Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.  Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

One of my favorite prayers is the Serenity Prayer.  Sometimes this prayer is part of my daily routine and other times it gets tucked away in my brain for a while. Right now, it is one I am saying frequently. If you aren’t familiar with the prayer it asks God to help us to accept those things that are out of our control, but it also asks God to give us the courage to take control over the things we can change. Sometimes it is tricky to know the difference between the two so when you pray this prayer you also ask God to help you know the difference.

I just love this prayer and it has been helpful because there are lots of things at this point in time that are really, really hard to accept that I have no control over. I’d like to, but I can’t…

…control what our elected officials of all levels of government say or do.

…control businesses that are not following the guidelines.

…control people from verbally attacking others.

…control how our vaccines are being distributed.

Serenity is the state of being calm and finding peace and there sure doesn’t feel like there is much of that in our lives these days, but God has given us the courage to take control of the things that we have the power to change. To find serenity I can…

…turn off the TV and turn on my favorite music and dance around the house.

…wear my mask, keep my 6ft distance and wash my hands.

…take a walk around the block and listen and notice all of God’s creation around me.

…write a note or make a phone call to take the focus off myself.

…donate to a cause that I believe in. 

…find a new recipe to try for dinner.

…set my device down, breathe deeply and say a prayer of gratitude.

Remember that God is always close by and in control so let’s let God do God’s work and take care of the things that are out of our control because then we can use our energy towards changing the things we can.  

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change. Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.  Amen

Marty

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Usually, my Daily Blessings revolve around some cute anecdote or learning from my family. Today, I thought I’d give some thoughts on the inauguration.

It doesn’t matter who you voted for in this election. You may be thrilled today; you may be disappointed. There are 80 million people who think that America is headed in the right direction, and 75 million who think it’s not. That doesn’t change who is moving into the Oval Office.

You know what also doesn’t change? Our call as Christians to love our neighbor as ourselves. This election cycle has been vicious. The post-election responses were disturbing. I’ve heard conspiracy theories from both sides. I’ve watched people completely dismantle each other on social media based on what they believe is right. I’ve gotten lost reading hateful arguments based purely on differing political opinions. It’s all exhausting.

So, whether the person you voted for is taking office today or not, let’s take a deep breath, say a prayer, and put our Christian love on display. Now is the time to bring the nation together in love – Democrats, Republicans, and those vehemently against picking a side all together. The first step is be humble and love your neighbor as yourself.

Emalee Sugano   

Lord, please bless this country, its leadership, and its people as we embark on a new four-year journey. May we demonstrate your love at every opportunity, and become closer as neighbors, Americans, and people. Amen

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  Romans 8:38

Lately it seems like every conversation I am a part of begins and ends with the state of our world and the fear and worry over not knowing what is going to happen, especially in this upcoming week.  We are inundated with news.  Social media is full of opinions.  The pandemic is the worst than it’s ever been and there are concerns over peace, injustices and our democratic processes.  It’s all a bit overwhelming.  Our world seems divided and I find myself praying more than ever before. 

A few days ago while reading Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation from the Center for Action and Contemplation I was inspired by words of civil rights leader John Lewis taken from the book John Lewis with Brenda Jones, Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America.  

“Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates. Know that the truth always leads to love and the perpetuation of peace. Its products are never bitterness and strife. Clothe yourself in the work of love, in the revolutionary work of nonviolent resistance against evil. Anchor the eternity of love in your own soul and embed this planet with goodness. Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don’t be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see, then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself. “

Today is also the day we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Marty recently shared this quote from him that resonated with me…“I have decided to stick with love, hate is too great a burden to bear.”   This quote, and the passage above, are powerful words by two influential people who dedicated their lives to making our world a better, more equitable  and united, place. I find comfort and inspiration in knowing that the message from both of these leaders who lived through such dark times align with Jesus’ message of love. God is love and if we let love guide our actions, thoughts and conversations…then maybe we can create a path for growth and healing and hopefully help bring justice, peace and unity to our world.   

The answer is always LOVE…and what the world needs now, more than ever, is MORE love. 

Dear Loving God, may we be rooted and grounded in Your Love.  May we be free to grow in grace and compassion.  May we practice gratitude and find joy, even in the hard seasons of life.  May we feel peace and go and BE peace in the world.  Amen.

Leyla

hen Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ — Matthew 19:23-26

As a “cradle Christian” I am sometimes a little envious of those who come to faith later in life. I mean, sure, it has been wonderful to know that God loves me, comforts me, heals me, reconciles me, welcomes me and goes with me since before I ever knew what it was to be alone, rejected, broken, hurting, or ignored; before I knew anger, hatred, guilt or shame. But having known it all of my life means I miss the thrill of that first discovery at a time when I can really appreciate it. 

I wouldn’t trade it, mind you. I have been blessed to have experienced the Word of God spoken, sung, and acted out since birth. But this means that sometimes I miss past the power of the words when the are heard for the first time. Take the above passage, for example. I read it, and with years of Sunday School, Seminary, Bible Study and sermons behind me, I automatically go to “well, the ‘eye of the needle’ can refer to a narrow opening in a gate. On the other hand, some scholars point out that the word translated ‘camel’ is very close to the word for rope…” And I blow right past the fact that Jesus is saying something outrageous! Whether it is a camel trying to squeeze through a doggy door, or a ship’s line trying to be threaded to a sewing needle, it is a ridiculous image. It is meant to startle. It can even be funny. Jesus means to evoke a response. And he does. His closest followers are aghast at his words; “…they were greatly astonished.” My job as a preacher is to make it come alive again. 

Jesus came to shake us out of our complacency. But it is not just our Savior who uses such rhetorical devices to get our attention. The teachers, prophets, priests, songwriters, evangelists, and apostles all use words and deeds to gain attention and to make the message stick. It was necessary to be heard, to be understood, and frankly, to compete.

Everything seems bigger, louder, and flashy-er that ever before. This is a time of extremes. This is an era of outrage. Just listen to talk radio. (Better yet, don’t!) For the past few years the word “unprecedented” has been used by newscasters and pundits so often that it has lost all meaning. For the past year we have lived in through an epidemic unlike anything we have seen for 100 years.  We need a God who can meet us at the extremes. And we need a Word that will grab and hold our attention.

Go back to the Word. Listen to the voice of God. Let it surprise you.

Speak, O God, for your children are listening. Break through our complacency. Allow us to hear you above all the noise. Come to us in the quiet of our lonely room. Tell us again and again that you love us, and made us to act in love for each other. Calm our outrage for the experienced slight. Give us room for empathy. Send us on your new path. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.

“Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. ⁶ Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 The Voice 

Part of my normal weekly schedule includes watching my grandkids. I watch all my grandchildren; but my oldest son works from home, so it’s not as critical to always be there. So, I primarily watch my younger son’s family because they both are essential workers. My son is an EMT and my daughter-in-law is an elementary teacher, and from the moment my first grandchild was born I’ve agreed to be their primary care giver.

They rely on me to be available to the schedule and on time, and most of the time everything works according to plan. But there are days, like this past Monday. I was on time leaving the house at 6:00 am to be in Lake Forest by 7:00 am. I got in my car and saw I had forgotten to fill my tank, ok fine, so I head to the gas station. On my way there, my tire light indicator came on… so now I need to put air in my front left tire, I’m beginning to get irritated with myself for not paying attention to the needs of my car. As I’m putting gas in my tank I see why my tire needs air… a bright shiny nail is looking straight at me with a smirk. I need to share with you, that in my family I am known for being a magnet for all the nails in the street, they seem to find their way into my tires on a regular basis.  So, I pull up to the air machine thinking I can put air in my tire, get to Lake Forest, and then call AAA. The air machine is out of order… and now my battery indicator light has come on!! WHAT IS GOING ON!! I’m not a happy camper at this point!

So, many phone calls later and with the help of my husband, who comes home from work to take my car into the shop, my son who is working from home so I could borrow his car, the Principal who filled in at the classroom until my daughter-in-law could get there, and my daughter-in-law’s patience with all that’s going on.

But at the end of the day, my perspective had changed dramatically, and I see God’s hand in all the little mishaps of my day just to keep me safe.  When all said and done we find out that my battery light came on because my alternator was shot and it could have very easily had caused my car to suddenly stop while on the freeway and possibly in an accident. The smirky little nail in my tire and the air machine not working kept me grounded close to home and off the freeway. As frustrated, irritated and exhausted from my morning all that changed and became a sense of gratitude to God for seeing and being in my little world.

Very often we cannot or do not want to see the bigger picture when plans go awry, but when we invite God into our daily lives, even to the smallest degree, I believe with every thread of my being that God is there, watching, loving and caring for us in ways we do not realize. So, may we always be reminded to live a life of gratitude and love in all our ways of daily life.

Caring and loving God, thank you for your unending love and provision in our lives. When we cannot see beyond our own knowledge may we always look to you and trust that you are there. Surround us in these days, guide our steps, guide our words and actions to be in tune with your grace and love. In Christs’ name we pray. Amen.

Brenda