Love is Patient

by Laura Courtney
 
In this world or instantaneousness, we have little time for patience. Drive-thru windows everywhere, curbside and  in-store pick up options in even greater abundance after Covid, being able to instantly Google or “Hey Siri” any question we have and have an immediate answer (example: “Hey Siri, what’s an Encyclopedia for?”).
 

So when we talk to God we expect the same response. An immediate answer to prayer. An instantaneous sign for the next step we are to take. But as we heard in church just a few weeks ago, God’s answer can sometimes be, “No, not right now.” Or those dreaded words, “Just wait.”

We hate the words waiting and patience. I think for many of us we automatically picture sitting in a line at the DMV (although that is probably more quickly paced these days too). We don’t want to wait. We don’t like not knowing. We don’t want to practice being patient.

You wanna talk about patience… how about 400 years of waiting?! God’s people waited 400 years for a Messiah and Savior to come. This time period is often called the “400 Years of Silence”.

But just because we don’t hear God (or sometimes we may just think we don’t hear Him), doesn’t mean we are alone or that He is not working. He does not move slowly; He moves perfectly. He works all things out for the good and He is walking alongside us all the while.

If you are feeling like you are stuck waiting, if you feel like your prayers are not being answered, if you feel like God is silent… open your Bible. Open His word and see how He works and how He is faithful in all He promises. If He has promised it, He will not fail or forget or withhold the good things He has planned for you.

But He may ask you to wait.

But in that waiting He is orchestrating, moving, shaping, and preparing the way for you. I read this verse from Exodus and it reminds me of His power and work behind the scenes:

“I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.” (Exodus 23:29-30)

Don’t give up or assume your prayers are not heard because you don’t see the answer you want right when you want it. Trust in the Lord. Wait upon the Lord. And be patient for His perfect timing to bring about greater answers than you could ever even ask.

Because love is patient.


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Dear Class of 2021

YOU DID IT!
 
Congratulations to all graduates and fellow Class of 2021 celebrators! You graduated! You have spent the last (insert number here) years learning, growing, working and striving to achieve your hopes, goals and dreams. For some of you, it was hard. For others… it was really hard. But you all are now here, together, and have completed a great achievement!
 
You now face a new stage of your life: Will you go to college? A tech school? Enter the workforce? Travel abroad? There is no right and wrong choice (though if you weren’t very good at math in high school we’d encourage you to think some more before becoming a math major in college).
 
The most important choice you make, however, is if you will continue to allow God to speak into your life. Will you listen to His guiding and follow his direction? Will you pray to Him for clarity and help when you don’t know what to do? And will you continue to tell others about His goodness and faithfulness wherever He leads you?
 
There is no iPhone app, GPS device, road map or manual to show you all the steps and turns you need to make in your journey. But there is a Good Book that will help you find all the answers you need. It is our hope and prayer that you will carry that with you wherever you go, and trust in the God who walks alongside you.
 
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
 
If you are reading this, please join us as we pray for each of these graduates: for their future, their hopes, their dreams and their aspirations; and for God’s Word to guide their steps along the way. 
 
 
High School Graduates
 
Ashley Barstow
Graduating from: Bermudian Springs High School
Date of Graduation: June 4, 2021
Future Plans: Attending Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA for a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. Hopefully one day becoming a leader on an Intensive Care floor or Trauma floor.
 
Breanna Barstow
Graduating from: Bermudian Springs High School
Date of Graduation: June 4, 2021
Future Plans: Attending Liberty University to study Forensic Science and grow in my faith. My goal is to become a Forensic Scientist in the FBI or another federal agency.
 
Micah Freeman
Graduating from: South Western High School
Date of Graduation: January 16, 2021
Future Plans: Attending Lancaster Bible College with a dual major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Biblical Studies
 
Grace Slenker
Graduating from: Spring Grove High School
Date of Graduation: May 27, 2021
Future Plans: I will be attending Thomas College in Waterville, Maine to play for their field hockey team and major in Criminal Justice Homeland Security with a focus in Criminology in an accelerated program to get my Master’s in four years. After college, I will hopefully obtain a job with the federal government.
 
Cody Walker
Graduating from: Spring Grove High School
Date of Graduation: May 24, 2021
Future Plans: Working on the Dairy Farm at Walk-le Farms.
 
 
Congratulations Class of 2021!

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Scripture Focus: The Easter Story

The Last Supper

“When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?’ Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’ Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’”

“Jesus answered, ‘You have said so.’ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

(Matthew 26:20-30)

 

The Death of Jesus

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”

(Luke 23: 44-49)

 

Jesus Has Risen

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.’” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’”

(Matthew 28:1-10)


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In the Morning and the Evening

by Laura Enslen
 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Earlier this year, as we spent many more nights around the dinner table together as a family, we began singing this song for our prayer before the meal. These words are titled “The Doxology” and originate as the closing stanza to a collection of three hymns that Anglican Bishop Thomas Ken charged the church to sing “in the morning and the evening” when they were composed in 1709.

In the morning and the evening….
I had a conversation recently with a friend about prayer. We processed through the “why should we pray?” and the “what to do when God doesn’t answer like I want?” It occurred to both of us that we often come to prayer as a means of last
resort and often with a specific request that we want answered a specific way. Can you relate? As we discussed it though, we realized that often it gives us comfort to bring our requests to Him, to let Him minister to us, to make time in our day to invite Him in.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

In the morning and the evening. Pray continually.
We recently started a family prayer circle. There is no specific time of day…if it works in the morning, we can meet then. Maybe before bed works best one day. We light a candle and read a prayer to start and then take turns praying aloud. It was so awkward at first! No one really knew what to say, or whose turn it was, or why we were even doing this. Like He
always does, the Holy Spirit met us there though and prayers of peace, comfort, thankfulness and requests for His help have been prayed over during that time.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26 & 27

In the morning and the evening. Pray continually. The Spirit helps us.

Lord, I thank you that you have made a way for us to talk to you. Help us to reach out to you more in prayer. You hear us in the quick one- or two-word prayers, in the times when we have a lot to say, and in the times when words do not even come. Thank you for sending your Spirit to intercede for us and thank you for all the ways you answer our prayers. We trust you and we love you Lord. Amen.


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A Cross With Splinters

by Herman Crawford
 

“And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, ‘Who do the people say that I am?’ They answered and said, ‘John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.’ And He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Peter answered and said, ‘The Christ of God.’ But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed (slain) and be raised on the third day.’” (Luke 9:18-22)

I mentioned in my previous devotional that I am in the process of reading Francis Schaffer’s book True Spirituality. He points out three specific things from the reading above that we must endure in order for us to truly be followers of Christ.

1. Must be rejected – in this instance it was rejection by the Elders and religious leaders of the day. For us, it may be family, it may be friends, and for sure, the world in general. We can read and see today how the Church (that’s us) is under attack. We will be rejected.

2. Must be killed/slain – In Luke 14:27, we read: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” What is the purpose of the cross? People die on them. Not only do we as followers of Jesus die on it, we do so daily (Luke 9:23). Schaffer says that “there are splinters in the Christian’s cross” as we are surrounded in this life by things that are alien to God. We die to ourselves daily to live for Christ!

3. Must be raised – Romans 6:1-7 – “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? Far from it! How shall we who died to sin (Note: point 2 – slain) still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in
newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the
likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for the one who has died is freed from sin.” Our sinful life died with Christ upon accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, but thanks be to God our resurrected life (new creation)
began at that time as well.

So, as we look at the death and resurrection of Jesus at this Easter season, do you really identify with Him in the sense that you have been rejected, slain, and now risen? Does this make sense? Study the Scripture passages above. Meditate on them. Have you felt the splinters of your daily cross?

God, help us as we struggle daily to live as you desire us to live. Amen.


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Musick

by Joe Becker
 

Too young to be marked by the ‘flowers and powers’ of the 60s, our young minds got ‘blown away’ by riding Schwinn bikes through any pasture or water, allured by the promise of pan fish over a campfire. Those days we carried transistor radios tuned to AM stations all day long, then we’d turn to Orioles Baseball in the cool of the evening. By the end of “The Summer of Love”, 1967, I was still a ten-year-old centerfielder in pinstripes and stirrups of Heidelberg blue. Today, all this stuff gets termed “vintage” somehow—like a pinot noir.

Back then there was little regard for the Byrds or Woodstock. But, four summer vacations later, the flip of a switch, literally, offered us the new venue of Starview, WRHY on the FM dial. Happily, when it first aired in 1972, its format included a good measure of folk music.

During that same year, Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, would release “Greenwood”, perhaps the most poignant song I had ever heard. The chorus comes from the Gospel of Luke.

“…if we do these things in the greenwood,
What will happen in the dry?”

These are the recorded words of Christ in Luke 23:31. Nowhere else in Scripture is there another reference to it. Yet here I believe God, with His most serious Face, is still speaking to us today. “…As His Message was being rejected when He was physically present, how much more it would be rejected in the coming years.” (NIV commentary).

Until Today, within this dear season of Lent, our focus on the Lord’s devotion to us has never been more vital to me. For I know the women along the Via Dolorosa (sorrowful way) were supposed to be weeping for us, as the Lord was sure of His appointment with His final work on the cross. These days, current events remind me of how needful our world is.

“It’s you and me and we must make the choice now, and not destroy the life we’re living for…” (Yarrow, Peter. “Greenwood”)

May we be ever inclined to prayer, that our children’s children grow to understand just how dry the wood is.


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