Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 23, 2023
Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47
42 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
Good Morning; Give praise to God who reigns above!
It is interesting how you learn and discover beautiful and amazing things during times of challenge. Just over a year ago, I moved to share my ministry with the faithful folks of Madison County. I met many new people in my churches and in the community as I began to explore the area. As I settled into my new home and routine, I thought this was “good.”
I moved from the business of the holidays and prepared for the winter months. On January 25, I received a call that Rose Park UMC was on fire. That day will forever live in my memories. It was a horrific event, and the life of the Rose Park family was severely affected. No one expected this, nor wanted this, but happen it did. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. There was a brief moment of “now what” in those first hours and days, but one of the beautiful, amazing things that I discovered was the resilience and love in our family and surrounding community.
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."
When I saw the Christ candle standing tall on the altar, I did not doubt that Christ was with us, even in this moment of devastation. His Truth says this: He was there in the midst of it all.
One person could not overcome this tragedy on their own, but by the grace of God, our family, and community are working together with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit burning within us to reveal the glory of God. The unexpected gestures of kindness and generosity continue to come as we work toward restoring our building. Meanwhile, God uses this opportunity to help us grow in faith and maturity in Christ. God did not cause this tragedy, but God takes it and uses it so that we may blossom into the beings we are called to be.
God does not leave us sitting in our despair. God lifts us from the mucky pit of pain and sorrow and places our feet on solid ground so that we may move onward. In Christ alone, we are healed and restored.
There’s beauty and greatness behind every mark of darkness. The ashes are slowly falling away, they don’t stay forever, but God’s greatness and glory shine forever through every broken place and flaw we’ve struggled through. There's beauty ahead...straight out of ashes, brokenness, and shame. Christ redeems. Grace.
Healing God! Sometimes we sit in the ashes of our despair, but You are there waiting to lift us. In our darkness, You light our way so that we can see beauty. Thank you! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Through the community of believers, we can overcome all evil.
Rise and Be Blessed! Pastor Liz
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