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Friday, March 7, 2025 Get Rid Of… by Bob |
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Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Message: As I write this message for this Lenten season in the middle of January, it seems to me that I could almost stop here after transcribing this verse! What advice could be more sound? Next week, our nation will have a new President and our citizens seem to have two very different avenues of thought about what’s going to happen next in our homeland. At the same time, a cease fire appears to be beginning in Gaza. Will this one work? God knows, but He isn’t telling! I can’t think of a time in the last fifty years where we have had a greater need to get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander as evil behavior seems to be everywhere. God has given us direction in Ephesians about what to do: maybe repeating these words as our new daily prayer mantra will get us closer to following His Word. Prayer: Father God, I pray today that we follow Your instruction to be kind to each other, to be tenderhearted, and to be forgiving of one another. Forgive us we pray Father for our daily human failures. Gird us to do better in Your eyes as we begin each new day that we are Blessed to receive from You. Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Tuesday, April 1, 2025 by Kim |
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Scriptures: Luke 24:41 (NRSV) – “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” Matthew 2:10 (KJV) – “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Message: I take a long walk most Wednesday mornings, usually travel the same route, and have become well acquainted with many of the homes along the way. About ten days after Christmas I noticed that one of the homes still had their Christmas decorations in the yard. I paid particular attention to this house because I have always liked their display. It is a simple wooden cut-out of the word J O Y. It was three or four feet tall, all painted white, and in the center of the O, at the bottom, cut out in wood were Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. I stopped and looked a second time and wondered why that simple word, J O Y, seemed to be put aside after Christmas. Why don’t we use the word J O Y for Easter? Most certainly the events leading up to Easter are not joyful, but Easter Sunday….. what a reason for, as written in Matthew 2:10 and as used in the song “When they saw the Star”1 “they rejoiced with exceeding great joy”. The disciples were joyful in their disbelief – what they saw was too good to be true, and yet it was! This year I will look for the J O Y at Easter. Prayer: God for all seasons of the year, bring to this Easter an awareness in us that we can have the J O Y of Christmas in this season too. It need not be put away until we call it out for the Saviors birth. Arise and celebrate Christ’s resurrection with J O Y. Amen. Kim Showalter 1. “When they saw the Star” by Lanny Wolfe. 1978© Copyright. Published by Lanny Wolf Music, Gaither Copyright Management, and Capitol CMG Publishing. Permission not required for use of Title. Quotation is from Matthew 2:10 (KJV), Public Domain. Kim Showalter |
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Saturday, February 24, 2024 by Bob |
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Scripture: Mark 1:12 (NLT) – “The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals and angels took care of him.” Message: We celebrate Lent as it commemorates the time that Jesus went into the desert for forty days spending the time there fasting and enduring temptations by Satan. We certainly here in this country have enduring temptations, and many of us give one or more of these things up during Lent as a tribute to Jesus, honoring His life and our belief in Him. Some people call this giving up luxuries. This got me thinking that in so many less fortunate areas of this world the “luxuries” we are giving up for forty days – alcohol, golf, chocolate, beef, sugar – are ”luxuries” beyond comprehension in the mind of so many millions of people so less fortunate than we are. We should pray prayers of thanksgiving for being blessed to live in such a wonderful place as we do! Another action often done during Lent is fasting. “Fasting” got me thinking about “slowing,” specifying time each day to slowly and methodically reflect on the joys that being Christians allows us all to look forward to: grace, forgiveness and life everlasting! Let us all consider slowing and marveling at the gifts He has given us! Family Activity: Slow down with your family and make a modern day stained glass piece. Pick up some magazines, with good photos inside, which can be cut up. Reflect on what story your family wants to tell together. Select and cut out photos and words from the magazines to tell the story of what the past year has looked like for your family. Cut, or glue these pieces to a sheet of pasteboard or cardstock. These cut-out photos and words are representative of all the different pieces of glass that come together to make one larger story of your family, as a part of God’s family. Prayer: Lord, help us to slow down, be still and listen for Your Word. We praise You and the sacrifices You made to give us every hope for the future. Thank You Jesus. Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Tuesday, February 27, 2024 by Kim |
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Scriptures: Ephesians 6:11,14-17 (NIV) – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NIV) – “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written (Isaiah 25:8) will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Message: The Ephesians Bible passage was in my daily devotional one day last week. In 1 Corinthians, Paul also talks about how, if we put on God’s spiritual armor every day, then we are assured of victory in Christ as “Death has been swallowed up in victory”. As adults, it’s easy for us to understand what Paul means. But what about our children? How would you go about explaining this to them? Their need for this protection is just as great. Our wonderful Director of Children’s Ministries, Miss Laura Molloy, found a way to do this over several weeks last fall. She took each article mentioned, one at a time. She talked about it, the children colored them, cut them out and made their own full suit of armor. It was graphic and very tangible for our kindergarten through fifth graders (ages 5-11). A sure sign that your message has hit the mark is when, during other lessons on other Sundays, the pieces in that suit of armor have been referred to along with the protections they will provide. As we look to gird ourselves from some of our daily concerns and trials, we might take a lesson from our children and put on those pieces of armor that will enable us to “stand firm” as we venture into our days with their inevitable temptations and be assured of victory. Prayer: Jesus, we are thankful for the protection Your Spiritual armor provides. Make us mindful of its availability in our everyday living, so that death is swallowed up in victory. Amen. Kim Showalter |
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Wednesday, December 4, 2024 Get Up! by Bob |
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Scripture: Matthew 2:13 (GNT) – “After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, ‘Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him. So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave.’”. Message: Our friend and great contributor to many things in our congregation, David Vatcher, can always be counted on to inspire us to think about Christmas in September. It occurred to me that several of my most recent devotionals were done while feeling pressured by world events. As I looked back to some of my earlier Advent devotionals, I came upon these two as examples: 2020 Advent Devotional “Waiting”: “Waiting. 2020 seems to be all about waiting. Quarantining in place. Waiting to worship in our church again. Waiting for the elections. Waiting for the vaccine. Waiting for Advent to begin. Waiting for Christmas to come. Waiting for the next tough challenge that seems to have filled 2020 from beginning to end!” 2023 Advent Devotional “We Can’t Wait!”: “As I write this, we are in day nine of the outbreak of violence in Israel (October 7, 2023). Stories of hundreds being massacred. Chilling images. Agonizing stories. Fearful thoughts come at us from many directions. The world sometimes tries to make it almost impossible to focus on the Light.” Early today (October 10, 2024) our congregation started out hearing the oppressive roar of hurricane force winds in our town from Hurricane Milton, the strongest hurricane to hit this area in 100 years! Hopefully – as I write this, I cannot be certain – none of our congregation were injured, or suffered huge loss of property or possessions. It seems it’s always something, doesn’t it? Kim and I have a saying; “It isn’t brain cancer!”. What that means to us is that, when we are feeling pressed or even “put upon,” then all we have to do is look around and we will almost immediately see an example of someone so less fortunate than we are, reminding us that we just need to “get over it!”. Prayer: Lord, just as the Angel urged Joseph to “Get Up”, help us to feel compelled to rise up again and share the good news of Jesus Christ here in our wonderful community as we help those less fortunate to recover from this and future challenges! Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Preconcern by Kim |
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Scripture: Matthew 11:28 (NIV) – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Message: As a child our son Sandy was famous for his ability to say precisely what he meant, using words no one had never heard before, yet leaving no doubt what he was trying to say. There was the much loved “underbelievable”, yet my favorite has always been “preconcern”. To this day our family uses it often, especially in times of stress or overload. Most of us can get “preconcerned” pretty easily – my mother would have told me I was borrowing trouble, and she was probably right. I was looking at the calendar the other day, saw how late Thanksgiving is this year, and immediately became “preconcerned” (there are only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas!). I had, in a matter of minutes, allowed the feelings of being overwhelmed about meals and gifts and extra activities to creep in – I was “preconcerned”! And to what end? Am I the only one who cares if we have the right gifts that are wonderfully wrapped, the house looks festive and there is an abundance of food. No one else is worried about it. They’re not “preconcerned” at all. In the New Testament, it is easy to find examples of “preconcern”. In Matthew 12:9-14, the Disciples were (pre)concerned about Jesus’ healing the man with the shriveled hand on the Sabbath. Jesus assured them it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath. No need for “preconcern”. Each Advent season, I start by consciously focusing on the gift that we all receive at Christmas. The gift that makes our days and lives worthwhile, and for some just even bearable. Misplaced priorities abound during this season for many of us. I read somewhere that Jesus was sent by His Father to refresh us in hard times – to come to Him when we are weary and burdened to find that place of rest. My Advent prayer for all of us is, “To take advantage of the rest that is waiting, especially during the self-imposed moments of ‘preconcern’.” Who is it we plan this celebration for? Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray that we can be mindful of our moments of “preconcern”, especially during this Advent season, and turn our hearts and minds back to the reason we are celebrating Your birth. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Kim Showalter |
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Wednesday, March 8, 2023 by Kim |
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Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Message: I read somewhere recently that "Lent is an excellent time to give up one's own resolutions and listen for God's leading." The origins of Lent seem to be rooted in "giving up" something. Perhaps, instead of giving something up for Lent (something I was NEVER good at), we could find greater intimacy with God in this season through gratitude for prayers He has answered. If we slow down, we might gain something, instead of giving something up. A couple of weeks ago I was going through my prayer list and realized that I rarely cross off someone or something from the list but just keep adding to it. It makes for a very long list. But the bigger revelation to me was how seldom I moved someone from the "prayer" part of my list to the "praise" part. I was surprised I hadn't noticed it before, and sad at that realization. The praises and their victories are why I have a prayer list! I have scored one really significant victory recently (whose glow I have been swimming in for about three weeks), and a few that seem to be in transit between lists. What this said to me is that I'm not doing a very good job with gratitude. The space between my lists is not black and white. It is filled with some beautiful shades of gray as my requests are moving and changing. Why should I focus so much of my prayer on needs and not results? The results are around me every day, yet I don't focus enough on the nuances between my lists. I seem to slide more easily past those shades of gray once I have given them some minor acknowledgment. All this is to say that during this Lenten season, I am going to focus on prayer realignment. I'm not giving anything up for Lent - I'm adding something. I'm not taking away from my list of people and things in need - not giving that up for Lent - yet I am going to add more focus on the victories. Prayer: God, help us slowdown in our lives and focus more on Your answers, however nuanced, to the requests and petitions we make of You each day. Amen. Kim Showalter |
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Thursday, March 9, 2023 Called To Be Compassionate And Forgiving by Bob |
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Scripture: Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Message: I grew up in a small town that wasn't fancy at all back then called Winter Park. I would go down to the Colony theater on Saturday, mornings for the $.25 double features. Often they would be war movies, like "Flying Leathernecks" with John Wayne fighting at Guadalcanal, or "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" describing Jimmy Doolittle's daring raid in 1942. Howard Springate was my wife's Dad, my wonderful father-in-law and friend. He was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. If you are perhaps among the younger folks reading this and you have not heard about the Bataan Death March, Google it. Only 15% of the thousands of American prisoners captured survived the Death March. Howard made it through and was freed after 4 1/2 years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. He weighed just over 80 pounds when he was freed. What does this have to do with Lent? Howard had less animosity toward his captors than I had developed sitting in a darkened air conditioned theatre! Although his front teeth were knocked out by rifle butt while in prison and he witnessed uncountable atrocities and death during those long years, he had moved on with his life - he had forgiven them! What an example for all of us to first marvel and then attempt to emulate! Prayer: Lord, I pray that we Christians continue to work on freeing our souls from anger and hatred while engaging in conflicts brought on by our failure to forgive one another. Thank You Jesus for your incredible offering of forgiveness of our sins and the possibility of life everlasting! Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Thursday, December 14, 2023 We Can’t Wait! by Bob |
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Scriptures: John 1:6-9 (NLT) – “God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. " John 1:14a (NLT) – “So the Word became human and made His home among us.” Message: The Gospel of John wastes no time getting into Jesus’ life and preaching. No star in the East, no manger, no wise men. It seems to me that John was too excited to share the teachings of the Master to take the time to talk about His miraculous birth. He couldn’t wait. John had to get on with relating the stories of His works. I know one of my failings is that I can too often be hesitant to share my faith in Jesus. I wait rather than relate. I know that I should be revealing more freely to others my belief that His Grace - His prevenient Grace - will someday grant Eternal Life to those who do believe! As I write this, we are in day nine of the outbreak of violence in Israel. Stories of hundreds being massacred. Chilling images. Agonizing stories. Fearful thoughts come at us from many directions. The world sometimes tries to make it almost impossible to focus on the Light. As Christians, we know that Jesus mourns with us as a result of so many travesties that occur daily. There is an old saying that there are no atheists in a foxhole in wartime. Perhaps this new conflict, that brings a public focus on the troubles in this world, will open an opportunity for us to reach out to the troubled and concerned about the Promise of Jesus. While we wait in Advent, Jesus is waiting for us to go tell the stories of His Work! Like John the Gospel writer, and John the Baptist we can’t wait to share the Good News! Prayer: Lord, hear our prayers for peace on earth. Give us renewed strength and purpose to carry out our duty to spread Your Word. Thank You for our Asbury church family. Let us be mindful of the blessings in our lives that far outweigh our challenges. Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Fourth Advent Sunday, December 17, 2023 Jump For Joy by Kim |
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Scripture: Luke 2:10 (KJV) – “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Message: As I’m sure many others who are writing a piece for this year’s Advent Devotional can relate to; “This is NOT what I had in mind when I sat down to write my devotional”. For this shift we can thank Steph, the lay person who delivered the message today at the Poultney (Vermont) United Methodist Church. About once-a-month Steph answers the call to preach as our regular pastor is a true “circuit rider” and serves three churches. Steph is a high school math teacher who some would say has missed her calling, except she touches so many lives doing this her way. As I reflected on her message, I kept going back to the thread that weaves through all her sermons – it is JOY! She creates and delivers her messages with JOY. Then I came up to my desk to start writing and looked at my October calendar with the words “Jump for Joy” written across the top. The clues were all around me! The word “Joy” (rejoice, joyful) appears 430 times in the New Testament. In this Bible verse from Luke, we are told that Jesus’ birth is a cause for “great joy”. Therefore, as we celebrate the Advent season it should be a time for us to share that “Great Joy”. Until I started writing, I hadn’t realized how many times that word is in the things our family surrounds itself with at Christmas. There is a small pillow with the word “Joy” stitched on the front. There are the foot tall gold painted individual letters that spell out J O Y that hang above the fireplace and there is the flag that Bob had made that we fly in place of our American flag during Advent that simply says “JOY” in huge red letters. Because Steph made me so aware of “JOY” this morning I will be looking for it and encouraging others to “Jump for Joy” this Advent season. Prayer: God of yesterday, today and our infinite tomorrows, help us to be more mindful of Your JOY that is there for our taking when we look for its presence in our lives each day. Amen. |
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Monday, March 7, 2022 |
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Scriptures: Luke 9:2 (NIV) – “and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”1 1 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV) – “Therefore I urge you to imitate me.” Message: Jesus had the same message for His disciples that Paul took into his travels. Do as I would do, in My name, and watch the change you can make. Paul lived his life as an example to both old and new Christians as recorded in Corinthians. In this passage, Paul urges Jesus’ followers to imitate those aspects of His being and character that Christ put there to mirror the way He wants us to live. This is what we need to do in our own lives before we can make changes in the world. The quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” has been attributed to Mahatma Gandhi and others, but it is widely thought that it is an abbreviation of the original writings of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (later known as) in 1913 which read: “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world Mahatma Gandhi are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.”1 The following quote is also attributed to Gandhi: “A man who was completely innocent offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” Our world is in need of a reset. Jesus wants it to start with each one of us reflecting positive change in ourselves whereby “the world will also change”. If every one of us committed to projecting the teachings of Christ, the disciples and Paul through ourselves to the world we encounter every day, that change would multiply. Prayer: Dear God, make us mindful every day of what we need to do to become a contagious Christian. Amen. Kim Showalter 1. “Journal article in Indian Opinion” by Mahatma Gandhi. 2013. Public Domain. |
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Friday, April 8, 2022 Guard Your Heart by Bob |
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Scriptures: Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) – “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 23:26 (NLT) – “Set your hearts on things above.” Message: Our hearts and minds are not always and sometimes not often in sync. Our hearts, if set on things above, know the course our life should take. But the mind…. Once again, I find myself keying on the pandemic for yet another devotional… Our minds, in these cloistered times, often either wander off, or are led off by random thoughts. They include random thoughts seen on the TV, the internet, or whatever you happen to be reading. When things, or thoughts appear to be so very bleak, remember one thing: Grace Bats Last! We Methodists believe in Prevenient Grace. This Grace is a gift from God freeing us, empowering us, drawing us to Him without the need for any human decision, or endeavor. It isn’t earned; it is Given by Him – and yes regardless and unconditionally! Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray our prayer of thanks to You knowing that even though You understand our failings, You have given us Grace beyond measure, unearned, yet here for us all! Amen! Bob Showalter |
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Tuesday, December 13, 2022 To Anticipate by Kim |
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Scriptures: Luke 2:10-12 (NIV) – “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” Luke 2:15 (NIV) – “When the angel 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.’” Message: To anticipate something means to look forward to it, to await its arrival or even to count the days until the expected event. Doesn’t that apply to the shepherds’ journey to Bethlehem? In the eyes and hearts of children, isn’t that just what Advent causes them to do? They anticipate Jesus’ arrival and the surrounding celebrations. Perhaps they count the days on an Advent Calendar. But how about we older children? I anticipate this season through the eyes of our four grandsons. The anticipation is easier or harder depending on their age. As an adult what do you anticipate? Is there anything that brings this season of waiting and anticipating into focus for you? Anything that boldly reminds you of Jesus’ coming and God’s presence? It may be wrapped, although in God’s way my gift today came wrapped in description defying Technicolor. I drove forty-five miles for breakfast this morning to the Vergennes Laundry (now bakery). It’s not just about the bakery. It’s the trip and the destination I anticipate. It fills a spot I need replenished deep in my soul this time every year. I leave our house heading north; cross a ridge about ten miles away and come down into the Champlain Valley. It’s fall. Today there was a little fog, a crystal-clear blue sky above and colors that defied description. I know God plans it that way and it waits for me every year. No two years are alike. I feel His presence knowing the gift of His birth is right around the corner. My soul starts to anticipate. I hope you can find or identify something to anticipate this season. As those shepherds found so long ago, the trip will be worth the effort and you’ll be blessed by God of our infinite tomorrows. Prayer: Help us to remember to slow down, be still and listen this Advent season. Help us be aware of the many ways we can anticipate Your arrival. Amen. Kim Showalter |
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Monday, December 19, 2022 Covered by Bob |
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Scripture: Matthew 28:20b (KJV) – “and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Message: Back when I was a kid, the movies and later the early TV shows were often westerns or police/detective shows (think Roy Rogers, or Dragnet with Jack Webb). Often in these shows, you would hear the words “I’ve got you covered”, or “I’ve got them covered” often referring to keeping the bad guys from ambushing from the blind side. Move up to the World War II movies and even to the far more recent top Gun epics and the saying is now “Check Six” or “I’ve got your 6;” meaning the same thing in a more modern way. Kim and I are lucky enough to be in Vermont again this Fall. The leaves are simply spectacular this year! While we love my native Florida, the abundant evidence of each of the four seasons that can be observed here in Vermont is somehow renewing for me. Covered bridges are a big attraction up here. When you come upon a covered bridge, often by surprise, you feel physically drawn to pull over and go and be inside the bridge. I can’t explain why this is so, but I have discovered it happens to many of us. You feel protected when you are within the bridge and it is comforting to know that it is always possible to see “the light at the end of the tunnel.” As we wait for Christmas amid all the distractions including the continuing stress from COVID, Hurricane Ian, political discourse, a festering war and life in general; it is so important to realize that God sent Jesus to be here with us and to be our Cover, our Shepherd and our Savior! Prayer: Thank You Lord for the gift of Prevenient Grace, for the forgiveness of sins and for the Promise of life ever after! Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Let Us Shine by Bob |
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Scripture: Luke 11:33 (NKJV) – “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.” Message: We have seldom been this challenged to show The Light. Social distancing has dulled our abilities, locked us inside, and caused us to hesitate to be involved; especially with those beyond our immediate families. It is taboo to even lay a hand on someone’s shoulder! I SO miss shaking people’s hands, patting a shoulder, or hugging folks that need a hug! This too shall pass, but we must not wait for all of these 2020 disruptions to disappear to look up, see the Light, count our continuing Blessings and strive for ways to pass on the good news of Jesus Christ. Even before 2020 is over and the COVID-19 crisis is behind us, we must look for ways to bring new people to Asbury and the warmth that it is so capable of exuding! We have been gone from these halls for a long time. Some of us, let’s face it, won’t be returning. We therefore must be recruiters for Christ’s Army and for Asbury. The Lamp has never gone out! The story of Jesus remains a bright and exciting epic! Our charge from this day forward is to look for ways to pass on the news to our neighbors, the postman, perhaps even some of our own family. Prayer: Dear God, lift our spirits and cause us to add to the Light that shines in the halls of Asbury. Fortify us as we move out into the community to share the good news of Your story. Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Saturday, March 13, 2021 Grace Seasoned With Salt by Bob |
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Scripture: Colossians 4:6 (CSB) - "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person." Message: We often choose something to "give up" for Lent. As I am well into the last quarter of my life, I have the ever increasing ability to see things changing over time in a broader perspective. One of the changes I see is the ever increasing lack of willingness for one to be able to walk a while in another person's shoes. Differences of opinion quickly seem to become a condemnation of any difference of opinion. Quickness to condemn has nothing to do with "Grace, seasoned with salt". We wait. We wait during Advent. We count the days in Lent. I continue to learn, albeit too slowly, that if I can wait to respond to another's statement with which I disagree, almost always I respond in a kinder and gentler way. Kinder and gentler presentations of thought almost always are more persuasive than shouted opinions. If, during these Lenten days and beyond, we could all let our speech be one of Grace, seasoned with thoughtful salt, we would all be closer to walking in the shoes of Jesus. Family Activity: As a family, come up with a list of different ways that you are able to see God in your lives. Then discuss ways in which you can help others believe when they might find it difficult to have faith. Prayer: Father God, sprinkle our thoughts and actions with Your Grace. Thank You for providing us with the opportunity and ability to reflect and perhaps improve each day. Grant me a stronger ability to have my words reflect Your Grace, allowing me perhaps to reflect the Light of Jesus to others. Bring us together in Your Love I pray. Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Saturday, April 3, 2021 Empty by Kim |
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Scripture: Matthew 28:1, 5-8 (NIV) - "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here: he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him." Now I have told you.' So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples." Message: Nowhere in any translation of the gospels that I have, when telling of Mary Magdalene's trip to the tomb, does it say that the tomb is "empty". "He is not here", is about as close as the gospel writers come, yet that always translates as "empty" to me. Christmas night as Bob and I recounted the previous two days, I said that the Christmas Eve Service made me sad. I felt empty because there was no sense of excitement from an overflow crowd - we had no social distance between several venues. Pastor Mike preached a beautiful sermon, Tamara had great music and candles were lit. Christmas Day we were able to be with our family - we are blessed to live close. All of that, and I told Bob my overriding feeling was "empty". The manger is full, yet I was empty. As we approach Easter, with its literal "empty" tomb, my choice is not to let things of this world rob me of the wonder found in the emptiness of that place. We may be in a worldwide pandemic, but I have a year's worth of practice in moving past things that try to engulf me. We will begin seeing things that lift our spirits and fill our souls and we will celebrate the emptiness of the tomb this Easter, not the emptiness of our spirits. Family Activity: Make "Empty Tomb Rolls" (Recipe) Prayer: God, through the difficult circumstances of the past year we do not forget that You are still on the throne. That will not change. Help us not to be Empty, but Full with Your overwhelming Love as we look forward to Easter morning. Halleluiah! Amen! Kim Showalter |
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Monday, November 29, 2021 - "The Connection" Series Of Good Report by Bob |
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Scripture: Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." Message: I started one of my last year's Advent Messages with the same verse. Advent last year included waits for Christmas to come, for the vaccine to be approved, for schools to return to in person classes and on and on and on AND ON! We have made so much progress since that November 2020 epistle! Two wonderful new leaders have joined the Asbury family and - Praise God - in person worship has returned at Asbury! It feels so much better, despite the fact that the pandemic is far from defeated and we still miss seeing some of our friends, family and parishioners who still feel uncomfortable in public. So, let us meditate on what is "Of Good Report." One thing we know is that God kept his Promise with the birth of Jesus Christ. God with us, Emmanuel! He holds those who believe in Him in the palm of His Hand. Hallelujah! Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the greatest Gift of all time. Give us the strength of Faith necessary as we strive to move forward the goals of Your teachings as we know the Love of Jesus Christ and Pass It On! Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Tuesday, November 30, 2021 |
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Scripture: Psalm 46:10 (NIV) - "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the Nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" Message: Stillness. There isn't much of it in most our lives, and certainly not intentional stillness. I have been in Vermont for the last couple of months and find it much easier to be intentionally still in my life there. There is still laundry to do, meals to prepare, bills to pay and errands to run, but it's somehow different. I don't have the same things to distract me. I run on an old rail trail many times a week and am almost always alone. I often stop and take in the sounds and the beauty. I am still and very intentional. I listen better when I am still. God notices, I'm sure. As we enter this season of Advent what a perfect time to work on intentional stillness as we anticipate Jesus' birth. Do we anticipate Christ's arrival more than the gifts that we are hoping to receive or give, or the events that we would like to attend? Just maybe the current worldwide supply shortage coupled with rapidly rising prices could be a gift to us in disguise. Such a forced and unexpected shortage of material things, is perhaps designed to help us take a breath if we are willing to accept that this waning pandemic and supply crisis could give us the opportunity to reframe this Christmas. Or, will we miss the point completely and be more frantic than ever as we try to replicate past Christmases with things that are harder to come by and considerably more expensive than even a year ago. My challenge to all of us is to find those moments of intentional stillness this Advent season. Make them deliberate. Be still and listen. Be thankful for the bounty we enjoy and not frustrated at what we might be missing. God is there and He notices. Prayer: Dear Father, we come to you this Advent season in anticipation that we will find a renewed sense of stillness in our lives. A stillness that will help us to remember that you are indeed God. Amen. Kim Showalter |
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Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - "The Connection" Series Go Witness! by Kim in honor of Don Sites |
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Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 (GNT) – “For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.” Message: I’m a runner. I have run for more than 30 years and for more than 20 years I have been blessed to have what my family calls my “running husband”. He has saved me from running disasters more times than I can count. I don’t lift my feet when I run, so I am an accident waiting to happen. He points out problem spots to me. We have run many races, including NYC, Pittsburgh and New Mexico. We don’t share the same race. He looks at the scenery; I watch my feet. After a really long run recently I have been walking, not running. When I walk, I see the world as he does. During a walk into an old part of Winter Park, I thought that there most certainly had been a run on sidewalk chalk as well as toilet paper. There were beautiful designs that looked like stained glass; many sidewalks showing the work of budding artists. I came upon a house that had found the perfect use for their sidewalk chalk. On their driveway, in bright colors and huge letters was the text from 2 Timothy 1:7; a second driveway had “Trust Jesus! He loves you!” That wasn’t the end, although it’s a great story. Later that day I talked to my 8:15 service pew‑mate (I haven’t yet asked for permission to divulge his name). In a couple short sentences I understood where all of this had been leading since my long run days before. He said that he didn’t want us to miss that God was presenting all of us the perfect opportunity to go WITNESS! Don’t be “timid”. People need to hear His word now perhaps more than ever. And God might fill that person with “power, love and self-control”. Prayer: Dear Lord, my world has changed. I am surrounded by concern, frustration, anger and even fear. It would be so easy to be overwhelmed. But then I remember You told me in Acts 1:8 that “you shall be my witnesses”. What an opportunity I have. I know the answer is Jesus. Lord, open my mouth, open our mouths. It’s time to tell all who will listen about Jesus. Right NOW! Amen. Kim Showalter for Don Sites |
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Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - "The Connection" Series On Eagle’s Wings by Bob |
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Scripture: Psalm 91:5-6 (NIV) – “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” Message: I am writing this as one of the extended Lenten messages. That means that the huge changes that have affected us all with the COVID-19 have already happened. It certainly can cause one to focus on some different thoughts than a message written a couple of months ago! I am used to doing a lot of my ministry to the congregation through my work in the choir and solo work. If we were meeting today in person and I was asked to sing something, I would choose On Eagle’s Wings. Yes, if you read the entirety of Psalm 91, the words of On Eagle’s Wings will jump out at you!
You who dwell in
the shelter of the Lord
And He will raise
you up on eagle’s wings
You need not fear
the terror of the night
For to His angels
He’s given a command
And He will raise
your up on eagle’s wings Prayer: Father God, we falter so frequently in our faith, especially during fearful times. Raise our spirits up and allow us to know that the shadows we see are those that You have put there to shelter us. We pray especially this day for our Pastor Cameron and for the day to come soon when we can meet together to sing Your praises. Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Monday, March 20, 2017 &
Thanksgiving,
Thursday, November 26, 2020
- "The Connection" Series
How Do You “Do Lent”? by Kim |
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Scriptures: 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.” Luke 24:6a (NIV) – “He is not here, he has risen!” Message: How do you do Lent? I read that term, “do Lent” somewhere and it stuck. We all know many ways to “Do Lent”. We can give up a favorite food, or make a commitment to do something beyond ourselves. The Bible, while it doesn’t mention Lent, gives many examples of things that can be done to strengthen and focus our faith. By committing to read this devotional you are “doing Lent”. As I move through this season, I find that my mind often goes to the end of the story as told in the two Bible passages above. I can’t imagine the test of the faith of those who witnessed His death, followed by the joy of finding Him missing from the tomb. The worst day, then the best day. They were only two days apart and the roller coaster of emotions must have been beyond comprehension. However you choose to “do Lent”, it always ends at Luke 24:6a. Prayer: Father, Your Son is no longer in the tomb. He has moved to the empty spaces within us. Amen. Kim
Showalter |
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Monday, February 22, 2016 & Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - "The Connection" SeriesListen For The Silence by Kim |
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Scriptures: Matthew 17:5 (NIV) – “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” Mark 9:7 (NIV) – “Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’” Luke 9:35 (NIV) – “A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’” Message: It’s a snowy afternoon in Vermont. I’m home alone sitting upstairs at my desk tucked back in a little alcove and, except for the sound of the town snow plow heading up our road and the muffled sound of the water coming over the waterfall barely 20 feet from where I sit, it is completely quiet. That quiet is what I notice most and this place is where I find it most often. If it’s possible, the quietness is deafening. It’s also welcome and needed. There is almost no place else in my life where this happens, either because I don’t let it, or my life in Orlando has no time factored in for quietness. No matter, I recognize that I am the cause and the only one who can change that. The rare times quietness happens, I am almost always struck by what I hear because I am listening. I know that God is ever-present and always talking to me and I know it is in these moments of silence that I hear most clearly. I know it and yet I don’t make time for it, save the time I set aside to pray each day. There are times I sit down to pray and I get nothing on my “agenda” accomplished because God has so much to say. Probably because I have been keeping Him waiting. Isn’t Lent the perfect time to listen for the silence? It’s there and He’s waiting to talk to us. Prayer: Dear God, in the stillness, let us be open to the sound of Your voice. Amen
Kim
Showalter |
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Monday, December 21, 2020 Waiting by Bob |
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Scripture: Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Message: Waiting. 2020 seems to be all about waiting. Quarantining in place. Waiting to worship in our church again. Waiting for the elections. Waiting for the vaccine. Waiting for Advent to begin. Waiting for Christmas to come. Waiting for the next tough challenge that seems to have filled 2020 from beginning to end! So, Paul, in Philippians ask us to "meditate" on these many good and worthy things. Why? Because we cannot change what is past. We cannot accelerate the arrival of the vaccine. We cannot reduce the days that are left until Advent, nor until Christmas, nor until 2020 is in the history books… Prayer: Father God, in these difficult times, help us to be strengthened by focusing on the many wonderful blessings You have bestowed upon us. Give us new reserves of patience, understanding and empathy. Help us to be filled with renewed Thanksgiving for the many Blessings that remain ours to savor. Inspire us to reach out this very day to help those in greater need. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Bob Showalter |
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Tuesday, March 10, 2015 & Thursday, September 3, 2020 - "The Connection" Series Hem Me In by Kim |
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Scripture: Psalm 139:5-6 (NIV) – “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Message: In one of the most difficult years of my personal and professional life, God has made himself more present and real than perhaps at any other time for me. In November 2013, Bob and I signed with a business broker/friend to market our 70 year old business. The sale was finalized in January 2015. We had owned Showalter Flying Service for 41 of those 70 years, purchasing it from Bob’s family just months before our daughter, Jenny, was born. The only people who had knowledge of our intentions for the next year were our children and just two of our 30 employees. Bob and I had what many very savvy business people characterized as unrealizable hopes for how this whole event would play out. Many thought us naďve for thinking that it would remain confidential, or that we would be able to tell our employees of our decision in face to face and one on one meetings. On EVERY count the skeptics were wrong. I prayed. And I continued to pray. And I am still praying. God did indeed “hem me in behind and before” for this 14-month journey. I KNEW He was present. I needed Him daily and often, and He never left me. I did nothing to deserve this, but I was conscious of His grace and love through this whole event. Don’t ever hesitate to ask God for it all. I did and my prayers were answered – every one. Prayer: Lord, Help me remember Your promises and to know always that You are with me. Amen.
Kim Showalter |
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Saturday, March 29, 2014 & Thursday, August 13, 2020 - "The Connection" Series - LC by Kim |
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Scripture: John 1:17 (NIV) - "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Message: I taught children's Sunday, school for many years. Any grade, from kindergarten through second. This age group does not judge you when you are moved to dance on tables. After taking a break from teaching I was asked to start a new adult class. That was too far outside my box. See above comment on dancing. I was worn down and I finally agreed. I started a new class called Journey, and it certainly was for me. We were (eventually) large and diverse. When I say diverse we're talking about an actual rocket scientist and a seminary student with a Marine Colonel thrown in for good measure. As I reflect on many wonderful years that were punctuated with moments that left me speechless (or moved to the point of wanting to dance on tables) I always return to one that stands out. In one intense discussion, with rapid-fire questions about the topic at hand (said topic long forgotten) my rocket scientist sat quietly taking it all in. Not one to sit on the sidelines of a good debate, this was not typical of him. As the discussion slowed to catch its breath and find direction he summed it all up for us in one sentence. He said, "The answer to every question is Grace." Silence. From that day, whenever we were challenged to find the answer, someone would say, "the answer is Grace", and it always was. Adults do dance on tables, just in their own unique way. Prayer: God of our yesterdays, today and our infinite tomorrows, hear us as we pray: We are so grateful that your Grace is indeed the answer to our questions. Keep us mindful of this as we navigate the todays of our lives. Amen Kim Showalter |
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Thursday, April 3, 2014 & Tuesday, August 18, 2020 - "The Connection" Series by Bob |
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Scripture: Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Message: What a wonderful thing to contemplate – and more important – to believe and live out! Some of us make a profession of worrying. God’s two greatest gifts to us were Christ’s birth and His death and resurrection as our Savior. The Bible offers us so many opportunities to feed our Faith. It is the DOING of what the Bible teaches us that is the greatest challenge. To me, being a believer gives such relief from the need to worry. God’s Grace is limitless. We must learn that since life’s time-table is known to Him alone, we cannot add a single minute to our lives by worrying. His gift of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ can never be equaled. Hallelujah! Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for your abundant Grace and Love. As we contemplate the incredible Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, please grant us the ability to shed the worry that we all carry and live lives of celebration, singing Your Praises in every corner of Your World! Amen.
Bob
Showalter |
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