Day 46: Saturday, April 15, 2017      Matthew 25:31-40

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away and the sea was no more.  ²I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  ³I heard a loud voice from the throne say, ‘Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God.  ⁴He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Death will be no more.  There will be nor mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’”

Over these past 40 days, in addition to reading and being inspired by the stories in the devotional, I also committed to a forty-day retreat with Jesus.  It is different from my usual daily devotions.  For my usual daily devotions, my wife Jannette and I do them together.  We begin by reading a scripture, writing down our observations and thoughts about the scripture, thinking about how the scripture applies to our life, then sharing our thoughts with each other and praying together.  I have found this practice not only enhances our spiritual life, it enhances our married life.  (Just a note—over these past forty days my wife and I also read the devotions in this booklet—thank you for this gift).

Like my usual daily devotions, the forty-day retreat with Jesus begins with scripture.  Not a long narrative, just a few verses that I would read several times.  Unlike my usual daily devotions, I wouldn’t write down my thoughts, observations, and application.  Instead I attempted to quiet my mind and pray, “Lord Jesus, speak to me.”  Then I listen, listen for what Jesus needs and wants to say to me.  I wouldn’t write it down because I would get distracted and start writing my own thoughts about the scripture.  I would just listen for a word from Jesus.  Then like my usual devotions I would pray, thanking Jesus for speaking to me.

The above scripture is the one I am reading today.  Today is a different kind of day.  Jesus is wrapped in cloths, lying in the tomb.  Everyone believes Jesus to be dead.  Some, like his followers, are grieving.  Some, like the religious officials, are rejoicing.  Many others couldn’t care less.  This is a different kind of day.  It is the day between Good Friday and Easter.  It is the time between the crucifixion that gives us the gift of total forgiveness and the resurrection that gives us the gift of total new life.  What does one write for a devotion on this day?  Instead of sharing with my thoughts and observations about the above scripture, I invite you to experience a different kind of devotion for a different kind of day.  Start by reading the above scripture   several times.  The scripture is about a different kind of day—a day of ultimate triumph.  Ask Jesus to speak to you.  Then quiet your mind and listen for Jesus to speak a word to you.  If one doesn’t come right away, it is okay.  Read the scripture again later in the day and take time to listen.  End you time with saying a prayer to Jesus thanking Him for speaking to you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking to me.  May Your word be real in my life today. Amen.

Contributed by Senior Pastor Jeff Miller

Day 45: Friday, April 14, 2017                  John 19:38-42 (NIV)

 “38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. [a] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the   garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

More often than should be, a homeless veteran or an unaccompanied veteran will be laid to rest at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery. No family, no close friends; instead, volunteer veterans and members of various veterans’ support groups gather together to give the veteran an appropriate burial of honor. For Christ, it wasn’t His close disciples, friends or even family that arranged or performed his burial. Instead, two members of the Sanhedrin, wealthy men, secret disciples, who had nothing to gain and everything to lose, stepped forward and arranged the burial. It is believed that Joseph even gave his tomb.  It was a new tomb, one that had never been used. Joseph and Nicodemus, secret followers of Christ, showed the respect they had for Christ and His doctrine, and that it was not lessened by the reproach of the cross.  They may have also believed that through their actions others would see the strength of their love and follow Christ’s message. So it is for those veterans providing an honorable burial for homeless or unaccompanied veterans. The service to fellow vets is not lessened by the criticism of their homeless unaccompanied status but strengthened to show honor. Unlike Joseph and Nicodemus, we are called to confess Christ to others and show His love to all.

Prayer:  Father give us the strength and courage to profess Your love for all and not be discouraged by the unbelief or criticism of others. Amen.

Contributed by Colleen Smith-Fey

Day 44: Thursday, April 13th, 2017              John 3:16

Now That’s Amazing!!!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Amazing is defined as causing great surprise or wonder, astonishing.

Now I do not know if you have noticed the use of amazing by friends, family, or on the TV or movie screen. As I read the definition I have to think, “Really, was that dessert amazing?” “Was the job amazing?” “Was the football play amazing?” I mean these things are pretty great, but amazing?????

Now put those things we say or others say are amazing and compare it to the love of God? Hmmmmmm… they do not seem so amazing when put in that perspective, do they?

Our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us. He loves us so much Jesus died on that cross for us. He was without sin, and He did not deserve our punishment, but He took it because of the love He has for each and every one of us.  WOW!!! Now that’s amazing!!!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are my King.

You are amazing.

I want to thank and praise You for loving us so much.

Let us always remember how amazing Your love is.

Amen.

Contributed by Laura Dungan

Day 43: Wednesday, April 12, 2017   Philippians 2:3-5 (ESV)

“3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

All my life I have been content to sit quietly in the shadows and allow others to take credit for the work I do and ideas I have. I do not mind because I simply do not wish to be the center of attention. I have never been one to boast or make a noise, and I prefer to hide in the corner and sit quietly as life passes me by. It is because of this that I have never quite understood my children, and other adults for that matter, that demand constant reinforcement and recognition. Those who are always in need of tooting their own horn, shouting to the heavens, “Look at me, here I am! Look at what I have done!” demanding that “Star Pupil” or “Employee of the Month” plaque. I have tried to teach those around me that they are valued and loved not only by myself but most of all by God. They should not need constant pats on the back and awards to boost their self esteem and know that it is not a competition between them and others. We are all the same in God’s eyes and we are all perfect. I believe Philippians 2:3-5 says it best “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, Help us to do Thy will with only the motivation to please You and not seek constant accolades and awards. We should be satisfied just doing Your will and living the life You choose for us. Amen.

Contributed by Gretchen Franck

Day 42: Tuesday, April 11, 2017                  Psalm 46:1

 Relying Upon Him

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

God is a never-ending source of support and courage for those of us who call upon Him.  When we are weary, He gives us strength. When we see no hope, God reminds us of His promises.  When we grieve, God wipes away our tears.

Do the demands of this day threaten to overwhelm you?   Do not solely rely upon your own resources but upon the promises of your Father in Heaven.  God will hold your hand and walk with you every day of your life, if you let Him.  So, even if your circumstances are difficult, trust the Father.  His love is eternal and His goodness       endures forever. 

Faith is not merely you holding onto God; it is God holding on to you.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You never leave or forsake me.  You are always with me, protecting me and encouraging me.  Whatever this day may bring, I thank You for Your love and Your strength.  Amen.

Contributed by Charles Thomas

Day 41: Monday, April 10, 2017              John 1:1

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

My daughter teaches a grade two class, and she called the other night a little distraught. It seems what was to have been a beautiful day didn’t go quite so beautifully.

A second grade teacher explained that the class had been “growing” butterflies. The day of release had arrived, but some of the sugar water used to attract them outside had spilled on the floor, attracting two of the beautiful butterflies to its sticky sweet spot.

As they stuck, they struggled, and when she tried to help, one died right away, and the other’s wing tore off and it fluttered to its death. She also felt badly about a cocoon she had discarded, sure that the caterpillar inside was dead because another one, which she had almost discarded, emerged later than all the rest. She knows full well that this is all part of life, but still it is a bit of a tough lesson when you’re teaching little people full of anticipation at the thought of setting free the beautiful butterflies they’ve grown.

Our lives are like the butterflies’ lives, both physically and spiritually. Some of us emerge with no trouble at all. Some are always struggling. Some of us take a little or a lot longer than others to emerge and need a little coaxing and/or a lot of support. Some never come out of the “cocoon,” either through spiritual birth, or through the cocoons we have built for ourselves. And still others, having emerged beautifully, are taken, seemingly just when the taste of life is so sweet.

It is a tough lesson to learn, but God is the teacher and He knows everyone’s life plan. It must be hard for Him to see us struggle, to lose our way, or to stay within our cocoons. Surely the hardest lesson for Him to teach us was through the death of His own son,  Jesus. But He knows this is all part of His Master Plan and, just like the butterfly, He has given us every stage of life to learn.

Prayer: All knowing Father, be with us in our struggles, support us in our journeys, love us as we learn the lessons You have set out to teach us, and rejoice with us in our accomplishments. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Contributed by Carol Dugger

Day 40: Sunday, April 9, 2017   Book of Ruth 1:16(NIV)

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

Mother-in-Law

Books, movies and music have been written about mothers-in-law in disparaging ways. Jokes prevail on the evils of the mother of your wife or husband, and one singer  described his mother-in-law as Satan, crooning, “If she’d leave us alone, we’d have a happy home.” However, I’m here to proclaim that I have the best mother-in-law in the world. Katharyn Lavon Smith has been my mother-in-law for almost forty years, and not once have I ever heard a word of criticism or lack of support for me. Rusty and I reared three sons, and I don’t know what we would have done without the help of Lavon during those hectic years of teaching school, night classes, sick little boys, or the rare Friday date night.  

The best example of Lavon’s unconditional love for me came on a hot July afternoon in 1977 when I married her son. I had been married before, so I felt like damaged goods when I first met Rusty. His goodness and unabashed love for me helped me to heal emotionally, and I realized how lucky I was to have this chance to be truly happy. We got married in the small chapel at the old downtown church with only Reverend Dewald and Rusty’s parents in attendance. After the fifteen-minute ceremony, it was time for us to leave on our honeymoon, and we were saying our goodbyes. As Lavon hugged me, she quietly pressed a single key into my hand. She whispered, “If Rusty ever gives you any trouble, use this to come home.” The key was to her front door. That gesture of Lavon’s affection for me sealed the deal–I never used that key although Rusty may have wanted to at times.

I feel about Lavon the way Ruth felt about Naomi, and one of the most lyrical lines of scripture in the Old Testament captures Ruth’s love and respect for her mother in law. You’ve heard the verse quoted during wedding ceremonies as couples declare their   devotion for one another. Today, April 9, is my mother-in-law’s birthday. As we     celebrate the life of this amazing woman, I thank God for sending Lavon Smith to me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for mothers-in-law. Amen.

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Contributed by Becky Smith