Devotion

Scripture

Acts 19:1-10

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inlandcountry and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

On hearing this, they were baptized inthe name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Words of Hope

In this text we observe Paul arriving in Ephesus and observe how he baptizes and teaches.  When Paul arrives he realizes that there are many “disciples” here who have only been baptized in the name of John. They have either not heard the story of Jesus or have not been baptized into it.  Paul preaches about the Holy Spirit and the life of Christ and many receive the Holy Spirit.  Paul continues to teach for two years here until “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord”.

Most of the time when you become a Christian you are baptized in the name of the historic words of the church, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we commit to Christ time and time again, we are being convicted by the Holy Spirit to keep pursuing Christ at all times. This text shows us the saving power and grace of Jesus. We see Jesus saving us from ourselves each and every time.

During baptismal renewal services, we are reminded of our new life in Christ and the cleansing restorative power of water. I’m so thankful to see redemption and renewal as possibilities for all of us with God’s help. I wonder what it is like to be filled of the same spirit. Scripture gives us clues as to what this looks like; of loving all, of taking care of the least of these.

Prayer

Dear God, we give you thanks for the power of baptisms, redemption, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.

Devotion Author

Staci Orr

Reading

Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I’d be– Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere With my salvation up to me. I know how that would go, The battles I would face Forever running but losing this race

Were it not for grace. Larnelle Harris

Before reading further, you are invited to pause to listen to Sandy Patti’s rendition of this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9kgl42I89s

Words of Hope

If you want to know what Grace is, listen to a recovering addict tell their story. Or a person so mired in hopelessness that they were close to suicide and then “somehow” turned toward life. Or one whose shame over harming another was cleansed by the waters of forgiveness. Or a person who met just the right therapist to help heal the trauma of childhood abuse.

In one way or another, Nadia Bolz-Weber asserts, “It happens to all of us: God simply keeps reaching down into the dirt of humanity and resurrecting us from the graves we dig for ourselves through our violence, our lies, our selfishness, our arrogance, and our addictions. And God keeps loving us back to life over and over.”

As saving as these experiences are, we can’t orchestrate them. Anne Lamott shares that “Grace finds [us]. It meets [us] where [we] are but doesn’t leave [us] there.”

Grace is manifest in large Saul-on-the-Damascus-road experiences, but also in daily graces: a friend’s calling at just the right time or saying just the thing we needed, the book coming our way with wise guidance for a predicament, the unexpected creative spark that leads our project or art to fruition, the voice in the morning dark which sets a healthy limit when we’re slipping into an old, destructive pattern. “No, she says, gently. You know where that path goes.” Even in the writing of this piece, “Were It Not for Grace” has played over and over inside me, a buffer from darkness in time of loss, healing with the beauty of song.

This day may you pause and remember some of the times Grace has met you and loved you back to life—and the people who were instruments of that Grace. And give thanks.

Prayer

Loving God, “Oh to Grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be….” For all your tender mercies, I give you thanks and praise. Amen.

Devotion Author

Dr. Pat Saxon

Scripture

Luke 4:38-44

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

[Take a deep breath and exhale slowly….do it again and place yourself the Presence of God.]

Words of Hope

In the reflection of this section of Scripture, Jesus is in the midst of his active ministry. We see him in the Synagogue, in Simon’s house where he cured his mother-in-law, his trying to find a quiet place and the people demanding his presence as he was trying to reach another village for more preaching. His schedule was typically very busy, so he tried to find time here and there to restore his body and his mind and to rest his voice. Remember there was no amplification in those days, so he had to shout to reach the masses. Another curious point of this passage is the revelation that Simon (Peter) who was to become the first head of the new community was married.

More importantly, the passage reminds us that Jesus was ready to heal anyone within his reach. …no questions asked. While Jesus continues to physically heal, it usually takes the form of forgiveness for the illness we have inflicted upon ourselves and others as we journey through this life. Too often we feel that our “illness” is too serious to warrant Jesus’ attention or interest. On the contrary, Jesus is ALWAYS ready to heal, to forgive and to encourage us to sin no more.

The Scripture also reminds us that we, too, need to take some time away to rest, to recharge the human batteries so that we can better respond to God’s love of us and his desire to make us whole in his own eyes as well as in ours. There is nothing selfish about taking care of

yourself physically as we do spiritually. When you do this, you will be following in the ways of Jesus.

Prayer

O Holy One! Bless me, a sinner, as I once again am in your presence through our grace. I know that your love heals me on a daily basis. I am more grateful and ask you to continue to heal me even when I don’t always recognize I need your healing love. Help to be a wounded healer as I serve you in this life. Let me proclaim your love and life and the excitement I have in being in a relationship with you. Let me be a model for all with whom I relate today and tomorrow and for all the days of my life.

We pray these words through your many names, O God!

Amen.

Devotion Author

Bob Shea
Cathedral of Hope/United Church of Christ

Scripture

2 Corinthians 7:10 (MSG)

“Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.”

Words of Hope

Today is Opposites Day. In researching how this day should be “celebrated,” the creators suggest doing the “opposite” of what you normally would do. To do this, we have to settle on what the concept of an opposite actually means. As I thought about this, I began to question whether such a thing as opposites really exist. It seems to me that those things that we often assume to be opposites are actually two ends of a continuum of a describing the same thing. Consider the volume control on a radio. Most would say that it is either off or on. That is the way we were taught opposites. But then, how on is on? Now we can describe “on” as the sound being loud or soft, another pair of theoretical opposites. Then we realize that describing what is loud and what is soft is subjective. As much as some would like to disagree, the world is not binary. Most of our living occurs on that slider between off and on, soft and loud.

As Christians, we are taught that the greatest gifts are faith, hope, and love and that we should strive for peace among all people. Let’s say that on this Opposite Day we want to believe and live the opposite of these things.

First of all, what is the opposite of being a Christian? The binary thinker will say that if you aren’t a Christian then you are anti-Christian. Is that really the case? All those who believe differently are not “against” Christianity. A better word to describe those who are not Christians is non-Christian. As Christians, we are on a continuum with all people who are “believers” whether that belief system is based in Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, or anything and everything in between. And at the far end of that “slider” is those that are searching to find what they can believe, their “knob” may still be in the “off” position, but it is the same one that controls our “believer volume.”

Faith, hope, and love…without much thought we can articulate commonly assumed opposites to these ideas as well – doubt, despair, hate…or something along those lines. Let’s think again…

Perhaps at the other end of the continuum of faith is not doubt, but rather trust; from hope is not despair, but fear; and from love is not hate, but indifference. Consider these for a moment.

Though we often use the words faith and trust synonymously, faith asks us to believe in something for which there is no quantifiable proof. Trust is something we offer based on data, on that which is provable and reproducible. “Trust the science.” “Have faith in God.”

Hope is to put a positive spin on what may come. To express fear of that same unknown is perceived to be “less positive.” If we are honest with ourselves, we all live somewhere on that slider between fear and hope, some days more toward one end than the other.

It was Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel who said that indifference is the opposite of love. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech he proclaimed, “Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” He is telling us to actively love, to love out loud.

And finally, the opposite of peace? It is not war, it is injustice. Nelson Mandela said, “As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” By “truly rest” I believe he means find peace.

We have a lot of work to do before we can attain the kind of “rest” that Mandela speaks of. As believers of all kinds, we must continue to move toward faith hope and love in our thoughts, words, and actions…knowing that some days we will fall toward the “opposite” end of the continua.

Prayer

God of peace, guide my heart, mind, and actions. Help me to embrace where I am today and to strive to fully accept and share the gifts of faith, hope, and love. And in doing so that I may help this world take a step toward the peace which passes all understanding. Amen

Devotion Author

Kris Baker
Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Scripture

Jeremiah 36. 48

Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD that he had spoken to him. And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, …“You are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the LORD’s house you shall read the words of the LORD from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the people of Judah who come out of their cities. It may be that their plea for mercy will come before the LORD, and that everyone will turn from their evil ways, for great is the anger and wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people.” And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the LORD in the LORD’s house.

Words of Hope

In the Hebrew Scripture days of Jeremiah the Prophet, God did a lot of judging and punishing, often on a sweeping scale and almost always because the whole nation had committed a variety of collective transgressions against the Lord. The result was what we would call rotten luck in the form of lost wars, natural disasters and plagues. God’s judgments were swift and uncompromising. A possible avoidance of the inevitable could occur if the whole nation, meaning every person in it, could “turn from their evil ways.” It was that simple. Everyone in an entire nation would agree to beg for forgiveness and start over in unity, promising never to make the same disastrous mistakes again. It was a simple formula, but, you guessed it, it simply never worked.

Reading those ancient scriptures, it’s easy for us to say, “Oh those primitive people, believing that every wrong move they made was immediately judged and severely punished by God!” We also could say, “Imagine, every single person in an entire nation agreeing to repent and change their ways!” Retro fitting the ancients into our modern way of thinking has never worked, but one major advantage the Hebrews had over us is that in theory, a national rebirth was a possibility because everyone in the nation agreed on their view of the truth. God was in charge. People ignored God. God sent punishment. The people drastically changed. God forgave. The punishment ended.

Today, truth is not so well-packaged. According to which news-commentator or social media prophet we follow, the menu of the cafeteria of truth is endless and many of us have lost our appetites for it. At this point, the words of Jeremiah can speak boldly to us. He tells Baruch to share the truth of God to the people on one of their traditional days of fasting. In our times, that could mean at a time we designate to ourselves when we fast from all the absolutes and warnings, predictions and criticisms, and be silent, open to feeling the peace of God and perhaps even hearing God’s voice.

And that is the one voice that always speaks the truth. You may be surprised by what you hear.

Prayer

Help us to set aside times of fasting from the clamor of endless voices that block our hearing of your truth. Amen

Devotion Author

Dan Peeler
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Matthew 6. 31-32

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the world runs after all these things, and your heavenly Parent knows that you need them.

Words of Hope

God Provides

What are your needs this day? What are my needs? It seems that humans are always asking God to provide something for their material needs or help for others. Prayers can become terribly lopsided as if God is no more than our personal vending machine.

Let’s expand our thought about the providing God. Unlike human nature, God’s blessings are not limited only to those who call on God for help. During the past week, I’ve noticed a very tiny black thing at the edge of my bathroom tub’s floorboard. It’s so little that when I first spotted it, I thought it was a speck of black lint or something inanimate, not worth the effort to investigate. However, over the past few days it has moved several inches along the edge of the floor while not doing any harm – probably some sort of tiny, innocent bug.

It would take too much effort to do something about it, so I keep watching it. Yesterday, I wondered what he eats to keep alive. This morning, I realized that it is provided some excoriated, dead skin cells and an occasional fragment of hair from my balding head. The protein and carbohydrate from those sources may be what it needs to be provided with continued life.

Now, all of this may sound silly, but it reminds me of this incredible world which God has provided in which I can realize the constant provision of divine love. From day to day, I watch that tiny black speck as it moves along at the bottom edge of my tub, and my spirit is elevated. And a chuckle given to that voice in my head as I recognize how incredible, how inclusive, how all-encompassing is our providing God!

Prayer

Loving God, the degree of your care for all of Creation, including us, will always be beyond our comprehension. Thank you for being our eternal provider. Amen

Devotion Author

Donald (Luke) Day
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Words of Hope

God’s GPS

What God has planned for you nothing, no person, no force on Earth or in heaven, no demon, absolutely nothing can stop it from coming to pass. You may be doubting whether or not you are going to get the money you need, that college degree, the house that you have always wanted, or the baby that you keep seeing in your dreams, but if God wants you to have it, then it is already yours. You can relax. Stop doubting. God has something special for you that isn’t for anyone else. Just because you do not see it, does not mean that it is not on its way. This is the GPS. No, not the navigation system in your car. This is God’s Postal Service and it is fast, reliable, and always on time.

If your dream has not arrived yet, then that does not mean that you should give up on your dream. It could mean that something is not ready yet. When God wants to bless you, God wants to make sure that you are ready for the blessing. The bigger the blessing the bigger the preparation. When we stop trying, stop believing, and stop seeking we sometimes stop what God is trying to do in our lives. Time will pass and another opportunity will present itself for you to achieve your dream. This is not a coincidence but God trying once again to bless you. However, if we keep turning away, ignoring the signs, then eventually we will become deaf to God’s voice urging us to keep trying.

God does not do all the work. God opens doors but it is we who must walk through them. Take a chance on investing in yourself. There are always going to be risks, but you are not taking the risk alone. God will be there guiding you. If you are not meant to have something, then you will know because the distance between you and what you are seeking will keep getting further and further apart. It will feel like something is pulling you in another direction. That could be God leading you towards another path. Do not be discouraged by this because it is always the case that God’s plans are better than our own. Keep fighting for your dreams; it may take years, but the rewards are greater than you can even imagine.

Prayer

Spirit of Wisdom,

Give us discernment for the journey, patience for the waiting, and gratitude when we finally receive the promise. You have loved us before we loved You and have plotted our course. We praise You, not because You give us gifts, but because You give us the assurance of Your love. Help us to be as steadfast in our faith inasmuch as You are steadfast in loving us. We pray by Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

Devotion Author

Jonathon McClellan
Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Scripture

Luke 5:33-35

They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

Words of Hope

Being from Texas and the South, food has always played a big part in my life. Growing up I remember food was not only for special events, but it was a great panacea for just about any problem or emotion. Feeling down? Eat! Feeling happy? Eat! Worried about something? Eat! Long day at school? Eat!

I wasn’t just my Texas heritage either. On my dad’s side of the family, the Jewish mothers provided lots of their own food-therapy. “Have a cookie.” “Take a piece fruit.” “Looks like you need a good chicken soup.” “Sit down and have a piece of strudel!”

Perhaps it is because of this I find the idea of fasting very foreign to me until I tried it, not for health reasons, though I have always struggled with my weight, but for spiritual reasons.

My first actual fast was for Lent several years ago. I refrained from eating from sunup to sundown. My only sustenance was water and coffee.

Amazingly, it was not a big struggle. When I felt the pangs of hunger I paused and prayed or if I had time I wrote. Fasting removed the daily decision about what and when to eat. It freed up a good part of my time and helped me clear my mind.

Once I got into the rhythm of it, it became a natural pattern but no less spiritual. Rather than feeling deprived, I felt focused. Perhaps that is why most major religions emphasize fasting during certain periods of their liturgical calendars. It serves as a reset, a way to recenter and focus on what really matters.

Prayer

God of abundance, help me remember that the real food of life is more than bread, but spiritual sustenance that sustains me.

Amen

Devotion Author

Hardy Haberman

Scripture

Song of Solomon 5:3-5a

I have taken off my robe. How could I ever put it on again?

I have washed my feet. How could I walk across this dirty floor? My love put his hand on the latch; my insides began to throb for him. I leaped from my bed to let my love in.

Words of Hope

“Good Bible. Good Sex.”

I unashamedly deeply value and respect the Bible. I just don’t worship it—that would be idolatry. Scriptures that pre-date most of the text of the biblical canon speak quite directly about that. The Bible helps to reveal God, the Bible is NOT God.

I unashamedly deeply value human intimacy in all of the many ways people connect: emotionally, intellectually, socially, spiritually, physically, and sexually. Sexual intimacy is only one expression of human connection, but it can be an especially powerful, meaningful, pleasurable, life-changing and life-giving one.

Contrary to what is often preached or taught by various religious leaders, the Bible does not condemn sexuality. Still, there are those who would throw out the Bible because of how it has been interpreted to condemn some people and stigmatize certain behavior.

The Song of Solomon, a part of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), was considered so evocative and stimulating that single Jewish men were encouraged not to read it until they were 30!

As a sexual health professional and minister, I have found that the judgment we bring upon ourselves and others about sexuality is very far from, and damaging to, the holy, sacred intent of this great gift. Human sexuality, in its many expressions and experiences, is just as complex as human emotion, intellect, spirituality, and culture.

The Bible is not bad, it is how we misuse or abuse the ancient texts that can be destructive. The Bible can comfort, inspire, inform, transform and guide when we are attune to the Spirit of the Christ instead of our own small thinking or rigid judgment.

Sex is not bad, it is how we misuse or abuse the sacred human gift of sexuality that can be destructive and soul crushing.

Prayer

Holy One, may I reflect today on how I might live into being my healthiest self as I connect with You and with others. Amen.

Devotion Author

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley
Pastoral Psychotherapist
CCIADallas.org

Scripture

Amos 5:24

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Words of Hope

In the hallway of our home hangs a picture of my spouse’s paternal grandfather, the Rev. Bernard White, who was at that time the pastor of St. John Baptist Church in South Bend, Indiana. He is standing with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The two of them met on the occasion of Dr. King’s visit to South Bend on October 18, 1963, when Dr. King gave a speech at Notre Dame University. Rev. White and his wife Clara hosted Dr. King at their home and Bernard served as master of ceremonies at that event.

Less than two months after his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King rallied for a strong civil rights bill, saying: “The law can’t make you love me, but it can keep you from lynching me. Laws can’t change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated.”

In this speech and in the many writings of Dr. King, we hear an echo of the prophet Amos’ call to the ‘external’ work letting “justice roll on like a river” and the ‘internal’ work of tasking our hearts to seek “righteousness like a never-failing stream”.

The prophets Amos and Martin call us to the work of fighting the erosion of civil rights for which they fought. We are beckoned to the protest march and the voting booth. We are to expose systematic racism in our public places. We are called to the work of justice.

The prophets also call us to the work of righteousness. We are to seek loving, compassionate, and thoughtful relationships with our siblings. We are to listen first, learn what we haven’t seen, soften our hearts, and make apologies when necessary.

On this MLK Day, we must listen well to the prophets Amos and Martin, reaffirming our commitments to do God’s work of justice and righteousness.

Let us pray

On this MLK day, we give you thanks, O God, for the prophets of old and the prophets within our hearing. Move our bodies and our hearts to the work of justice and righteousness. Amen.

Devotion Author

Thomas Riggs