
Verse 12
[12] This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Your joy will be full, if ye so love one another.
Verse 13
[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Greater love — To his friends. He here speaks of them only.
Verse 14
[14] Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you — On this condition, not otherwise. A thunderbolt for Antinomianism! Who then dares assert that God's love does not at all depend on man's works?
Verse 15
[15] Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
All things — Which might be of service to you.
Verse 16
[16] Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Ye — My apostles, have not chosen me, but I have chosen you - As clearly appears from the sacred history: and appointed you, that ye may go and bear fruit - I have chosen and appointed you for this end, that ye may go and convert sinners: and that your fruit may remain - That the fruit of your labours may remain to the end of the world; yea, to eternity; that whatsoever ye shall ask - The consequence of your going and bearing fruit will be, that all your prayers will he heard.
Sermon Story "God As Father/Mother" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 10 May 2014 with Scripture: 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah has God as his father, and everyone who loves a father loves his offspring too. 2 Here is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God, we also do what he commands. 3 For loving God means obeying his commands. Moreover, his commands are not burdensome, 4 because everything which has God as its Father overcomes the world. And this is what victoriously overcomes the world: our trust. 5 Who does overcome the world if not the person who believes that Yeshua is the Son of God?
6 He is the one who came by means of water and blood, Yeshua the Messiah — not with water only, but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
As we read this passage today, we reaize that all who beiieve in Jesus as the Messiah are able to call God the Father. On this Mother's day, we realize that there are some children of God who have trouble calling God Father because of the behavior of their erthly fathers, but God says that it is all right to call Him Mother because as God He has both the atributes of Father and Mother. He is truly calling His Human creation to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah to believe and be obedient to everything Jesus commanded His followers to do because this is what od has commanded His Human creation to do from the beginning. How do we understand this of God the Father, God the Son [Jesus], and God the Holy Spirit? How are we able to call God Father because of what Jesus has done for us and is doing for us? Will you confess Jesus as Messiah today as we come forward and eat His Body, the Bread, and drink His Blood, the juice, through the Holy Sacrament in the Holy Eucharist as He gave to His children at the last Passover Meal before He died on the cross? As we come, we come singingthe Hymn “Once and For All” , written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram and Matt Maher
Verse 1:
Once and for all, the Father’s love
He is the light in the darkness
He took on flesh and took our place
The weight of the world on his shoulders
Verse 2:
Once and for all, our debt is paid
There on the cross it is finished
The Lamb of God for us was slain
Up from the grave he is risen
Bridge:
Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light
You are our salvation
Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light
Your Kingdom is forever
Chorus:
We believe our God is Jesus
We believe that he is Lord
We believe that he has saved us
From sin and death once and for all
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional "The Big Picture" for Saturday, 16 May 2015 Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ says Adonai,‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. 12 When you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to you. 13 When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly;
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.[Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)]
Many years ago I was sitting on a small boat deck at a youth camp. I had been having a bad day; everything seemed to be going wrong. Feeling sad, I looked down the river. The sun was just setting, and it caused a reflection of the trees in such a way that it looked as if the river ended there. However, having been down the river many times, I knew that after turning at an almost 90-degree angle, the river did continue beyond that point.
This experience reminded me of the many times in life that we feel we have reached a dead end in a situation — whether a job or a relationship or any situation that makes us feel as if our path is leading nowhere. During times like these it helps to remember that God knows what lies ahead. God can see the whole river and knows that just around the bend lies something better. So when it looks as if life is not leading anywhere, we can trust God and then persevere around that bend in the river.
The Author: Lia Evans (South Australia, Australia)
Thought for the Day: God always sees the big picture.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, when we feel uncertain of the way ahead, help us to trust in you — knowing that your will for our lives is much better than we can ever hope or imagine. Amen.
Prayer focus: Youth Attending Church Camps
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Counting to Ten" for Friday, 15 May 2015 Scripture: John 6:5 so when Yeshua looked up and saw that a large crowd was approaching, he said to Philip, “Where will we be able to buy bread, so that these people can eat?” 6 (Now Yeshua said this to test Philip, for Yeshua himself knew what he was about to do.) 7 Philip answered, “Half a year’s wages wouldn’t buy enough bread for them — each one would get only a bite!” 8 One of the talmidim, Andrew the brother of Shim‘on Kefa, said to him, 9 “There’s a young fellow here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But how far will they go among so many?”
10 Yeshua said, “Have the people sit down.” There was a lot of grass there, so they sat down. The number of men was about five thousand. 11 Then Yeshua took the loaves of bread, and, after making a b’rakhah, gave to all who were sitting there, and likewise with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 After they had eaten their fill, he told his talmidim, “Gather the leftover pieces, so that nothing gets wasted.” 13 They gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”[John 6:9 (NIV)]
In preparation for my mission trip, I planned to learn a variety of useful Haitian Creole words and phrases. But that goal dropped so low on my priority list that when I arrived all I could say in Creole were the numbers one through ten.
One afternoon I found myself away from the interpreters as I helped several students work on their sewing. My students’ assignment was to cut a variety of small pieces of fabric for a craft project. Lacking an interpreter, I found I was able to communicate with the students by way of hand motions and counting out the number of pieces each person was to cut. It seems like such a little thing, but through it, I was reminded that God uses the little things.
In today’s reading, Jesus used a boy’s five loaves of bread and two fish to feed thousands of people. My ability to count to ten in Haitian Creole did not help thousands, but it did help eight sewing students. It’s easy to disregard the little things, but God can turn the little things we offer into great blessings — for ourselves and for others.
Read more from the author, here
"The Little Things and the Big Things" by Neely Baugh
My sons were singing.
That may sound like an ordinary little thing. But to me it wasn’t little, and it wasn’t ordinary.
If anyone else had walked into the youth room of our church at that moment, they would have simply seen several dozen kids in varying stages of puberty singing worship songs. But I saw so much more.
I saw the answer to a prayer I’d prayed countless times. The prayer that my boys would find a place within the body of Christ-followers where they fit. A place where they belonged.
Tears came as I sat down in the back of the room straining to distinguish my boys’ voices amidst the chorus of young teens. You see, for years these two boys complained to their dad and me about church. It’s not that they were rebellious. It’s not that they didn’t love Jesus. It’s that they felt out of place and uninterested.
“Church is so boring,” they said. “It’s for old people.”
I don’t deny there is some truth to that. Pastors generally focus their attentions on the adults in their congregation, and I can distinctly remember being bored at Sunday services myself as a kid.
But the gospel is bigger than Sunday morning church. And belonging to the body of Christ has little to do with singing hymns and taking notes during a Sunday sermon. It has everything to do with Jesus Christ giving his life up for us and our subsequent worship and devotion of our lives to him.
Seeing my boys worship, really worship God with their voices, in a room filled with their peers was amazing. It was a gift straight from God to this mama’s heart.
Just like I described in today’s devotion about God taking a little thing like counting to ten in Creole and showing me something bigger, so he also took a little thing like my sons’ voices in a crowd of their friends and made them something bigger. Something extraordinary.
I love that we have a God who takes our little things and uses them in big ways. And I am excited to see what little thing in my life God plans to wow me with next.
If you are interested in reading more of my journey as wife, mom, freelance writer, and co-founder of a clothing ministry to the impoverished, you can find me at http://kimharms.net/ and 500dresses.org.[Kim Harms]

The Author: Kim Harms (Iowa, USA)
Thought for the Day: What little things has God used in my life recently?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to recognize the little things in our lives and use them for your glory. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Who Think Their Offerings Are Too Small For God To Use
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional "
With All My Heart" for Thursday, 14 May 2015 - Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1 “Now this is the mitzvah, the laws and rulings which Adonai your God ordered me to teach you for you to obey in the land you are crossing over to possess, 2 so that you will fear Adonai your God and observe all his regulations and mitzvot that I am giving you — you, your child and your grandchild — as long as you live, and so that you will have long life. 3 Therefore listen, Isra’el, and take care to obey, so that things will go well with you, and so that you will increase greatly, as Adonai, the God of your ancestors, promised you by giving you a land flowing with milk and honey.
(A:vi, S: v) 4 “Sh’ma, Yisra’el! Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad [Hear, Isra’el! Adonai our God, Adonai is one]; 5 and you are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. 6 These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; 7 and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, 9 and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.[Proverbs 3:9 (KJV)]
Growing up in a Christian family, I learned to give a tithe, as the Bible teaches. So with my first working income I was glad to tithe to the church.
Over the years, my income has increased. But the necessities of life have also increased. As a result, I have sometimes forgotten to give a tithe. Actually, more precisely, I’ve avoided giving. I pray, “Lord, forgive me; I can’t give a tithe this month. Many needs use up my tithe. What if I meet the tithe next month?” I hope God understands.
During one period, I found myself deferring my giving every month. I delayed tithing a first, second, third, fourth time — until one day, I heard a sermon that challenged me. The pastor said, “Serving the Lord must be done with sincerity. If today we are sincere, then even if we struggle, serving will not be a burden.” The pastor offered as an example the many Christians who go to Sunday worship not with sincerity but as a routine. I realized that often I attend church out of a sense of obligation, and I do not tithe with a sincere heart. I want to serve God with all my heart.
The Author: Selly Miarani (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Thought for the Day: All that we do, we do for God.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your blessing. Teach us to bless your church through our gifts. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Who Have No Job
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Son of Encouragement
" for Wednesday, 13 May 2015 - Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7 Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you.
8 Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering. 10 You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Through Sila, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written you briefly, encouraging you and giving my witness that this is God’s true grace. Stand firm in it!
There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”).[Acts 4:36 (NRSV)
During my formative years, my mom was my “Barnabas,” my encourager. As a woman of faith and prayer, she inspired me to seek God’s will. When I told her of my call to pastoral ministry, she encouraged me to go to college and get an education. Forty-three years later, I’m still a minister.
Throughout my ministry God has been my ultimate encourager. When I am hurting, God listens as I pour out my heart in prayer. When I am discouraged, God’s word in the Bible inspires and challenges me. When I am frightened by the world’s turbulence, God comforts me by sending the Holy Spirit to speak words of peace and sends me friends who share words of hope.
We can follow God’s example and be encouragers ourselves. When people are hurting, we can listen with compassion instead of criticism or judgment. When others need to be encouraged, we can use scripture to console them and lift up their spirits. As the world swirls around them through tragedy, we can come alongside them and simply be present with them.
As the son of an encouraging mother, I am striving to be a son of encouragement like Barnabas was.
Read more from the author, here.

"Encouragement" by Neely Baugh

One of my favorite Biblical characters over the decades has been Barnabas, Son of Encouragement.  A reoccurring theme in my prayer requests has been asking God to make me a Barnabas to others.

My own special Barnabas was my mother. There was no formal mentoring or training that she instructed me in daily, but she encouraged me and demonstrated what encouragement meant to her. 

Here are some things that she did to encourage me along the way.

1. Mom shared her faith.  She talked about God.  Many times I heard her tell me about her relationship with Jesus.  How much He loved her…me…my family.
2. Mother took me to Sunday School and Church.  Key phrase: took me. She didn’t just send me to church.  My mother took me, stayed for Sunday School (she taught Junior Girls when I was a child…she finally retired from teaching Sunday School when she was in her 80s).  When it was time for church she was there Sunday morning, Sunday night, mid-week prayer meeting, every revival service and missionary meeting.  In my opinion we need more parents to take and stay with their children to be examples.  What a difference it could make in the lives of children and teens to have their parents give them that example.
3. Prayer was a vital part to her life that she passed along to me. She always encouraged me to pray in any circumstance I found myself. During my 68 years of life I have found her words were true.  Why worry when you can pray is a truism.  Unfortunately, I reverse that thought, too often.  Why pray when you can worry!  Thanks to my mom I know the difference.  I remember coming home one day from school. Mom was in the kitchen washing dishes and didn’t hear me come in the front door.  I stood at the entrance and listened as she prayed for each of her children, my dad, me, friends, missionaries, our pastor and more.  She was crying and in deep prayer thought.  It made such an impression on me that it has sent me into prayer anyplace, anytime, for any reason. 
4. Commitment was a high priority on her list.  She was committed to her Lord and Savior, her family and her church…the church being people.  That has been my desire over the years.  I love Jesus.  He has shown me His great mercy, love and forgiveness.  I am committed to my family: my wife of 46 years, children, my daughter-in-law and my granddaughter.  I have been a pastor, general denomination leader and a district superintendent because of my commitment to His church.  My mom led the way for me to grasp the importance.
5. Love from mom included God, family, the church and others in her circle of acquaintances.  I think her favorite verse was John 3:16. Mom helped me to negotiate life with a loving heart.  She knew that love, true unadulterated love, pure love, cleansing love, forgiving love comes from God.  If He loved so should His children. 
I believe I have been following mom’s example of being a good Barnabas over the years.  At least, I want to be and will continue to strive to be that until my final breath.[Derl Keefer]
The Author: Derl G. Keefer (Michigan, USA)
Thought for the Day: How will I remember God’s word today?
Prayer: Dear God, encourage us so that we may encourage others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone Needing Encouragement
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional "God Is Our Rock" for Tuesday, 12 May 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 18:(0) For the leader. By David the servant of Adonai, who addressed the words of this song to Adonai on the day when Adonai delivered him from the power of all his enemies, including from the power of Sha’ul. 2 He said:
(1) “I love you, Adonai, my strength!
3 (2) “Adonai is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer,
my God, my Rock, in whom I find shelter,
my shield, the power that saves me,
my stronghold.
4 (3) I call on Adonai, who is worthy of praise;
and I am saved from my enemies.
16 (15) The channels of water appeared,
the foundations of the world were exposed
at your rebuke, Adonai,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
The psalmist wrote, “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”[Psalm 31:2 (NIV)]
I look forward to the weekly Multiple Sclerosis water exercise class. My friends and I exercise while standing in the water, holding on to the solid edge of the pool.
One day there wasn’t room along the edge, so I slowly waded over to hold on to the rope that marked off a lap lane. I started out fine with leg lifts until I suddenly got dizzy and lost my balance. I started flailing, and because the rope provided no sturdy support, I sank under the water. The instructor jumped in and rescued me and made me promise to hold on to the edge of the pool from then on.
That day at the pool I wasn’t able to yell for help as I went under the water. In the same way, sometimes we aren’t able or are too stubborn to call on God for help, but God knows when we need it. How many times has God held each of us up, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, when we were sinking? God is our rock upon whom we can depend.
The Author: Sue Carloni (Wisconsin, USA)
Thought for the Day: When the waters of life overwhelm us, we can depend on God.
Prayer: God of all power, you are our rock and strong fortress. We thank you that we can count on you to rescue us in our times of distress. Amen.
Prayer focus: Exercise Instructors And Their Students
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Contact Information
Great Plains Episcopal Office

9440 E Boston, Suite 160

Wichita KS 67207

316-686-0600

800-745-2350

info@greatplainsumc.org 
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