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First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon Ohio |
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Sunday Schedule
8:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship
9:45 a.m. Christian Education for all ages
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship |
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106 North Gay Street Mount Vernon OH 43050 740-393-1326 Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. M-F |
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January Daily Readings |
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Sunday, January 2 Psalm 66 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of His name: make His praise glorious. (vv.1-2 KJV) Everyday God gives us more than an ample reason to make a joyful noise to Him. When I see the sun arise creating a water color of orange and lilac colors bouncing off the clouds in the eastern sky or as I drive to work crossing the St John’s River bridge looking down on the beauty of the river and the waterfowl crisscrossing the horizon before me, nature shouting praise. I am always in awe when I slow down long enough to acknowledge how he has created the earth and how glorious His sovereignty is displayed in nature. I should shout, thanking and praising Him in honor to Him and His glory. Isaiah 66:18-23; Psalm 67; 1 John 2:12-17; John 6:41-47 Monday, January 3 Psalm 68 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation! Selah. (v.19) The Lord always has provided me with benefits; blatant benefits that are clear for me to see. As I consider my past I have concluded that the Lord has daily provided me riches in experiences that at the time I believed to be catastrophic. Even in the darkest battle of my life the Lord gave me new benefits. In a bad business deal years ago, many of my friends and the business community were sure I was finished. Four years of battle, and I survived and grew stronger in the benefit of relationship with Him. In the most painful of times, little did I know that He was daily loading me with experiences that would be beneficial to my future. Genesis 28:10-22; Hebrews 11:13-22; John 10:7-17 Tuesday, January 4 John 14:6-14 Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (v.6) Doubting Thomas said to Jesus in the preceding verse, “Lord we do not know where you are going and how we can know the way?” As a young man out of college and working, life offered more questions than answers. I went to many different churches, read many books, heard many speakers and teachers. Over the course of three years, even though I had accepted Christ as my savior as a teenager, it all became clear one Sunday morning when the preacher asked if I wanted a new life. I found my answers that day. Since that Sunday it has been very clear to me Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Christ knows the way, he knows the truth, and he has provided the life for me. Exodus 3:1-12, Psalms 85, 87; Hebrews 11:23-31 Wednesday, January 5 Joshua 1:1-9 Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (v.9) One cold and overcast winter morning I took a friend duck hunting for his first time. Mosquito Lagoon was the site I chose. After three hours of hunting the weather conditions deteriorated and the lagoon became hostile. As we crossed the lagoon the waves crashed over the bow and we took on water in our john boat. The wind railed against us and the motor fought every foot to push us to the ramp. My friend did not understand the severity of situation. I was praying, praying, and praying as we inched towards the canal. Thirty minutes later we entered the mouth of the canal and the motor stopped and would not start. The tide was pushing in, thankfully, and we paddled to the ramp. The Lord was with us that day. If the motor had quit two minutes earlier, we would have been adrift for hours in very dangerous conditions. The fact that we caught the inward tide was clearly because of His caring and watchful eye on my friend and me. It was clear to see the Lord was with us, watching over us. Psalms 2, 100:1-7; Hebrews 11:32—12:2; John 15:1-16 Thursday, January 6 Isaiah 52:7-10 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring the happy news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns. (v.7 TLB) When I was young in the faith there was an older gentleman named Ed that decided he needed to disciple and encourage me. He always had a smile and was genuine in his interest to see others come to Christ. When hurricane Andrew smashed South Florida, Ed was there with building supplies, food, water, and the Gospel. At the county jail every Sunday morning Ed was banging on cell doors to invite the men to his prison Bible study. Mowing yards for widows, feeding the homeless, ministering to the homeless—wherever Ed went he brought the Good News of Jesus to neighbors, friends, and strangers. Ed has since passed; but, no matter who you were, it was always beautiful to see Ed enter a room. Psalms 46, 97; Revelation 21:22-27; Matthew 12:14-21 Friday, January 7 John 2:1-11 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. (vv.9-10 KJV) When I ask Christ for a miracle when I am in a pinch, he must grimace at the lack of the faith I have. My supplications are not mountain moving requests. In the story of Christ creating wine from water, the ruler of the feast couldn’t believe the quality of the wine that Jesus created. Christ does not compromise when he acts; he acts with Godly excellence and power. I would believe that the wine he created exceeded the finest wine offerings this world has ever encountered. In my life I need to recognize that he can transform my request and whine into something excellent, not something status quo. Christ can do the impossible when I ask in his will. Isaiah 52:3-6; Psalm 103; Revelation 2:1-7 Saturday, January 8 Psalm 118 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (v.24) I use to carry this verse on an index card. I would work on memory cards to incorporate Bible verses into my heart. I do not know how many times I had Psalm 118:24 index card in my pocket; but when I did and acknowledged the Lord’s day, I would be fully exhilarated by it. The days I acknowledge the Lord and His workings in me and around me, the day is a day to rejoice and be glad in. Isaiah 59:15-21; Psalm 117; Revelation 2:8-17; John 4:46-54 Sunday, January 9 Psalm 146 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them―the Lord, who remains faithful forever. (vv.5-6 NIV) Do you run to the sanctuary of your church when faced with a crisis? When my life is in shambles, it’s the outdoors that beckons to me. It is there that I find comfort in the wonderful works of God. It is there that I can rest in the arms of the great Creator of the heavens and the earth. If I sit on the bank of a river and watch it slowly drift by, it brings calmness to my tumultuous mind. The ocean, in contrast, puts me in mind of the Lord’s mighty power as waves crash to shore. When I walk through a forest amidst tall stately trees, I am humbled. And in my backyard, the love of God enfolds me. The last five praise Psalms begin and end with “Praise the Lord!” (Hallelujah is the Hebrew translation), and they tell of God’s mercy and grace. Praise the Lord! God is everywhere! Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 147; Hebrews 1:1-12; John 1:1-34 Monday, January 10 Ephesians 1:1-14 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will… (v.11) The words chosen and predestined are powerful words used often in the Bible. From the time we are young, we want to be chosen. Predestined is defined as, “ordained in advance by divine will.” When I was young, I admired the nuns I saw walking in pairs when we went to town. I believed them special. They wore traditional habits of black with a headpiece and white cotton caps. I dreamed of becoming a nun and I often wore my scarf in a similar manner. This was unusual for two reasons. I came from a family of Protestants, and although I was brought up in a Christian home, I wasn’t raised in a church family. Too soon the dream faded. In Galatians 1:11-24, the Apostle Paul tells how God set him apart from birth; in Psalm 40:8, David declares his desire to do the will of God. At an early age I felt I belonged to God. But it took most of my life to realize I was chosen before I was born to perform the work He prepared for me. Isaiah 40:12-23; Psalms 1, 2, 3; Mark 1:1-13 Tuesday, January 11 Isaiah 40:25-31 …but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (v.31) Drained of all energy, I stood with my three adult children amidst the tall pines, blooming cactus, and red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, where I scattered my husband’s ashes. Together, we stood looking out over the mountains, admiring the scenery. An eagle soared in front of a large rock not far from us. As it neared, it made three large circles, each time coming closer, and I know it peered down at us before disappearing behind the red rocks. I’m certain the Lord sent the eagle to renew our strength and give us hope. “…hide me in the shadow of your wings…” (Psalm 17:8); “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge…” (Psalm 91:4); “How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7); and in Exodus 19, the Lord instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel how He carried them on eagles’ wings. God’s mercy enables me, and you, as believers, to rise up like an eagle. Psalms 5, 6; Ephesians 1:15-23; Mark 1:14-28 Wednesday, January 12 Mark 1:29-45 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” (vv.40-41) Jesus was filled with compassion. And the Holy Spirit fills each of us with compassion for others so we can grow to be more like Jesus. Many years ago, I looked at a homeless man who was sitting in a doorway. My fear of him was replaced by compassion as I handed him the lunch I carried. His response was, “God bless you.” That first step resulted in many lunch hours spent seeking homeless people to give sack lunches. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man with leprosy. Eventually, I was moved to bestow hugs on a smelly, dirty lady each time I saw her. Matthew 14 tells how Jesus wanted a little privacy but the crowds followed him, and when the boat landed, he saw the crowd and “he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (v.14). Sometimes I pick and choose whom I have compassion for and quickly ask forgiveness. How about you? Do you listen to your inner promptings from the Holy Spirit? Or do you say, “Not today, Lord. I’m a little tired.” Isaiah 41:1-16; Psalm 119:1-24; Ephesians 2:1-10 Thursday, January 13 Mark 2:1-12 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (vv.11-12) On the fourth day of VBS (Vacation Bible School), we studied how Jesus fed five thousand men, plus their families, with five loaves of bread and two fish, in order to show His great power (John 6:1-13). Although the lesson focused on sharing, a young boy asked the question, “What happens when Jesus loses his magical powers?” Wow! Magical powers versus divine powers! The words magical power brings to mind a big black pot to conjure potions in. Perhaps a bit old fashioned; nevertheless, the words divine power brings thoughts of God. Jesus had only to speak and the paralytic was healed; he had only to speak and the centurion’s servant was healed. Miracles done by the divine power of the Holy Spirit through our Lord is not magic. The prophet Ezekiel makes reference to false prophetesses and their magic spells (Ezekiel 13:18); in Ephesus those who practiced magic burned their books as an indication of repentance (Acts 19:19). Are our children confusing the magical powers in the fictional Harry Potter books with the miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ? Isaiah 41:17-29; Psalm 18:1-20; Ephesians 2:11-22 Friday, January 14 Isaiah 42:1-17 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.” (v.6a) One night I had a dream. I was lost, not knowing which way to turn, when I heard a voice call my name. I stopped at the edge of an abyss that separated me from the voice on the other side. I strained to see a face beneath a white hood above a flowing garment. Others roamed about and a soft white light surrounded them. Each time I turned to run the voice called my name along with one simple word: “Come!” When he reached out his hand I knew what I must do. I leapt across the abyss and he caught me. The instant my hand joined his, the love of Jesus flowed through me. When I awoke, I knew I had touched the hand of Jesus. For days I could feel his hand in mine―no longer was I lost. Just as God vowed to hold the hand of Jesus, He in turn, calls us to live the righteousness of God and will hold our hand. Take His hand. He waits for you. Psalms 16, 17; Ephesians 3:1-13; Mark 2:13-22 Saturday, January 15 Ephesians 3:14-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. (vv.20-21) The power―the glory―forever and ever! I love the impact of these words. Whether they’re presented in Scripture, song, or prayer, they offer the ultimate praise to God. In this Scripture the Apostle Paul, while imprisoned in Rome, writes the words in his letter to the Ephesians. And, when we recite the prayer that Jesus taught us we use the same words at the end of the Lord’s Prayer: “for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” The word of God speaks of the power of God, the power of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. And, Jesus has told us that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to us. But when I think of power, I think of the Trinity; the magnitude of creation, the miracles of Jesus, the tenderness of the Holy Spirit, and the all encompassing love of God. How can I even imagine the extent of the power of God? Let all that I do be for His glory, forever and ever! Amen. Isaiah 43:1-13; Psalms 20, 21:1-13; Mark 2:23—3:6 Sunday, January 16 Hebrews 6:17—7:10 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (vv.17-19a NIV) On December 31, each year, I take inventory of the year with regard to my relationship with God. I ask myself if I have grown closer to God this year? Over the past few years, I am thrilled to tell you that the answer has been yes. I also talk with God about the New Year and what He wants me to change or to add. On January 1, 2010 I told God that I really wanted to know Him better, to fall deeper in love with Him, and to spend more time with Him. I am writing this on July 27, 2010 and I want you to know that this has been the greatest growth year with God I have ever experienced. I now know that I will never, ever fear anything again. Tomorrow I will begin to share with you how God has transformed me. Isaiah 43:14—44:5; Psalms 148, 149, 150; John 4:27-42 Monday, January 17 Psalm 25 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my pain. (vv.16-18) On January 9, nine days after my time with God telling Him I wanted to know Him better, to fall deeper in love with Him, and to spend more time with Him, I received a phone call from my son-in-law that my daughter, Gretchen, had died. She was thirty-nine years young and in good health. Gretchen went to bed Friday night and did not wake up Saturday morning. I was devastated. It has been the most difficult event of my life. However, I did not ask God why. I asked Him: “What am I to learn from this tragedy and what do You have for me?” God said to me: “Michael, you told Me you wanted to know Me better and get closer to Me. I am letting you into My Heart. You are now feeling some of the pain I felt when I gave my Son to you on the cross.” God did not cause Gretchen’s death, but He used it to draw me closer to Him and to give me confidence that He will always be with me and give me grace to deal with every difficulty. Isaiah 44:6-8, 21-23; Ephesians 4:1-16; Mark 3:7-19a Tuesday, January 18 Psalm 28 Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (vv.6-7) The five days we spent preparing for Gretchen’s memorial service was very trying. Early on the third morning I woke up knowing that I needed another word from God. I prayed and asked God for strength and help. I opened my Bible and it opened to a photo of Gretch and my granddaughter, Faith. I gazed at the picture and then my eyes drifted to the top of the page. The Bible had opened to John 14:1. I read: “Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” At that moment God confirmed in me that Gretch is with Him in Heaven. Isaiah 44:9-20; Psalm 26; Ephesians 4:17-32; Mark 3:19b-35 Wednesday, January 19 Ephesians 5:1-14 For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (v. 14) I am now awake. I understand, in my heart, that when I received Jesus I received all of his power and all the grace of God. I have everything in me I need to reflect Jesus in every situation. I have the joy of seeing Satan’s plans turned upside down and God bringing good out of painful circumstances. God is revealing new wisdom, strength, and freedom to me. God has given me a new perspective on pain and suffering. Yes, I have finally given God all of me. Isaiah 44:24—45:7; Psalm 38; Mark 4:1-20 Thursday, January 20 Ephesians 5:15-33 Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (vv.19b-20) Father, I am thankful for every difficult time in my life, even the loss of my precious daughter. While the pain and the emptiness have been severe, I have experienced Your presence, Your joy, Your peace, and Your love during my grieving times. I am humbled that You have let me into Your heart. Knowing that You will always be with me gives me faith and courage to face any future difficulty. I know I am Your precious child, a son of the King, filled with Your grace. Isaiah 45:5-17; Psalm 37:1-18; Mark 4:21-34 Friday, January 21 Mark 4:35-41 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (vv.37-40) When I received Jesus as my Savior and Lord I became a child of God, a Royal son and an heir of my Heavenly Father (Galatians 4:7). In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and I have been given fullness in Christ (Colossians 2:9,10). Therefore, all the power of God and His grace dwells in me. God wants me to walk it out and bring His Kingdom to earth. Isaiah 45:18-25; Psalm 31; Ephesians 6:1-9 Saturday, January 22 Ephesians 6:10-24 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (vv.10-11) Be a warrior for Jesus. Put on the full armor of God and walk in the Kingdom. You have been given authority over this planet (Matthew 28:18). It is the authority to set people free from torment and disease, destroying the works of darkness. You have the authority to move the resources of Heaven to meet human needs. It is the authority to bring Heaven to earth. It is the authority to serve God. Isaiah 46:1-13; Psalms 30, 32; Mark 5:1-20 Sunday, January 23 Psalm 63:1-11 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. (v.5 NIV) I love that David is thinking about Soul Food! David speaks with incredible longing in this psalm about how absolutely desperate he is for God’s presence. And as he earnestly seeks him, God is faithful to meet with David in very real ways. I was 18 when my faith started transforming from something in my mind—pleasant thoughts about God and people—to a real relationship with a living being. I found myself hungry for more than a well-researched sermon; I was hungry for life. I started taking more time to pray and read the Bible, and I came away from those times feeling full—like I’d just eaten a big meal. I realized that God was in all the things that gave me life: beauty, the laughter of children, sunsets, music, and that as I seek Him, he satisfies me and feeds my soul. Isaiah 47:1-15; Psalm 98; Hebrews 10:19-31; John 5:2-18 Monday, January 24 Psalm 41 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. (v.1) When I’m driving I’m nearly always running late, so I totally concentrate and speed to not get stuck at a red light. My husband is almost never in a hurry, and he’s the one who sees the homeless at intersections. He prays for them and often gives something. There are lots of ways to have regard for the weak, but I find that in my rush to be efficient, the weak can annoy me. Whether it’s a homeless person holding up traffic or someone at work who’s in over their head, dealing with someone who’s weak means I need to give of my time, energy, and sometimes money. But Jesus didn’t see the weak as a bother; he championed them. There’s a promise in this psalm that he who has regard for the weak will be restored from illness. I read this psalm soon after my husband had surgery for cancer. I thought of my husband’s compassion for the weak and how he was completely restored to health and is now cancer-free. I’m thinking efficiency isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Isaiah 48:1-11; Psalm 52; Galatians 1:1-17; Mark 5:21-43 Tuesday, January 25 Mark 6:1-13 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.” (v.8) I’m a Girl Scout leader and “Be Prepared” is pounded into my head. But when Jesus sends out the twelve on a mini-mission trip, he instructs them to take nothing with them except a walking stick. They are completely dependent on prayer and the generosity of strangers for their provision. I can talk about depending upon God, but often I’m depending on my bank balance or my family or good friends to come through for me. To completely depend on God and strangers scares me. Yet when we’re in that situation, we get to know God more than ever. I was leading a mission trip and had to empty my bank account in order to go. I had never done that before; I always had a buffer in my account. But as I looked at my balance, I felt God saying, “Do you trust me? Is this trip worth it?” Writing that check was the scariest thing I’d ever done; I had no “extras” for this trip. Yet I met with God on that trip in amazing ways and got to know my future husband. God was faithfully providing for me in every way. Isaiah 48:12-21; Psalm 45; Galatians 1:18—2:10 Wednesday, January 26 Galatians 2:11-21 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (v.20) I was in my 20’s when the revelation came. I was riding high; I loved my teaching job, ran a theater, and had a fast car. But when I looked closely, there was a lot of debris in my wake: hurt people, broken friendships, insincere promises, and lots of pride. Hearing a sermon on this verse brought my feelings of self-hatred to a head. I got in my fast car and drove to the mountains. With my sketchpad I drew a picture of me on a cross and wrote out everything in me that I hated: arrogance, manipulation, cut throat ambition, always being right, putting performance before people. On that mountain I realized that with Christ in my life, the old man, my selfish ways, had died. In its place God was offering forgiveness, patience, humility, healthy relationships, life. It was time to stop beating myself up for being such a bad Christian and start focusing on the new life God was living through me. Isaiah 49:1-12; Psalm 119:49-72; Mark 6:13-29 Thursday, January 27 Mark 6:30-46 [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (v.31b) Jesus was not a workaholic! He regularly went away to pray and rest. It’s a key for us too—getting together with Jesus in a quiet place. When I had to make big decision about the theater I ran, I would drive up to the mountains to “think things out” with God. But while I wanted to have a meeting with God about casting and budgets, it seemed He wanted to have a picnic! I would get no big revelation about the decisions I had to make down below. So I’d go hiking, skip rocks in a high mountain lake, gather wildflowers. And it hit me; maybe because I’m up here resting in His presence and having fun with Him, he’ll give me the insight for the decisions when I get down below. God cared very much about my life, my job, my theater. But He cared more about spending time with me so I could know Him better. I learned He’s not my boss who gives good advice—He’s my Father and my friend. Isaiah 49:13-23; Psalm 50; Galatians 3:1-14 Friday, January 28 Psalm 40 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (v.2) I broke into a cold sweat and thought, “I’m going to die.” I was lost in a swamp in Oregon. The rugged hike along the stream had almost no trail. At sunset, a small voice inside said, “Turn around while it’s still light,” but I knew the stream would intersect a road and kept going. Now it was dark and there was no road and no trail. I turned around and walked in the water down-stream back to camp. The water got cold and deep, up to my chest. Scratched and covered with mosquito bites, I started to panic. Again the small voice came, “Try to make it to that tree ahead.” I sloshed through the swamp and rested by a small tree. For the next 2 hours I slowly stumbled down-stream one small goal at a time and made it back to camp. The next morning Psalm 40 was my reading for the day. Verse 2 made me laugh aloud…God had truly plucked me from the slimy pit and set my feet on solid ground. He is intimately acquainted with our ways, watches, and cares for us. Isaiah 50:1-11; Psalm 54; Galatians 3:15-22; Mark 6:47-56
Saturday, January 29 Galatians 3:23-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (v.28) I was in a carpet shop in Morocco watching 12-year-old girls making rugs. Our host kept pointing out the beauty and quality of the rugs; I only saw young girls in a room with no window working 12-hour days. I later found out that their brothers were in school. My heart broke over the inequality and opportunities denied these girls. I realized just how radical it was that Jesus spoke to and even taught women along with men. When Paul wrote these words, a good horse was more valuable than a woman. Yet he boldly speaks this truth: in Jesus all are equal. No one is extra special; we’re all one in Christ. This is true for gender, social level, and nationality; there is no group he likes better. Jesus has leveled the field and we’re all one. Therefore, I need to make sure I’m treating people equally regardless of gender, social level, or nationality. Lord, help me to love all people the same, like you do. Isaiah 51:1-8; Psalm 55; Mark 7:1-23 Sunday, January 30 John 7:14-31 But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from. (v.27 NIV) One of the most frequently asked questions by me of others is “Where are you from?” Living in a very transient community I am constantly curious about where people came from before relocating or visiting here and why. It may be precipitated by an accent, an interesting last name, or any number of comparisons to my own past and familial roots. By asking, I also learn something new every day about another area of the country or the world that the person likes, is excited about, and willing to share. I can see the world through another’s eyes, fresh eyes, and experience a shared vision that is new. The question “Where are you from?” could also lead to “Where are you going?” and Christ points the way for me as my savior, my rock, and my intercessor before our Heavenly Father. I need not ask, as I know where this man is from, and who sent him for me and for you. Isaiah 51:9-16; Psalms 24, 29; Hebrews 11:8-16 Monday, January 31 Isaiah 51:17-23 Rouse yourself, Rouse yourself! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl of staggering. (v.17 NRSV) Several years ago when the stock market tanked and the stock price of my employer lost ninety percent of its value, I found myself, along with several thousands of my associates, among the ranks of the unemployed. I am thankful that our family did not live beyond our means and we are thankful for teachings on saving, stewardship, and living a life according to Biblical principles. I sent out resumes and went to outplacement seminars and counseling, but was unable to find employment. I still have to daily give thanks for my blessings and Rouse myself to face each new day as an opportunity. God is good, and He is in control of my life, my decisions, and the new opportunities that come from Him in so many ways. Each new day I face a decision of whether to be a planter of seeds for Christ or one who waters seeds for Christ. Psalms 56, 57, 58; Galatians 4:1-11; Mark 7:24-37 |