Reap What You Sow, Sow What You Reap

Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit. We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9

The Eastridge Chancel Choir sang a beautiful piece a few weeks ago based on this passage. The text touched me deeply: “You will sow what you reap, reap what you sow. What you plant in the kingdom will surely grow. And what you grow with love will surely bloom and the fruit of the spirit will come back to you. Do not tire from doing good and never give up when your road gets rough. For one day soon a great reward you’ll see from the good you’ve done when the harvest comes. You will reap what you sow, sow what you reap will surely keep until the day you’ll hear the words, He’ll say, “well done, my child, well done. My child, come taste the joy of heaven’s reward!”

The Message bible tells it this way: “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the need of others-ignoring God!-harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So, let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”

It is easy to go through life without much intention. We might do things for others but only because it’s expected or what we “should” do. But is our heart in it? Is it done with conditions of what we might get out of it? Do we hope for some attention or accolades? Do we share our gifts freely or are we tired of give, give, giving without return? Are we willing to get involved and invested or stand on the sidelines, making excuses, and hoping someone else will do something? Or is it offered from a place of humbleness, joy, and love?

Merging the song and the Message passage together: what we grow IN LOVE in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in us, it will surely bloom and the fruit of the Spirit will come back to us. IN LOVE seems to be the ticket! Pray about “becoming love to the world”! Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love”. Love is action. Love with intention. Do not tire from doing good. Our reward may not be of the earthly kind. What we plant IN LOVE, every chance we get, God will see to it the harvest will come and is used for good. Then, we will come to taste the joy of heaven’s reward!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we want to live with more intention and love. Help us to live from a place a of gratitude for all you are in our lives and respond with love. Encourage us when we tire of doing good. May you work through us as we plant IN LOVE. Amen

Diane Worrell Eaton (reprinted from 2022)

Welcome Spring!

Some scripture to ponder on this first day of spring! 

“Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp. He fills the sky with clouds, sends rain to the earth, and makes the grass grow on the hills.” Psalm 147:7-8 (NLT)

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

Photos, from top:

a cottontail, roadside

a meadowlark singing

a cardinal against new redbud blossoms

a Canada goose sailing through a willow tree reflection

a newborn bison calf frolicking

a male shoveler duck enjoying pond vegetation

a migrating palm warbler

a frog sporting a spider on its left eye (look closely!)

(photos shared by Donna Gustafson, click on each to view larger)

Trust God through the Tough Times

Yes, though I walk through the deep, sunless valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me… Psalm 23:4 AMPC

When walking through such sunless valleys, which we all do at times during our life spans, it is human for us to experience fear, dread, despair, hopelessness, worry, pain. Psychologically speaking, it is probably somewhat healthy to acknowledge and accept those feelings without letting us be consumed by them.

It is by our Faith in God that we can trust during those difficult periods of our life, that He will ALWAYS be with us during such times. God will not always rescue us from rough patches, but He will always be with us. We must trust this, read His word, and listen for direction and guidance from Him. 

Because He is with us, we can go through trials and hardships with stability, and positive attitudes. We can trust Him completely. 

One of my favorite quotes has for years been: “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain.”  If we put our Trust in God, we can find moments of goodness and joy in the scariest of times, knowing that there is hope.

Prayer: Father God, author of Love and Hope, help us to turn to you in faith during the toughest of times and in doing so, have positive expectations. Let us praise you and be thankful for your love and guidance in the toughest of times.

Connie Barry (reprinted from 2023)

I Hate War

Hymn: "Jesus is calling, calling, "O sinner come home!" by Will Thompson (1880).

"...and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children." Luke 7:33

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:44-50 

I hate war. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for many amazing people like my grandfather who fought in WWII against great evil. I have had many friends in the military who have risked their lives for our country. But war itself I hate.

No one truly wins in war. Innocent people suffer. The "least of these", like the children of the world, in the words of our Lord, suffer. I hate "hate." Reading of people calling for trans people to be erased or not to exist seems like it can only be motivated by hate or fear. I hate seeing children separated by family no matter the cause. I hate seeing billionaires get richer and richer and so many getting poorer. I hate seeing people get sicker who can't afford the medicine or procedures or health care they need.

I love Jesus. Jesus who ate and drank with all those others called "sinners." Jesus who said "let the little children come unto me."

Jesus who says "O sinner come home!" Jesus, God among us, who says "Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you..." I know many friends who feel their "enemies" are sometimes even other people who call themselves Christians. Others who say they are sinners or "not truly Christian enough" because they march for peace, or stand up for LGBTQ siblings, or say to them "you aren't right with God." I also love the Jesus who died on a cross, killed by an evil Roman government that delighted in torturing people it executed.  The greatest act of self-sacrificial love ever shown on the cross for us. "Therefore, siblings, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean. (Hebrew 10:19-22). This love is the supreme example of the opposite of so much I see and hear about in the world today.  This love that doesn't "insist on its own way but rejoiceth in the truth."

One of my favorite books is "The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus" by Rev. Fleming Rutledge, one of the first women who was ordained an episcopal priest. It reminds me of what true love is in light of so much hate in our world. It reminds me of little ways I can be the love of my Savior when I feel powerless.  She says so beautifully on page 275 - "Even in this old world ruled by Sin and Death, who would want to live a life of utter selfishness? To show any sort of care for others at all, some sort of sacrifice is necessary every day - to be magnanimous instead of vindictive, to stand back and let someone else share the limelight, to absorb the anger of a teenager in order to show firm guidance, to be patient with a parent who has Alzheimer's, to refrain from undermining a colleague, to give away money one would like to spend on luxuries, to give up smoking, to bear with those who can't give up smoking - all such things, large and small, require sacrifice. What would life be without it?"

I think she summarizes an important truth I need to carry with me each day ending her chapter "the question of Justice" saying, on page 143: "God in Christ on the cross has become one with those who are despised and outcast in the world. No other method of execution that the world has ever known could have established this so conclusively." Going on in her summary, "...in our world, something is terribly wrong and must be put right. If, when we see an injustice, our blood does not boil at some point, we have not yet understood the depths of God. It depends, though, on what outrages us. To be outraged on behalf of oneself or one's own group alone is to be human, but it is not to participate in Christ. to be outraged and to take action on behalf of the voiceless and oppressed, however, is to do the work of God." (Wm. B. Eeerdmans Publishing, 2015).

Prayer: May I continue to love as Christ loves, to participate with Christ on behalf of the oppressed, and continue to do the work of God as best as he enables me to do so! (Even when it seems hopeless!) May it be so, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, world without end, Amen.

Brent Shaw

Hope Found in a Folded Cloth

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. John 20:3-10

As we approach Easter, it is good to re-read the Gospel descriptions of the events of “Holy Week.”  The culmination of the week is the crucifixion of Jesus; a brutal, drawn-out torture of a man whose crime was teaching and demonstrating God’s love for us. But wait, that’s not the end of the story! Once the lightning ends, the thunder quiets, and the rabbling crowd shuffles off, the sun rises on the new day.

Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ friend, hurries to the tomb early the next morning. To her disbelief, His body is gone; rushing to find someone to confirm her fear that the body was taken, she finds Simon Peter and John coming her way. They race to the tomb, finding it just as Mary Magdalene had described. But it didn’t appear to be the scene of a crime because the cloth that had laid across the Savior’s face had been removed and folded nearby. It was a symbolic act. Instead of being tossed aside by a graverobber, the careful placement of the napkin seemed to have been a message. 

It was a Jewish custom that when the master of the house was finished with his meal, he carefully folded his cloth and placed it on the table. Was the folded fabric a message that Christ had finished his task on earth and was moving on to his heavenly role? Perhaps the meaning of the removal of the cloth covering His eyes was to remind His followers that their eyes had been opened to the message of salvation and His teachings should be carried abroad. 

Considering the multiple potential meanings of the folded napkin, it nonetheless indicates that Jesus’ resurrection was a deliberate act of God, not a chaotic or accidental event. The careful arrangement of the cloth reflects divine purpose and authority over death. It provides tangible evidence that Jesus had risen bodily, not merely spiritually, reinforcing the reality of the resurrection. Regardless of the precise symbolism, the folded cloth can be interpreted as a symbol of hope. Just as a folded napkin after a meal signifies completion, the folded head cloth signifies that Jesus’ death was finished and His resurrection marks a new beginning for believers.

Carol McClain

Gold Medals

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:15-18  

The world watches hopefully as their athletes go for the gold medals at the Olympics. This got me thinking about who the Gold Medal winners would be in our religious history. There are many recorded in the Bible and during the reformation. There are people involved in the Civil Rights Movement and Mother Theresa who dedicated her life to service to the outcasts. But Jesus taught us that the woman who washed his feet also deserved the gold medal. Likewise, I think about the Lincoln woman who has crocheted 5,000 pairs of mittens for the hands of cold children. I was in awe of the dedication of the chaplains in our Lincoln hospitals who stayed with the dying during the COVID epidemic when their families were not allowed to visit. Then there's the people in our own congregation. The person who reminds us regularly of our commitment to support missions, the people who prepare the communion sacraments before worship, the dedicated choir members who practice weekly and ring and sing to praise God, the elders who commit their time and talents to guide our church when it's easy and when it's hard, the Bible study leaders who share their faith openly, and the people who mentor our youth in learning about Christ and the church. There are the people who regularly pray for others and the caregivers who care for the loved one with dementia or other illnesses and those who serve at the Gathering Place, plus the Trustees who volunteer to do jobs around the church that no one knows about. Our pastors and other church staff give of themselves for the benefit of our church and its members. There are the volunteers who help with the food pantry and the gardeners who plant the flower and vegetable gardens beside the church. There are so many gold medal winners, I can't count them all.

My family history would also include 2 gold medalists. My great grandfather, Jens Guy Kirkegaard - a lay minister, and his brother, Reverend Martin Luther Kirkegaard, who both lived in the sandhills of Nebraska in the 1890s. They were immigrants from Denmark. Jens was a farmer and he and his wife had 13 children, ten who survived into adulthood. Jens would visit small pioneer communities and talk about the importance of a Christian community and starting a church in their town. He would begin with visiting individuals and gathering interested persons and when he had at least 12, his brother Martin, an evangelical Lutheran minister and a circuit rider, would come and officially make them a church. Together they started at least 6 churches, one of which has survived to this day. These churches offered Christian fellowship to isolated people with church services, women's and children's programs, and mentoring in farming for beginning farmers in the midst of a financial depression and a drought in the sandhills. Jens was able to baptize babies (especially those who were dying), marry couples (especially those who needed to get married in a hurry), celebrate communion, conduct funerals, and preach at worship services. He was very sincere in feeling that these services to his neighbors were some of the most gratifying times of his life. Martin as a circuit rider (by then he rode trains instead of on horseback) and had a huge pioneering territory that he covered with about 30 churches. He visited each church every 3-6 months. He baptized, married couples, served communion and preached at worship services. Later in his life, he was a professor of religion at Blair College in Nebraska. He and his wife had 6 children, losing two children to "the plague" in the 1890s. I can only imagine their lives as missionaries to so many people that were starting new lives in the barren desert of the sandhills. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the multitudes of gold medalists who played a historical part in contributing to our Christian churches today. Thank you that they made commitments to serve all people, rich and poor, young and old, well established in communities and new immigrants. Thank you for your message of love through all times, the alpha and the omega. Amen.

Nancy Hall

Blessings

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 Peter 1:3 ESV

I love reading the Peanuts cartoons. Recently I read one where Lucy was talking to Charlie Brown and she says, “I hate this year! Everyone said things would be better, but they’re not! I don’t think this is a New Year at all. I think we’ve been stuck with a Used Year!” 

Yes, at times it seems like it hasn’t gotten better, sometimes it feels worse. It feels like we are stuck in a turn around and we just keep going in circles. But maybe it’s us, not the year, that is stuck. Maybe we need to stop looking at what is wrong with the year and start looking at what is good about the year. 

I have written about it many times but we really do need to start counting our blessings, each and every one of them. First one we need to count is that we wake up each morning. Maybe it is cloudy or raining or even snowing but we WOKE up!  Then count the blessings of a warm house, food on the table, clothes and the family that surrounds us. Doesn’t have to be immediate family or even blood-related family. The family is those individuals who are there for you and care about you.  

Be thankful that God sent us only Son who lived, died and rose again for us; so that we may be saved from our sins and be granted a future with our Father in Heaven.  

Lori Hood (reprinted from 2022)

Words from the book of Job

He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. Job 26:10 

The Body of Christ

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

My daughter-in-law gave me a five-minute journal for Christmas one year, and at the top of each day is a new quote to appreciate. An example: “When we create peace, harmony, and balance in our minds, we’ll find it in our lives” ~ Louise Hay

Several church members came in to help me move tables and chairs recently, a large task that would have taken me at least an hour and took us only 20 minutes. Time, energy, and effort was the gift, not money. Our church, like most, depends on both volunteerism and financial contributions. I think of the church and the members of its community, how we all have a role to play. Might this create peace, harmony, and balance in the church as well? With grace, it can work that way!

Scripture bears this out:

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to seek our part as the body of Christ, looking for ways we can serve you in the larger community of Christ as well as our own church community. Help us to appreciate what others have to offer as well. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Words from First Corinthians

I planted the seed...but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 

Words from Matthew 6

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:28-29

Potluck Suppers

For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me. Then these righteous ones will reply, "Sir, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?"  And I, the King, will tell them, "When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me." Matthew 25:35-40

In my home church during Lent, we gathered together every Wednesday night for fellowship with a potluck supper and then a time of worship. My daughter and I laugh about the wonderful church ladies' food at these potlucks. They included Mrs. W's Chinese casserole, Mrs. P's meatloaf, Mrs. K's Watergate salad, Mrs. P's green Jello salad with cottage cheese and pineapple, Mrs. H's homemade rolls, and Mrs. L's scalloped potatoes. There was an abundance of meat dishes, creamy vegetables, and fruited muffins, and of course desserts of cookies, cakes, and pies. Many people filled their plates twice and there were always leftovers. The worship service was always a thoughtful time leading up to Easter. Our pastors took turns preaching in the different Presbyterian churches in our community.

Thinking about this, I remembered that our church had a sign outside inviting the community to attend these gatherings, and one family did. They lived in a small run-down house within a block of the church. I remember they had 5 children all under the age of eleven. They were pretty ragged-looking, clothes wrinkled, shoes very worn. The oldest daughter was a year younger than me and they went to my elementary school. They would come to the potluck with a small bowl of Jello salad and would stand at the front of the line for the meal. After they ate they would leave without attending the worship service. I don't remember anybody greeting them warmly, sitting beside them during the meal, or inviting them to join in worship. The church ladies gossiped that all they came for was the food.

Now as I look back at this, I realize they really just came for the food. Their large family was poor and this meal was a blessing in providing a free meal to hungry people. There were no food pantries in my town, no places that regularly served free meals except maybe the mission, and no food trucks that gave away free fruits and vegetables in poor neighborhoods. We did not ask their names or do a follow-up welcoming visit with cookies. Our church just seemed unaware of the poverty of our neighbors, the lost opportunities to interact with them, and the poor hospitality that was shown to them. We were too busy being involved in the lives of our congregation to look around outside.

Thankfully, our eyes have been opened to recognize the needs of our community. May we never return to turning an empty eye to those in need of our food, our fellowship, and our caring.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us to remember the least of these amongst us. Help us share our bounty and our love with others. Help us be brave in welcoming the community into our midst. Thank you for opening our eyes. Amen

Nancy Hall (reprinted from earlier this year, in consideration of our current Lent sermon series "Meeting Jesus at the Table")

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 freer 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 (reprinted from 2018, sharing again in consideration of our current Lent sermon series, "Meeting Jesus at the Table")

Just, Right, Fair, Equal & Needed

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8  

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard: 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20: 1-16

On Saturday nights after we three siblings had a bath, warm jammies and settled in to watch Emergency on TV, mom would make popcorn on the stove. Apple slices accompanied the popcorn and we waited anxiously for mom to split a 16-oz bottle of RC Cola between the three of us, always equally. What a treat! 

A few Sundays ago, Kris Adler-Brammer showed illustrations in the children’s Worship Connection about fairness which has stuck with me. She graciously shared them for this devotion.  

In this first picture, the boxes are distributed equally—one each for dad and the two boys.  

But being fair to everyone is not what was needed.  Sometimes what is needed is also fair, just, or right as depicted in the second picture. Now everyone can see the ball game! 

Prayer: Gracious God, sometimes we look at situations as to what is fair or right or just; when what you want us to see is what is needed. Thank you for the vineyard parable and these vivid pictures as reminders of the difference in this complicated world.  Amen. 

Cathy Schapmann

A Band of Men – Part II

Then they sought to take him; but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. John 7:30 KJV

Then took they up stones to cast at him; but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. John 8:59 KJV

Jesus’ reputation was already well-known by the time the night of His arrest came. He had performed so many miracles, walking on water, casting out demons, and multiplying loaves and fishes. He had even miraculously escaped arrest in the midst of crowds. (John 8:59 KJV above)

His accusers knew of His power and the previous failed attempts to capture Him.  They wanted to make sure Jesus would not miraculously escape again. 

So, Judas came to the Garden of Gethsemane with his multitude of soldiers and Temple police that night to arrest Him.  It must have been a terrifying sight.  So many torches could be seen in the dark.  So many well-armed soldiers and police surrounding the Garden.  (300-600)

However, this time, Jesus did not use His power to escape.  He was arrested and taken away. 

Jesus did not resist!

Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for sending us the miracle that was Your Son, Jesus the Christ. Centuries later we are still in awe of His bravery and His unselfish sacrifice to save us from our sin. We gratefully pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Judy Welch

A Band of Men – Part 1

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.  John 18:3 KJV 

And immediately, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.  Mark 14:43 KJV 

Over the past year or so, I have added a new name to my list of favorite Christian authors. Oh, I still love to read anything Max Lucado writes and I still enjoy the writings of Dr. David Jeremiah and Rabbi Jonathan Cahn but my new favorite Christian author is Rick Renner, ThD.

According to his biography, Pastor Renner spent a good portion of his life pastoring a church in Moscow. He also refers to his extensive travels in the Holy Land. He teaches and writes from the Greek text and much to my delight he is very detail oriented. I love those stories that make the names on the pages of scripture come to life.

After 80+ years of reading the Bible and listening to some of the stories in the Gospels over and over, it is refreshing to hear a new word here and there that is different from the status quo. 

It seems that the more often you hear a story, the less you really listen and you’re just hearing it the same old way with the same old mental pictures. So, when Pastor Rick wrote the story of Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ arrest, I heard something new when I read that Judas brought a ‘cohort’ (Greek text) of Roman Soldiers. I had always read/heard it was just “a band of men.”  In my mind’s eye, that meant maybe 15-25 soldiers, but how many soldiers are in a cohort?  A cohort can contain 300-600 men, and they were accompanied by officers (Temple Police) of the chief priests and Pharisees. So, on the night of Jesus’ arrest, the hillside near the Garden of Gethsemane was “swarming” with Roman soldiers and police from the Temple Mount. 

Now this sounds like quite a different story to me from the one I thought I knew, and it makes me wonder why the Roman authorities thought they needed so many armed men to arrest just one man – Jesus the Christ! 

Prayer: Father, we praise you for the many ways teachers of “The Word” present the scriptures so that we might get the full meaning of the amazing earthly life story of your Son, Jesus. Amen. 

Judy Welch

Words from Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world and those who live in it. Psalm 24:1 

My Help Comes from the Lord

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 

Jesus Knows Us

It is the great privilege of Christians, that they have the mind of Christ revealed to them by his Spirit. They experience his sanctifying power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits in their lives. 1 Corinthians, chapter 2 (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible)

For your wound gapes wide as the ocean; who can heal you? Lamentations 2:13

During life sometimes our wounds, our needs, and problems seem too big to handle. God tells us there is a way. We are invited to pray to God at difficult times. This gives us so much that non-Christians do not have. At times when I could do nothing but cry with my circumstances, I could get on my knees and pray to my Lord in heaven. His spirit leads me at those times.

The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Whoever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school, we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we’re passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way. 1st Corinthians 2:10-15 (Eugene H. Peterson THE MESSAGE- The Bible in Contemporary Language)

My friend, Judy Welch, who writes devotions too, wrote what Jesus can do for you at your most difficult times:

“When the tiger of life is mauling, with wounds that cut so deep:

Who can heal you?

Be still, and you will hear Him, “This is my body, broken just for you.”

Be still, and you will hear Him, “This is my blood, shed just for you.”

For every place you’re going and all you have been through and left to do." 

Our Lord had you in mind when he died on the cross. He knows what you have been through and he knows what you need. He can heal you. You just need to remember to pray to our Lord Jesus.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for making it so clear to us that you saved us when you gave your life for us. Amen

Sandra Hilsabeck

Time

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 

I have enjoyed watching the curling games at the winter Olympics. The players have so much to think about from the rolling of the stone, the positioning of the stone, the strategies to consider with the opponent’s stones, and the possibilities of multiple stone hits. I learned this year that the teams have a set number of minutes (38) during the match for "time to think". It seems important to take time to view the situation, discuss the options, communicate, and make a plan. They must use their time wisely to make sure they have enough time to do this by the end of the game.

This made me consider my time to think about God. This could be in reading the Bible, pondering a devotion daily, attending a Bible study, participating in worship services, praying, and thanking God throughout the day for His blessings. Like the curling players, there is much to consider in every situation. Take the time today to think about God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father help us to take time to think about you every day. Help us remember your abundance of love for us and your promises to stay by us in all situations. Amen

Nancy Hall

Unwavering Resolve in the Face of Life’s Challenges

We are troubled on every side yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

This passage of a letter from Paul to the Corinthian congregation reflects the hardships and challenges faced by believers, while offering assurance that they are not abandoned by God, but empowered to persevere through their faith. Paul encourages us to hold on to hope and trust that we are not alone. This message brings unwavering resolve in the face of life’s challenges.

Related biblical passages like Romans 8:35-39, James 1:2-4, and Philippians 4:13, echo the consistent theme of God’s unwavering love, the opportunity for growth through trials, and the strength found in Christ. These passages reinforce the message of perseverance and faith in the face of difficulties, echoing Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians.

When we face troubles and difficulties in life, it is important to remember that as believers, we are not alone. The verses remind us that even though we may be hard-pressed on all sides, we are not crushed. We may be perplexed, but we are not in despair. We may be persecuted, but we are not abandoned. This reassures us that no matter what challenges we may encounter, we can persevere because of the strength and support we receive from God. In times of trouble, holding onto our faith and trusting in God’s promises is crucial. We can find resilience to endure and overcome any obstacle we may face by leaning on Him for guidance, comfort, and strength. Remembering that God is always with us and will never forsake us provides the hope and courage needed to persevere in difficult times. This verse directs us to rely on God’s power and not solely on our own abilities, knowing that His grace is sufficient to see us through every trial and tribulation.

These verses also remind us that our trials have a purpose in building our character and faith. Rather than being consumed by our present struggles, we can look forward to the hope and restoration that God promises to those who trust in Him. This perspective helps us to endure with patience, knowing that our temporary afflictions are producing an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Life can feel like a never-ending workload, but remember: you’re pressured, not broken; confused, not hopeless; attacked, not alone; knocked down, but still standing. Let this truth fuel your determination and faith as you tackle every obstacle. Stand firm, work through the struggle, and lean on God’s promises.

Prayer: I pray that when I feel under pressure and am anxious that I cannot continue, I will feel the comfort of God’s hand on my shoulder, reassuring me.  Help me to remember God’s promise to all believers that he will be with us as we learn from our trials. We are confused, not broken, but still standing. Know that with God’s grace we are able to work through every obstacle, leaning on God’s promise. Amen.

Carol McClain

For the Beauty of the Earth

These last several days as the snow has fallen and covered our world in Lincoln, I sit and look out of the window and marvel at the beauty of nature. It made me think about the hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth”.  I keep on singing it in my head, and in spite of the enormous amount of snow that we received, I’m glad to live in an area with four seasons.  

Sing or say these words to the song in your heart and mind:

            For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies.

            For the love which from our birth over and around us lies.

            Lord of all to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

I started this after our big snowfall, but I’m now finding it difficult to continue to feel blessed for the four seasons in Nebraska. As Pastor Melodie pointed out in her sermon on February 14, the snow keeps coming and with it bitter cold temperatures, and many of us are more than ready for spring to start. We’re ready for crocuses, daffodils, flowering trees, green grass and warm days. But we can have faith that it will all happen and the snow will melt, finally, for this year.  

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we deal with the challenges of winter, let us not forget the beauty of your creation. Be with us during this cold, bleak winter until spring comes to rejuvenate our lives. Amen.

Carolyn Brandle (reprinted from 2021)

Perseverance and Henry David Thoreau

 

 

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

From Thoreau: ”Do not despair of life. You have no doubt force enough to overcome obstacles. Think of the fox prowling through the wood and field in a winter night for something to satisfy his hunger. Notwithstanding cold, hounds and traps his race survives. I do not believe any of them ever committed suicide.” Now, I know a couple of things about this quote that might rankle:

• In many circles we have moved past the language “committed suicide” to “died by suicide”.
• We should not minimize someone’s feelings and actions by suggesting they could have withstood something in their life we likely know nothing about. 

However, I believe there is something to take away from this. For me, it’s this: we are stronger than we think, and…keep going, keep going, keep going. In addition to what the quote implies, I'd like to include that we can ask for help, from God and others, including professional help.

Some scripture to support was included above, but I also believe that if we can sometimes just hang on until the next day, things may look different. In the chapter on "Appreciate Whatever is Pleasing" in the book "Appreciate These Things" by Jill J. Duffield, she shares that some days we just need to look for the beauty, wherever we may find it. "The ache for beauty was still urgent in me, but my hope for riding out the tide of pain began to rise," she shares after noticing something pleasing on what was for her a difficult day. Small things, and the promise that hope brings.

This Thoreau quote, along with a beautiful Wyeth painting of a fox ("Fox in Winter" by N.C. Wyeth; from "Men of Concord", 1935), was shared on the Thoreau Society page on Facebook. I’ve shared that lovely painting here, plus my own photo of two local foxes playing in the snow!

A bit more about Thoreau: Henry David Thoreau (born July 12, 1817, Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.—died May 6, 1862, Concord) was an American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher renowned for having lived the doctrines of Transcendentalism as recorded in his masterwork, Walden (1854), and for having been a vigorous advocate of civil liberties, as evidenced in the essay “Civil Disobedience” (1849). (from Britannica.com)

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that we can turn to you when we're struggling. Help us reach out to people in our life (friends, family, professionals) when we feel despair. Give us strength to keep going. Amen.

Click on photos to view larger. 

Donna Gustafson

Ash Wednesday

Join us around the table between 8 am and 8 pm for a short service of ashes and contemplation.  

Ashes will be available all day with music for contemplation in our sanctuary.  

Can’t make it to the church on Ash Wednesday?  Packets of "ashes and prayers” will be at the Welcome Desk beginning Sunday, February 15.

 

Helping Others

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13: 12-17

This last month I was fortunate enough to help out on a Tuesday night with the Food Pantry. In all honesty, it wasn’t hard work, and there were enough of us helping that it didn’t take long at all. In a way, I kind of felt guilty as I drove back home that the task wasn’t harder and didn’t take longer! And then I realized what a selfish thought that really is, as though if helping out were harder, then I would feel better about having helped. All me, me, me. Volunteering and helping do things for others shouldn’t be about the helper; it really is all about those being helped. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? And yet we’re humans with complex emotions and wants. Christ provided us with the ultimate example of servitude toward others without asking for anything in return except our faith in him, our knowledge that he died so that we might have a place in the Kingdom of God. What a truly glorious gift he gave to us! Our hope for ourselves should be that we emulate his example as best we can to others here on earth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to open my heart that I might be a better helper to others. And above all else, let me always remember that the power and glory are yours alone, and it’s through you that I gather strength and comfort to do what I hope is right in your eyes. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Greg Tubach (reprinted from Eastridge Daily Devotion book, 2008)

Happy Presidents' Day

 

Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level, is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as presidents of the United States and, since 1879, has been the federal holiday honoring Founding Father George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War, presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and served as the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797. (Wikipedia)

Promises

When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you."  And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:13-15

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 23-25

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises. 2 Peter 1: 3-4

One of my favorite old-time hymns is Standing on the Promises of God. The tune of that hymn causes me to repeat the words to myself. The words of "eternal praise," "overcoming doubt and fear," "listening to the call," "bound by love" keep repeating in my mind as I think of that song. It reminds me that our Christian faith is based on promises from God that we have learned about from studying the message that Jesus brings to us in the Bible. The promises become our expectations that we have because we believe in God. I suppose we become disappointed and somewhat doubters if certain promises don't seem to come our way in a timely manner. However, as written in Hebrews, as our faith grows, we overcome our doubts and concerns and rely on the "promises from God."

While we live to claim the promises from God, our church has promises from us. We made promises of support and involvement when we joined Eastridge Church. We continue to make verbal promises during worship activities and responses. Our church lives because of our promises. Today, our church has several service and financial needs. Are we living up to our promises? Can we expect to claim promises from God if we haven't fulfilled our promises to our church? Let us meet the needs of Eastridge Church.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for the messages of promise that You have presented to us through Your son, Jesus. Help us to grow in faith in order to fulfill our promise to follow Your word and to search for the direction You would have us live so that it would be pleasing in Your sight. Amen

Lauren Holcombe (reprinted from 2017, shared today in memory of Lauren)

Parable of the Lost Sheep

If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it?  And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! Luke 15:4-7

I am fond of Jesus’ Parables. The parables are wonderful stories for faith building, and especially for children. Most of the time I view the world through children and their faith development. This is why I chose this Bible selection: this parable talks about a shepherd who left his 99 sheep to search for a lost one (one who strayed away). He knew that the lost one was in danger. Each sheep is of high value, just as each of us is of high value and loved by God. When the shepherd found the sheep, he carried it home. In the same way, God rejoices when any of us are lost (strayed away) and we return to God. Each one of us is to be that shepherd and minister to those that have strayed and bring them back to God. This is a challenge for you to be a shepherd.

Prayer: Dear Lord, give me courage to be a shepherd and to share God’s love. Amen.

Susan Taylor (reprinted from Eastridge Devotion book, 2008)

Praise in Music

Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. James 5:13

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

Music brings us together to share our joy and sorrow, to comfort us, to rouse our spirits, to celebrate, and to stir up memories. When we get together with friends of the same “era,” reminiscing about favorite tunes and lyrics tightens the bonds among us. I know a family of musicians who take their guitars and keyboards whenever they gather.  Every family reunion is ended with a bittersweet singing of Edelweiss - “May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep us forever.”

Although solos can be beautiful, the community created when a group of musicians perform is a unique experience. Just like athletes who feel a surge of energy when their team successfully defeats an opponent, choir and orchestra members feel their spirits soar when the climax of the finale is perfect. Individuals who previously had no connection come together to achieve a mutual goal.

Sacred music holds a special place in worship. Everyone has a specific hymn that is meaningful to them. When the initial notes rise from the piano or organ, the warmth of the familiar words and melody comfort us; we join in heartily and create a community of believers sending the message to God. Cantatas and oratorios pull us into the story they are telling. The opening chorus of Beethoven’s “Messiah” can send your heart beating in anticipation of the soaring solos and choruses to come. Whether it’s a traditional hymn written by John Wesley, a stirring gospel or spiritual, or a praise song sung with guitar accompaniment, the shared experience of joining with a congregation to sing affirms our membership in a community with shared beliefs.

A study reported in the Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Aging, found that adults who participated in religious music activities had a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life as well as reduced evidence of anxiety and depression than others who were not involved in spiritual music. Along with the spiritual benefits of music, it can improve our learning, concentration, memory, mental fitness, and reduce pain. The benefits of music affect people of all ages. Involving and encouraging young children and teens to join a community of music lovers exposes them to the same benefits.

Prayer: Dear God, make us aware of opportunities to sing praise to you. As we join with the community of your believers, let us sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in our hearts to you. Amen 

Carol McClain (reprinted from April 2024)