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MEDITATION:

Written by Philip Yancey, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Discovering God.”

Too often theology is viewed as stuff for hermits to think about. When there’s nothing else to do, then is the time to ask abstract questions about God. Such a notion would have exasperated the apostle Paul. To him, theology was worthless unless it made a difference in how people lived. Thus, after laying out the most thorough, concise summary of Christian theology in the Bible, he turns his attention at the end of Romans to a down-to-earth discussion of everyday problems. Paul’s own life offers a good example of how to make theology practical. In fact, he wrote the lofty book of Romans while traveling to raise funds for famine relief. By collecting offerings from gentile Christians for the sake of Jews in Jerusalem, Paul modeled the kind of unity sorely needed by both groups.  Romans 12, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2), needs no special commentary or study aids. The problem lies not in understanding the words, but in obeying them. Paul is describing what love in action should look like. Once more he uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate how diverse parts can work together in unity. The Romans, both Jews and Gentiles, associated the word “sacrifices” with the lambs and other animals they brought to the temple for priests to kill on an altar. But Paul makes clear that God wants living human beings, not dead animals. A person committed to God’s will is the king of offering most pleasing to God.

PRAYER:

Written by Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), founder of the Poor Clares, a community dedicated to poverty, simplicity and service.

 I come, O Lord, unto Your sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in You, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Your holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to You, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Your majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Living Sacrifice. Chris Christian. Written by Chris Christian and based on Romans 12:1.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Arlene Stamper.

I like to start my mornings by reading scripture and inspirational stories on my iPhone.  After church service one day a few years ago, my friend Barbara Naas told me about The Bible in a Year. Since I had not ever read the Bible back to front…I thought it must be an impossible task to do!  I decided to get the App. Since then, I have read passages from the Old and New Testament, and Psalms every day.  I have learned so much and been brought closer to God thru his words and teachings. And Yes!  It is possible to read the Bible in one year!

For many years now, I also have taken my passion for making quilts and participated in a program called Prayers and Squares. This organization asks quilters to sew together a quilt top.  The top is “sandwiched” together with batting and backing. A heavy thread is used to take stitches thru the quilt layers, and the ends are left free to be tied with a square knot.  As each knot is tied, a silent prayer is said for someone in special need, who then receives the quilt.  Every time I make one of these Prayer Quilts I thank God he has given me this gift of quilting to help others. 

PRAYER:

This is a prayer by the apostle Paul from Ephesians 3:17-21.

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, acording to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!

MUSIC MEDITATION:

In Christ Alone. Anthem Lights. Written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend in 2001.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Howard Thurman (1899-1981), an American author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader.  This is an excerpt from his book “The Inward Journey.”

We are never under obligation to achieve results. Of course, results are important, and it may be that that is the reason effort is put forth. But results are not mandatory. Much of the energy and effort and many anxious hours are spent over the probable failure or success of our ventures. No man likes to fail. But it is important to remember that under certain circumstances, failure is its own success. To keep one’s eye on results is to detract markedly from the business at hand. This is to be diverted from the task itself. It is to be only partially available to demands at hand. Very often it causes one to betray one’s own inner sense of values because to hold fast to the integrity of the act may create the kind of displeasure which in the end will affect the results. However, if the results are left free to form themselves in terms of the quality and character of the act, then all of one’s resources can be put at the disposal of the act itself. There are many forces over which the individual can exercise no control whatsoever. A man plants seed in the ground and the seed sprouts and grows. The weather, the winds, the elements, cannot be controlled by the farmer. The result is never a sure thing. So, what does the farmer do? He plants. Always, he plants. Again and again he works at it – the ultimate confidence and assurance that even though his seed does not grow to fruition, seeds do grow and they do come to fruition.  The task of men who work for the Kingdom of God, is to Work for the Kingdom of God. The result beyond this demand is not in their hands. He who keeps his eyes on results cannot give himself wholeheartedly to his task, however simple or complex that task may be.

PRAYER:

Written by Sam Hargreaves is a contemporary music and worship leader and author.

God, we hold seeds in our hand. We see smallness, weakness, insignificance. You see potential, growth, significance. Tiny seeds grow by your power into huge trees. They provide food for the hungry and homes for the birds. From the darkness of the earth springs forth your life, your harvest. Your Kingdom is like a tiny seed. When we look at your church, and our own lives,
we see smallness, weakness, insignificance. You see potential, growth, significance. Give us eyes of faith and willing hands to see your Kingdom grow in us. May we feed the hungry with food and the bread of life, welcome the homeless into your family, and gather the harvest you love has provided. In Christ’s name and the power of the Spirit we commit our lives to you again. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Sowing the Good Seed. Philip Hare. Written by Jennifer Berens and Phil Cross in 2017.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Valerie E. Hess, a contemporary author, speaker, and musician. This is an excerpt from her book “Spiritual Disciplines Devotional.”

When we read and study to increase our knowledge and understanding of the living God, we must do so with an attitude of humility and repentance. As we read the words, we must let them read us so to speak. We must never use the discipline of study as a purely fact-finding mission. We must use it to be transformed by those words.

Negative examples of lives that don’t match knowledge include healthcare professionals with unhealthy lifestyles, counselors whose personal lives are a mess and financial managers who can’t control their own debt load. Such people have not let the words they preach transform their own lives. As we study God in Scripture, books, and in his work in the world around us, we must ask ourselves how his hand is moving in our lives and how we may be called to respond to him. We must learn to handle the word of truth correctly by taking what we see and hear, and through prayer learning to use it for good first in our own lives before applying it to others.

PRAYER:

Written by Robert Wood, a contemporary American pastor and author.

Why is it that I think I must get somewhere, assume some position, be gathered together or separated apart in the quiet of my study to pray? Why is it that I feel that I have to go somewhere or do some particular act to find you, reach you, and talk with you? Your presence is here – in the city – on the busy bus, in the factory, in the cockpit of the airplane; in the hospital – in the patients’ rooms, in the intensive care unit, in the waiting room; in the home – at dinner, in the bedroom, in the family room, at my workbench; in the car – in the parking lot at the stoplight. Lord, reveal your presence to me everywhere, and help me become aware of your presence each moment of the day. May your presence fill the non-answers, empty glances, and lonely times of my life.  Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Thy Word. Amy Grant. Written by Amy Grant and Michael Whitaker Smith in 2015.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Ken Shigematsu, a contemporary pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his book “God in my Everything.”

Thomas Merton says the most pervasive form of violence in the modern world is busyness…not drugs, not guns, but busyness.  The Chinese character for busy combines the pictographs for heart and death, suggesting that busyness kills the heart. Time flows in seven-day cycles. God’s design, as we see in the creation story, is that we work for six days and rest for one. When we violate this rhythm of rest, we damage ourselves and deprive those we love.  Ironically, most of us feel that we are too busy to take time for a Sabbath day once a week. Perhaps you agree that Sabbath is a good thing, even important, but actually practicing it on a weekly basis is more difficult. When was the last time you stopped work and really unplugged from all your electronic gadgets for a day—or even part of a day?  Sabbath reminds us that God invites us to stop. In fact, it’s more than an invitation—it’s a command. Wayne Muller wisely says, “We stop because it is time to stop. Sabbath requires surrender. If we only stop when we are finished, we will never stop—because our work is never completely done…Sabbath keeping is not merely good advice for you to lead a nicely-balanced life.  It is a practice that is knit into the created order.

Sabbath gives you permission to stop from your busyness and simply be. To paraphrase Mark Twain, “Our busyness is like the weather. Everyone complains about it, but no one does anything about it.” Instead of complaining about our busyness or assuming it’s just a fact of life, we need to ask ourselves why we are so busy. Sabbath helps us to question our assumptions. The truth is we may be busy because we feel a need to validate our worth. Sabbath gives us a chance to step off the hamster whell and listen to the voice that tells us we are beloved by God. The Sabbath heals us from our compulsion to measure ourselves by what we accomplish, who we know, and the influence we have. Sabbath enables us to define ourselves less by our achievements and more as beloved daughters and sons of God. As we become more aware of how much we are cherished as children of God, we grow in our trust of God.

PRAYER:

Written by Peter Greig, a contemporary writer and church planter. He cofounded the 24-7 prayer movement around the world.

May this day bring Sabbath rest to my heart and my home. May God’s image in me be restored, and my imagination in God be re-storied. May the gravity of material things be lightened, and the relativity of time slow down. May I know grace to embrace my own finite smallness in the arms of God’s infinite greatness. May God’s Word feed me and His Spirit lead me into the week and into the life to come.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Thy Holy Sabbath Lord. Cherubim Sounds.  A hymn from the 1880s.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Julie MacNeil.

During this time of COVID, my prayer life has intensified, as I’m sure it has with many others. Being confined to home with no answers to the pandemic and no end in sight, I found myself turning to God on a much more regular basis. Each night my prayer would begin, “Thank you, God, for getting us through another day.” During the spring, which any other year I might not have even noticed, I would sit on the wooden bench at the top of my yard and thank God for the beauty of the earth, for all the blooming flowers, which seemed to be doing their best to make up for me being confined there. By fall, our Women’s Bible Study small group resumed, with a faithful “remnant” meeting on campus to study Revelation. We found great comfort in meeting together. Winter came, and as one tradition after another fell by the wayside due to COVID, my spirits began to sag. But still I thanked God for the health and safety of my family and friends.

My daughter was expecting a baby in January. 2021 arrived, without fanfare or celebration, and I decided to devote more effort to my connection to God. I began to read again the well-known devotional, Jesus Calling. The January 4 entry challenged readers to start a new habit, of saying out loud, “I trust you, Jesus.” Trust was something I struggled with during times of worry or anxiety. I was the person on call to go care for two granddaughters when it came time for my daughter and son-in-law to go to the hospital. My bag was packed, and I slept with my phone next to my bed. I prayed for them every night. At 11 pm on January 6, the phone rang. It was time. I dressed quickly and left the house. As I drove into the dark, foggy night, I felt a twinge of uneasiness. So, I said, “I trust you, Jesus.” When I arrived at the house, all was quiet. Soon I heard footsteps coming quickly down the stairs. They must be leaving soon. The next sound out of my daughter told me maybe God had other plans. The baby was coming NOW!

There was no fear in the hallway, steps away from the car she never quite made it to, only focus on the tasks at hand. My daughter’s focus was to give birth to that baby. My son-in-law’s focus was to call 911. Mine was to not let that baby fall onto the tile floor! So, I put out my hands. Soon the 911 lady was on speaker phone asking questions and giving instructions. I followed them. Within minutes, I saw in my hands my grandson’s perfect little face, and at 1:46 a.m., he slipped out, arms flailing, and yelling his arrival! I had never felt so close to God. EMT angels arrived just then, scooped up the baby, and whisked him and my daughter off to the hospital with my son-in-law following. I sat for several minutes, trying to comprehend all that had just happened. I had trusted Jesus and he was merciful. I will never be the same.

PRAYER:

Written by Ignatius of Loyola, (1491-1556), a Spanish priest and theologian who founded the Jesuits. Jesuits served the Pope as missionaries.

O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things. Amen!

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. Altar of Praise Men’s Chorale. Music written by William Kirkpatrick and lyrics by Louisa Stead in 1882.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), an English Baptist preacher, known as the Prince of Preachers. This is an excerpt from his book “Strengthen My Spirit.”

Love is the spring of true obedience. “This is the love of God that we keep His commandments.” Now a man who is not obedient to God’s commandments is evidently not a true believer; for although good works do not save us, yet, being saved, believers are sure to produce good works. Though the fruit is not the root of the tree, yet a well-rooted tree will, in its season, bring forth its fruits. So, though the keeping of the commandments does not make me a child of God, yet, being a child of God, I shall be obedient to my heavenly Father. But this I cannot be unless I love God. A mere external obedience, a decent formal recognition of the laws of God, is not obedience in God’s sight. He abhors the sacrifice where the heart is not found. I must obey because I love, or else I have not in spirit and in truth obeyed at all. See then, that to produce the indispensable fruits of saving faith, there must be love for God; for without it, they would be unreal and indeed impossible.

PRAYER:

Written by Brendan the Voyager(AD 484-577), an Irish monk. Reputedly he set sail in a small coracle of wood and ox hide from Ireland and ended up in Newfoundland — an amazing achievement in his time.

Help me to journey beyond the familiar

and into the unknown.

Give me the faith to leave old ways

and break fresh ground with You.

Christ of the mysteries, I trust You

to be stronger than each storm within me.

I will trust in the darkness and know

that my times, even now, are in Your hand.

Tune my spirit to the music of heaven, and somehow, make my obedience count for You.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Your Will Be Done. City Alight. Written amidst the COVID crisis as a prayer.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Richard J. Foster, a contemporary author and founder of Renovare, an interchurch movement committed to the renewal of the church. This is an excerpt from his book “Celebration of Discipline.”

More than any other single way, the grace of humility is worked into our lives through the discipline of Service. Humility is one of those virtues that is never gained by seeking it. The more we pursue it the more distant it becomes. To think we have it is sure evidence that we don’t. Therefore, most of us assume there is nothing we can do to gain this prized Christian virtue, and so we do nothing. But there is something we can do. We do not need to o through life faintly hoping that someday humility may fall upon our heads. Of all the classical spiritual disciplines, service is the most conducive to the growth of humility. When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of others and is, for the most part, a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our spirits…William Law made a lasting impact upon 18^th century England with his book, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, urges that every day should be viewed as a day of humility. And how does he suggest that we do this? By learning to serve others. Law understood that it is the Discipline of service that brings humility into the life. If we want humility, he counsels us to “…condescend to all the weaknesses and infirmities of your fellow creatures, cover their frailties, love their excellencies, encourage their virtues, relieve their wants, rejoice in their properties, compassionate in their distress, receive their friendship, overlook their unkindness, forgive their malice, be a servant of servants, and condescend to do the lowest offices to the lowest of mankind.”

PRAYER:

Written by Carlos Carretto (1920-1988), an Italian religious author of the congregation of the Little Brothers of the Gospel.

O high and most glorious God, enlighten my heart.

Give me unwavering faith, sure hope, and perfect love.

Give me deep humility, wisdom, and knowledge,

that I may keep your commandments. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Make Me a Servant. Maranatha Singers. Written by Kelly Willard in 1982.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Irene Dickson.

This past year has brought many changes to our lives. For me, deepening my understanding of the Word of God, and what it means to my life, is a positive. From the beginning of lockdown, every snippet of news from the Church has been welcome and up-lifting. Although I miss the contemporary worship in the sanctuary on Sundays, I eagerly sit at the kitchen table with my iPad at 9am to hear the words, praise and prayers, and see the smiling, positive faces of our Pastors, choir and musicians. The daily devotional notes from Church inspire me to reflect more about the meaning of the words. I’ve saved many, and forwarded several to friends, and they too have been encouraged. Fall Bible study meant I read and studied ‘Revelation’ for the first time. I’d been intimidated by other folks’ opinions that it was ‘scary’! I found the study particularly relevant in these COVID times. Instead of being fearful of the text and graphic mental images, I feel optimistic and grateful as the road ahead is clear. I try to follow the teachings of the Bible by being extra patient and kind to my three young adult children when they complain about working from home, not being able to see friends or travel. I remind them of everything we are grateful for, send them many encouraging notes and devotionals, and occasionally I get a word of acknowledgment back! I’ve taken time to reflect and step out of my comfort zone by reaching out to others on the prayer chain, by sharing some of my early life in the Advent Devotional, and by accepting gracefully the nomination to be an Deacon in our Church.  When things get back to ‘normal’ I won’t reflect back on the baking I did or the closets I cleaned- to be honest, I didn’t do much of that! I’ll reflect on the calm and peace, and the time for reflection, study and prayer, and how God, through our Church, has been constant in this time of uncertainty. The resurrection of Jesus reconfirms our hope for the future. 

PRAYER:

A Prayer from the Celtic oral tradition.

You are the peace of all things calm

You are the place to hide from harm

You are the light that shines in dark

You are the heart’s eternal spark

You are the door that’s open wide

You are the guest who waits inside

You are the stranger at the door

You are the calling of the poor

You are my Lord and with me still

You are my love, keep me from ill

You are the light, the truth, the way You are my Savior this very day.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

O Jesus I Have Promised. Orchard Music. The hymn was written in 1869 by John Ernest Bode, an Oxford scholar, poet and hymn writer. This is a modernized version.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Christopher Hudson, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Following Jesus.”

The ancient Hebrew word for peace is shalom. And what a terrific word it is! Shalom doesn’t just mean the absence of tense conflict. It means completeness, soundness, security, and well-being. In a real sense, shalom is life the way God intended it to be. The gospel says this: Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) came to reconcile sinners to God.  He lived a perfect life and died a terrible death (in our place) so that we might have “peace with God” (Romans 5:1), and so that we might enjoy the “peace of God” (Philippians 4:7).  From the new life and ultimate shalom he offers, Jesus wants his followers to live as peacemakers in the world: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).  Take a minute to think about your life and your relationships. Where is the peace of God needed?

PRAYER:

Written by Lysa Terkeurst, a contemporary American author.

Lord, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your word which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run to lesser things. Draw me to run to You first.  Help me to run to You first. Help me get into the habit of taking my “overwhelmed” and placing it under your will. Thank You Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

It Is Well With My Soul: Brigham Young University Vocal Point. The hymn was penned by hymnist Horatio Spaffor and composed by Philip Bliss in 1876. They hymn was written following traumatic events in Spafford’s life.

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