March 31, 2017

Silver and Gold
Read: 1 Samuel 18:1-3

The last weekend of January, Jack and I were invited to a family reunion in Lantana, Florida to celebrate our friend’s 90th birthday. We were included as family because Jack and Don have been friends since they met in kindergarten.

During college years both worked afternoon shifts so they could water ski every morning along with Don’s two brothers. They even made their own water skis since they were not readily available at that time.

After college, Don moved to Florida, married and started a family. We would visit Jack’s parents in Florida a couple of times a year. Don would always insist we “come by to see us a couple of nights.” He would visit Michigan often so we kept the friendship going.

When he decided to have a family reunion for his 90th birthday, we were included. There were 22 family members, aged from 90 to 14 and the two of us. Everyone had a great time at a beach party, boating, rowing, and enjoying games after delicious shared meals.

There is a saying “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver the other is gold.” Remember this saying and keep in touch with friends. These will be among your best memories.

Sara and Jack Wooton

March 30, 2017

Saying Goodbye
Read: Romans 6:5-11

The hardest times are saying goodbye – even to pets, but especially to people we love.
Sometimes it seems overwhelming – OK, really it's pretty much always overwhelming – but sometimes we can get past that feeling of drowning or dehydrating.

OK, really it's pretty much always that we can get past it – but only by going through it.

We go through it by knowing where they are now. “He's in a better place” doesn't begin to tell the Truth of it.

We go through it by remembering who they were in our lives.

We also go through it by making new memories on the way to acceptance. It might be a wake or party with family and friends, but it might be something as simple as having a fun time on the way to say goodbye. It could be something as profound as sharing memories with family who share memories with us. Then again, it could be something as simple as counting the Waffle Houses on the way to Florida and back, making new memories to share in the future.

But – it always comes back to who we remember, and Whose we remember them to be. When our loved ones are in the hands of God, held in the loving embrace of Jesus, we can get through it all because that's where we are too.

Charlie van Becelaere

March 29, 2017

Planted, Watered, Growing
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 

Thinking back on my childhood and teen-aged years I never fully understood what a relationship with God meant. He was present in my daily life nudging me to make good choices, to be kind to others, to be non-judgmental when people were unlike me, etc.

As I learned about scripture and how it could impact my life on a daily basis I began to gain an understanding of how God knew me long before I really knew Him. As my faith unfolded I could reflect back on my early years and see when God took me by the hand to lead me down a different path, when He watched over me as my Protector, and when He held me when I needed to feel His love.

God fed and nurtured my heart as a child. He watched me develop my faith holding me through the difficult times. He continues to be present in my life and I continue to grow more into who He wants me to be because now I see Him in all that I do.

Dar McGee

March 28, 2017

Why Me Why – Part 3

The two most important days in anyone’s life are the day you’re born, and the day you find out why. (Mark Twain)

When tragedy strikes, there’s virtually always a silver lining to cling to. But not when someone like my buddy Bob goes to sleep as normal as ever and never wakes up. There is no hospital bed to go sit by. There’s no “it’s just lucky that...” there’s no “good thing …didn’t happen too” there’s no story of so and so who had a similar thing but worse. No, this is as bad as it gets, or is it? The sudden loss of any loved one leaves nothing but the empty place in our souls that once was filled by the warm light of a person in our lives. Could it be worse?

There are no words, there are no gestures, no acts to help make any of it better. Everything seems so inadequate. And yet we call, we stop to spend time, we pray, if only we could do more.

Then there are things that really make you wonder. In the last 4 years, we’ve met some remarkable people, mostly tragic and frightening situations though. We know a man who was as healthy and happy an early 70s retiree as you’ll ever find. One day as he finished pumping gas in his car and as he walked around the back to go pay, some nut out of control smashed into him and sandwiched him between both cars, he lost both legs above the knee. Another person was on his way home from work and some drug induced nut blew a red light, T-boned our friend’s pickup truck. He lost his right hand above the elbow and his left leg below the knee. A young woman we met, in her early 30s felt like she had a stomach flu, went to bed, went into a coma, and woke up 2 weeks later in an ICU with both hands and both feet gone; amputated because of a toxic infection. Then there was a 34-year young man we knew who just recently passed. Before his 2nd birthday he was paralyzed from the neck down in a car crash and spent his entire life in a wheelchair on a ventilator. A small part of his legacy lives on in us because we use the ramps, wheelchair lift, and an accessible bathroom built for him at a small club we joined. If not for the improvements installed for him, we could not have joined. I really never thought I was cut out for this sort of thing, but when we’re around some other people we’ve met, we count our blessings.

I’m afraid my stories this year may evoke unhappy emotions and leave more questions than answers. One thing I’ve learned though, is that there are things you get over, and then there are some things you just get through. The hardest part is that no one can tell you when, or how. Even given how well Jeri and I are doing, things will never be the same, you try to do the best you can with what’s left. As you continue each day, one by one, it’s happening on its own in the background. Then one day out of nowhere in particular you realize; things are better.

Another hard part is seeing the rest of the world continue on as before. There’s jealousy. There’s envy of those who go on about their lives unaffected, as though our lives don’t matter. We want the world to respond and stop and help us, and at the same time we know that it is as it should be for others to be able to live their lives, then we feel guilty wishing for others to share our pain.

Tension is grief’s favorite companion, and it can get the better of you. Things that were never meant get said. For a while, there’s the guilt of even sharing a laugh. Eyes inadvertently look around the room to see if it’s met with approval or scorn. Every bit of good news is met with thoughts of our loss and we wonder if we can share the happiness of others anymore.

In time, there will be birthdays, there will be weddings, there will be Christmas and holidays. There will be good times and laughter again. There will be grand-kids and all the joy they bring. But rather than my buddy Bob or Tommy catching fish with me and the kids, they’ll be but pictures on a mantle.
It just doesn’t seem fair…

Ron Draper

March 27, 2017

Prayers
Read: Psalm 4:1-3

A line in a song by Garth Brooks is "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." That is almost impossible to comprehend. Why would anyone pray for something they really would like to see happen that is not good?

In one of the accounts I read about near death experiences, where people temporarily experience heaven, the person telling about the experience said "God's plan is perfect." Since I've never been there it is hard for me to disagree – except when I see what is going on in this world (Chicago and the Middle East, etc) I know the supernatural view has advantages over ours here in the natural world. In our limited understanding we have no way of knowing completely the meaning of "perfect" as used in heaven.

 If I accept that God's plan is perfect, how do I rationalize a "no answer" to my prayers when my prayers are asking for noble and compassionate results? Trust in God has to be the answer!

Jack Van Becelaere

March 26, 2017

When We Were In The Darkest Night – Singing the Faith #241

Chorus
We praise You the God of our yesterdays
We praise You the God who is here today
We praise You our God
As tomorrow comes

When we were in the darkest night
And wondered if our eyes would ever see the light
You were there Lord
When we were in the stormy gale
And wondered if we'd ever live in peace again
You were there Lord
You were there in the struggle
You were there in the fight
You were there all the time

We praise You the God of our yesterdays
We praise You the God who is here today
We praise You our God
As tomorrow comes

So whatever lies ahead
Whatever roads our grateful hearts
Will come to tread You'll be there Lord
And we will fix our eyes on You
And know that there is grace enough
To see us through You'll be there Lord
You'll be there in the struggle
You'll be there in the fight
You'll be there all the time

Chorus 2
We thank You for grace in our yesterdays
We thank You for peace in our hearts today
We thank You our joy
As tomorrow comes we will trust You God
You're always closer than we know
Always more involved and in control
We will trust our lives to You
The One who was and is and is to come

Matt Redman

March 25, 2017

Psalm 100
A Psalm for giving thanks.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
    Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

March 24, 2017

Judging without Being Judgmental
Read: Matthew 7:1-6; Galatians 6:1-2; John 8:7
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2

One thing I have struggled with as a Christian is the call to be non-judgmental in a world where we need to make judgments every day. What kind of judging does the Bible prohibit and what kind of judging does it allow? How can I tell if I am being judgmental? This topic recently came up in a Bible study class I attend. The entire class had questions and the pastor leading the class challenged us to 'rethink' how we handle the responsibility of judgment. This led me to do a little digging and I have come up with the following thoughts.

God has put us in a world where we have a responsibility to make judgments and where he expects us to exercise good judgment. There may be risks in those judgments but that does not excuse us from making decisions (the exercise of judgment). God does not want us to suspend our objective thinking to avoid being labeled judgmental. When we need to make a decision he expects us to use critical thinking, seek spiritual discernment, examine and judge all the facts and then make a reasonable decision. Decision making is not always easy especially when it involves other people and impacts their lives. This is the case when we have responsibility for others, like our children or vulnerable adults.

So what does God expect? He expects us to act in love. Acting in love is the example Jesus Christ gave us. God is the perfect judge and he judges with mercy and forgiveness so we should follow suit. Acting in love will keep us from exercising in our own best interests, will temper our need to give advice that may be good but may not serve the party who needs it and will keep us from acting like we are a 'spiritual authority.' We need to be cautious about judging other people's behaviors and choices against a standard we don't live up to ourselves. We need to accept the responsibility God has entrusted to us and seek his guidance to equip us in exercising it.

A judgmental person acts in a way that diminishes the potential in others. They act without compassion or charity, finding fault and shame in the other person. They are critical in an unhelpful way, making others feel unworthy and uncomfortable. They may judge without knowing all the facts or judge through a biased lens.

Ask yourself:

• am I accepting my responsibility when God calls me to judge?
• am I fearful to judge for fear of being labeled judgmental?
• am I judging Biblically and in love? What is the attitude of my heart?
• am I considering the needs of the people affected by my judgment?
• am I acting to correct, forgive, restore, and reconcile?
• am I recognizing my own faults; are sins clouding my judgment?
• am I more interested in being right than in being loving?
• am I being directed by my personal biases rather than God's directives?

Prayer: Father, help me to accept the responsibility of critical thinking and seek spiritual discernment in exercising good judgment. Help me to recognize my own faults and be constructive to others in a loving way. Thank you for giving us your Son and your Holy Spirit to guide is in carrying out our decisions.

Pat Deck

March 23, 2017

History
Read: UM Hymnal #365, verse 4

Well, as we start the season of Lent, and Charlie asks for devotions, I begin once again with my dog. Seems as though it always is what comes to my mind...

Dave and I were lucky enough to get a rescue dog from our dear friend, Heidi, when we lost our best friend, Toby, the Vizsla, to an aggressive form of lymphoma at a relatively young age. Because of my previous head injury, I knew I didn't have the stamina to raise a puppy, so Jax came into our lives. He was approximately a year old, house-trained, and good on the leash (I love to walk).

Jax is our first rescue dog, and it got me to thinking about his previous life. He was brought to the clinic one freezing cold February day by the police who found him wandering the streets with no collar or ID chip. After we adopted him, I started thinking about his life before the one with us. What happened to him before we got him? Is he afraid to go down our basement because someone had mistreated him in one? Does he go crazy around garbage trucks because he'd been hit by one? Why does he love to play rough and tumble with Drew's dog, Hogan, but is gentle as a lamb with the grand-babies? We'll never know Jax's background or where he came from, but we love him dearly just the same, and he has found a safe haven in our home.

We all have history. Some of it good, some bad. God doesn't care about our past sin and indiscretion, but offers us His grace, now and always, no matter what. This is the beauty of our Christian life, and aren't we so very lucky to have our own safe haven?

Sue DeWitt

March 22, 2017

New Gramma
Read: Psalm 127

I am a gramma again, another little girl. She can already laugh and feed herself. Actually she laughs a lot. She's a good sport and joins right in with our family traditions and fun. Plus, she thinks I'm funny.
Christian was the first grandchild added to our family and brought much joy. Now he has found us another one to love.

Thanks Christian – Welcome Dana!

Shirley Van Becelaere

March 21, 2017

Why Me Why – Part 2

The two most important days in anyone’s life are the day you’re born, and the day you find out why. (Mark Twain)

(Some themes below were taught to me by pastor Bob Wright).

The 27th verse of the 33rd chapter of the 4th book of Moses; Deuteronomy, begins this way;
The eternal God is your resting place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
One of the things that separates us from all other creatures is our desire to catch each other when we’re falling. No other creature on Earth comes together like we do to help and to catch those in need. We reach out our arms, we wrap them around each other, we catch, and when it’s over we set them free to fly or fall again and if need be we’ll catch again.

Jeri and I have been the recipients of a lot of catching. We couldn’t be more grateful for all of you in this church. The cards and continued calls of concern and most of all, the continued cheering on you’ve all sent our way are sources of daily inspiration and strength. For those of you who remember last year’s devotions, Jeri is still wrapped up in her “Ducks” at some time during most days. Even here in our southern command post in Nokomis, Florida, she wrapped up in them while relaxing in the sun before we came here to her physical therapy specialists, I’m writing this while she works. She continues to say a prayer of thanks for all of you, and for the Grace of God every time she curls up under the Ducks and every time she breaks a barrier and does something new in therapy.

Yet still when we wake up in the morning and I put her leg and shoes on her, she can’t walk, she’ll fall right over unless I catch her. In the spring when rabbits are busy making more rabbits they have a funny dance they do. They’ll sit facing each other and have a stare down. Eventually one will try to jump forward and right over the other. The other will immediately do the same thing and often times they collide in mid-air. It’s hilarious to watch. We have several pairs in the yard doing this in the morning all through spring; cheap entertainment, we don’t get out much. If you ever need to know, the safest way to support someone while walking is facing them with your arms bent palms up, the person being supported puts their forearms on top of yours palms down and you hold each-others elbow’s, you have a lot of strength and control this way; the only drawback is the supporting person walks backward. It resembles the rabbits without the jumping, so when I first get Jeri moving in the morning we call it our rabbit dance. Like I said, you gotta make the best of these things if you’re going to get through them. I even made up a special song to go along with it, but I’ll spare you. The way I look at it now, how many guys are lucky enough to dance with their favorite person first thing every morning? Of course, I’d rather she could get up and move on her own, but if not, what else can one do? Make the best of it.

So! Why?... Why Me Why?? Pastor Bob Wright helped me this way, he reminded me that when our arms can’t reach out and save ourselves or our loved ones, when the assembled arms of all the people working to save us can’t catch us, when all of our arms aren’t enough; Deuteronomy is there to remind us that Our arms aren’t the Only arms.

The eternal God is your resting place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Given all the wonderful people who’ve successfully caught us, one could say it’s been more of a golden net. But I still want to know why…

Ron Draper

March 20, 2017

“Having a Spring-time Faith”
Read: Psalm 104

Some time ago, while I was still in high school, our teacher led the class in a discussion about “which is your favorite month of the year?” For many in the class, their favorite month was the month of March. The reasons given – the end of the winter cold, spring flowers, warmer weather are the ones that I recall. I cannot say as I heard anyone proclaiming that March also brought melting snow, cold rains, or mud. It seems that we were more willing to focus upon the benefits of March (and the promise of springtime that comes with it) and ignore, or at least endure, the products of change that March brings.

For others in the class, October was their favorite month. The reasons? Autumn days, apple cider, fall football, the smell and colors of autumn were loudly proclaimed. Others would counter that although fall was beautiful with its fall colors and all, it also ushered in a long, cold winter. The advice from the “October Camp?” “Forget about the winter that was coming and enjoy the day!”

Today, we as a church (and maybe as a city and a nation) need to “wrestle” with this same type of dilemma. The dilemma? Are we to revel and enjoy the present and not concern ourselves with what may lie ahead (like our “October Camp” from my high school discussion)? Or do we confront that which lies ahead, agree to endure that which is required to change and seek the promise of a “springtime” blessing from God?

As you read this, we are journeying through the Lenten Season – a time of personal reflection. Lent is a time to review our current reality, make adjustments and changes with expectations of a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God. The season of Lent is much like the month of March – a season of change and the expectation for brighter tomorrows.

The second date, March 20th – the first day of spring! The promise of spring will soon be fulfilled! And what does this have to do with the challenges that we face? Just as we must endure the melting snow, cold rains, and mud of March before we can realize the promise of spring, we must also endure the cold reality of that which we face as we look forward to the promise of God. We must endure the challenges while we wait with expectation of the promise that the Lord of the Harvest has waiting for us. Before we see blossoms of new ministries and blooms of new people coming into a relationship with the Risen Lord, we will face trials. But through all that we may face, let us remember God’s promise for us: “God will be our God and we will be God’s people!”

In closing, may I remind each of you that God is the God that keeps His promises. And may the promise of a “spring-time faith” fill you with anticipation.

Rev. Dr. Ray McGee

March 19, 2017

Precious Lord, Take My Hand – UMH #474
 
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord;
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call;
Hold my hand lest I fall.
Take my hand, precious Lord;
Lead me home.

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is almost gone,
At the river I stand;
Guide my feet, hold my hand,
Take my hand, precious Lord;
Lead me home.

Thomas Andrew Dorsey

March 18, 2017

Psalm 150
 
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

March 17, 2017

Love the Lord Your God
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." - Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Our adult Sunday school class is studying the laws, traditions, and rituals of the Israelite people. The verses above are a keystone in the Hebrew Scriptures. These verses - the "shema" (hear) - are the cornerstone of the Jewish faith. The commandment is not just a creed but a life-code that is meant to be at the forefront of every observant Jew.

But does it apply to Christians? Mark 12:28-34 tells of the religious legalist who asked Jesus which was the most important commandment of all. Jesus' immediate response was to quote Deuteronomy 6:4-5. So Jesus also named it the primary commandment for his followers. These words need to be foremost in our minds and hearts as well. Our identity is as people of God, and we offer God alone our ultimate allegiance. God also asks each of us to love in a way that holds nothing back. We are to give our absolute and undivided loyalty to God. We should use all we have – wealth, talents, and time – in the service of God. Our love for God should absolutely control our lives and control our behavior in our homes, our church, and in the world. John Wesley describes entire justification as a heart filled with love for God and neighbor.

Lent often has us thinking of what to give up. This year I am concentrating on what I can add to implement this commandment in every area of my life. This could be looked at as a burden. But just think! The most important commandment we are given is to enter into a relationship of love with God!! Alleluia!!

Noelle Landin

March 16, 2017

Echoing in Our Minds
Read: Psalm 100

I noticed that in 2013 I wrote my Lenten Devotion about some words in an anthem we had sung which were meaningful to me – “I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining; I believe in love, even when I feel it not: I believe in God, even when He is silent” written on the walls of a cellar in Cologne, Germany, during WWII.

And Pat Greenwell and Pastor Ray called the congregation’s attention to the words of Howard Thurman in the January 15th anthem which said, “When the song of angels is stilled . . . and the kings and princes are home . . . the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry . . . to re-build the nations, to bring peace among brothers . . . ”

One of my favorites from a Christmas cantata which we sang a few years ago is, “Hope is like a candle burning in the night, Hope paints every shadow with its gentle light, Glowing like a promise till our faith is sight . . .”

Singing in the choir causes these wonderful lines to echo in our minds for days, at least that’s my experience. As a result, to continue in the words of the same cantata, one can experience “Peace .. . like sweet music sounding pure and strong, Singing songs of comfort when the night is long. Turning drums of hatred into heaven’s song.”

Or experience, ”Joy like a flower blooming in the soul, Sending forth its fragrance to heal and make us whole. And when bitter winds are blowing and when birds refuse to sing, Joy can turn our winter into our eternal spring.”

May you experience peace, hope and joy this Lenten Season.

Vivian Anderson

March 15, 2017

What Is Courage?
Read: Deuteronomy 31:6

As I sat there and listened to the sermon on Sunday, January 21st, I thought that one must face these troubled times with all of the courage one can muster. A poem came to mind. One that I had submitted for the book some time ago. Maybe it’s time to jog our memories once again.

You asked me, “What is courage?”
So we took the dictionary down and spelled it out.
You said, “It’s not to fear.”
Does courage arch its back up like our cat and spit at everything it meets?
Perplexed, we closed the book and took a walk.
We came upon where fire had worked untimely death.
The woods were gone, but on a slender stalk, a flower inched for life.
I caught my breath!
“Courage, I said,” and took you by the hand, “IS ONE WHITE FLOWER IN A FIRE-SWEPT LAND.”

And so must we all try to be like that flower in these troubled times.

Glenn DeLodder

March 14, 2017

Why Me Why – Part 1

The two most important days in anyone’s life are the day you’re born, and the day you find out why. (Mark Twain)

I didn’t think I’d use the subtitle from last year’s devotion series again. This past week however it’s been haunting me more than ever. Within a year and a half, I lost Mom, and also 4 of the longest and closest friends I had, all friends of 30 or more years, trusted and close. Mom was a full life, but my buddies were all too young, mid-50s to mid-60s and they all went fast. This past week though saw the most tragic loss as the most dear and gifted daughter of our closest friends died suddenly in a sledding accident. It has a lot of people reeling with questions for which there are no answers.

This devotion series is about various aspects of the loss of a loved one, especially someone so young as our friend’s daughter, or the loss of anything else near and dear like one’s daily abilities, things we all take for granted. I hope somewhere this will help someone as I struggle to understand it all myself. But for the Grace of God it could have been me a hundred times over on that sled. We struggle with Faith: how could any decent God let such things happen? Is there a God? Why did they all have to die so soon? Why do we all suffer so much when we lose our most precious gifts, family, friends, the ability to do simple things? Is there any getting over it? Should there be?

My chosen title evokes questions by design, the punctuation has been withheld to promote variations. Pronounced Why Me? Why?, to no one in particular and at the same time to everyone it has one meaning. Pronounced Why? Me! Why?, it has another. Pronounced as a single word in a low broken tone whymewhy, it has the grief and heartache of a person in distress. As I pondered this, I pronounced the phrase many ways in my head and found many meanings, each with more questions than the last.

I know I certainly can’t answer these questions, and I don’t pretend to understand them myself. It is my hope that somewhere in these devotions someone greater than I will find some comfort in them. My prayer is that none of you ever feels like asking; Why Me Why.

Ron Draper

March 13, 2017

Praying with Doubt
Read James 5: 13-18

Praying is never easy for me. Often, I have to overcome a reluctance to pray. Some of the reluctance comes from making time to pray. Some of the reluctance comes from sadness that stems from praying for people who are sick, dying, or in terrible personal situations. But today I realized that a lot of my reluctance to pray comes from doubt. It’s doubt that my praying will do any good. I can think of so many horrendous examples of where I’m sure people prayed for deliverance from terrible circumstances. A prime example is the Holocaust. I’m certain that many, if not most, of the Jewish people in the concentration camps prayed for a merciful escape from the horrors that they suffered. Yet six million didn’t escape. And there are numerous additional examples large and small.

The Bible, in the words of not only Christ, but St. Paul and many others, tells us to pray without ceasing. We are to go into our rooms and pray behind closed doors so as not to make a public show of our praying. We are told that our heavenly Father will hear us anyway. So, how do I reconcile the disconnect between negative outcomes and my petitions in prayer?

The answer is, I don’t. Today I realized the error in my thinking about prayer and the outcomes of prayer. The outcomes of my petitions are not up to me. Somehow, I got into my head that my prayers are the vehicle that cures people of disease, comforts the dying and causes the positive outcomes I pray for. I realized the outcomes are strictly up to God. I may be aware of what people need in my prayers. But only God knows for sure and I need to leave the burden of outcomes up to God.

Mike Bernhardt

March 12, 2017

Christ Our Redeemer Knew Temptation's Hour – Singing the Faith #235

Christ our Redeemer knew temptation's hour
in desert places, silent and apart;
and three times over met the tempter's power
with God's word written, hidden in his heart.

He makes not bread what God has made a stone,
he at whose bidding water turns to wine:
we are not meant to live by bread alone
but as God speaks the word of life divine.

He will not ask the fickle crowd's acclaim,
nor flaunt the Sonship which is his by right,
nor seem distrustful of the Father's Name
who bids us walk by faith and not by sight.

He seeks no kingdom but by cross and grave,
for love of sinners spurning Satan's throne:
his triumph seen in those he died to save
who, to his glory, worship God alone.

Timothy Dudley-Smith