Devotion
Don’t cry. Jesus is risen!
David Jacobs
My best friend died when I was 21. He died of cancer even though he was given a high chance of survival. I was devastated, blaming myself and also blaming God. "How could God do this to him?" I wondered. In my pain and grief, other ideas began to emerge: "How lucky were we to have met each other? Would I have wanted it any other way?"
Losing a loved one can be a crushing blow. We all fear the unknown and are sad to think that the warm person we once knew is not a cold body, nothing more than flesh and bone. Similar to I thought with my friend, Jesus' death was a tragedy, but would you have wanted his life to have been any different? His life was a blessing for all of us, one that we are all indebted to him for. Be comforted by the words of Jesus, as Mary Magdalene was. He has ascended to Heaven with his Father, the prophecy has been fulfilled, and we have been saved. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Holy Lord, God of power and light, I am humbled by your sacrifices for me, a lowly servant. I ask that you utilize me in any way you see fit, for I long to be like your son, Jesus Christ, bringing light to the world. Comfort those that are mourning, my God, for their hearts may weigh heavy and need your support. Help me to recognize anyone that may be going through difficult times, so I may lend an ear, a shoulder, or a heart for them. In your name I pray, Amen.
Devotion
Be Prepared
Frances Taylor
What will we be doing when the Master comes? Will we be faithful servants waiting for our Lord's return, or will we be waiting until we're older or sick, or dying? The parable goes on to tell how much more so, if he comes in the second or third watch. As the year winds down we will continue to be reminded to be prepared to meet God. There is a song that was popular several years ago called "Live Like We're Dying." Although not specifically geared toward being prepared to die, it does invite us to live each moment of every day loving others, letting those we love know it and not wasting a single second. In fact the song tells us exactly how many seconds there are in a day – 36,400! If we knew we were dying, who would we want to spend time with or who do we need to forgive? Who needs to know that we love them? If you had answers for these questions, then what are you waiting for? What do we need to do to prepare for eternity? How is our prayer life? ...
