God at Work

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:46-50

At a recent meeting we were asked to identify an instance when we had seen God at work at Eastridge. I sat thinking while people went around the table once, then twice. It wasn't that I couldn't think of a time. It was that I could think of so many times that it was hard to choose the one that really showed the essence of Eastridge.

Was it when the physical and verbal hugs of members of all ages have helped pull me and others through times of loss or sadness?
Was it when we rejoiced with the youth after a particularly moving Youth Sunday service?
Was it when we sang songs with VBS kids at Eastridge or Schuyler?
Was it when the light bulb went on for a child in Sunday school?
Would it be the hours and hours given by choir members and Sunday School teachers and Youth group sponsors and Pantry volunteers and others?
Would it be the times when people call you about the program they're working on, then inquire about helping with the mission trip you're setting up?
Would it be the people that loved and shepherded my children even when they weren't being very lovable?
Is it that the fact that you can mess up and be forgiven?
Or should I say the smiles of welcome and conversation from the constant stream of people going in and out of the doors on a weekday as they come in for their projects and programs and I work in the garden?

Now, a couple of days later, I realize that I really see God at work in the way Eastridge and other churches act like a family; everyone going their own way but moving in a common direction and caring for each other along the way; each doing the will of our Father in heaven.

Prayer: Dear Father of us all, thank you for the earthly families we've been given and for those in our church family that love us and work beside us as together we carry out your work in this world. In the name of your son Jesus, Amen

Lori Snyder-Sloan (reprinted with permission)

Pray Without Ceasing

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” : I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 

“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22  

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 

Sometimes we wonder if something is from scripture or a quote from somewhere else.  What about these three?  Which one of them is from scripture?

            “Life is fragile. Handle with prayer.”

            “Prayer: the heart of the matter.”

            “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.”

That should be easy unless you skipped over the I Thessalonians scripture at the beginning of the devotion.  Different translations state it as “pray constantly,” “never stop praying” and “pray at all times.”

The Matthew scripture assures us that when we pray with faith, we will receive.  How often we pray without really believing!

The Philippians scripture urges us not to worry about anything.  I am very good at worrying.  I keep a copy of this scripture by my computer and use it as a frequent prayer.

Prayer: God, you know that we worry about things you can handle.  We often forget to thank you for all the blessings we take for granted.  May your peace surround us.  Amen.

Lois Poppe

Danger

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven....  Luke 6:37

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8

The Facebook post from a rabbi friend startled me: a news story about a Dallas church whose promotional flier for a summer series on "Dangerous Isms" included Judaism. For a moment, I thought it might be an attention-getting tactic to remind us of the power of faith being dangerous to the power of evil. 

But the bald accusation was true. The events in the series were on Denominationalism, Pessimism, Islamism, Materialism, Atheism, Liberalism, Alcoholism, Emotionalism, and Judaism. The obvious intent was to consider each of these to be a negative threat to a Christian existence.  

Fliers were left on neighborhood doors, causing much anxiety for people who saw the message as a threat, not an invitation. The local media quoted a response from the church's minister: "We are not here to criticize or be antagonistic toward people and to beat them down". 

The response from a local Muslim leader was: "It just makes people scared and anxious about the world around them when people who normal are painted as dangerous", and suggested that there are more productive ways to discuss differences among religions. 

Community groups are trying to set up some communication between the church and other religions in an effort to raise awareness and defuse the negative impact this has had on the community.  

As Christians, we enjoy the ultimate privileges of our faith, and we take on the heavy responsibility of Christ's mission at the same time. We are to be like the Samaritan who ministered to another human regardless of faith.  

My rabbi friend's synagogue houses a space where local Muslims can worship safely. This illustrates to me the perfect way we invite people to be part of our faith community. Many churches have outreach programs to extend to all members of their communities, and to people throughout the world. This is evangelism in action.  

We are in a period of time when Christianity has been betrayed by so many who profess to be part of it. We should expect great things of ourselves through the grace of God, and we should fully exert the power of our faith in our lives to shine for everyone around us. But when we defend something from a narrow point of view as being part of our duty to Christ, we are working to extinguish the very faith that feeds us. 

I hope that positive things come from the response to the flier that alarmed people far beyond the community that first read it. Perhaps it will awaken a desire for more exchanges that will benefit the movement of people coming together to protect and support one another, instead of feeling hurt by the dangerous exclusionism of a misguided interpretation of faith.

This prayer is by Thomas Merton:

O God, we are one with you. You have made us one with you. You have taught us that if we are open to one another, you dwell in us. Help us to preserve this openness and to fight for it with all our hearts. Help us to realize that there can be no understanding where there is mutual rejection. O God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely, we accept you, and we thank you, and we adore you, and we love you with our whole being, because our being is your being, our spirit is rooted in your spirit. Fill us then with love, and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united in this one spirit which makes you present in the world, and which makes you witness to the ultimate reality that is love. Love has overcome. Love is victorious. Amen. 

Mollie Manner

Good and Faithful Servant

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23 NKJ (New King James version)     

The last several months we have struggled with my Mom's health, and last week she went to be with Jesus. As her daughter I thought of all the things she did for me and what I would miss about her the most. When we met with the pastor of the Broken Bow Berean Bible church he said what would you like me to preach about during the service? My sisters and I all said Salvation. 

My Mom lived in a town of about 4,000 people and everyone knew her; she was vibrant, outgoing, kind, and never knew a stranger. But what we want her to be remembered for is her love for Jesus and being a faithful servant. She became a Christian at a young age, but as she matured and especially when she retired we saw incredible changes in the way she served her community, church, and her family. She had always been involved but once she had time she made it her #1 priority. The verse says "you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things". 

Every day God is working in our lives to help us become the best disciple that we will allow Him to make us. We all need to volunteer a little more, help with VBS, work at the Food Pantry, the list could go on and on. God has created us to serve him, and by being servants we are able to touch others so they can see the Face of Jesus!

Becky Rankin

Why Go to Church?

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 23-25  

“If going to church makes you a Christian, does going to the garage make you a car?”  I recently saw this question on a vehicle’s bumper sticker and found it intriguing to consider what kind of person was asking this nonsensical question.  Is he a “nonbeliever” with animosity toward Christians for some reason?  Could he be a “believer” who attends worship services regularly but questions the sincerity of the others who occupy the pews around him?  Could he be a “believer” who thinks his personal relationship with Christ is adequate and attending church is unnecessary? 

No, going to church does not make me a Christian. It is my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that makes me a Christian. But attending worship services at church on Sundays makes me a better Christian….and I don’t mean better than other Christians. I mean that it makes me a better follower of Christ than I would be without the encouragement and support of others in my congregation.

Prayer: Father God, You have provided an awesome plan for the spiritual nourishment of Your people through the church. Thank You for the privilege of coming near to You through church attendance and fellowship with others who believe in You and Your Son.

Judith Keller (reprinted from July 2011)

The Message of the Spider Web

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Hebrews 6:10-15

Earlier this summer, as I went out to water the flowers on our deck, I noticed four thin, silvery threads connecting the deck railing to several leaves on one of the plants ….. the beginnings of a spider web.  As the week progressed, the spider web grew a few threads each day until I noticed the spider finally taking its rest in the middle of the web. I sat one morning, looking at the web, and reflected on the patience and time the spider had painstakingly taken to complete its masterpiece. It seemed in no hurry to finish its task and when it had finally accomplished what it set out to do, it rested and, I imagined, enjoyed the fruits of its labor.

As I reflected on the spider’s patience, a smile formed on my face as I remembered a song I used to sing to our sons when they were much, much younger and would show their impatience and frustration to me at various times.

“Have patience, have patience. Don’t be in such a hurry. 

When you are impatient, you only start to worry. 

Remember, remember, that God is patient, too.

And think about the times when others had to wait on you.”

Being patient takes a great deal of self-control and is mentioned over and over again in God’s Word.  As we find ourselves in situations that try our patience, may we remember the message of the spider and take our time to allow the “masterpieces” of our lives to unfold, allowing us to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Prayer: Master Planner of our lives, we thank you for your Word and the various messages you have shared with us about the importance of patience. We pray you will guide us in our quest for more patience and self-control as we allow the scripts of our personal lives, and the life of our congregation, to unfold as you have set forth.  Amen

Patty Niemann (reprinted from May 2013)

Patience is a Virtue

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience."  Colossians 3:12

When raising my daughter, I found myself saying to her quite often, patience is a virtue.  She would reply consistently, "that I don't have."  It became almost a private joke between us.  I now realize how much I need to work for and pray for this in my own life and person.

In my last three devotions, I have discussed living and loving with kindness and compassion (virtues which are easier for me to grasp and practice in my life) and humility, which is more nebulous for me and difficult to grasp and live.  I am striving to do better with these virtues in my life on a daily basis.  My prayer life helps with this. 

Now, I will attempt to tackle patience, which is even more difficult for me, especially in light of my get 'er done, let's move on, take charge personality.  Patience, according to dictionary.com, is an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.  So, it is refraining from a somewhat "human" reaction to delay.  Maybe the idea of refrain and suppression are the keys to reminding me to be patient, as I do like to show self control.

Patience is also defined as a quiet, steady perseverance, even tempered care, diligence.  So, patience may even be a form of inaction, which again goes against my very nature.  In my nearly forty years of teaching, it was almost second nature for me to be patient with my amazing "special"  students.  In my more personal relationships, however, it is more difficult to be patient.  Other emotions get in the way. 

Synonyms for patience include submissiveness, sufferance, endurance, and fortitude, even stoicism.  Wow!   In the last devotion, I discussed how my father modeled humility for the 90 years he lived.  My mother is 96 and is a picture of patience.  In fact, sometimes it is almost annoying, especially when she acts stoic and I am in emotion mode. 

In Galatians v. 16 and 17,  Paul admonishes us to "....live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with one another."  Impatience, therefore, is sinful.  Again, that may help me as I reflect on refraining from sin.   In verse 22, Paul says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  These virtues go together, hand in hand. 

In Thessalonians: 14-15, Paul again tells us to be patient: "And, we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else".   Romans 12:12 states, "....Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer".   Especially In difficult times, I know that I can only do that with God at the helm, through Him, with Him, and in Him.

I will end with this Prayer for Patience by Heather King

                        God, I have been impatient.

                             I have lost my temper.

                 I have said things I shouldn't have said.

                   I have scarred people with my words.

             I have grown deeply weary and given up on waiting.

              I've struck out on my own to make things happen.

     I have been impatient with myself, criticizing and condemning,

                  And holding myself hostage to perfection.

                               PLEASE FORGIVE  ME.

               You love me and you have lavished me with grace.

                  You are slow to anger and abounding with love.

                                   PLEASE HELP ME.

                          Help me to receive your patience.

     Help me to show patience to others, even the most difficult people.

   Help me to have patience with myself, and with this Season of my life.

                                    In Jesus' name, Amen.

Connie Barry