Devotional Journal. Presbytery of WV, RHINO Mission Trip, Feb. 8-16, 2009

Transcription

1 Devotional Journal Presbytery of WV, RHINO Mission Trip, Feb. 8-16, 2009 (Prepared by Frank Mansell based on a guide created by Christa Brewer, Seminary Intern at Village Chapel Presbyterian Church, Charleston WV, for a youth mission trip in the summer of 2006) MONDAY "Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field, and after that build your house." - Proverbs 24:27 This Scripture is one of the "sayings of the wise." Before you do something you must prepare for it! How have you prepared for coming on this mission trip? Do you feel prepared for the work ahead? Why or why not? What are you most looking forward to this week? How are you feeling about the tasks ahead this week? Where are you hoping to see God this week? Pray for someone new that you have met on our team. I never like it when I only have a limited amount of space in which to write. What if I want to write a longer answer, write a prayer, draw a picture, add thoughts of my own, or just enjoy a nice piece of paper? Each day you are going to get some big blank space. Use it as you like! Your Blank Space!!!! p. 1

2 TUESDAY "Why do you call me 'Lord lord, and do not do what I tell you? I will show You what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock: when a flood arose, the river burst against that house, but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house." - Luke 6:46-49 As Presbyterian Christians we believe that we are not saved or loved by God because of our works. Rather God loves us, and we respond to God s love through our worship and our actions. We who respond to God's word are like the person who built his foundation on rock. It doesn't mean life will be easy, that floods won't come, or that we won't be tossed about in the wind... but it does mean that we will have a firm foundation on which to stand. Why did you decide to come on this trip? (in response to God's word, sense of obligation, friends, guilt, fun, you like to serve, something else?) How was your first day of work? Were any of your expectations met, not met, or changed? We have a wonderful opportunity to work with people from other congregations in our presbytery on this trip. How has it been for you to work side-by-side with people you only recently met? Has it presented any blessings or challenges? What have you learned so far this week? What does it mean to build your foundation on a rock? Pray for Habitat for Humanity. Your Blank Space!!! p. 2

3 WEDNESDAY Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." But God has so arranged the body,, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. --1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7, This passage says that we are to serve one another with the gifts that we have received. We have all received gifts from God, and God wants us to use these different gifts to build up the body of Christ. Everyone is different, and everyone has different gifts. We are not asked to have certain gifts, but to use the gifts we have in service to others. What gifts do you believe that God has blessed you with? How have you used those gifts in service to another this week? Have you learned about any new gifts you might have? How have someone else's gifts served you this week? Have you said 'thank you?' Often times when we do something like working on a Habitat build, we focus on how we are "helping poor people." What do the poor have to offer you? Have you been / are you open to learning from them? Pray for the community in which you have been working. Your Blank Space!!! p. 3

4 THURSDAY "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you come to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God's servants, working together: you are God's field, God's building. "According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid: that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,straw - the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss: the builder will be saved, but only as through fire." - I Corinthians 3:5-15 The church in Corinth was heavily divided on many issues when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. One of the arguments among the Corinthians was who to follow for religious leadership. Some said that they followed Apollos, some Paul, and some Christ. Paul says that they are only to follow Jesus Christ. Here, Paul gives a reminder that while others act in service to Christ, it is only the Lord who causes someone to grow in faith. Likewise, we serve Christ, and Christ has his purposes for us... but only Christ is responsible for the growth. Then we get some words about building on a foundation, building our life and building up the Kingdom of God on a foundation of Christ. The question becomes, what kind of building are we making? We might build with different materials, different skills, different personalities, but we are all assigned to build. How and with what are you building? Today is the mid-week point of the Habitat build. How has it been for you? One of the requirements of any Habitat build is that the future owners of the house participate in the building process. Have you met any of the future owners? What was that like? If not, what do you imagine it would be like to build side-by-side with the future owners? Have any of your ideas about poverty/the poor changed? Why do you think that God commands us to serve the poor? What was the most memorable thing that happened to you today? Pray for the new homeowners of the Habitat houses. Your Blank Space!!! p. 4

5 FRIDAY Romans 15:5-7 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 12: Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Hebrews 13:2 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. David Otto, a professor at Centenary College in Shreveport LA, suggests that hospitality as it is presented in the Bible includes these elements: welcoming strangers, providing them with protection and food, and conversing (sharing good news) with them. (cf. Hospitality: Loving the Stranger, The Thoughtful Christian, Sessions 1 & 2) How have you experienced hospitality this week? By whom have you been welcomed and cared for? How have you experienced hospitality in a way you never experienced it before? How have you extended hospitality this week? To whom and in what way? What more can we do to extend hospitality to the people of New Orleans? Your Blank Space!!! p. 5

6 SATURDAY "Now large crowds were traveling with [Jesus]: and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still for way, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." - Luke 14:25-33 A young woman reported that one of her college roommates once said that she wanted to be Christian, but couldn't commit to being a Christian, because she realized that if she became a Christian she would have to change her life. In being a Christian, we are called to live as followers of Christ. That involves change, costs to our own lives, but also rich blessings. This Scripture is about the cost of discipleship and the need for each of us to examine what it will take for us to be true disciples of Christ. It is not something to enter into lightly. What was the cost to you to come on this trip? Was it worth it? What do you believe is the cost of following Christ? What prevents you from fully following Christ? Have you learned anything this week about the cost of discipleship? What do you see as being your greatest achievement this week? Or, what are you most proud of this week? Name at least one thing that you have learned or experienced this week that you want to remember when you are home, one thing you want to share with your home church and others. How will you continue to serve Christ in your life at home? Pray for safe travels! Your Blank Space!!! p. 6