 |
 |
 |
Good Samaritan United Methodist Church 19624 Homestead Road, Cupertino, California 94087 - 408-253-0751 - goodsam.info |
||
|
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Matthew 1: 1 – 25 Dave Paulson
Matthew’s gospel shows Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s will as disclosed in the Old Testament. He begins with the words “An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
When I read the genealogy I thought back to a responsive reading that Doug Adams, who was on the faculty at the Pacific School of Religion, did in a class. He read through the names in the genealogy one at a time and held up cue cards to suggest a response to the name. The alternatives were a Cheer, a Boo, or a Huh? Depending on whether the person was portrayed as good, bad or not known. It made me recognize how we are all part of God’s plan. We might look at Judah and Tamar, Salmon and Rahab, or Boaz and Ruth and recognize that God works in ways that might surprise us.
Certainly, Joseph was surprised to find out that Mary was expecting a child by the Holy Spirit. That wasn’t part of his plan. Matthew reports that Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife.
I see over and over how God is able to use imperfect people and surprising situations to play a part in God’s plan. We need to listen for God’s leading and be willing to be used by God. I think of the words to a song:
If you can use anything, Lord you can use me
Take my hands Lord, and my feet
Touch my heart Lord, speak through me,
If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me.
Lord, Help us be open to your leading. We trust that you can use us even with our weakness and shortcomings. As we enter this season of Lent make us sensitive to your will in our lives and give us courage to follow your leading.
Amen
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Matthew 2:1-23 Helen Kung
I came into faith as an adult. It is not as easy for me to accept the Christmas story. I spent time appreciating the literary skills of the storyteller. I analyzed the similarities between Moses’ story and Herod’s killing of babies. I enjoyed different children’s stories about witnessing this event – the little drummer boy, the barn animals and the Babushka story. But I never had an anchor for my emotions for the story about the three kings, Herod’s killing, and the first Christmas gifts.
Before entering the church, I memorized a comment in “The Gift of Magi” by O. Henry in an easy reader, “being wise, the gifts presented by the magi to baby Jesus were no doubt wise…” After becoming a follower of Christ, one of my favorite gifts at Christmas time was a mini bottle of aroma therapy oil mixture wrapped with a golden ribbon – Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
In recent years, one of the favorite Christmas songs in the Chinese ministry worship is “a gift.”
“There is a gift, have you received it?
Eyes can not see it; your heart will know it.
This gift stands outside your heart,
only you can receive it others cannot help.
My dear friend, do you understand?
The best gift is the Son Lord Jesus Christ …
Through the emotions of the music, I understood the message of the Matthew 2 passage much better. The babe in the manger has come for my salvation. The true Christmas gift is for me, the baby Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord,
Thank you very much for your gift for all of us: you love us so much that you gave us your only son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving us the best gift we can ever imagine.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Matthew 3:1-17 Kimberly French
Have you ever been in a situation, whether big or small, and wondered if you were equipped to handle it? I know I have found myself in situations like that all the time. One good example would be writing this DEVOTIONAL.
The passage I was asked to read and reflect on was Matthew 3:1-17. In short, the passage speaks about John The Baptist, his works, and ultimately, him baptizing Jesus. Here is the challenge for me. This is a well-known passage, plus we just heard this a few weeks ago during a Sunday service. What do I do?
Of course, my first thought is, I wish Todd was writing, not me. Since that was not going to happen, what is my next choice? The next best thing, I ask him what his thoughts are on this. It is because of this conversation that I had with Todd that I am able to write this Devotional. So, what was it he said that inspired me?
He said something like, “John sees himself not being worthy, or qualified to be the one to baptize Jesus. Yet, we know that God wanted John to be the one. John had a gift for spreading the word and his job was baptizing the people. It is God who gives us the necessary tools to do what we need to do, when we need to do it— even if we don’t know it at the time.”
Of course, I told him how right he was, because that was exactly what God just did for me, at that moment. He gave me what I need, when I needed it. All I had to do was ask.
May God not only give you all that you need when you need them, but I pray that you will be able to recognize God’s love when it happens.
Yours, in Christ’s love,
Kimberly French
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Matthew 4: 1 – 11 Ginny Lycurgus
As I sit writing this devotion, it is only the third week of January and I am remembering why I dislike New Year’s resolutions: I never seem able to live up to them. This year is no different. I resolved to exercise regularly, but the rains came and it has been cold. So I have not been out walking the dog as often as I should. I resolved to be patient, but already I have found myself toe tapping and urging someone, everyone, to hurry up. It took precious little temptation to try one more cookie, to wait until the weather is better, to hurry through my day.
Jesus withstood temptation better than I do. He was tired, hungry, and cold from spending forty days in the wilderness. But those forty days gave him the time to order his life and his priorities. I like to believe he spent those days communing with God, meditating and building up stores of inner strength to carry him through the trials that were to come. The years of his ministry would be years of exhilaration and disappointment, but he would be ready to face both situations without yielding to temptation.
The real reason Jesus withstood temptation is that he was as one with God. He had taken the time to remove himself from the world’s demands, to train his mind and heart on God. And that is what I need to do to face my trials and temptations. Looking out the window, I see dark clouds gathering and it looks like rain. There could not be a better time to snap on the dog’s leash, go out into the cool air, and refocus my mind and heart for the real storms of life.
Gracious God,
Thank you for the example you sent us in Jesus. May we remember that you are there to help us when times are rough, when we are faced with decisions, when we are tempted. Help us to make time to search out your presence in our lives. Amen
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Matthew 4:12-25 Jay Stanton
Oh yes! It is so great to sit and ponder what Jesus started so long ago!
We start by leaving our home and “breaking out” of our normal everyday lives.
It’s time to start a Ministry in Galilee.
It’s time to fulfill the Prophecy of Isaiah.
For the People who sat in darkness, the light has dawned anew. Our lives today are indeed hampered by the darkness. Everywhere you turn it creeps into our daily lives, sometimes all at once, but most of the time, it seems to be a gradual relentless bombardment.
Remember the light! Remember it’s always so close that you can “breakout” and move into it. It feels so good!
You are now bathed in the “Light of our Lord” Jesus Christ.
Feel the warmth, feel the love, it is freely given and all are invited to share in the light.
So now you are warm from the inside out. As you walk along you have a certain bounce in your step. The world is so beautiful and you are so fortunate to be alive and it is “well with your soul”. You come to the water, you see the people, casting out their nets and you say, “Come, Follow me!” The glow from your spirit lifts their hearts and they drop their nets and come. Today, we step out into our communities, our country and the world and we have the same challenge. To ask the question. To show the light. To be a living example of what being a Christian is all about.
“So Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom.” Mat 4:23
So must we all, as we move throughout our lives.
Whether it’s at the waters edge or in our own homes. The opportunities are endless for sharing the love and light. God Bless