Posts by GSUMC Devotional

Childlike faith means you’re content because you trust God. You aren’t anxious or fretabout everything that goes wrong. You have a childlike approach to life when living in agrown-up body but don’t respond childishly because you have a mature mind.I Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child; Imade plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways.”If you spend time with children, it’s easy to…

I love love. More specifically, I love the idea of love. That kind of storybook love will overcome any challenge. The kind of love that you can’t help but fall into. I recently rewatched the classic 80’s film The Princess Bride. And that movie is one of the best movies ever made (don’t try to change my mind). In it, a sick boy’s grandfather reads him the story of a farm boy-turned-pirate named Westley who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies, and…

Ephesians 4:1-6As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of…

Peace is a Person. “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” John 16:33 Last week’s devotional hit on trials. Clearly the above verse states in no uncertain terms that we will all face our own trials. My story is filled with its own unique trials through which God has answered prayers and done numerous wonderful things. For the…

Devotional for the Week of February 19, 2023 (Transfiguration Sunday)Written by Krista Parnin The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron…

Scout Sunday Service at Good Shepherd United Methodist Sunday, February 12, 2023 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them, he was hungry. Luke 4:1-2 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp,…

Not Seen or Heard  I don’t really remember what I was doing. I think I was around 10 years old at the time, but “1 Corinthians 2:9” just popped in my head. Not the actual verse, but where to look it up.  My ability to recite scripture is a bit lacking. I was the kind of child in Sunday school when asked for a “memory” verse would blurt out, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). I was always terrified that someone would…

Share Your God Sightings The man from whom the demons had gone begged to come along with Jesus as one of his disciples. Jesus sent him away, saying “return home and tell the story of what God has done for you. “So, he went throughout the city proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.  (Luke 6: 38 – 49) A Barna study indicated that only 78% of Christians share information about how they have been blessed by God. When I…

When I need to get my head out of the “noise” of the world, I like to take a long walk in the park or a hike through the woods.  Something is cleansing about being surrounded by nature, clearing all thoughts from my mind and allowing my senses to experience God’s creation…breathing in the fresh air, listening to the bird’s joyful songs, watching squirrels go about their busy work, the calming sound of a rustling creek.  I was on one…

The Baptism of Jesus Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.  But John tried to talk him out of it.  “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”  So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water,…

It’s the day after Christmas. The glow on the tree is just a little dimmer because the anticipation of the day is now past. So often, we act as though Christmas ends on the evening of December 25. “Now, ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to our after-Christmas clearance sales, football games, and New Year’s Eve parties.” But there’s a lot wrong with shutting down the Christmas spirit the day after. No wonder people get the Christmas blues. To…