Chestuee United Methodist Church

Chestuee United Methodist Church A small church with a BIG heart! Join us Sunday mornings for Sunday worship at 11:00 am.

09/02/2026

Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Good morning, everyone, on this hot day in the valley. If you must be outside, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. We have a heat advisory out for much of this area and beyond. Pray, pray, pray. It is not hard to find something to pray for: the damage and loss of life from floods, storms, famine, wars, and rumors of wars. You got the picture? Not to mention situations you are personally aware of. Pray for a man whose name is Larry that his arm will not have to be amputated.
Now for our devotional.

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

Throughout Scripture, God reveals a special concern for those who are often overlooked: the poor, the migrant, the widow, the orphan, and the outcast. He reminds His people again and again that true faith is not measured merely by worship services or religious words, but by how we treat those who have little power, few resources, and no voice.

Jesus embodied this truth. He touched lepers others avoided. He ate with those society rejected. He welcomed strangers and defended the marginalized. In fact, He taught that when we care for "the least of these," we are serving Him (Matthew 25:40).
Helping the indigent, the poor, the migrant, and the outcast is more than an act of charity. It expresses God's character. We remember that we, too, were once spiritual outsiders until Christ welcomed us into His family through grace. Having received mercy, we are called to extend mercy.

Today, ask God to open your eyes to someone who may feel invisible. A meal, a conversation, a gift, a prayer, or a simple act of kindness can become a powerful testimony of Christ's love.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for welcoming us when we were far from You. Give us hearts that reflect Your compassion for the poor, the migrant, the vulnerable, and the outcast. Help us to see people as You see them and to serve them with humility, generosity, and love. Make us instruments of Your mercy in a hurting world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

08/31/2026

Monday, August 31, 2026
Good afternoon to all on this beautiful but warm Monday. Much to pray for today. The families of those who were killed in floods in Tibet, as well as in the Grand Canyon, and many other tragedies. I met a man named Larry today who said he may lose his left arm; pray this will not happen. Now for our devotional.
Galatians 5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
As Christians, we often focus on what we should do for God, but Galatians reminds us that the Christian life is not first about our effort but about God's Spirit working within us. Notice that Paul says "fruit" and not "fruits." These qualities grow together as the Spirit shapes us into the likeness of Christ.
Just as an apple tree naturally produces apples when it is healthy and rooted, a believer who abides in Christ will increasingly display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not merely personality traits; they are evidence of God's presence at work in our lives.
The world often promotes self-centeredness, anxiety, impatience, and harshness. The Holy Spirit produces the opposite. When we surrender our hearts to Him daily, He transforms our attitudes, reactions, relationships, and priorities.
Today, take a moment to examine your life. Which aspect of the Spirit's fruit is most visible? Which needs further growth? Remember that spiritual fruit is not manufactured through human determination alone. It grows as we walk closely with Christ, yielding ourselves to the Spirit's leading.
Think on this. The fruit of the Spirit is not produced by striving harder, but by abiding closer to Christ.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit. Help us to abide in Christ so that the fruit of the Spirit may grow in our lives. Let Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control be evident in everything we do. Make us a witness to Your transforming grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

08/29/2026

Saturday, August 29, 2026
Good morning, everyone. As we go through our day, allow our thoughts and prayers to center on the catastrophes taking place across here at home as well as abroad. Pray for those who are victims of these storms, fires, and earthquakes. Attend your chosen place of worship over the weekend. Now for our devotional.

1 John 5:21 (NLT)
"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts."

John ends his first letter with a simple but powerful warning. He does not merely say, "Keep away from idols." Instead, he explains what an idol truly is: anything that takes God's place in your heart.
An idol does not have to be a carved statue. It can be a relationship, a career, money, comfort, success, entertainment, or even our own desires. Anything we trust more than God, love more than God, or think about more than God can quietly become an idol.

The heart is like a throne with room for only one king. God created us to love Him first and place Him above everything else. When Christ reigns in our hearts, the other blessings of life find their proper place. But when something else takes that throne, our peace, joy, and direction begin to suffer.

Today, take a moment to examine your heart. What occupies your thoughts? What do you rely on most when life becomes difficult? What would be hardest to surrender to God? The answers may reveal whether something has begun to compete with Him for first
place.

John's loving address, "Dear children," reminds us that this warning comes from a caring Father who knows what is best for His children. God is not trying to take away our joy; He is protecting us from giving our hearts to things that can never truly satisfy.

Prayer
Father, search my heart and reveal anything that has taken Your place. Help me to love You above all else and trust You more than anything this world offers. Keep my heart devoted to Christ and centered on Your will. Amen.

08/27/2026

Thursday, August 27, 2026
Good morning to everyone. As we pray today, I ask you to remember the victims of the earthquakes, the victims of the fires that are raging, and recently the victims of the floods in this country and abroad. Now for our devotional.

Ecclesiastes 11:4&6
New International Version
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 confronts a quiet but powerful enemy of spiritual growth: hesitation. “He who observes the wind will not sow…” Solomon paints the picture of a farmer standing in his field, watching the wind, waiting for the perfect moment to plant. But the perfect moment never comes. The wind keeps blowing. The clouds keep shifting. And the field remains empty.

Many of us live the same way. We wait for the perfect time to pray more deeply. The perfect moment to serve. The perfect season to give. The perfect conditions to obey what God has already told us.
But faith is never built on perfect conditions. Faith is built on obedience in motion.

Verse 6 pushes us forward: “In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand.” In other words—be faithful all day long. Don’t wait for ideal circumstances. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Don’t wait until life calms down. Sow in the morning. Sow in the evening. Trust God with the results.
The truth is simple: God blesses movement, not hesitation. He honors effort, not excuses. He multiplies seeds that are planted, not seeds held in our hands.

So today, take one step. Make one call. Offer one prayer. Speak one word of encouragement. Start one act of obedience.
You don’t need perfect conditions. You need a faithful heart.
And God will meet you in the sowing.

Prayer
Lord, give us courage to act, to sow, to move, even when the wind seems strong, and the clouds look uncertain. Deliver us from hesitation and fear. Teach us to trust Your timing more than our own comfort. May our hands be diligent, our hearts steadfast, and our faith active. Bless the seeds we plant today, and let them bear fruit for Your glory. Amen.

08/25/2026

Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Good morning on this cool day here in the valley. Bible study tomorrow night from 6-7 pm at Chestuee UMC.
Have you given any thought to the chaos around the world caused by earthquakes, storms, fires, political unrest……etc. Could it be there is a message to us? Now, for our devotional.

Mark 10:43-45
New Living Translation
43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In Mark 10:43–45, Jesus overturns every human idea of greatness. The disciples were arguing about position, status, and honor—things our hearts still chase today. But Jesus draws a clear line: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
True greatness in the kingdom is not measured by how high we climb, but by how low we are willing to bow. Jesus does not simply command servitude—He embodies it. He kneels to wash feet. He touches the untouchable. He listens to the overlooked. He gives His life for those who could never repay Him.
Servitude is not weakness; it is strength under the control of love. It is choosing the towel over the throne, the cross over comfort, the needs of others over the applause of crowds. When we serve, we step into the very footsteps of Christ Himself.
Today, ask the Lord to give you eyes to see small opportunities to serve—quiet acts of kindness, unnoticed sacrifices, gentle words, patient listening. These are the places where Christlike greatness grows.

Prayer
Jesus, make us servants like You. Remove the pride that blinds us and the selfishness that slows us. Fill us with Your compassion so that our hands, words, and choices reflect Your heart. Help us serve joyfully, faithfully, and sacrificially, so that others may see You in us. Amen.

08/21/2026

Friday, August 21, 2026
Good afternoon, as we begin the weekend and it is football time in Tennessee. I am glad to see football season start, but to many across the country it means little compared to the hardship some are under due to storms which have ravaged a good part of the South and Midwest. We have fires in California as well as other places. We must lift these and others in prayer that God will sustain them in their time of hurt and pain. Now for our devotional.
Philippians 1:6 — “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
There is a quiet strength in Paul’s words—a reminder that the Christian life is not a project you started, and it is not a project you are responsible for finishing. God Himself lit the first spark of faith in your heart. He planted the seed. He began the story.
And because He began it, He takes full responsibility for completing it.
We often look at our lives and see unfinished areas:
• habits we’re still fighting
• prayers we haven’t seen answered
• growth that feels slow
• wounds that still need healing
But Paul says your spiritual progress is not held together by your consistency—it is held together by God’s commitment. The God who created galaxies does not abandon His work. The God who raised Jesus from the dead does not run out of power. The God who called you His child does not change His mind.
Your life is a construction site of grace. You may hear the noise of struggle, see the scaffolding of sanctification, or feel the dust of ongoing transformation—but the Builder is still on site. And He never leaves His work unfinished.
If God started it, God will finish it. Your story is safe in His hands.

Prayer
Father, thank You for beginning Your good work in me. Strengthen my faith when I feel unfinished, discouraged, or slow to grow. Remind me that Your hands are steady, Your plans are sure, and Your grace will carry me all the way to completion in Christ. Keep shaping me, keep leading me, and keep finishing Your work in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

08/20/2026

Thursday, August 20, 2026
Good afternoon on this pleasant day here in the valley. I am calling for prayer for my son, who is a patient at Duke Medical Center. He has been told he must receive a bone marrow transplant. The other option is that the hand of providence reaches down and does what only He can do. Now for our devotional.

Habakkuk 3:19 says God gives us feet like a deer—steady, balanced, able to climb difficult heights. Isaiah 43:2 says that when we pass through deep waters, God Himself walks beside us.
Together, these verses remind us of a simple but life-changing truth:
Some trials must be climbed. Some trials must be crossed. But none must be faced alone.
When Your Trial Feels Like a Mountain
Some struggles rise slowly and loom large—financial pressure, long-term illness, waiting for answers, or a relationship that requires patience. These are mountain trials. They demand endurance.
Habakkuk teaches us that God doesn’t always flatten the mountain. Instead, He strengthens your legs.
He gives you:
• Stability when the path is uneven
• Confidence when the climb is steep
• Grace when the journey is slow
Your strength is not your own—it is His.
When Your Trial Feels Like a River
Other trials rush in suddenly—loss, fear, crisis, emotional overwhelm. These are river trials. They demand courage.
Isaiah reminds us that God doesn’t always stop the river. But He promises something better: His presence in the water.
The river may rise, but it will not sweep you away. The current may pull, but it will not overpower His grip.
You are not crossing alone.
Your Trial Is Not Your End
The mountain will not break you. The river will not drown you. God is shaping you through both.
He strengthens you for the climb. He stays with you in the crossing. And He leads you safely to the other side.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for being our strength on the mountains and our companion in the rivers. For every trial we face today, steady our steps and calm our hearts. Help us trust Your power and rest in Your presence. Lead us through every challenge with courage and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

08/14/2026

Friday, August 14, 2026
Good morning to all at the beginning of the weekend. It is going to be a hot weekend. I went to a football game yesterday that Jack, my grandson, was in, and it was so hot I thought the enamel was going to melt away in my teeth. The economy is great, we are told by our leaders; that means they don’t go to the grocery store or buy their own gas. If you believe the economy is great, then I have a great deal for you: I will sell to you at a reduced price some nice oceanfront property in Arizona. Now for our devotional.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 (NKJV)
The purpose of enduring temptation is to prove our faith—that, through the testing, we would be revealed as genuine and strong in our belief. Our steadfastness will be rewarded as we demonstrate our love for Jesus by resisting temptation.
The highest and best motive for resisting temptation is love for God. Some resist temptation because they fear either negative consequences or what others will think. But the best motive is focused on God: to love Him with a greater power and passion than to love sin.
Prayer:
Father, we thank You that before we ever knew You, You loved us. Amen.

08/13/2026

Thursday, August 13, 2026
Good morning to all on this beautiful day here in the valley. Continue to pray for those who were victims of the deadly earthquake in Colombia last week. Now for our devotional.

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude 20 (NASB)

Chances are you’ve done something over the course of your life that you’re not proud of. In fact, you might have even done a few “somethings” and feel they are taking their toll. You told one too many lies. You kept one too many secrets. You hurt one too many people. Indeed, after a lifetime of bad behavior, you might feel like it’s too late to do anything about righting your wrongs. Too late to make a difference. Too late to be used by God for anything worthwhile. And though you know that God has forgiven your sin through your faith in Jesus so that you will enter heaven when you die, you can’t shake the feeling that the chance to do something good on earth has come and gone.
If you feel this way, let me be straight with you. We serve a big God who is capable of overcoming the impossible and restoring the unrestorable. In fact, God is in the business of taking the worst of us and using us in mighty ways for the glory of his name and kingdom.
Consider Moses. He was a prince of Egypt, but one mistake cost him the respect of Pharaoh and the trust of his own people. He murdered an Egyptian and tried to cover up his crime. Then he spent years as an outcast, convinced that his wickedness rendered him ineligible for good works. God’s response was to show up in a burning bush with a message for Moses that no matter what he had done, the plan was for him to lead God’s people out of Egypt and into the promised land. He would be given authority over the people and power from God to bring judgment on Egypt.
Think about Rahab. She was a pr******te living in the pagan city of Jericho. She lived on the furthest outskirts of the city, on the wall, which was a place for the lowest in society. Shortly before her nation’s downfall, she knew enough of the Lord and of God’s chosen people to know what was coming. It would have been easy for her to conclude that her fate was sealed and that God would kill her along with everyone else in Jericho. But faith compelled her to help Joshua’s spies, to align herself with Israel’s God. Thus, God used her to grant victory to the Israelites, and he saved her by protecting her from Jericho’s fall.
The Bible is full of stories about sinners whom God ended up redeeming and using to bring about his perfect plan of deliverance and restoration. So, if God could use murderers and pr******tes to become great heroes of the faith, why do you assume he wouldn’t do the same for you?
Tapping into the future God wants for you starts with a living, active faith that God is who he says he is and that he will do what he promises to do. He is “able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy” (Jude 24). By choosing to believe that God will keep his promise regardless of what you have done, you open the door to being used by God for greatness in his kingdom.
Don’t give up. Defeat is not permanent. Our victory has already been won through Jesus Christ. All you have to do is draw near to God and start experiencing all he has in store for you on earth.

Prayer.
Father, when we feel as if we cannot be used by you because of some limitation, whether it be real or imagined, help us to remember who we serve and that “ With God nothing is impossible. Amen.

08/11/2026

Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Good morning on this beautiful day from here in the valley. Pray for the people of Colombia who were hit by a strong earthquake yesterday; reports indicate there have been at least a hundred killed, many injured, and unknown damage done to buildings and infrastructure.
Now for our devotional.

Exodus 20:12
New King James Version
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
To honor one’s parents means to prize them, care for them, and show respect or reverence to them. This fifth command is an essential building block for the stability and health of society. If younger generations rebel against older generations, the foundations of society will be destroyed. What more can be said along this line? We see one of the reasons our society is in the mess it is in. As we would say down home, “ Nuff said”.

Prayer:
Help the youth to see the value, the necessity, and the blessing in honoring their parents. Amen.

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889 Chestuee Road NE
Cleveland, TN
37323

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