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03 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

For we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin. Finally, let’s draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help. ~Heb. 4:15-16 (CEB)

The powers of this world do not want to see their authority and control usurped by another, even if that other is God. To preach a message and practice a life of authentic discipleship will make us uncomfortable and make others anxious and sometimes hostile. We are not above the struggle of what it means to follow Jesus. The complex issues of life do not lend themselves to easy answers. It is not easy to know with certainty the path we are to follow. And often, after careful discernment, the direction we hear is not the way we would have chosen. There is often resistance within us to the way we are convinced God is calling us to travel. It is a strenuous journey of faith that permits us to say with Mary, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word’ (Luke 1:38).

We should not expect instantly to be where Mary was in her witness. Neither should we think that there is something wrong with us because we struggle with internal or external opposition. Self-examination and the help of a faithful spiritual guide are ways to test our perceptions with reality” ~From A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader by Ruben P. Job

Almighty God, give me the strength this day to live out my witness. May my actions follow the words that I speak. May the path I take be the one You would have me travel today. Help me to do it with a happy heart and a willing spirit. Amen.

Signs and wonders

23 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

Peter and John were going up to the temple at three o’clock in the afternoon, the established prayer time. Meanwhile, a man crippled since birth was being carried in. Every day, people would place him at the temple gate known as the Beautiful Gate so he could ask for money from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he began to ask them for a gift. Peter and John stared at him. Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gazed at them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I don’t have any money, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk! ” Then he grasped the man’s right hand and raised him up. At once his feet and ankles became strong. Jumping up, he began to walk around. He entered the temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God. They recognized him as the same one who used to sit at the temple’s Beautiful Gate asking for money. They were filled with amazement and surprise at what had happened to him. ~Acts 3:1-10 (CEB)

“The dramatic change in the lives of people touched by the power and presence of God through the early church proved to be a nearly irresistible magnet, drawing many to believe in and follow Jesus Christ. Besides the miraculous healing of a blind beggar (Acts 3), many signs and wonders done among the people (Acts 5:12 ff.) caught the attention of those outside and those inside this young church. It was clear to observers and participants: God was at work transforming individuals and communities through this new movement. It was going on but longed for such salvation, healing, and wholeness in their own lives.

Today people still look for evidence of God’s transforming presence in the church and in the world. When they find that evidence, they often turn toward it, seeking to be close to the God who is obviously at work changing lives in such dramatic ways. They are drawn because they want to be close to God. And often they seek their own transformation and salvation. The congregation where signs and wonders are evident is the congregation that finds new people coming to be touched by that transforming presence of God.

In Acts we read of transformation that leads from selfishness to sharing, from uselessness to usefulness, from sickness to health, and from death to life is the transformation many seek. This transformation is promise in the Gospels by the One who came that all might have life and have it abundantly.

Where are the signs and wonders of God’s active and transforming active and transforming presence most visible today? How can you and I make ourselves and the entire church more available, thus permitting those signs and wonders to occur within and through our lives? One way the early church made itself available was by always giving an unqualified yes when God invited obedience, witness, and service. Can we do as much?” From A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God, Rueben P. Job

Almighty God, through the power of Your Holy Spirit you enable us to do and be more than we can think or imagine. Come now, dwell within us, and make us strong to do Your work and will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Purpose and goal

15 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

We sailed from Troas straight for Samothrace and came to Neapolis the following day. From there we went to Philippi, a city of Macedonia’s first district and a Roman colony. We stayed in that city several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the riverbank, where we thought there might be a place for prayer. We sat down and began to talk with the women who had gathered. One of those women was Lydia, a Gentile God-worshipper from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth. As she listened, the Lord enabled her to embrace Paul’s message. Once she and her household were baptized, she urged, “Now that you have decided that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us. ~Acts 16:11-15 (CEB)

“The purpose and goal of spiritual discernment is knowing and doing God’s will. We can easily become enamored with discernment definitions, strategies for holding meetings, the emotional rush of doing something new, or even the self-adulation for attempting to do something spiritual. The newness of our endeavor may compromise our vision if we fail to see the urgency of knowing and doing God’s will. Nothing is more urgent in our lives or in our congregations than yearning to know and do God’s will. We must keep our eyes and hearts on our purpose and goal.” ~From Discerning God’s Will Together by Danny E, Morris and Charles M. Olsen

Almighty God, you have called the church into being and have gathered us into one family. By the power of your Holy Spirit help us to live in unity and peace with all Your children. May our actions this day be fruit of our faith in Your kingdom. In the name of Christ. Amen.

To be a friend of Jesus

14 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

“As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. I give you these commandments so that you can love each other. John 15:9-17 (CEB)

Am I a friend of Jesus? I am if my words and actions are like his. When I was younger I would ask God, “How am I to know how to be like Jesus?” It all goes back to the simple lessons of childhood in the simple songs we learned. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Not only did I learn that I am loved, but I learned where to go for other truths. The Bible. In the Bible I can learn to walk as Jesus walked and to talk as he talked.

Henri Nouwen talks about this in his book, Bread for the Journey: “Very often we distance ourselves from Jesus.  We say, ‘What Jesus knew we cannot know, and what Jesus did we cannot do.’  But Jesus never puts any distance between himself and us.   He says:  ‘I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father’ (John 15:15) and  ‘In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works’  (John 14:12).

Indeed, we are called to know what Jesus knew and do what Jesus did.  Do we really want that, or do we prefer to keep Jesus at arms’ length?”

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that when I feel that You are far away, that it is not You that has moved. I long to hear Your words, to know what You require of me. Help me to slow down enough today to spend time in Your Word. Amen.

Affirmation and love

12 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you! ” She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom. ”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. Nothing is impossible for God.”

Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her. ~Luke 1:26-38 (CEB)

“Gabriel begins as he always begins, as God always begins (since this is God’s message, not Gabriel’s), with the affirmation of God’s creation. ‘Greetings, favored one!’ Gabriel proclaims to Mary. ‘The Lord is with you!’ Before she hears anything else, God wants Mary to hear this: She is favored. . . . Although a teenager, Mary need not ‘find’ herself. Her identity is a gift, bestowed upon her by God alone. Who am I? Mary may wonder. And God replies, ‘You are my favored one, beloved and beautiful to me.’

In truth, Mary does not stand much chance for an identity apart from God. She is too young to have had time to achieve much on which to base her identity. She is too poor to purchase her place in society. Add to this the fact that she is female, which means that even if she did have accomplishments or social stature to her credit, they likely would have gone unrecognized because of her gender. All of this makes Mary a most unlikely candidate for helping God save the world, which is precisely why God enlists her. Nothing about Mary suggests that she can be who she is apart from God’s favor of her.” ~From The Godbearing Life by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster

I am not who I am based on my achievements. I am who I am based upon who I am in Christ. There is much value in taking the time to figure out who I in Christ. Being familiar with scriptures will help me to know who I am. Then when I am faced with what the world thinks of me I have God’s assurances tucked away in my heart. I can hold my head up high because I know who I am and I that I am loved.

Thank You O Lord, for Your assurances. Thank You for Your love that lives in my heart. Amen.

To be a good leader

10 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , ,

Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing isn’t good. You will end up totally wearing yourself out, both you and these people who are with you. The work is too difficult for you. You can’t do it alone. Now listen to me and let me give you some advice. And may God be with you! Your role should be to represent the people before God. You should bring their disputes before God yourself. Explain the regulations and instructions to them. Let them know the way they are supposed to go and the things they are supposed to do. But you should also look among all the people for capable persons who respect God. They should be trustworthy and not corrupt. Set these persons over the people as officers of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Let them sit as judges for the people at all times. They should bring every major dispute to you, but they should decide all of the minor cases themselves. This will be much easier for you, and they will share your load. If you do this and God directs you, then you will be able to endure. And all these people will be able to go back to their homes much happier.”

Moses listened to his father-in-law’s suggestions and did everything that he had said. Moses chose capable persons from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people, as officers over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They acted as judges for the people at all times. They would refer the hard cases to Moses, but all of the minor cases they decided themselves. ~Exodus 18:17-26 (CEB)

“In America we tend to draw a distinction between secular and religious leaders. However, God never pays much attention to titles of distinction we use to set people apart, perhaps especially regarding leaders.

For you see, God views all leaders equally. There are no distinctions of class with God. God requires civility, honesty, and fidelity of all leaders. God wants humane, honest, capable leaders in all places- from the White House to the Cub Scout den. A leader of a ‘secular’ organization is called by God, and the leader will be accountable to God. All families and organizations are sacred in God’s eyes.

Good leaders aren’t perfect: David messed up; Moses couldn’t speak in public and asked God for a ‘voice’ to speak on his behalf. Leaders will always possess a variety of leadership skills and styles. The question is: Is this man or woman a good leader or an injurious leader?” ~Norman Shawchuck

Almighty God, you have chosen to speak to us through prophets and wise leaders and most clearly through your son, Jesus Christ. Grant unto us now the ability to hear, understand, and obey him whom you have sent. Amen.

Leadership

09 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , ,

“Therefore, we must select one of those who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when Jesus was taken from us. This person must become along with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they nominated two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

They prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s deepest thoughts and desires. Show us clearly which one you have chosen from among these two to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” When they cast lots, the lot fell on Matthias. He was added to the eleven apostles. ~Acts 1:21-26 (CEB)

“All of us want faithful leaders, and we reject the notion that leaders don’t make a difference to the organizations, movements, and groups influencing our lives. We have seen dramatic evidence of the importance of faithful leaders. While we desire faithful leaders, we sometimes make it hard to choose them and even more difficult to keep them. Was the early church better at this than we are? Could the methods used and the qualities sought in those times instruct us in choosing leaders today?

It seems clear that a primary method in the early church was a deliberate search for the will of God. From the choice of David and Gideon to Matthias and Stephen, the method was centered in God and depended upon God. Choosing faithful leaders meant starting with God, continuing with God, concluding with God. Of course, other things were important, but the primary requirement was to know God’s choice.

Today the methods of choosing political leaders often influence us. Careful polling and building a candidate to meet the polls’ suggestions seems to be a popular method. Listening to the people’s voice is important, and pooling can accomplish that goal. It is more important, though, to listen to the voice of the only One with wisdom for every decision. Prayer and discernment are necessary parts of a faithful process every time we are involved in choosing leaders.” ~A Guide to Prayer for all who seek God, Rueben P. Job

Lord Jesus Christ, pour out Your spirit upon your church so that she may faithfully serve You and Your children. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Ulitmate purpose

06 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them. They were incensed that the apostles were teaching the people and announcing that the resurrection of the dead was happening because of Jesus. They seized Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day. (It was already evening.) Many who heard the word became believers, and their number grew to about five thousand.

The next day the leaders, elders, and legal experts gathered in Jerusalem, along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others from the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered, “Leaders of the people and elders, are we being examined today because something good was done for a sick person, a good deed that healed him? If so, then you and all the people of Israel need to know that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected; he has become the cornerstone! Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.” ~Acts 4:1-12 (CEB)

“When we are hungry to experience God’s loving presence near us and believe we are searching for God, it is important to ask ourselves whether we are truly seeking God or pursuing spiritual experience. We do get lonesome for God and can feel isolated and confused. But sometimes our search is not as much for God as it is for Spiritual adventure. Perhaps we are bored. We might like to see ourselves as important spiritual persons and think a particular kind of spiritual experience is one of the criteria necessary for others to view us in this way. Perhaps we would like God to heal someone through our prayer or bring about instantaneous, major life changes in us or in someone else with whom we have been praying more as a kind of witness to our supposed godliness than as an overflowing of God’s compassion.” ~From Holy Invitations by Jeannette A. Bakke

Lord God, creator and redeemer, claim my life and my work for Your high and holy purpose. Help me to remain faithful and steadfast all day long, and when evening comes grant a peaceful rest in Your presence. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Together

30 May 2013 Leave a comment

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Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. ~Romans 12:3-5 (CEB)

“The source of all such coming together is surely Jesus himself. Community is ever his gift. It was the way from the start. He formed the table fellowship. He sent his followers our not alone but in the company of one another. When he came upon them after the Resurrection, he joined two on the road, encouraged a frightened crew huddled behind locked doors, fed a hungry band of them at dawn on the shores of Galilee. He initially had drawn persons together, and he continues to shape them as a body. When the Holy Spirit turned forth Pentecost, it settles not on one but on a whole assembly. . . .

In Christ Jesus we are formed into one people stretching through the ages of time. And in this sense, the community he creates is not only a gift. It is holy. That is, its source is not in us. It emanates from him Community sweeps forth and claims us from the realms of grace.” ~From Discovering Community by Stephen V. Doughty

Almighty God, You have called the church into being and have gathered us into one family. By the power of Your Holy Spirit help us to life in unity and peace with all of Your children. May our actions this day be fruit of our faith in Your kingdom. In the name of Christ. Amen.

A great adventure

22 May 2013 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” ~Matt. 28:16-20 (CEB)

“Many priests today are said to be abandoning prayer. One simple reason for this is that they have never experienced the power that prayer brings. Those who have once experienced that prayer is power will never again abandon prayer for the rest of their lives. Mahatma Gandhi put it well: ‘I am telling you my own experience,’ he said, ‘and that of my colleagues; we could go for days on end without food; we could not live a single minute without prayer.’ Or, as he said another time, ‘Given the type of life I am leading, if I ceased to pray I should go mad!’ If we ask God for so little it may well be because we feel the need for him so little. We are leading complacent, secure, well protected mediocre lives. We aren’t living dangerously enough; we aren’t living the way Jesus wanted us to live when he proclaimed the good news. The less we pray the less we are likely to life the risky, challenging life that the Gospels urge us to; the less of a challenge there is in our life, and the less we are likely to pray.” ~From Contact with God by Anthony de Mello

Sometimes I wonder… what if Jesus really meant what he said. If so than I am not living dangerously enough. There are no risks that I take no challenges that I have taken up for the good news. It would be easy to put Jesus in the box of “another good teacher”. That would be a safe place to put him. That would be the easy path to take.

Lead me on a wild adventure O Lord. May I never ask so little from You that I cease to live. Help me to see in this day how I can really live for You. Amen.

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