#dailydevotionals

Start your day with morning coffee and a devotional.

Everything

Posted on by Betsy

Do you like to order food with everything on it, such as a pizza with all the toppings, a cheeseburger with the works, or a bagel with everything? This last item is so popular, you can now purchase a seasoning called “Everything Bagel Seasoning” that has all those flavors. It is a heavenly combination of different kinds of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, onion and salt. People rave about it on cottage cheese. It takes a lot to make cottage cheese rave worthy, so that’s saying a lot.

We had a family member go through a health scare last week that thankfully was resolved very quickly. The family pivoted and surrounded this person with love and support. God’s grace was supremely evident in smoothing out arrangements, transportation, wonderful health care, etc. and the entire experience made us all realize that God is indeed, our Everything. It is a day to rejoice and give thanks.

Not surprisingly, I opened up the lectionary assignments for this week and discovered this little gem from the Psalms, which surely reads like a bagel with everything:

Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 (Common English Bible)

Give thanks to the Lord;
    call upon his name;
    make his deeds known to all people!
2 Sing to God;
    sing praises to the Lord;
    dwell on all his wondrous works!
3 Give praise to God’s holy name!
    Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the Lord!
4 Pursue the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always!
5 Remember the wondrous works he has done,
    all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared—
6 you who are the offspring of Abraham, his servant,
        and the children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

I wonder how many times we narrowly avoid a crisis only to continue on a normal path without giving thanks to God for seeing us through the near-miss? How many times do we pray for help and when helps comes, we just pick up where we left off and forget to return to God with thanksgiving? I am reminded of the story in Luke 17 of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. Do you remember how many returned to thank him for his healing? One. Shame on us when we forget that God is our Everything.

37 Then God brought Israel out, filled with silver and gold;
    not one of its tribes stumbled.
38 Egypt celebrated when they left,
    because the dread of Israel had come upon them.

39 God spread out clouds as a covering;
    gave lightning to provide light at night.
40 The people asked, and God brought quail;
    God filled them full with food from heaven.
41 God opened the rock and out gushed water—
    flowing like a river through the desert!

One of the saddest parts of the Exodus story is that the minute they were delivered from slavery, the nation began to complain. Let that settle in for a moment. Does that describe you? God provided a light at night, quail to eat, manna from heaven, and water from a rock in the middle of a barren desert. Their response was to complain that they had it better in Egypt because their slave owners fed them meat. Even in the midst of your struggle and trial, is there some light of hope shining through? If so, give thanks.

42 Because God remembered his holy promise
    to Abraham his servant,
43     God brought his people out with rejoicing,
    his chosen ones with songs of joy.
44 God gave them the lands of other nations;
    they inherited the wealth of many peoples—
45 all so that they would keep his laws
        and observe his instructions.

God always remember his holy promises. God will always deliver his people. God gives us way better than we deserve, because he is our Everything. Ask yourself this: who or what is your everything? Have you put your hopes and dreams in other things, people, or circumstances? Do you “thank your lucky stars” or do you understand that your blessings come straight from God?

Today, may we redirect our praise to our Everything. God will never let us down.

Praise the Lord!

Thank the Lord! by Michelle Robertson

Nice Guys Finish First

Posted on by Betsy

College football season has begun, and it is one of my favorite times of the year. Fall hasn’t decided to visit the Outer Banks quite yet, as the temperatures are still summer-worthy, but this seasonal sport helps us look forward to cooler temps and breathable air with less humidity. This girl can’t wait.

I had a friend who liked to link his preaching to sports analogies, and I always remember him talking about teamwork, collaboration, goal setting, and sacrifice. He pointed out that some of the strongest and most important players on a football field never once touch the ball in their four years of high school or college play. These, of course, are the linebackers, the safeties, the tackles, the defensive ends, and the cornerbacks. The defensive line goes about their business without ever encountering a football in a game. It is their job to defend those who do.

Today’s passage in the book of Acts reads like a playbook. We see Paul and Silas on the offensive line, trying to score touchdowns for Jesus as they traveled the world with the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. They could not have done their job well had it not been for an effective team of defensive players around them.

Acts 15 (Common English Bible)

17 Paul and Silas journeyed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, then came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was Paul’s custom, he entered the synagogue and for three Sabbaths interacted with them on the basis of the scriptures. 3 Through his interpretation of the scriptures, he demonstrated that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. He declared, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.” 4 Some were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, including a larger number of Greek God-worshippers and quite a few prominent women.

It was always Paul’s custom to start in the synagogue, as the Jews were the ones who knew and understood Messianic prophecies the best. In Thessalonica, he was well received by Greeks and wealthy women, but the Jews had a problem with his message.

5 But the Jews became jealous and brought along some thugs who were hanging out in the marketplace. They formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s house, intending to bring Paul and Silas before the people. 6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city officials. They were shouting, “These people who have been disturbing the peace throughout the empire have also come here.7 What is more, Jason has welcomed them into his home. Every one of them does what is contrary to Caesar’s decrees by naming someone else as king: Jesus.” 8 This provoked the crowd and the city officials even more. 9 After Jason and the others posted bail, they released them.

Paul’s defenders were willing to house him, feed him, protect him, and go to jail for him. This is the kind of sacrifice and loyalty that built the church.

10 As soon as it was dark, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas on to Beroea. When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 The Beroean Jews were more honorable than those in Thessalonica. This was evident in the great eagerness with which they accepted the word and examined the scriptures each day to see whether Paul and Silas’ teaching was true. 12 Many came to believe, including a number of reputable Greek women and many Greek men.

Because of the effective work of the linebackers in Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were able to continue their ministry in many other places.

13 The Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul also proclaimed God’s word in Beroea, so they went there too and were upsetting and disturbing the crowds. 14 The brothers and sisters sent Paul away to the seacoast at once, but Silas and Timothy remained at Beroea. 15 Those who escorted Paul led him as far as Athens, then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible.

As I read this passage today, I wondered who God has put in my life to protect and defend. Surely that is the role of a parent, but I think it goes beyond that. Do you protect and defend your church? Do you run interference for your pastor? Is there a young person in your world who needs a strong hand or even shelter? Or bail money?

I believe we are all called at some point in our lives to be a defensive line of protection and encouragement for someone else. Is God calling you to stand up for someone? Suit up and get on the field!

Linebacker U

The Value of Zero

Posted on by Betsy

A young mother was teaching her preschool age son about the value of zero by showing him apples. “If you have zero apples and I give you two, how many apples do you have?” “Two!” he exclaimed. “Yes, and if you have two apples and I take away two apples, how many apples do you have?” He frowned. “No apples?” “Right,” she replied. “Two take away two is zero.” He went off to play for a while and came back about ten minutes later. “But Mama, ” he said with some urgency, “why did you take away all my apples?”

Why, indeed?

I wonder if this is how the people of Israel felt about the Promised Land. God led them out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land after clearing away all the Canaanites so that Israel could prosper. Like a vine, they had been transplanted there to take deep root and flourish for many years:

Psalm 80 (Common English Bible)

8You brought a vine out of Egypt.
    You drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it;
    then it planted its roots deep, filling the land.
10 The mountains were covered by its shade;
    the mighty cedars were covered by its branches.
11 It sent its branches all the way to the sea;
    its shoots went all the way to the Euphrates River.

This is one of several instances in the Old Testament when Israel is referred to as a vine (see Deuteronomy 32: 32-33, Isaiah 5:1, Jeremiah 2:21, and Hosea 10:1). Jesus referred to himself as the True Vine in John 10:15. (Read my devotional on this passage here.) Psalm 80 begins with a celebration of the power of the vine’s growth, but it’s dominance over the land is short-lived.

The vine’s devastation began with the fall of the southern Kingdom in 586BC, and soon the northern kingdom would fall in 721BC. This psalm is written between the two events, and we can feel the anguish of the psalmist as he watched his beloved Israel plucked up, torn down, and scattered far away:

12 So why have you now torn down its walls
    so that all who come along can pluck its fruit,
13     so that any boar from the forest can tear it up,
    so that the bugs can feed on it?

The great sin of the nation caused this to happen. They had turned their backs on God and worshipped false idols. Because of their apostasy, God allowed invading nations to come and take them from plentiful abundance to absolute zero. The vine that had been planted by God’s own hand was chopped down into nothing.

14 Please come back, God of heavenly forces!
    Look down from heaven and perceive it!
Attend to this vine,
15     this root that you planted with your strong hand,
    this son whom you secured as your very own.
16 It is burned with fire. It is chopped down.
    They die at the rebuke coming from you.
17 Let your hand be with the one on your right side—
    with the one whom you secured as your own—
18     then we will not turn away from you!

The psalmist reminds us where we can go when our sin has left us with nothing and our life has taken on the quality of zero. Just as he reminded God of the fact that God had loved Israel enough to call them his own, he reminds us that we, too can approach the throne of grace in humble repentance and ask for restoration.

Revive us so that we can call on your name.
19     Restore us, Lord God of heavenly forces!
    Make your face shine so that we can be saved!

Only God could revive the nation, and only God can revive us. He is the Shepard of Israel who can replant and restore the vine in us. God’s deliverance comes through his son, Jesus Christ, the True Vine. We are Christ’s branches and we bear witness to the strength of God’s forgiving grace. When we come before him and ask to be saved, God forgives us. After all, the True Vine was born to take away the sins of the world.

And that is the best take away of all.

Sunshine Vine by Michelle Robertson

No One Speaks

Posted on by Betsy

Do you remember the iconic line shouted by Jack Nicholson in the movie “A Few Good Men”? He was sitting in the witness chair under cross examination by Lt. Daniel Kaffee, who was trying to uncover the truth about the death of a young Marine at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Kaffee believed that the death was a result of severe hazing of the young man, and he uncovered evidence that there was a cover-up that was directed by Col. Jessup, played by Nicholson. As Kaffee pressed harder and harder, Jessup became more and more agitated until he finally exploded and yelled, “You can’t handle the truth!”

This scene came to mind this morning as I read the 7th Chapter of John. Jesus addressed a large crowd with the truth of who he was, but most of them couldn’t handle the truth. The truth was that Jesus was the Living Water. The crowd was divided. The truth was obscured, but look for the guards’ reaction:

John 7 (Common English Bible)

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted,

“All who are thirsty should come to me!
38     All who believe in me should drink!
    As the scriptures said concerning me,
        Rivers of living water will flow out from within him.”

39 Jesus said this concerning the Spirit. Those who believed in him would soon receive the Spirit, but they hadn’t experienced the Spirit yet since Jesus hadn’t yet been glorified.

40 When some in the crowd heard these words, they said, “This man is truly the prophet.” 41 Others said, “He’s the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ can’t come from Galilee, can he? 42 Didn’t the scripture say that the Christ comes from David’s family and from Bethlehem, David’s village?” 43 So the crowd was divided over Jesus. 44 Some wanted to arrest him, but no one grabbed him.

So the people understood the prophecies about the Messiah’s origins and knew that he would be born of David’s lineage in the town of Bethlehem. They get 5 points for knowing their scripture. But nobody realized that even though Jesus had recently come from Galilee, he was exactly who the prophets said he would be. Nobody thought to ask Jesus where he had been born.

45 The guards returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

46 The guards answered, “No one has ever spoken the way he does.”

The guards got it right, didn’t t they? They listened intently to Jesus’ preaching and were convicted that he was who he said he was. They were able to see the truth while the rest of the crowd murmured and dithered. And of course the pious Pharisees had to weigh in on the subject, putting themselves as the experts much like Col. Jessup, who thought he was invincible. Notice that they put the fact that no Pharisee had believed Jesus was the messiah as proof of the absolute truth of the matter, as though that alone was evidence to dismiss Jesus’ claims. They even went so far as to say that the crowd was under God’s curse, since they weren’t the elite Pharisees. Their opinion didn’t matter.

47 The Pharisees replied, “Have you too been deceived? 48 Have any of the leaders believed in him? Has any Pharisee? 49 No, only this crowd, which doesn’t know the Law. And they are under God’s curse!”

50 Nicodemus, who was one of them and had come to Jesus earlier, said,51 “Our Law doesn’t judge someone without first hearing him and learning what he is doing, does it?”

Nicodemus was the Lt. Kaffee in this trial, using the law to support his position. He was looking for the truth and wanted to hear and learn from Jesus himself about the matter.

52 They answered him, “You are not from Galilee too, are you? Look it up and you will see that the prophet doesn’t come from Galilee.”

So in the end, the Pharisees used an untruth to silence the crowd. Yes, the messiah won’t come from Galilee, but neither did Jesus. They conveniently overlooked this truth because frankly, they couldn’t handle the truth.

Are there truths about Jesus that you struggle to handle? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you today to embrace a truth about God’s mission and vision for his people that you prefer to overlook? Would accepting the truth mean you have to leave your comfort zone, your prejudices, or your way of life?

No one has ever spoken like Jesus. May we have ears to hear and a heart to follow whatever he says to do.

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus by Dustin Daniels

The Phone on the Wall

Posted on by Betsy

Younger readers probably have no concept of what a phone on a wall is, but for the rest of us, the image is clear. It was probably beige, pink, or possibly mint green (if you grew up in a “mod” house) and it had a corkscrew coiled cord that was likely to be twisted a few times over. In my childhood, push buttons had already replaced a rotary dial and we thought we were fancy. The phone functioned properly as a means of communication, but a phone on a wall meant one thing: anyone could answer the phone, and everyone in close proximity could hear your conversation because you were stuck there.

My father was active in the local masonic lodge and as he “rose in the chairs” i.e. moved up in the tiers of leadership, the phone calls to our house increased as men called for guidance or information. One such fellow introduced himself and asked to speak to the “Worshipful Master,” which sent my sister and me into giggling fits. To this day she swears that he asked to speak to the “Wash Your Old Mustard.” It must have been that heavy south Jersey accent. In any case, nobody had any privacy in our house at all!

The first chapters of all of Paul’s letters to his churches are like standing in the kitchen, overhearing greetings and salutations at the beginning of a phone conversation. Paul was a master rhetorician, and his letters quickly set the tone for what was to follow. Take a look at the beginning of his letter to his church at Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 1 (Common English Bible)

2 We always thank God for all of you when we mention you constantly in our prayers. 3 This is because we remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love, and your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.

Paul certainly knew how to set a table, didn’t he? The spirit of thanksgiving and appreciation is the first thing he laid out, reassuring them that he was aware of their great work and their greater faith. At this point he hadn’t seen them for months, but he jumped right back into the relationship with the first sentence. Flattery got Paul everywhere.

4 Brothers and sisters, you are loved by God, and we know that he has chosen you. 5 We know this because our good news didn’t come to you just in speech but also with power and the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know as well as we do what kind of people we were when we were with you, which was for your sake. 

By reminding them of the power of the Holy Spirit and the conviction it brings, he may be using this as a teaching moment in case they had fallen off the track. It is like a parent saying, “I’m sure you remembered to clean up your room, didn’t you?” to their child.

6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord when you accepted the message that came from the Holy Spirit with joy in spite of great suffering. 7 As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The message about the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place. The news about your faithfulness to God has spread so that we don’t even need to mention it. 9 People tell us about what sort of welcome we had from you and how you turned to God from idols. As a result, you are serving the living and true God, 10 and you are waiting for his Son from heaven. His Son is Jesus, who is the one he raised from the dead and who is the one who will rescue us from the coming wrath.

This affirmation is strong and sincere. Paul was genuinely grateful for their ministry and the impact it has had throughout the land. Their work was so impressive, he heard about them as he continued to travel. He praised not only how they were serving the living God, but how they were waiting for the Second Coming. Paul truly loved this church.

I think this passage invites us to consider how we approach people. Are we open and winsome, or do we take relationships for granted? Are we keeping up with our friends even when we are apart? Do we take the time to encourage and praise the people around us?

All of this takes effort. It took Paul a lot of effort to write these letters by hand and it took a lot of effort to see that they reached their final destination. I bet you have your phone within reach right now. It might even be in your hand. You don’t even have to get up and walk to the wall in the kitchen. Why don’t you take a moment and share a word of grace with someone right now? Maybe just a quick text that says, “Thank you for being part of my life.” They’ll be glad you did.

And so will you.

Share the Love by Michelle Robertson

True Vine

Posted on by Betsy

I am working on a writing assignment for a publisher that has me exploring the seven “I am” statements of Jesus. You may have noticed this already! These statements are all found in the book of John and were Jesus’ way of revealing God to his followers in manageable metaphors. They speak to our spiritual needs as we seek to understand our Savior. In practical terms, these statements represent a kind of resume, or CV, that quickly outlines the attributes of our Lord. Of course as you experience each one, you delve farther and farther into the very heart and mind of God. Here are the seven “I am” statements:

I am the bread of life.

I am the light of the world.

I am the open gate.

I am the good shepherd.

I am the resurrection and the life.

I am the way, the truth, and the life.

I am the true vine.

When I read that last one, I immediately thought of the vines that keep threatening to overtake our house. We have a neglected and abandoned raised flower bed that grows vines and weeds with great purpose and vigor. Over the winter, I considered cutting it all back but then I noticed that it seemed to be filled with sleepy bees. I read that such places are wonderful habitats for bees in the cold weather, and you shouldn’t cut them back until after the temperature is over 50 degrees and the bees have somewhere to go. I even thought about getting a sign that read, “Betsy’s Bee Garden” to explain to the neighbors why this eyesore of a mess was bee-ing left alone. I’m not lazy, I’m simply doing my part for the environment!

Thinking of my wild and wayward vines as a dwelling place for the bees gave me comfort. It also falls into line with today’s Scripture. Notice that as Jesus described being the true vine, he invited us to remain (or dwell) in him:

John 15 (Common English Bible)

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 

Jesus is very clear about what our purpose is. We are to produce fruit. If we stay attached to the vine, if we dwell with Jesus, we will perform our function as the branches from which the fruit grows. But woe unto us if we don’t remain in Jesus:

6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.

And what fruit are we to be producing? Paul gives us a beautiful list in Galatians 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this.

Notice that love is the first thing on the list. Everything begins and ends with love. Read the rest of Jesus’ “I am the true vine” statement:

9 “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 I give you these commandments so that you can love each other.

“I give you these commandments so that you can love each other.” In a world that spends so much time spewing hate, we need to grow the fruit of love everywhere we can, like a wild vine that has gone completely out of control. Where can you be the branches of love for someone today?

Go and bear fruit.

Bee-utiful by Kathy Schumacher

Bath-tisms

Posted on by Betsy

Last week I had the privilege of returning to my old church for the baptism of my three youngest grandchildren, who will grow up there. It is my fifth time to be back in that Sanctuary; the first four times were for funerals, and then we attended Christmas Eve service there last year. It is always a bittersweet moment for me, as I loved that church and its people. But how lovely it was to be there baptizing a new generation of family who will be blessed as I was to be a part of such a wonderful congregation! There was some confusion in the three-year-old’s mind, though. He couldn’t understand why he had to go to church for his “bath-tism” since he gets his baths at home. Considering that baths are for getting clean, he wasn’t far off!

As I looked out to the congregation from the stage, I was struck by a memory of kneeling on the concrete floor during the building of that worship center and writing my favorite scripture with a fat sharpie. The building committee had opened the space up before the carpet was laid and everyone was given an opportunity to write something on the bare floor. I chose Romans 8:28:

Romans 8 (Common English Bible)

26 In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don’t know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans. 27 The one who searches hearts knows how the Spirit thinks, because he pleads for the saints, consistent with God’s will. 28 We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 We know this because God knew them in advance, and he decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image of his Son. That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters. 30 Those who God decided in advance would be conformed to his Son, he also called. Those whom he called, he also made righteous. Those whom he made righteous, he also glorified.

I have used that Scripture more in counseling and staff meetings than any other Scripture. I believe it with all my heart. God can use happy times, tragic times, disaster, abundance, scarcity, etc. for our good if we just look for his activity among us. If God is for us, who can be against us?

31 So what are we going to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He didn’t spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. Won’t he also freely give us all things with him?

This is important to remember when you feel that life is crumbling all around you. I have felt that way, and I’m sure you have, too. No matter what, we can never be separated from Christ’s love:

37 But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. 38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.

If you find yourself in the depth this morning, hold on to this promise. You can never be removed from God’s presence and his amazing and astounding love for you. We are named and claimed in our bath-tisms, and God never lets go.

Neither Height Nor Depth by Michelle Robertson

The Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Posted on by Betsy

Where do you go for real rest? Are you able to find complete and total relaxation anywhere?

I have been spending some time on the beach in the last few weeks, and my observation is that it can be hard to rest. Folks have waited an entire year for this one week of vacation on the Outer Banks. They drive for hours and hours to get here, unload the car, run out for groceries, plan meals, set up highchairs and beds, etc. Then the week starts and meals have to be executed, chairs, toys, and umbrellas have to be schlepped across the hot sand for a few hours each day of not sitting because the little ones want to explore. Then dinner and bath time take up the evening and it all starts again the next day.

I have been on vacations that were so busy, I needed a vacation from my vacation when I got home. Have you ever felt that way?

Maybe this is why we say “Rest In Peace” when someone dies. Death may bring the only real rest to our busy lives!

Jesus wants us to know that in him, we can find true rest. This is a kind of mental rest that we crave when we have burned out on too much worldly activity. Work, the constant pursuit of wealth, the distracting and distressing cacophony of social media, the internal pressure to do better, all take a toll on us. We can even get burned out on religion. My denomination is in the process of an historic schism, and I am here to tell you that we are all burned out with the arguing, name-calling, and lack of focus on what really matters. I confess that I am really, really tired.

Jesus calls us to rest.

In him we can re-learn what really matters and learn the “unforced rhythms of grace.” When we walk and work with Jesus, he helps to carry the burden and promises that we won’t have to bear too much.

Matthew 11 (The Message)

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

If you are tired, worn out, and burned out, go to Jesus. Get away for an hour and recover your life! Meditation on God’s promises can be like a week of “vacation” for your soul. When you sit quietly in God’s presence, he will teach you to live lightly.

The Unforced Rhythm of Grace by Michelle Robertson

Scars

Posted on by Betsy

 Many of you know that my daughter is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed when she was a junior in college and like many cancer patients, she had a series of surgeries as part of her treatment. Each one left a scar, and surely there are emotional and spiritual scars that went along with the physical ones. We were vacationing together a few years after it was over, and we noticed a young man on the beach with large scars on his neck running up the back of his head. As we speculated about the cause, she leaned over to me and said, “You know, Mom, scars are like tattoos. They just tell better stories.”

Scars that brought healing indeed do tell of hope and redemption. The stories they tell of survival, triumph, and victory become a badge of honor to the wearer.

In our passage in Isaiah today, we read about the future Messiah’s scars. His will be so deep that he will appear disfigured and even somewhat inhuman. Yet while his appearance will be unlike any other human, it will astonish and silence everyone. His scars will tell a much, much better story.

Isaiah 52:13-15

Look, my servant will succeed.
    He will be exalted and lifted very high.
14 Just as many were appalled by you,
    he too appeared disfigured, inhuman,
    his appearance unlike that of mortals.
15 But he will astonish many nations.
    Kings will be silenced because of him,
    because they will see what they haven’t seen before;
    what they haven’t heard before, they will ponder.

As I read that today, it made me wince. I was taken back in time to the severe beating that Jesus endured on our behalf before they forcibly nailed his broken bones to a rough wooden cross. I saw a picture of our lovely savior so damaged that his disciples might have had to look twice to pick him out from among the three who hung there that day. I grieve my sins that put him there.

But Isaiah didn’t just put him there and leave him in this passage. Indeed, he began with the bold promise that this suffering servant would not only succeed but would be exalted and lifted very high. When Jesus ascended back to his Father, the story was complete and the good news was delivered once and for all. This is why our crosses in United Methodist churches are empty. Our broken, battered Lord is no longer there, but was made whole and beautiful again in his resurrection.

What scars do you bear that can help you tell your story of hope and redemption to others? Did Jesus come into your life to lift you up and make you whole again? We have an opportunity to be wounded healers if we are willing to share our stories with others so that they might find him, too.

Our sins may have put Christ on the cross, but they didn’t keep him there. Because of the resurrection, we all are invited to participate in the greatest story ever told. Do you believe that? Do you believe in the resurrection?

If you do, go and tell. By his wounds we all will be healed.

Exalted by Michelle Robertson

Vow Renewal

Posted on by Betsy

 “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish …” These common marriage vows form the foundation of a life-long solemn promise that two people make at an altar before God. There are other times in life where we take vows: doctors vow to do no harm; ministers vow to take God’s authority to preach the gospel; folks joining secret societies vow to hold things in confidence, etc.. Vows are serious business and should not be made lightly, but with integrity and a firm commitment.

In today’s reading, we see Paul taking and confirming the vow of a Nazarite. This was a unique consecration to God of one’s life and included abstinence from wine, not cutting one’s hair for a specified period of time, and never touching a dead body. Paul completed part of this vow and shaved his head in preparation for going to Jerusalem to burn his hair at the altar there. 

Acts 18:18-23 (Common English Bible)

18 After Paul stayed in Corinth for some time, he said good-bye to the brothers and sisters. At the Corinthian seaport of Cenchreae he had his head shaved, since he had made a solemn promise. Then, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, he sailed away to Syria. 19 After they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila and entered the synagogue and interacted with the Jews. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. 21 As he said farewell to them, though, he added, “God willing, I will return.” Then he sailed off from Ephesus. 22 He arrived in Caesarea, went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

23 After some time there he left and traveled from place to place in the region of Galatia and the district of Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

This put Paul in a very unique position with the Jews to whom he was preaching the Gospel. They understood the vows of the Nazarite as outlined in Numbers 6 and Paul’s actions were familiar and comforting. In a way, he was reminding them that he would always be a Jew but was now a Jesus-following Jew. His argument that Gentiles should not be required to perform Jewish rituals was balanced by his own respect and adherence to Jewish tradition, reinforcing that Jews could remain traditional while becoming followers of the Way of Christ.

Paul was a master diplomat!

What a wonderful example for us today as we join Paul in an effort to “strengthen all the disciples” (verse 23). Paul used every bit of his history, personality, and background to woo others to Christ. We can do the same.

 I am a former Navy wife, a Jersey girl, a runner, a reader, and a foodie. These are the tools I use to connect with people to make myself approachable. How about you? What is in your toolbox?

If you are a member of a United Methodist church, you took vows. You promised to support the church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness. That last vow is God’s invitation to use all that you have to witness to others about the good news of Christ in your life. Just as Paul witnessed to Jews and Gentiles alike, we are called to witness to people of all backgrounds in an effort to share this wonderful gift of Christ.

How are you living up to your vows? Are you faithful? God calls us to live out our vows with sincerity and joy. May we be faithful to the One who invited us.

Commitment by Kathy Schumacher