Love

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Brothers and sisters, I am deeply sadden this week by what I am seeing throughout the country.  It’s all over the news, it’s all over social media.  It’s just plan sickening!  Since the election results, I have seen family’s divided, I’ve seen friendships lost.  Why?  All because you didn’t agree with the other person on who should take office? 

I want to make it very clear that I did not feel either of the candidates were great choices.  That being said, someone was going to win.  If we go back eight years, many people didn’t like Obama either.  Some thought he would ruin the country.  Now I’m not saying that he’s been good or bad, all I’m saying is that here we are eight years later and we have elected someone again that not everyone agrees with.  Some feel Trump is going to ruin the country.  He’s not even in office yet and the country is being divided.  This cannot be blamed on him.  Rather those who choose to attack one another simply because they don’t see eye to eye on something.

We are told that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  If we are doing this, then the second commandment should come easily: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Today, I ask you to be in prayer for our country.  Pray that we can come together once again, be healed and figure out a way to make this world better, regardless of who is elected as the President.  LOVE, it’s that simple.

Thurs Devo: Adoption - God's Favor

I’m back! We are now officially and legally a family of four! It’s been a long process and a whirlwind the past few months, but we’ve seen God’s hand in the whole thing (including Erin writing wonderful devotionals each Thursday!). This summer, God kept showing me His favor over and over again, in just the things I could see!

We ended up getting the kids a day early (back in June). Then, in August, the Judge agreed to continue our case even though she didn’t have to do it. That same day the Judge also agreed to waive the 6 month requirement!! So, once all sorts of paperwork was completed and approved, we were scheduled for a final adoption hearing on October 24^th, well before the 6 month time frame.

We didn’t deserve God’s favor, but He graciously extended His favor, just like He did for the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 6:10-13  When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slaver.

Everything is from God. If we really stop and look around, we can see His favor all over. Will you stop right now and think about how you’ve seen God’s favor in your life and praise Him for it?

We didn’t pick James and Sarah to be our children. We didn’t convince the Judge to continue our case. We didn’t convince the Judge to waive the 6 month time period. God did it! To Him be the glory!!! 

Alice

Lost

So Jesus told them this story:  “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.  When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’”  Luke 15:3-6

We are a divided nation.  I know this as I have talked with family and friend whose views while seemingly similar are vastly different.  If you are a person of color, you may be worried and scared today, and yet, others have no idea why anyone would feel that way.  In these times, there is only one place I can turn to.  As I prayed with my wife last night, I prayed for healing.  Healing from politics that have been far too hate driven and sides too unwilling to hear each other.  I have lost a friend because while we could come to respectfully disagree, we could no longer be respectful toward each other.  Many of you have been on the opposite side with others for so long that you do not recognize the person on the other side.  In spite of all this, I believe in a God that can heal all wounds.  He can bring us to common ground, and while we may disagree often on the exact same things we read, He is always faithful and true.  People ask how I can maintain such balance even at a time where most would be fractured.  I do not honestly know, but my guess is maybe I trust God enough to direct me when I myself feel lost.

We can always trust God to guide us when we ourselves feel lost.  In reading these verses, I previously focused on what Jesus did as He would for His lost people.  However today, it was helpful because it reminded me that even a well-grounded Christian can occasionally get lost.  God may have looked out for us before we knew Him to bring us home as He had been watching us for years.  Other times, He watched us wander away only to bring us back from the brink of destruction.  Regardless of the circumstance, we are blessed by a savior who does not just protect us.  He sees where we are, and will come rescue us even when we may not believe we are in need of being rescued.  Whether we are in Harm’s way or simply going the wrong way, God comes for us, and will bring us back as long as we trust in Him.

God’s grace is truly amazing.  It not only saves lost souls, but it protects the found ones as well.  When you are not sure what direction you are going or are unsure of the path ahead, call on Him.  Trust in His word, and rely on those things that He instilled in you; love, wisdom, faith, humility.  Let those things lead the way toward being found again.  How can you tap into God’s spirit when you are lost?  Will you be able to call out to Him when you are unsure?  My prayer is that we understand God is always looking out for us particularly when we might feel . . . lost.  Amen.

Tues Devo: The real election

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’ (NASB)

Hello,

(*note, this was typed prior to any idea of election results….)

As our country faces “an intriguing choice” on this day, it got me thinking about the real election. The real choice we have as to who is our leader, who we will follow. No matter which political leaders are placed in front of us we need to examine our followership of the real Leader, Jesus.

No matter who has earthly control, if we allow Him to be in control of what we say and do – we will end up seeing the best results possible. Do we always understand the path? Is it easy? Nope – The verses in Matthew talk about taking up our cross, knowing that we are dying to our own desired to do what He wants us to do.

I challenge all of us to look at our Leader, and follow well.

Will Hill