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Friday, March 10, 2023 by Scott |
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Scripture: Matthew 26:22 (NIV) - "They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, 'Surely you don't mean me, Lord?'" Message: Today the apostles are called saints, but on the night of the last supper, much of saintliness was lacking in them. Their recent record was not a good one. They contended with one another over their seats in the kingdom of God; they refused their Lord's explicit teaching that the Son of Man must suffer, die, and be raised again on the third day; they had vengefully sought the destruction of an inhospitable Samaritan village. Their weakness and fears prophesied other calamities. When their Master would know His greatest need for their companionship, they would desert Him; they would deny Him; one would betray Him. In the final crisis, they all would forsake Him and flee, like frightened birds. Nevertheless, Jesus had faith in His disciples. He believed in them not because of their record of faithfulness in recent days, nor because of the degree of moral excellence which they had attained. Rather, He trusted in their attitude, which made itself known at the Last Supper, when He calmly announced: "One of you will betray me." He observed that not one of the disciples cast a glance at another to ask, "Is it he?". On the contrary, each searched, his own soul, and manfully, asked, "Master, is it I?". The sainthood of the disciples had its beginning in that question. All saintliness likewise begins here, with an honest awareness of the menace in each person. That is not to say that, on the basis of this confession, each will immediately go and set all his path straight. The redeeming grace of the disciples was that they still willingly acknowledged that each of them was potentially a traitor. Our growth in the Christian faith depends upon how honestly we answer that question, "Lord, is it I?". Nothing is more helpful to our spiritual health than our willingness to ask this question. During this season of Lent, may we ponder in our hearts how we in some way may have betrayed our commitment to Christ, and then seek the forgiveness He offers through His death on the cross. Prayer: O Lord, may we in this Lenten season examine our lives to see how we have failed in our commitment to follow You. Forgive us our shortcomings and restore us by Your grace. Amen.
Pastor Scott Harris |
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Preparing For Our Ministry by Peggy |
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Scripture: Mark 1:12-13 - "At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him." Message: "I don't understand Lint," the boy wrote on his Sunday, school paper. (When I was a girl, our Sunday, school teachers sent "Sunday, school papers" home with us to remind us of our Bible verses).James had written this comment at the top of his paper from the previous week. The pastor had been talking about Lent for a few weeks, so our teacher gently reminded James that Lent lasts forty days and ends at Easter. "Forty days?" His eyes widened. "Ma'am, lint doesn't last ten seconds in our house. My mom sees it, and it's gone!" Forty days can seem like a long time, but when we view it as vital spiritual preparation, we begin to understand the worth of taking that time. After Jesus was baptized, He went to the desert wilderness for forty days. There He fasted, prayed, and prepared for His upcoming public ministry. During Lent, we try to retrace Jesus' steps. For years I've done the fasting and the praying, but this year during Lent, I hope to add that third part the preparation for ministry to my Lenten observance. How will you prepare to minister to your little corner of the world? Prayer: Lord, on my journey to Easter, I give my heart to You. Prepare it for the calling You give me. Amen. Peggy Harris |
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Thursday, March 8, 2018 What Kind Of Fasting Will You Do? by Peggy |
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Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-7 - "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Message : For some reason, I've been thinking about my childhood church lately. It's officially listed as a historic place now. I remember the hot slimmer services with no air conditioning, funeral-home fans fluttering like butterflies, as well as the smell of the well-oiled wood and musty old hymnals.We were always encouraged to bring friends to Sunday, school and church. Since I loved having sleepovers on Saturdays, and since my mother was the church organist, this usually meant my friends went to church with us after a sleepover. One Sunday, I brought two friends, both Catholic. It must have been during the weeks before Easter, because on the ride to church they asked me what I was "giving up" for Lent. My mother explained that we Methodists mostly just prayed during Lent. (I'm not sure I did much of that, either.) Ever since that moment, I've often struggled with what kind of fast would be appropriate during Lent. Years ago, I came upon the Scripture above, and it all fell into place. It's difficult to read those words and not be overwhelmed with images of need in today's world. For me, fasting has now taken on a whole new meaning. Prayer: Lord, teach us what kind of sacrifice You truly need from us. Change us from the inside out and make us Your willing servants. Amen. Peggy Harris |
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Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Be Thou My Vision by Peggy |
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Scripture: Mark 8:18 - "Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?" Message: When Scott and I first came to Asbury thirteen years ago, we filled out a form that would eventually be shared with the congregation. I only remember one of the questions it contained: "What is your favorite hymn?" My answer: "Be Thou My Vision." It's based on an ancient Irish tune, and I do love Irish folk melodies. But the lyrics have always reminded me that I'm not alone in this world where trouble often threatens to overwhelm us. Since arriving at Asbury, I've lost my two younger sisters, two nephews, and my father. I've had numerous chronic health issues, Scott received a cancer diagnosis, and we've both had emergency surgeries. And although the years here have brought many blessings, sometimes the bad times can cloud my vision. If I can't see the blessings, I can't thank God for them. This is where my favorite hymn comes in. "Be thou my vision, Lord."1 In other words, I can't see clearly. I need new eyes. Give me your eyes, sweet Jesus. Help me to see through the fog. If you need a better outlook on life, lean on the One whose love colors everything He sees. Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for showing us the way with the light of Your love. Amen. Peggy Harris 1. “Be Thou My Vision” Ancient Irish song translated by Mary Byrne 1905. Arranged in verses by Eleanor Hull 1912. United Methodist Hymnal #451. Public Domain. |
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Maundy Thursday, March 29, 2018 The Gospel Feast by Peggy |
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Scripture: Luke 14:13-15 - "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, 'Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.'" Message: Scott and I love to watch British television dramas: Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, and many more. Now we're deep into Poldark, set in Cornwall at the end of the eighteenth century. The series features a family of mine owners and the impoverished people who worked their mines. And guess what? Methodism is part of the plot. Why? Because brothers John and Charles Wesley believed in the radical gospel of Jesus Christ, who died showing the world that all people are invited to the gospel feast. The Wesleys knew those underprivileged miners needed Jesus, and they shared the gospel with them, giving them hope at a time when they had little else. Charles Wesley's hymn based on the Scripture above is one we frequently sing during Lent. The first lines of "Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast"1 are the gospel in miniature: Come, sinners, to the gospel feast, let every soul be Jesus' guest. Ye need not one be left behind, for God hath bid all humankind. As we focus on Jesus' great sacrifice in this season, let us also remember He made this sacrifice for everyone. Do you know of someone who can benefit from an invitation to the feast today? Prayer: We sit hungrily at Your table, Lord. Teach us to unselfishly share Your bounty of love and grace with each and every soul You place in our path. Amen. Peggy Harris 1. “Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast” by Charles Wesley. 1747. Public Domain. United Methodist Hymnal #616. |
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Mundey Thursday, March 23, 2017 & Create In Me A New Heart by Peggy |
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Scripture: Psalm 51:1-3, 10 – “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Message: I go through times when I need a “life verse” – a Bible verse I can repeat to myself whenever I need centering. Currently, my life verse is a slightly altered version of Psalm 51:10. In the Bible it reads, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” My alteration changes the "pure” to “new.” These days I long for not only a pure heart, but also a NEW heart. Psalm 51 is a perfect reading for Lent, because it calls for an honest examination of the state of our souls. In it, King David has committed a terrible sin. He has impregnated a married woman and has deliberately sent her husband into a battle that would result in his death. Once the sin is pointed out, David collapses in grief. This Psalm is the result of his desire to put himself right with God. And isn't that what we are trying to do at Lent? Lent is a journey toward Easter, just as Advent is a journey toward Christmas. And we all take the journey individually. For me, though, Lent is about getting right with God through a time of self-reflection and honest evaluation. In tomorrow’s devotional, we’ll look at both our part and God’s part in that process. Prayer : Create a new heart for me, Lord - one that is pure - so that I may serve You in joy, free from the burdens of the past. Amen.Peggy Harris |
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We Are All Flawed Masterpieces by Peggy |
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Scriptures: Psalm 51:1-3, 10 (NIV) - “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:12 (NIV) – “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Message: In yesterday’s devotional I acknowledged my need for a whole new heart. How does that happen, though? A church member gave us a book of devotions on the Psalms “A Psalm in Your Heart”1 by George O. Wood, and here is where I turn for guidance. Wood speaks of Michelangelo’s Masterpiece sculpture of David, the author of Psalm 51. I have seen this statue in person, and it seems flawless to me. But the block of marble from which it was formed had a serious flaw – a large gouge in the center. Other artists refused to work with the otherwise beautiful piece of stone. In fact, a lesser artist would have ruined the sculpture, but master artist Michelangelo was able to transform it, flaw and all, into a masterpiece. The first two verses of Psalm 51 tell us what David, the real-life flawed masterpiece, asked God to do. David asked for mercy. He asked God to “blot out” and totally erase his sins. And then David asked to be cleansed. He faced God honestly and said, “I can’t do this alone. Help me.” In Psalm 51:12 David goes a step further. He foresees a time when he will need sustenance for the future. He desires transformation. David’s prayer can be found below. May it be a prayer for all of us as we journey through Lent toward the Resurrection. Prayer: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Amen. Peggy Harris 1. “A Psalm in Your Heart” by George O. Wood. 2008 © Copyright. Gospel Publishing House. Springfield, Missouri, USA. Permission not required for use of Title only. |
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Saturday, December 9, 2017 Hunger No More by Peggy |
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Scripture: Revelation 7:16a (NIV) - "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst." Message: Years ago, I was a church staff musician and enjoyed attending sacred music workshops. One lesson stays with me today: It's important to sing all the verses of the hymns in order to grasp the full message. Sometimes the words in a second, or a fourth verse can draw us closer to the glory of the gospel. Time constraints sometimes prevent us from singing all the verses during worship services, but I enjoy reading through them for my morning devotional time. (You can easily access the hymn lyrics online.) Such is the case with the beautiful Advent carol "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”1. The second verse ends with the words, "He will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food." Hunger is at the root of so much of this world's pain. Those who have enough are hungry for still more: money, possessions, power, beauty, strength. Those who are in desperate need are hungry for the simple basics: shelter, water, food, health care. We're all hungry. But the heavenly food that is Jesus has the power to satisfy our every hunger through the changing of lives. This infant in a manger has the power to change those who have enough into those who share, and through the fulfilment of this truth, we [all humanity] can feast on heavenly food. Prayer: Lord God, change our hearts this Advent season so that we hunger only for You and for Your kingdom. Amen. Peggy Harris 1. “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” Liturgy of St James (4th Century), translated by Gerard Moultrie 1864. Public Domain. United Methodist Church Hymnal #616. Based on John 6:35-58 and Revelation |
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Thursday, December 3, 2015 & Thursday, December 12, 2017 Jesus Is The Light Of The World by Scott |
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Scripture: John 8:12 (NIV) – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” Message: There is an absolutely wonderful story that comes from the country of Sweden. It tells of a country doctor who once went out to a farmhouse in a remote area of the country where a woman was about to give birth for the very first time. When she went into labor, the doctor asked her farmer husband if he would be willing to help. The physician instructed him to get a large gas lantern, light it, and hold it high to illuminate what had now become a makeshift delivery room. Before long, the young woman gave birth to a wonderful, healthy, baby boy. And then the doctor made a surprising announcement. He said, “Well, it seems there is another baby coming our way.” Sure enough, in a few moments, this courageous mother gave birth to a wonderful, healthy, baby girl. Her husband was considerably shaken by this announcement of the birth of twins. So you can imagine his state of mind when the doctor suddenly said, “Oh my, we’re not finished yet. It looks like we’re going to have triplets!” Whereupon the stunned farmer, still holding the lantern aloft, said, “It must be the light that’s attracting them!” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” And throughout the world, so many people are attracted to that light. During the Advent season, may we be reflections of the light of Christ’s love, forgiveness, compassion, and grace. Prayer: Lord, make me a mirror of the Savior’s love. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Sunday, December 17, 2017 Prepare The Way by Peggy |
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Copyright Issue - Devotional cannot be viewed at this time Peggy Harris |
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Saturday, December 23, 2017 The Dawning Of A New Day by Peggy |
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Scripture: Isaiah 9:2 (NIV) - "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Message: My favorite Advent carol is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”.1 It has seven verses, but verse six holds special appeal for me:
“O
come, thou
Dayspring, come and cheer The word “Dayspring” means “dawn.” The Dayspring, Jesus, overcomes the darkness of injustice and death, just as dawn overcomes the darkness of night. Once I was driving alone down an unfamiliar country road in a thunderstorm. There were no streetlights. Clouds covered the moon. The only light came from my car’s headlights, pointing straight ahead. I had no idea what was on either side of me. Suddenly, lightning flashed overhead, and I could see everything around me for a brief second. There was a tractor left out in a field and cows huddled under a tree. There were rows of crops and one of those gigantic sprinkler contraptions on wheels. It was all so clear. Then it was gone. Inky darkness replaced the light in an instant. I remember thinking that Christ is the light who stays. Darkness, a temporary thing we must cope with in this life, will not overcome the Dayspring with His eternal light. Now, that is indeed good news! Prayer: Lord God, when the darkness of death and injustice threaten to overwhelm us; teach us to look for the light You bring in Christ. With each dawn, remind us of Your eternal light. Amen. Peggy Harris 1. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” circa 8th Century, translated by John Mason Neale circa 1850. Public Domain. United Methodist Church Hymnal #211. |
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Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, 2017 Born On Christmas Day by Scott |
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Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 (NIV) – “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Message: One Christmas, a woman was standing in a long line in the Post Office. She had in her arms an enormous package. It was just a couple of days before Christmas. When she stepped up to the counter with this huge box, she said to the postal clerk, "This package needs to get to my father in Arizona. When do you think that it will arrive there?" "I don't have any idea," said the clerk. "Maybe it will be the 26th, or maybe it will be the 27th. I don't know for sure." "It's got to get there by December 25th," she responded. "Can't I spend some extra money to ensure it gets there on time?" "Well, yeah, you can do that. But it's going to cost you a bundle. " He picked up the package, put it on the scale, and said, "Sure enough, it's going to cost a small fortune: $45.38." "I'll pay it. It's got to get there on time," the woman said. "You see, my father's birthday is December 25th. This package is for him." "Your father's birthday is on December 25th? You've got to be kidding!" "No, I'm not kidding." "What a bummer," the clerk said, shaking his head. "I'm glad I don't know anyone who was born on Christmas." Suddenly, someone spoke up from the back of the line: "Thank God I do!" That's the way I feel today. Thank God, I know Someone who was born on Christmas Day. Do you know Him, too? Prayer: God, Thank You for the glorious gift of Jesus, our Savior. May You use us to tell His story and proclaim His love today and in all the days to come. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Thursday, February 11, 2016 & Friday, February 16, 2018 God Does Not Hide by Scott |
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Scripture: Exodus 33:23 - "You shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen." Message: Michael Stanfield, former Rabbi at Chicago Sinai Congregation, preached a sermon on the existence of God. Michael ended with a story about a famous philosopher who gave a lecture before a large Jewish audience on the subject, "A Critique of the Existence of God." The lecture was well-attended; a thousand people wanted to hear what the philosopher said about God not existing. It was a long lecture, and as it went on and on, the speaker noticed that people were leaving. Finally, when only a few were left he asked the chairman, "Mr. Chairman, am I talking too long?" "No," said the chairman, "your lecture is not too long. And you proved to almost everyone's satisfaction that God does not exist, but you see it's almost time to assemble for our evening worship service. And, God forbid, we wouldn't want to be late." The question of God is one every human being asks and, in one way or another, answers. What makes us Christian is the conviction that God has decided to reach across the gap between the transcendent and the mundane, the sacred and the human, and, in one whom we know as God's own Son, to show us what we need to know about God. God is fully revealed in Jesus Christ whom we honor and worship in this Lenten Season. Prayer: O God, may I see You fully, face to face, in Jesus, Your Son. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Friday, February 12, 2016 Preparing For Easter by Peggy |
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Scripture: Luke 2:41-49 - "Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, 'Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.' 'Why were you searching for Me?' He asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?
Message: Most of us think of Lent as a
time to prepare for Easter. "We are Easter people," exhorted Pastor
Scott in a past Easter sermon, "and Hallelujah is our song." But I
never fully appreciate the miracle of Easter if my Lenten
preparation has lacked in prayer and focus on the Word. When I have
prepared myself, Easter Morning arrives like Christmas Morning -
full of expectancy and joy. Most of us don't think about the way
Jesus prepared Himself for Easter Morning. In fact, He prepared for
it all His life. Hints about His preparation can be found in today's
scripture. His parents took Him to Jerusalem every year for
Passover. It's almost certain His experience of studying with the
temple teachers was repeated after that first year when He stayed
behind. Notice also that He and His parents traveled with friends
and family, meaning Jesus had a "tribe" that would have helped Him
in all sorts of ways, as well as a local synagogue in Nazareth where
His reputation with the temple teachers would have preceded Him. His
continuing education in the Word would have been a daily practice,
and the Bible records numerous times when He withdrew to His Father
in prayer. Let's set our sights on His example this Lenten season.
Let's be ready for the joy of Easter morning.
Prayer:
Lord, prepare our hearts for the glory of Easter by walking with us
through the season of Lent.
Peggy Harris |
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You Matter To Him by Peggy |
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Scripture: Luke 21:1-4 - "As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'Truly I tell you,' He said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" Message: I was born on Easter Sunday, so my mother wanted to name me Bunny. My father, God bless his eternal soul, named me after his sister instead. (Apologies to anyone named Bunny, but I grew up in an era when a certain man with a mansion and a magazine addressed his female companions as "bunnies." My classmates would have made my life miserable had my mother prevailed.) There I was on my first day of life, not quite five pounds of wailing humanity, and my parents were already having a serious discussion over me. Because I mattered to them. My name mattered. My life mattered. From the moment I was born, people cared about me. Every child of God matters. In this scripture, Jesus sees someone who would have been invisible to everyone else in the temple. This poor widow, surrounded by wealthy people, gave so little, but it was all she had. And Jesus noticed. She mattered to Him. From the moment she was born, God cared about her. In this season of Lent, as we devote ourselves to thoughts of Jesus' sacrifice, let's also remember that we matter to Him. Every one of us. Lent reminds us how true this is. Prayer: Lord of my life, teach me to believe how much You love me, and help me to love others in the same way. Amen. Peggy Harris |
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Thursday, March 10, 2016 & Monday, March 12, 2018 Amazing Grace by Scott |
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Scripture: John 8:1-12 (NIV) – “but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’ When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”Message: Jesus talked a lot about forgiveness. “Forgive us our sins, as You forgive the sins of others,” He taught His disciples to pray and we pray every Sunday, affirming that being forgiven and forgiving are related. The late Henri Nouwen, Dutch priest and author wrote, “To forgive another person from the heart is an act of liberation. We set that person free from the negative bonds that exist between us. We say, ‘I no longer hold your offense against you.’ But there is more. We also free ourselves from the burden of being the ‘offended one.’ When we do not forgive those who have wounded us, we carry them with us or, worse, pull them as a heavy load. The great temptation is to cling in anger to our enemies and then define ourselves as being offended and wounded by them. Forgiveness, therefore, liberates not only the other but also us. It is the way to the freedom of the children of God.”1 Jesus told stories about forgiveness. Jesus told a harsh story about a servant who was forgiven his debt by his master and turned around and refused to forgive his debtor and who ended up being punished severely for not forgiving. He told an unforgettable story about an ungrateful son who took his share of his father’s money, left home, spent it all, ended up living with pigs, and came home to apologize, and before the son could get the words out, his father was running down the road, opening his arms and embracing him. It’s an amazing idea about a God who extends forgiveness even before people get around to asking or confessing; an amazing idea that we are forgiven not by working off our guilt, not by being shamed, shunned, punished publicly, but by opening our hearts to the gift of God: forgiveness. Someone called it, memorably, amazing grace. Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Amen. Pastor Scott Harris 1. “Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith” by Father Henri Neuwen. 1996© Copyright. Permission for use by Henri Nouwen Society, City, Canada. or from Harper One, Harper Collins, San Francisco, USA. |
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Thursday, March 17, 2016 The Inner Struggle by Peggy |
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Scripture: Matthew 4:1-4 - “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”'" Message: I love reading the passage in Matthew 3 where Jesus is baptized in the River Jordan. God opens the heavens and declares, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." It's a thrilling moment when Jesus emerges from the water to the sound of his Father's voice affirming His earthly purpose. But immediately following those words come the verses for today's devotion, and they arrive with a jolt. Before Jesus begins His mission He must be tempted in the unforgiving Judean desert. Scholars tell us the Greek word here also means to be "tested" as well as "tempted." Jesus is being tested to see what kind of savior He is going to be. The full passage, in Matthew 4:1-11, has Jesus tested three times before He emerges with His heart set on being a savior who will serve and sacrifice, not conquer and destroy. Despite the tempter's presence, this was an inner struggle - much the same way we struggle in our hearts when we want to do the right thing while the wrong thing calls out to us. Our worst temptations and trials come from within, and this is the struggle of Lent for many of us. What kind of Christians will we be? Jesus calls us to serve and sacrifice. It isn't always easy. We're often tempted to do otherwise. But Christ himself showed us the way, and because He lives, we never go through temptations alone. Prayer: Shepherd Jesus, show us the way through tests and temptations. Help us to feel Your presence with us as we struggle to serve and sacrifice in Your holy name. Amen. Peggy Harris |
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Saturday, March 26, 2016 & Maundy Thursday, April 13, 2017 Gethsemane (Gethsemane Meditation) by Scott |
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Scripture: Mark 14:32-42 (NIV) - “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Simon,’ he said to Peter, ‘are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’” Message: A number of years ago there was a film called "Forbidden Games." In that film, refugees are shown fleeing from the City of Paris during the Second World War. A Nazi warplane swoops down, low to the ground, in order to strafe the refugees. A young mother and father quickly push their little girl to the ground, and then stretch themselves out on top of her. The bullets from the plane find their mark. After the strafing is over, the child crawls out from under the bodies of her parents. In a terribly painful scene, you realize that the little girl doesn't understand what has happened. She tries to make her parents get up. She doesn't realize that they had done for her all they possibly could. They had saved her life by losing theirs. That seems to me to be a parable. We keep asking things of God. We keep bombarding Heaven with all of our wants, desires, and concerns and there is nothing wrong with that. God wants us to do it. But don't you think that every once in a while we ought to pause to remember that God already has done for us everything He possibly could? He gave His only Son. His only Son saved our life by losing His. Do you understand that it all began that night, when for you and for me, God broke His heart and broke His Son in the quiet of a garden called Gethsemane? A love that amazing, that divine, demands our soul, our life, our all. Prayer: "Not my will be done, O Lord, but in Your infinite wisdom, may Your will be done in my life." Pastor Scott Harris |
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Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 (also Easter Meditation, Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017) by Scott |
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Copyright Issue - Devotional cannot be viewed at this time Pastor Scott Harris |
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Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017 by Scott |
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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV) – “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Message: The church held a Children’s Easter Festival a few years ago. It was a marvelous day for children with multiple games and “bounce” houses and a juggler and live music and hot dogs and snow cones and topped off with a huge Easter egg hunt. As the event was coming to a close and people were heading home, our granddaughter Brittany asked “Grammy” if she could jump in one of the bounce houses one more time before we left. Grammy, of course, readily agreed. No one was at the bounce house at the time, so Brittany had it all to herself. As my wife, Peggy (aka Grammy), was watching Brittany, a young boy, about Brittany’s age, came up to her and in a wonderful British accent asked if he could go into the bounce house as well, and Peggy gave him permission. He, too, joined in the fun with great enthusiasm. You could see by the expressions on their faces that both children were having the time of their lives. The little boy was especially enjoying frolicking away inside the house, so much so he was overwhelmed with unabashed enthusiasm and he yelled at Peggy, “I just love being a kid!” Well, I want to say with all the enthusiasm I can muster, “I love being a Christian!” For I can claim unabashedly that Jesus is alive – He is risen – and what Easter means to me is that, because He lives, I know that I will live also – the abundant life He offers me now, and the eternal life that awaits me when I close my eyes in death. He is risen and so are we! Prayer: On this Easter Sunday may we claim the abundant and eternal life Jesus came to bring us. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Scripture: Luke 2:1-4 - "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register..." Message: I read once of a group of people in Ohio who decided to give a man a surprise birthday party. They got together and organized the party in great detail. They set up several committees to take care of the arrangements for food and entertainment and decorations... and all the rest. There was a great hustle and bustle of excitement and busyness as they made ready for the big event. Finally, the evening of the party arrived and all was in readiness... the hall was rented... the decorations were in place and they were terrific... the food was prepared... and it looked sumptuous. The entertainment was rehearsed and ready. The friends were all gathered and excited. The lights and sound were set to perfection. Then suddenly, they realized something. Everything had been taken care of in splendid fashion... except one thing. They had quite simply forgotten the single most important thing... they had forgotten to invite the guest of honor... so they had the party without him. There's a sermon there somewhere! Won't you let Christ into your Christmas? Prayer: Father God, open our hearts to let Christ in this Christmas. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Good Friday, April 3, 2015 & Good Friday & March 30, 2018 by Scott |
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Scripture: Luke 23:46 "Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed His last." Message: These words of Jesus from the Cross, "into Your hands I commit my spirit" are actually taken directly from Psalm 31. The Book of Psalms was both the hymnbook and the prayer book for the Jewish people. We can safely assume that Jesus, like every other child in Palestine, had learned the words of the Psalms as a small boy in His home. He had memorized them as a class assignment at the synagogue school. In other word s, the words of the Bible so saturated Jesus' mind that when He spoke, whether in time of testing or temptation; whether in the act of preaching or praying; whether in living or in dying; the Scriptures were so much the core and center of His experience that the words of Scripture became His words. Nothing instills faith and confidence in a life like the study and the mastery of the Word of God.Prayer: O Lord may we so flood our lives with Your Word, that it becomes a constant fountain of peace and joy in our everyday living. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Saturday, April 4, 2015 by Scott |
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Scripture: John 19:30 (NIV) "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." Message: As the waves of death began to wash over Jesus from the Cross, He reached down deep inside of Himself and proceeded to deliver up a single word in Greek, three words in English: "Tetelestai - it is finished!" According to all of the Gospel writers that word was uttered "with a loud voice." It was a cry of triumph. It was an affirmation of victory, "Tetelestai! accomplished! Victory won! It is finished!" This was not a word of flinching resignation. This was not some dying gasp. This was not simply surrender to the inevitable. Jesus didn't say, "I am finished." No, He said, "It is finished." The task He had been given was completed. The summit He had been asked to climb had been scaled. The mission for which He was sent had been accomplished. There was nothing left to do. Everything was done. "It is finished!" It was a cry of completion for His work. It was a cry of victory for His spirit. "Tetelestai! It is done!" "It is finished." Now the work is ours to continue! Prayer: May we take up the Cross and claim the victory Yon have won for us. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Monday, November 30, 2015 & First Advent Sunday, December 3, 2017 Waiting In Hope by Scott |
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Scripture: Luke 21:25-36 (NIV) – “‘There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’ He told them this parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.’” Message: Advent is a message of hope. In this Scripture passage from Luke, Jesus is saying that no matter how bleak or difficult the circumstances in this world may seem, there is a greater reality we must hold always in our minds and hearts: “God is still in control of the universe”. He still has His hand at the helm of the created order. And therefore, Jesus says, when all these horrific things begin to take place, that’s the time for your as Christians to stand up, to stand tall, to hold your head up high. Why? Because your redemption is drawing near. The Jesus who came to the world on the first Christmas will ultimately return, and when He does, our salvation and redemption will be at hand. Therefore, the great message of Advent is not a message that everything is falling to pieces. Instead, it is a message of hope amid the hopelessness of this world. This Advent, let’s celebrate hope. Prayer: Lord, help me to never lose hope because you are with me. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Thursday, December 3, 2015 & Thursday, December 14, 2017 Jesus Is The Light Of The World by Scott |
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Scripture: John 8:12 (NIV) – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” Message: There is an absolutely wonderful story that comes from the country of Sweden. It tells of a country doctor who once went out to a farmhouse in a remote area of the country where a woman was about to give birth for the very first time. When she went into labor, the doctor asked her farmer husband if he would be willing to help. The physician instructed him to get a large gas lantern, light it, and hold it high to illuminate what had now become a makeshift delivery room. Before long, the young woman gave birth to a wonderful, healthy, baby boy. And then the doctor made a surprising announcement. He said, “Well, it seems there is another baby coming our way.” Sure enough, in a few moments, this courageous mother gave birth to a wonderful, healthy, baby girl. Her husband was considerably shaken by this announcement of the birth of twins. So you can imagine his state of mind when the doctor suddenly said, “Oh my, we’re not finished yet. It looks like we’re going to have triplets!” Whereupon the stunned farmer, still holding the lantern aloft, said, “It must be the light that’s attracting them!” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” And throughout the world, so many people are attracted to that light. During the Advent season, may we be reflections of the light of Christ’s love, forgiveness, compassion, and grace. Prayer: Lord, make me a mirror of the Savior’s love. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Sunday, December 6, 2015 How About A Kiss? by Scott |
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Scripture: Luke 1:39-56 – “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Message: Do you know where the custom of kissing under the mistletoe got started? With an understanding of the custom, you may not think it so silly. It actually began with the Druids in Northern Europe. They believed that the mistletoe had special curative powers -- not only to be able to cure physical ailments, but even more, they believed that the mistletoe had the power to cure separation between people. And consequently, whenever two of them would encounter one another as enemies, ready to fight, if there was an oak tree nearby, with mistletoe hanging in it, they would immediately take that as a sign from God that they were to drop their weapons and stop being enemies, and instead become friends. When Christian missionaries moved into the Druid culture and began to work there in the name of Christ, they recognized that the custom of the mistletoe was a perfect symbol of what Christmas has done for the world, bringing to this world a time of peace -- a time of healing -- a time of reconciliation -- a time of embracing one another in the name of Jesus Christ. That is what the mistletoe really means. May this Christmas season be a time of "shalom" - peace and reconciliation between you and those with whom you are estranged. Prayer: Lord, in this Christmas season let me be an instrument of your peace. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Scripture: Luke 2:1-7 - "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree .... She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and placed Him in a manager, because there was no room for them in the inn." Message: The love of God in Jesus Christ is the most powerful thing in the world. Remember please that the wrongness of the world was just as visible and just as violent during that first Christmas as it is this Christmas. There were the cruelly oppressive political machinations of the Roman Caesar. There was the power hungry craziness of King Herod. There was the spilling of innocent blood among the baby boys of Bethlehem. There was the near paralyzing fear of the Holy Family as they literally ran for their lives across the desert into Egypt. There was the complacency, the apathy, the indifference of so many, many people who simply could not have cared less about the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. The reality is that the love of that baby in Bethlehem remains now two thousand years later the single most shaping and transforming influence in the world of which we are a part. LOVE. The love of God in Jesus Christ is the most powerful thing in all the world. And that love is greater than any wrongness in the world. LOVE. The love of God in Jesus Christ is the most powerful thing in the whole world. And when Jesus Christ is born in our hearts then we come to know that love is the most personal thing in all the world. Prayer: O Holy Child of Bethlehem, be born in us today. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Friday, December 11, 2015 We Hear It Every Christmas Eve by Peggy |
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Scripture: John 1:1-5 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Message: There is a moment in the Christmas Eve service, in the hush and darkness, when the opening words of John's Gospel are read: "In the beginning was the Word . . ." We hear it every Christmas Eve. Lay readers often stumble over it (it's not as easy as you'd think to read aloud). Often people wonder, "What does this have to do with Christmas?" It has everything to do with Christmas. "Word," capitalized here, is God, the God who spoke Creation into being (verse 3). Word makes things happen. And with God from the beginning was Jesus, born for us in a stable. Not only that, but Jesus was God (verse 1)! And so it was God who climbed on that Cross for us, God's children. This astonishing truth brings me to my knees every Christmas Eve. Prayer: Holy God, Word of Life, thank you, for the Light that no darkness can overcome. Amen. Peggy Harris |
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Thursday, December 17, 2015 The Shepherds Return by Scott |
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Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 - "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them .... The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Message: The shepherds were witness to the glory of God in the birth if Jesus. Then the Bible says the shepherds returned to their fields and to their flocks. Mind you, as they made their way back the ground beneath their feet was just as hard as it had been before. They had to pass the Roman soldiers who stared at them threateningly reminding them that their circumstances were just as hard as they had been before. And out there on the hillside it was still winter - the skies above them were just as icy and empty as before and the wind just as biting and cold as it had been before. Everything seemed to be the same but they were not the same. They were different. Why? Because they had seen the Lord. And because they had seen the Lord, they knew that the Lord had come. And because they knew the Lord had come they knew they could never be lost to the Lord. And because they knew they could not be lost to the Lord, they knew they could never lose in anything. I think that is the greatest lesson we can learn from the shepherds at Bethlehem. Believe me when I tell you - you can stand a lot of cold in this world when you have the warmth of Jesus Christ in your spirit. You can stand a lot of sorrow when you have got the joy of Jesus Christ in your heart. Prayer: O Lord, may my heart be filled with the same joy experienced by the shepherds on that first Christmas. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Sunday, December 20, 2015 He Tipped The Scales by Scott |
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Scripture: John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Message: At this Christmas season, let me share with you a thought I keep tucked away in my heart. I sometimes envision myself standing before the throne of God. Before me is a great scale balance. On the left side of the balance, the Devil has heaped all of my sins. On the right-hand side, the angels are desperately looking for something to balance the scale. No use. The scale drops to the left with a thud. All seems lost. But then suddenly, there is a sound small sound, a small metallic sound nail is dropped on the side of righteousness, another nail, and then another. I know not whether those nails come from a manger in Bethlehem or from a cross on Calvary, but this much I do know: the balance is tipped. By the Grace of Jesus Christ, I am saved. What's true for me can be true for you, as well. Prayer: O Lord, wash me with your forgiving Grace that I might be set free. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Thursday, March 6, 2014 Humility by Scott |
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Scripture : Philippians 2:1-11 - |Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."Message: I consider this passage in Philippians some of the most beautiful words that Paul penned. It is packed with meaning. Jesus humbled Himself and took the form of a servant. In all Jesus' ministry we see humility. If the church could simply learn that lesson 99% of our problems would be solved. Yet it is so hard to swallow our pride and check our egos at the door. It also says Jesus became obedient which meant he followed wherever God led. Obedience is hard to come by in this world – we are so easily tempted to take the short-cut or the easy way. And this passage speaks of the sacrificial love of Jesus as He willingly goes to the cross for you and me. Humility, obedience and sacrificial love – if we could only live by these spiritual disciplines we would be changed and our world would be changed, Prayer: O Lord, grant us the humility to see our need to be obedient to Your command to love You and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Pastor Scott Harris Back to top |
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Wednesday, March 19, 2014 You Are Accepted by Scott |
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Scripture: Luke 15:25-32 - "Meanwhile; the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Message: In this very familiar Scripture we read the conclusion of the Parable of the Prodigal Son where the older son of the father refuses to celebrate the return of his wayward younger brother. It is a story of rejection. Instead of receiving his brother back with the unconditional grace and love that was shown by his father, the older son allows his pride and anger with the father's generosity to get the best of him. He had followed all the rules while his brother was a rule breaker. But Lent reminds us that the God revealed in Jesus is an embracing God loving and accepting God - who desires to receive all of us back into God's heart no matter where we have been or what we have done in life. Jesus modeled this every day of his ministry. May we do the same as Christ's spirit lives in us. Prayer: O Lord, may we see each other with the eyes of Jesus who never met an unimportant person. Amen. Pastor Scott Harris |
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Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2014 Be The One by Peggy |
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Scripture: Matthew 26:36-45 - Then Jesus went with his disciples-to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Message: The thought of Jesus being abandoned by his closest friends in his time of greatest need breaks my heart. But I can't point fingers at the disciples because I find myself in this story each time I read it. If they couldn't be faithful in prayer at such a crucial time, there's little hope for me. It takes only a few distractions to cause me to forget Him and focus instead on the world. Mother Teresa used to direct her Missionaries of Charity that each of them should aim to "be the one" (who stayed up all night with Christ), and this gives me hope. Even though I have abandoned him over and over in the past, I can still choose to "be the one" today. I can choose to be faithful in prayer, and in doing so, I stand with Jesus in His sacrifice. Will you join me? Prayer: Lord, show me how to be faithful in prayer. Teach me to listen for Your voice in the quiet rooms of my heart so that I may be transformed into an instrument of Your love. Amen Peggy Harris |
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Friday, & Saturday, December 12 & 13, 2014 The Original Christmas Shepherd, parts 1 and 2 by Peggy |
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Part 1 Scripture: Luke 15:4-6 - "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home." Message: One of my favorite memories of raising my children was the moment in the annual Christmas pageant when my son, wearing his father's bathrobe and holding a staff, was momentarily transformed into one of the timeless figures of Christmas - the lowly shepherd. Today's scripture brings the shepherds to life. Before the Cross became the universal symbol of Christianity, early Christians often identified Jesus with an image of a shepherd holding a staff and a lamb. First-century shepherds lived in the same dusty fields as the sheep, often sleeping across an opening in their pens to become the actual gate, keeping the sheep safe. In John 10:7 Jesus says, "I am the gate for the sheep." Jesus, whose coming we celebrate this season, was the original Christmas shepherd. We are his sheep. He lived among us and does so still, in the dust and muck of our lives, searching for each of us when we are lost (verse 1). Prayer: Holy God, we thank You for coming to live among us as our loving shepherd. Amen. Peggy Harris Part 2 Scripture: Luke 15:4-7 - "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Message: yesterday's devotional we identified Jesus as the original Christmas shepherd. I love this scripture passage, for it depicts Jesus as going on the hunt for us when we are lost. That is what Advent is about - Jesus, God in flesh, stooping low to go on the hunt for his lost sheep. But if we stop reading at verse 5, we miss the party! This shepherd is so overjoyed at finding his one lost sheep (just one of ninety-nine) he knocks on every door in town, inviting everyone to the celebration, which Jesus says is a forecast of the celebration in heaven when we are found. Now that's a Christmas party! Prayer: Holy God, thank you for stooping low to search for us Amen. Peggy Harris |
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Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 2014 The Mission Of Jesus In Miniature by Scott |
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Scripture: Luke 2:8-12 - "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Message: Right from the very beginning of the birth narrative we are given a glimpse into the purpose of God in sending Jesus. The first revelation of Jesus' coming was to shepherds who were at the very bottom of the social ladder of their day. Their work with animals rendered them unclean and unable to participate in the religious rituals of the Temple. Anyone associating with them could also rendered unclean. So they were often ridiculed and avoided by the good religious people of their day. They performed an important role in the community but were social and religious outcast among their own people. On that Holy Night they represented a large number of people who were marginalized by the religious rules of the day. We do not know for sure but scholars speculate that these shepherds were caring for the Temple flock on the hillside of Bethlehem. These were the sheep that would be sold to pilgrims at the Jerusalem Temple who wanted to make a sacrifice at the altar of God as a sign of penitence or thanksgiving. Just thinking of these things we can see that when the birth of Jesus was announced to the shepherds first -- shepherds tending the sheep for sacrifice at the Temple - we see the mission of Jesus in miniature. This Messiah was coming to sacrifice His life for the least, the last and the lost. He was coming to embrace even the unembraceable. He was coming to offer hope to those who had lost hope of any real meaning and purpose to life. And He still does. Prayer: "What shall I give Him, poor as I am, if I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, if I were a wise man I would do my part, but what I can I give him, I give him my heart." Amen Pastor Scott Harris |
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