Waiting - by Will and Ella Faircloth

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

            Childhood is a time of impatience. For kids, nothing can come soon enough, and the wait for Christmas is especially intolerable.  And for all its fun and festive preparations, the hot chocolate and garland, Advent is actually a time of waiting. It’s a season of preparation in the life of the church, as we get ready for the Lord’s coming. And even though we know He will come, that Christmas will indeed arrive, we still have to wait for the Lord to move in His time, not ours.

            The people of Israel knew what this kind of waiting meant. At different times in their history, they simply had to wait on the Lord to act: to let them enter the Promised Land, to free them from captivity in Babylon, to send the long-expected Messiah. And the prophets knew that such waiting can be draining. Langston Hughes’ famous poem reminds us that a dream deferred can sometimes shrivel up like a raisin in the sun. The prophet Isaiah, however, says that this doesn’t have to be the case, that waiting doesn’t have to mean losing strength or losing hope.

            In fact, waiting can be a time to regroup, to recharge, to gather strength and be ready, so that when the Lord finally acts, His people are prepared to move where He moves. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, had a particular interpretation of the phrase “to wait on the Lord.” For him it meant not to sit around with our arms crossed until the Lord dramatically acts. Rather, it meant to be like a waiter in a restaurant. To attend to the Lord, to follow His commands, and to be about His work, all while we are waiting for His next move. This is waiting that keeps us agile, keeps our muscles strong and our vision sharp.

            This Advent season, many of us aren’t waiting for Christmas; we know December 25^th will come. Many of us are instead waiting for something else. A better job. A buyer for our house. A loved one to pick up the phone. An illness to be healed. A little more joy in our days. There’s a danger in this waiting, that we would run out of steam and just give up all together. But the prophet reminds us, just as he reminded Israel centuries ago, that if we “wait on the Lord,” if we are faithful to His work and keep our eyes on Him, that even in this waiting we can find strength. And then when He moves, when the seas part, when the star shines, when the baby raises a tiny hand, we will be ready to move with Him. 

(To learn more about the Faircloth's ministry at the Methodist Church of Costa Rica, visit http://www.fairclothcostarica.com/) 

If I Could Be a Mockingbird - by Steve Rusk

“Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also”      John 8:19      

                                                                   I was working in the warehouse and the big garage door was opened when a mockingbird flew in.  I tried everything I could to scare the bird out but he would just sit on the rafters and chirp.  I clapped my hands, yelled and even threw a block of wood, and he would just sit there.  It was late Friday afternoon, and I was going home for the weekend. I knew that the bird would be trapped inside for the weekend if he did not get out.  I finally gave up and put the door down.  If I could just be a bird I could show him how to get out.

When I returned on Monday I did not see the bird.  Time passed and a few weeks later as I moved some pallets I found the dead bird.  My thought returned to the idea of becoming a bird, and it occurred to me that is what Jesus did for me.  He became a physical man so that I might know him and the father.

Prayer

Abba Father,

Thank you for coming to earth to know us.  Thank you for the examples of love you show us through your word.  Help us to live a life that brings honor to you and the father.  Amen

Jesus at First Sight - Lisa C. Wesson

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.  But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:54-56

This past week, our family received the sad news of the death of a longtime member of our former church in Anniston, Alabama.  Mrs. Leola, at the age of 95, passed away with her family surrounding her bedside.  Leola had been a steadfast member of the congregation for as many years as I had attended there, and a member there since my husband, Mark, was a little boy.  A native Texan, often known as 'Tex', Leola spent much of her time making sure the poor had plenty of food at the local Community Enabler.  She had been a proud supporter of the local Girl Scouts and as a Troop Leader, she led many a young girl over the years in the adventures of scouting.  Within a few minutes of meeting her, you’d know she was a proud Texan, loved scouting, had not a shy bone in her body…and that she loved Jesus.

Upon hearing of her passing, I was lying awake thinking about her. I looked at out the window to the night sky and said to myself, "I wonder what the first thing was that she saw when she opened her eyes in Heaven."  Immediately, an inaudible but very clear and familiar voice spoke to my heart and said, “Me!!!” I smiled, a bit embarrassed that I had been focused on the appearance of Heaven’s surroundings rather than thinking about the Lord Himself.  I can’t imagine the joy she felt seeing His face and being in His presence!  Can you?

The season of Lent is a time of self-denial for us as we consider the sacrifices made by Christ for our sake which led to His crucifixion and death.  May we, as we reflect on those sacrifices, also look past the day of His death to His resurrection and consider the promise we have…just as Leola had…of seeing Him face to face one day if we receive Him in our hearts.  Can you imagine?  What a day that will be!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the sacrifices you have made for us that we might one day enter our eternal home and be with you.  Forgive us for focusing on the wrong things sometimes and help us to ever keep our eyes on you, seeking to fulfill the mission you have given us here on Earth.  May our journey here be one that is pleasing to you with the purpose of bringing others to you that they may also join you in your Heavenly Kingdom one day.  In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Will They Know You Are Mine? - by Carrie Rester

I was recently at a women’s conference, which our admission ticket was a green bracelet to wear throughout the weekend. On Saturday we had a 2-hour lunch break, so my group proceeded to the closest restaurant. As we were waiting on our food, we couldn’t help hear the women sitting behind us fussing at their waitress, about the food being delayed, and not to their specifications. It was a bit awkward. When their bill appeared they were even more disenchanted and marched to the checkout stand to inform the waitress of their disapproval of the charges. That is when I saw the little green bracelet on her wrist, indicating she was a Christian at this women’s conference.

This behavior caused me to reflect on my own life. How do I react to others when things are not going particularly the way I planned? Are my actions drawing people to Christ or pushing them away. I started to think back on situations when I didn’t respond with much grace. Like the day I was a little snappy with my husband, after we made it home from church.  The day I sighed and tapped my fingers at the clerk that was so slow in checking me out as I wore my cross jewelry indicating I was a Christian.  By these actions and attitudes, I concluded that I was doing just as the lady did at the restaurant with the green bracelet. 

After reflecting on this I had a few questions: The first question was why do I do these things, I don’t want to do them. I am reminded of Paul in Romans 7:14 – 25 paraphrased, I do what I don’t want to do and don’t do what I want to do. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. He proceeds in referring to us in our sinful nature, which is our old nature. We must understand that there is a battle that is going on within us and that is the battle between our old nature and new nature. 

So the next question, how can I live in my new nature on a regular basis and not respond out of the old nature?

 Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit moves in and begins to overhaul us from the inside out. Our minds are renewed--refreshed, renovated, --and that in turns transforms us, carrying over into our actions. So the old ways of thinking are changed to reflect the image of Christ. The way we live follows the way we think. The key to this is we must make the choice to follow our new natures.

We might be the only Bible people read, so we want to make sure they are seeing who Christ is by our attitudes and actions. It may be in the grocery store, at work, in the car, at our child’s sporting event or at a restaurant during a Women’s conference. We want to be different, not blending in and reacting the way the world reacts. Because you never know who is watching you…

What Do You Think? - by Soni Buckalew

Read Psalm 139:23-24

See if there be any wicked way in me. – Psalm 139:24a

Bennett pointed to a slender tube on the bathroom counter. “Is that Gold Bond Dark Spot Remover?” “No,” his Honey replied, “That is Gold Bond Neck and Chest Firming Cream.”

Bennett inquired, “What is that for?” Honey begins her lesson on ageing. “When people get older their necks and chests start to wrinkle. The bottle says 97% of those who use this product will have smoother skin in two weeks.”  Honey bends down and reveals her décolletage, “What do you think?” Wide-eyed Bennett replied with all the honesty of a five-year-old. “I think you need the brown spot remover!” 

Ouch! So worried about wrinkles I failed to see dark spots. Isn’t that true in our spiritual lives? Like a laser beam we focus on one portion of our relationship with Christ while another is neglected. What personal wrinkles or spots need removing in your life? Bitterness? Anger? Unforgiveness? Jealousy?

Throughout the Lenten season set aside time for daily introspection. Be honest with yourself. Journal or share your revelations with a trusted friend. Allow God to search your heart and mind to see what attitudes need smoothing out and actions require fading away. With eyes wide open to not only the wrinkles in your life but also the dark spots of your soul, your Maker is waiting to lead you back to the way everlasting.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You formed me and made me. You redeemed me by the blood of your Son Jesus. Show me how to live each day in a way that points others to that glorious truth. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen

Thought for the day: What wicked way is in me?

Prayer Focus: Teaching grandchildren what is important.

Renewal - by Rev. Kelly Pope

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”                            Acts 3:19 (NKJV)

I know that many people are in the midst of spring cleaning.  How do you feel about spring cleaning?  Do you love it?  Do you hate it?  I happen to be one that would rather not think about spring cleaning, but I know it’s something that needs to be done.  Besides, spring cleaning gives Sherrell and me some good bonding time as we clean out and put things in order.

And speaking of cleaning out and putting things in order!  The season of Lent give us an opportunity to do just that!  Of course, like spring cleaning, we can choose to leave things as is.  We can choose not to reflect on our lives and where God fits into them.  When we do our spring cleaning, we have to use cleaning supplies to help us renew the looks of things.  Well, I want to suggest some practices that might help us with renewal.  The practices I want to suggest are: prayer, scripture, worship and reflection.

Lent is a time for repentance.  It’s a time for us to deal with issues such as anger, greed, envy, bitterness, unforgiveness or broken relationships.

Let’s use the season of Lent as a time for renewal.  When I take time to draw near to God in reflection and repentance, I always find things for which I need forgiveness and places I need to move in a different direction.

I pray that we will use the season of Lent to discover renewal in our lives and through that renewal, find transformation and abundant life. 

Pride - by Rev. Sheila Cumbest

Read Matthew 25:31-46 https://biblia.com/bible/Matthew25.31-46#

Lent is particularly a season of the Christian year that makes me glad I’m in a church that uses the Christian year.  You might say, “Really?”  I really am glad to have a season that forces me to reflect in depth at what sin have I let take hold of me.  Of all the sins that known as deadly, pride is probably the death trap that we can slip into very easily without realizing it.  How do we know we’ve gotten there?  Whenever our religious life is making us feel that we are good, or above all, better than somebody else then we’ve let Pride enter.  Our real test is can we forget about ourselves?

Matt. 25.37 says,

“then the righteous will answer him…”  Has our self-righteousness blinded us?  The opposite of pride is humility.  The first step toward humility is realizing you are prideful.  Righteousness is only through God’s grace and not of our own doing. 

C.S. Lewis, in The Joyful Christian, said “the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride….Pride leads us to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

I don’t know about you, but I can easily think that I have gotten everything right.  I begin to measure everyone else by my standards. 

As you search your heart this Lenten season, ask yourself what sin is it that you struggle with most.  And dwell on the Psalmist’s word in Psalm 143:1-2

… hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness.  Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.