Disney Devotionals: Epcot

Genesis 1:27 and 31

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

    in the image of God he created them;

    male and female he created them.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

In our world today there are all kinds of divisions stemming from beliefs, races, birthplaces, cultures and skin color. But it is important to remember that even when we disagree with someone’s beliefs, background or actions, they are still a person made by God in his image. We must be careful not to demean or put down those who have the imprint of the IMAGO DEI (God’s Image)! 

Epcot is a celebration of the different cultures God created. When humanity is at its best it is because God made them in His image. We may come from different backgrounds and have different traditions, but ALL people were made in God’s image - and it is all VERY good. 

It will be easy to celebrate today with all the festivities and decorations, but unfortunately, sin has created divisive lines between us and brings out the worst in humanity. All you have to do is turn on the evening news to see that. We must also remember to celebrate God’s creation even when sin divides us and highlights our differences. It is important that we humble ourselves and ask God to show us his IMAGO DEI  in those around us so we can see that what God made is truly good.

Dear God,

Thank you for making each of us unique. Thank you for the culture we came from and help us to see the IMAGO DEI in people all around us. Help us to live into your Holy Image by following Jesus and telling others about Him.

Raymond Sanchez is the Pastor of Worship and Administration at FBC Weslaco. He wrote these devotionals for his family vacation at Disney World and receives no kickbacks from Disney for this free promo. But feel free to donate to his next trip or bring banana bread by his house - thanks Kathy Polvado!

Disney Devotionals: Universal Studios

Pastor Ray wrote these Disney Devotionals for his family’s vacation. They are simple devotionals based on the question “Where might we see God today?”

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 (NLT)

I love being immersed into the Star Wars and Harry Potter Universes. Yesterday I couldn’t get enough of the Star Wars area. I could have sat there, taking it all in for hours…even without the rides! I look forward to doing that again today at the Harry Potter world of Hogsmead and Daigon Alley! But the real fun in all of it is being with my family and seeing my kids, who love these worlds as much as I do, enjoy these things along side of me! 

Every day we get to live in God’s Universe. God enjoys seeing us love the world he created and wants us to live into his great story of love and redemption by living lives that honor him. He wants us to work as co-laborers with the Holy Spirit to let His “Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” The feeling of excitement we feel when being in the Star Wars and Harry Potter Universes should pale in comparison to the feeling we have when we get ready to talk to God daily, when we read his word, and when we go to worship together each Sunday. 

Of course Harry Potter and Star Wars were made to entertain us but Is God’s Universe and story any less exciting? From the meticulous detail of the world He created to the amazing story of life and redemption we have in Jesus Christ, we should be happy just to sit in God’s universe and bask in the beauty of his story! 

Families, remember to take time each day - very early in the morning, like Jesus did, to  wake up, pray, and spend time with the Father in His universe!

Dear God,

Thank you for the fun worlds we have read about and experienced. Help us to read about your world in the Bible and to spend time with you every day as we live for your Kingdom and your glory!

Raymond Sanchez is the Pastor of Worship and Administration at FBC Weslaco. He needs to work on waking up very early in the morning and praying and hopes that you will too!

Oh, and Happy Birthday Antonio!

Disney Devotional: Animal Kingdom

Disney Devotionals were written by Pastor Ray for his family while on vacation. They are simple devotionals that ask the question, “Where might we see God today?” This is a powerful question that helps all of us realize that God continues to work in the world around us…even on vacation!

Genesis 1:20-25

25 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Yesterday we walked through the Magic Kingdom and saw great detail in everything from the rides, to the lines, and even the concrete - which had impressions, of shells, stones, and paw-prints - depending on which part of the park you were in. Today we are going to see some amazing animals, extinct animals...and even some amazing made-up animals. The detail in the man-made stuff will be amazing, but as you walk through the park today and see the wonder that is the Animal Kingdom, think about how amazing God made each and every living thing. From Giraffes, Okapis and Zebras, to Gibbons and Tigers and Tamarins, every animal that flies through the air, every fish that swims in the sea, and every beast that crawls on the land was made by God!

Dear God, 

Thank you for your creation. Bless our day, our tired feet, and our skinned knees. Help us to see the detail in every good thing you made and give all honor and glory to you!

Disney Devotional: Hollywood Studios

These Disney Devotionals were written by Pastor Ray for his family on their vacation. You don’t have to go to Disney to get something out of them, but if you do go, invite Pastor Ray.

John 3:16-17

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

This morning, my cousin Michael and I got up early, tested our internet speed and, thanks to hours of preparation, practice, internet speed, and prayer, we were one of the few ones who earned spots on Disney’s Star Wars, Rise of the Resistance. The portal opens at 7 am in the morning and is full for the day by 7:01 am.

Many people will be upset they didn’t earn a spot. Some didn’t practice like we did. Some didn’t have fast internet. Some thought the virtual queue would still be available after 7:01 am. No matter what the reason, only some people will be able to get on the ride and have a great experience. Those are the rules. 

Similarly, many people get upset when they find out not everyone will spend eternity in heaven with God. Some won’t have attended church like we did. Maybe some couldn’t find Bible passages as fast as us. Others may not have prayed as much as we did. Unlike the Star Wars ride, faith in Jesus is the only way to take part in His eternal glory. Those are the rules.

There is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven. No amount of practice, internet speed, strength, good deeds, church attendance, prayer or knowledge can get us there. But Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. One day Jesus is coming again to redeem all of creation. If you believe that, Jesus has earned a spot in heaven for you. But that is not the end of the story. If you really believe in Jesus, your job is to take part in His great redemption story to and tell everyone else about what he has done in your life so that they can have the same great experience!

Dear God,

Thank you that we get to get on the Star Wars Ride. More importantly, thank you for Jesus. Help us to live into His great story of love and redemption. Help us to share the Good News and tell others about Him!

Disney Devotionals: Magic Kingdom

These Disney Devotionals were written by Pastor Ray for his family on their vacation. You don’t have to go to Disney to get something out of them, but if you do go, invite Pastor Ray.

Romans 8:14-18

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

Devotional

Today we will go to the “Happiest Place on Earth” where we can forget about the “real world” and all its problems. Sure, we may have to wait in long lines, find solace in air conditioning in the middle of the scorching heat, and be completely exhausted by the end of the day; but hopefully the fun we have will dwarf any of those “problems” and we will long for the day when we can return again!

That may be a little how our Christian walk is. Even in the middle of the joy of following God, there will be difficulties in life. There will be times when it seems like we have to wait for God to work in our lives, times when we find solace in God’s peace in the middle of scorching trials, and plenty of times where we will be exhausted by the prospect of serving him in a fallen world. But We are God’s children and He is not just taking us to Disney World: He is preparing a place for us where we will one day share in His eternal glory! 

So today, and everyday, when you suffer through the trials of this world, remember that they are nothing compared to the Glory we have in Christ!

Dear God,

Thank you that we have been adopted into your family. Help us to remember that your glory will exceed any suffering we go through here on earth.

Amen

Vacation Preparation

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[a]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

Mark 13:32-36 NIV

After a crazy year my family has been prepping the last few weeks to go to Disney World! We made shirts to be cute (because that’s what people do at Disney), pulled our luggage down from the attic, mowed our lawn, found someone to feed the cats, prepped the worship team for two weeks of worship and six worship services, and did millions of other little things that we needed to get out of town. If you have a family, you know how hard preparation for a trip like this is!

Yet, all along the way, these verses and the preparation we should be doing for Christ’s second coming have been on my mind. We had a date for our trip on the calendar. My cousin and e mail alerts from Disney advised us about what we needed to be doing in preparation. We read articles online about how to prepare and had lots of conversations about what was most important to us when we got there. As the day has approached and excitement raised, we have found ourselves sleeping less and prepping more each day leading to our departure. The last two days were almost completely devoted to Disney prep. 

The preparation we do for Christ’s coming should be similar to preparing for a journey. We don’t have a date, but we should be reading the Biblical alerts God has given us. We should be talking to God and others regularly about what should be important to us as co-laborers in God’s kingdom. We should seek out the guidance of others who have experience as followers of Jesus. We should be figuratively awake as each passing day brings us closer to His return and each day, more and more of our time should be taken up by Kingdom work as the reality of Christ’s return sets into our lives. Preparation should be happening continuously.  If we had the date of Christ’s return, we would just wait until the last minute and try to frantically do all the stuff we should have been doing all along. 

So, how are you preparing for Christ’s coming? When the day comes, will you be awake?

We hope to see you at our various activities this Summer and of course on Sundays as we prepare together for the great vacation we have awaiting for us in Christ!

Dear God, 

Thank you for vacations and time to get away. Thank you for things in our lives that remind us of you. Help us to prepare for your coming in an even greater manner than we prepare for a big trip. Help us to live as co-laborers in your kingdom each day, growing in you and in our relationship with others as we share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.

Amen!

Pastor Ray is the Pastor of Worship and Administration at FBC Weslaco. As of this writing, no children had been harmed in preparation for their family vacation.