2021 Lenten Devotional

Easter Sunday (04/04) Mark 16: 1-8 1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 40 – Saturday 04-03  (Holy Saturday) Matthew 27:57-66 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 39 – Friday 04-02  (Good Friday) John 19:25-30 25 Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 38 – Thursday 04-01 (Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday) John 13:2-15 2 And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 37 – Wednesday 03-31 Matthew 26:14-16, 20-25 14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 36 – Tuesday 03-30 John 13:31-38 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 35 – Monday 03-29 John 12:1-6 1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 34 – Saturday 03-27 John 11:47-52 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 33 – Friday 03-26 John 10:31-38 31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father.…

2021 Lenten Devotional

Day 32 – Thursday 03-25 John 8:54-59 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say,…

 

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”  Romans 1:8 (NIV)

After worship on January 10, 2016 our leadership had a retreat.  We ate together and shared stories about very special people past and present who helped form our faith.  At the end of our sharing, I asked the leadership what characteristics would describe those precious people.  Many qualities were pooled and words like faithful, humble, loving, compassionate and caring were brought forth.

I shared about my wonderful youth leader and Christian tobacco farmer named Jeff Chipman.  Jeff was a very simple man.  He laughed all the time.  His love for the Lord was so evident.  I have many memories of Jeff.  For example, our youth group went swimming at his pool, which was miraculously made out of a steel silo.  I worked for Jeff in every stage of the tobacco process.  He paid well and was always kind.  He often invited me to have dinner with his family.  Those dinners were very special and I truly saw a fine example of a Christian family.

I praised God for Jeff as I shared his faith story with our church leadership.  At the end of the retreat I challenged our leadership to go and be “Jeff Chipman’s,” to one another, the congregation and the world.

The Apostle Paul gave a very nice compliment to the church he founded in Rome.  He stated, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”  Wow!  A report about faith going all over the world.  Think for a moment how a TV show is interrupted for a “Special Report.”  It grabs your attention.  It causes your head to pop up and take notice.  Think for a moment how Mt. Healthy and surrounding communities can experience “Special Reports,” coming out of Mt. Healthy UMC?  Wouldn’t that be great?  I truly believe 2016 will be an amazing year in the history of Mt. Healthy United Methodist Church!   How?  All of us committing to take time to be like Jeff Chipman or someone you can name in your mind who touched your life!  The community will get a very special report about God’s amazing love through us!  Is there anything greater than Christians loving all on behalf of Jesus Christ?  I ask you to join our leadership as we live out our faith everywhere!  God bless you and have a great February 2016!

Jonathan