Sunday, November 27
Amos 1:1-5, 13-2:8
Psalms 111, 112, 113, 146, 147
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Luke 21:5-19
Psalm 147 "...3He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
4He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.
5Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite...."
Many of you have heard me say that it was definitely God's plan, that a girl from Tasmania married an Indian, moved to Germany and ended up in Texas, because I certainly never predicted it! But as most of you know, at the end of this school year, and after almost sixteen years in the U.S, I will be going home to Australia.
I have to be honest, along with being absolutely overjoyed at the prospect of returning home to my parents, sisters, nieces and nephews, I am very nervous. Not for the fact that I am moving from the fourth largest city in the United States to the third oldest city in Australia, but nervous about continuing my faith journey in a small town. I began questioning myself, am I strong enough that when others don't understand my Christian values will I not give in to theirs? You see, my eyes and heart were only truly opened to God and His Word after moving to the United States and giving birth to my daughter, Ashli.
Then, in preparation for writing this devotional, I opened my Bible and I started reading the many papers and cards tucked between the pages, the underlined scripture and the notes in the margins. There was a card from Chad, a little boy from the very first Sunday School class that I taught, a book mark from the first Christian Women's Health Day that I helped put together in San Antonio, it says "Behold! I stand at the door and knock..." Revelations 3:20. A breast cancer card that simply says, "Courage." A hand-written thank you card from a youth group quoting Matthew 25:45 and John 7:37-38, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." A VBS card with Luke 1:37 "For Nothing is impossible with God." A note written by Ashli in 4th grade about what God is to her; "To me God is strong, God is real." And a letter from the late Rev. Alfred C. Acer, welcoming me to church, "When you rejoice, we shall share your joy with you and give thanks for the blessings you have received. When you are in need, we shall be there offering our solace and strength..." And it was then that I saw the finger prints of all the lives that have intertwined with mine, some briefly, some forever. And I realize my journey is moving me home, not away from God, but closer.
So as I begin this next phase of my life, I will be clinging to my God, my Bible and the sweet memories of God's people who have walked this leg of my journey along side me and taught me so much. I will always remember my brothers and sisters in Christ, from Reformation Lutheran Church Long Branch, New Jersey, St Andrew Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas, Memorial Drive Lutheran Church and Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Houston Texas. From you, I have learned the true meaning of faith, love, forgiveness, kindness, bravery and charity. I will live by the words from the Book of Amos, 5:1-5 when it says; "Seek Me and live..." and "Seek the Lord and live...", and be comforted by the words of Psalm 147:5 "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite." I will "Praise the Lord!" as the hallelujah Psalms tell us too, (Psalms 111-118) and when I read Philippians 1:3-6 I will remember you; "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Julieanne Mani