Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100

Jesus Loves Me

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. John 3:16

This devotion has been published before, but it seems as if we can’t hear the message enough.  From the time we first attend Sunday School as children, we are taught that Jesus loves us by learning the sweet hymn “Jesus Loves Me.” According to Wikipedia, the lyrics by Anna Bartlett Warner first appeared as a poem in 1860, and the tune was added in 1862.  We’re very familiar with the first verse and the chorus, but there are several additional verses that I don’t remember learning as a child. Every once in a while, the song is played while the children come forward for the worship connection during worship, and it seems to put a smile on everyone’s face. 

If you need a smile today, take a minute and sing it to yourself:

    Jesus loves me! This I know,

    For the Bible tells me so.

    Little ones to Him belong;

    They are weak, but He is strong.

        Chorus:

        Yes, Jesus loves me!

        Yes, Jesus loves me!

        Yes, Jesus loves me!

        The Bible tells me so.

    Jesus loves me! This I know,

    As He loved so long ago,

    Taking children on His knee,

    Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me when I'm good,

    When I do the things I should,

    Jesus loves me when I'm bad,

    Though it makes Him very sad.

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me still today,

    Walking with me on my way,

    Wanting as a friend to give

    Light and love to all who live.

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me! He who died

    Heaven’s gate to open wide;

    He will wash away my sin,

    Let His little child come in.

        Chorus

    Jesus loves me! He will stay

    Close beside me all the way;

    Thou hast bled and died for me,

    I will henceforth live for Thee.

        Chorus

And here’s a senior version of the hymn, author unknown, for those of us with a few more years behind us:

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

Chorus

Though my steps are oh, so slow,

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

Chorus

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song,

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

Chorus

          When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love.

Chorus

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

Chorus 

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to show us your love. Help us to remember each day that, whether we are learning this song as children or fondly reminded of it as seniors with silver hair, Jesus loves us. And we pray that we will remember every day to let Jesus know that we love him.

Robin Hadfield

Prayer of Confession from October 20 liturgy

Prayer of Confession (from Spill the Beans Worship Resources)

Dear God,
what a thought it is to know that you know our works, you know what we do
and what is in our hearts, for good and for bad.

Forgive us when we have become spiritually complacent: when we show little passion for what we believe in;
when the outpouring of our faith is cool;
when our service to the church or community is lukewarm.

Merciful God, remind us once again of the depth of your love that sent Jesus
to live and die for us.
In granting us mercy, stir our hearts

with the warmth of your Holy Spirit.
Grant us a thirst to know you better
as well as a heart full of fervor
as we seek to embody the energy of divine love in our words, actions, worship and work.
Amen. 

Prayer of Dedication from October 20 liturgy

Prayer of Dedication (from Spill the Beans Worship Resource)

Lord God,
your church stands proud in the
world wherever it remains true to its calling and follows your will:
Caring and nurturing;
consoling and challenging.
When your church brings the gospel alive
in its care for others,
and in its attitudes of respect,
we know we are following our Lord’s example. Today we pray for this congregation,
and the family of worshipers here.
Take what we offer,
and may it be used here
to further your Kingdom’s values amongst us and within this community.
Amen. 

Rev. Dr. Melodie Jones Pointon

Christianity and Pumpkins

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12.

Fall is here and Thanksgiving is not far away.  With it comes a time to remember all the blessings we have received through the last year, and a chance to join with friends and family for eating, watching football, and shopping.

At this time of year, this story pops up in social media.  A coworker asked another, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

I like this analogy between Christians and pumpkins. God has chosen us, forgiven us, and taken away our sins. If we believe in him, we can be filled with his love, which puts a smile on our face and a light inside us. 
     
Prayer: Dear Lord, We thank you God for everything you have blessed us with, and especially for sending your son to be the light of our world. We are grateful that by knowing you, our insides can be scooped out and filled with your love. Amen.

Robin Hadfield

The Perfect Equation

So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”. Hebrews 13:6

For most of my adult life, I’ve had difficulty solving problems which fall under a category I jokingly call the “Three M’s” – math, mechanics and manual labor. Perhaps it is one of those problems psychologists refer to as right-brain versus left-brain dominance.

Luckily, my husband of nearly 40 years excelled in “Three M” problems. So for the better part of my life, our division of labor regarding household chores worked well and things went along quite smoothly. However, as a widow, I find myself needing to solve lots of “Three M” problems – dealing with finances, learning to operate lawn care equipment and doing chores that require a certain amount of physical strength. Finding the right solution when things go wrong can be both difficult and frustrating.

Just at the peak of a very frustrating problem, I received a list of “Christian One-Liners” via email. The “one-liner” that seemed to catch my attention was entitled, The Perfect Equation: “ 1 cross +3 nails = 4 given.” Reading that equation made finding solutions to all the “Three M” problems I’ve been struggling with pale in comparison. It was then that I realized I needed help, and help was just a prayer away.

A few days after turning this problem over to the Lord, I was having lunch with a friend. Though she was unaware of my difficulty, she started talking about a similar problem in her own life, and in the course of our conversation she mentioned the name of someone she had consulted. Shortly thereafter my situation was resolved.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for putting our lives into perspective and for being there as we struggle. Most especially thank you for sending Your son, Jesus, the perfect solution in every equation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Judith Welch (reprinted from 2008)

I'll Try

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV).

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Isaiah 41:10 (NIV).

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything James 1:2-4 (NIV).

When the preschoolers I work with struggle with their zippers, they whine, “I can't!” So I encourage them to instead say, “I'll try”. I remind them of the story of The Little Engine that Could. He didn't say “I can't”, even though the hill looked big and he was small. He said “I think I can, I think I can!” and gave it his all! Finally, he made it to the top and said, “I thought I could, I thought I could!” So while the preschoolers work on their zippers, we softly chant, “I think I can, I think I can!” And when they finally succeed, I exclaim, “I knew you could, I knew you could!”

Perhaps I should keep this story in mind as I pray about taking on a new challenge that God is calling me to at church.  In the past, any time I've heard words like “lead” or “organize”, I've immediately backed away. Those ways of serving are unfamiliar to me--definitely not my gifts. I'd much rather do something I know I'm good at. I like to keep my life simple...and avoid stress as much as possible. The problem is, I think I might be doing the same thing as my preschoolers. By refusing to take on challenges, it's like I'm also whining, “I can't!”  I'm forgetting that if God calls me to do something, He'll be with me every step of the way...strengthening me, encouraging me, helping me learn and grow.

As I sit at the bottom of that huge hill ahead, wondering how someone so small could climb it, I need to tell God, “I'll try...with your help.” Then, remembering all that He has done, and trusting in all that he will do, I'll chug ahead--softly chanting, “I think I can, I think I can!”  It won't always be an easy climb, but as I feel God's power pushing me along, my confidence will grow.  And when I reach the top of the hill, God will exclaim, “I knew you could, I knew you could!”  You see, I'm learning that every time I conquer a challenge with God, my faith is strengthened. And that's just what I need to face the many other hills left to climb on my life's journey.

Prayer: All-Powerful and Encouraging Lord, forgive us for saying “I can't!” when you call us to do something challenging. Please give us the courage to say, “I'll try” and trust in the help you'll provide. And thank you for the opportunities you give us to be a blessing to others...and strengthen our faith in the process. Amen.

Sharon Irvin

Unexpected Blessing

“From the fullness of his grace we have received one blessing after another.” John 1:16

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  Galatians 5:22-23

I volunteer as Lied Center for Performing Arts usher and aisle manager. Recently I served as an aisle manager in the balcony for the “Glen Miller Orchestra”  performance. An elderly woman appeared at my door shortly after the ticket lobby doors opened. I offered to check her ticket so I could direct her to the correct door.

I told the elderly woman that my door was the correct door to reach her seat. I also informed her that her seat was in row A. I warned her that at row A, there was a step down. I urged her to be careful when stepping into row A.

Since she was early and few patrons had arrived, we visited a bit. The woman told me she had attended the “Glen Miller Orchestra” concert at the Lied Center eighteen months ago. She shared that she really enjoyed that concert. She stated that that concert was sold out. She confided that she could not handle the large crowd and left at intermission. We continued to visit. My door usher joined us in conversation.

I asked the woman if she was aware that a pre-performance talk was to start in ten minutes. Since few patrons had arrived, my door usher offered to take the elderly woman to the Steinhart room where the talk was to be held. The usher explained to her how to return to the balcony following the talk. The woman arrived back at my door in plenty of time before the concert started.

At intermission, the elderly woman came out of the auditorium. She smiled broadly and shared how much she enjoyed the concert. A little later, during the intermission, the woman came over to me and thanked me for being so kind to her. She said that she needed to go home to care for someone. Then she left.

After the elderly woman left, my usher shared with me that the woman also thanked her for being so kind. The usher then affirmed, “That woman was a blessing to you and me.” I agreed.

I wondered: Do we often view persons who need a listening ear or an understanding friend as a blessing to us? They certainly can be. Join me in looking for blessings in our daily lives.

Prayer: God, remind me to find ways to show kindness to others.  Little things do mean a lot. Help me to notice the blessings given to me. Amen.

Lois Poppe

Aunt Nancy

Where is the wise person?  Where is the teacher of the law?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks ask for wisdom.  Corinthians 1:20-22  


We are approaching a year since the unexpected loss of my husband’s aunt.  Aunt Nancy was an amazing and interesting woman and I think of her often.  This week driving home from work I saw a quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin that I don’t think I have ever seen before, and it immediately made me think of Aunt Nancy.  The quote was “we are not human beings having a spiritual experience but are spiritual beings having a human experience”.  


I have spent hours this week thinking about this quote, what it means to me, what it might have meant to Aunt Nancy.  You see, Nancy explored all religions at different points in her life.  She is easily one of the most spiritual people I have ever had the pleasure to know.  She was raised in one faith, but tried many on for size… Catholicism, Hinduism, Disciples of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, non-denominational, Buddhism.  She meditated, she performed yoga, she read extensively about spirituality and relationships with a supreme being.  She was always curious about world religions, about other faiths and belief systems, and I never heard her say that one religion or belief was superior to others.  She truly believed that there was room in our human experience for all types of faith.  


Nancy was a spiritual being, who endured a human experience. Sometimes she followed the path selected by her parents – for acceptance.   Sometimes she followed her own sense of adventure – for self-pleasure.  Sometimes she tried to fit into the role of wife – for love. Sometimes she gave up and waited for a sign from something bigger than herself – for faith. Sometimes she let other people make the path and she stopped and experienced it in different ways.   


Aunt Nancy taught me a lot about making decisions that were right for myself.  Even if they weren’t popular. She loved deeply. She was fascinated by the world around her and the world beyond, and she was never afraid to look at possibilities that may have been rejected by others. She knew herself better than anyone I have ever known, and I expect that I will miss her, and the lessons that she shared, for the rest of my life.  


Prayer: All seeing God, thank you for sharing your children with us. Thank you for creating a world where we can explore and learn.  Be with us during our human experience. Help us to care for one another.  Amen.  


Christi Moock

Christ is With Us

(Click on photo to view larger)

The Sun & The Son

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:14-18


And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4

The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? The sun shall be no more thy light by day: neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Isaiah 60:19

When the lights go out there is a moment of fear or uneasiness when we are not able to see in the darkness. How will we see? If a flashlight or candle is close by, the fear subsides. When I looked in my Nave’s Topical Bible, I could have written many, many scriptures like the ones above entitling Jesus as the Light of the world. The references to the sun and to the Son were all filled with light removing the darkness.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for giving us Jesus, The Son, who removes the darkness and relieves us of fear. Help us to follow him and know he is with us every day, just as the sunlight is with us. Help us to realize there is no darkness in Him, the light is forever and eternal. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Words from Luke

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Sharing Your Thank Yous

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it – William Arthur Ward

I have spent the last two weeks working in Central City, Nebraska for a computer system go-live. It has been AMAZING to see all the work done in a small hospital with fewer than 20 beds, and fewer than 100 staff. In a stressful time, it has been a pleasure to watch people who love to work as a team, who care so much about their neighbors and their patients that they miss out on things in their personal lives. 

My gratitude to this team and to the care that they live every day for their patients warms my heart! Over the weekend (I was really here working all weekend) I wrote 40 thank you cards, and sent e-mails to different organizational leaders. Some were simple – thank you for being patient while we worked through your problem (because no one likes to be yelled at). Thank you for asking me if there is anything I needed (because a cold bottle of water 10 hours into a 13 hour shift is pretty amazing). Thank you for trying your best to use the system, asking for help when you needed it and having a positive attitude, because all those things help everyone on your team. 

I am so grateful to have worked in a place where so many good things are happening… even though it was hard to be away, and change is hard for everyone, and not everyone likes the new system, it was still so good to experience all of these things, and to have so many to be thankful for!

Prayer: Generous and loving God, help us to share our gratitude. In words, in notes, and in our actions. It is good for people to know that we appreciate them. 

Christi Moock

What's in a Name?

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1

Shakespeare said:

 “Who steals my purse steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing;”

 “Twas mine, ‘tis his, and has been slave to thousands;

 But he that filches from me my good name

Robs me of that which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed.”

When I was a little girl about 11 or 12, autograph books were very popular and I carried mine everywhere asking my teachers, classmates, and relatives to sign it. Most of my friends wrote things like: “When you get married and have twins, don’t come to my house for safety pins.” Or maybe they said “When you are old and cannot see, stand on your head and think of me.” Silly verses, I’ll grant you.

But my dad surprised me and wrote that verse from Proverbs 22 in my autograph book…”A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”  He was very proud of being an honest man and a Christian. Even though we didn’t have much, he wanted me to know that I could amount to something if I did the right thing. He also wanted me to know I could be proud that I was a child of God.  I think that impressed me, because at that point I made up my mind that I wouldn’t ever disappoint my parents if I could help it. And I also resolved to always be a part of God’s family. 

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the heritage and influences our parents gave to us. Thank you for our good names. Help us to be proud of our values and to show by our lives what we believe. Amen.

Gerry Draney (reprinted from the Eastridge Daily Devotional book, 2008)

Reaching Out

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

During the State Fair I had a job with a company to work their booth and promote their products. It required me to be trained in a variety of products and services that I had no knowledge. It was a vast new learning experience for me. I enjoyed learning about it and how it fit into my life and the world around me.  Once trained I spent the next 11 days telling the public about these products and services and how it affected them, our economy and our natural resources. 

I was told I had good communication skills with the public and found others relied on my knowledge when working the booth. I also found that many visitors to the booth, while learning about the product, would like to share their experiences and also share a little about themselves and their lives. I found it interesting that someone they didn't know a moment ago became their person to tell their latest life hardships or joys. I had one particular visitor who expressed his loneliness in that he had lost his wife recently and told me he was expressing to his friends that they should appreciate their significant other while they can as you don't realize until they are gone how much they meant in your life. He expressed all the wonderful things his wife had always done for him and that he didn't realize it all until she was gone. I met new friends and old friends that stopped by each day.  

This experience led me to think about the disciples and how many people of varied cultures and backgrounds approached them with their life stories. I thought about the different areas in our church that provide an outlet to many in need of communicating their grief, their emotional feelings, their financial concerns, and their search for a higher spirit. I thought about how many times we are approached by others that are strangers to us; do we lead them to the numerous resources or do we just listen and figure someone else will help them? Do I listen and offer up assistance in helping them find answers?  Do I pray for them or with them? Do I volunteer to help those in need?  

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to remember that there are those that need someone not only to listen but to guide them either to a resource or finding your path. Help me to lend not only a listening ear but a helping hand to those in need. Help me to do what I can to support those resources either financially or with time. Thank you for the many blessings that I have received in your light.  Thank you for providing me with those individuals that have and are there for me in my hour of need. Amen

Lori Hood

Nature's Beauty

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

*                                                 *                                              *

"Nature" is what we see—


The Hill—the Afternoon—


Squirrel—Eclipse— the Bumble bee—


Nay—Nature is Heaven—


Nature is what we hear—


The Bobolink—the Sea—


Thunder—the Cricket—


Nay—Nature is Harmony—


Nature is what we know—


Yet have no art to say—


So impotent Our Wisdom is


To her Simplicity.


Emily Dickinson


Appreciation for nature is a common theme with me. I’m not sure exactly where this comes from, but a few things lead me to believe they had a part:

•          Growing up on a farm
•          Being an introvert who is prone to reflection and quietness
•          Enjoying photography and nature photography in particular

When writers, including scripture, reference nature I tend to take note. I recently read a book where the author wondered where spirituality and science met. This work is Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine, author Alan Lightman. He was a scientist himself, and, according to one reviewer: “wonders at the natural world, at the incongruity of certain ineffable experiences and emotions living side by side with the desire to find the rules that govern our universe.”

When have you been overwhelmed by the wonders of our natural world? If you can't recall, you are missing much of what God has created. To echo Susan Taylor's devotion from last week, we should "open our eyes" to the beauty that surrounds us.

After reading Emily Dickinson’s poem, which Lightman quotes briefly in this book, I wanted to share these photos with you, which are reflected in the first lines.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for this beautiful world. Thank you for the creatures who inhabit it, thank you for the beauty, and thank you for ruling over it all. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

(click on photos to view larger)

Blessing of Elijah

Make no mistake.

This blessing that comes
like hands laid
upon your head,
a mantle draped
across your shoulders:
you do not bear it
alone.

Think of it
as lineage,
as litany:
an ancient legacy
entwining you among the strands
that weave through
generations and centuries,
that spiral with
the enduring and
determined grace
of the story that has
seized you,
and the One
who has claimed
and called you.

Take heart
that this blessing
comes to you
singed and
scorched,
signed by the blazing
of wonders
you can barely imagine
and by trials
that have already tested you,
or you would not
have found your way
this far.

Lay it down,
and it will be a path for you
across terrain
you never imagined
daring to cross.

Take it up,
and know the presence
of those who have passed this
on to you:
who encompass you
who enfold you
who go with you
and release you
into the keeping
of the road
that is your own
and the One
who has called

your name.



© Jan L. Richardson. janrichardson.com.

From the liturgy on September 15, 2019.

New Heavens and a New Earth

 “See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.
 But be glad and rejoice forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
    and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
    will be heard in it no more."

 “Never again will there be in it
    an infant who lives but a few days,
    or an old man who does not live out his years;
the one who dies at a hundred
    will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach a hundred
    will be considered accursed.
 They will build houses and dwell in them;
    they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
    or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
    so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
    the work of their hands.
 They will not labor in vain,
    nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
    they and their descendants with them.
 Before they call I will answer;
    while they are still speaking I will hear.
 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
    and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord. Isaiah 65:17-25

A Health Journey

"But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Hebrews 13:16

This verse is most reflective of where I am at, following the last five months of a serious health scare, heart failure caused by A-fib. Chronic health problems are not something I imagined ever having to deal with, and I always wondered how I would handle being unable to be active and accomplish. I have always been a doer and an on-the-go person.

Overall, I think I did ok on this unexpected and frustrating journey. I had the advantage of knowing that my heart failure would not result in death. I trusted that the quality of my life and ability to be active again would return. I nurtured my Faith to the extent that I relied on God to love and have mercy on me, and to nurture and comfort my spirit. I was unable to pray well, to form a coherent prayer, and trusted that Father God completed my prayers for me. I did try to find daily joy and do some thoughtful or kind act for someone else, maybe a text or phone call.

However, I was at times discouraged as I had many setbacks and I was aware of what a self-centered time chronic illness is. Granted, I didn't have much extra energy for anything but fighting to get well, but I still dominated most of the conversations with my issues and was pretty darn "me-centered" with both my caregivers (though grateful) and medical team and friends and family. 

My heart has finally responded to the surgeries, shocking procedures, and  medications and is working correctly on its own, for four weeks! Praise God! I am currently working hard in PT to regain strength and use of my arms and legs so I can eventually resume my life's activities. It will be a slow recovery, but I am on my way!

Emotionally and mentally, I have some healing to do as well, but I am longing to follow this verse to be "other centered" again, to not be so self-absorbed.  I want to actively love and enjoy others, catch up on their lives and stories, interact in more give and take situations, think of others' needs first. 

Prayer: Father God, thank you for your Healing and comfort during my bout with chronic A-fib. Bless the ministers and friends from Eastridge who prayed with me, ministered to me with visits, gifts, medical equipment loans. I am grateful for my caregivers, my amazing family, friends who brought food, gifts, sent cards, my medical team. Bless them! Guide me to stretch beyond my own care now to those I love and to those who need my help. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Connie Barry

Words from Jeremiah

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
    and do what is just and right in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

“So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” Jeremiah 23:5-8