Joy

“Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord Your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locust and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed. An afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:23-29

This passage shares a reminder that sons and daughters, children and grandchildren will see life in a new way. After judgment and repentance, restoration and blessing will follow. When disturbing world events threaten to overwhelm, we take comfort in the promise of deliverance for those who are faithful to God. We find joy in the promise of restoration.

As our grandchildren bubble over with joy and excitement brought by new experiences, their delight makes us aware of the many blessings that come from seeing life in a new way. A baby crowing with delight when hearing stirring music played by a bell choir, a preschooler excitedly urging a reluctant mom to embrace a first roller coaster ride or savoring orange slices dunked in chicken soup (hmmm…)—simple daily experiences remind us of the joy God intends for those who love him. 

Prayer: Creator God, thank you for your promises of blessing and restoration. As we seek to be faithful to you, give us an appreciation for seeing life in new ways and the courage to be agents of your hope, joy and laughter. Amen. 

Barry and Alinda Stelk (reprinted from 2018)

Stressful Days

                                                 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3:20

It is my busy season at work. “Busy” doesn’t seem to capture it very well. Stressful describes it better. Add in personal obligations and it is overwhelming at times. Can you relate?
 
In a previous devotion I shared where I have learned to ask Jesus “What is the next thing I need to do?” in the midst of being pulled in so many directions.  And He faithfully answers. And then I ask again and He answers. Like a child, I trust my Father to tell me what is best.
 
At particularly stressful times, I calm myself by taking a breath in while thinking “breathing in peace” and exhaling while thinking “breathing out grace”. Peace to calm me and grace to give others. Jesus brings me back to thinking clearly and stops (sometimes) my tongue. I keep doing this until my breathing becomes slow and calm.

When roadblocks hit (computer doesn’t cooperate, a project stalls without other information, a headache comes on), I now look at those moments as God saying “That’s enough for now; let’s deal with that later”. Be thankful for little things (a hot shower, ice cream, or my husband making dinner).

At night when you can’t shut off your brain of things to do or worry, I do two things: 1) I get up and write down the list of “to do” things in my head; and 2) I say the Lord’s Prayer in my head very, very slowly concentrating on each word. Say it again until you fall asleep.

Remember to show extra love to those closest to you as they often, unintentionally, receive less time and attention from you. Love brings you back to center.
 
Peace and grace to you.

Prayer: Dear Father, In the midst of trial and stress, thank you for your peaceful presence guiding us if only we would look to you to show us the way. We will keep trying to let you lead instead of trying to do it all on our own. Amen.

Cathy Schapmann (reprinted from 2018)

Claiming the Tree of Life

Blessed is the one

    who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

    or sit in the company of mockers,

 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,

    and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

    which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.  Psalm 1:1-3

Many of us have been in grief and horrified by the shooting at the Tree of Life Synogogue in Pittsburgh on October 27th (editor's note: this shooting happened in 2018). A friend and I attended a memorial service at Tifereth Israel Synogogue in Lincoln. It was reassuring in the midst of this tragedy that so many from many faith traditions were in attendance at this memorial service. It was a united voice – a concert of voices that would agree that hate has no home in this community or elsewhere in the United States. 

One point made a profound impression on me: the Tree of Life as portrayed in Psalm 1. It is descriptive of those who walk in the way of the Lord – who meditate on the Law of God - God’s Word every day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of water. That tree is a tree of life that bears fruit and will prosper. My encouragement is that we find the solace of this fruit bearing tree – of God’s Word – God’s Spirit Who ministers not only to this community, but more so, to the Pittsburgh community and to those directly impacted by this tragedy. Yes, God cries with us and we with each other. God is with us in this - as Emmanuel – God with us in Jesus Christ. May we find comfort, strength, and a voice that has the courage to say, “No more!”

Prayer: Most gracious God, keep us nurtured and strengthened through Him Who is our Vine and we are His branches. Fortify us with Your Spirit. May we bring words and deeds of life to a world that is so encumbered by death. Let this day be a day for living in the name of Him Who is the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus Christ. Amen

Rev. Dr. John Duling (reprinted from 2018)

Seek the Lord

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11 

Family Trees and Olive Branches

Do not be like children in your thinking, my brothers; be children so far as evil is concerned, but be grown up in your thinking. 1 Corinthians 14:20 

Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful men, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. Ephesians 4:14 and 15.

Christina Hergenreder used these verses to speak to over one hundred women at the Shiloh campground in Nebraska this year. My sister and I were able to attend and grew in our understanding of family dynamics. 

First, we were told to tell what it was like to enter our family living room at the home we grew up in. We both said it was usually a great feeling in our home in the country in Nebraska. It was a safe home, the neighborhood was so safe, we never locked our doors. We kids never had a key to the house. 

We were lucky that our parents believed the Bible. We did not have alcohol, parents missing, or a lot of brokenness. We had pet dogs and cats and even a pet skunk. The skunk was de-scented and had been brought to us after the neighbor ran over the mother in his field. He brought it to us knowing we cared for animals. The veterinarian removed the sac of foul-smelling fluid, and he became a household pet.

However, we learned from the campground conference from Genesis 50:20, Luke 23:24 and Ephesians 4:14 and 15 that these actions would help us when tragedy or disagreement appears in our family: 

• We do not control others’ emotions or actions
• To glorify the Lord in our actions
• Our identity can be made with using the riches of our Lord’s glory
• We need to forgive even when we don’t want to 
• Love surpasses all
• Bring your hurt to our Lord
• Teach your kids from words of Jesus in the Bible
• Love of Christ and family passes all else

We also learned to build family with

• Devotions 
• Weddings
• Big birthday gatherings
• Touching and holding each other
• Eating together
• Touching each other with love 
• Building a family mission statement

To top off a beautiful day of learning I got a Facetime call from a granddaughter while at the event, that she had become engaged. Thankfully, we get to invite a fine young gentleman into our family. He used a lot of what we learned to build family when he invited friends from far-away places to view his giving of a diamond.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Words from Ecclesiastes

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 

All I Need

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25-26

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11

On a Connection Card (available in our church pews), there is a question: “How can we pray for you?” A child turned in her card recently, answering, “nothing, I got everything I need.”

I thought of a child’s view and how we can appreciate this, how we can use her example to be content with what we have. Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t need others’ prayers or that we should always be content with the status quo. However, I think gratitude and appreciation and just paying attention are what this is about.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be thankful for all that you’ve given me. Help me to find joy and contentment in my circumstances, because you are there with me. Amen.

Donna Gustafson