Mid-Week Devotion: Way to Go - Psalm 32:8

God is willing to help and guide us through this unsettling time.
A short devotion based on Psalm 32 v 8.

June 21 devotion - Promises, Promises - Genesis 21:1

Genesis 21:1    Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. (NIV)

            My Grandma Stuart had a saying about people who disappointed her: “He’s a great promiser, but a bad fulfiller.” She came from a small Scottish religious community who were known as Rechabites. Her direct family members were all teetotalers who abstained from drinking alcohol and smoking, which is funny, because of her grandfather, James Doyle, who made his money manufacturing clay pipes for tobacco users. She was a strong-willed person who had a lot of gumption and determination. I guess I get most of my stubbornness and religiosity from her side of the family.

            Throughout the Bible, God constantly makes promises and never fails to fulfill them. In Sarah’s case, from the events described in Genesis 21, He sees to it that she bears a child even in her old age. The same blessing is also accomplished in Luke 1 when the elderly Elizabeth gives birth to John the Baptist. It’s all part of God’s way of completing the work of His salvation for the people on Earth. God is not only a great promiser; He’s also a great fulfiller.

            Every day, we experience the promises of God in our individual lives and across the entire Earth. His promises are both personal and global, as well as being current and historical. In Jesus, we have the greatest promise of salvation that humanity has ever known; in Christ, we also see the greatest fulfiller of God’s holy words.

Points to ponder

When and where have I experienced God’s promises in my life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, through Your complete obedience to God and the fulfillment of all His promises, we have been given the sacred opportunity of forgiveness of our sins and being eternally restored to God. In response, we dedicate our lives to You and to Your continuing ministry of salvation throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully serve and thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s church bulletin covers called ‘The Promise.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: Promise.

Short Devotion - An Old Story - Genesis 35:14-15

Genesis 35:14-15        Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him, Bethel. (NIV)

            As a schoolboy, I was taught that the stone pillar which Jacob placed at Bethel thousands of years ago, was somehow transported to Scotland and became known as The Stone of Destiny. When ancient Scottish kings were crowned, they sat on a coronation throne which was built around the stone, supposedly conferring God’s blessing on their reign. Eventually, during the wars between Scotland and England, the English king took it as a victor’s trophy and had it placed below the coronation throne in Westminster Abbey. In 1953, Queen Elizabeth was crowned on the same throne over the stone. As a gesture of goodwill to the people of Scotland, she returned it in 1996 and had it placed in Edinburgh Castle, where it occupies the same room as the Scottish Crown Jewels.

            It’s a delightful story, but it really doesn’t date back to Jacob’s time. A group of geologists has studied the stone and they believe it is part of the red sandstone which is found around Scone Palace in Scotland, where the Scottish kings and queens were officially crowned. It seems that the Scots have a touch of what the Irish call ‘blarney,’ when it comes to telling tall tales.

            In the Bible, Jacob set up the original stone pillar as an everlasting witness to God’s grace in preserving him and his family, as well as for the promises of posterity which would be fulfilled in the multitude of the future Hebrew people and formation of a Jewish nation in the Promised Land centuries later. It was a turning point in Jacob’s life which allowed him to settle in God’s country with a divine blessing that would not be broken.

            As we each look over our lives, remembering where we came from and looking forward to the times that lie ahead, let’s not forget to be thankful to God for sustaining and blessing each and every day of our lives. We may not fully know what lies ahead, but of this, we can be certain, the God who holds us dearly in His hands today, also holds every tomorrow in His hands.

Point to ponder

What Bible stories do I remember from my childhood? How do those stories still affect my faith today?

Prayer:            Gracious God, we thank You for the fulfillment of Your promises over the centuries and across the world. We have faith today simply because You arranged it long ago. Help us to be mindful of how we pass on our faith to the younger generations in our lives. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Scottish designs called ‘Caledonian Soul.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Soul.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Daily Devotional - Hope for the Weary - Isaiah 50:4a

Isaiah 50:4a    The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.

            We all get weary at times and wonder what life is really about. Some of us are over-worked and under pressure much of the time. Others are over-worried and fighting depression. Some folks are lonely and barely manage to get through each day. Still others find life hard to endure especially when family, friends, or loved ones are struggling, too.

            Being human means that we will experience good days and bad days, broken dreams and unfulfilled promises, hardships and perhaps even hostility. However, it’s good to know that we are pilgrims passing through this planet, heading towards something else, something bigger, and something better.

            Being human also means that we can appreciate beauty, kindness, love, and peace. We can be inspired by others, encouraged through their words, and comforted with their presence. In the midst of our worries and weariness, good friends and faithful people can make all the difference. The Irish often say that all people need is ‘a kind word and a smile’ – which are great gifts to receive and are wonderful blessings to share.

            When we take time to read the scriptures, we often find verses and passages that reflect our current experiences. This reminds us that God’s Word is alive and relevant, with the potential to sustain us in times of trouble and encourage us in days of joy.

Questions for personal reflection

How am I feeling today? Am I willing to ask God to guide and sustain me with His Word?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing Your Spirit to be present with us each day. You know everything that we are experiencing; You understand all that we are currently going through. Encourage and sustain us; embrace and remain with us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him a message, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com.

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

Encouraging Devotion - Faithful Promises - Isaiah 12:2

Isaiah 12:2      Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

            We all go through fearful and unsettling times. Sometimes, those moments occur when we’re worried about our families or friends; at other times, we may be concerned about our careers or work projects; there may also be times when our health declines or something accidental occurs in our lives. Whatever the circumstances, we feel frail and vulnerable, unprotected and absolutely human.

            When we are fearful, it helps us to understand that God is always faithful. His words and promises from the past become relevant and meaningful to us, especially when we read them in times of trouble or crisis. God’s Spirit reaches to us from the pages of the Holy Scriptures and across the centuries to let us know that He is with us, standing beside us, or even carrying us through painful moments and worrying times. Grace and love are the great gifts He bestows upon us; compassion and comfort are blessings that will sustain us, enabling us to endure and overcome whatever assails us.

            Today’s verse from Isaiah 12 is a beautiful promise that can help us get through our present difficulties and personal problems. As Christians, we receive these words through the blessings of our Savior Jesus Christ, who forgives our sins, guides us through life, and restores us to God’s everlasting favor. Our faith is focused on Him, because in Him we have everything that we will ever need in this life and the next.

Questions for personal reflection

What presently troubles or worries me? How can God’s promise through Isaiah help me?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of our souls and the Light of our lives. In You and through You, we experience God’s grace, love, and compassion. Thank You for allowing us to come to You with our prayers and problems. Thank You for being with us every day. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s 2016 drawings for Holy Week. It’s called ‘The Beginning.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Beginning.

Daily devotion: Promises, Promises - Genesis 21:1

Genesis 21:1   Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.

My Grandma Stuart had a saying about people who disappointed her: “He’s a great promiser, but a bad fulfiller.” She came from a small Scottish religious community who were known as Rechabites. Her direct family members were all teetotalers who abstained from drinking alcohol and smoking, which is funny because her grandfather, James Doyle, made his money manufacturing clay pipes for tobacco users. She was a strong-willed person who had a lot of gumption and determination. I guess I get most of my stubbornness and religiosity from her side of the family.

Throughout the Bible, God constantly makes promises and never fails to fulfill them. In Sarah’s case, from the events described in Genesis 21, He sees to it that she bears a child even in her old age. The same blessing is also accomplished in Luke 1, when the elderly Elizabeth gives birth to John the Baptist. It’s all part of God’s way of completing the work of His salvation for the people on Earth. God is not only a great promiser; He’s also a great fulfiller.

Every day, we experience the promises of God in our individual lives and across the entire Earth. His promises are both personal and global, as well as being current and historical. In Jesus Christ, we have the greatest promise of salvation that humanity has ever known. In Jesus Christ, we also have the greatest fulfiller of God’s holy words.

Question for personal reflection

When and where have I experienced God’s promises in my life?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, by Your complete obedience to God and the fulfillment of all His promises, we are given the sacred opportunity of being forgiven of our sins and eternally restored to God. We seek to dedicate our lives to You and to Your continuing ministry of salvation throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we serve and 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 chess drawings. It’s called ‘Slavic Knight’ and is a part of his new ‘One of These Knights’ art series. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7411440258_2e934d85a8_b.jpg

Devotion - Cosmic Collision - Genesis 15:5

Genesis 15:5   God took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

I’ve just read a fascinating article about an inter-galactic collision that will take place 4 billion years from now between our own Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. Billions upon billions of stars will either collide or closely pass by one another over a time period of more than a billion years. The article is based upon a study that NASA has released; to even think about such a cataclysmic event is absolutely staggering to my feeble mind. The astronomers who have completed their observations, done their research, and completed the math are amazing scientists. We certainly won’t be on this side of Life when the collision occurs, so perhaps we will witness it as the equivalent of a divine Fourth of July fireworks display on a Heavenly scale.

When God takes old Abram outside to show him the night sky and tells him that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars, I find that equally amazing and fascinating. It tells me that when God makes a promise, He not only keeps His word, but He also blesses and fulfills it as wonderfully as He possibly can. The majority of the religious people on the Earth today can trace their spiritual roots to this moment of God’s magnificent blessing. Billions of people – Jews, Christians, and Muslims - find their religious ancestry in Abram of old. God’s promise, made thousands of years ago, has found its fulfillment in today’s world. This also tells me that God not only works in mysterious ways, He also has a great patience in fulfilling his work of salvation.

Questions for personal reflection

Where do my religious roots originate? How does my faith sharing with others expand this ancient blessing?

Prayer:                        Almighty Creator, when I gaze upon the stars in the night sky, I am struck with wonder and awe. Your works are amazing and I feel both humbled and privileged to be a creature of Your making. May I continue to bless and praise You throughout the days of my life. In Christ’s 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 one of John’s drawings called “Sleepless Sky.” It features a beautifully starlit northern sky illuminated with the aurora borealis. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/7186639110_1bbac69be5_b.jpg

Weekend Screensaver: Psalm 20

Continuing my Book of Psalms art project...



This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible: Psalm 20 v 4 - May God give you the desire of your heart and make all of your plans succeed.

Sunday Sermon: A Holy Helper - John 14;15-21

Yesterday, we held an elders’ retreat here at the church. We’re working on a few important ideas about how to strengthen our church’s commitment to Christ, His Kingdom, and His ministry in this part of Knoxville. It was an important start to a series of quarterly meetings which will help us seek God’s path for our congregation in the years to come.

It’s crucial that all our elders work together by discovering what God’s will is for our wee church. We have to keep focused on what God wants us to do for Him. Too many churches these days are being swayed by the culture around them. They want to fit in with society and use marketing ploys to bring people into their organization, but not necessarily the Kingdom of God.

At the moment there’s a controversy stirring in West Knoxville because an independent church has sent out fliers stating that they will give all their new visitors a $20 gas coupon for coming to their church. I don’t know what their true intent is with this gimmick, but they’re desperately trying to get people to walk through their doors using greed as their marketing tool. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the church was called The Cas Walker Memorial Church.

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.

This is why it is important for our church elders to work on the direction that God is leading our church. If we don’t prayerfully look for God’s guidance, we’ll end up following market trends, which will lead us away from God and stop us from obeying Christ. We have to put Jesus at the center of everything we do. We don’t exist to please ourselves; Christ allows us to exist because we try to please Him.

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples in this passage from John’s Gospel, He was doing it just before He was arrested. He was trying to cram in as many lessons and as much advice as possible before He was taken, tortured and crucified. He knew that it was important to use the intensity of the situation to drive home some very important points that would become the hallmarks of the Early Christian Church. And, in this instance He said to them: if you love me, you will obey what I command.

Now, that’s normally what a mother says to an impatient child, “if you love me, you will do as I say.” Or perhaps a loving spouse may say it this way, “if you trust me, you will support me.” It’s laying down a special condition for the relationship to flourish. It’s not an ultimatum, it’s an invitation. It’s not about control, it’s about co-operation.


On this day, in the same year that our church was founded, way back in 1877, President Rutherford Hayes withdrew Federal troops from Louisiana. It was the last act of Reconstruction after the end of the Civil War. For more than twelve years after the war, the troops were in place to forcefully quell any rebellions, and to make sure that the Union did not fragment again. It took twelve years to maintain that peace and because the majority of Southerners all over the Confederate States laid down their arms, the Union remained intact.

It may not have been a perfect peace – the old prejudices wouldn’t really be removed for another 100 years, but it was a start of American people from all over the States beginning to love the Union and Constitution of the United States. The people proved that they loved America, as we still do today, by upholding the laws of this dear and precious land.

And so it was the same for Christ’s disciples, to prove that they truly loved Him, they had to keep His commands. And the same applies to our church today, which is why our elders came together to seek God’s Will and to follow Christ wherever He wants us to go.

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-

During our conversations yesterday, our elders were asked the question: why do we want to bring people to Erin? It’s a good question because it makes us focus on what our intent, what our purpose is. Their answers were excellent: we’re here to bring people to salvation, to help them to learn more about Jesus, so that they can go out into the community and bring even more people to salvation.

Other purposes were attached to that answer: to help one another in times of trouble; to show kindness and love to each other; and to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That last point raised a whole new question: what is the Holy Spirit and how do we seek its guidance?

When Jesus was talking to the disciples, He told them that God was going to give them a special Counselor, one who would be with them forever. The main role of the Holy Spirit was to give directions to the disciples throughout the rest of their lives as they went out into the entire world to preach the Gospel and teach Christ’s truth. The purpose of the Holy Spirit was to coach them day by day, situation by situation, and mission by mission so that Christ’s influence and teaching would grow in the world. And they successfully followed their coach because what started two thousand years ago with 11 disciples and dozens of others has now become a world wide church of 2 billion people.

That’s why it is very important for our church to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all that we set out to do. It’s very easy to let go of God and embrace the world. It’s much harder to follow Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to set the course of where we are headed. But if we want to remain true to the Gospel and loyal to Christ, then we must be open to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our midst. To do other wise, is to follow a false gospel; to seek our own way is to walk away from Christ.

It’s like the baptism vows that we all took this morning. If we want to see them fulfilled in young Aaron’s life, then Steve and Tracy are going to have to keep coming to church and allowing Aaron to eventually go to Sunday School or Enrichment. But it doesn’t just depend upon them; we’ve got to do our share by maintaining this church, recruiting teachers of faith, supplying our classes, giving our resources, sharing our time and investing parts of our lives with young Aaron. If we do not do this, then how will Aaron grow up to be a Christian, a servant of the Lord, and a loyal subject in God’s Kingdom?

So we seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit in session and throughout the entire congregation to ensure that Aaron, and all other children in our midst will grow in faith and one day, perhaps as a teenager, he will confirm the promises that his parents have made here today. If we allow the Holy Spirit to coach, direct, and lead us, then these beautiful promises will be fulfilled.

17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.

Finally, after asking the disciples to show their love by following His commands and telling them that they will be gifted with the Holy Spirit, Jesus warns them that the world will not accept this experience. The world will be blind to the presence of the Spirit and will not accept the Spirit’s existence.

This is Christ’s way of telling the disciples that even with the Holy Spirit as their special Counselor, things will not be easy. Just because the Holy Sprit is with them does not mean that trouble will not come their way. In fact, in many cases in the Early Church because Christians were filled with the Spirit, they were harassed and hunted down, persecuted and imprisoned, arrested and executed.

And this should serve as a warning to our wee church. When we seek the Spirit’s counsel and do Christ’s bidding, obstacles and stumbling blocks are going to come our way. Things will not be easy if we seek to accept Christ’s truth, preach the Gospel, and share His message with the surrounding community. It will be hard to do so, because many hearts are hardened against Christ and the world does not want to be challenged by our faith.

April 27th is a date that has seen events which has led to people standing up for their rights and fighting the world.

In 1773, the British parliament passed the Tea Act, which led to the Boston Tea party later that year, which in turn led to the War of Independence.

In 1940, the Nazi leader Himmler ordered the establishment of Auschwitz Concentration camp, which led to the Polish uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the Allied Nations fighting against the fascists, which in turn led to the establishment of Israel for holocaust survivors and displaced Jews around the world.

And in 1989, almost twenty years ago, and how soon we forget, the brave students of Beijing took over Tiananmen Square in China, fearlessly walking in front of military tanks, in a noble effort to bring democracy to their nation. To this date, those same students are imprisoned in terrible conditions, which is one of the reasons that I will refuse to watch this year’s Olympic Games. How can we have an international sports gala and joyfully cheer on our athletes in a land where people of different political persuasions and religions are still being oppressed, subdued, and killed?

So, what have we learned today?

If we truly love Jesus, then we will honestly obey His commands.

When we need guidance for our lives and especially the church, we need to seek the Holy Spirit’s counsel.

And when we obey Jesus and follow the Holy Spirit, we should not expect the world to welcome us with open arms. Instead we should be prepared to stand up for what we believe in and not surrender our faith to the wiles of the world.

For as Christ says: Whoever loves me will be loved by My Father, and I also will love them and show Myself to them. And after all is said and done: is that not why we want to bring people here – to be saved from the world and loved by God? Amen.

Prayer