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Daily Devotionals
for Youth, Young Adult & Adult
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Sign up for Daily Devotions
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St. Paul's sends out daily (Mon-Fri) devotions via email.
It's a great way to start your day and it takes only minutes. Because we send it by email you'll be reminded
to take time each day to think about the Lord. Below is an example of a recent devotion.
If you would like to receive the daily devotion by email, send your email address to devotions@stpaulslionville.org.
SAMPLE DEVOTION:
"A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow. All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing."
"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, 'See, this is new?' It has already been, in the ages before us." Ecclesiastes 1:4-10
I remember being vaguely disappointed the last time both of my children were in school and I got to pick them up on their last day. I thought we would have bags of stuff to carry to the truck - but they brought all of that home earlier in the week. I thought they would be happy, thrilled, delighted, ecstatic (remembering my behavior on similar days) but Michael was tired, and sad I think. And Katie's first words were "I'm going to miss my friends." So they both fell asleep on the way home.
So passes life. The first day of school, the last day of school. The first day at a new job. The last day, cleaning out your desk. Friends come, grow close, move on. Interests rise into passions, passions cool into memories. Children grow until they have children. Older folks watch the days pass with a knowing grin, a faint shake of their head as they look down for their next step.
Ecclesiastes is the most pessimistic book in the Bible. All of our doubts and questions about life, about its unfairness, inevitability, cyclic sameness - all of that finds a place in the musings of Ecclesiastes. I don't much like the book, and I have never liked the song, "Turn, Turn, Turn." I always think, "Turn it off already!"
Today I realize that each day is a new day - even though the last day of school for my kids brought back old memories for me, they were MY memories. My children live in a different place and time, just as I lived in a different place and time from my mother. The rhythms of life are new, just as every wave on the sea is different from any that has ever been.
Along with each new day comes a brand new yesterday. Yesterdays don't just happen - we make them.
And so, finally, I have to disagree with Ecclesiastes. I think his "there's nothing new" mantra is a copout. I like Jesus much better - "Behold, I make all things new!"
Let us pray: I thank you, Gracious Lord, for the school year now past.
For the memories that were created, the friendships experienced, the learning that will last for a lifetime. Thank you for the passing of time, for the newness of each day. Help us make the most of our fleeting time. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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