Words from Isaiah

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15 

Reconnection

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8

The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

Sometimes life is busy. It’s messy. We can’t seem to get ahead of the calendar, and we’re being pulled in different directions for children’s activities, grandchildren’s activities, work, volunteer opportunities, meetings. We forget to pray. We don’t have a spare minute to read a devotion or the Bible. Sometimes events that shake us up tend to help us reconnect with God (we call out “help” more often than “thank you”), although it shouldn’t be that way.

I was thinking of my Dad recently, in how he was happy to have someone from his childhood as a new resident in the assisted living facility where he lives. Now, they get a chance to reconnect during dinner and afterwards, reminiscing about the “old days”.

It can be that way for us as well. When we realize if we just slow down and take some time out of our day for prayer or meditation, contemplation of a text (Bible or other spiritual reading), we can enjoy that boost of spiritual connection and sense that all is right in the world again when we reconnect with God. We open ourselves up to the peace that only God can give when we reconnect with Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to understand that we are not too busy to take time for you. Amen.

Donna Gustafson (photo depicting a peaceful scene by Donna. Click on photo to view larger.)

Words from Psalm 18

He also brought me out into a broad place: He delivered me because He delighted in me. Psalm 18:19 

God is Love

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is Love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:16 

The Power of Lectio Divina

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:15-16 KJV

The high school choir I was part of in San Francisco would attend a choral clinic of choirs from all over Northern California. We assembled in Stockton, California for a full day of rehearsal and learning music from noted choir directors, as well as noted conductors of orchestra and band. 

The insight I gained from one of those clinics was based on an anthem from Psalm 145:15-16, King James version. I hear that anthem every time I read these verses. The memory of that anthem is a musical Lectio Divina.

(Lectio Divina means “Holy Reading” or “Holy Word” through which one hears a word or phrase from a scripture that makes an impression on them. I use this spiritual practice with hymns and anthems as well. It is a memory of one of those anthems that inspires what I am sharing in this devotion.) 

The choir begins with the theme, “The eyes of all wait upon Thee…and Thou givest them their meat in due season.” The harmony is rich and the melody begins to build with anticipation. The music lends depth and highlights how we see God and how God provides for us in due season. 

But then comes the next verse. The intensity of the harmony, dynamics, and passion increase – “Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing!” I hear the choir echoing the phrase “of every living thing” at least 3 times with great intensity. I am filled with goose bumps as the music hits a crescendo and emotional climax. What a musical power of Spirit!

The choir returns to the opening phrase of the 15th verse.“The eyes of all wait upon Thee.” The melody, harmony, and dynamics slow down to a thanksgiving as we conclude how all eyes are gazed at the wonder, majesty, provision, and grace of God. It ends with an almost imperceptible silence as the final chord magically fills the auditorium.

My take on this and encouragement is to imagine a melody with the words I have shared. It could be a more up-to-date translation, even. No, I do not have a recording of 50 plus years ago, but we can imagine a melody in our minds and hearts. We can seek a word from God in a Lectio Divina fashion and prayerfully imagine what dynamics and intensity might be in our rendition of hearing this psalm.

The power of the Lectio Divina is open to how God’s Word and Spirit are speaking to one’s heart. Let the melody of your heart and the sounds and imaginations of your mind bring a praise to our God. For the eyes of all wait upon God. 

Prayer: O God, let the Word be sung in our hearts as we wait upon You in Jesus’ name. Amen 

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling (reprinted from 2020)

Do You Speak English?

“Once upon a time, all the world spoke a single language and all used the same words.” Genesis 11:1

“Do you speak English?” This was a question which I found myself asking often as I traveled with a tour group in England and France in the summer 2006. To my amazement, most people to whom I spoke did speak English even though they had emigrated from many countries.  

Did we always understand each other? Probably not. I often heard unfamiliar words. I feel quite sure that I have never used the word, “whilst” in my entire life. Each time I heard it, I kept wondering what had happened to the word, “while.” A truck was called a “lorry, and an English policeman was called a “Bobby” because Sir Robert Peel was the founder of Scotland Yard. I still found myself doing mental gymnastics each time I heard that word. 

When I returned to the U.S., I thought it would be so wonderful to speak to people and understand them without carefully listening or translating the meaning of unusual words. This was not to be. Working with a group of young people, I found myself wanting to ask that same question all over again. “Do you speak English?” What caused my concern? On the chalkboard was written the following description of the Biblical character, Sampson. “He was the dude who got his hair cut.” 

That evening, I read Chapter 11 of the Book of Genesis. “Come let us go down there and confuse their speech so that they will not understand what they say to one another.” Genesis 11:7 (NEB) I felt so much better after I read that verse! Maybe now I could relax, smile and see the humor of it all. It wasn’t just me being inept. This language barrier problem, it’s by divine design. “Go figure!” (Am I speaking English now?)

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of speech. Thank you for giving us different languages and different words. Help us smile and really listen when we converse that we might understand the meaning of one another’s words then go about the work that You planned for us to do. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.

Judy Welch (reprinted from 2006)

I Can Do That

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for me," Then I said, "Here am I.  Send me." Isaiah 6:8   

There is a delightful song in the Broadway musical, "A Chorus Line". A young boy, a want-to-be dancer, begs his parents to let him have his sister's tap shoes and take tap lessons after she wants to quit. The chorus is "I can do that; I can do that". They grant his wish and the song goes on how he grew in his abilities and never doubted that "I can do that".

Recently I learned that my grandson's church in Iowa had joined with three other churches in the community to sponsor Vacation Bible School. It was their church’s  turn to sponsor the week and the preparations had been running smoothly. His wife, the pastor, mentioned that it would be an intergenerational week held in the evenings with a meal and then a time together for the lesson, and then break up into classes. She thought she had all the teachers ready, but had just learned that the pastor who would lead the adult class would be unavailable. She voiced how hard it was to find a teacher for this group. That night I suddenly thought, "I can do that", and texted her that I would be glad to lead the adult group. Now I'm looking forward to it.

So often when we hear of a need, we tend to let a little voice inside our heads tell us all the reasons we can't do something. However, we also should hear that small voice say boldly, "I can do that."

I love the song, "Here I am Lord". The chorus is:

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go Lord,

If you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, continue to present opportunities for us to serve you. Remind us of the words from Isaiah of "Here I am, send me" and the words from the musical, "I can do that, I can do that." Amen

Nancy Hall

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.  

I am inclined to be a saver, or as we sometimes joke, an “archivist,” following in the footsteps of my parents and grandparents. My more minimalist adult children often respond with a polite “no thank you” when I offer “treasures” that I see as important elements of the history of our family. Their arguably more scriptural perspective prompts me to contemplate how I might direct my heart more faithfully in sharing the worldly possessions—from financial assets to antique china—with which I have been endowed. This is especially true during the season of stewardship.  

The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it another way: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” 

Prayer: Heavenly Creator, thank you for the many ways you care for us as we navigate this physical world. We ask for your direction in turning our hearts toward heaven. Guide us in using and sharing the worldly possessions for which we are responsible in ways that bring glory to you and your light to those we encounter. Amen 

Barry and Alinda Stelk (reprinted from 2017)

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

"In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it.” Psalm 95:4–5

Last Sunday in worship, we sang He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. A timeless favorite!

I have fond memories of singing it as a child at camp. For one, it had some groove to it. Second, it was one of those songs with words simple enough that we sometimes sang it not in German, but in English. For a young kid in rural Switzerland, English carried the exciting scent of the wide world. Singing and praying in English could turn a camp kid from the Swiss countryside into a glowing cosmopolitan.

Third, we loved all the variations in the verses—"the little tiny baby"—and making up our own. It was the kind of song you could sing on and on forever and ever, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Until you grow up.

And suddenly you realize: I'm not sure I can sing that anymore with a clean conscience and an adult faith.

It's not just the obvious question: Does God literally have hands? It's also that you look around at the world. With injustices and terrible things happening all around us—and sometimes very close to us—how can anyone sing that God is holding this world in God's hands?

It sounds like wishful thinking.

Reality is harsh. Terrible things happen. Not just in distant places. Sometimes it’s the phone call in the middle of a lazy afternoon that turns your whole life upside down.  It’s our neighbors having to decide whether to go buy groceries or fill up their gas tank.

And then there is another objection. Isn't this image of God "holding the world" theologically suspicious? Doesn't it risk making us passive? "Don't worry, it's all in God's hands." An invitation to close our eyes, ignore the fragility of this beautiful planet, and assume that nothing we do really matters.

If God has the whole world in God's hands, then why should my little human hands make any difference?

And so years pass.

Until one day you find yourself in a worship service, at a gospel concert, or somewhere else entirely, and this old children's song starts up again. And before you know it, you're singing. Maybe even clapping along.

It's as if there is a deep-seated muscle memory in your praying faith that bypasses all your intellectual objections.

There is something within you that still wants to sing these words.

And you realize something: You don't sing these words because the world actually looks like God is holding it all together. It often doesn't. And it certainly doesn't always feel that way.

You sing these words because you want it to be true.

You sing them because they are not a statement about how the world is.

They are an affirmation of faith.

And affirmations of faith are not sung from the theological armchair. They are sung in the arena.

In the arena where people of faith gather with their small faith and their large doubts. In the arena where people roll up their sleeves, show up for their neighbors, care for creation, comfort the grieving, and work for justice.

It is precisely because we trust that God holds the whole world in God's hands that we dare to use our own little hands and feet.

And we trust that the little things done with great love truly can make a difference.

God's got the whole world in God's hands. 

Prayer: God, hold this fragile world in your love, and teach us to use our hands for healing. Amen 

Rev. Thomas Dummermuth

Finding the Way

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 (NKJV)

Recently, I received an invitation to one of those milestone birthday parties for a friend. However, my excitement regarding attending was dampened by the fact that the party was to be held in a home in a new subdivision of our city. I had never been there before, and my record for finding places with which I am unfamiliar is not stellar.

On the day of the party, I looked at the map and saw that all the streets were curved and winding around the perimeter of a lake. So I drove very slowly looking for the three street names that would lead me to my destination. It was then that I noticed all the beautiful homes in various styles with park-like landscaping. I was tempted to explore their beauty, but knowing how easy it is for me to get lost, I stuck to my path. I arrived at the party a little bit late, where I found that three people were on the lookout for me. With an abundance of teasing, I was welcomed inside.

Later as I was on my way home, I thought that this experience had been a lesson in life's journey. Even in unknown territory, we know the way that we should go: Jesus said that He is the way. He even gave us directions: to follow Him. But life's pathway is often curved and winding. Unexpectedly, we encounter new roads that promise beauty and adventure, and we are so tempted to follow them. If we make that first wrong turn, we are lost.

What a blessing it is to know that the Lord Jesus is our compass, our true north, and if we get lost, we can return to Him. He will be on the lookout for us, and He will welcome us back into the fold.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the many words in Scripture that guide us on our way each day. Help us to resist those enticing pathways that lead us astray and separate us from You. Watch out for us, we pray, so that one day, we, too, will be welcomed into our heavenly home. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.

Judy Welch (reprinted from Presby Can devotional page)

Words from Psalm 113

 

Words from Jeremiah

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 

The God Who Directs Our Way

This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17

Today’s world is uncertain; perhaps more so than anytime during our lives. Making decisions about our future seems out of focus and simply a guess. Many of the adults living today grew up in a fast-changing world, but there were trends and predictable outcomes to base our aspirations and goals on. But in the last quarter century expectations have turned into uncertainties that seem to swing broadly based on where we live, who we love, and the leader we choose. The traditional life plan of securing an education, starting a family, building a nest egg, and retiring with confidence doesn’t seem guaranteed any longer.

This message in Isaiah 48:17 is significant because it speaks to us today as well as it did when it was written. The people of Israel were facing challenges and needing reassurance from God because the people of Israel were often disobedient and strayed from God’s teachings. In this scripture, God reaches out to them, reminding them of His role as their Redeemer.

No matter how far we have strayed, God is always willing to guide us back. He desires a relationship with us where we seek Him and follow His ways. The phrase “which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go” reinforces God’s commitment to being an active presence in our lives. He doesn’t leave us wandering but shows us the best way to live.

“In every decision we make, we should ask ourselves: is this leading me closer to God? His teaching will always direct us to what is good and profitable.” ~ Michael Thompson

Carol McClain

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

May he be like rain falling on a mown field; like showers watering the earth. Psalms 72:6

There is such delight in being able to listen to a gentle spring rain, with only faint grumbles of thunder. The sound of drops pattering on horizontal surfaces and trickling down vertical ones is like a soothing lullaby. Seeing the mistiness making lights waver and bright spring greens shimmer is like enjoying a moving work of art, shifting in the changing cloud light. Birds send out their most joyful songs and seem to chuckle softly to themselves. Puddles reflect the white sky and seem to boil with bubbles as drops bounce into them. The freshness of the air and the smells of the wet earth make everything feel clean and rinsed of dusty weariness.  Spring's growth is nourished just as the soul's thirst for comfort and healing is tended. Memories of other times and places in this hypnotic kind of soft rainfall arise and pull this moment into a thread of continuity.  

Rain has many associations for Christians; in the Bible - and in agricultural states like the one where I live - rain is an important part of the planting and growing seasons. Crops and livestock depend on adequate rain, and ultimately everyone's food supply is tied to it. God provides all this, and it is a testament of his care when the rain falls; it is a gift that feeds all people. 

The rain can be threatening, and floods are a fearful event in Biblical lore. Rain is sometimes symbolic of God's righteousness showering down on the earth.  

But the beneficial rain is inclusive; it falls on everyone and everything. If we choose to shower blessings like this, we share them without exception to all within reach. God is in the water that baptizes us, the water that cleans us and everything we use and touch and see, the water that is a habitat for countless amazing beings, the water that nourishes our food and the trees and plants that give us shade and joy.

The rain I am enjoying at this moment is one of the ways I can experience God's peace that surpasses understanding. This same rain is making someone else feel soggy and chilled, so I have to hope that somehow God's comfort is felt by that person in some way as well. I often work in the evenings, and I am fortunate enough to be home by an open door for this rainfall. Someone else who planned an outdoor event for this evening has had to make a change in plans and isn't feeling as fortunate.  

There is a Jewish prayer recited at the start of the rainy season in Israel. This is an excerpt.  

May He send rain from the heavenly towers,

To soften the earth with its crystal showers.

You have named water the symbol of Your might,

All that breathes life in its drops to delight. 

O revive those who praise Your powers of rain....

For you are God, who causes the wind to blow 

and the rain to fall; 

for a blessing and not for a curse - Amen!

For life, and not for death - Amen!

For plenty, and not for scarcity - Amen!

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2018)

Happy Memorial Day!

 

Rest for Your Soul

Jesus offers real rest. The world offers temporary relief, Jesus offers true rest for the soul.

Rest in Christ means:

Letting go of the weight you were never meant to carry

Trusting God with tomorrow's worries

Finding peace in His presence today 

Rest for the Weary

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:26 

Stillness

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:39

“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12

Words from Psalm 64

Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult! Psalm 64:10
 

Glimpses of Heaven

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died." I Thessalonians 4:13-14

It has been three years since my husband died as a result of COVID and heart disease; it’s been a long time, but I can’t believe it’s been three years. I talk to him and feel him near me; I hear movement in the next room and have to remind myself that it can’t be him. When I talk to him, I find myself beginning with, “What did you do today?” Then I realize that where he is as a believer has no time, no “today.“

Stumped by this realization, I find myself at a loss for words to tell him about what I have been doing. Then again, do I really need to tell him or does he already know everything that’s happened? But if he’s with the believers who have died, how will he manage knowing about the occurrences on earth as well as interact with other heavenly dwellers? As a human, he was not good at multitasking or keeping up with a large group conversation. On the other hand, he loved reading and watching biographies, so he would be delighted to meet significant and ordinary people from all eras of existence. 

Befuddled by these quandaries, I did what every computer-user would do, I googled, “What happens after you die?” - everyone, from Bible scholars to non-believers, chimed in. Citing both Old and New Testament sources, one academic wrote that we are only human bodies, but filled with soul that is released on death. Death is a temporary sleep that ends when our souls are released upon the second coming. Well, that didn’t answer my questions, so I restated it, “What do people do in heaven?” One blogger prepared a list of “The 10 Things You’ll Probably Do in Heaven.” The Eternal Perspective Ministries’ response was to distinguish between Present Heaven, a place where those who loved Jesus wait for his return to earth, and Eternal Heaven, the state where believers will feel nothing but joy and pleasure. This still leaves much to the imagination. So what will I do next?

I’m going to keep pondering my questions about what my husband does with his time; keep believing that the Bible brings glimpses of Heaven; and I’ll keep talking to him, just as I always have.

Carol McClain

That Tree I Knew (in honor of National Love a Tree Day, May 16)

  

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

“To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

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.)

A Foundation

"Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came and the wind blew and beat against that house.  It fell and was completely destroyed” Matthew 7:24-28. (Common English Bible) 

When hearing of catastrophic natural disasters, it can prompt thoughts of these verses. News reports provide an all-to-clear picture of rains, floods, and winds beating against the homes of rich and poor, young and old, stranger and friend. As we have endured difficulties of our own, these verses have provided a spiritual path toward a stronger and closer relationship with Christ. As we act on that relationship, how do we respond to feelings of helplessness in the face of recent events? As Christians, the bedrock foundation of faith guides our response to both the spiritual and physical storms we encounter. It is inspiring to know how differences and judgments that often so painfully divide us from our neighbors can be quickly set aside to reach out in love and concern. Even if we are not part of a team of literal first responders, we can be attentive to opportunities to help. 

 

Prayer: Heavenly creator and sustainer, we pray for those persons affected by recent natural disasters and perhaps other storms in life. We give thanks for individuals who step in to assist those in need and ask for their safety and strength. Help us to listen and respond to Your message. We ask for guidance and discernment in seeing ways to help those who are buffeted by the storms of life. Amen

 

Barry & Alinda Stelk (reprinted from 2017)

Your Servant is Listening

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:10  

Pastor Thomas’s sermon was on 1 Samuel Chapter 3. Samuel’s fourth response to the Lord’s calling was “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  Eli, Samuel’s mentor, told him that was the correct response when the Lord spoke. That phrase has been on my mind. So I changed a few of my prayer times to saying that exact phrase—“Speak, for your servant is listening.” It is actually very peaceful to just be with God during those few minutes when I can practice pushing back all of the thoughts in my head and just simply listen. Practice is the optimal word! 

Prayer: Dear Father, Forgive us for the many times we come to you in prayer with our thoughts and requests and yet you desire a two-way communication which requires us to listen. Help us to be still and listen to you and others each day. Amen.

Cathy Schapmann (reprinted from 2017)

Words from Psalm 44

In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name forever. Psalm 44:8 

An Act of Contrition

Forgive me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins; the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the sins of my body; my idle sins, the sins I know, the sins I do not know; the sins I have concealed so long, and which are now hidden from my memory. I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial, and for all the sins of my childhood up to the present time. I know my sins have wounded Thy most Tender Heart, O my Saviour, let me be free from the bonds of evil through the most bitter Passion of my Redeemer. Amen. O my Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been.  

This Act of Contrition was given me by my mother who said it daily. It was given to her by her mother who said it daily. A few years back, Reverend Duling shared that he always begins his daily prayers with a confession. That struck a very meaningful chord with me, and I try to remember to begin my daily prayers with this Act of Contrition. You have to admit that it’s a pretty thorough listing of most possible sins. 

I try to feel honestly and sincerely sorry for my transgressions but at times I wonder if I truly am. I wonder that because I keep repeating some of them. If I soul search, they are my “knee jerk” sins, personality flaws like impatience, self-righteousness, being annoyed by others. They keep showing up and I really do not like those parts of me.   

I think if I confess daily, God will use his never-ending Mercy to help me overcome these issues. And that being aware of them will help me weed them out of my behaviors. I need God’s help and I know He is always there for me. 

Prayer: Father God, I do want to be a better person. Please guide me towards a more purer form of loving others.  You are the Ultimate example of love, humility, and selflessness. May I strive with your guidance to be more like you.  

Connie Barry

Happy Mother's Day

 

Words from Second Peter

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 

A Better Life

Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Colossians 4:1-3 (The Message) 

It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor-what a blessing! Proverbs 14:21 (The Message)

And then take on an entirely new way of life-a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. Ephesians 4:19-21 (The Message)

In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. Ephesians 4:24 (The Message)  

I recently heard a speaker who suggested four components that can help each of us live a better life. First, live with gratitude. Second, live with compassion. Third, try to do something in a new or novel way. And fourth, connect deeply.

All of these concepts are included in the Bible, as noted above. And they're all ideas that can help make us better Christians. If we live with gratitude, we become more aware of all the blessings we have received from God. And if we focus on the things we can be grateful for, maybe we can turn away from some of the negative thinking we often carry with us.

Living with compassion means caring for others around us. Just as Jesus did. There are a number of ways we can demonstrate compassion--by donating money to charities or by volunteering to help those in need. But we can also show concern in our everyday interactions with those around us. It only requires that we stop to listen to a friend's problem or that we say hello to a stranger on the street.

Taking action in a new way can also be simple. Read a nonfiction book rather than a mystery. Attend a documentary instead of a violent action movie. Talk to someone new at church. Or it can be more involved: like learning to speak a different language.

The most important, but also the most difficult, of the suggestions for how to live a better life may be the final one: connect deeply. We need human interaction, but it needs to be more than just saying "How are you?" Friendships are vital to good mental and physical health. And faith can help us develop deeper connections with others. Sharing our faith with friends builds stronger friendships. And as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:20 of The Message, we should become friends with God because he's already a friend with us. We can lead better lives with God's help.

Prayer: Dear God, We're often looking for ways to make our lives better. These four notions may help us. But we know, Lord, that our lives will definitely be improved if we strive to be your friend, as you are our friend. Please be with us as we try to be grateful, compassionate, brave enough to try new things, and connected. Amen.

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2016)

My Personal Image of Jesus

“When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

When I was a child, my mother hung a picture of Jesus standing by a heavy wooden door with a little lamb cradled in his arms. I would sit on the back of the sofa so I could look Jesus in the eye and talk to him. I told him everything and I had complete confidence that he heard me and understood how I felt. I had three brothers who often didn’t want to play with me and being a farm family other children were not close. So I made Jesus my best friend. However, my father was hurt in a farm accident and we sold the farm and moved to Salida, Colorado. Here father healed and after four years we moved to a ranch in southeastern Colorado. It was twenty-five miles to town so at the age of 13, I again felt alone. My oldest brother started dating a Baptist girl who took him to church each Sunday. Mother insisted that he take his siblings, too. The Jesus I met at the Baptist church was very stern and had very strict rules to follow if one were to ever see heaven. Then graduation came and I was off to college. I left the Baptist Jesus behind and did not attend any church. After college, I accepted a job at the hospital where I had trained as a Med Tech. There I met Noel who was serving a year-long internship with the hospital chaplain. The Jesus Noel worshiped was like the Jesus I knew as a child, warm and loving. However, it took almost ten years for my image of Jesus to become a reality.  That happened when I finally understood the role of the Holy Spirit. I believe that Jesus was born human but he always knew God had called him to be the person who would bring about God’s new covenant with mankind, i.e. he was to be the sacrificial lamb, without sin, who that would offer himself to God for the sins of each of us. Yes, I see Jesus as the person who died so that when I die I will take a seat behind Him and enjoy his fellowship forever. I see Jesus as my traveling companion through life. Jesus is the father who kept me safe as a child and the mother who taught me the meaning of life and how to live it. I am his willing servant.

Prayer: Thank you for giving us a “thirst” for you and setting us on our journey to claim the prize you made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We recognize that the prize of salvation and companionship was given at a great cost we cannot repay even if required of us. We know and willingly accept our responsibilities as your children. Help us to remain committed to this relationship throughout life. When we stray bring us back for the only life we want is a life shared with you. Amen.

Noel and Jane DeKalb (reprinted from the 2017 Eastridge Lenten Devotional)

Waiting

Wait with confidence. The Lord is faithful to lead you forward. 

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”  Psalm 37:7

Rejoice and Be Glad

The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Psalm 118:24 NIV

This is the day the Lord acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it! Psalm 118:24 Common English Bible

This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 Living Bible

Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted—let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life! Psalm 118:24-25 The Message

Words from the book of Isaiah

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 

Lily

 ...Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them....Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.   Matthew 6:25-34

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon....    Hosea 14:5

His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs; his lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.   Song of Solomon 5:13

My gardening efforts are more as an editor than as a creator; or perhaps I could claim that my gardening artistry is more as a sculptor than a painter.  Besides watering a few pots of herbs and flowers, my primary outdoor pursuits are weeding, mowing, and trimming.  

There is a wonderful John Singer Sargent painting of two girls in white dresses lighting paper lanterns among luxuriant blossoms, called "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose". It has always reminded me of summer gardens at dusk; even more so because I spent many a summer twilight watching my two daughters chasing fireflies. The lilies in the painting are white and pink, and very trumpet-like. They seem to gather around the girls, focused on the lanterns. They echo the ruffles on the girls' white dresses. I have never seen lilies blooming like that; they show up in beautiful florist shop bouquets, but they are far more exotic than the day-lilies that show up in gardens I have tended.

The lily referred to in Biblical writings could have been any variety of flowering plants similar to what we know as lilies, including tulips and irises. It was probably any brilliantly colored, somewhat cup-shaped blossom that would have been noticeably elegant in order to be compared to Solomon's robes. It was also one of the symbols for Christ.  

Myrrh is an aromatic oil from a resin that does not come from lily pollen, but the reference in Song of Solomon refers to the sweetness of the lily-like lips of the beloved. Myrrh was a prized, so it can be assumed that the lily too was a symbol for something very desirable.

The rains of late June coaxed all sorts of jungle-like greenery to take over half of my back yard. By the time I was able to get to it, it looked like a tangle of vines from Sleeping Beauty's castle, or some malevolent botanical species from Harry Potter stories.  

When I cleared a section of the garden of these epic monsters, I was rewarded with a lovely area full of day-lilies, with strong stalks and bursting buds. Two of them broke heroically into bloom later in the day, shaking out layers of bright orange ruffles that were easily visible from inside the house. They gave me the courage to keep attacking the suffocating overgrowth, and for the moment I have restored some measure of peace to the garden.  

Anyone with an appreciation for nature's glories is moved by the splendid variety of blooming things. We should look at ourselves with the same wonder, appreciating the miracles that make us what we are.  

I tend to be overloaded with clutter and the noise of the world. I try to tend the garden of my life so I can breathe and reveal what God is making of me. It requires powerful resistance in this world to simply be the beautiful creatures we are. It seems that anxiety is always making a fresh attack on us. I try to keep those triumphant lilies in my mind as I fight what I hope is the good fight.  

As usual, when a symbol or metaphor takes root in my consciousness, I become aware of other references from day to day. I have recently been re-reading a Harry Potter book, and his dead mother Lily is always revered in Harry's and other characters' memories. Her sister Petunia, who was a vain and punitive character, is aptly named as the more common, less revered flower.   

Recently I worked with a voice student in some musical theatre workshops. She was trying to prepare a good cut for an audition piece, and she needed a lot of assistance from the workshop presenters. I accompanied her on the piano as they worked with her, and we talked afterwards about her music. She was so grateful, and asked if she could hug me. It was so touching - not just to receive that sincere appreciation, but to watch her blossom as we all worked with her.  I was tickled that her name was Lillian. 

My grown daughter has a close friend she met in grade school named Lily. I saw her recently and was struck again by her radiant smile and energy. I am aware of powerful community activities she is involved in. She has come through some immense personal challenges in her life, to be a person who guides and leads others with respect and a nurturing, positive attitude.  

Prayer: Wondrous Gardener, your lily is a beautiful reminder of your stunning creation and your ardent care for all of it; for all of us. Help me to revere your work, which is creating your world day after day. Help me to accept the care and nourishment that will make me continue to grow. When there is anxiety or other antagonists threatening the flourishing of your work, help me to prune those things from my life and my world. Thank you for the lily, and for the eyes to appreciate its infinite beauty. Amen.

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2018)

Words from the book of Mark

And Jesus said "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how." Mark 4: 26-27 

Love, Serve, Care

Recently on Facebook, someone posted the following (in italics) by Jon Gordon. 

Focus on three things today and everything else will take care of itself. Three Keys to a Happier Life:

      Love without expectation.

      Serve without wanting recognition.

      Care even if others don't.

     

Love: John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other. Love is reflected in human relations of brotherly concern. Jesus commands that you love each other and Jesus gives you strength to love. How can you show love today? You can smile and say hello to people you see today. You can call a friend.

Serve: Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom...to serve one another in love. How can you serve? You could take a meal to someone. You could volunteer for an organization. You could help in Eastridge's Food Pantry.

Care: James 1:27 … we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles. Caring is showing concern to others in a positive way. How can you care? Send a card to someone for their Birthday, Get Well, etc. Talk to others and ask how they are.

Think daily about the Keys of Happier Life. Love, Serve, and Care and make them a part of your life.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to Love, Serve, and Care. Give us encouragement to Love, Serve, and Care. Amen

Susan Taylor (reprinted from 2019, edited for clarity)

Words from First John

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12 NIV 

Waiting Before Working

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

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

 

The “Jesus Calling” devotion book by Sarah Young sits on our bathroom counter. I read the devotion during my morning routine, somewhere around putting on the moisturizer or drying my hair. Her August 29 devotion has stuck with me:

“Demonstrate your trust in me by sitting quietly in My Presence. Put aside all that is waiting to be done and refuse to worry about anything. This sacred time together strengths you and prepares you to face whatever the day will bring. …When you spend time with me, I restore your sense of direction.” 

Ouch! So reading, pondering and talking to God about the devotion in the midst of my morning routine is probably good, but I think God wants my full attention before I even begin my day. I need to work on that.  Being a morning person, I usually say a quick “Good Morning Lord” before heading to the shower and going over the day’s list of things to do. Reading the devotion falls somewhere in the middle.

During an extremely overloaded time at work, I began praying “What project is next Lord?” He would answer that prayer with what needed to be done at that moment. I kept asking that question all day long and He was faithful in answering all of them. 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for always waiting on me to call your name. I want to be close to you but so often do not stop long enough to enjoy a conversation with you, only a quick thank you or short prayer. You feel just like I do as a parent when I cherish a small quick conversation or visit with my children. Forgive me. 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Amen.

 

Cathy Schapmann (reprinted from 2017)