Federated Church of Port Byron Ny

09/06/2026

Matthew 18:1-7

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." Romans 8:14

In a world that seeks to make sure we grow up into adults, it's interesting that Jesus (and Paul) tells us that being a child is good news. Let's distinguish between being child like and being childish. Being childish is being foolish. It's demanding our own way and crying when we don't get it - like a toddler. Being childish is unrelated to physical age. It's the kind of actions or words that receives the response, "You are such a child!" We never say that in a good way.
Being a child, or childlike, is having the wonderful qualities of a child - wonder, amazement, humor, playfulness, with the desire to see, or touch or learn something. Being childlike means you don't know it all, and are open to learning. Children don't know that that's called being humble, but that is what it is. And being childlike is unrelated to our physical age, also.
Now, we are usually a mixture of these qualities. Heaven knows that I have my childish days! Both with people and with God. As the t-shirt Donna bought me says: "Grumpy old bear!" Yep, I can be childishly grumpy if I don't get my way. But, I also have the wonder and amazement of a child in me. Birds, bugs, people, food, can throw me back to my childlike days of being amazed. (And good chicken wings can bring songs of thanksgiving and praise from my childlike heart!)
We are created to marvel at life and the world around us. We are created to see God in all things and praise God for the wonders around us. And if we can no longer do that we become people lost, and without the soul of a child. And, the wonders of the Kingdom of Heaven will be beyond our view.

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09/02/2026

"If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all....No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink." Romans 12;18,20

You know sometimes I don't like it when Scripture is so clear. Sometimes a little ambiguity feels better than clarity. I want to have some wiggle room to make my own choices. "So far as it depends on you", me. So now I'm responsible for being peaceful. I can't just say, "He started it!" I have to look at my own involvement also. Could I have backed away nicely instead of escalating the problem? That's not my style. People deserve what the get if they say or do something that offends me. But Paul says, "No!". I have to take the initiative to maintain peace. Harumph!
And those enemies. What if they aren't "enemies " but just people that I don't like, or that annoy me? Do I have to be compassionate with them? Do I have to take care to meet their needs if I can? And what if they are enemies? Do I need to "love" my enemies, that is, care about who they are as children of God? ("But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". Jesus - Matthew 5:44) (Ooops!) This living like Jesus and walking in his ways is not very user friendly, if I'm the user. It's always about some other person and not me! When do I get to have my turn?
You know, I suspect that Jesus thinks He gave me my turn. He loved me before I saw him, and he opened the fulness of God's grace to me when I didn't deserve it. I guess he just wants me to give it all away to others. (Still, harumph!)

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08/30/2026

08/30/2026

Romans 12:9-21

"Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;" Romans 12:9

In the 12th chapter of the book of Romans Paul writes a brief summary of how we should live as Christians in a world that may not follow Christ. Our sense of what is good may be different from the world around us. We are to love one another with mutual affection; to try to outdo each other in showing honor. We are to rejoice in hope, be patient in our suffering and persever in our prayers. We are to care for the needs of each other and offer hospitality to strangers. We are to bless those who seek to harm us and not curse them. And rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. That is, have compassion on all. That's a tall order.
In our everyday experiences we come up against all kinds of events, some good, some just ordinary, and a few that might be painful or even harmful. Or just down right annoying. A drive downtown can be quite a challenge to our sanity and peace of mind. Of course so can a conversation in line at the grocery store. We also may experience the grace of God in that same line. We live in a world in which people have many different opinions and many different ways that they behave. And we walk among them all just as Jesus did. Our model is to be like Jesus, as much as we can. Now we are human, and we sometimes use poor judgment. Sometimes we let our passions get the better of us. No one likes to be used or made fun of, or treated as if they don't matter. Jesus cared about everyone he met and welcomed everyone to be a follower and walk with him. We all want to feel a part of a community that encourages us and supports us. So that is what we offer to anyone who needs it.
If we walk in Jesus's way we will be open to caring for others with a genuine sense of God's love for them.

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08/26/2026

"We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us;" Romans 12:6

When someone tells me they do not know their gift from God I always tell them, "Let someone else tell you." People see how we work and how we use God's gifts, and the depth of our faith. People notice the gifts of those around them. Asking another about your spiritual gifts is a great way to let God tell you what grace filled gifts you possess.
In this chapter and in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul enumerated a wide variety of spiritual gifts that individuals in the church receive inorder to help the church and to do the will of God. I'm not going to talk about the individual gifts because that makes some people believe that these lists are exhaustive. They believe that these alone are the only gifts from the Spirit to individuals and the church. Not so. God's gifts are not limited by Paul's writings. But they do give a broad spectrum of the gifts a church needs. Read the rest of this chapter, and 1 Corinthians 12 to get a sense of how God sees our needs in church.
But, I'm going to suggest that whenever we do something for Christ, whenever we open our minds and hearts to the leading of the Spirit, we are using God's gifts to us. Some like to eat, some like to cook. Some like to sing, some like to listen. Some praise God with joyful noise, some praise God in quiet moments. Some love to read God's word, some love to listen to God's word. Some are generous in time, some are generous in money. Some feel service is a way to God, some see prayer as a way to God. Some give the day to Christ, some call on God as needed. The Holy Spirit can use every thought and action and make it a gift that God can, and will, use for the good of the body of Christ and its many different members.

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08/23/2026

Romans 12:1-8

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. " Romans 12:2

In the first verse Paul tell the Romans to present their "bodies" as a living sacrifice to God. Paul often uses the word "bodies" to represent the whole person, not just the physical body. So we are to present our whole being to God and not live as the world calls us to live. By presenting our minds and heart and spirit to God, God can transform us. And we may begin to discern God's will.
I am asked quite often, "How do I know God's will?" Well, Paul answers that here. First, give yourself over to God. Take yourself out of the equation. We all have ideas, wants, needs, the desire to be right, the need to be liked and loved. We all have egos. So the first step is to, as much as possible, remove all of that and concentrate on God's wants and goodness and what is acceptable to God in God's perfect will. By doing that we begin to ask different questions. Not questions of me, my, I, but questions of," You Lord, how do I live in You Lord." It is amazing how our focus changes when we stop asking the question of the world and ask what is acceptable to God.
Second, remember that you are not alone in this question. Paul reminds us that we are members of the one body of Christ. The body has many members to help the whole to function well. And the whole helps the individual members to function well. When in doubt about certain actions you may feel called to, ask those around you, whom you trust. Share the journey. The Holy Spirit works through the whole body of Christ to help the many members. You are not alone but you have wonderful people around you that can support you and encourage you. God will speak through them as well as in your heart.

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08/19/2026

"Lord, if it is you command me to come to you on the water" Matthew 14:28

It's a hopeful statement of faith from Peter. Peter really wants to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He has invested his life in that belief. Now there is an opportunity to strengthen that belief by having Jesus command him to come to him walking on the water.
As my childhood shows I have the desire but not the belief of Peter. Jesus bids him come, walk out to me. I have tried to imagine what was in Peter's mind as he stepped over the gunwale and put his foot " firmly" on the water! His faith in Jesus bouyed him up and he began to walk toward Jesus. Immediately his eyes saw what he was doing and his brain took over - he began to sink. But his faith cried out, "Lord, save me!" (V30) And Jesus reached out and lifted him up.
We all have to walk through turbulent storms and rough water. One of the oldest promises of God is from Isaiah 43:1,2 which reads, " When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you..." (v2) What may seem overwhelming in our lives, and sometimes it really does seem overwhelming, becomes an opportunity for God to lift us up. "Lord, save me!" Is a heartfelt prayer that we can say, just as Peter did.
Peter's problem seems to be where he was looking - at Jesus, he walks; at the waves, he sinks. Keeping our eyes on Christ through the storms of life holds us above the waves and let's God walk with us.
There is a hymn by Helen H Lemmel, "Turn You Eyes Upon Jesus," and the refrain is : " Turn you eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace." I believe that says it all.

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