Thursday - January 25,2024

SCRIPTURE Proverbs 12:17 When you tell the truth, justice is done, but lies lead to injustice. Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.  WORDS OF HOPE Mark your calendars for July 7th and join us in celebrating Tell the Truth Day! This day has been around since at least the 1700s and is a reminder of how important honesty can be. Not only is it important to tell the truth, but it's also important to practice active listening so that we can better understand each other. So, this July 7th, let’s all take a moment to reflect on why telling the truth is so important and make sure we commit to being honest with everyone in our lives. That sounds simple. Don't we always tell the truth? What about when a friend calls and wants you to come to help them with a project you aren't very interested in? Are you honest with them - and possibly hurt their feelings. Or do you make up an excuse of a conflict to not go help them? And is that truthful? Is it better than hurting your friend's feelings? How do we balance truth and kindness? When your child does a drawing - it isn't beautiful to anyone but you. What do you tell them? I tried "creative truthful" responses for my children, because my Mom was always brutally honest with me. "You didn't color in the lines, and you smeared a spot!" My response to my children was more “How creative and colorful! Let's display that on the fridge.” I wanted to encourage them; not stifle any creativity they might have. The full truth and nothing but the truth can be hard. I pride myself in being a truthful person. But I become challenged in many circumstances between being honest and being kind. If someone asks how I like their new dress, when I don’t, I try to find something about it I can compliment. My previous denomination tried to get me to be critical about everyone's soul, unless they believed exactly like our denomination and had been baptized exactly like our denomination. I am afraid I told many people untruths over the years! I now believe that love is the important thing. And love is the truth. I no longer believe you must "get right with God" to be saved! The real truth is God's love makes us right and we have that unconditional love and should share it instead of condemnation! The truth and nothing but the truth is love. Love is all you need. God has taken care of everything else! So, I strive to be truthful, not just on Tell the Truth Day. But I don't have to fear eternal punishment if I falter occasionally! Praise the God of Love! PRAYER God of love and truth, help us heal this hurting world with your words of love to all. Help us find the right words to say to bless all we meet. DEVOTION AUTHOR Jan Nunn CoH Volunteer

SCRIPTURE  Psalm 139:10-11 "If I say, surely darkness shall cover me, and the light (of good old times) around me become dark night; even then your divine hand shall lead me, and your good right-hand will hold me fast." WORDS OF HOPE Today is the 4 th of July, Independence Day, traditionally a day of gratitude for the past and optimistic hope for the future. Hope is the expectation of that which is not yet realized, but desired enough that it is sought. It is one element of the human psyche which motivates life to continue. In these chaotic times, we hear grumbles and genuine concerns around us about the fragility of our hope in the future. When hope is lost, there is deep despair or even loss of the vital force to continue life. Since the beginning of humanity, God has been shown to be the answer to our despair. The Bible narratives and the actions of Jesus show us again and again that God is the true source of our hope. Sometimes we forget this truth and that is not unique to this generation. For several generations before Jesus' birth, Jewish life endured much despair. The Roman army occupied their land with consequent economic hardship and heavy taxation. The Temple authorities and High Priest were "under the thumb" of King Herod and his Roman masters. There was religious dissension, and the former strong voice of God's prophets no longer was heard. It was a time when the voice of God's Spirit seemed to be dulled by uncertainty and almost quenched. The hardship and darkness of daily life seemed to make God's presence very distant. The constant stress and burden of each day could be endured only by a flickering hope that God had not forgotten them. They must have lamented, "When, O God; how long will it be before the past's better times return again?" God's presence in their daily life seem to be diminished; God's voice seemed to be quieted, almost breathless. Still, some people had a fleeting hope that God would break through the spiritual darkness. Little did they know that God was setting the stage for their salvation. In today's uncertain world, you may have experienced similar spiritual stress and uncertainty. How many times have you thought: "When O God, will we get back to normal?" Like that generation of Jews before Jesus' birth, we need to hold tightly and be assured the hope that God is with us in our struggles, and that relief will come with renewal of our spiritual life. We are never separated from God! As the Psalmist reminds us, “Even now your divine hand shall lead me, and your good right-hand will hold me fast." Keep up your hope, God is still working! Every day we remind ourselves of that truth we are celebrating our own personal Independence Day. PRAYER Lord God, bring quiet to my mind and help me to center my attention toward your presence in my life this day. May I clearly hear your voice as you teach me and guide my life in the ways of your love. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE Luke 8.7 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. WORDS OF HOPE Today’s official bizarre holiday is Superman Day. This is always a fun day for me. My earliest television memories were watching the old 1950s TV show, The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves. I was so young in fact that I didn’t really know what I was watching other than a man and in a funny suit and cape, who would jump out a window and fly, and somehow always be positioned in front of his friends to deflect bullets. But it had a lasting effect. Not only that show, but later it became much more about the character and into adulthood about the metaphor. Superman represents so many things. In a way, it’s a similar retelling of the story of Moses in the Bible, sending an infant son in a basket down the river, or a rocket to another galaxy. Or the parallel of God sending his only begotten son, to save humanity from themselves, interfering in the challenges of their lives only as often as needed. I’ve always been fascinated with the costume of Superman beginning with the TV show. There were lots of various costumes that the actor George Reeves had to wear, both in black and white filming and later in color. George even had a special set of outfits he would wear in public for his promotional appearances. Everywhere he went he had to be Superman and at other times to heighten the drama, he would appear as Clark Kent in his suit, hat, and glasses. Kids cheered enthusiastically for Clark as well, knowing who he really was and that he would make the switch into his more colorful costume later. The obvious parallel, which I believe we can relate to is the one we all share, creating different personalities of ourselves at work, or home, or perhaps in different social situations. This isn’t just about Superman. It’s about us isn’t it? Isn’t it about sometimes living out our lives wanting to be perceived as normal to everybody on the surface yet hiding our true selves? Do you ever do that? Do you want to blend in? Or are you the one who dares to be different in a crowd who may disagree with you? Many of us feel confident in speaking our truth. Others are more comfortable being the one doesn’t make waves. There is no right or wrong answer here because we all have our differences of opinion on how we present ourselves; what we’re willing to say out loud, and what we are not. Jesus knew that there was a time for miracles and a time for meditation, a time for raising the dead and a time for resting from it all. In the comic book stories of Superman, he eventually shares his true self with Lois Lane. Perhaps the real parallel is that the people around us are all more like Lois Lane and can’t be fooled by a pair of glasses. Maybe that secret thing about yourself that you hold dear is not so secret at all. Just remember, the children clapped just as loud for Clark Kent as they did for Superman. PRAYER Creator of all, we sometimes live in a world of duel identities. Help us to be flexible in ways we share our feelings in a diverse society but may the message we share always be centered on your love. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Charlie C. Rose Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE Micah 4:3 God will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. WORDS OF HOPE The Prophet Micah didn’t hold back when he had an important, often urgent, message to deliver. He spent a generous portion of his time condemning the corruption of God’s plan for the Hebrew people, especially by the organized religious leaders in wealthy big cities such as Jerusalem. A small-town boy himself, Micah, I’m sure, took great pleasure in informing them their promised Messiah would one day be born in the unremarkable tiny town of Bethlehem. A contemporary of the preeminent Prophet, Isaiah, Micah is listed among the Minor Prophets, but his impassioned words are some of the most-quoted passages of the Bible. His central message is the condemnation of war. He prophesies that only God can bring about the conclusion to centuries of the senseless devastating conflict that has plagued not just Israel, but all the other nations. He sees a future when the world will “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” It is not difficult to understand why Micah was considered a Minor Prophet. In his era, no one was ready to hear these particular words that were spoken by God through the Prophet. There were already quite a few more wars on their agenda. Jesus, the most radical preacher of them all, heard Micah’s message loud and clear. How many of us in our century are finally ready to listen to Jesus? PRAYER Our faith has been kept alive by the eloquence of great women and men you have chosen throughout many centuries to be your messengers. Give us the wisdom to recognize your eternal wisdom today. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dan Peeler Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

SCRIPTURE Romans 8.26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. WORDS OF HOPE When We Have No Words There are times when we simply have no words to describe what we feel, and times when we have no words to give the person who is grieving. Sometimes we simply admit our lack and offer hugs or share tears. God knows, and God cares. The scripture in Romans gives us an idea of how we can cope in the midst of our “no words” crisis. This scripture says, even when we do not know what to pray for, the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans! It is somewhat of a novel idea in our culture, but common in some others. My Aunt Esther used to regularly spend time in prayer for others. She often relied on “groaning in the spirit” when she was confused about how to pray. Now I too have learned to groan. I have experienced this in praise and worship, when the singers switch from words to pure vocal harmonies. It is powerful and calls to the depths of my soul as I commune with God beyond words. Let us give ourselves up to the many ways of being intimate with God. PRAYER Loving God, may your Holy Spirit speak for me everything that I cannot. Hear my groanings and know even the things I cannot know. I trust you to love me and care for me and those whom I love. DEVOTION AUTHOR Carole Anne Sarah