Advent Devotional - Day Four

Hear, O my people, and I will speak … for I am your God. (Psalm 50:7)

Each person’s Advent journey is unique. However, we are all linked together in anticipation of the One who is to come. So what does Psalm 50 require of us as we prepare for this joyful gift?

Today God asks us to listen, God’s Word in this Psalm may jar us out of our complacency or pull us from our need for just one more gift. It is not a Psalm of shepherds or stars in the sky. Instead God summons us to gratitude.

Lord, teach us to pray, “Thank you for everything.” Amen

René Whitaker is currently on the Advent journey at Westmont Presbyterian Church in Johnstown.

Advent Devotional - Day Two

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”  (Psalm 122)

Several years ago four members of the Presbytery decided to go on a pilgrimage to Scotland to follow the trail of the Celtic church. It was such an inspiring experience that we planned and led a similar Pilgrimage for members of the presbytery. That pilgrimage was followed two years later by another journey to Iona, Scotland and Ireland, completing the trail of the ancient celtic church. For many of us, these pilgrimages were such deep spiritual experiences that our faith was forever transformed. 

Psalm 122:1-2 speaks of a pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God. The difference between a pilgrimage and other trips is that it's end purpose is to worship God. Our journey through advent is intended to be a type of pilgrimage that ends in the celebration of the birth of the Messiah. If we stop to worship, read and pray each day of the journey we may find our faith strengthened and our spirits  transformed as we travel. 

Lord God, send your Holy Spirit to journey with us as we go "up to the house of God" in our imaginations and memories. May the end of the journey find our faith transformed.

Carole Isley Corey is a spiritual director and enjoys preaching and teaching where invited.

Lenten Devotional - Day 31

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-2

“Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Gen. 12:1-2)

  Beginning the journey of recovery takes faith and trust in God. When we ask someone to give up their drugs of choice and begin a journey of recovery, we are asking them take a difficult journey. We are asking them to give up what they have known for quite some time in their life, something they have grown accustom, even if it is destroying their life. We are asking them to begin a journey to a new and different place. In their minds this new place is often viewed as a very frightening destination. Abram discovered himself called out to go in a different direction and found it within himself the capacity to trust God, eventually this experience transformed Abram into Abraham.

  When God called Abram in Genesis 12, that call utterly turned Abram’s world upside down and totally reshaped his life and his family members’ lives. “Go from your country” (v. 1). Abram had just uprooted from Ur; now he’s to uproot again from Haran. God has something in mind about Canaan, and he wants Abram to continue the family journey to get there.

  Recovery from any illness, cancer, heart disease, diabetes or addiction creates a great deal of confusion, fear, struggle, and pain. In the early stages, we may find the road set before us seems too dangerous and difficult to travel. We find we are too frightened to begin the journey. We may feel overwhelmed by the decisions that need to be made, in order, to travel into this unknown territory. Those who have decided to begin the journey are filled with fear and need the support of others to discover the courage to open themselves to the opportunities that treatment and recovery brings.

  “Go from where you live and whom you know to a place I won’t reveal yet.” That’s a crazy calling. God says that if Abram does that, he’ll bless him. Barrenness will turn into family. Family will turn into nation. By taking the risk and completing the journey, not only will Abram be blessed, but he will become a blessing to others. Abram’s calling in Genesis 12 can turn into a useful mission statement for us today: Trust God. Follow God. Be blessed by God. Bless others.

  A difficult journey requires a lot of trust in God to take those many steps of obedience along an indeterminate journey. But the Lord said, “Go,” and Abraham “went” (vv. 1, 4a), at the age of 75 (v. 4b), leaving much of what was near and dear to him. The people starting their recoveries are called to this and the church receives the same call. When we trust the journey set before us and follow God, we will be blessed.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: To face our fears as we begin new journeys as recovering individuals, recovering families and churches called to welcome them.

Click Here PDF - Day 31 Devotion

Lenten Devotionals - Day 20

Scripture: Psalm 23

“he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.” (Ps. 23:3)

  In Lent, we are reminded to meditate, repent and restore our souls. The words of Psalm 23 teach us how. Jesus is our shepherd who guides and leads us to good places. As his sheep, he wants our commitment to follow him. When we follow him, we will find contentment in the pathways of life.

  When we sin, and go our own path, we cannot blame God for the environment we have created for ourselves. When one is an addict and going their own path into a sinful life of drugs or alcohol he is not following the Shepherd.

  But the story doesn't need to end there. 

  The shepherd seeks his sheep, when they are lost he looks for them. Even in the darkness of addiction, the shepherd is within reach. Seek his help in prayer, humility and repentance.

  Our souls can be depleted in normal life through work, busyness and life problems as well. Our souls are even more quickly depleted in the life of addiction. Multiple losses of job, money, family and the physical daily needs of drugs can deplete a soul to the point of survival mode.

  Addiction is a wrong path because Jesus is not guiding this path. Jesus leads us to still waters and down right paths. We only reach the "green pastures" and "still waters" by following him.

  So how can a soul be restored? Physical needs of sleep, food and shelter need to be met. Spiritual needs can be restored. Getting on your knees to pray to God, reflection, quiet and diversion of the lifestyle all can restore the soul.

  Psalm 119:105 tell us, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light for my path.” In Jesus, he guides us down the right path. Addiction is a hard life circumstance although Jesus is shining his light the brightest in these dark times. Look for him in his word, in prayer and he will light the way to righteousness.

Lynn Mance, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Those who feel lost and pray the Lord will restore their soul.

Click Here PDF - Day 20 Devotion

Local Resources — Somerset County

Somerset Single County Authority (SCA) for Drug and Alcohol

  300 North Center Avenue, Suite 360, Somerset, PA 15501

  Phone: (814) 445-1530          Fax: (814) 445-1524
Accessline: 1-800-452-0218

A 24-hour toll free number to provide human service information and referral.

http://www.co.somerset.pa.us/department.asp?deptnum=11