East Heights Prayer Blog

Devotion - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

East Heights Daily Devotional
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
                           
Raphael

The Archangel Raphael is associated with stories about healing. He is not referred to by name in the New Testament, but he is thought to be the angel who stirred the healing waters at the Pool Bethesda (near Jerusalem).

For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well…John 5:4

Devotion: As we enter this season of great joy, help to heal those of us who are struggling mentally or physically. Heal our hearts with love and fill the broken cracks in our soul with hope.

Devotions this week are written by:

Paula Plott Amos
 682-6518
www.ehumc.org

 

Devotion - Tuesday, November 29, 2011

East Heights Daily Devotional
Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Gabriel

Gabriel the Archangel is the celestial being who delivered the message of destiny for Mary. It was Gabriel who brought the good tiding of the birth of Jesus. He also foretold the birth of John the Baptist. Joan of Arc said that he was her guide and inspiration and appeared to her many times. His name means ‘God is my strength.’

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you.  Luke 1:28

Devotion: In this time of busy activities and expectations, my Gabriel remind me to once a day during Advent to be still, to quiet my mind and guide me to listen to the message God has for me. For God rejoices and is with me.

Devotions this week are written by:

Paula Plott Amos
 682-6518
www.ehumc.org

 

Devotion - Monday, November 28, 2011

East Heights Daily Devotional
Monday, November 28, 2011

Last June, I received an inspiration and it started me on a journey that lasted over four months. My research took me back to 5,000 BC to the present day. It was all about angels. And it has been a fascinating and absorbing subject. The next few days I will share some thoughts with you about angels and invite you to be a part of my journey and visit the East Transept room for a revealing and more detailed look at angels

Angels are the invisible nudge that pushes us down the right road. They may be a whisper in our ear to resist temptation. They may be a soft breeze that descends on us like a cape of protection. They are there with a helping hand when we stumble. They bring us messages from God and surround us with His Love. That is their job. Our job is to be open to their presence in our world.

Devotion: All day, all night, angels watchin’ over me, my Lord. All day, all night,
                 Angels watchin’ over me.

Devotions this week are written by:

Paula Plott Amos
 682-6518
www.ehumc.org

 

East Heights Daily Devotional

Friday, November 18, 2011

Thanksgiving is upon us this weekend while we worship!  We will be rejoicing in the extravagant generosity and love of God! Our celebrations will lead us to share in songs of praise and thankfulness. Our actions will lead to a time of commitment as we offer a pledge to God in ways we might live out our faithfulness and generosity in the New Year that will soon be upon us. 

The following scriptures will focus us this Sunday:

Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.
Luke 6:38, The Message

You are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for yourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that you may take hold of the life that really is life.
I Timothy 6:18-19

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7, NIV

You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9, The Message

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way…  2 Corinthians 9:11, The Message

What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.  Acts 20:24, The Message

Prayer:  God, teach us how to live a generous life.  Amen.

Please join us for a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner to support our East Heights youth!  Turkey dinner will be served immediately following CSN at 6:30 on Saturday, Nov. 19th and at noon on Sunday, Nov. 20th. Tickets are available at the door.
See you this weekend! 

Today’s devotion was written by:
Rev. Craig Hauschild, Senior Pastor

East Heights United Methodist Church
craig@ehumc.org
www.ehumc.org

East Heights Daily Devotional

Thursday, November 17, 2011

1 Timothy 6:17-19
¹⁷ As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, ¹⁹ thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
 

I love stories! One of my favorites, especially around this season of Fall, leading up to Thanksgiving, is the story of Stone Soup. You might recall there is a group of travelers coming through a small village; all they bring with them is a large pot hoping to find some within the town willing to give a little so they might fix a meal. Of course no one is willing so they go to a stream fill their giant pot with water and a stone and begin the cooking process. Before long people in the village become curious and decide they might add some to the pot until eventually all have contributed and a glorious feast is shared by all.

What a fantastic story! What a great representation of how if we take a little, or great deal, and give it back to God, how God can turn that little into a great feast! As I pray towards this commitment Sunday that is quickly approaching I too am curious about how my “little” might be able to do a “lot” when it comes to the larger pot, but then I think back to the generosity of God. I think to the numerous stories from the bible that speaks to God’s generosity, God turning the “little” and multiplying it to feed and nourish the thousands. I know that sometimes I too am skeptical, like the villagers in the story Stone Soup, but look what happened when they all came together and became a generous people. What would happen if we gave not simply out of obligation but as an expression of the same love and extreme generosity that God shows us on a daily basis?

Prayer:  Gracious God, as we approach this commitment Sunday help us live into that call for love and generosity that you show us each and every day. That we may not give simply out of obligation but out of your love. In the name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen!

Today’s devotion was written by:
Rev. Ross Baker, Associate Pastor

East Heights United Methodist Church
www.ehumc.org

 

East Heights Daily Devotional

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Matthew 25:44a
Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you. . .?’

Jesus in Blue Jeans
In recent weeks, I’ve heard news reports of both Princess Kate and Michelle Obama going shopping for household needs, dressed in jeans, sweatshirts, sunglasses and Nike’s.  They carry out errands unnoticed, blending in with other shoppers.  Only those individuals who are paying very close attention realize they are in the presence of England’s princess, or the first lady.

Similarly, Jesus’ parable of the Great Judgment in Matthew 25 teaches that Jesus himself is present among us, in “ordinary clothes”. . .as one who is hungry, thirsty, a stranger, sick or imprisoned.  The test of our claim to love God is in how we care for those in need all around.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, give us eyes of love to see you each day in the people around us - in friends and family, neighbors and strangers.  Help us to see you, and help us to serve.   Amen.

Today’s devotion is written by:
Janine Shumate

East Heights United Methodist Church
www.ehumc.org

East Heights Daily Devotional



Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Right Way to Use Money

This sermon is famous for Wesley’s three simple rules:  1. Earn all you can; 2. Save all you can; and 3. Give all you can.

There is no shame in making money.  In fact, Wesley earned a lot of money—one article states that in today’s money value, Wesley earned over $30,000,000 in his life from his books, articles, and inventions.  He died with only a handful of personal items, having given away virtually everything.

According to Wesley, when God created us and brought us into the world, he intended us to be stewards and managers and not owners of the financial resources entrusted to us—that our wealth was to be used in such a way as to be an acceptable offering to God through Jesus.

Wesley’s instructions are to use our “worldly goods” first to provide for our needs and the needs of our family; second if there is any money left over, then to do good to those who belong to our family in faith; and third, with what is left over, to do good to everyone.

Wesley was not an advocate of giving God a tenth or even a third or half of our wealth.  Wesley said to give God “everything you have, whether it is much or little, by spending it on yourself, your fellow Christians, and the rest of mankind, in that order, in such a way that when your life is over you may look back to see your trust from God faithfully discharged.”

We should all pray for the right way to use money.

Prayer:  Gracious and loving God, help us to always use Your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. May your Holy Spirit work through us and may our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Amen.

This  devotion was written by:
Ron Harnden

East Heights United Methodist Church
www.ehumc.org

 

East Heights Daily Devotional

Monday, November 14, 2011

 

WE ARE ALL GOD’S SHEPHERDS
Being a part of the Prayer Ministry Team we are asked to write some of the devotions during stewardship month. Each time this request comes I get a tightening in my stomach. I know it will be a struggle to come up with the words and the arrangement of them to be worthy of print. So I said a prayer asking God to give me the right words. His answer was “you already have them in My Word.” Just one example on the topic concerning shepherding is found in 1Peter 5: 2-4 (NIV.)

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—
not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;
not greedy for money, but eager to serve;  not lording it over
those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the
crown of glory that will never fade away.”

In this scripture Peter was talking to the elders and young men of the early church but I believe it speaks to all of us.  We can see in this scripture and from Christ’s model to us while he was here on earth what is required of us. Let us use our gifts, time, and talents to live as examples for others in our words and deeds. Will we be the good shepherd that God has called each of us to be within our church walls and into the world beyond?

Prayer:  Lord we pray for our hearts to be open to your guidance in being good shepherd. Help us to be your hands and feet to others in this chaotic world in which we live. Lord we need more of you visible in this world. Help us to show your love and light to others. Amen.

This devotion was written by:
Karen Spexarth

East Heights United Methodist Church
www.ehumc.org

 

East Heights Daily Devotional



Friday, November 11, 2011

The Spiritual Nature of Money

Prior to the offering at a men’s church event, a preacher said, “We never take collections at these events.  We do, however, receive an offering.”

The preacher was stating an important point about Christian stewardship.  Receiving an offering is quite different from fund raising.  Offerings are a spiritual matter in which we give ourselves to God’s causes.  Fund raising, on the other hand, is a financial matter in which we give our money to pay the bills for a good cause.

That is an important distinction.  At East Heights’ worship services each Sunday, we are not just taking a collection to pay the bills—though of course we do pay our obligations with your gifts.  When we give an offering, we give more than money—giving of money helps us to give a far more important gift to God: ourselves.

Prayer:  God, thank you for all of our blessings.  In these weeks of our stewardship campaign, guide me in making my Estimate of Giving decision for 2012.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Devotions this week are written by:

Ron Harnden
East Heights United Methodist Church
www.ehumc.org

 

East Heights Daily Devotional



Thursday, November 10, 2011

Time, Talents, Attendance, and Offerings

When someone joins a United Methodist Church, he or she pledges to serve the church with his or her time, talents, attendance, and offerings.  Sometimes we consider these as alternatives to select from—obviously not what is intended!

It is possible that some churches could say, “Money is not our thing!”  Such a church might as well declare that, “Sermons, worship, or prayer are not our thing.”  Financial stewardship is one of the fundamental aspects of our relationship with Christ—true discipleship does not exist without it.

In 2 Corinthians 9:11-13, Paul says that Christian stewardship consists of the faithful management of all that God gives us, in order that God may use our gifts to transform us, the givers, spiritually and to allow the church to reach out to others with Christ’s transforming love.  Our annual stewardship campaigns involve much more than fund-raising.  They help each of us grow spiritually.

We do not often increase our giving unless the church asks us to do so.  That is the purpose of our annual campaign, and it is the church’s obligation to reinforce the memberships’ understanding of the spiritual connection between money and God.  However, the decision to give, and what percentage of our income we elect to give, is a private decision we make in response to the question, “What percentage of our income do we feel God is asking you to give?”

Prayer:  Lord you have given me all I have and I am very thankful for the comfort of the lives of my family.  I pray for your guidance in considering what portion of my income or other financial resources I should give for the EHUMC 2012 Stewardship Campaign.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

Devotions this week are written by:

Ron Harnden
East Heights United Methodist Church
www.ehumc.org