Bethlehem United Methodist Church

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05/28/2026

Today's devotion is from 2 Timothy 1:8–12. Paul wrote these words from prison — a man mocked and shamed for his faith — yet he did not flinch. He was passing the baton to Timothy, his son in the faith, urging him to carry the same gospel with the same courage.
The world today can feel no different. Culture often ridicules and marginalizes the message of Christ. Yet Paul's words cut through every age: do not be ashamed. The gospel is not a message of defeat — it is the announcement that Christ has abolished death and brought immortality to light.
Take courage today. You are not merely surviving — you are an eternal being, rooted in the resurrection of Christ. Stand firm. The One who called you is faithful, and His purpose will not fail.

05/28/2026

Meditate at Eight: Ponderings

This morning began with two very different rhythms. Tori slept in and, as I type, is still stretched out and snoring without a care in the world. I, on the other hand, woke early with unexpected energy. Before I started on my first cup of coffee, I vacuumed the floor and moved the couch in search of something lost.

What did I find? Dog hair and dust (of course). A penny. A pen. A pair of glasses missing one lens (which raises questions). And one lonely screw that obviously belongs somewhere in the couch, though I couldn’t figure out where, which feels mildly alarming.

What I didn’t find was the thing I was actually looking for. It's probably still under the couch somewhere. Do you think it changed places with the screw? I don't think so either. I caught myself thinking, I hope this isn’t how the whole day goes.

But if I’m honest, sometimes this is exactly what my faith feels like. Scattered. Misdirected. Searching hard but not always finding what I hoped for.

I come looking for clarity and discover that I have more questions. I come seeking something specific from God and find forgotten things. Old dust and old memories. Small fragments that don't seem to have value. Loose pieces that suggest something may not be holding together as tightly as I imagined or hoped.

Faith can feel like that sometimes.

We search for God’s voice and instead become aware of our own clutter. We pray for certainty and discover questions. We look for one thing and stumble across ten others we've neglected.

Yet God's grace is present even there.

Because while I didn’t find what I lost, the searching still revealed something true. Under the furniture of our lives, hidden beneath the routines, there are things we rarely notice until we are forced to look closely. Dust accumulates. Pieces loosen. Important things go missing. But the act of searching wakes us up.

Maybe following Jesus isn't always about finding. Maybe sometimes it is about searching.

God, it seems, is less disturbed by our scatteredness than we are. After all, Scripture is full of people who lost their way before they found grace. Moses questioned why God was calling him. Elijah hid in a cave. Jonah fled on a ship. The disciples misunderstood just about everything Jesus tried to teach them. Thomas doubted, Peter sank,

Still, God met them all. In the dust. Among the missing pieces. Even when they felt like they were barely keeping it together.

So this morning, while Tori snores peacefully and I continue wondering where that couch screw belongs and where my missing thing went, I'm reminded that God doesn't wait for a perfectly ordered faith before showing up.

Sometimes grace meets us right in the middle of the mess beneath the couch.

Prayer: Lord, you see every scattered part of me—the worries, the unfinished thoughts, the misplaced priorities, and the things I can't seem to find or fix. Thank you for meeting me anyway. When my faith feels cluttered or distracted, help me trust that you are present in the searching. Hold together the pieces that feel loose, and remind me that I am never lost to you. Amen.

05/28/2026

Today's devotion is from Joel 2:18-29
The prophet Joel was speaking words of favor to the people — comfort for those who had suffered deeply. They had strayed from God's path and been brought low, but now Joel foresaw a time when Israel would live in peace and prosperity. God would have mercy and heal the land.
Joel promised that God would "be jealous for his land and have pity on his people." The material blessings would be remarkable — grain, wine, and oil restored, the years the locusts had eaten given back. But the greatest promise was spiritual: "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." Not just priests or prophets, but every person — an entire nation of voices carrying God's word into the world.
This is our promise too. The same Spirit poured out at Pentecost lives in us today. Let us not wait passively, but expectantly — opening ourselves to be filled, and then carrying that goodness outward into our families, our neighborhoods, and our world.
Amen.

05/17/2026

Meditate at Eight: Ponderings

I'm feeling a little "put out" this morning. I let Tori out and was greeted by frost on the ground and my car windows. Isn't it supposed to be spring? As I type these words, I keep telling myself that at least the sun is shining ... so that should make it better.

Feelings are powerful. They're also ... inconsistent. Little things can so easily change our mood, and brighten or darken our day.

Faith is also powerful. And, too often, it's also inconsistent. One day, faith feels strong and steady. The next day, it feels like trying to hold onto something that keeps slipping through your fingers. When faith is based solely on feelings, it makes for a very unpredictable experience. Our faith would look something like a yo-yo: up, down, and occasionally going sideways.

But Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith is rooted in something different than emotion. “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is confidence. Faith is assurance. Faith is anchored. And God is the source.

Faith doesn't require that we ignore our feelings, but it also means that we don’t let them have the final word. Not feeling especially confident or assured this morning? That's okay.

We will all have days when faith looks less like confidence and assurance ... and more like persistence.

Showing up. Praying anyway. Trusting, even if it feels a little wobbly.

Thought to ponder: What helps you stay grounded in faith when your feelings are all over the place?

Prayer: God, when my feelings fluctuate, anchor me in your truth. Help me to trust you beyond what I feel in the moment. Give me confidence and assurance, and keep me connected to you. Amen.

05/17/2026

Meditate at Eight: Ponderings

if the first chapter of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians made you wonder whether he had ever heard of a concise introduction, chapter two removes all doubt. At this point, you might expect Paul to finally say, “Alright, here’s what I really wanted to tell you…”

But no ... Paul keeps going.

He reminds the Thessalonians what his visit was like. He recalls how he shared not only the gospel but his very life. He celebrates how they received the word of God as living truth and how they put those words into action. Then, just when you think he might get to the point of the letter, he adds how deeply he longs to see them again.

This isn't filler. This isn't Paul beating around the proverbial bush before getting to the point. This is affection on full display. Paul isn’t stalling ... he’s remembering.

It’s almost as if he’s saying: Before I say anything else, you need to know how much you matter to me. Not as a ministry project. Not as a success story. But as people I love.

And then comes the line that ends chapter two and feels almost over the top: “You are our glory and joy.”

This is a side of Paul many of us don't often see. That’s a lot of emotional weight for one sentence. We might expect something more restrained, like “You’re doing well, keep it up.” But Paul goes all in. He's proud of them and delighted with them ... and he wants them to hear it from him.

It’s a reminder that the Christian life isn't just about ideas or doctrines. Those are important, but, at the core, it’s about relationships. Shared life. Mutual encouragement. The kind of connection where people aren’t interruptions to ministry; they are the ministry.

There’s a gentle challenge here, too. We live in a world of efficiency. Get to the point. Keep things moving. Don’t linger too long. But Paul lingers because love lingers.

That kind of communication can feel a little uncomfortable. We’re often better at offering advice than expressing affection. But Paul shows us the importance of connection and appreciation while we do all those other things our faith in Christ demands of us.

There’s a bit of humor in imagining the Thessalonians unrolling yet another section of this letter and thinking, “Paul… we love you too, but are you ever going to tell us what to do?” But in a way, he already has.

Love deeply. Remember gratefully. And speak it freely. Because those are words we all need to hear.

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for the people you have placed in my life—the ones who shape me, encourage me, and share this journey of faith. Teach me to value them not just in thought, but in word and action. Give me the courage to express my gratitude and joy, reflecting the love you have shown me. Amen.

05/07/2026

Today's devotion is from Genesis 6:5-22. The Lord looked upon the earth He had fashioned and saw that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." The beauty He had spoken into existence had been darkened by the choices of those He created. So grieved was He that He said, "I am sorry that I have made them." The land itself bore the weight of humanity's rebellion, for "the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence."
Yet one man stood apart. "Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD," and God entrusted him with a remarkable calling — to build an ark, preserve his family, and carry life through the coming flood. God said, "I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark." He would not let the earth be utterly destroyed.
Today, God calls us to be like Noah — faithful in a faithless age. When culture pulls us toward compromise, our lives can speak louder than any argument. We are not merely surviving the flood around us; we are rescuing others from it. Walk in righteousness. Walk in truth. May God have mercy on us, and may our lives point others back to their Creator.

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3085 Ky 1547
Liberty, KY
42539

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