<![CDATA[]]> https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/ EN Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:15:00 +0200 Incomedia WebSite X5 Pro <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 4-16-2026]]> imblog
Mattthew 6:24
 
 
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

 
 
Serving God Above All
 
It is crucial for every Christian to remember a fundamental truth: we cannot allow ourselves to lose sight of whom we are truly called to serve. In our modern society, countless influences compete to become the primary focus of our lives. The relentless pursuit of wealth, the desire for power, and, for many, even the daily challenge to meet basic needs, all vie for our attention. Any one of these pursuits can easily take center stage, distracting us from our highest calling—to serve God first and foremost.

 
Ultimately, our lives will not be measured by worldly standards but by the love for which God created us. When we live according to the world’s expectations, true peace and fulfillment remain elusive, as we are always striving for the next goal or achievement. In contrast, when we devote ourselves to serving God alone, we discover the peace that surpasses all understanding, as promised in scripture. By making God our only true master, we open ourselves to a life of serenity and purpose.
]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:15:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-4-16-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000043 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 4-14-2026]]> imblog
2 Timothy 4:3 – 5

You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.

 
In our modern world, it has become increasingly common to approach scripture with the intent to confirm our own perspectives. Rather than allowing God’s Word to shape our worldview, we sometimes search the Bible for passages and seek out spiritual leaders who affirm what we already believe. When faced with scriptures that challenge us, we may be tempted to avoid or ignore those texts. This tendency is not new—it has been present throughout history. We find ourselves trying to fit God into the limitations of our own understanding, instead of striving to see the world as God intends. In doing this, we risk replacing our devotion to the Creator with a focus on worldly distractions and priorities.
 
To remain faithful and avoid these pitfalls, we must use the two greatest commandments as our guide: first, to love God, and second, to love our neighbor. Everything we are taught and everything we believe should be measured against these core principles.
  
Additionally, we are called to practice what John Wesley described as Christian (Holy) Conferencing. This involves engaging in meaningful and constructive dialogue—not only with those who share our views, but also with those who hold different perspectives. By actively listening and considering all viewpoints, we create space for the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding together.
 
Finally, it is important to recognize that even as we serve the same God and are led by the same Spirit, there will be times when we do not agree. In these moments, we are called to continue loving one another through our differences. By doing so, we fulfill God’s command to love, showing respect and compassion for each other even in the midst of disagreement.
]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:48:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-4-14-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000042 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 4-9-2026]]> imblog
Perseverance and Faith in the Christian Journey

  Proverbs 24:16
  
for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
    but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

 Philippians 1:6
  
“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Today, two distinct scriptures were chosen to illustrate a crucial truth about the Christian life. It is important to understand that choosing to follow Christ and placing God at the center of our lives does not eliminate struggle. In fact, it often marks the beginning of new challenges. Like any pursuit, there will be moments of success and times of failure. What matters most is our commitment to keep moving forward, regardless of the difficulties we encounter.

 Proverbs teaches us the value of persistence, emphasizing that the righteous will rise again even after falling. This reminds us of the importance of never giving up. In Philippians, we are encouraged to place our faith in God, trusting in His grace and love. Through this faith, we are able to grow into the disciples God has called us to be, learning from our mistakes and celebrating our achievements. Ultimately, the grace and love of God are enough to overcome every weakness and shortcoming we face.]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:50:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-4-9-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000041 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 4-7-2026]]> imblog
Philippians 2:3
 
 
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
 
 
The evil present in our world encourages us to embrace greed and selfishness. Society often promotes the belief that we must prioritize our own needs above all else, leaving little room to genuinely caring for others. This mindset suggests that the struggles and needs of others are theirs alone to manage, and that our main concern should be our own advancement. In such an environment, true joy is elusive, as life becomes an endless pursuit of personal goals and achievements. The constant glorification of our own accomplishments, even when it comes at the expense of others, only reinforces this cycle of self-importance.
 


 
Jesus taught a radically different message, which Paul continued to spread. The good news was not about self-promotion, but about becoming servants first. Jesus exemplified this through His life, and ultimately, through His death on the cross. We are called to embrace humility, putting the needs of others before our own. It is in this act of valuing others above ourselves that we truly live into our purpose and reflect what we were created to be.
]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:53:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-4-7-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000040 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 4-2-2026]]> imblog
James 4:6 (NIV)

 
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
 
“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

 
 
Grace: A Gift Received in Humility
 
The central message for us is clear: God’s grace is a free gift. It is not something we earn, nor is it something we could ever be worthy of through our own actions. Instead, grace is given to us out of God’s unconditional love. To fully embrace and experience this gift, we are called to approach God with humility. Rather than taking pride in what we have accomplished or earned, we are encouraged to be thankful for what God has generously provided. It is from this place of humility and gratitude that we discover true peace, recognizing and resting in the depth of God’s love for us.
]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:52:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-4-2-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000003F <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-31-2026]]> imblog
The Unconditional Love of God

𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟐:𝟖 – 𝟗 (𝐍𝐈𝐕)⁣
⁣
𝟖 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝— 𝟗 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭.

God’s love for us is immeasurable. He loves us so deeply that He is willing to forgive all our sins, and this forgiveness is given without conditions. This concept is difficult for us to comprehend because, as human beings, we tend to view relationships and actions in a transactional way. We are accustomed to the idea that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction—a principle derived from physics that influences how we approach life. As a result, we often search for ways to earn our salvation, believing it must be deserved or achieved through our own efforts. However, it is crucial to understand that God operates differently. His love is truly unconditional, not based on anything we can do to earn it.

The death of Jesus Christ is the most profound demonstration of God’s love for us. To help us grasp the magnitude of this love, God chose to use the relationship between a parent and child—the closest form of love known to humanity. By sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us, God allowed us to witness love in its purest form, so that we might better understand how deeply He cares for us. This example serves as a call for us to extend the same type of love to others. We are invited to love unconditionally, showing grace and empathy to everyone, we encounter, just as God has shown to us.
]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:11:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-31-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000003E <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-26-2026]]> imblog
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


 
 
How many of us today feel anxious? Anxiety seems to be a constant state in modern life. We worry about everything because we believe it is our responsibility to ensure things are done correctly. When things do not go as planned, we often feel as though we have failed.
 


 
The reality is that we do not have true control over most things. For those who have faith in God and believe in Jesus, we recognize that God is in control. We are invited to surrender our worries to God, trusting in His guidance and accepting His answers—whether they are yes, no, or not yet. It is important to receive God’s responses to our prayers with gratitude, relying on His wisdom instead of our own understanding. In doing so, we discover the peace that God promises us through Jesus Christ.
]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:33:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-26-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000003D <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-24-2026]]> imblog
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.


As I spend more time reading the book of Proverbs, I find myself appreciating its straightforward wisdom. The teachings are clear and accessible, offering guidance that is easy to understand. This leads to an important question: Where do we place our trust, and in what do we put our faith? Often, we encounter problems that seem unsolvable, situations that lack clear answers, and moments when we are uncertain about which path to take. The challenge arises when we attempt to navigate these difficulties relying solely on our own wisdom and understanding. Our tendency to depend on ourselves can leave us feeling lost and overwhelmed, unable to find solutions or direction.


Instead, what we should be doing is seeking guidance from the source of all wisdom—God. By inviting God’s spirit to lead us, we find that trusting and having faith in God makes a significant difference. Reflecting on our lives, we can see moments when things worked out the way they needed to, even when we were uncertain. In those times, it was God who was guiding us along the path we were meant to follow. Trust in God truly means believing that God’s spirit will lead us to where we need to be. Looking back, there are many instances when I felt lost, but now I recognize how God was leading me throughout my life. This is true for everyone, if we take the time to acknowledge it. With each experience of recognizing God’s guidance, it becomes easier to trust Him in the future. This process is a learned skill, one that requires a lifetime of practice to fully acquire.
]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:26:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-24-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000003C <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-19-2026]]> imblog
Psalm 84:11 (ERV)
 
 
The Lord God is our protector and glorious king.
    He blesses us with kindness and honor.
The Lord freely gives every good thing
    to those who do what is right.
 


 
It is common to feel alone in the world, even when surrounded by good friends. Society often teaches us that, ultimately, we must rely on ourselves, celebrating independence and self-sufficiency as ideals. This mindset can lead us away from God and from one another, fostering a sense of separation. As a result, we may begin to view life as a competition, believing that our neighbor is our rival in a world of limited resources.
 


 Psalm 84 reminds us that God is always with us and on our side. Like a loving parent, God desires to bless our lives and fulfill His dreams for us. Every “good thing” is a gift from God, given freely and not something we have to earn. Even more significant is the truth that these blessings are infinite. Unlike the world’s teaching that we must compete with others for what we need, God’s love knows no limits. When we choose to live as He calls us, there is no end to the goodness that He promises.]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:36:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-19-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000003B <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-17-2026]]> imblog
Colossians 3:12 – 14 (ERV)
 
 
12 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you. 14 Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity.
 

 
There is a clear pattern in these reflections, which arises from the unwavering consistency found in the teachings of Jesus and their reinforcement by Paul. The central concept is that, when we choose to follow Jesus and step into the lives we are called to live, a fundamental transformation is required. Through Jesus, we come to understand the profound depths of God’s love for each of us, as well as the true grace offered through forgiveness. With this knowledge, it becomes our responsibility to seek out the peace that scripture promises throughout the journey of faith.
 

 
Kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are qualities that allow us to truly forgive those who have wronged us—not merely with words, but from the depths of our hearts. By following the example of God’s grace, we learn to forgive as we are called to do. This process does not mean forgetting the wrongs committed, but rather letting go of the pain caused by conflict and choosing to move forward. In releasing both hurt and anger, we are freed to continue on our path. Forgiveness is not about excusing the misdeeds of others; instead, it is about removing the power those actions have to disrupt our peace and joy. Ultimately, it is only through love that we learn to forgive, and through forgiveness, we find the perfect unity promised in scripture.
]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:36:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-17-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000003A <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-12-2026]]> imblog
Leviticus 19:18 (ERV)
Forget about the wrong things people do to you. Don’t try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
We are reminded of the moment when an expert in the law tried to test Jesus by asking Him which commandment was the greatest. Jesus responded, in essence, with the instruction to love God and to love your neighbor. It is important to remember that this teaching was not a new concept introduced by Jesus; rather, it was rooted in the original instructions given to the Jewish people. As highlighted in today’s scripture, this command was first established in the book of Leviticus and reiterated in Deuteronomy. In quoting these scriptures, Jesus was affirming the enduring truth found in the Jewish law.
This commandment is not merely a rule for behavior but reflects the very essence of how God calls us to live. It is, in fact, the foundation of our created purpose. When we choose to love our neighbors, pray for our enemies, and serve others, we are embracing the life that God designed for us. Through these actions, we open ourselves to the peace and joy promised in scripture, experiencing true communion with all that God has made.
]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:47:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-12-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000039 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-10-2026]]> imblog
𝟏 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟒:𝟕
 
 
𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝.

 
We need to get back to community. This is what God created us for. However, over time, we have gradually narrowed our lives, confining ourselves to smaller circles. We often mistake internet acquaintances and social media followers for genuine friends. Yet, humans were created by God to be in communion—not only with God, but also with one another. When fear leads us to distance ourselves from both God and our neighbors, the evil in this world gains ground.

 
Only through love of God and neighbor can we break this cycle of isolation and disconnection. When we truly love someone, we discover our own true selves—the person God intended us to be. In loving others, we move away from fear and anger and instead embrace hope and curiosity. Rather than judging others for their shortcomings, we become humbled and empathetic, recognizing our own need for grace.

 
True love is about giving, just as God gives to us. It is not about what we can gain, but about what we can offer as servants to others. Our goal, then, should be to love others as God has loved us—selflessly, generously, and with a heart open to community.
]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:30:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-10-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000038 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-5-2026]]> imblog
1 Peter 3:8 – 9

 
 
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

 
 
We live in a world that thrives on conflict.  We not only follow the Old Testament principle of "an eye for an eye," but also believe in responding with greater force than received.  We think that fear is the best way to keep people from mistreating us. Because of this way of thinking, there can only be escalating conflict in which there can be no end.
 
 
How does this compare to this scripture and the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.  Are we not called to turn the other cheek, to love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.  How is this possible?  That is where the first verse comes in.  It starts with loving one another and the acknowledgement that we are all in need of God’s grace.  Being humble and removing the log from our own eye before we try to remove the speck from our neighbors.  Choosing to end conflict instead of fueling it.  This is the way that we shine the light of God’s love into this dark world.
]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:49:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-5-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000037 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 3-3-2026]]> imblog
James 1:2 – 4 (The Message)

 
2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

 
 
I know there are times that we think, "Please God, enough."  Where we do not think that we can take any more.  But it is in these times that we are given the opportunity to learn to let God and His Spirit take the lead.  This is so contrary to what the world would have you believe.   
 

We have all heard the saying that God only gives you what you can handle.  I used to add to this by saying that God’s opinion is higher of me than my own.  But it is in these times of extreme struggle that we can learn the most important lesson from God.  Put your faith in God and God’s love.  When kneading dough for bread it must be worked repeatedly until it’s ready for the next step where the yeast grows the bread from within.  From there that bread is baked as the finishing touch.  If any of these steps is cut short the finished product, while still being bread, is not what was planned.  The same is true for our faith and its development.  Trust in God and God’s plan.  God’s timing is perfect.  In those times of tests and challenges trust in the Lord’s plan for your growth and development.
]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:05:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-3-3-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000036 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-26-2026]]> imblog
Philippians 2:3 – 4 ESV
 
 
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
 


 
We live in a world that celebrates personal achievement and self-reliance above all else.  That it is a sign of weakness to need or even ask for assistance in any manner.  And in so doing we allow both our selfish ambition and pride to guide us into a false sense of what constitutes a successful life.
 


 However, if we are to live as Christians this is contrary to the teachings on which our faith is founded.  First, all that we have in this world is but a gift by the grace of God.  We have done nothing to earn it.  With this realization we then become humble seeing that we are not better than others, but we are all equal in the eyes of God. And through humility we learn to be servants to others just as Christ himself was a servant to us all. ]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:45:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-2-26-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000035 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-24-2026]]> imblog
Proverbs 11:2 ESV
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
We must be careful in our assurance in salvation not to think too highly of ourselves.  We must remember that all salvation is by the grace of God.  We live in a time when we are taught from birth that we must earn our way in this world.  That it is your work ethic and drive that determines each person’s success.  And some project this to their own salvation.  But as this scripture reminds us, that pride in oneself is not a good thing.  In proverbs alone there are more than a dozen references about pride and humility.  And when we expanded that scripture there were 80 references to humility and over 200 involving arrogance.
We must remember that we are no better than any other person.  That we are all sinners and not worthy of God’s grace.  If we do not take this stance then how many others will we discourage from coming to know Jesus because they see themselves as unworthy.  We need to follow that which Jesus wrote is Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged; condemn not, and you shall not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven”.  Jesus came to save us all and we must have humility in our own salvation and empathy in our interaction with others.  Remembering that none of us are worthy of God’s grace and forgiveness yet God gives to all that ask.
]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:30:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-2-24-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000034 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-19-2026]]> imblog
Genesis 1:1 – 2

 
 
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

 
 
I have only included the first two verses of the creation story because it is too long to share here.  But if you have the time, read all of Genesis Chapter 1.

 
 
The reason that I chose this for today is that we need to understand something.  That creation by God did not end on the sixth day.  My very first class for Course of Study the teacher talked about a creator God.  I remember listening to him but not fully comprehending what he was saying.  The reason for that is the same for most of us.  We need to come to the realization that God continues to create every day.  There is no limit to God’s creation because there is no limit to God.  We as humans cannot understand this because we are finite beings.

 
 
Most of our earthly problems stem from the idea that there is a finite amount of everything, including the love and gifts of God.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  And because of this belief in limited supply we then are drawn to compete for that limited love and gifts.  We then work to acquire more of these gifts and hoard them so when they do run out.  Guaranteeing we then will still have ours when the supply runs out.  But if we transition to a belief that God, being infinite, continues to create then we move past the need to accumulate and into the space of sharing.  We then can give as God would want us too.  Because there is no fear that we will run out.  Only when we place our faith in an infinite God and God’s promise of love and grace can we see and live into what Jesus calls the Kingdom of Heaven.  That peace comes not from the finite we can earn but to the infinite God can give.  And with this, we know that God’s well will never run dry.
]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:34:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-2-19-2026-1 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000033 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-17-2026]]> imblog
1 John 4:19 – 20

 
 
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

 
 
 
 
Love, Love, Love, the very thing that is commanded by God for all to do.  To love God and to love our brothers and sisters.  That word love is used 46 times in 1 John 4 alone and as many times as 645 times (New Living Translation) in the New Testament.  But just like anything else it is not enough to say the words if they are not put into deeds.  There are many today that claim to love God yet express hate for others.  When this is done we are not living as God has commanded.

 
 
We find ourselves struggling to love our brothers and sisters. We need to remind ourselves of the term “imago Dei” Image of God.  This is how we were all created and how God sees us all.  We then must work towards seeing all in the image by which they were created, not the image the world projects them to be.  In doing this we can then work towards our own sanctification while modelling God’s love for those that might need to see it most.
]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:09:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-2-19-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000031 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-12-2026]]> imblog
𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟓: 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟑

 
 
𝟐𝟎 𝐖𝐨𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝
 
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥,
 
𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
 
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬,
 
𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭
 
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫.
 
𝟐𝟑 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞,
 
𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭.

 
 
We need to remember what it was that led to the exile that Isaiah writes about. The fundamental failure was that the people were lead away from God’s covenant by leaders that were not consistent in their following of the mosaic law. And through their lead became the selfish beings that humans are when they live outside of God. They started to put their faith in men, not God.

 
The same has been true throughout history and we are cycling back again. We are bombarded everyday by two realities. We must then choose which is the one that is in service of God and which is driven by man. What we must recognize is that what we see in our world today is God’s plan skewed to meet man’s desire. We must test all by the full word of God, not just the parts that match our world view.

 
God’s view of the world is one of love of others, of being a servant first, and celebrating the diversity of God’s continued creation. So, when we are trying to decide in whom to put our faith there is only one answer. Our faith must remain in God and all God’s word. When we do this by his will, we then receive that peace that is promised in scripture. And in so doing recognize good from evil and light from dark.
 
]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:06:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-2--12-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000030 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-10-2026]]> imblog
Matthew 7:12

 
 
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

 
 
As I was preparing for this week’s devotionals my mind went to the Golden Rule.  We were all taught this as children.  Over my years of teaching, I would frequently use this as an example within the classroom.  When I started teaching as soon as I would mention the Golden Rule the students would know immediately what I was referring to.  But as the years went on I found myself needing to explain what I was referring to.  And by the time that I retired from teaching I quit using the term Golden Rule.  Instead I explained what it was.

 
 
I write this so that we as Christians might take ownership in this demise.  This is not something that the school should teach but something that a society has to choose to emphasize.  And to take this one step further, not only do we need to teach the words that were shared first with us in the Sermon on the Mount but we need to model them in our lives.  Too many Christians today claim that the Golden Rule is how we should live but then exhibit behaviors that are contrary to it’s very teachings

 
 
Below is the graphic that I choose for this devotional.  The things that are attached to the title are the behaviors that we are called to show in our everyday lives.  These are not words we preach to others but must put into action.  It is also the action that we should demand of our leaders.  Please take a moment today and reflect on how you might better live by this simple rule for which Christ commands his followers to obey.


]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:54:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-2-10-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000002F <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-5-2026]]> imblog

𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟑:𝟏𝟐 - 𝟏𝟒 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞)

 
𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞. 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠: 𝐁𝐲 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝—𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤.

 
I find the words of Paul here so encouraging. Far too often we in our pursuit of perfection we feel like failures. And with that comes a sense of despair and even hopelessness. We can never be perfect as humans. So, what is the point of even trying? This is the evil of this world working to separate us from God’s love and the good that we can all do. Evil does not win when we fail. Evil wins when we give up.

 
If we were meant to be perfect, then there would be no reason for grace. Time and time again in scripture we are told that it is by grace not works that we are saved. But that there is a joy and peace that we receive in those moments when we live as Christ called us to. And as we grow in our faith and understanding of God’s will In our lives, we achieve a calm assurance in knowing that we are God’s children.

 
So do not let your imperfection drag you down. Celebrate your success. Recognize your shortcomings. Work towards the progress of becoming more Christ-like. Accepting God’s grace for you in all that you do.
]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:03:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-2-5-26 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000002D <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 2-3-2026]]> imblog
𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟔:𝟑 – 𝟒 (𝐍𝐈𝐕)⁣
 
⁣
 
𝟑 𝐈𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝟒 𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞

 
We must all remain humble in all that we do. This does not mean that we are not to celebrate those times when we do the right things. We most certainly should. But it is as important to recognize when we fall short as well. No one is perfect. In fact, we are far from it. And we cannot improve until we recognize our shortcomings and resolve to improve.
 
Jesus taught us to remove the plank from our own eye before we looked for the spec in our neighbors. Humility, empathy and love are the characteristics Christ called for us all to be those by which we live. And we must work hard to make these the base in which we interact with all.
]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:18:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-divotional-2-3-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000002C <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-29-2026]]> imblog
2 Timothy 3:1 – 5 (The Message translation)

 
 
3 1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.

 
 
 
Be careful of who you follow.  There are always powers at work that are working against God’s love.  This has been true from the start of time and will continue to be so until Christ comes again.  So, the question becomes, who do you follow?  When all are claiming that they are the true believers while those that oppose them are the heretics, who is right?  I think this version of the scripture gives us a good place to start.
 
 
Let us think in terms of how Paul taught.  Do they produce the fruit of the spirit or the opposite?
 
         
                                       Love                      Indifference
            
                                       Joy                        Despair
            
                                       Peace                    Chaos
            
                                       Patience                Anger
            
                                       Kindness               Cruelty
            
                                       Goodness              Evil
            
                                       Faithfulness           Idolatry

 
 
Do they have empathy or are they narcissistic?  Do they show grace or are they unforgiving?  In conclusion do they Love God and neighbor (everyone is our neighbor) fulfilling the two greatest commandments taught by Jesus.

 
 
This is the test that should be used when deciding who will lead you on a path towards righteousness.
]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:54:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-29-26 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000002B <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-27-2026]]> imblog
Matthew 4:18 – 20
 
 
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

 
 
Since we missed this week’s worship due to bad weather, I have decided to share some of my thoughts from this week’s sermon about the calling of the disciples.  There are two points that I want to make from this piece of scripture.

 
 
The first is that we need to rethink how this call was answered.  Jesus had been teaching for a while when the call was made to Peter and Andrew.  It is quite likely that they had heard and seen Jesus many times before this moment of decision.  In fact, if you read further, you see where James and John are called shortly after.  In the Luke version they are referred to as Simon’s partners.  So, I think it is safe to say that there had been prior discussions about Jesus as to who he was.  Yes, there was a spontaneous response to Jesus’s call, but it was preceded by previous discussions and contemplations.

 
 
The second part then is for each of us to consider.  We have all spent much time reading, studying and discussing the word of God.  But most of us are still sitting in the boat.  What has God laid on your heart that you should do and for whatever reason you have not answered that call.  The reasons for each person are different and change over time.  But the result is the same.  We stay in our boat because it is where we are comfortable.  We do not want to make waves; we do not want to make people uncomfortable.  We are happy where we are.  But Jesus is calling all of us to serve God not ourselves.  
]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:04:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-27-28 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000002A <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-22-2026]]> imblog
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟕:𝟏𝟓 – 𝟐𝟎 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)⁣
⁣
“𝐁𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚; 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲. 𝐀 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝.
We hear much about the antichrist and the end times. But if you read scripture there are warnings of many antichrists. This is any person or group that perverts the Gospels of God for their own benefit. These have been in existence from the beginning of the church and will continue until Christ’s second coming. Just as is said in 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟕:𝟐𝟏. ⁣
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, ‘𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝,’ 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧.
How do we know who to follow and who to believe? We look at their character. Do they live as they preach? Do they have the heart of a servant putting the needs of others before their own? Do they teach love of all neighbors while working for the salvation of all? Are they humble in applying grace to others while acknowledging their own failures? Are their action to the glory of God or themselves? For each of us to accomplish this we must remain both in the word and the Spirit of God. Networking with other Christians to keep us centered in the word. Testing that which is told to us against scripture, with help from the Holy Spirit.
Knowing and serving God is to changes us, make us more loving and working towards our personal holiness. We are to be living into the teachings of Jesus.
]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:17:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-22-26 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000029 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-20-2026]]> imblog
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟑𝟏:𝟖 – 𝟗 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)⁣
 
⁣
 
“𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞,⁣
 
𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬.⁣
 
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞!⁣
 
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞!”

 
I find this particular scripture very relative to how I am feeling right now. We as followers of the word of God have been called to be the defenders of the marginalized within society. I have over the years found great wisdom and relevance in the book of Proverbs.
 
If you take the time to understand the period leading up to the exile of Israel to Babylon this occurred because of their perverting of justice toward the marginalized within their community. This was advanced by their choosing to worship other gods for which these practices were acceptable. Throughout history this has been repeated. Most times ignored by Christians but in some cases even condoned.
 
I do not see myself as a prophet like Isiah or Jerimiah. I am just a humble local preacher. But I fear for those that have fallen for these false gods. That has let “the others” be demonized in the name of some mythical solution to a man-made problem. I pray every day that we who believe in Jesus, those that claim the mantle of Christianity will return to the teachings of Jesus and God in both word and deed. Jesus is the way the truth and the light. Only through God and our willingness to follow God’s command of unconditional love can we even hope to truly improve this fallen world.
]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:09:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-20-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000028 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-15-2026]]> imblog
𝟏 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟔:𝟔 – 𝟏𝟎 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)⁣⁣
 
𝐀 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.⁣𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. 𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫.

 
How much do you need to be happy? When reading this scripture, we see a different view of what makes us wealthy. True wealth is the contentment that comes from counting one’s blessings. Once our basic needs are met, we should be satisfied. Accumulating wealth serves no purpose because in the end we cannot not take it with us.
 
When we strive for more, we find ourselves in a selfish loop. That no matter how much we have it is never enough. And once we start down that path of material gain, we lose sight of what should be our life’s goal. To live as God created us to live. Loving neighbor as oneself. Being a servant first just as Jesus was for us. Following the John Wesley idea, to earn all you can, save all you can so you can give all that you can. In this way using God’s gifts to bring you the true wealth promised from God.
]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:26:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-15-26 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000027 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-13-2026]]> imblog
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝟒:𝟏 – 𝟒 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)⁣

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦? 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧? 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭.⁣
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭? 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲.⁣
𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐈𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲.

As I read this modern version of scripture it really illustrates the world that we currently inhabit. One where it is more important to win an argument than it is to be right. That no matter what my way is the right and only way. And it is not only acceptable but celebrated when we can hurt our opponents in the process of winning.

Too often we exchange God’s will with our own. And even using selected scripture to justify our chosen position. With this thinking would (Jesus) have been the earthly king the people of Israel were looking for. But Jesus, on the contrary, was a suffering servant to all. Teaching how we should live and love each other by example while giving each the free will to choose.

When we pray, are we asking that God’s will be done or are we asking God to make us right. Maybe sometimes God’s choice to tell us no is a better answer. Those of us that are parents know that at times we need to tell our children no for their own good. Even when in doing so we cause them heartache. We must remember that God knows what is best and when we pray accept God’s answer in faith and love.
]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:39:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-13-26 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000026 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-8-2026]]> imblog
1/8/2026
 
 
Matthew 3:7 – 10
 
 
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
 
 
How many today would fall into the category of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Those people that profess their faith in public while worshipping at the altar of money and power.  They are under the false belief that going to church and serving on the right committees will be their salvation.  Just as John the Baptist said to the Pharisees not to rely on their heritage as a Jew to save them, we must not feel that saying we are followers of Christ is sufficient as well.
 
 
If we are to be Christians then it needs to be in heart and deed not in words alone.  When we choose to follow Jesus then we are to repent, change our ways, and follow him.  Loving neighbors as ourselves.  Knowing that it is God's grace that has saved but showing that faith in that grace through action as is said in James 2:18.
 
 
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
 
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:26:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-8-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000024 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-6-2026]]> imblog
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟑:𝟏 – 𝟔
 
𝟑 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝟐 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, “𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫.” 𝟑 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡:
 
“𝐀 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬,
 
‘𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝,
 
𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦.’”
 
𝟒 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧’𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲. 𝟓 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧. 𝟔 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫,

 
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭.
 
John the Baptist is quite a character. To many of his time it was thought that possibly he was the messiah but as we know he was just announcing the Messiah’s coming. But one thing is for sure, the people knew that there was something different about John. The people went to him and after hearing him they knew that they had not been living in a way that would be pleasing to God. And that through John’s message they were committed to live better.
 
I want us all today to consider in what ways you are falling short in your service to your loving God. Meditate on them and then in prayer ask God through the Holy Spirit to guide you on a path towards righteousness. We all need to be honest with ourselves. Celebrating those times when we get it right. But just as important, recognizing when we fall short. Only by acknowledging both can we work our way towards our personal sanctification by God’s grace and love. Remembering all along that God’s grace is all we need to be carried through.
]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:57:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-6-26 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000023 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 1-1-2026]]> imblog
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟏𝟗:𝟐𝟔⁣
 
⁣
 
𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, “𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.”

Happy New year to you all. I want to start this new year off by reminding myself and others of what and who we should put our faith in. Too often in today’s world we rely on ourselves or man-made gods like money, power, and government. But all of these will fail us. If we put our faith in things made of man, then we will always be disappointed.
But when you put your faith in God all things are possible. But in this we must trust that our loving God has our best in mind. We then will be happy with the yes, content with the no and patient with the not yet answers to those prayers. Knowing that God's love for us will never fail. Keeping us centered in that place of peace, joy and hope that only comes from God.
]]> Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:41:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?biweekly-devotional-1-1-2026 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000022 <![CDATA[Biweekly Devotional 12-30-25]]> imblog
1𝟐/𝟑𝟎/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓⁣
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟑:𝟓 – 𝟔 ⁣
⁣
𝟓 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭⁣
   𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠;⁣
𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦,⁣
   𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

As we prepare for a new year let us remember where true wisdom and understanding comes from. If we listen and follow his commands of love and forgiveness, we will know the joy and peace promised through Jesus.
As we start the new year let us resolve to work both individually and collectively to be more Christ like each day.  Taking on Christ’s yoke so it might guide us towards our own sanctification.
]]> Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:15:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?december-30,-2025 https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000021 <![CDATA[Day 27 of Advent]]> imblog
Day 27 (Last Day)
 
Saturday 12/27

 
𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝟏𝟎:𝟑𝟒 – 𝟑𝟓⁣
 
𝟑𝟒 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤: “𝐈 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝟑𝟓 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.

 
Today’s scripture I find very important in today’s social landscape. We live in a time where forces of evil have tried to divide us from each other and in so doing drive a wedge between God and ourselves. There is no one that is not worthy of God’s love. And when we read this fear of God, we need to remember that this is not the fear as in afraid but a respect for God and all of His creation.

 
Too often we force God and creation into the box that makes us comfortable. Peter faced this same dilemma when God called him to go and witness to the Roman commander Cornelius and the repercussions he faced when he returned to the other apostles. (read Acts 10 and 11) We find ourselves facing similar situations today. Is there any who are not worthy for any reason, I think not. And if we find ourselves excluding another for their behaviors then we need to remember that all have fallen short of God’s glory. But by the grace of God we are all saved and loved.

 
So, for the coming year let us find ways to open the table of Christ to all. That instead of condemning others for their perceived failings we open our hearts to love them for their teachings of us that God is in us all. When we see those that are marginalized by society, ostracized by the righteous, maybe we should thank God for using to show us how to love better, to serve rather than be served. Remembering what Peter realized that “God does not show favoritism” but loves all. And if we are to be followers of Christ then we must learn to do likewise.

 
𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.
]]> Sat, 27 Dec 2025 12:30:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-27-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000020 <![CDATA[Day 26 of Advent]]> imblog
Friday 12/26
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
As I said in my Christmas Eve message we are called by Jesus to spread the good news (Gospel) to all the world.  As is said in this particular scripture that we are to start with those that close at hand but in the end, there is no one that is excluded from God’s love.
Let us resolve to live into those two greats commands of Love God and neighbor.  And as Jesus taught through the parable of the Good Samaritan all of humanity is our neighbor.  And how do we love God?  By doing as he commands, loving our neighbors.  And again, using the quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words”
]]> Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:37:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-26-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000001F <![CDATA[Day 25 of Advent - Christmas Day]]> imblog
Thursday 12/25

Merry Christmas

 
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟑:𝟏𝟒 – 𝟏𝟕 ⁣
 
𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐈 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

 
Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus. At the same time, we anticipate Jesus’s return. But for a moment let us consider Jesus’s action at the start of his last meal on earth. He took the opportunity to wash his disciples’ feet. What an unbelievable act of humility. Here is the son of God performing the act of a servant. This act was so low that it was normally assigned to a non-Jewish servant.

 
We all know that acts speak louder than words. In this action Jesus calls us to do as he did. To humble ourselves before others becoming servant first. If Jesus was willing to take the position of humble servant, then should we not be willing to do likewise.
]]> Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:35:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-25-of-advent---christmas-day https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000001E <![CDATA[Day 24 of Advent]]> imblog
Wednesday 12/24
 
𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟓:𝟐𝟐 – 𝟐𝟓⁣
 
⁣
 
𝟐𝟐 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝟐𝟑 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥. 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐰. 𝟐𝟒 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬. 𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭.
 
What do we get when we follow Jesus as Lord and Savior? That is the $100 question. We all have experienced that satisfied feeling when we have been able to help someone. That feeling is like none other. And why is that? Because we were made in the image of God and God is love. When we do the very things, we were created for we are content.
 
When we find this, ourselves living as the Spirit directs, we have a calm that passes human understanding. We know the love, joy and peace that can only come from God. And through that Spirit of knowing God, we can then practice patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the very attributes that God has for each of us. And in the service of the living and loving God is where we find our own satisfaction.
]]> Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:26:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-24-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000001D <![CDATA[Day 23 of Advent]]> imblog


Tuesday 12/23
𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝟐𝟒:𝟏𝟓⁣
⁣
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝.
In the time of Joshua there were gods for everything.  In a quick google search I found 26 named gods from different ancient cultures.  And these are the ones that were remembered. Today our gods are different. They are the god of personal power, wealth, popularity and many others.  The most prominent is the god of self.
The question remains the same today as in the time of Joshua “whom will you serve”. This is that pesky free will thing again.  God will not force or coerce your choice to serve Him.  We must all conclude as Joshua, “𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝.” And this is done by being a servant first to others as Jesus commanded us to be.
]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:04:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-23-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000001C <![CDATA[Day 22 of Advent]]> imblog
Monday 12/22
 
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟖:𝟑𝟏 – 𝟑𝟐
 
𝐓𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, “𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞.”
 
I love this statement that the truth will set you free, but do we really want the freedom that Jesus is talking about? When we think of freedom in the modern world we think in terms of us getting our own way. But when we choose to follow Christ’s teachings we are called to be a servant first. This means I am to put the needs of others ahead of my own. This concept is completely contrary to our society's concept of freedom.
 
The freedom that we are searching for here is a freedom from fear of loneliness, want, regret, and most of all not being loved. When we accept God’s love for us and choose to live in Christ’s image, we have absolute faith in God and His plan for us. And if we truly believe in a loving God that has promised all to us and only then can we live in the freedom that God has promised.
]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:47:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-22-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000001B <![CDATA[Day 21 of Advent]]> imblog
Please watch our service on Facebook





]]> Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:16:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-21-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000001A <![CDATA[Day 20 of Advent]]> imblog
Saturday 12/20

Acts 20:21
21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

I love this scripture because it reminds us that Jesus came to save all of humanity.  Yes, Jesus was a Jew, but he died for the sins of the world.  But just like all free gifts, they do us no good if we do not accept them.  That acceptance of God’s grace through Jesus Christ starts with our understanding that we need to repent.  Only when we repent and are humble before God are we ready to start the transformation into the person God created us to be.

That transformation is not a straight line, always improving but more a process of two steps forward and one step back.  But God knows this and is patient as we strive to become more holy.
]]> Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:55:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-20-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000019 <![CDATA[Day 19 of Advent]]> imblog
𝟐 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑:𝟗
 
 
𝟗 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.
 
God keeps his promises. But how many times have you prayed for something, and you have not seen the results we prayed for. We all hope for the answer of yes when we pray and there are times that we must accept no. The hardest answer and probably the one that occurs most is not yet. We must understand that God and His timing are perfect.
 
God love is for all, and God wants us all to be reconciled. God’s hand is always reaching for us and will until our final breath. I am reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. Where the shepherd leaves the 99 to find the 1. And Jesus tells the people that there will be more rejoicing with the return of the one. If we are to be Jesus’s disciples, then we must work towards the same patients God has for us extended to others. Not wanting anyone to perish but having faith in God’s timing and plan.
]]> Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:38:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-19-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000018 <![CDATA[Day 18 of Advent]]> imblog
Thursday 12/18
𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝟑:𝟏𝟗⁣
⁣
𝟏𝟗 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝,⁣
When we finally repent there is a relief that comes from God.  We have all at times found ourselves keeping a secret that we know needs to come out.  When this happens, we are so relieved to no longer keep hiding that truth.  We have all sinned.  And you know what, even though we try to hide that fact from everyone God already knows.
On Day 5 I shared a poem “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴”.  I have always held that the man in the glass is God’s Holy Spirit.  The Spirit knows all and wishes to help you heal from that sin.  But to heal one must first admit there is something wrong.  And with that repentance and God’s forgiveness through grace comes the 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 joy that can only be known by accepting God’s grace.
]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:42:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-18-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000017 <![CDATA[Day 17 of Advent]]> imblog
Wednesday 12/17
Luke 5:31 – 32
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
One of my favorite parts of our communion liturgy is the part that says “Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, that proves God’s love for towards us.  In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven”. Then the congregation responds by repeating “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven”.   We need to remind ourselves of this daily.  That we cannot nor can we ever earn our salvation.  It is a gift of free grace to all sinners.  And yes, that means you.  
]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:28:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-17-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000016 <![CDATA[Day 16 of Advent]]> imblog
Tuesday 12/16

 
2 Chronicles 7:14
 
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

 
Part of repentance is the act of humbling oneself.  We must admit our sins and the source of those sins.  And once we have accepted our own Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Glutton or Lust (yes these are the seven deadly sins) we must ask for God’s forgiveness.  No, not everyone does each of these, but we all have committed one or more of these sins at some time.  But what is most hopeful is that the grace of God is sufficient to see us through.

 
Because of Jesus and his sacrifice that he has made for you these sins will be forgiven just as it says in this scripture.  When we sin, we damage our souls. With our repentance God heals that soul.  Have faith in God’s grace and forgive yourself and vow to continue to work towards your own sanctification.
]]> Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:15:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-16-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000015 <![CDATA[Day 15 of Advent]]> imblog
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟑
 
𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐛𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲.
 
The first step to repentance is to admit that you were wrong. And all too often in admitting our sin we either try to justify our action or diminish the magnitude of the sin. Each of these actions prevents us from true repentance.
 
To grow as a Christian just as in any other area we must first recognize and be honest in our shortcomings. And in the process truly accept our failings as our own. With this then we will be led by the Spirit of God towards the more perfect life that we are stiving for. And with this action comes the peace of knowing the grace that God has promised us all.
]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 13:41:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-15-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000014 <![CDATA[Day 14 of Advent]]> imblog
Please watch the video of our service for Day 14

]]> Sun, 14 Dec 2025 17:09:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-14-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000013 <![CDATA[Day 13 of Advent]]> imblog
𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝟔:𝟑𝟔 – 𝟑𝟕
𝟑𝟔 𝐁𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥.⁣
𝟑𝟕 “𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝. 𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧.
We need to all remember that none of us is perfect. That each of us has our faults and our shortcomings and that God’s mercy is there for each of us. It is when we act as God would with mercy and grace are we truly disciples of Jesus.
The picture I picked was to remind us of the adage that when you point a finger of blame at another then there are three pointing back at you. That we need to remember what Jesus told the crowd that wanted to stone the woman for adultery in:
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟖:𝟕𝐛 “𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫.”
And that forgiveness must always be a two-way street.
]]> Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:47:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-13-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000012 <![CDATA[Day 12 of Advent]]> imblog
Friday 12/12
1 John 3:18
8 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 4:20
20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
I really think these two verses taken together bring out the heart of what it means to love God and your neighbor.  Just as James told us in yesterday’s scripture that this love of neighbor must be a love of action.  Yes, we are to tell people that we love but it is more important to show them.
And with the second verse we are challenged that if we love God with all our heart, soul and mind then we must love our brothers and sisters.  I can hear the question “who are my brothers and sisters”. And the answer follows along the line of the parable of The Good Samaritan.  God is the father of all so if we are all children of God that makes us all brothers and sisters.  And just as God loves us all through our imperfection we also are called to do likewise.
]]> Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:44:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-12-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000011 <![CDATA[Day 11 of Advent]]> imblog
Thursday 12/11
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝟐:𝟏𝟒 – 𝟏𝟕
𝟏𝟒 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭, 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬? 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? 𝟏𝟓 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝟏𝟔 𝐈𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, “𝐆𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞; 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐝,” 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭? 𝟏𝟕 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝.
In last week’s message, I talked about the word used for love as a verb. That the love we have for God is to be an action. This is also true when it comes to our neighbors. Just as the scripture from Matthew yesterday we need to see the others and help in whatever way possible.
If a person’s basic needs are not being met, then there is no capacity for anything beyond. And too often we only recognize the physical. Many in today’s world seem to be fine on the outside but are broken in their soul. We cannot know this when we interact with them. Because of this let our interaction with others always be from a place of love and patience. Trying to with the best of our ability to be the good in someone else’s day.
]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:07:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-11-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000010 <![CDATA[Day 10 of Advent]]> imblog
Wednesday 12/10
 
Proverbs 11:25
 
A generous person will prosper;  whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
 
Proverbs 19:17
 
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
 
Many have asked over the years the question, what’s in it for me.  And this is the motive for all their actions in their life.  But as we explore loving our neighbor as ourselves in the way that God commanded, we are learning that we were created to love just as God is love.  We are reminded in these two verses from Proverbs that we are rewarded by God for this love.
 
There is a phrase that says you get what you give.  If you are forgiving, kind and loving then those things will be returned to you.  The opposite of that is also true.  If you love your neighbor as yourself, you will love yourself in return and in so doing know the love of God.  and in this then. you will know the true and live the promised fruits of the Spirit.
 
Galatians 5:22 – 23
 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:57:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-10-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000000F <![CDATA[Day 9 of Advent]]> imblog
Tuesday 12/9
 
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟓:𝟑𝟓 – 𝟒𝟎
 
𝟑𝟓 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐭, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬  𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧, 𝟑𝟔 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐚 𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨  𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞.’
 
𝟑𝟕 “𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬   𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦, ‘𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤? 𝟑𝟖𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧, 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝟑𝟗 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮?’
 
𝟒𝟎 “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲, ‘𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐈 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞.’
 
This is one of my favorite scriptures.  Not from an uplifting perspective but from one of challenges.  Yes, we are to take care of our neighbors that are struggling or marginalized.  But when we have grown in the Spirit sufficiently, we do not even recognize that we are doing it.  The helping, the being a servant has become who we are not something we do.  It is in these moments that we are approaching Christ like behavior because we are giving not for what we might receive back but from a place of agape love.
 
We must remember that but by the grace of God we could find ourselves in time of need.  We are blessed.  So, let's take that grace and share it with others reflecting God’s love to others as Christ commanded us to.
]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:12:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-9-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000000E <![CDATA[Day 8 of Advent]]> imblog
Monday 12/8
Leviticus 19:18
“‘𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃.
I am starting this week off a scripture that I used in yesterday’s message.  We need to remember that loving our neighbor did not start with Jesus.  It was the law from the beginning.  Jesus tells us that he came to fulfill the law.  But it was not about just saying the right words but being able to apply that love of others into action.  
This love that we are talking about is not a human love.  It is more like that love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4 – 7:
𝟒 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝. 𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐲, 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝. 𝟓 𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐢𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝟔 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡. 𝟕 𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬.
We need to make the change from the noun form of the word love to the verb form.  That love is meant to be an action not a thing.  And only when we move past saying we love our neighbor to living that love in action will we truly receive the full joy
]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:39:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-8-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000000D <![CDATA[Day 7 of Advent]]> imblog
Please watch the video of our service for Day 7 entitled "Love Your Neighbor".

]]> Sun, 07 Dec 2025 22:30:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-7-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000000C <![CDATA[Day 6 of Advent]]> imblog
Saturday 12/6

𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟏𝟓 𝐍𝐋𝐓
“𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞, 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.”

What a simple but powerful scripture.  But that does not mean that it is easy to accomplish.  But we are back to what I said in last week’s message.  That is that the love that God wants from us is the verb form of love.  The simplest way to work towards this action form of love is to follow the Golden Rule

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟕:𝟏𝟐 𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐬.

This is how we learn to love others as ourselves.  And the we are loving God in action by loving others.
]]> Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:22:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-6-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/00000000A <![CDATA[Day 5 of Advent]]> imblog
Friday 12/5

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟖:𝟔 𝐍𝐋𝐓
“𝐒𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞.”

Have you ever done something and immediately thought I should not have done that?  I think we all have.  We have all also done things that are good and instantly felt a warm glow in that action.  This scripture explains this to us.

When we sin, we know it and a little piece of us dies in the process.  But what is a sin?  A sin is any act that separates us from God ad God’s love.  And without God in your life there can be no peace.  We are hardwired at creation to love and serve others.  The evil of this world works constantly to separate us form this connection to God.  

When we do what is right, we are following that Spirit that is God within us and we feel the light and love that is God in us.  Making us a piece with God and ourselves.  There is a poem that has been part of my life since high school called “The Man in the Glass”. When I read this now, I think of it in terms of God’s Spirit looking back at me and when the Spirit is pleased then I have a life of Peace and Joy.

]]> Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:19:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-5-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000009 <![CDATA[Day 4 of Advent]]> imblog
Thursday 12/4

Philippians 4:8 NLT
𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 4:8 𝙉𝙇𝙏  “𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙁𝙞𝙭 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚.”

Too often today we deal with the negative.  We get wrapped up in all the things that are wrong in the world.  But in approaching life in this way leads us to negative and destructive thoughts.  From this vantage point we spiral ever further into that negative space.

We must train ourselves to see the good that God has created.  It is the evil in this world use fear and hate to separate us from God’s love.  Once we focus on the 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 then we can accomplish what is on the shirt below.

𝗕𝗲ileve
𝗧𝗵𝗲re is
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 in the
world
]]> Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:15:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-4-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000008 <![CDATA[Day 3 of Advent]]> imblog
Wednesday 12/3

1 Peter 1:13 NLT
“So, prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”

This scripture reminds us that we are to serve God with actions.  Not just talk about our love of God and Jesus but to put that love into motion.  In science we talk about potential versus kinetic energy. The same could be said for faith.  Are you being kinetic, are moving and doing, or are you living in the potential, waiting.

But we must remember in that movement to exercise self-control.  We cannot be like a bull in a China shop moving clumsily breaking things.  We must follow John Wesley’s three rules:
First -  Do no harm
Second -  Do good
Third -  Stay in love with God
In this way we live into the hope of salvation for the world promised by God through Jesus the Christ.
]]> Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:12:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-3-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000007 <![CDATA[Day 2 of Advent]]> imblog
Tuesday 12/2

Romans 12:2 NLT
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

As we work towards what John Wesley called Personal Holliness our behavior will become more Christ like.  This must start with the way that we think.  You must allow God’s Spirit to guide your thoughts which will then correct your attitudes towards others.
All people were created in the image of God and as God said when he finished each creation “and it is good”.  We must see this in ourselves and then we will be able to see it in others.  Remember the line we use in communion liturgy “God loved us while we were yet sinners, that proves God love towards us”.  It is when we come to this realization, that God loves us, then we are ready to work towards sanctification.
]]> Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:08:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-2-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000006 <![CDATA[Lead into Advent Readings]]> imblog
We have just dedicated our sanctuary after this summer’s renovation.  It was a journey of patience, and our new worship space looks great.
We are headed into Advent in preparations for the coming of the messiah.  Both celebrating Jesus birth and Christ coming again. I would like to invite any that wish to come and join us for worship Sunday at 10:00 am.  We have all heard the phrase putting Christ back in Christmas.  This year I am going to take this a step further.  Let us put Christ back in Christian.  It is not enough to celebrate Jesus at Christmas and then lose sight of his teachings the rest of the year.
In this time of Advent, we will also be looking at a scripture each day of advent.  I will be posting that scripture with a short reflection each day.  Join us in this journey.  Take time each day with us to listen and reflect on God’s word.  This will be posted on the Facebook page each day.  Sharing your comment and reflections are welcome.

Harry Zurasky
Pastor
]]> Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:53:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?lead-into-advent-readings https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000005 <![CDATA[Day 1 of Advent]]> imblog
Advent Reading
Monday 12/1

Psalm 119:15 NLT
“I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.”

As I said Yesterday, we must spend time in God’s word.  Not just say the words but find the meaning in them.  Allowing the spirit of God to speak to each of us.  and from there putting those teachings to work in our everyday lives.

]]> Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:48:00 GMT https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/?day-1-of-advent https://newrichmondumc.com/blog/rss/000000004