Devotion - 05/29/2025 - "Rising Together"

-

Rising Together

Scripture: Mark 2:3-4 (NRSV)

“Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof…”

Sometimes healing doesn’t come through our strength—but through the strength of our community. The paralyzed man in Mark’s Gospel had friends who carried him, dug through a roof, and lowered him to Jesus. That’s what love looks like in action.

We’re not meant to heal alone. Whether you’re the one on the mat or the one doing the carrying, we all need each other. Healing is not only personal—it’s communal.

Who’s carrying you right now? And who might need you to carry them?

Action Steps:

  1. Identify your people. Text or call someone who has helped carry you in a tough season. Thank them.

  2. Be a lifter. Reach out to someone you know is hurting and offer to walk alongside them.

  3. Break the roof. Look for a way your church or small group can remove barriers for others to meet Jesus—invite, include, support.

Prayer:
God of community and compassion,
Thank you for the people who have carried me closer to you. Help me to be that kind of friend for someone else. May your love move through us to heal and lift each other.
Amen.

Location: Monroe, OH, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Purchase with a Purpose": Rummage Sale, Bake Sale, Lunch - June 6 & 7, 2025

-
Image
  Purchase with a Purpose This weekend, Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7, your purchases at the Monroe United Methodist Church will make a meaningful difference in the lives of your neighbors. The event runs 8:30 am to 4:00 pm each day. We have gently-used furniture, household items, toys, home decor, Christmas and other decorations, books, bicycles, and many other items, all reasonably priced. Visit us as we join the Monroe Community Garage Sales this weekend! Money raised from the Rummage Sale will help the congregation offer ministries to serve our community. Funds from the Bake Sale will provide food for local families through our ministry partnership with Monroe Church of the Nazarene's Food Pantry. Lunch sales benefit the local mission projects of the Monroe UMC.
Read more

"Love beyond Limits" - Message for 5/18/2025

-
Image
Love Beyond Limits John 13:31-35; Acts 11:1-18 Series: Rise Up: How to Start Living Again There’s a fable about a man who spent his whole life drawing lines. Each time someone disagreed with him, challenged him, or simply made him uncomfortable, he drew another line to put them on the outside. Over time, his circle got smaller and smaller. By the end of his life, he stood in the center of a tiny, lonely circle. But then he looked up and saw Jesus. Only Jesus wasn’t drawing lines—he was erasing them. That story isn’t in the Bible, but it might as well be. Because Jesus spent his life doing just that: erasing lines, widening circles, and welcoming the people others left out. I’ll be honest: I’ve drawn lines before. Maybe you have too. Sometimes without even realizing it. And today, Jesus invites us to see those lines—and let him erase them. Let me ask you: Have you ever been on the outside of someone’s line? Maybe you weren’t invited. Or you felt judged. Maybe a church told you in a ...
Read more

Daily Devotion - Monday, July 7, 2025 - "Jesus at the Lake" - John 21:1-14

-
Image
  Monday 7.7.25 – John 21:1–14 Read John 21:1-14 here. Even after denying Jesus three times, Peter returned to fishing. Perhaps he thought he had disqualified himself. But then Jesus appeared—again at the lake—and repeated the miracle. Once more, empty nets became overflowing. It wasn’t just breakfast Jesus served—it was grace, a fresh start, and a reminder that failure isn't the end. Where do you need a second chance today?  What failure is Jesus meeting you in, ready to redeem it with grace? Reflect: If you were Peter, how would you feel seeing Jesus again after your failure? Pray: God of grace, thank you for never giving up on me. Restore what is broken in me and help me begin again. Amen.
Read more