Devotion
I Am The Lord Your God
Frances Taylor
When you consider the commandments, which do you think are the easiest to keep? I wouldn't be surprised if you name to first two. However, I think they can be the most difficult. Let's look at the first commandment. Do we put God first? I don't know where it is elsewhere, but in the United States .ministers of every denomination complain that families are not going to church on Sunday because of sports. The children play sports on Sunday mornings because the adults who coach them want to watch sports on television in the afternoon. Sports has become a god. What about companies that require their workers to sacrifice time with their families if they intend to move up in the ranks? Ambition has become a god. With the media telling us that anything that feels good must be good, whether doing so breaks another commandment or not, pleasure has become a god. I could go on, but you get the picture. Have you made anything or anyone a god in your life? On to the second one. Where can you go where you do NOT hear the name of the Lord taken in vain? Where can you go and not hear cursing? Music, movies, television, the man or woman in the supermarket, children in school, all seem to have no problem with any of these. Do you use "hell, damn" or the Lord's name in your conversation? We complain about foul language, but that's only offensive, not forbidden by the commandments but called sinful by Paul. Let's think again about how we live these two important commandments and promise to do a better job.
Prayer
Lord, may we truly put you first in our lives, not just in our words but also in our action. May we think before we take your name in vain and eliminate curse words from our speech. Amen.
Night Prayer
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Inspiration
Every race has a finish line. And in the race that we call life, we all reach the finish line at our appointed time. How will you cross? Will you cross with confidence, knowing that Jesus has secured your victory? Will you cross with humility, knowing that faith has brought you to the finish? What should we be doing now to prepare ourselves for our final victory?
Prayer
Father God, You have won victory for me over sin and death. As I run the race of life, I look to the finish line and I see Your glory beyond. Empower me to live each day in that victory, to run with the confidence of knowing that I will reach the finish. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You, so that all who witness my life may see You guiding me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
The Lord Will Not Forget You
Frances Taylor
It's still Lent, we may or may not be still doing penance, it can be a tough time of the year weather-wise, and we can be ready for the promises of Spring. Does it feel as if God has not just forgotten you but the world as well. This reading from Isaiah is well chosen for this time of the year. The fulfillment of the promise made in the Garden of Eden, to send a Messiah who will open the gates of heaven, to save us from the effects of sin and death is almost here. We have been listening to the message of hope and forgiveness proclaimed by Jesus for weeks and we've watched him heal the sick and raise the dead and yet we're still not satisfied. We're not quite ready to "be joyful" and "break forth into singing." But the Lord gives us an example of love that he says doesn't compare to the great amount of love he has for us. He compares his love to that of a mother's love for her young child – and his love is greater. God's love is ...
Morning Prayer
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Inspiration
God is able to do far greater things than we can even imagine. And this very power is that which is "working in us" every day, if we are children of God. He will build his Church, not only by expanding its numbers but also by deepening its faith and working in and through us to do great things that never even so much as entered our minds.
Prayer
O Lord, let us "expect great things from you and attempt great things for you. " Let us not suppose we are privy to all of your thoughts and plans, but acknowledge that your thoughts and your ways are infinitely higher than ours. Let us ask boldly in faith for you to work mightily and expect you to do even more than what we ask. Amen.
