God's Favorite Instrument

I have always loved music.     Though I have a banjo that I play now and then, the instrument that through the years that I have been most proficient in using is my voice.   I have sang in church choirs, college choirs, and even a gospel quartet and enjoy listening to most types of music.    While I was most proficient in using the instrument of my voice, my brother Tony was most proficient in playing the guitar.   He will always be my favorite guitar picker.

My grandchildren, Madelyn and Eloise, are learning to play musical instruments.   They go to a school in Houston, Texas where music is a big part of the school curriculum.  Madelyn is learning to play the cello while Eloise is  learning to play the violin.   Because of the distance between us, most of the time I only hear them play through videos that are sent my way.   Learning to read music and to play music is a valuable skill in many ways.   I look forward to seeing whether these  musical instruments  are  a short term interest or a long term passion for the grandchildren. 

There are all sorts of instruments that can be used to praise the living and loving God.   The longest book in the Bible is the book of Psalms, and the last Psalm, Psalm 150, encourages us to praise God with instruments like the harp, lyre, trumpet, and the like.    I got to thinking the other day about what is God’s favorite instrument, and the answer was pretty easy to determine:  YOU AND I.     As Christmas Day approaches, I find myself thinking of the story of the birth of Jesus.   A young woman named Mary was willing to be God’s instrument and vessel for Jesus to be born in the world despite the scandal she must have endured with bearing a child out of wedlock.    Human beings are God’s favorite instrument.   God wants to use us to glorify His name.   That cello that Madelyn plays does not have a choice about whether it is played or not, and neither does that violin that Eloise plays.   But you know what?   We have a choice of whether we will be an instrument for the glory of God.   Are you a willing instrument?  Have a joy-filled week. I close below  with the prayer of St. Francis written years ago. -  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Lord make Me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness joy.
O Divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved. as to love
For it's in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born...
To eternal life.   Amen

Country Music and the Christmas Story

 

As I have gotten older, I have grown in my appreciation for country music.   Such was not the case when I was a teenager.   Why, country music by the likes of George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and the rest was music my parents liked and I wanted to listen to that cool rock and roll.   In Ken Burns documentary on “Country Music”, someone says that country music is “3 chords and the truth”.     One of the things I like about country music is that it tells the truth about people I see in the grocery store, Walmart, or in the pew.   Country music tells the story about ordinary people and ordinary events.  

During these days, I find myself lingering  more than usual at the stories from Matthew and Luke of the birth of Jesus.   There is a part of me that sees the birth stories of Jesus  akin to some  of my favorite country songs in that we hear of ordinary people facing  ordinary events.   As I read the story of young Mary hearing that she will conceive a child,  I think of  some teenage girls in congregations  past who heard the same news.   As I hear the news of Zechariah and Elizabeth hearing they will bear a child though they are advanced in years,   I think of childless couples who I have known who yearned to have their own child.   As I read of wise men from the East following a star to Bethlehem,  I think of immigrants who I have met through the years who came to this country yearning for a better life and a brighter future.  

 In the course of common ordinary events in the lives of people like you and I, we hear the story that God bursts on the scene.  Emmanuel, God is with us.     God cries out in the whimpers of a small, frail child.  In the hills and hollers and rural hamlets of 2021, people live and move and have their being in these pandemic days some uttering to God or to themselves, “How long, Lord?  How long?”    In the secret places of their hearts and in the ordinariness of their lives, may they find comfort in the presence of an  extraordinary God who still bursts upon the scene in the most common of ways.   Grace and peace,      Randy L. Wall

           

 

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PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for  what you have done and are doing in my life.   Give me wisdom and courage, Lord, to share that story with others;   through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Name on the Offering Envelope

 

I remember a time many years ago when our church financial secretary was trying to make out the name on an offering envelope as she recorded the weekly contributions.  A young child in our congregation had done their best to print their first name on the envelope.

            It makes no difference how much that child put in that envelope.  Those monies in that offering envelope say something about that child and what they believe.   That child had learned through his parents and others that those who love Jesus and follow Jesus give their gifts to the Lord through His Church and that his gifts (though small) were important.   That child could have taken that money and used it to buy ice cream or bubble gum.  However, he chose to use that money to give to the Lord because that was important to Him.   That child might not be able to stand before the congregation and preach a sermon or even read the scripture lesson, but he could participate in the life and worship of the church by giving his offerings.

            In Psalm 116:12, we read the Psalmist ask, “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?”   What a good question most anytime.     A young child knew what he could do.  He could give his gifts to the Lord as he was able.  Let us go and do likewise. – Pastor Randy Wall

 

 

·Previous Book:Go to Job

·Previous Chapter : Go to Psalm 62

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·Next Book:Go to Proverbs

·Listen to this passage : Psalm 63

·View commentary related to this passage

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for all that you have done for me.  Help me, Lord, to show you my gratitude and thanksgiving for all your blessings by offering the gift of myself and my monies to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Remembering the Saints

 

            In Hebrews 11, we find a long litany of names of  people from the Old Testament.   Some of the names are well known like Abraham and some of the names are lesser known like Rahab.    In the aftermath of Pastor Appreciation  Month in October and All Saints Day on November 1,  I have been thinking of some of the pastors who have been special in my own life and journey.  In the letters of Paul, we find several  occasions where he refers to the people in the churches as “saints”.     Today, some see a saint as a person who lived a life that was perfect without sin and/or lived a life where they performed miracles.     Paul, however, has a different way of looking at saints for he sees them not so much as perfect people without blemish as people who live in the holiness of God.   

            I want to share with you a list of “saintly” pastors who have been special in my own life.   Some of them you may know or have heard of, and others may be unknown to you.  Some ar living and some have gone on to glory.    Like myself, each of them were sinners in need of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Like Hebrews 11, they are heroes to me and in my hall of fame.    I list them not  in rank of importance and as they come to mind:

Wayne Fouts, my pastor when I was a boy, who taught me one day at Vacation Bible School when he broke up a fight that sometimes  pastor have the difficult job of being peace-makers.

Wayne Wegwart, my pastor when I was a youth, who baptized me and told me that Jesus loved me and died for me. 

Lawrence Bridges, my pastor when I was in college, that showed me by his example that pastors always need to be learning and growing.

Lorenzo Plyler, United Methodist pastor and college professor, who taught me as a college student how to think for myself.

H. Langill Watson, pastor and District Superintendent, who taught me through his example of the priestly function of pastors.

Paul Leeland, pastor and United Methodist Bishop, who taught me through his example of the importance of being a pastor to the people in the pew.

Richard C. Vaughan, pastor and my friend, who has taught me through the years in his example of  a passion to be a pastor. 

These are the name of 7 pastors whose saintly life has  and continues to inspire  me.   I give thanks to God for them, and encourage you to make your own list.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER

            O God,  I give thanks this day for the pastors and laity who are a part of the communion of saints and whose life has inspired me.   Help me to do the same for others; through Christ our Lord.   Amen.   give me eyes to see the strangers among us.  Give me the courage to go beyond my comfort zone and offer hospitality to them;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Right There on the Frozen Food Aisle

 

It happened on the frozen food aisle as I was trying to scurry through the  grocery store and pick up a few things before I hurried on to the rest of the day.  It started with a chance encounter with a lady I did  not know.   She stopped me and asked for my attention, and then she told me her story.   She told about children at home and a husband that was not there anymore… a divorce that  was near and needs that were great.   “I have enough to get these groceries in my shopping cart, and really need a few more things.   Can you help me get food for my family?”, she asked.  I paused and thought and prayed.   “God, I was not expecting this today and not on the frozen food aisle”, I thought and prayed. 

There are some places where you expect that service to Christ will be asked  of you--  as the offering plate passes by… as the pastor speaks with you about a need at the church….as the call goes out for someone to work  with the children or youth.  But in the grocery store?   That is not where you expect to encounter a mission moment.   Where-ever we are is not only the loving and living God, but the possibility and probability of serving God.   Do you see it?  Will you open your heart to it?  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            Loving God, around us are chances for us to be your hands, your feet, and your voice.  Give us eyes and hearts to see those chances  and to respond as your vessels;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Into Your Hands...

 

 

            Last month, at many places across our country we remembered  the terrorist attacks 20 years ago on September 11, 2001.  People gathered  at “Ground Zero” in New York City, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and in the Pennsylvania countryside to remember those who died there.  This anniversary brings back my memories of working in the Fall, 2001 at a “listening station” just blocks from the “twin towers” in New York City and at the “Ground Zero” morgue.  I spent my day hours of that week  in New York City listening to and praying with persons who spoke about the how the events of that day effected their lives.   I spent my evenings at “Ground Zero” at the morgue where I listened to the construction workers, NYPD officers, and FDNY officers tell their stories and I prayed over the bodies or body parts that were found.   I remember one evening when they brought in from the rubble a human hand that was found.  After it was examined by the medical examiner and a NYPD detective, I offered a prayer.  As I prayed, tears filled my eyes and emotion filled my voice as I thought about hand that perhaps had exchanged wedding vows at a church altar or held their child close.  I thought about the person that had used their hand to write a love letter or to  embrace a friend in a time of sorrow. 

            Psalms was the prayer book for the Israelite people.  Whatever may be your human experience, you will find it echoed in the Book of Psalms.   There are over 120 places in the Psalms where you will find the word “hand”.    Psalm 31:5 declares, “Into your hands I commit my spirit:  redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.”    As Jesus was dying on the cross, he remembered these words that were part of a prayer taught to Israelite children.   May the mighty hands of God hold close all who feel grief and sorrow about the events of this day.  May each of us seek to so place ourselves in God’s hands that a day like September 11, 2001 might never happen again in this country and in this world.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            Loving God, reach your everlasting arms around those who know loss and sadness.   We pray especially for those who lost their lives not just on September 11, but in these days.  Help us to join our hands and hearts to work for peace and justice in this world;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

She's Got a Job!

 

One of the blessing of being older is grandchildren.   Ann and I are blessed to have 8 children from 15 year old Lillian to 4 month old Emi.   In recent months, I have started sending and receiving text messages with our 15 year old grandchild, Lillian.   While I am not a common one to send text messages, I am grateful that it gives me a great way to communicate with Lillian.   A few months ago, she sent me a text message to tell me that she had a job taking care of the pets of people that live near her.   On a regular basis, she walks dogs for her neighbors or takes care of their cat while they are out of town.  Lillian loves animals and has even thought of becoming a veterinarian assistant in a few years. 

I share a little bit about Lillian not just because I am an unabashed doting grandparent, but because  of the fact that we celebrated Labor Day a few weeks ago.  The first Monday in September is an official federal holiday called Labor Day.   While many folks see it as the unofficial end of summer or a “long weekend” away from work, Labor Day is a day to recognize the American worker and how they contribute to the betterment of our community and to our way of life.  

I am at a point in life when I know I have more working days in my past than  in my future.  While I continue to work part- time, I certainly do not work as much as I have in the past.  Many of my peers have retired;  some still work part time and others do not work at all.  If you are among those who think you do not have a job, I have news for you:  GOD HAS A JOB FOR YOU!    That job is being a worker in His Kingdom.   I Corinthians 3:9 put it this way:

⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

God’s work is needed by young and old, and can be done wherever we are.  Lillian has a job, and so do you and I.  Now, lets get to work.   While the pay God offers may not be good for your bank account, the benefeits are out of this world!   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            O God, we rejoice that you are working still in our world today.  Work in us and through us through the power of your Holy Spirit;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen. 

Can You Loan Me $550.00?

 

My recent  50th high school reunion has prompted me to remember things in my past that I have long forgotten.   Among them is this story of 50 years ago:  I was the first one in my family to graduate from college.   My Dad attended Elon, but dropped out soon after my Mom and Dad were married.  My Mom finished high school through a GED, and none of my grandparents even attended college.   

I had looked forward to college.     It had always been a goal of mine.   I remember I started a college fund at First Federal Savings and Loan when I was around 12 years old though I never saved a lot of money.     Since I was beginning to believe that God was calling me toome a pastor,   I decided to go  to Methodist College in Fayetteville, NC.   It is now known as Methodist University.    

 College applications and college finances were a new venture not only for me, but also for my family. I completed the college applications and financial aid package.   I applied for some scholarships but with little good fortune.    A couple of weeks before I was  to head to college as an entering freshman,   we got the bill in the mail for college.   That bill brought sticker shock to my family.   My Mom had thought the tutition and fees were for a whole school year when it was actually for just one semester.  The bottom line was that the money was not there for me to  afford college.   I remember Mom crying as we sat at the dinner table one evening as she broke  the news.

At the time, I had only been a Christian for a matter of months.   I had started reading the Bible and praying.   I remember praying about college and my financial need.   I believed if God wanted me to be a pastor he would make a way.    I was working a summer job at the Burlington Industries pioneer plant and discovered that Burlington Industries had a college loan program.    The bad news is that the deadline to apply had passed.  I talked to my supervisor about it, and he encouraged me to still  apply.   In a few days,   I got  news that I had received the loan and was presented with the $550 I needed for college.   When college graduation came around, I happily went to Burlington Industries and paid that loan back with no interest because I was no glad that they had believed in me.   God does provide.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            O God, thank you that provide for all we need.  Thank you, God our Father;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

My High School Secret!

This year of 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of my graduation from high school.   The Walter M. Williams class of 1971 gathered for a reunion in August.   It was a time of hugs, laughter, and memories from high school years.    I have a secret from my high school days that I have been keeping, and I want to share it through this medium for myself, my family, and my classmates and it is this:  much of my high school days were difficult.  

 I did not apply myself scholastically very much in high school.   I could blame that fact on my teachers or the fact that I worked a part time job, but that was not the full reason.   I just did not try that hard and my grades showed it.   My grades in college and graduate school were much better that they were in high school.   The main reason why my grades were not very good was because of this secret.

 It was not my teachers or my classmates fault that my high school experience was difficult.   It was difficult for them for other reasons.   We were growing up and learning to discover who we were and who we wanted to be.   We were breaking free from our parents, and developing our own sense of autonomy.   We were also maneuvering issues like civil rights and school integration.   Have you ever seen the movie "Remember the Titans"?    That will give you some idea about what my high school classmates and I dealt with (black and white) as my high school was the first predominately white high school in the south with a black football coach, Jerome Evans.     While I was immersed in those challenges, my secret made my high school experience even more difficult. 

What was my secret that few knew and that I did not talk about?    The secret was that my father was an alcoholic and that impacted so much of my world.   Alcoholism led to my Dad losing a good job... a marital  separation... and a marital divorce.     Since my Dad did not pay child support,   I worked part time after school to help provide money instead of participating in high school clubs and athletic teams. Eventually, my Mom re-married and I did not adjust very well to having to a step-parent in my life.    I wish I had reached out to my classmates and to my teachers to share this and get support, but I did not know how at the time.   I share this not for your pity or sympathy, but so you might understand me and learn.  

In the Fall 1970, I discovered some good news that had been a secret to me:  that Jesus Christ loved me and gave His life that I might be whole and be holy.     While humans can let you down,   he has never let me down.  As I discovered the grace of God in Christ, a change begin to happen in me that most of my high school classmates never saw.   As I discovered the love and forgiveness in Christ,  I also began a journey on how to love and forgive my father and to love myself.  

 To any of my high school classmates reading this:   I wish I had had a better high school experience and I am sorry I that I could not and or would not share my secret with some of you.  I just did not know how.     Though you might not have changed my circumstance, your care and compassion would have changed my perspective.

 To any of you that work with children in school, church, and athletic teams:    let me encourage you to pay attention to those kids who simply need encouragement and a listening ear about something unrelated to reading, math, or the team.   Most of us never really know what someone in our office, our class, or  our neighborhood is  dealing with.   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            O God, there are so many people hurting around  me that I do not know about.  Give me your Spirit to reach out to them and let them know of my care and your care;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Have You Seen Charlie?

 

“Mister, have you seen my dog?”, the little boy asked me as I walked in the church yard to my car  a few months ago.   While I do not know the boy’s name, we had had several brief conversations in the past.   When I told him that I  did  not think I had seen the dog, I exclaimed,  “Tell me more about your dog”.    “Well, he is black and white, and he answers to the name of Charlie”, he said.  I assured him as we ended our conversation that I would be looking out and if I saw Charlie I would certainly let him know.   While Charlie might not mean much to you, he matters to that little boy.   Boys love their dogs, and dogs love their little boys.

We read in Luke 15 about a time that a man had a lost sheep.   Like that little boy wanted to find a dog named Charlie, so this man wanted to find this sheep.   It made no difference that this shepherd had 99 other sheep back in the fold.  That missing lost sheep was important to that man just like Charlie was important to that little boy.  Can’t you see that man peering across the countryside to see if he saw that sheep?   Can’t you hear that man stopping the people  he met along the road to see if they had seen that sheep and telling them about any special markings on that sheep?

Have you seen Charlie?   He matters to that little boy.     And you know what?   You matter to someone too.   Though on your worst days you might not believe it, everyday you are a valuable treasure to God.  Why, you are made in His image even though there have been times when you have not acted like it.   Have you wandered away from God?   Though there might be times you wonder where God is, He is not far away.   God has not gone anywhere.  Like a wandering sheep, perhaps your attention has been distracted as you thought there might be greener pastures out there.   God is as close as the next prayer for all the Charlies and the Charlenes out there.    And  you know what?   You will find Him saying, “Welcome home, my child.”  Have a joy-filled week.  --  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER:     O God,   I confess that there have been times I have wandered away from your way.  Thank you, God, for the fact that I matter to you and you are never far away;  through the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, I pray.   Amen. 

Putting in My Ten Cents!

 

 

If you travel to the beach in the Wilmington area, you probably will see the USS North Carolina along the highway just outside of town.   When I was in the first grade, the campaign began to try to bring the USS North Carolina back to the Tar Heel state instead of selling it for scrap metal.   As I recall, the late Hugh Morton was one of the leaders in the fund raising campaign.  I am certain that there were persons and companies that gave large sums of money to bring the USS North Carolina home.  However, I am also certain that there were  persons that gave small sums of money because  I was one of those persons.  If my memory is correct, I gave a grand total of ten cents to the USS North Carolina fund-raising campaign by collecting discarded soft drink bottles along the roadside and getting money for the bottles  at the store. 

            Deuteronomy 16: 17 says, “Every one shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you.”   Some can give large gifts of money, and others give small gifts of money.  What I know is if all of us will simply give as we are able, then God can take it and use it for His honor and his glory.       Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

            O God, we give thanks that the Lord Jesus gave the greatest gift he could give for our salvation- His very life.   Stir in our hearts that we might always give as we are able to the work of your Kingdom;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Keep Away from Our Church!

                                                                          

I was driving down the road several months ago when I received a phone call.   I took the call wondering if it was something important that needed my attention, and I was right.   I am not very good at doing well more than one thing at a time, so I pulled into a driveway leading to a local church  that was on my route home.  Once I had completed the call, I made a u-turn in the church parking lot and began heading down the road toward home.   About an hour later, I got a call from our local police department.   They asked if I was driving through that church parking lot earlier that day… gave me a description of my car… and asked me what I was doing there.   I  calmly explained to the officer that I had gotten a phone call and wanted to give my full attention to it.   The officer then shared with me that someone had gotten my license tag number and had called the police department reporting that a suspicious car and person was in the church parking lot.   The officer seemed satisfied with my explanation that I had no ill will against the church and we ended the conversation. 

The substance of that phone call has lingered with me perhaps because I pass by that church often as I make my way around our community.   I know for a fact that members of that church invite people to  attend that church regularly because I have received an invitation to attend from some of its members.   I can tell you that the chances of me visiting that church for any event now are probably remote because of that experience with a well-intentioned church member/citizen who was suspicious that I  was sitting in their parking lot for less than 5 minutes.    I certainly do not fault that local police officer who called as he was only doing his job for a concerned citizen, but I do feel hurt that someone would have eagerly wanted me to come into their church parking lot on Sunday morning  but was unhappy or suspicious that I was in their parking lot on a Saturday morning. 

One of the things that I hope Ann and I do when anyone comes to our home is that we greet them warmly and make them feel welcome.    I hope that we bother to take their coats in cold months… offer them a drink or snack… show them a place we can sit and chat…and truly make them feel like we are glad they are there.   On a Saturday morning a few months ago,  I was made to feel that I was not welcome in the parking lot of a local church much less in the building of a church.   Do you and I make people who we do not know welcome into our church building and into our Christian community?   If your church and community of faith is not growing, perhaps the problem is not just “those people” not coming to church but perhaps it is “those people” at the church.  Have  a joy-filled week-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, forgive us for the times we fail to show your love and care to others.   Help us to love one another in not only  what we say, but most of all in what we do;  through Christ our Lord.   Amen. 

Will Our Children Have Faith?

 

What a joy it is to me a grandparent:  to be with grandchildren… to witness their discovery of things in life that so often I take for granted… to  share with them about my life and to have them teach me stuff of life that I had forgotten or have never known.  

Recently, some of our grandchildren attended an event at their church that was not called Vacation Bible School, but it certainly sounded like Vacation Bible School as I knew it as a child.   For several days, our grandchildren went to their church and had fun with friends… enjoyed snacks and play time… and learned more about what it means to follow Jesus.   I was around them shortly after the event and asked them what they had been doing.   One told me how that she learned that God loves her no matter what and there is nothing that we can do that can stop God from loving her.   One of the other grandchildren told us that she had been reading the gospel of Matthew and she was learning a lot about Jesus and it was so fascinating.

As both pastor and grandparent, their experiences at this childrens event gladdened my heart and it reminded me of how important they are in the life of the church and the lives of children.   I can still remember how Vacation Bible School was in my  learning about Jesus as a child.   Though I cannot say that I gave my life to Christ at Vacation Bible School,  I can say that it was a foundation for that commitment to Christ that came a few years later.   I know from experience that it is often hard to recruit volunteers to work with children at events like Vacation Bible School.  Yet, those interactions with two of my grandchildren recently reminded me of how important it is to the spiritual health of children and of future generations.

Years ago when I was in seminary at Duke, one of the professors at Duke, John Westerhoff, wrote a book titled Will Our Children Have Faith.      Often times, their faith is formed not through what takes place in a church sanctuary, but  in a children or youth event like Vacation Bible School.   My grandchildren are worth the effort, and I believe the faith of your children and grandchildren are worth it too.  For their sake and for Christ’s sake, let us teach the children.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

    God, I thank you for the gift of children in my life and in my community.  Help me to tell them the stories of Jesus in word and deed that they might know you;  Through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Investing your Time

 

One thing is a book written by Geoff Woods.   If you have not read the book, I encourage to do so.     I had the chance to hear Geoff Woods speak (not in person, but via video) a few months ago.     One of the things Geoff said is that there is a difference in how we spend our time and how we invest our time.   

Time.   It is one of the few things in life that we can spend, but we cannot buy.     This “pandemic time” over the course of recent months has given me a lot of time to think.    As I have mourned the death of people that died related to COVID and the death of people who died from other causes, it has reminded me how precious are people in my life, the time with them, and how precious is the gift of time in general.      

How are you spending your time and how are you investing your time?    All of us may not have funds to invest monies in the stock market, but all of us have the gift of the time right now.   How will you invest your time on this day?     What one thing will be your focus and  your aim this day, this week, and in your life?     We do not get a “do-over” on this gift called life and even in this day.     Psalm 90: 4-6,12 puts it this way:  

⁴ A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.
⁵ Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
    they are like the new grass of the morning:
⁶ In the morning it springs up new,
    but by evening it is dry and withered.
¹² Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

How will you invest your time in the gift of this day?    Make it count for the glory of God.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

    God, I thank you for the gift of this day and for my life.   Lord, help me to use the gift of time wisely and do it all to honor and glorify you;  through Christ our Lord.   Amen. 

The Missing Leg

 

 

There was an interesting story in the newspaper and on the television news several years ago  about a fella named John Wood.  It seems that a man in Maiden, NC bought a BBQ smoker at a storage facility.  When the man looked inside the smoker, he found something wrapped in paper.  Inside the paper, the man discovered the leg of John Wood.  Reports say that Mr. Wood lost his leg in a 2004 plane crash and saved it because he wanted to be buried a full man.  

That “lost” part of the body is important to John Wood, and parts of the body are important in Christ’s Church.  In I Corinthians 12: 12-20, the apostle Paul compares the church to the human body:   12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.    You are important in the life and ministry of your church.  Without the involvement and ministry of all persons in the body of Christ, the ministry of the church is crippled.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER

    O Lord and God, I thank you for the gifts and graces you have given me as a part of the body of Christ, the church.  Help me, O Lord, to never think that I do not matter to you and do not matter in the ministry of my church;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.