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Monday, June 2, 2025
Summer Days
On this warm summer day, Lord, may we lie back in your love, like on a sunny beach near singing waves, or in shady grass under a whispering tree.
Friday, May 30, 2025
Service
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind...In humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phillippians 2:1 - 11
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters
will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25
I have been dismayed at how much time and energy I have had
to put into the simple act of changing cell phone service providers because I
have been given a phone that is not one used by my current provider.
There are so many large and complicated issues in our daily
lives; sometimes we must meet draining challenges in our work, and other times
our loved ones might need our help in addressing overwhelming obstacles. Our own personal situations often lead us to
have to sort out issues in areas where we are called to make big changes.
I find myself in all three categories at the moment, and
alongside those issues my focus is drawn daily to the upheavals our country and
the world are experiencing. Times like
these require more effort to connect to God's heart and to be God's vehicle to
the world he created.
My communications with my current cell provider have been
frustrating. The customer service is
truly customer disservice. The company
has done everything it can to frustrate the customer looking for essential
information, and to keep the customer powerless and ostracized.
The situation has made me realize that frustration with
worldly things is a distraction from my life with God. I am anxious to solve this problem because I
don't like what it is doing to my mind.
The one successful thing I did might not have helped to
advance my request, but it helped me not to lose myself in this mess: I wrote a letter describing how Harry Potter
might need to wrestle the information I need, and filled it with references to
the stories I love so much. Who knows?
Perhaps the person pushing the button of the automated email response got a
chuckle out of reading my email. Anyway,
I tried to make the best of a communication that was intended to convey the
resistance I was sensing by the company that supposedly is set up to
"serve" customers.
It is illuminating to note the times each day when something
worldly tries to distract me from my real purpose. Praying for blessings on each person driving
alongside me on the commute to work is more important than anything except
driving safely. It is something I can do
to serve the God and the people in God's world. It is small, but mighty. Like most prayers, the power is in how it changes
the feed of human consciousness, and how it changes me.
It must be so frustrating to work in the service industry
when the company you represent will not allow you to truly serve and relate to
your customers. I can recall so many
instances of helpful people on the other end of a phone call or email recently,
and I hope I have indicated my gratitude sufficiently to those who have served
so well. In my own work, I find that
when people understand that I am ready and willing to be of service to them we
accomplish great things. We connect and
we engage our gifts.
Service is for some people their complete mission, their
utter joy. I have not been guided to
that kind of purity yet in my life, but I do know how right it feels sometimes
to join the forces of those who feel complete in themselves and at the same
time feel completed by the service they can offer to others.
Prayer: God who calls us to celebrate our being simply by
being the gifts we can be for one another, teach me to focus on the beauty of
serving you and my brothers and sisters rather than by wasting energy on things
that pull me away from you. Help us all to remember these words: (1 Peter 4:10-11:) As each has received a gift, use it to serve
one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who
speaks oracles of God; whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that
God supplies - in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ. To him belong glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2017)
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Dandelions for Dinner
Everyone shall eat roast lamb that night, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Exodus 12:8 TLB
Each spring when the grass turns green and those pesky
little yellow flowers appear in my lawn once again, I am reminded of my mother
and of the dandelion greens she served for dinner when I was growing up.
However, as a student of the plants of the Bible, I am also reminded that
dandelions symbolize the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is perhaps no meal in all history more worthy of
remembering than the Passover meal Jesus ate with His disciples during the week
we now call Holy Week. Exodus 12:8, quoted above, describes the foods which are
to make up the Passover celebration. It was the custom of the ancient Hebrews
to eat five bitter herbs with their unleavened bread and lamb. Many herbs have
been mentioned, but most botanists believe the five herbs to have been lettuce,
endive, chicory, mint, and dandelion. Today we would probably refer to them as
salad.
I no longer eat dandelions for dinner, but each spring as
they appear in my lawn, I feel a sense of wonder that they were likely among
the bitter herbs Jesus ate with His paschal lamb during Passover almost 2,000
years ago. When dandelions dot our landscape, they serve as a gentle reminder
that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. He became our Paschal
Lamb, the Lamb Who takes away the sin of the world.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we are so saddened when we
think of that Last Supper and of Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, but
we are eternally grateful that He came to save us from our sin. In His holy
name we pray. Amen.
Judy Welch (originally shared on the Presbyterian Church of
Canada devotional page)
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
A Prayer is a Wonderful Thing
A Prayer is a wonderful thing. It gives you hope and makes you sing. (from The Lawrence Welk Show)
My son-in-law, Ron, enjoys Garrison Keiller and so did Duane so his column comes into my e-mail every once in a while. Not long ago, he wrote “I seldom invite friends to come to church with me and after a Sunday morning service that was deeply moving, I don’t know why. If you knew a great bakery, you would tell people. If you read a good book, you wouldn’t keep it a secret.”
A few
Sundays ago, in our church, I wept in
time to the music and listened to a sermon that seemed to be tailored to
me. So I asked myself “Why don’t I let
others know about the special feelings that assail me as I sit in this pew?”
Why don’t I say, come with me to church on Sunday morning. I know just the place.
Sitting there amid friends, I let the music enter me, the pastor’s words come into my being, the friends greet me. People hug me, they help me in my everyday life, even invite me to lunch. Why don’t I tell others about all of this – invite them to join me. Why not? I don’t have the answer – do you?
Carolyn Olsen
Monday, May 26, 2025
People Went Straight to Heaven
Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him. Genesis 5:24
By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Hebrews11:5-6 The Message version of the Bible
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked,
that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted
them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 2 Kings 2:11
I never thought about it, even though I had read it, that
humans have been taken directly up to heaven, never having to die. How cool is
that? Jesus was taken up to heaven, but not until after he died for us.
Henry Morris says in a “Days of Praise” devotion book: “In
any case, there will also be one entire generation of believers who will—like
Enoch and Elijah—be caught up alive into heaven. This could very well be our
generation!” First Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air.”
Daniel 12:4 says, But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and
seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased. “What a description of our society, Henry Morris
says, with speeding automobiles all over the land and airplanes filling our
skies! In little more than one lifetime, the world ‘progressed’ from horse and
buggy to spacecraft, and everyone is racing to and fro.” I saw a news report
where they said we could have people living on Mars in the not too far future.
I definitely see we have non-Christian scientists that are
developing deadly instruments of destruction, and some do not believe God
developed the world in 7 days as the Bible clearly states. These, and others
are items are signs of the last days.
Some days when I hear news or read the paper (yes, we still
get the paper), I feel we might be getting close to the last days. But people
have thought that for centuries. These are just interesting thoughts. Our great
Lord is in control, and I am thankful. We do not need to fear, as Christians,
our Lord will care for us in all circumstances.
Sandra Hilsabeck
Friday, May 23, 2025
Trust and Letting Go
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as
the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let
them be afraid. John 14:27
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on
your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah
29:11
When my husband Joel was in a rehabilitation hospital
following a motorcycle accident, he developed panic attacks due to PTSD. These
attacks were upsetting for all of us, likely no one more than Joel himself. Any
of us who witnessed an attack felt a sense of helplessness. People who have
experienced panic attacks can attest: someone trying to talk you out of one
simply doesn’t work.
I’ve had to appreciate that lesson many of us must learn: I can’t "fix" it, I just need to let it go and trust God. I could be a support when I was there (in the hospital). I had to trust the medical personnel…and when I left the hospital room, remember that it’s fruitless to worry. In some ways, leaving a loved one at the hospital and going home is the perfect analogy to letting go of worry…we’re not there to witness what we can’t control, and we’re not there, so we can’t control it! We just need to trust that God is in control, and he is with us, giving us a sense of peace.
This week my Wednesday bible study group is studying the
story of Joseph in Genesis, in particular the passage when Joseph’s brothers
come to Egypt to ask for grain during the famine. “God’s presence is the
promise in every situation” is what our author shares. It’s not hoping for our
circumstances to change; it’s knowing that God is with us through it all.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to place my trust in you and let
go of the things that cause me to worry. Help me remember that you are with me,
always. Amen.
Donna Gustafson
Thursday, May 22, 2025
I Counted my Blessings and Fell Asleep
It had been one of those days - I couldn't put my finger on the reason but I felt "down." Trying to look back on the day I started recalling each event and began to see I should count my blessings. The day began with each member of our family physically and mentally able to arise! Surely that is a blessing in itself. The sun was bursting through our kitchen window as we enjoyed together a breakfast adequate for our physical needs. Each of us had work to do.
After all had left to go their various ways, I couldn't resist an urge to go out to our garden and check for any evidence of approaching spring. A purple crocus and dozens of tulip sprouts were peeking up out of the soil. The air felt warm and moist - a beautiful feeling. The phone rang - a friend - could I come and have coffee? A friend, one of the richest blessings of all.
A call came during the day from my husband. A job, which we both had such high hopes of his getting, had been filled. Instead of falling apart, I was able to accept the disappointment with calmness and strength as I had prayed to God that I might do no matter what the decision might be.
The family began arriving home from various duties of the day - wholesome, happy and glad to come home. My cup overflows!
Nighttime - dinner together - shared problems and successes of the day. Understanding, listening ears, we all need this blessing.
Surely I am showered with hundreds of blessings each day that I fail to recognize as His hand at work in my life.
We all shy away from being called "religious" because that implies we are overly pious. But to be more aware of the spirit of God in just the everyday, ordinary experiences - that is different. Yes, He is a wonderful Lord.
Shared anonymously by an Eastridge member for the 1973 Lent devotional called "He's a Wonderful Lord".
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Grief is Strong Medicine
"Grief is strong medicine, life loves on." - (page 133, The Sacred Bridge by Anne Hillerman)
Sitting in the beauty shop waiting my turn, I spoke with the
lady sitting by me. She said, “you look
nice but sad." When I told her that I
am a recent widow, she smiled and asked, “Do you have a church?”, I replied, “Yes, Eastridge Presbyterian
Church for the past 50 years." Her reply
was “Then you know Jesus."
My answer
was not on the tip of my tongue and luckily my hairdresser was ready for
me. But, I thought, Do I Know
Jesus? I have learned of his life, his
teachings. He loved the little children, he turned water into wine, he fed the multitudes with loaves and fishes, he
healed the bleeding woman, he raised his friend from the dead, he helped the
blind to see and as a child, he talked to the priests in the temple. He also died on the cross and was risen from
the dead.
I could
have told that very nice and concerned lady all of this, but my faith is
mine. Sometimes, I find it hard to
understand, hard to define. As a widow
beginning to walk the lonely path, I feel his presence. I am reminded of the old hymn “In the
Garden”. He walks with me and he talks
with me and he tells me, I am his own.
Yes, maybe I can’t claim to know him, but he and I are friends. He, his
Father and the Holy Ghost.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Thanks and Gratitude
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1: 2-3
Monday, May 19, 2025
He's a Wonderful Lord
The doctor had just told me I had rheumatic fever and that I would be in the hospital for at least ten days for tests and observation. Recently I had phoned the superintendent of schools in Fremont, Nebraska, to inform him I would be unable to take my first teaching position. As I lay in my bed at Bryan Memorial Hospital that fall day it seemed the world had caved in on my young world of dreams and ambitions. I reached for my Bible on the bed stand. It had been my practice to take it with me when I was away from home. The verse I turned to I cannot recall, but as I prayed and read my Bible a strange and wonderful feeling came within my whole being. I felt an uplifting of my spirits that I cannot really explain. It was a happy feeling and I knew I was ready to make the best of my situation and God would be helping me.
This time in my life proved to be a most rewarding one. I learned much about patience, love, understanding, and appreciation of family and friends. I had more time for reading, thinking and handcraft work than I had ever had before. In the long winter months of bed rest and recovery I continued to receive strength and inspiration from reading my Bible.
Betty Thomson, reprinted from the Eastridge Lent devotional, 1973 (and shared previously in 2021)
Friday, May 16, 2025
That Tree I Knew (in honor of National Love a Tree Day)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Recently our neighborhood lost a great tree. What I mean
when I say “great”: old, tall, healthy, spectacular-looking. Since it was still
healthy, I was saddened to hear that it was going to be cut down. The reasons
behind it being cut down are not important here; but I do want to say that
cutting down a healthy tree is different from cutting down an unhealthy tree.
The morning it was to be cut down, I was at home. The tree's
owners advised us that there would be a crane and large trucks preventing us
from using our driveways and the end of the street. I was interested in how
they would cut down such a tall tree, but also just wanted to watch its end.
I’ve noticed this tree for the nine years we have lived on this block and have
always marveled at its beauty and uniqueness. Sometimes it was a quick glance
before getting in my car and seeing the morning sun hit it in just the right
way. Or maybe it was studying its beauty and waiting for the perfect photo
opportunity. I KNEW this tree.
As I watched it come down, piece by piece (kind of like
taking apart an artificial Christmas tree), I thought of all this tree had
“seen”. It had been standing during the first World War (maybe), the second
(certainly), surviving through our current age of technology. It had likely
sheltered countless species of birds, as well as squirrels and raccoons.
While admiring the skill of the man who operated the chainsaw (not to mention the crane operator), I watched it come down faster than I had expected. Despite the difficulty of removing such a large tree, they were done by noon. It seemed wrong that something that had grown to this towering height over so many years came down in just a few hours. I thought of the approximately 100 years of growing from a tiny seed...it was sobering, sad. The loud, violent sound of the chainsaw seemed appropriate to what was happening. The smell of the ground stump still lingered over a week later, a clean pine scent I enjoyed, despite its reminder of what was no longer there.
The tree is/was a world unto itself, as many large trees are. I am not sure what sort of analogy I want to make, but what stands out to me has been the fact that all living things must die eventually. For humans that means eternal life. For this tree, I guess, it just means that its time on earth has come to an end. BUT: there are parts of this tree that will go on forever. We are all connected to the earth in one way or another as living beings. In Diana Butler Bass’s book, Grounded, she shares thoughts from Paul Tillich (a German-American Christian existentialist philosopher, religious socialist, and Lutheran Protestant theologian): “Human life may be finite, destined for dirt and death; but the ground and all that came from it and was connected to it was drenched with the divine, the source of infinite holiness.” She shares that Tillich didn’t mean that God was literally dirt, but that He is the “numinous presence at the center of all things”.
When things die, they return to the earth and atmosphere in different ways.
Unlike trees, as human beings we are promised eternal life with God when our earthly bodies perish.
Scripture tells us:
For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the
Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the
last day. John 6:40
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever!
No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is
greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John
10:28-29
For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He
may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. John 17:2
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your promise of eternal
Life with You. Help us to turn to you when we are grieving the loss of
something that was once living, whether it is a part of nature or a beloved
being with whom we have shared life. We know that all living things must die;
we turn to you for understanding and comfort when these losses hurt us. Thank
you for the connectedness of living things on this earth. Be with us on our
journey. Amen.
Donna Gustafson (reprinted from 2022)
(photos of the white pine referred to in
this devotion are shown above. Click on photos to view larger.)
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Storing Treasures
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus teaches about the orientation we must endeavor to achieve, directing our hearts toward the things of heaven, rather than worldly possessions and desires. He speaks of moths, rust and thieves as threats to the material goods we strive to attain. Of course, Jesus is also addressing more broadly the many agents ready and waiting to erode the worldly wealth we are so inclined to try and possess.Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The Month of May
The month of May is a long one. It stretches 31 days but oh how wonderful it is. The sun shines, the rains come and the world we have been given wakes to late spring and the coming of warmth and beauty. Birthdays, graduations, marathons, and at the end of the month memories of the past for Memorial Day. Yes, it does stretch out and we get very busy in our own happy way. We plant flowers, pull rhubarb, greet neighbors and give up monthly meetings until fall.
But as I write this, I am reminded of a hymn we sang when I was young that had a stanza that went “In the rustling grass, I hear him pass, he speaks to me everywhere”. The ground on which we walk, the water that we carelessly use but also so badly need for sustaining life, the trees that blow in the wind, the birds that sing are all a gift from God. Even the storms remind us that we are not really in charge. His land we must tend, and while tending, make time to stop and listen so we can hear him pass and hear him speak. Amen.
Carolyn F Olsen (reprinted from May 2024)
Monday, May 12, 2025
Friday, May 9, 2025
Happy Anniversary, Eastridge Presbyterian Church (Some Eastridge History)
In 1953, a seed was planted. That seed fell on good soil and was heard and understood (Matthew 13:1- 23). Eastridge Presbyterian Church
has produced significant crops in worship, education, mission, fellowship, and
music.
Eastridge began with six families gathered for worship at
Holmes Elementary School in May 1953. Worship has taken on a special meaning
during Lent and Advent, with traditions including a children's palm
processional on Palm Sunday, communion on Maundy Thursday, a Good Friday service,
an Easter sunrise service, and Christmas Eve candlelight services.
Eastridge has long made a commitment to nourish outside the
church through its mission efforts. During the 1960's, family nights combined
food, fellowship and education. Summer work camps for youth also began in the
1960's. The food pantry, which began in a basement closet, expanded to require
a separate building. Today, our outreach includes service and funding to
numerous organizations.
The house that is Eastridge was built on rock in 1953
(Matthew 7:24-27). The building that houses the sanctuary and fellowship hall
was dedicated in November 1956, and the education unit was added in 1960. The
lounge was built in 1976, and the sanctuary was expanded and a balcony added in
1987. In 2008 the welcome center and the alteration of the chancel were
completed in the sanctuary. Over the past 20 years other improvements have been
made to the property.
Happy anniversary, Eastridge Presbyterian Church!
(information above taken from historical documents in the office).
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Rain
Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. Zechariah 10:1
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Sing and Give Thanks
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 30:4
O sing unto the LORD a new song, for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. Psalm 98:1
Henry M Morris, PhD states in “Days of Praise”: When we remember God’s holiness, we then remember how the mighty seraphim in the heavenly temple are continually crying out “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 6:3)
Mr. Morris continues on to state, “He (God) has not only forgiven our sins, saved our souls, and promised us eternal life, but He also daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19. “What can we do except to perpetually “sing unto the LORD…and give thanks,” as David exhorts us in our text for today.
And we can be thankful and sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, and give thanks to God, our Lord and Savior.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying in our place on the cross for our sins. You give us the beautiful sunrise, the beautiful grain which I experienced as a child on the farm in Phelps County, Nebraska. We can also thank you for the grass, our families, our friends and neighbors. In Jesus name, Amen.
Sandra Hilsabeck
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Monday, May 5, 2025
The Sojourner
And you shall make a response before the Lord your God, A wandering Aramean was my father; and he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. Deuteronomy 26:5
And you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your
God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner
who is among you. Deuteronomy 26: 11
I recently read several devotions related to the Jewish
festival of the First Fruits. I decided to look up the word sojourner which
means a person who resides temporarily in a land that is not their own - a foreigner, exile, alien. I have met the
definition of a sojourner several times in my life. The first was a summer long
mission trip with 23 other college students from around the country to Troy,
NY. There I experienced a historic community with characters like Uncle Sam and
Emma Willard, very limited green space for children to play and lots of
concrete with row houses, being fed by the community churches (lots of pasta),
and main line denominational churches closing or uniting with other churches
related to changing communities and populations.
My second sojourn was to my first social work job in
Milwaukee. For the first time I experienced distinctly divided neighborhoods
related to race, chronic multigenerational poverty, ghettos, and the
frustration of trying to meet the needs of many with very limited resources.
My third was moving from my hometown in Iowa to Nebraska.
You would think that living in a neighboring state would be about the same, but
I was so wrong. Of course, there was Husker mania - a real eye opener when the
football team won or lost. Then there was the difference in the unicameral and
politics, and visiting the sandhills - a desert in the middle of the
state - became a priceless experience.
Being a sojourner in these places made me appreciate going
home to a place that was welcoming and familiar. Where I knew old friends and
family and knew which streets to drive on to get from here and there. The one
constant I experienced in all the above was being with other Christians and church
families and knowing that although I am a sojourner in this world, Jesus
promises a forever home in heaven where I am no longer a sojourner.
Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for being with us as
we wander through our lives here on earth. Thank you for all the blessings you
have given to us, especially the gift of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen
Nancy Hall
Friday, May 2, 2025
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Strength from Jesus
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then, the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him?” Mark 4:35-41
Every day I wake up and look east out of my large picture
window. I see the sun wake up and rise above the window. It pleases me to know
that Jesus is in control of giving us the sun, the clouds, the rain, the snow
and whatever the weather is that day. He is consistent and has provided the sun
for almost 80 years (I turn 80 this August), even when the clouds prevent me
from seeing it.
Jon Sloan, a former pastor of mine, says in his devotion
written in 2013, “When we face our storms in life, where do we place our faith?
If we place it on God and Jesus Christ, there is nothing to fear, we will be
taken care of. If we place it on ourselves or on anything other than God, then
yes, there is plenty to fear. Only God has the power to calm storms and to halt
winds. And if God is for us, then who can be against us?" That is how I can see
the idea of being afraid and fear being likened to having no faith.
When I was left alone in my new house, I was afraid. We had
built it to be together on the golf course. I turned to God in prayer, sometimes for half or more of a full day. Sometimes I would tell Jesus how I
felt, sometimes I would cry, sometimes I would be angry. God and Jesus were
there for me.
Before long I was asked to help with the Women’s Tennis Team
at Wesleyan University. I had only taught tennis to children, refereed at
tournaments for all ages, and played in tournaments myself. I had never taught
adult college kids or coached any teams. I believed God would be with me, so I
said “Yes” and found a career I loved. Secondly, Tom Tipton who had asked me to
help him, retired, and the Athletic Director asked me to coach the Men’s Tennis
Team at Wesleyan too. I had never coached adult men! What should I do? Have
faith, like Jesus said to have. He is with me. I accepted and ended up taking
both teams to the Nationals for NAIA Conferences. The experience at Wesleyan,
the people I met and coached, blessed me so much.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, and your son Jesus, for giving me
strength when I needed it. Thank you for listening to my prayers and helping
me. You continue to give me strength and answer my prayers. Please be with my
grandchildren as they experience trials and fears. Show them that you are with
them no matter what they experience in life. Amen.
Sandra Hilsabeck
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
Rooted in the Faith
Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7
Friday, April 25, 2025
Words from Habakkuk
The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:19
Thursday, April 24, 2025
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
But God forbid that I should boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
Isaac Watts felt a clear tug to go into the ministry in
England at age 24. He preached and wrote
many hymns at that time with the hope of reviving a dying church in England. At
that time, hymns were based only on the Psalms. Watts set about to change this. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is
considered the finest hymn in English Church History and Charles Wesley wrote
that he wished he had written it rather than all his own.
When I survey the
wondrous cross
On which the
Prince of Glory died.
My richest gain I
count but loss,
And pour contempt
on all my pride.
See, from His
head, His, hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love
flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love
and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose
so rich a crown?
Were the whole
realm of nature mine,
That were a
present far too small;
Love so amazing,
so divine,
Demand my soul, my life, my all.
This hymn was first published in 1707, yet its message
continues to speak of the sacrifice Jesus made for us and His love that
continues for us all.
Prayer: Thank you, God, that you loved us so much that
you sent your son to die for us to take away our sin. As the hymn says "Love so amazing, so divine, Demand my soul, my life, my all". Help us
remain focused on your love in our daily lives. Amen
Nancy Hall
(resources on Isaac Watts taken from Then Sings My Soul Book
2 by Robert J. Morgan)
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Never Die
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
Peter is telling us in this verse that we, who believe in
Jesus Christ’s saving grace, are no longer in the dark but in the light. We are
a peculiar people.
The Henry Morris Study Bible says this about a peculiar
people, “Peculiar, in this sense, means a special possession.” We have been
redeemed by His precious blood and therefore belong wholly to Christ. We have
been saved.
This means: He who lives and believes in Me will never die,
Jesus says in John 11:26. Brian Coatney says it this way in his book- A Year in
Who We Are “To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.”
How exciting is that? We can be sad about losing someone we
treasure and have loved dearly, but we can also be glad they are with Jesus in
heaven. What wonderful thoughts are those?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for us. Thank you
for preparing a place for us with you for eternity. Amen.
Sandra Hilsabeck
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
In Appreciation of our Earth (and Ivan Chouinard)
Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas, and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:9-10
It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. I
stretched out the heavens with My hands and I ordained all their host. Isaiah
45:12
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then
shall all the trees of the wood rejoice. Psalm 96:12
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor
spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like
one of these. Luke 12:27
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers
of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God
clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into
the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not
worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we
wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of
its own. Matthew 6:28-34
Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants
yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with
seed in them”; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants
yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them,
after their kind; and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12
In honor of Earth Day, I’m sharing some thoughts on
Patagonia’s founder, Ivan Chouinard. I recently read an essay about him in
National Geographic magazine, listing him as an icon of conservation. His story
is somewhat unique and certainly admirable. He says: “I use everything until it
completely falls apart. My whole life has been pretty simple, really. I’m not a
consumer.” While one may be skeptical about this sort of statement from someone
who owns/owned a clothing company, Chouinard surprised many by selling his
company in 2022. ““I have a living,” he told the New Yorker in 1977, “and
that’s all I want out of it.”" He gave
away the three-billion-dollar company, with 2 percent of its shares going to a
trust that “helps guide Patagonia's social good mission and the other 98
percent to a newly created nonprofit, the Holdfast Collective, which uses the
funds to advocate for environmental causes. “Earth,” Chouinard wrote on
Patagonia’s website, “is now our only shareholder.””
Speaking to the nature lover in me, he shares this in the essay:
“the climate crisis cannot be solved until people find their spiritual
connection with nature.” It’s never too late or too early to find your “spiritual
connection with nature”. Step outside, take a walk, revel in the trees and
flowers you see. As one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver, says: “Pay attention.”
We don’t need to be an Ivan Chouinard to do our part. But we can do what we know is right and support those who are doing great things for the planet. Awareness is key. This may be part of why I enjoy sharing my nature photography…like our Lincoln neighbor Joel Sartore, I believe that if we can get others to care, that’s the first step.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me do my part in caring for the
earth. Help me to see the miraculous world you have created as the
irreplaceable planet that it is. Show me how to care for it, including its
creatures, human and otherwise. Amen.
Donna Gustafson (click on photos to view larger)
Monday, April 21, 2025
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Easter Sunday
He is Risen!
My argument, and it is more like an invitation, is that the only way to understand what Christians mean by God is to train your attention in a different way. Or: if you want to understand it you have to inhabit it.
Oldfield, Elizabeth, Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times (p. 235)
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Fully Alive Spiritual Practice for Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday: Find a space you can sit for about an hour without being too comfortable. Maybe even go to a park, a trail, a cemetery, a sanctuary or a library.
Then, sit in silence as long as you are able.
Friday, April 18, 2025
Fully Alive Spiritual Practice for Good Friday
Nadia Bolz-Weber describes how she learned interdependence through AA. "Recovery is heard to do on your own," she observed. "You have to do it with a group of other people who are messed up in the same way but have found some light in their darkness." They nicknamed this sort of community "The Rowing Club." They were all in the same boat. And they would have to take turns pulling on the oar. At times, each person would have to be willing to be carried. Some days we can be the one who gives, and other days we need to receive. Which is it for you today?
Join us for the Good Friday service 12:00 noon in the sanctuary.
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Fully Alive Spiritual Practice for Maundy Thursday
When was the last time you attempted to do the impossible or moving something ridiculously heavy without help?
Share with a friend some of the absurd things you have attempted to do on your own, so you can both have a good laugh today. God knows we all need help asking for help.
Join us for the Maundy Thursday service
6:00 pm dinner
6:45 pm service
Welcome Center