Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation was written by Dr. Wilbur New for a 2006 Lenten Devotional Guide before prior to his death in 2011.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Do you think that Jesus meant these words only to those crucifying Him? I don’t think so. I feel it is so much more than that. I believe He was saying it to everyone, even to us today. He wants to forgive our sins, but it is up to us. We must repent and ask for forgiveness. He doesn’t forgive us against our will. How about us? Are we quick to forgive others, or do we hold onto the hurt and never let go? What pain, bitterness, anger, and depression we suffer when we don’t forgive as He forgives us.
There were two thieves on crosses beside Jesus. One went with Him that day to Paradise. The other did not because he didn’t ask. In today’s world, we are so concerned about “things” that we push God aside and go on our indifferent way with Satan. That is until a calamity strikes, sickness, financial reverses, emotional upheaval, or an accident. Then, and only then, we turn to God asking why. We ask for forgiveness, direction for our lives, and release from our problems. And even though we haven’t been faithful, God still hears and forgives. He is an awesome God, isn’t He?
Dr. Wilbur New
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Jennifer Davis:
"Stop that! Quit! What are you doing? Were you raised in a barn? How many times have I told you NOT to do that?" Those of you who know me and my children, know that these are things I say repeatedly on a daily basis. I often find myself wondering how these children, who certainly know better, can constantly find things to do and say that are completely against what they have been taught. Then I have to think of myself, "Surely the Lord Himself thinks these VERY same things about me!" How often does He shake His head in bewilderment at me and the the things I say and do? As our Heavenly Father, I can see Him looking down on all of His children wondering where He went wrong.
On the other hand, I also know that no matter how angry or disappointed I become with some of the choices my children make, my love for them never changes, and my hope that they learn from their mistakes is always there. That has to be the feeling God has for all of us, His children, as we continue to make mistakes and fall short of His teachings. In this time of Lent, let us all be mindful and thankful for the mercy and forgiveness He shows us daily.
"To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in His laws, which He set before us by His servants and prophets." Daniel 9: 9-10.
- Jennifer Davis
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Celeste M. Robison :
As many of you know, our home is close to the city cemetery. I walk there on a daily basis. Some of my friends find it unusual that the cemetery is where I choose to exercise. I, on the other hand, enjoy the solitude, the calm and quiet, and it’s the perfect place to think. A couple of weeks ago on a very chilly morning, I noticed a single yellow daffodil randomly growing right next to a grave marker. It caught my eye because among all the cold white stone markers was this tiny, yet beautiful, sign of life. I stopped to take a picture with my cell phone. I wanted to capture this perfect illustration of the circle of life.
In that moment, I fully understood the meaning of Easter. I thought about my life and realized more profoundly than before that we’ll all experience death, but it’s what we do while we’re living that truly matters. Easter allows us all a fresh start. It is God’s reminder that the-way-things-are doesn’t have to be the-way-things-will-always-be. For me, that is a very comforting reality.
Celeste M. Robison
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Wanda Delk:
"Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem." Luke 13:22
Three years ago as we entered into the Lenten season, I receive the tragic news about the loss of my father. I was suddenly enveloped in darkness and fearful of the unknown path I had to travel. Seeking comfort and longing for peace, I found myself studying scripture more than I had in a very long time. I began to think about the path Jesus took to the cross, and I was drawn to a familiar chorus:
"Jesus walked this lonesome valley, He had to walk it by himself; O, nobody else could walk it for Him, He had to walk it by himself."
In the midst of all the chaos around Jesus as he journeyed to Jerusalem, he never stopped teaching; He never stopped serving; He never stopped forgiving; He never stopped loving...US!!! I found my answers! I had to claim the promises of God's love for me. I drew strength from His Word and I began to understand the greatness of His love, mercy and grace. Now I ask you the question I dealt with: What if we knew we only had 40 days left to walk on this earth? Where would our path lead? Mountain topi experiences are great, but a walk in the valley can be transforming. let us walk together during Lent, from the manger to the cross.
"You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Brian Colson:
Journey to the Cross...A Father's Love
I still vividly remember the births of my sons, Brayden and Landen. It seems like yesterday that they were swaddled and placed in my arms for the first time. From that moment forward, I was introduced to a love like none I had ever felt before. The love I have for my boys is greater than I could have ever imagined.
Since becoming a father, the words spoken by Jesus in John 3:16 have a much more profound meaning to me than they did before I became a parent. "For God so love the world that gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." God gave his son's life so we could have eternal life. I can honestly say that there is nothing on earth I love more than my boys and would never put their lives in danger for any reason, but God's love for us is infinite and far greater than any love we can imagine.
Long before the birth of Jesus, God knew the events to come. God knew that Jesus would be beaten and mocked before being placed on the cross. The death and Resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate expression of our Heavenly Father's love for us. As we journey to the cross during these days of Lent, consider the love God has for you, and consider how you can demonstrate that love for others.
--Brian Colson
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Rustin Howard:
Lent...Journey to the Cross
As a child, one of the most meaningful experiences of the Lenten season was attending the Easter performance at church. My parents played parts each year, so I saw many performances, and I watched practice after practice. I could quote many lines and sing all the songs. Even though I saw it multiple times each year, I remember watching in awe as the actor who portrayed the part of Jesus walked the long aisle of the church with a huge wooden cross draped across his back. Lacerations on his body were created by red lipstick but realistically symbolized the pain endured by Christ. I remember sitting in the pew and wondering if he would ever make it to the front of the church. As the actor slowly walked, weighted down by the cross, he stumbled and fell many times. Each time He fell, I knew his journey had been prolonged.
Throughout this season, we journey to the cross with Jesus. As we walk along side of Him, we must remember the word "preparation" defined as the act of getting ready. As humans, we oftentimes find ourselves preparing for events and milestones in our lives. We prepare for new school years, graduations, moves, new jobs, vacations, weddings, and births of new babies and even small tasks such as meals. We must ask ourselves the question, "Do we take time to prepare ourselves for worship?" The Lenten season is about sacrifice, prayer, repentance, and the preparation to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During the Lenten season last year, as a close friend and I discussed the sacrifices we had made in preparation and observance, a small child who was listening more attentively than we thought said, "I was going to give something up, but Lent already started, so I will wait until next year." There had been no preparation. From the mouth of a child, this comment is cute and even a bit comical; however, how many adults have the same mindset? How many of us fail to prepare our hearts and minds causing us to miss out on the importance of the Easter season?
Each person's preparation will be different. Maybe you have decided to prepare yourself for this journey by giving up something that you love or by spending more time reading your Bible and in prayer. Jesus knew of His fate, and He spent the night before His death in prayer and preparation for what was to come. For Him, the journey to the cross wasn't just that walk to Golgotha, but it started at the manger where His life as a human and a child of God began. Because of His journey that ended at the cross with ultimate sacrifice, we have the encouragement and comfort that the final destination of our journey is eternal life with Him.
--Rustin Howard
Just like any good shopaholic, I have many Christmas shirts and sweaters. My favorite is a t-shirt that I purchased many years ago. (Yes, I still wear it.) On the front of the t-shirt, the words are: “God wrapped His Christmas present, too.” During the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, God showed the world love by sending His only son to earth. God was willing to sacrifice His son for us. How great is His love!
How do you show love during this Christmas season? Searching for that perfect gift? Wrapping the presents? Sending food to a food pantry? Decorating the trees with lights and ornaments? Allowing an exasperated mother to go before you in the checkout line? Hanging wreaths? Helping a needy family? Opening a door for someone? Cooking special dishes and treats? Calling a shut-in? Sending Christmas cards that are sure to bring a smile? Smiling as you shop?
Jesus exemplified love. He cared for the sick and the exploited. He cared with grace and mercy. Showing love was natural to Him. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we are told that God has given us the spirit of love. It does not say we are given this spirit only during the Christmas season. Do we exercise this spirit year round or let it sit on a shelf hidden? How can you show your spirit of Christ-like love during the entire year?
Linda Johnson
"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." Luke 2:10.
The alarm jangled. Bleary-eyed from too little sleep, she shut off the noisy intruder, turned on the lamp and sat up in bed. Why am I dreading this day? Lord, didn't you promise me a life of joy?
Joy is the promise of intense, ecstatic, exuberant happiness - an emotion that is clearly an inner expression reaching to our very depths even when outside circumstances say otherwise. Different people find joy in different ways but the fulfillment of joy in one's life gives people the opportunity to really enjoy this life they are given. One can seek joy but he cannot find true joy by merely seeking pleasurable enjoyment. The best sustained joy results from self-forgetful activity. The Christine discipline of serving others through Jesus as our example is the true path to pure joy. To fulfill the specific purpose for which one is called by God and created for is pure joy; not choosing for oneself what he thinks is best.
Joy does not need gimmicks and promotions, nor possessions and prestige, nor fairness and justice. It is not selfish but instead is found when giving up what we think we need. It is not loud or boisterous, not shallow or easy to come by, nor is it for sale or trade-in. Joy is for keeps - once one finds it, he wants to keep it!
Joy is found in a baby born simply without fanfare or advertisement, who grew into a man who never traveled far from home, yet changed the world, and continues to be found in a God who loves us and gave that baby back to us - the Joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12)!
The alarm jangled. She reached and turned it off, rested and ready for a new day. The Christmas season was fast approaching and she had much to do. Thank goodness she had organized and disciplined her activities so that when she awoke, she was fresh and revitalized. She was excited about volunteering after work tonight at The Refuge., and about taking a new friend to dinner who needed some advice and perhaps a church home. Her joy came from knowing that although the details of life can drag one down, the big picture of Christ's birth changed many things about her life and gave her a broad perspective about what is really important.
This joy that I have, the world can't take it from me! Find joy in your own heart the way Christ leads you this Christmas. It will change your life forever!
Rita Ponder
Bruce: "Pete, when I die I want to be buried in the Target parking lot."
Pete: "Why?!?"
Bruce: "So you'll be sure to visit."
It's no secret. I like to shop. Every so often I suffer from Target withdrawal and find that I need a fix. On a recent trip to Savannah I was thinking about my writing this Advent devotional on Peace. Upon entering Target I happened to take note of all the items available with peace signs emblazoned on them. Since the 50th anniversary of the anti-nuclear protest symbol in 2008, peace sings are everywhere! There are earrings, shirts, scarves, purses, dishes, sunglasses, notebooks, comforters, clocks, flip-flops, lamps, shower curtains; the list goes on. Peace is so in! Peace can be sequined, painted, embroidered, bedazzled, crocheted, and more. It occurred to me that thousands of peace sign products would not be available for sale if so many people weren't buying them. That got me to thinking about those people.
Now you might wonder if I could really have an epiphany at Target, but I think that's just what happened! I thought, if I wee to poll all the folks in this store today, I'll bet all of them would admit to buying, wearing, promoting or supporting something of peace, but...do they know peace? I also venture to say that if I were to ask my comrades their definition of peace, many would say: the absence of war, the void of conflict, or the state of quiet. What would I have said? Would my first response be a dictionary definition or would I speak of the Giver, Owner, and Prince of Peace? Would I speak of the peace worn on the outside or the peace that resides in my heart? Would I tell of worldly gifts of peace or of the by-products of real peace: guidance, blessing, and strength in a world that always falls short? What would you say?
During this season and beyond, my prayer is for you to accept the gift of peace. Please note: It can't be bought at Target. You won't need to return it or exchange it. You'll never outgrow it, and you can share it.
Pete Frost
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives." John 14:27a
We live in a world in which bigger and better define our expectations for much of life. We look through a lens that magnifies what we expect out of the world and tend not to see the potential in small things. But as the prophet reminds us in Zechariah 4:10, we should not "despise the day of small things," because God does some of His best work with small beginnings and impossible situations.
Dennis Bratcher reminds us of all the imperfect heroes of the Old Testament that God used in mighty ways. Abraham, the coward who cannot believe the promise. Jacob, the cheat who struggles with everybody; Joseph, the immature and arrogant teen; David, the power abusing adulterer; Solomon, the unwise wise man; Samson, the womanizing drunk; and finally, a very young Jewish girl from a small village in a remote corner of a great empire .It seems that God could have chosen bigger things and better people to do His work in the world. Yet if God can use them in such awesome ways, it means that He might be able to use us, inadequate, and unwise, and too often lacking in faith as we are. In our own self-righteousness, we need to be careful not to put limits on what God can do with the smallest things, the most unlikely folks, in the most hopeless situations. I believe that is part of the wonder of the Advent Season.
Advent is about hope. It's not just a hope for a better day or hope for less pain and suffering, although that's definitely part of it. It is more about that there's meaning and possibility beyond our present situations. It's that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, that will bring peace and justice and righteousness to the world. This time of year we contemplate the hope found in a newborn baby in a manger, the perfect example of newness, potential, and possibility. During Advent, we long for and anticipate that newness with hope that God will once again be faithful to our circumstances, to hear our please, to know our desires for a better life. Finally we can hope that as He first came as an infant that first Christmas, so will He come again as King.
My own life experiences teach me that those who have suffered and still hope understand much more about God and about life than those who have not. Maybe that's what hope is all about...the ability to live amidst all the problems of life with a faith and trust that continues to see possibility even when there is no evidence of it. I think maybe that's the idea God had in mind for Christmas. It's a season that begins with hope, where love wins, peace reigns, and a King is celebrated at every turn.
Celeste M. Robinson
|
RSS Feed