Irrational vs Clear, Logical Thinking

When I was a little girl, I struggled with asthma. Extremes did me in. 

• too much heat
• too much cold
• too far away from home
• too much laughter 
• too much running
• too much scary stuff

I remember having to go to the ER on countless occasions — usually when we were on vacation or were away from home and had forgotten my inhaler. 

I remember getting all worked up one night in the bed at grandmother’s house because I could see a little red light outside in the darkness and I fancied that it was the devil. 

One time we were staying for the weekend at a friend’s home and I got terrified over something (who knows what). Mother stayed up with me most of the night trying to calm me down so that I could breathe. 

That is when Mother introduced me to this verse and helped me to memorize it. 

II Timothy 1:7 KJV

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Today I want to look at two components of this verse.

• fear
• soundness of mind

Someone once said that we can look at “fear” as an acronym: 

False Evidence Appearing Real

If someone has you in a chokehold with a handgun to your head, I think it’s safe to say that it is reasonable to be afraid for your life. 

But having an asthma attack over a little red light in the darkness is irrational. 

Having to leave a concert in a panic because an inhaler was left in the car is irrational. 

Not sharing with someone about God because of fear of rejection is irrational. 

For Christians, God’s Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. He goes with us everywhere we go. His characteristics spill out of us onto those around us — His power, His love and His rational thinking. 

And even with a handgun pointed to your head, God can give you the ability to stay calm and to think clearly about a way of escape.

So we have no good reason to be crippled by the unreal emotion of fear. 

What are some things that you have been afraid of that you later learned was unwarranted?

How did you combat the fear? Did you succumb to it. Did God replace the fear with rational thinking?

Did it take a concerted effort to overcome the fear or was it an easy thing to do?

LORD, Thank you for your Holy Spirit and for the fullness He gives our lives. Thank you for giving us the ability to think through things and to approach them purposefully. May you be glorified in us as we show the world who you are. 

Some Flowers in Greece, Turkey and Italy

Thursday, June 19. 2025

While in Greece, Turkey and Italy we saw enough rock/marble/granite to last us a lifetime. 

Sometimes the unexpected 

splashes of color were a breath of fresh air. 

Farmland in northern Greece

Kitten at the base of two date palms. This was not the first cat we saw nor was it the last!

These trees in Ephesus reminded me of the evergreen-lined road to my grandfather’s house.

Bougainvillea 

Blue Jacaranda 

Prickly Pear

Cathedral Cactus 

Jade Plant

Candelabra Aloe

Spruce? Cedar? It’s an evergreen!

Bougainvillea 

Spanish Broom

Gipsy Rose

I just love this shot through the relatively young evergreens of Delphi at the archaeological site in the valley below. 

Cyprus 

Umbrella trees — Italian Stone Pines

Purpletop Vervain

Oleander

Gazania

Nerium 

LORD, Thank you for the opportunity to see the vastness of your world. And when we were so far away from Kentucky I thank you for the jade plants and the cathedral cactuses and the pine trees that reminded me so much of home. 

Father’s Day

Sunday. June 15. 2025

Happy Father's Day

From the jacket of Dondré Whitfield’s book, “Male vs Man:”

• Men are more than simply grown males. 

•Males are the self-serving individuals stuck in negative cycles that we hear and read about daily.

•Men are healthy and productive servant leaders who bring positive change to their communities. 

•Males create chaos and put themselves before others. 

•Men cultivate calm and help others step into their God-given roles. 

Our family gathered around the table tonight and had supper as is our Sunday night routine. Tonight’s conversation was a little bit different. Since it was Father’s Day, Bill asked me to share something about my father that was special to me. He followed with a story about his own dad. 

Initially, I think Bill just wanted our children and grandchildren to know more about our fathers. But what happened next was really cool. Each of our children and their spouses shared their own stories about their dads. Then the older grandchildren told their tales. 

We laughed. We reminisced. It was nice. 

I was honored to be surrounded by such wonderful men at my dining room table. My husband has been the absolute best role model for all of them. My sons and son-in-law are fine young men and great fathers. And my two older grandsons are on their way to becoming reflections of the men in their lives. 

LORD, Thank you for blessing me with some incredible men in my family—my Granddaddy, my Pappy, my daddy, my father-in-law, my husband, my sons and my son-in law. I know that if they warm my heart, as their perfect Father you must be really proud of them.

St. John Lateran

On Patrick’s birthday, June 6th, we visited some pretty awe inspiring places. 

• Catacombs (which I wrote about on that day)
• Basilica of St. John Lateran (my topic for today)
• The Holy Stairs
• The 9/11 Monument
• The Vatican—Sistine Chapel
• The Vatican—Swiss Guard
• The Vatican—St. Peter’s Cathedral 
• The Vatican—St. Peter’s Square

Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran

This is the official title for the church. The land for it had belonged to a family whose last name was Lateran. It honors both John the Baptist and John who wrote Revelation. It is considered to be the Mother Church of the world and for that reason, it bears the title, “Archbasilica.” Most people we talked with refered to it simply as “St John Lateran.”

Look at the people in the arches of the front to get some perspective of how big this place is. 

Not being Catholic, I was a little confused about this being the Pope’s church. St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican is often used by the Pope. But the Pope is also considered to be Bishop of Rome. And this is the cathedral church of Rome’s Bishop. So, this is the Pope’s church. 

The Baroque style incorporated a lot of gold. 

I was drawn to all the huge sculptures along the perimeter inside the church. They stand 23 feet tall and are all on the second level but visible from below in the main sanctuary. 

This is St. Paul. He is usually depicted with a sword. I thought that might be because he shared the Word of God (sharper than a two-edged sword) wherever he went. But apparently it is because in the end he was beheaded with a sword. 

I can’t imagine the precision required to create this tile floor. I’d venture to say that the design just might find its way into my art.

This is the Apostle Peter. He is most often shown holding the keys to the gates of heaven and hell. 

This is Thomas. 

This is Phillip. 

Tradition has it that Bartholomew was skinned alive. Here he is depicted carrying the skinning knife and holding his skin. 

Matthew was a tax collector before he became one of the disciples. I guess that is why he has his right foot on a bag of money. 



This is Pope Leo XIII.

Pictures just can’t do it justice. 

LORD, I am amazed at the talent required to build such a beautiful place as this. I pray that I will be ever mindful of the fact that you are my high priest and I can come to you any time, any where. Thank you. 

The Constantine Arch

Thursday, June 12, 2025

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On June 5th we walked around the Constantine Arch in Rome. This was the Arch of Triumph for many rulers over the years as they returned from battle to Rome. 

Stock photo 

Who was Constantine?

Constantine the Great was born in 272 AD to Helena and Flavius Constantius and lived until 337 AD. His father was one of four rulers of the Roman Empire. But by 306, Constantine (the Great) was the sole Emporer. 

By 303, persecution of Christians had reached its greatest intensity in Rome. In 313 Constantine declared such persecution illegal. Over the years of his reign, he did many things to help bolster Christian churches and embraced Christianity himself on his deathbed. 

Constantine was instrumental in having the day of rest for Christians changed from Saturday to Sunday. This partly had to do with Christ’s resurrection having been on Sunday.

At one point during his reign, Constantine developed the christogram formed by the first and second Greek letters, chi and rho, that spell Christ (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ). 

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He used this labarum as the army standard going into battle and is said to have defeated many adversaries who had outnumbered his men. 

Constantine’s family was not without its issues, though. He had one of his sons killed for supposedly seducing his wife. Then upon learning that his wife had lied about it, he had her killed, too. 

In the end, he converted to Christianity and was baptized just prior to succumbing to a fatal illness. 

Intricacies of the Constantine Arch

The Arch of Constantine is one of only a few triumphal arches to have three entryways. Interestingly only the ground level has carvings dealing with Constantine the Great. The second level has pieces taken from Hadrian sculptures while the third level has Trajan and Marcus Aurelius sculptures. It is said that the arch was built so quickly that they had to swipe art from other sculptures in order to complete it on time. 

LORD, Regardless of when Constantine was actually converted, how thankful I am that he made it possible for the persecution of Christians in Rome to stop. That was crucial. Thank you for letting us see this incredible arch. Amen. 

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 4, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Patience Nave

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it… The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.” So they departed from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.

Matthew 28:2-8 RSV

I have stood in the garden at Gordon’s tomb, a lovely place in Jerusalem that I would like to believe is the place where Jesus lay – though probably it is not. As I stood there, went inside the cave, and saw the track on which the stone would have rolled, I tried to imaging what it would have been like to have gone there to mourn and to have found that the day of mourning was over! That no grave contained the Lord! I am sure that it seemed to the two Marys almost too good to be true – especially since they had seen resurrection before when Lazarus had come forth from the grave.

With great joy they ran to tell the others! Of course. Isn’t that the natural reaction?

Then what about us? Two thousand years later, isn’t that still the news that the world needs to hear? If Christ be not resurrected, we are indeed a people most miserable! But he IS risen! He suffered and died for MY sin and he rose that I need not die! That is very personal news for a desperately needy world! Surely that must cause me to want to run and tell others!

Father, I thank you that no tomb could hold Jesus. I thank you that we serve a risen, living Savior! Make us bold to tell others this good news! Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Fortieth Day of Lent

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Rayna Carlsen 

“When we get to Jerusalem,” he said, “the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified….”

Matthew 20:18-19

Unbelievable. At least four times God has recorded for us these words of Jesus. He knew what was coming. The betrayal, degradation, excruciating torture and agony of crucifixion. Not to mention the awful knowledge that He would be rejected by his Father when He took on our sins.

He knew all the time. Before He entered Jerusalem, Jesus tried to explain to his disciples what would happen. Even though they did not fully understand, Jesus knew. And he went anyway.

How many times in our own lives are we paralyzed by fear when we know something unpleasant is coming? Or how often do we avoid difficulty, making up excuses to change plans or looking for other roads to take so we don’t have to endure our own painful situations? We also tend to “pre”-live upcoming problems in our minds, not to prepare ourselves for it but building our apprehensions and devising potential methods of escape. Jesus knew what was coming – every  detail – and chose not to avoid it.

Jesus was God in human flesh. At any point He could have made a miraculous escape. When they spit in his face, He could have stopped it. When they ripped open his flesh with whips, He could have walked away unscathed. When they drove nails into his hands and feet, He could have freed himself, unharmed. He made the choice to stay and die.

What have we chosen to deny ourselves to show love for another – to show our love for Him?

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you seems such an inadequate way to express our wonder at the expression of Your love through Your Son. Guide our hearts and minds to see and understand how You want us to love. Put your love in our hearts and change our selfish ways that others may see You and give You the glory. In the name of Him who chose to love us. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-eighth Day of Lent

 Thursday, April 1, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Ernie Dorrell

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24

When Jesus taught, He never tried to camouflage the truth. People didn’t always embrace His teachings, but when it came time for discipleship He made it clear that there would be a cost involved for those who decided to follow His ways. I like the word “intentional” because I believe it carries with it a positive action, not just something to be considered.

Jesus said in the scripture listed above that if you intend to follow him you must be prepared to do three things. The first is to deny ourselves. That’s a shocker for most of us, who are part of a very self-centered society whose heart-cry is “give it to me now and make sure it is bigger and better and faster.” Jesus is calling us to change the center of our universe from ourselves to the needs of others and allegiance to His calling on our lives. Secondly, take up your cross on a daily basis. To me, that means my conscious choice to live by Jesus’ standards. Sometimes it is a narrow way, sometimes a way of suffering, sometimes a way of service or a way of compassion. But always a way of joy deep within us. Thirdly, “follow me.” This means not simply listening to Jesus’ words and meditating on them but sharing the risk with Jesus, of doing what is right in a world that is going all wrong.

We must never be ashamed of His Name or of being counted among His followers. We must “own up” to having been with Jesus and do so with a glad heart. We know that it’s risky business to follow Jesus, but the results of that choice will bring incredible blessings in this life and the next. Are you “intentional” about following Jesus?

Lord help us to count the cost. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-seventh Day of Lent

 Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Patience Nave 

And while they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it; and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup, and given thanks, He gave it to them; and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

Mark 14:22-24 NAS

I like to try to imagine what it would have been like at the time that Jesus was speaking, and how his hearers might have heard what He was saying. This is a good example.

The feast they were having together was the Passover, and every good Jew knew from childhood the story of the Passover lamb. They had been told about the oppression of the Egyptians. They knew of God’s covenant with the Hebrew people, that their first-born child would be spared as the angel of death passed through the land only if they covered their doorposts and lintels with the blood of a lamb.

There were no windows in the homes in Jerusalem, and as Jesus and the disciples sat having their meal, the sound of bleating sheep in the night, sheep that would be slain for observance of the Passover Meal must have pierced the night air.

How shocking it must have been to the disciples to hear this man they had been following for three years say, “I am your Lamb. This is my covenant blood. This is my body.” A new covenant He was giving them, as only God could give. I wonder if they realized what he was saying!

Father thank you for Jesus, your Lamb who has taken away my sin and has saved me from the angel of death. Help me to remember as the resurrection celebration nears, that my life has been purchased at great cost. I can never merit such a gift, but I pray that you will help me show my appreciation by living in such a manner that your name will be honored by my life.

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty

 Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV 

Scientists were studying learned behavior. Bringing a dog into the room, they zapped him with an electric prod. As he howled in pain, they offered him a steak, which he quickly devoured. Repeating the pattern over and over, they discovered an amazing thing. After a few times of being painfully zapped and fed steak, the dog’s attitude totally changed. He entered the room, tail wagging, salivating at the thought of the steak. He expected pain, be steak was coming.

In a similar way, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to view the pain and suffering in our lives as an indication that God is bringing us toward something good. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him – the joy of hearing his Father’s “well-done,” the joy of knowing he had defeated Satan, and the joy of knowing many others would now come to the Father because of his sacrifice.

Learning to ride a bike caused me many falls and scrapes, but whenever my dad would say, “Want to work on the bike,” I’d be ready. There was joy even in the hurts of the learning because of my father’s working with me as I struggled. Then there was the “steak” – the anticipation of the time I’d be able to ride with my friends. 

Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him. Can we endure our suffering in fellowship with him, knowing the same joy – the anticipation of our Father’s “well-done,” the defeat of Satan and the knowledge our God-focused struggle is acting as an encouragement to others?

The cross reminds us there is purpose in our suffering. We may be feeling “zapped” but we can know there’s spiritual steak coming.

Lord, help me to look past the sufferings in my life. Teach me to look for your joy set before me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Thirty-fifth Day of Lent

 

Monday, March 29, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Donna Ludwick 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

When our oldest son was getting married, his brother was his best man. On the day of the wedding, we drove 20 miles to the church. About a half an hour before the ceremony was to start, the best man realized he had left the pants to his tux back home in his closet. Since there was no time to go back, I whispered a prayer, “Help, Lord! We need some gray pants.”

After making some inquiries, we were told about a men’s store just a couple of blocks from the church. Our son and his dad took off for the store and came back minutes later with gray pants. Except for the stripe down the side, the pants were identical to the others that belonged to the tux. I said a big “thank you” to the Lord.

The wedding was right on schedule.

Thank you, Lord, for caring for the details of our lives. Help us turn to you when we feel anxious. Amen 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

 

 

Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent.

Worship well today.

 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Thirty-fourth day of Lent

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide 

Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

John 3:3 NIV

“I’m not one of those ‘born-agains,’ am I?” Marge’s agitated question startled the Bible study. Coming from Catholic background, she often asked about Bible phrases that bothered her but not usually with this intensity. Sensing the Spirit’s leading, I replied, “Marge, go home and read John 3 over several times this week and then you tell me whether you are born again or not.”

A week later, Marge came back with her answer. Obviously uncomfortable with the thought but wanting to be truthful she admitted, “I am one of those ‘born-agains.’”

It was two years before we saw Marge again. During that time she and her husband moved, struggled with a son’s attempted suicide and lost their home in a devastating fire. As we welcomed her back, Marge said, “I just had to come and tell you. If I hadn’t been one of those ‘born-agains’ I would never have made it through the past two years.”

Our first birth, the fleshly one, came about through no choice of our own. We have all been born once. But Jesus challenges us to accept the second birth – one which is a matter of our choice and comes from above through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we choose the second birth by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we become a part of the kingdom of God.

After you read John 3, where do you stand? Are you one of those “born-agains?”

Lord, help me to look at the truth of John 3:3 and to accept its necessity for entering the kingdom of God. Thank you for making it possible for me to be one of those “born agains.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen

 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!

prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida

Spring 2011

compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-third day of Lent

Friday, March 26, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide 

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11 NIV

In the movie, The Two Brothers, twin tiger cubs are taken into captivity and sent to different places by their human captors. One cub is given to a circus where he is trained to excite the crowds. The cub’s hatred for captivity reaches a peak when his trainer commands him to leap through a ring of fire. Snarling, he refuses. A senior trainer says, “Give him to me. I’ll make him obey.”

The movie doesn’t show the beating the young tiger receives, but you know it happened. When he is brought back to the ring of fire again, the trainer says, “Now he will jump.” And he does. Watching, our senses recoil at what was done to break the young tiger’s spirit.

Later, through a set of unusual circumstances, the twins are brought together again, and they escape into the wild. Hunters go after them, knowing the tigers’ hatred of man and their inability to fend for themselves in the jungle. The men surround the tigers with a ring of fire, forcing them together so they become easy targets. But the circus twin remembers – and he is not afraid of the fire. All he has to do is to leap through it. He does so and then returns to urge his twin to follow him. Because of the harsh discipline of his circus days, the trained twin saves both of their lives as they escape the hunters’ bullets.

Believing that every hardship coming into our lives has to pass through the hand of God before touching us, we can embrace trouble with, “Lord, what do you want me to learn from this?” If we do, later on, looking back, we can see where the time that seemed so hard has matured and strengthened us in our Christian walk.

Lord, your word tells me to “endure hardship as discipline,” because you are treating me as your child. Enable me to trust your choice of discipline for my life and to seek to learn its lesson. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-second day of Lent

 

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Rayna Carlsen 

Then Jesus shouted out again and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:30-31

Why was the tearing of the Temple curtain so important that God took care to record it for us in His word? 

The curtain is described in detail in Exodus 26:31-33. Specifically it says, “This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place [the place where God dwells].” Man could approach in a specific way, at specified times, through a specific people.

We tend to have an Old Testament way of thinking today. We want to approach God by a specific set of rules in a place only a chosen few can enter. But when Jesus died on the cross, that curtain God had established to separate the “common man” from His presence was torn from top to bottom. The doorway to God was opened – to all of us!

I picture the hands of God tearing that magnificent curtain in half, delighted to open direct access to Himself for us. As Hebrews records, “we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by mans of his death for us.”

God desires us to come to Him. Directly. He wants us to be in His presence, communing with Him whenever and wherever possible. What an honor! As a father loves having his children come to him to talk about their day and share their joys, sorrows, expectations and to look for advice, our Heavenly Father desires our personal contact with Him.

Dear loving Father, give me a better understanding of this marvelous privilege to be able to come directly into your presence because of Jesus. Give me the boldness to come directly to you with a trusting heart. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-first day of Lent

 

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Myrna Evans

 For my part, my brothers, I could not speak to you as I should speak to people who have the Spirit. I had to deal with you on the merely natural plane, as infants in Christ. And so I gave you milk to drink, instead of solid food, for which you were not yet ready.

I Corinthians 3:1-2a NEB

A pastor began his sermon with this story: During the night a Mom and Dad heard a great thud coming from their young son’s room. They rushed in to find him sitting on the floor rubbing his eyes. “What happened?” the parents asked. The little boy answered, “I fell asleep too close to where I got in!”

As Christians we often have the same problem. We come to know Christ and revel in the experience. We want to sustain the joy of that moment but it can’t happen. Like the wonder of first love or the exhilaration of reaching a mountaintop, we cannot stay there forever. Like that first love, faith must either grow or it will die. Saint Paul asks why we still need baby food when we ought to be consuming things of more substance. If we would truly walk with Jesus, the Gospels tell us clearly what we must do. Let’s not fall asleep too close to where we got in!

Dear God, open our hearts and minds to your will and your Word. Keep us growing in our faith and help us to walk humbly in your Way. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirtieth Day of Lent

 Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Myrna Evans

“…for I was hungry and you gave me food…thirsty and you gave me drink…a stranger and you welcomed me…naked and you clothed me…sick and you visited me…in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink…sick or in prison and visit thee?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

Matthew 25:35-40 RSV

Recently Dick and I visited Americus, Georgia where we spent some time at Koinonia Farm, an interracial Christian Community established by Clarence Jordan in 1942. At that time segregation was the only way of life known to the folks in that rural area. Mr. Jordan was an ordained Baptist pastor, he had a degree in agriculture and a Ph.D. in New Testament Greek. He could have had all kinds of prestigious jobs but God called him to return to the place where he grew up and address the problems of racial injustice and poverty. He organized this community where black and white, rich and poor shared their resources and enabled one another. Out of this community came the vision for “Habitat for Humanity.” Clarence believed that the modern church has so glorifed Jesus that we have forgotten why he came as a “human.” Pastor Jordan truly followed the teachings of Jesus. He spent himself to do his Master’s will. Pastor Jordan died at the young age of 57 and as his body was lowered into the grave a little two year old girl named Faith sang “Happy Birthday.” Clarence and Faith understood what it meant to have a “resurrection faith.” Do we?

Dear Lord, Give us a “resurrection faith” that will enable us to be both bold and humble in your service.

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Twenty-ninth Day of Lent

 Monday, March 22, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Martha Dorrell

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day, he will be raised to life!”

Matthew 20:17-19 RSV

At our granddaughter’s confirmation, when the choir director came down the aisle to direct the choir, he pulled his hand out of his pocket and his baby’s pacifier fell out onto the floor two rows in from of me. After the anthem, he and his family sat in the row behind me but at the opposite end. Knowing how fanatic children can be about their “pacies,” throughout the service I became preoccupied with ideas on how to discretely get that pacifier to them. Even during the communion I had a method in mind, which was foiled when they went down another aisle!

Finally the Lord spoke to me, “Instead of worshipping me, you surely have been obsessed with that pacifier.” (I must admit I don’t remember a word the minister said.) Later the thought came to me – what if Jesus had gotten completely distracted with all the problems that constantly demanded His attention here on earth. Instead the scripture states, “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,” knowing He would meet His death there. He chose to accept God’s will for His life, without wavering, to be the sacrificial lamb for the sins of the whole world, which includes mine and yours.

Thank you, Lord, that you gave your life for my salvation from sin. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Easter Is Coming!

 

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

 

 

Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent.

Worship well today.

 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Twenty-eighth Day of Lent

 Saturday, March 20, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Connie Barton 

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you.

II Timothy 1:5

My maternal grandmother lived with us, and I saw first-hand the pain and suffering she endured and how she persevered with trust in God.

When I was about eight, she had cataract surgery in one eye, and I remember her excitement at being able to see again. However, a serious infection later required that her eye be surgically removed. After a time, she had cataract surgery in her other eye only to have the same thing occur a short time later requiring the removal of that one, too.

When Grandma returned home from the hospital, she was confused about direction and had difficulty getting around the house. But I watched her persevere! Every morning she carefully cleansed her eye sockets and inserted glass eyes. She lived a comfortable life for several years, learning to navigate the rooms in our home and enjoying some independence.

My mother always said, “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” Perhaps one of God’s mysterious ways was to allow me to learn many lessons about life and accepting difficulty by watching my Grandma accept her blindness and to live comfortably. Perhaps like Timothy at least a portion of my faith can be attributed to my Grandma and my Mother as they lived out their faith before me.

Lord, help me to be a person from whom others can learn about you and who will make them want to know you. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort