Faith and Forgiveness

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Saturday, March 27

By Roscoe C. Word, Jr., April 2, 1976

Faith and Forgiveness

Read: Mark 11:22-26 (RSV)

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

I must have FAITH. Jesus promised in John 15:7 that if I abide in Him and His words abide in me, I can ask whatever I will and it will be done for me. What I ask MUST be according to His WILL and according to His WORDS. This means reading the gospels – absorbing the gospels – and living according to His teaching – morning, noon and night. I must FORGIVE. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matt: 5:44. St. Paul wrote, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’. No, ‘if your enemy is hungry feed him: if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head’. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21.

Prayer

Lord, take my mind and think through it. Take my heart and set it on fire with love. Take my tongue and let the Holy Spirit speak through my lips. Take my prayers and let them bring the healings of Jesus to everyone for whom I pray. I thank you that in Christ I have your forgiveness and through Him I am possessed by the Holy Spirit and delivered from sin, disease, demons and fear.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

Hope of the World

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Friday, March 26

By Bill Gray, March 6, 1977

Hope of the World

Read: Romans 5:1-5

Georgia Harkness, one of the great women theologians of our day, has contributed one of the most powerful hymns to our United Methodist Hymnal “Hope of the World.” This hymn was submitted and chosen (from some 500 others submitted) as the theme hymn for the second assembly of the World Council of Churches. It has become a favorite at Church Street, but I would like to encourage you to read the text as poetry. Read the text carefully to discover its deep truths.

 

“Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion,

Speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent.

Save us thy people, from consuming passion,

Who by our own false hopes and aims are spent.

 

Hope of the world, God’s gift from highest heaven,

Bringing to hungry souls the bread of life.

Still let thy spirit unto us be given,

To heal earth’s wounds and end her bitter strife.

 

Hope of the world, a-foot on dusty highways,

Showing to wandering souls the path of light.

Walk thou beside us lest the tempting byways

Lure us away from thee to endless night.

 

Hope of the world, who by the cross didst save us

From death and dark despair, from sin and guilt.

We render back the love thy mercy gave us;

Take thou our lives, and use them as thou wilt.

Hope of the world, O Christ, O’er death victorious,

Who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain.

We would be faithful to thy gospel glorious;

Thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign!  Amen.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious, we beseech thee, to all who have erred and gone astray from thy holy Word and bring them again in steadfast faith, to receive and hold fast thine unchangeable truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

Paramount Power

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Thursday, March 25

By Col. Bill Willard, April 1, 1980

Paramount Power

Read: Revelation 21:1

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away…”

Last December, Rev. Eldon Moore preached a sermon concerning breathtaking events. It caused me to think back to a lonely beach in the Central Pacific some twenty years ago. The long-awaited detonation of a hydrogen bomb was at hand. I had walked away from the area where most of the observers had assembled and found a secluded spot at the lagoon’s edge. It was 5 a.m. and pitch black. I looked towards Bikini, some 180 miles to the East. At first, there was only a faint glow on the horizon; then the entire sky came alive with a glorious sunrise, not unlike some Easter sunrises I had seen. But gradually the light began to fade and within 30 seconds the total darkness returned. I stood in awe, unable to fully comprehend what I had just witnessed. Man had created a power, albeit brief, to rival the center of our solar system. How he used that power was to become a major concern of civilization from that time forward.

God’s love, as manifested in Christ Jesus, is the paramount power in the universe. How will we use it? Surely, our failure to actively promote this power is one reason for the chaotic state of our world today. God’s love is not abstract. It shines through people who are truly his disciples. Does His love glow through you?

Prayer

May the power of the Living God control and shape our lives, so that we may radiate the truth of Christ to all mankind. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

Strength for the Day

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Wednesday, March 24

By Mr. and Mrs. Earl S. (Margaret) Ailor, March 3, 1980

Strength for the Day

Read: Romans 8:28 NIV

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”

As 1979 began we had many things to be thankful for. We had been blessed with two daughters and two sons. Our oldest daughter was married to a Methodist minister and they had two sons.  Our oldest son had completed Claremont Theology School in California and was serving two rural churches near Limestone in upper East Tennessee as a United Methodist Minister. He and his wife, Julia, enjoyed life in a rural pastorate.

On a cold January night, we received a call from the Kingsport hospital that Albert and Julia had been involved in an accident and they needed us. As we drove through the night not knowing what had happened we asked the Lord for strength to face whatever we might find upon arrival. At the hospital our worst fears became a reality in learning our son had been killed. We were thankful our daughter-in-law had miraculously survived.

As days, weeks and months have passed we find strength in the Easter faith our son Albert had in Christ as he had proclaimed the truth that “only believe and we shall meet again.” We have also felt the prayers of our friends in Christ in our time of loss. The three children we still have with us have been a source of comfort to us. We have the faith that “blessed are those who die in the Lord,” and that our son will greet us at the end of the way.

Prayer

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything pleasing in his sight, through Christ Jesus; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20

Thought – “Christ has taken the dark door of death and replaced it with the shining gate of life.” -Bosch

We still have many things for which to be thankful.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

Where is Thy Sting?

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Tuesday, March 23

By Mr. and Mrs. Tom (Mary Ruth) Fonville, March 18, 1980

Where is Thy Sting?

Read: John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:55

“For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not die but have eternal life.”

O death where is thy sting?

A father and his son were taking a drive in their car. They were enjoying the trip and being together that day. It was a warm beautiful day and the windows were down. Suddenly a bumblebee flew into the car. It was flying around, buzzing, and the boy was frantic! He was afraid he would be stung. His father was concerned too, because he knew his son was allergic to bee stings and could have a dangerous reaction that would kill him.

The father said “Don’t worry son, I’ll take care of it.” He found a place where he could pull off the road and stopped the car. He reached out his hand and calmly caught the bumblebee and then he opened his hand and let the bee go. His son was still frightened as the bee began to fly around again. His father held out is hand with the bee sting imbedded in his palm and he showed it to his son saying “You don’t have to be afraid anymore the bee can’t hurt you. See, I have taken the stinger out of the bee.”

Isn’t this what God, our father, has done for us? By Christ’s death and resurrection, he has taken the sting out of death!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love and that you love us so much you sent your Son that we should not die but have eternal life. In His Name we pray. Amen.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

The Constant Love of Christ

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Monday, March 22

By Charles E. Naff, February 17, 1978

The Constant Love of Christ

Read: Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever.”

Recently, I observed a bumper-sticker which read, “Jesus Christ is coming again soon and boy is He mad.”

As Christians, we believe in the second coming, but is Jesus Christ really angry with us? Maybe at times He isn’t very well pleased, but the Bible tells us He is always a loving Lord. He loved us so much He gave His life that we could have eternal life – it is ours for the asking.

At this lovely time of the year when we celebrate perhaps the greatest day of all, let us be forever mindful of the great sacrifice made by our loving God.

Prayer

Lord, as we go about our daily lives, keep us mindful of thy great love. Teach us ever to share that love with one another. Amen.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

He Will Take Your Guilt Away

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, March 21, Evening

By Ann Dooley Parsons, April 12, 1979

He Will Take Your Guilt Away

Read Isaiah 53:4-6

In Isaiah 53, we see a striking description of the suffering Christ. But doesn’t this also depict humanity in its sin? Look at the words — sorrows, griefs, transgressions, iniquities and lastly: “All we like sheep have gone astray.”

This adds up to one fact: each of us has a flaw, a blemish or several. Think of yourself or those you know and love – your friends, your relatives or your immediate family. There is something imperfect about each one of us. We aren’t willing to do our share, we lose our tempers, we’re selfish, we gossip, we’re too easy or not easy enough, we’re greedy. We too have fallen short – we too have turned to our own ways – we too have gone astray.

These flaws we have create guilt feelings and because of guilt we lose our peace of mind. Somehow the joy gets rendered out of life because of these flaws.

Is there any hope? Isaiah 53 tells us there is all the hope in the world. Truly we have gone astray, but remember that there is the Lamb of God who has not. Jesus Christ has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He Will Take Away Our Guilt.

Once again read Isaiah 53 and notice the plural. ALL have gone astray and ALL have been forgiven. But don’t be misled by the plural. Each one of us must believe, each one of us must accept to receive the blessed healing.

In the words of a beautiful and familiar hymn …

Prayer

Come ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish, Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish, Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. Amen.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

O Death, Where is Thy Sting?

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, March 21, Morning

By Betty Craig, April 14, 1976

O Death, Where is Thy Sting?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Many individuals make tremendous impacts upon our lives. Often it is not until their death that we, through reminiscence, begin to fully realize what they meant to us and others through the types of lives they lived — their beliefs, dedication and commitments.

During the years 1957-62, Robert H. Hamill served as pastor of Wesley Foundation at the University of Wisconsin. We knew Bob, and his beliefs, dedication and commitment affected our lives. From the University of Wisconsin, Bob went on to serve as Dean of the Chapel of Boston University School of Theology. His writing, preaching and teaching affected many individuals. His death in February 1975 caused us to reflect upon the impact of his life. Although Bob surely will be missed by many, he will, more importantly, be remembered with joy by many. He was a man of compassion and vision; he lived his Christian beliefs with zeal and intensity. With thanksgiving he will be remembered in death as in life, as Bob himself said, “the demand of death is that I turn from the past to the future, and decide all over again what my life is all about.  Death intensifies my living and sends me back to all that is basic and elemental, and I find it good, very good.” And Bob’s life was very, very good.

The days of Lent cause us to focus on another very, very good life — that of Jesus Christ — a son given for the sins of the world. A man who neither asked for, nor needed, any worldly goods; one who believed in turning from the past to the future; one who knew what his life was all about; a life shared with others.

What a tribute to have said of one’s life: “It was very, very good!”.

Prayer

We are thankful for your Son and for the many individuals who affect our lives daily. Open our eyes that we may see them as you do. Open our lives that we may turn from the past to the future and thereby determine what our lives are all about. Amen and Amen.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

Life Within You and Me

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Saturday, March 20

By Mrs. Mamie Lee Finger, Jr., February 19, 1978

Life Within You and Me

Read: John 1-17

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. …He came to bear witness to the light,… that all might believe. …And the Word became flesh…full of grace and truth. …From his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.”

With the coming of the movie, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, I went back to Hannah Greene’s original written words. Again, I was moved by the reflective and deep thoughts of this young out-patient from the hospital:

“Over the text of John Stainer’s ‘Seven-Fold Amen’, she looked out into the congregation on

Sunday and wondered if they ever thanked God for the light in their minds, for friends, for cold

and pain responsive to the laws of nature, for enough depth of insight into these laws to have

expectation, again for friends, for the days and nights that follow one another in stately rhythm,

for the sparks that fly upward, for friends . . .

Did they know how beautiful and enviable their lives were? She realized more and more that

her few spare hour pastimes provided too little in which to test and exercise her fragile ‘Yes’

to a newborn reality.”

I began to wonder – do we actually test, or exercise, our sometimes fragile YES to reality, which can be newborn for us each day?

 

DO WE?

CAN WE?

WILL WE?

Prayer

Thank you, God, for the gifts of our life – for the light in our minds – for friends, for the expectations of living. May we be transmitters of life, agents of Your activity, facilitators of living fully. With Faith and in hope, may we break open and see the world of opportunity that is ours as we ourselves are open. Then, through Grace and Truth and Light, may we lay claim to our greatest potential, Christ within us. Amen.

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by

There is Life!

,

Daily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Friday, March 19

By Rev. Eldon A. Moore, February, 1981

There is Life!

Read: Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

It will be our hope for a better tomorrow that will keep us going today. Our faith is one of hope. In the New Testament world, God in Christ gave hope to a world which had no hope, and in today’s world we still have this same hope.

Ours is a faith that tells us no man need despair, for God is good and merciful, and active in the affairs of each of us. We don’t always have to accept situations as they are. We can help create circumstances and not merely adjust to them. Creativity is a God-given capacity. Man creates his own hopes, but God fulfills them. God is working his purposes in each of us. He will change us, discipline us, save us from futility. His steadfast love endures. Such an attitude of hope will not fail us. It is like a true compass to guide us.

Not too many days ago, while I was raking long fallen leaves in our backyard on a cold dismal day, and pondering the troubles of the world-what should appear from under the decaying leaves, but a tender green fern to remind me that no one should give in to despair or hopelessness.

There is life! There is light! There is hope! Yea, wait for the Lord!

Prayer

Dear God, help us to find new meaning in our faith as we put our trust and our hope in Thee. We praise Thee that Lent is a time that renews the vision of our life in Christ, our hope, and our joy. Amen.    

Have a Prayer Request?

Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.

/by