Advent Devotional - Day 10

Numbers 6:26:  The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace

Picture yourself at the manger on Christmas morning.  What do you see?  In every depiction you see two loving parents looking into the face of their newborn son.  There is a peaceful calming feeling as the baby sleeps.  Babies seem to bring a peace around us.  They make everything better.  As we remember the manger and the Baby Jesus looking up ready to bring peace to the world and take away our sins, we need to look into the faces of all the people we meet and find that peace.

PRAYER
Lord, help us to see peace in all the people we encounter as we seek your love and understanding each and every day.

Bobbi Jo Huebner, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Belle Vernon

Lenten Devotional - Maundy Thursday

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-26

“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” (John 17:20)

  While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said, "Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor." After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray, interceding earnestly for his fellowmen. He prayed for the ungodly who so far had rejected the gospel. He pleaded in behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he requested protection for the Lord's servants, many of whom were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went Home to be with the Lord. The man of whom Queen Mary had said, "I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies," ministered through prayer until the moment of his death.

  Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John reveals to us an interesting scene. Jesus is facing the cross and one might expect he would be praying for his own situation which he does for the first five verses. Jesus then changes his focus from him to his followers, then and into the future, essentially you and me. We are being prayed for by the Son of the Living God. No wonder, John Knox stated this scripture was “where I first cast my anchor.”

  Sidlow Baxter once said, “...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons - but they are helpless against our prayers."

  We may struggle to understand what we can do to help those affected by AOD abuse and dependency. We may now be ill equipped to counsel, share the gospel, talk, show compassion or other approaches requiring personal contact, we can always pray. As disciples of Christ throughout the centuries have learned our prayers can be powerful and can bring change by God’s Spirit.

  Our ministry to those struggling with AOD problems and their families should start with prayer. Prayers of intercession in worship, in our daily prayers, in our prayers in public settings and our prayers said in secret. We won’t only see other lives changed, but we will be changed. When God first sends us out to explore a new ministry and a new people, we are first called to “cast our anchor” in prayer, because Jesus is praying for us.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: God might hear and answer the desperate prayers of those in the depths of their addiction.

Click Here PDF - Day 38 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day Nine

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15-16)

  It takes courage to admit, even to yourself, that you need help, that life has spun out of control because of addiction. To acknowledge the ways you’ve harmed yourself and others is not for the faint of heart. We increase our burden when we think of God and fear a great disciplining parent in the sky, ready to dole out the punishment we deserve.

  The fact is, all of us deserve punishment for our waywardness; the addict is no different from the person who seems to have it all together. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. That is why we need and have a Savior in the person of Jesus Christ. Not only do we have a Savior, we have someone who understands why we might have a deep-seeded desire to escape the reality of this life, even if that escape is through substances that end up making things worse. Jesus knows what it means to be human and live in this fallen world. He was betrayed by one of his closest followers. Jesus grieved at the tomb of his good friend Lazarus. Jesus was the target of others’ scorn. The devil visited Jesus and tempted him to deny his status as God’s beloved Son. Jesus many times could have taken the easy way out, the way that did not involve a cross, but he did not.

  Jesus understands how we are tested, the trials and troubles we have seen. Not only does he understand, he shows us mercy because he knows how hard it is, and he remembers that we are human. We don’t have to fear a parent’s wrath. Instead, we can come confidently to Jesus, knowing he will offer pardon…and not just pardon, but mercy and grace to help us in our time of need, not just in our time of confession.

  Let us pray for all who fear God, that they may know our Savior’s grace and favor. Let us pray for fear to be transformed into confidence that will then guide them on a new path.

Alice Tondora, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Individuals finding it difficult to admit to their problems and need courage to move forward.

 Click Here PDF - Day Nine Devotion

Informational Resources

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Advancing Addiction Science

Wide range of information related to research, studies, and facts on drug abuse. www.drugabuse.gov/

Lenten Devotional - Day Seven

Scripture: John 3:1-7

“He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’" (John 3:2-3)

  You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

  Nicodemus the Pharisee sneaks to see to Jesus under the cover of night, presumably afraid that he would be criticized for doing so. Once he finds Jesus he ends up very confused by the things that Jesus is saying. In fact, Nicodemus and Jesus seem to be having two different conversations. Jesus talks about being born again at a spiritual level while Nicodemus is literally trying to figure out how to re-enter a womb. They are speaking different languages!

  I suspect this is how it must feel for people who walk into a church for the first time. Like Nicodemus they are intrigued by Jesus, but they have no idea what to expect in church. They may sneak because friends or family may criticize them. But they risk it because they know there is something special about what Jesus can offer.

  Then they get inside a church and it all gets confusing. People start reciting things from memory and using words they don’t understand. Rather than feeling like a safe place, a refuge, it feels like yet another foreign place.

  But the good news is that even in the most traditional churches, those with high liturgy and organs or old songs or “thees” and “thous” point to something that is beyond. They point to the love of Christ.

  Nicodemus didn’t let his confusion keep him away permanently. He watched Jesus from afar and in the end helped in his burial. I suspect that it’s because even though he couldn’t understand what Jesus was saying, he could still feel the love of God in Christ in a way that went beyond words.

  That leads me to wonder how we can minister in a way that goes beyond our “foreign” ways. What can we do to make sure people sense the love of Christ despite the traditions of the church? How can we make our words and our actions reflect the Good News of Jesus Christ for people who don’t speak our church language? 

Sue Washburn, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Individuals afraid to approach others and ask the questions which need asked for their re-birth to begin.

Click Here PDF - Day Seven Devotion