Joey's Tuesday Devotional
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Call Us : 540-828-0890 Mail Us : adminasst@bridgewaterumc.com |
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BUMC Mini-Blast September 11, 2025
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Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 14:6 15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Psalm 14:6
You would confound the plans of the poor, |
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Nobody but God by Joey Capuano |
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I remember the day very clearly. I had just turned 5 years old the day before. My mom, Tina, was taking me to the store to get my first wristwatch for my Birthday present, Thomas the Train theme. I was so happy, until Mom heard something on the radio. This was September 11, 2001. Our world would never be the same. I remember it so vividly because my mom’s and dad’s families are all originally New Yorkers. Although my brother Ricky and I were born and have always lived in Virginia, New York is like a second home to us, traveling to and from at least twice a year from the time we were babies up until today to visit our family. Mom also has numbers of people in our family that work in NYC. Dad’s parents and one of his sisters, her husband, and their kids were visiting Washington, D.C. on that day, also, making things even more scary when news came in about the attack on the Pentagon. Mom rushed inside, turned on the TV to see if she could find anything else out, and stood resting against the recliner in our living room, crying and in disbelief. I had never seen her cry before. This is why that day is so vivid to me. Throughout the 20+ years since, our world has changed overwhelmingly; some good things, some bad. Security is incredibly enhanced, providing us with protection. It’s much harder for people with malice in their hearts to commit crimes. These are good things. But, there were and still are many bad things: stereotypes, discrimination, and mistrust against ethnic and religious groups and countries, fear of anyone “different,” armed and other conflicts between people which people - even our government leaders - try to justify by saying that they are acting on their faith. But . . . we all know that’s not what true faith is. I have so many people that I know from various faith beliefs and know that, deep down, we all want peace. Anybody who wants otherwise is using religion as a political weapon. Any time in our history when politicians have tried to use religion to gain power by any means possible, up to and including committing heinous and sickening atrocities, the end result has been nothing but pain and suffering. So, what can we do in times like these? We feel like “lost sheep.” Alone in the world. But, . . . the Good Shepherd! But God! Be comforted in him! The Scriptures from this week provide us with this hope, in Luke 15: 1-10 and in Psalm 14: 6. They just make me feel blessed and happy. That’s why I love whenever Pastor Mary says this quotation that I have heard her say so many times, I smile: “But, God!” It’s so awesome how many times in this life where God speaks to us, providing us with those moments when we happen to hear or read a certain scripture that relates to what we need right now, when we see loved ones that we haven’t seen in a long time, or when we marvel at the beautiful sunset - all God’s creations! These God winks, as many people call them, are real blessings to us. When we live in a world where sometimes we all feel scared and alone, recognizing these things provides comfort! I had one of these moments today when I got the Discipleship Ministries email with devotion resources. I saw that line that makes me smile: But, God! The writer also gave me inspiration for this devotion. This Thursday, as we remember those who we lost and those who went into New York City and D.C. all those years ago to protect us on 9/11, let us pray that God will always bless them and their loved ones, and let us remember those two words that provide us with perfect protection. But, God!
Love and peace, Joey |
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