God's Creation

And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. Genesis 1:9-11

In early September of this year, Steve and I spent a couple of days at our family cabin in the mountains outside of Denver. The cabin has been in the family for 62 years and is at 9,000 ft. I have wonderful memories of all those years.

As I was sitting on a large rock watching Steve on a ladder staining a section of the cabin, I started looking at the ground around me and all the trees (aspen, pine, etc.) I picked up small white quartz rocks from the ground and put them in a small bag. I then found and put in my bag small pine cones. The squirrels had not eaten all the seeds out of the cones. I then found an aspen tree with a few yellow leaves. This showed that fall was coming. Those leaves went into the bag. I brought my bag home with my treasures and have shared with others. I will keep these special objects to remind me of the cabin and part of God's creation.

This experience showed me to look always and see God's creation. God's creation is all around us and everywhere I go. Open our eyes and see it all the time. Thank God for the skies, waters, mountains, trees, flowers, rocks, and people.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creation and remind us to see and be thankful. Amen.

Susan Taylor

No, Slow, Go

Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So, don’t you think that the God who conceived you in love will be even better? Matthew 7:7-11 The Message 

What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. Matthew 7:21 The Message

These verses tell something about how to pray to God and how he will respond. Many places in the Bible ask for us to be obedient and God will answer our prayers. 

The question is when, when will God answer our prayers. Kay Byers, in my neighborhood Bible study explained it this way—it could be “NO.” We never like this answer. I prayed for something for two years and found out later, the very best answer for me was “NO.” Or, it could be “SLOW.” It seems we want immediate answers, but God’s timing is not ours. Or, it could be “GO.” God may put actions into your mind. These actions most likely are a way for you to help the situation. So, remember “NO, SLOW, GO” are always possible answers to your prayer.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, give us wisdom to decipher how you are answering our prayers and why sometimes the answer is not what we want. Help us to be patient and to understand your answers are best for us. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Calling

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

I remember phones from previous years that probably seem primitive compared to today’s phones. The dialing mechanism, operator connecting calls for the parties involved, party lines, and phones on walls were at one time an exciting invention compared to the phone that sat on a table. The desire was to have the most up-to-date push button phones and then came trim line phones and let's not forget the new colored phones of red, tan and later pink.

The first cellphone I remember having is a phone in a bag. I think the connection might have been better but that could be that there were fewer phones and less competition for the wavelengths.  

Have you ever thought of when you need to call on God the amount of competition you must face in the moment?  If that doesn’t make you realize the wonders of His power. 

I have never once had to call upon God and had to wait for an operator to connect me, reached a busy signal, voice mail, waited for a party line, reached a wrong number or been disconnected from being out of a service area. 

I have always known that God was available and with me every moment of my life. He listens no matter how many others call upon Him. 

He answers new or old faithful callers. He listens to all calls whether they are ones made in crying sobs or those made with bubbling excitement. He listens to every word, tone and feeling the caller has. 

He answers every call, maybe not with the answer one wants to hear but with an answer that is planned to be in your life. 

Lori Hood

Hope

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

It feels like all my devotions are written based on my favorite bible verses, but maybe that is how it is supposed to be. This verse has always resounded in me, but lately I have been using it a LOT. One of our prohibited words at work is hope. On projects, and especially as project managers my team is asked to have a specific and distinct plan and not “hope” that something will be accomplished by a certain date.

Webster’s defines hope as a feeling of expectation, desire or trust. When I am working on a project I feel a swell of hope and it certainly brings me a sensation of joy. I am excited for the project laid out ahead of us. I know that I have to put a strong sense of trust in my team that they will dedicate their time, energy and expertise into meeting the timelines for our organization. For me, hope has been hard to remove from my personality and my expressions. We have been asked to instead use the word “expect”. I expect a task to be complete by Friday, or I expect to have an answer from a vendor no later than end of day on Tuesday. In turn, I am expected to know what I will do if my expectations are not met. 

As you may imagine, this absence of hope requires me to be patient in my affliction. When working with people to improve technology, there are times that a timeline isn’t met, there are emergencies or broken systems, or times with software that something won’t work, because in so many ways a computer can never replace a person. 

Finally, I must be faithful in prayer and my conversations with God. It can be so easy to get distracted from my faith, to become frustrated with unmet deadlines, incomplete tasks and my ever present to do list. When I take time to step back and ask for God to be with me in a struggle, to give me patience or to help me to understand a better way to handle or manage a problem I always feel better….even if I don’t have a solution. That time can be 2 minutes of silent prayer at my desk, a quick plea to God in the stairwell, reading a scripture in the morning while I get ready for a particularly hard day, or a good recharge sitting in church on a Sunday morning. If I miss that time and don’t ask for guidance I know that I am missing Joy, Hope and Patience. 

Prayer: God who is always with us, help me to feel the joy of hope, even when I’m not supposed to – it helps me to remain positive.  Please continue to share your wisdom in times of affliction, the day to day, the life changing  and the world changing. Thank you for always being there when I need to talk, for comforting me, for giving guidance and for waiting, even when I think I’m too busy. Amen. 

Christi Moock

Listen and Respond

My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.  Matthew 26:38

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked his disciples for support and comfort.  Unfortunately, they did not understand and went to sleep. When they awoke, Judas had arrived and it was too late.

Many times in our life, our family and friends ask for our support and understanding. We should always be careful to hear those requests and act upon them when possible. Pleas for help and understanding are not always 100% clear, and it may take some reading between the lines to hear and understand what our friends or loved ones are trying to tell us. In short, we need to listen, understand and attempt to help before it is too late.  

Prayer: Lord, help us be responsive to the needs of those around us. Amen.

Andrew Loudon (reprinted from the Eastridge Daily Devotional book, 2008)

Inspiring Hope

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace  in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer." Romans 12:12

On September 10, 2019, I taught a University of Nebraska college freshman class. I asked the students what was the next day. One student said 9/11; another student said Patriot Day.  Both were correct.  While preparing for the class, I guessed that all of the students were born after 9/11 or at least none were old enough to remember that tragic day. The students confirmed that but they did know the importance of the day.

I recall that my daughter-in-law stated at the time of 9/11 “I refuse to live in fear.” We all have a choice about how we face adversity. We can listen for God’s direction in difficult times. We can offer words of encouragement to those we meet along life’s path.

Mary Pipher, when speaking at Eastridge Presbyterian Church, affirmed, “Today, we need healers, people who try to make broken things work.” Mary continued, “We want to give hope that there are solutions to many of the difficult situations that families face.”

Hope is a positive spiritual force with the power to pull us through difficult times. Hope comes as a gift from God through grace. As stated in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.”

G. K. Chesterton stated, “Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances that we know to be desperate.” Hope gives energy and focus. Through hope, we look forward, confident and with expectation.

Prayer: Dear God, help me choose to live, not in fear, but with the hope only you can give. Remind me that as you give me courage and hope, I can encourage others.

Lois Poppe

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

That very day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. And, talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were walking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him…When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight. Luke 24: 13-16, 30-31

Everyone has “best” hymns, some for the music, for the beat and rhythm, for the words. Christmas carols have musical charm, simple tunes and easy words. For beat and rhythm, “Onward Christian Soldiers” or “Stand Up For Jesus.” For the words, probably all of Fanny Crosby’s hymns fall into this group, like “Blessed Assurance,” or “I Am Thine Oh Lord.”

Now, my favorite hymns – verses 13-16, on the road to Emmaus. This was a few days after the crucifixion, and the disciples were a lost and discouraged bunch. We’re not sure if the “two of them” were disciples of the twelve, or followers who lived in Emmaus. Many people, when asked the question: “If you could go back to the time of Jesus, and spend only a few minutes near Him, what and where would your choice be? The choices are endless—At the Sermon on the Mount or one of His miracles, healing the blind man, the loaves and fishes, the Last Supper. Where, where?   My choice (and a very personal one) would be to walk with Him on the road to Emmaus.  And to finally name one of my favorite hymns, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” Verse 31:  “And their eyes were opened.”  And my second favorite hymn is “Open My Eyes That I May See.”

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, as we continue on our Christian journey, our prayer today is that our eyes be opened that we might see the salvation that awaits us when we walk with your son, Jesus, Our Savior and Redeemer.  Amen

Ned Eastlack (reprinted from the Eastridge Daily Devotion Book, 2008)

A Word from Thessalonians

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:6

Plan A, B, and C

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

I travel sometimes for work, and often alone. I don’t mind this, but sometimes the trip to a location seems lonely, and I’m a bit anxious. On these trips I always like to know a plan B when something may not go as planned. I may have two credit cards available for filling up my gas tank. I may have extra equipment for taking photos than is necessary. I may have someone’s contact info "in my back pocket" just in case of unforeseen circumstances. I feel better when I plan better.

While it’s a good idea to plan well, sometimes life may throw us a curveball. In those instances, God is plan A, B, and C! He is with us through it all, helping us see the way even when circumstances become difficult.

Prayer: Dear Lord, You are with me always. Calm my heart when I am worried, and help me to turn to you in prayer when times are difficult and the road ahead seems frightening. Thank you for your comfort and guidance. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

God is Faithful

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8

There is a project I have been working on for two and one-half years. It is something to spread knowledge of God’s word. This summer as I culminated the work and sent it to the printer the Lord was by my side each day. 

Just when I needed an artist, the Lord had an artist move in with my grandson who is studying at the University of Nebraska. He was able to design a cover which greatly enhanced the project. I knew he had talent because his grandmother lived a couple of blocks from me when I was raising my children who played with this student’s father. His grandmother is a great artist and even had her own art studio.

Just when I needed someone to jazz up the inside, my granddaughter came to a journalism camp at UNL and learned more about Adobe printing. This was definitely a God thing because she planned to attend the Kansas camp but couldn’t work out the timing. She is a dancer and even had time to spend part of three days with me. She immediately knew how to help me.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, may we all see when you put “just what we need” in front of us. It is a joy to know that your grace abounds and a joy to watch how you help us serve you with good work. Thank you for giving me stamina to carry out your will. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Loving Others

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6: 32-35


This is one of the hardest verses for me to serve in life. I feel like I could count the people that I dislike or consider to be enemies on one hand. Maybe 5 people that I dislike is a lot, or maybe it isn’t very many. It is hard to live the life mentioned in this verse loving our enemies and doing good to them when we are angry with them, or distrusting of them, or simply disgusted by their personalities.

As part of the human condition, it is easy to want to be rewarded for the good things that we do. We study hard and are rewarded with good grades. We perform well at work and receive promotions, and raises. We volunteer at church and in our community and someone tells us thank you. All of these are times that we give and it is rewarded. A positive reinforcement for our positive actions.

There are also times when we receive negative reinforcement for a positive action, which can certainly create confusion. We have all had that individual in our lives, we give and give but they only focus on what they didn’t get. It can be hard to keep giving and easy for us to throw in the towel.

What about people we have already made a decision about not liking? They may have angered us, intentionally or unintentionally. We may have missed an opportunity to have a conversation because we were SO angry in the moment that we simply abandoned the person or situation and now we have regret. We don’t know how to bring up a hurt that is so old, and has festered for so long, that it might not even be relevant anymore. But we have held on for so long to this person as an enemy, we have blocked any other kind of relationship. 

I wonder a lot about these enemy scenarios. How I can love someone I don’t like?  How I can be falsely nice to them and if that is better or worse than treating them as an enemy? In some of these situations I have tried the kitschy approach – Let Go and Let God. But I see the person again, and they ruffle my feathers again, and I don’t want to let go. I want to be annoyed by them, and justify my attitude towards them, and paint them as a villain. Even though I know it isn’t the Christian thing to do. So I go back the drawing board and again they treat me poorly, or I perceive that they treat me poorly because I admittedly expect the worst of them and we are right back in the cycle. I know I can’t be alone. I know it doesn’t make God love me any less and I know that he forgives me for harboring these feelings. But they feel pretty bad, and they really don’t feel like the person I want to be. 

It’s verses like this from Luke that remind me that God has seen much worse and has better expectations of me. He knows that when my feelings are hurt I might start with anger, but he expects me to get to a better place, of forgiveness. Now I just have to do the work! 

Prayer: God who knows and sees all things, help me to get to a place of resolution with my enemies. In moments where I want to see the bad help me to remember the good. In moments that I am angry, please temper my emotions.  Please help me to share my gifts with all of your children, not just the ones I like!     

Christi Moock

Words from Jeremiah 29

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.


This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29: 4-14

Press Forward

Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil: 3:13-14

This scripture was my mother’s motto in life—to press toward…”the high calling of God. My father was a minister and, no matter where we lived, Mother consistently reached out to those in need. In my early childhood we lived in a rural community. Times were hard.

Mother had some training as a nurse and often went to homes to care for people. Even though we lived in the country, transients found their way to our door and Mother always fed them good, nourishing meals.

During the war, we lived in a small town. Mother befriended two young women who were new to the community and shunned by the townspeople who considered the newcomers to be prostitutes. Both were married to servicemen and the husband of one of them was killed in the war. Mother went to see them, offered them friendship and acceptance, and invited them to come to church.   Although they didn’t come, their children began to attend Sunday School  regularly.

Mother always loved children. She read to them, told wonderful stories, and invented little games. In her eighties she cared for the beautiful little daughter who lived across the street while her mother, Liz, an immature, flirtatious, narcissistic young woman was at work. Mother didn’t preach to her, but as their relationship developed, Liz began to get new insight into her role and responsibilities as a wife and mother.

Wherever she lived, whether in the country, a small town, or a city, Mother worked to develop a sense of community among her neighbors. She visited them and was interested in their lives; she helped them in time of need; and she invited groups of neighbors into her home for coffee and fellowship. It was all a part of her pressing toward what she felt was the “high calling of God.”

Mother wasn’t a saint. She had faults and foibles as all of us do. But she never stopped trying to live her convictions. I received a letter from her shortly before she died. She wrote, “I’m tired,” and I knew that meant she was ready to move on. Thus the scripture from Paul’s letter was the theme for the celebration of her life—“I press forward.”

Prayer: Dear God, Help us, every day, to forgive ourselves for past sins and to press onward in our quest to do your will. Amen.

Marie Fischer (reprinted from the Eastridge Daily Devotional, 2008)

The Church That Matters

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we much help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’. Acts 20:35

I heard the writing below over the weekend and really reflected on the truth in this message.  As a society, we have transitioned in so many ways. We have decided what we are interested in, what we are disinterested in, what is below us, and what is outdated in our faith.  While the message below is taken from a Unitarian Universalist pastor it could easily be repeated in many churches in present day society. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a part of a church that really matters.  Where we put value into making sure that there are opportunities for all our members and not just one or two groups.  A church where we spend time looking at where we want to go in the future, and then taking those goals and making a plan.  A church where the congregation is committed to the work that we have chosen…. and is willing to get their hands dirty. A church where we are passionate but respectful about the small disagreements, so that we can be prepared for the large disagreements – while still loving one another.  

The Church That Doesn't Matter by Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson

In the church that doesn’t matter, there are no quarrels, no arguments, and no one ever says anything they regret at the meeting to discuss the sanctuary’s new paint color. There is nothing to inspire such passionate intensity because none of the decisions of the church touch anyone’s heart, and no one lives or dies by its choices, or even feels for a moment like they might. Everything is easy as pie.

In the church that doesn’t matter, no one has to ask for money, or even talk about it much: there is always enough to go around. There is always enough, because no matter how much there is, there is always less to do with it than that. The vision always shrinks to under-match the means. So canvass season is always a breeze.

In the church that doesn’t matter, no one ever disagrees with the preacher’s sermon. The music is always just fine. There is never a fight about the liturgy, not even if they do joys and sorrows (and not even if they stop doing joys and sorrows). There is never any controversy because no one ever says anything they really care about, and no one else ever seems to care. Because of this, the service is always equally inoffensive at both 9 o’clock and 11.

The sounds of children during worship, the recruitment of Sunday School teachers, the compensation of professional religious educators and the size and condition of space dedicated to religious education; none of these things are ever talked about, or thought about, in the church that doesn’t matter. Those issues just seem to take care of themselves, somehow.

No one ever has to clean up in the church that doesn’t matter. Or figure out the old electrical system, or consult the building codes, or climb a ladder. If no one bothers to make coffee on Sunday, no one complains, and if no one greets the visitors, no one seems to mind. Everything is easier in the church that doesn’t matter.

The total solution to all the frustrations of congregational life requires no consultants, manuals, or webinars. Simply avoid, at all costs, meaning and purpose and anything that might lead you to either or both. Whatever you do, do not let yourself care about the people around you, or the covenant you share.

Yet, knowing this, we still decide again and again to ask tough questions, to take real risks, to do work that needs doing, and to tell the truth. We get out of bed on Sunday morning, we answer that email, we make something imperfect but still sweet for the bake sale and we give our time and attention to a meeting every third Thursday. We ask each other how we’re doing, and mean it, we make phone calls and craft projects for the first grade class – we offer our gifts, both humble and great. And we do these things, sometimes in joy, and sometimes not in joy, because they are done in the service of a church that matters to us.

Prayer: Amazing God – help us to remember that everything we do is not joyful.  The tasks that are part of our church life must be shared by all members.  Help each member of our church community to think about the ways that they can serve the church and one another.  Help us to be passionate about the things that matter and respectful in communicating our needs.  Remind us that none of the work of the congregation should be abandoned in a church that matters to us.

Christi Moock

If I Only Touch the Hem of His Garment

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.” Jesus turned and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.  Matthew 9: 20-21   

And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well. Matthew 14:35-36

But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. Malachi 4:2 

I have borrowed today's devotion from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn. Every Jewish man was ordered by God to wear a prayer shawl. The shawl was to have corners with fringes on them. The woman in Matthew 9 touched the fringe of Jesus' prayer shawl and was made well. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and predicts the Messiah will arise “With healing in its wings”,  i.e. a different translation is healing in its fringes. People who were not afraid to touch Jesus found healing in their wings.

Cahn points out that we should never be afraid to touch God. If God puts fringes on His garment, He is touchable. “So touch God with your infirmities, your wounds, your uncleanness, your sins, with the darkest part of your life, and you will be changed."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to remember to touch God with the darkest, most painful, most ungodly part of our lives—that we might find healing in your wings.

Nancy Hall

Benediction

Benediction by The Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, at the funeral of Rachel Held Evans


“Blessed are the agnostics. Blessed are they who doubt. Blessed are those who have nothing to offer. Blessed are the preschoolers who cut in line at communion. Blessed are the poor in spirit. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you."


“Blessed are those whom no one else notices. The kids who sit alone at middle-school lunch tables. The laundry guys at the hospital. The sex workers and the night-shift street sweepers. The closeted. The teens who have to figure out ways to hide the new cuts on their arms. Blessed are the meek. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you."


“Blessed are they who have loved enough to know what loss feels like. Blessed are the mothers of the miscarried. Blessed are they who can’t fall apart because they have to keep it together for everyone else. Blessed are those who “still aren’t over it yet.” Blessed are those who mourn. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you."


“I imagine Jesus standing here blessing us because I believe that is our Lord’s nature. This Jesus cried at his friend’s tomb, turned the other cheek, and forgave those who hung him on a cross because He was God’s Beatitude— He was God’s blessing to the weak in a world that only admires the strong."  


[And shall Rachel have this last word…]


“‘Jesus invites us into a story bigger than ourselves and our imaginations, yet we all get to tell that story with the scandalous particularity of this moment and this place. We are storytelling creatures because we are fashioned in the image of a storytelling God. May we never neglect that gift. May we never lose our love for telling the story. Amen.'”


Rev. Thomas Dummermuth shared a portion of this in his benediction on August 18.

Prayer

Be joyful always: pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


If asked to define prayer, most of us would quickly say, “Something expressed in words.”  Prayer is really an attitude of the heart.  I see it more fundamentally as our being in God’s presence. Sometimes words are appropriate and sometimes they get in the way. Often they simply do not matter. Let prayer become the breath of your spirit. Let it be the beating of your heart. Where our whole selves are engaged in relationship with God, there prayer will be, even if words are not used.


Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to pray without ceasing.  Help us to make room in our hearts to place you first in our hearts.  Amen


Peg Olmsted (reprinted from Eastridge Daily Devotional Book, 2008)

What is Truth?

This is what the LORD says- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
I am the LORD,
Who has made all things,
Who alone stretched out the heavens,
Who spread out the earth by myself,
Who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners,
Who overthrows the learning of the wise
And turns it into nonsense,
Who carries out the words of his servants
And fulfills the predictions of his messengers. Isaiah 44:24-26


Today, when we don’t know what we read or hear is fake news or not we need to turn to our LORD who made our world and foils the signs of false prophets. We have researchers working for all kinds of reasons who are looking at old newspapers and other books and papers written by men. How can we know that what they find is fake news or not?


We need to consider the Bible was written over a period of 1400 years by about 44 different people, but still has Jesus giving us salvation as its basic truth. It is amazing. The Bible truth has lasted 2000 years and is the most published book in the world.


Prayer: Dear LORD, thank you for your word. Thank you that the disciples had first-hand knowledge of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross, and the Resurrection fulfilling the predictions of your messengers. Help us to be sustained through this century of mass media coming at us from all directions. Help us to know who is foolish and who is wise. Amen.


Sandra Hilsabeck

Pruning

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:7-9


Pruning: we all need to do it.


I’m reading a book by local author Michelle DeRusha: “True You”. In this spiritual book, Michelle outlines several analogies between a human life and the life of a tree. She talks about pruning, and the role a Japanese gardener has in ensuring that his trees thrive.


For me, one area that needs pruning is making judgements of others based on my psychological assessment of them. Whether or not I’m correct, I should remember that I don’t know everyone’s story…unless they share it with me.


It was hard for me to think through what things needed pruning in my life. When asked “What needs pruning in your life?” many of us may think “I do too much, I need to start saying no”, and while this can be true, I think we’re taking the easy way out if we ONLY think of scaling back our activities. I think we need to look at our behaviors and how we’re reacting to relationships, outside forces beyond our control, co-workers, family members…if we are honest with ourselves, there are going to be things that need pruning. And not just our social calendars.

It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.


Prayer: Dear Lord, it’s hard to let go of some deep-seated habits in our lives…we may have lived with them for so long, they make us comfortable. Help us to prune by showing us where we can change, and then give us the strength to make those changes. Be with us as we strive to follow You. Amen.


Donna Gustafson

Friends

Recently my sister was diagnosed with cancer. We have begun a journey of what many families before us have endured. We had lost my Dad to colon cancer; so we thought we had followed all the preventive steps to hopefully avoid this diagnosis. 

Then thinking we were beginning a possibility of a more relaxed schedule with the possibility of more travel my sister retired. Having her regular scheduled mammogram began her unexpected steps to find out she has cancer. A new life schedule is presented with so much new information, choices, and fears. 

I pray I can be a supportive sister. I pray for her healing, her strength, her comfort and God’s love.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for all those facing a change in their life plans, an illness, a loss or any unexpected news. Help us to be there for those who are affected. Help us to find the words and actions that are needed by those individuals. Please hold them in your loving arms. Amen

Lori Hood

Happy Labor Day!

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13