2019 Stewardship Devotional Guide

Devotional Guide

Blessed to Be a Blessing We asked some of the leaders of our church to write a devotional guide to be used during Centenary’s annual stewardship campaign.

On the following pages you will find glimpses of how each contributor views the importance of Centenary in his/ her life. It is my hope that you will incorporate this booklet into your daily devotional time and ponder how it might enhance your own discipleship. For as long as I can remember, I have always approached the church’s annual stewardship season with this one thought in mind, “We are blessed to be a blessing.” I pray that these devotions will bless you so that you can in turn bless others throughout the day. ~ Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken, III

Day 1 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” ~ II Corinthians 9:6-8 Emily was eight years old, and life at home was dismal. Her mother ignored her, neglected her basic needs......and worse. Emily was very sad. Then one day at school, Emily’s friend, Jesse, asked, “What’s wrong?” And Emily replied, “No one cares about me. No one loves me.” But Jesse said, “Well, I care about you, and Jesus loves you.” To which Emily responded, “Who is Jesus?”

Thus began a lifelong friendship between two girls and Emily’s lifelong relationship with God. At Jesse’s church, Emily learned all about Jesus in children’s ministry, youth ministry, and later as an adult her faith continued to grow. All of this was made possible through the missions and ministries at Jesse’s church.

There are so many Emilys around us....so many who hunger for the love and purpose made possible by the generosity of others. During this stewardship season, let us follow God’s teachings and give cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:7), sacrificially (Luke 21:1-4), and with God’s priorities in mind (Matthew 6:19-21). ~ Marsha Bledsoe Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your bounty and our many blessings.

When I give back a portion of what is yours, let me do so cheerfully, purposefully, and generously. Amen.

Day 2 “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead” ~ James 2:26 Dr. Kinken recently preached on this verse as part of his series on James. Its message is critical for us to hear all year but becomes especially meaningful during our stewardship season. Most of us struggle each day to keep the flame of the Holy Spirit burning bright enough for all to see. Our daily, personal challenges and the larger issues in our community, our nation and the world, beat on our souls constantly.

However, as the book of James reminds us, faith without works is dead. For us to grow in our faith – in our commitment to Christ - we must look outside ourselves to the world around us. By giving to the church to support its mission and by taking advantage of the mission field around us, we continue on the path of deepening our faith. Or, as we Methodists’ say, “moving on to perfection.” May this year be an opportunity to look into your heart and recommit to live out your faith through your works, which include your financial support of the church. ~ Steve Reeder

Day 3 “What does the Lord require for praise and offering? What sacrifice, desire, or tribute bid you bring?” English minister Albert Bayly penned these words found in Hymn 441 of the UMH hymnal, referencing Micah 6:6-8. The answer given is to “do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” But, how do we honor God in these ways? How do we respond to this call in a tangible way?

We serve one another including our church family, pastors and staff, our community, and church missions. We honor and uphold fairness and justice in our world. We praise God for His forgiveness that we have not earned. We seek His guidance in our lives and understand that our blessings come from God. We find ways to give back and share our faith with others.

As we ponder what our own response will be this stewardship season, reflect on these familiar words from a different hymn writer nearly a century earlier than Bayly: “We give Thee but Thine Own, whatever the gift may be. All that we have is thine alone, a trust O Lord from Thee.” ~ Reid Gilliam

Day 4 A few days before hurricane Florence arrived upon our shores I was walking around my house at Carolina Beach getting things “ready” for the approaching storm. In my preparations I discovered a message regarding stewardship that I had not considered before. The words of Acts 2:42-47 have rambled around my soul for years. They call to me to wade into their message and allow them to wash over me leading me deeper into their truth. I have known for some time they speak of trust, trust in God’s provision for our lives. Trust that allows us to hold all we have, including our possessions, our resources, our families, literally everything loosely trusting that God has more within God’s resources than we will ever exhaust. My desire as I stood there on my porch was to ask God to move this storm somewhere else, to let it come ashore anywhere other than where I was standing. As I wrestled with this longing it occurred to me that in my request I was asking God to take this storm away from me and send it upon another. I knew immediately that was not the prayer I wanted to pray. It was then that these words from Acts came crashing in upon me… again! Reminding me to look beyond my own needs, desires and wants to see the connection we share with one another, helping me to understand our lives intertwined and held together within God’s love and mercy. My prayer then changed to… “Lord of mercy, grace and abounding love… hold us tightly and keep us safe. I yield my life, and all I have to you. Be with those I love and those I hardly know. Watch over us and hold us tightly… Keep us safe. Amen” ~ Rev. Bret Cogan

Day 5 As a musician who loves God, I live in the Psalms. As I read, sing, and prayerfully reflect on these acts of praise and worship, I am overwhelmed by God’s goodness and provision for all of His beloved children. This compels me to prayerfully give each day to Him in love, worship and joyful obedience. I want my life to be lived as a steward of His grace. The beautiful Prayer of St. Francis expresses the truth “that in giving, we receive; in pardoning, we are pardoned; and in dying, we are born to eternal life.” In a beautiful hymn based on a passage from the Old Testament book of Chronicles we are told that “we give Thee but Thine own, whate’er the gift may be: all that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee.” This is the true spirit and character of Jesus’ life, a model of holy perfection and selfless love. May all of God’s children find the joy of faithful living in the Holy Spirit that is expressed so simply and powerfully in yet another hymn: “All power is given in Jesus’ name, in earth and heaven in Jesus’ name, and in Jesus’ name I come to you, to share His love as he told me to. He said, “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name, and because you believe, others will know that I live.” Most of all give thanks to God, whose steadfast love endures forever! ~ Susan Bates

Day 6 “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” ~ Deuteronomy 5:16 As parents, we try to show our kids how much we love them, and get them to understand how much God loves them. We attempt to instill the teachings of our Lord and get them thinking about their faith. One exercise that we found helpful in studying the Ten Commandments was to devote one week studying each of the Ten Commandments. The Fifth Commandment as stated above seems to be the one that consistently needs reinforcement in our household these days; however, I believe we as parents can learn just as much by reflecting on how our parents raised us and/or how we might still act towards them.

God calls us explicitly to honor our parents because the family is the foundation of human society. The fifth commandment is the foundation upon which respect for elders and authorities is built. This is important when teaching our kids the simple manners of saying “yes ma’am, or yes sir”; “please and thank you”; as well as being good listeners and doing what they are told the first time. HA! We are blessed that God’s love and teachings are with us every day. Our prayer for you, and challenge, is to carry that blessing forward every day in our actions to our children, parents, friends and neighbors. ~Wil and Elizabeth Spires

Day 7 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19 You’ve heard the phrase “Everything you have is from God” and you know it to be true. So why then do we squirm on Sunday morning if the sermon topic turns to money? Are we uncomfortable with being reminded that some of what we have should be given back?

Jesus talked about money all the time! He made it clear to his followers that there was a connection between our spiritual development, our relationship with money and how we handle it.

Some of us worry we will not have enough for ourselves if we give freely to the church. We all give at a different level. Giving comes from our hearts and is between you and your God. And God sees what is in your heart and He will provide for all your needs. ~ Mary Ann Wexler

Day 8 There is a small book of devotions written by the Reverend Martin B. Copenhaver entitled Room to Grow. The title of that little book speaks to me as I reflect on my own faith journey, and perhaps it does to others as well.

As we awaken each day, we will find that there is room to grow if we pause and realize that life is a gift to be celebrated. We have the privilege of sharing in this journey in a manner that will allow us to appreciate the value of each day. Country song writer Mac Davis, realizing the importance of each day wrote: “One day at a time dear Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you. Give me the strength to do every day, what I have to do. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never be mine. Help me today, show me the way, one day at a time.”

The late Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald, a former pastor of Centenary, once told a story about a man who was weeding his garden. As the man was about to finish, a neighbor walked by and commented, “My! Isn’t it wonderful what God can do with a garden like yours?” The gardener replied, “Yes, but you should have seen it when God had it by himself.”

We all know that we share this journey with others, some who are close to us-- family, children, grandchildren, yes, and great grandchildren, and friends both close and distant. Our influence and encouragement makes a difference in the life of another person, even the stranger in our midst. We grow when we realize and accept the responsibility for the impact we have on others.

There is room to grow when we remember the history of this great church. As we recall the pastors, the laity, and all who have shared in the ministry of Centenary since the laying of the foundation, we are reminded of the commitment of those who have gone before us.

There is room to grow when we reflect on where we are today in our efforts to renovate space and commit to the budget for the coming year.

Life is a celebration. As we prepare for commitment Sunday, let us remember that we can grow in our understanding of who we are and whose we are, and respond accordingly by the financial commitment we make to the ministries of Centenary United Methodist Church. In so many different ways, there is “Room to Grow.” ~ Rev. Craig Ford

Day 9 “You have been treated generously, so live generously.”

~ Matthew 10:8 I love to read but like many of you there are an abundance of things that compete for my time and I have not made reading a priority.

All that to say, I have been reading I Like Giving, a relatively small book and easy read for over a year now. However, every time I pick it up and read a few pages I am so inspired. This book was written to encourage people to make generosity a life style, to listen to the nudging of the Holy Spirit and to go out of your way to be generous in response to God’s great generosity towards us. I think the thing I like about the stories in the book the most is that they are overwhelmingly stories of quiet generosity which allows them to be truly about the act and not about the giver. Some of the stories are tremendous: people being surprised with new cars, people choosing to live on 10% of their income and give the other 90% away. Some of the stories are small but you can feel the impact they must have had: ordering pizza and having it delivered to the house a friend whose family had nothing but ramen noodles to eat for days. At my best this book has inspired me to small quiet acts of generosity that have filled me with more joy than I could have ever imagined. It has also challenged me to bigger moments of generosity that I admit I haven’t lived into yet. My prayer is that you would pray and ask God to open your eyes to how you can make a difference in someone’s life today.

See where God is nudging your heart. ~ Rev. Kate May Family Connection: What if you took on this challenge as a family?

Ask each family member to pay attention for a day to opportunities for generosity. At the end of the day talk about what you noticed and decide together how to act generously in response.

Day 10 The Syracuse Lacrosse team has won 11 Division 1 National Championships. Our son Brian lived his dream and was the first Southern Kid to receive a lacrosse scholarship at Syracuse. He returned home with a National Championship ring and a tattoo.

Before every lacrosse game Psalm 118:24 is posted on the board in the locker room. “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.�

One night our son called from Syracuse and told us he had gotten a tattoo. Carol and I were dreading what this tattoo might look like .

After all our son was part of high energy team made up of hard ball Yankees from Long Island and Upstate New York. When our son returned home we were humbled to see Psalm 118:24 tattooed to his upper arm.

Psalm 118:24 has become the standard by which Carol and I live our lives.

Centenary has been a central part of our life since we settled in Winton-Salem. We REJOICE that we are able financially to support Centenary and we feel GLAD in doing so. ~ Chip Holden

Day 11 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I will always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 1:3-6 We’ve been hearing a lot about transformation lately at Centenary.

I’m very excited about Transformation of Fifth, our renovation project that when complete will enable us to be in mission and ministry so that we can share the Gospel of Jesus in new ways. Oftentimes, I believe, we limit how we view sharing the Gospel to the work of those in professional ministry such as clergy or church staff. The truth is that every person is equipped and called to share about Jesus. God can use the gifts of each person in our congregation to bring about life changing transformation in the hearts and minds of all who call upon him.

Gifts include abilities like teaching and administration, but gifts also include the financial resources we share. Centenary strives to use every penny given through our tithes and offerings in sharing the Gospel and transforming the world. As we make a pledge and give regularly we partner together for the sake of the message of Jesus Christ. God has given Centenary everything we need to fulfill Christ’s command to Love God and Love Neighbor, but it’s up to you and me to faithfully release our personal resources and gifts for ministry. May we share and be confident that God will use our gifts and transform the world.

Thank you for partnership in the ministry of our church and sharing the blessings of God. ~ Rev. Jeremy Pegram

Day 12 “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”

~ 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 When I was younger one of my favorite Saturday treats was homemade sourdough bread my mom would make. It always seemed a mystery to me when she would take the mason jar out of the refrigerator filled with “starter” to feed it (a process of stirring it, adding water, adding flour, mix, cover, repeat every day). She would feed the starter and after it multiplied and grew (the yeast responding to the feeding) she would have enough starter to make some bread and enough starter left to put back in the refrigerator for the next time.

As I think about Stewardship and giving to the church, I can’t help but think of those Saturday mornings. From the very beginning we have been freely given so very much from God. As we have received we are also invited to give in return. Not because it’s required, but because it is the right response to the generosity we have been given. God giving us life, love, mercy, and grace is the ‘starter’ and the invitation is for us to ‘feed the starter’ so that there will be an abundance, not only for this time, but for the next time too.

May we all remember the goodness that is in the beginning. May we all be willing to add to what we’ve been given. May all who come to the table be taken care of and together we may give thanks to God. ~ Tammy Pollock

Day 13 God Is With Us Wherever We Go Each day things happen to and around us that can shake our confidence and resolve. It seems like we are bombarded with global and national events of tragedy, disaster, suffering and pain. Closer to home, we face personal events and stress like loss of loved ones, sickness, divorce, job stress or job loss, family relocations, college applications, exams at school and the list goes on and on. The world can be a very stressful and scary place. Any of these events can make us anxious, fearful or discouraged. When I find myself in this position, it is often because I feel like I have to face and handle these events and situations all by myself, and that it is truly me against the world. When I start to have these feelings, I try to remind myself to take comfort and strength from the words of one of my favorite Bible verses, Joshua 1:9. In this verse, God tells Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” In order to fully understand and comprehend this verse we need to remember that when God spoke these words to Joshua, it was a very difficult and scary time for Joshua. Moses, the leader of the people of Israel and Joshua’s friend and mentor, had just died, and God has commanded Joshua to lead the people of Israel back across the Jordan River to do battle and to reclaim their promised land. Joshua had many reasons to be scared and discouraged. God spoke these words to Joshua and to us, telling Joshua and us not to be afraid, but to be strong and to know that God is with us wherever we go.

Lauren Daigle, one of my favorite singers, has recently released a song entitled “You Say”. This is truly a beautiful song (please listen to it) with powerful lyrics: “You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing; You say I am strong when I think I am weak; You say I am held when I am falling short, When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours, And I believe.” Again, these words are a great reminder of how we are not alone, and that our true strength comes from God. Joshua did not fight the battle of Jericho by himself, and just like Joshua, we do not have to fight any of our battles by ourselves. We can have strength and courage knowing that God is with us each and every day no matter what life throws our way. ~ Trent E. Jernigan

Day 14 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ Matthew 22:36-39 Do you have a to-do list? Without one, I find myself running ragged but getting very little accomplished. Many times, I look at my own daily to-do list with a feeling of defeat as time is running out. That is when taking a breath and prioritizing can save the day. By prioritizing, it enables me to zero in on the most important task at hand. In the scripture above, we are so lovingly instructed how to live a life that is pleasing to God. Some days more than others, I find this instruction to be a long to-do list that often times leads me feeling defeated once again. However, because of God’s grace, he has already prioritized our focus. He is saying to us, even when we find ourselves struggling because of our human nature, take that breath, reassess, and make sure loving him and loving neighbor are at the top of our list.

For me, stewardship is a time of reflection and brings me to consider the level of priority I have placed on giving back to the one who gave first. Through our giving, we are able to see where our heart is focused. Do we find that there is room to give more? God has simply said, before anything else, love Him and love others. Stewardship is a powerful way to do just that. By our gifts and the ministries they enable, we are exhibiting our profound love for God and neighbor. ~ Trent Maner

Day 15 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” ~Luke 12:48 The scripture passage above is one that I am reminded of frequently.

When I really examine my life – look around my house, drive around the city, or walk the halls of Centenary -- I am amazed at how truly blessed I am. These blessings are gifts that God has given to me. As I survey the needs of the world -- the broken places in life-- and consider my own discipleship, I am more keenly aware that God is calling me to be a steward of my blessings. I am not to waste them, but instead to use my blessings for the good of all people, for the good of God’s kingdom, to help transform the world. This recognition of God’s call to use my gifts is all encompassing. It is not simply a tithe of my income that God calls me to give (though that is a part of it), but also giving my time, my talents, my prayers, my witness of faith, and my love to the world. Each year during the church’s annual stewardship conversation I take time to ponder how my financial gifts will be used and to think about how I can invest myself in making a difference.

Where can I give my time that will have the greatest impact on the world’s greatest need? What talents can I offer to the church and the world that will make a difference in its mission? What/ who do I need to be in prayer about? How can I better show God’s thanks for what God has blessed me with?

Over the next few weeks I humbly ask you to ponder the same questions with me. Feel free to take a legal pad and make a list of your blessings. Make a list of the needs of our world. Pray over both lists. Ask God to show you how you can make a difference through Centenary and in the world around us by using your blessings. This is an excellent journey of personal discipleship. It is also a great conversation starter for the family dinner table. This exercise can be done with all ages, because in the end aren’t we all blessed by our God in heaven? ~ Rev. Glenn Kinken

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