~ Devotionals are no longer posted but we left the previous ones on here ~

May 24, 2006

This Week's Theme: Farewells

		"If you do not say good-bye, then you cannot say what comes next. And what comes next is always hello." (Robert Benson, Between the Dreaming the Coming True)
				When Did You Begin To Leave? Soon the bed undented, the clothes hung no more the footsteps now as wishes, the door closed perhaps a scap of paper left.
			When did you begin to leave? Somewhere in my mind I knew, somewhere in my ear I heard somewhere in my eye I saw, somewhere in my heart I felt somewhere I began to cling, to your fading apparition the beginning of the end
	but why I cannot know I cannot fathom, I cannot grasp you are gone. (Joy A. Bergfalk)

As another school year ends, we are always forced to say our good-byes. And so we do in our awkward ways. We sign the yearbooks of our friends, or exchange phone numbers and e-mails hoping we will still hear from each other during the summer. We know, too, that for some, they will be moving away. Other friends we must say good-bye because they are seniors and won't be coming back. Some will be going on to college, or the coast guard academy, or moving to Texas. Good-byes are not easy because a permanent change happens in our lives. Parting can be very emotional because we know that we can not go back to the way things were. Life goes on whether we want the change or not.

As we move through life, we say many good-byes, not only to people and places but also to stages of life and ways of relating to others.
All farewells bring a mix of emotions - life is never the same again, but in saying good-bye we also may be able to say hello to a future that holds new possibilities.

We are also leaving the season of Easter and turning now to celebrate Ascension of Pentecost. As we reflect on the farewells in our lives, it is important to remember that when Jesus bid his final farewell to the disciples, the Spirit came, as Jesus promised, to comfort them and to send them forth in ministry.

Whether we are the one leaving or the one left behind - God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God!

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Being saturated with God's Word:

Exodus 40:34-38

Acts 18:18-23

Psalm 36:5-9

Psalm 122:6-9

Hebrews 11:8-10

John 14:27

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Closing Prayer:

God of our journeys, we come again upon a new season of endings and beginnings. As we seek to discern your direction for our lives, help us to pay attention to your leading and to put our trust in your grace. As we see our friends leave, or perhaps, as we leave from our friends, keep us connected to each other. Let us remember the joys we received from friendships and the blessings we gave each other. When those whom we love must move, be with us in the pain of saying goodbye and go with us as we journey on. Send your Spirit to comfort us and to give us peace. We pray in our Savior's name. Amen.

May 17, 2006

"Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking into the future."
(Phrase from Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller)

 

No Exit

I know I should get off and turn around

But that last exit wasn't marked so well,

And the one before, I couldn't change lanes.

I know I should get off and turn around

But hey, you know, it's like that old joke says,

"I may be lost, but I'm making great time."

I know I should get off and turn around

But this exit has no nice place to eat,

And the oncoming cars merge from the left.

I know I should get off and turn around

Somewhere, sometime soon, before I change states.

(Norman Styers)

Time does keep on ticking and soon we find ourselves somewhere other than we wanted to be. Maybe it's not another state, but it's in an attitude or a situation that we don't like. How can the school year be ending when my project isn't even started yet?

Or, just maybe, time keeps on ticking and we find the school year is over and we have the whole summer ahead to enjoy, or begin a new venture, or go to camp, or on a trip, or move away.

Let us always treasure the moment, the time we have just now.
We must learn to treasure all the things God gives us, including our time.

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To realize the value of one year:

Ask a student who has failed his final exam.

To realize the value of one month:

Ask a mother who has just given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one day:

Ask a daily wage laborer who has 10 kids to feed.

To realize the value of one hour:

Ask the lovers
who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute:

Ask a person who has missed the train, the bus or the plane.

To realize the value of one second:

Ask a person who has just survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond:

Ask the person who has just won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every month you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.......

 

Being saturated with God's Word:

Psalm 32:14-16

Psalm 34:1-3

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Ephesians 5:15-17

Romans 13:11-14

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Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Thank you for each moment of our lives. May we be alive to the present. May we look forward to the possibilities of the future.
May we treasure every good gift you send our way. Give us strength to live out this month with energy and purpose. May our year at school end well. We look forward to your many surprises for us this summer. In Your strong name we pray. Amen.

May 3, 2006

“If all I’m remembered for is being a good basketball player, then I’ve done a bad job with the rest of my life.”
Isiah Thomas
(Professional basketball player)

Smart Carpenter

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living.  They are foundational words, words to build a life on.  If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.  Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit – but nothing moved that house.  It was fixed to the rock.

Stupid Carpenter

            “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.  When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
(Jesus Christ as quoted in the Message, Matthew 7:24-27)

A Story About A Carpenter
            An elderly carpenter was ready to retire.  He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
                He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.  They could get by.
                The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.  The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.  He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.  It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
                When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house.  He handed the front-door key to the carpenter.
                “This is your house,” he said, “My gift to you!”
                The carpenter was shocked!  What a shame!  If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
                So it is with us.  We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building.  Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built.  If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently.
                But we cannot go back.
                You are the carpenter.
                Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.  “Life is a do-it-yourself project,” someone has said.  Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the “house” you live in tomorrow.  Build wisely!

Being saturated with God's Word:
Matthew 7:28, 29
Luke 6:46-49
James 1:22-25
Ephesians 2:19-22
Ephesians 4:15-16
Psalm 47:1-2

Closing Prayer:
Almighty God, Loving Father:  Help us to build our lives upon your Word.  In every action or thought we hold, may it be something that will benefit ourselves or others.  Help us to build our character by doing what’s right when nobody’s looking.  Help us to know that you are there to give us the blueprints for our “house” when we get confused or lost.  Help us change our thoughts so we can change the world for you.  Be with us this day, as we live another day as Easter People!  In our Risen Lord’s name we pray.  Amen.