Church meeting Devotions: Refreshing Rains - Psalm 72

Psalm 72:6      He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the Earth.

I love it when it rains after I have mown the lawn. It makes me feel as though I have accomplished something worthwhile and the smell of the newly mown wet grass is refreshing to me. When I lived in Scotland and watched the farmers bring in the harvest, it was always wonderful to experience the rains that soon followed. They brought promises of a new set of seasons and the continuance of God’s blessing upon the rural community.

This psalm is about the changing of the seasons, from one king’s reign to another. It’s a coronation prayer for Solomon, as well as a prayerful plea that the blessings of God will continue upon the people and the land throughout this new monarchy. The mown field represents all that David had accomplished in the past. The refreshing rains are meant to symbolize communal blessings under Solomon’s reign for the future.

It’s also a good verse to remember when we each begin a new journey or phase in our lives. The past is behind us and we are given a fresh start to begin again. God’s grace, through Christ, supplies us with the encouragement, favor, and blessing that we need to rekindle our faith and hopes. The promises of God can be showered upon us and our spirits can be refreshed through Christ’s love in our lives.

So, if you are at the threshold of something new and feel a wee bit hesitant about what lies ahead, take this verse as your prayerful foundation of God’s guidance, support, and blessing. May He be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the Earth.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You fully know what we are currently experiencing. You know our anxieties about new starts and unfamiliar ways. Bless us with the presence of Your Holy Spirit in all of our new endeavors. In Your Holy Name, we faithfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s drawing of Edinburgh castle, Scotland as seen from the fountain in Princes Street gardens. You can view a larger version of the print at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4824459907_7bfe1993e9_b.jpg

Church meeting devotions: Restoring Hope - Psalm 71

Psalm 71:20    Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

This is one of those verses that makes the Book of Psalms such great scripture to read during troubled times. Each of us goes through bitter moments in our lives that make us question God. We languish in emotional wildernesses of sadness and regret, which causes us to wonder what life is all about.

During those morose moments, we turn to God to comfort our spirits and refresh our faith. We see in Christ’s suffering a God who is not distant and alienated from our troubles, but who is at the heart of our pain and anguish. He seeks to restore our lives through His love and lifts us up from the depths of our despair. We may temporarily lose our grasp of God, but He never loses His hold of us.

Perhaps you are experiencing a time of sadness or fear; maybe you are undergoing a very trying time. Hold on to hope and receive the blessings of this verse. Claim it as your prayer each day and allow God, through Christ, to restore balance and blessing, faith and favor to your life. Remember, you are precious in His sight and He wants His goodness and love to overflow in your heart and mind, your life and experiences. God will restore your life again; from the depths of the earth He will again bring you up.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, you alone fully know what goes on in our hearts and minds. You understand the burdens that we carry and You are aware of the heartbreaks in each of our lives. Allow Your Holy Spirit to come down among us and lift us up to God’s love. In Your Sacred Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Knoxville featuring the two city bridges in downtown Knoxville at dawn. You can see a larger version of the drawing at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4823079492_0bca604219_b.jpg

(John has prints available of this drawing. Contact him by email if you are interested in purchasing one. The cost for an 8x10 inch signed print with an 11x14 matte is only $20.)

Opening devotions: Me, Me, Me - Psalm 71

Psalm 71:2      Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me.

I love the Book of Psalms, but sometimes King David’s self-centered pleas are annoying. He says “Me, me, me” quite a lot and it makes me wonder what kind of a person he really was.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that David is one of the greatest heroes in the Bible, but quite often he made foolish and selfish choices that created major problems for himself, his people, and his family. Time and time again, David blamed his enemies and believed that they should be punished by God. He seemed to be in denial about his own portion of the blame and brazenly expected God to fix everything.

I am not perfect either, and I make selfish choices and foolish mistakes too. I hope, however, that I accept my culpability and seek God’s forgiveness first and my salvation second. The process is called repentance – an old-fashioned word, for sure – but one that I have constantly needed throughout my Christian journey.

Perhaps you are in the midst of a crisis, issue, or problem that you need God to fix. Maybe you’re overwhelmed with anxiety or regret and you feel emotionally paralyzed. As you come to God in prayer, ask Him initially to reveal your portion of blame and humbly seek His forgiveness. Perhaps after that experience, the next step to resolution won’t be as hard.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, forgive our self-centered and annoyingly narcissistic ways. Grant us the ability to see our weaknesses and faults, so that we may begin the process of contrition and repentance, and then seek resolution and completeness. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing of Mount Fujiyama in Japan. It’s on his ‘places to see” Bucket List. You can view a larger version of the print by clicking on the following link:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4820234972_2d0f5a10b0_b.jpg

Church meeting devotions: Testing the Spirit - Acts 13

Acts 13:2         While they were worshiping the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

I love this verse in the Bible because it records one of the few occasions that the Holy Spirit actually speaks. Normally when the Holy Spirit communicates with the apostles, the process is more of an inward spiritual experience. Here, we have direct contact and the communication is given through the spoken word.

I’ve never heard the Holy Spirit speak directly to me, but I have experienced a few occasions where I truly believe the Spirit’s presence was absolutely real and totally influential. Because those events have been few and far between, I tend to question people who constantly say that the Holy Spirit is always with them at meetings, in their churches, and throughout their lives. Maybe I’m wrong, but I personally get the feeling from the Book of Acts that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the apostles was a holy, sacred, and unmistakable occurrence.

For example, years ago I was at a house group prayer meeting in Scotland and the hosts were praying for a relative who was sick in hospital. The prayers grew more fervent and intense until the host dramatically declared that the Holy Spirit had told her that her father was going to be completely cured and sent home without any surgery. Some people in the group started weeping and began embracing one another, praising the Holy Spirit for mercy.

The very next day, the surgeons at the hospital amputated her father’s two legs. He spent months in hospital and eventually died. Was the Holy Spirit at the prayer meeting? Did the Holy Spirit plant a false hope in the heart of the hostess? I really doubt it. Instead of epiklesis (the sacred presence of the Holy Spirit), I believe that the prayer group experienced euphoria and deluded themselves.

I think I would like to truly hear the Holy Spirit speak to the church that I serve. That’s why I feel strongly moved to lead the congregation through a two year journey of the Book of Acts on Sunday mornings. To hear the Holy Spirit, the church needs to know what the Holy Spirit actually does. There is no greater book in the Bible than the Acts of the Apostles which can do this for the congregation. I personally call Acts “The Gospel of the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer:                        Holy Spirit, please speak to us and grant us the gift of Your guidance. Enable and empower us to be effective followers of Christ through Your bidding. Allow us the delight of being set apart by You to complete God’s work in our congregations and communities. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest Savannah series creations. It depicts the Forsyth Fountain at night. A larger version of the drawing can be viewed at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4806659093_c3956ec558_b.jpg

Church Meeting Devotions: Questioning God - Acts 9

Acts 9:13         "LORD," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.”

There are times when I would love to be like Paul, but in my heart I know that I’m more like Ananias. God tells him to go and heal Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor of the Early Church. Ananias balks at the very idea and even questions God’s command. He’s saying to God, “Are You sure about this? Perhaps You haven’t heard about this terrible man?”

That’s me all over - questioning God’s work and ways instead of listening to His voice and following His instructions. There have been many occasions in my life when God has presented me with new and difficult situations and I’ve ended up praying to God and expressing my concerns: “Are You sure about this? Will it work? Do You really think this person can do that?”

I’m certain that I’m not the only person or pastor who goes through this. Like Ananias, I eventually surrender to God’s will and trust in His wisdom. After all, God knows everything, so He must know what is right for Him, His Kingdom, and Christ’s Church.

Perhaps God is inviting You to a new opportunity, a different journey, or an untried spiritual path. Maybe like me, you question God and feel unsure. Pray and ponder over the possibilities. Seek Christ’s guidance and grace. If you truly do this and take time to think about it, God will show you His way. In the end, it’s His work in the world that’s important.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we often question Your ways and words. We are sometimes challenged by Your teaching because we know it will change our lives. Help us to accept the callings that You give us and lead us on the path that You have chosen for us. 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 today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is John’s latest Independence Day artwork. It’s called “Home of the Brave.” You can view a larger version of the image online at the following link:  http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4753108411_2f3ec14382_b.jpg

Church Staff Devotions: The Value of VBS - Acts 8:26-31

Acts 8:30-31    Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Some of the most important work in the church’s year is taking place this week. It’s our annual Vacation Bible School and this year’s theme is all about pirates, Paul and shipwrecks. The kids love the singing, story-telling, crafts and games, and our church is so blessed with many faithful volunteers.

Those volunteers are crucial to passing on our faith to the next generation. Their week-long commitment is a life-long investment in the spirits of our children. Years after the VBS program is over, some of the kids will remember their friends, families, and church workers enjoying the whole experience. Hopefully, it will keep them positively connected to God and the lessons that they learn will give them the godly guidance to help them make good decisions in their lives.

In today’s passage (Acts 8:26-31), the apostle Philip is urged by the Holy Spirit to walk alongside a fellow traveler. The man on horseback is reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah but he does not understand what is written. Philip has been placed there beside him to interpret the writings and tell the Ethiopian about Jesus. The consequences of this conversation will have a profound effect on the travelers and will introduce the Gospel to Africa.

As Christians, we are all called to share our faith and help other people understand who Jesus is. Philip did this for the Ethiopian; our VBS team is doing it for the children. The question we should all be asking ourselves today is this: where will the Spirit place me today to share Christ?

Prayer:                        Holy Spirit, thank You for the inspiration that You have given to Christ’s followers throughout the centuries. Thank You for the work of evangelists like Philip and faithful people like Vacation Bible School volunteers. May their ministries plant seeds of faith, which will bear much fruit in the generations to come. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest moonlight drawings of Maybole Castle in Scotland. If you would like to view a larger version online, please visit the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4735805847_8513427a20_b.jpg

Church Meeting Devotions: Hoots Mon! - Psalm 61

Psalm 60:4      I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. 

Things didn’t go according to plan at a wedding in Scotland yesterday. A tame owl had been specially trained to carry the wedding rings and land on a perch beside the outside altar. It was supposed to be a wonderfully synchronized event. However, the piper began playing just as the owl was signaled to fly. A scared lapwing shot out of the bushes and the owl chased its prey up into a tree. The lapwing escaped but the owl remained perched on a branch. The wedding rings were still attached to its legs!

As one of my Scottish friends wrote: what a hoot! Eventually the owl was coaxed down from the tree and the ceremony continued. If Robert Burns had been around, I guess he could have penned the immortal lines: “the best laid schemes of owls and pipers gang aft agley.”

When the psalmist wrote about taking refuge in the shelter of God’s wings, he wasn’t literally saying that God had wings. He was using a metaphor to describe his absolute confidence in God’s protection. In the midst of his personal troubles and crisis, he had the utmost faith in God’s guidance and deliverance. Even if all of the psalmist’s plans went haywire, he would be still be assured of God’s grace and love.

To me, this is what makes faith so important –it gives us a hope in God that He will not abandon us, and a love from God that can never be extinguished.

Prayer:                        Lord God, thank You for allowing us to take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Thank You for granting us unlimited grace and everlasting love. In the midst of our problems and worries, we constantly rely upon Your Presence and Guidance. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s drawing of Dunure Castle in the West of Scotland parish where he used to minister. You can view a larger version of the drawing at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4718989531_b55884b457_b.jpg