Thanks for Pastors

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

This scripture is the verse of the day on BibleGateway.com, which I often use to look up Bible verses. The first part is familiar to us as it's similar to the words spoken by our pastors in the prayer before the sermon in worship services.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month and we're asked to take action to let our pastors know how important they are to us. It doesn't have to be much-just telling them we appreciate them can be enough. Any of us who are employed probably wish we were thanked more often for our work. We have the chance to let our pastors know we're grateful for them.

I found a poem by Judy Crowe for pastor appreciation month, and the first and last verses state (with a little editing):

Have you ever walked in our pastors' shoes,

And gone where their feet have trod?

Have you ever thought of what they mean to us,

And on your knees, given thanks to God?

Eastridge is blessed with two pastors who have different gifts to share with us. Let us remember throughout the year to give thanks to God for their service with us.  

(And even though there is no staff appreciation month, let us remember and give thanks for the staff members who support the pastors.)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for sending Melodie and Thomas to serve our church at this place and time. Help us to remember each day that they are here to guide us on our journey. And help us to let them know we are thankful for them. Amen.

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2018)

God Owns it All

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another he gave two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Mathew 25:14-15

Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. Matthew 27:57-59

That everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. John 3:15

Bruce Wilkinson in “30 Days to Discovering Personal Victory Through Holiness” states:

"Sixteen out of thirty-eight of Christ’s parables deal with money; more is said in the New Testament about money than heaven and hell combined; five times more is said about money than prayer; and while there are five hundred plus verses on both prayer and faith, there are over two thousand verses dealing with money and possessions."

Depending on our talents, we all receive differing amounts of wealth on this world, and we sometimes think we don’t have enough and sometimes we think we have enough to give to others, but do we really realize that none of it is ours anyway.

Bruce Wilkinson also states:

"If you own your own home, take a walk around your property to get a feel for the reality of this principle. Reflect on how long that dirt has been there and how long it will continue to be there; then ask yourself if you really own it or whether you merely possess it. You may have the title to it, but that title reflects your right to possess it temporarily, not forever. Only God literally owns it forever."

Now think about Jesus, God’s son. He came to earth as a tiny baby lying in a manger in the stable. He had nowhere to lay his head. Because He had no money to pay the tax, he had to catch a fish with the necessary coin in its mouth. He had no home, no money, no possessions and when he died, his body was buried in a tomb belonging to another man, named Joseph of Arimathea.

We become rich through his homelessness because he offers us the way to heaven.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, help us to realize you made the earth and the people that reside here. Help us to know our lives here are not about how much we possess, as Jesus demonstrated, but the fact that you came here and died for us so we can eternal life with you. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Nature, Life and Being

Nature, Life, and Being by Joy Mead (Wild Goose Big Book of Worship Resources, pg 147-151)

Be gentle as you walk on the good earth,

our home and lifegiver. Touch with kindness

all that has being and shares with you this sacred space.

Smell the subtle scent

of bluebells in the spring; hear the summer wind

in the grass, feel it

light on your back;

touch the trees,

sense their nearness. Know the fragility

of wondrous plants.

Listen with care

to the blackbird’s song,

the lark’s morning joy

and the cuckoo’s haunting call. Hold in your heart

these sounds of life.

Let the precious wetness

of falling rain baptise you. Breathe deeply, fill your lungs with the air that keeps you alive; understand the need

to sustain its breathability.

Be still and connect in the silence

what you are

with what you value.

Never overvalue your own significance nor undervalue it. Know yourself

one small, vulnerable part.

Feel your feet on the earth

and know the joy of your place in the natural world.

Know our human need for beauty.

We fall in love with all life in beautiful places.

Rediscover your sense of wonder and share it with others –

it might yet be our salvation.

Give attention to life’s littleness – contemplate what it means

to honour the small things –

the seeds and sunlight –

that sustain our wider being.

Learn to simply be and live wholly where you are, and who you are and who you are with.

You, you’re another me; me ... I’m another you. We’re neither subject nor object. We’re one with each other

and the world.

On this sense of equality our survival may depend.

Love life as you live it. Don’t try to outdo it.

Let beauty break through your frantic need to do.

We’re the between people, the people on the edge

of catastrophe.

Our obsessive doing

may be our destruction. But we have, it seems, one last chance to save ourselves and honour our beautiful earth.

Look at your own hands,

small but with infinite possibilities.

Big problems need small solutions.

Put out your hand to those who have gone. Their wisdom and faithfulness stays with us.

Be prophetic and creative; reach out to those

who are to come

with love in your heart.

Listen, feel, touch and smell; think and imagine –

these are sacred acts.

Real life is what it is

not what you might be told it is. Listen to the earth

and life as you meet it.

Watch and never turn away. Discern what is needful.

Seek to overcome the greedy child who is inside each one of us

and would take to itself

what belongs to all.

We can no longer sleep unaware nor be silent while others sleep. May the sound of our own voices disturb our foolish slumber.

Awake and see!

Awake and tell what you see! Awake and seek

a sustainable and fairer future for all life on earth.

Shared by Rev. Dr. Melodie Jones Pointon, Senior Pastor

Words from the book of Peter

 

All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  For,

“Whoever would love life

    and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

    and their lips from deceitful speech.

They must turn from evil and do good;

    they must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 1 Peter 3:10-22

Spreading Kindness

 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:31 

I have a former co-worker who has started a church in our community, the focus of this church is on being a good neighbor. You might have seen this church on the local news when they started meeting at an apartment complex clubhouse.  Or heard about this church when the Mister Rogers movie with Tom Hanks came out last year. As I have mentioned before, with virtual church, we sometimes attend more than one church service in a week, sometimes more than one in a single day.  At that church’s service this week, the musician sang a song called Revolutionary by Josh Wilson. If you keep up with current Christian music maybe you have heard it. The music is lovely and the lyrics really lead to introspection.  The chorus of the song returns to “Why does kindness seem revolutionary, when did we let hate get so ordinary”. The artist wrote it to document all of the turmoil we experienced in 2020 and efforts for us to overcome this through kindness, collaboration and perspective.  

We have a lovely and eccentric gentleman who lives down the street from us. He is single, retired, served more than 40 years in the national guard and has been deployed many times. He always has older cars that seem to be in jeopardy of falling apart. When they will cost more to repair than what he paid for them he leaves them where they die. Monday very early as I pulled out of our driveway this neighbor was pulling into the neighborhood and his car was shooting flames out the back (imagine Back to the Future). As he turned onto his street he realized that the car was on fire. I yelled to him to park and get out while I called 911. He ran into his home to get the fire extinguisher but by then the car was too far engulfed. We stood together in our driveway as we waited for the Fire Department to arrive and we hoped that they could maybe salvage his belongings, even if the car was no longer drivable. Sadly, the car and virtually everything in it was a total loss. The fire investigator found that he had driven oven a sign post on the highway that someone else had hit and it punctured his gas tank. The post created the spark for the gas and he was lucky to escape when he did. 

Our neighborhood is amazing. People came to make sure he was ok, one of our neighbors has an older vehicle they will be selling (exactly the kind of on-its-last-legs cars that he likes) and people were quick to help with clean-up. They also shared with him how glad they were that he was ok. As Brian and I talked about this throughout the last few days we mentioned this song and the fact that our experience, even in this terrible event, reflects the kind of Nebraska that we want to live in.  And the kind of country that we want to live in. A place where when a tragedy strikes people call for help, and they support each other. A place where we tell our neighbors – I’m glad you are safe. A place where a police officer gently asks questions of an older gentleman moments after a shocking event and commiserates with him about the wallet that was on the front seat of the car – and is now burned up. A place where kindness isn’t that unusual.  

Prayer: Creator God, thank you for watching over us. Thank you for helping us spread your love and your kindness to our families, friends, neighbors and strangers. Help us to increase the spread of kindness everywhere that we go. Amen    

Christi Moock  (reprinted from 2021)        

Hungry

...As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 

"For I was hungry and you gave me food." Matthew 25:35

And the King will answer them, "Truly I tell you just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40 

A week or so ago a group of us met with people from other local churches to participate in the Kids Against Hunger program by packing meals that will be shipped all over the world. The person who oriented us provided a little background information about the program, but I decided to learn more. Here is what I found out.

Mission: Kids Against Hunger is a humanitarian food-aid organization whose mission is to significantly reduce the number of hungry children in the USA and to feed starving children throughout the world. It is not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group. In order to achieve this goal the approach includes packaging highly nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice casseroles. They are distributed to people in over 60 countries through partnerships with humanitarian organizations throughout the world.

The International Headquarters offices are located in Omaha, NE. There are also offices in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri as well as 75 independent non-profit packaging satellites across the US and Canada. Last year volunteers at Kids Against Hunger packaged forty million meals.

The vitamin formula is proprietary and is the "secret sauce" of 21 essential vitamins and minerals that goes into the food. Food scientists have determined that this formula is the most easily digestible by a malnourished child. To prepare the meals the contents just need to be boiled in water. The bags are specifically made from moisture-proof odor-proof material to prevent spoilage and insect or rodent problems. Kids Against Hunger meals have a shelf life of at least three years.

As you enjoy your evening meals this week please remember all those who feed the hungry with the foremost being Jesus the Christ.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving us Jesus's example of feeding the hungry. Please remind us to reach out to help those organizations who provide food for the needy here and around the world. In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen.

Kathy Kuehn (reprinted from 2015)  

Words from Philippians

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

Practice, Practice, Practice

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it my increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. 2 Corinthians 4:15-16

I recently listened to a research study that found when people practice a skill, their brain improves the hardwiring related to that skill, making it faster to access and more efficient. This seems obvious to many skills that improve with daily practice.  The Julliard School of Music requires 5 hours of practice a day for musicians. The college quarterback spends hours throwing balls to receivers. The top chefs dedicate themselves to perfecting their culinary skills using both ingredients and techniques. Surgeons take years to develop their expertise. You and your dog learn obedience and tricks by training and ongoing practice.

This is also true in the Christian life. Like the song Day by Day from Godspell—we need to practice and strive to see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him sincerely day by day. How do we do this—study the scriptures, pray, listen, and daily commit to follow the way of Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to improve our relationship with you by practicing our faith day by day. Thank you for giving us the tools to do this. Amen

Nancy Hall

It is Well

 “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.”

 

“Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”

 

“And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

A song in the night, oh my soul!” -Horatio Spafford

 

Reflection on It Is Well with My Soul as performed by the Mormon Tabernacle 

click here to view video

Music brings us comfort in times of grief and in times of loss. The ebbs and flows of life are reflected through tension and relief as the song crescendos into the finale. We have been through so much this year. It is important to reflect on what has happened and to know that we are not alone. We have God with us. A presence not seen but felt through our shared community. 

Remember the joys and the triumphs. What we have overcome. Gain assurance in your faith through your remembrance.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the many blessings given to us. The moments to come together in a time of uncertainty. Whatever our lot in life is, be there with us. Guide us forth as we wake to sunlight breaking through the darkness. Praise be to thee, Amen.

Charles Kendeigh (reprinted from 2021)

Depending on the Influence

Test everything. Hold on to the good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

From Jay Wellons’ book “All That Moves Us: A Pediatric Neurosurgeon, His Young Patients, and Their Stories of Grace and Resilience”, Jay speaks of the term “pluripotent”: used to describe stem cells, important microscopic structures inside our bodies that have the ability to become nearly any other cell line, he says: “and this part is key—depending on the influence”.

I think of this highlighted phrase “depending on the influence” and how it applies to our lives. How we are influenced by the friends we keep, the books we read, the songs we sing, the television we watch.

Sometimes I feel that my life is a bit unbalanced, that is: I do better at keeping “good” influence in some areas more so than others. Another angle is to consider how our own behavior influences those around us. This is especially clear when raising children or spending time with children. In any case, something to keep in mind as we continue on our earthly paths.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to remember that what I spend time doing and who I spend time with influences my spiritual life. Help me to strive, with your help, to be a positive influence as well. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

In One Ear and Out the Other

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24 (The Message).

How many times have you been talking to someone and felt that your words were going "in one ear and out the other"? Listening is sometimes difficult. Our brains may be swirling with thoughts of errands we have to run or tasks to be completed, but a friend is trying to tell us something that's important to them. We may think we're being good listeners, when we really aren't.    

The last couple of years have seen a number of changes at Eastridge. We've had staff and membership additions and subtractions. We've gone through several periods of transition, and we're in the midst of another one as we try to decide what the staffing model will be for the future. 

We've spent time discussing the changes, but have we really listened to each other? Listening is an extremely important part of any transition period. We need to listen to others, to God, and to ourselves. It's easy to appear to be listening, but we may only be hearing the words, without understanding their meaning. We may be thinking about what we plan to say when we get the chance. 

Many exciting programs are on the calendar at Eastridge as we move ahead as a church. During this period and into the future, we need to strive to be open to all the voices in our church. And we need to be ready to act on what we hear, so that we don't forget who we are, what Eastridge looks like now, and what it can look like in the future. 

Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for giving us the ability to listen and to hear your voice. We pray that you will continue to be with us into the future, reminding us when necessary to be patient. Amen.

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2017)

Drought: sermon on September 11, 2022

Today we begin our sermon series on tree stories. 

It's appropriate, especially for us living in Lincoln, Nebraska, home of Arbor Day and the Arbor Day Foundation, which celebrates 150 years this very month. In preparation, many of our fellow Lincoln faith communities have been participating in something called "Faith to Forest" - an "initiative by and for faith communities focused on the significant role of trees." I've also spent a fair amount of time in meetings on zoom and on these grounds over the past three years about trees. Our trees. Trees that are healthy, trees that have died, trees that need pruned, trees that will soon be planted. 

As someone who grew up in the open, flat land of the high mountain desert in Idaho, there's something special to me about a line of trees forming a windbreak at the edge of a field. Or the sight of the lone tree in a field, obviously not planted there intentionally, but too striking to be taken down. When I moved from the wide open spaces and lofty mountain grandeur that marks the landscape of southeast Idaho and moved to Arkansas, it was the difference in the trees I noticed first. Densely wooded, you'd get sick if you looked out the side windows.  Big trucks carried massive trees stacked as high as possible, and I found myself praying for safety every time I followed one. In the northeast, I lived close to a legendary tree.  A tree where George Washington and his weary soldiers rested after the Battle of Princeton Junction. For almost 250 years AFTER the battle, the tree was nurtured and cared for, by its very own society. I remember being in that field, sitting under the tree, held together by steel rope and large bolts, in wonder of the miracle of history and time and place and life. Shortly after that, a northeastern blizzard and ice storm obliterated the tree. Damaged beyond repair, the whole community had an identity crisis. How will we remember that battle, if the tree is gone? In Missisippi, the trees are as thick as in Arkansas, covered with a vine called Kudzu. It hangs from the branches of the trees, covering them like a blanket. Kudzu was originally planted to stop soil erosion, and according to the website "Treehugger" is taking over the Southern United States. It grows at the rate of one foot per day and chokes out other plant species. It's a problem. So are, in my opinion, the large pecan trees that drop sap on porches, furniture, cars, and roofs. My opinion here matters, because I lived under pecan trees.  Some trees, I believe, are just much better suited for an orchard. Much to my surprise and delight, peach trees are not better suited for the orchard! I have one growing in my backyard, and this year we saw our first "crop" of peaches! 

It won't be like this every week, I promise, one of us going on and on about trees. We love trees! I am willing to go out on a limb and say that every single one of us could tell an important life story, or happening, that involves a tree.  Maybe it was a treehouse, or climbing a tree, or sitting in the shade underneath a tree, or hugging a tree, or (sadly) watching a tree be cut down. It was during a conversation about trees that the dots were connected, and we realized - tree stories happen all throughout the Bible. Literally from the first chapters of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation - TREE STORIES!

These aren't all stories ABOUT trees. Many of them are stories that happen by the trees, or in the trees, or where people are mistaken for trees. These are really stories of faith, our faith as the people of God. What I hope we find here is a similar feeling to sitting under the George Washington tree - connected in time and place to the forebears of our faith. In many ways, the importance of trees is the same as the importance of stories, a common thread that holds us altogether. 

How do you begin this story? The story of the world, humanity, God, faith? With trees. 

Perhaps the first editing and assembly team for the book of Psalms were taking cues from the first chapters of Genesis when they placed our text for today at the beginning of the collection. It is believed this Psalm didn't even always "get" a number, or a chapter, serving as the preamble for the Psalms, the reason for assembling this book in the first place. Like any good preamble or introduction, this Psalm tells us the importance of being rooted, grounded, like a tree that is flourishing and well fed; as opposed to that outer part of a grain of wheat that is so light it flies about in even the lightest wind - separated by the source of its life.

The very first word - happy, blessed, seen, connected, could be a play on words in the Hebrew - ashri and ashrahim - the second of these words meaning walking, journeying, travelling. There is a movement through life, there is no doubt, and this opening Psalm challenges its readers - how will you live your life? What will your life be like? A tree, planted by streams of water - or chaff, blown about by the wind? 

How do you become a "tree" exactly? As a yoga-advocate, I have actually practiced being a tree - a lot. It involves a solid planting, a steady leg, a strong core, and branches and limbs flexible enough to move and adapt as needed. There's something, though, that trees can't do, that is worth mentioning here because it keeps this Psalm from becoming a moralistic "do this for an easy life, for wealth, love, and happiness without sadness, hurt, or difficulty." This can't be a sort of moralistic prescription for life because trees can't choose where they are planted. They must bloom where they are planted, if they are to bloom. 

Scholars assert that this preamble isn't moralistic, that it's instead a wise proverb - or wisdom - handed down to us. That it encourages and instructs people of faith to be rooted in the "laws" - or the teachings of God. Meditate upon them, we are told, and you will be LIKE the tree that is planted from the faithful who are gathering together these psalms - songs - of the faith, and they know that the Psalms that follow include Psalms of praise, lament, mourning, isolation, invitation, anger, joy, hurt, bewilderment, and yes, just about every other experience, feeling, and emotion that makes us human. The secret that is being imparted here is not that of happiness as we define it. In fact, most all of the commentaries I read said this word used here - happy - is really not the best interpretation of the Hebrew word "ashri". Instead, they prefer the word "blessed", but find that word more troublesome even than happy. Bless-ed isn't the same as blest, and they all agree that blest, or favored by God for an easy life, isn't part of the deal here. Again, it's not moralistic - do this, for an easy life; follow the other path and you'll be miserable. The message here is far from that - read and meditate upon the ways of God revealed in the teachings, and you will know God intimately.

Grounded. Like a tree. Able to sustain the harshest of winds and still provide shelter for the beauties of creation like the birds that sing sweetly in the trees; produce fruit that is meaningful; and find an intimate connection with the God of all creation. "Taken as a whole, the psalm serves as an invitation to the entire psalter, holding before the community of faith — and not just the individual — the hope and promise that blessings will come from delighting in the instruction of the LORD."

It's an invitation to know God, through the words of the Psalmists, through studying the ways of God, and God's relationship with God's people. So here's some homework - an assignment for us today, and this week, and for the days to come - meditate on the words of the Psalms, and you will be like a tree planted by streams of water. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Melodie Jones Pointon

Words from Jeremiah

"...they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 31:34 NIV

Words from the book of Haggai

"The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house" says the Lord Almighty. "And in this place I will grant peace." 

Pride

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-29

Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors. Proverbs 29:23 (The Message) 

I was asked to respond to a request from Homestead Presbytery. Each week, the presbytery circulates a newsletter that includes a prayer request for one of the churches in the presbytery. I reviewed our church’s newsletter for ideas about what to include in the request. At the end of the newsletter is a table identifying all the activities offered at Eastridge starting this month. The number and variety of offerings are impressive. As I began writing the prayer request, I initially stated that we were proud of all the opportunities. But I hesitated: is “pride” the right word to use?  

The dictionary defines pride as “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” But as noted in the scriptures above, the Bible does not look favorably on the notion of “pride.” In fact, pride is one of Dante’s seven deadly sins and some theologians and philosophers have found that it is the deadliest of sins, the root of all evil and the beginning of sin. 

So, is it poor judgment to state that we’re “proud” of Eastridge? It might be better to find another word. One list of synonyms for pride includes delight, dignity, happiness, honor, joy, pleasure, and satisfaction. Any of those words could be used to describe our feelings about Eastridge and its impact on the community through programming and mission. It may not make any difference which word we use; we must always remember that none of this would be possible without God’s help.  

Prayer: Dear God, while we feel pleasure and satisfaction in the opportunities Eastridge is able to provide to its members and the community, we realize that You are the basis for everything. Help us to always keep in mind your role in the life of our church. Amen. 

Robin Hadfield

Peace

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7  

I recently read a magazine article about a woman whose teenage daughter was struggling with her personal identity. In the story, the mother spent hours, days and months praying that her daughter would bend to her will. She, and members of her church, prayed that the daughter would follow their preferred path. The family sought counseling at church and through a licensed professional and these approaches increased the arguing among them. In a moment where the stress and the tension were completely overwhelming, the mother took time to herself and prayed for God to bring her peace with her daughter's personal identity. In the story, the next morning the mother awoke and felt the peace of God. In all the time that she had prayed in despair for God to change the person that she was praying for she was frustrated but when she asked God to bring her peace and to help her accept the path her daughter chose, she was able to find relief. 

After reading this story I spent MANY days thinking about the times that I ask God for what I want. Praying to change a situation, to help something align in a way that will be easier, less painful, or even to allow me to take a passive role and let things play themselves out. In the moments where I have asked God for guidance or to help me to let go of something troubling, I have a much greater sense of relief. 

Prayer: Creator God - in moments when I desire my way or my will, remind me that you can help bring me peace and acceptance. You have the power to protect our hearts and our minds, to relieve our concerns and to help us to recognize our powerlessness. In a time when it can be hard to control all the moving pieces and parts in our lives, I can count on you to bring me relief over my concerns and sorrows. Amen. 

Christi Moock (reprinted from 2016)

Dare to be Happy

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NRSV) 

When I was in Virginia visiting my Dad recently, I looked through my Mom's desk-- and to my delight, I discovered that she had saved every single one of the Christmas letters she had written through the years. As I read through them, I discovered not only a fascinating synopsis of the year's happenings, but also found many touching quotes, poems and sentiments. Through many of them, her exceptional character shone through...especially in the poem below, quoted in her '92 letter. 

“Dare to be Happy”, by Helen Lowrie Marshall 

Dare to be happy--don't shy away,

Reach out and capture the joy of Today!

Life is for living!  Give it a try;

Open your heart to that sun in the sky.

Dare to be loving, and trusting, and true;

Treasure the hours with those dear to you.

Dare to be kind--it's more fun than you know;

Give joy to others, and watch your own grow.

Dare to admit all your blessings, and then

Every day count them all over again.

Dare to be happy--don't be afraid--

This is the day which the Lord hath made! 

This was the way Mom lived her life. She was often smiling or laughing (and oh, how I loved her laugh!)--even when she was facing challenging times. And, she always had a friendly or encouraging word for everyone she met. Through my Mom's example, and this poem, I'm reminded to be thankful for every day that God gives me-- and to make the most of every moment! 

Prayer: Creator of this Day, forgive us for those days when we're apathetic and unappreciative of our blessings...especially the blessing of Today, full of opportunities. Please give us the courage we need to seize those opportunities and “dare to be happy”...no matter what challenges we face. And thank you for the dear people you place in our lives to remind us of how to live this way. Amen. 

P.S. I'm resubmitting this devotion in honor of my mom's birthday tomorrow (September 7). On a day that usually makes me sad, I will “dare to be happy”. 

Sharon Irvin

Words from the book of Joel

 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Joel 2:32

Showing Up

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

When I lived in Iowa, I volunteered for an organization called Love in the Name of Christ. The organization helped those in the community in a variety of ways, such as providing gently used furniture and clothing, budget mentoring, grief support. I was asked by my pastor to become a budget mentor, helping an individual or family struggling financially to better track spending, saving, etc.

Those we met with were referred to as our “clients”. I volunteered with this organization for 7 years, working with individuals and families through the years. Over a period of two years, Rodolfo & Violeta were my clients. Rodolfo was undocumented and worked briefly for a farmer before misunderstanding a command and jumping into a hay baler that amputated his leg. Rodolfo’s struggles had much to do with medical expenses, lawsuits, and the fact that he was undocumented. I don’t speak Spanish, so communicating was a challenge. In the beginning, a high school Spanish student sat in on our sessions, but gradually he stopped coming. Additionally, it was a challenge simply coming up with what to discuss. It was a time in my life when I felt 1) incredibly ineffective but also 2) that I was doing well just by showing up.

I thought back to my time with this family recently while reading a novel on immigration. I certainly don’t miss the feeling of not being helpful, or even not understanding what I could do to be a good volunteer for the organization. There are times in our lives when we need to just appreciate that we are not being graded (as in school) for our accomplishments! However, I always felt that God was with me, guiding me, showing me what to do. And what was that? Well, often just offering Christian compassion and “showing up”. I am reminded of this when I read the essay: “Why You Should Always go to the Funeral”. Deirdre Sullivan says: ““Always go to the funeral” means that I have to do the right thing when I really, really don’t feel like it. I have to remind myself of it when I could make some small gesture, but I don’t really have to and I definitely don’t want to. I’m talking about those things that represent only inconvenience to me but the world to the other guy.”

So, do the hard thing that's often the easy thing: just show up. Show God's love to others by being present. 

Prayer: Since you are with me, I can do hard things. I can show your love to others and “show up” when people in my life may need to see evidence of your love in the world. Help me to show up even when I don’t feel like it. Amen.

Donna Gustafson 

Happy Labor Day

 

Summer Blooms

The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God will stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8 

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalms 19: 1-4 

This summer I have been blessed with an abundance of blooming flowers. The cockscombs reach their glorious blooms to the heavens, the pica show the beauty of simplicity with white and pink, and the marigolds (or miracles that my daughter used to call them) remain prolific with their fuzzy yellow heads. I have one new flower this summer—somewhere between a daisy, a sunflower, and a marigold. It’s yellow/orange flowers are about the size of a half dollar, and they face the sun almost smiling all day. When one of these flowers dies, it leaves a brown flower that blends in well with the live ones. It makes me think of my mother who believed in the adage—bloom where you’re planted. Even though she died many years ago, her personality and her spirit blend into my life daily—like the brown flower.

As you read this devotion, think about those who influenced your life and have now passed on. Thank God for their guidance in your growth and their teaching regarding faith and the love of God. Enjoy the flowers knowing that they too will pass with the winter, but their memory lives on.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the beauty of nature all around us reminding us of your love and caring. Thank you for those persons who have taught us about your love and have helped us in our faith journey. Help us know that heaven is a beautiful place with flowers that never die. Amen.

Nancy Hall

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

 

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1: 12-17