Sunday Shorts: The Quiet Woman

Mark 5:27-28 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him, hidden by the crowd and touched his cloak, thinking to herself, "If I only touch his clothes, I will be healed."

            Over the many years that I have worked in ministry, I have seen many women sincerely serve God in their own quiet way. Some of them have worked behind the scenes preparing food for different social events; others have written cards or given flowers to folks who were experiencing illness, loneliness, or grief. I have also watched other women professionally minister to their called congregations, serving with love, enthusiasm, intelligence, and compassion, even in the face of gender discrimination which still can be found in some unenlightened churches. Their quiet endurance is something that I constantly admire, and I am grateful for the essential ministry of women which keeps Christ’s Church alive throughout the world.

            In today’s Gospel story (Mark 5:25-34), a wee quiet woman seeks Christ’s ministry of healing. She has suffered from a blood disease that has plagued her life for years. She has sought medical help and spent most of her resources trying to find a cure. When she hears about Jesus coming to her town, she knows within her heart that this will be her last opportunity of being healed

            Her illness, though, has left her without any helpers. She may even have felt excluded from the rest of the religious community because blood issues among women at that time were deemed to be unclean. Perhaps she doesn’t want to draw attention to herself in case someone recognizes her, so she quietly and timidly reaches out to touch Christ’s cloak as He is passing. She believes that whatever power He has can be instantly transferred to her without causing a scandal.

            Jesus, however, feels some of His divine power draining from Him, so He immediately stops and asked who touched Him. His disciples explain that many people in the crowd who were pushing and jostling with each other to get near Him, must have brushed against Him. But Christ knows what has really happened and the wee quiet woman, who has already been healed, is terrified of what could now occur. In her heart, she must have thought that Jesus would have rebuked her for stealing some of God’s power and so she kneels before Him, trembling.

            Christ then does something beautiful here. Instead of rebuking her, He commends her for being faithful and He even calls her “Daughter,” which meant that she was not only physically healed but that she was completely restored to God. For years, she had been on the outside of the faithful community; now, she was fully accepted back into God’s love.

            There are many women in the church who are faithfully serving Christ. They don’t look for any rewards, public praise, or congregational recognition. They just seek to serve Jesus quietly, efficiently, and effectively, empowered by His presence in their lives, and encouraging others by sharing God’s love which has helped them, healed them, and restored them.

Point to ponder: Who are the quiet women in my congregation? Am I grateful for their faith and service?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today we give You thanks for the quiet women in our churches whose support, compassion, and ministries sustain local congregations everywhere. Bless them for their devotion, leadership, and service which has kept our faith alive for centuries. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

Short Devotion: Issuing Orders

Matthew 8:8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. (NIV)

I’m currently reading a series of biographical books on Great American Generals. I’ve finished two books on Generals Patton and Grant and am now reading a book about General Eisenhower. All three of them were men of their time and called to give major leadership decisions that principally affected the outcome of the battles and wars they were facing. All three of them knew how important training and discipline were to keep their armies fighting for victory. Each of them knew the critical value of issuing clear and precise orders for their military strategies to succeed.

It seems to me that the centurion who approaches Jesus for help is also a like-minded soldier. He knows his place and understands what he precisely requires. He wants his faithful servant to be healed by Jesus. He knows that Christ has this power at His disposal, so he makes the request personally and fully believes that all Jesus has to do is to speak the word of command and his servant will be cured. It’s an incredible act of faith and even Christ is surprised by the centurion.

We are told in this Gospel that Jesus declared He had never encountered such faith, not even among His own people. The soldier submits to Christ’s authority and awaits His command. He is ready to carry out whatever orders Jesus gives; he is ready to believe all that Christ has to say.

For such faith, the ailing servant who is at home, is instantly healed when Jesus pronounces it. The centurion believes everything that Christ has spoken, so that when he returns to his house, he finds his faithful and beloved servant completely cured. It’s a remarkable event and it reminds us of Christ’s power and compassion.

Wherever we are today and whatever we are facing, let’s approach Jesus with the same confidence about His power and compassion. Let’s take time to ask Him for help and seek His blessing. Let us be soldiers and servants of Christ who faithfully follow Him.

Point to ponder: What help do I require from Jesus today? Am I willing to approach Him faithfully and humbly with my request?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our Commander-in-Chief and King of this world. Help us to serve You faithfully and humbly seek Your guidance. Enable us to follow Your orders and to spread Your Gospel with faith, hope, and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired Scottish pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

Short devotion: Turning Point - Acts 10:28

 

Acts 10:28 And Peter said to them, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.” (NIV)

 It was a turning point in Peter’s ministry. He thought that his mission for Christ was to be narrowly focused on his own people, but God showed him dramatically in a vision that the Gospel Peter was preaching was for everyone. It was a remarkable event in Peter’s life, so when folks approached him on behalf of an outsider – Cornelius – the Big Fisherman knew that God was calling him to bring Christ’s message of salvation and grace to those who were least like him. As Peter confessed at that time, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.”

 In our current divided and fragmented society, it’s very easy to think of others who have different opinions, ideas, and lifestyles as being subhuman, wicked, and unworthy of our prayers, compassion, or care. It’s far easier to put people in biased boxes so that we can ignore them completely. Giving them labels allows us discount their situations and disregard their grievances. We can even force them to live in ghettoes or lock them up in cages in order to get rid of the annoyance of having to deal with their problems. However, in doing that we set aside the Gospel of grace and disrespect what God has shown – that we should not call anyone profane or unclean.

 On Wednesday nights, our wee church is actively attempting to reach a turning point with our BridgeBuilders program. We want to learn from others what damage has been done to them by racism and prejudice, biased systems and manipulation. The discussions we are having are not easy to hear, but the only way to bridge the gaps that we have created or allowed is to actively listen to what people of color, creed, or orientation have to say. By doing this, we hope to reach a point where we will call no one profane or unclean. We will see them as the Lord does: children of God in need of love and grace.

 Point to ponder: Who am I prejudiced against? How does God see them?

 Prayer: Lord Jesus, being a Christian is never easy because You challenge us on so many different levels. We justify our biased ways and validate our judgment of others. Forgive us for being morally profane and spiritually unclean. Heal us of our blindness and open our hearts to embrace all of God’s children. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to learn more about our Bridgebuilders program, please visit our website for more details at www.erinpres.org.

 Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, just click this link: A New Earth.

October 20 devotion - Finding the Light

Matthew 4:16   “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

When I first became a minister, I worked for a while in an ophthalmic ward as its part-time chaplain. All the patients in it were recovering from eye surgery. Some of them needed implants, some suffered from glaucoma, and still others had been involved in car accidents which meant that the surgeons had to patiently pick out small fragments of glass and metal from their eyes. Most of the time, the surgeries were successful. Some patients had to undergo several different operations before their eye ailments were cured. Sadly, a small number of people each year remained blind. Dealing with those patients was amongst the saddest pastoral experiences I ever had.

For the rest of the patients, recovery took several days. They were gradually brought into the light so that their eyes would not be permanently damaged by the sudden brightness of daylight. I can remember that large wooden shutters were placed over each window in the ward. The merest ray of sunshine, if prematurely exposed to the patients, could ruin their eyes forever.

The best experiences in the ward were those great days when a patient was wheeled out into the courtyard in full sunlight. Their joy was ecstatic and tears of gladness were often shed by the patients, nurses, as well as their families. It was indeed a fulfilling of the old Biblical prophecy – “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

Spiritual darkness occurs in the hearts and souls of many people in the world today. Sometimes they’ve allowed fear, disbelief, and distance from God to take them back into the shadows of doubt and despair. Sometimes painful events, grief, and illnesses cause people to retreat within them, cutting themselves off from God’s love and His people. Whatever the causes or the circumstances, as a pastor I have seen the light of Christ heal, restore, and reclaim people like them for God’s Kingdom, in words and ways that cause them to rejoice in the Lord and delight in His glory.

Perhaps you are currently undergoing some pain, hardship, or trouble. Maybe you feel vulnerable, isolated, and alone. Dark clouds may have almost overwhelmed your soul and you may feel depressed. Know this: Christ has the capacity to bring you back into the light. Allow Him to do what He is best at accomplishing – restoring lives and returning people to God’s Love. All you need to do is ask Him to do this for you, even now as you are reading this message.

Point to ponder

When I have experienced dark times in my life? How can Christ’s light heal me of those moments?

Prayer:                       Lord Jesus, You know the struggles we are all experiencing and the issues that overshadow our lives. In the midst of all the darkness that we feel, bring to each of us Your Everlasting Light. Encourage and embrace us; empower and enable us to follow Your Path. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com. You can also read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s picture is one of John’s seasonal drawings called “Halloween Jack.” If you would like to view a larger version of this drawing, click on the following link: Jack.

Walk in Love - 2 John 1:6

2 John 1:6        And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (NIV)

            Like most people, I’ll be glad when this Presidential Election is well and truly over. It seems to have brought out the worst in most of us and, unfortunately, has not been a good civil exercise in community building. I’m as guilty as anyone else, so quite recently I stopped making political comments on Facebook and other places in order to maintain both my sanity and friendships with other folks. It is my fervent hope and prayer that after this is all over, we can live and work together as free people, who love their liberties and cherish their relationships.

            Looking at today’s highlighted verse, it seems to me that as Christians, we have a greater responsibility to walk in love and grow that peace. If we get too caught up in party politics and partisan divisiveness then we’ve forgotten the higher road, as well as the greater standard, that we are supposed to follow. In the Christian Church, loving one another is not just a personal elective or individual choice; it’s a command that came straight from Christ’s lips to those who would be His followers and disciples.

            So perhaps the best way to walk in Christ’s love is to begin it today and not to wait for the Election to end. If we treat each other respectfully, faithfully, and lovingly, then we won’t get caught up in the frantic turmoil that usually occurs in the last days before voting ends.

Questions for personal reflection

How has my witness as a Christian been displayed during this campaign? Am I willing to follow Christ’s command to love one another, especially those who support a different candidate?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we pray for our nation like never before. We confess to being polarized by politics and characterized by our candidates. Help us to take a higher path and walk throughout this time in Your love, in order to display Your grace and peace. In Your Holy Name, we humbly confess and sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is this week’s bulletin cover art for the Church, based on a timely Bible verse from 2 Thessalonians. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Bulletin.

Church Devotion: A Woman's Touch - Mark 5:27-29

Mark 5:27-29            When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

            It’s one of the most remarkable healing stories in the New Testament. An elderly lady, completely unassisted and acting alone, secretly touches Christ’s robe and instantly she is healed of a chronic illness which has impoverished her. It’s a desperate act of a woman who has spent everything she owned to cure her blood disease. Jesus is her one last great hope, but she is so demeaned by her illness that she cannot bring herself to publicly ask for His help. She is ashamed of the disease which condemns her to being constantly ritually unclean by her religion. All that she wants to do is to be cured and go on her way. No one notices her; no one can help her with her plight. She is all alone in the midst of the people who are crowding Jesus. She is isolated from any act of compassion or kindness from her own community.

            But her act of faith does not go unnoticed. For some strange reason, Jesus feels His divine power being drained from Him by her act of faith. He knows that someone has touched Him seeking healing. He has felt God’s power being channeled out of His own body. Perhaps it felt like an electric current passing through Him to her. Perhaps she felt a wave of energy coming out of Christ to her. Whatever the case and however it occurred, one thing was certain: Jesus knew.

            The woman is scared out of her wits when she is discovered. She has tried to avoid public shame by keeping her disease a secret. Now she is being exposed as someone who has stolen God’s gift from Jesus. She fears humiliation and punishment, but instead she receives mercy, grace, and encouragement from Christ. He is not angry that she has taken something holy from Him; instead, He is glad that her faith in Him has made her well. He does not chide or condemn; instead, Jesus praises and blesses her. He has restored her to God’s favor, as well as the community. He has given her back her life by commending her faith. Christ has blessed her with a new beginning.

            Perhaps you are seeking a blessing from God, a hurt to be healed, a situation to be sorted, or something painful to be resolved. Maybe you don’t know how to put your request into words; perhaps you cannot even voice a prayer. As Jesus would often say, “Fear not! I am with you.” Allow His Spirit to enter you; permit His comfort to support you; let His love sustain you. He has God’s power to protect you, direct you, and even correct you because He totally accepts you. Your faith in Him can make you well; your belief in Him can grant you a new beginning. Take it, receive it, and be renewed.

Questions for personal reflection

What would I like Jesus to do for me? What would He like me to do for Him?

Prayer:           Lord Jesus, heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Blue Christmas Candle drawings, simply called “Blue Christmas.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Blue Christmas. 

Daily devotion: Putting Up with People - Luke 9:41

Luke 9:41 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?”

There were times in Christ’s ministry when He was exasperated with the people around Him. In today’s passage, (Luke 9:37-45), Jesus is not so upset at the father of the sick boy, as He is concerning His own disciples. He has just been through the amazing mountain-top experience of Divine Transfiguration when, all of a sudden, He is brought back to the ground with a joyless jolt and into the human world of fear and anxiety, failure and doubt.

This makes me wonder what causes Jesus to actually get exasperated with me. I also go through times of anxiety and doubt, fear and failure. My faith diminishes and my worries increase. Instead of relying upon Christ’s guidance, help, and presence, I try to fix things in my own way and sometimes end up making things worse for other people and me. My humanity often holds me back, whereas Christ’s presence could actually remedy my wrongdoing and mend the mistakes in my life.

Eventually, after expressing His exasperation, Jesus healed the sick boy. His compassion over-rode any impatience or inconvenience that He may have suffered. He still did what was right, not because it was required, but because His love and grace were (and always will be) real.

Questions for personal reflection

When can Jesus get exasperated with me? What do I need to do to change this?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, please be patient with me, especially when my faith is weak and my spirit is not strong. Become my strength and salvation. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is called “Abide in Me,” and is John’s latest digital glass drawing. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7792965424_59c3929c30_b.jpg

Gospel devotion: Archie the Engineer - Luke 9:2

Luke 9:2         Jesus sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

            Archie was a great preacher and many of the young people in Glasgow, Scotland that I knew in the late 1970s were drawn to Jesus through his straightforward, no-nonsense style of preaching. He was a heating engineer by trade and originally worked in the great Glasgow shipyards on the Clyde. He was skilful at his job, so eventually he set up his own firm and became quite successful. At some point in his life, he met Jesus and gave his heart to the Lord.

            Like most people who go through a dynamic conversion experience, Archie wanted to tell everyone about Christ. He became a part-time preacher at the Gospel Club that I attended each Wednesday evening.

            I can still see and hear him preaching about God’s Kingdom with a confidence and strength that came from the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. As he preached his message, Archie held a large Bible in his hands and often flicked through its pages, quoting book, chapter, and verses to back up his Gospel message. His strong clear voice and candid preaching reached into the hearts and minds of my friends, as well as me. At the end of the meeting, new souls were saved and old sinners were changed. To all who heard him, Archie exuded Christ’s authority and preached with the power of the Holy Spirit.

            When Jesus sent out his disciples to other areas during the winter season, He gave them His power and authority to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. It must have been a remarkable time for His faithful followers, as well as the people in that region. Lives were changed, sicknesses were cured, and souls were saved. It was really the beginning of Christ’s Church in the world.

            The world still needs powerful preachers and healing miracles today. Instead of being distracted and divided by the devil, Christianity could empower people with hope and heal the brokenness of humanity. If we would open our hearts and minds to being revived by the Holy Spirit instead of reviling one another, this entire planet could be saved within a couple of generations. The challenge that we all have today is this: are we willing to set aside our theological woes and simply work for Christ?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You know what the world really needs and what Your Church needs to do. Help us to reclaim our faith, renew our commitment to You, and revive our spirits. May we preach with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, as well as healing the world through Your Loving Way. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest African drawing called “Sunset Parade.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7778524948_dd17801487_b.jpg

Daily devotions: The Hard Way - Mark 9:14-23

Mark 9:19       "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 

As a teenager, I insisted on learning things the hard way, which often exasperated my parents. If they said something about this, I would petulantly sulk or aggressively attack them. Instead of listening to them and following their wisdom, I would go my own way and do my own thing. The results were dysfunctional, wayward, and self-destructive. The fact that I am still alive today says more about God’s grace than it does about my ability to survive. Looking back, I must also have exasperated Him too.

In the Gospels, we sometimes see Jesus being exasperated with His own disciples and people. The story of the sickness of the teenage boy and his unbelieving father in Mark 9, along with the argument that takes place between the religious teachers and Christ’s followers, appears to have caught Jesus at the end of His tether. “O unbelieving generation,” He exclaims, “how long shall I stay and put up with you?” I don’t know if He was tired and weary, or just vexed and fed up. Whatever Jesus was feeling, He wasn’t happy at all about the situation.

This makes me wonder how He would react to our present generation of Christians. Are we heading in the right direction? Are we following His teaching or our own agendas? Are we a believing or unbelieving generation? These are tough questions to ask but they should be asked by every generation, in every nation, and every congregation.

Years later, when both my parents had passed from this life to the next, I realized how much they loved me through those turbulent teenage times. I regret disregarding their life-wisdom and learning things the hard way. I didn’t believe them because I was so caught up in my own self and I arrogantly cast aside their advice. The question that we in the Church need to ask ourselves today is this: are we doing the same to Jesus?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, forgive our unbelief and help us to accept Your ways. Teach us the value of Your timeless teachings and the importance of Your wise words. Keep us from exasperating You when we embrace worldly ways as opposed to Your godly guidance. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of my latest chess drawings called “Chess Nouveau.” It features chess pieces in the style of Scottish art nouveau genius Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who heavily influenced the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/7123158751_5be5d70f4a_b.jpg

Short devotions: Shifting Sands - Matthew 7:24

Today’s Bible readings are Isaiah 19:9-17 and Matthew 7:24-29

Matthew 7:24              “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” 

Sadly for all of us, we’re not listening to Jesus anymore and this may be why our civilization is crumbling. The world is broken, but the compassionate voice of healing and wholeness is being ignored. Christ’s words and ways have helped our churches and communities for centuries, even during the most troubling of times. To call God ‘Father’ was once a comforting expression of hope. To call Jesus ‘Lord’ was to place Him at the center of our lives. Unfortunately we have wandered so far from God and compartmentalized our faith so much that we don’t what’s right or wrong, real or unreal, or true or trustworthy anymore.

It’s obvious that society is becoming more fearful, injured, and wounded each year. Violence and greed, anger and anarchy, immorality and insensitivity are becoming the hallmarks of our sad generation and we are wallowing in a mire of wasted lives, wasted resources, and wasted potential. The sinking sands of our self-centered ways are ruining this beautiful planet, and the Church, which used to be the bedrock of wisdom, strength, and faith, has become a hapless caricature of what it once was, and at times a helpless creature to our restless world.

To replant our feet on solid ground, we’ve got to patiently hear Christ’s message again and faithfully apply His words. If we truly want the world to be healed and transformed, then that positive change has to begin within our own individual souls. We have to get right with God and get tight with Christ. We have to intentionally rebuild our hopes on the promises of God and the teachings of Jesus. Everything else is just shifting sands.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we have tried to be good Christians in the world, but sometimes we have been misled by our good intentions into building our faith atop of shifting sands. We have listened to ourselves too much and we have forgotten how to truly listen to You. Forgive our foolish and reckless ways. Lead us back to the solid rock of faith and hope, so that we may glorify You with our lives, our choices, and our ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest winter drawings. It’s called “Winter Mill” and features the Glade Creek Mill in West Virginia during snowfall. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6323857053_990bded2f2_b.jpg

John’s drawings are becoming collectible and make unique & inexpensive Christmas gifts. If you would like to view his entire collection online, please visit his website at www.stushieart.com

Daily devotions - Back to the Future - Ecclesiastes 1:9

Ecclesiastes 1:9           What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

I drank too much caffeine yesterday, so I ended up being wide awake in the wee small hours of the morning. You would think that I would know better by now, but I like my tea and my coffee, so earlier today you would have found me drawing and googling at 4:30AM.

A friend of mine sent me a link to Google maps. I had forgotten about this amazing site. After clicking on the world map and zooming in on Scotland, I was soon able to “virtually” walk down streets and places in my hometown of Glasgow. This kept me occupied for hours. Eventually, I found myself walking through the hospital grounds where my mum had been kept in a locked ward. As I stood in the street and looked directly at the door to 22B, I could still smell the antiseptic and hear the sounds beyond it. It was a weird feeling and it dredged up a few heart-rending memories that I had suppressed long ago.

For a couple of minutes, I was a child again and I was angry with God. A bitter prayer of “Why?” shot through my soul and then, just as suddenly, I realized that all that pain was in the past where it needed to rest. What happened 40 years ago, need not scar me now. What was done then, need not be experienced again. Today’s writer of Ecclesiastes may not have agreed with that statement, but rather than be pessimistically fatalistic and say that history repeats itself, I now hold on to the wonderful liberating words of God: “Behold, I make all things new!”

As I left my computer and crawled back into bed, I felt a burden from the past had been taken from my shoulders and buried forever. Caffeine may keep me awake, but Christ keeps me alive…J

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we all carry moments and memories from the past that weigh us down spiritually and sometimes depress our souls. We wish that things could have been different and we fear making the same mistakes or going through the same experiences again. Take hold of our lives; free us from the past, and make all things new. In Your Loving Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s ‘Tribute to Vincent’ pictures. It’s called “Moonrise Van Gogh” and is based upon Van Gogh’s Field of Crows painting. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4136822951_b576335e31_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: Unfailing Love - Psalm 33 v 22

Psalm 33:22    May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

I don’t know if you watched the Masters from Augusta yesterday, but I managed to see the last hour of the broadcast and witnessed one of the best ends to an international golf tournament. It didn’t happen on the golf course, but it took place after Phil Mickleson won the event for the third time.

Phil found his wife Amy in the crowd and tearfully embraced her. It was a very touching moment because Amy has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. You could see that both of them were very much in love with one another and that Mickleson was sharing his win with his wife. He played courageously throughout the last round and I feel certain that he was playing as much for Amy as he was for himself.

I hope and pray that their unfailing love and support for one another will enable and empower Amy to overcome the cancer.

We all face battles in life – sometimes through illness, sometimes with fear and anxiety, sometimes accompanied with despair and depression. I like what the psalmist prayed long ago for God’s people –“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” I think that’s a wonderful, powerful, and yet simple prayer that we all could apply in our lives. It helps us to do two things: to look for God’s unfailing love in the midst of our sorrows, and to place our hopes in Him.

It’s called faith and throughout my own life, I have frequently used that prayer and have known the precious and positive empowerment that God gives through just being simply and sincerely asked.

Prayer:                        Lord God, thank You for loving us unfailingly. Thank You for allowing us to trust in Your ways, to rely upon Your promises, and to know Your favor. In Christ’s Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s drawing of Hogan’s Bridge at Amen Corner in August. You can view a larger version here: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4333271971_84d55b7508_b.jpg

Daily Lent Devotions: Practising His Preaching

Mark 7:29        Then Jesus told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."

           

This is an unusual story and an unlikely miracle from Jesus. It appears at first that Christ is reluctant to help the woman because she is a Gentile. She has to persist in order to get Jesus to do what she wants. This begs the question:  If she had been Jewish, would Jesus have treated her differently?

But I believe that there is a lot more to this event than just ‘He said, she said.’ Jesus’ credibility is on the line and His authenticity as a preacher is being challenged.

If you look back to the passage of scripture before this (Mark 7:17-23), you’ll see that Jesus had been preaching about what was clean and unclean. He was quite specific about what was holy and unholy, which meant that He was going against the traditional kosher values of His community. This was radical teaching as far as most of the Jewish clergy were concerned. It separated Jesus from His religious peers and must have upset more than a few people.

And yet in this incident, Christ seems to be following the traditional line that all foreigners were unclean and therefore unworthy of God’s blessings. The arch traditionalists would have been delighted at His initial response to the woman, but if Jesus had  left it there and didn’t heal the Syrophonecian woman’s daughter wouldn’t He have been guilty of hypocrisy, of not practicing what He Himself had only just preached?

As usual, there’s a lot more to this passage than we realize at first. I think Jesus highlights the lack of compassion that just keeping to the letter of the Law engenders. He has to go above and beyond the Law in order to help this woman and that, my friends, is what Christianity is all about.

I also think that Christ would have healed the young girl, but that the Syrophonecian woman showed that she was willing to beg for help, no matter what the cost was to her pride. This really impresses Jesus because it is an act of faithful submission and genuine prayer.  She doesn’t take Christ for granted and she fully relies upon Him to help in her time of greatest need.

We all come to Christ in prayer on a daily basis, but how many times do we take His blessings for granted? Perhaps the lesson that we all need to learn, especially during Lent, is to humbly approach the Lord with our personal requests.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You ask us to seek You in prayer and to sincerely ask for guidance and help, forgiveness and healing. Sometimes we take You for granted because we are too busy to be humble and in too much of a hurry to wait. Forgive us for being self-focused. Help us to humbly pray. In Your Holy Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or offer some feedback, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Lent Devotions: Broken Pieces - Mark 6 v 43

Mark 6:43       And the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

Yesterday, a controversy was brewing at a Texas College where atheists were running an exchange program. They offered to exchange Bible for pornographic magazines to students on the campus in order to protest First Amendment Rights. The atheists believed that because Bibles were placed in dorm rooms, then they should be allowed to distribute pornography. They argued that the Bible’s puritanical statements about sexuality needed to be vehemently challenged and opposed, so they offered to exchange Bibles for sex magazines.

I guess that kind of behavior and controversy highlights the society that we are living in. I was visiting with an elderly church member at the time and she was angered by this news. However, I pointed out to her that God is big enough to take care of this kind of an issue on His own. We don’t need to get enmeshed in a maelstrom of indignity and self-righteousness. There’s more than enough suffering and trouble in Haiti and Chile for us to focus upon instead of being distracted by atheists.

I think that the hurt that she was feeling was for God and Christ’s Church. We keep thinking that the world is fragmenting, diminishing, and belittling all of our cherished beliefs. We are afraid and anxious that the divisions amongst us will break the Church into pieces and end our faith entirely. That’s never going to happen.

Look at the Gospel passage again (Mark 6: 37-44) and re-read today’s highlighted verse. Even the broken pieces that are left over are more than sufficient to meet our needs and to keep Christ’s ministry going on. Jesus specializes in broken pieces, broken people, and even a broken world. He is the great faith provider and godly healer that we all need, so instead of becoming anxious and indignant about what atheists do or don’t do in Texas, we just need to remind ourselves that in all of history and all over creation, Christ is victorious and He will eternally endure.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are all broken people, belonging to a broken Church, and living in a broken world. You have the divine capacity to lovingly heal us through forgiveness and faith, godliness and grace. Help us to remember that the Church has always been attacked by the world. Remind us that Your words, ways and works will endure from this time forth and into all eternity. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is the latest drawing in John’s Bird Art Series. It’s called “Peacock Pride.” A larger version of the image can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/4402879204/sizes/l/in/set-72157623366524553/

Lenten Devotions: Touching Jesus - Mark 5

Mark 5:27-28 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed."

Many years ago, when I went to the 428 Gospel Club in Glasgow, Scotland, a friend of mine used to sing a song about the story of the woman who touched the hem of Christ’s garment. Every Wednesday evening, the people at the club used to ask Ian to play his guitar and sing this song. The chorus went along the lines of:

“If I could just touch the hem of His garment, if I could just touch some part of His clothes,

I know I’d be healed, my sins all forgiven. If I could just touch Him, I know I’d be whole.”

It was a beautiful song and it always touched the hearts of everyone who heard Ian sing it. Even now, as I remember those nights from more than thirty years ago, I can still hear in my mind Ian’s tenor voice and the wonderful way he rhythmically played his guitar.

It’s also a wonderful story of faith. We may never know her name, but so long as the Gospel is preached throughout the earth, the courageous faith of the woman in the crowd will remain as an example of perseverance and belief, persistence and hope. She did not wish to bring attention to herself because she felt so unworthy, but Jesus transforms the miraculous moment into something greater than she anticipated. Christ not only heals her completely, He also lovingly calls her ‘Daughter.’ She is a part of His Family and God’s Kingdom. She is welcomed into His heart and blessed beyond belief.

It’s the start of a new week and all of us have many responsibilities and tasks to fulfill. We may feel daunted by the stress and pressure that another week will bring. At some point, we will need to be spiritually refreshed and require encouragement. To find them, all we need to do is to push through the pressure and take time to touch Jesus with our hearts, minds, and prayers. If we can just touch Him, we know we’ll be whole.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing Your Spirit to be present in our lives. In the midst of all our busy-ness throughout this coming week, be our Guide, our Comforter, and Healer. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send an email to pastor@erinpresbtyerian.org.

Daily Devotions: Light of Liberty

Matthew 5: 14 "You are the world’s light. You cannot hide a city on a hill.

The days following the 9/11 tragedy were amongst the weirdest that many of us ever experienced. To begin with, there were no planes in the sky anywhere, so it seemed empty and quiet. Mostly everyone hunkered down in their own homes, glued to the continuous coverage on television. Restaurants and malls were practically empty and it appeared as though large and small communities throughout the United States would never be the same again.

And then flags started to appear everywhere. People had them attached to their cars, in the front of their homes, and at their businesses. The local newspaper contained a magnetic flag to be placed on automobiles or fridges in every home. We were brutally broken and totally shocked by the turmoil, but we crawled out of our caves and restarted to live our lives as the means to honor the innocent dead and to defy the terrorists their complete victory.

Out of the ruined rubble of our society, we rose up and overcame the darkness of despair. Freedom and liberty were now even more precious to us because they had been snatched away from us for a couple of days. Lady Liberty still stood as a sentinel before the smoking Manhattan skyline and we became just as resolute. Our duty was to show the world not just our resilience and defiance, but our faith in freedom and our light of liberty.

Within a week, our skies were filled with vapor trailing planes carrying our people from state to state and city to city. Within our hearts, we all silently vowed that we would prevail and that this would never happen again on our watch, in our cities, and across our land. We have remained true to that promise, and maintained that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are still the noblest and highest of rights to which any nation, kingdom, or people on Earth can ever aspire towards.

Even after eight years, we are still that light of liberty which the world seeks. We are still that shining nation of strength and hope that the Earth still needs.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we remember the dark days of 9/11 and continue to live our lives in honor of those who died. We pray for the bereft families, who were most affected by the losses at the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania. Keep us mindful of those days and ever watchful of the days to come. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Devotions: Mourning and Dancing

Ecclesiastes 3: 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

I think I must have conducted about 750 funerals over my 23 years in ministry. When I was a pastor in Scotland I looked after two parishes, so on average I officiated at about 2 funerals a week. I can even remember one busy week when I completed five funerals within seven days. I don’t know where I got the energy to do that, but it was expected of parish ministers all across Scotland.

After the services were over in Scotland, close friends and family often shared soup, sandwiches, and tea at a local hotel or in someone’s home. It was a community gathering and frequently family and guests shared some funny and worthwhile stories about the deceased. Instead of weeping and mourning, people honored the dead by laughing and celebrating. It also helped loved ones begin their process of grief and healing.

It’s no surprise that in the Bible we find these opposites side by side. Weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing all have their special places in our lives, even at funerals. It’s not just a way of coping with loss, it’s also a remarkable fact of the human experience – life goes on around us, no matter what we go through.

The Church of Scotland Book of Worship states it this way in the funeral liturgy: We were not meant for the darkness of death; instead we were created for light and life, and to share these with God forevermore.

I think that’s a beautiful way of dealing with death, finding faith, and eternally embracing God.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for the precious gift of life and the priceless blessing of faith. In the midst of our pain and loss, grant us healing and comfort. Throughout those times of weeping and mourning, let us also experience laughter and dancing. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. I you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.