A Clean Slate

“ And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32 

A new calendar year gives us an opportunity for a fresh start.  When I was a child, my Sunday school teacher reminded us students of this opportunity.  She explained that it was like our individual blackboard slate wiped completely clean. (Today, we might say it is like deleting on our computers.)  God’s forgiveness is available to us every day not just at the beginning of a new year.  The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-15) reminds us of that in verse 12.  “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
 

As a young child, I threw an icicle at my sister.  It just missed her eye.  I told my sister that God would forgive me.  My sister complained to our mother, who used the incident as a “teachable moment.”  My mother explained that I needed to sincerely confess my error, be truly sorry, and then ask for God’s forgiveness.  It was an important lesson for both my sister and me.

 

The Scriptures proclaim another essential part of forgiveness.  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)

Forgiveness of others can heal us as well as our relationships.  Most importantly, it can deepen our relationship with God.

Our guilt over past mistakes sometimes prevents us from asking for God’s forgiveness.  It is never too late to go to God in prayer, confess our sins and ask God to help us to take away our guilty feelings.  We can choose to let go of our guilt and no longer allow anger and bitterness to poison our life.  Forgiving others or ourselves takes time and effort.

 

Prayer:  God we need your forgiveness.  Help us to find ways to forgive others daily and look for the wonderful blessings in our lives.  Grant us your mercy and grace.  Amen.

 

Lois Poppe (reprinted from January 2, 2012)

 

Newness

…What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes... James 4:14 

 

...On account of his vast mercy he has given us new birth.  You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection ... 1 Peter 1:3  

 

For His anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 

 

I ended the year by playing piano for a wedding and a memorial service; and finally, a New Year's Eve wedding in the church where I grew up, where my marriage ceremony was, and where my parents' ashes reside.  It was an interesting journey that music lead me through. As I envision my life in the coming year, I try to start with thanksgiving for the blessings of the past year.  I think any beginning needs to start with thanks for being there, even if what we are beginning is not something we would choose.  My marriage was not permanent, but I had an interesting life for much of it, and I had the ultimate gift of our children and friendship with their relatives.  My parents are gone, but they are with me in so many ways.  There is even a Christmas tree in the parish hall of the church covered with hats and mittens for children at nearby schools, and because my mother was heavily involved in that ministry the church named the tree after her - thereby personalizing it and increasing their donations.  My mother is very much alive in this mission.  

 

My New Year's Eve began with brunch with people from my high school class of 1973.  One of my friends is dying from a degenerative disease, but he came to the gathering anyway.  He is one of the busiest among us, finding ways to be with his friends, who are more than eager to share time with him.  He is approaching his death by being more alive than anyone I know.  He has gratitude for the life he has been able to live, and is as enthusiastic about each day as he was when I first met him.  People are attracted to him because he is genuine, direct, and in full acceptance of his brokenness.  This has the effect of presenting God's power of making him whole.  Death is truly a powerless player in the game. 

 

My friend is awakened every day before dawn and taken to a balcony to watch the sun rise as he drinks his coffee.  This makes me inspired to try - once in a while, perhaps - to greet the new day in some way like this.  I have been stumbling into my mornings lately, and I am finding it to be a poor way to start the precious day.  The next thing he does is to be taken to a hot whirlpool bath and then massaged, even the parts of him that are essentially numb.  The corollary to this for me would be to have more fun with my shower, rinse away sleep and anything nagging that stayed with me from the previous day, and follow it with some stretches to give my body a chance to reconnect with some helpful energy for the promising day ahead.  And of course, I need to connect with my friends beyond the electronic screens of my life.

 

In this age of time management, my friend is living more in God's time than he ever has.  He is planning, but not with any anxiety connected to it.  So much of what grinds the rest of us down is being released in his approach to life now.  He is open, he meets fear with peace, and he treasures time with others. 

 

Resolutions don't tempt me like they used to.  But fresh beginnings are always possible, and always worth the energy.  I want to build on what I am doing well, and I want to let go of things that distract me from my purpose and joy.  So maybe I should start at the beginning - which God always provides, and is always present in.  I want to hear and join in with the shout of joy that comes in the morning.

From Prayer at Sunrise by James Weldon Johnson:

 

O greater Maker of this Thy great sun,

Give me the strength this one day's race to run.

Fill me with light, fill me with sun-like strength,

Fill me with joy to rob the day its length.

Light from within, light that will outward shine,

Strength to make strong some weaker heart than mine,

Joys to make glad each soul that feels its touch;

Great Father of the sun, I ask this much. Amen.

 

Mollie Manner

A Small Deed

Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.”   2 Thessalonians 3:13

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

As I read my morning devotion, the writer reminded how we can serve God by caring for others. The Thought for the Day: “I will do a small deed in God’s service today.” Since I planned to be home all day, I doubted I would have an opportunity to “do a small deed.”

A short while later, my phone rang. A relative, Sue* told me she had just received a phone call from her friend, Pat*, who was depressed over health issues. Pat had been notified that her physical therapy was no longer helping. There was no hope for improvement. In addition, in spite of regular injections in both eyes, Pat’s vision continued to deteriorate from macular degeneration. Pat knew she should no longer be driving, but she needed transportation to doctor appointments and the grocery store. Her income would not stretch far enough to take a cab. Sue hesitated to offer to take Pat to doctor appointments and the grocery store when winter weather could make that difficult.

Sue thought I might know of an agency that could offer low cost transportation, since I had volunteered for 28 years on a crisis and referral service. I suggested an agency that might know who to call. Sue called them. They gave her contact information for a service for visually impaired. She called and learned that they provide rides for $1.00 a trip through a cab company. She notified Pat who immediately called the agency.

Sue called me back to thank me for my help. I protested that it was really a small thing. Sue replied that it had made a big difference for Pat.

Then I remembered the Thought for the Day: “I will do a small deed in God’s service today.”

*Names have been changed.

PRAYER:  God, remind us to do your work and do good in response to your love for us. Amen.

Lois Poppe

Traditions

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9: 6 

 

Before Christmas, a friend and I went to a Danish Christmas dinner sponsored by the Norden Club of Lincoln. I was hoping to learn more about the Danish traditions for the holidays and how closely it matched with that of my Danish grandparent’s and my mother. There was pickled herring( which went fast), pork roast, 2 kinds of potatoes, red cabbage, pickled beets, gherken pickles, elderberry wine, and a sweet loganberry dessert. We were lucky to sit at a table with other Danes who readily shared their old holiday traditions as well. There was a speaker from Denmark who shared that the Danes started the advent season early on the first Friday in November at 8:49 p.m.—when the new beer was brought in from that year –and a good time was had by all. He also talked about the tradition of a pine tree being brought into the house and lit with candles. My mother had talked about this in rural S.D. during the depression when the trees were dry and my grandmother only let the candles burn briefly so that the house would not catch on fire. There were many traditions that we all had in common. But one tradition was having oyster stew on Christmas Eve. It took me a long time to get rid of that one as I hated it. However, the lasting tradition we all shared was going to church on Christmas Eve to a candle lit service with choirs and scripture readings, carols, and the message of  peace that it gives to all. Despite the hubbub of the holidays, the shopping, the gifts, the parties –the best tradition of all is celebrating the real meaning of Christmas that shines through our multiple generations. The long awaited Christ child is born.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your son. Thank you for his gift of hope, his love, and his peace. Amen.

Nancy Hall

Honor Thy Mother and Father

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

 “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38   

 

When I was younger I remember weekends were spent with my family driving  one hour each way to my father’s parents' house. We would spend weekends talking, helping and basically assisting in anything they needed help with. I remember doing a lot of dishes at my grandparents, but I also remember learning interesting facts like my grandfather never threw out his coffee grinds, banana peels and egg shells; he saved them in a coffee can by the sink to place around his rose bushes that he grew along their path from the sidewalk to their front door. My grandfather would talk with my Dad about stories from the past, current events (which I probably otherwise would not have had any interest in). When my grandparents moved from their farm to the small house in town, my uncles, aunts, cousins came to help build a workshop in the back from an old barn Grandpa had purchased to be moved in their backyard. 

I don’t remember much about the trip back home each weekend from my grandparents as many times I would fall asleep. One year I remember after one of them had suffered a heart attack, my Mother and brother each took a turn at staying with them to help. We all took on more chores at home so they could stay with them during their time of healing but it didn’t seem like anything exceptional at the time, just something you do.

And as I became an adult, I made the same journey many times to my parents' house. I wish I had more trips to make, from my grandparents to my parents those visits were filled with the wonderful memories and stories of their lives. Those memories are cherished memories.

I wonder if we are missing that in our society today; do we take the time to help, learn and grow with our elders? Do we find them too slow in completing a task so we don’t bother to assist? Do we help those that need assistance that are still trying to live in their homes, or do we figure they should be pushed aside in a nursing home for others to help?  Are we too busy in our lives with kids, activities, and our own interests to take the time to visit or help them?  

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, Please help us to look after our elders in whatever small tasks they need. Help us to see the gifts we receive from helping others, the memories, friendships and love that grows within us to then give out to others making the circle of love complete. Help us to open our eyes to see those around us that need our help. Help us to remember to honor our elders as you command. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lori Hood

 

Epiphany

Gratitude

This is the day which the lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24.

I love to read the book of Psalms with their message of praise for God, and of gratitude and positivity!   Each day we have to live our life is indeed a gift from God, who gave us life, love, meaning, and purpose.   Each day, then, is a reason to be grateful to God, a day to choose joy.  I love to know from Scripture that God wants us to experience joy.  Some days it is a challenge, as life can be difficult and there are often hardships for ourselves and for those we love. But attitude is so powerful!  A good attitude, the decision to find some joy, good, and happiness in every day is the right choice, and one God wants us to make. 

Years ago I was given a Gratitude journal, which involved writing down several things that I was grateful for every day. I found that to be a meaningful experience and a chance to find joy and happy moments in everyday life, in routine things, and in so many good things that I continually take for granted., like healthy, happy grandkids, for example.

Prayer: Dear Father God, thank you for my life, for the gifts you have given me and for even an ordinary day in my life.  As you have directed me, I will try to find joy in every day.  Please guide me to choose happiness and joy, you who are the originator of all joy.  Please help me to be a more grateful person, as I have so many blessings.  I will try to say thank you every day.

Connie Barry