Daily Devotional

[Cougs]

Relationships are all there is. Everything in the universe
only exists because it is in relationship to everything else.
Nothing exists in isolation. We have to stop pretending we
are individuals that can go it alone.

-Margaret Wheatley

[Cougs]

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? (James 2:14 NRSV Bible)

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If we use our talents to honor God, God will grant us even greater opportunities. Even persons with limited abilities can succeed if they will give it their all. Just because you have never been comfortable in front of people doesn't mean that you have not been given the gift of teaching. It is amazing how many of the world's great orators have had to conquer such impediments as a lisp, an unimpressive appearance or some other hindrance. Their very determination to overcome their handicap helped make them great. I am not certain where commitment ends and God's blessing begins, but a spiritual gift is not necessarily a talent. Availability and dependability are as important as ability itself.
Look at the people God chose to serve him in Bible times. The towering figure of the first part of our Bible was an eighty-year-old man who spoke with a stammer. His name? Moses. None of the men who surrounded Jesus gave any indication of their later greatness. So it is in the church today. God uses people who are willing to offer themselves and all they have to Him. More important than our individual talents, or abilities or intellect is the spirit with which they are given to God.

In what spirit are we using our gifts to honor Christ by sharing his love?


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God of all gifts, may I have a good attitude when I use my gifts for your service. Amen.

[Cougs]

When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. (Luke 9:36 NRSV Bible)

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There seems to be no escape from noise in our society. Wouldn't it be nice though, from time to time, to experience what Peter, James and John experienced on the mountain of the Transfiguration? They had gone away to a secluded spot for prayer with the Master. Doubtless they were not prepared for what happened there.
It is interesting that on the two occasions when Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a secluded spot for prayer, the disciples fell asleep. It was these same three who nodded off while Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. This time when they awakened, however, they experienced something that they would never forget. They were not only in the presence of Jesus, but also two of the most significant figures of the Old Testament--Moses, representing the Law and Elijah, representing the prophets.

Doubtless the three disciples were stunned. Peter spoke up and declared, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." Good old Simon Peter. Putting in his 2 cents worth as usual. About this time a cloud--the symbol of God's presence--moved in and enshrouded them and they were afraid. A voice spoke from the cloud, "This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to Him!" When the voice had spoken and the cloud departed, Moses and Elijah had vanished. Luke tells us that in the face of this experience the three disciples kept silence and told no one anything of what they had seen.

What was there to say? There are some experiences for which words are inadequate. How can words express what you feel when you first hold your new-born child? What words are adequate to comfort one who has lost their life's partner? Even more strikingly, what can you say when you have been in the presence of the living God? Luke tells us that they "kept silence," and that is an appropriate response. Do honor appropriate times for silence?

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Dear God, help me to learn to be silent, and help me to use my silence to listen to you. Amen.

[Cougs]

In the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4 NRSV Bible)

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Some of us may remember the name Leon Spinks. In the cruel world of professional boxing, Spinks was once the world heavyweight champion. Sometime back, Spinks was quoted as saying this: "People were always asking, after I won the title, 'Who is Leon Spinks?'" Then he added, "It's a question I've been asking all my life. I didn't know who I was but I knew I wanted to be somebody...I was tired of being nobody."
I wonder if anybody had ever told Leon Spinks that even before he was formed in his mother's womb, the eternal God knew who he was? That is the good news for the day. We matter. We are worth something. Let no one say that we are nobodies. This beautiful world was created in our behalf. The infinite stars would not shine down from the skies if we were not here to behold them. Of even more staggering import is a cross that stands on a hill named Calvary. For it was there that the Son of the living God gave His life in our behalf.

In Sweden there is a saying that "in every man there is a king, and in every woman, a queen. If you speak to them as 'Your Majesty,' their majesty will come forth." May we all live like we are children of God!

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Dear God, sometimes I don't do a very good job of loving myself. Remind me each day that I am your child! May I also treat everyone I meet as your child. Amen.

[Cougs]

Psalm 57:3-4:
3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

There is an old saying that says: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." After studying the Bible, I see this old adage is not true. Using unkind names or words against people is harmful. It is harmful to the one who uses them, as well as to the one it is being spoken against. Words are very powerful. Think about this, lawyers use words to build their cases. Our nation's laws are made up of volumes of words. Our national treaties are words written on documents. Words announce the daily news. Words are tools that are used to communicate with one another. In the beginning God used words to create the earth by speaking everything into existence. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself, is referred to as the living Word. The Bible is also known as the Word of God. Words are powerful - both good and evil words.

That is why when someone bears false witness against another, it is very painful to them. While on the positive side when we pray, our mouth is forming words in the spirit dimension that go out and they produce good things. And so we have to guard our mouth and watch that we do not let the wrong things come out, because on the negative side our words also produce things in the spirit realm that can be damaging and bring wounds to others.

[Cougs]

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors... Those who do these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:2-3,5 NRSV Bible)

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I remember reading about a woman who a few years earlier was a new Christian. And as a new Christian, she listened to any person who proclaimed to be a Christian. Over time, though, she realized that not all people who claimed to be Christian offered a true message from God. As she matured in her faith, She had to learned to discern between those who spoke the truth and those who didn't.
How do we find the truth about God and Jesus Christ? How can we discern who is teaching the truth about the Christian faith and who is not?

I am a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. Look at the example of Jesus. He valued people and little children and life itself. Jesus was concerned about truth and honesty. Even when Jesus was confronted by the people who opposed him, he treated them with respect and wisdom. Jesus' actions proved that he cared about people and their human situation. He healed people, fed people, gave people hope, and forgave people. Jesus also took a lot of time for prayer to discern God's will. Jesus humbled himself, as he relied on God and not on himself. These are the qualities of one who is telling the truth about God, and how we are called to live for God. May all we do be done with a Christ-like truth.

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God of truth, it is not always easy to discern the truth. May I live more each day with a Christ-like truth. Amen.

[Cougs]

Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 15:38 NRSV Bible)

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In our scripture reading today, Jesus was at the height of his popularity. People were following him everywhere he went. It was difficult for him to get away even to spend some quality time alone in prayer or with his disciples. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and people flocked to him. This attention excited the disciples. Jesus' ministry was booming. Everything was running smoothly. At least that is what the disciples thought.
The disciples had been with Jesus for a long time. Now, Jesus felt it was time to tell them what would happen next. He gathered the disciples around him. He said to them, " must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering, be killed, and the third day be raised." Wow! The disciples were not expecting anything like that. They just looked at each other, too shocked to say anything. The disciples thought Jesus would come to power, and they would hold positions of importance in his kingdom. They never thought he would suffer and die.

Leave it to Simon Peter to speak what the other disciples were thinking. Peter took Jesus aside and said, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Peter spoke harshly to Jesus.

Has anyone ever said something to you that reminded you of someone else, or of another experience? When Peter rebuked Jesus, Jesus heard the voice of the tempter. Trying to temp Jesus as he had done in the desert at the start of Jesus' ministry. Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block for me." Ironic that Peter the Rock was also a stumbling stone for Jesus.

Do we help or hinder God's work?

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Dear Jesus, through your inspiration, may I do more to help than hinder your work. Amen.

[Cougs]

Jesus said, "Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Luke 24:39 NRSV Bible)

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I remember a story I read of a Car and Carina who wished to honor the members of their court with a banquet. They sent out invitations and requested that the guests come with the invitations in their hands. When they arrived at the banquet the guests were surprised to discover that the guards did not look at their invitations at all. Instead they examined their hands. The guests wondered about this, but they were also curious to see who the Car and Carina would choose as the guest of honor to sit between them at the banquet. They were flabbergasted to see that it was the old scrub woman who had worked to keep the palace clean for years. The guards, having examined her hands, declared, "You have the proper credentials to be the guest of honor. We can see your love and loyalty in your hands."
This woman's love and loyalty was seen in her hands. In the same way, we can see Jesus' love and loyalty for us in the nail prints of his hands and feet. Take a look at your hands. What do you see?

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Dear God, thank you for the hands you have given me. Even if my hands are missing, you have given me a job to do. May my hands demonstrate my love for you and for my neighbors. Amen.

[Cougs]

A Smiling Face

Read Matthew 5:14-16

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:16 (NRSV)
MANY years ago, a man from another country often came into the place where I worked. The most impressive thing about him was his smile. Although I was busy with my work, my heart was lightened by the glowing gentleness on his smiling face whenever he greeted me with "Good morning!" in Japanese. I was not a Christian at that time, but I could sense something in his presence that brightened the atmosphere. Later I discovered that he was a missionary from the United States. Until then I had never met a person who radiated joy as he did. After a short time, my place of work changed, and I did not have a chance to see him again.

Later, after experiencing many trials, I came to believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior, and I received God's gospel of grace. Now I know why that man had a gentle, smiling face. He was living in Christ.

I have faith now, and I'm living in daily fellowship with God. When I find myself feeling weighed down, I recall that man's smiling face. Then I pray that God will change me, too, into one who, in my ordinary encounters, shows the joy of knowing Christ.

[Cougs]

Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38 NRSV Bible)

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In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown and Linus are walking over the baseball field to make sure everything is ready for the new baseball season. Charlie Brown goes over to the pitcher's mound and says, "My pitcher's mound looks great." Then Linus and Charlie Brown go to the back stop, "Our ol' backstop seems to be in good shape." Charlie Brown asks, "How about the outfield?" Linus replies, "All mowed, Charlie Brown, it's beautiful! And we've raked the infield so it looks better than ever." Charlie Brown says, "Then all we have to worry about is the sound system." Linus says, "The sound system?" Just about that time Lucy belts out, "This year let's try to get the ball over the plate, you blockhead!" Charlie Brown concludes, "The sound system is still working."
I'm not sure that Charlie Brown and Linus really believed the sound system was working, and the disciples also had a hard time believing that Jesus was alive. Luke says, "While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them 'Peace be with you.' They were startled and terrified, and they thought that they were seeing a ghost."

The disciples were having a hard time believing. The disciples were trying to sort out the meaning of Jesus' death and the reports about Jesus' appearances. Was it a hoax? They were not completely immune to superstition. Perhaps it was some kind of ghost. Suddenly it happened. Jesus himself stood among them. The disciples were startled and frightened. Then Jesus said to them, "Why are you troubled and why do doubts rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself..."

The response of the disciples is a sermon in itself. Luke tells us that they "disbelieved for joy..." It was simply too wonderful to be true. He was alive and he was with them--right there. It was to good to be true.

Some of us may have a hard time believing. Will we allow Jesus to take the doubts away?

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Lord Jesus, please take away my doubts. Amen

[Cougs]

So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. (Acts 2:41 NRSV Bible)

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There is a legend that at the entrance to Heaven, two questions will be asked of everyone who comes seeking admittance. The first question is this: "Did you come alone?" And if--tragically--your answer is "Yes," the second question follows. "How could you?"
I don't want any church or Christian to be mistaken for a mannequin, do you? The answer to avoid being a mannequin is really quite easy: a commitment to fellowship, a commitment to prayer, a commitment to outreach, and a commitment to sharing Jesus Christ.

And remember: What is the longest word in the English language?

Smiles. There's a "mile" between the first and last letters!

With smiles and with joy may we bring life to our Christian faith.

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Dear God, with joy I will do a better job of bringing life to my faith, as I share my savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.

[Cougs]

"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." (Matthew 16:17 NRSV Bible)

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One day everything will be revealed. Paul wrote, "Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face." (I Corinthians 13: 12a) I look forward to that day, don't you? I look forward to having some of the pieces of the puzzle put into place.
In order to save money, a college drama class purchased only a few scripts of a certain play and cut them up into the separate parts. The director gave each player his individual part in order and then started to rehearse the play. But nothing went right. After an hour of missed cues and mangled sequences, the cast gave up.

At that point, the director sat the actors all on the stage and said: "Look, I'm going to read the entire play to you, so don't any of you say a word." He read the entire script aloud, and when he was finished, one of the actors said: "So that's what it was all about!"

And when they understood the entire story, they were able to fit their parts together and have a successful rehearsal.

C. S. Lewis once said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven would be, "OH." As in, "Oh, now I understand." Or, "Oh, now I see what God's plan was." Or, "Oh, now I see the reason for the trial I went through."

In this world, however, we walk by faith, not by knowledge. But one day it will be revealed to us. We will be in the presence of the Father and the Son and the Spirit. How can we be in the presence of all three at the same time? It beats me, but as Paul says in another place, "I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me." (II Timothy 1: 12)

There are some answers that are too large for our brains to contain. But our greatest need is not understanding, but trust that God is with us. God is with us and will be with us until that day comes when all will be revealed.

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Lord Jesus, I may not fully understand God's will or plan, but, with faith and trust, guide me in living for you. Amen.

[Cougs]

Look! Here is the bridegroom! (Matthew 25:6 NRSV Bible)

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Matthew 25:5-9, "As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves." The foolish bridesmaids were not ready for the delay of the bridegroom. They were not prepared for the unexpected.
How about us? Are we prepared or ready to deal with the unexpected turns and twists of life? Early in my life, I didn't expect that I would be a minister. I didn't expect to spend nine years in college and graduate school. I didn't expect that my dad would lose a good career in his early fifties, and then become permanently disabled. I didn't expect my mom to have cancer twice. I didn't expect the ministry, at times, to be very difficult. There have been many unexpected twists and turns in my life. Life certainly has not gone as I would have predicted. Many of you can tell similar stories, and many of you can share some very painful unexpected experiences.

Jesus Christ will help us deal with the unexpected if we allow him to walk with us everyday of our lives.

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God of all people, please let me never walk away from your son, so that I can have him at my side when dealing with the unexpected. In Jesus name, Amen.

[Cougs]

Tune in to the Spirit of Grace

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

–(Titus 2:11)

Grace teaches us! The "Spirit of grace" instructs us from the inside. Let the Holy Spirit of God counsel you and teach you how to live in this present world.

If you listen to the voice of the world, you will be worldly minded, or carnally minded, which is death. But, if you tune in to the voice of the Spirit of grace, you can become spiritually minded; and, according to the Word, that is life and peace. So, when the Spirit of God speaks to you through that still small voice inside your heart, listen and obey Him. His way works! Trust Him and remember that He's got your well-being in mind.

Maybe He's asking you to eliminate some activity that's consuming too much of your time and attention. Or maybe He's prompting you to get up a little earlier and spend more time in the Word and in prayer. Whatever it is He is telling you to do, if you'll do it, you'll be stronger in the grace of God, and consequently, in the blessing of God.

Don't hesitate another moment. DO IT! If you want a change, make a change.


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-8

[Cougs]

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. (Galatians 3:23 NRSV Bible)

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Who is it that tells us we are ugly? It may surprise you to know the scriptural answer to that question. According to Paul, it is the law that tells us we are ugly. Listen to his words: "Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed." Earlier in this same chapter Paul calls the law "a curse." Why? Why would he say that? Because under the law we are all failures.
Who among us can ever keep the law perfectly? The answer is, none of us. Not a single one of us could possibly fulfill all the law's requirements. The law provides for us a standard that is unattainable. And even if we were able to keep the law without any deviation, we would probably be guilty of spiritual pride. We would conclude that we are better than other people--and that may be the deadliest sin of all. It's a lose/lose situation.

A sign at a railroad crossing read, "The average time for the train to pass this crossing is 14 seconds, whether your car is on the track or not."

Life happens. Stuff happens. Trains cross the intersections! But, life can be a win/win through the grace that Jesus Christ offers to each of us. We don't have to measure up. Christ already has!

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Dear God, I am grateful that I don't have to measure up to you on my own. Yes, Jesus is my savior. In Jesus name, Amen.