Daily Devotions and Podcasts

SCRIPTURE  Galatians 6.9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” WORDS OF HOPE Today is Rubber Ducky Day, which may seem to you like just another of those random daily holidays that we observe to entertain ourselves. To me, it has a multitude of definitions and the most important one is reflected in today’s Scripture reading about the rewards of hard work. I have a long-time friend at this church who has one of the most impressive collections of rubber duckies on the planet, bath toys of every shape and size imaginable. They are just one of the ways she and her wife spread joy- and spreading joy is not an easy job these days, but they do not grow weary in doing good; they do not give up! The duckies also remind me of another acquaintance from many years ago, the incredible puppeteer and producer, Jim Henson. I met grew to know at several Puppeteer Conventions. We shared the love of doing good things for children. Jim made the Rubber Duckies famous through the classic Sesame Street song, “Rubber Ducky, You’re the One” sung by Jim’s Muppet, Ernie. Jim, too, through all the enormous challenges of TV and Movie production, never gave up, always worked for the good, and left an incredible harvest to the whole world. After Jim Henson was gone, the roll of Ernie (of Bert and Ernie) went to several other puppeteers throughout the years. One of them, a brilliant performer named Billy, is a long- time friend as well. I met him when he was 20 about 20 years ago and immediately found out that working for the Muppets was his lifetime dream. He worked for years perfecting the voices and classic moves of several of the characters, all the while saying that he knew the odds of getting an audition were probably 100,000 to one, but he would not give up. I knew that he probably was being conservative about those odds, but Charlie, my business partner, and I would not let the odds hold back our constant encouragement to our friend. And, thanks be to God, in due season, Billy got the job. Billy was now Ernie. After 8 years with Sesame Street, he moved on to other adventures, but he left them with an iconic treasure: the original Henson Rubber Ducky! So, whether you are a tireless church worker, a potential world-famous mogul of an entertainment empire, or a kid with a dream, carry that verse from Galatians with you always. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” And don’t forget to hug a rubber ducky today, if one happens to cross your path. PRAYER God of Love and realized dreams, may we never give up, never tire of doing good, knowing the act itself never stops blessing the receiver and giver alike. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE  Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. - WORDS OF HOPE A few weeks ago, we commemorated the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Baptism is a pivotal moment in the life of a Christian. It is the moment when we are marked as Christ’s own, take up his armor, and become a minister of Christ’s gospel. Some big promises are made when we are baptized. We promise to renounce the evil forces in the world, affirm faith in the trinity lived out through the church, and to live a life rooted in the teachings of Christ. Just as Jesus’s baptism, at around age 30, marked the beginning of his public ministry “and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17), so too is it the beginning of our journey with Christ. If we truly live to fulfill our baptismal promises, there is much fear and trembling along the way. Following Christ is not easy and it’s not always comforting. We can find comfort in the unconditional love of God given to us through Christ, but as baptized Christians, we are called to also share and grow that love. Sharing God’s love means standing up to evil, fighting for justice, proactively caring for the marginalized, protecting God’s creation and all that inhabit it, and proclaiming the good news of Christ in all things. Taking on these responsibilities is unsettling and scary. Taking on these things can be uncomfortable. Being a Christ-follower does cause fear and trembling. But as we say when we are baptized, I will do these things that are required of me with God’s help. What we need to remember is that God is always near to help us, but we need to be willing to do the work. Much of that necessary work is done inwardly. A daily discipline of prayer and study roots us in Christ. Another helpful practice is a Daily Examination of Conscience, a time to reflect on our relationship with the Holy each and every day. There are many ways to do a daily self-examen. I have used this simple form for many years. At the end of each day, I reflect and journal on these three questions: What have I done today for God?, What have I done today with God?, and What have I done today to God? From this practice comes joy and gratitude, but it also sheds light on the places where I need to both offer and ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings. With that, I am equipped to meet the next day, listening to and working with the God who is working in and through me in order to fulfill God’s good purpose. The act of getting baptized is short and merely a beginning to the much longer and more challenging lifelong challenge of being baptized. We have the opportunity throughout the liturgical year to renew our baptismal vows. We can also revisit them ourselves anytime we are struggling with God’s call to us and our response. PRAYER Loving God, today I remember the promises I made in baptism. Wash over me again with your grace, cleanse my heart, and kindle the joy within me that comes from loving and serving you. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare