Midweek Meditation aka: Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
May 14, 2025
Galatians 6:9-10

I was attending a meeting of a newly formed helping ministry this morning and boy, was I blessed. So many ideas, so many opportunities to help and encourage people in our community that are too often overlooked, or, simply taken for granted. I was inspired by the Upper Room devotional for today and shared part of it with the folks in attendance, and I would like to do that for you this evening.

Galatians 6:9-10 reads: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”.

Wow! That was what our meeting was all about. That’s what the church is all about, or at least supposed to be. Good to be reminded, don’t you think?

I will close with the chorus of a song we sang at our meeting which was inspired by what I just shared with you. The song is titled “Here I Am Lord”: “Here I am, Lord. It is I Lord. I have heard You calling in the night. I will go, Lord, If you lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart”.

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
May 7, 2025
Psalm 118:13-14

The Psalm today is one of the Hallel Psalms that were sung in Jewish families on the night of the Passover (Hallel means praise). There are six: Psalm 113-118. The Psalm I am quoting from today was very likely sung as the farewell hymn Jesus sang with his disciples on the way to Gethsemane and Calvary (notes from Halleys Study Bible).

I am pondering verses 13-14 of Psalm 118 as I think about some of the conversations I’ve been privy to today. It seems lots of people feel pushed around, or ill spoken of by those close to them. My heart hurts for anyone who is experiencing this, whether in my sphere of influence or those dealing with poverty, hunger and the effects of war or other tragedies. Then, as I was driving home from some visits today, I heard part of a song by Brandon Lake; “Hard fought Hallelujah” (I think that is the title). In this song, he sings with passion how many times life is just so hard that he struggles to raise his hands in praise because even in the troubled times he knows that the Lord has a plan and He will see it through. Here is part of the chorus; “I bring my hard fought, heartfelt, been through hell Hallelujah. My storm tossed, sails torn, story to tell Hallelujah”. (Listen to the song by clicking the image)

Perhaps you are feeling a bit tossed around today, or maybe you know someone who is going through some tossing. Consider praying the words of our text today and take a moment to sit in the presence of the Holy Spirit who can bring the peace that is desperately needed.

“I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:13-14)

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Mediation with Pastor Edith
April 24, 2025
Luke 24:46-49

Waiting is not one of my favorite things to do, and yet so much of my life is taken up with this task. I wait in waiting rooms at the hospital and for appointments, I wait in the car rider line to pick up my grandchildren from school, I wait in line at the grocery store, or I can wait in the parking lot for my groceries to be delivered to me, I wait in line to buy a hamburger, or better yet, a salad. It seems I wait a lot, and yet I am pretty tired at the end of the day. I guess you could say that waiting wears me out. How about you? Do you wait a lot?

Living the Christian faith has a lot to do with waiting. Most importantly we are waiting for Christ to return and restore all of creation to the original intended purpose. The Resurrection story speaks of waiting; Jesus waited and prayed in the garden for his arrest. He waited for his trial, He waited for his sentence and then after being horribly beaten and tortured, he waited in agonizing pain on the cross for his work to be accomplished.

Our text for today reads; “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’” Jesus was telling them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them so they could do the work of the Kingdom with supernatural power. Now, that is worth waiting for, don’t you think? From that waiting, all who trust in Christ for salvation have been clothed with power from on high, yes, the Holy Spirit.

Christians are Easter People waiting for Jesus to come again. As the hymn says; “Every day to us is Easter with its resurrection song”. While we wait, how about we worship and celebrate that He lives and is coming again. I will close with the first verse of the song; “Easter People, raise your voices, sounds of heaven in earth should ring. Christ has brought us heaven’s choices; heavenly music, let it ring. Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing”.

AMEN and Pray on!

Meditation with Pastor Edith
April 18, 2025

Today we reflect on the goodness of God to make a way for us to be at one with Him. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. I was reminded this morning that the term Good Friday originated with a German word “Goode” which means God. Our scripture for today describes the event:

“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’. When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”

The sun stopped shining as if God was saying, let the whole earth mourn. The curtain that separated the people from the Holy of Holies was torn as if God was saying, there is no barrier between you and me, my Son has opened the door. Jesus called out to his Father in heaven that he was fully his. Because of this we too, can be fully God’s children.

I will close with the first verse of a favorite hymn; “Jesus, keep me near the cross-there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain. In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, til my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river”.

Amen and Pray On!!

 Maundy Thursday with Pastor Edith
April 17, 2025
John 13:1-17 “I have set you an example”, Matthew 26:36-46 “Watch and pray.”

The word Maundy comes from an ancient word that means “mandate”. It is a reminder that Jesus Christ gave a mandate, or command to his followers on the night when he would be betrayed. Jesus not only spoke his mandate, he demonstrated what he wanted his disciples to live out as they would soon continue to share in the kingdom work of sharing the Gospel after he departed.

In many churches, this is a very solemn day, and rightly so, because this is the day Christians are called to reflect upon the wondrous love of Christ, who took time to prepare his followers as well as himself for his crucifixion.

Our first reading for today reveals to us how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet in a humble act of service. He demonstrated what it means to be a servant Savior and if we are to follow Him, then we too, like the first disciples, are to humbly serve one another. This is not a mandate to hold a regular foot washing ceremony, though it is a beautiful service to remember, but a mandate to not think of ourselves as better than anyone else, but to care and serve as Jesus did.

Our second reading for today takes us to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus led his disciples to go and pray after they celebrated the Passover and had eaten with him at his last supper. Jesus is deeply troubled as he knows very well what he is about to endure. He tells Peter, James and John; “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). Jesus then prays alone, he falls to the ground in grief and asks; “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (vs. 39). When Jesus returns to his disciples, they are sleeping. That would be understandable as their stomachs are full and they are very weary from all the events they have shared, still, this is a very troubling evening and Jesus wanted them by his side, watching and praying. Perhaps they, like us, just didn’t understand the severity of what was about to happen. Maybe they thought they had a lot more time. I wonder if we think that too.

Gethsemane”; “Go to dark Gethsemane, Ye that feel the tempter’s power; Your Redeemer’s conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour; Turn not from His grief’s away – Learn from Jesus Christ to pray “.

Watch and Pray On!!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
April 9, 2025
James 1:19-20

I was having a lively discussion the other day with a young couple who plan to be married later this year. One of the topics that brought the most thought and laughter was the topic of learning how to communicate well. I only know to share from scripture and personal experience when helping someone else, so I shared how I have been told that I use a lot of words, go figure.

The scripture I used is one that is very good to memorize because it is very helpful in our day to day dealings with people. James 1: 19-20 reads: “My dear brothers, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires”. Yep, I should recite that every time I think I have something brilliant to share during any argument, I mean discussion.

Another tidbit I find very helpful would also be good to memorize, though it is not scripture; “In a world of words there is much to say. But, often, when nothing is said, everything can be heard” (adapted from “Jacob’s Ladder by Noah benShea p.156). Suffice it to say (I hear somebody giggling over my many words), it would be a new kind of world if all people chose to follow what James says in being slow to speak and quick to listen. Perhaps that is a major issue right now in my culture. The issue of not really listening. Some counseling techniques call this “active listening”. If I can slow down my thoughts and spend some time listening to the Holy Spirit before jumping to my own conclusions, perhaps my conversations and postings would be more helpful and less divisive.

My song for you today as I close this time with you is “Let there be peace on earth” written by Sy Miller 1955; “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony…” Why not sing that out loud right where you are and see what happens.

AMEN and PRAY ON!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
April 2, 2025
Romans 5:8

Happy April! Spring is springing (in some ways very stormy), birds are singing and Easter is on its way. Let’s not run too fast to the resurrection, that we might miss the raw amazement of Christ’s sacrifice.

Our text from Romans 5:8 may very well be very familiar to many of you, still, I love to tell it over and over again in case someone may have missed it; “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. We share this often during our Holy Communion service at church and we remember how this proves God’s love for us. Think about it, God doesn’t wait until we get our act together, he simply waits for us to realize our desperate need of Him and welcomes us to know Him more.

I have a dear departed pastor friend who loved a hymn inspired by this verse. The hymn is entitled “I Stand Amazed in the Presence”; “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvelous! How wonderful is my Savior’s love for me”!

AMEN and PRAY ON!

Worship Wednesday with Pastor Edith
March 26, 2025
Hebrews 10:11-18, John 14:6

My husband and I were reading a little article on the meaning of sacrifice as it applies to our preparation for Easter during these forty days of Lent. The article started out in a most unusual way talking about loading a dishwasher. That’s right, loading a dishwasher. That had me hooked, so I paid close attention as we read together, and here’s my summary;

Loading the dishwasher seems pretty basic, but not for everyone. For me, I figure, put the dishes in, load the soap, start the machine and soon we will have clean dishes. My spouse, however believes that their way is better, in fact is the only right way to load a dishwasher.

For the Israelites, however, there was a very specific way of cleansing from sin. No short cuts, no reasoning other ways, one way and it was the way of the burnt offering. This offering consumed all of the unblemished creature being offered on behalf of the people’s sins, which would point to one great sacrifice;

“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again, and again he offers the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time, he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10: 11-15, read the remainder when you can and be thankful).

Jesus told a very confused disciple named Thomas who asked Jesus; “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:5-6).

During this wonderful season of Lent, I offer you an opportunity to bump up you Bible reading and prayer time. It does take sacrifice; time, attention, personal agenda changes, but it is truly worth it. Here’s my closing song for you to the tune of “In the Cross”, this little song is called “Send a Great Revival”; “In my heart, in my heart, send a great revival; teach me how to watch and pray, and to read the Bible” (Heavenly Highway Hymns 1956).

AMEN and PRAY ON!