Meeting Place

There is a street in Charleston, S.C. called Meeting Street.

I suppose there are "Meeting Streets" in many states, dotting across our land. The name was derived, I suppose, from the very words which entitle it. That particular place was somewhere people gathered to meet.

In 33 A.D,, in Jerusalem Jesus met some people in the most unusual and unexpected places. He met one man in a tree, others at dinner tables, in fishing boats and beds of sickness. He met a woman right out of a bed of prostitution, and he met thousands at a fish- and -bread picnic. He met his closest companions on earth at a beach side breakfast feast, and met a huge gathering of folks on a Judiean hillside coliseum.

The reason His "meeting places" were in such unusual settings was that Jesus met folks where they were. He called them to follow Him, and many did so.

Have you had a meeting with Jesus? If not, you may not be listening carefully, for He calls all of humanity to meet with Him and then follow Him. Your location or position in life is immaterial - He will meet you wherever you are- as he exemplified in the Bible.

Easter Sunday

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Mark 16:5-6

Our journey of Lent has come to an end. We now celebrate Easter—the day that Christ was raised from the dead. For Christians, Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the most significant event in history. Without Easter Sunday, the name of Jesus would be about as recognizable as the name Theudas. Who, you may ask, is Theudas? That's the point. He lived in Israel several years before Jesus. He was, in his time, a popular prophet and teacher. He attracted hundreds of followers proclaiming that he was the Messiah. But when he offended the wrong people, he was put to death.

Sound familiar so far? Then why haven't we ever heard of him? Because after his death his followers scattered and went on to other things, andthe world soon forgot about Theudas. When Jesus died, it looked like the same thing would happen. Before Jesus was dead, the majority ofhis followers had deserted him stating that his teachings were too hard (John 6:53-66). When Jesus died, it appeared that his cause would die with him, and that he would become as obscure as Theudas.

But oddly enough, it didn't happen that way. The followers of Jesus didn't fade into oblivion. In fact, they all came back bolder and more courageous than ever before. What happened? What made the difference? The resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday made the difference. Jesus died. They put him in a tomb. And everyone assumed that this was the end of the story. But a new story was beginning as God raised Jesus from the dead.

Seeing first hand resurrection appearances of Jesus changed the disciples'perspective on life. Their encounter with the risen Christ filled them with grace upon grace. Have you had an encounter with the risen Christ? Has Christ changed your perspective on life? Celebrate Christ's death and resurrection as you create space for grace in your lives. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Prayer: Holy God, you raised up Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. By your Holy Spirit, help us to witness to him so that those who have not yet encountered him may come to believe that Christ has died; Christ is resurrected and Christ will come again! Amen.

Holy Saturday

God is with Us

I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and he answered me and put me in a good place. The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid of what man can do to me. Psalm 118:5-6

How many of us believe we are in control of our lives? We go along making decisions and plans. But it isn't until our lives go wrong that we will call out to God. We call on him to repair what we have damaged when it would have been so much simpler to speak with him first. When asking for God's advice and guidance the most important thing for us to do is to listen. God will answer us. He will whisper in our ears, and show us the right path through our life experiences. God will care for us and watch over us.

And what happens when things go wrong that we could not have even anticipated? God is still there for us. He will still answer us and send uson the right course. Our faith in God will see us through any trial. Put your faith in God. He will take your problems and make them his own. The ultimate example of this is God sending his son Jesus to die for us. As Samuel Wesley said in a poem: "Behold the Savior of mankind, nailed to the shameful tree; how vast the love that him inclined, to bleed and die for thee."

While I was in the process of writing this devotional, I had a few things go wrong in my life. The problems ranged from medical concerns to automobile-related issues. When it became all too consuming, I took my own advice: I sat down to talk with God. The problems are still there, but I am no longer overwhelmed. Peace came over me because I know, "the Lord is with me."

Pamelia J. Mayne

Prayer: Father, thank you for today and all that it brings. I know that you are beside me and if I listen to you, I will receive your guidance. Amen.

Good Friday

Shedding Tears

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." …After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." …When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 18:25-27; 28, 30

Good Friday is God's Friday. It is when we celebrate the Passover when Jesus, "the Lamb of God," was crucified and died for our sins. Like a funeral service, it was a dark day when the disciples were scattered and Jesus' mother wept. It was a day for tears. When I visited the Western Wall (a.k.a. the "Wailing Wall") in Jerusalem several years ago, I experienced the emotion of what many must have felt during the first Good Friday. I witnessed hundreds of people weeping over a piece of paper as they pressed toward the wall looking toward heaven.

I remember shedding tears over relationships and broken friendships. Even though I was taught that men don't cry, I could not overcome the powerful emotions that I felt that caused tears to well up in my eyes. The eyes are the windows to the soul and shedding tears is the soul's way of expressing the deep emotions of joy and pain. So when we cry, our souls are expressing heartfelt grief and sorrow. The shortest verse in the Bible comes to mind when I think about Good Friday and reminisce about my trip to the Western Wall: Jesus wept.

It was while Jesus was in Bethany that he joined Lazarus' sisters and friends in weeping at Lazarus' tomb. One of his best friends had died, and he was aware that he too would soon be crucified. Psychologists suggest that tears are a cathartic way of dealing with heavily charged emotional situations. I have experienced that tears often clear our minds to help us find a way to deal with the problem we are facing.

Jesus solved the problem of Lazarus' death by crying with a loud voice, "Lazarus come out!" and he came forth from the tomb in burial clothes. The tears of pain were transformed into tears of joy. This is what Good Friday means! It is the day when Jesus bore our tears of sin on the cross and through God's power transformed us. Good Friday gives us the strength to face difficult and highly charged emotional situations. Our weeping will endure through the night, but joy will come in the morning!

Quincy D. Brown

Prayer: Forbid it Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. – from "When I Survey TheWondrous Cross," text by Lowell Mason, 1825

Maundy Thursday

Too Busy

Now when he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21

As the Pharisees eagerly awaited the end of time, they became so busy trying to do good works in the name of the Lord that they failed to see what was really important. Because their efforts were self-centered and not God-centered, they soon grew tired of doing works. The Pharisees failed to realize that salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. We must live each day by faith, rather than just works.

As Christ's followers, we must seek to live in this world, but not be of the world. We are encouraged not to worry as the Pharisees did. They were so obsessed with the Lord's coming that they missed his presencein their lives. Only God knows the exact day and hour of his return.

Many times we are so busy at being busy that we fail to find time to be alone with God. God is always around us, working everyday in our lives. We need to discover and use his energy as our source and comfort from day to day. Are you operating on his power as you seek to find his kingdom inside of you? Take time to recharge your spiritual batteries by spending time with him today.

Theresa Miller

Prayer: Lord God, please help me not to worry about troubles, but to seek you daily in all that I do. Let my service always be about you Lord, never me. Strengthen my faith day by day as I seek and experience your presence. Amen.

Wednesday in Holy Week

Dealing with Uncertainty

And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

There is a great deal of uncertainty in this world. With so many natural disasters throughout the world and contentious political issues swirling around us, it is hard for us to know who to trust. This verse helps us see that no matter what is happening in the world around us, God will always be there, helping and teaching us along the way.

God wants to use each situation to teach us and he gives us commandments to follow. All we have to do is trust in him and he will be there with us through all our trials and tribulations.

Many times we may feel as though we are all by ourselves. Like a battle between a powerhouse and an under dog, we feel like it's us against the world. It is during these times that God reminds us that it does not have to be this way. With God we will always have a companion to stand with us even until the end of the age.

Michelle Stewart

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise to be with me until the end of the age.

Tuesday in Holy Week

There's Hope

Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If you, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared. Psalm 130:1-4

David is crying to God from the depths of his soul because of his sinful actions. A rewriting of this verse might read, "Out of the depths of my sin I have cried to you." David's heart is weighed down with the "guilty stain" of his sin before a righteous God. It appears that at this momen the might even be more aware of the righteousness of God than even his own sin for he asks the Lord to simply hear his voice.

During David's despair and sorrow, which seems to almost break him, God shows comfort to him. The Lord reveals to David that if he should mark iniquities against guilty people then no one would stand. If God were not patient, gracious with redemption, and full of mercy, we would not stand a chance. There would be no hope. Yet there was hope forDavid and for us. David learned that there is forgiveness with God!

The Lord responded by forgiving David. David cried for God's favor as if he were the publican in the New Testament who cried, "Father, have mercy on me a sinner." It is essential to understand what David was going through because we too are in this depth of sin. We stand before God no more deserving of forgiveness than anyone else. Yet there is ahope for us and all humanity: God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ!

Mason Gentry

Prayer: O Holy God you owe us nothing. You would be completely just in not forgiving us of our crimes against your holiness. Please hear our cry today. God we cannot appease you with sacrifices or with works or else we would do it. But a broken and contrite heart, O Lord, you will not despise. You lift up the humble. You beautify the meek with salvation. So God we ask for your forgiveness of our sins and we pray that you will create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Hallelujah Lord, you make all things new! Amen.