Thursday - August 31, 2023
Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas
SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 5.1-3
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
WORDS OF HOPE
Wake Up from Your Sleep
ļ»æ
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with God and learn a life of love.
Following Jesus and becoming as “Christ-like” as we possibly can is a daily, sometime hourly practice of surrender. We are called to surrender to the ways of the world and to encounter something that is more dangerous, LOVE! Yes, as people of faith we are called to love.
The writer of the letter to the early church in Ephesus puts it this way, “Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. Jesus did not love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.”
The writer wants us to observe how Jesus lived his life. It is what Paul would call, “putting on the mind of Christ” and living, loving, caring, forgiving, like Christ. To face everyday decisions and behaviors as if we were “Christ”, not with the need or desire to get something in return but because it is the right thing to do – the right way to live.
In the 12-step traditions and principles of AA which were heavily inspired by Christianity, a fundamental practice is being of service to others with no intent to receive something in return. The spiritual principles of recovery are acceptance, hope, faith, courage, honesty, patience, humility, willingness, brotherly love, integrity, self-discipline, and service. Following these principles offers us the opportunity to love extravagantly, and not just loving and serving others, but loving and serving ourselves as well.
It is my sincere belief that if we could practice this truth much of the pain, guilt, shame, and damage that has been done to humanity, and which we absorb, could be healed and overcome – perhaps not even inflicted in the first place.
We love others because God first extravagantly loves us. It is this acceptance of God’s love that is lavishly offered to us, poured out toward us, that enables us to love ourselves. It is this God- love and our self-love that motivates us to love others and to be of service. “Love like that”, the writer says. What would our world look like if we could truly love like that? What would our own lives look like if we could love ourselves “like that?” How would this truth change the destiny of the church, our church?
Our invitation is to keep alert and to be mindful of our actions, knowing that they reflect our beliefs. As the writer of the Book of James puts it, “faith without deeds is dead.”
May we keep alert, stay woke, and be a demonstration of that kind of extravagant love in the world.
PRAYER
God, help us to learn to follow your ways and your commandment to love God, love self, and love others. Amen.
DEVOTION AUTHOR
The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas
Senior Pastor
Pronouns: he/his/him
Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE ļ»æ I John 1:5 This is the message we have heard and proclaim to you, that God is light and in God there is no darkness. WORDS OF HOPE After reading todays’ scripture, take time to be quiet with it and let God's Spirit talk to you about what you've read. Quietly read it again several times: “This is the message we have heard and proclaim to you, that God is light and in God there is no darkness.” Try meditating on those words to better explore the fullness of their meaning. Try to be so mindful of the words that you feel like you're falling into a pool of deep water... a pool of deeper experience with God. I believe that if you practice this approach, you will be drawn into a richer awareness of your relationship with God. In cultivating a richer awareness of God, define the scripture to yourself. God is pure light, perfect light, not a speck of darkness, a holy brightness. Our faith always has taught us that the Creator God's nature is perfect in all aspects, perfect wisdom, perfect love, and perfectly pure and holy. That perfection contrasts with humanity's mottled behaviors and failings. Our human character is often inconsistent and mixed in motive. Even in the midst of human goodness, perfection is elusive. The Judeo-Christian God has always existed separate from our less-than-perfect humanity. Part of this realization is the basis for the concept that God is holy. In the Psalms, we read that: "Holy is God's name." (Psalm 30:4) The Jews thought that you could understand the nature or characteristics of another person if you knew or spoke their name. When God blessed Abram and promised that he would be father to a multitude of offspring, God gave him a new name, Abraham, which denoted that promise. When we speak of God as holy, we state that God is set apart from us, other-than-us, God is pure perfection. It is our affirmation that God is different from us; we are not God. In meditating on the eternal truth that in God there is no darkness, we come face to face with the "otherness" of God, and that should instill a sense of awe in us. It is a true declaration of worship... Awesome God, Holy God, Pure and Perfect One. PRAYER Lord God, quiet my mind and open my heart to learn more about you. Guide my times of meditation, and allow me to better experience your unlimited majesty. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE Psalm 19:1 ļ»æ The Heavens are declaring the glory of God, and their expanse shows the work of God’s hands. WORDS OF HOPE How often do you ask God to do things for you and either do not wait for God to act, or do not recognize God’s answer and blessing to you? I found a cute example of ways we expect God to respond, but miss seeing God’s answer to us: A Reflection: The person whispered, "God, speak to me." And a meadowlark sang. But the person did not hear. So the person yelled, "God, speak to me!" And the thunder rolled across the sky. But the person did not listen. The person looked around and said, "God, let me see you." And a star shone brightly. But the person did not notice. And the person shouted, "God, show me a miracle!" And a life was born. But the person did not know. So, the person cried out in despair. "Touch me God, and let me know that you are here!" Whereupon God reached down and touched the person. But the person brushed the butterfly away and walked on. Author unknown MORAL: Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way you expect. PRAYER God who is always near, help us to see you in the wonders you send to show us your amazing love. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jan Nunn Cathedral of Hope Volunteer
SCRIPTURE ļ»æ Luke 15.16 But Jesus would often go away from the crowd to pray in quiet places. WORDS OF HOPE I recently attended something called a “new moon sound bath.” It sounds mystical, doesn’t it? It’s actually a yoga space filled with about 25 or 30 people engaging in light stretching, breathing, and the soothing tones of singing bowls. It’s relaxing and allows your mind to either engage…or wander. Occasionally, someone would fall asleep, signaled by a bit of snoring. Nobody cared. The hum and vibration from the sound bowls, chimes, and rain stick felt almost otherworldly. Those natural, non-electronic sounds, while staring quietly at the ceiling, invited a release from the noise of the day. I often find myself unable to control the moment. Too many days are filled with anxiety from listening to endless news and politics, always politics. Sometimes I wonder why I’m so drawn to that uncontrollable static in the first place. The yoga space glowed with purple and pink lighting, almost like staring into a distant galaxy. We were given permission to drift away. Only once, during one of these sessions, did someone truly doze off hard. Evidently, the release was deeply needed. Whatever worries had carried them to that moment were simply gone. The room filled with intermittent giggles before someone finally nudged them awake. A faint “sorry” was whispered, and we continued with gentle movement. The entire experience lasts only about an hour, yet it feels much longer—as though time itself briefly loosens its grip. For lack of a better description, it’s an inner-city wilderness moment. For a short while, we surrender worry, schedules, and the exhausting need to stay in control. Do you meditate or pray? In Retreats throughout the years, I’ve heard descriptions of intense meditation practiced by both Christian and Tibetan monks, and I sometimes wonder if deliberately seeking collective peace can somehow quiet the low vibration of fear and chaos around us. In a similar way, what did Jesus experience during his walks in the wilderness? Surely, away from the crowds, there was silence there. Prayer. Reflection. Release. Years ago, I walked among the giant trees in Muir Woods in California. It’s difficult to explain, but I felt a powerful vibration in my chest, almost overwhelming, as though the ancient forest itself was welcoming me into communion. Perhaps that’s why one section there is called Cathedral Grove. A posted sign read, “Enter Quietly.” Where are your Cathedral woods? Where will you give yourself permission to commune on a higher plane? When will you finally release the need to control? When you arrive at that place, a place unique to you, no one will need to tell you to “enter quietly.” PRAYER I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Lord, guide my thoughts and keep me focused on Your truth. Amen. -Psalm 119.15 DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare
SCRIPTURE ļ»æ Psalm 94:18–19 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. WORDS OF HOPE Oh, how quick our minds are to chide us for our clumsiness or sound the alarm of eminent danger! Yet, multiple studies have shown that most of the things we worry about never come to pass. I see the truth in that wisdom, for I have done my share of worrying that brought me no benefit. In retrospect, none of those worries were worth the time spent on them. No mistake or misstep will become a defining moment unless we allow it. Sure, we can learn from our mistakes but making them does not make us flawed or wrong. Instead, let us counter our mind chatter with the certain knowledge that Jesus calls us “friend” and declared that we are divine royalty, Heirs and Joint Heirs with Jesus Christ! The psalmist shows us the way. “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Let us live joyfully, for this brings honor to our beloved God! PRAYER Dear God, when my mind would lead me into fear, worry, and anxiety, help me to remember that you are always with me, always loving me and affirming my worth. I will then, be able to honor you with Joy and a life well lived. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Carole Anne Sarah
READING ļ»æ Isaiah 51:1-3 Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah, who bore you, for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. For the Lord will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. WORDS OF HOPE I was born to a scientist and his wife. Their families were vastly different in that my father’s family came from Eastern Europe and my mother’s family came from the hills of Tennessee. My mother was Christian and my father was Jewish obviously from different quarries, yet they gave me a sturdy foundation as a child. They nourished my curiosity, grounded me in the Jewish faith, and instilled in me a good sense of my heritage and an appreciation for all people. I consider myself very lucky to have been raised by such loving parents and am reminded of their strength and patience with me almost daily as I stumbled my way through childhood. I also know not everyone is so lucky, but if we look back far enough we all can find that quarry of which Isaiah speaks. More importantly, we are not destined to become our parents. God gives us the grace and room for us all to grow and develop into our best selves, if we are patient and follow the spiritual guidance we receive. It’s not a recipe for success, but rather a puzzle which we are given that hints at the direction we should travel. Those clues are disclosed not only through scripture, but through our interaction with others on the same journey. We are all seeking the Lord in our own way. We are all hewn from the same rock. PRAYER May we all find comfort and guidance in our journey, and may we work together to create a new Eden in the deserts of our lives. DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman
SCRIPTURE 1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. ļ»æ WORDS OF HOPE This scripture from Samuel reminds me of a story: A priest at a church elementary school was speaking to a group of third- & fourth-graders when a young girl approached him to strike up a conversation. A few minutes into their discussion, a look of astonishment crossed her face. "You are blind!" Which was true. "That's not news to me," the priest replied. But before he could say anything more, she blurted out, "You don't know what you look like!" The remark caught him off guard. Then, after a brief pause, she softly added, "You are beautiful!" Her words have stayed with me because, in a symbolic sense, most of us experience a kind of blindness that keeps us from seeing ourselves as we truly are. For the past twelve years, I have been studying the Enneagram. More than anything else I have encountered, it has helped me see myself more clearly. It exposes the stories and assumptions I tell myself about who I am. It challenges me to recognize how much there is still to learn about myself and who I might become. I attend the Cathedral of Hope because I believe its ministers, sermons, music, ministries, and congregation best helps reveal the goodness, truth, and beauty that God has placed within each of us. Yet many of us struggle to see ourselves as God sees us. What are the false stories that cloud our vision? Henri Nouwen identified three powerful lies about identity: I am what I have. I am what I do. I am what other people say or think about me. Whenever I feel unsettled, anxious, or disconnected from myself and from God, I often discover that I have begun to believe one—or sometimes all three—of these lies. They quietly pull me away from the deeper truth of who I am. We have just celebrated Pride Month together. It offered a meaningful opportunity to reflect on our identity and worth. It invited us to look beyond the labels, expectations, and judgments of the world and to consider what God sees when God looks into our hearts. There, we may rediscover the truth that our value is not earned, achieved, or granted by others, but rooted in being beloved children of God. RECEIVE THIS BLESSING Loving God, throughout Pride Month, you helped me look beyond the labels, expectations, and judgments of the world and to see myself as you see me. When I feel disconnected from myself and from you, help me recognize the lies that pull me away from the truth. When I measure my worth, remind me that my true identity is not something I earn or achieve. Call me back to the deeper truth that I am your beloved child, created in your image and held securely in your grace. AMEN DEVOTION AUTHOR David Sims, Deacon