Thursday, April 30, 2015

Self-giving love

1 JOHN 4:7-11
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.

Thank you, Lord,
for showing us
what love looks like.

You revealed your love
by coming among us
so that we might live!
Self-giving love.

That's how true love is.
Love gives from itself.
Not demanding from others,
but offering itself up
for the good of the other.

Often, Lord, I think
about the way a parent loves a child.
Getting up in the night,
sacrificing his/her wants for the child's benefit.

Yet, Lord, you call us
to have that same quality of love
--self-giving love--
for one another in the church.

What does it look like
for church members
sisters and brothers in Christ
to give of themselves
for the good of the other?
What does self-giving love
look like in the church?

How might church be different?
How might the world be different?

"Since God loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another."

Today
I pray for your church,
O Christ.
May we love as you love
a self-giving love
for the good of the other.
Amen.

Monday, April 27, 2015

A time to grieve

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.


Today, Lord,
I am grieved
by the news of death:
--death due to tragedy in Nepal
--death due to illness of friend's spouse

O Holy Comfort,
come and wrap us
in your loving embrace.
Weep with us.
Join us in search and rescue.
Now is the time for grief.
Remind us
just how fragile life is.
Teach us
to live each day for you
loving,
forgiving,
enjoying,
rejoicing.
And when the time
for tears is over,
help us build again.
Rebuilding homes destroyed,
reaching out,
offering ourselves in love to others,
and receiving their friendship
and love as well.

Until the day
when the time is right
and all are united
at your banquet table,
Lord, 
may your comforting hand
be upon all who grieve.
Amen.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Psalm 23 (NRSV)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

Thank you, Lord:
For being my shepherd.
For the green pastures I enjoy.
For the still waters that restore my soul,
For leading me in your paths,
For walking beside me in the darkest times,
For your discipline and saving embrace,
For my seat at your abundant table,
For surprising me with a place a the table of peace with my enemies,
For blessing me,
For an overflowing cup of blessing to share,
For inviting me to make my home in your house.

Truly,
your Goodness
your Mercy
are with me
all the days of my life.

Truly
Grateful
am I.
Amen.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

One Among the Sheep

JOHN 10:11-18
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away — and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Lord Jesus,
I am glad 
to be among your flock.

I remember 
hearing your voice 
first calling my name
years ago 
through my parents,
through the faithful saints 
of First Presbyterian, Sumter, SC,
through those adults who cared enough 
to know my name and know me.

And you keep calling
over and over
I hear your voice.

As a pastor,
may I be your helper 
keeping the flock.
I remember one of my mentors claimed his place 
as a sheepdog,
listening to the voice of the shepherd
one among the sheep
guiding, caring, protecting, 
running ahead, circling behind,
pushing forward, keeping together...

Keep calling, Lord,
help me be 
an obedient sheep dog,
helpful to you,
among the sheep,
always by your side,
quick to answer your call,
attentive to the needs of those under my care,
my head always ready 
to receive your loving pat
to heard those loving words,
"Good boy!"

May it be so today.
Amen.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Let us love... in truth and action

1 JOHN 3:16-24
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us — and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Today, Lord,
she came in
looking for help.
A mother looking for help.
a son who died
of a heart attack,
a son who struggles
with emotional swings of bipolar disorder
a daughter
with breast cancer...
She came
looking for help.

Jesus,
you gave of yourself;
laid down your life for us.
"Love, not in word or speech,
but in truth and action"

We should do the same,
give of ourselves.
Love in truth and action.

I tried.
I gave what I could
--a prayer for her and her family,
a full tank of gas in her van,
and a reminder about the help of Bladen Crisis Assistance.
I confess, Lord,
that I wondered the whole time
if I was being taken.

Love in truth and action.
I tried.
Reassure our hearts
whenever our hearts condemn us;
for God you are greater than our hearts,
and you know everything.

I entrust
her, her family and myself
to you.
Amen.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

We have seen the Lord

JOHN 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

The below prayer is NOT my writing.
I share these words from www.livingwithchrist.us


“We have seen the Lord”

Lord Jesus,
where will I see you today?

Just as you appeared
when your disciples
were gathered together,
help me see you
in the gathering
of your Church today,
in priest and people,
in word and
bread and wine.

Just as you wished
your disciples peace
and showed them
your wounds, still visible
and real on your risen body,
just as you breathed
the Spirit upon them,
and sent them
forth on a mission
of reconciliation--
so let me see you
in your people
as we strive to carry out
your mission and bring
the breath of your Spirit
to the world.

Let me see you
in all the people
who work for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
Let me see you
in all the women and men
who sacrifice and 
give of themselves for others.
Let me see you
in the poor and exploited,
still covered by the
visible and invisible
wounds and scars
caused by the selfishness,
and carelessness of others.

Lord, Jesus, help me
to see that you are
still performing signs
in the presence of your disciples.
And help me to be one of your signs
so that, through me,
the world will come to know you
and have life in your name.
Amen.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

This I believe... whenever I see the sunrise and its beauty... God is beauty.















Coming this Sunday, April 19, 2015
the confirmation students 
of Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church 
will declare their faith in Jesus Christ publically during worship, 
thus becoming members of Christ's church.

What follows is excerpted from a statement of faith 
written by one of the confirmation students.  

May we be inspired 
by their faith. 
This I believe...

(These words were shared as best as I remember
as she described her faith statement as a drawing.)

Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"
That verse reminds me that
we are all made by God.
God created everything.

I drew a sunrise
because whenever I see the sunrise
and its beauty
I think of the Holy Spirit--
God is beauty.

Matthew 10:32-33
"Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people, 
I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. 
But everyone who denies me before people, 
I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."That's the verse I try to live by every day
living out my faith before others.

-- written by Carleigh DeVane

Friday, April 17, 2015

This I believe... God is watching over me and protecting me














Coming this Sunday, April 19, 2015
the confirmation students 
of Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church 
will declare their faith in Jesus Christ publically during worship, 
thus becoming members of Christ's church.

What follows is excerpted from a statement of faith 
written by one of the confirmation students.  

May we be inspired 
by their faith. 
This I believe...

My faith in God
makes a difference in my life
because it helps me
make the right decisions in my life.
It's like a voice
in the back of your head
telling you what to do
and what not to do.

I believe God is a Savior.
He is watching over me
and protecting me
because we are
all his children
even when I do something wrong
he still loves me.

My faith in Jesus has changed me.
Before I make a decision in life,
I think about what would I do
if Jesus was with me.
That's how I try to live my life
day by day.

-- written by Pierce Melvin

Thursday, April 16, 2015

This I believe... God is the sound the waves crashing on the shore














Coming this Sunday, April 19, 2015
the confirmation students 
of Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church 
will declare their faith in Jesus Christ publically during worship, 
thus becoming members of Christ's church.

What follows is excerpted from a statement of faith 
written by one of the confirmation students.  

May we be inspired 
by their faith. 
This I believe...


Church, God and family
have always been a big part of my life.
They make me who I am. 

Without God,
there would be no church, 
and without church, 
family wouldn't be family. 
I don’t consider just my brother and mom 
and aunts and uncles and cousins my family, 
but the people in the church, they are my family also
because they have been there for me 
and watched me grow.

I believe God is
the sun that rises in the morning
and makes the birds chirp.
I believe God is 
the moon at night
that shines down
so you aren't afraid of the dark. 

I believe God is 
my Saviour and 
my best friend.

He guides me through the day and 
watches over me, 
He wakes me up every morning,
so I can go and 
serve him in everything I do. 

He is the creator of the universe and of me. 
God is beauty in the sunrise and sunset. 
He is the sound the waves make 
when they crash upon the shore. 

God made me who I am today; 
He has surrounded me 
with many wonderful people 
to guide me 
as I continue to grow in faith.

-- written by Blair Felder

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

This I believe... God to me is everything














Coming this Sunday, April 19, 2015
the confirmation students 
of Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church 
will declare their faith in Jesus Christ publically during worship, 
thus becoming members of Christ's church.

What follows is excerpted from a statement of faith 
written by one of the confirmation students.  

May we be inspired 
by their faith. 
This I believe...


Waking up in the morning
praying to God to have a great day.
Going to sleep at night
thanking God for having a great day and
hoping the next will be even better.

Playing sports
the team prays,
they will do their best -- win or lose.
They thank God
for being able to be out on the field.

Before meals
praying,
enjoying dinner and
reflecting on each other's day.

Prior to taking a test
praying to do well,
does my best
anxious about what I make
receive test back
Thank God for what I made.

Go on a road trip
pray for safety driving there and back
and to have a great time.

In order for all of this to function correctly
and to go as planned,
it must go through the Big Man upstairs.
Throughout the Bible,
it says to try and please God through everything you do.
One way to reach him is through prayer.
The ways I listed above are examples of when I pray...

God to me is everything.
The good, the bad, the best, and the worst.
As he looks down seeing me
and everyone else give their statement of faith,
to be sure there's a smile on his face.

Ephesians 3:20-21 says,
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or immagine, accoring to his power
that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and
in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever. Amen."

-- written by Caroline Smith

Monday, April 13, 2015

This I believe... God is the "boss"















Coming this Sunday, April 19, 2015
the confirmation students 
of Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church 
will declare their faith in Jesus Christ publically during worship, 
thus becoming members of Christ's church.

What follows is excerpted from a statement of faith 
written by one of the confirmation students.  

May we be inspired 
by their faith. 
This I believe...


Faith in God is a huge deal for me.
God is my hope, and I trust the promise
that I will someday go to Heaven
and see God and Jesus
and all of the family and friends
that went before me.

I trust in the Holy Spirit
to be my guide -- the voice
that leads me in my faith.
I know that without
the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
I would be lost and
my life would be very different.

I believe God is like
the Alpha of a pack
a Lion in a jungle.
God is the "boss",
and he is a God that
nothing and no one
can over power.

It makes me feel
safe and peaceful
that I have God
watching over me
and that my whole life
is part of his plan.

-- written by Spencer Scott