I think I can honestly say that yesterday (February 1, 2022) was the most unusual day I’ve had in 30+ years of pastoral ministry. And that’s saying a lot! It all started around 7:30 AM when our staff text group started buzzing. I was brushing my teeth preparing to leave for the church when my phone exploded with multiple text notifications… ding, ding, ding…. Gwen, our children’s ministry director and Diane our bookkeeper were trying to get to the church,…
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) Martin Luther King holiday weekend is always a special time in the Benedict household. We call it “adoption day”, because it was January 18, 2010 that we officially received our daughter Katelyn. We use the extra day to celebrate with a special family activity. Often, we…
Posturing /ˈpäsCHəriNG/ noun : behavior that is intended to impress or mislead Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2 Demanding respect is like chasing a butterfly. Chase, it and you’ll never catch it. Sit still, and it may light on your shoulder. Max Lucado I’m not sure why, maybe it’s the brutal cold and I’m dreaming of warmer times, but this week I’ve been thinking about my time last…
I have stilled and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with its mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:2) Do everything without complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:14) Last night Pam and I watched Sunday’s sermon at Bethany on YouTube while we deconstructed our Christmas tree. We missed the service because our entire family converged on Richmond, Virginia to celebrate the New Year with our daughter Amanda. Amanda is a nurse on the cardiac unit at Virginia…
(By Pam Benedict) As a family this Christmas, we’ve been reading the “Joy to the World” daily devotionals by John Piper, along with many within our Bethany family. We’ve missed days, but are pressing on. A few days ago, after reading, we were discussing why the wisemen saw the star while no one else seemed to recognize it. Justin answered, “Because they were looking for it.” It was a profound “Ah ha!” moment for me. Whether the unusually bright light…
One of the most honoring things God says about us is that we were created in God’s image. Indelibly stamped on the soul of each person is the image of our creator. Now, this image has been marred by sin and self-will, but still within each human soul, even if distorted, twisted or buried, are inkling and echoes of the Divine. This is what gives humanity dignity. It’s why all human life is precious. Mary was a huge proponent of…
Appalachian Trail Devotional #4 One of the things I enjoy the most hiking in the deep woods is the relative silence. Especially in the backcountry, miles from the nearest road, there are many sounds that you just no longer hear. Cars, trucks, construction equipment, chain saws, general road noise… it all fades away once you get a mile or two away from civilization. And it’s amazing what you can hear in its place: the sound of the wind, the creak…
Appalachian Trail Devotional #3 Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing. So far, I’ve only hiked 200 miles of the Appalachian Trail, but I am well aware of its epic reputation. The AT is the longest hiking trail in the world, at 2193.3 miles. It begins in Springer Mountain, Georgia and meanders north through the mountainous sections of 14 states until it ends at…
Appalachian Trail Devotional #2 Closure means finality; a letting go of what once was. Finding closure implies a complete acceptance of what has happened and an honoring of the transition away from what’s finished to something new. In other words, closure describes the ability to go beyond imposed limitations in order to find different possibilities. ~ Abagail Brenner But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. ~ Paul the Apostle, Galatians 3:13 One of…
This spring, from April 26 – May 3 I hiked a section of the Appalachian Trail from Front Royal, VA to Pennsylvania- through northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and into Pennsylvania. Over the course of the week, I walked, kept my eyes open, took some pictures and listened for God’s “gentle whisper.” Here are some of those thoughts in devotional form. This is the first devotional in the series. For me, part of the fun of preparing for a multi-day…