April 9, 2023 – Easter Sunday

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today – UMH 302

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and Heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye Heavens, and Earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of Earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, Thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!


Charles Wesley

April 8, 2023

Voices for God

Psalm 98:4   
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy!

Psalm 81:1
Sing praises to God, our strength
Sing to the God of Jacob!

These are just two examples of instruction in the Bible encouraging us to “Sing” to the Lord. So, why is it that I, and many others, sing softly in church? My excuse is obvious. I was not blessed with a beautiful singing voice. I love music and l love listening to music. When I was in high school, I played the clarinet in the band and even earned the position of “First Chair” in the clarinet section. For many years I have expressed a desire to learn to play the piano, and a couple of years ago, my children gave me a keyboard and beginner piano lessons. I took lessons for about nine months before COVID hit, and have continued self-taught lessons in my “Level 2B Church Hymns” instruction booklet very slowly since then. I love the time I spend “practicing” on the keyboard. Sometimes when I’m feeling extra brave, and in the house alone, I even sing along as loudly as possible.

One disadvantage to being able to read music and hear the notes is that when the note is wrong, I hear it! Trust me, I hear it when I’m singing! As a matter of fact, when I was in the eighth grade, the music director kicked me (and three of my friends) out of the Glee Club. In her defense, I’m sure we were talking too much, but I also believe that it was a good excuse to improve the quality of the chorus! Therefore, I rest my case on why I sing softly in church.

Conversely, my sister sings just as off-key as I do (maybe even more so – if possible). She is tone deaf and doesn’t realize how off-key she is. She loves the Lord and she loves to sing. (I bet you can see where this is going…) When we were children, I constantly complained that she needed to tone down her volume in church, which, as you can imagine, only encouraged her to sing louder! I remember being quite embarrassed, so I finally gave up the cause.

 
Fast forward many years and now that I’ve (hopefully) matured a bit, nothing makes me smile more than to stand beside my sister in church and listen to her sing! Yes, she still loves the Lord and yes, she still loves to sing loudly. Hallelujah! I’m so glad that my childhood badgering had no impact on her singing. One of our favorite Easter songs is “Up from the Grave He Arose” (UMH 322), and now my greatest joy is to stand beside her on Easter morning as we sing with all our heart to the Lord:

Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever,
With His saints to reign.
He Arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

So, to all of those who have beautiful voices, I am in awe of you. And, to those who bravely sing off-key with joy and thanksgiving to the Lord, I am even in more awe of you!!!!!!!

Lynn Woodside – CGUMC

April 7, 2023 – Good Friday

For the Man Upstairs

At the end of each rummage sale, the challenge is to pack everything that is not sold, and stage it so that local charities can pick it up to support other missions. This past Fall, Matrix Human Services took all the unsold clothing, as they have done in the past, right after the sale on Saturday. We love to see them coming, because they bring extra help and a truck! Matrix started a new program to help people find housing, and to help them furnish their homes. Several items of furniture were marked for pick up to be used in this new program. The Matrix staff was to pick up the furniture the Monday after the sale, the same day that Goodwill picks up unsold items. The Matrix staff was unable to pick up the furniture on Monday, and asked if I could meet them the following Saturday. I agreed, and we set a time.

I must admit I was a little concerned, as I would have to figure an alternative to move several items of furniture if they didn’t show. True to their word, the Matrix representative showed up with a jeep and a van and two men. It is unclear to me how they managed to put all of the items in those two vehicles, but they did. As is the custom, we typically provide a tip to the drivers who pick up and haul away our rummage. The gentlemen, refused the tip, pointing heavenward. We do this for others and the man upstairs. Their kindness really touched me.

They taught me a valuable lesson that day. Keep the faith. There are so many who are generous of heart and spirit in this world.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22

Nancy Grose

April 6, 2023 – Maundy Thursday

A Gift of Life

Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

I used to think the Red Cross was exaggerating with its dire messages about the shortage of blood. That was before I sat with Greg at St. John’s in December, hours ticking by, waiting for the Blood Bank to locate his blood type and the antibodies they needed to add to the donated blood.

Greg has a blood disorder and has had a number of lifesaving transfusions since October. It is always a scramble to get the special combination of blood and antibodies that he needs to bring his hemoglobin to a more manageable level.

Before the pandemic, I participated in the blood drives at work – both convenient and a break from my workday, with cookies as a reward. Now, I am grateful to be able to donate at our church, which has hosted drives for a long as I can remember. Bonus: I get to visit with my church friends while I’m eating the cookies.

Many members who volunteer at the blood drives also donate while they are there. Some of the donors don’t go to our church, so the drive is an opportunity for them to get to know us. Invariably, some folks who try to donate are screened out for one reason or another.

When I sit with Greg as he gets a transfusion, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all of these generous souls – those who volunteer, those who donate, and those who try to donate. The willingness to help strangers fills me with hope when hope is often in short supply.

Thank you so, so much.

A prayer for blood donors:

May the blood that I am about to donate,
Help those who are in need,
To fight disease,
Provide nourishment,
And carry oxygen to their vital organs,
to sustain life and prevent death.

Kathy Gardner

April 5, 2023

The Resurrection of Christ

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!    Hallelujah!

Read UMH 302

The ones who didn’t like him; the ones who were afraid of him; they killed him, tortured him first.    They executed him in public, so that everyone could see what happened to people who threatened their powers, who tried to turn everything upside down, who tried to make new ways. The state didn’t execute philosophers or dreamers; the state executed threats.    His vision of a new way was definitely a threat.    The powers-that-be thought they had killed the vision when they killed the man.    It didn’t work.   

The powerful had tried to kill the vision of God, but they did not succeed.    The activity of God would not stay dead.    More and more people began to follow the way and live the vision too.    More and more people felt his presence with them.    More and more were convinced that he wasn’t dead; he was alive.    They could feel it.    Their stories were not all the same.    Some heard a voice, some saw a light, some ate bread, some saw the sunrise, some just felt it.    It didn’t matter that not all experienced exactly the thing; they all experienced Christ each in their own way.

Paul tried to explain it to them.    He showed them some seeds.    Tiny seeds are planted in the ground, and stalks of grain grow up.    What grows doesn’t look at all like what was planted.    Everything looks altogether different.    Paul taught them resurrection is about a spiritual body, not a worn-out physical one returned.    Paul encouraged people to have the “faith of Jesus.”    Some got confused and thought he said “faith in Jesus.”    Paul understood that Jesus had faith in God’s new vision for justice and mercy and grace for all people.    Paul encouraged people to have “faith like Jesus”; the “faith of Christ”–the faith that would enable them to live the vision too.

As United Methodists, we believe that Jesus took human form.    He lived as a man and died when he was crucified.    We believe that Jesus is divine.    He is the Son of God.    We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the risen Christ lives today.    We believe that Jesus is our savior.    In Christ we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins.    We believe that Jesus is our Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after his.

Christ is alive and God’s vision lives through us.    Thanks be to God, hallelujah!

Don Crawford

April 4, 2023

Love Conquers All

Read: Luke 23:34

Last month I received a letter from my Utah grandson asking my advice. He was dismayed and disappointed that local churches he had attended, along with elderly relatives whom he loved, displayed intolerance against. all types of people that were different from them. The relatives went so far as to denounce the tolerant family members.

My advice was. from our Savior's own words, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." Their ignorance with their narrow friendships and knowledge prevents them from seeing the truth. So I told my grandson "Forgive your elderly relatives and just continue to love them."

I also said to seek out a church that reflects your values and know that God is love and love eventually conquers all. Forgiveness may come harder to those of us who aren't divine, but we have Christ's perfect example to guide us.

Prayer: Thank you for always showing us the path to follow. Thank you for enlightenment, expanding minds and hearts to respect and accept all of God's creation. Amen.

Sarah Frakes

April 3, 2023

Take Out the Trash

Read: Psalm 51 (especially verses 2 and 10)

One of the churches I served had “adopted” a stretch of highway, and two or three times a year we would get garbage bags and put on our work gloves and pick up the litter along the sides of the highway. I remember one morning as we were collecting the litter, I came to a blackberry thicket. I noticed in the middle of those thorns a paper bag. I looked at the bag, and I looked at the thorns that surrounded it and decided that it wasn’t worth the effort to get that one little piece of trash and went on my way.

Following behind me, Mr. Gerald, one of the saints of the church, saw the same paper bag and waded into the thicket of briers to retrieve the sack. Upon opening the sack, he found a $20 bill! (He, of course, put the money in the church offering plate!)

This season of Lent is, in one sense, a time for Spring cleaning; a time to check in the dark recesses of our lives to get all the trash out and leave ourselves clean for our Heavenly Father’s pleasure. Sometimes, though, during the introspection, I will discover some garbage in my life. I know it’s there, and God knows it’s there, but I tell myself that it would simply be too difficult to get rid of, of I will justify it as “only one little paper bag,” and go merrily on my way knowing the trash is there.

I hope I am learning that it is, indeed, worth the effort to get the junk out of my life, and that it isn’t just a little thing, but that junk is something that can (and does) fester and poison my soul.

The reward for cleaning out the junk isn’t measured in dollars and cents, but rather as an offering to God, whose Kingdom benefits us all in miraculous ways.

Shalom,
Rev. Will Wells – CGUMC

Prayer: Father, thank you for this season of Lent. Thank you for the time to take stock of our lives and for showing us the junk that that is in our lives. Give us grace to wade in and do the difficult work of repentance and cleansing so that we can be healed, and your name be magnified! Amen

April 2, 2023 – Palm Sunday

Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart – UMH 161

Rejoice, ye pure in heart; rejoice, give thanks and sing;
your glorious banner wave on high, the cross of Christ your King.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Rejoice, give thanks and sing.


Your clear hosannas raise, and alleluias loud;
whilst answering echoes upward float, like wreaths of incense cloud.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Rejoice, give thanks and sing.


Yes, on through life's long path, still chanting as ye go;
from youth to age, by night and day, in gladness and in woe.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Rejoice, give thanks and sing.


At last the march shall end; the wearied ones shall rest;
the pilgrims find their heavenly home, Jerusalem the blest.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Rejoice, give thanks and sing.


Praise God who reigns on high, the Lord whom we adore,
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God forevermore.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Rejoice, give thanks and sing.


Edward H Plumptre

April 1, 2023

God’s Love and Protection

Psalm 100 v. 4: For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.


Heading to a school board meeting late one winter evening, I drove down a back country road, and since it was dark I did not see a semi-truck blocking the road ahead until I was almost upon it. I swerved right and into a shallow ditch careening along until I could steer back onto the paved road. It happened so quickly; I didn’t have time to think. It was simply instinct. Relief flooded through me – I was safe. My car was safe. I continued on to the meeting murmuring “Thank you, God. Thank you, God” over and over.

A few days later, I drove by in the daylight to see where I had actually driven. Approaching, I was stunned to see large landscape boulders all along the ditch I had driven through. It seemed impossible to think I had navigated around those rocks- yet there it was as plain as could be! I thanked God effusively that night. I was safe and unharmed. The car dealership looked at my car and except for some chunks of dirt and grass stuck to the undercarriage, it, too, was fine. How often in life are there moments like this? We live our lives unaware of His merciful protection. Why does it take a crisis or perilous experience to bring us to a level of gratitude we should feel every day? As I reflected on that night, I thought about how drawn I was to God. I pray that each day I continue to be reminded of His love and protection and that I live in gratitude for this grace.


Prayer: Thank you, Lord for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could have ever imagined. You have surrounded me with people who look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. Most of all, your protection keeps me safe. I praise you always. Amen.

Marcia Wright

March 31, 2023

Nolan

Read: UMH #352 and #593

"Can I have one, too?"

I heard my grandson very clearly ask, at children's time, for the heart necklace.
He did not want to miss out. He was answered as Ms. Emily gently placed the jewels around his neck.
He smiled. Then, minutes later, off he hurried to Sunday school with Mrs. Martin.

Simple as that! "Can I have one, too?"

Learn from a child.

Watching Nolan reminds me to just ask, in prayer, "Can I have you, Jesus, in my heart?"
And I know by faith, the answer. Jesus is in my heart. May I always be reminded that Jesus is in my heart.

I do not want to miss out.

Prayer: In the name of Jesus, thank You for being in my heart. May I be reminded of your love and presence.


Nana Lisa

March 30, 2023

A Happy Tail

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15: 6-7

Two of my many passions in life are long walks and dogs. I walk pretty much all year, enjoying what nature has to offer in every season. I delight in the fresh air and sense of freedom that walking outdoors brings. As to dogs, show me the ugliest, oldest cur and I will love it (my Mother told me my first sentence when learning to talk was “There’s the bow-wow.” What does that tell you?).

One early evening in January, I was out for a stroll along Jefferson when a young man walking toward me in the opposite direction stopped me to ask if I had seen a small dog running around. The dog (a maltipoo named “Benji”) belonged to his Mom and had slipped out the front door of her home when a UPS man delivered a package. The dog was 10 years old, partially deaf, and had cataracts. I told the young man that I hadn’t seen Benji, but would keep an eye out for him. I asked for a text with a family phone number in the event I ran across Benji.

By the time I got home, the temperature had dropped significantly and it started to sleet. Picking up my cell phone, I looked for the text I had requested. My heart skipped a beat when I viewed it. Included was a photo of the missing dog – Benji is precious, with a perfect button nose, alert beautiful eyes, adorable floppy ears, and curls all over. I knew he might have trouble surviving the night outdoors because of his size, age, and health issues, and I hopped into my car to look for him. There was no way I could leave this sweet baby in the cold and rain if there was any chance of finding him.

So there I was, driving slowly with my flashers on for blocks and blocks, my windows rolled down in the pouring rain, screaming “Benji, Benji!” at the top of my lungs hoping the dog might hear me. I’m sure I was a sight. I was waiting for someone to call the police about some crazy woman driving through their neighborhood screaming out her open windows in the rain.

No luck. The next day, I drove around again in both the morning and evening adding additional area to my search. I kept in touch with Benji’s family, sorrowfully informing them of my lack of success. By this time, Benji’s picture had been posted on several lost dog sites. The son informed me that his Mom was inconsolable. I prayed every time I thought of it that day asking that Benji be found and kept safe.

The next morning, I got up a little later than usual. I started preparing for a search on foot, when I received a text that Benji had been found near my house! A follow up call with the son revealed that he had been found by his Mom, and despite age and infirmities, Benji had walked a really long way down Jefferson and was in good shape.

While thanking God for this happy outcome, I thought about the strange coincidence of Benji being found so close to where I live. Also, that he was found by his owner, despite my best efforts at finding him myself. It occurred to me that God, my owner, was reminding me of all the times He has searched for me when I have gone astray and how he always finds me. According to scripture, all of Heaven has rejoiced whenever this happens, and I am not nearly as cute as Benji!

Thought for the day: How wonderful it is that God never gives up, but searches for us whenever we are lost no matter the reason we went astray.

Joyce Reynolds     

March 29, 2023

Cheerleaders

Psalm 71:9
“Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone”

In February of 2022, Sarah Frakes asked me to head the Cheer committee that she chaired for several years. I knew that the Cheer committee sent monthly cards to shut-ins and my father was a recipient of this ministry when he was in a nursing home for many years. I recall him being delighted to receive these cards with the thoughtful, caring and encouraging message written inside. So, my response to Sarah’s question was a definite, “Yes.” Who wouldn’t want to spread joy and positive sentiments to others? In addition, it was my first opportunity to be a “cheerleader!”

I have thoroughly enjoyed the past year as head “Cheerleader,” and my supportive, caring team of Cheer committee members are the best! While I experience a great deal of joy working with the Youth and Children’s Ministry, on the Cheer committee, I’ve found another ministry near and dear to my heart. Since becoming a part of this committee it has been a pleasure to learn and grow from the interactions with these faithful committee members, some of whom are three decades older than me! Who said you can’t be on a cheer team at 90 plus years old!!

In getting to know my fellow cheer team members, I’m inspired by their caring and thoughtful concern regarding the needs of others. It’s not just about who should receive a monthly card with an encouraging message, but what can we do to offer support and lend a helping hand to seniors and medically challenged people in need. It directly relates to Rev. David’s message of learning to live and love like Jesus.

In addition to working with the wonderful members of the Cheer committee, I’ve had the great pleasure of befriending two of the Cheer committee predecessors, Jean Buhler and Sarah Frakes. If you haven’t had a chance to meet these ladies, you need to. These 
two faithful Christian women are the epitome of grace, kindness, and love. Both women have given me guidance and inspiration in this ministry and like the Cheer committee members, they have enriched my life and helped me to become a more faithful servant of God.


Prayer: Dear Lord, I am thankful for this new ministry opportunity to help others in their time of need. Please guide me in keeping my focus “other” directed so that I may live a more Christ-like life. Amen

Merri Lee Day

March 28, 2023

The Rainbow Connection

Read: Genesis 9:12-15
I was driving down a boring stretch of freeway on a gloomy day in 2005 and was thinking about my mom. She had died a few years earlier, following a long battle with cancer, and I was missing her terribly. She was not just my mom; she was my confidant and friend. My mom was also a remarkable caregiver to her friends, her family, and the cancer patients she cared for as a radiation oncology nurse. One of her patients even called her a “saint.”

Nonetheless, I was mad at her for leaving me with an empty feeling. I had always heard about people who felt connected to their deceased loved ones through dreams, signs, feelings, etc., but I had not experienced any of those things since my mom had died. So, speaking out loud, I begged my mom to give me a sign that she was still present in my life. And she did!

A brilliant and full rainbow appeared in the sky as soon as I was done speaking. I immediately felt my heart warm and my mood lift. In fact, I started to cry tears of joy.

It may have been a coincidence, but I believe there are moments of awe and wonder that cannot be explained away. I believe that God had a hand in connecting me to my mom.
Now I say “Hi Mom” whenever I see a rainbow.

Jan Versical

March 27, 2023

Stuck?

In the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, Phil (Bill Murray) is a weather reporter forced to go to Punxsutawney on February 2nd to cover the famous groundhog, also named Phil. Phil, the weather guy, is selfish, ambitious, and conceited trying to work his way up the weather broadcasting ladder. Through a Hollywood turn of events, he becomes stuck in February 2nd. Every day the same as the day before, he is trapped in Punxsutawney, a place he doesn’t want to be and a place he cannot leave because no matter what he does today, in the morning it is Feb. 2nd all over again. Phil is STUCK! We watch Phil be selfish, doing whatever he likes, because he will neither be hurt nor suffer the consequences of his actions. This selfish fun grows old and he becomes depressed to the point he tries to kill himself but, even these attempts don't work as every morning at 6am his alarm goes off and he’s back in Feb. 2nd. How does Phil get unstuck? He turns from caring for and about himself to caring for and about others.

Have you ever felt stuck? Physically? Spiritually? or Mentally? Sometimes we get stuck in ruts of our own making, or stuck in ruts of circumstance, or stuck in ruts of habit. Stuck doing the same thing over and over again. Soon, perhaps without realizing it, we look around and discover we seem unable to do anything to get unstuck. Stuck doing the same things over and over again digging ruts deeper and deeper. We may join Phil and wonder why we’re stuck, or maybe try to be satisfied with being stuck, or wonder how we can get unstuck and move on. Phil discovered the way to be unstuck and move on to February 3rd was to care for and about others. Paul has similar words for us in Philippians chapter 2: 1-4

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Stuck? What’s the solution? Similar to Phil’s discovery, Paul encourages us to be unstuck by having the mind of Christ and by looking to the interests of others. I know it is easier said than done, but don’t forget we are not alone having to muster up our own power, God: Father, Son and Spirit are with us empowering us to move forward.
Blessings on your Lenten journey!

Pastor Pam Wells – CGUMC

March 26, 2023

A Really Hard Job

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:13

My mother smiled more than anyone I’ve ever known. She was always optimistic and positive and was skilled at getting a return smile from everyone around her. Church and faith were interwoven with this optimism and happiness. She also worked in the credit department at the Berkline Furniture Corporation for over 40 years, and her specialty was collections.

When I was a kid, I never really paid attention to what my mother did for work. But in my adult life I began to understand that my mother had spent much of her career collecting money from furniture stores and distributors who were behind on their payments. And I also realized she had been doing that for so many years because she was really good at it. This perplexed me greatly. How could one of the nicest and most genuine people I’d ever known and thrive for decades as a bill collector?

My mother had never spoken much to me about her job, and she typically kept her work life to herself. But when she was in the early stages of dementia, I had a conversation with her about her career and we finally discussed how she had thrived for so many years in collections. According to my mom, it was her ability to be so genuine, honest, and caring that made her successful. She got to know her customers personally and build real trust. She really understood them, and could empathize in a way that made them feel respected. When merchants had cash flow problems or financial issues, she had a way of making sure she was the first person they wanted to pay when money came in. She could be tough when she needed to as well, but that was not what ultimately made her successful.

My mom was a lifelong United Methodist, and I believe her unwavering faith and her grounding in the New Testament were critical in forming who she was. The teachings of Paul are extraordinarily optimistic and loving, even though the job of developing the early church was extremely difficult and filled with interactions with uncooperative, dangerous people who wanted to eradicate his cause. But over time, the teachings of faith, hope, and love kept winning the detractors over.

Craig Fowler

March 25, 2023

Walking

Read Acts 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:7

I walk a lot.

Walking gives me time to zone out and tune in, reflect, pray, ponder and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. It’s one of the reliable “cheering-myself-up” activities that I practice regularly. And my dog Sassy loves it too!
It’s also a great way to connect with God.

I love walking trails, paths, circular hikes and also hike-in/hike-out because things look so different coming from the other direction. Any weather is good – sometimes the worse the weather, the better the walk. It invigorates me to feel the cold air, breathe in the raindrops and it’s always heavenly to feel the sun on my face.

Most often I walk neighborhood sidewalks and it always strikes me – the way that the sidewalk looks, stretching out in front of me, and stretching out behind me. Sometimes there are four or six directions at a crossroad. And that makes me think about life.

How nice it would be, it seems to me, if life stretched out ahead of me. A clear path, easy to follow, no worries about dips or detours. But life feels like a zig-zag line, obstacles ahead, with unknown encounters. Usually not so straight and obvious.

That makes me SO GRATEFUL for faith. For God walking that curvy, bumpy path with me. I’m never alone! And when I don’t know the way, God knows. It makes me smile as I continue to explore my town, my world, my faith in my wonderful God.

If you can, take a walk today with God.

Anne Sullivan

March 24, 2023

Come Follow Me

Read: UMH 206 "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light"

It is a well-known story. Jesus, following his temptation in the wilderness and walking along the shore of the Galilean lake, called to two fishermen, brothers Simon and Andrew. "Come with me, and I will make you fish for people.” Continuing along the shore, Jesus called two more disciples, brothers James and John, also fishermen. I clearly remember, as a youngster in Sunday School, how enthusiastically we sang the children's song "I Will Make You Fishers of Men," as well as “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” The meaning of these two Sunday School songs has remained with me all my life. I think of them often, which leads me to the present day and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ here and now.

We as Christians follow in Jesus' footsteps, and pattern our lives after his. Discipleship takes specific forms according to the work each has been asked to do. This work goes on all the time and everywhere. Jesus was a teacher of God, not a teacher of the world's values. And so, his disciples are also teachers of God. One might ask, "Who are they?" I have every confidence that a teacher of God is anyone who chooses to be one – the sole qualification. Jesus did not seek only holy persons, but called ordinary folk out making a living, including a despised tax collector. Contemporary disciples come from all over the world and from every walk of life. Somehow, somewhere, they saw a light in the darkness. Further, they decided that the well-being of others was not apart from their own. The world's belief system, founded on the idea of separation (and consequent separate interests), does not honor or even acknowledge the oneness of God's creation and the fact that God is not absent from any aspect of it.

A few characteristics of God's teachers are faithfulness and trust, open-mindedness, tolerance, forgiveness, generosity, and the joy of knowing who and Whose we are. Only false beliefs about ourselves assert that we have no role to play in God's plan.

Jesus, referring to himself, said: "While I am in the world I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). And in the Sermon on the Mount he tells us: "You are the light of the world.” In Ephesians 5 we read: "Live as children of light, since light produces everything that is good and righteous and true." And from 1 Thessalonians 5: "You are all children of light, children of day. We do not belong to night or darkness." In order to see clearly we must realize that light is within us, not without. It is what makes spiritual vision possible, and this is what will guide us as we take our place among the followers of Jesus Christ. This vision will correct the perception of everything and everyone we see, looking past all illusions, which are unknown in Heaven. Let us not forget this foundational truth: "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, then we share a common life" (1 John 1). This light attracts as nothing of the world can.

So for this Lenten journey and all the days beyond, may we be blessed in all our doings. God turns to us to help save a weary and worn world. For this world indeed stands in need of grace, and awaits the blessing we bring from Him. His Voice is heard around the world as we choose to be the means to bring it. Would we not do this for Jesus' sake, and for our own? Let the light of holiness be our constant guide, and the strength of Christ will prevail in all we think and say and do. "Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

Prayer: Dear God, Creator and Sustainer eternal, our beloved Lord Jesus, through his supreme example in times long past, revealed the way to serve you. The need seems even greater in this age. The call to serve has never ceased. We trust our ways to You, and ask Your will in everything we do. We are Your completion and your love. And so, with grateful hearts, we can but say "Amen."

Doug Dykstra

March 23, 2023

A Blessing from God

"Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other."
1 John 4:11

Lynn and I were blessed to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary last year. Thanks to our sneaky family and friends, we got to celebrate with them at a surprise anniversary party. And I thought I was just going to enjoy a barbecued rib dinner at a friend’s house.

I thank God every day for my family and my friends, including my church family. Good times or bad, high times or low, it a blessing to know they’ve “got my back.”

It occurred to me that in the same way we celebrated our marriage, amid loving family and friends, we got to share our 50th anniversary amid loving family and friends. We reminisced and got to share a very nice PowerPoint presentation (gotta love shag carpets, harvest gold, and avocado green, right?) prepared by, you guessed it, family and friends. (Where did they dig up those old pictures?)

Friends and families are blessing from God, and I am more than grateful for those in my life.

Fred Van de Putte

March 22, 2023

God Will Help You

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
 He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
 He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. - Psalm 34: 17-18

When I was 24 years old, my 21-year-old brother died in his sleep from an undiagnosed heart condition. His death was the most horrific and indescribable thing I can imagine, and the grief I felt was all-consuming and overwhelming. He was my best friend, and I didn’t think I could go on without him.

I was broken-hearted, and indeed my spirit was crushed. I was struggling to make sense of it, but over time I began to understand that Chip’s passing meant that I needed to live my life to the fullest, and live a life that he would be proud of.

I asked God for help, and as time passed he strengthened me to take up the mantle and help others and not waste a minute of time I’m given.

Even though it may seem like God sometimes isn’t listening, if you live a life full of meaning and compassion and righteousness, God will rescue your spirit and help you make it through.

David Switzer

March 21, 2023

“I Can Still Have Hope”

2 Corinthians: 5-7 — For we walk by faith, not by sight.

In October, one of the “boys” who grew up across the street from us suffered a massive stroke. Andrew is 33 years old with no history of health problems until this very unexpected event. His parents, Kathy and Jim, upended their lives here in Grosse Pointe to be with him in Washington, DC, and support him through the early part of his recovery.

Kathy and Jim are a faith-filled couple who have long been an exemplary model of what it means to “live and love like Jesus.” Their frequent postings on Caring Bridge have shared Andrew’s journey with friends, family, and neighbors. Each message has become like a small devotion for me. Kathy, who is a registered nurse, does most of the writing, and she presents a pretty straight-forward assessment of Andrew’s challenges and progress.

While she is honest about the struggles and the long and difficult journey that remains, she is not wallowing in the uncertainty that they are facing. There’s been no “woe is me, my life is so hard.” Instead, each message has been filled with gratitude and optimism, even joy. She has shared the joy of Andrew’s first steps on a treadmill, discovering new ways to communicate, walking through a park on a sunny day, meeting other individuals with aphasia and learning how they have adapted to this new life.

As Kathy said so eloquently in one of her postings: Even though my questions may not have answers, I can still have hope.

In the midst of the most significant crisis in their lives, this family is finding happiness. They are focusing on small bits of improvement and embracing this opportunity to spend time with each other and to support a loved one through an exceptionally difficult time. They are reminding me that life is short and that we must savor every moment that we have with those we love.


Prayer: Gracious Lord, help me to approach each day with optimism and hope. Help me to remember that, even during my darkest days, I can find happiness and joy.

Joan Richardson