Daily Devotional

One of the more significant spiritual struggles for any of the people of God is the issue of control. I don’t know about you, but I like to be in control. I like to be in control of today. I like to be in control of tomorrow. I like to be in control of the future. How about you? How do you feel when you are not in control?

The disciples were with Jesus, crossing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was sleeping when a strong storm suddenly appeared. It was so rough that the disciples thought it was going to cause their boat to sink and them to drown…

Recently, while spending the day fishing, I witnessed a beautiful sunrise. As I was driving to the lake I pulled over and stopped to take in this moment. As the sun slowly made its way above the horizon, I could feel the warmth and light bringing mercy and hope for a new day. I tried to take a photo to capture the beauty of what God was doing in that instant, but my phone camera and dirty windshield did not do the Creator’s work justice.

As I continued towards the lake, I was reminded of a song that I have loved for many years…

Hurricane Ian gave the residents of Florida little time to evacuate. When they left their homes, they had no time to take with them what was truly precious. That is why two residents of Sanibel Island, Melissa and Scott Congress, returned by boat. They wanted to retrieve the Torah scrolls from their synagogue. They hoped they were safe and dry, but they had no idea if the priceless scrolls were undamaged.

It was the day before Yom Kippur and Melissa and Scott wanted to have the scrolls to read from as they marked this high, holy day. They made their way through the storm damage to the vault where the Torah was kept…

Every morning, when I leave my house for work, I drive on a long, straight highway. As I come down the on-ramp, I push the accelerator down and join the flow of traffic. It’s like being shot out of a rocket. With my music loudly playing, I reach maximum speed. It is my goal to arrive at my destination quickly. My drive is a direct east to west drive. However, towards the end of my morning commute, there are large blinking signs, suspended over the road, that read “Sharp Curve Ahead.”

I don’t believe the signs hanging above the road are there by accident. In fact, I believe they are there because of many accidents. After many miles of straight lines, the highway takes a significant turn. Most days the drivers negotiate this curve with ease and grace. However, there are times this sharp bend in the road causes drivers to lose control and vehicles careen out of control…

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, and tell the householder, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready.” And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him.  And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after supper, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Many of the most beautiful prayers are found in the form of hymns. One of these prayers is a hymn written by Frances Havergal in 1874. Frances was a young woman who wanted to grow in her faith. She wanted to experience God, grow close to Jesus, and know the power of the Holy Spirit at work in her life and in the life of others. Frances wanted to know the joy that comes through a life of faith. Although she often struggled with her health, she used her gifts of music to communicate her heart for God.  She used her gifts to share God’s love with others.

Frances Havergal knew that one way to experience God and grow in her faith was to give her time and resources to help those in need…

I am blessed to come from a musical family. Growing up in church there was always someone in my family in choir. My grandmother was the church pianist and led the choir. I was blessed to share in a small part of the gift of music.  I play a few instruments (not very well) and I love to sing. I have spent some time in the church choir and other music ministries. My talent is limited, but I am always willing to share, especially when it comes to worship.

Part of my willingness to share comes from the encouragement I received from my grandmother, early in life. She gave me a small little sign that hung in my room for many years. This little sign read:..Downtown

In a cross country race, doing one’s best is often defined by the time it takes to finish the run. However, for Sean Rausch, a high school senior running in the state championship, “best” was defined by his willingness to help his injured teammate. During the race, Blake Lewis fell 400 meters from the finish line when his leg broke. Sean Rausch was close and saw what happened. Sean immediately put his race on hold and rushed to his teammate’s aid.

Sean knew that Blake would not be able to complete the race on his own…

One of my favorite, faithful followers of Jesus is Ananias. He is a disciple who lived in Damascus, far from all the action that was happening in Jerusalem.  One day God called to Ananias and asked him to go to a house in Damascus and pray for a man named Saul of Tarsus.

I have no doubt that Ananias was shocked when God called him into service that day. Not only was he surprised to hear God’s call, but also the call was for him to go and see Saul.  Ananias had heard about Saul and how he was persecuting Christians around Jerusalem. Now the persecutor had come to his hometown. Ananias pleaded with God, worried for his own safety. God replied, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)