Cedar Ridge Congregation -- Nashville, Tennessee
Do You Love Me?
Just like Simon, we are confronted with Jesus' penetrating question:
"Do you love me?" If we respond affirmatively, then we are
called to action -- "Feed my sheep."
We have been on a long journey, this sometimes frail and occasionally despairing church of ours. We have traveled so far and seen so much. But now the journey brings us home to see what we need to do, who we need to be. Here, in the comfort and security of our spiritual home, we can look to the horizon and imagine where it is God would have us go.
Then we see it. The path of the disciple begins at the doorstep of our home and winds off into the far distance. Its ending place is beyond our view and it is hard to know just where it will take us.
But then there is a voice. A steady, unchanging, compelling voice. "Come, follow me." And we go.
April 7, 2002, World Conference Address
President W. Grant McMurray
Ask For Wisdom
God doesn't hold back any of his good gifts.
One of His best gifts is wisdom so we can live a life that pleases him.
Ask Him for it. He won't criticize or belittle you for asking for wisdom.
He welcomes it. God wants to equip us with all the necessary tools to live for Him.
He'll freely give wisdom to us and then he'll help us use it in the best way possible.
Believe in Me
My heart broke as I heard limbs crash to the ground during the terrible winter ice storm. It was as if the trees themselves were screaming with the agony of the destruction that was happening. I felt helpless as the ice weighted the limbs beyond their endurance.
While cleaning up the many limbs scattered throughout the yard, I gave a prayer of thanks to the trees for sharing their abundance with my family as we stacked several cords of firewood for the next few years warmth.
Later in the year when the green leaves had covered the scars of the damage, all looked normal. The beautiful trees were once again sharing their shade and life-giving oxygen.
How similar this is to the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. There are times of great despair that we live through, but through faith and belief in Christ we may share new life.
Joni Wilson
Independence, Missouri
In Weakness We Are Strong
"Not my will but yours be done." (Luke 22:42 NRSV) Jesus spoke those words at the toughest time in his life. He was facing death and betrayal. He'd been asking God to let him escape from this cup of suffering. Yet in this time of weakness, Jesus' for children comes through with strength, "not my will but yours be done." In this time of weakness, Jesus showed strength.
When I was in sixth grade, I wanted to make the school basketball team more than anything. I didn't. I cried so hard that day when the coach did not call my name as a member of the team. I felt like the biggest loser in the world. But my mom told me the story mentioned above Jesus facing his toughest day and rising above the pain to give his very best. I am now a varsity high school basketball starter. I have been an all-state player once and an all- county player twice. I have learned that when we face our failures and our weaknesses, and use them as our motivation, then we become stronger than ever.
Not making the basketball team in the sixth grade was the best thing that ever happened to me. It made me a stronger athlete. I do not fear failing or my weaknesses. With Jesus and hard work, we truly do become strong in our weakness!
Jared Munson
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Put Aside Fear and Doubt
The early disciples were confused by Jesus' death and lived in fear of the Jews and Romans. In addition, Thomas proclaimed he "will not believe " unless he saw the mark of the nails. Like those early disciples, we are called to overcome fear and doubt and deepen our faith: "that through believing you may have life in his name."
Live by the Spirit
In Galatians 5:1, 13-25. Paul encouraged the church members to focus on one of the most important elements of Christian discipleship: "Love your meighbor as yourself." Following the leading of the Holy Spirit