Devotion 5 Christ The Love That Sustains Us Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1Corinthians 16:13-14 Often we are faced with challenges that will try and shake our faith. Trials, tests, heartaches, pains and even disappointments; Paul reminds us in his letter to the church of Corinth how we should approach theses times. It is the work of Satan to try and bring the Believers under attack, but God has already provided us a way out through Jesus Christ and his work on Calvary. As we continue on this journey called life let us not forget to be courageous and allow our faith in the risen Christ to give us the strength we need to conquer any obstacle that comes our way. As Christians we can claim the victory in any situation or circumstance that comes to distract us. For Jesus is love, and that love will sustain us on the journey. Remember, "Let all that you do be done in love", and the power of this love will teach us how to stand firm and keep us alert. Prayer: Thank you God for providing us with the true example of love. May our lives and faith be strengthened by the knowledge of knowing that Christ still lives. Amen. Rev. Anice N. Moses is the Senior Pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church
Devotion 6 All Is Not Lost The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in Him, so it is best to wait in patience to wait for Him to save us and it is best to learn this patience in our youth. Lamentations 3:25-27 (TEV) Is there hope for what seems to be lost or hopeless? This question reminds me of a time I purchased a potted palm tree at a bargain price. It was in a nice flower pot but the plant seemed to be on its last leg, a lost cause. After several months of watering and nurturing the plant, it was apparent by its new fronds all was not lost. This example holds true of people we ve met along life s journey. They appeared to be hopeless and considered a lost cause. Taking time to show concern, interest, patience, and trusting the Holy Spirit as our guide; we will see new life in that person. God will never give up on tending to His people. He gives us what we need to strengthen us and help us cope with life s challenges and situations. All we need to do is trust and wait patiently. In the end everything will work out fine. Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we give thanks to you for keeping us focused on You. Help us realize that we are never lost, hopeless or alone; for you are with us no matter what the challenges or circumstances may be. Trusting and waiting patiently, everything will work out fine. Emma Young Graham, retired educator, mother, grandmother, and faithful member of Bethany United Methodist Church.
Devotion 7 LOVE: Still Conquering All Jesus replied: " "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39 Christianity was founded on the principles of love for each other and for mankind. God loved this world and gave his only son to the world so that sinners might convert to good and that believers might have everlasting life. The fact that God would make such a sacrifice for each of us is something for which we can all be proud and should be grateful. Too often in this world we are greeted by images and facts of violence and of people not caring for each other. Unfortunately, there are too many people in the world who do not feel and appreciate the love that God has for each of us. Hopefully, more people will grow to know that the love of God gives us strength to live right and to do what we can to make the world a better place for all. I will never forget the incident that occurred when I was working on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard for a candidate for office. I pulled up to a grocery store with my candidate. We spoke to a few young men who were just standing outside of a grocery that was known to be somewhat dangerous. I asked one of the guys to vote for my candidate. He said that he could not vote because he had a felony. I asked him if I could assist him in trying to have his voting rights restored. He told me that he appreciated my offer, but that he missed not growing up with his dad, and that all he wanted was for someone to love him. I feel sorry for but motivated by people, such as that young man, who fall short of knowing how much they are loved by God. Our world could be a much better and safer place if more people realized that no matter what is their lot in life, and no matter the circumstances of their youth or adulthood, they are loved unconditionally by God. The Bible is filled with reminders of the extent to which God will show his love and support for us. In return for God giving us life and love, we need only follow a clear set of instructions: Love Your God, and your neighbors, and yourself, with all of your heart and soul. Prayer: "Heavenly Father, help us to grow and to better love you, ourselves, and all of mankind by remembering that you love us all and have a special plan for each of us. You have given us instructions and a plan that paves a way for us to love not only ourselves more, but also our fellow brothers and sisters. Help us all to understand and appreciate all
that you have provided for us. Thank you. Amen." Eugene J. Green, Jr., a member of Bethany United Methodist Church for over fifty years, is the son of the late Eugene J. Green, Sr. and Mrs. Jeanne B. Green, is married to Jennifer F. Green, and is the father to three children, Eugene, Melanie, and Jonathan.
Devotion 8 Interested in a Provider? But seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 God has provided for mankind since creation. Consider Adam and Eve. God provided everything they needed. Even when they disobeyed, God provided a way back to Him, through the crucifixion of His son. Whatever our needs, remember that we can ask the Savior for help and believe that He will give us the desires of our hearts. Prayer: Dear God, we seek favor for relatives and friends; help us not to conform to this world. Venesta Ball is a retired educator and enjoys Church life.
Devotion 9 Hope in the Wilderness Scripture: Psalm 126 Psalm 126 is a Song of Ascents, sung by pilgrims on their way up Mount Zion to the temple there. It was a song sung by people who were hurting, who were in the middle of struggle, not just taking a trip up a mountain, but people who were in exile. As they struggled up the mountain and through the realities of exile and loss and hardship, they reflected on the past and how the good times were almost like a dream. Times so wonderful that they thought they were dreaming while they were experiencing such joy and pleasure. Do you remember times like that? There can be a sharp contrast between those dream-like days and the terrible days. It makes the good days seem even more like the stuff of our imaginations. Did it really happen that way? We wonder. Could I have really been that happy? Because now I can t even imagine that type of joy. Those are the thoughts of the dry place. The Israelites drew a parallel between their lives in exile to the wadis, streams or riverbeds that were only full of water during the rainy season. The arid, cracked, sun-baked riverbed is like a desert during the dry season. No signs of life, no wildlife, withered plants. It seems like nature is suspended until the rain comes and restores everything back to life. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years in Robben Island. His letters to his wife, Winnie, convey the darkness and struggle of the desert place. In one, he writes, "I have been fairly successful in putting on a mask behind which I have pined for the family, alone, never rushing for the post when it comes until somebody calls out my name As long as I don't hear from you, I will remain worried and dry like a desert...i saw the desert again in Botswana on my way to and from Africa--endless pits of sand and not a drop of water. I have not had a letter from you. I feel dry like a desert." 1 He connects to this concept of dryness and bereavement during his separation from home and family, much like the people of Israel. As he wrote this letter in 1976, Mandela had no idea of the incredible changes that would take place in his life at the end of his dry season. Our hope in dry, difficult times can be found in the restoration that comes to the desert when the rainy season returns. As sure as God our Lord and Creator lives, there will be both a beginning and an end to the dry places in our lives. Dry seasons have a beginning AND an end. Just like in the cycle of the Negev, the dry riverbed will be flooded again by rain, and the plants and animals will return. Flowers will bloom. New life will be created. And the people will again drink from its nourishing waters. 1 From Fatima Meer's authorized biography of Mandela, Higher Than HopeHarper & Row, 1988. Reprinted online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/husband/letters.html
I believe that God made us with the unique ability to hope so that we can make through the dry places. So that we can know that there will indeed be an end to the difficult times and keep putting one foot in front of the other. The barren struggle of Lent leads to a joyful Easter morning. Rev. Lauren Frazier-McGuin
Devotion 10 A Pure Heart Read First Peter 1:1-25 The New Testament declares that there is a "Balm in Gilead: Jesus Christ". We, who follow His teachings, must open our hearts and our purses and share with the poor, the sick, the hungry, and the needy- as He commanded. Tithing by our members would help the church to accomplish this mandate and at the same time defray maintenance and operating expenses. God knows our hearts and knows if we are giving what we can to support the Christian Ministry with our tithes, talents and services. Here is a prescription that all Christians should take daily: By mouth, praise God, from whom all blessings flow; for the heart, give of yourself every day. The prescription has no expiration date and may be refilled forever. It will make glad the hearts of all who take it. Prayer: God help us to love one another, as you have loved us. Amen Beatrice W. Wright, Church Volunteer
Devotion 11 REMAINING FOCUSED " Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." Psalm 119:37(NIV) "Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think on these things." Philippians 4:8 (NIV) As we work for the kingdom, God must be our focus. That focus should be inclusive of faith and love. Walking form day to day in today s world, we should exemplify that focus by refusing to be distracted by those circumstances or actions that will cause us to think negatively. Negative thoughts are worthless thoughts. If we permit ourselves to be truly led by the Holy Spirit, we will refuse to follow the distractions that remove us from the purposes for which we were created. We must serve by accepting the assignments and purposes that God has for our lives. Those assignments must be between each individual and God. When each person recognizes and pursues God s plan for his life, there is peace in the person s being and spirit. We are all anointed for certain purposes according to our gifts. If we fail to accept God s assignment(s), we will not be at peace. After my love for God, the most important facet of my life is peace. As Jesus prepared to leave earth, as stated in John 14, He said to the disciples that He would leave them with His peace. Without the peace that Jesus graciously gives to all of us, we will not be creative, noble, nor will we think about those things that are lovely, excellent and praiseworthy. Accompanying all of these as enumerated in Philippians 4:8, we should, at all times, be sincere in our actions and conversations. I have always believed that we have a certain amount of energy to expend. We must make the choice to be positive not negative. That choice has everything to do with our ATTITUDES. Our attitudes must keep us focused and positive at all times. In today s ever changing world, people often attempt to make us believe that the contents of Philippians 4:8 are no longer true but just "pretty words". Max Lucado, in his book, Facing Your Giants, constantly compares our worries and
troubles to David and Goliath; he reminds us not to focus on the giants but to keep our eyes on God and to please Him with our faith. Prayer: Dear God, help us to look to You for ultimate guidance in all of life s decisions-both small and large. Help us to encourage each other, as we listen and watch for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us rejoice as each person finds joy and peace in all assignments given by our God. Geraldyne"Gerry" Caliste : Bethany s Drama Director/Mentor to Young and devoted child of God