Little Daily Chapel

13.2.16

Genetics and Forgiveness

February 13, 2016

Opening Hymns:
351 Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh351.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:
Our parents pass things down to us whether they mean to or not. Even at birth parents can see themselves in their child. Their baby might have their mother’s eyes, or their father’s nose. Some things aren’t as great to have passed on, such as an increased risk of heart failure or diabetes. In the scripture today we are reminded of our ancestor Adam, who passed on to each of us his guilt and sinful nature.

However, genetics does not dictate every part of our lives. We have healthy choices that we can make for our bodies. Even if we have a higher risk for certain diseases, we are the ones who get to choose the life style that we live. We can eat right, and exercise to help our bodies get strong. The same goes for our own spiritual life. Though we have inherited death through Adam, we are offered a new life through Christ’s sacrifice. We are given the choice to be a part of a new family that offers forgiveness and salvation.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for calling us to be a part of Your family. Forgive us when we sin, and when we stray. Lead us back to You. Make our hearts pure, and let us feel Your loving forgiveness. Thank You for calling us Your children, and allowing us to call You Father. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
144 This Is My Father’s World http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh144.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

12.2.16

Time to Open Our Eyes

February 12, 2016

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

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 51:1-17
51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

51:4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.

51:5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

51:6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

51:11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

51:14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

51:16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

51:17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Message:
Do you know how it feels to get a cold? You all of a sudden realize how nice it was to be able to sing, and talk without the strain of being sick. And the sounds of birds singing in the spring is a beautiful tune; however, it can become background music by mid-summer, until we are reminded of its beauty by the silence that follows in the winter. The smell of fresh baked bread also fades out of our minds, until we walk out of the room and return…. Then the smell becomes new and delicious once more.

In today’s scripture we hear beautiful prayer. A wise prayer. David is seeking more than forgiveness. He wants his own heart to be pure and his spirit to be continually willing to do God’s will. It can be hard for us to keep our hearts focused on God. Sometimes people can let God’s presence fade into the background of their lives.

Lent is a time to open our eyes again, and to see the scriptures anew. It is the time to remember God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice. Lent is the time to draw close to God, and hear the story of a Love that can conquer death.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, You make all things new. Create in us a clean and pure heart, and a willing spirit. Lord, let us use this season to focus our hearts on You. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
452 My Faith Looks Up To Thee http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh452.sht

11.2.16

Choose Your Treasures Wisely

February 11, 2016

Opening Hymns:
532 Jesus Priceless Treasure http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh532.sht

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
6:1 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

6:2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.

6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

6:4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

6:5 "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.

6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

6:16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.

6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

6:18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;

6:20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Message:

The scripture for today cautions us against seeking earthly rewards. We should not boast of the good deeds we do, how much we pray, how much we fast, or how much we give. We shouldn’t put our heart on earthly possessions either! My favorite quote from this scripture is “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What do you treasure? What is it that you are seeking?

As a nurse, I’ve noticed some of my peers who are working for the money. They do the job at hand. They pass out the medications, and do the treatments well enough. But others I work with build friendships with each patient they work with. They are sad when the patient is sad, and so happy each step they make to recovery. Their heart is in the healing, not in the money. When we are passionate about something it shows. Our desires and goals make a difference on how we act out in our lives. Are we treasuring the right things in our lives? Are we treasuring things that will last?

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, as we go through our week, let us focus our hearts on You. Give us the desire to spread Your love and kindness. Forgive us when we treasure the wrong things. Draw us back to You so that we can share and spread Your love. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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