In this space, I am sharing devotions written by our dear Barbara Meade.
Barbara grew up a Quaker and is a regular attendee at Spiceland Friends Church. Her faith and Quaker roots go deep as her uncle was a Quaker pastor, evangelist, and artist. Barb's writings about her many life experiences reveal her faith in Christ and highlight the memories of a great family, her years in the banking industry, and her time as a local small business owner. Barb's desire is to serve those around her through her encouraging devotionals and writings from her life. Barb has recognized that our relationship with Christ grows throughout our lives, both in good times and through life's challenges.
January 10, 2024
Are You Ready?
Are you ready? Jesus could come to us tomorrow, or we could go to him. Time is a gift. No one knows about tomorrow.
Proverbs 27:1 Tells us not to boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Ben Franklin said, “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Regardless of the time, God is always with us. Be ready to meet him; give your life to Christ today.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Know today you are ready. You’ve talked with the Lord, your sins are forgiven, the Lord is in your heart, and your mind is at peace. So if Jesus comes tomorrow, you’re ready.
Amen
January 11, 2024
Taking Things For Granted
We are all creatures of habit. When we get up in the morning, without thought, we turn on the water, wash our face, and make coffee. Giving little or no thought to how precious that water was and how easy it was to get.
Being taken for granted, we feel not valued or appreciated. There is another side to that. We expect the beauty, the good, and all we love to always be there. It isn’t until we face people and things we no longer have, that we realize how vital everyone and everything is.
Hebrews 13:16: Make sure you don’t take things for granted.
Colossians 2:7: Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done. The Living Bible, “Don’t take God for granted”.
Isn’t it wonderful that God never takes us or anything he created for granted?
Amen
January 16, 2024
Idle Hands
Idle hands are the devil's workshop. The first time I heard this was from my Grandmother; her hands were never idle.
Some say this comes from Proverbs. In reading Proverbs, so much of it explains this saying. The importance of work, both mentally and physically, gives us purpose. Children must be taught to be responsible through chores. That also strengthens a family. It shows they are needed and valued.
Without structure and rules comes trouble. This is true for adults, too. Lazy folks who feel they are entitled are a good example. Idle hands and minds equal mischief and trouble.
Luke 2:49 Jesus said, “How is it you sought me, I must be about my Father's business,” and so should we.
The devil takes every opportunity to enter our heads and minds and do his evil.
Proverbs 10: 4-5 Lazy hands make a poor man, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Proverbs 21 25 The sluggard’s craving will be his death because his hands refuse to work.
Amen
January 24, 2024
Regrets
Do we ever get through this world without regrets? I don’t think so; that would take a perfect person. There are none, only Christ is perfect. We all have things we regret doing or not doing. We live our lives to the fullest and learn.
Getting through regret means forgiving ourselves, which is a very hard thing to do. Christ accepts us as we are, flaws and all, he is the only one entirely without sin.
Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also received us to the Glory of God.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
Amen
January 31, 2024
This Old House
How often have you passed by an old house and thought, “If that house could only talk”? I’ve lived in a few of those. It leaves the question, “What makes a house a home?” We all know a house isn’t a home without God in it. You can bet that the old house has heard laughter, experienced tears and tragedy, saw good times and bad. Children grew up in it, and the old died in it.
A house is a building; a home is a place you feel you belong. Regardless of where you go in life or how long you are gone, you must go home.
Proverbs 24:3-4 A house is built by wisdom and strengthens through good sense. Through knowledge, its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
John 14: 1-6 In my house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.
We must never lose sight of the most important home of all, our heavenly home with our Lord and loved ones.
Amen
February 6, 2024
Appreciate What You Have
Dottie West summoned it up for me when she wrote the song “Country Girl.” I was born a country girl, and I will die a country girl. It goes on. My world is made up of blue skies and sunshine.
My Mother once said about me, “You can take the girl from the country, but you can’t take the country from the girl.” Regardless of where we are born, God puts blessings all around us.
Corinthians 9:8-10 “And God can bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times. Having all that you need, you’ll abound in every good work. As it is written: They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, and their rightlessness’ endures forever.
We need to count our blessings and be grateful. Be grateful we can see those blue skies and God’s beauty. Helen Keller said, “Better to be blind and see with your heart and to have two good eyes and see nothing”.
She also said, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision.” Think about the blessings of love, peace of mind, and forgiveness.
Ephesians 4: 30-31-32 Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by how you live; remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing you will be saved on the day of redemption. God rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Amen
February 14, 2024
What is Love?
1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way: it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
John 13:34 Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
John 1 4-8: “God is love”.
We must do all things in love. If we don’t, it’s meaningless. A heart that is kind and full of love is a good person. Putting others before yourself is the true definition.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present or things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us”. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:31 thru 13:13
So much to learn about that simple little word “LOVE.”
Additional verses, John15:13, Galatians 5:22, John 3:1
Amen
Have a Happy Valentine's Day this week, filled with much LOVE!
February 21, 2024
Now For the Rest of the Story
At the end of every story, Paul Harvey would say” " Now for the rest of the story.” I miss his voice and those stories.
You see, God gave us the rest of the story. Regardless of the subject. How good, or bad, or scary? All the known and the unknown, the answers to life’s stories, through the Bible and scripture.
When we give our heart and life to Christ and ask for his forgiveness, as human beings we sin live the 10 commandments. The rest of the story is eternal life in heaven with our Savior and loved ones.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.
Read Psalm 23. Now you know the rest of the story.
Amen
March 1, 2024
God's Country
For those of us who have been in awe at what we were seeing and experiencing. The beauty of this country, we speak aloud, “Wow, this is God’s Country,” and it is.
I have been thinking about how we will describe Heaven when we see it. The Lord has given us such beauty on earth; I can’t imagine what he’s prepared for us in heaven.
Jesus told the thief who hung on the cross beside him; today you will be in paradise. Revelations give us a version of the Garden of Eden. Humans will be reconciled with God and one another.
Matthew 6:33, Jesus told us we should “seek first” the Kingdom of Heaven, that is, that the realization of heaven should be our principal goal in every Christian’s life.
God’s creations are marvelous; there is a future place, an external dwelling far exceeding anything we can ever behold.
John 14, 2-3 Heaven has mansions where we will dwell with Jesus.
These promises he has given us take away all fear and doubt and leave us knowing, indeed, it’s “God’s Country.”
Amen
March 6, 2024
The Cross
To some, the cross brings cheer. To others, it brings fear. It can bring comfort or reveal the corruption of a human heart. Remember the reason for the cross: because of our sins, Christ had to die on it.
The seven things that Jesus said on the cross.
1. Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.
2. Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.
3. Woman, behold thy son, behold thy Mother.
4. My God, My God, why have thou forsaken me?
5. I thirst.
6. It is finished.
7. Father, into my hands, I command my spirit.
Galatians 6:14 God forbid that I boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 11:25 -26 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
Amen
March 13, 2024
Peer Pressure Doesn't Just Happen to Teenagers
Godly influence is the answer, whether we are young or old. Never has this been more true than in our world today.
Satan’s influence is pulling at our youngest children. What they see and hear today is being thrust upon them by Satan himself. He teaches his followers to make sin look normal, make it look fun, and do no harm in it.
As Christians, we know better; we know the outcome. The devil wants you to believe there is no God, no hell. We know different things; we know the Bible, and we know the truth. We know God’s promises.
God’s only son, Jesus, died on the cross bearing our sins so that we will have eternal life. He rolled that boulder away from his grave and showed us all that “who believes in me shall never die.”
God’s answer to eternal life, among many, is:
Luke 10:25 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Read Matthew 19: 16-22 and Exodus 20: 1-17 (The 10 Commandments)
Amen
Eric is our associate pastor, working with outreach and youth ministry as well as adult discipleship and growth. Eric retired from a 28-year career in public education as a high school band director in 2019 and is now living his lifelong dream as a pastor. Eric and his wife, Diana, continue to live in Henry County where they have been lifetime residents. They "raised" three children and are now making their best attempt at "raising" themselves.