Sabbath Psalms - Shadow Play

Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (NIV)

My two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter Ellie discovered her shadow recently and like any other child, she started playing games with it. She tried to run and catch it; she attempted to jump up and down on it; she even began talking to it as if it were another person. Her childlike innocence is a beautiful blessing to behold, and she even encouraged me to play games with my own shadow. I guess my neighbors thought I was being a silly old man with Ellie on my driveway, but her laughter and squeals of delight were wonderful, too.

I like today’s highlighted verse from Psalm 91 because of the comfort and assurance that resting in God’s shadow conveys. It makes me feel that God is mindful of all of us, joyfully watching over us like a parent or grandparent. I also feel, just like the psalmist before me, that there is a level of protection attached to God’s shadow which in today’s world, with its uncertain and chaotic ways, creates more confidence within me that no matter what is going on, God is always in control.

Perhaps you may be presently dealing with some uncertainty and anxiety in your own life. Maybe you’re fearful of the future and somewhat depressed by what we’re all dealing with these days. Perhaps you feel like giving up or are so worn down with worries about the world that your energy and focus is depleted. Please take time to rest in God’s shadow and receive it as a sanctuary or safe haven where you can renew your faith and refresh your weary soul.

Point to ponder: How overwhelmed am I with the world’s problems? Am I willing to let go of the things I cannot control and simply rest in God’s protective shadow?

Prayer:  Lord God, You see and know everything. You love our world and all its people, so help us to remember that we are Yours forever. Whenever we are fearful, we ask You to remain faithful; whenever we are wearied with our worries, renew us with Your love. In Your Holy Name and under Your constant Shadow, we live and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sabbath Psalms - Delight in The Lord

Psalm 37:4      Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

There's a scene in the movie "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," when the boy Edmund meets the White Witch for the first time in the land of Narnia. Because it's snowing, he's absolutely freezing, so the witch casts a spell and presents him with a cup of hot chocolate. She then asks him if he would like something to eat. "Could I have some Turkish delight?" he answers. The witch casts another spell and the sweets immediately appear.

I've always been fond of Turkish delights myself. Whenever I go back to Scotland, it's one of the first things that I buy. Fry's, the equivalent of Hershey's in Britain, make the most delicious chocolate covered Turkish delight you can ever imagine. As I'm typing this message, I'm beginning to long for some.

Delight is usually used to describe something that is delicate or luxurious. Even in the Bible, in the 37th Psalm, this is what it means. The old Hebrew word for delight is "a'nag", which means something that is delicate, pliable, and soft. In this context it means to bend to God's will, to conform to His requests, and to humbly accept His commands.

As we go through some critical times, perhaps we can all decide to delight in the Lord and choose to humbly serve Him, rather than give in to fear or despair. If so, then the effects, according to scripture, will be that our petitions and requests, our prayers and desires will be given to us, as we seek to please and delight in the Lord.

Point to ponder: What does God do that makes me delighted in Him?

Prayer: Lord God, reshape our lives and take us into Your hands. Humble our souls and remold our spirits, so that we may delightfully, cheerfully, and faithfully serve You all of our days. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Midweek Message - Finding the Light

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

Psalm 27 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It’s written by someone who is facing difficult circumstances, but instead of being overwhelmed by his current crisis, he confidently turns to God as the source of his well-being and strength. He calls God his light and salvation which means that although the psalmist is undergoing some dark moment in his life, God will be the One who safely leads him through it. Instead of being fearful, the writer remains faithful; rather than being afraid, he is confident about his future.

Even though the psalm was written about three thousand years ago, it still offers us hope today. As we go through this uncertain time, we can look to God for guidance and confidence. Those ancient words are just as true now as they were way back then, so when we read or pray them, they become living promises for each of us, to strengthen and sustain us through this critical moment in history. This is what makes the Bible relevant in our daily lives and is why reading and reflecting on the scriptures remains meaningful. God’s Word helps us to rely on His support and be encouraged in our time of need.

So, today, dear friends, please embrace and share this thought: The Lord is our light and our salvation—whom shall we fear? The Lord is the stronghold of our lives—of whom shall we be afraid?

Point to ponder: What is really worrying me at this moment in time? Am I willing to trust God with my concerns?

Let us pray: Thank You, Lord, for preserving the ancient Hebrew psalms over the centuries. Though they were faithfully written long ago, they still speak to our present situation, offering us encouragement and hope. In Christ’s Name, we confidently pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Quiet Times

Psalm 71:1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. (NIV)

               The older I get, the more I understand my need for introversion. The world has become a frenzied, noisy, and greedy place that I find difficult to embrace or accept at times. Instead, I cherish quiet places and people, solitary moments and tranquil times more than ever. I look forward to taking refuge in God’s cloister of closeness, either by sitting in my lounge reading, or resting on my bed while listening to classical music. Life doesn’t have to be hectic, filled with torturous timetables or burdened by trivial pursuits that consume my days. I seek God’s peace and look forward to His presence each day. I become a spiritual refugee in God’s arms; I rest my weary soul in the Lord.

               I know that I have responsibilities, tasks, and obligations to fulfill. I understand the need to work and the attention that my vocation requires. I am aware that leadership involves supporting and serving people in many different ways. I embrace and accept all of those important things, but there is a deeper part of me that longs to be alone with God, to quietly surrender my spirit into His hands, purposefully pondering on what my personal connection to Christ really involves and to think about what it will become in Eternity. I am not seeking to escape from the world; I’m just taking refuge in the Creator of the World which is what I’m truly meant to be. The Bible tells us that the peace of God surpasses our understanding, so I guess I’m trying to find and embrace that peace above all else.

               Perhaps you presently have a whole list of things to do, tasks to fulfill, and obligations to meet. I hope you succeed in accomplishing and completing all of them. However, may I suggest you add something else? Take time to be with God on your own. Find a quiet place and rest in the Lord’s presence. Seek refuge in God’s love and remain in His arms for a while. It will do you the world of good and be beneficial for your body, mind, heart, and soul. May God bless you this day with peace.

Point to ponder

Do I have a timetable for this weekend? Where can I allocate time to quietly be with God?

Prayer: Lord God, You created us to be and just not to do. Help us to cherish Your presence and to refresh our souls in Your quiet and abiding love. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Time to Pray

Mark 1:35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. (NRSV)

Let’s be honest, we often neglect taking time to pray, and instead give God quick requests about needing blessings for us, our families, and our plans. We've turned prayer into a brief spiritual interruption in our busy lives, sending the Lord urgent requests as if they were telepathic texts. Unfortunately, this isn't enough to build a strong relationship with our Creator. If we think we're too busy to pray, then as old preachers used to say: we're just too busy. 

Jesus was also extremely busy during His time on Earth; every day included teaching, healing, solving problems, and guiding His disciples. He likely had very little time to relax. However, despite constant demands and interruptions, He still made time to pray by deliberately rising early to be alone with God. Similarly, Martin Luther, the great Reformer of the Church, who also had a very busy schedule, was once asked how he found time to pray. He responded by saying: "I get up an hour earlier to pray before my work begins."

Perhaps, then, if we want to spend some quality time in prayer, offering God our thanks, requests, praises, and petitions, then we should also make time to pray in the earlier and quieter part of our day. And if we are truly concerned about our personal circumstances, national issues, and global situations, we should purposely set aside time to pray, and then quietly listen for God’s response.

Point to ponder: When do I make time to pray?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You taught us how to pray and why we should pray, but You also revealed to us when we should pray. Encourage and enable all of us to quietly make time to talk to You faithfully, fully, and effectively before our scheduled day begins. In Your Holy Name, we ask. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Never Ending Story - Acts 7:58

Acts 7:58 They dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

            I never knew my great-grandfather Andrew Stuart, but I heard some stories about him from my Dad. A hundred years ago in 1917, my great-grandfather was in the Royal Scots Guards who were fighting in the trenches of World War One. He was wounded a week before the Armistice was declared in November 1918. He lost an arm but he didn’t let it debilitate his life. He was born in 1875 and lived until 1955. By all accounts, he was a remarkable man and I would have liked to have personally met him.

            In November of this year, my first grandson is due to be born. I hope I have many stories to tell him about my family and our roots in Scotland. I also find it fascinating that if he lives into his mid-eighties, he will experience the beginning of the 22^nd century. That’s six generations covering four centuries – how amazing is that? Each time a life story ends, a new one begins.

            In the New Testament passage from Acts 7:54-60, we read about the sad ending of Stephen’s life, but we are also introduced to another significant life story – that of the young man named Saul. Christ’s work may have been completed for Stephen, but the ministry wasn’t over. Instead, it was being mysteriously transferred to an enemy of the Church called Saul. God’s story was continuing despite what may have been seen as a major setback by Christ’s followers. And the amazing thing is this – that very same story still goes on in our own lives today – person after person, follower after follower, generation after generation, and century after century until Christ’s Kingdom truly comes.

            Isn’t it wonderful to be a part of God’s never-ending story of salvation?

Point to ponder

Who helped me become a Christian? Have I passed on my faith to someone else?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your ministry is remarkable and we feel privileged to play a part in Your continuing mission. Encourage us to be a blessing of faith to someone else, especially among those of a different and future generation. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on this devotion, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest art nouveau drawings called “By Any Other Name.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click here: Rose.

Short devotions for meetings

September is usually when local churches begin their calendar year. Programs and projects, classes and congregational gatherings which have been set aside for summer, get back into their full swing. As the people of God gather for different events - classes, studies, dinners, team meetings, and boards, pastors and other church leaders are often requested to begin the events with a short devotional.

Over the years that I have served as a pastor, I have written hundreds of devotionals which are short and to the point. I've used them with the congregation I serve, as well as other meetings in other churches. years ago, I had to hand write or print out those devotions, however, with the advent of tablets and kindles, I can now easily carry devotions with me anywhere.

The two e-books that I have written for pastors and church leaders contain 60 devotions each - 120 devotions in total, which is enough to last for several years. They can also be used as discussion starters for any small groups. Each devotion contains a highlighted Bible verse, a short commentary, followed by a quick prayer. All of the devotions have been tried and tested at various functions and gatherings where I was a participant.

Because pastors and churches normally work on tight budgets, I've kept the price down to $1.99 each or the equivalent of 3 cents a devotion :) Those pastors who have purchased these books have enjoyed reading and using them. For your convenience, I have listed them below this post.

May God bless all of your work for the Lord. May all of your hopes and dreams be fulfilled.

God be with you.