Isaiah 12:2 July 17, 2013

Beth Williams
Isaiah 12:2

"God is my savior; I will trust in him and not be afraid. .."

News of unspeakable acts surrounds us and threatens to immobilize us with fear. It is no wonder that many find it difficult to trust anyone - to believe in anything!

Even so, I cannot imagine a life without hope, without purpose, without possibility. For it is by trusting God that we are given the freedom (from fear) to experience all that is good in our lives. We can rest assured that God will take care of our needs, protect us and strengthen us all of our days!

Our choir sings a beautiful anthem whose words say it well..."Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense and he will be my savior ah..." (Now, that's good news!)

Prayer: Dear Lord, Help me to place my trust in you today. Allow me to see all that is good in my life and to be a light to others. Amen.

2 Samuel 22:5 July 15, 2013

Rev. Tom Wood
II Samuel 22:5 

"For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me..."

Samuel was once a single history of the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. It was named after the prophet who plays a prominent role early in the work and was God's instrument in establishing the monarchy. This reading comes from a time late in David's reign, the words from a psalm-like passage (see Psalm 18] in which David remembers a time when his enemies, including Saul, surrounded him.

Note the flood-like feeling that David recalls, waves and torrents. And this is not water swirling around the King's body. These are the waves of death and perdition lapping all around him. It seems that all is lost and yet somehow by their trust in God, God rescues the King and the people of Israel. David voices this salvation in these words:

"He reached from on high, he took me, He drew me out of mighty waters. He delivered me from my strong enemies." Verses 17-18

Perhaps we can remember a time like that in our lives; perhaps we are living through such a season right now. Our journey presents an opportunity to reflect on such times and the ways we came through the deep waters, what ever they were. Recalling those times can help increase our faith and trust in God who never forgets us, never abandons us. Take that trust with you for the journey.

Prayer: Loving God, as we remember times when the waves lapped around us, help us deepen our faith and trust. Then when we celebrate victory with your son, that joy may fill us to new depths. Amen

2 Samuel 22:31 July 13, 2013

Alfred Shropshire
2 Samuel 22:31

"... [God] is a shield to all that trust in him."

Years ago when my father was still alive, our family traveled from Pennsylvania to visit our relatives here in Rome. As we walked around the farm property where my dad grew up, he described just where everything (pastures, orchards, fields, and buildings) used to be.

When we came upon the still functioning well, he said that this was the third well that he, as a youngster, had helped his dad to dig. As the evacuation got deeper and deeper, his dad lowered him into the pit by a rope. He would dig and then put loosened soil into a container tied to the rope. His dad would pull up the container and dump the soil. At appropriate times, his dad also would raise him by that same rope.

When asked about the danger involved, my dad smiled and gave a simple answer. "I trusted my dad!"

In this verse, David is summing up a lifetime of experiencing God's grace. God is David's redeemer. Although so much about Christian discipleship is rewarding and joyful, nothing is easy. Trials are always difficult as we experience them. But, later they bring fresh appreciation of the goodness of our God.

Through the greatest and the least of us, God works to bring about God's purpose on earth. We are required to take delight in God's grace already present in our midst. We, like David, experience moments when we fall short of what God expects. But, we also, like David, should never put ourselves outside of the reach of God's grace and forgiveness.

Lord, in the midst of today's political and social clamor, may we hear David's message of encouragement, rise above worldly distractions, and put our trust in you. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:20 July 12, 2013

Connie Barris
I Timothy 6:20


"Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,"


Just look at her butt. Is my butt that big? Deep down I don't care for this person so I jump on board and continue to diminish the character of this person until there is nothing left but to spit out the bones-unbeknownst to her. The conversation is so derogatory that it would knock an Angel right out of its' cozy nest on a snow glisten night.


Why must we do this to each other?


There is something about peering into the life of another. We are rubbernecking in a sense.


Whether we are the victim or the bystander, we are all but small frail humans. We desperately seek to be accepted and loved—at any cost. We would sell our soul to the Devil if it meant one moment of pleasure. (Genesis 25:29-34)


We all have been there. Some are still there. We want to matter to someone. We would rather suffer in pain and agony than to not matter at all. This is why the Emergency Rooms are so full. Many of the patient's injuries sadly, are self-inflicted.


What are we looking for?


We are looking to measure up; to be measured by and yet, when it comes to God we won't let Him fill our measuring cup. We live in secret. We live in darkness. (Isaiah 45:19)


It is only in that small flicker of light, a fleeting glimpse of trust and where we can call out for hope in a newfound care. So many people try to describe a God as one that is scurrying around trying to get His house in order but this isn't the case. The Resurrection of Christ was not some desperate last-minute thought of God's part to save the Hero. It was God's original plan all along.

His Son, Jesus was and is our Hope.

Prayer: May Jesus be your hope

1 Timothy 4:10 July 10, 2013

Connie Barris
I Timothy 4:10

"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe."

A trickle of tears from the Heavens falls on the good and the bad, the spiritual and the unspiritual, those who believe and those who do not believe. There is no discrimination in the choosing of who receives this blessing of His Holy Rain. The world moves on oblivious to the volley that seeps in the profound longing of their hearts. Before long, the thunder of passion fades to a distant roar.

Hope is either restored or lost somewhere along this great journey. Why me? I asked. Why not me? I heard.

I tasted the vileness of this Satan's wounds that I may understand it in its fullness.

The thing I came to loathe in others is the very thing I feared the most. It was the reflection of my soul and a mirror image of whom I prayed I was not. I have found that is the way we are as humans. The things that stir my essence to the edge of excitability have some great power undefined- holding rne in a secret lovers embrace.

It captures and takes me into captivity and will not release me until I let go of the power sustained through my fear and trepidation. God did not force me into this place, for "He stands at the door and knocks..." (Rev 3:20)

He is a Gentleman. He will wait as long as it takes. I turn the knob ...slowly. Do I trust my God-given instincts? My greatest fear has not been what was but what was not. "Why me?" I cried. 'Why not me?" He wept...

Prayer: For God so loved the world, ..May we love one another. (John 3:16)

1 Thessalonians 2:4 July 8, 2013

Marge Hauser
I Thessolonians 2:4

"We speak as people approved by God to be with the gospel. We are not trying to God, who tests our hearts."

Imagine God trusting us! We have had so many passages telling us to trust God. In this verse we are given a responsibility by God to spread His love, His word, His story and telling us He trusts us to do that! Wow!

We know from experience that when we tell our children we trust them to make the right decision and do the right thing, they know we are letting go of some of our parental responsibilities and they usually do not disappoint us.

Will God be disappointed or will we accept the gift he has given us to let go of our thoughts and actions and open up to what He wants us to say and do? And if we are able to do that, do we remember in pleasing God and not others, to give God. and not ourselves, the glory?

Prayer: Trusting God, thank you for loving and trusting us so much. We pray that we will not disappoint you. Amen.

Hosea 4:11 July 7, 2013

Dave Henley
Hosea 4:11 

The Lord says, "Wine, both old and new, is robbing my people of their senses!"

The Lord charged the Israelites with their indiscretions and sins: idolatry, gluttony, greed, and in this passage, harlotry and drunkenness. They had chosen to follow this terrible path, away from the direction the Lord had set for them. The Lord told them they would be accountable and punished, along with their priests who had become corrupt as well. There would be no hiding behind their leaders, or be able to offer the excuse that it wasn't their fault because the priests led them astray. The Lord holds us all accountable, especially the ones who have been blessed with His knowledge.

As a part of "life", we must all work hard, hopefully earning a good wage, enjoying good meals, and heck, even a glass of wine. Both the t-shirt and bumper sticker tell us that "Life Is Good." However, it is the LOVE of such things, and the placing of importance upon these things that bring us out of focus. God's central place in our lives is taken over by the love of what our money buys, and the void we're filling with too much food and strong drink. We've even become obsessed with watching others battle their addictions and hash out their problems on television.

Just as the priests were held up as examples, we should also stay on task for the sake of our children. We are responsible for their knowledge, growth, and development; and our actions will speak volumes to them. The same goes for how we are seen as Christians by those we encounter. If we lead as the Lord has taught us, many will follow.

Heavenly Father, We know that we're not perfect and that you are not expecting us to be. We should, however, always strive to be, and if we follow your word and direction we will be empowered to not stray as often. All you ask from us is to acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness. If we place our faith in you and turn over complete control, we will be eternally blessed with that forgiveness. In your son's name we pray. Amen

Hebrews 6:11 June 5, 2013

Joe Errickson
Hebrews 6:11

"And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end."

The initiation of the Lord's Supper by Jesus took place as he and the disciples observed the beginning of Passover. I imagine it must have been a festive occasion, perhaps comparable to our Christmas celebration in its importance to the Jewish faith. Jesus gathered with the disciples for what only He knew to be the Last Supper.

How difficult it must have been for the disciples to comprehend what Jesus had to say. The disciples were in a celebratory mood for the most part, several of them discussing who would be the greatest among them in the Kingdom. They seemed to think they'd "made it" after Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, albeit on a donkey. Their expectation was for Jesus to usher in the Kingdom with a wave of support from the common people. Occupy Jerusalem was about to begin! The crowds had gone wild, laying down palm branches along the path of the King, declaring: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"

How often do we let our own expectations block what God is telling us? How easy it is to try to take our own path, fully believing it has God's approval. How easy to close our minds to any other direction thinking that One Way, means our own way. My guess is it happens far too often and we probably don't realize it when we do. During this time of Lent, and particularly on this Maundy Thursday observance, may we take time to listen with our minds and our hearts for God's direction, and allow Him lead us into 'the full assurance of hope until the end'.

Prayer: Merciful Lord, restore to us the joy of our salvation wherein lies our hope. Amen.

Hebrews 3:4 Wednesday July 4, 2013

Duke May
Hebrews 3:4 

For every house is builded by some man, but he that built all things is God.

Hebrews was an effort to stop the tendency among Jewish Christians to turn away from their faith in Christianity and return to the old established religion.

Hebrews, in the form of a letter, tells the readers to hold fast to their faith, which is richer and more glorious than anything before. May we as members of Westminster Presbyterian Church hold fast to this truth that we honor God as we build to better worship the one that builds all things.

Dear Lord: We pray that you will correct the error in our hearts; and as we build, may we know your ways. Amen

Hebrews 3:3 July 2, 2013

Ken McKenzie
Hebrews 3:3

For this man was counted -worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house has more honor than the house.

In this passage, the author of Hebrews is reminding us Who our true author is: Jesus Christ. He does this by drawing an analogy between the architect of a house and the house itself.

One of the lessons which I have learned over several building campaigns is that the architect is the brains behind the project. He or she develops the vision, modifies it according to the needs, desires and resources of the customer, and retains ownership of the design. During construction, the architect administers the contract with the construction company, sees to a myriad of details, and is constantly consulted for changes and other items. Without the architect, a project of any size is usually doomed to failure.

If you stop and think about it, each one of us is one of God's biggest projects. He is the master architect who has designed us, built us, and maintains us each and every day. He sees us through the changes of life, gives us strength for our journeys, and adapts us for challenges which come our way.

Often we think that we are our own architects. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Whenever we try to engineer our lives, we are looking through too narrow a tunnel to see the wider vision of God's will. Inevitably, we meet with failure and catastrophe.

We are called not only to accept our Lord as our Architect, but to celebrate that every day. As we go through this season of Lent, let us remember to give Him the honor and glory He is due. We are truly the work of His hands and the design of His heart.

Prayer: O Lord, remind me this day and every day that you have crafted me after Your will. May I always seek to glorify You in all that I do, reflecting Your grace and goodness upon all -whose lives I touch. Amen.