Caribbean Moravian Devotions

ItÂ’s April and that means it is carnival season here in St. Thomas. I began noticing that around end of February and early March that the gym was starting to get a bit more crowded than normal. I noticed that these new members looked so COMMITTED. They were running on the treadmills, moving to the bikes and of course lifting weights. The level of intensity was admirable. But it is only after I started seeing the ads about carnival that I realized that the intensity which I was applauding for the new gym members would be most likely short lived. They were there mainly to get their bodies ready for their costumes for the upcoming parades. Unlike the regular members who had made a COMMITMENT to exercise because of the overall health benefits, these new members were there just for a short season. Though they know fully well the many advantages to be had by regular exercise, for them they were not ready to MAKE A LASTING COMMITMENT to a lifestyle change. Instead they had opted for an exciting, short-lived, intense and seasonal type of COMMITMENT. With that in mind, todayÂ’s FF challenges us to MAKE A LASTING COMMITMENT!

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Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141: 3

Hoping that everyone had a holy and blessed Easter. In today’s text David prays to God to control his mouth. I don’t think David was concerned with what was going into his mouth. There is no evidence that he had a problem keeping the kosher law. His concern was more with what came out of his mouth. David was a praying and a singing man. The many Psalms attributed to him bears witness to this. His mouth was therefore a praying mouth and his lips were praising lips. He is fearful however, realizing how easily prayer can be replaced by personal undertakings and praise by pride. He recognizes that the mouth can easily become defiled with untruth, or pride, or wrath thus he prays that God would protect him from such failings. David seemed to accept the truth that no matter how watchful we are, we are prone to slip ups, so he begs the Lord to guard him against falling into such sins. He knew that if God secured him there would be nothing to worry about. He is the one who had said: “Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” Psalm 127: 1b. He recognized his limitations even in keeping his speech pure but also knew that he could depend on God’s keeping. David learnt to trust God where he couldn't trust himself.

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I am sending todayÂ’s FF at the end of the day intentionally. This is not just any other Friday. ItÂ’s Good Friday. Christians everywhere would have spent time in worship reflecting on the passion of Jesus Christ. On our TV and our radio we would have watched or listened to programs which focused on the death and resurrection of our Lord. And so on this Good Friday, as it comes to a close and we look with joy to the Resurrection Day, I share with you this brief thought. There is life AFTER THE CROSS. We all have a CROSS to bear. As difficult as it may be, God will always send others in our lives to help us bear our CROSS. Like Jesus, we will not only carry our CROSS, but it will bring us to a place of surrender where we die to ourselves and the world. But thank God, there is life AFTER THE CROSS. And that life is like no other! We all have a different CROSS. Whatever yours may be, donÂ’t abandon your CROSS. Bear it bravely and humbly. Remember God has so much more in store for us AFTER THE CROSS.

Have a joyous Easter Day. And even as we focus on today on THE CROSS, Easter calls out to us that there is life AFTER THE CROSS!

Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus

Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth. Psalm 119:43


As we recall the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we hear the crowd shouting triumphantly, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matt.21:9; Mark 11:9-10; Luke 19:38) When the Pharisees complained, Jesus responded: “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40)
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It's almost time for me to get a new mobile phone since my two year contract is about to end. Recently, I walked into Radio Shack trying to figure out which phone I should get when the time came for the upgrade. Of course I went straight over to where there was this sign advertising free models for persons upgrading. Now that's the beat price on planet earth. Can’t beat free! As I got closer to the sign and started to read the small print below there were some very important information that told another side of this free offer. I laughed to myself because the fine print showed that what was free from far was actually far from free. The store didn’t lie in their advertising. It’s just that they failed to say up front what were the hidden related COSTS associated with giving you a free phone. Though it was free, it was certainly NOT WITHOUT COST. That's today's FF – NOT WITHOUT COST!

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Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her! Rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her. Isaiah 66: 10

The preceding verses to the text tells of the displeasure and judgment of God on those who seek to ignore His call to repentance. There is a word of assurance however for those who hear and are fearful at God's call. Those who love Jerusalem and those who mourn for her are assured that the coming judgment would not be for them. The God who judges will also restore those who look to Him in faith. Sorrows will soon become joy for them because of their love for God, and interest in God's people. They are therefore encouraged to rejoice with Jerusalem. Those that mourn will soon have cause to rejoice and those mourning with them will also rejoice with them. We learn from this that when God blesses his people, all who are connected to God's people will be blessed. We are not to give up then, but stay the course knowing that if we suffer with Christ and sorrow with his church, we shall reign with Him and rejoice with her.
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To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3


Let us take a philosophical look at this Watchword. This will require that we first establish some working definitions.
To sacrifice is to give up or give over oneÂ’s right in deference to another. A sacrifice is that which is given up in deference to another.
Righteousness is living correctly or rightly before God.

One who is living rightly before God will not need to give up any rights to God since God would be in control of such a person’s life and that person would not think of withholding anything from God. The ‘rights’ therefore are God’s and we have ‘privileges’ from him.
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One of the major roadways leading into the capital city of Charlotte Amalie here in St. Thomas has been under construction for years. Traffic is always a nightmare in that particular area. I usually go through this area at least twice a day. Earlier this week, we were stuck as usual in a very long line of traffic with no one moving. I noticed that two cars ahead of me that the driver overtook a white pick-up truck. Naturally I thought to myself that this white vehicle had broken down. The other vehicle in front of me also passed. I was so thankful to finally see the traffic moving that when it was my turn I did the same thing. Don’t know if I was curious or just nosy, I looked over to see what was wrong with the white pick-up truck as I slowly passed. I thought it odd that the engine was still running. And so I took a closer look. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The driver was still at the steering wheel with his head propped up by his left hand on the door and his eyes closed. Guess what? He was fast asleep. The car behind me passed him too and by the time I looked in my rear view mirror I noticed that he finally got going and rejoined the slow moving traffic. Can you imagine that this guy was overtaken by at least four vehicles before he was awakened. I thought about that encounter and it led me to share with you today’s FF – TO KEEP MOVING, NO SLEEPING!

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