Saturday, February 20

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

I was at first not interested in having a Stephen Minister assigned to me. My meetings and communiqués with Joanne Blair were fine…..perfect, actually. But finally I agreed to one visit with the Stephen Minister whom Joanne had chosen carefully for me. Suddenly my life is being enriched with enJOYment as we share experiences, thoughts and concerns. I’m reminded of the hymn from my childhood: “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam….”

My Stephen Minister brings me sunshine these bleak winter days.

Thank you, Lord, for your light that brightens and warms us time and again, immemorial.

Janet Munson 

Friday, February 19

And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity.

2 Peter 1:5-7 KJV

I've always tried to be independent (though some would say I was stubborn). I've almost preferred to work alone and to solve problems myself. As I age, however, I find I'm becoming frustrated more often as I find I can't do things which were once so easy for me – but I am very reluctant to ask for help. I recently read Jan Karon's book Patches of God-light, in which "Father Tim" had made this sermon note:

It is crucial that we allow others to show us kindness.

That struck home somehow, as I don't think I'd ever considered such a thought.

Heavenly Father, May I keep that thought in mind for the next time I'm frustrated but reluctant to ask for help. May I also be there for others . In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Jane Van Dragt

Thursday, February 18

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave nor forsake you.

Deut. 31:6

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Psalm 56:3

The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Psalm 18:6

Do not be afraid of sudden terror; nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 3:25-26

The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.

Proverbs 29:25

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

When You Feel Fearful

Many people claim number 7 as their lucky number. Bruce and I agreed. We each have a 7 in our birth dates, have lived in 7 different homes, but can claim something that could never happen to anyone else! Our seventh home was purchased on 7/7/77! Tying this together with my devotion title, are the seven scripture references shown above. These remind us that we need not fear. One of our favorite pastors recommended reading these when we are afraid.

Lord, help me to find comfort in Your word. Help me to know that fear of death is never an issue because … whether I live or whether I die, You are there, always with me. Amen.

Sheryl McCristal

Wednesday, February 17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; and all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

A Pocket Prayer Book

I found this Devotional Guide at home in our Archives which is from the time span of World War II. From its copyright in 1941, it had 11 printings listed which ended in the year 1944. The total number printed during this time was 640,000 and each year the number increased as the war progressed. This Evangelistic Book was compiled by Ralph Spaulding Cushman. One selection is as follows:

PRAYER FOR PEACE

O GOD, Who has made of one blood all nations of men, 

mercifully receive the prayer that we offer for our anxious and troubled world.

Send light into our darkness and guide the nations

as one family in the ways of peace.

Take away all prejudice and hatred and fear.

Strengthen in us day by day the will to understand.

And to those who lead the people of the earth, grant a right judgment, 

so that the purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ will be done. 

Amen

Gracious God, We give thanks for all thy gifts of love and peace. Please continue to bless us in days to come. Amen

Carol Morrill

Tuesday, February 16

then he broke the loaves and began handing them to his disciples (multiplying fishes)

Mark 6:41 (New Jerusalem Bible)

He put his fingers in the mans ears ( healing a deaf man)

Mark 7:33 (NJB)

and if your hand should be your downfall ( leading others astray)

Mark 9:43 (NJB)

and he laid his hands on her”( healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath)

Luke 13:13 (NJB)

Pilate … took some water, washed his hands….I’m innocent of this man’s blood.

Matthew 27:24 (NJB)

he showed them his hands. (Jesus re-meets his disciples)

Matthew 27:24 (NJB)

After my father died, I felt his presence through my hands. Skin folds around my knuckles were like his. It was comforting to see him there. Fingerprint patterns testify to our uniqueness. However,real identity is manifested through the acts of hands which are more than skin deep. Rough, strong, calloused hands of the laborer attested to work rigors applied toward harvest or construction, while fingers of the ballerina show the grace and beauty inherent in her life’s way. At extreme opposites in the spectrum of identity, both are made to do God’s work. Theirs like ours often meet the challenges that test them in ways that challenge imagination and a relationship with God. Skill, endurance, integrity, rigor and faith often move through them in ways beyond comprehension. They hold fast, act gentle, comfort, and as an extension of honesty and love, assist balance, and facilitate persuasive correction and direction. They clasp with integrity in an arms length agreement and communicate when words alone are not enough or fall on deaf ears, and often are first to show frustration or happiness.

Again, this Lenten season takes us through our wilderness. Let’s feel our hands as instruments of God’s work. Keep them at the ready to touch the world that God has made us custodians of and may they not lead any astray but instead show love without restraint. Knowing we cannot wash our hands of guilt, let us grasp the guiltless hand of the one that stilled the waters and received the nails and has walked our wilderness. Though pierced and bruised may we know God’s love through these hands.

Loving and encouraging God, your greatness is beyond all understanding. You know your fathers hands. Show us again these pierced and bruised but beautiful hands. Grasp ours and guide us through our wilderness that you know so well. We are so thankful for you showing us love through your taking on the marks of pain and suffering for our sake. Amen

David C. Paterson

Monday, February 15

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits – who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5

The Infinity Loop of Blessings

OK. So we didn’t win that billion-dollar Powerball national lottery in January. Our daughter had bought some tickets for all of us. It was fun to speculate on what we’d do with that massive jackpot. Haven’t you found, though that when we think only about all those things we’d like to get, or do, or have, that we can often become oblivious to the realities of the bonuses of everyday life?

The Psalmist makes a list of the many daily blessings that give hope and life each day. This psalm wakes us up to the gifts of forgiveness and the second chances available. Other blessings include God’s healing Presence that can bring that peace that passes all understanding and brings ease to the writer reminds us how we are surrounded by God’s unconditional love that is not dependent on what we say or do. There is a divine compassion and goodness that can continually renew and bring new life.

By God’s grace we are created to recognize the fullness of those blessings in our lives. We don’t need to win any lotteries when we consider the richness of our lot in life right now.

But our thanksgiving doesn’t stop there. We are urged to bless God back so we can engage in an Infinity loop of blessings. And the more that we are open to “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” so we also become more and more open to the many ways that God’s blessings can flow through us into the lives of others.

The Rev. Jan Richardson, adds this important consideration about blessings:

"A blessing reminds us that God has not designed us to live by our own devices: we are bound together with one another and with all

of creation, and we are called to work for the well-being of those with whom we share this life -- and those who will follow. Offering a blessing is an act of profound hope. In blessing one another, we recognize and ally ourselves with the presence of God who ever works to bring about the healing of the world." (In the Sanctuary of Women)

And doesn’t that expand that Infinity loop of blessings more and more—just as Dr. Richardson has noted? Who needs the lottery when all this richness surrounds us daily?

God of everlasting love, open our eyes to recognize your abundant blessings of life. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to give thanks daily and return blessings back to You and others in the name of Christ. Amen.

Kate Thoresen

Sunday, February 14

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.

Matt. 7.1-2

We do a lot of thinking standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes and watching through the window as our Yard Babies, the birds and squirrels as we call them, go about their business of making livings eating the provisions we put out for them.

We mentioned this two years ago in our 2014 Devotions contribution. It is an excellent way to turn a chore into a thoughtful experience. Anyway, we thought of the above directive in Matthew while washing and watching when we recalled discussing a conversation we had with a friend who also feeds her birds and squirrels. That friend shared with us that she does not love all the critters that benefit from her generosity. On the contrary, the predator ‘feathered friends’, those that prefer birds to seeds as their regular fare, are not welcome in her yard and are driven away whenever possible.

Now, we too do not relish the more harsh realities of avian life, but we have decided that the predator too is simply making his or her living, just as the sparrows and jays and so on are making theirs. And so we have decided to look away when the occasional patrolling hawk pays a visit, trusting [judging] that such is the natural and proper order of life in their world and that we will refrain from judgmental, unjustified preventive action.

And then it was that the above Biblical passage entered the conversation. We did make a judgment, but it was not one of hypocrisy or of ignorance, the type of judgment which Christ was inveighing against. For it is not the case that we should not have opinions. Rather, our judgments should be the type we would like made of us: informed, caring, and justified by all known facts.

Would that all the differing factions warring, arguing and carrying on in our world would practice this Biblical injunction.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, 1990 p.823 Book of Common Prayer)

Mary Kay and Paul Sparre