Devotion
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
David Jacobs
The Statue of Liberty in New York City is (or at least was) emblematic of the American spirit: caring, welcoming, and free. The title of this devotional is the inscription on the statue, written to welcome the new immigrants to the United States of America at the early part of the 20th century.
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
America truly opened its doors at the time welcoming people from any country, of any creed or religion, and under most circumstances. The USA wanted the meek and lowly, offering them a chance at a better life, together.
Take a look at the verses here and consider your own life: do you feel tired? Overworked? Hopeless? Brothers and sisters, there is hope! Life may drag us down more than we like to remember, and so often we may stumble through our days tired, worn, and heavy. Turn to the Lord: His word, His truth and His arms, for they are always open to receive us. If you don't know where to turn, think of where you can go: the church. We are all there for each other, willing to worship, rest, and relax in the name of Christ, our Lord and Savior. We may feel beaten down at times, but God is there for us, waiting to take some of our load. It is our decision whether or not we ask.
Prayer
Dearest God, I come to you heavy with burden. I need you, my Lord. I love you. When I tire, please give me rest. Aid me to heal my broken bones and tired body through your word, igniting the light within my heart. Give me strength, so that when I falter and fail, for I wish to serve and labor only under you Lord, and wish to speak only your name. Amen.
Devotion
Passover
Frances Taylor
And so still today, the Jewish people celebrate Passover and one of the traditions is for someone to ask why we celebrate this feast, and the youngest child answers with the story of the Passover. Jesus was celebrating Passover with his friends on the night before he died. I know this reading comes up during the summer, so it's not the time for Passover, or the Passion of Jesus, but I have a question. What are our traditions surrounding the passion and death and resurrection of Jesus? Do we celebrate the end of Lent on Holy Thursday? Do we spend time with Jesus on Good Friday remembering his sacrifice? Is Easter all about candy and the Easter bunny? Today, many of our churches are practically empty on Easter Sunday and the children think more about an Easter egg hunt than God. Would the youngest member of the family be able to tell the story of why we celebrate? God brought the Israelites from slavery to freedom at the original Passover, but Jesus brought ...
Morning Prayer
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
Inspiration
Through God, all things are possible, and all things may be made a new. Dwell not on the past, of what was or could have been, but rather look forward to what through God's grace, may unfold within his divine plan. Being a Christian is constantly about a state of becoming, of a movement towards the Light of perfection shown to us by Christ. A part of this is to always remain open to Gods' works and feats, emerging all around us. God's will to create and recreate the world is his right as our Heavenly father, and it is not for us to mourn what may pass, but rather to seek to adapt our faith in ...
Night Prayer
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Inspiration
God is our portion, our ultimate source of peace and happiness. We do not need to understand His ways or timing; we only need to know that He is always with us. God is our safety net, and He guides us through each struggle or hardship. We know terrible occurrences are bound to happen as we live in this imperfect world, but we have hope because God is with us every moment. His love will never fail.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we depend on You for peace and happiness all the days of our life. We are blessed because we can face any obstacle with You by our side. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
