Your COMPASS for the Journey on the PATH of Discipleship: April 24-30, 2011
Posted by Isaac Butterworth | Filed under Discipleship, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation
Over the course of this week, Your COMPASS features portions of 2011 LENTEN DEVOTIONS, a guide published by the Worship and Music Committee of First Presbyterian Church, Wichita Falls, Texas. Contact the church office for a copy of the guide.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 ‘GOD IS TOO WISE TO BE MISTAKEN’
In the 1980s Babbie Mason and Eddie Carswell wrote the song, ‘Trust His Heart.’ The lyrics were based on a quote from the great nineteenth century preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Song lyric: ‘God is too wise to be mistaken, God is too good to be unkind. So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.’
Original quote: ‘God is too good to be unkind. He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart.’ Charles H. Spurgeon
Tomorrow: THE ‘ONE THING’
Friday, April 29, 2011 ‘GIVE WINGS TO OUR HEARTS’
Dear Father,
As jet planes lift us out of well-worn ruts and propel us to new climes and scenes,
so raise up our spirits to travel in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.
As great altitudes present fresh perspectives — the calm side of storm clouds, sunrise through desert dust —
so lead us occasionally to spiritual heights.
We confess to earthbound habits:
lazy attachment to routine work,
imprisonment within familiar patterns,
self-forgiveness through easy excuses.
Forgive us these faults. Give wings to our hearts, clarity to our minds, and a propelling devotion to our Lord. in whose name we pray. Amen.
~ Leslie C. Sayre, A Traveler’s Prayer Book
Tomorrow: ‘GOD IS TOO WISE TO BE MISTAKEN’
Thursday, April 28, 2011 ‘SUPPER AT EMMAUS’
In the narthex of First Presbyterian Church, there hangs a beautiful painting, ‘Supper at Emmaus.’ It was purchased in Italy and given to the church in the early 1970s by a faithful member of our congregation, Mr. Tom B. Medders. The artist was Jean François de Troy (1679-1752). The painting, of course, was inspired by the account in Luke 24:13-32.
Read the Scripture. See the painting. Reflect on the times and places Christ has revealed His presence to you. Seek to see His face wherever you are, on whatever ‘road to Emmaus’ you are traveling. May God bless you in your journey.
Tomorrow: ‘GIVE WINGS TO OUR HEARTS’
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
The hymn, ‘Behold, ‘Tis Eventide,’ served as yesterday’s entry. Written in the 1800s by M. Lowrie Hofford, the words find their inspiration in Luke 24:13-32. This is the account of two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who encountered the risen Lord but did not recognize him. They were so moved by this Stranger’s presence that ‘…they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”‘ Luke tells us that ‘he went in to stay with them’ and that, ‘when he was at table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him….’
Tomorrow: ‘SUPPER AT EMMAUS’
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 BEHOLD, ‘TIL EVENTIDE
Abide with me, ‘tis eventide! The day is past and gone.
The shadows of the evening fall; The night is coming on!
Within my heart a welcome Guest. Within my home abide;
O Savior, stay this night with me. Behold, ‘tis eventide.
Abide with me, ‘tis eventide! Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn. As I communed with Thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul, And kept me near Thy side;
O Savior, stay this night with me. Behold, ‘tis eventide.
Abide with me, ‘tis eventide! And lone will be the night,
If I cannot commune with Thee, Nor find in Thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear, Would in my home abide.
O Savior, stay this night with me. Behold, ‘tis eventide.
~ M. Lowrie Hofford
Tomorrow: THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
Monday, April 25, 2011 MONDAY AFTER EASTER
Then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! ~ 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57
Tomorrow: BEHOLD, ‘TIS EVENTIDE
Sunday, April 24, 2011 AN EASTER PRAYER
O You…who are the hope of the world, give us hope. Give us hope that beyond the worst the world can do there is such a best that not even the world can take it from us, hope that none whom you have loved is ever finally lost, not even to death. O You who died in loneliness and pain, suffer to die in us all that keeps us from you and from each other and from becoming as good and as brave as we are called to become. O You who rose again, …arise and live within us now, that we may be your body, that we may be your feet to walk into this world’s pain, your hands to heal, your heart to break, if need be, for love of the world. O Risen Christ, make Christs of all of us ~ ‘From Death to Life’ by Frederick Buechner
Tomorrow: MONDAY AFTER EASTER
Photo Credit: South Meadows by DCSL
