Archived Devotions (Page 5)
Understanding Full Surrender
Throughout our lives with Christ, we sometimes begin to forget that we are called to continually surrender the details of our lives. We all remember that moment when we gave our lives to the Lord and surrendered it all, but as we walk through our day-to-day lives we begin to take back things that we once fully surrendered. I am not necessarily saying we are falling back into our sinful ways, but I am referring to those daily things that…
Pastoral Devotional – May 19, 2022
A few years ago, Eric Whitacre, a famous classical composer, conducted a fun little experiment. He wrote a song and posted the sheet music on his blog inviting people around the world to sing the various harmonies. His idea was for individuals to sing into a camera and post their videos on YouTube. Using those posts, he created a master track where he joined the videos together like an orchestra. He hired a video recorder to weave all the videos…
Standing in the Shadow
I remember when my kids were little, and we used to play the game ‘catch my shadow’. Many of you may be familiar with this simple game, where you walk ahead of your child, and they try to catch or stomp on the shadow on the ground. It was always a big competition in our family, and I did not just let my kids win! At this current phase of my life, I wish there was more time to play…
Be Still
It is Saturday, and as I write this devotional-the second one. It’s kind of like last week. I had a sermon all written out for Sunday and the Holy Spirit is telling me this isn’t the sermon I want you to do. Ok, I get this. It happens to all Preachers, but now it’s Friday morning. I did have things running through my brain so that did make the new sermon much easier. These kinds of sermons are the best.…
For Such a Time as This
“And who knows but that you have come to your…position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NIV) Throughout my life, there have been numerous times that Mordecai’s words here to Esther have seemed applicable to my own life. As a quick summary, Esther was elevated to the position of queen, leading with King Xerxes who “ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush” (Esther 1:1). Esther became aware that one of Xerxes’ noblemen named Haman plotted to…
Managing Expectations
7 Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ I’ve given the message to you.” 8 With great fear and excitement, they hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. 9 But Jesus met them and greeted them. They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I…
Pastoral Devotional – April 14, 2022
To boldly proclaim the transforming love of Christ through acts of mercy and grace – so that we can bring them to Christ. As we draw closer to beginning the pastoral search process and the transition team continues to seek God’s direction and heart for a clear mission and vision for SFNAZ I want to share with you a devotion I have shared with both the transition team and the church board. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian…
Listening To That Still Small Voice!
I was driving down the street one day and suddenly the traffic slowed down considerably. I thought there must be an accident down the way. I didn’t see any flashing lights or hear any sirens. Like everyone else, we were slowly creeping forward. I started watching two boys and their dog. They were patiently trying to teach the dog how to get use to walking with a leash. The boy with the leash on the dog would line up the…
Reflections
In our walk with the Lord, the definition of reflection can be a word that changes meaning for us. I remember when I was 19 years old I lived with my aunt and uncle. My uncle is a pastor and he was helping me through some difficult choices in life. They took me in to live with them because I had a rebellious heart and chose not to stay with my parents because I was an “adult”. During this time…
A New Creation
16 So then, from this point on we won’t recognize people by human standards. Even though we used to know Christ by human standards, that isn’t how we know him now. 17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived! (2 Corinthians 5:16-17) This passage is one of the lectionary readings for this week. Here Paul reminds us that as Christ followers we…
Pastoral Devotional 3/17/2022
Devotion on 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire,”. Through the pouring out of His Holy Spirit, God gave life to His chosen people, individually and corporately, and is still giving us life today through that same Spirit. Jesus promised His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8. …
Forgive One Another
One of my favorite women in the Bible is Miriam. She is probably more like me. We first see her after Moses is born at the wrong time. The government is saying there are too many Israelites. Moses’ mother makes a basket, puts Moses in the basket, puts both in the Nile River, and has Miriam watch to see what happens. Pharaoh’s daughter sees the basket and discovers Moses inside Miriam is very brave and asks Pharaoh’s daughter if she…