Thu Mar 6-Developing Spiritual Practices
It’s wonderful to know that while I’m pursuing or seeking God, I am already in His hand, and that makes me happy.
Devotional
Devotional
Wed Mar 5-Ash Wednesday 2025
On Ash Wednesday, Christians are called to reflect on our own humanity, sins, and mortality. “The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship and the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful nonverbal and experiential way of participating in the call to repentance and reconciliation.”
Devotional
Tue Mar 4-Mustard Seed-Size Faith
The disciples had just heard Jesus explain “things that cause people to trip and fall into sin.” Jesus says we are to “Watch ourselves!” And we are to warn our fellow followers of Jesus to stop sinning and to forgive them and to forgive when they change their hearts and lives, even up to seven times a day! No wonder the disciples thought this was an impossible task for them,
Devotional
Mon. Mar. 3 – Four Paws and Frosting
This was the first real birthday party my daughter was going to experience. The event planner in my brain wanted to do so much more than my tired mom-body could really accomplish. My intentions were good, but a naughty little cat taught me just how little the fluff and stuff really matters.
Devotional
Fri Feb 28-Recipe for Living
The theme for worship at Medford UMC this past Sunday was “The Secret of Contentment.” Today’s scripture reflects that theme as well. This verse is what we commonly call an “if-then” or a “conditional” statement. We cannot have one thing without the other. It is a logical grammatical construction that expresses a relationship between two ideas,
Devotional
Thu Feb 26-Ice Cream Over the Dentist (Every Time!)
I’m pretty sure you have seen the phrase “no Jesus, no peace, know Jesus, know peace.” I was struggling with what I wanted to write because I have to admit, I have been struggling recently to feel peace.
Devotional
Wed Feb 26-Holding Our Worry Wisely
Has anyone ever told you “Do not worry?” Did it successfully keep you from worrying? Yeah, me neither.
Devotional
Tue Feb 25-Caught by Contentment
Anxiety thrives on uncertainty—our need to control outcomes, to secure our future, to make sure everything turns out “just right.” Yet Jesus calls us to a different way of living. His way is marked by trust rather than fear. He calls us to rest in contentment now rather than continually chasing the thing that we perceive will lead to contentment tomorrow.
Devotional
Mon Feb 24-Seek First the Kingdom
Jesus’ words are not meant to forbid our providing essentials for life.
Devotional
Fri Feb 21-What Gift Did You Get
We aren’t supposed to hoard our gifts. We are supposed to use them to benefit our fellow Christians or non-Christians.
Devotional
Thu Feb 20-Shake the Dust Off Our Feet
The way I read today’s passage it seems to me that immediately after being called by Jesus, the twelve disciples are sent out to the mission field. Their mission was urgent and they didn’t have time to waste. Their mission was also not easy.
Devotional
Wed Feb 19-Gathering Leftovers
Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples and you see a large crowd of people headed your way, tired and hungry. Jesus says to you, “Where will you buy food to feed these people?” In response, most of us would think that feeding upwards to fifteen thousand men, women and children on the outskirts of a town would be an impossible task.
