Daily Devotions and Podcasts

SCRIPTURE Mark 5:36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” WORDS OF HOPE Fear, Discomfort, and a Christ-Like Faith We live in turbulent times—but not in circumstances unknown to history. Historically, names, terminology, and context may change, but dynamics repeat themselves. Power, fame, fortune, justice, and human rights are often the underlying themes of issues we face. Fear of change, abuse of power, religious or moral beliefs, and loss of freedoms or fortune shape the dynamics or become the drivers of unrest, social change and paradigm shifts. People have feared or raised issues with the horse as well as the automobile, the train and the turbojet. Religion has clashed with education and science since before the time of Christ. More recently, the use of vaccines, the development of robotics, and the rise of Artificial Intelligence have been the target of both praise and skepticism. Tyranny and genocide, racism and ethnic prejudice, civil liberties and social justice have all given rise to anxious times, political turmoil, human migration, international conflict and savage wars. It’s important to be clear that fear, discomfort, and reality are separate issues. · We may fear that which is different: this includes new ideas or perspectives; or people of a different race, color, creed, culture or orientation. · We may fear what we do not understand due to lack of experience; adverse experiences such as violence or war; or accepting falsehoods or prejudice that others try to promote. · We may find change of any kind both uncomfortable and distressing. But we choose to live in the reality of love, grounded by the life and faith of Jesus. We look beyond fear and distress to determine what is TRUE and what ULTIMATELY MATTERS. From the Christian perspective, love overcomes fear. Worry is diminished by faith, trust and hope. Anxiety is the “check-engine” light that tells us to stop, breathe, and look inside to clarify our feelings, thoughts, and beliefs. We anchor ourselves in the love of the Christ. Serenity is choosing to live by faith, creating the love, hope and promise the world needs to see. This is the Truth and reality for People of the Way of Jesus. PRAYER Holy One, calm my anxious mind and heart that I may more perfectly love. Today, I choose to live by faith, creating the love, hope and promise the world needs to see. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Rev. Dr. Gary G. Kindley Pastoral Psychotherapist DrGK.org

SCRIPTURE “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all God’s benefits.” Psalm 103: 2 “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” Psalm 143:5 WORDS OF HOPE  We hear so much today about the importance of staying in the moment, about mindfulness, focus, attention, and the physical, psychological and spiritual benefits of these practices—especially in the distracted, divisive, and distraught world we live in. I certainly honor these. And yet I wonder if, in centering these, we have undervalued an important spiritual practice: remembering. Consider, if you will, the value of some ways of sacred recollection. Remembering Scripture: The two verses above from Psalms stress these practices. In the first, not forgetting God’s gifts to us and saving deeds provides a wellspring of praise. Psalms 143 states it directly—to remember the days of old, the wondrous works of God’s hands-- and goes even further, to encourage us to ponder and meditate upon the impact and significance of these. One of the most powerful promises is offered in Isaiah 43: 1-3. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God…. For generations people have been delivered from anxiety and the threat of harm by remembering and trusting in these words of God’s presence and protection. Particularly, when you are feeling beset by the pain and hardship of life, lifting to consciousness scriptures which have anchored you, guided you, and comforted you in past times can lighten the load again. Remembering with Ritual: The recent grief, love and remembrance rituals of the 25 th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy have helped restore the power of these deeply moving modes of solemn witness and honoring for individual, communities, and the nation. Personal grief rituals are meaningful as well. Visiting a grave and leaving flowers, making a loved one’s favorite meal, sharing stories with family or friends, revisiting a special place and scattering ashes, playing a special song, writing a letter which speaks of ongoing love or expresses to the spirit of the beloved how you are doing are a few rituals, often offered on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. Remembering our own Grace experiences: Because I carry so vividly and gratefully the visitations of Grace in my life, I return again and again to the line: “Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be…”*These experiences may be subtle touches or dramatic resurrecting events. No matter what, returning to them in memory can help keep us afloat in the times our hope is nowhere to be found. Each Sunday we re-enact our central ritual of Grace when we share communion with lines that echo through the centuries: “Do this in remembrance of me.” We remember the night Jesus was betrayed that the bread and the cup were offered to all --in their wholeness—goodness and flaws together. We remember the sacrifice of love. PRAYER Holy God, you call us to remember how prone to wander we are and about how your Grace has healed us, saved us, and given us a vision of hope and new possibilities when we could not see. There is no way we can thank you enough except by living our lives in service. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon *From “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”