DaiLY Devotion for September 28

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday.

Once again, Joan will decorate the altar table with a variety of breads representing the diversity of the many people within the church around the world.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite bread?

Does it represent your culture or someone else's?

SCRIPTURE: "Jesus said,

"I am the bread of life."

Bread is a staple around the world. In some countries, bread is the eating utensil. In some countries, no bread means no food.

Jesus is reminding us that he is our "staple" and without him we will perish (John 3:16).

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, that who shall ever believes shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

DAILY Devotion for September 22

This Sunday we continue the sermon series on RELATIONSHIPS.

QUESTION: Agree or Disagree: Those that don't "bond" with others; live in a state of hunger.

The purpose of life is RELATIONSHIP: with God; others and self. When we fail to enter relationships, we fail to enter into the purpose of life. Augustine reminds us that we are created with a need to have a relationship with God (a space within our soul is empty until God fills that need). Unfortunately, when we don't satisfy that need by entering into a relationship with God; we fill it with things that are not satisfying. So it is with our need to enter into relationship with others.

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER: John 10:10b

I have come so that your may have life to the full. (abundant life)

Daily Devotion for September 16

INTRO

This week we are talking about: BONDING (there is probably a better word for this, think it from your own perspective).

SITUATION

The purpose of life is RELATIONSHIP.

RELATIONSHIPS require growth, the more we grow with the other, the more we bond. Some folks "bond" better to others; than other folks who seem to refrain from "bonding." Bonding requires GRACE, TRUTH and TIME.

PROBLEM

When we fail to BOND (next week) it makes it difficult to grow and to have a healthy relationship with others.

SCRIPTURE: John 15 (Jesus The True Vine)

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower."

NOTICE

There is a relationship between Jesus and The Father (God).

QUESTION

Is there a similar relationship between us and Jesus (the vine)?

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER: John 4:16b

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

September 15, 2009

Daily Devotion

September 14, 2009

Daily Devotion

This Sunday we continue the sermon series: Changes That Heal (Cloud) as we focus on BONDING.

SCRIPTURE: I John 4:16b

"God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

QUESTION

What can help us to abide in God's love more?

SUMMARY OF THE PREVIOUS WEEKS:

Some focus on Grace. Others focus on Truth. Perhaps a weaving of Grace and Truth is the way we we can live our lives in response to God. All of this requires Time.

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER: JOHN 15:9

As the Father has loved me, so i have loved you; abide in my love.

Daily Devotion for September 1

DAILY DEVOTION #1

I see lots of people who are in pain. Some are in pain because of a broken relationship. Others are in pain because of an addiction. Some are in pain because of their choices; others because of the choices of others. Some are anxious, others bored. The mixture is as diverse as responses to the people who are hurting.

One response is to simply pray. Prayer is important. For some, it’s the only response to such issues; while for others it isn’t even consider; and for most it is somewhere in between.

Another response is those who are in pain are in sin. For some, sin is the only reason why some folks hurt; while for others sin isn’t even consider. While sin may play a role in pain, it may not be the only variable leading to pain.

Another response for those who are in pain is to be obedient to God’s truth contained in the Bible. For some, it is the only reason why someone suffers; while for others it may not even be consider. And for most, God’s truth may play a role in the response to pain.

Another response for those who are in pain is that it is the environment, or their parents fault, or of someone else.

Thus, the response to the diversity of pain is a diversity of responses.

Over the next couple of months, we will wrestle with what can cause pain and what can cause healing. One of the books we will wrestle with is an excellent book called “Changes That Heal.” During this time, if you feel like talking to someone, feel free to contact me.

HYMN TO PONDER “O SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED”

O sacred head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scouurnfully surrounded with thorns, thine only crown;....

What thou, my lord, has suffered was all for sinners’ gain; mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain.

THOUGHT TO PONDER

We are healed by the Wounded Healer