SEPTEMBER 7

DAILY DEVOTIONS

"Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly."  - Mark 14:3-5 (NLT)

The generosity Mark describes in today's text is hard to fully comprehend. We may say we will give our all for God, but usually give ourselves in controlled ways. We pour out a little here and there. We may hope some will see our good work and give glory to God. But the truth is God wants all our attention, focus, gifts, talents, and thoughts. God desires all of us. How remarkable that this woman in today's scripture wasn’t concerned about scolding, criticism, holding back anything, or even conserving her costly perfume. Nard was a fragrant ointment imported from the mountains of India and very expensive. Incredibly the amount she used to anoint Jesus was worth over a year's wages. Yet she broke open the jar so nothing could stop the ointment’s flow to Jesus.

However, we remember the woman in today’s text not because of the cost of her gift or her humility, both of which are admirable. We remember her because she shattered the jar and poured all its contents on Jesus. She held nothing back. The gospel of John tells us this woman was no less than Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. John says, "Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance"(12:3). Jesus then praised her for her love and sacrifice and rebuked those who scolded her.

 

Will we give God only a little here and there, or will we break ourselves open and pour ourselves out to Jesus like Mary? When you have the courage to give yourself to God, you are offering a priceless gift our Lord will never reject.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus,

Help me be more open in loving you with all my heart and possessions and in giving all to you.

Amen.

Meditation For The Day:

How can I pour myself out for God?

 

 

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback

– May 23, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author) Available from Amazon

Used with permission of the family of the late Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson.

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Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson, D.Min., (1942-2018)

Mary was Ordained in 1975.
She served both as a Parish Pastor and in multiple Specialized Ministry Settings.

She worked on the Clinical Staff of New England Memorial Hospital and Middleton Pastoral
Counseling Center in Massachusetts and was a Director of Green Pastures Counseling Centers in N.H.

She was a state Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor,
Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (N.C.C.), and Nationally Certified Pastoral Counselor (AAPC)
and held certification as a Clinical Member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (A.C.P.E.).

She received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Psychology and Clinical Studies
from Andover Newton in Newton, MA.

Dr. Johnson also founded Good News Specialized Ministries, Inc.
This unique ministry provided education and Clinical Christian Counseling to thousands of people over the decades and trained numerous Clinical Counselors and Counseling Ministers while offering weekly non-denominational worship services to the community for more than 20 years.

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I had the honor and privilege of working with Pastor Arnie Johnson
when I served as the pastor for the Richmond Community United Methodist Church in Richmond, NH from 2019 - 2022.
I personally have been deeply touched by Mary's writings. Her family has graciously allowed me to share them with you. - Pastor Sharon Sargent

"I always considered my ministry at Richmond as a shared ministry. Mary had the expertise that helped me function as well as I did. I received critiques on the way home after the services. I finally realized that I may have “arrived” when one day she was pleased with my performance with no critique! That took several years! So, I would love it if you would use the picture of the two of us and mention Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson as my spouse and partner in ministry, and she continued to be until the day she died, four days before the end of my appointment at Richmond." -  Pastor Arnie Johnson

Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson is the author of eight other published books including:

"Activating The Power Of Pastoral Care: A Team Approach";

"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter Renewal"(Vol.1-4);

"Flying Free: Transforming Grief and Loss into Renewal";

Following The Angel Trail: In The Steps Of Jesus";

"Love In Action: The Healing Heritage Of The Counseling Ministry Of The Church";

"Visions Of Hope: Voices Of Americana";

"Healing Streams: Journeys Of Healing".

She has also been published in the AAPC professional Journal "Journeys" and in the Keene Sentinel.