As we come to the close of our devotional questions for the series on SEEKING, our last reflection is this: “How will you know when you have found what you are looking for?” There is no single, easy answer to that very personal question, but today’s scripture can enlighten us.
Spring is here, and with it comes a fresh start. The days are longer, the air is warmer, and everything around us seems to be waking up. It’s like the world is telling us it’s time to grow—time to shed the old and embrace the new.
Amid life’s challenges, it’s the small blessings that uplift our spirits and energize us, reminding us of our sense of community.
There are any number of things for us to be afraid of – we all have some sort of phobia I would guess. Sometimes we feel like Charlie Brown in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” when he is feeling depressed and goes to Lucy for help. She tells him she can label his fear if she can find out what he’s afraid of.
I can only imagine the emotions that Jesus must have been feeling when he sat down with his disciples, his friends, to have what he knew would be his last meal in this world. Jesus loved these men, he had taught them, traveled with them, served with them, cried and laughed with them. He knew he was going to be leaving them soon to return to the Father.
Today’s devotion asks us, “what lights your soul on fire, what are you passionate about?” These are great questions to ponder and pray over as we discern our call to follow Jesus. And these questions lead us on a life time of seeking and growing on the discipleship journey as we work together in the Kin-dom.
I think all of us have had seasons in our lives that leave us feeling lost. In Frozen II, Anna finds herself alone and stuck in a dark cave and grieving her life that is irrevocably changed. Following the advice of the grandfather troll, “When one can see no future, all one can do is the next right thing.” She stands, she takes a step, she focuses on one small decision at a time because looking at the big picture, looking too far ahead, is just too much to handle
The question posed for today’s devotional is “What is something you’d like to ask God’s help with? I recently encountered my own life-threatening situation requiring God’s intervention for which I shout “Hosanna!” Footnotes to this passage remind us that the petition “Hosanna” “Save Us” was not only shouted by the crowds on “Palm Sunday”
There’s a quiet kind of weariness that doesn’t come from lack of sleep or long hours—it comes from the weight of never feeling like you’ve done enough. Maybe you know that feeling. You work hard, pour your heart into your craft, and still feel like your accomplishments pale in comparison to everyone else’s.
As we reflect on the story of Jesus and Lazarus in John 11, we are reminded of the deep love and loyalty that can be found in our relationships. Driven by unconditional love and not by the fear of danger, Jesus made the journey to Judea both to resurrect Lazarus and to show us that Jesus is the light of the world.
John Wesley, while not explicitly focusing solely on grief, emphasized the importance of finding comfort and assurance in God during difficult times.
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Together we can turn the nation’s largest weekend of football into the largest weekend of giving. Youth group members will be collecting monetary donations at each service this Sunday and will then send the donation to the Turning Point United Methodist Food Pantry in Trenton. Your generosity will be very much appreciated. The link below will take you to our PushPay system. You can select “Give One Time” then use the Fund Selector to choose “Souper Bowl of Caring.”
PEDAL for PROMISE – SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019: Medford United Methodist is fielding a team for the Urban Promise fundraiser “Pedal for Promise.” This year the ride begins and ends at Valenzano Winery in Shamong. You can register to ride, make a donation to the team or register as a spectator to enjoy the party and cheer on our team.
Go to urbanpromiseusa.org/pedal for more information about the event, to donate, or to register as an individual. OR you can go directly to the TEAM MEDFORD UMC page at www.crowdrise.com/team-medford-umc.
Questions or need help? Speak with Pastor Kathleen, Wayne Richards, or Heidi and Mike Polhemus
