Words from Luke

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 NIV 

Why Go to Church?

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 23-25

“If going to church makes you a Christian, does going to the garage make you a car?”  I recently saw this question on a vehicle’s bumper sticker and found it intriguing to consider what kind of person was asking this nonsensical question.  Is he a “nonbeliever” with animosity toward Christians for some reason?  Could he be a “believer” who attends worship services regularly but questions the sincerity of the others who occupy the pews around him?  Could he be a “believer” who thinks his personal relationship with Christ is adequate and attending church is unnecessary? 

No, going to church does not make me a Christian. It is my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that makes me a Christian. But attending worship services at church on Sundays makes me a better Christian…and I don’t mean better than other Christians. I mean that it makes me a better follower of Christ than I would be without the encouragement and support of others in my congregation.

Prayer: Father God, you have provided an awesome plan for the spiritual nourishment of Your people through the church. Thank You for the privilege of coming near to You through church attendance and fellowship with others who believe in You and Your Son.

Judith Keller (reprinted from July 2011)

Pondering Faith

Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them. ~ Elisabeth Elliot 

Today is the Day

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

There’s a song called “Today Is the Day” by Lincoln Brewster that includes the following lyrics:  "I’m casting my cares aside, I’m leaving my past behind, I’m setting my heart and mind on You Jesus.  I’m reaching my hand to Yours, Believing there’s so much more, Knowing that all You have in store for me is good. Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it; And I won’t worry about tomorrow, I’m trusting in what You say. Today is the day."

The song has struck a chord (no pun intended) with me in the past. But I reread it in light of the current crisis.  Especially the phrase, "I won't worry about tomorrow." I have to admit that I’ve spent a lot of time in the past worrying.  Usually it's about things that I have no control over anyway, so the worrying is not a good use of my time. Like the weather. Or it may be something I have at least some control over; like how I should use my money. And sometimes it's something that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things; like what to wear to a special event. 

I’ve found myself spending a lot of time worrying lately, as many of us have.  I think it’s natural to vacillate between being anxious about the future and feeling that everything is going to be okay. I need to work on trusting in what God has to say and in setting my mind and heart on Jesus. God has made the day and everything in it, and He watches over me at all times. All He has in store for me is good.  As the scripture states, tomorrow will worry about itself.  

Prayer: Dear Lord, It's a scary time for everyone. We don’t know what the future holds. But it doesn't help to worry. The Lord has made each day, and we need to rejoice and be glad in it. God is in control and will handle our worries if we simply turn them over to him. Please forgive us for thinking we can handle everything ourselves and for wasting time worrying about the future. Help us to cast our cares aside and reach our hands to yours. Amen.

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2020, during the height of COVID)

Listening

“Listening” is an essay from The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad. Suleika’s book collects essays on creativity and then generates writing prompts.

In her piece, Esther Perel says, {listening attentively} “is a delicate balance of receiving and reciprocating – taking in information and giving attention and care.” She suggests that the “way we listen shapes the way the other person will speak.” She continues: “actively showing that we are listening to the other person validates their experience and their vulnerability.”

Esther asks us to consider the old saying, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" The question has been intended as a philosophical question that she suggests involves "object permanence and the human impulse to center our own experiences. If I don't perceive it, does it cease to exist?" Esther ponders the ridiculousness of this, and goes on to further wonder why it {the question/saying} has persisted for so long. She thinks that it's more about the question itself, not the answer, and the "poignant commentary about relationships and reciprocity required to be in one". Which is reflected in the three questions about listening I pose to you below, and the scripture I found to complement!

Do we listen as God speaks to us?

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” – Proverbs 19:20

“And that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…” – Deuteronomy 30:20

“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways…” – Psalm 81:13

“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'” – Luke 11:28

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21

Is God listening to us?

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us". 1 John 5:14

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you." Jeremiah 29:12

"I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy". Psalm 116:1

Do we listen to others, offering a supportive ear?

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19

“To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13

“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Proverbs 12:15

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” Proverbs 19:20

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be an active listener to you, to others, and help me to trust that you hear my plea and my thankful appreciation in prayer. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Give Thanks

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Gratitude Journal ideas:

• Name five things that make you happy.  
• Write about something great that happened to you recently that made you feel fortunate.
• List some of the qualities of people you admire.  
• Write down four nature-inspired things you're thankful for.
• Name three good deeds you can do for others in the next few days (and do them!)

Paraphrased from HappierHuman.com

Words from Second Chronicles

Praise the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever. 2 Chronicles 20:21 

do with love

What's a small act that helped you feel God's presence in your everyday life?

This fall, we are asking for stories about small acts that helped you feel God's presence in your everyday life. Some of these stories may be shared in newsletters, sermons, in worship, or on our podcast, The Sunrise Road. We’re calling it our #do with love moments, and it will relate directly to our fall series, “Holy Moments: Finding God in the Midst of the Everyday.”

To share your story, please email them to the office at office@eastridge.org, or send a video recording to Pastor Melodie's cell phone (inquire in the office about her contact info).

Feet

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation. Isaiah 52:7

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  John 13:14

Lately I have been trying to find comfortable shoes to support my flat feet and reduce pressure on my knees and back. My feet have always been complicated, and I have resented always having to sacrifice beauty in favor of support for them. Now I try to respect their needs, as they are a vital means of support for my body; but I can never seem to find complete comfort and stability for staying upright very long. It is a constant reminder that my feet have big jobs to do.

I like the idea that our mission is to be God's hands and feet in this world. Being God's hands is an appealing metaphor. Hands can hold other hands, make things, give things to others, work, give soothing touch, lift things up,  protect someone or something, wave in greeting, raise in joy, dig, reach, extend in welcome, create art, communicate, and perform sacred tasks.  

For most of us, feet are a means of getting from place to place. For some of us, feet dance. People sometimes experience dance or yoga with bare feet, to feel grounded and rooted. My mother and several of her friends used to walk a couple of miles together every morning, and they all thought of it as the best way to start their days. Her doctor considered it her best medicine.

But it is challenging to think how our feet can do God's work. It is intriguing to think back to times when it was customary to wash the dirt from the road off of one's feet when entering a house, particularly before eating. We are careful to wash our hands, and we often give no thought to our feet. The tradition of foot-washing before communion is a good reminder that how we prepare even the most remote parts of our body makes a difference.  

It was a revelation to Jesus' friends when he approached them to wash their feet, and it was confusing to them when someone considered unworthy washed Jesus' feet. We don't focus on feet very much in worship other than remembering and celebrating these traditions. But I think it is worthwhile to consider whether we need to think of cleaning the dust of mundane activities off of our feet when we want to change our direction to a more sacred path. 

To "walk a mile in someone's shoes" is supposed to be a good way to learn about other's lives. To follow in someone's footsteps is to exemplify the behavior of a great role model. When we want to make big changes, we are encouraged to take baby steps. To put one's "best foot forward" is to make a strong start on a worthy endeavor. When we endorse something along with many others, we are "voting" with our feet.  

Being God's feet in this world means respecting the journeys of others, and sometimes going that extra mile for others or for a good cause. We have a history in America of people marching together in solidarity. People refer to dedicated efforts in a journey demanding stamina as "running a marathon". Feet are symbols for action and direction, as well as grounding and dancing. Whatever we do, our feet take us there. They lead us toward God's work, or they lead us away; they might be covered in the dust of our day, or they might be washed by the tears of someone unexpected.

Prayer: God reaching into the world through me, help me to keep my feet clean from the dust that clouds their light. Let my feet be washed by those whose actions or words cleanse me. Help me to walk when it hurts or I am tired, and help me to walk with those who need me. Teach my feet to dance in joy, and to draw others into your dance. Let the steps my feet take teach me and others about you. Help me to connect with your earth through the soles of my feet. Amen. 

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2018)

Singing Through the Day

Each Sunday, our church hour begins with beautiful organ music, then we sing hymns. Some are old, some new. Some bring joy and others bring memories and tears of days gone by. 

On Saturday evenings, I often watch Public TV. One Saturday, I happened upon a Lawrence Welk Precious Memory Program. The music was beautifully done with many hymns that I could sing along. One musician mentioned a saying that he had seen in a church he had visited. That saying was, “He Who Sings Prays Twice”. 

I went to bed that evening thinking about and humming hymns. Waking in the morning, I decided to try an entire day of deliberate singing. In the shower, I sang “Morning Has Broken”.

Fixing my usual unorthodox breakfast, I sang “Just as I Am”. Going out of doors to tend to weeds in one of my flower beds, I broke into “In The Garden”. Moving on to another bed, I sang, “This Is My Father’s World”. Picking up the litter I had caused,  I put it in my extra garbage can and pulled it into my garage. During that job, I hummed a hymn from my teenage years, “Are You Able”. 

That song made me travel back in time to my home in the Missouri woods, and a small church near my home. So, I sang, “Little Brown Church”. 

The day ended with a full heart, a few tears, and a feeling of having prayed all day.  On that TV program, they concluded with these words which I echo. May All Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful.  

Carolyn Olsen

Heaven is a Wonderful Place

Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalms 73:25-26  

But our commonwealth is in heaven and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20  

I recently had the privilege of spending some time with my 90+ year old aunt as she was nearing death in the hospital. As she was sleeping, I heard her clearly say, "It's wonderful ". Shortly thereafter she told me, " It's good on the other side”, and, "It's better on the other side." Then she told me, "Jesus is there." Later she looked to her left (away from the hospital door) and said "Don't close the door, leave it open". I shared these statements with her children who had taken a break to get a meal. The next day her children said my aunt seemed to be talking to her mother and asked her to hold her hand. 

I fully believe my aunt had a glimpse of heaven. All her statements were in the present and not the future tense. Despite being in a lot of pain, this seemed to calm her and she was smiling as she shared the above with me. I have read about hospice patients seeing deceased loved ones and having visions before death. These are not hallucinations, but real experiences.  

The scriptures give us the promise of heaven for eternity with God. Like my aunt, it is my hope that I will get a glimpse of heaven before I die and that I will receive the peace and the reassurance of God's love forever. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for being with us at all times. Thank you for the hope of heaven and the experience of reuniting with our loved ones who have passed. Thank you for your son, Jesus, and the love and forgiveness he has brought to the world. Amen 

Nancy Hall

Words from Ephesians

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10 

Words from Proverbs

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 

Words from Romans

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. Romans 12:6 

The Only Hands God Has

Whatever task lies to your hand, do it with all your might. . .  Ecclesiastes 9:10

For the past several weeks I have been going to therapy. The clinic I go to is less than a 10-minute drive away from my home, but I listen to my car radio anyway.  It’s tuned to the Bott radio network which is a Christian station that broadcasts sermons preached by pastors representing different denominations. I am always attracted to the speakers with accents. 

Last week during one of my 10-minute drives, I caught just the tail end of a sermon preached by a pastor with a rather thick Scottish brogue. He was telling a story about the restoration of a beautiful statue of Jesus that had been severely damaged by a storm. At the end of his story, he said the workmen doing the repair work had explained that Jesus’ hands were too badly damaged to reattach them. So, they left the hands off but changed the inscription at the feet of the statue to read: “Your hands are the only hands God has.”

That story, short as it was, has kind of haunted me since then. It keeps coming back at strange times making me feel I need to get busy. As an octogenarian, I can no longer take on big projects, but I try to do “the little things” Sister Theresa wrote about. She always preached that doing the little things really matters. 

As I stepped inside Eastridge Church this morning, it made me so happy to be a member here. Many hands were already at work helping to prepare our worship service. Soon many more hands would be passing out boxes of food from the church pantry to those in need and this is just the start of the week where many more hands will become “His hands” as the days of this month of August progress. 

How can your hands become God’s hands?

Prayer: Father, we praise and thank you for the spiritual leaders who remind us that You expect us to use the talents You gave us and to put our hands to work. Help us to find those tasks that need our hands. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen 

Judy Welch

Lord Over Creation

Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Colossians 1:15-16

Charles Morris in Days of Praise states:

Darwin’s theory of evolution challenged the biblical account that our Lord Jesus Christ created all things, speaking everything into existence (Hebrews 11:1-3). Many Christians responded by trying to fit evolution into the Bible. This is done despite the fact that theistic selectionionism—which believes God used natural selection as the driving force behind creatures’ amazing complexity—isn’t found anywhere in Scripture or science, for that matter. As Christians, we shouldn’t compromise or be silent about the doctrine of creation. We can stand with certainty on the authority and authenticity of God’s Word and duly honor Jesus as the Creator and Lord of all.

Some churches today justify not teaching Jesus’ creation because it is controversial. Taking away the creation story from Jesus weakens our faith. When I look at the clouds, see the weather consistently change throughout the seasons, and see plants and flowers grow out of little seeds, the variety of animals, birds and insects, see the variety in human beings and watch babies grow, I know God is our creator. He created each human with a purpose and answers my prayers.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, please give us understanding of your words in Colossians. Thank you for answering my prayers, creating us, and protecting all my family and friends. Amen

Sandra Hilsabeck

Words from Psalm 96

Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad...let the field be joyful, and all that is therein. Psalm 96: 11-12 KJV 

The Journey of a Prayer Shawl

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 

Ashley Hooker, a renowned devotion writer, says that in churches prayer shawls are given as a gift to a person who is facing difficult circumstances. It reminds the person to use the shawl as they read scripture and spend time in prayer and meditation. The use of the prayer shawl can be comforting, help the person feel closer to God and have a more personal relationship with the Father. This is why my daughter and I make quilted prayer shawls.  

Recently I talked with my cousin who received one of our prayer shawls after the loss of her spouse. She is a nurse and took her prayer shawl to show her friends at the facility where she works. One nurse took the shawl from her and teased, "this is mine" and threatened to keep it. My cousin laughed and got the shawl back. Not long after, the other nurse suffered a stroke. My cousin visited her in the hospital and gave her the prayer shawl to help with her healing. The other nurse died recently, and my cousin attended her funeral. After the service, her family told my cousin how much the prayer shawl had meant to her. She always carried it with her, especially as the time grew closer to her death. She loved it so much, the family put it in her coffin to be buried with her. When we made this particular prayer shawl, we had no idea how God and the Holy Spirit would use it to provide comfort and support to someone we had never met.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the ministry of prayer shawls and the comfort they bring to others. Thank you for getting the shawls where they are needed and blessing their recipients with an increased relationship with you. Thank you for those who use the gift of their talents to prepare the shawls and the churches who sponsor this ministry. Amen

Nancy Hall

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him;   for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7

I went to my collection of “Children’s Moments” books for an inspiration for a devotion and found one to adapt for today.  Visualize two books in a bookstore, one book has a colorful cover and is blank inside.  The other book has a plain cover and is colorful inside. If you saw these two books, which one would you choose to bring home and read? People are just like the two books. Our outside appearance does not always show what is inside. Sometimes people that are beautiful on the outside are not so nice on the inside and sometimes people who are not so beautiful on the outside might be very nice. You cannot judge a book by the cover and you can’t tell what someone is like on the inside by looking at their outside. God cares about the way we are on the inside—character, if we are mirthful and full of love. God does not care what kind of clothes we wear or how we fix our hair. What matters is how beautiful we are on the inside. We should not be worried about how people look, but getting to know how they really are on the inside.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to not judge others by appearance, but look at their heart and character. Amen.

Susan Taylor (reprinted from the Eastridge Daily Devotional Book, 2008)

God's Plan

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

I wish I would have applied the wisdom of today's verse when I was younger. It would have saved me from making some incredibly poor choices and when faced with adversity, handled it with more grace. Unfortunately, we often tend to give in to our own wants which leads us down the wrong path. As humans our desires dominate our thoughts, so we often do not trust that God already has our path mapped out for us. I've often even tried to make deals with God, when I should have been kneeling in prayer and asking for God's wisdom and my obedience. Give everything over to God and then you will prosper.

 

Have a blessed day!

 

Becky Rankin (reprinted from 2018)

On Being Grateful

The wisdom of the learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure; and he that hath little business shall become wise. Ecclesiastes 38:24

As a friend of mine wrote: “Isn’t it terrible how you can be fine one minute and brought low the next!” In my case, the being “fine” was going about a morning’s work at home, twirling from one task to another, and the “brought low” was catching my rubber-soled shoes in the carpet and falling like a tree—hard and straight—across the footboard of the bed. One trip to the emergency room for X-rays, two strong medicines, and reaction to those medicines later, I was 911’d to the hospital where I stayed for three days. That provided time to meditate on the unexpectedness of human life. It was also time to count one’s blessings.

Listening to the coughing and labored breathing, with the help of a swooshing and engulfing apparatus, of my roommate in the throes of emphysema, I was grateful for clear air passages. Hearing about the woman down the hall in a several weeks’ coma after surgery to remove a brain tumor, I was grateful for a clear head. As my vital signs returned to normal and as my wrenched back improved a bit each day, I was grateful for a “hopefully” temporary rather than permanent disarrangement of my system. Although there are easier ways to gain such wisdom than a trip to the hospital, it will suffice.

Prayer: Perhaps we all need some of Pollyanna in our attitudes; being glad for what’s there rather than pining for what’s not. Thank you for your many gifts to us—of life, of friends, of health sufficient for the day, which we often accept as a matter of course. May we be aware and grateful. Amen 

Ruth Ann Lyness (reprinted from Eastridge Devotion book, 2008, shared today in memory of Ruth Ann)