Daily Devotion for April 28

SCRIPTURE # 1 – Matthew 13:  44

44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

NOTE:  There are many interpretations of this passage.

 QUESTIONS:

1. Who/what is the field?
2. Who/what is the “plowperson” plowing the field?
3. Who/what is the treasure?

 POINT:  The kingdom of heaven is worth a lot (treasure). 

 QUESTION:  Do we live our lives as thought the kingdom of heaven is worth a lot?

 PRAYERS

1. Family of Phil Clark
2. Family of Jeannette Koch
3. Family of Bette Ferenandez
4. Please keep in your prayers.  A member of the congregation is looking for a new job.  She has computer and office skills.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.  This Sunday, Rev (Dr.) David Richardson is preaching.

2.  Cinco de Mayo follows both services in the fellowship hall with Mariachis and Food

 

Devotion for Monday, April 20

DAILY DEVOTION #1

 We begin a new sermon series on STEWARDSHIP.  This Sunday our topic is SERVICE.  We are called to serve within the church and beyond the church by sharing our gifts and talents. 

 SCRIPTURE:  James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

 SCRIPTURE:  I Corinthians 12

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

 NOTE;

God has given each person a gift, a gift to be shared with others.  Each of us has a purpose to share that gift with others.

 POINT:

A.    The purpose of life is relationship

B.    The essence of life is giving.

 QUESTION:

How can you make a difference by sharing your gift/talent in service to others?

 NOTE:

Not every generation has an opportunity to build

 THOUGHT TO PONDER

Giving is not a debt I owe,

It’s a seed I sow.

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

1.     Family of PHIL CLARK.  This Friday is the memorial service @ 1p.m.  Pray that we can be the church to support the family of Phil Clark. 

2. Folks who are unemployed.  There is a particular person in our congregation who is young and has administrative and computer skills searching for a job.  Pray that a door will open up for her.

Cinco de Mayo is May 3^rd, need folks to help cook.

Canto VIIId

DAILY DEVOTION #4

INTRO TO LINES 61 – 66

Just before these lines, Dante requested that his “enemy” would experience grief.  The lines of 61 – 66 reveal that Dante’s “enemy” will experience grief

 LINES 61 - 63

“Get Filippo Argenti!”  they all cried.  And at those shouts the Flourentine, gone mad, turned on himself and bit his body fiercely.

 OBSERVATION

Dante requested grief to fall upon his enemy.  His request is being honored.  He is getting what he requested, his enemy is about now experiencing “pain.”

 LINES 64 - 66

We left him there, I’ll say no more about him.  A WAILING NOISE BEGAN TO POUND MY EARS and made me STRAIN MY EYES TO SEE AHEAD.

 OBSERVATION

Dante’s requested grief is not bringing him relief.  The unintended consequences are forcing him to ignore the grief as he strains his eyes to see ahead; thus giving the sense that he does not want to know any more about this grief.

 NOTE

One may be reminded that Judas (Luke 22:48) got what he wanted with a kiss (the arrest of Jesus); but then after getting what he wanted, he realized it wasn’t what he wanted and took his own life.  One must assume that, out of guilt, he felt he had no other alternative in response of his desire and deed.

 CONSIDERATION

Perhaps you know someone like Judas/Dante who got what they desired and when they did, were awakened to it not being what it was cracked up to be.

Answered prayer can bring about unintended consequences.  “Reading Lolita in Tehran” the author, Azar Nafisi, got what she wanted:  the overturning of the Shah.  Her “prayer” was answered.  Unfortunately, the Shah was replaced by the Ayatollah Khomeini.  He then proceeded to close down education for women and insisted that they wear the veil.  The author then fled the country after her prayer was answered.

HOLY WEEK

This coming Holy week is a time of self-reflection.  Perhaps there has been a time in your life that prayer was answered, and there were unintended consequences that caused more grief than relief.

 THOUGHT TO PONDER

Sometimes, unintended consequences bring about more grief than relief

 SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.’  Leviticus 19:18

 QUESTION TO PONDER

God has called us to be a love-driven people.  Let not anger control us.  What can help us to walk in the ways of God?

Canto VIIIc

INTRO TO Lines 34 & 35

Dante has been approached by a “slimy shape” who asked him, “Who are you?”  He then responds with Lines 34 & 35

 LINES 34 & 35

And I spoke back, “Though I come, I do not stay; but who are you, in all your ugliness?”

 OBSERVATION

This is the first time that Dante is not compassionate to those whom he encounters in the Inferno.  The fifth Circle, with the wrathful, cause him to be angry with those he encounters.

 SCRIPTURE TO PONDER (Yesterday)

Do not make friends with hot-tempered, do not associate with those who are easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.  Proverbs 22:  24 & 25

 Intro to Lines 52 – 55

Dante’s journey with Virgil is about to continue on; but he has one wish (prayer) for the “slimy shape” that he shares with Virgil.

 LINES 52 – 55

“Master, it certainly would make me happy to see him dunked deep into this slop just once before we leave this lake - it truly would.”

 OBSERVATION

For some reason, Dante does not like this person.  His anger causes ill will for this “slimy shape.”

 QUESTION TO PONDER

Has your ill will caused you to hope for misfortune for those who anger you?

 SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”  Matthew 5:44b 

 THOUGHT TO PONDER

Anger moves us out of control to become more like our enemy.

 SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

“And don’t sin by letting anger control you...”  Ephesians 4:26a