Posts with the category “devotion”

Introduction To A New Series Of Devotions —  Pastor Paul Ponders Pandemic & Poetry     You'll forgive my amateurish alliteration <grin>.     I will be writing occasional devotions in the coming weeks / months as we live with the reality of COVID19.  You may know that the Hebrew word for "prophet" is actually best translated "poet."  I won't explain the series of translating events which led us to ...  Read More

(Lead me) irresistiblyTo ask that the Lord’s leading be irresistible is not to engage in the well-worn theological debates between Augustine and Pelagius, or Calvin and Arminius.  I leave such debates to theologians who punch above my weight-class.  Rather it is to ask that God lead us in paths so obviously virtuous that we are drawn naturally to the light and life offered.  The Gospel according t...  Read More

(Lead me) Pervasively,To ask that the Lord’s leading be pervasive is to ask that God be present in every aspect of our life.  Our work, our play, our home life, our worship, our civic responsibilities, and in our speech, both private and public.  It is asking that God permeate our very thoughts so that we more and more conform our minds to the mind of Christ.  This petition is echoed in the appeal...  Read More

Lead me, Lord, This opening petition is at the heart of a Pilgrim’s Prayer.  Christians yearn to have their lives be directed by the leading of God.  We join our voices with the cries of the Psalmists who persistently lift up this supplication before God — lead me!  [You find this phrase only in (but throughout) the Book of Psalms: Psalms 5:8;  25:5;  27:11;  31:3; 43:3;  61:2; 119:35;  139:10;  1...  Read More

Thoughts on the gift of Christian community in a time of social distancing.  Read More

Advent & Christmas Devotions 2019-2020   The daily devotions this year are written by pastor Paul.  He will use stanzas from the poetry used in hymns, carols, and other sacred music common to the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas as the starting place.  These will sometimes also be paired with scripture.  Many will be familiar to you and some will likely be new.     The devotions will be ...  Read More