The United Methodist Church of Swartz Creek

Saturday/Sunday, March 20/21, 2010 AD

Lectionary Reading:  Mark 9:14-29

Casting out demons.  I have to say, this is something I don’t know much about.  I do know that God is capable of doing this, but it is not something that I have much of an understanding about.  So instead of writing about casting out demons, I am going to ask a few questions:  How often are demons cast out today?  Do we as Christians make this a high enough priority or is it something that we fear?  What is God’s will for each of us on this subject?

I do not know the answers to these questions, but I do think it is something that perhaps I do need to start thinking about.  Casting out demons is a subject that is brought up in the Gospels a lot, so it must be pretty important.  A thought for all of you, if you have any wisdom to share about this with me, please do.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Brian Kelley – Youth Director

Friday, March 19, 2010 AD

Lectionary Reading:  Mark 9:2-13

In college, I played trumpet in a group at U of M called the Campus Orchestra.  It was a group for non-music majors, and a very talented one at that.  We played a lot of good music and I really enjoyed it.  My senior year, because of a lack of trumpet players, they brought in a couple of music majors to help out, and for most of the year they played the first part, which really wasn’t fair to me since it was supposed to be a group for non-music majors like me.  But it was all good and I still had fun and the at the end of the year, I had the chance to play a huge solo in Hill Auditorium at the start of the piece Pictures at and Exhibition.  And I nailed it, for probably the greatest trumpet playing moment of my life.  It was awesome.

I recently searched for the conductor David Tang on the internet and I found him in Charlotte.  I decided to write a little thank you note to him for the chance to play that solo.  He appreciated my note, but wrote that he was late in responding to my note because he and is wife were in China picking up their new adopted baby daughter.  What a beautiful think I learned about him right there.

I wrote my note with a pure heart just out of love and appreciation and God used that as a chance to make a great story.  I just find it interesting how God uses timing that is not our own to do great things that we don’t expect.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Brian Kelley - Youth Director

Thursday, March 18, 2010 AD

Lectionary Reading:  Mark 8:27-9:1

‘Get behind me , Satan!  You do not have in minde the things of God, but the things of men.’   These are some pretty harsh words which Jesus used towards Peter.  Especially since Peter thought he was thinking correctly and trying to think about things which he thought were in the best interest of Christ’s mission.  Jesus made it very clear to Peter that you have to be thinking about God’s interests, not humans.

This is something that I had been thinking about recently.  We often really are trying to have pure motives when we are focusing on the wrong things in life.  I do believe that God does recognize this in our actions, but He also wants us to make it a priority to be thinking about Godly things instead of human things.  In order to do this, we do need to make sure that we are focusing on prayer and Bible reading in our lives.  We also need to make sure that we avoid casting judgments on other people and that we take time to think and listen before making decisions, or sometimes even before speaking at all. 

Bottom line is this, when we are making decisions, we really need to think about whether we are seeking what’s best for us, or what is best for God.  If we can focus on what is best for God, I believe we will make the right decision, and I also believe that we will probably make a few decisions in different ways as well.

Finally remember this, if we are a little uncertain as to how important it is to focus on God’s concerns first and foremost, just simply go back to Jesus’ statement to Peter – Get Behind Me Satan.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Brian Kelley – Youth Director

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 AD

Lectionary Reading:  Mark 8:11-26

In yesterday’s devotion, I talked about how I wondered how the Disciples could lack such intelligence from time to time.  In this section of Mark, Jesus is actually questioning what is wrong with them right to their faces.  He doesn’t understand how they could see such miracles and still not get that He is capable of anything.  This same question could be asked of all of us of course.

Why do we believe that God won’t take care of our needs when He has in the past?  Why do we believe that God doesn’t know what is best for us?  Why do we believe God works for us instead of us working for Him?  Why do we continue to focus often on ourselves ahead of God?  Why do we not spend more time in prayer and Bible reading when we know that this brings fruit into our lives?  Why do we think it more important for our children to be in school than in Sunday School when we know God is more powerful than education?  Why do we look towards Earthly rewards instead of heavenly rewards?  We have all seen Jesus work miracles and we have read about a lot of them.  It is important for all of us to make sure that we ‘get it’ and that we do not continue to doubt the awesome power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Brian Kelley – Youth Director

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 AD

Lectionary Reading:  Mark 8:1-10

One of the things that always gets me whenever I read the story of Jesus feeding the 4,000 is verse 4 where the Disciples ask Jesus where they can find food in their remote place.  The question just makes me question the intelligence of the Disciples because I would have thought that perhaps since they already saw Jesus feed 5,000 people with practically nothing that maybe, just maybe, Jesus could handle 4,000.  I mean seriously, how could they possibly wonder if Jesus could handle this?

I guess this point, as well as a bunch of other bonehead comments and decisions that the Disciples make throughout the Gospels tells me that these were really rather ordinary guys.  They were not necessarily the great scholars or athletes and speakers or politicians or leaders of the time.  They were flawed people who were willing to follow the Christ who loved them.  That actually is pretty special.

 I know that I am guilty of many a dumb thing in my life, and each of you reading you reading this could probably say the same.  My point in this devotion I guess then is that if Jesus can use these guys as Disciples, than He can use us too.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Brian Kelley – Youth Director

Monday, March 15, 2010 AD

Lectionary Reading:  Mark 7:24-37

This section of Mark talks about two healings with Jesus performed.  Both of which are pretty wild, and definitely miraculous.  But both also have to do with the faith of the individuals that are in the story.  It appears to me that healing is kind of a two way street.  Certainly we have to depend on the power of God for healing, but we must also have the faith and confidence to trust Jesus that it can be done.

A question has been asked of me on multple occasions through the Elevation Youth Worker breakfasts which I attend and that is if it better for us to please God or to trust God.  The answer always comes up to be to trust God.  Sometimes we make it such a priority to please God that sometimes we take it under our own powers to try to do so.  It is indeed more important for us to trust Him and rely on Him for direction in all we do.  This includes the act of healing.  God has a plan for us that is not always completely understood by us.  And in some cases, that does mean going through certain times of ailment that we which we were healed from.  God always knows the big picture and it is important for all of us to trus in this and know that God is God and He does have our best interests in mind.

Thoughts and Prayers,

Brian Kelley, Youth Director