Thursday - August 31, 2023

SCRIPTURE 2 Thessalonians 3:13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. WORDS OF HOPE I often dismiss my college level classes by telling my students to “go out and do the next right thing.” It used to be that this statement was more about making good choices than actually knowing what was right. The other day, a student, who had heard me say this to the class many times, was the last to leave. They waited around to ask me, “How do I really know what is right?” The current climate of life in our country, amplified by the influence of social media, most certainly has blurred our perception of right and wrong and good and evil. My friends have an older neighbor who fell ill and was hospitalized for several weeks. The neighbor lives alone with two dogs. My friends and other neighbors stepped up to make sure that the dogs were cared for by someone actually taking them into their home. Others maintained the yard and did a much-needed cleaning of the home’s interior so that it was welcoming upon their return. Most people would consider these as acts of care and kindness. Unfortunately, that was not the case in this situation. The recipient of these intended acts of goodness was angry at everything that had been done. “The yard didn’t need to be whacked down to dead twigs. The dogs didn’t need to be groomed. I was going to clean the house when I got home.” My student’s question about how do we really know what is right suddenly became more momentous. As a follower of Christ, I have always believed that Jesus tells us, in Matthew 7:12, exactly what doing good looks like— “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”. Seems simple, but based on my friends’ experience, it’s not. What do we do when what we thought was good and right is not perceived as such? Or, the contrary, when what we see as not right is perceived as good? Paul’s letter to the Romans has an answer for us. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) As you go about your days, pray for guidance, be an example of peace and love to the world, and go forth and do the next right thing. PRAYER Loving God, guide my words and actions as I greet this new day. Grant me courage and strength to move through my day showing kindness, patience, and love to others and to myself. Teach me to always be a reflection of your goodness. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. WORDS OF HOPE Within the Genesis story of Earth' s creation and the unfolding of the human experience, God saw great beauty and expanding potential for our loving relationship with the Holy One. The creative act endowed humanity with freedom of choice. The descendants of Adam and Eve often chose a lifestyle pattern which was compatible with divine hopes while many more ignored the opportunity to walk in the ways of God. Then, from the descendants of the righteous man, Abraham, God chose to demonstrate the Divine's nature and purpose toward humanity. However, even those Israelites often failed to live according to God's desires. It was an era when so many were frightened and dismayed, but the creation was not to be abandoned by God. Creation would be redeemed. And from the family of Jesse, King David's father, would arise One who would restore humankind's relationship with God. Throughout the centuries, we have been given hope and courage by so many hymns that remind us of that truth. "Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tenderest stem hath sprung, of Jesse's lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night… True human but very God, from sin and death God saves.” -from a 16th-century German hymn. Do you remember this hymn by Bob McGee? "Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel, which means God with us and revealed in us. God continues to offer us this incredible, loving gift of Emmanuel to draw us into close relationship with the Holy One. God in us, God with us and God to act through us. As Thanksgiving approaches, what a joy it is to be grateful for this gift of divine wisdom that empowers us to bless the world. What a fantastic gift which is freely offered to each of us by the loving Creator. A THANKSGIVING SEASON PRAYER Almighty God, we give you thanks that you will sustain and guide us through uncertain periods of life. We can place complete trust in your constant presence and love in our lives. Strengthen us to listen and respond to your voice. And may our confidence in your guidance allow us to comfort and help those around us who experience fear and need. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR  Donald (Luke) Day Order of St Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE 1 Peter 1:3–9 (Inclusive Bible) Blessed be the God and Parent of our Savior Jesus Christ! By divine mercy, we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. We are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this we rejoice, even if now for a little while we have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of our faith—more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although we have not seen Jesus, we love them; and even though we do not see them now, we believe and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for we are receiving the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls. WORDS OF HOPE Today is World Television Day, and I find myself daydreaming about moments I never actually lived through. I’m too young to have seen The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, but I can picture it like it happened yesterday: living rooms packed with teenagers, jaws dropped, hearts racing, everyone leaning into that flickering black-and-white screen as if the entire world depended on it. I can almost hear the screams, the squeals, the wild excitement—especially when that first chord of “I Want to Hold Your Hand!” or “Twist and Shout!” hit. And then there’s the other side—the parents, muttering over their dinner, half exasperated, half secretly curious: “Turn that off! That noise is giving me a headache!” Television has always been this magical, slightly ridiculous bridge between generations—a place where wonder, rebellion, and music collide, and grown-ups just don’t get it. Television is a paradox, much like life itself. On the one hand, it connects us in ways nothing else can. It can make distant victories feel like our own—a last-minute touchdown, a jaw-dropping performance, a story that makes us leap from our chairs, fists pumping, hearts soaring. It can bring history into our living rooms, letting us witness suffering, joy, and beautywe might never see otherwise. It can make us feel part of something bigger than ourselves—whether we’re watching alone in pajamas with a mug of something warm (and maybe spilling it, because clumsiness is real), or with family and friends, sharing laughter, commentary, and playful arguments about who’s right. And sometimes it’s as simple as curling up with someone you love and binge-watching a show late at night, finding comfort in stories that make us laugh, cry, and feel just a little less alone. But television can also be heavy. The news—especially lately—can be relentless, a constant drum of fear, outrage, and heartbreak. I’ve felt that weight. I haven’t watched the news since the recent election. I needed a break—not to ignore the world, but to protect my heart and my spirit, to reclaim my ability to love, notice, and be present. I needed to breathe, to reconnect with life in its raw, immediate form. I needed to sit with friends and actually hear their laughter without my mind chasing the next breaking story. I needed to listen to music, write, feel a cat purring in my lap (who sometimes thinks my keyboard is a pillow), and just let my thoughts stretch and breathe. And in doing so, the ordinary became extraordinary. Television, like life, is messy. It can inspire, teach, and unite—but it can also exhaust, distract, and wound. On this World Television Day, I honor both sides. I honor the sparks of wonder that make our hearts race, and I honor the courage it takes to step away, to turn it off, and fully step into life—into conversation, into laughter, into presence, into the little moments that remind us why we’re here. The quiet spaces between broadcasts, headlines, and scrolling feeds—that’s where life happens. That’s where music drifts from a neighbor’s window, where someone smiles at a stranger, where love—messy, patient, radical love—takes root. That’s where hope feels tangible, even in a world that’s loud, chaotic, and sometimes impossible to navigate. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of television we all need more of: the kind that teaches us to live fully, love deeply, and breathe freely, even when the world outside is screaming for our attention. Because life, at its best, doesn’t happen on a screen. It happens in the pauses, in the laughter, in the moments we choose to look up and see the world—really see it—for ourselves. PRAYER Holy One, thank You for the ordinary moments that turn out to be extraordinary—sunlight, laughter, warm drinks, music, and yes, even the glow of the TV. Help me know when to step back, when to rest my mind, and when to open my heart. Teach me to notice You in the stillness, in stories, in faces, and in quiet joy. May I live with love, awareness, and a little humor along the way. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR  Reed Kirkman

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 11:1 A new branch will grow from a stump of a tree; so, a new King will come from the family of Jesse. The spirit of the Lord will rest upon that King. WORDS OF HOPE Faithful followers of Christ are compared to the olive tree because their roots will travel far, often standing alone on rocky hills withstanding weather at its most harsh and Jesus knew this better than anyone! Noah received an olive branch to let him know the flood had ended. Many emblems of the olive branch are used today symbolizing strength and peace. Not that I’m comparing a Gay bar to this topic but in the 70’s when it was fearful and illegal to gather as gay women, we all met at a bar called “The Olive Branch”. It offered peace and solitude for us at times of unrest. Like other folks, we sought a peaceful place where we could freely gather without fear. Similar to our lives, the olive trees begin to mature around 10 years old, start to peak at 50 years and continue to produce an abundance of olives even when they are hundreds of years old. When the trunk becomes large and old, branches are trimmed off, leaving what appears to be a dead stump. But the next year, fresh shoots spring from the old stump, and soon a new and vigorous growth of branches will produce an abundance of olives. Symbolically, just like that tree, our words, actions and lack thereof will continue to bear fruit for endless generations. As Christians, we have Jewish roots, and Jesus is our Jewish Branch. When God broke down the wall separating Jews and Gentiles, it wasn’t an invitation for the Jews to become Gentiles; instead, the Gentiles were invited to join the Jews, Gods people. The olive tree can be a constant reminder that Jesus is our branch. The beautiful olive tree reminds us of God's love and expectation to consider that ALL branches are wholly connected to the Holy source of God. PRAYER Creator God of beginnings and end, embolden us with courage to extend an “Olive Branch” to ALL humankind, reminding us we are ALL created by the same breath of life! In Jesus name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 66:14-16 You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bodies[a] shall flourish like the grass, and it shall be known that the power of the Lord is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies. For the Lord will come in fire and his chariots in a whirlwind,[b] to vent his anger in fury and his rebuke in flames of fire. For by fire will the Lord execute judgment, and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by the Lord shall be many. WORDS OF HOPE Sounds like a lot of smiting and slaying, and it’s verses like these that assure me that the Bible is written in many voices by many people. Isaiah was a prophet, at least according to tradition, and his book was written both before and after the Babylonian exile of the Jews, which pretty much confirms that the writings were by different people. Much of the work is angry and wrathful, which is no surprise since the Hebrews were captives in Babylon, so I take a lot of the fire and brimstone as the hyperbole typical of prophets trying to get people to listen. Today, those words sometimes make it hard for me to hear the message, which I believe is a reminder to stay true to our belief in God and be assured that God’s plans will come to pass, just maybe not on our time frame. If anything, he speaks to me of patience, and that is something I can always use. PRAYER God of many names, may we hear the words of the prophets and understand their context as well as their overarching message. As the Prophet Isaiah wrote of the message he received from God, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it. I am making a way in the wilderness. and streams in the wasteland.” Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman