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Adult Workers Devotional Archive
Home! Away from Home! I had just received admission to Africa University in Zimbabwe and had to leave my friends and family members for this journey. My first year was spent on the school campus without a place to visit and without making any real friends. None of my classmates who were from Zimbabwe ever invited me to their homes, even when I offered to pay all the travel expenses!
Strangers at the Gate At the gate of our university, Africa University (AU) in Zimbabwe, there lived two mentally challenged children, both boys. As AU students pass in and out of campus these children are seen laying there from morning to evening waiting to eat some of the left-over food that would be thrown from the university dining hall. It was discovered that these children had brothers and sisters and that the entire family was barely struggling to live. Sunday Service in the Open Sun! Serving God in many parts of the globe is often defined as what feels comfortable. But, in some parts of the world, Christians worship and serve the Lord despite the harsh situations they experience. Difficulties named in Romans 8 like tribulation, distress, persecution, famine and nakedness are real for many people. Ask, Seek and Knock In June 1999, I was selected by the UMC Nigeria Conference with four others to attend a Missioner of Hope Training Program in Kitwe, Zambia. We started the drive at 7 pm on the Thursday before our Sunday flights. As we negotiated a bend in the road, lo and behold, armed robbers had blocked the roads with very big stones and were hiding near the road... God’s Constant Presence Finally, the day has come. You are leaving home for campus life! Your bags, suitcases, boxes and other types of containers are packed and you are ready for the adventure. You are finally leaving home and anxious to be on your own. But remember, growing up does not mean growing out of a relationship with God, it means growing into a relationship with God more deeply. Home At some point in the last two years, I became my church’s designated house-sitter. While I go through the same motions that I would go through at my house — eating, sleeping, showering and reading – there is always the realization that I am not in my own home. Something is missing. Answer As I grew up, I had a passion to serve God and to maintain my faith in Jesus despite the pressure I faced amongst my peers. At some point in my life I felt called into pastoral ministry; but, like Isaiah, I felt very inadequate and insecure. Thrift Store Meditation Everything has value, some things more than others. In the marketplace three things seem to determine value: 1) Who made it? 2) How much is someone willing to pay for it? 3) Is it difficult to find – is it scarce? God Will Wipe Away Every Tear! It was Sunday morning July 04, 2004. After three (3) years of marriage, it was over! My beloved wife passed away to glory!! She collapsed in the bathroom and by the time the medical personnel came it was too late. For me, this was too early. I was greatly troubled and bitter. "Where is God?" I asked. Faith and Academics: The Necessary Alliance Have you ever wondered if there is a positive relationship between faith and academics? Speaking from my own experience, the response is, “Absolutely!” Who is Winning? We all love to win, don’t we? When I think of winning, one young university student comes to mind. I enjoy listening to her voice as she says, “We are winning!” when her team is leading at a football game. Even when the game is in the first quarter, she gives the good report, “We are winning!” as long as her team is ahead. Worship for the College Community Prayers of Welcome, for Orientation, for Athletes, for Examination time; Services of Celebration and Welcome, of Healing & Benediction, and much more... The Despised: God’s Heroes! God has a plan for all humanity to prosper and to give hope for the future of all who put their trust in Him. One of the devastating things that distorts our society, is the social class differences that exist amongst people of all nations. Some are very rich; some are just able to meet life’s needs. And, others are, by all standards, very poor. And, as a result of their poverty, they are despised by their community. What is Salt? Jesus summarized the conduct that leads to a successful life in the Beatitudes, a portion of the scripture commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-11). After this great lesson, Jesus added, “You are the salt of the earth;” (Matt 5:13). Have you ever wondered why salt is important? Harvest Devotional and Prayer In many places around the world, harvest time brings people together. Whatever the gift – hard work, cooking, storytelling, childcare, singing, dancing, or praying – all were utilized, all were received Who Are We in Christ Jesus? I am fully persuaded and convicted that our God, is a God of purpose who has created us, on purpose, for a purpose. For example, the various aspects of creation were purposefully made – like the sun for the day and the moon for the night. The creation of humanity is no different. Genesis 1:26 tells us that God first thought about how to create humanity. Then God fashioned us in God’s own image and gave us the purpose of being stewards over all the earth. Verse 28 elaborates on humanity’s purpose, saying we should be fruitful and multiply. Hurricane ____________________________ This is not a devotion about Hurricane Katrina or Gustav or Ike. It's about Hurricane Yours Truly. Hurricane Mitch. Life Amid Death I began year 2006 in Uganda, my birth place. It was my first time to return after living in the U.S. for twenty-one consecutive years. Yes, twenty-one years! I had left during the unrest following Idi Amin's rule. After rescuing my two children at that time, I bought a one-way ticket to the U.S. Thoughts of ever returning to Uganda were very distant. Where do you look for God? I started year 2007 by visiting my daughter and grandchildren who live in Jacksonville , Florida . One afternoon, we drove to the beach. Seeing the big ocean was life-changing, for me. I grew up in a land-locked country where Lake Victoria was the largest mass of water I had ever seen. I also saw rivers and other lakes, but nothing as large as an ocean! Disconnecting for Reconnection Three of the Gospels tell the same story of Jesus going into the wilderness: there he experiences a testing and focusing of his spirit and his purpose. When he comes back into the community, his formal ministry begins. We usually read this story and see in it a model for personal spiritual discipline. As I reflect on my years in ministry, especially the many formative ones in youth ministry, I see another possibility. What is the Source of Your News? I was in Kampala during the 1979 war that ousted Idi Amin from power. It was a time of fear, pain and heartache. As bombs fell and buildings collapsed, family members often huddled together, hoping and praying that peace would return. Especially during the final days of the war, we searched constantly for the latest news. New Year's Resolution The New Year comes with much excitement. In many parts of the world, people celebrate and wait till midnight of December 31st to say "bye" to the old year and to welcome the new year. When midnight strikes, the words "Happy New Year" are said in many languages.
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