http://www.umcow.org/index.htmlHot News!enuser@domain.comCopyright 2012 Dave2012-05-11T17:26:49-04:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Fri, 11 May 2012 17:27:22 -0400user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-05-11T17:26:49-04:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/c9d61ffafdc00b4d6b5c2ba4823a4fee-14.html#unique-entry-id-14http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/c9d61ffafdc00b4d6b5c2ba4823a4fee-14.html#unique-entry-id-14"Whoever serves me must follow me."
- John 12:26

We've all seen our share of snowstorms. While I like the snow, I don't always enjoy driving in it.

I remember once I had to venture out to an important meeting during a particularly bad storm. The roads were buried, and getting out of my subdivision was no easy task. I began to wonder if I would make it to my meeting at all.

Just as I got out to the main street what should be coming down the road but a snowplow! As the plow passed I got behind it and followed it nearly all the way to my destination. The roads around me were nearly impassable, but thanks to the plow my path was clear.

What a great analogy for our spiritual journey! The greatest mistakes I've made in life have been those occasions when I've gotten in front of God and tried to make my own way. More often than not I've wound up in the ditches of life.

Jesus didn't say, "Get in front of me and show me the way." He said, "Follow me and I'll show YOU the way." Being an impatient person I sometimes find that hard to do, but when I trust God, seek his timing, and follow him, my journey is always better.

How do you follow? I believe that it's more of an art form than a science. The tools of the trade are God's Word, active listening in prayer, daily obedience, and spiritual community around you. It's not easy work, but it sure beats landing in the ditch!

Bringing It Home:
1. In what area(s) of your faith journey do you tend to get ahead of God?
2. Which tools of discipleship do you have in your tool kit?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I commit myself to following you today. Forgive me for rushing ahead, thinking I know the way. I trust Jesus Christ as my Way, my Truth, and my Life. Help me to grow in the grace of patience. Tune my ears and my eyes to know and to follow the path you plow for me day by day.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-05-03T18:19:35-04:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/011317bbfbbe0d40ea1b736c39b987de-13.html#unique-entry-id-13http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/011317bbfbbe0d40ea1b736c39b987de-13.html#unique-entry-id-13"Come let us bow down and worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker . . . "
Psalm 95:6

I woke up one morning and sat down to write some devotions. As I opened my Bible to see what the Lord laid before me that day, I came across Psalm 95. It is a song of worship to our Lord, our Rock, our Maker, our God.

There are many times when I forget that my daily life is to be a living act of worship. I get caught up in the excitement of the day, the details to be taken care of, the deadlines that loom on the horizon - sometimes just the chore of making it through the day. But our lives are so richly blessed, and our attitudes could be ones filled with love and praise for the God who created and loves us.

So, today, join me in worship using the words of Psalm 95 . Read them through two or three times, all the while letting your heart soar in praise and thanksgiving! I have taken the liberty to personalize the words for you. Make them your prayer for the day - and maybe many to come! For we have a great God who is worthy of our praise!

Come, let me sing for joy to the Lord;
Let me shout aloud to the Rock of my salvation!
Let me come before God with thanksgiving
For you are a great God;
In your hand is the depth of the earth,
And the mountain peaks belong to you.
The sea is yours, because you made it, and your hands formed the dry land.
Come, let me bow down in worship,
Let me kneel before the Lord my Maker;
For you are my God
And I am a person in your pasture, in the flock under your care.
Psalm 95:1-7


Bringing It Home:
1. What is your attitude today? Are you living in an attitude of worship? If not, what keeps you from this? If you struggle with this, take the time to read the psalm above slowly a few times . . . let the words seep into your very being.
2. If you tend to forget to praise Jesus daily, make a copy of today's devotion, and put it somewhere where you will see it regularly. Each time you see it, praise the Lord using the words! See what happens with your heart.

Prayer:
Oh Lord, I have so much to praise you for! Let my life be a constant act of worship of you today. Let my very being cry out with songs of praise to you! Make me aware today of all you have done and are doing in my life - that I might sing your praise! In your name, Jesus!
Amen!]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-04-28T09:32:16-04:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/8ccfa4dc3675830298a330a38e2d5229-12.html#unique-entry-id-12http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/8ccfa4dc3675830298a330a38e2d5229-12.html#unique-entry-id-12"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
- Romans 8:18

Imagine that I dump 100,000 plastic eggs in your back yard. I assure you that inside one of those hollow eggs is a check for one million dollars with your name on it. Would you get discouraged if you opened the first 100 eggs without finding the check? How about the first 1,000 eggs? Of course not! You'd just keep opening those eggs, just waiting for the moment when you'd find the check.

Saint Paul knew the meaning of the word "suffering". He had been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, starved, and rejected. And yet Paul said that his sufferings were nothing compared to the glory that would come. In other words, Paul had opened a lot of empty eggs, but he never gave up or got discouraged. He believed that something great was in his future - God's glory revealed in him.

Perhaps it feels to you as if your life has been nothing but empty eggs. You've already opened 99,000 of them and you're not sure you've got the will to go on. Let me encourage you today. Don't give up. I don't want to trivialize the challenges your facing, but I do want to help you put them into perspective. They are only temporary, and God has something much greater in store for you. Compared to the glory that will be revealed in us one day, our suffering doesn't merit discouragement.

Hang on. Don't give up. Keep going. One day God will replace your discouragement with incomparable glory!

Bringing It Home:
1. What's got you discouraged these days? Allow the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-47) to give you both perspective and encouragement.
2. Need a vision of the glory to come to keep you going? Read Revelation 22:1-6. Picture it in your mind, and put yourself in the picture.

Prayer:
Lord, my life is sometimes more than I can bear. I am tempted to whine, to lash out, to give up. Send the power of your Holy Spirit to sustain me. Fill my heart and mind with a vision of the glory that is to come. Help to take life just one day at a time, to see it through your eyes and to live it by your power. Fill me with your hope, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-04-19T20:01:31-04:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/0829a8dcc09a992aedd7ff497b75043d-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/0829a8dcc09a992aedd7ff497b75043d-11.html#unique-entry-id-11"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:20

I began serving as the pastor of Joy! Lutheran Church in February of 1994. Joy! was a new church with 35 people committed to the vision. When I arrived, my job was to knock on doors and tell people that Jesus was starting something new in our community. I want to share an excerpt from my journal, dated June 18, 1994:

"Lord, I'm so discouraged today. I spent most of the day knocking on doors to tell people about Joy! Half the people weren't home. The other half weren't interested. When I introduced myself to one man, he just laughed and closed the door in my face. I feel so defeated. Lord, is this place going to make it? I'm struggling with doubts today. I wish I could catch a glimpse of Joy in 5 or 6 years. If I knew for sure that we were going to make it, it would be so much easier to hold on during the tough days."

We've been worshiping in a school gymnasium for the past 7 years, but on Sunday, January 14, we held the Grand Opening of our first facility. Nearly 1,000 people overflowed the new space. The excitement in that building was overwhelming. We enjoyed a great celebration. We are still thanking God for his goodness.

I've learned an important lesson in the last seven years: Never set your goals based on who you think you are or what you think you can accomplish. Instead, set your goals based on who you know God to be and on what God can accomplish.

As God's people we can afford to dream great dreams. We can dare to do great things for God, not because we think we can, but because we know God can! God is the One who " . . . is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine . . . "

Bringing It Home:
1. What would you attempt to do for God, if you knew you couldn't fail? What's holding you back?
2. Today's scripture implies the encouragement to spend time both asking and imagining what we can do for God. Are you carving out time in your week for that kind of dreaming?

Prayer:
Powerful God, thank you for inviting us to dream great dreams for you. We are honored that you would choose to use us to accomplish your excellent plans as you build your kingdom. Open our eyes to see beyond our own limitations. Open our hearts to trust in you more deeply. And in all that we do, help us always to point to you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-04-14T10:21:38-04:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/7afb0d5c9e8643e5a34a1cae0ed5f2c0-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/7afb0d5c9e8643e5a34a1cae0ed5f2c0-10.html#unique-entry-id-10
" Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,not for men."
Colossians 3:23

A few years ago, I was working with a group of 5th and 6th graders, and on this particular day we were making cards to be added into boxes of food we were taking to needy families. As I watched and helped my group, there were two different styles of "workers". We had the crew that had the "let's just do this and get done" attitude and they were whipping through construction paper like nobody's business. To them simply getting the task completed was most important. The other set of students were working diligently and meticulously, so that each card became a work of art. For them it was the
quality of work that counted. They put heart and soul in, so that the results were the best they could give.

When we look at our daily lives, whether is be at work or school, with friends or family, where would you place yourself? Is it quality, or simply getting it done that matters most? I can almost hear many people saying, "Well, quality of course!"-- but does your life reflect that?

Take a moment and take stock. In the verse above, Paul, tells the Colossians and us, what our attitude should be - not one where we can just get by, but an attitude of excellence! You and I serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords - does He not deserve our best? We are called to excellence not only in our worlds of "work" but in our daily lives as well.

A favorite quote of mine of Jim Elliot, a martyred missionary, is this: "Wherever you are - be all there." Whatever you are doing at the moment - be 100% there. Work with excellence, pay attention to those speaking to you with open ears and full attention, serve others as if they were queens and kings. Jesus gave His best for us - can we do any less?

Bringing It Home:
1. Take a moment and take stock of your attitudes regarding important things in your life: Are you serving and working as if it were God you were working for or with? If not, what can you do to change your attitude and thus performance in this area?
2. When you are doing something, or working with someone, are you 100% there? that tends to drag your attention away? How can you help yourself refocus and give 100% to what you are doing at the moment?
3. Today, pray for an attitude of excellence in all you do!

Prayer:
Mighty Lord, today, turn my heart and attitudes into ones that will praise you. Help me to see who I am, and all I do, matters to you each step of my way. Let me be one who serves with an attitude of excellence in all that I do! Grant me the power and strength to do this, today!
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-03-15T16:43:27-04:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/fcc01131119171d21d73943a2a51cb2d-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/fcc01131119171d21d73943a2a51cb2d-9.html#unique-entry-id-9God said to Noah: The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever. When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky, then I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. Never again will I let floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the sky, I will always remember the promise that I made to every living creature.
–Genesis 9:12-16

Life and all relationships include covenants, promises, and agreements of behavior, both stated and unstated. When I was a school teacher, there was a system of accountability, which assisted the teachers in fulfilling their task of teaching the students. This accountability included weekly lessons plans turned in to supervisors, parent-teacher conferences, and reviews by principals.

We need accountability structures for all areas of our lives. I meet regularly with two individuals who help support me and keep me accountable to my covenants, promises, and agreements of behavior. I meet monthly with the congregation council of the church. They help me in my personal life and in my vocation. They ask me whether or not I have done what I said I would do, plan what I said I would plan. They remind me of my intentions and my responsibilities and they help me fulfill them.

Who needs accountability systems? Everyone. Even God. In the story of the flood in Genesis, we often recall the story of the rainbow. Most of us remember that God placed the rainbow in the sky, so that when we see it we will remember God’s promise to never destroy the earth again with a flood. Read it carefully again, and you will see that God placed the rainbow in the sky to also remind him of the promise he made to all living creatures that day. There are blessings from accountability for us all.

Bringing It Home:
1. Are you having troubles in keeping your promises and covenants to someone? Children? Spouse? Co-worker? Friend? Seek out a way for them to help you keep your promises. Ask someone to give you support, to be your rainbow in the sky.
2. There are many ways to become more accountable with others. Make you promises in public. Share your commitments with a prayer partner. Be regular in your attendance at worship. Open up your life and your covenants in your small group. Make a commitment to improve one of these areas in your life. By the way – don’t forget to tell someone who can ask you later how it is going!

Prayer:
Lord, I thank you that you are steadfast in keeping your promises to me. I so desire to keep my commitments and my covenants with others, but I am not always successful. Please grant me your grace from your great mercy. Help me become more accountable by opening myself up to others.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-03-08T16:54:24-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/d8836bb7fa8fa9f73b22882c485a84bd-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/d8836bb7fa8fa9f73b22882c485a84bd-8.html#unique-entry-id-8Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head….
– 1 Corinthians 13:4 (The Message)

Not long ago our family went to a neighbor’s house for dinner. After the meal we asked all the kids to go and play in the basement, so that the adults could enjoy some quiet conversation.

A few minutes later our oldest son, Michael, came upstairs and sat in the living room with us. I asked him to go back downstairs. He said, “But Dad….” I cut him off and firmly ordered him back downstairs. “But
Dad….” This time I lost my temper and loudly told him to get back in the basement or there’d be trouble!

About 10 minutes later he was back upstairs, his eyes badly swollen and his breathing quite labored. You see, Michael is highly allergic to cats, and our neighbors’ cats were down in the basement. That’s what he had been trying to tell me.

When we returned home, I knew that I’d made a major withdrawal in my son’s emotional bank account. I’d been disrespectful and unloving. My inflated sense of importance had hardened my heart. Michael was angry and I was ashamed. I sat down on the floor next to him and apologized, asking for his forgiveness. His smile and body language told me that my account with him was back in the black.

Bringing It Home:
1. Saying “I’m sorry” is tough work, especially if you struggle with an inflated ego or a serious case of self-righteousness. Consider today which is more important: your ego or your relationships.
2. Have you “blown it” with someone, making an emotional withdrawal? Don’t wait – apologize right now if you can. Make a phone call, or write a note. If you’re struggling with guilt, talk to God about it, and receive his forgiveness (check out Psalm 32)

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of forgiveness, and for the freeing power of admitting when I’m wrong. Help me to be humble enough to apologize. And whether my apology is received or rejected, give me the joy of knowing that I’ve done the right things. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-03-03T08:27:01-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/4960cab2c6dff5f4c3323ea8219e1098-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/4960cab2c6dff5f4c3323ea8219e1098-7.html#unique-entry-id-7Give yourselves completely to God, every part of you. You want to be tools in the hands of God to be used for His good purposes.
–Romans 6:13 (The Living Bible)

As I sit and write this devotion, I am spending the day mostly sitting around, waiting. My oldest daughter is taking part in a regional science team competition called Science Olympiad. She is scheduled throughout the day to take four examinations, each one hour in length – and so I wait. Why? Because there is great purpose in this activity. I see her before her exam and give her encouragement, and I see her as she comes out of her exam to give her encouragement. For the casual observer, it doesn’t look like my day has much purpose, but they would be wrong.

We may not always be able to recognize it, but the activity of God is always done on purpose, too. In fact God does nothing without a purpose. When God created you, with your unique gifts (and you have them), God created you on purpose and for a purpose.

In order for us to live out our purpose, to be tools in the hands of God, we first must give ourselves completely to God. Discovering and living out our purpose begins when we stop living for ourselves, seeking what we want and what our goals are. We must submit ourselves and our daily activities to God. God’s purpose in creating you is fulfilled when you lay aside your will and give yourself completely to God. It is then that you become all that God created you to be. It is then that your purpose will be fulfilled.

Bringing It Home:
1. Write down three things that you do well (your giftedness). In prayer, thank God for creating you so purposefully gifted. Ask God to use you and your gifts for God’s purpose.
2. Help someone today understand they have been created for a purpose. Give them encouragement. Thank them for touching your life. Affirm their gifts.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, when you created the earth and all its complexities, including us human beings in your image and likeness, you created us according to your grand design and purpose. Help me to discover and live out my created purpose, so that I can give you honor in my daily living.
Amen.]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-02-24T11:56:10-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/e30a3abb5a0cdc3e2acd45e4519b6a7f-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/e30a3abb5a0cdc3e2acd45e4519b6a7f-6.html#unique-entry-id-6Loves cares more for others than for self.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (The Message)

In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, Stephen Covey introduces the concept of an “emotional bank account.” Covey says that every relationship we maintain has an emotional account balance. We can either make “deposits” into our relationships, or “withdrawals.” Healthy relationships keep high balances by consistently making deposits.

During the next couple of weeks I want to share with you five key “deposits” we can make into the important relationships in our lives.

The first deposit is kindness. One of the first things that St. Paul writes when describing love is that it is kind, caring for the needs of others.

A few months ago I saw a mom and her teenage daughter leave a drug store together. When they got to their car the mom walked around to her daughter’s door, unlocked it and opened it for her. It was such a simple act, but I’m guessing it was one of many deposits that keep their relationship healthy and strong.

Acts of kindness don’t need to be big. They just need to be done. Like financial deposits into a savings account, the deposit of caring accumulates gradually and steadily.

How about you? Have you made a few deposits of kindness today? Don’t wait until you feel like it, or until the other person deserves it. Simply give the gift!

Bringing It Home:
1. Take some time to determine your “balance” in the most important relationships in your life. If you’re not sure what your balance is, ask. Rate them on a scale from 1 to 10 if that helps.
2. Make a commitment to make at least one deposit of kindness into each account daily for the next week. Watch your balance (and blessings) rise!

Prayer:
Generous God, you have poured kindness after kindness into my life, especially the gift of your Son, Jesus. Each gift has been a blessing of grace to me. Open my eyes today to see the opportunities I have to be a blessing to others by sharing gracious gifts of kindness. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-02-16T11:51:30-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/3b876b3db80e192c70a9eb7d6ade18c6-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/3b876b3db80e192c70a9eb7d6ade18c6-5.html#unique-entry-id-5I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and the moon and the stars you put in place. Then I ask, why do you care about humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings? You made us a little lower than you yourself and you have crowned us with glory and honor.
–Psalm 8:3-5

Sometimes people call me up and confess to me a crisis of faith. They confess that they cannot begin to see how God could love and forgive them for their sin. They confess that they have let God down over and over again and again. They tell me that they are sure that they don’t deserve Gods forgiveness, and that they know that they could never do enough in this world to make up for their sin, even if they stopped sinning today and had the rest of their lives to do only good deeds.

When we go through such times, life can be very hard. It is a real crisis of faith and hope. First, know that this feeling is nothing new for human beings. The psalmist asks why God would care for us sinful human beings. We ask why God would forgive me.

The answer is very simple, yet there is no greater truth on which we can place our hope:
1. When God created us, we were created in God’s image and likeness! No other creature on earth was given so great a distinction. When God created us, God made us a little lower than God (some translations say angels)!
2. Not only in creation are we given glory and honor, but when we sin and fall short of that glory and we dishonor God, God continues to love us so much that God sent Jesus Christ, God’s only Son to live, die, and rise from death, so that we might have the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.

Why does God put up with me and forgive me over and over again and again? Because we are created in God’s image and likeness, and God’s love is so great (beyond our understanding), that through Jesus we are given new life!

Bringing It Home:
1. If you are having doubts about God’s grace being really for you, read Genesis 1:31, and hear that God has called your creation very good. Then read John 3:16 and ask God to help you truly believe it!
2. If you know someone who is having a crisis of faith, pray for him or her. Ask God to guide you in giving that person the hope that only comes through Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, I know that my faith is not perfect. In my times of doubt, please don’t leave me. Cover me with your love so that I can begin to see the truth of your grace once again.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-02-09T09:48:12-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/262541f16f2e375e6d6739c3ce59e295-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/262541f16f2e375e6d6739c3ce59e295-4.html#unique-entry-id-4Be still and know that I am God.
– Psalm 46:10

Several years ago at church camp, we took a girl on a canoe trip who was deathly afraid of the water. We assured her that she was safe. She would wear a life jacket, and would travel in a canoe with experienced staff. She reluctantly agreed to go.

Naturally, her canoe was caught in a current and capsized when it struck an overhanging branch. The girl panicked and thrashed and screamed. It took forever for the staff to let her know that if she would only be still and stand up, she would discover that the water was only waist deep!

Sometimes when we encounter the things we most fear (rejection, failure, sickness…), we panic and thrash about and scream. But God calls us to have a little faith. If we will be still, we might just discover that our greatest fears are only waist deep, and that God has become a foundation we can stand upon.

Bringing It Home
1. What are your greatest fears? What does your faith have to say about those fears?
2. Spend some time with Psalm 46 this week, and allow its comforting message to calm your fears.

Bringing It Home
Powerful God, your love has conquered the powers of evil, and even death itself. Remind us today that you are bigger than all of our fears. Teach us to be still and know that you are God. Let your peace dwell within us today. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-02-02T19:24:26-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/8ed6b7b3918d990550463f9e9f17d880-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/8ed6b7b3918d990550463f9e9f17d880-3.html#unique-entry-id-3The Lord says: My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.”
-Isaiah 55:8-9

For years, it was a real ego-boost to help my daughters with their homework. (An ego boost for me, that is!) They would turn to me for guidance and help with their homework. They trusted completely in my ability to help them, and their trust was well placed, because I could help them. It was a great relationship. They needed help and wisdom, so they turned to me, and I gave it to them. It was a win-win for us all!

I have noticed that they turn to me less and less for help with their homework. Could it be because they are studying things that I either forgot over 20 years ago or that I never learned in the first place? Yes! It used to be known that Dad was smarter than they were. Now, in certain areas, they are smarter than Dad. So they search out and turn to others who are of help to them – and now they receive an ego-boost, because they are smarter than Dad!

We all have so many needs. The world has many invitations for help and guidance. You can find books, magazines, self-proclaimed experts, and
other forms of help that all say they have the answer to meet your needs. We turn to them, hoping that they will provide the wisdom and guidance we need. Scripture says that we need to remember that God is the source of all wisdom, guidance, and strength. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than any other on earth. God wants us to turn and receive divine guidance and support in our time of need. Like my children once did, we need to turn to God in complete trust that God can help us. The great thing about God’s ways, though, is that God’s ways
will always be higher than ours! He will always be the source of wisdom and guidance for us.

Bringing It Home:
1. Have you been searching the world for answers to your needs and come up short? Is the self-help book you are following working? Ask God to guide you and give you strength. Trust in God’s ways.
2. If you know someone who is struggling and who needs to rely more on God’s ways, invite them to church or your small group. Offer to pray with and for them.

Prayer:
Lord, your ways are truly so great and so wonderful. Your ways are beyond our comprehension. Help me to truly trust more in your ways and not in my own. Help me to trust that your ways are better than the world’s ways. Only then can I become who you created me to be.
Amen.]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-01-31T21:16:38-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/64ea2a5f905baf6b1b8f1ec669575436-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/64ea2a5f905baf6b1b8f1ec669575436-2.html#unique-entry-id-2They all met together continually for prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. – Acts 1:14

I read that Scripture verse just a few days ago and thought to myself,
“Now wait a minute! Aren’t those brothers of Jesus the very same guys who didn’t believe in him? (John 7:5) And yet, here they are praying together with the disciples. What happened?”

The answer, of course, is that the reality of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead had impacted them so powerfully that even these unbelieving brothers had a change of heart. What a great testimony to the power of Jesus’ resurrection. And what good news for us!

Do you know someone who is not a believer? A hard-core skeptic? The kind of person that scoffs at your faith? Someone your heart aches for?
Someone you’ve prayed would come to a saving faith in Jesus, but are beginning to doubt will ever believe? Maybe it’s a child. Perhaps a spouse, or a close friend. Don’t give up hope! If Jesus’ resurrection power could change his brothers’ hearts, it can change anyone’s heart!

Bringing It Home
1. Who do you know that has a skeptical mind or a hard heart when it comes to faith in Jesus Christ? If you aren’t already praying for them, make a commitment to do so today.
2. The power of Jesus’ resurrection is most clearly seen in the changed lives of other believers. Are you showing that change in your daily life? Be a living witness!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, my heart aches for the lost people in my life. I lift
them up to you, trusting in the incredible power of your resurrection.
Change their heart, Lord. And let me shine as a living light, a
testimony to your power and love.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-01-20T13:00:08-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/012fbc7d8e9470223843d456d664ef79-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/012fbc7d8e9470223843d456d664ef79-1.html#unique-entry-id-1I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love – not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Romans 8:38-39)

This Scripture passage is often used at funerals. It is read to proclaim in no uncertain terms that even though death can separate us from our life on earth, that not even death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not even death will cancel the promise of God’s love granting us the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. It is a great comfort to read this at such an important time.

Today, I invite you to hear the breadth and depth of this passage that can often be missed when used only at funerals:

1. Life cannot separate us from God’s love. Nothing in living your life can separate you. No part of your sinful human living will cause God to withdraw the love of Jesus from you.

2. Angels or spirits cannot separate you from God’s love. No spiritual power is strong enough to cause God to withdraw the love of Jesus from you.

3. The present or the future cannot separate you from God’s love. Nothing that happens today or tomorrow will cause God to withdraw the love of Jesus from you.

4. Powers above and powers below cannot separate you from God’s love. No force in the entire universe can cause God to withdraw the love of Jesus from you.

Bringing It Home:
1. If you are fearful that you have done something or may do something in the future that could cause God’s love to be withdrawn from you, pray the passage above. Ask God to strengthen your faith in your time of need.
2. Get a card of encouragement for someone who is going through a time of struggle. Write the Scripture passage above on it and tell them that you are praying for them.

Prayer:
Lord God, your love is steadfast and more powerful than any force in all of creation. I thank you and praise your name that I can confidently give my life over to you. Strengthen my resolve to submit myself to you.
Amen.
]]>user@domain.comOut of the Box2012-01-14T16:39:25-05:00http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/f5f399b981d964baf02fa66cdddbfec5-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.umcow.org/blog/files/f5f399b981d964baf02fa66cdddbfec5-0.html#unique-entry-id-0I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes
from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth! - Psalm 121:1-2

Have you ever seen the moon rise on a clear Fall night? The moon looks
enormous on the horizon. And yet, just a few hours later when the moon
rises higher in the sky, it looks small again. It isn’t that the moon
has changed in size. It isn’t that the earth is farther away from the
moon. It’s a matter of perspective.

The same thing is true when we’ve got a problem. If we focus on our
problem against the limited horizon of our own resources, our problem
can seem enormous. But if we view our problem against the unlimited
resources of our great God, our problems seem so much smaller.

When you’ve got a problem, which do you do—stare at your problem or look
up to God for help? For effective Christian living you need to stop
focusing on the problem, and start focusing on the power of God in your
life. Things won’t look the same!

Bringing It Home
1. What challenges are you facing right now? Are you fixated on the
problem, or are you focusing on God’s power? The choice is yours. Give
your challenges to God! Pray Psalm 121 to gain the inner freedom to “
let go and let God.”
2. Who can you remind today of the great resources of our great God?
Your reminder might be just what they need to reorient their focus.

Prayer
God of heaven and earth, thank you for making your unlimited power and
resources available to me. Help me always to focus on you instead of my
problems. I will trust you with every challenging circumstance I face
today. In Jesus’ strong name I pray.
Amen.]]>