Sandpaper and Velvet

John 15:12-27

God’s commandment is “Love One Another as I have loved you.”  This is a command that we should all find a blessing in obeying.  However, we are human, born with human frailties.  We all have family or friends who bring out the worst in us, instead of the best, rubbing us like sandpaper on just the wrong spots.

It is good to remember that Jesus encountered these same sandpaper experiences, even from within his inner circle.  Judas was constant sandpaper to Jesus, yet Jesus loved him as he did the remainder of his disciples.

But the Lord loves us so much that he gives us other friends and family who are like velvet. They are comforting to and supporting of us.  They tangibly reveal God’s great love for us just when we need it most.

Prayer: Father in heaven – may you always give to us the blessing of your everlasting love. Lead, guide and direct us in our daily lives.  Help us to be like velvet to the people

we love, and who love us.  Amen.

Honor Vaughn

Persecutions, Fear….Rewards!

Matthew 10:16-42

Much of today’s scripture is somewhat troubling.  After all, who wants to be warned of coming persecutions or to think about whom we have to fear?  Jesus even tells us “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”  And yet, if we read this passage to its conclusion we find that Jesus also speaks of rewards and he is quite specific as to how we might receive those rewards. 

What are we to do?  The word “welcome” is key…we are to welcome a prophet, a righteous person, and even Christ himself.  He tells us that we will be rewarded by such simple acts as giving a cup of cold water “to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple.”  In today’s troubled world, small acts of kindness, warm greetings, gentle words and so much else can make a difference.  Christ calls us to take up the cross and follow him.  Will we?   Dare we?

Prayer:  Lord, help us overcome our fears.  May we always be aware of your presence in our lives and call upon you for strength to reach out to others.  Amen.

Dianna Morgan

Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Serve

John 13:1-20

By washing the feet of his disciples before his death, Jesus was showing his love for them and teaching his followers to be willing to serve.  In these verses, Jesus reveals his heart and his mission.  He proves to these men that he did not come to be served, but to serve.  Even though he knew he would be betrayed, denied and deserted, he treated them all equally and prepared them for events that would change their lives forever.  His goal was to show them that if he was willing to be a servant, then all of his followers ought to be willing to serve as well.  His goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone.  They were to move into the world serving God, serving each other, and serving all people to whom they took the message of salvation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us to be a true servant and have the heart of Christ and be willing to serve our enemies as readily as we serve our friends.  Amen.

Anonymous 

Forgiveness

Psalm 25

In this scripture we are asking God for many things.  We trust in God that when we go out and speak of him that we will not be shamed, but the people will hear His word.

We ask God to teach us to make the right decisions in life.

We ask for His mercy when we make mistakes in our youth that he will not just remember our sins, but remember us for our goodness.

We ask God to pardon our guilt and we should always have a good friendship with the Lord and to make him a very important part of our everyday life.

We ask God to be with us when we are lonely and down: and for forgiveness.

We ask for integrity and uprightness while we go through this life.  Awaiting his coming.

Prayer:  May the Lord forgive us of our many sins and lead us to be better Christians for his name sake.  Amen.

Guy & Marcia Harlow

A Promise You Can Count On

2 Peter 1:1-11

Peter’s second letter was written because Peter was concerned that his readers were being confused by false teachers.  He reminds them that the best way to resist false teaching is to grow in their knowledge and Christian faith; a faith that he describes as “precious”.

In this campaign season, as in most political times, we hear incredible promises from both sides.  These politicians often promise much more than they are able to deliver.  But Peter is no politician or salesman, and what he promises in this text is completely reliable.

Peter is writing to people who have already accepted the Gospel, just like us. So what he instructs in these verses is not how to receive salvation, but how they should live because they have received the salvation promised by God through his Son.  Peter promises that if we practice goodness; improve our knowledge of scripture; practice self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love; and do these things on a daily basis, with each character quality building on the quality before it, that we cannot keep from remaining steady in our faith journey.  Also, if we make a habit of practicing these virtues, our lives would be so enriched that evil or false doctrine will have no room in our souls, and we “will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  I believe that this lifestyle can allow us to experience God’s promised kingdom here on Earth as well.

PRAYER: Gracious and loving God, we know that Your promises are never empty or unfulfilled. We know that we are saved only through the grace given us through the sacrifice of Jesus, and that we can do nothing to earn our salvation.  We pray that we might live our lives according to these verses, so that others may know You through our lives.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Brent Russell

God’s Pure Grace

Galatians 1:11-24

Paul has to justify his faith and conversion and ministry.  Paul is telling the Galatians that the gospel he is preaching is not from the teachings of man or something made up by man.  The Gospel of God's pure grace was by revelation of Jesus Christ.  Paul knows of God’s pure grace because in his former manner of life in Judaism, he used to persecute the church and try to destroy it.  In today's world, people preach the gospel of God's pure grace in different ways. This week our daughter and family are leaving for Uganda, Africa to preach the gospel through a medical mission.  Doors will be opened to them through medicine that might not be opened to someone else trying to minister.  Their ministry can be followed through www.dueunto.blogspot.com  

We were reminded this past week of how doing what you can may make a difference in another person's life.  The Jim Gash family will be in Uganda during the same six months Jill, Jay and children will be there.  They have a web site www.throwingstarfish.com.  

I asked Jim how he came up with the name.  And he reminded me of the story of Loren Eiseley.  While writing his book, The Unexpected Universe, was walking along the ocean in early one morning.  It was shortly after a storm had subsided when he noticed that thousands of starfish had been washed up on the beach.  Ahead of him was a gigantic rainbow of incredible perfection shimmering into existence.  At the base of the rainbow stooped a little boy, gazing fixedly at an object in the sand.  Eventually, he flung the object far beyond the breaking surf.  Eiseley went up to him and asked, "Son, what are you doing?"  The little boy answered, "I'm throwing starfish back into the sea because if I don't they're going to die."  "But there are thousands of starfish.  In the larger scheme of things you're not going to make much of a difference to all these starfish."  The little boy looked up at him, stooped down again to pick up another starfish and, gently but quickly, flung it back into the ocean.  "It's going to make a big difference to that one" he replied.  Many testimonies in life are lived out loud and exposed.  Take a look and you'll see the transformation of a life by grace and you won't be able to help yourself but praise God.  Support ministry with prayers.

Paul's grace prayer:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV )

Herb & Doris Lang

Eyes on the Prize

Colossians 1:24-29

            In today's scripture Paul is writing to believers in the small city of Colosse, now in Southwest Turkey.  Paul was under house arrest.  In Colosse there was a group called Gnostics who claimed they possessed privileged information necessary for salvation.  Their practices were a combination of Christian, Jewish and maybe even pagan beliefs.  Paul wrote to warn against false teachings.  Paul intended to make clear the nature Jesus' deity and authority.  In verse 28, Paul says “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with wisdom.”  So let us keep reading, studying, praying, growing and learning Jesus' teachings.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to remember to keep our eyes on the prize.  Humans will fail us but you will never let us down.

Anonymous