Devotions

Monthly Devotion

Lessons From the Itsy, Bitsy Spider

Not long ago I went into the kitchen at the church parsonage and noticed a small spider had made a little web in the kitchen sink. Now, I hope everyone knows that our family doesn’t live at the parsonage every day, lest anyone think we’re horrible housekeepers! Anyway, I washed the itsy bitsy spider down the drain. I smiled as I did so, thinking of the little song. You know the one:

The itsy, bitsy spider went up the water spout,

Down came the rain, and washed the spider out,

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,

And the itsy, bitsy spider went up the spout again!

Were you doing the little hand motions as you read this? It’s OK if you were. I was too! I remember this being the first song that Emily Kate responded to when she was little. She would sit in her high chair and do the hand motions and just look impossibly cute. For that reason, this song has a special place in my heart.

Did you know that there are lessons we can learn from the itsy, bitsy spider? I thought of that spider again when I read Romans 5:3-4. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope.” Here are some lessons we can learn:

Don’t be afraid to take a step of faith. I’m sure a dark water spout can be a scary place to a small spider. Sometimes we are called to launch out into the unknown…take a step of faith. We don’t know what’s up ahead. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet…” the Psalmist said, not a powerful, halogen spotlight shining far up ahead.
Don’t be surprised when the rain comes. We all experience suffering. Be prepared for it. But Paul said he rejoiced in sufferings, because he knew what it produced…perseverance, character, and hope. Isn’t that worth a little suffering?
Suffering won’t last forever. “Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.” Enough said.
Never give up, and thank God for second chances. “The itsy, bitsy spider went up the spout again.” The same spout he just got washed out of? Yep. Remember… “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope.”

Can you think of any more lessons that we can learn from that ol’ spider? Let’s keep our eyes open to the lessons that God can teach us each day through His Word, and yes, even through itsy, bitsy spiders.

God Bless You,

Bro. Sammy

September 1, 2001

Monthly Devotion

“The Beatitudes”

Not long ago I re-read the Beatitudes, found in Matthew, chapter 5. I was again struck by how much different from “human nature” they are. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, etc…?” Was Jesus serious? Yes. It is we who must adjust our way of thinking about this, not Jesus.

My mom shared with me something that I think you will appreciate. It talks about the Beatitudes from a different perspective. A REALLY different perspective.

THE DEVIL’S BEATITUDES

If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they might be like the following:

Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour a week in church – they are my best workers.
Blessed are those who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – I can use them.
Blessed are the touchy: with a bit of luck, they may stop going to church – they are my missionaries.
Blessed are those who are very religious but get on everyone’s nerves – they are mine forever.
Blessed are the troublemakers – they shall be called my children.
Blessed are those who have no time to pray – they are easy prey for me.
Blessed are the gossipers – for they are my secret agents.
Blessed are those critical of a church leadership – for they shall inherit a place with me in my fate.
Blessed are the complainers – I’m all ears for them.
Blessed are you when you read this and think it is about other people and not yourself – I’ve got you.

Won’t you re-visit the real Beatitudes in Matthew 5 this month? Won’t you join me in examining ourselves lest we conform to the devil’s “Beatitudes” instead of Jesus’?

Grace and peace,

Bro Sammy

October 1, 2001

Monthly Devotion

I recently came across this story about prayer. I thought it was great! See what you think:

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin.

The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this, the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough." and that is what he planned to do, until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now I, My friend, will move the rock.

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong...just P.U.S.H.! When the job gets you down...just P.U.S.H.! When people don't react the way you think they should...just P.U.S.H.! When our money looks "gone" and the bills are due...just P.U.S.H.! When people just don't understand you...just P.U.S.H.!

        P=Pray
        U=Until
        S=Something
        H=Happens

Tell a friend about this month's devotional. They may read it just in time!

Grace and peace,

Bro Sammy