Amos McCarthy

The weekend is here. It is my prayers that your weekend will be peaceful.
A story of how God is gracious and merciful is found in101 Hymn Stories. At the age of 23, Robert Robonsin wrote the hymn “Come thy fount of every blessing, streams of mercy, never ceasing.” Sadly, he returned to his old ways. Traveling one day on a stagecoach, Robinson sat by a young woman who happens to be reading a book containing Robinson’s hymn. She came across a verse she thought was interesting: “Prone to wander Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love.” With tears streaming down his face, Robinson confessed that he was the poor unhappy guy who wrote those words. He made it clear that he would give up anything to return to how happy he was when he wrote those words. The young lady informed him God’s mercy is still available. Robinson was moved, and he returned to the Lord.

Psalms 145:8 says, The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” We all have received mercy when we needed it most. You must have been forgiven for hurting somebody’s feelings, or breaking a friend’s trust. Or there was a time when someone came alongside during a difficult season, offering support, or a prayer. When we choose to be merciful, compassionate, or forgiving, it shows God’s character in us. It impacts our lives. God does not choose these acts, it is part of who he is. 

Let us not forget how merciful God is. His mercies endures forever. Do you remember a time when you were merciful to others? What made you choose mercy? Or are you holding an age old grudge? It is time to let go!
God’s blessings. Love you all. Please stay safe>

Memory verse: Psalm 145:8

“Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy” (William Shakespeare).

Saints of God,
God is a good God. He wakes us up every morning. Allergies wouldn’t allow me to sleep two nights ago. Last night, I took a generic allergy pill to help with my allergies. I woke up feeling better.  As I lay in Bed, I thought about how we go to sleep, God graciously wakes us up. God is so gracious and merciful. What will we do without God?

Let me share with you a scripture I read this morning during my devotion: “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16). When I read this scripture, a story about greeting others came flooding in my memory. In Japan one would find a sign on many roads leading to schools: “Greetings are the foundation of our social life.” I believed signs like these would be helpful to children, parents, and many of us Christians.

One thing I noticed in many of Paul’s letters, it begins with and ends with a greeting. In the verse I mentioned above, Paul offers general advice to Christians.  Isn’t it an encouragement of love and concern? Have you listened to Louis Armstrong’s classic song, “What a wonderful world?” A part of that song says, “I see friends shaking hands,” saying, “How do you do? They are really saying, “I love you.” It is indeed true. This world of frowns and impoliteness can be a wonderful world if we all give it a chance. If we all see it as in Armstrong’s song.

A smile with a sparkle in our eyes tells a person, even before we open our mouths, that we are glad to see them. How much better is a smile than a dead look? We can make someone’s day better with a friendly greeting and a smile. 

Memory verse: Romans 16:16.

“Let all that you do be done in love” (2 Corinthians 16:14).

Many of us are familiar with the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” We all agree that the Savior is a great friend, but our understanding of this relationship is limited. Jesus’ friendship with us far transcends anything we experience on a human level. So let’s consider some of the elements of His relationship with us. 

Jesus laid down His life for us. Our Savior gave the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross, which proves His faithfulness. Surely, then, Jesus is a friend who’s committed to us forever, and He will give us everything else He has promised.

We are His friends if we obey Him. Those who are saved can be His friends, because they’re the ones who obey Him in love. He reveals to us what He is doing. Everything we need to know about Christ and His actions and ways is written for us in the Scriptures. He chose us. We didn’t earn His friendship and we can’t lose it, because it’s based not on us but on His choice to love us.  

Having Jesus as our friend means we are wanted, loved, and cared for by Him forever.   

Memory verse: John 15:12.

“Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education,” (Martin Luther King, Jr).

Sometimes it’s difficult to see sin in our own life, especially if it’s something that doesn’t stand out as obviously evil. That’s the problem with laziness: It’s viewed as an acceptable weakness rather than a sin. Those who live in a pattern of laziness have trouble seeing clearly what they are doing wrong, and they find criticism unreasonable. 

To determine whether laziness is a problem in your life, consider these characteristics: Making excuses for not doing a task; Avoiding doing things you don’t like, even if they’re your responsibility; Not considering the future outcome of your inaction; Needing outside coercion to complete tasks.

The consequences of laziness are serious. In the workplace, there is the possibility of frequent criticism, probation, or even termination. In the home, a buildup of frustration could result in harsh words, and children may copy their parent’s undesirable habits and suffer as a result. 
We may be able to fool ourselves by thinking that laziness is no big deal, but God isn’t pleased with poor attitudes, careless ways, and shoddy efforts. He wants us to do our work heartily, as unto Him (Colossians 3:23).

Memory verse: Proverbs 26:16.

“Inspiration is a guest that usually does not willingly visit the laziness (Tchaikovsky).