The Journey

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

I consult Facebook every day. Because I am connected to a community of caring and perceptive people, I am rewarded with many heartening things. But the feed I scroll through also contains many small-minded posts from others who have friended me for various reasons, or from marketing sources. 

A few nights ago I checked Facebook after a tiring day and read something hypocritical written by an acquaintance, on a very timely subject. I had a knee-jerk emotional response of indignation and disappointment. 

I had to step outside of myself for perspective and realized that I was reacting to something with disproportionate strength of attention and emotion. So often, when this happens, I discover I have spent too much time on an activity of little worth. 

Through the day, I try to monitor what draws my attention. I have to turn off the car radio sometimes, because the sky is too beautiful to split my attention with (other than driving safely). Sometimes the channels I have to change are in my thought patterns. My mind is fed by everything I see and experience, and it does not always tend to ruminate on the most inspiring, joyful, and courageous things. Especially when I am weary, I find I need to choose carefully what I listen to.

Like many people I know, I have an ongoing project for personal growth. With the new year, I feel renewed energy for pursuing the current steps in my goals. When the poet Mary Oliver died recently, many of her words were reprinted in articles about her. I found them to resonate with my inner journey. Her references to nature reminded me of how much I want a deeper relationship with God's world, and how it requires turning down the volume drastically on the attention-getters in the material world. 

It really doesn't matter that Facebook gives as much space to things that matter as to things that irritate. One is not required to listen to the news in order to get on with the day. Everything that catches attention is not as worthy as the thing that the discriminating mind has the power to pursue. But this is a lesson that is ongoing with me. I am amazed at how far I have to go.

This prayer is excerpted from "The Journey", one of the many compelling poems by Mary Oliver.

God of the earth which teaches me when I pay attention, help me to be fueled by these thoughts: "One day you finally knew what you had to, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice--But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do...Little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world...." May your voice be the one I listen to above all others, and most deeply in my heart. Thank you for the gift of your world to teach me about your love. Amen.

Mollie Manner (reprinted from 2019)

After Christmas

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely Psalm 138: 1-4

This past holiday season, I began with a great deal of love and joy. I wrote the Christmas letter, opened the address book and started on the yearly adventure of cards for all. But the next page was full of friends no longer living, the next where widows live, and this one where friends have moved to assisted living. What a downer, but I plowed on, determined to reach the end of the addresses and finish the chore (what I viewed it as now). Cards began to come in, full of picture of grandchildren, greats (grandchildren), and pets. No letters to speak of, sometimes, only very spidery writing on the front of the envelope.

So I moved on to the next favorite thing of the season: purchasing gifts. Luckily my grandsons had told me almost exactly what they needed and the granddaughters had their mother clued in on what would be a nice gift for gramma and papa to purchase. Not too expensive but things that would make their lives happier and more fun. A strange gift appeared in my eyesight for one son-in-law and socks to replace the holed ones for the other. The gift for my husband was easy. Take him to the shoe store, and with the help of my daughter, it was a great success. The plane was on time and the granddaughters were there to pick us up. The holiday was definitely beginning to look very promising.

Christmas Eve online with Eastridge was just what we needed to really make our lives full of joy and peace. Then on Christmas Day, loads of presents, and Zooming with the other half of our family. Working on a jigsaw puzzle in the afternoon with daughter number 2 and granddaughter Leah filled the holes that COVID had created. COVID was nearly forgotten but our masks were ready for us once again as we entered the airport to return home. I ordered a wheelchair since I knew it was nearly a mile to gate 27. We arrived just in time for our plane but…it had been delayed by 2 hours, then 3 hours, but no one complained and the bathroom was very near. During the wait, I texted a friend and found that she is having to move because of financial problems. What am I complaining about? Life is meant to be full of ups and downs, meant to have to wait for promised events, meant to share joy and sorrow with friends and relatives. Christmas is meant to be shared with others and remembering the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We finally flew home and today, the holiday has ended but the love and joy of family and friends, plus the hope of the tomorrows remain. Whatever I am doing from now on, I am going to try to remember the peace and joy of Silent Night on Christmas Eve.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to realize what we have and be thankful, for not just what we want or how we hope for it to be. Be with all who have less and help them to hope once again. Amen.

Carolyn Olsen

Words from the book of Peter

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

Genealogy

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. Matthew 1:1-6

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4

A record of Jesus’s genealogy is in Matthew 1 of our Bible. It continues and names the generations until Jesus was born. As we get older, we become more interested in who came before us. My father was 88 years old when he asked me to take him to Sweden so he could see southern Sweden where his grandmother was born. He had a Swedish friend named Sixten that we could also see. We arrived at Sixten’s home and ate the reindeer stew he had made for us.

From there Sixten took us to the largest Immigrant Museum in Europe. Bryce and Sixten’s brother Gert went up into the microfiche records and found my dad’s relatives and their descendants. Sixten said he could call and see if they wanted to see their American cousins. This was more than my dad had ever thought possible. They said, “Yes, we want to see our American family!”

God had a hand on behalf of us which you can believe by what happened next. Sixten told the relatives we could be there in 3 hours. We (my granddaughter, my father, Bryce, myself and Gert) headed out in Sixten’s Volvo while it was raining. About three hours later the sun came out and a beautiful rainbow shown in the sky. Under the rainbow were about a dozen people with cars blocking the road.

We were able to enter four relatives' homes and had many days with relatives who looked like us and were so excited to see us. It helps me understand the importance of Jesus’s genealogy.

Prayer: thank you, Lord for showing your blessing of this reunion with the beautiful rainbow. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

How to Involve the Body of Christ in the World

I would like to base my devotion "How to Involve the Body of Christ in the World" on a scripture from The Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus is speaking:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16

Jesus came to the earth, in the form of man, to shed light to the world so men might see God through Him. Christians are to shine for Jesus' sake, or in other words, to carry on Jesus' message of hope and love to the world. Jesus is saying that we, as Christians, are the light of the world.

Man is to be the bearer of eternal light. Man is to let his light so shine that other men shall see the light and give glory to God. We as Christians must radiate God’s light through Jesus, for Jesus and God are one.

As Christians we sometimes feel that we have to debate with ourselves whether or not to love, to hope, or to perform any other action which shows Christ’s light in us. We often feel that we must hide the fact that we are Christians.

The sun warms the earth with light and we too as Christians must show our Christian love by gathering and reflecting light from Christ to the world around us.

As a college freshman, life on campus is new, exciting, and presents challenges. The biggest challenge is to live as Christians - showing Christ’s light. We have been reared in Christian homes, but now we are on our own and it is difficult at times to remain a shining light. We are set in a new world of changing forces surrounding us. I guess you might say we had been in a protected world through high school, but now we are faced by an open new world.

In a church related college, the students have a common background, but at a state college such as Towson State College, it is more of a challenge because of the varied backgrounds of the students. It is more of a challenge to shine our light as a Christian.

I have picked a few examples that I have observed on my own campus relating to the new world in which we are faced.

1) The first is going to church on Sunday. At college you don’t have your parents encouraging you every Sunday morning and it is easier to just not go, for many. But I have found that those of us who do go set an example for others to follow.

2) Second is taking the Lord’s name in vain. It stops me short when I hear this going on, but I have found that setting an example of yourself and not using it is the best remedy for people that notice. 

The whole idea of showing light is based on setting an example for others by the way we carry out our lives. If we can live a life as a Christian, we are showing others the Christian life – thus involving Christ in the world. I have found that the people at college who live a Christian life and involve Christ in their everyday life tend to be looked up to and followed by others. (I went to Towson State College in Baltimore, Maryland, and belonged to a Christian Fellowship group.)

When the lights go out, confusion results but when they resume, things go back to order. This can be related to us as Christians. If we turn out our light of Christian love and hope, then the world will be in confusion. Let’s keep our light burning for Jesus – setting an example for others is letting our light of Christian love and hope shine.

~Susan Taylor, adapted herself from an essay she wrote in 1965, during her freshman year in college. Susan found this recently when cleaning out storage areas. (reprinted from June 2021)

Commitment or Resolution?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18

As a child I remember New Year’s Eve as a very special family time. My parents would first let us stay up until midnight; it was a true time of celebration. It always felt like it was the beginning of a wondrous time- that continued from the Christmas celebration. I don’t remember all the activities that we did but it was definitely family time! We used the same noise makers for several years. One was a dancing pineapple that spun around in circles and played music (long before all the moving/animated toys of today); a banana riding a tricycle moving toy and my Chinese twirling drum with tiny bells that would hit the drums. My father would make us each a special drink to cheer in the New Year, Seven-up with a little cherry flavoring, or coke with a little chocolate. They were served in Mom’s special event glasses and a straw was always included to top it off as an official cheer beverage.

Now as the New Year’s Eve’s passing much more rapidly than in my childhood, I can’t say I have enjoyed them as much as I did in my childhood. In the last few years I have wondered how to bring the excitement and hope back into the event. I had found over the years that making new year resolutions was not much of an accomplishment because so many years I didn’t complete them. Did I not complete them because I didn’t really find it as important as I had, or was it because I chose the many common ones that others choose each year such as going on a diet, exercise more just to make a resolution?  I decided not to make resolutions for a few years. 

I now find that at the end of each year and beginning of the New Year I don’t make resolutions as I did, but I recommit myself to follow the path the Lord has set before me. I remind myself to be more thankful for the many blessings each day. This may include just the fact that He made a beautiful sky like a painting for me to see. The time I get to spend with family and friends. I opened my life to include new adventures for me such as writing these devotions which is something I had never done before. I was given the opportunity to volunteer in the church and other places to build new friendships. I find I am more committed to follow through not just through the New Year but throughout my lifetime. Each day I find myself with more blessings in recommitting myself to listen for His path or maybe His resolutions.

Prayer: Dear Lord, open my eyes that I may see, open my ears that I may hear, open my senses that I may feel your glory. Open my heart that I may find the many blessings that you have prepared for me that I may miss. Thank you for each second, minute, hour and year that I am blessed to enjoy those around me and the life around me that you have provided. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Lori Hood (reprinted from 2018)

Go, Tell it on the Mountain!

Go, tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Having a conversation with a friend, they mentioned a person and through the conversation she was surprised that I knew that person. I said yes, I graduated with them. The friend stated I never felt a warm feeling when around this person.  I said they had a hard life and they really have a heart of gold. 

When supervising an employee, the employee was not one of my top performers.  Unfortunately, his life changed dramatically when he lost four relatives within a few short weeks. I attended each of these funerals in support, not because I knew any of them but wanted to let him know others cared. After a few months, I noted his performance improved and he was reaching to be one of my top employees. During a review, I mentioned that I really appreciated his efforts and that if he needed anything to continue in his work area let me know. He told me that I was the only person from work that attended his family funerals and that it really felt good to know someone cared enough to attend.  

How easily we interpret someone’s personality without really knowing them. I know that I myself do not at times seem approachable. I am usually in some deep thought of things I need to do, people I am concerned about and just daily activities. I do try to improve with a smile or a hello; and address the person, looking in their eyes for a connection. 

We judge others so quickly by the way they dress, their hairstyle, their jewelry and even their expression. What would it be like if we allow that person to be truly known for who they truly are. Okay, maybe they don’t have the same beliefs, political standings, or even the same monetary lifestyle; but deep down we all need to feel that someone cares, that someone will be there for them.

Just living the lifestyle God wants us to live and tell of the love He has for everyone. Not just a few, but everyone. Showing kindness, showing patience, showing respect to everyone is an expression of God’s love. Giving up your seat for someone, letting someone else have that parking stall close to the door.  Maybe helping someone at the checkout counters when they are a few cents short. Just small acts become big reactions. Show His love and celebrate as we have the last month of the wonderful news that God gave us His son. 

Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Lori Hood