Running in Faith 2002 October

"Running in Faith" is an electronic devotional guide written by members of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Each week, writers use their personal interpretation of scripture to write an inspirational message they hope will help readers take their Sunday faith into weekday lives. Your comments are appreciated and, when related to a particular devotion, passed to the writer. We hope you will share these devotions with friends and coworkers. We are always happy to add new names to our e-mail list. Please contact us if you wish your name to be added.
Devotion for the week of October 7, 2002 Submitted by Michael S. "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, 'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said unto him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' " Matthew 22:35-39 Whenever I hear these words of scripture, there is another quotation that comes to my mind, the fatherly advice of Polonius to his son in Hamlet, "to thine own self be true". The two quotes together bring a third saying to mind, "You must be selfish enough to take care of yourself in order to be able to fulfill your obligations and duties to others." In combination I take the intuitive leap to understand that in order "love my neighbor as myself" I have to keep myself spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally together so that I can meet my obligations to others -- related to me or not. For instance, I stopped smoking 26 years ago at the behest of my children. I have been able to see my children married and bless me with 10 grandchildren! What a sense of wonder and gratitude I have for these blessings. Many other things have changed in me and I am truly thankful for my experiences, too many and too personal to recount here. I invite you to consider these precepts and see how you have already been living by them. Lord, thank You for having loved me enough to allow me to make mistakes and then understanding enough to change things inside and around me. Thank you for giving me the wisdom to make decisions and the strength to live by Your lessons. Grant me more opportunities to love others as I would love myself. Amen
Devotion for the week of October 14, 2002 Submitted by Rosemary S. ".. but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 Each year, we hear those words when we listen to the beautiful music of Handel's Messiah. It has been said, "The only one who really likes changes is a wet baby", yet all life consists of changes. Some are gradual -- we grow up, the kids grow up. Others, like a telephone call in the middle of the night, a downsizing of your company, or a heartbreaking diagnosis from a doctor, can be swift. Some changes are joyful, others are tragic. In her book, "Life is Hello, Life is Goodbye", Alla Bozarth-Campbell (one of the first 12 women ordained by the Episcopal Church) says that change, both pleasant and dreadful, causes stress. And we all have a lot of stress in our lives. Last weekend, Pr. Susan Nagle gave the keynote address at the NJ Women of the ELCA convention. She told us that there are 365 citations in the Bible telling us not to be afraid. Wouldn't that make a wonderful calendar? (Take note, Hallmark!) God tells us that he is with us through it all -- in good times and bad, through all kinds of anxiety and pain. Remember the "Footprints" poem that was popular a few years ago? There were times when the writer said he could only see one set of footprints in the sand. "Where were you then?", he asks. "My child", comes the response, "when you saw only one set of footprints, that is when I was carrying you." We all have times when we need to give over our worries, or strain, to Jesus. Let us remember that Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the world. We will soon be entering the season of Advent, the time of promise and expectation and hope. We will sing the ancient hymn, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Emmanuel means, "God with us", the perfect theme for this time of strain and anxiety in our lives and in our world. May we remember this focus in our daily prayers. Dear God, help me to remember that you are always with me. Let me lay my cares on you, and look to you for strength in time of change and fear. "O come, O come, Emmanuel!" Amen
Devotion for the week of October 21, 2002 Submitted by Ken T. "Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalm 37 I recently heard a sermon on the topic of commitment. There were many salient points included in the pastor's comments about the challenge of accepting a commitment to serve the Lord. It is obvious that we are faced on a daily basis with making commitments of many different types. We make commitments to complete numerous tasks that are work related and/or part of daily living responsibilities. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to family, and to others to abide by our commitments. If we don't carry out these types of commitments, different levels of chaos will result. It is relatively easy to observe what happens when we fail to keep our secular commitments. Even though it might not be as easily observable, we need to examine more carefully what happens when we fail to keep our commitment to serve the Lord. Making a commitment in our church life certainly determines the well being and vitality of a congregation. As the body of Christ we depend on each other for strength and support. Think how people are negatively affected when even one person fails to follow through with his or her commitment. Perhaps the commitment is to complete a task or to provide support for some program or activity. When this commitment isn't accomplished, the effectiveness of a program is diminished. Perhaps someone will not have a need provided, or the Word will fail to reach an unchurched person, or a youth member will drift away from the church, or some aspect of the ministry of the church will be reduced or neglected. Why are commitments so important to each of us? First of all, our commitments are the best indicators we have of our values. No one can serve two masters -- (Matthew 6:24). We need to remember that the commitments we make reveal our values. Secondly, our commitments shape our character. When we commit to serving the Lord our character is being shaped. My parents certainly demonstrated this to me throughout their lives. Not only did their commitment guide the Christian life they lived, but their commitment was an important factor in shaping my character as I grew from infancy to adulthood. We need to remember that our commitments are influential in shaping the character of others. Finally, our commitments determine our future. This certainly highlights the importance of the commitments we make. Lord, we ask for the wisdom we need to make our commitments. We need your guidance in making commitments that will shape our character and provide comfort and assistance to others. We trust in You to help us keep our commitments. Amen.
Devotion for the week of October 28, 2002 Submitted by Melanie H. "And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect..." James 1:4 Consistency - that's what builds a business. That's what gives relationships with others stability and security. Consistency means being steady. You can count on it today and tomorrow. Consistency includes determination, patience, and strength even when the world around you is falling apart. The Word of God is our guide for this character quality: "Be prepared in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2); "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary" (Galatians 6:9); "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus is with us. He never changes, and His love for you is unchanging. How's the level of consistency in our lives? One last thought: A consistent witness for Christ also goes a long way in drawing others to Him. Pray that God may increase your love for doing His will in word and deed. Amen
Year 2002 Index

"Running in Faith" is an electronic devotional guide written by members of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Each week, writers use their personal interpretation of scripture to write an inspirational message they hope will help readers take their Sunday faith into weekday lives. Your comments are appreciated and, when related to a particular devotion, passed to the writer. We hope you will share these devotions with friends and coworkers. We are always happy to add new names to our e-mail list. Please contact us if you wish your name to be added.

Devotion for the week of October 7, 2002
Submitted by Michael S.

"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying, 'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said unto him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' "
Matthew 22:35-39

Whenever I hear these words of scripture, there is another quotation that comes to my mind, the fatherly advice of Polonius to his son in Hamlet, "to thine own self be true". The two quotes together bring a third saying to mind, "You must be selfish enough to take care of yourself in order to be able to fulfill your obligations and duties to others."

In combination I take the intuitive leap to understand that in order "love my neighbor as myself" I have to keep myself spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally together so that I can meet my obligations to others -- related to me or not. For instance, I stopped smoking 26 years ago at the behest of my children. I have been able to see my children married and bless me with 10 grandchildren! What a sense of wonder and gratitude I have for these blessings. Many other things have changed in me and I am truly thankful for my experiences, too many and too personal to recount here. I invite you to consider these precepts and see how you have already been living by them.

Lord, thank You for having loved me enough to allow me to make mistakes and then understanding enough to change things inside and around me. Thank you for giving me the wisdom to make decisions and the strength to live by Your lessons. Grant me more opportunities to love others as I would love myself. Amen

Devotion for the week of October 14, 2002
Submitted by Rosemary S.

".. but we shall all be changed, in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye."
1st Corinthians 15:51-52

Each year, we hear those words when we listen to the beautiful music of Handel's Messiah.

It has been said, "The only one who really likes changes is a wet baby", yet all life consists of changes. Some are gradual -- we grow up, the kids grow up. Others, like a telephone call in the middle of the night, a downsizing of your company, or a heartbreaking diagnosis from a doctor, can be swift. Some changes are joyful, others are tragic. In her book, "Life is Hello, Life is Goodbye", Alla Bozarth-Campbell (one of the first 12 women ordained by the Episcopal Church) says that change, both pleasant and dreadful, causes stress. And we all have a lot of stress in our lives.

Last weekend, Pr. Susan Nagle gave the keynote address at the NJ Women of the ELCA convention. She told us that there are 365 citations in the Bible telling us not to be afraid. Wouldn't that make a wonderful calendar? (Take note, Hallmark!) God tells us that he is with us through it all -- in good times and bad, through all kinds of anxiety and pain. Remember the "Footprints" poem that was popular a few years ago? There were times when the writer said he could only see one set of footprints in the sand. "Where were you then?", he asks. "My child", comes the response, "when you saw only one set of footprints, that is when I was carrying you." We all have times when we need to give over our worries, or strain, to Jesus. Let us remember that Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the world.

We will soon be entering the season of Advent, the time of promise and expectation and hope. We will sing the ancient hymn, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Emmanuel means, "God with us", the perfect theme for this time of strain and anxiety in our lives and in our world. May we remember this focus in our daily prayers.

Dear God, help me to remember that you are always with me. Let me lay my cares on you, and look to you for strength in time of change and fear. "O come, O come, Emmanuel!" Amen

Devotion for the week of October 21, 2002
Submitted by Ken T.

"Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it."
Psalm 37

I recently heard a sermon on the topic of commitment. There were many salient points included in the pastor's comments about the challenge of accepting a commitment to serve the Lord. It is obvious that we are faced on a daily basis with making commitments of many different types. We make commitments to complete numerous tasks that are work related and/or part of daily living responsibilities. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to family, and to others to abide by our commitments. If we don't carry out these types of commitments, different levels of chaos will result. It is relatively easy to observe what happens when we fail to keep our secular commitments. Even though it might not be as easily observable, we need to examine more carefully what happens when we fail to keep our commitment to serve the Lord.

Making a commitment in our church life certainly determines the well being and vitality of a congregation. As the body of Christ we depend on each other for strength and support. Think how people are negatively affected when even one person fails to follow through with his or her commitment. Perhaps the commitment is to complete a task or to provide support for some program or activity. When this commitment isn't accomplished, the effectiveness of a program is diminished. Perhaps someone will not have a need provided, or the Word will fail to reach an unchurched person, or a youth member will drift away from the church, or some aspect of the ministry of the church will be reduced or neglected.

Why are commitments so important to each of us? First of all, our commitments are the best indicators we have of our values. No one can serve two masters -- (Matthew 6:24). We need to remember that the commitments we make reveal our values. Secondly, our commitments shape our character. When we commit to serving the Lord our character is being shaped. My parents certainly demonstrated this to me throughout their lives. Not only did their commitment guide the Christian life they lived, but their commitment was an important factor in shaping my character as I grew from infancy to adulthood. We need to remember that our commitments are influential in shaping the character of others. Finally, our commitments determine our future. This certainly highlights the importance of the commitments we make.

Lord, we ask for the wisdom we need to make our commitments. We need your guidance in making commitments that will shape our character and provide comfort and assistance to others. We trust in You to help us keep our commitments. Amen.

Devotion for the week of October 28, 2002
Submitted by Melanie H.

"And let endurance have its perfect result,
that you may be perfect..."
James 1:4

Consistency - that's what builds a business. That's what gives relationships with others stability and security. Consistency means being steady. You can count on it today and tomorrow. Consistency includes determination, patience, and strength even when the world around you is falling apart.

The Word of God is our guide for this character quality: "Be prepared in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2); "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary" (Galatians 6:9); "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Jesus is with us. He never changes, and His love for you is unchanging. How's the level of consistency in our lives?

One last thought: A consistent witness for Christ also goes a long way in drawing others to Him.

Pray that God may increase your love
for doing His will in word and deed. Amen

Year 2002 Index