ADs November Devotional

 

Coade Stone: Enduring the Test of Time 

A form of my last name ‘Coad’ was originally rendered ‘Coade’ until a forefather Americanized it upon emigration from Great Britain to America.  Knowing this, I was drawn to a devotional from ‘Our Daily Bread’ entitled ‘Coade Stone.’  The October 16, 2013 article declared, “Throughout London, there are statues and other items made from a unique building material called Coade stone. Developed by Eleanor Coade in the late 1700s, this artificial stone is virtually indestructible and has the capacity to withstand time, weather, and man-made pollution.’  Eleanor succeeded in making an enduring type of stoneware product, which was easily molded into complex shapes that beautified England.   She succeeded where others failed.   I had to know, what was her secret?  Mrs. Coade's own name for her products was Lithodipyra "twice fired stone".   She used ball clay, a material with high plasticity that is common to that area.  Then she added crushed and once fired flint and soda lime silica with common sand to the clay mixture.   The competition was fierce but only Eleanor found the formula to create such a strong and lasting substance.   How?  She used the right combination of common materials subjected to a carefully controlled kiln firing over a period of four days.  Let’s face it, nobody wants to be ‘common’ and few of us embrace the fiery trials such as rejection with joy.  But our longevity and lasting impact in ministry may well depend on our willingness to be molded and then subjected to the Master’s kiln over His pre-determined time.   Jesus Himself, the living stone, faced rejection triumphantly and endured!  I Peter 2:4-5 (MSG) put it this way:  “Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.”   Coade Stone statutes have lasted over 150 year despite the harsh environment of London.    They were resilient.  So are you!  God has perfected the process of perfecting you.   Let Him.  Your ministry will endure.

 

ADs October Devotional

Passionate or Passive, How is your Life’s Message?

August 28, 2013 marked the 50^th anniversary of a speech destined to change a nation.   Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” discourse was being shaped a few days prior to the event by a group of trusted friends, including Dr. Clarence Benjamin (Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech That Transformed a Nation).  Benjamin suggested the idea of a transaction in a bank.  “We’re coming here after the Emancipation Proclamation after all this time, to redeem a note from the signers of the Declaration of Independence.”  With the weight of the civil rights movement on his shoulders, Dr. King started methodically to deliver his message using this carefully crafted language.  From the crowd, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson shouted out, “Tell ‘em about the dream, Martin.  Tell ‘em about the dream.”  Benjamin writes, “I saw him take the written text and hold it to the left side and look out at the more than 250,000 people.   Seeing this, I said to somebody, ‘These people don’t know it, but they’re ready to go to church.’”  Benjamin continues, “It was as if some cosmic force had come down…it was not so much the profoundness of the content.   It was the way he delivered it with such extraordinary passion.”   Passion.  It reached into the souls of the crowd that day, ignited a dream and changed a nation.   Passion and dreams often walk hand in hand.  Every great dream begins with a dreamer.   Are you still dreaming?  As a missionary, how is your life’s passion quota?   Passionate or passive?   “I now remind you to stir up that inner fire which God gave you at your ordination.” Timothy 1:6 J.B. Phillips.   God has big dreams yet to be fulfilled.   Stay broken in His Presence and He will increased your passion quota.

ADs September Devotional

Odd Ducks and Peculiar People

 

Have you heard about the “Duck Dynasty” show?  A&E's family friendly show is the most watched reality show on cable television ever.  "Duck Dynasty," chronicles the lives of members of the Robertson family of West Monroe, La., and their duck call making company.   All the men have signature long beards.   America loves family, rednecks and ducks, apparently or is that it?  A couple in PA loved the show so much that they based their wedding on the show.   What was it about the show that a couple would put on camouflage outfits to march down the aisle of a sports store to the sound of duck calls?   Charlie Miller the groom when asked this question exclaimed, “the Robertson’s have family values, proclaim their faith and aren’t afraid to pray publicly.” There is no sex, violence or cursing in this show yet it has a massive following.   Maybe they aren’t odd ducks.   Maybe they are peculiar people.  1 Peter 2:9 proclaim our identity as believers, “Ye are a chosen generation…a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (KJV)   We’re peculiar in the sense that we’re purchased of God, his possession… “to whom he bears a peculiar love…and a peculiar blessings..”  [John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible].   I hope that you are living in God’s love today.  If you are odd or peculiar, I hope it’s not your colorful character but rather God’s love radiating through you.   If you are going to be an odd duck, let it be His love shining through you for you are, after all a peculiar people to show forth His glory, beard or no beard.

 

 

Area Director's August Devotional

The Power of Words  

The video, produced by Andrea Gardner has gone viral on youtube.com.  A blind gentleman sits on the street trying to get donations as a few disinterested people pass by barely paying any attention to him.   A few drop an occasion coin.  His sign states, “I’m blind.  Please help.”    A sharply dressed woman passes by, stops and returns, writing something on his sign as he reaches out and touches her shoes.   Suddenly the passer-byes begin to respond to his need generously!  The woman comes back.   He recognizes her as he touches her shoe and asks incredulously, “What did you do to my saying?”  She replies, “I wrote the saying but in different words.”  As she walks away, the camera pans out to read the new sign, “It’s a beautiful day and I can’t see it.”   There is power in words!  Our words reveal our hearts and our perspective.  Jesus said our words come from either a good or an evil heart ‘for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.’ Luke 6:45   Paul warns us to meditate on whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue and anything praiseworthy. (Phil. 4:8)  Proverbs asserts, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue Prov. 18:21.  I pray that you are filling your minds and your hearts with noble and praiseworthy things.   I pray that you are speaking words of life, encouragement, hope and Divine perspective to your colleagues, friends and family.   Speak life with your words, not death.   Your words do make a difference.