Paul Called to Serve

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him. Galatians 1:15-16

I persecuted the church of God and wasted it. Galatians 1:13

Eventually, he was converted and began to preach “the faith which once he destroyed”. Galatians 1:23

Paul was called to witness for Jesus, and he was the writer of much of the New Testament as well as a mentor to others who wrote parts of the Bible. This is a great mystery because he directed crusades against Christians before he believed Jesus was the son of God.

In Galatians it says Paul was prepared by God throughout his life as he persecuted the church to do what God planned for him even before his birth.

If God can plan to reach a person while they are still in their mother’s womb, we need to think about what God’s plan is for us. What trials and tribulations have happened in your life to bring you to this point of belief in Jesus Christ? What does God have planned for you? Ask him and you might find out.

Prayer: Our Father who art in heaven, please bring us to understand you knew us before we were born and have orchestrated happenings in our life to prepare us to serve you. Please guide us to this service. Amen

Sandra Hilsabeck

The Promises of God

You have rescued me, O God who keeps his promises Psalms 31:5

I have taken the following from Max Lucado's book "Glory Days". 

The Promises of God:

    To the bereaved: "Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Ps. 34:5) 

    To the besieged: "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all" (Ps. 34:19) 

    To the sick: "The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness" (Ps. 41:3) 

   To the lonely: " When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isa.43:2) 

    To the dying:"In my Father's house are many rooms...I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2) 

    To the sinner: "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9) 

As Christians, we can take comfort in God's promises while dealing with the problems in our everyday lives.    

It is comforting to know that God has already promised us relief during our struggles. All we need do is trust in Him. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your eternal promises. Help us to remember them in our day-to-day lives. Help us with the peace you offer us despite what the world throws at us. Amen 

Nancy Hall

Peace

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 

When I am overcome with so much to do and so little time left to get it done, I need to regroup, pause, take a deep breath and have some silence to refocus. How many of us are caught in the treadmill of constant motion during the holiday time that we fail to recall why all this stuff happens?  

Advent is a time for such refocus and silent reflection. It is sitting back and just letting the simple scene of a nativity overcome one’s thoughts and spirit. Activity like looking at the animals just grazing from a trough, or watching Mary and Joseph adore their newborn child, or the awe of a shepherd beholding the baby, or even the Magi bringing their gifts to a young magi of the manger. Take time and look at the star above the crèche. 

As one is watching what seems to be lifeless carvings or clay figures, realize how the breathing begins to ease and become slow and rested. Notice how the sheer silence of the moment is absent of distraction. It is a brief moment indeed, but enough to pause and hear God assure one and all to “be still and know that I am God.” 

Prayer: Gracious God, still my anxious stress with the peace of Your presence and in the simplicity of awe. Help me see the nativity of Your Son so that tired eyes, weary mind, and fast-beating heart can be quieted for just a moment. Then, I can imagine the calm of Your Word grace me with “Be still and know that I am God.” In the name of Him for whom we await. Amen

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling, reprinted from 2016

Give Thanks

"In everything give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

 

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

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Psalm 103:1-4

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7  

And on that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted." Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth. Isaiah 12:4-5

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34  

Words from Micah

Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

The Lord Directs Us

 

To humans belong the plans of the heart,

    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,

    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

    and he will establish your plans.

In their hearts humans plan their course,

    but the Lord establishes their steps.

Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;

    all the weights in the bag are of his making.   

 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,

    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16, selected verses

Christ With You in Trouble

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:1-2

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:1-4

We recently went to a wedding in Texas for our grandson. On our trip we were aware of eight times the Lord was with us.

1.  On the way my phone went dead. We were surprised because we had put the map in the phone and made sure it was plugged into the slit in the car which was supposed to keep it charged. I went into the station where we bought gas and asked if they had a charger and they sent me to Christine at the truck department. She listened and then gave me a cord that would connect to the cigarette lighter and the second we plugged it in the map was there and the phone started charging.

2.  While I was busy getting the phone charged Bryce was able to get us a hotel and a plan to meet another grandson in Lewisville and our phone worked to get us there. We got to meet his girlfriend Rachel whom we had been hearing about.

3.  At a gas station the pump was excruciating slow, and we were trying to get to Lewisville in time to take them to dinner by 8:30 pm. The next pump worked.

4.  We ate lunch at Spoons restaurant and when we went to leave the waitress took our bill and said that someone had paid for our lunch.

5.  The back right blinker made a funny sound and wasn’t working. Here we were driving on three lane roads in Dallas and changing lanes without it. Thank God we didn’t have an accident.

6.  While walking to lunch in McKinney TX we saw a policeman and Bryce asked him if there was a Buick dealer where we could get the blinker fixed. Sure enough, it was only about 5 blocks away and they could fix it in about 30 to 40 minutes. Officer Patton gave us the address and phone number.

7.  We didn’t get into the wreck which happened ahead of us on Interstate 135. Unfortunately, three people died. We were right behind them and were moved over to adjacent road 81. The slow-moving traffic made the trip longer, but we were safe.

Prayer: Dear Lord, every day we can see, if we are looking, at the times that God is protecting us. We prayed ahead of time for God to protect us on the trip and you did many times. There have been times I have been frightened and You have calmed me. Help us to look around and watch how we are protected in our busy world. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Gratitude

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

While reading Brene Brown’s new book, Atlas of the Heart, I found myself agreeing and feeling convicted while recognizing myself in her descriptions.

In the section on Gratitude, she mentions how many of the emotions that are good for us – joy, contentment, and gratitude have appreciation in common. She goes on to say that gratitude is good for our physical and mental health. In researching the section on gratitude, Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at UC Davis, figured prominently. He says, “gratitude makes us appreciate the value of something, and when we appreciate the value of something, we extract more benefits from it; we’re less likely to take it for granted.” He continues: “with gratitude we become greater participants in our lives as opposed to spectators.”

Speaking of participation, my writing group’s current assignment is to assemble our own “Things to Look Forward To”. We’re following the lead of author and illustrator Sophie Blackall in her book of the same name. Similar to a list of things we’re thankful for, jotting down things we are looking forward to puts the onus on you and me. For example, instead of saying we’re thankful for our “family” we might say: “I’m looking forward to spending time with my family” or “I’m looking forward to playing board games with my family”. (I recommend owning your own copy of this book!)

Whether you make lists, say daily prayers of thanks, or share your thoughts of gratitude with others, let us remember that “every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…” (James 1:17)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the many blessings in my life. Help me to focus on gratitude instead of bitterness, even when it's hard. Guide me in becoming an active participant in a life of gratitude. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Never-Ending Thanks

“It is not that the man or his parents sinned,” Jesus answered: “he was born blind so that God’s power might be displayed in curing him.” John 9: 3-4

It is November again. It is the time of year that we as Christians pay special attention to thanking Our Lord for our many blessings. In my case, it is the time of year I give thanks to God for one special blessing.

In 2010, I had 4 eye surgeries which restored my eyesight to 20/40. (In case you didn’t know, it is the level of sight needed to obtain a drivers’ license). I had a progressive eye disease that was slowly but surely robbing me of my vision. 

Back then, as a senior citizen, widowed and living alone in a two-story house, the prospect of going blind was frightening to say the least. How would I ever manage to carry on?  Then I saw an eye surgeon who was helping people who had this same eye disease. The surgery is a process of transplanting healthy donor eye tissue on the patient’s eyes.    

The surgeries weren’t painful but they were very emotional. I had to wait for two donors to die whose eye tissue was compatible with mine. Wow! Christians can’t selfishly pray for someone to die to save their sight. It is a very sobering thought praying for restored vision.

Jesus was there with Our Father when He created man from dust so to Jesus that mud he placed on the blind man’s eyes was the very substance of man - tissue on tissue - just like my therapy. It was as Jesus said, “God’s power displayed.”

So, every November, for the last 12 years, I read the blind man’s story in John 9:1-12 and I thank both the Father and the Son for my restored vision.   

Is there something special for which you need to thank God? 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, there are just no words to adequately praise You for the many ways you answer our fervent prayers when we find ourselves in dire straits and in need, but we are truly grateful for each and every blessing. Our thanks to You will never end. In Your Son, Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Judy Welch

Endurance

And Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

What a powerful verse. Our good efforts will be paid off if we do not give up. In January our doing good may have been seen by others. We took dinner to a friend struggling. We shoveled snow for a neighbor, or a stranger. We served at a mission, or a soup kitchen or at our church – surrounded by our friends, celebrating God together.

In our current pandemic it can be hard to have the endurance to continue to do good when our actions may feel compacted. We know that staying home is the best way for the most people to do the most good right now. It feels awkward, and counter intuitive. We want to help. Take action. Do something, anything really, to help steer ourselves and those we love away from this emergency. 

In the depths of this desire to do good, we are also suffering from a little Cabin Fever. Or a little too much time with the loved ones who live in our homes. And we are SCARED. The news tells us about supply shortages and a mortality rate that does not seem possible in America. We have watched other countries fail and thought that we were strong enough to survive. We have been in denial about the need to protect ourselves. We have judged the actions and decisions made by others.

In a time where we have nearly every possible bit of infrastructure and technology to stay in our cocoon, we now feel nearly desperate to be out and about. To express our freedoms. To go people watching. To hear live music. To smell and see the things that we are so accustomed to in our everyday life.

This is the time that we must not grow weary. We have to maintain our distance, we have to reduce our risk of exposure, to assure that there are supplies to care for those who are ill. If we can, we need to stay home, as a sign of our care for one another and our focus on doing good. 

Prayer: God of great patience, help us to stay strong during this time. We must remember that, like so many other human inconveniences, this too will pass. Help us to worship you while we are apart and thank you for the technology that helps us to worship together. 

Christi Moock (reprinted from 2020)

Two Things to Remember

1.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37

2.  And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Matthew 12:31-32

We definitely have to be careful what we say. My Bible Study group sighed when we read these verses as we studied them in the book of Matthew. It is often we hear words spoken in anger that never should have been said. And the verses imply judgment will be made in accordance with our words.

We must also be careful to be truthful when we talk about our Lord and Savior because blasphemy against the Spirit is the one unpardonable sin. All other sins are forgiven when we confess them to our Lord.

Max Lucado states in his study of Matthew, “The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” In the familiar prayer:

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take,” shows a worry and need to pray for God to take the person’s soul.

Chas Morse states the prayer would show confidence in God if it read, “Now I lay me down to sleep, if I should die before I wake, I confidently trust the Lord my soul to take.”

Our words mean a lot, so it is important we are not careless with them and to speak truthfully about the Spirit of our Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, guide us when we speak. Help us to believe your words which tell us you will be with us and protect us as we go forward. Help us to speak truthfully. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Veterans Day

Thank you for serving! Honoring veterans of military service on this day.

You've Got This!

A couple weeks ago I was sitting at a youth sports event when from behind me a voice yelled, "You've got this!" I turned to look at the source of the voice, and found a very cute 3-year-old girl, wearing glasses and watching the game very seriously. As the game progressed, her voice rang out again and again, strong, sure, and yes, a with a child's faith, hope, and love, insisting to her older sister's team, "You've got this!" I struck up a conversation with her mom, who laughed as she explained that they watch a lot of sports at their house, so this is a learned behavior. "I'm not even sure she really knows what it means!" she said. 

I made a mental note (and a digital note in my phone) to remember the "you've got this voice." After reflecting on that voice for a couple weeks, I'd like to share some thoughts. 

1. "You've got this." The team didn't win that day, but they played well as a team, had fun, and built each other up. They believed in what they were doing, and that made playing the game worth it. In a world that is trying to make winners and losers out of everyone, let’s remember that there is more to life and who we are. It really is about how we play the game. 

2. "You've got this." Having someone to cheer you on makes a world of difference, especially in the tough games. When that person is a member of your community - that encouragement keeps you going. We are called to be encouraging to each other.

3. "You've got this." Encouragement and positivity are learned behaviors. Whatever we do, we are sharing our attitudes, faith, and actions with our community. This includes those younger folks around us. If we encourage others, they will, too. If we believe in others, they will too. 

Shortly after arriving at college, my roommate declared the following verse to be how she wanted to be known: "Therefore do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but instead, lift others up, according to their need." (Ephesians 4:29) She wanted to be an encourager! I would like to encourage all of us to be encouragers as we enter this season of family, friend, work, and school gatherings. 

Friends, you've got this! ~ Pastor Melodie  (reprinted from the November 2022 Eastridge Presbyterian Church newsletter

Code of Conduct

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8 (RSV)

In mid-August, a friend sent me a book entitled, “The Joshua Code” by O.S. Hawkins. It is one of 40 books Dr. Hawkins has written during his more than 50 years as a Baptist pastor.   

The scripture quoted above, Joshua 1:8, outlined the behavior God expected Joshua to follow (his code of conduct) when he took over leadership after Moses’ death.  Joshua not only had to accomplish the tasks God set forth for him, but he had to follow his code of conduct while doing it.  

Prior to reading “The Joshua Code,” I hadn’t realized how personal and precise God’s messages and expectations of the people of scripture were. Amazingly, Joshua followed God’s code of conduct his whole life. Even near his death, Joshua gave what we now call his farewell address. In it, he said: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 RSV). 

Joshua 24:15 is one of my favorite verses. I memorized it after seeing it engraved on a plaque which hung in my mother-in-law’s kitchen way back in the 1960’s.  

Perhaps one of your favorite people in the Bible was given a specific code of conduct. It might make for interesting research. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You and humbly seek Your guidance. We need You when life gets hard and we get confused not knowing what to do. We know You gave us a code of conduct. It’s called the Ten Commandments, but we fall short of your expectations, and we need help following Your will. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen

Judy Welch

A Time for Thanks

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Psalms 107:8-9. 

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty, and fills the hungry with good things. I Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving is a special holiday for me…both happy, and sad! Throughout my childhood, my mom and dad invited anybody who was alone and had no place to go, to come over for Thanksgiving. We had old friends, new friends, and during the war, Mom even invited some soldiers from Offutt Air Force Base to join us.  My mom was a wonderful cook.  One unusual specialty she made was cranberry ice, and her pies and candied sweet potatoes were great, too.

On Thanksgiving 1967, we headed up to Omaha. I had a large amount of food for the dinner, and we were looking ahead to a great day. As we went up onto the front porch, I saw four track marks, as if something had been wheeled off the porch.  As we entered the house, my uncle Clyde was standing in the dining room.  He looked just like my dad, but he was my uncle. It was frightening.

It turns out that my dad had already died and had been taken away. My mother had to deal with all of this, without my help, which was upsetting. But we picked ourselves up, fixed a nice turkey dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, and then went to the mortuary to plan my dad’s service.

We had the service that weekend. It was sad coming back to Lincoln, knowing he was gone, but it was comforting to know he hadn’t had to suffer a long time, and hopefully we would see him again.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for the life of a good man, Gerald Drew. He was a true Christian gentleman, and we were so thankful he had a long life. Thank you for the influence he had on his grandsons. They will always remember his humor, and the fun they had together. Amen

Gerry Draney (reprinted from 2017) 

Saying Grace

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with Thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5

And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 12:7

My daughter's in-laws include me in their family celebrations, and this year we had not one but two Thanksgiving feasts.  It was delightful to share food with others, since most of my meals are spent with my cats by my side.  My daughter's father-in-law always has a prayer at the ready, and I enjoyed two different graces from him this year.  It made our time together even more special. 

When I was little, my family did not say grace except at holiday meals.  I never understood grace, or many other prayers for that matter.  We were taught to be grateful for our food, and for our mother's valiant efforts to make it something a child might actually want to eat.  I figured we should be blessing her, as well as congratulating ourselves for taking the three required bites of each item. But I was careful to wait for grace to be said when I was visiting other people for meals, since I realized it had meaning for them.  

It is so easy to clink glasses with someone before drinking, especially when celebrating something.  It should feel just that easy to thank the source of all our nourishment in body and spirit.  I like to think of different ways of expressing gratitude now.  I recently watched a cooking show where the chef demonstrated how to turn humble vegetables and grains into special dishes by cooking them thoughtfully.  It made so much sense, because we often take for granted the foods most easily available to us regardless of season or finances. I like to think of being creative and resourceful with simple ingredients. Sometimes I will come home late from work, and all I really want is a hot potato to nibble on. It completely satisfies a need. 

I am a vegetarian, and after I stopped eating meat a few years ago I realized  I had always wanted to be a vegetarian.  It is fun to explore new foods, but limiting the diet is also gratifying.  My friend who is trying to cut out sugar has discovered she feels better and has more energy. I am trying to make some substitutions in that area, but I am not ready to give up all sugar. 

We spent a fair amount of time in the car when my kids were growing up.  Quite often we would end up having Car Picnics because we didn't have time to go home for meals. 

I like to think that those meals brought a little of home to our car, and the conversation was more free because we weren't facing each other. 

Wherever and whatever I eat, I now understand the reason for stopping to give thanks for everything that brings food to my body.  It is a way of beginning again. Our food is a gift, and the work that provides it is a gift. I love that there are many ways to be mindful of that gratefulness.  

We can ask that our food fuel us to do God's work; we can remember someone missing from us who used to pour that cup of tea for us; we can bless an old family recipe that reminds us of the people who used to share it with us; we can ask for others to enjoy the same privilege of being fed; we can ask for the food to nourish and heal us and others who aren't well; we can ask that the meal bring us together as family; and we can ask that the transforming power of Communion be present in our meal.  

This a grace from jesuitresource.org: May this food restore our strength, giving new energy to tired limbs, new thoughts to weary minds. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. And once refreshed, may we give new pleasure to you, who gives us all. Amen.

Mollie Manner (repinted from 2018)

Thankfulness

When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:14-19   

Few parental tasks are as challenging as that of teaching your children to say, "Thank you." In spite of your best intentions, you will soon discover that ingratitude and thanklessness come naturally. It is the rare child indeed who regularly and spontaneously says, "Thank you," after enjoying an act of kindness. 

Parents, take heart. The problem is at least as old as the book of Luke. In the scripture above Jesus heals ten lepers. But upon finding themselves cleansed only one returns to offer thanks and worship. Where were the other nine?  

And what about us as adults? When was the last time you told your spouse, your children, your minister, or your God “thank you" for a blessing that has recently come into your life?  Make today an unscheduled "thanksgiving day" for you. 

Each day should be one of thanks. 

Prayer: Lord, we are thankful and let us always remember to express to others and especially to you. Amen

Marilyn Jones Albin (reprinted from 2016)  

Thanksgiving - Then and Now

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: 4, 5

In the United States, in December of 1941, through a joint resolution adopted by the US Senate and House of Representatives and signed by President Roosevelt, the fourth Thursday of November was officially designated as the date for Thanksgiving Day. It started in our land as essentially a harvest festival and a day of thanksgiving. The early Christian settlers brought with them their Christian heritage of giving thanks for God’s blessings.

The book of Psalms contains the rich and varied responses of many souls in Israel to the divine calling. It is essentially a collection of prayers and praises. A Christian cannot escape the admonition to nurture a thankful heart. It is a part of our national history and Christian heritage.

In a personal devotion relating to Thanksgiving it should bring our focus not to what we failed to receive, but what we did “harvest.” Only you can count your blessings. Our culture is crowded with reminders of what we “need.”  Advertisements seek to create a “desire to own.” We are not immune to these enticements. The old hymn verse “Count your many blessings, name them one by one” may seem ancient, but is it?

Don’t expect someone else to prepare your Thanksgiving list. If we are to follow the custom of a harvest festival, we must be thankful for food that sustains us. Our land produces much grain as well as meat, poultry, and many vegetables and fruits. Many are the threats to this food supply – drought, flood, hurricanes, diseases of livestock and poultry, etc. Probably no place on earth can match our supermarket offerings. Yet even in Lincoln, it seems the food pantries are always in need.

Sometime during this Thanksgiving season, sit down and read “America the Beautiful.” Consider carefully each verse. Did you experience any of the things mentioned during the last year?

Prayer: Our Father, teach us to be thankful servants.  Guide our eyes and thoughts to the beautiful about us. Help us to recall the acts of kindness that came our way and to be thankful in our spirit.  Amen.

Harold Edwards (reprinted from the Eastridge Daily Devotion book, published in 2008)

Sabbath Can't Wait

(This was originally shared in 2019 during our sermon series. Even though today may not be the Sabbath, these worthwhile activities bear consideration.)

What can wait? On this day, identify one thing in your life that feels urgent but can actually wait in order for you to rest. Commit to one of the activities below, or spend time doing something else that centers and recharges you.

- Go for a walk outside.
- Sit quietly and meditate.
- Plant something indoors or outside.
- Try cooking or baking with a new recipe.
- Spend time with a friend or loved one.
- Dance or play music.
- Explore a new area of your town or city.
- Take a nap.
- Draw or create something.
- Write a poem or a song.
- Play a board game with friends or family.
- Read a book.

(reprinted with permission, What Can't Wait by A Sanctified Art.org)

A Spiritual Cornucopia

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. John 15: 4-5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peach, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

…and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if all these things be in you, and abound, thy make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

During the Thanksgiving season the cornucopia filled with fruit and grain is used as a decoration to symbolize the abundance of the harvest. The colorful fruit and bundles of grain spilling out of the horn of plenty” make us mindful of the blessings that we received and remind us to be ever thankful for them.

Consider the scripture selections for today it the context of a spiritual cornucopia. John 15:4, 5 starts us at the pointed end of the cornucopia. Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches and teaches that when we abide in him and he abides in us much fruit will be brought forth. He also instructs us that we can do nothing without him. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians qualities that constitute the fruit of the Spirit are named. This “fruit” fills the body of the cornucopia. If we want the fruit to grow, we must abide in Jesus and strive to live lives that imitate him. With the selection from 2 Peter 1:5-8 we have reached the large circular opening of the cornucopia and the contents are flowing from it. Peter instructs us to put our faith in action and to develop the character qualities which will help us to live fruitful life of love and serve to God and man. Are we abiding in Christ so the fruit of the Spirit will grow? Are we helping the cornucopia to overflow abundantly by placing our faith in action?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ.  Empower and enable us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit and to share these qualities by our actions so others may also live the abundant life. Amen

Gail Keown (reprinted from 2008)