Others

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.  Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17

I love the old Family Circus cartoons. I think if I went through boxes and bookshelves at my mom’s I would find that there are still a few books; you know, from the time before comic strips could be searched and enjoyed on the internet.  There were a few tied to the concept of accountability with a houseful of children.  Something is broken, missing, eaten, a door is left open, all the things that happen every day in real life. When the parents ask who it was each child is quick to respond “not me”.  In one of the cartoon strips there are “ghost” figures filling the role of “not me”, “must have been him” and “the dog did it”. 

I have recently been involved in an improvement process discussion in my department at work and it is an exercise that I have found to be very frustrating.  We have a tool that we use to take in new work. This might seem odd but it’s common in a variety of industries. Our Information Technology department of 100ish serves nearly 6000 end users, all of whom have an adjustment they would like made to the system. This becomes a challenge because the 6000 know what they don’t like but they may struggle to explain that to someone else.  Additionally, what happens if one of the 6000 doesn’t like something but the other 5999 do? 

We have worked for the last 3 years to develop a process that can be followed by the person requesting the change, the team(s) responsible to review it and determine if it is a good decision for all 6000 users and then a process for assigning the work to the IT representative to complete it.  On our improvement process calls there has been a lot of whining.  “The system is too hard”.  “The people don’t know what they are asking for”.  “When I meet with them to talk about their request they actually want something completely different”.   And my all-time favorite – “I have too much work to do to help them figure out what they want”.   

As I have thought about these meetings after the fact I have been annoyed. Sometimes angered. Disappointed. Of course there are processes at work that I don’t like, I might think they are overly time consuming, or antiquated, or even burdensome but they are a part of our work. When we are looking for an improvement I would love to see our focus be among the things that WE can do to help our end users and one another.  No more complaining about the mysterious “them” who always does half the job and leaves the rest for someone without telling them.  No more excuses about not knowing how to use the system as a reason that your work can’t be completed.  Would we accept the answer of someone not knowing how to work the cash register to keep us from buying something that we wanted?  Instead of all the complaining, a spin on what we can do as a team to actually create an improvement, not only for our customers but our peers and ourselves.  If we don’t like having things dumped in our lap at the last minute then we need to model what we do want – a phone call, e-mail or message to ask if something will impact another.  And when that happens, we cannot react with annoyance because we were asked, but instead with gratitude – thank you for checking – that would have broken my build, or that’s a great idea – I wonder if it will work for another problem I’m having. If you work in a large organization you might hear this expectation referred to as corporate culture. 

After my last meeting I needed lunch and a little time with scripture. I loved both of these verses and the messages. In reflection of this scripture I thought “I trust you to be faithful – in this case to the organization that works hard to provide for you and your family.  I want you to do this work with joy, and not groaning, because all of that whining is bad for everyone – including yourself.” 

Prayer: God who is with us always, help me to be patient with others and to reflect joy in what I do.  Help me to recognize opportunities when I can put a positive spin on something.  Help me to model what I expect of others.    

Christi Moock

Seasons

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up 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 together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 ESV

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22 ESV

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. Psalm 104:19 ESV

I watched a video on Facebook about the naming of the seasons.  It referred to a similar article as below:

Why We Call Autumn "Fall" By Chelsey Grasso

November 2, 2016

Long before it was called "fall" or "autumn," the third season of the year was referred to as "harvest" in England. The season was given this name to reflect the time of year when farmers would gather their crops and prepare them for winter storage. The farms generally harvested their crops between August and November. The term "harvest" comes from the Old Norse word "haust," which means "to gather or pluck" — appropriate, considering the farm work during this time of year.

"Fall" And "Autumn" Emerged as Popular Terms Once More And More People Moved From Rural Areas To Cities

During the 1600s, more people began leaving rural farmlands to move into larger, metropolitan cities. Without farming, the term "harvest" became less immediately applicable to the lives of city-dwellers, and subsequently, "fall" and "autumn" emerged as two new names for the season. "Autumn" came from the Latin word "autumnus," with the root of the word having connotations regarding "the passing of the year." The term "fall" was likely a deviation from the Old English words "fiaell" and "feallan," both of which mean "to fall from a height." It is assumed that this new name for the season was inspired by trees' falling leaves.

During the 17th century, both "fall" and "autumn" rose to popularity in Britain, but it was the younger and "more poetic" term for the season that ended up crossing the seas and leading in the American English language. Subsequently, Britain ended up using "autumn" as their primary term for the season. While you'll still hear the word "autumn" used in America and "fall" used in Britain, you're much more likely to hear it the other way round.  

Then I looked up religious calendars and I saw the one on the left, which referred to the time as Ordinary time. Well, first of all, nothing in 2020 has been ordinary and every time of year to me is full of exciting changes in our lives. I have to admit most of the time the outdoor scenery is my favorite to admire of the creation that God has provided for us. There were so many descriptions and so many graphs there was no way I could include them in one devotion. When referring to the Bible for references on the seasons it was clear that I could not include all in this same devotion. 

There are the many seasons that God has provided for us and in all the seasons He is with us and given us eternity.  That no matter what season we are in we know He is there, He has a plan, He knows each of us individually and He knows our every need.  We need to enjoy each season and all its glory.  Thank God for the beauty and the splendor of each season.  We need to look for the blessings and not the down “falls” of each season.  There are many weather seasons and many life seasons but each is a gift from God that we must trust in Him.

Prayer: Thank you Father the seasons.  Thank you for always being by our side.  Encourage us to see the beauty and be thankful.  Amen

Lori Hood

Our Gifts

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21     

This scripture passage has been sung as an anthem, probably many different ones by many composers. But when I sang in our church choir (First Presbyterian Church in St. Louis) as a youth and later as a young adult, we sang this anthem every year on Pledge Sunday in the fall. Our Minister of Music hoped it would encourage the congregation and membership to be even more generous in giving and pledging.  

I’ve been singing the words of this passage in my head repeatedly since receiving the letter about Eastridge Presbyterian’s need for extra dollars to continue the work of our church. I know this is a challenging time for all of us, but I hope that many of us are able to add to our usual donation and/or pledge to ensure the stability and survival of Eastridge Church, its pastors and staff and the community of love it provides.  

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for the many gifts you have given us.  With gratitude in our hearts, let us share those gifts as you would have us do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Carolyn Brandle  

A Word from Philippians

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 5-9

For God So Loved the World

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

The God of Hope

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”

Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
    let all the peoples extol him.”

And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:5-13

Harvest Time

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:16-18

This time of year, the fields are filled with combines, tractors, wagons and other equipment as farmers work long hours to bring in the fall crops. Drought and rain, heat and cold, hail and wind, all these elements influence the harvest. We pray for a bountiful harvest, even as we rely on technological inventions such as hybrid seed, irrigation, and global positioning. In the end, the outcome of harvest comes down to seeds, soil, and weather.

Fall is a good time of year to reflect on what we have sown and how we have tended our own gardens. What will be our harvest and the fruits of our labors? James explains that we will reap what we sow, saying: "Can a fig tree yield olives or a grapevine, figs?" He urges us to be "open to reason, full of mercy, and good fruits." As the harvest is brought in from Nebraska's fields this fall, let us renew our effort personally, in our communities, and as a nation to sow seeds of peace in the sincere hope of a future harvest of peace.

Prayer: Creator God, help us to be peacemakers as we look ahead to a harvest of good fruits, mercy, and peace for all of your people. Amen.

Claudia Reinhardt (reprinted from Eastridge Daily Devotion book, 2008)