Tuesday - February 11, 2025

Kris Baker

READING


The courage to be brave when it matters most requires a lifetime of small decisions that set us on a path of self-awareness, attentiveness, and willingness to risk failure for what we believe is right. It is also a profoundly spiritual experience, one in which we feel a part of something larger than ourselves. And guided, somehow, by a larger Spirit at work in the world and in us. Decisive moments make believers out of everyone, for no matter what name we give to it, the inexplicable, unmerited experience of power greater than our own working through us is real. -Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde

 

WORDS OF HOPE

 

This morning as I was scrambling eggs for breakfast, admittedly coming to the task on autopilot rather than from a place of gratitude, I reached for the spice jar, one that is always on the counter in the same place by the stove. As I unscrewed the lid, something I have done many, many times, the name on the label jumped out at me like I was seeing it for the very first time…Outrage of Love, from Penzey’s Spices. Why today? Why did I need to know on this particular morning that I was starting my day by sprinkling “outrage of love” on my eggs?

 

Though I have used this spice blend for a while, I had no idea what was actually in it, so I read the label more closely. Outrage of Love contains salt, black pepper, citric acid, shallots, lemon peel, white pepper, garlic, and green onion. That explains why it makes my eggs taste so good, but why do those things in combination deserve the lofty name, Outrage of Love?

 

I started thinking about the individual spices contained in this blend and the symbolism of each.

 

Salt symbolizes preservation, purity, loyalty, as well as enduring covenants. When Jesus tells the disciples that they are “the salt of the earth,” he is telling them that they are to preserve the goodness in the world, to be love in the world. In the Gospels of both Mark and Luke, Jesus also says, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” He is using this metaphor as a teachable moment for the disciples. If the going gets tough and your loyalty, your love wanes, how do you restore it? Jesus shows here that love can be tough and it takes courage, and perhaps a little outrage, to restore and sustain what may have been taken for granted.

 

Shallots, onions, and garlic are associated with good things like health, strength, good fortune, and protection. Certainly, loving amidst all good things seems easy, but what happens when we are called to love when we don’t feel strong or protected? In Numbers 11:5, the Israelites comment, “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.” They are wandering in the wilderness with only manna to eat, remembering the good taste of the food that they consumed in Egypt. But, they are forgetting that they were slaves there and are now being led to freedom. In their minds, the immediacy of good tasting food seems more important than the long-term goal of being freed from captivity. This is also a story about being outraged enough “to fight the good fight.” 

 

It is easy to get caught up in the here and now of love, but our courage to love is tested when “it doesn’t taste good,” when we are wandering in the wilderness, when we lose sight of why we love. Again, courage and outrage are needed to keep going, to persevere through the challenging times those inevitable times in the wilderness.

 

Though black and white pepper and lemon peel have no Biblical references, they do each carry some symbolism. Pepper can be symbolic of worldly things, sin, temptation and distraction. Though we may not want to admit it, these things do inform our ability to love at times. Lemon is associated with love and longevity.  Bring on the lemonade!

 

For me, it is more like bring on the scrambled eggs.

 

To actively love as Jesus calls us to do requires that we navigate many different circumstances, a lot of them quite difficult. Love is not easy. Loving is even harder. Amidst the hatred, injustice, and chaos of our current times, a healthy sprinkling of Outrage of Love may be the only thing that helps us to survive. Isn’t that how Jesus made his way in the world? 

 

We fail as Christ-followers when we give up and are no longer outraged by the injustice in the world. When we walk with our Jesus, we are made strong; our hearts are filled with a perfect love. We must continue to be outraged by the ugliness that surrounds us while we also work diligently to fill the world with the kind of love that Jesus exemplified. Our outrage must sustain us until justice and peace extend to every corner of God’s creation.

 

Seasoning my eggs with Outrage of Love this morning was “a small decision” that set me “on a path of self-awareness, attentiveness, and willingness to risk failure for what I believe is right.” Today I thought deeply about what it means to be filled with the outrage of love - love for family, stranger, our physical world…and enemies. Now, each time I pick up that bottle of spice, I will be reminded again and again to go about my day filled with the outrage of love. More importantly, I will walk out into the world nourished with a healthy serving of outrage and the belief that I am a part of something larger than myself and am being guided, somehow, by a larger Spirit at work in the world and in me.

 

PRAYER

God whose spirit is at work in each of us, help me to feel and use the positive power of my outrage to be the change this world needs, to be a bearer of hope, joy, love, and peace. Amen

 

DEVOTION AUTHOR



Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Need Some Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions

Monday - March 23, 2026

By Donald (Luke) Day • March 23, 2026
SCRIPTURE Psalm 65:5 Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation . WORDS OF HOPE  During this reflective time of Lent, whether we rest our trembling soul in God's embrace, or we walk with confidence in God's path; in all things and in all times of life, we can experience new and wonderful revelations of divine care and love. They are like jewels along our path. All that we must do is maintain awareness of God's presence in our every step. Don't be distracted by the noise and confusion of the world around you. Focus your attention on God who will lead you forward and free you from fear of the uncertainty of the unknown. That's the root of the word "salvation" as used in this verse. God is the One who frees you to live your full potential as a human directed by divine love. God frees you to live and see awesome things every day of your life! The Psalmist also says: "Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in God who will bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5) This provides us with reassurance. Now, as a Christian it is our responsibility to trust God's Spirit to be fully present and helpful in each of our daily interactions with others. Sometimes, we must walk into a day without springtime blue skies, but we are not alone in the effort to find blessings in each of our human encounters. However, we must make a conscious effort to be aware of the Spirit's presence and guidance in those opportunities. That may sound like a daunting challenge. I would like to suggest some exercises to build up the necessary "spiritual muscles" to begin this task. First, as you encounter someone, acknowledge them. Second, if you start to have a conversation, pause and silently seek God's presence in your words. If the other person asks a question or seeks your opinion, pause (as if giving their question additional thought) and ask God's Spirit to guide your response. You'll be surprised how much better that human interaction progresses. God's Spirit is a fantastic guide and help! PRAYER Lord God, quiet my mind and sharpen my attention to your Spirit's presence in my life. It is my desire to live this day in closer relationship with you and to express your love in each of my interactions with other people. Be it ever so. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - March 20, 2026

By Donna Jackson • March 20, 2026
SCRIPTURE  Philippians 2:7,8 [He] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. WORDS OF HOPE Easter was always a special time for our family. While we were taught to celebrate the resurrection, it was also filled with anticipating egg hunts and special dinners. As a little girl, my mother would wrangle me into some dress for church, insisting I appear pristine for the festive occasion. While I dearly loved my mother and wanted to surrender to her wishes, I recently found a photo where I was all dressed up with an Easter basket in one hand and a baseball glove in the other. Apparenty I wasn’t willing to empty myself completely, but I did try. In the above Scripture, Paul declares the very nature of Jesus Christ, who possesses the image, likeness and glory of God, fulfilling a prophecy by emptying himself to become a servant to all humankind. God did not use nature or divine power to manipulate an advantage over creation but instead became clothed in humility to such a degree that Jesus, God in the flesh, allowed people to spit on him, abuse him, condemn him, deny him, and ultimately kill him. The resurrection was the ultimate servant sacrifice by the very God who was also the Creator of life. Jesus didn’t empty something from himself; instead he emptied himself from something…the very essence of God. I read an article highlighting how the Bible opens with the creation story that describes a loving God who cares for all creation while holding a special love for Adam and Eve. Then the article reflects summations’ of how the rest of the Bible is the story of God orchestrating arrangements through the flesh of the Son, Jesus, to serve the world. From the beginning into eternity, God has always and will always serve the world and all who are in it. PRAYER Creator, Servant, God who devotedly loves ALL creation, fill us with profound humility so we can genuinely reflect your self-giving heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donna Jackson

Tuesday - March 19, 2026

By Weber Baker • March 19, 2026
READING Blessed Words Antiphon for the Holy Spirit BY HILDEGARD OF BINGEN TRANSLATED BY BARBARA NEWMAN The Spirit of God is a life that bestows life, root of world-tree and wind in its boughs. Scrubbing out sin, she rubs oil into wounds. She is glistening life alluring all praise, all-awakening, all-resurrecting. WORDS OF HOPE Hildegard of Bingen is one of those people who is on my list of historical figures I would like to have met. She lived in the 1100s, was the Mother Superior in her monastery, was a scientist, a theologian, a composer, and a preacher. She’s also credited with having written the oldest surviving morality play. And as the above quotation shows us, she was a poet. This was a period of time when women were very much treated as inferior as much as in any period of history. For her to have accomplished all the things she did against great odds, is amazing to me. She was known to have visions. And she believes she had been instructed by God in one vision to record her visions. Being a woman in that age, she was hesitant to do so. Eventually, she was given dispensation by the Pope to record her visions as revelations of the Holy Spirit. I can personally say I really love and appreciate this poem of Hildegard. It is for me, one of the best understandings of the spirit of God. It clearly states what the spirit of God is and does in a simple yet deep manner. For me, it is an exceptional piece to read and contemplate in those moments when I need some quiet reflection on the power of God and the power of God’s Spirit. I invite you to take a moment with this inspired work and to consider the working of God’s spirit in your life. PRAYER Spirit of God be with me as I go through me days. Awaken me. Resurrect me. Bring me life and life abundant. DEVOTION AUTHOR Weber Baker Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

Wednesday - March 18, 2026

By Hardy Haberman • March 18, 2026
SCRIPTURE  Matthew 9:27-31 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him through all that district. WORDS OF HOPE I like this story because it shows a little of Jesus humility and a lot of his followers humanity. Jesus tells the blind men that their faith has healed them and then admonishes them not to tell anyone about what happened. Immediately they go off and spread the word. That’s a very human thing to do. They wanted to share the event that changed their lives in such a profound manner. I would expect it since everyone they knew had seen them as blind and suddenly they could see. Curiosity would lead to questions and by answering they do exactly what Jesus tells them not to do. Jesus on the other hand takes no credit for the miracle. He attributes it to their faith and wants no credit for it. Humility, part of what makes Jesus so interesting. His main concern is spreading the message and not glorifying himself. The miracle in this story is not the important message to me; it is Jesus humility and his understanding of the humanity of his followers. Perhaps the writer of this gospel was trying to convey that to his audience, Jews. Having been raised a Jew myself, I think I sometimes hear Matthew’s words differently than a gentile audience. Matthew refers to “The kingdom of heaven” not the “kingdom of God” since God’s name is revered and is not used in Jewish texts. Adonai, Hashem, Yhwh, and Elohim are used in Hebrew texts as place holders for different aspects of God. Jesus in this story also becomes an aspect of God’s powers, but he doesn’t name it and insists it not be spoken. Maybe that should be enough for us. To know Jesus is bringing God’s message, one that is so profound that it really cannot be put into words without minimizing it and stealing the power from it. Sometimes it is what is not said in the scriptures that speaks volumes about the true power of the divine. PRAYER May we open our eyes to see the Divine in ways we never expected. May the words and actions of Jesus be signposts on our journey of faith. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - March 17, 2026

By Logan Alexander Johnson • March 17, 2026
SCRIPTURE Colossians 1.9-14 Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. He set us free through the Son and forgave our sins. WORDS OF HOPE In her book High Functioning, Dr. Judith Joseph defines high-functioning depression as a trauma response that can lead to a lack of joy and sacrificing our well-being for others. Have you ever approached work, relationships, or faith this way—being productive on the outside while suffering on the inside? If so, you’re not alone. On most days, I struggle with the sadness that comes from overworking and overcommitting. Today’s Scripture reminds us that God’s love has already rescued us from every darkness, and freedom can be available in any moment. Saint Patrick is a wonderful example. He was sold into slavery as a teenager and forced to work as a shepherd in isolated, often dangerous conditions. In the face of such great trauma, Saint Patrick committed to a life of faith. He went on to escape his enslavers and bring Christianity to all of Ireland. Imagine what could be possible for you if you allow yourself to be filled with all of God’s “ and spiritual understanding.” When I’ feeling sad, I try to take a deep breath and remember that I’ a dynamic expression of God’ love. Then, I focus on something small I can do to reclaim my joy, like making an omelette, taking a hot shower, or reaching out to my therapist. Just as Patrick found God in the quiet of a sheep pasture, we often find God in the simple act of choosing our own well-being over the world's expectations. PRAYER Dear God, thank you for providing all the love I need to break every chain. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Logan Alexander Johnson

Monday - March 16, 2026

By Thomas Riggs • March 16, 2026
SCRIPTURE  Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. WORDS OF HOPE Does your soul ever feel ‘flat’? Do you feel like going to worship is just going through the motions? Does it seem like prayers evaporate before they even reach the ceiling? Do you long for a time when you felt close to God, but now, not so much? Spiritual dryness can feel unsettling. And we naturally wonder: Have I done something wrong? Has God withdrawn? The psalmist knows this path. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Thirst, by definition, means something is missing, but it doesn’t mean we’re spiritually dead. Like the psalmist, what we may have a deeper longing – a truer desire for God that is not emotional and excitable. Something that is more tangible and less about a feeling. In these times, faith needs to shift from feeling to trust. We read scripture (and listen to devotionals) not necessarily because it thrills us, but we believe God still speaks. We gather in worship not because we are filled with joy, but because we have an empty tank. We pray not because it feels powerful, but because we weakly believe that God is faithful. When Isaiah told us that God pours water on thirsty land, note that She didn’t scold the dryness. She met it with water. He didn’t curse the desert; he sent the rain. These times can deplete energy and cause doubt. They can dry up the soul and steal joy. When you find yourself spiritually dry, stay rooted in simple rhythms of brief, honest prayer. In fact, you don’t even have to use words at all… just sit in silence. Lean on the faith of the community, when your own faith feels evaporated. Find the awe and wonder of sunrises, hands that heal, pets that show up at just the right time. MEDITATION Dry seasons often deepen roots. When the rain finally comes, growth is stronger and more resilient. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs Persistent and loving Savior, when my soul feels dry and distant, remind me that you are still near. Give me patience in the drought and hope for the rain. Teach me to trust you not only in abundance but also in emptiness. Pour your living water into the cracked places of my heart. Amen.
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