For Such A Time As This 041420 – Randy Derck
To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,
For a long time, I have been a Gethsemane Christian, captivated by the example of Jesus’ obedience: “Not my will, but thine.” But I have also become an Easter Christian, captivated by the promise of resurrection, life and new life – the Good News! No matter what cross you bear, may you be strengthened by the hopes and blessed by the realities of resurrection, life and new life.
Let us keep in prayer:
Let’s Do the Wave Video Extended Invitation:
If you missed getting your wave into this video and want it added, please contact Bethany at bhoffer@palmyracob.org or call/text 937-417-5938 to set something up! If you do not live in Palmyra or are unable to come outside, we would love for you to send us a video clip/selfie/photo of you and your family waving to us! Send it to Bethany’s email address listed above. We will release an updated video in about two weeks. Join the fun!!
Reminder:
If you know someone who does not have email, please call them and offer to read this email to them and share this devotion with them. And, check in on how they are doing.
Today’s Devotion:
I am thankful to Randy Derck for providing today’s devotion. Randy offers good counsel for these times of waiting. If you wish to respond to Randy directly, his email address is ran6jb@gmail.com.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture – Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Thoughts:
I will admit to you that I don’t particularly like to wait. I grew up hearing folks say things like, “Don’t just stand there, do something,” or perhaps another favorite, “Let’s get this show on the road.” I am a creature of my culture where the hands on the clock drive us to do more, do it faster, and move on. As a result, words like “wait,” or “shelter in place” are hard concepts to wrap our heads around, and yet here we are faced with an adversary who does not comply with our concept of time management. It moves at its own pace and is encouraged by our temptation to move on, to get back to business as usual.
Waiting has never come easy though, has it? The Israelites waited hundreds of years to be delivered from bondage. Then they endured forty more years roaming in the wilderness, waiting to cross over into the promised land. Later, their prodigy spent many years in captivity awaiting deliverance, and a return to their homeland. Many centuries later God’s people waited for the promised Messiah. And when He arrived, his own disciples, anxious to move the messianic process along, were encouraged to slow down, and wait, to follow Jesus into the mountains for a time of spiritual refreshing, a time to learn and grow at the Master’s feet. “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Prayer:
As we prayerfully “wait,” while “sheltering in place,” teach us dear Lord. Help us to grow in wisdom and knowledge as we experience You, as we experience your love and your almighty power. Help us in this slowed down time in our lives to experience the beauty around us. Make us more caring and compassionate towards others in our church, our community, our country, and the larger world around us. Help us to more clearly see others through Your eyes and fill us with your compassion for all creation.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of time spent with you, with our immediate loved ones, and with the beauty of creation around us. Even in the midst of these uncertain times, may this be a mountain top experience as we await your deliverance for all of your children, both here and around the world. Amen.
For a long time, I have been a Gethsemane Christian, captivated by the example of Jesus’ obedience: “Not my will, but thine.” But I have also become an Easter Christian, captivated by the promise of resurrection, life and new life – the Good News! No matter what cross you bear, may you be strengthened by the hopes and blessed by the realities of resurrection, life and new life.
Let us keep in prayer:
- Ruth Ann Heisey (and family) as they grieve the death of her brother, Ed Newhouse, this past Saturday.
Let’s Do the Wave Video Extended Invitation:
If you missed getting your wave into this video and want it added, please contact Bethany at bhoffer@palmyracob.org or call/text 937-417-5938 to set something up! If you do not live in Palmyra or are unable to come outside, we would love for you to send us a video clip/selfie/photo of you and your family waving to us! Send it to Bethany’s email address listed above. We will release an updated video in about two weeks. Join the fun!!
Reminder:
If you know someone who does not have email, please call them and offer to read this email to them and share this devotion with them. And, check in on how they are doing.
Today’s Devotion:
I am thankful to Randy Derck for providing today’s devotion. Randy offers good counsel for these times of waiting. If you wish to respond to Randy directly, his email address is ran6jb@gmail.com.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture – Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Thoughts:
I will admit to you that I don’t particularly like to wait. I grew up hearing folks say things like, “Don’t just stand there, do something,” or perhaps another favorite, “Let’s get this show on the road.” I am a creature of my culture where the hands on the clock drive us to do more, do it faster, and move on. As a result, words like “wait,” or “shelter in place” are hard concepts to wrap our heads around, and yet here we are faced with an adversary who does not comply with our concept of time management. It moves at its own pace and is encouraged by our temptation to move on, to get back to business as usual.
Waiting has never come easy though, has it? The Israelites waited hundreds of years to be delivered from bondage. Then they endured forty more years roaming in the wilderness, waiting to cross over into the promised land. Later, their prodigy spent many years in captivity awaiting deliverance, and a return to their homeland. Many centuries later God’s people waited for the promised Messiah. And when He arrived, his own disciples, anxious to move the messianic process along, were encouraged to slow down, and wait, to follow Jesus into the mountains for a time of spiritual refreshing, a time to learn and grow at the Master’s feet. “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Prayer:
As we prayerfully “wait,” while “sheltering in place,” teach us dear Lord. Help us to grow in wisdom and knowledge as we experience You, as we experience your love and your almighty power. Help us in this slowed down time in our lives to experience the beauty around us. Make us more caring and compassionate towards others in our church, our community, our country, and the larger world around us. Help us to more clearly see others through Your eyes and fill us with your compassion for all creation.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of time spent with you, with our immediate loved ones, and with the beauty of creation around us. Even in the midst of these uncertain times, may this be a mountain top experience as we await your deliverance for all of your children, both here and around the world. Amen.
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