Day 34: Saturday, April 8, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Apr 8, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

Day 34: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Rev. Bob Walker
 
Love Like This
 
Scripture: “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15: 12-13 NRSV
 
Devotion: I have sat with a war veteran and allowed him to cry like a baby when remembering those with whom he served who did not come home alive. When called a hero he invariably answers, “I am no hero, those who gave the last full measure are the heroes.” Now most of us will not be asked to give up our lives for Christ, but He asks us every day to live our lives for Him and only Him! Jesus asked us to love one another and by that love the world would know we are His. Do you love the world? Not just your neighbor, which may be hard enough depending on who your neighbor is. But do you love the one who runs all the way down the line in the right lane and then cuts in front of you after you’ve sat there a long time waiting to make your way? Do you love those who are not so love worthy? We cannot do this unless we know that Jesus first loved us. It is because we are loved that we can love. And we must remember that Jesus does not ask us to feel warmly predisposed toward the other, just to do what is in his/her best interest. Love your neighbor (all folk) as He has first loved us.
 
I don’t know about you, but I do not deserve the Love of God that Jesus has for me! I never served in combat so I do not know the love of one who gave his live for me except for Jesus. And then there are those who love me in spite of myself: my mom, my wife, et al. Makes me feel humble. If God loves me like this surely I can try to love that one too!!!
 
Prayer: For your love we give you thanks, O Lord. Now, let us pass it on. AMEN.
 
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Day 33: Friday, April 7, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Apr 7, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions |

Day 33, Friday, April 7, 2017
Rev. Sela Finau
Companionship
Scripture: Luke 24:13-15, 28-29 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them.
 
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.
 
Devotional: There are times when we all long for the companionship of Christ. When we are facing some deep loneliness that seems to darken the brightest day, some great sorrow that has broken our heart and changed our lives, or some heavy burden that comes through no action or fault of our own. At times like these we long for the presence of the one who speaks our name, understand our plight, and can break the hold of loneliness, sorrow, despair, and burdens we bear.
 
There are other times when we are at the peak of our powers and all is going well that we want someone to walk with us, to share the challenge, excitement, and reward of the path we have chosen. We desire a companion who can appreciate the challenge and victory of life in the days when all is well.
 
There are still other times when we need a companion to whom we can say thank you. There are those times when we are overwhelmed with gratitude. We know that the goodness we enjoy is not just the result of our good work but that someone else had a hand in our well-being, comfort, and success.
 
At times like these it is good to remember that the risen Christ walks beside us—awaiting our invitation to stay with us, break bread with us, interpret life for us, give us hope, and share in our thanksgiving.
 
As we continue with our walk this Lenten Season, may we, like the disciples before us, have our eyes opened to recognize Christ as he comes to walk beside us this day.
 
Prayer: Oh God, forgive us when we fail to recognize you, when we fail to recognize you in others. Continue to walk with us and help us to see. Amen
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Holy Week As Told Through Children’s Handprints

Posted on Apr 6, 2017 in BLOG, Latest News | Tags: ,

Holy Week Re-Told through Children’s Handprints!

 

Day 32: Thursday, April 6, 2017, #Lent Devotion

Posted on Apr 6, 2017 in BLOG, Devotions | Tags: ,

Day 32, Thursday, April 6, 2017
Rev. Sela Finau
Gray
Scripture: Psalm 39:7 “And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.”
Proverbs 16:31 “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

Devotional: Growing up, I was privileged to always be surrounded by older folks, including my grandmother, Ana, and numerous aunts and uncles, and then my parents. I remember as they got older, they often dealt with aches and pains of old age.

The years flew by for this older generation as they continued to deal with health issues, and not being able to get around quite as easily as before. They were suddenly faced with their own mortality. On Ash Wednesday, we were all confronted with our own mortality, remembering that, “we are dust, and to dust we shall return.”

What does God expect from people of this older generation? What do they expect from God? What do we expect from God and what’s expected of us? The truth is, no matter how gray our hair gets, God always sees us as a child. God sees our potential and possibilities until the day we die. God walks with us every step of the way, even when we don’t walk and move as fast as we did twenty or thirty years ago.

The gift of aging is the one called life. We have the opportunity to grow in awareness, wisdom, and experience. We have learned things that others need to know and God gives us the chance to share those things with those around us. May we share our hopes, dreams, fear, and love with others. May we share our wisdom and experiences with those around us. May we share our God stories with all those that we encounter.

In this season of Lent, remember that age is a number that reflects the number of years that God has blessed and gifted us life. May we share our life stories with others. May we remember these words from Proverbs 16:31 “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

Prayer: Dear God, as we age, we may experience fear, loneliness, and other emotions, help us to remember that we are never alone but that you knew us before we were born, knows us by name, and you will continue to be with us until you call us home. Amen

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Challenge: What Does God Need to Heal and Resurrect in Your Life?

Posted on Apr 5, 2017 in BLOG, Challenge, Latest News |

Our challenge for this week: What areas in your life does God need to heal and/or resurrect?
God is never too late to fix or perform a miracle. 

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