The Sinner and the Savior

March 8, 2014

Opening Hymns:
399 Take My Life and Let it Be http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh399.sht

Scripture Reading:
Romans 5:12-19
5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned-

5:13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law.

5:14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

5:15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.

5:16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.

5:17 If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

5:18 Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.

5:19 For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

Message:
The scripture reading for today connects the past two scriptures that we read. It gives of summary of what Adam’s sin brought the world, and what Jesus’ righteousness brought the world in return.

Adam’s sin is like a contagious plague infecting all mankind. He and Eve are thrown out of the garden, and God becomes more distant throughout the rest of the Old Testament. No longer do we hear how God is walking on earth, as he had walked in the garden. He speaks to those who He sees are righteous. He reveals Himself in miraculous wonders, and Moses is even able to see God's back (Exodus 33:22-23)… For most people, however, there is a great separation from God. That is, until Jesus Christ, the Son of God comes to earth to teach, heal, and save us.

Jesus’ sacrifice blots out our transgressions, and cures the disease of sin. We no longer need to feel that separation from God. The little girl in me wonders why we can’t just go back to the Garden of Eve. If Jesus’ obedience makes sinners righteous, then shouldn’t the story be done? Haven’t we reached that happy ending? No, there is still more work to do, and there are still more wounds that need to be healed.

Though we are forgiven, sin is still a part of all of our lives. There are so many heartbreaking things going on in the world. Wars still continue. People continue to starve. Through all the chaos that life can bring we must stand strong, and bring our own light to this broken world. We have lessons of our own to learn, and we also have lessons to teach and share with others. Lessons of love, strength, and forgiveness. We need to act on what Jesus taught us, and share what we’ve learned.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You so much for Jesus’ sacrifice, and the forgiveness of our sins. Help us now to share the love that You’ve given us with others, that we may help heal this broken world. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
469 Jesus is all the World to Me http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh469.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Two Stories of Temptation

March 7, 2014

Opening Hymns:
454 Open My Eyes That I May See http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh454.sht

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 4:1-11
4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

4:2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

4:3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."

4:4 But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,

4:6 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

4:7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor;

4:9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."

4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

4:11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Message:
Remember the scripture from yesterday? Today’s temptation is in a very different climate, and under different circumstances. Instead of a garden full of fruit with every need met, Jesus is tempted in a desert where he had been fasting for 40 days and nights. In many ways, these stories are opposites of each other. In Genesis we see sin entering into the world through temptation, and in Mathew 4 we see the Savior of the world overcoming temptations.

These big contrasts show us our own weaknesses and God’s own strength. However, today’s scripture can give us hope. Jesus not only overcomes temptation, but He demonstrates to us how we can overcome temptation as well. We can call on the scriptures to guide our path whenever we feel lead astray. We can look back on this scripture and remind ourselves that it is possible to overcome our temptations.

Whether you’re in a garden, or in the desert of your life, temptations can be hard. But the good news is: They can be defeated! And even when we do fall short, Jesus paid the price for our sin and forgives us. Our struggles and temptations will eventually fade away, but Jesus will reign forever, and with Him we too can have eternal life.  

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for giving us these beautiful scriptures so that we can better follow Your path. Help guide us through each struggle that we face, and help us through all of our temptations. Thank you for loving us even when we fall short. Thank You for giving Your Son to die on the cross for us, so that we can have eternal life with You. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
672 God Be With You Till We Meet Again http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh672.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Why do We Have Lent?

March 6, 2014

Opening Hymns:
117 Oh God Our Help in Ages Past http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh117.sht

Scripture Reading:
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.

2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;

2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;

3:3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'"

3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die;

3:5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.

3:7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Message:
In today’s scripture reading we see the very first temptation of all mankind. The forbidden fruit. The very first thing that God commanded Adam and Eve to avoid. It doesn’t speak well for mankind that we disobeyed God’s first rule. However, it does show us what being human is like.  

We can see this same story in our own lives starting in our childhood. When our parents gave us rules, did we follow every single one? I remember, as a young girl, sneaking down to the kitchen in the middle of the night to grab a cookie from the cookie jar. This past weekend I got to see my nieces and nephews. At one point their parents told them “you can’t have any more candy” and there were tears, and some attempts to grab at the candy anyway. Everyone has their own forbidden fruit in their lives, and indeed no one is perfect… Except for Jesus.

As we begin the Lenten season it is very fitting that we are starting from the beginning of the book. We are starting out by answering the question, “why do we have lent?” and “why do we need Jesus”. In order to be forgiven there had to be sin. Before we could have a Savior we needed to have something to be saved from. So why do we have lent? It is a time of preparation for Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. For me, it is a time to draw closer to God, and reflect on the sacrifice that He made for us. We remember why we need forgiveness, that we are forgiven, and we seek to change our lives to walk closer to God.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus Christ down to teach us how to live and love, and to sacrifice His life so that we can have an eternal life with You. Forgive us our sins, and help us to walk in Your ways. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
128 He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh128.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Prioritizing

June 28, 2013

Opening Hymns:
277 Tell Me the Stories of Jesus http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh277.sht

Scripture Reading:
Luke 9:51-62 

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them^[b]?” ⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Message:
In today’s scripture we see Jesus’ forgiveness towards those who treat Him ill and do not welcome Him. We also are shown how to put God first, and we can see how much of a challenge it truly can be.  These lessons teach me a number of different things. First of all we are to treat everyone with kindness even if they are not kind to us. If they reject our Lord, we are to love them and pray for them rather than condemning them. That is the best way to show that we love Jesus.

Jesus must be a first in our lives, and therefore takes priority over everything else. Loving Jesus is shown through loving others. While it can sometimes be difficult, love and kindness is the path to follow. So, why would Jesus be upset that a man would request to bury his father prior to following Him? The study of scripture reveals that the man wanted to claim his inheritance prior to following Jesus and that it wasn’t about burying his father who had died, but was about waiting for his father to die so he could claim his portion of the money. Greed for money was first on this man’s agenda.

What is your priority today? What are your focuses in life? Is Jesus at the top of the list, or are other things higher up? Take some time to reflect on your life, in what ways can you walk closer to God?

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for loving us even when we fall short of Your call. Help us to follow you always with our whole heart. Let us love others as You have shown love to us. Forgive us when we sin, and help strengthen and guide us so that we may walk in Your ways and follow Your call. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
381 Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh381.sht
 

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Forgiveness

June 15^th 2013

Opening Hymns:
513 Soldiers of Christ Arise http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh513.sht

Scripture Reading:
Luke 7:36-8:3

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[a] and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Message:
What does it mean to you to be forgiven? Do we show the same gratitude as the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet? It is no hidden fact that we all make mistakes and sin in our lifetime. This scripture reminds me of the importance of recognizing the sin, feeling truly and deeply sorry for it, and asking and accepting forgiveness.

Because we are all in this state of sin we should recognize that all other people are also children of God. They also may fall into sin. Unlike the Pharisee in this scripture we must not judge them and their sins. We must instead learn to be forgiving as well. In the New Testament Jesus teaches us about how to love one another. He teaches us what a sin is, and shows us true forgiveness of all our sins. Through prayer and study we can learn and grow closer to God so that we may forgive others as we are forgiven.  

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, please forgive us when we sin, help us accept the forgiveness you so kindly have given to all of us. Let us grow closer to you in our actions, thoughts, words, and deeds. Let us be a light to others as You have been a light to us. Let us show them Your love and Your forgiveness that are open to all who call on Your name. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
545 The Church’s One Foundation http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh545.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Faith and Miracles

June 10, 2013

Opening Hymns:
170 Oh How I Love Jesus http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh170.sht

Scripture Reading:
1 Kings 17:7-24

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

⁷ Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ⁹ “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” ¹⁰ So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” ¹¹ As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

¹² “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

¹³ Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

¹⁵ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. ¹⁶ For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

¹⁷ Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. ¹⁸ She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”

¹⁹ “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. ²⁰ Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” ²¹ Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”

²² The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. ²³ Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”

²⁴ Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”

 

Message:
How quickly do we doubt? In today’s scripture a widow has faith in Elijah’s words about the flour and the oil. She is able to make bread for her, her son, and Elijah. How amazingd is it that the flour and oil would never run out. Surly she saw the miracle. Truly she believed that Elijah was a man of God. However, when tragedy strikes and her son is taken from her everything changes. The miracle doesn’t seem as miraculous. For her, what is the point of living when her son has been taken away? Elijah cries out to the Lord and her son is brought back to life. At this point all doubt has faded and the widow declares that he is a man of God.

This scripture is a reminder of how the Lord will provide for His children. There have been so many times in my life when I have doubted, just as the widow had. I’ve never even been faced with anything as hard as she has, but doubt still creeps in. After years of schooling, I am a nurse, I work in a hospital. I have an apartment to come home to. I have enough money for food and clean water… perhaps the doubting can be put aside for the Lord has provided for me.

Look at your own life. How has the Lord provided you with what you need? If you’re reading this I’m guessing that you are alive and are well off enough to afford a device that can connect to the internet. The Lord does provide! And perhaps when doubting is laid aside we can look at the blessings we have been given. We can rejoice that we don’t need to have a jar of flour and a jar of oil that never run out. Sadly, that is not the case for everyone. That is why we must reach out a hand to others. We can be like the jar of flour and of oil. We can be God’s miracle to others. Look at those in your community. Whose life can you touch? Who will you share a miracle with on this day? 

Time of Prayer
Dearest Heavenly Father, let us give to others what You have so graciously given to us. Forgive us when we doubt. Thank You for what You have provided for us in our lives. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
73 Oh Worship the Kings http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh073.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.


Go in Peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God.

Faith and Hope for the Future

June 2, 2013

Opening Hymns:
57 O For  a Thousand Tongues  to Sing http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh057.sht

Scripture Reading:
Luke 7:1-10

Message:
When we’re young we often take pride in making our parents happy. Even as we grow we can enjoy seeing a smile on their face when we get a good grade, graduate, get a job, or win an award. In today’s scripture the Roman centurion makes Jesus happy. He has such faith and meekness that Jesus is said to be “amazed.”

Whenever something amazes Jesus in the gospel it should cause us to pause and think ‘how can we be like that.’ The Roman centurion not only believed that Jesus could heal his servant, but he also believed all Jesus had to do was say the word and the servant would be healed. He didn’t want Jesus to come to his home as he was “not worthy.” How can we have such a faith? One way to have faith and hope for the future is to look upon our past and recognize how many wonders the Lord has done already. Jesus healed the sick and dying, our Heavenly Father worked countless wonders throughout the New and Old Testaments. Truly with God all things are possible.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, on this day help us to remember how amazing You are. Let us have faith that Your grace that was with us in the past will be with us in the future. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
511 Am I a Solider of the Cross http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh511.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God