Sierra Madre United Methodist

06/07/2026

Link to devotional:https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-06-07

Hebrews 11:24-30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.

06/06/2026

Link to devotional:
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-06-06

Exodus 15:1-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Song of Moses
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my might,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him;
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.

4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea;
his elite officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
5 The floods covered them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power—
your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.

It had been a difficult couple of months. Health challenges left me chronically fatigued. Staff shortages and extra responsibilities at work caused me constant stress. One morning, after another restless night, I woke up with a throbbing headache and felt sick to my stomach. I did my best ...

06/05/2026

Link to devotional:
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-06-05

2 Timothy 3:10-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Paul’s Charge to Timothy
10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, and my sufferings, the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

A beautiful memory of my childhood is when I saw my mother, Carmen, participating in a Bible lesson one day. I asked her teacher if I could receive the same discipleship lessons, since the crossword puzzles and word-search puzzles in the lesson booklet had caught my attention. Another day, Mo...

06/04/2026

Sunday, May 31st was "Peace With Justice Sunday" and the altar display provided by Sally Follett included her "Justice is Blind" statue, "for those oppressed by injustice, their voices silenced or ignored, and under the shadow of fear, stand as their defender, oh God." The lion and lamb represent the month of May.
Rich Snyder was our guest preacher while Pastor John was away celebrating his niece's wedding. The message of his "Children's Moment" was that sharing Jesus' love is like shining a light for the world to see, and the kids all received mini flashlights.

06/04/2026

Link to devotional:
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-06-04

Isaiah 46:3-5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

3 Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from your birth,
carried from the womb;
4 even to your old age I am he;
even when you turn gray I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.

5 To whom will you liken me and make me equal
and compare me, as though we were alike?

I wanted to hold my youngest nephew for as long as he was content. He was heavy in my arms, but I wasn’t going to put him down or pass him off to someone else at the family gathering. Later on, I carried my other young nephew and let him help me hand out gifts. As he leaned forward with each...

06/03/2026

Link to devotional:
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-06-03

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Everything Has Its Time
1 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

When I graduated from college, I wondered, Where do I go from here? In school, I had structure and the goal of achieving my degree. But after college, endless opportunities arose. I struggled to decide if I wanted to go straight into my career, take a gap year volunteering, or go back to col...

06/02/2026

Link to devotional:https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-06-02

Psalm 23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Divine Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

06/01/2026

Link to devotional:
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-06-01

Acts 13:44-52
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. 46 Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

‘I have set you to be a light for the gentiles,
so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48 When the gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord, and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. 49 Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

When my son was in kindergarten, I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle, the mother of another student. I felt an instant connection with her — as if we were kindred spirits. Working full time while juggling parenting duties was overwhelming, but Michelle had a calming presence. I felt groun...

05/31/2026

Link to devotional:
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-05-31

Philippians 4:4-7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We’ve all prayed prayers that seem to go unanswered, which can make it difficult to fully accept and put into practice today’s verse. We may feel that our prayers haven’t been answered when we don’t get the results we want within the timeline we expect. However, I have found a new way to pra...

05/30/2026

Link to devotional:
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-05-30

Ephesians 1:1-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Salutation

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

As a way of feeling connected to my friends, I like to check their messaging profiles and read what they have put as their current status. Some list activities such as enjoying a meal at a restaurant, relaxing on the beach, or traveling abroad. Others share their feelings and emotions, which ...