The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Saturday, 6 June 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
Neosho Rapids UMC
Flint Hills District
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Harveyville UMC
Flint Hills District
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Emporia: First UMC
Flint Hills District
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Today please be in prayer for:
Alta Vista: Simpson UMC
Flint Hills District
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Lebo-Olivet UMC
Flint Hills District
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Ashland UMC
Cedar Hill UMC
Missouri River District
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Wilsey UMC
Flint Hills District
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Manhattan: College Avenue UMC
Flint Hills District
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Louisville UMC
St. George UMC
Flint Hills District
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The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Daily Devotion for Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Today please be in prayer for:
Manhattan: Blue Valley UMC
Flint Hills District
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Fancy Creek UMC
Leonardville UMC
Randolph UMC
Swede Creek UMC
Flint Hills District
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Fancy Creek UMC
Leonardville UMC
Randolph UMC
Swede Creek UMC
Flint Hills District
|
Today please be in prayer for:
Blue Rapids UMC
Waterville UMC
Flint Hills District
| 
Axtell UMC
Beattie UMC
Flint Hills District
| 
Keats-Riley UMC
Flint Hills District
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Today please be in prayer for:
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1st Sunday after Pentecost/in
Kingdomtide – White
Trinity Sunday
Lectionary Readings
Kingdomtide – White
Trinity Sunday
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
Lectionary Scriptures:
Isaiah 6:1 In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 S’rafim stood over him, each with six wings — two for covering his face, two for covering his feet and two for flying. 3 They were crying out to each other,
“More holy than the holiest holiness
is Adonai-Tzva’ot!
The whole earth is filled
with his glory!”
4 The doorposts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said,
“Woe to me! I [too] am doomed! —
because I, a man with unclean lips,
living among a people with unclean lips,
have seen with my own eyes
the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!”
6 One of the s’rafim flew to me with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said,
“Here! This has touched your lips.
Your iniquity is gone,
your sin is atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying,
“Whom should I send?
Who will go for us?”
I answered, “I’m here, send me!”
Psalm 29:(0) A psalm of David:
(1) Give Adonai his due, you who are godly;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
2 give Adonai the glory due his name;
worship Adonai in holy splendor.
3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
Adonai over rushing waters,
4 the voice of Adonai in power,
the voice of Adonai in splendor.
5 The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars;
Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon
6 and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf,
Siryon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames;
8 the voice of Adonai rocks the desert,
Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert.
9 The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth
and strips the forests bare —
while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!”
10 Adonai sits enthroned above the flood!
Adonai sits enthroned as king forever!
11 May Adonai give strength to his people!
May Adonai bless his people with shalom!
Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we don’t owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature. 13 For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.
14 All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God; 17 and if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Messiah — provided we are suffering with him in order also to be glorified with him.
John 3:1 There was a man among the P’rushim, named Nakdimon, who was a ruler of the Judeans. 2 This man came to Yeshua by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know it is from God that you have come as a teacher; for no one can do these miracles you perform unless God is with him.” 3 “Yes, indeed,” Yeshua answered him, “I tell you that unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 Nakdimon said to him, “How can a grown man be ‘born’? Can he go back into his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” 5 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. 7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit.”
9 Nakdimon replied, “How can this happen?” 10 Yeshua answered him, “You hold the office of teacher in Isra’el, and you don’t know this? 11 Yes, indeed! I tell you that what we speak about, we know; and what we give evidence of, we have seen; but you people don’t accept our evidence! 12 If you people don’t believe me when I tell you about the things of the world, how will you believe me when I tell you about the things of heaven? 13 No one has gone up into heaven; there is only the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for
Isaiah 6:1-8
Verse 1
[1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
I saw — In a vision.
The Lord — The Divine Majesty as he subsisteth in three persons.
His train — His royal and judicial robe; for he is represented as a judge.
Verse 2
[2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Stood — As ministers attending upon their Lord.
Seraphim — An order of holy angels, thus called from fire and burning, which this word properly signifies; to represent either their nature, which is bright and glorious, subtile, and pure; or their property, of fervent zeal for God's service and glory.
Covered — Out of profound reverence.
Verse 3
[3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Cried — Singing in consort.
Holy — This is repeated thrice, to intimate the Trinity of persons united in the Divine essence.
Glory — Of the effects and demonstrations of his glorious holiness, as well as of his power, wisdom, and goodness.
Verse 4
[4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
The posts — Together with the door itself. Such violent motions were commonly tokens of God's anger.
Smoak — Which elsewhere is a token of God's presence and acceptance, but here of his anger.
Verse 5
[5] Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
l am — I am a great sinner, as many other ways, so particularly by my lips. I am an unclean branch of an unclean tree; besides my own uncleanness, I have both by my omissions and commissions involved myself in the guilt of their sins.
Have seen — The sight of this glorious and holy God gives me cause to fear that he is come to judgment against me.
Verse 6
[6] Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
Flew — By God's command.
A coal — Both a token and an instrument of purification.
The altar — Of burnt-offering.
Verse 7
[7] And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Laid it — So as only to touch my lips, and not to burn them; which God could easily effect.
Lo — This is a sign that I have pardoned and purged the uncleanness of thy lips.
Verse 8
[8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Who — To deliver the following message. The change of the number, I and us, is very remarkable; and both being meant of one and the same Lord, do sufficiently intimate a plurality of persons in the Godhead.
Psalm 29
Verse 1
[1] Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Ye — Ye potentates and rulers of the earth.
Glory — By an humble and thankful acknowledgment of it.
Verse 2
[2] Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Give, … — The honour which he deserves: own him as the Almighty, and the only true God.
Holiness — Or, in his holy and beautiful house.
Verse 3
[3] The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
The waters — Above in the clouds, which are called waters, Genesis 1:7; Psalms 18:11. The Divine power displays itself in those high places, which are far above the reach of all earthly potentates.
Many — Upon the clouds, in which there are vast treasures of water, and upon which God is said to sit or ride, Psalms 18:10,11; 104:3.
Verse 5
[5] The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
Lebanon — A place famous for strong and lofty cedars.
Verse 6
[6] He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
Them — The cedars; which being broken by the thunder, the parts of them are suddenly and violently hurled hither and thither.
Sirion — An high mountain beyond Jordan joining to Lebanon. Lebanon and Sirion are said to skip or leap, both here, and Psalms 114:4, by a poetical hyperbole.
Verse 7
[7] The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
The flames — The lightnings.
Verse 8
[8] The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
Kadesh — An eminent wilderness, vast and terrible, and well known to the Israelites, and wherein possibly they had seen, and observed some such effects of thunder.
Verse 9
[9] The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
To calve — Through the terror it causes, which hastens the birth. He names the hinds, because they bring forth their young with difficulty, Job 39:1,2.
Discovereth — Heb. maketh bare, of its trees, which it breaks or strips of their leaves.
Glory — Having shewed the terrible effects of God's power in other places, he now shews the blessed privilege of God's people, that are praising God in his temple, when the rest of the world are trembling under the tokens of his displeasure.
Verse 10
[10] The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
The flood — The most violent waters, which sometimes fall from the clouds upon the earth. These are fitly mentioned, as being many times the companions of great thunders. And this may be alleged as another reason, why God's people praised him in his temple, because as he sends terrible tempests and thunders, so he also restrains and over-rules them.
Sitteth — He doth sit, and will sit as king for ever, sending such tempests when it pleaseth him.
Romans 8:12-17
Verse 12
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
We are not debtors to the flesh — We ought not to follow it.
Verse 13
[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
The deeds of the flesh — Not only evil actions, but evil desires, tempers, thoughts.
If ye mortify — Kill, destroy these.
Ye shall live — The life of faith more abundantly here, and hereafter the life of glory.
Verse 14
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God — In all the ways of righteousness.
They are the sons of God — Here St. Paul enters upon the description of those blessings which he comprises, Romans 8:30, in the word glorified; though, indeed, he does not describe mere glory, but that which is still mingled with the cross. The sum is, through sufferings to glory.
Verse 15
[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
For ye — Who are real Christians.
Have not received the spirit of bondage — The Holy Ghost was not properly a spirit of bondage, even in the time of the Old Testament. Yet there was something of bondage remaining even in those who then had received the Spirit.
Again — As the Jews did before.
We — All and every believer.
Cry — The word denotes a vehement speaking, with desire, confidence, constancy.
Abba, Father — The latter word explains the former. By using both the Syriac and the Greek word, St. Paul seems to point out the joint cry both of the Jewish and gentile believers. The spirit of bondage here seems directly to mean, those operations of the Holy Spirit by which the soul, on its first conviction, feels itself in bondage to sin, to the world, to Satan, and obnoxious to the wrath of God. This, therefore, and the Spirit of adoption, are one and the same Spirit, only manifesting itself in various operations, according to the various circumstances of the persons.
Verse 16
[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
The same Spirit beareth witness with our spirit — With the spirit of every true believer, by a testimony distinct from that of his own spirit, or the testimony of a good conscience. Happy they who enjoy this clear and constant.
Verse 17
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Joint heirs — That we may know it is a great inheritance which God will give us for he hath given a great one to his Son.
If we suffer with him — Willingly and cheerfully, for righteousness' sake. This is a new proposition, referring to what follows.
John 3:1-17
Verse 2
[2] The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
The same came — Through desire; but by night - Through shame: We know - Even we rulers and Pharisees.
Verse 3
[3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered — That knowledge will not avail thee unless thou be born again - Otherwise thou canst not see, that is, experience and enjoy, either the inward or the glorious kingdom of God. In this solemn discourse our Lord shows, that no external profession, no ceremonial ordinances or privileges of birth, could entitle any to the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom: that an entire change of heart as well as of life was necessary for that purpose: that this could only be wrought in man by the almighty power of God: that every man born into the world was by nature in a state of sin, condemnation, and misery: that the free mercy of God had given his Son to deliver them from it, and to raise them to a blessed immortality: that all mankind, Gentiles as well as Jews, might share in these benefits, procured by his being lifted up on the cross, and to be received by faith in him: but that if they rejected him, their eternal, aggravated condemnation, would be the certain consequence.
Except a man be born again — If our Lord by being born again means only reformation of life, instead of making any new discovery, he has only thrown a great deal of obscurity on what was before plain and obvious.
Verse 4
[4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
When he is old — As Nicodemus himself was.
Verse 5
[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit — Except he experience that great inward change by the Spirit, and be baptized (wherever baptism can be had) as the outward sign and means of it.
Verse 6
[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh — Mere flesh, void of the Spirit, yea, at enmity with it; And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit - Is spiritual, heavenly, divine, like its Author.
Verse 7
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Ye must be born again — To be born again, is to be inwardly changed from all sinfulness to all holiness. It is fitly so called, because as great a change then passes on the soul as passes on the body when it is born into the world.
Verse 8
[8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The wind bloweth — According to its own nature, not thy will, and thou hearest the sound thereof - Thou art sure it doth blow, but canst not explain the particular manner of its acting.
So is every one that is born of the Spirit — The fact is plain, the manner of his operations inexplicable.
Verse 11
[11] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
We speak what we know — I and all that believe in me.
Verse 12
[12] If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Earthly things — Things done on earth; such as the new birth, and the present privileges of the children of God.
Heavenly things — Such as the eternity of the Son, and the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit.
Verse 13
[13] And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
For no one — For here you must rely on my single testimony, whereas there you have a cloud of witnesses: Hath gone up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven.
Who is in heaven — Therefore he is omnipresent; else he could not be in heaven and on earth at once. This is a plain instance of what is usually termed the communication of properties between the Divine and human nature; whereby what is proper to the Divine nature is spoken concerning the human, and what is proper to the human is, as here, spoken of the Divine.
Verse 14
[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
And as Moses — And even this single witness will soon be taken from you; yea, and in a most ignominious manner. Numbers 21:8,9.
Verse 15
[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
That whosoever — He must be lifted up, that hereby he may purchase salvation for all believers: all those who look to him by faith recover spiritual health, even as all that looked at that serpent recovered bodily health.
Verse 16
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Yea, and this was the very design of God's love in sending him into the world.
Whosoever believeth on him — With that faith which worketh by love, and hold fast the beginning of his confidence steadfast to the end.
God so loved the world — That is, all men under heaven; even those that despise his love, and will for that cause finally perish. Otherwise not to believe would be no sin to them. For what should they believe? Ought they to believe that Christ was given for them? Then he was given for them.
He gave his only Son — Truly and seriously. And the Son of God gave himself, Galatians 4:4, truly and seriously.
Verse 17
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world — Although many accuse him of it.
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Upper Room Ministries, a ministry of Discipleship Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004 United States
______________________
Sermon Story "Seeing God's Holiness" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 31 May 2015 with Scripture: Isaiah 6:1 In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 S’rafim stood over him, each with six wings — two for covering his face, two for covering his feet and two for flying. 3 They were crying out to each other,
“More holy than the holiest holiness
is Adonai-Tzva’ot!
The whole earth is filled
with his glory!”
4 The doorposts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said,
“Woe to me! I [too] am doomed! —
because I, a man with unclean lips,
living among a people with unclean lips,
have seen with my own eyes
the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!”
6 One of the s’rafim flew to me with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said,
“Here! This has touched your lips.
Your iniquity is gone,
your sin is atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying,
“Whom should I send?
Who will go for us?”
I answered, “I’m here, send me!”
Have you ever been somewhere where the death of a loved one and a leader you loved died? How did you grieve? Here we have Isaiah grieving the death of His beloved King of Israel. but in his grieving we find Isaiah in the Temple of God and God in all His Holiness is seen by Isaiah, As soon as Isaiah sees God in all His Holiness, he falls down and cries out that He is a sinner among a nation of sinners with unclean lips that is a nation of unclean lips. Even though Isaiah was a Holy man of God and chosen by God, he did not act like the Pharisee in the story Jesus told where the Pharisee compared his own holiness as better than the sinner laying prostate on the floor at the altar crying out to God for mercy. Instead, Isaiah was crying our for mercy from God and God responded by sending one of His Seraphims to pick a hot coal from the fire to touch the lips of Isaiah saying to him with this coal you are made Holy. How would you have related to this story? How do you respond when you are in the presence of a Holy God in private or public worship? How do you relate to God's Holiness with your unholiness? We come to seek more of God's Holiness as we come to eat the Body of Jesus and Drink His blood through the Partaking of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist singing the Hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty" by Reginald Heber
1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.
4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
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4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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Today's Devotional:The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Enjoy That Bite" for Saturday, 6 June 2015 - Scripture: Matthew 7:7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone here who, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will your Father in heaven keep giving good things to those who keep asking him!
O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.[Psalm 34:8 (NRSV)]
At the end of worship one Wednesday evening, my daughter, Anna-Frances, handed me a piece of candy from her cupful of goodies. She knew I liked caramel drops and had picked one out for me. Later that night I arrived at home after a long meeting. Slipping into Anna-Frances’s dark room, I leaned over and kissed her forehead. Then I heard her sleepily ask, “Did you eat your caramel?”
Her concern reminded me of the way God cares for us. Every gift from God is good. The gift may be a necessity like food, clothing, or something needed for our home. It could be something that can’t be purchased, like a quiet conversation with our spouse, an encouraging letter from an old friend, or the beauty of a sunset. At times God’s gift to us is a transition to a new job, the choice of a mate with whom to share life, or a new friendship.
When life presents those fresh opportunities, we can embrace these blessings as gifts from God. God offers us many bounties. Let’s joyfully receive God’s gifts. Let’s taste and see that the Lord is indeed good!
Read more from the author, here."A Legacy that Outlives Me"
"Remember who you belong to!"Ma-Ma often left me with this challenge when I was a teenager and left the house to go out with my friends. As I walked out the kitchen door, her exhortation followed me.
Those few words summarized a whole lot. I knew then and now that Ma-Ma was saying:
- You belong to the Lord. You are a representative of Jesus Christ to the world, so live like it.
- You belong to our family. You represent the Wilson and Hendrix families.
- Make decisions that honor the Lord and your parents. Don't be a fool!
- In essence, my mother wanted me to display good character.
As a father of three children, I want their character to outlast me.
I knew a young married couple, Bill and Gloria, who wanted to purchase some property in their hometown of Alexandria, Indiana. Having been told that the man who owned the specific land they desired would not sell, Bill decided to go see him face-to-face. After discussing the land, the owner realized that he once knew Bill's grandfather. The man told Bill that he would sell him the land because of the character of Bill's deceased grandfather. The man's character outlived him. His character was his legacy.
I have a few short years to influence my children when we live together in the same house. However, I can influence them for decades to come through my prayers.
Scripture provides several lists of noble character traits. Years ago I took some of these lists and divided them up into specific prayers for each day of the month. There are twenty-nine traits here, one to pray daily. On months with thirty or thirty-one days, there is grace in case I missed a day or two. The first twenty qualities are taken from Paul’s descriptions of the character of a church elder. The last nine traits come from the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-10; Galations 5:22-23)
Why not begin praying that these similiar traits will characterize your family members? The legacy just may outlast you.
1. Above reproach (a good reputation)
2. Faithful in marriage (maintains moral purity)
3. Temperate (exemplifies balance in words and action)
4. Prudent (being wise and humble)
5. Respectable (serves as a good role model)
6. Hospitable (demonstrates unselfishness and generosity)
7. Able to teach (communicates sensitively)
8. Not given to wine (not addicted to substances)
9. Not self-willed (not self-centered)
10. Not quick-tempered (void of anger that becomes sinful)
11. Not abusive
12. Not contentious (not argumentative nor divisive)
13. Gentle (sensitive, loving, kind)
14. Free from the love of money (not materialistic)
15. One who manages the house well (good parents and spouses)
16. One who has a good reputation with those outside the church (a good testimony to others)
17. Loves what is good (pursues godly activities)
18. Just (wise, discerning, not prejudiced)
19. Devout (holy and righteous)
20. Mature in the faith
21. Loving
22. Joyful
23. Peaceful
24. Patient
25. Kind
26. Merciful
27. Good
28. Faithful
29. Self-controlled[Rhett Wilson]
Visit Rhett's personal blog by clicking here.
The Author: Rhett H. Wilson (South Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day: I will celebrate God’s goodness today.
Prayer: God of all that is good, help us to remember that your very nature is good and that you desire to give good gifts to us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Children With No Parents To Love_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Never Give Up" for Friday, 5 June 2015 - Scripture: Philippians 3:7 But the things that used to be advantages for me, I have, because of the Messiah, come to consider a disadvantage. 8 Not only that, but I consider everything a disadvantage in comparison with the supreme value of knowing the Messiah Yeshua as my Lord. It was because of him that I gave up everything and regard it all as garbage, in order to gain the Messiah 9 and be found in union with him, not having any righteousness of my own based on legalism, but having that righteousness which comes through the Messiah’s faithfulness, the righteousness from God based on trust. 10 Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death, 11 so that somehow I might arrive at being resurrected from the dead. 12 It is not that I have already obtained it or already reached the goal — no, I keep pursuing it in the hope of taking hold of that for which the Messiah Yeshua took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua. 15 Therefore, as many of us as are mature, let us keep paying attention to this; and if you are differently minded about anything, God will also reveal this to you. 16 Only let our conduct fit the level we have already reached.
Paul wrote, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”[Philippians 3:10-11 (NRSV)]
I was enjoying my breakfast at the park when I observed a couple training their son to kick a ball between two cones. At first the child could not kick the ball between the cones many times in a row, but he never gave up until he finally could do so consistently.
Similarly, Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 3, reveals a heart that never gives up. From Paul’s relationship with Jesus came the fruit of his fervor. And because of this fervor, Paul was able to guide others to faith in God.
If our goal is merely serving the Lord, we may burn out soon. But if our goal is like Paul’s, that is to know Christ, we will find that Christ is our true source of strength — enabling us to make him known to others.
I never want to give up in my efforts to joyfully serve and to know Christ, the source of my strength.
Read more from the author, here."A Gentle Reminder"
Many times in ministry, we make the mistake of serving God in our own strength and we get burnt out quickly. This can especially happen to new Christians who are zealous in serving the Lord. Therefore, this is a gentle reminder to all people who are serving the Lord in one way or another, even if you are serving behind the scenes—supporting your pastors or others in prayer—our relationship with God should be our priority. It is out of our relationship with God that the fruit of undiminished fervor to serve comes. [Mary Ng]
The Author: Mary Ng (Singapore)
Thought for the Day: To know Christ is to joyfully serve each day.
Prayer: Dear God, we want to know you more fully. In your strength may we never give up but serve you joyfully. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Who Are Spiritually Weary_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Sin That Dams" for Thursday, 4 June 2015 - Scripture: 1 John 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. 7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
10 If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.
2:1 My children, I am writing you these things so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins — and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[1 John 1:9 (NRSV)]
After the storm passed, I strolled down to the creek. The two-year drought we had experienced was finally over, and I was delighted to see the waterway filling. To the left, the current carried the water along its natural course; to the right, however, a pool of stagnant water rested against some debris.
The storm had washed leaves, sticks, grass, and trash into the creek bed, and the rubbish was caught on alog. This created a dam that prevented the water from flowing freely. If allowed to stay, the pooled water would attract mosquitoes, create an odor, and become contaminated. It needed to be cleaned out.
Sin is like that debris. We may not notice many problems from a few minor infractions. But left alone to collect and pile, these sins will clog the path to life and freedom. Habitual sin — such as pride, gluttony, lying, and idolatry — creates a barrier and blocks our relationship with God and others. The fallout of the obstruction, a stagnant spiritual life, attracts further sin and spills over into other areas of our lives. The obstruction that sin creates in our lives needs to be cleaned out. Thankfully, we have a remedy — repentance. (See Acts 3:19.)
Read more from the author, here."Crossroads"
There are times in our lives when God brings us to a crossroad. We cannot continue along the same path (go straight) and still follow Him. He asks us to take a sharp turn.
I have made these turns before, joyfully (marrying my husband), halfheartedly (choosing to homeschool), reluctantly (choosing to adopt), and through gritted teeth (starting an adoption ministry). However, after making the turn and traveling the path, God's always shown me the benefits to these new beginnings, and I've never regretted following Him.
My family and I are in the process of making another sharp turn. God has asked us to plant a church. We are packing our bags and headed from IL to central FL to embark on an adventure unlike any we've encountered.
As with each change of course, I must take a step of faith, lay down my own desires, make sacrifices, and remember that His Kingdom and His purposes are greater than my own. This time, while sad to leave behind my 20-year-old son and mother, I go willingly and open-handed.
Please pray for us and Hope Community Church as we launch this new church and proclaim hope to those who feel hopeless.
To read Barb's blog, visit https://inthemidstof.wordpress.com/.
To read about Hope Community Church, visit http://www.hopeinwildwood.com/.[Barb Winters]
The Author: Barb Winters (Illinois, USA)
Thought for the Day: The abundant life is available to all who seek it.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, reveal our sins to us. Help us repent so that we may have a closer relationship with you and live life more abundantly. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Struggling With Habitual Sin_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Are You Weary?" for Wednesday, 3 June 2015 - Scripture: Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[a] 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[Footnotes:
Matthew 11:29 Jeremiah 6:16]
The Author: Mary Ng (Singapore)
Thought for the Day: To know Christ is to joyfully serve each day.
Prayer: Dear God, we want to know you more fully. In your strength may we never give up but serve you joyfully. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Who Are Spiritually Weary_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Sin That Dams" for Thursday, 4 June 2015 - Scripture: 1 John 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. 7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
10 If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.
2:1 My children, I am writing you these things so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins — and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[1 John 1:9 (NRSV)]
After the storm passed, I strolled down to the creek. The two-year drought we had experienced was finally over, and I was delighted to see the waterway filling. To the left, the current carried the water along its natural course; to the right, however, a pool of stagnant water rested against some debris.
The storm had washed leaves, sticks, grass, and trash into the creek bed, and the rubbish was caught on alog. This created a dam that prevented the water from flowing freely. If allowed to stay, the pooled water would attract mosquitoes, create an odor, and become contaminated. It needed to be cleaned out.
Sin is like that debris. We may not notice many problems from a few minor infractions. But left alone to collect and pile, these sins will clog the path to life and freedom. Habitual sin — such as pride, gluttony, lying, and idolatry — creates a barrier and blocks our relationship with God and others. The fallout of the obstruction, a stagnant spiritual life, attracts further sin and spills over into other areas of our lives. The obstruction that sin creates in our lives needs to be cleaned out. Thankfully, we have a remedy — repentance. (See Acts 3:19.)
Read more from the author, here."Crossroads"
There are times in our lives when God brings us to a crossroad. We cannot continue along the same path (go straight) and still follow Him. He asks us to take a sharp turn.I have made these turns before, joyfully (marrying my husband), halfheartedly (choosing to homeschool), reluctantly (choosing to adopt), and through gritted teeth (starting an adoption ministry). However, after making the turn and traveling the path, God's always shown me the benefits to these new beginnings, and I've never regretted following Him.
My family and I are in the process of making another sharp turn. God has asked us to plant a church. We are packing our bags and headed from IL to central FL to embark on an adventure unlike any we've encountered.
As with each change of course, I must take a step of faith, lay down my own desires, make sacrifices, and remember that His Kingdom and His purposes are greater than my own. This time, while sad to leave behind my 20-year-old son and mother, I go willingly and open-handed.
Please pray for us and Hope Community Church as we launch this new church and proclaim hope to those who feel hopeless.
To read Barb's blog, visit https://inthemidstof.wordpress.com/.
To read about Hope Community Church, visit http://www.hopeinwildwood.com/.[Barb Winters]
The Author: Barb Winters (Illinois, USA)
Thought for the Day: The abundant life is available to all who seek it.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, reveal our sins to us. Help us repent so that we may have a closer relationship with you and live life more abundantly. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those Struggling With Habitual Sin_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Are You Weary?" for Wednesday, 3 June 2015 - Scripture: Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[a] 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[Footnotes:
Matthew 11:29 Jeremiah 6:16]
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[Psalm 91:1 (NIV)]
In my therapeutic massage practice, I see many women who are tired, worn out, sick, hurting, and unable to sleep. They tell me they have no time for themselves. They always have things to do and to achieve — meetings, practices, work, housework. The list is endless. We put a lot of stress on our bodies when we don’t allow ourselves time to rest and recover, and we tend to ignore the warning signs when we have pushed ourselves too far.
The Bible tells us that we are to work, but it also tells us to rest. We often have a hard time finding a balance between the two. God commands us to rest. Listening to our bodies’ cries to slow down isn’t easy. However, if we hand over all our cares and worries to God each day and put our focus on God and not on the world around us, we will discover over time that rest becomes easier.
Read more from the author, here.
Thought for the Day: When we go to God with our daily struggles, we find rest.
Prayer: Dear God, we give you our cares and worries today. Please be with us as we go about our daily lives and help us to rest. Amen.
Prayer focus: Single Mothers
In my therapeutic massage practice, I see many women who are tired, worn out, sick, hurting, and unable to sleep. They tell me they have no time for themselves. They always have things to do and to achieve — meetings, practices, work, housework. The list is endless. We put a lot of stress on our bodies when we don’t allow ourselves time to rest and recover, and we tend to ignore the warning signs when we have pushed ourselves too far.
The Bible tells us that we are to work, but it also tells us to rest. We often have a hard time finding a balance between the two. God commands us to rest. Listening to our bodies’ cries to slow down isn’t easy. However, if we hand over all our cares and worries to God each day and put our focus on God and not on the world around us, we will discover over time that rest becomes easier.
Read more from the author, here.
"Decisions"
I closed my massage practice a couple years ago. It wasn’t an easy decision, and I agonized over it for months. But it had come to the point I was going to need surgery for a bone cyst in my hand if I didn’t quit. I had cut back drastically on hours in hopes of things repairing themselves, but it just wasn’t happening. I was burned out and in pain.
The hardest part of the decisions was I felt God had called me to massage therapy. I had helped many people physically and spiritually in the seven years I had been in practice. God had worked in amazing ways, so I couldn’t understand how this was something God would want me to give up.
The battle in my mind raged for an entire year. I prayed, then worried. I asked for signs, then doubted. I had no idea what I would do if I gave it up. I wanted an answer from God, yet nothing came. There was definitely very little peace or trust that God would take care of things because I was too busy worrying I would make a mistake in this decision.
During this time I spent all of my free moments digging deep into my Bible and getting a much better understanding of who God is. Finally, I came to the understanding that this decision, like every other, was up to me. God wasn’t going to love me less if I closed and would still use me to help others. I didn’t need to spend the rest of my life worrying that I had made some huge mistake or that I was giving up on my calling. This wasn’t me failing God.
Since then God has continued to show me that His love is unconditional. I’ve learned that God created me fully capable of making sound decisions based on good Biblical principles, and I can trust God will guide me. Currently I work part-time helping my husband in his family’s business and doing freelance writing. I also help him prepare for a young adult Sunday school class. My mother had a stroke and I now spend a lot of my time caring for her, not to mention often playing taxi for two busy kids. Resting isn’t simply doing less. It is trusting that a loving God is in control making all things work for good purposes. Resting is believing that I am not accepted based on what I do or don’t do for God, but by grace alone.[Susan Tedrow]
The Author: Susan Tedrow (Indiana, USA)Thought for the Day: When we go to God with our daily struggles, we find rest.
Prayer: Dear God, we give you our cares and worries today. Please be with us as we go about our daily lives and help us to rest. Amen.
Prayer focus: Single Mothers
_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "A Milkshake?" for Tuesday, 2 June 2015 - Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are working hard among you, those who are guiding you in the Lord and confronting you in order to help you change. 13 Treat them with the highest regard and love because of the work they are doing. Live at peace among yourselves; 14 but we urge you, brothers, to confront those who are lazy, your aim being to help them change, to encourage the timid, to assist the weak, and to be patient with everyone.
15 See that no one repays evil for evil; on the contrary, always try to do good to each other, indeed, to everyone.
16 Always be joyful. 17 Pray regularly. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.
19 Don’t quench the Spirit, 20 don’t despise inspired messages. 21 But do test everything — hold onto what is good, 22 but keep away from every form of evil.
23 May the God of shalom make you completely holy — may your entire spirit, soul and body be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 24 The one calling you is faithful, and he will do it.
Encourage the disheartened.[1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)]
Living as a missionary, I get to meet some great people. Kathy once had to drive me almost an hour to get to an office so that we could sort out an issue with my visa. When we finally got there, they told us they would not be able to help us; we would need to come back later. I felt like a fool for wasting Kathy’s time and gasoline. But you know what she said to me? “You want a milkshake?”
Sometimes it’s the small things that surprise me most. In that moment, Kathy’s offer certainly surprised me. So she bought us milkshakes and took that opportunity to tell me about how she started mission work. It was like hearing a modern story from the Book of Acts. Her husband died and she was left alone, so she sold her house to join a missionary team. She gave up everything she had to help people in need. She acted in faith and is now for me a living picture of Christlikeness. At 65 she still exhibits joy and encouragement — and it’s all because of Christ.
The Author: Gabriel Brennan (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
Thought for the Day: Today I will encourage someone in their faith.
Prayer: Dear Lord, you have encouraged us in many ways. Help us to be encouraging to others. Amen.
Prayer focus: Missionaries
_____________________
Today's Devotional:
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "A Milkshake?" for Tuesday, 2 June 2015 - Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are working hard among you, those who are guiding you in the Lord and confronting you in order to help you change. 13 Treat them with the highest regard and love because of the work they are doing. Live at peace among yourselves; 14 but we urge you, brothers, to confront those who are lazy, your aim being to help them change, to encourage the timid, to assist the weak, and to be patient with everyone.
15 See that no one repays evil for evil; on the contrary, always try to do good to each other, indeed, to everyone.
16 Always be joyful. 17 Pray regularly. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.
19 Don’t quench the Spirit, 20 don’t despise inspired messages. 21 But do test everything — hold onto what is good, 22 but keep away from every form of evil.
23 May the God of shalom make you completely holy — may your entire spirit, soul and body be kept blameless for the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 24 The one calling you is faithful, and he will do it.
Encourage the disheartened.[1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)]
Living as a missionary, I get to meet some great people. Kathy once had to drive me almost an hour to get to an office so that we could sort out an issue with my visa. When we finally got there, they told us they would not be able to help us; we would need to come back later. I felt like a fool for wasting Kathy’s time and gasoline. But you know what she said to me? “You want a milkshake?”
Sometimes it’s the small things that surprise me most. In that moment, Kathy’s offer certainly surprised me. So she bought us milkshakes and took that opportunity to tell me about how she started mission work. It was like hearing a modern story from the Book of Acts. Her husband died and she was left alone, so she sold her house to join a missionary team. She gave up everything she had to help people in need. She acted in faith and is now for me a living picture of Christlikeness. At 65 she still exhibits joy and encouragement — and it’s all because of Christ.
The Author: Gabriel Brennan (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
Thought for the Day: Today I will encourage someone in their faith.
Prayer: Dear Lord, you have encouraged us in many ways. Help us to be encouraging to others. Amen.
Prayer focus: Missionaries
_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "The Shepherd's Voice" for Monday, 1 June 2015 - Scripture: John 10:22 Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, 23 and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo’s Colonnade. 24 So the Judeans surrounded him and said to him, “How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us publicly!” 25 Yeshua answered them, “I have already told you, and you don’t trust me. The works I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf, 26 but the reason you don’t trust is that you are not included among my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hands. 30 I and the Father are one.”
A cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”[Mark 9:7 (NIV)]
My husband and I took a trip to the mall one day with our eight-month-old son. While my husband entertained our son, I enjoyed some “me time,” window shopping alone. But after a while I heard a loud, happy squeal piercing through the crowd. Immediately able to identify the screamer, I whipped my head around and spotted my husband and son a great distance away. Our son was waving happily and blowing me kisses. Even among the thousands of other sounds filling the crowded mall that day, I distinguished the sound of my son’s voice.
This experience reminds me of my relationship with Christ. Through an intimate relationship with Christ, I am learning to distinguish his voice, even amidst the clamor of the world. John 10:27-28 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).
My son is a part of me, and I am a part of him. Sheep know their shepherd’s voice because of the time and care a shepherd invests in them. Our Shepherd is a part of us, and we are part of him.
Read more from the author, here."For Such a Time as This"
A cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”[Mark 9:7 (NIV)]
My husband and I took a trip to the mall one day with our eight-month-old son. While my husband entertained our son, I enjoyed some “me time,” window shopping alone. But after a while I heard a loud, happy squeal piercing through the crowd. Immediately able to identify the screamer, I whipped my head around and spotted my husband and son a great distance away. Our son was waving happily and blowing me kisses. Even among the thousands of other sounds filling the crowded mall that day, I distinguished the sound of my son’s voice.
This experience reminds me of my relationship with Christ. Through an intimate relationship with Christ, I am learning to distinguish his voice, even amidst the clamor of the world. John 10:27-28 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).
My son is a part of me, and I am a part of him. Sheep know their shepherd’s voice because of the time and care a shepherd invests in them. Our Shepherd is a part of us, and we are part of him.
Read more from the author, here."For Such a Time as This"
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from 1another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to this royal position for such a time as this?”[Esther 4:14]
"Would you like to come to our church event?” I squeaked out to the teller at the local bank. In my time of prayer, I felt the Lord placed this particular person on my heart to invite to church. As a pastor’s wife, evangelism should come easy to me. But when I’m about to evangelize about the transformative work God has done in my life, my stomach churns, my palms sweat and my mouth gets drier than the Mojave Desert.
What if they reject me?
What if they don’t want to be my friend anymore?
What if people call me a Bible-thumper?
What if I lose my reputation in the community?
Even though I wanted to ignore God’s quiet whisper to my heart to invite this woman to church, my desire to obey God’s calling on my life outweighed my fear.
The next week came and soon it was time for all of the guests we had invited to the church event to arrive. I patiently waited and to my surprise, she entered through the sanctuary door. As we met in small groups to discuss the teaching we had just heard, her voice cracked and her eyes brimmed over with tears. “I want a real relationship with God. I just don’t know how to get it.” After praying and handing her a Bible, I offered to help her in any way she desired.
My fear could have spoiled an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone who was desperately seeking it. But because I was bold in inviting her, the Lord opened the door for our church to be the place to connect her to the Savior.
Esther could have been disobedient, too. She could have remained silent and ignored Mordecai’s insistence to approach the King and ask him to help her people, even though she was risking her life in the process. But instead she used her high position to boldly proclaim her message. Because of that boldness, many lives were saved in the process.
As sons and daughters of the King, we have one of the best messages to proclaim to the world—the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We can remain silent. But if we do, how many people will perish because of our disobedience?
Today is the day we boldly share our testimonies with the world. Today we use our position as children of the King to point people to a new way of life.
The day is today. The time is now.
Who has God placed in your path for you to boldly share your testimony of His transformative work with today?[Michelle S. Lazurek, Visit Michelle's personal blog by clicking here.]
The Author: Michelle S. Lazurek (Pennsylvania, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will listen for my Shepherd’s voice over the clamor of this world.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us decipher your voice over the sounds of the world. Amen.
Prayer focus: Mothers of Young Children
"Would you like to come to our church event?” I squeaked out to the teller at the local bank. In my time of prayer, I felt the Lord placed this particular person on my heart to invite to church. As a pastor’s wife, evangelism should come easy to me. But when I’m about to evangelize about the transformative work God has done in my life, my stomach churns, my palms sweat and my mouth gets drier than the Mojave Desert.
What if they reject me?
What if they don’t want to be my friend anymore?
What if people call me a Bible-thumper?
What if I lose my reputation in the community?
Even though I wanted to ignore God’s quiet whisper to my heart to invite this woman to church, my desire to obey God’s calling on my life outweighed my fear.
The next week came and soon it was time for all of the guests we had invited to the church event to arrive. I patiently waited and to my surprise, she entered through the sanctuary door. As we met in small groups to discuss the teaching we had just heard, her voice cracked and her eyes brimmed over with tears. “I want a real relationship with God. I just don’t know how to get it.” After praying and handing her a Bible, I offered to help her in any way she desired.
My fear could have spoiled an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone who was desperately seeking it. But because I was bold in inviting her, the Lord opened the door for our church to be the place to connect her to the Savior.
Esther could have been disobedient, too. She could have remained silent and ignored Mordecai’s insistence to approach the King and ask him to help her people, even though she was risking her life in the process. But instead she used her high position to boldly proclaim her message. Because of that boldness, many lives were saved in the process.
As sons and daughters of the King, we have one of the best messages to proclaim to the world—the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We can remain silent. But if we do, how many people will perish because of our disobedience?
Today is the day we boldly share our testimonies with the world. Today we use our position as children of the King to point people to a new way of life.
The day is today. The time is now.
Who has God placed in your path for you to boldly share your testimony of His transformative work with today?[Michelle S. Lazurek, Visit Michelle's personal blog by clicking here.]
The Author: Michelle S. Lazurek (Pennsylvania, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will listen for my Shepherd’s voice over the clamor of this world.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us decipher your voice over the sounds of the world. Amen.
Prayer focus: Mothers of Young Children
_____________________
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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