Devotions by Barb -- October 20, 2025

In this space, I am sharing devotions written by our dear Barbara Meade.

Barbara grew up a Quaker and is a regular attendee at Spiceland Friends Church. Her faith and Quaker roots go deep as her uncle was a Quaker pastor, evangelist, and artist. Barb's writings about her many life experiences reveal her faith in Christ and highlight the memories of a great family, her years in the banking industry, and her time as a local small business owner. Barb's desire is to serve those around her through her encouraging devotionals and writings from her life. Barb has recognized that our relationship with Christ grows throughout our lives, both in good times and through life's challenges.

OBSERVING CHANGES

I'm thinking of how today's world has robbed our children of talent and creativity and robbed our adults of one on one time with each other.

I'm remembering a time as a teenager, using music as an example, when the girls would get together and form quartets; the fellows had Barber Shop quartets, learning harmony. Piano lessons and recitals. The boys had wood working projects with Dad; it was time together. All these things not only developed talent, but taught patients. It taught us that if we applied ourselves to a goal, we could achieve it, lessons that lasted a lifetime. We were developing "God given talents".

All these devices we live with today are important; they have changed our lives and culture, but the children and adults alive are getting lost in them.

It seems we got to "Siri" for everything, we we should be talking more to the Lord. Don't let life's changes change your relationship with God. The only thing that never changes is God's word.

1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift use it to serve one another, as Stewarts of God's grace.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Now there are varieties of gifts: but the same spirit: and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and varieties of activities, but the same God who impowers the all in everyone.

These verses tell me regardless of how lives and culture change, coming to our Lord and Savior, living Christian lives preparing for eternity, should not and must not ever change.

Amen

Eric is our associate pastor, working with outreach and youth ministry as well as adult discipleship and growth. Eric retired from a 28-year career in public education as a high school band director in 2019 and is now living his lifelong dream as a pastor. Eric and his wife, Diana, continue to live in Henry County where they have been lifetime residents. They "raised" three children and are now making their best attempt at "raising" themselves.