Driving Notes

Lately I’ve been convicted about kindness.

I’ve been hearing some horror stories about how people have been treated in the shadow of the coronavirus. Stories from essential workers being yelled at by people because they didn’t have something in stock, or they didn’t do something ‘supposedly’ the right way.

Yesterday morning, I heard from one of my friends, who works at a pretty popular regional restaurant, about how they had to ask a gentleman to leave last week because he was upset there was one item on their newly-reopened salad bar that they did not have.

I started thinking…very transparently…if your life revolves around the fact that you can’t have a certain type of salad; potato, macaroni, broccoli, whatever, then you probably need to look in the mirror and figure out what’s really wrong.

Then I started thinking… have I had moments in my life where I allowed one really insignificant thing to kill my kindness? I actually found a few.

Many of you are familiar with the ABC-TV show ‘Full House’ and the recent Netflix sequel, ‘Fuller House.’ One of the stars is Candace Cameron Bure. She wrote a devotional for Proverbs 31 Ministries a couple of years ago called ‘a call for kindness’ and it has so much significance today. Click here to read it. It encourages us to have great hope in the midst of an unkind world.

I see 2020 as a continuing watershed moment in our faith. Can we be the voice of kindness? Can we be the voice of loving and listening? Are we tuned into people that need an encouraging word today? I certainly hope so.

Titus 3: 4-5 says, “but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our savior appeared he saved us not because of works done by us and righteousness but according to his own mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.“

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

Today our devotional time focused on two themes:

The first, “Where Are You?” focuses on the truth of God’s presence. Read the full devotional from Adam Holz here.

The second, called ‘Alert Circles,’ talks about the strength we get from other believers. Read the devotional from James Banks here.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

College Graduation Prayer – by Karen Barber

Heavenly father, we are thankful today for the accomplishments of discipline, determination and self-sacrifice that have led these seniors to their college graduation.  Thank you for the work of the professors in their chosen field and give them the confidence that they are now prepared to give of themselves in service in the disciplines within and beyond our school of arts and humanities.  May the skills they have developed be the foundation on which they build successful careers and lives.

Our greatest prayer for them today is that they continue to be lifelong learners who recognize their need to constantly discover more about You, the source of all knowledge and truth.  Help them to be diligent in their quest to know You and to discover how You want them to live.  As they journey through decisions about jobs, careers, homes, marriages and family may they seek and find Your guidance.   And after they have made these decisions, may they constantly seek Your daily help to faithfully live out their chosen callings.

Fill our graduates with gratitude, humility, love and faith.  Teach them how to pray.  Give them spiritual wisdom and discernment.  Help them to hear Your voice…that it drowns out the negative voices of culture.  Give them the wisdom and courage to say no to the temptation to put self and things at the center of their lives.  Send them strong Christian friends and spouses. Teach them the joys of service and generosity.  Keep them close to their families and open to the wisdom of their elders.  Help them learn from their mistakes and failures.  Show them where to go for help when they need it.

We are aware that as we pray these graduates’ futures into your hands, You are placing the future of Your World and Your Kingdom into their hands.  Thank you for your love and your grace and the gift of your son, Jesus Christ.

High School Graduation Prayer – by Jack Countryman

To the 2020 high school graduates, the year you were born was just after the 9/11 attacks and you are now graduating in the year of the COVID-19 virus. You might think this is a coincidence, but we have to believe that God has something special planned just for you. He is preparing something great for your life. Some of you may not be able to walk in a traditional graduation ceremony, but we want you to know that we see you. We pray for you. We celebrate you. We honor your achievements and we cannot wait to see what God does in your life. 

Each one of you is special in God’s eyes. 

As you look to the future during these troubled times, it is noteworthy to wonder what the Bible has to say about how we should react when we are faced with the challenges of life and changing times. Particularly when you are leaving high school or college and trying to make decisions about where your life is headed. 

When you turn to the Bible you will find the answers to whatever you need. The passage I always refer to is Psalm 37:3-7. Verse 3 says, 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. — Psalm 37:3

When we trust in the Lord, we commit our lives into His hands and consciously “feed on” or live on His faithfulness. Verse 4 reads, 

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. — Psalm 37:4

The Lord is in essence saying, spend time with Me and I will place godly desires within your heart because I love you and want the best for you. Verse 5 says, 

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. — Psalm 37:5

When you are willing to commit your life to living in the center of God’s will, your relationship with the Lord will flourish. 

Jesus is waiting for you to come to Him with an open heart. In verse 6 we find that, 

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. — Psalm 37:6

This is in answer to the previous verses that instruct us to trust, delight, and commit ourselves in the Lord. Do you want to be in right standing with Your heavenly Father? This is an invitation to live each moment of your life in God’s presence and lean on Him to help you with the decisions and challenges that you face each day. If you make that commitment, He will bless your life and give you the peace that passes all understanding. 

Finally, verse 7 says, 

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. — Psalm 37:7

If we are patient and rest in the Lord and seek Him for every decision we face, God will provide all the wisdom we will ever need.

Let Him be your guide as you embrace the blessings that God has promised you. Delight in His presence and commit your life to living for Jesus. He is waiting to guide each step of your way so you can be all that God has called you to be. 

Thanks for listening!
– Joe