The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 9 May 2018 "Boring Faith?" by Wilma R. Vernich (Tennessee) 2 Timothy 3:14-17

The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 9 May 2018 "Boring Faith?" by Wilma R. Vernich (Tennessee) 2 Timothy 3:14-17 
Train children in the way they should go; when 
they grow old, they won’t depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 (CEB))
When I was a child, my father was adamant about regular family Bible study and prayer time. I just wanted to play outside, watch television, or read mystery novels. One morning, the school bus driver arrived early and waited outside where, much to my embarrassment, our family of four was in full view through the living room window as we knelt in prayer. When we ran out to get on the bus, our friends asked my sister and me why we were all lined up in a row with our heads down. Afraid of being laughed at, we answered that we were helping our parents put a slipcover on the living room sofa.
In my teen years I would arrive home from my school activities to find my father sitting at his desk with a well-worn and marked-up Bible open before him. I would sigh and think, Dad’s at it again. What a boring way to spend an evening!
Now with a family of my own, I think differently of my father’s example as I delve into his old, tattered Bible. The inheritance of faith and Bible study my father left me gives me a sense of security that money can’t buy, and I thank both of my parents for that legacy.
TODAY'S PRAYER:

Dear Father, thank you for the spiritual leaders in our families and communities. Help us to pass on our faith to younger generations. Amen.
TODAY'S READING:

2 Timothy 3:14 But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; 15 and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yeshua the Messiah. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; 17 thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work. (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I be a spiritual leader in my household?
PRAYER FOCUS:
School children
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More From Wilma R. Vernich

Wilma and her mother
My sister and I enjoy recalling this story and at the time, we thought the solution to our predicament showed some pretty creative thinking on our part. I do not know why, as a child, I had reservations about sharing our family's faith. For a young person it is often more important to fit in and I didn't want to be thought of as different or weird by others. It also may have had something to do with the fact that our family was not part of a mainstream religion, which was hard for me to explain to people when asked. Regardless, I certainly have no problem whatsoever talking about my faith now that I am an adult and have matured in my daily walk with Christ. In fact, I adore having chance encounters with people within the family of faith as well as those who are yet to become believers. Nothing excites me more than discussing how Bible passages apply to daily living, sharing encouraging scripture and exchanging stories about how God works in our lives.

Wilma's parents, Robert and Wanda Niekamp
Furthermore, with the seeds of faith my parents planted, I am able to pass the spiritual baton off to my own two children, the next generation. We don't often grasp the width and breadth and depth of our parents' love when we are growing up, just as we don't always fathom our heavenly Father's unconditional love for us. However, because of the example of both my parents, I am eternally grateful to them for passing the legacy of faith on to me.
Although my father and mother are deceased, I loved them dearly and wanted to honor their memory with this particular devotion. They supplied a treasure trove of love, wisdom and faith in God. This made for a rock-solid foundation upon which I could build my life, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:25. Whatever happens in this physical life, my house will never fall because it has a solid foundation. Through my belief in what Christ has done, my eternal home is secure. May we all run our race well... all the way to the finish line, and beyond!

The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 8 May 2018 "Blooming Again by John R. Robinson (Ohio) James 5:13-18 
(Image: Pixabay)
God will save you from the hunter’s trap and from deadly sickness. God will protect you with his 
pinions; you’ll find refuge under his wings. (Psalm 91:3-4 (CEB))
One hot and humid summer, we were away from home on a two-week trip. Before leaving, I had watered the potted plants, including two 
geraniums that were full 
of brilliant red blooms. 
We returned to find the geraniums with wilted leaves. The blossoms that had survived were dull with their...
TODAY'S PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for your faithful presence through difficult times. Amen.
TODAY'S READING:

James 5:

13 Is someone among you in trouble? He should pray. Is someone feeling good? He should sing songs of praise.

14 Is someone among you ill? He should call for the elders of the congregation. They will pray for him and rub olive oil on him in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer offered with trust will heal the one who is ill — the Lord will restore his health; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, openly acknowledge your sins to one another, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Eliyahu was only a human being like us; yet he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and no rain fell on the Land for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the Land produced its crops.

 (Complete Jewish Bible).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Though I am weak, God is strong.
PRAYER FOCUS:
Oncologists
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More From John R. Robinson

After recovering from the impact of cancer and cancer treatments by the Spring of 2009, I had embarked on a whole new second career as an executive with one of our regional health care systems.  I learned a lot and found new ways to be the healer that I had always been called to be, even if not in direct patient care.

During surgery and followup treatment, I was in almost every department of the hospital, which helped me know those experiences from a patient point of view.  It made me a more passionate administrator and leader, and a more compassionate human being.  While going through those rough and desperately fatiguing days of radiation and chemo, I would drive past soccer fields on the way home from work, and wonder if I would ever have the chance to see my own grandchildren play.  Would I ever see another Autumn or Spring?  

I give thanks every day now that over 9 years later, I have had the chance to walk our two daughters down the aisle in their weddings, and we now have 5 wonderful grandchildren to love and to watch playing soccer and baseball!  

Thank you to all of you who make The Upper Room the gift that it is to so many.

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