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2025 |
2022 The Amazing Gift Of Joy 3 12 22 A Time For Reflection And Prayer 11 29 22 2021 Becoming More Like Jesus 3 11 21 |
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Monday, March 24, 2025 |
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Scripture: Psalm 51:17 (NIV) – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.” Message: There is a lot of Scripture relating to human brokenness, healing, humility, and our sinful nature. Jesus came to show humanity once and for all what humility is all about. In essence it involves us removing our ego and pride, and replacing it with a desire to seek the will of our Lord. Jesus tells us He came to seek the lost and broken. Time and again we see examples of Jesus healing those who first show the condition of their heart, thereby receiving His healing grace through faith. I have a close friend, Brian Pusateri, who I have known for over 15 years. He has an inspiring personal testimony of his own brokenness, and how he hid it from everyone for his entire life. But he finally opened up to a close friend of his after being stirred to do so by the Holy Spirit. This led to Brian telling his family, close friends and then publicly relating his story at a retreat at our Church. The Lord had more in store for him. The response at the retreat by attendees was so overwhelming that he became inspired to take his story and offer to do retreats at other Churches. Brian has now been leading these retreats for the past 13 years, as well as writing a weekly devotional, which is titled “4th Day Letters”. The purpose of the “4th Day Letters” is to inspire, motivate and challenge Christians to be the best followers of Christ they can be, so that they can leave a Christ-like impact on those they encounter every day. I was so inspired by Brian’s work on the ecumenical retreats and in the 4th Day Letters”, through his organization, “Broken Door Ministries”, that I now serve on the Board of Directors. So, my devotional comes with an invitation for you to receive the free gift of the weekly “4th Day Letters” devotionals by signing up on Broken Door Ministries’ website, brokendoorministries.com. This is an enriching gift that keeps on giving! Prayer: Dear Father, help me to continue to grow in my faith by giving me the courage to admit my brokenness, so that I can be healed. May I seek Your will in all I do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Doug Miller |
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Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2024 |
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Scripture: Matthew 6:10 (NIV) – “...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven” Message: During the past ten years or so, I have had the pleasure to serve alongside a number of Parishioners, Staff and Pastors at my church. I would like to tell you about one of those individuals, my dear friend Peter. We first served together on a special committee that was formed to come up with ideas to improve the financial condition of our school. After this committee’s work was completed, we were both asked to become members of the Pastoral Council of Ministries. We served together for the next five years. Shortly after our term ended, we reached out to several other Council members to form a small prayer and faith sharing group. We have now been meeting biweekly for over four years. About a year and a half ago Peter announced to us that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 bladder cancer. This led to a year-long series of chemo treatments, leading to surgical removal of his bladder and lymph nodes. During this time Peter asked us to pray for him by asking that the Lord’s will be done throughout Peter’s challenging journey. At first, we all wanted to pray for a complete healing, but Peter insisted on asking for the Lord’s will to be done. Peter had come to a point in his faith journey that he was able to surrender completely to the Lord’s will in his life. What a simple but profound prayer of trust, faith, humility, and love. The day before I wrote this devotional my wife Susan and I attended Peter’s Celebration of Life Funeral Mass. Thank you Peter for inspiring us with your life, your service, and your faith. Prayer: Dear Lord, may Your will be done in all aspects of my life until that glorious day when I join You in Heaven. Amen.
Doug Miller |
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Wednesday, March 29, 2023 |
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Scripture: Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV) - "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long". Message: A friend of mine gave me a book several years ago, titled "One Word."1 The book was written to help individuals and companies develop a mission. Our leadership team at Church decided to use the process outlined in the book to help each of us in our individual spiritual growth. Now, several years later, several of us continue the process annually. The book's subtitle "that will change your life", we all found to be true. Typically, during Lent, we focus on giving something up that is hindering our spiritual growth. This book challenges us to select a single word that we will use for the entire year to challenge our personal growth. Each of us selected a word that challenges us to grow in our faith journey. To begin the process, focus on personal reflection. Similar to confession, ask yourself where you fall short in your Christian walk. Perhaps there is repetitive sin you cannot seem to stop, or maybe there are a few attributes of a model Christian that you find challenging. Or maybe you have thought of serving in your Church, but lack confidence to go forward. Write down notes on this period of reflection. Next, take a few days reflecting on your notes. Find a quiet place, and spend 15 minutes or so each day thinking about what you have written down. Finally, spend time with God in prayer. Ask the Lord to help you select the One Word that will help you grow closer to Him, and to be more like Him as you challenge yourself. When the single word becomes clear, write it down on several pieces of paper. Place them strategically so that you see the word frequently throughout each day. As circumstances confront you related to the word, ask the Lord to help you move forward according to His will. Prayer: Lord, You know my thoughts, my ways, and my needs. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, please guide me to a single word that I can focus on this Lenten Season and beyond. My hope and prayer is that by focusing on this word, I will become more like You in the process. Thank You Lord. Amen.
Doug Miller 1. “One Word - The One Word Journal: Your Daily Journey for Life-Change” by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page. 2013 © Copyright. Wiley Publishing Company. Title only, permission not required. |
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Saturday, March 12, 2022 |
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Scripture: Romans 12:12 (NIV) - “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Message: Wow, what a journey the entire world has been on for the past two years. We have learnt of unheard numbers of people who have lost their lives to COVID, and turmoil has entered into just about all facets of our lives. It has tested us all. Several years ago our Church Leadership Team took on the challenge presented in the book “One Word”1. The challenge was to enter into a period of self-examination, prayer and meditation to ultimately select one word to focus on for a year. This word typically defines an area of weakness in our spiritual journey. My faith sharing group decided to do this once again this year, and I chose the word “Joy”.I chose this word because I have frequently found myself becoming judgmental, and frequently disgusted, as I hear and see people attacking each other. So now I focus on my one word “Joy”, and ask the Lord in prayer to keep me calm in the storms, and seek out opportunities to show His love to others. Self-examination is a key component of Lent, as is repentance. Maybe you can pursue your own “One Word” this Lenten Season and ask the Lord for guidance and strength to turn a weakness of yours into a strength going forward. Family Activity: Using a container of your choice (a bowl, a dish, a jar, a baggie – anything can work), ask each family member to write down their discovery of “joy” over the last week and store them. Have each person share their joys and discuss, or use their “joys” in bedtime prayers of thanks. Prayer: Dear Father: Thank You for the amazing joy You have given me freely because of my faith in You. May You help me to lean on this eternal joy to overcome all the negativity I see and experience in my day-to-day life. Help me to be a joy to others, an encourager to others, and a prayer warrior for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Doug Miller |
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Tuesday, November 29, 2022 |
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Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7 (NIV) – “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons [and daughters], God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son [or daughter], and since you are a son [or daughter], God has made you also an heir.” Message: Advent Season – a time to prepare our minds and hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The scripture highlights very important aspects of our relationship with the Holy Trinity. God the Father sent his Son to redeem the world, inviting us into a relationship with Him as His son or daughter. And we are also told that God sent the Spirit of Jesus into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out Abba. This is truly amazing, because Abba, a fatherly term of endearment, we use in calling our earthly fathers Daddy! Let’s take time during every Advent day to focus our thoughts and prayers on our personal relationship with the Lord; asking ourselves questions that promote a deep reflection on our relationship with Him. For example, what motivates us to do “good” things for others, and to volunteer at Church? Do we do things because it seems the right thing to do? Do we do things because duty called? Or do we do “good” things out of our gratitude for all that the Lord has done for us, with nothing expected in return. Returning to the scripture; God wants us to have a loving relationship with Him as a parent has with a child. When the Spirit of the living God enters our hearts, we are no longer a slave to our past behavior. A full confession releases all shame and guilt, and we are free to love Him fully and unconditionally, as He loves us. Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for the gifts of Your Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Help us to grow closer to You each day. Help us to honestly reflect on our relationship with You, so that we continue to become more like Your Son Jesus. Thank You for being my Abba Father! In Jesus’ Holy Name. Amen.
Doug Miller |
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Thursday, March 11, 2021 |
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Scripture: Philippians 3:10 (NIV Study Bible) - "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." Message: The Lenten Season is a gift to all believers, to prepare us for Easter through contemplation, prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial. No wonder Lent lasts 40 days, because if we approach it with the sincerity needed to accomplish this process of preparation, adequate time is necessary. In many ways, Lent is like a long retreat. Most Christian retreats focus on a time of self-examination and re-commitment to our faith in Jesus Christ. The scripture provides a foundation to begin the process of contemplation for Lent. Read this verse several times; each time read it slower and focus on each word. The spiritual depth of this single verse is truly profound. As you contemplate the meanings found in this verse, move on to prayer, asking the Lord to enlighten you further related to your personal walk with Him. Next, focus on the path Christ took including the Last Supper, the prayer time in the Garden, the arrest and excruciating suffering He absorbed, carrying His cross, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Try your best to put yourself into His shoes and repeat these steps and ask yourself how you feel. You are now ready to enter into a time of forgiveness and repentance. Ask Him to forgive you for your shortcomings in your walk with Him, and ask for His guidance to give you a new path to strengthen your relationship with Him going forward. More specifically, seek His will for you to help another this Lenten Season by emptying yourself and giving your all to another. There is no lack of hurting people all around us. Pass on the love of Jesus by being more like Jesus this Lenten Season. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of the Lenten Season. It is my sincere desire during this Lenten Season to grow closer to you, to know you more fully, and to become more like you each and every day. I ask your forgiveness for those times when I have not followed Your will for my life. Thank You Lord for Your incredible gift of life. May my life be a blessing to others I meet on my way. I ask these things in Your precious name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Doug Miller |
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