Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - a blessing for when gratitude feels
hard to come by - Kate Bowler
God, I am struggling to find my way toward gratitude.
Help my heart find joy, for you know how much I need it.
Come meet us in our needs that weigh so heavily upon us.
Blessed are we who come to you just as we are,
with our loneliness and loss, our scarcity and sorrow,
and say God, there is just not enough.
Though we’re not even supposed to say it today,
there is just not enough to go on:
not enough money to pay bills,
not enough jobs, nor safety for those who have them,
not enough wisdom to find solutions,
not enough strength or comfort or connection. Things are just harder now.
Blessed are we who say, God,
could you come meet us here,
in this place?
This place of need where our feelings don’t match the day?
Blessed are we who hear You saying:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”
And we come.
And somehow there is rest,
and gladness for tiny, tiny graces.
Blessed are we, the truly thankful.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 – “Many Tears” by P. Williams
I just could not write a happy poem today
My heart is heavy over Hurricane Helene
So many roads torn up … so much devastation
Almost No power anywhere in the mountains of NC
The town of Chimney Rock is gone.
All I could think of was how long it will take to fix it… Years!
No Water, No electricity, No groceries, no drug stores…
No nothing, no restaurants, Nothing
People can hardly help themselves and they
Are used to helping others… Even Now
They will open their doors and help their neighbors
Chain saws… tractors, food, help their neighbors
So many people right now need everything
Due to this historic devastation
More than anything they need our prayers
All roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed
We really have not seen all of the damage
It will take time for flood water to go down.
44 people died… I-40 is crumbling down the mountain
So much time to Repair and Replace… bridges, pavement
How long… What will people do?
What can they do? How do you fix this?
Please pray for all of the victims of Hurricane Helena.
Pray for Western North Carolina
God Bless each one of you, Amen
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 - “My Restart Button” from Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians 4:17 – Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory.
I am an 81-year-old architectural designer. When I went blind in one eye at age 70, I found manual drafting almost
impossible. My son introduced me to computer-aided drafting, which was a new way of working for me but allowed
me to continue my work. As I was learning to use the software, I often pushed wrong buttons and encountered
problems. The remedy was almost always the same: restart the computer.
I have had serious problems — financial struggles, business or career setbacks, health issues, bereavements, illness,
worry, and shame. But in such times the Holy Spirit reminds me: “Have peace, pray, and restart.” And the greatest
restart of my life was at age 16 when I knelt before the cross, confessed my sins, and asked Jesus to restart my life in
his covenant.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 – Use Me, Lord – J. Klepfer
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me
will find it.
Saturday, September 14, 2024 – “Beautiful Sunshine” by P. Williams
The humidity is low…. The sun is high
What beautiful weather have you and I
Yards got greener and hay fields too
Makes for a great view whatever you do
Go for a walk or ride to the store
The Weather has been really top score
Fall is here… the air is crisp
And lots of the trees you see… color has kissed
Soon they will all be Yellow and Red
Sweatshirts and sweaters and boots you said!
This is the season to Love taking a ride
Load up the car… Picnic basket inside
Out in the country… Pumpkins are being picked
Along with the sileage being cut for cows to lick
The pumpkin harvest… their fate is sealed
Picked and graded in the field
A Jack-O-Lantern it can be
Or a pumpkin pie is neat for me!
So think of the farmer this week
He’s been busy and you get the treat!
So go on a picnic… enjoy the beginning
Fall is here and the clock is spinning!
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 – “Good Gifts” from Daily Devotions
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in
heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11
Three-year-old Kate had spent a day with me the previous week, and she delighted in the strawberries I had given
her as a snack. When I picked her up again, her first words to me were, “Do you have strawberries?” I told her I
didn’t, and I watched her eyes cloud and her smile fade. I quickly added, “But I do have oranges and bananas.”
Kate’s eyes brightened, and she excitedly exclaimed, “Yeah, I like those too!” Kate enjoyed the oranges and bananas
as much as she had enjoyed the strawberries.
This sweet interaction with Kate made me ponder our responses to God. We often ask for blessings and hope to
receive the same gifts we were given before. But God may have a different gift in store for us. Do we respond posi-
tively to God’s good gift or do we wish for something else?
When we pray, we should be open to the gifts that God has for us in the present. James tells us, “Every good and
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (Jas. 1:17). God has a variety of
gifts and blessings to offer, and each one may be different than the last. We can anticipate them all with the excite-
ment and joy of a child.
Saturday, September 7, 2024 “Where Were You?”
Once upon a time I went to the 9/11 disaster…
Seems like just yesterday but it has been 22 years.
Where were you on 9/11… It has become a part of the fabric
of American life. Where were you?
In NYC I was surrounded by Heros…
New York Police Department
Fire Department of New York
Emergency Ambulance crews
These were the true heros.
The American Red Cross, where I volunteered as a disaster services supervisor
for almost 10 years, is not a Charity…
It is a gift from the American People.
I am honored to have served them and you.
I will miss you tomorrow as I will be speaking about my 9-11 experience
at New Covenant Church in Ennice, NC.
God Bless you all.
See you Next Sunday.
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 – Reading found on Facebook
GOD wanted to create fish, He spoke to the sea. GOD wanted to create trees, He spoke to the earth. But, when
GOD wanted to create man, He turned to himself. Then, God said “Let us make man in our image and in our likeness.
If you take a fish out of water, it will die, and when you remove a tree from soil, it will also die. Likewise, when man
is disconnected from GOD, he dies.
GOD is our natural environment. We were created to live in HIS presence. We have to be connected to HIM because
it is only in HIM that life exists. Let us stay connected to GOD.
We recall that water without fish is still water, but fish without water is nothing. The soil without a tree is still soil, but
the tree without soil is nothing. GOD without man is still GOD, but man without GOD is nothing.
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 – “Jumping the Hurdles” from Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only
One gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Hurdlers are incredibly focused. During a race they have no time to look back, even if they knock over a hurdle.
They focus on their pace and performance from one step to the next.
Life is full of hurdles too. But I have found that my faith keeps me motivated when I face obstacles. In the past
decade, I’ve written and been published in numerous inspirational resources. But more recently, I felt God calling
me to write a Christmas devotional book. I enjoy study, research, and writing, but formatting a book and creating
a cover design have been a constant frustration. When I have run into technical glitches I’ve wanted to give up,
but my husband has urged me to keep pushing forward. I am now in the final part of the race — the book is
formatted, and I’m finalizing the cover.
When we feel God’s calling, it’s best to remember the reason we’re here. It’s not about us and our triumphs; our
focus is to give glory to God in all we do. We may stumble over spiritual, emotional, or physical hurdles, but they
shouldn’t deter us from completing God’s plan for us. With Jesus as our role model, we have assurance that
we’ll finish our race.
Saturday, August 24, 2024 – “Open the Door” by P. Williams
This week the weather was so beautiful
You could just feel God’s presence outside.
Warm sun on your face
Cool breeze… No humidity to make it sticky
Next week will be hot and miserable again
But this past week gave us a glimpse into fall
A season of comfort and anticipation
Come Fall and: the anniversary of 9/11
Labor Day, Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving and Christmas
Gues we are getting ready to “Open the Door”
To so many things to be thankful for every day.
Labor Day to celebrate the “working man”
Veteran’s Day to honor “everyone who has served in military service”
Thanksgiving time to “gather and be Thankful for family”
Christmas “a special day to be thankful for “Him”
Then… the door closes and we have rest
A time to sit back, relax, and contemplate
To be Thankful for all of our Blessings
Given us by God and for Jesus Christ
who gave us the Ultimate gift
Forgiveness for our sins
God Bless each one of you.
Wednesday, 8/21/2024 – “God’s Way, Not Mine” from Daily Devotions
Hebrews 11:1 – Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction
of things not seen.
I was sharing early-morning coffee and donuts with our daughter, the mother of two wonderful, energetic children.
We were both going through rough patches in our lives. She had been through a painful divorce. I had recentlybeen
diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. We shared the Bible verse from Hebrews above. Then my daughter offered an
insight that amazed me. She said, “I think it’s awesome that when we are in trouble and can’t see any way through,
God will surprise us with the solution.” Three years have passed since our meeting. She is now married to a fine
Christian, and I have experienced only mild symptoms.
I often think that I’ve got the solution to life’s struggles, and in my prayers I try to convince God to see it my way. Now
I just ask that God’s will be done in my life. And God’s answer is usually more amazing than I could have imagined.
Great is God’s faithfulness, wisdom, and power!
8/17/2024 – “A Wonderful Gift” by P. Williams
What a Wonderful gift God has sent… A baby
A granddaughter for Peggy Hall
It is amazing to me that in a heartbeat
We could love so much.
But it happens… in a second…
Everything changes… and God has blessed us…
Now you will notice every playground
All the strollers and car seats and the Sunsets
You thank God for every cloud and the
Dreams you have of them swinging and playing
You appreciate God’s gifts so much more
You will not drive by McDonalds without thinking
about Madison’s first Kids meal
You will smile more and send her
pictures of beautiful skies and sunsets
A pretty tree or a flower garden in bloom
All of God’s gifts will touch You more
So… Peggy Hall… Congratulations from us
Mount Pleasant sends you prayers and
prayers for your precious Maddie
We know she will soon rule your heart
And fill your prayers… We miss you.
8/14/2024 – “The Third Cord” from Daily Devotions
Matthew 18:20 – Jesus said, “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
While I was in the US Navy our ship’s engine urgently needed a replacement part. Another ship was sent with the
needed part, but the seas were too rough to launch a boat to bring us the part or for the other ship to come close
alongside us. So a pulley was rigged between the two ships, and we were able to retrieve the part and get underway.
As I watched this event unfold, I was amazed at how the large rope being used was pulled tight from time to time as
the waves forced the ships farther apart. The rope seemed to transition from hefty to thin and back again. I was con-
cerned that it might snap, and the needed part would be lost. Later I saw that it was a triple-braided rope. Those three
intertwined strands gave the rope its strength and prevented it from breaking.
I have learned that having Jesus as the third cord in my relationships can strengthen them and keep them from break-
ing. As I reflect on my life, I see that the broken relationships I experienced were largely due to my not fully including
Jesus in my choices and decisions. When we welcome Christ into our relationships, he will strengthen those relation-
ships with love and grace.
8-10-2024 – “Thankful” by P. Williams
The sun is shining… the rain has stopped
So much water falling from the sky
I could not see the sun for days!
Now comes grateful time… Time to thank God
that we all are okay.
Thanks that what was lost can be replaced
That all of your loved ones are healthy and dry
Lots of limbs to pick up
Trash to rake into a pile.
Fix the mulch back where it rode the water
Fill up the new puddle in the driveway
Sweep off the crepe myrtle blooms that
Scattered all over the yard and walks
Me? I’m so happy to have no leaks
That I didn’t lose power and I had a new book.
Had lots of leaves and sticks blow down
And had a big water rush down the parking lot.
But we all know:
God looked out for Me and You
He brought us through just fine.
Joyful… Thankful… Peaceful… Grateful.
Now, add your thanks!
God bless each one of us and Mt. Pleasant Church
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 – “The Spiritual Practice of Worship” from Adult Bible Studies, Summer 2024
I remember talking to my friend Robert once about how I disliked cleaning house. Robert, who had lived many years
on the streets of Washington, DC, told me that when he was homeless, he and his friends used to talk about how they
would clean a house if they had one. They would compare notes on techniques and cleaning products and what worked
best. Their fantasy was to have a house to clean.
Robert opened my eyes to the blessings I have. There are so many: family and friends who love me, food to eat, my
little backyard that blooms with flowers every spring. It is easy to become distracted by the things that are difficult or
stressful, but by cultivating joy and gratitude, even for the tiny flashes of delight every day, we can enter much more
easily into a state of worship and praise to God.
How about that first sip of coffee in the morning? Children laughing outside? That little look from someone you love
that connects you without words? Becoming focused and aware of these gifts makes it easier to celebrate the goodness
of God alone and with others.
Many people keep a gratitude journal in which they record things for which they are thankful every day. Others record
blessings on strips of paper and add these daily to a jar. At the end of the month, they remove paper strips and read
them. However you remind yourself of the wonderful things God has given you, these celebrations of God’s grace bring
joy to the forefront of our lives. By cultivating joy, we praise and worship the Lord!
Saturday, August 3, 2024 – “August Brings Fall” by P. Williams
I read a piece about “Old People” this week.
We all love old people.
Personally, I also love that they are wise…
With a Wealth of Knowledge that is unsurpassed.
So nice that I can mention listening to the radio…
Hearing Roy Rodgers and The Lone Ranger, Hop A Long Cassidy…
Your Mom might have listened to “Ma & Pa Kettle” and
Almost everyone from here listened to WPTF
every morning to hear the Morning Farm Report
I love seeing hard work pay off….
A cabinet full of beans and tomatoes is
Sparkling jars… Pickles and Pears and Peaches, too.
Like everyone else we enjoyed the couple of
Low humidity days this last week…
Today the heat index is well over 100.
I read yesterday that during the month of August
we will lose 2 ½ minutes of daylight each Day –
Means the 31st of August sunset will be before 7:45pm
Fall is close on our doorstep… coming on fast
We all love the leaves and earlier sunsets
The future brings crisp cool days!
God always knows what to do and When
He protects us every day and loves us always.
So I pray today that each of us is thankful
for all 4 seasons… come on Fall!
May God Bless each one of you
and please God, Bless and protect
Our Mt. Pleasant Church and family
Amen
