Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

Have you ever worried about anything? I’m sure you have. I have as well. After all, worry seems to be a part of the human experience. We worry about health, finances, relationships, jobs, the economy.  We worry for our children and grandchildren, friends and loved ones. The phone ringing in the middle of the night, the report from the doctor, or just reading the news can all lead to worry.  We worry when the future seems uncertain—when we’re not sure what the next day (or month or year) will bring. We become anxious and filled with worry when we are faced with unknowns, when we can’t predict how things will turn out, when we have little to no assurance regarding our tomorrows. It can seem as if there are so many things to worry about.  We might ask, is there any benefit to our worry? Does worry accomplish anything? Does worry help solve any of the problems over which we worry? I think you know the answer: worry brings no benefit, accomplishes nothing, and solves nothing. ...

I think one of the most fascinating things to observe is the growth and development of a child. Of course, Kim and I have the great pleasure of watching our three grandsons grow (if not always in-person, at least via Face Time). Each time we interact with them, they seem to be taller and stronger, have learned something new or can do something new. It’s so incredible to hear them come up with new words or be able to explain what the did that day. Each of them, Jesse (4), Jack (2 ½), and Caleb (8 mos.) is growing and developing in multiple ways, for which we are very glad. In fact, this past week when Face Timing with them, little Caleb was standing while holding onto a coffee table. It was the first time we saw him on his feet! Amazing!  This week, our church began a 40 day Bible reading plan that I put together for this Easter season (Lenten season) entitled, “40 Days of Walking with Jesus.” It begins with passages about Jesus’ arrival. Today’s reading was from Luke 2. And in that...

With only 28 days, February may be the shortest month of the year, but to me it feels like the longest month of the year.  After all, it’s the month that we just want to get through so that we can finally head towards spring. It’s the month that seems to tease us every so often with a bit of warmth and then plunge us back into the depths of winter. It’s a month that I really just want to come to an end—and that in and of itself, makes it feel very, very long.  I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining. And it’s not that completely I hate winter (although it is definitely not my favorite season). But at this point in the year I’m a bit tired of putting on the heavy jacket, hat, and gloves to walk the dog. I’m thinking about going out for a run in shorts and a tank. I’m practically dreaming about jumping into the ocean or the pool for a swim. But here we are still waking up to the cold and, today at least, a bit more snow. To me, February definitely feels like the longest month...

Today is Valentine’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate love, especially romantic love. Of course, we can celebrate the love between friends or siblings or parents and their children. But we all pretty much know that the day is really focused on the love between a man and a woman who, when they look into each other’s eyes, feel that so-called “spark of love.” It’s a day for flowers and chocolates, and maybe an excuse for a little added romance. For those who are in that kind of relationship it can be a really nice day.  Thus, today I will in some small ways celebrate the love I experience in my relationship with my wife, Kim who is for sure, my valentine!  I am keenly aware, however, that for others this may be a day to mourn the fact that they’ve lost a love or maybe never had what is called by some, a “true love.” For them, a day like this can be a very hard day as they wonder what happened to the “love of their life,” why they haven’t found their “true love,” and wonder whether o...

For the kids it’s almost as good as a snow day (well, not nearly!). For the parents it’s a bit of a nightmare. A delayed opening for school due to difficult weather may have the kids celebrating another hour or two at home, but it can be a bit of a headache for parents. I’m sure such was the case for many families this past week here in our part of New Jersey as many schools, including the pre-school which Kim directs, had a delayed opening due to the projection of snow mixed with ice and rain early in the morning.  Except for the kids who don’t mind a delayed opening of school, delays are not usually what we hope or wish for. After all, who likes to get to the airport and find out that their flight was delayed? Who enjoys standing at the train station waiting for a train that has been delayed? Who wants to get to their doctor’s appointment only to be told the doctor was delayed? And who of us enjoys being delayed as we sit in a traffic jam (which happens easily here in New Jersey)...

Have you ever felt like you didn’t know whether you were coming or going? It happens to all of us. Life becomes so busy that we can begin to feel as if we’ve lost direction, like we’re being pulled in a million directions, as if we’ve lost our bearings. As we say, we don’t know whether we are coming or going.   I’ve felt that way many times in my life. In fact, I recently said to someone, that’s how I feel just about every January. I come out of the very busy Christmas season thinking there’s going to be a bit of a break. Instead, I find myself thrust into a pretty hectic month as so many things need to be taken care of, prepared for, kicked off as we begin the new year. It’s for sure a time when I can feel as if I don’t know whether I am coming or going!  A couple of weeks ago, just as I was beginning to feel that way, I came to Psalm 121 in my morning Bible reading. There I read these words, “…the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.” (P...