Naughty Words

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Ephesians 4:29 "The Message"

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 "English Standard"

I enjoy exploring different Bible translations on Bible Gateway, as they offer unique perspectives on familiar verses. One verse stands out to me because I often catch myself using the phrase "for Sh$t's sake." Sometimes I say it in humor, other times out of frustration or anger. While it may not be the most offensive word, it's still foul and displeasing to God.

When my children were small, I would never have dreamed of using such language around them, yet now I find those words slipping out occasionally, even in their presence. My dad used to say that relying on curse words shows a lack of intelligence, as there are always better ways to express oneself.

The phrases "Each word is a gift" and "give grace to those that hear" are powerful reminders to not only speak kindly to others but to also ensure that the words we choose are pleasing and uplifting.

Becky Rankin

A Prayer to Start the Day

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 24: 44-45

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

In a recent AARP Bulletin interview, Amy Grant shares a prayer her first mother-in-law taught her: “Lord, lead me today to those I need and those that need me”. Amy goes on to share how she embraced that way to start one’s day.

I agree...it's a great practice to embrace! I think of how that prayer leads us to truly see those human beings surrounding us and with whom we interact.

The other part of the prayer offers comfort when we know that we can reach out to others if we are hurting or in need of help ourselves. Both require us to pay attention!

Prayer: Dear Lord, lead me today to those I need and those that need me. Help me to see others and serve them in ways that you would serve them and see them as your beloved children. Likewise, help me to not be afraid to ask for help when I need it. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Words from Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1 

Words from Colossians

Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 

On Matthew 25: 31-46

A story but first I want to remind you of Genesis 1:24: And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind."

A mother and her daughter were out shopping, parking in a lot in one of the large shopping malls. One of the lots had a single tree planted on a little space of grass at the front of each lane. It was a sweltering hot summer day. The sun was so bright you could hardly see. You could feel the heat on your face. You could feel the heat from the soles of your shoes. The little girl, about four years old, looked down on the pavement and saw a monarch butterfly. It was slowly moving one wing. The little girl exclaimed that she thought it was hurt. Perhaps it had been hit by a car. She then gently scooped up the monarch in her small hands and walked over to the shade of the lone tree and placed the monarch in the shade. The monarch made a grand sweep of its wing and lay in peace in the cool grass. 

Upon leaving the store, the little girl noticed the monarch lay still. The little girl stated that she thought the monarch was in Heaven now. And the mommy agreed. 

It is a wonder how sensitive small children are to the world around them. And of their sensitive thoughts of Heaven. That she gave this monarch its last time on earth a kindness that most of us do not even think of.

For Jesus said "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my creatures, you did it to me."

~ devotion submitted by an Eastridge member

A Kind Word

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25, NIV

One of my regular customers came through my line recently. I’m a cashier at a grocery store. Doug’s (not his real name) usually smiling face was sober. “I just lost my mother,” he said. “She was 90.” I said I was very sorry and listened as I scanned his groceries. He told me about the dreaded phone call he had received two days before and about the high costs of final arrangements.

I will sometimes tell a customer who shares grief with me that I will pray for him or her. I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to say this. I usually do so with fear because I don’t know how people will react. Doug was about to leave, and I hadn’t said it yet. Finally, I blurted out, “Doug, I will say a prayer for you.” Doug turned to me with a look of appreciation and said, “Thank you, Nancy.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, all around us are anxious and hurting people. Help us to be alert to the opportunities to say a kind word. Amen.

Nancy Brumbaugh

GBR (Go Big Red)....Fall is Approaching

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Genesis 8:22 

The last days of summer are upon us. School has started, and the weather swings between hot and rainy. In the Bible, God often speaks about the changing of seasons, a reminder that change is inevitable, though it can be challenging for many of us. We each have a favorite season, cherished for different reasons.

I used to love summer because it meant my kids were out of school, giving us endless days at the pool, long trips to Broken Bow, and late nights together. But now, summer is my busiest time of year for work, and I don’t get to enjoy those moments with my little ones as they are young adults now. Just as the seasons change, our feelings toward them can change too, and that’s okay.

I have a friend who dreads winter because it triggers her depression, while another friend struggles with the holidays because she is alone. The seasons of life shift, and with them, our experiences and emotions, but God is present in every season, guiding us through each change.

Becky Rankin

Love

Love is patient, love is kind...it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known...and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

It is wonderful to stop by the St. John's Bible on the way to my daughter's hospital room to see what words are illuminated at the moment. This was the chapter presented as I joined her after she got The Call three days ago for a liver transplant (just one week after she was listed).  It reminded me that we know only a fraction of the immensity of love. A family agreed to share the amazing gifts they had the power to give as they powerlessly lost a loved one. Because of that love, and a surgical team's miraculous skills, my daughter has been given restoration. We did indeed give ourselves over to trust, perseverance, and hope in this journey. Her liver had been damaged by a blood clot and infection, and her only hope was a (fourth) liver transplant. A chaplain asked her yesterday about what gives her hope. She described the personal relationship with her faith that guides her. It is a combination of many elements, but it is distinctly void of fear. In this period of her illness during the last few months, I have always been able to find support from others to replace my fear with love. Fear can deplete us. Love restores us and keeps us open to miracles. I cannot fathom the wonders I am witnessing, but I can give thanks and try to honor them.

Prayer: God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace: we thank you for the gift of life...for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life. We thank you for the mystery of creation...for the unknown that we cannot behold, filling the universe with wonder; for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of ourselves. We thank you...for families...for friends...who share our burdens and daily tasks, for strangers who welcome us into their midst, for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding....We thank you for this day; for one more experience of your presence, for your promise: to be with us, to be our God.... Amen. (Vienna Cobbs Anderson)

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2016)

Words from the book of John

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1 

Supporting Other Believers

Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. Galatians 6:1 

This verse reminds us to support fellow believers who are struggling with sin. If you look closely, it doesn’t say to chastise or belittle them; instead, it calls us to "gently and humbly help." As humans, it’s difficult for us to grasp that one sin isn’t greater than another. Our minds often categorize sins by degrees, but to God, sin is simply sin.

God asks us to show grace to everyone, regardless of the life circumstances they’re facing. He calls us to stand beside other Christians in their struggles, offering support rather than judgment. The same verse also serves as a reminder that we could find ourselves in a similar situation one day, needing the same grace and support.

Becky Rankin

Happy Labor Day!