"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 May 5, 2003
Submitted by Michael S.

Recently, I came across a "Daily Survival Kit" for life that I want to share with you. It might not be new but I found it fun to search for and find the biblical references cited. It only took five minutes to check out all of them. I invite you to take the time to discover for yourselves that the bible really does have answers that apply even today, two thousand years later. The secret is in using the "reminders" in our daily lives.

"The Daily Survival Kit"

A Toothpick
To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
-- Matthew 7:1

A Rubberband
To remind you to be flexible; things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out.
-- Romans 8:28

A Band-Aid
To remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.
-- Colossians 3:12-14

A Pencil
To remind you to list your blessings every day.
-- Ephesians 1:3

An Eraser
To remind you that everyone makes mistakes and it's OK.
-- Genesis 50:15-21

Chewing Gum
To remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.
-- Philippians 4:13

A Mint
To remind you that you are worth a mint!
-- John 3:16-17

A Candy Kiss
To remind you that everyone needs a hug or a kiss everyday.
-- 1 John 4:7

A Tea Bag
To remind you to relax daily and to go over that list of blessings.
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Lord Jesus, let me face each day
ever mindful of the lessons to be found in Your words. Amen

Devotion for the week of May 15, 2003
Submitted by Pastor Dick H.

"I am the resurrection and the life," says the Lord; "he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."
     John 11: 25-26a

Reflection:
Life can begin again!                        The stone is rolled back.
                                                        The tomb is empty.

                              Christ is risen!
                                  He is risen indeed!

After crucifixion, resurrection...                                    Alleluia!
After Good Friday, Easter...
After death, life...

                              Jesus lives!
                                  He lives.
                                     He lives.

And, because he lives,                           Rising after dying -
We shall live also!                             Hoping after despairing -
                                                    Rejoicing after grieving -
                                                  Believing after doubting -

       ...from slavery into freedom
       ...from defeat into victory
       ...from darkness into light
       ...from despair into hope
       ...from doubt ;into belief
       ...from sadness into joy
       ...from death into life

                              Easter triumph
                                  Easter joy

Raised up                                      Death is put to death.
Word kept                               The beginning again can begin.
Promise fulfilled

                              Alleluia!
                                  Alleluia!
                                      Alleluia!

Almighty God, make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and grant that all who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may rise to newness of life. Amen

Devotion for the week of May 20, 2003
Submitted by Nancy E.

"They grope in the dark without light."
Job 12:25

Busy! Busy! Busy! Do you know anyone who doesn't think they are too busy? And, of course, nobody is really as busy as you. Right?

We all run around trying to do, fix, and solve things constantly. We schedule our lives around these events, sometimes reasonably and many times not. And, we frequently make unreasonable expectations for when others should do their things.

Then there are those overwhelming issues in the news that continually besiege us such as suicide bombings in Israel and Pakistan, threats of biological and nuclear warfare, terrorist attacks, child molesters, West Nile fever, SARS and AIDS. Typically we have no firsthand efforts in resolving things as big as these. But, we all want those who do to get busy and take care of these. Now!

Our lives are stressful! As we scurry around like ants, we certainly can identify with Job's description of people groping in the dark without a light.

During some recent reading, I found solace in a statement written by Edith Pargeter. In her book, "The Heaven Tree Trilogy", she writes: "We're all in the dark together. Wait until God please to clear the sky. You can, you have time."

Lord, as we begin another week, help us to slow down and wait your direction. Thank you for giving us the time to wait for you to clear away the darkness. Amen

Devotion for the week of May 25, 2003
Submitted by Pastor Dan W.

"In the first place, I ask that people make no reference to my name; let them call themselves Christians, not Lutherans. What is Luther? After all, the teaching is not mine [John 7:16]. Neither was I crucified for anyone [1 Cor. 1:13]. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3, would not allow the Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I-- poor stinking bag of maggots that I am -- come to have people call the children of Christ by my wretched name? Not so, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names and call ourselves Christians, after him whose teaching we have."
     Martin Luther-- 1522

Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear my children reporting at home about playground conversations with their elementary classmates regarding how they define or express their religious backgrounds. Labels are important for our own self-definition, but they oftentimes fall short of what they need to do. Of course, ultimately these reports from school come back to a basic question-- "What is the relationship between Lutheran and Christian?"

Some days I think Lutheran Christians need to reclaim this title "Lutheran" because I often feel our expression of the Lordïs church is more a best kept secret than a party-spirited rallying cry. Other days I become so enriched by the faith and commitment of our ecumenical church partners that I can do without the label "Lutheran" and settle in to simply "Christian." Many days I live -- sometimes comfortably and sometimes not so comfortably -- with the tension. I appreciate the plot of ground on which I stand. But I also know that all particular spots upon which we stand rest chiefly upon Christ or they become shaky and shifting.

Let us pray. . . Lord, we thank you for our particular experience of your church. We also thank you for the shared experiences of those from other corners of your kingdom. Help us to lift up together the name of Christ in all we say and do. Amen