Picture for Pentecost, 2013 – Acts 2:3

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.

From the Memphis Botanic Garden

Daily Devotion from the Church Health Center – Psalm 8:1-2

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 – Trinity Sunday, Year C

Psalm 8:1-2 – O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.

If God can create a fortification out of the mouths of babes and infants, imagine what God can do through you. Better yet, imagine what God is already doing through us as we work together as people of faith.

Prayer: Almighty God, bless our individual and collective actions this day to your glory. Amen.

Daily Devotion from the Church Health Center – Proverbs 8:1-4

Monday, May 20, 2013 – Trinity Sunday, Year C

The first Sunday following Pentecost is known as Trinity Sunday. Scriptures for this week include: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5 and John 16:12-15.

Proverbs 8:1-4 – Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.”

Our week begins with a plea that we seek wisdom. As you begin your journey toward Trinity Sunday, pray for the knowledge, the understanding, the perception and the good judgment that comes with wisdom.

Prayer: Gracious God, help us be seekers of wisdom this and every day. Amen.

Picture for Trinity Sunday, 2013

This

I noticed the three petals within three petals of this amaryllis in my neighbor’s yard.

Daily Devotion from the Church Health Center – Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013 – Pentecost Sunday, Year C

Acts 2:16-18 – [Onlookers are commenting on the different languages being spoken in their midst and thinking that the people are drunk. Peter rises to correct them saying:] “No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.’”

Dr. Morris once said, “The Church Health Center is a testament to what can be done when everyone does their part.” Working together as the Spirit leads us individually and communally, we have changed thousands of lives since first opening in 1987.

Prayer: Almighty God, for all your wonderful works, we thank you. Continue to use us so that we can keep building your kingdom on earth. Amen.

Daily Devotion from the Church Health Center – Acts 2:1-4

Thursday, May 16, 2013 – Pentecost Sunday, Year C

Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

In my personal experience the Holy Spirit has been more subtle than it was on the day of Pentecost. With that said, I never cease to be awed by the Holy Spirit’s power to move individuals and their communities of faith beyond their preconceived limits of service.

Prayer: Loving God, help us sense your Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Amen.

Daily Devotion from the Church Health Center – John 14:27

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 – Pentecost Sunday, Year C

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

In the American Baptist choir of my youth, we sang a beautiful song inspired by this passage titled, Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled. My prayer for us today is that each of us can grow to trust God a little more so that we can know God’s peace and be assured of God’s steadfast presence in our lives.

Prayer: God of peace, grant us an additional measure of trust this day so that we can live more confidently. Amen.

Daily Devotion from the Church Health Center – Genesis 11:6-7, 9

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 – Pentecost Sunday, Year C

Genesis 11:6-7, 9 – And the LORD said, “Look they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech…” Therefore it was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

The people of Babel said they wanted to”…make a name for ourselves” (v4a). This passage reminds us that we should be mindful, as best we can, to God’s will and not our will. While we prayed to be better listeners to one another yesterday, today we pray to be better listeners to God.

Prayer: Gracious God, help us hear your voice in all the ways you choose to speak to us. Amen.