Your COMPASS for the Journey on the PATH of Discipleship: April 10-16, 2011
Posted by Isaac Butterworth | Filed under Discipleship, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation
During Lent and the first few days of Eastertide, Your COMPASS will cite portions of 2011 LENTEN DEVOTIONS, a guide published by the Worship and Music Committee of First Presbyterian Church.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 YOUR SAT SCORE
Dr. Dan Garza recently preached a sermon on the SAT. Since I am a college and career counselor, I was immediately interested…. However, his SAT is a lot different from the SAT I am used to dealing with. Instead of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, his letters stand for SEE (what God sees), ACT (in the way God wants us to), TRUST (that God will guide you). His SAT really made me think. We place a lot of emphasis on the SAT for our young people…. In essence — the SAT score will guide a student’s future life. Do we ever think about what our spiritual SAT score is? How will that guide our life? …How is your SAT score? Does it need some improvement? ~ Kris Gossom
Tomorrow: THE RIDER
Friday, April 15, 2011 EVIDENCE
…One of the major tragedies of our time is that Christians and non-Christians are so often indistinguishable. What evidence do our lives give that we are Christians? Christian faith should produce in people inner peace, composure and stability. A vital faith conquers anxiety and fear. Are we different from others who have no hope….? …Are we more , more truthful, more pure in thought, word and deed? Are we superior in good will and social conscience? …The world watches our lives and the evidence of Christianity is a transformed person whose manner of life is worthy of the Gospel of Christ…. ~ Mrs. H. B. Patterson (written in 1946)
Tomorrow: YOUR SAT SCORE
Thursday, April 14, 2011 RELEASE FROM FEAR
Compass:
John 14:10-14 ‘If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.’
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Map:
Fear gripped my body as I watched my son’s labored breathing come to an abrupt halt. I was squeezing the end of the cold iron hospital bed so hard my knuckles were turning white…. My eyes frantically searched the faces of everyone in the room, looking for a smile of reassurance that my child would live…. Tears…filled the doctor’s eyes as he slowly shook his head. ‘God, my loving heavenly Father, please give me back my precious son.’ Then slowly, ever so slowly Blake began to breathe. My heart cried out, ‘Praise God! Praise God!’ and peace enveloped my being as it released my heart from fear.
Journey:
Prayer: Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy loving hand that reaches down and touches our lives just when we need it the most. Amen. ~ Mary Eda Laing (1978)
Tomorrow: EVIDENCE
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 TODAY
Compass:
Hebrews 12:2 ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….’
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Map:
…Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My presence.
Journey:
…We have an agenda for each day, and it is important for us to start out each day focusing on Him. ~ Sarah Young, Jesus Calling | submitted by Casondra Smith
Tomorrow: RELEASE FROM FEAR
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 CARRYING THE BURDENS OF OTHERS
Compass:
Galatians 6:2 ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Map:
…When your own burden is heaviest, you can always lighten a little some other burden. At the times when you cannot see God, there is still open to you this sacred possibility — to show God….
Journey:
Let this thought…stay with you: there may be times when you cannot find help, but there is no time when you cannot give help. ~ George S. Merriam / submitted by Michelle Schrandt
Tomorrow: TODAY
Monday, April 11, 2011 FIND A QUIET PLACE
Compass:
Matthew 14:23 ‘…He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray’
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone….
Map:
Twitter, texting, email, the internet, twenty-four hour news cycles on radio and television — it’s almost impossible to find a place to be alone with one’s own thoughts…. But the information you receive in a quiet place is more important than anything else you might hear. That’s because it comes from God and His Word…. ~ David Jeremiah
Journey:
If need be, unplug and turn off the distractions and meet alone with the Father who waits for you.
Tomorrow: CARRYING THE BURDENS OF OTHERS
Sunday, April 10, 2011 FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Compass:
Psalm 100 ‘For the LORD is good and his love endures forever….’
1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Map:
Here is your invitation to enter joyfully into God’s presence. Meditate on these words: joy, gladness, joyful songs, thanksgiving, praise. With these words in our hearts, how can we not come into His house and worship Him with our whole heart, mind, and strength?
Journey:
Prayer: Eternal God…, we pray that our worship is acceptable to You this day and all our days. Amen.
Tomorrow: FIND A QUIET PLACE
Photo Credit: Cherry Blossom Road by Okinawa Soba
