Wesley UMC

10th day of Lent

2011-03-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Read Psalm 55

Listen to my prayer, O God; don’t hide yourself

when I cry to you. Hear me, Lord! Listen to Me!

For I groan and weep beneath my burden of woe.

~verses 1-2

In April of 2002 I lost my husband, Bill, to cancer. After my family left and I was alone, I became more and more afraid. I didn’t know what to do. One day when I was in one of my tirades, I suddenly stopped and sat down. “What is wrong with me, Heavenly Father?” Then I knew. As I prayed, there was a knock at the door — my neighbors. Then the phone rang — a friend. A prayer answered.

There I was, surrounded by friends and God’s love, and I knew exactly what to do. Each time I became afraid, I prayed and talked to a friend or family member and got through the worst part of my grief. Now, here I am living my life with God and with peace in my heart.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, hear our prayers to calm our fears. Help us to help others when they are in need. Give us all peace throughout the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

~Jody Cutler

9th day of Lent

2011-03-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Read Psalm 51

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion

blot out my transgressions.

~verse 1 (New American Standard Bible)

I pray daily for God to forgive my shortcomings. I am aware of them, because it is so easy to go your own way and forget God. During World War II, I would pick a verse from the Bible each day and use it to help me in times of trial. If someone rubbed me the wrong way I would pray for them and recite the verse instead of getting angry. Here are a few examples of verses I would use:

Romans 8:28— And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Proverbs 3: 5-6—Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

When you practice this, make sure to learn their first name and use it each time you meet. They will usually return your offer of friendship. Those were different times—perhaps you would find that today you could just walk away.

These days, I find myself being short with my wife. I am lucky because she is very forgiving. I’m sure that the Spirit of God dwells within her for her to be so willing to forgive me.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being so gracious and forgiving. When we fall short, you always respond with compassion. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, and help us to extend your forgiveness to others in our lives. Amen.

~Turney Cornwell

8th day of Lent

2011-03-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Read John 3:16-21

Thanksgiving for the Hope and Promise of Heaven

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not perish

but may have eternal life.

~verse 16

In today’s text, we hear that God loves each of us, and offers eternal life to all. As we journey toward Easter, we hold onto this hope and look forward to the resurrection. In Matthew 28, the women find the tomb empty. An Angel appears to them, and tells them, “Fear not!”

I believe that we believe in miracles because of hope, faith, and trust in God, in prayers, and in grace. Every day and every moment is a miracle. These miracles can also be called blessings.

For example, many people survive dangerous auto accidents, diseases or illnesses because of miracles. Those soldiers who come home alive after terrible experiences—they are miracles. My husband was one of those during World War II. He was on the Bataan Death March, and also on a ship named the Shinyo Maru. Out of 750 men on board when the ship was torpedoed, he was one of only 82 that survived.

Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection are all miracles. The whole Bible is full of miracles. The world around us is full of miracles, too.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for these days of miracles, and for all the ways that you help us to grow in love and faith. Amen.

~Fiona Sneddon

7th day of Lent

2011-03-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Read Deuteronomy 9:13-21

Changing God

I [Moses] feared the anger and the wrath of the Lord,

for he was angry enough with you to destroy you.

But again the Lord listened to me.

~verse 19

I have been studying prayer for 40 years. I have led classes on how to pray on several occasions over that time; and I pray earnestly and expectantly (some of the time), and have for many, many years, but there is still much that I do not understand.

I attended a senior high camp four years ago as one of the camp counselors – one of the older counselors. One part of the daily learning and study time with my “family” group was a prayer walk. I remember specifically one of the lessons that was about Jesus’ prayers. I began that time with questions, “Why would Jesus need to pray?” “Why does God need to pray to God?” Yet, scripture recounts many times that Jesus prayed. Indeed, in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed, and drops of blood dripped from his forehead. I came away from that study time with a willingness to pray because of the example that Jesus provided. Jesus prayed because he cared, and he prayed because he was able to do so, and he prayed as if it would make a difference, and he prayed for understanding and obedience. I need to do the same, even though I do not understand.

The scripture for today recounts the story of the Israelites fashioning a golden calf to worship, while Moses had been on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. God sees this, and is incredibly angry and is ready to destroy those “stiff-necked” people. God sends Moses down from the mountain, and when Moses sees what is happening, he throws down the two stone tablets, breaking them into many pieces. Moses then prostrates himself before God, and for 40 days he prays and fasts for the Israelites. God relents. God relents and chooses not to destroy the people.

I come from this story wondering first how many times God has been similarly angry with me. I also come with the strange realization that perhaps my prayers can change God’s mind. I

believe that God can do anything, but maybe God chooses to act in some cases only when we pray. Prayer can certainly change me, but maybe God changes in response to my prayers. If so, my prayers must not be superficial or half-hearted, but earnest and expectant — all of my prayers. God will not answer all of my prayers in the way or in the time I might want, but still I must pray.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift and privilege of prayer. May I always come to you with the desires of my heart. Amen.

~John Camphouse

6th day of Lent

2011-03-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Read John 2:13-22

Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right.

~verse 15 (The Message)

This scripture is filled with tension, violence, and anger. Jesus challenges the authority of the religious leaders and the status quo. When I read this, I asked myself: “How am I going to write a devotional about this? I don’t know what it means.” What is the cultural significance of moneychangers and livestock in the temple marketplace? What is the connection of the temple and Jesus’ resurrection? Why did Jesus become violent, when he preached about nonviolence? While researching this, I found that I was not alone. The interpretation of this scripture is debated among many scholars. But what many scholars do agree upon is that this scripture is about reformation and symbolism. It was a symbol of the end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new, with Jesus himself as the new temple. This was one of the great transformations in the history of religion.

The relevance of this story is important to our Christian beliefs. It is about Jesus reforming a broken system of beliefs. Jesus lashed out at a religious system with many distractions from a clear focus on God. Instead, Jesus replaced the old, broken system with teachings of love, tolerance, social justice, hope, peace, compassion, and righteousness. He focused on the important things in our relationship with our Father.

When life is filled with tension and distractions, I like to think about an important message Jesus gave us. This is what really matters in our faith journey and what keeps us focused on what to do:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and

with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

~ Mark 12: 30-31 (King James Version)

Prayer: Passionate God, thank you for sending your Son to remind us of the true purpose of our lives — to love you and your people. As we journey together in faith, help us to be open to your transformation. Fill our hearts and our lives with your love, tolerance, justice, hope, peace, compassion, and righteousness. Amen.

~Eric Keefer

5th day of Lent

2011-03-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Psalm 51:1-2

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness. It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law, and power behind the Law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power—it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to recognize my sins and to ask forgiveness.

-C.S. Lewis

First Sunday of Lent

2011-03-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Read Psalm 63

Blessing God

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live;

I will lift up my hands and call upon your name

~verses 1, 3-4

I often hear people say, “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” To me, what that says is something similar to this text — that there is a thirsting to know the divine God, and a realization that there is more to life. Just as we cannot survive without water, I believe that we cannot fully live without a relationship with God.

In this Lenten season, this text challenges us further, arguing that by being aware of the blessing of God’s steadfast love in our life, we also are called to bless God. How do we do that? The scripture explicitly lifts up worship and calling upon God in prayer, and I believe we also bless God each time we act as a vehicle for sharing God’s love in the world.

The season of Lent is a time of drawing nearer to God, and I hope and pray that we all re-evaluate our lives and find time to set aside to live out our love for God and our neighbors, not only during this Lenten season but for “as long as we live” – that we may live a life of blessing to God.

Prayer: O Holy Spirit, change us so that we may be more focused on the blessings we receive from our Almighty and Loving God, and work through us that we might better respond to your love in praise to you and in service to our neighbors. We ask this through the gift of your son, whom you sent so that we could be in relationship and more fully know of your amazing love and grace. Amen.

~Rev. Matthew McPhee

4th day of Lent

2011-03-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Read Matthew 28:16-20

What’s your name? Mine is John. My name identifies me, distinguishes me from other people with different names. “What’s in a name?” Shakespeare asked. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” True. But not God’s name. God’s name does more than identify God. To speak God’s name is to invoke God’s presence. Jesus told us to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. When we do, we invoke the presence of God for the one baptized. We breathe God into the person. We envelop the person in God. In my catechism I learned that, when I wake up in the morning, I should begin the day by making the sign of the cross and saying, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” I learned to begin the day by invoking the presence of God through the name of God that was spoken over me in my baptism. Some people, when they wake up in the morning, say something like “Oh God! I can’t bear to face another day!” But we can say “Oh God!” with joy and anticipation. We know that when we speak the name of God at the beginning of the day, God is present with us to help us meet whatever the day will bring. At the beginning of each day, at the beginning of each new task, at the beginning of every new venture we should invoke the name of God.

Prayer: I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity by invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three.

-John H. Tietjen

3rd day of Lent

2011-03-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Psalm 51:17

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Fasting is a different experience from missing your dinner by accident or through poverty. Fasting asserts the will against the appetite—the reward being self-mastery and the danger pride; involuntary hunger subjects appetites and will together to the Divine will, furnishing an occasion for submission and exposing us to the danger of rebellion. But the redemptive effect of suffering lies chiefly in its tendency to reduce the rebel will. Ascetic practices, which in themselves strengthen the will, are only useful in so far as they enable the will to put its own house (the passions) in order, as a preparation for offering the whole man to God.

Prayer: God, help me to remember that your command is to love you with all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul.

-C.S. Lewis

2nd day of Lent

2011-03-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Read Psalm 37

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord and do good;

rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

depart from evil and do good;

and dwell forevermore.

~verse 3

When our daughter, Linda, became ill a few years ago, our family had no idea of the magnitude of her illness. We were told she needed a heart transplant. She wasn't even 40 years old. How could this be happening? Linda was a good person, always doing things for others and giving of herself. We were all overwhelmed with shock and grief and fear.

How blessed we were to be Christians. We prayed and prayed, and put our trust in the Lord. I remember praying one morning for the Lord to please bring her a new heart and healing, and it hit me that as I prayed for this gift, another family would suffer a great loss. Someone had to die so that she could live. I felt so guilty. From then on I prayed for both our families.

Linda always knew she would be ok, no matter what. She had such great faith and trust in the Lord. We are blessed to have had her as long as we did.

I know the Lord was with our family all the way, even when He sent his Angels to bring my husband Merrill home to Him just two days before He sent them for Linda. How loving of our Lord to have Linda's dad waiting for her.

Trust in the Lord and you will find peace.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to place our trust in You. Help us to do good things, be good neighbors and friends, and love our family with all our hearts, so that we might be worthy of your love and trust. Show us the way to be thankful for our many blessings and not be envious of others. Deliver us from evil, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

~Mary Lou Sipherd

First day of Lent

2011-03-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Please join us for a Lenten journey of study, devotion and reflection. Each day there will be a different scripture and devotion to guide you through these 40 days.

Read Psalm 51:1

Our temptation in Lent is to be so impressed by our sins and failings and so overwhelmed by our lack of generosity that we get stuck in a paralyzing guilt, a guilt that leads to introspection instead of directing our eyes to God. It is guilt that becomes an idol and form of pride. But Lent is precisely the time to break down this idol and to direct our attention to our loving Lord. The question is: are we like Judas, who was so overcome by his sin that he could not believe in God’s mercy any longer and hanged himself? Or are we like Peter, who returned to his Lord with repentance and cried bitterly for his sins?”

“You are dust, and to dust you will return.” This ancient formula will be heard by millions of Christians all over the world this Ash Wednesday as the sign of the cross is made in ashes on their forehead. This symbolic act is both a solemn reminder and an invitation to renewal.

Prayer: Lord God, this Lent help me to do my best to keep my mind fixed on you and your kingdom.

~Henri J. Nouwen

8th day of Lent

2011-03-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Read John 3:16-21

Thanksgiving for the Hope and Promise of Heaven

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not perish

but may have eternal life.

~verse 16

I believe that we believe in miracles because of hope, faith, and trust in God, in prayers, and in grace. Every day and every moment is a miracle. These miracles can also be called blessings.

Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection are all miracles. The whole Bible is full of miracles. The world around us is full of miracles, too.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for these days of miracles, and for all the ways that you help us to grow in love and faith. Amen.

~Fiona Sneddon

Career Workshop: Jobs in Sports

2010-12-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

Are you considering college?
Looking for a major?
Trying to find direction for what type of work you should do?

Are you a high school student?
College student?
Trade School student?
An applicant?
Someone looking for more reward from their work?

Then this is for you!!!

We are having a series of workshops on identifying a career that fits your gifts and your passions!

Wednesday December 8 from 6:30-8:30

JOBS IN SPORTS

Even if you get an athletic scholarship, chances of playing professionally are slim but you can still work in the world of sports. This workshop will explore over 50 jobs in sports that use your skills and interests in art, science, culinary arts, math, business, helping people, and more!

If you would like to be a part of this amazing opportunity, please email
info[@]babyelephantbooks[dot]com

Cost is only $5 per person.

Malawi Mission

2010-11-01T16:13:00.001-07:00

Malawi Team Presentation

Come and See!

The Malawi Team would like to invite you to come and hear our team’s experiences. There will be hors-d’oeuvres and a video presentation. You will also have a chance to meet the team and our special guest, Pilira and Joseph, from Malawi. They, too, will share how God is changing the lives of hundreds of orphans and thousands of others in the community. God’s loves does move in the hearts of Africa.

Wednesday

November 3,2010

4:30-6:00

Wesley United Methodist Church

5770 Arlington Avenue

Riverside, California 92504

RSVP: 951-689-2649

Revelation 17-19

2010-10-31T17:37:00.001-07:00

We are continuing to go through the book of Revelation together during worship. And, as with most weeks, there is some optional homework to help you dig in on your own. Here is this week's guide:

Read chapter 17

Why is Babylon considered the “prostitute”?

What are her sins?

Why would Revelation be concerned with Babylon?

For the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been mentioned, why will they be astonished?

Who is the beast who once was but now is not?

What will he do?

Read Chapter 18

What will happen to Babylon?

Babylon ruled in a particular time and place, could she be compared to other world powers throughout the ages? If so, what might this chapter say about their fate/end/future?

Read Chapter 19

Who praises the fall of Babylon?

Why would they rejoice?

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-31T01:07:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

40. Lord, we pray for respect of our elderly communities. Father, that the younger generation would respect the older. Lord, we pray that there would be an increased spirit of mutual respect and love among the generations. Humble us, Lord, and remind us that we can learn from each and every person in our path, both young and old.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

39. Lord, we pray for unity within each family in the Riverside. God, we stand against divisions and strife that have attacked our families. We pray that families would become supportive of each other and more loving in thought and action.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-29T01:05:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

38. We pray for every child in Riverside. For those whose parents have abandoned them or cannot support them, we pray, Lord, that You would comfort their hearts. Lord, we pray for every child who has been deserted. We pray for a loving family to care for them. Lord, we know You love each child and we pray for their path of life to be full of Your presence.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-28T01:04:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

37. Lord, we pray for every parent in Riverside. Lord, that each Mom and Dad would spend more time with their children and not get caught up in the busyness of life. We pray that each parent would cherish the time with their children as each day passes.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-27T01:04:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

36. Lord, we pray for healthy boundaries for media intake in our families. We pray against the stronghold of pornography in the Inland Empire in the lives of our adults and teens. And we pray that our children would be guarded against all inappropriate media.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

35. Lord, we come against strongholds that are passed down in families. We pray that the chains of the enemy would be broken now in Jesus’ name and passed no further into future generations. Rather, we pray that the blessings in each family would be poured out in abundance and that all present and future generations would come into their full spiritual destiny.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-25T01:02:00.001-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

34. Lord, we lift up the families that are facing crisis situations such as drug and alcohol abuse, physical abuse and violence. Lord, we pray for intervention in their lives so that they can be made whole.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

34. Lord, we lift up the families that are facing crisis situations such as drug and alcohol abuse, physical abuse and violence. Lord, we pray for intervention in their lives so that they can be made whole.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

33. Lord, we pray for families that are facing divorce. Lord, we pray for the parents to be able to set aside their differences in front of their children. Lord, we pray for the children to encounter safety and security in their relationships.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-23T01:01:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

32. Father, put a hedge of protection around our families, their marriages, children, home, finances, health, and personal relationships with You. May every new year in the faith bring them closer and deeper with You.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

31. Thank you, Lord, for establishing each one of us at this specific place and at this specific time in history. Lord, we want to be a part of the great work you are doing here in Riverside. Show us each our part in Your great plan for the redemption of all people. Lord, what is my specific role to help bring healing, refuge and restoration to the hurting men, women and children in our area?

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-21T00:59:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

30. Lord, we pray for an outpouring of Your Holy Spirit over Riverside. God we pray that all the churches would be filled to overflowing as Your word is proclaimed. Lord, that there would a turning of hearts towards You and that these hearts would be committed and resolved.
Pray for Families…

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-20T00:59:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

29. Lord, we repent of a self-righteous attitude. Those times when we have thought of ourselves as better than those around us. God we pray for a heart of compassion for those who need to know You. Lord, we pray that we would not become consumed with our own desires but with the desires of Your Spirit.

40 Days & 40 Ways to Pray for Riverside

2010-10-19T00:58:00.000-07:00

Over the next 40 days we will be praying together with other Christians throughout our city for the needs of those in our midst. Please use the prayer prompts to guide your prayers in the coming weeks.

28. Lord we repent from turning away from politics. You have given us a responsibility to watch over our government and we have turned our heads. Forgive us, Lord, for laws that were passed, that are not pleasing to you, because of our indifference.