July 2022 Messages

 

~Friday Message for July 22, 2022~

Motives

 

PROVERBS 16:2 NLT 2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.

Motives are important to God.

 

God is interested in WHY we do things, not just in WHAT we do.

Why do you do what you do?

Is it to help others? To please God?  Or do you live focused totally on yourself?

 

These questions are important to ask ourselves. As First Corinthians 11:31 says, “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

 

However, we must use caution when trying to judge other people. We don’t know their motives.

 

PROVERBS 21:2 LB 2 We can justify our every deed, but God looks at our motives.

 

We often justify ourselves, but judge others harshly. We may judge ourselves based on our good intentions, but we are only capable of judging others by their actions.

So, we must be very cautious about judging others in a condemning way.

 

1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 NIV 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

 

One main reason we are not qualified to judge others is because we don’t know their thoughts, intentions, and motives. Only God does. 

SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to be aware of my motives. From adevotion.org

 

~Friday Message for July 15, 2022~

 

EPHESIANS 4:12 NIV 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

 

Ministry means service. To minister is to serve.

How does God “serve us”?

God serves us by helping us. So, primarily, ministry means helping people. Of course, the foremost way of helping people is to help them know God and His Word, so they can receive all God has provided for them.

But anything that helps people — that makes their life easier, or better — is also ministry. That is, it is part of the ministry of God: God’s purpose, God’s plan, God’s desire for humanity.

God desires the best for all people. People were God’s idea, and He longs to bless them.

God helps people. So, when you help someone, even in the smallest way, you are acting like God.

 

EPHESIANS 5:1-2 NASB 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma

We are to imitate our Father God — or act like Him. How? By walking in love, just as Christ did.

In practical terms, what is walking in love? Helping people. Walking in love means you will help people, you will put their interests first.

When you help people, you are involved in the ministry of God.

SAY THIS: When I help people, I am serving God.

Devotion from CBA Publications

 

~Friday Message for July 8, 2022~

 

My daughter and I recently went to a huge yard sale—-for charity to send missionaries to Senegal.  I was happily buying stuff to make birdhouses to sell for Mission First.  But I talk Mission First to anyone who will listen, and I had talked to several sales volunteers along the way.  I was about to leave when someone asked if anyone wanted prayer, and I asked for prayer for our mission work in Pottstown.  So we prayed, standing in the driveway, and then the “incognito” pastor turned around and grabbed their donation jar and proceeded to fish out $150 to give to Mission First.  I am still stunned, speechless and deeply touched.  No strings, no expectations, just a free gift that required only my acceptance. A God Moment! By Sue Meloy

 

~Friday Message for July 1, 2022~

 

Rest A While

MARK 6:31 KJV 31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

One preacher paraphrased this verse by saying “come apart before you come apart.”

God is our Source, so resting should be a turning to God, not a turning away from Him. It would be unwise to take a “vacation” and ignore God.

Our bodies need rest, but our minds also need rest from the constant barrage of bad news and entertainment the media tries to sell us.

Many fill their days with noise. The news or some other broadcast plays constantly in their background. But we need times of quietness. We need time when we allow God to guide our thinking, instead of the media.

We need to make room for the thoughts God desires to share with us. We need times when we shut out all the other voices trying to speak to us and focus on God.

Everyone wants your attention. Advertisers want to convince you to buy their product. Broadcasters want your attention so they can attract advertisers.

But God also wants your attention, not to get something from you, but to provide you with His wisdom and guidance.

God wants to communicate with you. But when you surround yourself constantly with other voices, you will miss some of what God wants to say to you.

Prayer is a way for us to rest. It is a time when we can cast our load on the Lord, refocus on Him, and quit carrying all the responsibilities ourselves.

ISAIAH 40:31 NKJ 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

The Bible also cautions against laziness, so resting should not be our primary focus in life. But with today’s hectic pace of life, many are neglecting this part of God’s instruction given for our benefit.

Remember, God commanded the children of Israel to rest for one day each week. Their Sabbath was not a day full of religious activity either, but a true day of rest.

While we are not under Law requiring us to keep the Sabbath in order to be right with God, it is still a principle we need to practice. To be our best, humans need to rest!

Rest should be a time when you do something different than your normal daily activity.

We cannot ignore God’s instruction without it costing us. Many today are broken in body and burned out needlessly. We must learn to rest properly, so God can refresh us and strengthen us in order to finish our course.

 

SAY THIS: I will obey God and rest in Jesus.  Devotion from a Church For All.

 

 

June 2022 Messages

 

~Friday Message for June 10, 2022~

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:12-13 NIV

We don’t always see the dolphins swimming in the ocean, but we know they are out there. Sometimes the dolphins are jumping and playing around in the waves right in front of us, but we miss seeing them because we aren’t looking for them. Sometimes we are looking in the opposite direction, and sometimes we are too busy scrolling on our phone to see the dolphin show right in front of us.

God’s presence in our lives feels like that at times. Just like God, we know he is out there, but we don’t always see him. Sometimes we may be going about our day, trying to see God, but we aren’t looking in the right direction. And sometimes we are too busy scrolling on our phones or carrying out our to-do lists to notice God moving right in front of us.

And sometimes, you may be looking where you last found God, but he is nowhere in sight.

But God promises to draw close to us when we draw near to him. He wants to be found, and he promises to be found when we seek him with our whole heart.

If you’ve been trying to see God, don’t give up. Keep looking. Keep searching. And just like the dolphin fin that pops out of the water when you least expect it, you’ll see God moving again in your life.

 

 

May 2022 Messages

 

~Friday Message for May 27 2022~

Memorial Day – to some it’s merely the beginning of summer and to others it’s a solemn day to remember those who have passed from this life. However, to the war veteran and to the families of fallen soldiers, Memorial Day carries significance so deep that words cannot express their hearts.

When we look into the eyes of those who still mourn these once vibrant men and women, we often sense their loneliness and pain. We hear them choke back tears as they simply say the ranks and names of their military brothers and sisters at a Memorial Day service. White gloves, dress uniforms, rigid posture, and perfectly precisioned salutes represent the reverence and respect flowing from within. Those who have been personally affected by war understand and appreciate this day of remembrance.

What should we say to those who sincerely honor this day? “Happy Memorial Day” doesn’t seem fitting. “I’m sorry for your loss” may be closer to appropriate. What would the fallen soldier want from their comrades and the rest of the country on this day?

In an often quoted Memorial Day speech given in 1884 by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the speaker ended his address with these words, “Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death — of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and joy of the spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope, and will.”

The American soldier who gave his or her life for U.S. citizens to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness won’t be telling us how to observe the holiday. But I believe that Holmes’ proposition to “think of life, not death” would honor the fallen soldier. Their sacrifice follows the example of Jesus Christ laying down His life for our freedom. It’s selfless love for others – not so others can mourn forever, but live!

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

Notice that in scripture and in military service, the willingness to give up one’s life is not dependent on the worthiness of the people who benefit from the honorable act. In a perfect world, all who receive freedom and grace would be worthy of such a sacrifice and full of gratitude. But that’s not the way it is anywhere on Earth or in Heaven.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8

We are blessed to be living in a free society. May we honor our American soldiers for the liberty we have in this country. May we also give thanks to Almighty God for the freedom we have to spend eternity with Him because of His gift of forgiveness through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. From CBN

 

~Friday Message for May 20 2022~

 

Ephesians 2:10 We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This devotion is from Our Daily Bread, December 14, 2019 and is written by Peter Chin.  It still speaks to me today as I volunteer at Mission First.  It reads as follows:

              A generous friend offered to babysit our kids so my wife and I could go on a date.  “You should go somewhere fancy!” she gushed.  Being practical people, we decided to go grocery shopping instead.  When we returned, grocery bags in arms, our friend asked why we hadn’t done anything special. We told our friend what makes a date special isn’t so much what you do but who you’re with.

              One of the few books of the Bible that doesn’t record God directly saying or doing anything, the book of Ruth could seem pretty ordinary.  So some read it as a touching but largely human drama of two people coming together in a relationship.

              But in truth, something extraordinary is taking place.  In the final chapter of Ruth, we read that Ruth and Boaz’s union results in a son named Obed, the grandfather of David (4:17).  And as we read in Matthew 1:1, it’s from David’s family that Jesus was born.  It’s Jesus who unveils the ordinary story of Ruth and Boaz and reveals the extraordinary story of God’s amazing plans and purposes at work.

              So often we see our lives in the same way: as ordinary and serving no special purpose. But when we view our lives through Christ, He gives eternal significance to even the most ordinary situations and relationships.

When has God turned an ordinary situation into one of extraordinary significance for you?  How has he made all moments in life something sacred and extraordinary?

Jesus, You give eternal purpose and meaning to the most ordinary of circumstances.  Help me to see all my relationships and circumstances through You!

Come and see what I’m talking about.  Stop in and visit Mission First. It’s extraordinary!

 

~Friday Message for May 6 2022~

 

 

 

April 2022 Messages

 

~Friday Message for April 29 2022~

The Story of the Grateful Starfishes (Inspiring Story about Attitude)

One morning, an elderly man was walking along the beach when he noticed a young boy picking something off the sand and throwing it into the sea.

As he got closer, the man realized the child was throwing stranded starfishes that had washed up on the shore back into the breaking waves.

Approaching the boy, the man asked what he was doing.

“The starfish will die if they’re still on the shore when the sun rises,” he replied.

Perplexed, the old man said, “But that’s pointless! There are countless miles of beach and thousands of starfish. It doesn’t matter how many you return to the water, you can’t make a difference.”

Unfazed, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and tossed it into the sea.

“It matters to this one,” he said.

Moral of the story:

No matter the odds of success or the scale of the challenge, your actions can make a difference. It’s better to light a candle than curse the dark.

Every little thing counts. Doing something to make a positive change is always better than nothing!

 

~Friday Message for April 22 2022~

God needs you. But if you don’t believe in yourself, if you don’t believe in the ability God has placed on the inside of you, you will discount yourself. You will sit on the sidelines and watch other people be used by God in your place.

God deliberately chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to do His work to confound the wise, so that no mortal can ever have reason to glory or to boast in his own flesh (1 Cor. 1:27-29).

God is not as concerned with your weaknesses as you are.

“…We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are stronger than we are” (Num. 13:31).

The problem with the spies in Numbers 13 is they looked at the giants instead of looking at God. Yes, there were giants in the land, but the Israelites needed to look at God and not the giants.

There are some giants in my life. But I don’t need to stare at those giants. I need to stare at God. I need to deepen my gaze firmly fixed on God and believe that He can do what He says He can.

The same is true for you. Your spirit wants to produce tremendous things in your life. But if you always keep that spirit man pushed down by negative attitudes, thoughts and words, he will never rise up to bring you into the place God wants you to occupy, into the land He wants you to possess.

Source: Help Me I’m Insecure by Joyce Meyer

 

~Friday Message for April 1, 2022~

A Small Act of Kindness Can Make a Big Difference

By Ken Wert

 

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ~Dalai Lama

 

I had an old trench coat that was balled up on the floor of my garage, gathering dust near the washing machine. It was raining. It was unusually cold (for California, anyway).

I was driving home when I saw a man in a short-sleeved shirt wandering through our neighborhood, pushing a shopping cart. He was walking painfully slow. He was dripping wet.

I paused at the intersection to my street and watched him for several minutes, thinking. My heart was heavy seeing him move so slowly, so wet, so cold. I suddenly remembered the crumpled-up coat. But what if I needed it sometime in the future? A story I had once heard at a church conference came to mind.

 

An Inspiring Story of Kindness

Two boys walked down a road that led through a field. The younger of the two noticed a man toiling in the fields of his farm, his good clothes stacked neatly off to the side.

The boy looked at his older friend and said, “Let’s hide his shoes so when he comes from the field, he won’t be able to find them. His expression will be priceless!” The boy laughed.

The older of the two boys thought for a moment and said, “The man looks poor. See his clothes? Let’s do this instead: Let’s hide a silver dollar in each shoe and then we’ll hide in these bushes and see how he reacts to that, instead.” The younger companion agreed to the plan and they placed a silver dollar in each shoe and hid behind the bushes. It wasn’t long before the farmer came in from the field, tired and worn. He reached down and pulled on a shoe, immediately feeling the money under his foot.

With the coin now between his fingers, he looked around to see who could have put it in his shoe. But no one was there. He held the dollar in his hand and stared at it in disbelief. Confused, he slid his other foot into his other shoe and felt the second coin. This time, the man was overwhelmed when he removed the second silver dollar from his shoe.

Thinking he was alone, he dropped to his knees and offered a verbal prayer that the boys could easily hear from their hiding place. They heard the poor farmer cry tears of relief and gratitude. He spoke of his sick wife and his boys in need of food. He expressed gratitude for this unexpected bounty from unknown hands.

After a time, the boys came out from their hiding place and slowly started their long walk home. They felt good inside, warm, changed somehow knowing the good they had done to a poor farmer in dire straits. A smile crept across their souls.

 

Inspired by the Story

I drove home, took my coat from the garage, and went looking for the old man in the rain. I spotted him. He hadn’t gone far. The rain had let up some. I pulled up alongside him and asked him to come over.

He hesitated, then walked closer. I asked if he had a place to stay. He said he did and was close. I offered him my jacket. He looked stunned, like I was violating some accepted code of conduct. I urged him to take it. He slowly reached out and took my old coat. He smiled.  So did I.

We all have poor farmers toiling in the fields of their trials and difficulties along the roads of our lives. Their challenges might not be known to us. But their countenances often tell a story of pain. We have opportunities to hide shoes or hide silver dollars in them.

This day, this time, I removed a “silver dollar” from the floor of my garage and slipped it in an old man’s shoe. A life was blessed for having done it. And I think the old man’s life may have been blessed by it as well.

When I hear of stories of kindness being done to others, I’m inspired to do the same. I think most of us are like that. We need each other’s inspiration as we travel life’s highways, trying to figure it all out.

 

March 2022 Messages

 

~Friday Message for March 18, 2022~

 

FEAR TO FREEDOM

“…Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will

be catching men.’ And when they had brought their boats to

land, they left everything and followed him.”

LUKE 5:10-11

 

Think about the last time you felt unworthy. Were you at

work, in your home, or before God? Simon Peter felt this very

emotion. Oftentimes we can find ourselves telling God, “I don’t

deserve you. Don’t you recognize how many mistakes I’ve

made?” Knowing our sin, we sometimes live in shame, missing

Jesus’ response. But don’t stop there! Jesus said, “Do not

be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” He spoke

against the fear in Simon’s heart and invited him to join His

ministry. They had work to do!

TODAY

It is time to leave fear behind and begin fishing for people.

Share this story with someone today and see how God brings

hope in place of our fear.

 

 

~Friday Message for March 11, 2022~

DEVOTION WRITTEN BY KAYSIAN GORDON

My daughter chooses the bedtime reading for me from a little book called ‘Bible Promises for Women’. She wants me to read out loud for both of us. Each night the topic she’s chosen has dealt with the exact situation I’d already faced that day and they were words I needed to hear or be reminded of, except a few nights ago. The topic that she chose was ‘grateful’ – this one seemed a little left field. However, the next day, the word just kept popping up in random conversations and discussions.

What is your attitude? Is it one of gratitude? We are told when we stop to count our blessings they seem to multiply exponentially. We are told that conversely, if we look at all the things we don’t have, it will appear that we never have enough.

Harriet Crosby said ‘simple gratitude helps us experience God at work in every moment of every day’. The Bible says ‘in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you’. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV.

I’m learning that not every day will be perfect, but I’m learning that in everything I do, an attitude of gratitude, praise, and worship can change my mindset from focusing on me and whatever is bothering me to focusing on the One, True God who has promised to provide for ALL my needs according to His riches in Glory.

Friends, I hope you will choose an attitude of gratitude.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for providing and taking care of my needs. Lord, sometimes it’s even been needs that I didn’t even know I had, but you prepared and provided for me beforehand. Lord, may I always choose an attitude of gratitude and learn to count each of my blessing one by one, so that I can truly see how blessed I am. Lord, please take away any complaining spirits within me.

 

 

~Friday Message for March 4, 2022~

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus went into the wilderness by himself, where he fasted and prayed for forty days and nights to discern God’s will for his life. For centuries, the followers of Jesus have observed the 40 days before Easter as a time of fasting and prayer as we seek to discern God’s will for our lives.

 

Fasting usually refers to a time of not eating or drinking in order to focus our attention on praying and seeking the will of God. John Wesley fasted two days every week (Wednesday and Friday) in order to keep focused on God. I often fast and pray when I am facing a challenging decision to try to listen more closely to God’s will.

 

However, fasting is not only about not eating or drinking. It can also be about abstaining from negative thoughts and attitudes and focusing on loving God and neighbor with our whole being.

 

The following 11 ideas for fasting during Lent, attributed to Pope Francis, are practices that encourage followers of Jesus to become more Christ-like in thought, word and action:

 

Fast from saying hurting words and saying kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

 

I have decided to practice one of these “fasts” each day during Lent to help me become a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ. What negative attitudes do we all need to let go of so God can work more fully in and through us during this season of Lent?  By Dr. Kent Millard, United Theological Seminary

 

February 2022 Messages

 

~Friday Message for February 25, 2022~

Three steps to help you follow Christ’s example and love with a tender heart.

by Elizabeth Peale Allen

 

The term compassion has its linguistic roots in the Latin terms com (with) and pati (suffering). Practically speaking, we have compassion when we set aside indifference and connect with those who are in pain. In a curious way, this seems to be a first step toward healing.

 

When Jesus saw the blind men, for example, he “had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him” (Matthew 20:34).

 

When he saw groups yearning for his teaching, “he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14). Christ noted the confusion of the people in the crowd following him, and “had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34).

 

All these examples of Christ’s compassion have two things in common. First, Jesus notices the people around him. This tells us that compassion is only possible when we are attuned to others.

 

If we’re absorbed in our own feelings, problems, worries and desires, we will overlook the needs of those God puts in our path and ignore the opportunity to help them.

 

Second, Jesus responds to people, instead of reacting to them. He listens to the ten lepers rather than being irritated that they’re interrupting his conversation (Luke 17:12-19). He takes time to speak with the woman who touches the hem of his garment, instead of simply chastising her for lacking appropriate boundaries (Matthew 9:20).

Like anything else, we get better at compassion when we practice. Here are three basic steps:

1. Build up your empathy.

Spend five minutes a day practicing putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Choose a news report, a neighbor or a member of your own family and really contemplate what it feels like to be that person. Don’t shy away as soon as you think, “That must be awful! Delve deep into what it’s like to suffer in that way. This exercise can help you learn to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

 

2. Learn to pause before speaking.

Scripture tells us, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). To be compassionate toward others, we need to allow time for the Holy Spirit to override our tendency to judge. A simple prayer like, “Holy Spirit, guide my heart,” often provides enough space (and guidance!) to help us see why people are behaving the way they are.

 

3. Recognize the barriers to compassion.

It’s impossible to be annoyed and compassionate at the same time. Frustration, suspicion, irritation, bitterness, dislike and anger are all signs that we may be looking at others without compassion. We can pray to the Father to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” that rules in our hearts (Ephesians 4:31).

 

~Friday Message for February 18, 2022~

 

The Joy Of Giving Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

 

Be it no more than just a glass of water,

A walking-stick alive rendered by daughter,

Care and concern, warm smile, none far too hotter;

Or quality time spent with someone old,

A warm blanket in times forlorn and cold,

In times of need a willing shoulder-hold;

A pair of slippers to feet walking bare,

Not in loud charity to show you care,

Heart-born feelings shown above false air;

Anything given short of counting ways,

Given to brighten up sinking heart’s greys,

To lighten load that too heavily weighs;

Give it in cash though kindest give in kind,

A gift of willing heart and well inclined,

A gift coming from soul— body and mind.

Give, the only joy greater than getting,

The only joy rarer than receiving,

Be the joy of giving and forgetting!

 

~Friday Message for February 4, 2022~

Finding Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

When we’re battling difficult circumstances, how do our friends or colleagues respond? Usually with encouraging words like, “I’ll be hoping for the best ” or, “hopefully things turn around soon”. They hope for the best on our behalf.

However, hope isn’t a verb. It’s not something we can do for ourselves, let alone decide to do on a whim for someone else.

Then where do we find hope?

We find hope in God’s presence. When life feels out of control, turn to Him in prayer. “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone (Psalm 62:6–7 NLT).”

We find hope in God’s promise—His living Word. “My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word (Psalm 119:81 ESV).”

We find hope in God’s process, which almost never matches our own human understanding. Even in our pain, God is at work sewing things together for good. This may not translate to our comfort, it’s meant to conform us to be more like Christ (Romans 8:28). God uses our struggles to produce endurance, which produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3–5).

We find hope in God’s purpose for our lives. Every single one of us has been created with a divine plan in mind. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).”

And finally, we find hope in the promise of things yet to come. In John 14:1–2 (NLT), Christ says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

Hope is not something we do, it’s something we possess; gifted to us by God’s unending grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. Hope is the anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19) and without it, we’re incomplete (Proverbs 13:12).  Daily Devotion 2018

 

 

January 2022 Messages

 

~Friday Message for January 28, 2022~

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26

Letting go of the familiar is tough. Changing careers or colleges or moving to a new city can take an emotional toll on us. It’s even more difficult to leave behind old habits, attitudes and behaviors.

Lot’s wife wasn’t able to let go of her home in Sodom, even though God sent angels to warn her family to run for their lives because judgment was coming. In fact, the angels’ warnings included such grave commands as “Don’t look back” and “Don’t stop.”

Why in the world did this woman choose to stop and look back? Could it be that she loved the life she was leaving too much? Though Sodom was full to overflowing with sin and vice, apparently the dark and oppressive city was comfortably familiar to Lot’s wife.

It is difficult to leave the familiar behind. That fact is as true today as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction–even when God himself is saying, “It’s time to move on.”

If you’ve ever struggled with a destructive habit, you’ve felt the pull of the familiar–even as you’ve sensed God’s nudge, “Move on now.” You’ve experienced the temptation to turn back just one more time, for one last look, one last taste, one last “fix”–even as God has whispered, “Don’t look back.”

Maybe you’ve agonized over a loved one’s downward spiral, desperately attempting to rescue them time and time again–until finally God impressed upon you, “Stop. Let go.”

Unlike Lot’s wife, none of us has ever become a pillar of salt by turning back for one last peek. Yet we all struggle with the difficulties of letting go of the old in order to grasp the new.

Take heart. God understands that letting go of the familiar is hard. Yet he has called us to move on to new life in Jesus Christ by letting go of our old worldly lives, our old habits, our old dreams–to boldly move forward without looking back.

When you feel God’s call to move, allow him to guide you. He will give you the grace to do whatever he has asked.

 

 

~Friday Message for January 21, 2022~

One day Jesus said to his disciples “Let us go over to the other side of the lake”

Luke 8:22 (NIV)

Jesus asked his disciples to “go over to the other side” of the lake. The Sea of Galilee was subject to fierce winds and sudden violent storms that came without notice. Consequently, most boats would hug the shoreline so that crews could reach land quickly if a storm came up. The disciples were asked to take a risk; they were justifiably afraid. They might have refused to go. Nonetheless, they were willing to go over to the other side and get out of their comfort zone. Because they were willing to take a risk, we have this wonderful story of God’s miraculous intervention.

Recently, our church was asked to take a risk and “go over to the other side”. We were asked to be part of a citywide group that provided shelter for the homeless. Some of our congregation grumbled; some were afraid of what might happen, but we decided to go over to other side.  The storm of controversy turned into a blessing as we participated in this ministry of hospitality following the example of the disciples, we can have the courage to “go over to the other side and be open to ministries.

Dear Lord, we are thankful that in the midst of turmoil you have promised to be with us in the storm. Amen

Thought for the day – How can I venture out of my comfort zone to help others in the name of Christ?  By Mike Beertoglio, Crowley First UMC

~Friday Message for January 14, 2022~

~Friday Message for January 7, 2022~

See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” Exodus 23:20 (NIV)

I sometimes think New Year’s Day comes at the wrong time of year. I’m usually facing a bunch of tasks left over from the old year, like taking down the Christmas tree and putting away all the decorations, writing thank-you notes and dealing with decisions about what to do with the stack of Christmas cards. Throw them away? Save the ones with pictures? Check the addresses? Then there’s the thought of trying to catch up with all the work I put off during the holidays. I’m behind before the New Year even starts.

“Who can think about new beginnings or inspirational goals in the midst of old concerns?” I asked my lawyer-husband Lynn as he came in the door after a quick trip to the office to complete a couple of year-end responsibilities.

 

“Let me show you a gift I just received,” he said, pulling an attractively wrapped package out of his briefcase. On it was a card: “To Lynn. May this gift encourage you in the coming year.” It was signed by a friend in his Bible study group.

Lynn tore off the paper and lifted out a beautifully framed message, penned by a professional calligrapher. The message read:

Lynn,

Trust Me. I have everything under control.

Jesus

 

He set the frame down amidst the clutter on the kitchen counter so I could see that simple message as I went about my tasks. Slowly those words began to change my frame of mind. If I needed something to help me carry my old concerns into the New Year, I’d just found it … the determination to face each day’s concerns, trusting in the words of this promise from the Source of all comfort and strength.

Father, each day in this new year, please help me remember that You are in control of everything.

by Carol KuykendallPosted in Holiday Devotions