Lenten Devotional Week 6 April 9 April 15. Cross Purpose! Freedom of Oppression in Christ

Transcription

1 Lenten Devotional 2017 Week 6 April 9 April 15 Cross Purpose! Freedom of Oppression in Christ

2 LENTEN DEVOTIONAL WRITERS 2017 Sunday Jean Fitch Justice and her husband John moved to Bella Vista in 2004 from Minnesota. Prior to moving to Arkansas, Jean worked as an English and speech teacher, a financial analyst at IBM, director of adult education at a large church in the Twin Cities, and ecumenical coordinator at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. She served as MN Conference Lay Leader and on the board of directors of The Upper Room and The General Board of Discipleship of the UMC. She is a state officer of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and in whatever time is left, she enjoys quilting, machine embroidery, card-making, photographing birds, reading, genealogy research, DAR, and traveling. The Justices have three children in Minnesota, Florida and Texas and seven grandchildren. Monday Austin Curtis is our Director of Youth Ministries. Austin is no stranger to youth and church ministry. He graduated from Elkins High School in northwest Arkansas, earned his Bachelors in Sports Ministry at Campbellsville University, and received his Masters of Divinity from Liberty University. Austin has served in various capacities as a youth pastor and YMCA Site Director from Currently, Austin also serves as the Associate Pastor of Sulphur City Baptist Church and is the chaplain for C. I. Solutions. He is married to Amber, and they have an adorable 3 year old daughter named Elizabeth. Austin brings a passion for youth ministry and an infectious love of Jesus Christ to his commitment to our youth and to our church family. Tuesday Amy O. Fulton (and Carole Boyd) moved to Bella Vista in December of 2002 and Amy currently works for Arvest Bank at Town Center. She s the church photographer and is rarely seen without her camera in hand. She truly enjoys capturing the life and service of FUMCBV a place she has called home since joining Easter of She sings on the Praise Team and enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, fishing, singing and playing musical instruments (saxophone and guitar) when she s not busy taking pictures or involved with something having to do with photos. She has plenty of energy and has enjoyed writing since her early teens.

3 Wednesday Sandy Fitch has been involved with FUMCBV since she moved to Bella Vista with her husband Hal, in 2005 to be closer to Hal's family. Hal passed away in 2010, but Sandy has made Bella Vista her home. She is active in the Emmaus Community, as Mission Steward, and leads the Blankets of Hope Ministry. Sandy is a Certified Lay Servant. She enjoys knitting - a lot. You'll find Sandy at The Well service with her knitting needles. Thursday Alan Yount and his wife, Lois, met at MYF and were married in 1966 in New Orleans after graduating from Louisiana Tech and Centenary College respectively. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1986 as a major in the Quartermaster Corps. He attended language school and was an exchange student at the Turkish Army Staff College in Istanbul. After raising two children near Ft Polk, they found conflict in their children moving away with their families in opposite directions, one to San Antonio, the other to Bentonville. They elected to move to Bentonville after Lois retired from a teaching career. Alan became Coordinator of Audio and Visual Arts for FUMCBV in October Friday Wanda Williams writes, "I follow grandbabies; thus, have lived in Montana, Arkansas (4 times) and South Carolina. I was raised in the beautiful mountains of Colorado and God speaks loudest to me in nature, whether it is in colorful aspen trees, the waves at the ocean or the bird songs I hear. Raised a Methodist, I have attended church everywhere I live but it feels like home to be back at FUMCBV. I have done some creative writing in the past, and look forward to sharing my faith and stories this season of Lent. Saturday Lynn Prueitt moved to Bella Vista with husband Keith in October of l995 from Des Moines, Iowa. They joined our church in January of In Des Moines she was a legal secretary for 29 years. After moving to Bella Vista she worked part-time for 9 years at the POA in the Membership Services Department. She sings in the choir, plays hand bells and is in the Bella Vista Women s Chorus. She likes to walk on the Bella Vista Lake trail and she does water aerobics at the Kingsdale pool in the summer. Lynn loves to read, cook, play Candy Crush, crochet, and visit their four children and grandchildren in Iowa, Oregon and Pittsburgh, PA.

4 FREEDOM of OPPRESSION in CHRIST Palm Sunday Sunday, April 9, 2017 SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. This passage in 2 Corinthians declares two things: God is Spirit and where that Spirit is, freedom exists. Freedom from what? Freedom from oppression? Many people in this world are severely oppressed by other people, by governments, by war, by disease, by addiction, by excessive responsibility, by personal limitations, by fear, by discriminatory attitudes and practices, by poverty, by ignorance, by greed. The list is inexhaustible. Does that mean God is not present where any of those situations exist? Of course not. It means some people are being oppressors, some are oppressed and others are simply standing by without intervening in a positive way. God is present as a source of comfort and solace to the oppressed, a spark of conscience to the oppressors, and an encouragement to action to everyone who might be able to help in the situation. Yet in every case, we must respond. Maybe the question isn t freedom from what but freedom for what! Where the Spirit of God is embraced, we have freedom to act on behalf of others. We have the freedom to follow the example of Jesus in our interactions with others. We have the freedom to be his eyes, ears, hands, and feet every day. Having said that, we must also admit that we have the freedom to not act. So the question becomes not just freedom for what but freedom to be who God calls us to be. The choice is ours. One of my favorite theologians, Delores Williams, was once asked what she was willing to die for. She answered that the important question to her wasn t what she was willing to die for but what she was willing to live for: justice, mercy, repentance, righteousness, love. Where those things exist we find people living out their freedom in Christ in responsible, responsive, loving ways. This Easter, let s resolve to live out of the freedom in Christ that has been given to us in ways that make the world a better place.

5 PRAYER:: Spirit of the Living Christ, thank you for the gift of freedom to be who you call us to be. Strengthen our resolve to use our freedom to bring justice, mercy, repentance, righteousness and love to a world in need. Working together with your Spirit leading us, nothing is impossible. Hallelujah! Amen. Jean Justice Monday, April 10, 2017 SCRIPTURE: John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. When I think of freedom, one thing that comes to my mind is our flag. The United States flag is one of the greatest symbols on earth. The Red, White, and Blue represents years upon years of blood, sweat, and sacrifice from so many. Our country has fought many others both foreign and domestic, and although it is looked down upon by many, it still sways with truth and liberty day in and day out. Everyday our men and women in uniform fight valiantly for our freedom so that our flag will always sway and blanket those in need in this great country. When I think of freedom I also think of another great symbol. This is a symbol that will not tarnish, and will never die. This symbol is Calvary s Cross. As we approach Easter Sunday we look forward to family reunions and gatherings after church. We look forward to seeing our kids, or grandchildren find their Easter Eggs. However, one thing that should ring true in many is a reminder of the day our Savior defeated death. You see, the cross does not represent defeat, but rather victory. Just as many fought for our freedom, and still fight for our flag, Christ fought and sacrificed Himself on the cross so that we may be with Him and His Father in heaven.

6 This my friends is the greatest victory and sacrifice of all time. Just as many in history were oppressed by outside enemies, we were oppressed by sin. Battles were fought and won so that we can walk in America free from oppression. You know what? A battle was also fought and won so that we may walk freely for eternity on the streets of gold with our Father in heaven. This is what the Cross represents. So as Easter comes let us to remember not the death of Christ, but the Freedom because of Him. PRAYER: Our most Gracious and Heavenly Father. Lord I come to you right now asking for conviction. I pray that you convict our hearts when we forget about the sacrifice you made for us. Convict us in such a way that we would be encouraged to share this sacrifice with others. Father let us be the spark that ignites a wild fire in the hearts of many, so that they may know you and share the same with others. Jesus thank you for what you did, and we may live out our lives for you daily so that we may glorify the Father daily. Amen. Be Blessed, Austin Curtis Tuesday, April 11, 2017 SCRIPTURE: Galatians 5:13-14 (Common English Bible) You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. All the Law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. There are a couple of significant places I have lived: born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas (the Body of Christ), in Trinity, Texas (of course we know about our God being 3 in 1) and in Liberty, Texas (Liberty County). What does any of this have to do with today s passage? Well, if you think about

7 it. ALL OF US are a part of the Body of Christ and we are a part/follow the Trinity and because of this we are to live our lives as people who experience liberty (freedom) from oppression. We live as people who experience freedom from all the things in this world which would try to weigh us down. We have freedom because of Christ s sacrifice and willingness to shed His blood so that we might be victorious over death just as He conquered the grave. We have been marked during this Lenten season. Actually, we were marked before we were ever even born. The God who formed us in our mother s womb, is the same God who sent us Jesus and says to us today in John 14:1-2 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (One of my favorite pastors gave me this verse several years ago.) In My Father s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And If I go to prepare a place of you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also. That is one of the most important promises that God gives us and helps us in our FAITH journey-that Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him as we experience the Easter story!!! As we continue through this final week of Lent, we will relive and recount the last days of Jesus earthly journey and what it ultimately means for me and for you that He came to this earth for each one of us. No matter how unlovable/ unworthy we might feel at times because of what we ve done in our past, don t you think our God is BIG enough to forgive (once again you fill in the blank!)? How deep and how vast the Father s love is for each one of us that He would sacrifice His Son for us! Talk about an AWESOME God the One who loved each of us so much that He was willing to send Jesus!!! We read numerous accounts of those in the Bible who were less than perfect and yet God used them just like He is willing to use you and me if we are willing to say, Yes, Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way! (Do I hear words to another song here?). He s relying on us! When Jesus was in

8 the Garden of Gethsemane, he once again was let down by those who professed to love him and say that they would never forsake Him. And yet, the very thing they said they would never do, they did anyway. They left Jesus in that Garden and fell asleep. Of course we know what transpired in the Garden as Jesus contemplated the final act of laying down His will for the Father s will and ultimately for our good. He laid down his will for our salvation, for the very reason we draw breath from God today.to love as He loved, to Serve as He served, to Forgive as He forgave, to love others.simply love others because GOD 1 st loved us. We are to use Christ as our example always as we walk this earth. I asked to be prayed for this past week, as I was being weighed down by a number of different things in my life: at home, at work, changes at church, with my family and with Mom s death. She died on Palm Sunday in 1996 and this time of year is always more difficult for me. It made me realize that we all have things which would try to rob us of the joy, fullness and freedom that only Christ can give us. We all need to be set free from different things things that keep us from a vibrant relationship with God. What do you need to let go of this coming week before we get to Easter??? What is weighing you down? What can you lay at the foot of the cross on Good Friday? What can you give back to Christ for the sacrifice He made for you and for me? PRAYER: Dear Father, as we wrap up this year s Lenten journey and awake Easter morning, may we live our lives victoriously and with a new dedication to live as RESURRECTION CHILDREN. Let us never forget whom we serve, whose we are and most importantly who loves us with a love that neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from: our loving and faithful friend, Jesus, Emmanuel God with us now and forevermore! Please help us to celebrate this Easter with a heart that is bowed down in worship and in awe for the mighty things you do for us each and every day of our lives. We love you, Lord! Amen. Amy O. Fulton

9 Wednesday, April 12, 2017 SCRIPTURE: Acts 13:38-39 Common English Bible (CEB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, know this: Through Jesus we proclaim forgiveness of sins to you. From all those sins from which you couldn t be put in right relationship with God through Moses Law, through Jesus everyone who believes is put in right relationship with God. The story of our Christian heritage begins in the Gospels and continues in the book of Acts. We learn how the original Apostles carried out their command to spread the Good News through all the world. In Chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas are in the synagogue of Antioch on the Sabbath and have been asked if they have a sermon to preach to those gathered after the reading of the Law and the Prophets. Paul, never one to pass up an opportunity, begins to preach to the mixed congregation of Jews and Gentile God Worshipers. He lays out the history of God choosing His people in Egypt, through the kingship of David and finally reaching Jesus. After this masterful lesson, Paul finally gets to the meat of the matter through Jesus we have the opportunity for a full, right relationship with God. We can t reach a right relationship through strict adherence to the Law of Moses. We must repent of our sins and accept the Good News of Jesus. It seems simple, doesn t it? Let go of all those complicated laws and just believe and accept the Good News. Have faith that God loves you so much that He would send His son to accept all your sins just so you can have that special relationship with God. Oh but we resist! We think we are in control through the comfortable structures we have created for ourselves. They make us feel safe. Does it seem easier just to follow the rules? You bet. It s always more comfortable for us to know the boundaries. Can t we just show up for worship and tithe and follow the Ten Commandments and be done with it all? We could but that s not what Jesus calls us to do. Jesus clarified all those rules Love God and Love Each Other.

10 Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, take care of the widows and orphans, bring comfort to the afflicted, clothe the naked. Jesus calls us to share what we have with all those in need, including the joy we have found in the Good News.. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend some time with our friends Alex and Harriett from Uganda as they shared stories of their mission with the Kibo Group. The thing that struck me most was their joy in their work and love of those with whom they are working. They see everyone as God s children no matter how or if they worship. I believe this is how Jesus would have us share the Good News. Not by preaching, not by judging, not by condemnation, not by following all the rules by sharing the love that Jesus shared with all of us. By showing those we meet that God loves them unconditionally through our actions. PRAYER: Most Gracious and Loving Creator Thank you for loving us so much you sent your son, Jesus, to be the final sacrifice for our sins. Thank you for your forgiveness of our faults. Thank you for showing us that love is the answer to all our questions. May we always be faithful in sharing your love. Amen Sandy Fitch Thursday, April 13, 2017 SCRIPTURE: Romans 6:22 New International Version But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Slave. Sin. Slave. Sin. Sin. Slave. Sin. Slave.

11 Not a single one of us has ever not been exposed to slavery. (that s a double negative!! :) Each of us has at one time or another been a slave to something, be it a personal vice, or an unhealthy habit. Hard to break. Hard to admit to ourselves. Addiction, or the inclination, compulsion, to repeat an act to excess is a part of human nature. Crack our knuckles. Act like a potato and lie around on the couch all day failing to exercise our body, mind, and spirit. Give an overwhelmingly physical response to anger. Cave in to, or idolize bullying. We label it sin. Over and over we repeat the things not healthy, not good, not pleasing, not joyful. We sit in front of the boob tube hours on end watching drivel, violence, inappropriate human behavior. It s even more entertaining on the big screen with surround sound. From the lowest of criminals to the most holy of men of the cloth, we deny God s offerings. We slip, and we slide backwards. We crash and burn. God has given to all mankind the opportunity not to burn. His grace and his love is open to all. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our sin is taken away and we offer ourselves to being slaves for Christ. What a joyous thing. We can be physically and mentally healthy, regardless of infirmities and illness. We can enjoy His offering to us by extending to others the same gifts. Freely. Daily. Without end. Proclaim the good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and freedom for the oppressed.. Let the qualities of being human shine through. PRAYER: Holy God, we have your Word. We have your love and your grace. Let us be slaves to all that comes from you. Let us love one another as your Son has demonstrated an unfathomable love for us. May our thoughts, actions, and deeds be acceptable in your sight. Thy will be done. AMEN. Alan Yount

12 Friday, April 14, 2017 SCRIPTURE: 1 st Peter 2:16 NIV Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Peter writes his letter (1 Peter) to a group of Christians suffering for their faith, reminding them of how much Jesus suffered. This last Sunday in Lent, Palm Sunday, we are talking about Freedom from Oppression in Christ. What exactly is oppression? It is to impose domination of another person(s) in order to control them mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually in order to stifle their aspirations and limit their potential. When I read that, my first thought is of the many young children that are taken and held against their will: Jaycee Dugard who was taken while going to school in California at the age of 11 and kept in confinement in a backyard for 18 years; the same with Elizabeth Smart in Utah and the three young women back East. However, from what I ve read of all of these young women, they not only survived but had the strength and courage to come back from the hell they were in to begin with to live healthy, productive lives. We may not be held against our will as those women were, but I bet we have all experienced some type of oppression in our lives. Sometimes, I think we do it to ourselves. We hold ourselves back from going on to college or from a better job because we don t think we mentally can do it. We don t enter the marathons or other physical challenges because we don t think we can physically do it. We don t commit to others in love or friendship because we don t think we can emotionally do it. And, sometimes, even as Christians we don t commit to the church or God because we don t think we can spiritually do it.

13 We can be grateful, even for all of our complaining in election years, that we don t truly have political oppression. Can you imagine living under a dictatorship where walls are built to hold people in? We still struggle somewhat with economical oppression the rich get richer and the poor get poorer but again, not nearly as bad as in many countries. We continually fight racial oppression and I truly hope that it will one day disappear as we remember that everyone is a child of God, regardless of skin color. As we end our Lenten season, take the time to think of ways that you are oppressed and remember, as in our scripture, we should live as free men (and women) but not use that freedom as a cover up to do mean, evil things, but to live our lives as servants of God. What is holding you back? PRAYER: Our Father, keep us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually free from stifling our aspirations and potential. Let us remember daily that you made each one of us, you provide for us, you love us and you are always there for us. As we celebrate the resurrection of your son who died for our sins, let us lift our voices to you and say Hallelujah! Christ the Lord has risen! Amen Wanda Williams

14 Saturday, April 15, 2017 SCRIPTURE: COLOSSIANS 1:21-23 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Christ died on the cross for our sins. That is what we read in the Bible and what we hear at church. How can that be? How can the death of one man restore our sinful lives and restore and renew us to new lives with Him? I started thinking about my childhood and Easter. I can remember the Easter baskets hidden in the house for us to find. We dressed up in new outfits for church, hats, shoes and dresses. Did I even realize what Easter was really about back then? I hope I did but I don t remember that part of Easter. Of course we went to church because we went to church every Sunday, but this was a special Sunday. A Sunday for surprise Easter baskets and new clothes, and after church, a wonderful dinner at Grandma s house. I wish I could honestly say that I knew the true meaning of Easter back when I was a youngster. I m sure I was taught about it in Sunday School. I don t know why we get all dressed up for Easter Sunday, but maybe because it is a special Sunday. It is so special that without it, we would not have our Christian faith; we would not have Jesus to guide and comfort us. When I think about what we would not have if Easter had not happened I am

15 overwhelmed; no New Testament and the many beautiful stories and parables. Would our lives be the same today if we had no risen Savior? God truly blessed His people when He gave us a resurrected Christ. He loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16). Easter is a time to reflect on the special gift that God gave to us and to thank Him for that special gift. Sit for awhile and reflect on your llfe if you did not have Christ in the center of that life. Count some of the ways that God blessed us with His resurrected Son. The list could go on forever. PRAYER: Lord God, you blessed us many years ago with your Son. You brought Him to us as a child and then you briefly took Him from us (or so we thought.) But you gave us the Resurrection and brought Him back to us because we need Christ in our lives. We need the Spirit of love and guidance that He brought to us. We thank you that you are a good and Holy God. We pray that we will be worthy to spend eternity with the Risen Christ. Amen Lynn Prueitt

16 First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, AR fax facebook.com/fumcbv