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.
June 12, 2024
Time
Youth gives us a false sense of time. Thinking we’ll fix it, change our ways, and most importantly, give our lives to God tomorrow. That false feeling we’ll be here tomorrow. If we are lucky enough to see those tomorrows we don’t realize how fast they will go.
Benjamin Franklin said “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. “If only we knew making those decisions today our tomorrows would be much better.
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.
James 4:14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow may bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, a time to pluck up which is planted. A time to kill and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
We must learn to use our time wisely wisely. Read and study the Bible about time and how important every moment is. Always keep in mind when life here on earth is gone, eternity awaits.
Amen
June 24, 2024
It's All in How You Look at It
An example is seeing your cup half empty or half full.
We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses, “Abraham Lincoln”.
Positive attitudes mean you are always looking for the good. This gives us a happier and healthier life. After the rain comes the rainbow, sometimes we have to look for it.
We need to accept some circumstances. This is where we need faith, accepting God knows best, this is his plan as he sees the whole picture.
1 Corinthians 13:12 All I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me.
Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Amen
July 4, 2024
Our Country's Birthday
This week we celebrate our Country's birthday. God has been so good to us, our freedoms are many. Those freedoms weren’t just given to us, many have died for them.
Our country was founded in our faith and our dear Lord. “In God We Trust” first appeared on the two-cent piece in 1894. In July 1955 President Dwight Eisenhower passed a resolution requiring “In God We Trust” be on all American currency. The word God is mentioned at least once in each of the 50 state constitutions.
The right to worship, choose our faith, and live in our faith is our greatest blessing. Never take it for granted.
As Christians, we must pray every day that we have the right to publically stand on the promises of God.
Ephesians 6:11-16 provides us with advice as to how to stand firm with the Lord. Verse 11, Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
The devil wants our morals, values, and faith gone! Let’s put on that armor and stand firm.
GOD BLESS AMERICA,
Amen
July 11, 2024
Faith
Hebrews 11:1: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
What is the difference between faith and belief? I always said “Faith is not believing God can, it’s knowing God's will.”
Faith also refers to a church denomination such as the Catholic faith, the Christian faith, and so on.
For me, it isn’t a complicated thing at all. Some refer to it as something you can’t touch or feel; you just have to hope it’s true. To me, it’s much more. To begin with I can touch it. When I hold my Grandchildren, see the sunrise; look at all God’s beauty. I see his miracles all around me. My faith is strong and it leaves me no doubt.
Romans 5:1 Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
July 18, 2024
A Little Kindness Goes A Long Way
Has anyone told you lately how special you are? Well, I’m telling you now you are.
Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.
Mark Twain once said, “he could live two months on a good compliment.” A pat on the back, a hug, and a word of encouragement can change a life. Being good to others makes you feel better about yourself.
Putting others' needs before your own is the ultimate act of love and caring. Compassion for others is vital.
Ephesians 4:32 ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”.
Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude and was moved by compassion, and he healed their sick.
Life is so short live it with a good heart. Making our life and someone else's a little better.
Amen
July 25, 2024
Thinking About God
As I age, there are more and more days that I awaken and my mind goes directly to the pain in my lower back. It distracts me throughout my morning routine. I sit up in bed, place my feet on the floor, stumble to the restroom, shower, brush my teeth, put my arms in my shirt, my legs in my pants, and attempt to reach down and tie my shoes. My mind continually goes to my lower back pain. Our lives are much like this as we navigate day-to-day life in 2024. We are bombarded with past injuries and bad news for the day.
As a reminder, Jesus’ time on earth was not much different. The gospels tell us that he faced family issues, physical struggles, poverty, homelessness, and death. Throughout his ministry, he was bombarded by the needs of everyone that surrounded him. Everything from providing wine for the wedding guest to bringing his friend back from the dead became part of the weight he carried. All of this piled on while at the very same time, Jesus knew that his crucifixion was pending. Like us, Jesus was dealing with life that was bombarding him.
You and I are distracted with old injuries; physical injuries, relationship injuries, financial injuries, and alike. They all can become distracting. It is also easy to pile on problems at work and daily struggles. We can even become distracted by the sadness of our world. Political unrest, violence, abused children, and other evils take our thoughts and minds captive. I just want to encourage you to remember that as followers of Christ, this is not the world that we live for. This is not where our true citizenship is. Don’t let your back pain distract you! Refocus!
Paul gives us our focus in Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true (God), whatever is noble (God), whatever is right (God), whatever is pure (God), whatever is lovely (God), whatever is admirable (God)-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy (God), think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you.”
August 21, 2024
Learn to Listen
Being there for them is one of our greatest gifts to a friend or family. That means giving up our time and learning to listen.
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear, let them listen.
Philippians 2: 3-4 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his interest but also to the interest of others.
James 1:19 Know this my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
There is as much wisdom in listening as in speaking. The art of conversation lies in listening. Malcolm Forbes
When we talk to God in prayer, remember to let him speak, and when he speaks listen.
Amish Proverb: Think ten times, speak once.
Our friends and loved ones often need our ears and shoulders more than our mouths.
Proverbs 9:9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wise still: Teach, a righteous man who will add to his learning.
When you listen you learn,
Amen
August 28, 2024
Hate: Why So Much of It?
It’s always been with us. Brothers Cain and Able taught us that when one killed the other. There always have been wars and rumors of wars. Hatred comes from close-minded people. They are unable to compromise or see any other thought, but their own.
We live in a time that shows us the worst of people. Technology brings it into our homes daily. It teaches our children to become numb, their computer games are violent.
We are not born feeling hate. Humans are supposed to be filled with love and respect. Hate is taught. It wasn’t until man disobeyed God that hate and evil appeared.
We want our children to be happy, well-adjusted children and adults.
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.
We can be happy peaceful people once we accept Christ. Scripture gives us the answer to all things. There is no greater peace than when we know the Lord.
John 15:11 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice”.
Amen
September 4, 2024
Change
I must admit I never liked change; if I liked something I had no desire to change it. I also liked the adage, “If it’s not broken don’t fix it.”
I know all things change, age and time see to that. Everything in this world is constantly changing.
The Bible teaches us that God’s word never changes and that we must embrace change when it comes to God.
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you.
Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord never change”.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Our most important change is to be born again. Except Christ as our Savior and prepare for eternity.
Remember the Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
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.