East Heights Prayer Blog

Devotion - Friday, November 13, 2009

East Heights Daily Devotional
Friday, November 13, 2009

“Jesus loves me!  This I know, For the Bible tells me so; little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.”

As children, we all sang “Jesus Loves Me.”    As a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School, this is the song I used to call my little people to Bible Time.  As Aunt Becky, this is one of the many songs I taught my nephews and nieces.  Many years ago Mom found a fantastic book of songs that included a version of this song.  As I begin to re-learn this childhood classic, I was also introduced to a verse I had never heard. 
 “Jesus loves me!  He will stay,
   Close beside me all the way.
   He’s prepared a home for me,
  And some day His face I’ll see.”
How awesome it was for me to sing these words and to realize how true they are.

 As I have created each of these devotions for this week, I have had the joyful opportunity to take a walk down the musical memory lane of my family.  For generations my family has used music to create cherished family memories.   We have sung together at home, in the car, and in church.  We have sung together as a family of five, as a quartet, and as sisters.  We have used music to teach the grandchildren, to entertain each other, and to worship God.   We have used music to remember, to honor, and to praise.  How thankful and blessed I am to have the family I have and to have the ever present gift of music to share, with all.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for music.  For the glorious hymns, the lovely anthems, and the silly songs.   For shared traditions of both church and family.  Help all of us to remember to “make a joyful noise” on a daily basis.  In your son’s name,  Amen 

Devotions this week are written by:

Becky Hilts
Director of Children’s Ministries, East Heights United Methodist Church
Becky@ehumc.org / 682-6518
www.ehumc.org

Devotion - Thursday, November 12, 2009

East Heights Daily Devotional
Thursday, November 12, 2009

Isaiah 12:5  “Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.”

Singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” in my family was and still is as common as singing “Happy Birthday” in other families.  AND when you have a Mom who has directed this piece for many years, you are never sure which part she might sing.  Entrances, cut offs, final consonants, pronunciation are also part of the deal.   One of my favorite memories of my family singing together  happened in our very  own sanctuary.  It was an Easter Sunday and I had the rare experience of being able to worship in the congregation.  When we were invited to stand as a congregation while the choir sang the “Hallelujah Chorus”, we stood as a family and joined in, from memory, singing along.  Rick and Dad sang bass/baritone, Lisa sang alto, I sang soprano, and Mom sang whatever part she felt like at the moment.  This experience has led to lots of cherished laughter over the years.   What a blessing it is to have a family, especially a family who sings together.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for my family.  For the gift of music that has been passed down to all of us from our parents and grandparents.  Help me to never take for granted this joy.  Amen. 

Devotions this week are written by:

Becky Hilts
Director of Children’s Ministries, East Heights United Methodist Church
Becky@ehumc.org / 682-6518
www.ehumc.org

Devotion - Wednesday, November 11, 2009

East Heights Daily Devotional
Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Psalm 96:1 “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.” 

  Another requirement of being in my family was singing in a choir.  Whether it was a children’s choir, the youth choir, or the Chancel Choir, we were there.  Singing and smiling.  Wednesday’s and Sunday’s.  Sunny days, rainy days, or snowy days.   And of course rehearsals are a part of the deal.  During every one of Mom’s choir rehearsals, she would openly share her faith with her choir.  And she invited the members to share theirs through devotionals. 

Growing up, I always knew that my parents took time out of their busy schedules for a special time with God.  However, it wasn’t until I was in college that I discovered how my mom spent this time.  Mom’s devotional time is always first thing when she wakes up.  She stays in bed and prays for all of her family members and sings her favorite hymns.  One of her favorites has always been “Now Thank We All Our God.”  She chose this hymn to be sung at my Grandma Rickard’s funeral and has requested it for her own.  The words for the first verse are as follows:
 “Now thank we all our God, with heart and hand and voices,
  who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
  who from our mother’s arms has blessed us on our way
   with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”

Amen.

Devotions this week are written by:

Becky Hilts
Director of Children’s Ministries, East Heights United Methodist Church
Becky@ehumc.org / 682-6518
www.ehumc.org

Devotion - Tuesday, November 10, 2009

East Heights Daily Devotional
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. “

When asked to share stories of my dad and his love of music and how it filled his life I can’t forget the memories I have of him whistling.  Whenever you needed to find him in the warehouse at his office, all you had to do was stand in one of the wide aisles and listen.  Sooner or later you would hear him whistling as he looked for that certain product or as he walked between the two buildings.  Dad was music constantly in motion.   He loved to play the trumpet and did so often from his armchair in the master bedroom.  He was especially proud of his talent to “change” the words of hymns to fit his moods and to add the occasional “bird call” to any anthem that the Chancel Choir was singing.  This skill stayed in the choir room however.

When we were planning Dad’s funeral, Lisa chose the hymn “This is My Father’s World” as her choice for the congregation to sing.  As children, this was one of the first hymns we learned.   It was a hymn that our family sang for generations.   It wasn’t until Lisa, Rick, and I read the words of the hymn, that we realized how this hymn truly fit our dad and his view of his world.  My favorite verse quickly became verse three:
 “This is my Father’s world.  O let me ne’er forget
   That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
   This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?
   The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
   God reigns; let the earth be glad.”  

Heavenly Father, let me never forget who you are and how blessed I was to have a father, like my dad. 

Devotions this week are written by:

Becky Hilts
Director of Children’s Ministries, East Heights United Methodist Church
Becky@ehumc.org / 682-6518
www.ehumc.org

Devotion - Monday, November 9, 2009

East Heights Daily Devotional
Monday, November 9, 2009

Psalm 100:1-2 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Growing up in my family naturally meant you were expected to “make a joyful noise.”  Whether it was singing or playing an instrument, it was a given that if your last name was “Hilts” you were musical in so way, shape, or form.  Music was just a part of our everyday life.  And it still is.  The next generation of family musicians are being well represented and are definitely continuing the tradition of making a joyful noise. 

During my devotions this week, I am going to share with you some of my families favorite hymns or anthems and stories of how we all made joyful noises on a daily basis.

Prayer: Lord, today as I sit in silence writing these devotions; help me to remember the strong and present family traditions of making a joyful noise for you.  In your name, Amen.

Devotions this week are written by:

Becky Hilts
Director of Children’s Ministries, East Heights United Methodist Church
Becky@ehumc.org / 682-6518
www.ehumc.org