Category: Devotions

Hope

Isaiah 40:31 says “But those who hope in the Lord renew their strength.”

How joyful is that renewal of strength when it comes! Like many, I struggle with depression. It is so hard to crack open my Bible or even go for a walk when things seem their darkest. However, this year I had resolved to read the entire Bible — something I have never done before. I was on track for months! But after the pandemic hit and I began keeping my kids at home full time, my helpful Bible-in-one-year plan began to send me notifications as I got further and further behind. This week I started to catch up. It’s looking like it’s going to be a full Thanksgiving (or New Year’s Eve) but I think I’ll be able to reach my goal.

Every time I read a chapter, I feel a little bit stronger for the next day. Today’s reading from Timothy included the following: “But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment — that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God.” God is sufficient, thank the Lord for that. Of course, studying scripture is only a part of ensuring our mental and spiritual health. There is much that goes into the daily work of humanity. But it does help to have a firm foundation to return to, a book of wisdom and stories that will (thankfully) still be there on January 2.  

~ Laura Paquette, Family Council Chair

“In 2017, a woman of color regularly faces food insecurity, violence, and/or housing instability. This is the norm. Since privileged people have agency and mobility, we can typically choose which neighborhoods we want to live in, which schools to send our children to, and which churches to attend. Most privileged people make choices that shield them from the realities of those who are excluded from such stable, safe, and prosperous communities.” ~Christena Cleveland

Church, it should be noted that I am writing this devotion on Election Day. By the time you read this, we may have the results of the election, or we may not, but nevertheless, I have been thinking about past elections and how I felt after all was said and done.

Over the last two weeks, as I have driven back and forth to Trinity Christian Academy, which is our church’s preschool on the Reeves campus, I drive past a lot of enthusiastic flag wavers and sign holders. Some I honk for, and some I don’t. Some I wave at and some I simply nod and pray for while driving past. My children have gotten into the spirit of this too and encourage me to honk and wave and make enthusiastic noise as well. They really get into it and play along.

This morning, as we were listening to Disney’s Moana music and driving to school, I remembered my first election and the part I played in it. It was 1992, and I was in 1^st Grade. My parents, one a teacher, one an architect were supporting the independent candidate Ross Perot. Earlier that week, I had been voluntold (this is when you are told by someone you love to help do something but act like you enjoy doing it) to hold a sign on the busy corner between my school and my home with my parents. At school that morning I had told my friends, who were as wise as I was at age 6, that I was helping hold signs for my parent’s candidate, Ross Perot afterschool. I was immediately laughed at. My friends told me that it was stupid to hold signs for that man, and when I asked them why, one friend said it was because his ears were too big! Wait, what?! His ears were too big? I didn’t realize that the facial features of a person were the main qualifying concerns for the Country’s highest office, but obviously, I was ill-informed. It is interesting what you remember about events in your childhood as you process them as an adult, but I distinctly remember but holding the sign over my face, so my friends couldn’t see me. I remember, even at a young age feeling embarrassed but torn because I wanted to do what was asked of me, yet I did not know how to express myself in the moment.

Of course, (spoiler alert) Ross Perot did not win the election, Democrat Bill Clinton did, but Perot did win 18.9% of the popular vote which was the highest share won by a candidate outside of either the Republican or Democratic parties in almost 100 years. I didn’t know then, what I now know and what I try and teach my children through words and actions every day.  Scripture says it like this,

^“7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

This verse is pulled from the story of when the Prophet Samuel is choosing the next King to anoint for Israel and time after time, the sons of Jesse do not impress God. God was looking at the heart of the future King, not his physical appearance or his stature. What a relief! But also, how very confusing. You see, even four or five thousand years ago, leaders were chosen based on their physical appearances, it would seem. Which would mean that my first-grade friends were just following along with the age-old process of judging the outer rather than the inner. We haven’t evolved much as a human race in the last few millennia it would appear, but then again, doesn’t this realization point us once again to the wisdom of God? We are broken individuals that have finite abilities to discern and judge who is worthy and who is not. We are not THE Judge, thank goodness and at the end of this election, however it turns out, we won’t have any more power to judge or condemn than before. We will however have the power to include, rather than to exclude. We will still possess the power to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. And we will be given a new chance to see ourselves, in the reflection of Jesus the Christ.

Will, we hide behind the judgments of others, embarrassed and ill-informed, or will we choose to build a relationship with the unlikely “other” and get to know their heart? My hope for you and for me is that when all is said and done, we will choose the road less traveled and be a change-agent for the Kingdom of God. Ultimately it is our choice. Over the next few days, we will be left with the reality that half of our country will be hurt, disappointed, angry, and possibly feeling hopeless. What are we going to do about it? What might God be calling us to do in this season of divisiveness? And how might God’s grace show us how to live into our Kingdom’s identity to get to know the person on the “other side?”

May I offer this prayer for us today?

Good and Gracious God,

I am not the Judge; you are, Oh God because you look at the heart. I don’t want to look at others with my eyes anymore, so see for me, discern for me and help me love as you love.

Be present Lord Jesus, be present.

AMEN

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed.” Psalm 46:1-2

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37: 7

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Philippians 4: 5

Throughout these recent seven to eight months, I have been reflecting frequently about how patience, endurance, and sanctuary have become necessary and essential. Many of us have engaged in self-limiting and isolating behaviors, as well as invented new structures within which to guide even the most cautious of our interactions. Family units now have bubbles; work and venues have new safety protocols; personal and employment communication has shifted largely to on-line and video tools. In effect, we have created sanctuaries, albeit refuges, within which to guide our patterns for living and our interactive decisions. The key is that God has been within and with us throughout. Our prayers and conversations with him are sources for our strength and endurance in this currently troubled time. We have had his sanctuary, protection, and refuge continually. Though we may grow impatient and want to test the boundaries for safe living, we may be at peace knowing that what we need of him and ask of him can be expressed along with our thanks for all that he has already done. We are never alone.

Over time and history, the notion of the sanctuary as it is associated with the church has evolved from being a process for providing a physical place of safety for those at risk and need, to a designated sacred space for shared worship. This opening November Sunday, our church sanctuary will reopen for in-person worship with due and careful consideration for our collective safety. Each of us will now choose when it is appropriate to return to our cherished church sanctuary for shared in-person worship. Those individual considerations notwithstanding we may be comforted in knowing that God has been and will always be our sanctuary. He guides our decisions, infuses us with patience, and helps us create our personal refuges when we are troubled.

Blessings and peace to all of you,

Lloyd Jaeger, Christ-like Servants Pillar Leader

In every season of our lives, we will face a challenge. I remember at Tomoka Elementary School, in Ormond Beach, the dreaded fitness week was one of those challenges. While always a healthy kid, I never could do a pull up, or run the fastest mile or do very many push-ups. Whether it was intentional or not, we always ended up comparing ourselves to one another and feeling insecure. The only station I was at all good at was flexibility, because as a dancer that came naturally for me. But whenever it came around to the “opportunity” to run the mile, I broke out in a cold sweat.

As I grew older, it wasn’t Elementary School Fitness Week that scared me anymore, but the Middle School cafeteria and finding a spot at the table with my friends before they all filled up. Middle School in and of itself was a challenge and I clung to my church youth group, my few best friends and a healthy family structure to get me through. But if given a time-machine that would take me back to these three years, I think I would pass up the chance. High School was a confident time for me mostly because of my Musical Theater family and the Arts community, but I still grew fearful around audition season or when it was time to take my AP tests. While I have had a wonderful childhood and young adulthood, I know that the times I grew most were in the midst of a challenge. It is the time I can look back and remember the pruning that took place when things didn’t go my way. But that is very Biblical, is it not?

Over the last year, I have been trying to take better care of my body and treat it as the Temple of God that it is. I try to get 7 hours of sleep, I eat healthy (most of the time) and I drink a lot of water. I have an ever-changing exercise routine that spans from weight-training, to yoga; from jogging to dance. I love to move and to keep my muscles engaged. One recent workout found me nodding along to the coach’s words that advised us several times towards the end, to find the joy in the challenge and to smile through the pain. While she didn’t realize how Biblical this true reality is, it reminded me of the words of James, the brother of Jesus’.

“² My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; ⁴ and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”

While the vast majority of us don’t jump at the chance to go through trials and storms in our lives, we can still appreciate the growth that comes from the pain. If we work towards our own self-awareness, and as we mature, we begin to see where God was with us, growing us, shaping us and pruning us even while in the midst of what seemed like an insurmountable challenge. It doesn’t help when you see a cute little bumper sticker or read a Hallmark card that says something like, “God never gives us more than we can handle.” Yuck, yeah right! These phrases always convince me that people don’t actually read Scripture, only the parts that paint a cheerful picture. God absolutely allows us more than we can handle. Speaking only for myself here, God knows that I am person that struggles with pride and if I can’t do it on my own, or a fail miserably (and sometimes I do), I would get over myself, sooner or later, and turn to God for wisdom and help. But…somewhere along the lines of cultural Christianity, we let ourselves believe that lie that once we accepted God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, life would do a 180 degree turn around. Now while that theology helps sell the Prosperity Gospel for some well-known televangelists, it doesn’t resemble the Gospel truth in the least bit.

We will all face challenges whether we follow Jesus or not, but when we follow Jesus we can face these challenges with JOY. In my workout the other day I was told to find the joy in the challenge and to smile through the pain. What might this look like for you in this season? What challenge or sets of challenges are you facing? Is it in your career, parenting, theology, life’s calling, in your marriage, in your friendships or in your faith? Have you acknowledged them, have you thanked God for those challenges and have you sought out someone to face it with you? Joy is always easier in community because the challenge feels more surmountable when someone walking it with you. The other important part of joy is that rubs off on those we do life with. And I don’t have to tell you that the world needs much, much more of it.

I pray that you and I both can find the joy in the challenge and to smile through the pain. Not in an artificial, inauthentic kind of way, but in the confidence of knowing WHO walks with us through it and what we will learn along the way.

AMEN

“Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place…” words to a beautiful hymn written by Lanny Wolfe.*

Have those words spoken to your heart at certain times, in particular places or situations?

They often speak to mine…

In Early Risers, a Women’s Bible study at our church, we are currently studying the book of Galatians. Clair Fournier leads us in a rich exploration and discussion of important ideas and concepts. Recent discussions have focused on “law” and “faith”. Through sharing, we are reminded of our personal difficulties in obeying God’s Laws – those outlines in the Ten Commandments as well as others – but reminded of God’s faithfulness, nonetheless, in keeping His promise of never abandoning us. We are further reminded that we are ONE family that God does not see race or color. “Surely, the Presence of the Lord is in This Place…”

A few evenings ago, I participated in a discussion, sponsored by our church, on the film, “13th” based upon the Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The film deals with the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration. The discussion was led by Barbara Thompson, UCF Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion, and Tonya Tolson, FUMCWP Diversity Chair. Attended by both members of our church and community, the evening was rich and rewarding as we shared and discussed observations and experiences related to the perpetuation of institutionalized racism within our society and how we might personally address and challenge current systems. Black and White all having an equal place at the table – listening with civil conversations – we were one in wanting to affect the systems of equality for all. “Surely, the Presence of the Lord is in This Place… I can feel His mighty Power and His Grace…” My heart was warmed and encouraged, my spirit was lifted.

The recent sermon series “Organic: Fruit of the Spirit” and the participation by member sharing personal thoughts and reflections present many challenges to walk with God by living more fully in Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Patience, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self Control. “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place…”

Would that I seek and continue to find opportunities for my heart to rejoice and sing these words and that they spur me to action to do my part to effect “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven“.

*United Methodist Hymnail, p. 328