cathedral-of-hope

Thursday - May 7, 2026

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 5.20-22

Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Noah’s Flood, the all-time favorite Bible narrative of children, is today’s Hebrew Scripture lesson, told during the Eastertide Season as one of the Bible’s most dramatic tales of new beginnings. Children who hear the story readily ignore the part that tells of the wrath of an angry God destroying every living thing on the entire planet except for Noah’s family and all the fauna and edible flora of the world. They just want to see the dramatic 2 by 2 animal parade marching through the Ark’s open door.

Children don’t worry themselves with the question of whether the story is about an actual event or is just a colorful animal story, and good for them. There is nothing literal about it. The classic Flood Story is a derivative tale based on Babylonian mythology. Noah is Ziusudra, a righteous man the gods have designated to save his family and various animals from a great flood that occurs in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Ziusudra, like Noah, is a righteous person and in each version, there is a divine warning, plans for a large boat, a sacrifice after the waters have receded, and a renewed relationship between the Divine and humankind. But the gods of Babylon had destroyed all of humankind not because they had broken any moral code, but because they were too noisy. I suppose part of Ziusudra’s reconciliation with the divine was to keep the volume down.

That would be good advice for interpreters today who teach the story of Noah’s Ark as a literal event. So much noise about an ancient myth that is a comforting reminder in the worst of times, God can send a rainbow, that there is always a renewal and recovery on the horizon, that our precious natural recourses, our animals and our food sources, are essential, and that life is made up of a series of new beginnings if we practice God’s example of forgiveness and love.

We do not compromise the integrity of the Bible in understanding it is a library of information made up of wisdom writings, songs, poetry, actual events, historical fiction, stories of faith, courage, and hope. And within that diversity, are the great myths, like Noah’s Flood which is not literal truth, but an iconic tale about the truth, the truth of humankind’s flaws and progressive relationship with the eternal God of Grace.

PRAYER

Thank you for new beginnings, for reminders of the true essentials of life, and for our daily opportunities to love and forgive one another, regardless of circumstances we. can’t always control. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - May 6, 2026

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:00:57 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Free from what? I think about this often and though Jesus was speaking to Jews who had never known captivity in their lifetimes, so what freedom was he talking about?

Well, for me finding truth had always been a quest. I guess it was instilled in by my father who was a research scientist. The very foundation of research is empirical truth but guided in many cases by inferences and intuition. He taught me that black and white choices were rare occurrences in science, much as they are in life. He taught me that truth, especially philosophical truth, is something that can be found in many ways, and each of us is seeking that truth that is relevant to our lives.

He instilled in me a curiosity that has followed me all my life, from my study of philosophy in college to my self-guided study of spiritual truths. So how can discovering a truth set me free?

Well, one of the “truths” I have discovered is that my relationship with the Divine is important in my life. Though trying to find empirical proof of that is a fruitless pursuit, my intuition and the inferences I get lead me to believe that there is something greater than myself influencing my life. I believe that is the truth Jesus speaks of. Knowing that sets me free to experience life without too many irrational fears.

PRAYER

May we all find a truth that can set us free. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - May 5, 2026

Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 10.27

My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me.

WORDS OF HOPE

I heard a comedian recently describe a relationship in the simplest, most basic terms: “A relationship is two people deciding what to eat until one of them dies.” I chuckled—but there’s a strange truth in it. Aren’t relationships, whether with people or with God, exactly what we make of them? What you give is usually what you get, in just about everything.

Take artists, for example—painters in particular. Some are minimalists: less is more. Others add and refine, layering detail right up to the edge, knowing they must stop before the work becomes overworked. Both approaches can succeed, but only when the artist understands where that line is.

That seems to be the key in so many areas of life: knowing when less is more, and when too much begins to take away from the whole. There’s a kind of balance point—a place of optimization—that shows up whether you’re painting a canvas or even doing your taxes. Preparation matters. Thinking things through matters. And somewhere in that process, you begin to recognize when enough is enough.

Chuck Jones once described the dynamic between the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote as a kind of insanity cycle—essentially redoubling effort for the same or even lesser result. That idea sticks. It’s a reminder that effort alone isn’t the answer; thoughtful direction matters just as much.

And yet, we’re surrounded by people—ourselves included—who sometimes just need a little grace, or a gentle nudge in a different direction. Whether they take it or not is another story. Maybe that’s part of what a relationship with God looks like: learning to recognize the right moment to act, to pause, or to adjust course entirely.

So, what’s the balance? Mind your own business? Live and let live? There’s wisdom there—but I think I’ll keep listening for that quiet, steady God-voice. More often than not, it has a way of guiding relationships—of every kind—back to where they need to be.

PRAYER

May I always take the time to be open to your guidance, to listen for your voice, and to adjust course according to your perfect will.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday May 4, 2026

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 25.35-40

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

WORDS OF HOPE

World Give Day 2026 is on Monday, May 4, 2026, aimed at fostering global kindness through acts of giving and volunteering.

Volunteering and giving are amazing acts of service for Cathedral of Hope. We don't need a day like today to call us to serve our community! Every day our church family is actively serving those in need. Our members are giving out blessing bags to strangers in need on the corner, helping cook meals to serve to those in the community who are home insecure, going to our community partners to rescue food and share it with other agencies and with food insecure neighbors, buying our monthly groceries for Pac the Pantry or planning for boxes of food for our local school for spring break or the baskets for 500 families at Thanksgiving.

Why do we do that? Because we are blessed by God and cannot help but serve others because of our gratitude to God for all we have received in finding CoH as our home and family!

These times we live in currently are difficult. Gas and food and everything are more expensive. BUT we are still blessed and realize these stresses are even more difficult for those who are home insecure in our city whose circumstances are far worse than ours. To whom much is given, much is expected. Not just on Give Day, but continually. God calls us to be faithful in helping others!

If you are not bringing groceries on the last Sunday of the month for Pac the Pantry, or coming in on various Saturdays to help make blessing bags, or volunteering on Monday for iCare, or Tuesday to cook or help plate food for Taste of Hope, or Saturday mornings to help with BACH (Breakfast at Cathedral of Hope), PLEASE figure what you can do to help those in need. Even if your help is a smile and an encouraging word to those in need. Making them feel seen is a very important gift to them.

PRAYER

God who cares for us all. Help us remember to be giving to those in need always so all feel valued and loved.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

Cathedral of Hope Volunteer

Friday - May 2, 2026

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Esther 4.14

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

WORDS OF HOPE

In such a time as this, could you use another holiday about now? I’m sure Queen Esther, the recipient of the message in today’s reading, would have welcomed a celebration and a little time off from the daily turmoil that was her life. Her older cousin Mordecai had spoken these fateful words to the young queen, reminding her that she was the single person with the ability to save her entire nation as they faced annihilation at the hands of the ultimate minions of evil.

Most of us know the story of Esther and realize that she did accomplish the impossible and the descendants of her people still celebrate her victory in a yearly holiday celebration called Purim. Esther herself was never to know the extent of her victory that future generations would commemorate. She just did what was right at exactly the right time.

Each generation has the opportunity, or even duty, to make a difference in their unique time in history. As we witness the serious threats to our Republic perpetrated by elected leaders who swore to preserve it, we each know in our hearts that such a time as this requires our full attention to do what is right as peaceful, but unyielding followers of God’s initiative.

The Book of Esther is the only Book of the Bible to make no mention of God, prayer, or a spiritual agenda. Esther knew who she was and had the courage to aggressively do the work of God for others rather than sit down and expect a miracle. If we want peace on our planet, we must be the peace, pursue the peace, and teach the peace. We must become a nation of Esthers. Most of us have already made that commitment as we endeavor to live the life Jesus himself lived.

If not yet how about today? It’s May Day, a holiday much of the world still observes as they welcome a new season into their lives. It may not be Purim, but wouldn’t it be comforting to know that future generations could indeed look back on our lives and set aside holidays to remember the people of peace who changed their history?

PRAYER

Here we are, Lord. You have shown us the way of peace. May we be your way for such a time as this. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - April 30, 2026

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:34 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 62. 1-2

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly God is my rock and my salvation;
God is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

WORDS OF HOPE

Our Firm Foundation

"How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in God's excellent word. What more can be said than what God has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?" This is a quotation from the hymn Our Firm Foundation with words taken from the Rippon Selection of Hymns 1787.

Did you ever ask yourself, “What is my foundation?” Can you with assurance say: "God alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I will not be greatly shaken” [or filled with stress and fear]? In today’s atmosphere of uncertainty or fear, the quest for a true foundation in our lives can be overwhelming to all of us. Can we find true foundations in our political leaders, in news sources we trust, or in the endless discussions of friends, family, or mostly strangers on social media? Or, is our actual foundation where it has been all along, waiting patiently, and just a prayer away?

For many centuries, the practice of silent prayer has been the principle source for the saints of old to eliminate the cacophony of the world and hear that still small voice of our true foundation, our assurance of comfort. We don’t have to be a Saint of old to hear it, or even better, to feel it. Find a place today, or tonight before bedtime, where you can take a few moments for a time of silence. Here’s a prayer that I often repeat; one that works for me: “I wait for you alone, my God; my hope is in you. You alone are my rock of assurance and safety; I will put my trust in You always, pouring out my heart's concerns to You, my refuge.”

God is known for the steadfast love as stated in the Psalm of today’s reading. God is our sure foundation as we journey through this time of distress and uncertainty. Today’s news can be overwhelming to all of us. But these are the best of times to press together the palms of our hands and remember: "God is sovereign, and God is our firm support!"

PRAYER

Only you, Lord, can focus my heart to be present to you. In the multiplicity of things and distractions of my mind and every day's routine, the one necessity, the one place where my heart can rest is you. May your Spirit help me in my weakness and my distress. May the gift of your presence and comfort speak to my soul.* Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

*modified from the words of Karl Rahner

Wednesday - April 29, 2026

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:00:09 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 5: 1-6

Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts on a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

WORDS OF HOPE

Sometimes we overlook or fail to appreciate things because we are so used to them. We don’t even think about them. Sometimes these are big things. I suspect, unless there is some unusual sound, most of us ignore the flyover of planes. But I suspect most of these things that we fail to notice are the small things. And sometimes it is the smallest things that make the biggest changes.

One of my favorite little-known holidays is Punctuation Day. A day to celebrate those small marks that we are so used to and that our English teachers so often got onto us about. We don’t even think about them as we read most of the time. I was curious about the origin of punctuation and found some things that were kind of interesting; at least to me. While the ancient Greeks had some marks in their writings that were meant to help auditors as they read, it was not until almost the seventh century CE that punctuation was really used.

Isidore of Seville introduced the comma the period and the colon. Prior to this no punctuation was used. One of my favorite teachers in college said that often times Romans didn’t even use spaces between words. Needless to say uppercase letters versus lowercase letters were nonexistent. Soimaginereadingsomethingwrittenlikethis

When I read this, it made me think about the people who first wrote, and who first read the gospels and other Christian writings. Most of these things were not available in written form to the general public until the invention of the printing press in the 1400’s. Someone educated who had access to these writings would have to read them out loud to everyone. And because the writings were so valuable, they were kept in a place that was considered safe. People did not have the kind of leisure we have today; one of those small things we sometimes fail to think about. Nor did they have the education or reading materials we have.

You worked from the sunup to sundown; usually at some form of manual labor. You maybe had a candle or oil lamp that you could use after dark but probably did not stay up that late. So, you got your gospel on Sundays in church from someone there; a priest who had been educated enough to read from the gospels and write a passage assigned by the church. This was often done in a way that within a specific time span, specific parts of the Bible would be read.

So often we take for granted the simple things that make life easier. Punctuation, so simple and like so many things so obvious, makes communication clearer. Yet we do not stop to think about what it does and how much we rely on it.

It is frequently this way with God’s creation. We see bugs; small animals. We often kill or chase them away. We fail to stop and think what the world would be like without these little miracles cleaning up our refuse. We worry about our own comfort without thought to the circle of life and death that is part of our universe. We give God thanks for the big things of life but often forget to thank God for the system of existence that is Creation.

PRAYER

Great and loving Creator, gives us pause to see all parts of your Creation and to appreciate those little things which keep that Creation in order. Remind us that the dominion which we have means care not just mastery. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Tuesday - April 28, 2026

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

WORDS OF HOPE

My granddaughter is really into the natural world. Whenever she visits, we always explore my backyard for specimens: snail shells, interesting rocks, cicada “shells”, etc. So, it came as no surprise when a beginner rock tumbler set appeared on her Christmas wish list last year. Grandpa obliged and it appeared under the tree on Christmas morning.

Upon opening she immediately wanted to try it out with the sample rocks included. (no delayed gratification at 7 years old!) While Anna and I set it up, her mother read the instructions: “For step one, add grit and water, tumble for 4-5 days.” DAYS!?!?!? I thought it only took a few hours! Then, after step one there are steps 2, 3, and 4 till the rock is completely smoothed and polished.

Driving home that evening it occurred to me that our lives in God are very much like the rocks in a tumbler. So often we think God can just shape, smooth and polish us overnight, or at least in a day or two. The reality is that it takes a lifetime of “tumbles,” various types of “grit” and the water of God’s spirit to make the transformation.

So, take heart! We are all in process! God is polishing our lives into the beautiful gems we were created to be. It just takes time.

PRAYER

Dear God, thank you for the good work you’re doing in me. May I trust your hand in all the tumbling and gritty moments of my life. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Les Geiter

Monday - April 27, 2026

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:52 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 4:19, MSG

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, God’s generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

God My Provider

A person will work their whole life getting richer, and by the end of their life, never know what it was to be rich. Why spend years for what you will only enjoy for days? So long as we have time, we have wealth, for a person’s happiness is in how they remember their time. Seeing as no one knows how much time they have, can anyone afford to waste it? We lack time more than we lack money.

The one who has little is not poor and the one who has much is not rich, but the one who finds happiness is satisfied. There are people living in mansions who cannot buy happiness and there are people living in clay houses who would never sell it. If you can count it, if you can measure it, then its value is limited. Happiness can neither be counted nor measured; by this, we know that it is priceless. Therefore, do not waste your wealth, that is, your time, on trying to be wealthy. For once the money is spent, you will need more.

Many people never enjoy peace because they think that they do not have enough money. They forget that its very purpose is to be spent, and if not spent by them, then by someone else after they are gone. No one keeps their money. Life does not begin when you have it, but when you wake up and begin your day. At the start of the day, we are gifted with time. How will we spend it? God has already considered everything that we need so that we may have peace in the world. Be at rest, for God will provide.

PRAYER

Jehovah Jireh,

Bless You for the gift of life. We could never pay You back for the time You have given us. Yet sometimes, we fear not having enough. Help us to appreciate what we already have in You so that we may enjoy our time. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - April 24, 2026

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:00:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 2.9-12

But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into divine marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that God has done. The Scriptures say,

"Once you were nobody. Now, you are God's people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness.”

Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So, I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you. Always let others see you behaving properly, even though they may still accuse you of doing wrong. Then on the day of judgment, they will honor God by telling the good things they saw you do.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading has had many interpretations throughout the centuries after it was written by or in the name of one of Jesus’ most volatile and determined Disciples. Whether Simon Peter himself wrote it or not, it is certainly written in the spirit of the truehearted man we met in the Gospels and Acts.

Peter’s audience was made up of brand-new followers of Jesus, many of whom had grown up according to the letter of the Hebrew laws with a priest as their guide and interpreter. Now, Peter is reminding them that each of them is a high priest with direct access to God, granted through the words of Jesus himself. Their faith has made them the chosen ones whose words and actions were to become standards for their current followers, and it turned out, for future Christ-followers in thousands of generations to come.

Simply stated, he was reminding them to take their responsibility seriously. They were part of Jesus’ Way now, with standards foreign to the tumult of the oppressive Roman Empire, a world of rulers who considered themselves gods, whose civilization was centered on mindless wars, hate, lies, bigotry, making the rich richer while starving the poor. Peter was both pleading and demanding that the followers of Christ’s Way must not bow in surrender to this culture of hate, not become a part of it, nor should they even give the impression they were sympathetic to any of it. They now belonged to Jesus and his culture of Love.

Peter still speaks to us today, and loud and clear as always. Are we the chosen people? You bet we are! If we, or any other people of faith elsewhere in the world, have chosen to follow the words and example of Jesus Christ, our only choice is to be and to perpetuate his unconditional Love; to God, ourselves, and all of our neighbors, that love which triumphed, even over death, and perpetually saves us from corrupt systems that should have died in the first century.

We are commissioned to serve Christ, not just to proclaim we are born again. Following Jesus does not mean to arrogantly award ourselves with a shallow label of “Christian” only to oppress others into becoming clones of us. We are chosen to love them, to BE Christ in the world. Nothing less will do.

PRAYER

God of Truth and Justice, thank you for being the Way, for directing us to your path, and for never leaving us stranded without your guiding presence. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - April 23, 2026

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:06 GMT

READING

The Empty Dark

Oh let me, too, be willing to sit in the empty dark

and let the darkness enter me.

Let me not pretend to know how it will be.

Let me lose my plans, though it terrifies me.

Let me not imagine any better time

to practice than now.

Let me be the bowl that sings when touched,

the bowl that is content with its own stillness.

If I want answers, let me sit with my longing.

If I want lessons, let me find them right here.

And if it is dark, let me not run from the dark,

but lean into it. And if it is light,

let me long for the light. Let it enter me.

Let me not pretend to know how it will be.

Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

WORDS OF HOPE

I have been so grateful for the many renown spiritual writers committed to posting during this time of chaos, division, and violence. They speak truth to power and write with insight and compassion about how to stay grounded and hopeful in spite of the darkness. Among this contemporary pantheon is Diana Butler Bass whose substack platform The Cottage draws readers from around the world. Beside her longer posts, during Lent each morning she sent brief Lenten moments— short scripture readings, songs, poems, and excerpts from her books. It has been a rich resource for individual practice and for sharing with our life group.

Featured each Friday was the wonderful poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, with “The Empty Dark” being her first offering. She prefaced the reading by saying that the creative spark for the poem was a line in a letter from her friend Michael Phelan which said: “Answers don’t arrive if you’re afraid of sitting in the empty dark of the room of not knowing long enough for them to arrive on their own schedule.” She confessed that it is something she yearns for, and her poem on the subject drew me in.

***

With palms upturned and comfortable on my lap, I sit in the early morning dark for what has become an important spiritual practice. Deepening my breath, I play the audio clip of Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer reading her work and then let the stillness surround me, enter me, opening a space inside to be filled by whatever the Spirit lifts up for me to listen for, attend to. The quiet itself is centering and healing—a balm for the chaos and violence of our world. That is a gift in itself. But often enough a message, a guiding direction, a reassurance of Love comes as well. Once an urge to offer a class on grief in Hamnet bubbled up. Another morning I saw the crack in the trunk of my Grandmother Oak tree and honored the strength of her endurance while aching at her injury. A line from Hamlet arose at another time: “Now cracks a noble heart”….and feelings of sorrow came. I was especially drawn to “Let me be the bowl that sings when touched” and felt the touch of the Holy at the edges of my heart. I prayed: Let me sing again. Twice the line “Let me not pretend to know how it will be” came up with power—reminding me that too often I let anxiety or fear carry me down a road of unknowing or when I imagine I can predict the outcome of something. Now it has become a mantra whenever such thinking swells.

This practice—which can be done with poetry or song lyrics or a passage of spiritual reflection as well as scripture—can be a rich way of hearing the voice of the Divine.

PRAYER

Word of God speak in the stillness of the empty dark. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - April 22, 2026

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 20:17-28 (Inclusive Bible)

When the other ten heard this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the nations lord it over them, and the powerful exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you. Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the servant of all. For the Chosen One came not to be served, but to serve, and to give life for many."

WORDS OF HOPE -

Chemists Celebrate the Earth Day

I remember taking chemistry in 10th grade, back in 2010, at McKinney Boyd High School. Most of my classmates barely glanced at the periodic table, but I was captivated. I could memorize every element, every atomic number, every symbol after just one glance. That fascination has never faded—though now my attention is shared with the stories of people I meet, the rhythms of life in the natural world, and the delicate systems that sustain all living beings.

Chemistry teaches us to see the Earth anew. Every element, every reaction, every cycle is part of an intricate, interconnected system that sustains life. Sunlight sparks photosynthesis, turning energy into leaves, flowers, and fruits. Nutrients flow through soil, feeding roots, forests, and fields. Oxygen is released for every creature to breathe. The tiniest microbe, the humblest insect, the soil beneath our feet, the rivers, lakes, and oceans—each is part of a sacred network of life.

This is the wonder of chemistry: it unveils the hidden threads of Creation. Life is a miracle of bonds, cycles, and balances. And everywhere in it, God is present—the divine architect behind every molecule, every forest, every drop of water, every flicker of life.

God does not shy away from beauty. God revels in it. God marvels at the flowers blooming in spring, the trees swaying in summer winds, rivers alive with fish, fiery autumn leaves, and rainbows stretching across the sky after storms. God says, again and again, “It is good—no, very good.”

And that goodness is everywhere:

Delicate and playful: sunflower petals catching sunlight, jasmine drifting in evening air, deer leaping across meadows, squirrels scampering, rabbits hopping, otters sliding through streams, hummingbirds darting in golden rays, butterflies dancing on warm winds, ducks swimming in the lake, and cats curling in sunbeams.

Fierce, wild, and majestic: tigers prowling forests, bears standing watch from mountains, eagles soaring above cliffs, wolves racing through snow, sharks gliding silently through oceans, crocodiles lurking in rivers, snakes coiling in grass, lions guarding their pride, mountain lions leaping across cliffs, octopuses exploring coral gardens, and owls gliding through moonlit nights.

Strange, joyful, and curious: penguins waddling on ice, flamingos preening in shallow waters, kangaroos bounding across grasslands, armadillos shuffling, chameleons changing colors with the sun, foxes slipping between shadows, sea turtles drifting with currents, even to giraffes with their long necks reaching to eat the leaves.

All of it—cute, fierce, delicate, wild, joyful, strange, playful—bears the signature of the Divine.

And then there is humanity: a kaleidoscope of beauty, identity, and story. People of every skin tone, hair texture, eye color, and shape. Genders that are female, male, transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, and beyond. Pronouns—she, he, they, xe, ze, and every way we claim our identities—each an image of the Divine. Faiths of every kind—Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Indigenous spiritualities, Earth-centered paths, and countless journeys we are still discovering—each reflecting God’s boundless creativity and care. Every person, every story, every life is a reflection of God’s love.

Chemistry also opens our eyes to the vast cosmos. As Crosby, Stills & Nash sang in Woodstock in 1970:

"We are stardust, we are golden,
We are billion-year-old carbon."

We are made of star-stuff, intimately connected to the universe itself. Even within our own solar system, God’s creativity shines. There is Mercury, scorched and airless; Venus, wrapped in clouds of acid and searing heat; Earth, lush and vibrant; Mars, red and dusty; Jupiter and Saturn, swirling with storms and magnificent rings; Uranus and Neptune, distant, icy, and mysterious; and Pluto, small and far, carrying its heart-shaped feature as if the cosmos itself remembered love in its outermost reaches.

Each planet, each star, each galaxy, and every black hole exists in delicate balance—too hot or too cold would disrupt the dance of life. And yet here we are, on a planet just right for life to flourish. As Goldilocks reminds us: not too hot, not too cold; not too harsh, not too mild—just right.

We are connected to it all. To the soil beneath our feet, the waters that flow, the air we breathe, the stars above. And yet, this planet—Earth—is home. The one place where chemistry, balance, and love converge, creating life in all its richness.

That is both a gift and a responsibility.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 20 that greatness is not about power—it is about service.
To serve others.
To serve the Earth.
To protect what is fragile.

Caring for creation is an act of love. It is an act of faith. It is choosing to live in harmony with the systems that sustain life.

Chemistry teaches us how life works.
Faith calls us to care for it.

So, on this Chemists Celebrate Earth Day, may we do more than observe.
May we notice the beauty.
May we honor the diversity of life, of people, of pronouns, of faiths.
May we protect the fragile balance that sustains life.
May we love more deeply.

Because this Earth is not just a collection of elements.
It is a living system.
A sacred home.
A reflection of divine creativity and care.
And it is still—beautifully, vulnerably—very good.

PRAYER

God of Creation,
thank you for all that you have imagined,
and all that we are still discovering.

Thank you for the elements that form our world,
for the breath in our lungs,
for the waters that sustain us,
and for the delicate balance that makes life possible.

Help us to be stewards of your love and your Creation.
Teach us to care for this Earth with humility,
to protect what is fragile,
and to honor the beauty woven into every part of life.

Remind us that we are connected—
to the soil,
to the stars,
to one another.

May we serve as you have called us to serve:
with compassion,
with justice,
with love that reaches all people and all creation.

And may we never forget
that this world—so intricate, so vulnerable, so alive—
is still, and always, very good.

Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Reed Kirkman

Tuesday - April 21, 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

WORDS OF HOPE

At one time or another, we’ve probably all heard someone say, or maybe you’ve said it yourself, “I am not a creative person.” No matter who says it, this is a false statement. We are all made in God’s image and God is the ultimate creator. Within each of us is a spark of our divine creator. We are so made so that we are able to use our gift of creativity to further God’s work in our world.

Today is World Creativity and Innovation Day. It’s purpose is to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development, economic growth, and sustainable development. and “to encourage multidisciplinary thinking, problem-solving, and the use of new ideas to make the world a better place.” As one who has always lived a creative life and a Christian life, I still wrestle with the truth that creativity is a part of my vocation as a follower of Christ.

Having an “artist’s temperament” often is considered as negative. Artist’s are described as being disorganized, irresponsible, arrogant and moody. Jesus, the carpenter, was a creative. Would we describe him using these words? Probably not. Describing negatively the creative forces within us is rooted in not recognizing, understanding, and honoring the divine creative spark that we all carry. Spontaneity may actually be perceived as disorganization, Non-conformity and independence as arrogance, intense focus on one thing as irresponsibility, and extreme sensitivity and emotions as moodiness. Those of us doing the work of Jesus know that spontaneity, not conforming to the world, focus and passion on our work, and a deep emotional connection to the world around us are exactly what are required of us to keep going in a time when we face something new each day that attempts to test our faith and derail our creative life in Christ. Jesus showed us this time and time again.

On this World Creativity and Innovation Day, take time to kindle the divine spark within you. Pray about how you can use your unique gifts of creativity to share the love of God in a world that is scared of the artists, and then go out there and do something to destroy that fear. Draw, paint, dance, write, sing, sculpt, speak, whisper, be love. That is what God created us to do.

PRAYER

God, creator of all things, thank you for the divine spark that burns within me, making me a uniquely creative being. Give me vision and strength to see new and innovative ways to create and reflect love in the world. I pray that all that I create with my hands, my mind, and my heart will inspire others to see you more clearly and love more deeply. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - April 20, 2026

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:01:21 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Exodus 13.3

Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand.”

WORDS OF HOPE

These are uncertain times. Much of the world is in turmoil and many around us are experiencing various degrees of suffering. Today’s scripture refers to the tumultuous events that surrounded the exodus of the Hebrew people from their years of suffering in Egypt. Moses had led the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery. Now, thousands of them, in wagons and on foot, had reached the edge of the Sea of Reeds. Approaching at the rear of this mass of frightened humanity was the ancient world's strongest army of Egyptian war chariots.

The Hebrews were caught between approaching death by violence and drowning in the nearby seawater. Their path for progress was uncertain; the outcome was unsure. But, on their journey from Egypt, "the Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them and in a pillar of fire by night to give light for continued safe travel... In fear the Hebrews cried out to Moses: What have you done to us?

But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm [trust in God's continued guidance] and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today...” The pillar of cloud, which had led them, moved back behind them as a shield against the Egyptian army and allowed them to cross the parted sea unharmed. When we read the words of the miraculous events of Exodus, our tendency is to think sure, it’s a good story, but what does it have to do with me today? If we’re looking for the sea to part or for pillars of smoke and fire to save us, the answer would be, “Not much,” but it is actually a story about following God’s guidance when we face uncertainty.

Are there times in your life lately when you feel as if the entire Egyptian army is in pursuit of you and you see nothing but an impassible sea up ahead? Today, we live in times of chaotic events and both national and international divisiveness. Many of us have faced or are facing adversity of health, finance, and relationships; troubles unlike those we have faced before. Yet, even in uncertainty, our life path may be guided and shielded if we choose to trust God to provide the guidance. Our task is to walk faithfully in the path which God provides. The decision is up to each of us. Do we trust in God's comforting promise or rely on our human and uncertain path? Which road will you take today?

PRAYER

O God, as we face the unknowns of this day may we remember the words and certainty of your promise: "Fear not. I am with you, O be not dismayed, for I am your God and will still give you aid. I'll strengthen you and cause you to stand, upheld by my righteous and omnipotent hand."

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St Clare.

Friday - April 17, 2026

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:00:26 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 1. 15-16

For the Scriptures say, but now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. “You must be holy because I am holy.”

WORDS OF HOPE

I read this scripture numerous times before it finally clicked. God is literally calling every believer to walk in holiness. Not an unattainable request with strict rules, degrees, titles or unusual ideology, just the simple act of practicing holiness in everyday life.

We just concluded Holy Week, with specially dedicated days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday to honor the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. The word holy means to “set aside” for a divine purpose dedicated entirely to God.

Consecrated objects set apart for the purpose of worship such as the sacraments, Bible, garments, and the priests who handled them were considered holy. However, the scripture assures us holiness isn’t limited to appointed servants or objects; we are holy simply because God is holy.

When God calls us to walk in holiness and separate ourselves from worldly thoughts, it may seem daunting and out of reach, as if its only reserved for the “most” spiritual people. We tend to connect holiness with overbearing rules instead of feeling free and joyful to live as followers of Christ.

The word holy is used everywhere. Sometimes sacred and sometimes not so much. We sing revered songs such as Holy, Holy, Holy, referring to the Trinity and ask the Holy Spirit to bless us in prayer. Holy matrimony is about marriage and then there are slang expressions of Holy Toledo, Holy cow or Holy Moses which are uttered by millions.

Each of us is called to be holy. Holiness isn’t about trying to be good; it’s about living “in” the goodness of God. This surrender to God’s will is life-changing, enabling us to fulfill our purpose to love one another as God loves us.

PRAYER

Creator God, we are grateful for your reminder of our holiness. As we align our prayers with your will, let the Holy Spirit remove all obstacles that keep us bound. In Jesus Holy name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Thursday - April 16, 2026

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:38 GMT

SCRIPTURE 1 Peter 1:8-12

Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace intended for you made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!

WORDS OF HOPE

This passage from Peter has the great Advantage of being applicable to almost anytime or place. Clearly, Peter is talking to people who are not witnesses to Jesus‘ life, death, and resurrection. He reminds them that even though they have not been direct witnesses they still believe; they still love Jesus; and they are still capable of feeling the certainty and the joy of salvation.

Of course, this applies to today’s believers as it did to those to whom Peter was writing. We are only able to see Jesus in the words of the Gospels. We are only able to feel the presence of Jesus in our hearts and not with our eyes and ears as the disciples were able to do.

Peter reminds his audience that the prophets had been clear about the coming Messiah. And while those of us who are not of Jewish descent, may not always feel close to the words of the Ancient prophets; even we can look and see how they were serving the future generations to whom they were writing. This is why we still read those ancient words. This is why we still look to them to understand how they were fulfilled by Christ Jesus.

So today in your devotional time, reflect back on all you have heard and been taught and seen about the risen Christ. Jesus came to restore the connection between God and humankind which had been lost. Remember that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, lives within you and that Jesus gives you a way to understand, and grace to act on that presence of God within your heart.

PRAYER

Great Creator, though we cannot see you or your Christ in the way the early disciples did, we long for your presence in our lives. We pray to be able to live the life you have given us so that we reflect your love and the sacrifice of Jesus. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Wednesday - April 15. 2026

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:38 GMT

READING

Jonah 1:7-10

As my life was ebbing away,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.
Those who worship vain idols
forsake their true loyalty.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Deliverance belongs to the Lord!”

Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out onto the dry land.

WORDS OF HOPE

I always remember hearing the story of Jonah and the Whale as a child. I guess it was more believable that he was swallowed by a whale than a “big fish”, but I think the story as told to children misses the point.

Jonah was swallowed by the fish because he was running away from God. He had been tasked with carrying God’s message to the great city of Nineveh and that overwhelmed him. He was so reluctant that he tried on escape on a ship, and we all know where that led.

The point is not about being swallowed by a whale, but perhaps it is about being overwhelmed by missions that feel a bit like facing a whale: big, scary and a lot of work.

The moral of the story to me is that sometimes we must face our fears and just buckle up and do the work before us. In the end just following God’s plan seems a lot easier than enduring time in the stomach of a big fish.

PRAYER

May I use the strength that God gives me to do the work before me. May I always remember how Jonah made his task much more difficult that it was by trying to run away from God’s guidance. Amen

DEVOTIION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - April 14, 2026

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:00:19 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jonah 1:1-5

One day long ago, God’s Word came to Jonah, Amittai’s son: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.” But Jonah got up and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish—as far away from God as he could get. But God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering.

WORDS OF HOPE

Jonah’s flaws are so relatable. He chooses to disobey God. Yet in verse 9, he tells the sailors, “I worship God.” Have you ever decided that your way was better than the Lord’s? Have you tried to maintain the appearance of faith while actively running away from it?

I learned about a Married Men’s virtual Life Group at the church of a well-known and influential pastor. During a chat with the group leader, I told them I was married to a man. I wanted to show up as my most authentic self. The group leader said someone from their senior leadership team would reach out. They never did, even after I followed up. This wasn’t the first time a church rejected me for being gay, but the experience still stung. In my heart, I could hear the words of Jesus: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Did I listen and forgive the church leaders? Of course not. Like Jonah, I chose to run, not to another city, but into the darkness of resentment and depression. I lost an entire day of work feeling sorry for myself and googling churches that would validate my identity. I considered never listening to the pastor’s sermons again, and felt guilty for supporting someone with views so different from mine. This suffering was my version of the storm God sent Jonah. Eventually, I realized that it wasn’t a punishment. It was an act of love to get me back on course.

I took away several lessons:

Anchor to God’s unconditional acceptance and approval instead of human validation.
My spiritual practice is richer when it’s not in an echo chamber. I can take a religious leader’s wisdom that resonates and leave the parts that don’t.
Forgiveness is about setting yourself free from negativity and aligning with God’s love, not condoning another person’s actions.

We all face storms. I hope sharing this story helps you weather your next one and follow what God is calling you to do.

PRAYER

Lord, I’m ready for Your assignment. Speak to me and give me the courage to obey. I trust that Your Love will bring me through every storm. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Logan Alexander Johnson

Monday - April 13, 2026

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:00:35 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Judges 6:39-40

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

READING

"The opposite of faith is not doubt -- it is certainty." - Anne Lamott

WORDS OF HOPE

In Judges 6, we meet Gideon at a moment of deep uncertainty. God has already called him to deliver Israel, but Gideon hesitates. He asks for a sign: first, that a fleece would be wet with dew while the ground stays dry, and then the reverse. Miraculously, God graciously answers both requests.

When we first look at this story, it seems that Gideon displays doubt. Given how overwhelming the stakes can be to being Israel’s deliverer, I think it’s less about doubt and more about assurance.

Gideon is not testing God out of rebellion; he is seeking clarity in the face of fear.

How often do we find ourselves in Gideon’s shoes?

We’re looking up phone numbers for a real estate agent and a mover. Suddenly, what felt like a nudge now doesn’t seem so sure. The new job offer looks like a win-win, but you don’t know if you’re ready or qualified. That person you’ve been seeing is everything you’ve hoped for, but you’ve been hurt before and you’re not sure you want to leap again. Are you asking for a sign because you doubt or because you just need that little bit of extra assurance?

What’s striking in Gideon’s story is that God doesn’t rebuke Gideon for what could be perceived as doubt. Instead, She does exactly what she always does. She provides reassurance.

Looking for signs shouldn’t become our default setting when making a meaningful decision and that’s not what this story is implying. Instead, it reveals something important about the nature of God. He is compassionate with our fragile faith. The story isn’t about Gideon’s uncertainty; it’s about His patience.

Anne Lamott got it right: Faith is not the absence of questions or being fearless in the moment. It is the willingness to move forward even when resolutions to the questions are not fully resolved.

PRAYER

Gracious God,
You know how often we long for clarity and reassurance. Thank you for your patience with us when our faith feels small. Give us wisdom to discern your voice, courage to trust your leading, and strength to act when the time comes. Help us to move from hesitation to faithful obedience.
Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - April 10, 2026

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

The Book of Psalms 25:6-8 (adapted from NRSVUE translation)

Be mindful of your mercy, O God, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from days of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, Holy One!

Good and upright is God;
therefore God instructs the broken in the way.

WORDS OF HOPE

The Sins of Youth and Other Times

I have replayed them in my head too many times. Poor decisions of my past. Hurts I’ve inflicted on people whom I genuinely loved and cared for. Words I’ve spoken thoughtlessly that left wounds upon others. Actions I took or neglected to take.

The writer of today’s passage from the Book of Psalms understands. Sins of our youth are common. The Creator of our frontal lobe where decisions are made must understand better than any experienced neurologist. After all, that part of the brain isn’t fully developed until around our mid-twenties (usually a bit earlier in women) so I would imagine God’s expectations are lowered and forgiveness is a given.

What about the rest of our life? The years of our 30’s and 40’s and upward can seem equally horrid in places. The poor choice that cost us dearly. The good job we left too soon. The failed relationships, broken marriages, poor parenting. It is the human experience—but not entirely.

We can take comfort in knowing that it is also the nature of being human that along with mistakes there will be successes. There are times of blessing and opportunity and moments of unexpected kindness and serendipity. Theologically, we call it Grace. We demonstrate both our character and our persistence by trying and failing and trying again.

We make many good choices, too. Especially when we follow the path that Jesus demonstrated which became known simply as, The Way. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What the Apostle Paul proclaimed as the fruit of the Spirit of God. The nature of the Christ-follower.

Psychologists and sociologists tell us that there are times when we are not fully prepared for what we face. Those are times when we did the best with what we had or what we knew at the time. Or perhaps we are still making choices out of our wounded parts that were formed from childhood hurts or neglect. We’ve not taken time to heal our wounds and live out of our better and true Self. Turn the page. It gets better, especially when we seek to make it so.

As the Psalmist said so well, “All the paths of the Divine are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep covenant and seek to live in God’s sacred way.”

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, who loves us, help us we pray, to strive for good choices, and live in Grace when we stray. Today, may we offer ourself and others Grace. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary G. Kindley, LPC

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - April 9, 2026

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:00:21 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1:25

God made the wild animals according to their kinds… and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

READING

“We have only begun to love the earth, … only just begun to envision how it might be to live as siblings with beast and flower and not oppressors.” Denise Levertov, “Beginnings”

WORDS OF HOPE

Last Wednesday, Sage and I pulled up at the old house in East Texas that has been a sanctuary for some 40 years. I was exhausted and, like so many, had been battered by the cruelty and chaos of the powers that be and needed renewal, so the trees’ vibrant greening, the migratory loons calling across the waters, and the does heavy with child called my heart to open.

Since tumultuous weather had pummeled the area a few weeks ago, I entered the house cautiously—checking ceilings for leaks and other signs of damage. A sigh of relief issued forth as all seemed well—until I reached my bedroom where signs of a raccoon incursion from the attic were everywhere: broken ceiling tiles, scraps of old insulation, animal droppings, new raccoon scat, and muddy paw prints. While empathizing that these masked creatures had probably sought refuge from the storms, I was disheartened at the wreckage and that rather than being able to rest while here, I’d have to kick into work mode trying to find someone to repair the house and make sure there were no critters still in the attic. I would also have to don mask and gloves and disinfect the area in a way that would protect Sage and me from toxins in raccoon scat.

Beginning to unload the car, I saw something move on the leaf bed by the back door. I walked closer and discerned the dark shape and patterns of a snake, but couldn’t tell whether it was venomous or not. At my closeness, she arched her slender neck in warning, and I scooted Sage into the house. I told her that I meant her no harm—and hoped that my soothing tone and the lack of hostile action would signal my non-threatening presence. This is not to say that I am casual about snakes: The bite of a copperhead years ago landed me overnight in the Marshall hospital followed by several painful days at home, so I have a healthy respect. But in Franciscan mode, I resisted what seemed the code of many area folks—to kill snakes in any situation—and left her to find her safe place.

When Brad, the wildlife removal person, came out, he was a spiritually grounded man who sang in a praise band and lived by a creed for animal life akin to my own, using humane traps and non-toxic products. God does indeed show up in strange places! As we discussed procedure, I felt the worry begin to release in the face of his expertise and his care.

In the midst of these encounters, a beautiful cedar waxwing flew inside, rapt by the holly berries which load our bushes, and, in spite of much wooing and humane ways of encouraging him to return to freedom, he stayed the night. Over the course of the time he bunked in with us, he grew to know my voice, I think, becoming less frantic when I approached, at times perching quietly on a curtain rod.

A few days ago, the administration gave the go-ahead to ignore the endangered species protections in the Gulf of Mexico though a huge number of species have gone extinct worldwide. While the extra intensity and care on behalf of these 3 creature-kin asked for more from me in a weary time, I cannot think it is less than what they are due as God’s good creation. And I think of those who gave—and give—extra care to me and feel grateful that Brad and I were here for them.

PRAYER

Teach us, God of all creation, that practicing care for our creature-kin is indeed another kind of “Good Trouble.” Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - April 8, 2026

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:00:29 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 3:4

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.

WORDS OF HOPE

Ancient Writings

On this first week of the Season of Eastertide, I’m wondering if the writers of scripture would be curious about all the church Seasons or astounded that people are still reading and interpreting their narratives and letters. In this stage of human development, we have a rare opportunity to understand that what we do will likely have an impact in the distant future. The internet makes us aware that what we report on social media immediately becomes news about who we are.

We have the chance of purposefully creating our legacy for future generations multiple times over. The ancient writers may not have known the impact of their epistles and grocery lists, but here we are the stewards who have a unique glimpse at how these civilizations lived, fought, and died. A snapshot of time. We try to ‘read’ what we can into the lives of those people who struggled to live in such a mysterious and violent era.

The people who fought to survive in Jesus’ day had a much bigger puzzle to fill in about their origins, what they believed, and whether or not they had a greater purpose. Yet, here we are with their mail which was postmarked 2000 years ago. What an incredible gift they left us. Their thoughts are now our Gospels.

Theologians have been busy for millennia trying to decipher their ancient code that has now fallen into our hands. Perhaps instead of zooming into ancient scriptural insights with our modern microscope, we might be wiser to attempt to understand who those original authors were, living under Romam rule, contrasted to our lives today, with freedom to speak our minds. There are many among us however, who have taken advantage of that freedom and interpret those ancient writings to their own political advantage.

There are those who consider themselves Christians yet manage to ignore the bigger picture teachings about loving our neighbor as ourselves and have in many ways reverted to eye-for-an-eye, tit-for-tat mentality. They will be leaving behind their lessons in bullying and brutality, but my prayer as I write my feelings and complaints on the internet is to consider “what will my life look like when somebody reads my own mail in a few thousand years?” What will I do or say to create a better world with my life and works as an example? It helps me to remember to pause before I rant. What will you tell yourself as you write your own thoughts and feelings that could someday be considered somebody’s internet scriptures?

PRAYER

May I never shy away from telling the truth of God’s love for all and may the spirit of my conversations or writings always reflect the spirit of Jesus. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - April 7, 2026

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:00:12 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

WORDS OF HOPE

Do you ever just open the Bible and let whatever passage appears speak to you? This practice is called bibliomancy. You may enter into this practice with a specific question or concern in your heart; or, you may come with an openness that simply desires that God fill your heart and mind with whatever God believes you need in that moment.

Like many of us right now, the goings on in our country and in the world weigh heavy on my heart. Most days the only thing I feel I can do is pray. Recently I began my morning prayer time with my thoughts going in what seemed like a million different directions. I randomly opened my Bible to this, Psalm 36, from The Message.

The God-rebel tunes in to sedition—

all ears, eager to sin.

He has no regard for God,

he stands insolent before him.

He has smooth-talked himself

into believing

That his evil

will never be noticed.

Words gutter from his mouth,

dishwater dirty.

Can’t remember when he

did anything decent.

Every time he goes to bed,

he fathers another evil plot.

When he’s loose on the streets,

nobody’s safe.

He plays with fire

and doesn’t care who gets burned.

God’s love is meteoric,

his loyalty astronomic,

His purpose titanic,

his verdicts oceanic.

Yet in his largeness

nothing gets lost;

Not a man, not a mouse,

slips through the cracks.

How exquisite your love, O God!

How eager we are to run under your wings,

To eat our fill at the banquet you spread

as you fill our tankards with Eden Spring water.

You’re a fountain of cascading light,

and you open our eyes to light.

Keep on loving your friends;

do your work in welcoming hearts.

Don’t let the bullies kick me around,

the moral midgets slap me down.

Send the upstarts sprawling

flat on their faces in the mud.

I am particularly drawn to the use of the word “God-rebel” instead of wicked. It cuts right to the implied actions of those who commit wicked deeds. When these actions are distilled down to the lowest common denominator, they all rebel against the “meteoric love of God.”

Taken as a whole, this psalm yields a powerful and comforting message. Read it carefully, and then read it again. What words and phrases speak to you? What part of this psalm will make today easier for you to face?

PRAYER

Author of the Universe, open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word! Guide me to the words I need so that I may grow in understanding, knowledge, and faith. Remind me that meditation on your words will bring peace to my days. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - April 6, 2026

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

See! The winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land.

WORDS OF HOPE

How amazing is the arrival of Spring! Sometimes in Texas, it slips up on us. But this year we kept having several days of cold, even freezing weather almost up until the official beginning of Spring!

I am blessed to volunteer at one of the most beautiful places to spend time in Spring (as confirmed by Southern Living magazine). Dallas Arboretum plants 500,000 bulbs of Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinth in such a way that they pop up weekly starting as soon as it is near Spring. And when the bulbs are spent, the amazing Azaleas start their amazing show of how amazing God’s beautiful Earth can be!

I feel close to God every time I walk through the awesome 66 acres of the Arboretum! I am blessed to give tours of the DeGolyer home - the family who made the first 44 acres of the Arboretum their retirement home in 1940!

I feel like the scripture above was written for such a time as Spring in Texas and the beauty of the gardens.

Last month we broadened our horizons by doing a photo shoot for a beautiful high school senior young lady at Ft Worth Botanical Garden. I was amazed at their many arches heavy with Wisteria! The smell was incredible!

I am so blessed to be able to see such amazing places that show me the most beautiful handiwork of God. How much must God loves us to shower us with so much beauty!

As I drive from place to place this time of year, I am also blessed to see the Texas State flower- the spectacular Bluebonnet! It is such joy to see them growing on the roadside!

One of my best friends likes to be a co-creator with God. She spends a lot of her spare time with her hands in God's soil. She refuses to let me call it dirt! She nurtures plants and grows flowers and herbs. She even brings plants back to life after it appears I have murdered them! She has a magic touch with plants! She prays as she has her hands in God's precious soil. She is my biggest prayer supporter!

I hope you are blessed to get to see lovely flowers, even if it is a lone Iris or Rose in a garden near you or Bluebonnets along the roadside. AND I hope as you see flowers, you are conscious of the graciousness of God for allowing us to have such wonderful visions of nature to be a blessing in our life.

PRAYER

God of all good gifts, today we praise you for the glory of plants that bloom in such amazing beauty that makes our world such a wonderful place to live.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - April 3, 2026

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:00:43 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46; and Mark 15:34

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?

WORDS OF HOPE

From the hardwood of the cross, Jesus recites the first line from Psalm 22: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? At the most immediate level, Jesus expresses profound human suffering. It’s abandonment, pain, and isolation. He experiences the depths of human despair, not just physical agony but spiritual desolation.

Throughout history and even up to today, in places where conflict, hunger, and displacement overlap, Jesus makes the experience of despair and desolation his own. When Jesus cries out the opening line of Psalm 22, he is not only expressing his suffering—he is standing in solidarity with all who feel forsaken.

In Sudan, Jesus bears company with those where civil war has displaced millions, famine is emerging and people are cut off from stability, food, and safety.

In Gaza, Jesus shares the plight of those where 80% of the infrastructure is damaged and widespread food insecurity continues.

On the streets of the wealthiest country on Earth, Jesus makes the experience his own with the 770,000 persons are in shelters or are unsheltered in the United States each night and in homes where 1 in 5 children are not properly nourished.

In the Middle East, Jesus enters into the suffering of tens of millions at risk of hunger due to escalating war. In Lebanon, he stands with the 800,000 people forced from their homes, seeking shelter and safety.

Reading Psalm 22 beyond verse 1, we read that the psalm begins in despair but moves toward trust and vindication, even joy. Simply saying the words of verse 1, those witnessing the crucifixion see Jesus pointing beyond suffering to ultimate deliverance. What appears as defeat is actually a part of God’s redemptive plan.

This first verse of Psalm 22 holds together honesty and hope. It doesn’t sanitize suffering but anchors it within the larger story of trust and redemption.

As you go to the cross on this Good Friday, witness not just the suffering of Christ on the cross, but bear witness to all those with whom Jesus is standing in solidarity. And know that Jesus is holding together both the depth of despair and the stubborn hope of faith.

PRAYER

Let us pray, from the liturgy of Good Friday in the Episcopal Book of Common prayer:

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - April 2, 2026

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:36 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 11, 23b-25

On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it he said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me,” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and God’s people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”

WORDS OF HOPE

I’m sure that this passage, or a variation of these words, are among the most familiar excerpts of Scripture you hear every week when you participate in the breaking of bread. These words are the Apostle Paul’s which he recorded for all time as he served Holy Communion to his followers in Corinth. On this Maundy Thursday, we remember the establishment of that tradition in the event we now call The Last Supper.

As the days of Holy Week come to an end, most people realize that Good Friday does not refer to a “good” event that happened on that day. The “good” part of the event is based on an ancient word, “goude”, meaning pious or holy. That designation began in around 1300 to signify the holiest of sacrifices. On the night before that sacrifice, Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ final commandment in the sense of a mandate as he educated his followers in a ceremony that was to become known as Holy Communion.

“Maundy” is a shortened version of “mandatum”, a Latin word meaning “command” but it’s more in the nature of an extension of the Love Commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.”(John 13.34) These words were delivered on the same evening as the Last Supper, as he washed his Disciples’ feet. The “mandate” that followed would serve as a reminder to them of the profound extent that love was to reach. Jesus loved them enough to die for them.

He was about to literally give his body and his blood. That holy meal was to become a continual reminder of the salvation offered through the ritual of sharing through a meal of mutual love. As he emphasized “Remember me” he was telling them to remember that love has no limits; the mandate of peace on earth.

PRAYER

May we recall Jesus’ timeless words on this Maundy Thursday as we remember his life of boundless love. As we strive for a world free of hatred and mindless wars, may our love also have no limits. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - April 1, 2026

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:43 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 13:21-26

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close to his heart; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

WORDS OF HOPE

Though this passage clearly foretells of the betrayal by Judas, I find the scene itself has a lot to say. The mention of “ One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close to his heart;” is what stands out to me here. This disciple, who is never named directly, essentially is laying with his head against Jesus’ chest, in his lap most likely as means were taken while reclining. It is an intimate and very touching image.

It is a pesky reference that biblical scholars often debate and try to identify the individual. Some say it is John, the Evangelist, while others argue that is is a metaphorical reference meant to symbolizes the "abiding" relationship Jesus invites all believers into.

There are even those who believe it was Mary Magdline, but there are other references to her and the unnamed disciple at Jesus’ tomb.

I prefer to think of this as a hint to a same-sex relationship, though there is not any definitive scholarship on this interpretation. I suppose it will always remain a mystery, but it is one that speaks of a deep love and intimacy that resonates with me.

Perhaps, at this pivotal moment in Jesus story we can take comfort knowing that Jesus was unafraid to show a physical closeness to his disciples. It reflects the very character of Jesus as being both fearless in his exposing of the one who would betray him and his love and closeness to a person who will most likely remain a mystery.

PRAYER

May we embrace the love exhibited by Jesus and hold those dear to us even closer, even when we may have fears about what is to come. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - March 31, 2026

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:00:37 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 8:31-37

If God is for us, who is against us? Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship or distress... No, for in all such things, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.

WORDS OF HOPE

On this Tuesday of Holy Week, sometimes called Jesus’ busiest of days, we observe Jesus in various interactions with every variety of religious leader, disciple, townspeople, and distractors. Everywhere he goes in Jerusalem, he seems to be followed by accusations, questions, and conflicts. Have you ever felt backed into a corner by life’s seemingly overwhelming challenges?

Today’s Scripture contains some of the Bible’s most hopeful words and ones most of us need to hear every day. As Paul wrote these words to the young church at Rome, he was offering encouragement and instruction to them. Much like our own world, in the period of 50-60 CE, the Christian church in that city was in constant change.

It had gone through an earlier purge of its Jewish citizens under the Emperor Claudius. Many of those Jews, who had been exiled at that time, now had returned to Rome and found that the young church which they previously knew had changed. With the earlier expulsion of its Jewish Christians, the church had become a predominantly Gentile congregation. Many of those returning Jews had probably lost their Roman homes, businesses, and social status. They returned like immigrants to the church they had helped to create, and their welcome back was probably less than enthusiastic.

For those faithful Jews, it must have been heartbreaking to sense a separation from all that they had loved in their church group. In our present time, many people are suffering loss. Sometimes, it is manifested in the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or even faith in our own government. Paul encouraged those Jews and Gentiles in the Roman church when he reminded them that hardships happen to all, but hope must not be lost. Paul knew that our greatest treasure, which is our loving relationship with Christ Jesus, cannot be taken away from us. His encouragement continues:

"For nothing can separate us from Christ, for I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor rulers, nor things present or in the future, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

PRAYER

Grant us Lord God, not to be overly anxious about the physical things of this earthly life, but to hold dear and love those spiritual gifts which are part of your loving providence for us. Even while we are placed here among those earthly things which are passing away, help us to hold fast to your loving spiritual gifts which shall endure. We pray through Jesus's name. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 30, 2026

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:51:33 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 48.18

Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea…

WORDS OF HOPE

Right or Righteous?

On this Monday of Holy Week, is it more important to be righteous than it is to be right? If you do not have love, then you have gained nothing by being right. Words with malice, judgment, and manipulation in them defeat the purpose of being right. Some people look at the surface and judge incorrectly, so isn’t it great that God never asked us to judge? You can be right, but that doesn’t always mean it is time to be right. Sometimes being righteous means being patient, kind with your words, and sincere.

If I’m right, what does it gain me if my sister is harmed? Today, people have a hard time coming together if they don’t always agree. Isn’t it more righteous to agree to disagree in spirit, not just in word, by coming together to the same table? I’d rather not know anything. Consider me a fool.

They call me an idealist, but I ask, “Do I have to be of a certain religion to feed the hungry?” No one I ever helped ever refused me because of my sexual orientation, the color of my skin, or any of my personal beliefs. A man dying of hunger will rarely refuse a meal. Should we make requirements of those who want to give?

There is something truly beautiful in coming together. I want to forget about who is right and who is wrong and laugh over the silliness of it all. How did things get so far away from us? We are so divided now. Being righteous is forgiving when it is hard, when you know you are right, and when he or she is your enemy. Invite your enemy to your table. You are the gift the world needs. The love has to start somewhere, and it is with you.

PRAYER

Lord, show me a table where a Christian and a Muslim sit together. On another end, let there be an atheist next to a Rabbi, a prostitute next to a saint, a monk next to an assassin, and an Israeli next to a Palestinian. Let there be peace in our homes, so that when we leave, we can go in that peace with the hopes that it will spread to others. There is so little love for the stranger all because we don’t know who she is. Let the walls to our hearts come down and the doors swing open. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 30, 2026

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:00:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 48.18

Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea…

WORDS OF HOPE

Right or Righteous?

PRAYER

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - March 27, 2026

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Nehemiah 9.14-15

You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees, and laws through your servant Moses. In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.

WORDS OF HOPE

As Lent nears its end, today’s reading is from a Hebrew Scripture prayer of praise to God from the Prophet Nehemiah. The wise leader of his people is reminding them of God’s past mercies and acts of grace in the most effective technique a public speaker can use to inspire and captivate his audience: Storytelling. -And the more familiar the story, the better the audience remembers the lesson connected to it.

Nehemiah is telling the Hebrew people a tale of Moses they have heard since birth and could usually repeat orally, since theirs was a society of very few readers. They knew of the heroic and miraculous events of their history through repetitions around the glow of campfires, not eBooks. They looked forward to reliving past triumphs through the best storytellers among them and Nehemiah was among the most popular.

His job was to inspire a discouraged and exhausted people to restore their former glories through the almost impossible task of rebuilding the walls of their fallen city. He inspired them well because in a near-miraculous amount of time, they actually did it!

In all my years of teaching the very young as a minister to children, age never separated us in doing together what we loved best: sharing the greatest stories ever told, and each time gaining a little more insight into our own lives through their timeless adventures.

Even now, when I talk to friends about the trials of Jonathan and David or the courage and selfless sacrifices of Joseph or Abigail, I feel their joys and sorrows as if they had been members of my own family. And spiritually, they were.

We also learn some of our best lessons through those ancient family members’ mistakes, and their mistakes were generous in number. The Bible writers never failed to report the frailties in the humanity of its superheroes. But, as in today’s text, the grace and empowerment of God in them never faltered.

Do we still have any walls to rebuild as we reflect on our Lenten journey today? There is always time and near-miraculous events can still happen. And yes, there are still prophets around to inspire us if we are alert and open to their wisdom.

PRAYER

God of unforgettable stories, may the Prophets of Old teach us to be the Prophets of Today. Help us to learn from those great family legends that we may create even greater ones for our future generations to tell. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - March 26, 2026

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:42 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 63: 1

“O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you;/ my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you/ as in a parched and weary land where there is no water.

WORDS OF HOPE

It’s the hottest, driest place in North America, with average summer daytime temperatures as high as 116 degrees and a record-breaking peak of 134. Death Valley, as described by Laura Cox, is as “hauntingly stark as its name suggests. With landmarks like the Devil's Golf Course, Badwater Basin, and Furnace Creek, its windswept plains, scoured hillsides, and craggy peaks evoke a sense of hardship and an otherworldly moonscape.” With an average annual rainfall of only 2.2 inches, any animal or plant life is a test of adaptability.

In the scripture above from Psalm 63, David is in his own geographic and spiritual death valley— in the wilderness of Judah, parched in body and soul, exhausted, crying out to God for water, living water, to sustain him. Perhaps, like Jesus in the wilderness, he was beset by the temptation to give up, give in to lies.

I know people who have endured such long dry spells in their lives—devoid of good health with recurring surgeries, hospital or rehab facility stays or confronting late-stage cancer with extensive debilitating chemo regimens. And like these and their caregivers, living with chronic pain day in and day out can dishearten even the most faithful. Incapacitating mental health issues depress the spirits as well and “dehydration” of body and soul can lead to distorted thoughts, delusions which old wounds or past family, societal, or theological abuse replay over and over, tearing away at the will to live.

How awesome then to behold desert blooms—whether in vegetation or the revitalized and resurrected life. Currently Death Valley is awash in vibrant wildflowers—in a profusion not seen since 2016, as just the right amount of rain, in the right intervals, has coaxed the seeds from their protective coatings to burst forth in glory: a carpet of desert gold, resembling golden daisies, spottings of gravel ghost with such a pale stem that it seems the white flower is suspended in air, the purple phacelia plant, and desert five spot with pink petals forming a cup, with splashes of red inside, to name a few species. (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/us/death-valley-superbloom.html )

So too a complex set of factors—medical, relational, communal, miracle-- shaped by a Grace far greater than we can understand returns the daily beauty, vitality, and promise of our lives after such a wilderness. David experiences that renewal in Psalm 63 prompting him to give thanks: “So I will bless you as long as I live./ I will lift up my hands and call on your name.” (v.4) Astounding relief, gratitude, and joy are characteristic of our own desert blooming and often the desire to share our story and the Love-borne miracle.

PRAYER

God of All Creation, be for us like desert rain, restoring life, where there seemed to be only dry bones. We give you thanks for all the desert blooms in our world, renewing beauty and creating yet another generation of seeds for the next flourishing. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - March 25, 2026

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:01:10 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 22:23-32 ( The Inclusive Bible)

“Woe to you religious scholars and Pharisees, you frauds!

You pay tithes on mint, dill, and cumin

while neglecting the weightier matters of the law—

justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

These you should have practiced

without neglecting the others!”

WORDS OF HOPE:

Equal Pay Day

We all love a paycheck. Not because money itself is sacred, but because it signals survival, stability, and the possibility of rest. A paycheck tells us we can put food on the table, keep the lights on, fill the gas tank, and—if we are fortunate—breathe, plan, and imagine a better tomorrow. In a society that so often questions our worth, a paycheck quietly whispers: “your labor mattered today”.

I remember my first paycheck like it was yesterday. I was 19 years old, in 2013, working in the food service department and as a cashier at my local grocery store in McKinney Texas—hairnet on, slicer humming, the scanner beeping, hands smelling faintly of cheddar and turkey, ambition clinging to every fingertip. When that paycheck hit my bank account, I felt unstoppable. Not because of the money itself, but because it carried affirmation: that my time, my energy, my presence had value. That my labor, my very body, was counted. That paycheck didn’t just pay me—it saw me.

Paychecks are never neutral. They carry dignity, access, and choice. They shape whether we live in anxiety or breathe with relief, whether our families eat, whether our dreams survive the weight of survival. And yet, not everyone receives this affirmation equally. Women, trans and nonbinary people, gender-diverse folks, and people of color are too often told—through wages—that their labor is worth less. For some, a paycheck becomes not a sign of affirmation, but a quiet reminder of systemic injustice.

In 2026, money surrounds us constantly. We cannot go a single moment without encountering it. The stock market scrolls endlessly across our screens. Gas prices rise and fall. Oil barrel prices dominate the news. Cash registers ring in stores, coins clink, bills rustle in wallets and purses. And increasingly, money has become invisible—moving through debit and credit cards, tapped and swiped, transferred via PayPal, Zelle, Cash App, and bank apps. People buy groceries online, order furniture, shop for clothes, even purchase cars, all without ever touching a coin. Money is heard, seen, touched, and sometimes entirely invisible—but it shapes every decision, every measure of security, every small comfort.

In 1973, Pink Floyd captured this reality with uncanny insight. On The Dark Side of the Moon, the track “Money” pulsed with irony, critique, and hypnotic rhythm. Coins clinked; lyrics cut through illusion. Money promises freedom, yet it can tighten invisible chains; it offers comfort, yet deepens inequality; it grants choice, yet conceals exploitation. Listening today, the song feels prophetic.

At 32, working in diversity, equity, and inclusion in Plano, Texas, my paycheck looks different than it did in the deli and at the register. It pays bills, buys groceries, fills the gas tank, and—every once in a while—grants small, sacred joys: a coffee from my favorite coffee shops, a treasure at Half Price Books.

Yet, in 2026, a painful contradiction persists. We seem to have endless money for war, weapons, and destruction—but not enough to ensure dignity. Not enough for fair wages. Not enough to protect immigrants seeking safety. Not enough to uplift LGBTQIA+ communities. Not enough to house and care for unsheltered neighbors. Not enough to support those living in less fortunate conditions, locally or globally. Budgets are moral texts. Scarcity is rarely the problem—it is a choice. The choice to fund harm rather than healing, control rather than compassion, power rather than people.

That is why Equal Pay Day matters. Not as ceremony, not as symbolism, but as moral reckoning. It exposes the uncomfortable truth: not all labor is valued equally. Women, trans and nonbinary people, and gender-diverse workers—especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color—still earn less for the same work. Some stretch every dollar. Others absorb rising costs without hesitation.

Equal pay is not greed. It is dignity. It is recognizing that work is work—regardless of gender identity, race, sexuality, ability, immigration status, or background—and that compensation should reflect worth, not bias. If money reveals what we value, then Equal Pay Day asks the holy, unsettling question: who are we still failing to value fully?

The God of the living calls us to resist systems that dehumanize. To lift every laborer, every neighbor, every marginalized body. To align faith with finances and values with action. Money—visible in cash, on screens, or entirely virtual—will continue to shape the world, but it does not get the final word. God sees the laborer, the immigrant, the unhoused neighbor, the marginalized body, the exhausted worker, the quiet hope that refuses to fade. When we choose justice and love in how we handle money, we participate—here and now—in the kin-dom God is still bringing to life: a world where all are valued, all are honored, and all are free.

PRAYER

Holy One, You see every worker, every displaced family, every unhoused neighbor, everybody carrying the weight of survival. Forgive us for the ways we have funded harm while neglecting dignity. Teach us to hold money with open hands, to resist systems of violence, and to invest in justice, mercy, and faithfulness. May our paychecks, our budgets, and our advocacy reflect your kin-dom—a world where all are valued, all are protected, and all are free. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Reed Kirkman

Tuesday - March 24, 2026

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

WORDS OF HOPE

Each one of us is God’s handiwork, uniquely made to fulfill our role in God’s divine plan. The difficulty with this is that none of has the details of the whole of this plan. We spend a lot of time wondering why life is unfolding the way it is, why there is so much pain and suffering around us, and where is God in all of the chaos? Living these questions does test our faith regularly. And I think that also is part of God’s plan.

When God created human beings, God already knew that we were imperfect. At the same time, God also created for us a path of redemption through grace. The adversity, daily challenges, difficult human relationships, and unexpected glimpses of beauty and kindness we face each day are God’s tools. They are what God uses to mold us into his image. And through it, all of this shaping and forming, God loves us unconditionally. The only part of God’s big plan that we really need to know is that we are called to share this same love with all of God’s children. That is the essence of the plan. Perhaps Lennon and McCartney summed this all up best in their 1967 song, “All You Need Is Love.”

There's nothing you can do that can't be done

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung

Nothing you can say, but you can learn

How to play the game

It's easy

All you need is love

All you need is love, love

Love is all you need…

Nothing you can know that isn't known

Nothing you can see that isn't shown

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where

You're meant to be

It's easy…

All you need is love (all together now!)

All you need is love (everybody!)

All you need is love, love

Love is all you need…

The encouraging message for us now sixty years after the penning of these words is that there is nothing that God hasn’t already thought about and prepared for. I don’t know that John Lennon’s text of “It’s easy” rings true for many of us right now, but “love is all we need” does. We must love ourselves with our whole heart; we must love our neighbors as ourselves; we must welcome and love the strangers just as God welcomes and loves us. As the words of John 3:16 tell us, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Love, a true and Godly love, is all we need.

PRAYER

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Amen (Psalm 139:14)

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 23, 2026

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:00:54 GMT

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

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:00:16 GMT

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

Good Enough: The Quiet Power of Kindness

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:32:00 GMT

Note from Neil: March 19. 2026

Good Enough: The Quiet Power of Kindness

In a world that often rewards what is loud, visible, and celebrated, the gospel gently reminds us that much of what truly matters happens quietly.

Kindness, especially when it goes unseen, has a way of rippling outward and reshaping the world in ways we may never fully witness. It is one of the simplest, and yet most powerful ways we live out our faith.

The Apostle Paul writes in Epistle to the Colossians 3:12–17, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” These are not dramatic spiritual achievements. They are everyday practices, small gestures of grace that quietly shape who we are and how we move through the world.

At Cathedral of Hope, we have been reflecting on the theme of Good Enough throughout this season of Lent. Not perfect. Not extraordinary. Simply faithful in the ways we can be. Kindness is one of those “good enough” practices that reminds us we don’t need grand platforms or perfect circumstances to make a difference. We simply need open hearts.

Our modern reading this Sunday describes kindness as “a restorative act done for the good of another, handing over something valuable without the expectation of return.” That definition captures something deeply true about the gospel. The love we share does not need applause to matter. In fact, some of the most sacred acts of generosity happen when no one is watching.

Perhaps it’s the encouraging message sent at just the right moment.

Perhaps it’s a quiet prayer offered for someone who is struggling.

Perhaps it’s the simple act of patience when the world feels rushed and tense.

These moments may seem small, but they carry the spirit of Christ into ordinary life.

And yet, something remarkable happens when we live this way. Kindness often returns to us, not as a reward or transaction, but as a quiet transformation within us. The day becomes a little lighter. Our hearts soften. Hope begins to grow again.

There is, as the reading suggests, a kind of “boomerang effect.” The day does not suddenly become perfect. Life’s challenges remain but something shifts. In offering goodness, we remember that we still have the power to add light to the world around us.

This is the heart of the gospel. Love given freely is never wasted. Even when no one says thank you. Even when the impact is invisible.

When we clothe ourselves in compassion and kindness, as Paul encourages, we participate in God’s ongoing work of healing the world. We discover that grace moves through us in quiet ways that bind us together in shared humanity.

So, this week remember you do not have to do something extraordinary to reflect God’s love. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is simply be kind.

And that, dear friends, is more than enough.

I look forward to sharing this truth in practice with you again this Sunday.

Fondly,

Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas

Tuesday - March 19, 2026

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:47 GMT

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

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:41 GMT

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

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:54 GMT

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

What is Good Friday?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:37:13 GMT

A Service of Shadows

For centuries, believers have gathered as the sun sets on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday. to recall those hours of darkness that covered the world at the crucifixion of Jesus, the Chosen One of God.

This worship service, called Tenebrae from the Latin word for darkness, is a time of quiet reflection. Light came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, only to be scorned, rejected and crucified. And so, the service is marked by the use of candles, which are gradually extinguished as the story of Christ’s final day and final words are retold.

Those who gather believe in the resurrection. We know that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day. We are an Easter people. And yet, we find tremendous power and deep worship in the simple service of reading and meditating on Jesus’ last words as the room around us slowly grows darker and darker. The service ends as the final moments on the cross are remembered, and then the last candle is extinguished.

We invite you to join us on April 2 at 7:15pm, that you might rediscover the depth of meaning and blessing such an evening brings. In the growing shadows, listen for the still, small voice that whispers, “I am the light of the world. Whoever believes in me will have the light of life.”

Join us for Holy Week and Easter

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:13:54 GMT

Holy Week at Cathedral of Hope

Join us on Palm Sunday, March 29, (8:30am, 10am, 11:45am & 1:30pm) for the beginning of Holy Week, as we celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem!

Then join us on Holy Thursday, April 2, 7:15pm for contemporary worship as we remember Jesus at the last supper.

On Good Friday, April 3, 7:15pm we share in the crucifixion of Jesus and his last moments on Earth. Veneration of the Cross in the Interfaith Peace Chapel.

Finally, on Easter Sunday, April 5 an incredible time of worship, a message of hope and a celebration you won’t want to miss! We have four Easter services on Easter Sunday. Find the time and worship style that works best for you and gather your friends and family. Join us at 11am for our annual Easter Egg Hunt!

Monday - March 16, 2026

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:02:28 GMT

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.

Friday - March 13, 2026

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:00:25 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 3:7-9 (The Message)

“ The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Winners, Losers, and Jesus Followers

If you were given the choice of being a winner or a loser, without any other defining explanation you would likely choose being a winner. Don’t most people want to win, be successful, accomplish something that others might cheer?

What if you were given the choice of being positive or negative? Positive is where it’s at, right? Who wants to be a negative person?

Now what if the context of those choices were framed differently. For example, if I am taking a blood test to determine if I have cancer, wouldn’t I desire a negative result? I positively would!

What if my teenager’s cheerleading team wins a drawing to determine who will be the first to perform before judges at state competition? Typically, drawing the number one position is least favored, as the judges tend to more keenly remember the later performances when scoring so many teams. In this case, being first is the losing choice.

Ultimately, life is less about winning or losing but rather about perspective. We can choose to be success-driven and judge our happiness by whether or not we are successful. But who measures success? Public opinion? Our own perception? Whoever is keeping score?

The best standard, from my point of view, is to strive to follow Jesus. What are the qualities to strive for? Love and compassion, wisdom and grace, generosity and sharing, boundaries and self-care, sacrifice and commitment, devotion and abiding faith. These things along with hope and promise yield serenity and fulfillment.

Such is the nature of a life that chooses not to dwell on winning, losing, or human approval but on delighting in what is truly transcendent.

PRAYER

Redeeming God, save me from myself, my petty priorities, and my need for other’s approval. May I instead delight in love, compassion and all things truly transcendent. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

DrGK.org

Thursday - March 12, 2026

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:29 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Numbers 6: 24-26*

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

WORDS OF HOPE

A couple of weeks ago I woke up to find that my heating unit was suspiciously quiet. I was grateful that it hadn’t quit during the icy grip of winter earlier, but it was still chilly. Sage and I both bundled up for our walk, and when we got back, I kept her wrapped in her rainbow fleece—just to be sure she was warm enough. At 8:00 I texted Sam, my repairman who over the years has rescued me from emergencies in broiling heat and shivering cold. Faithful as ever, he came that afternoon. My unit is aged, and as soon as he started to examine it, I said, “Sam, you know I can’t afford to replace the system; we’re gonna have to find a work around.” His reply was that the same was true of so many of his clients.

Sam is thoughtful and quiet, and after some sweet talk with Sage, he set about to trace down the mystery of why things had shut down. After a while, he’d located the problem, found the parts to repair it, and gotten things going again. As he walked out of the house and down the steps, he turned to say good bye, and I said, “Sam, I appreciate you so much.”

A small thing, maybe—an appreciation not just for a job well done, but for who Sam is and for his faithful care all these years.

Endings are more important to me these days—the quality of endings of all kinds: the end of a life, the end of a relationship, the end of a group meeting, an interaction at church, a visit with a friend, a casual talk with a neighbor, an exchange with a waiter in a restaurant…and more. The source of this feeling is in part an awareness of aging and the limited time I have left here. But it is also the experience of having cancer steal away my partner all too suddenly. As well, I have witnessed how many people are unable to have the kind of endings they wished because their loved one is in such pain that they must be under heavy sedation or are intubated or the like. Family divisions can also harden hearts and keep us from the bedside of someone. As much as I can, then, I want to be present and attentive to the quality of endings.

A long-time life group member is leaving soon to live in Mexico. Though she hopes to be able to continue meeting on zoom with us, we’ll miss the face-to-face conversations and full body hugs at church. Earlier, when she retired, we gathered the group for a Texas-sized meal and shared remembrances (a get together that was followed by a pod of the group going for ax throwing!!). And we continue to keep with the progress of her transition and write notes of appreciation.

BLESSING

The Bible is filled with poignant farewells, but one of the most beautiful is the Aaronic blessing cited above in the scripture section. Moses delivers these words from God to Aaron, his brother and high priest of Israel. In ending, I offer them as a blessing for you, for our church and for our nation through John Rutter’s beautiful musical treatment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZN1mryHEnQ

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*I have chosen to keep the original words of this ancient blessing. A more inclusive version follows : “May the Lord bless you and take care of you; may the Lord be kind and gracious to you; may the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

Hope in Grief

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Hope in Grief: A Place for Healing and Community

Grief has a way of changing the landscape of our lives. Whether the loss is recent or years behind us, grief can surface in unexpected ways. In those moments, it can help to know that we are not alone.

At Cathedral of Hope, we believe that healing often begins in community. Hope in Grief is a weekly support group created to offer a safe, compassionate space where people can share their experiences of loss and find encouragement along the way.

Hope in Grief meets every Monday at 6:00 p.m. in the Interfaith Peace Chapel on the Cathedral of Hope campus and is open to anyone who is grieving, regardless of faith background, identity, or connection to the church.

Whether you are mourning the loss of a loved one, navigating a significant life transition, or carrying grief that has been difficult to name, you are welcome.

The group is facilitated by trained psychologists and spiritual leaders who bring both professional experience and deep compassion to the work of supporting others in grief. Each gathering includes guided conversations and gentle practices designed to help participants reflect, share, and explore ways of moving forward while honoring their loss.

Grief does not follow a timetable, and there is no “right way” to walk through it. What many people discover, however, is that healing becomes more possible when we are surrounded by others who understand the weight of loss and the courage it takes to keep going. Hope in Grief offers that kind of community—one grounded in empathy, honesty, and the quiet possibility of hope.

If you or someone you love is grieving, we invite you to join us. You do not have to carry grief alone. At Cathedral of Hope, there is space for your story, your questions, and your healing.

Hope in Grief

Mondays at 6:00 p.m.

Cathedral of Hope Campus

All are welcome.

Wednesday - March 11, 2026

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:01:47 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 11. 1-4

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

WORDS OF HOPE

Lord God, quiet my mind and help me to be more mindful of your presence and purpose in my life.

In the days of the Lenten Season, we will be contemplating the Messiah. These will be times of reflection and the wonders of the perfect plans of the Eternal God in relationship with humankind.

Over many generations, disobedience and evil ways were chosen most often. From the descendants of the righteous man, Abraham, God chose to demonstrate the Divine's nature and purpose toward humanity. However, even those Israelites often failed to live according to God's desires. Even with the threat of increasing disregard for God’s will, the creation was not to be abandoned by God. Creation would be redeemed.

And from the family of Jesse, King David's father, arose One who would restore humankind's relationship with God. Though often sung during Advent, listen to the words of this 16th-century German hymn:

"Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tenderest stem hath sprung, of Jesse's lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night. This flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True human but very God, from sin and death he saves and lightens our every load."

PRAYER

In the Lenten Season, as I walk the road toward sacrifice and resurrection, may I be more aware of your redeeming love. Prepare me to be more ready to share your love with others in my life. Be it ever so. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

No, We Are Not Okay

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:12:12 GMT

A Pastoral Reflection

Dear Members and Friends of Cathedral of Hope,

Grace and peace to you in a time when many of us are weary.

I want to begin with a simple, honest truth: no, we are not OK.

We are living through days that feel heavy. The news cycle rarely brings relief. Violence, political division, attacks on LGBTQ+ lives, the erosion of civil discourse, economic anxiety, and the ongoing strain on our mental health, these are not abstract issues. They land in our bodies. They disturb our sleep. They tighten our chests. They test our faith.

And pretending otherwise does not serve our souls.

Scripture reminds us that even Jesus wept. The Psalms are filled with lament. Our faith does not require denial, it invites truth-telling. At Cathedral of Hope, we are not called to spiritual bypassing. We are called to courageous honesty.

No, we are not OK.

Some of us are anxious.

Some are grieving.

Some are angry.

Some feel numb.

Some are simply exhausted.

And yet, this is not the end of the story. I still believe that we are an Easter people, even in the season of Lent!

The Church exists for moments like these. Not to offer shallow reassurance, but to offer deep companionship. Not to promise easy answers, but to hold sacred space where we can breathe again.

If you are struggling emotionally or spiritually, please know you are not alone, and you do not have to carry it privately.

Pastoral Care Appointments – Our clergy are available for confidential conversation and prayer. Reaching out is not weakness; it is wisdom.
Congregational Care Ministers – Trained lay caregivers who offer one-to-one listening and support during difficult seasons (email Rev. Dawson for more info).
Support and Recovery Groups – We have our Hope in Grief on Mondays and Hope in Recovery on Tuesdays (email Rev. Jeremy for more info).
Sunday Worship – Sacred rhythm matters. Being together matters. Join us even when you "don't feel it." We want you to be a part of our community regardless of the headspace you are in.
Community Gatherings and Life Groups – Because isolation is the enemy of resilience (engage with our Thursday email or check out our website for info on Life Groups).
Professional Counseling - We have partnered with 53 Christopher to offer some appointments with Licensed Professional Counselors on Sundays at CoH (find more information here).
A new partnership with Reflections Lifestyle Center, providing PHP/IOP therapy for adults facing mental health and substance use challenges. They offer a complimentary assessment.

If your mental health feels fragile, I encourage you to seek professional support as well. Faith and therapy are not in opposition; they are partners in healing.

Beloved, we may not be OK, but we are together.

And together, we are resilient. Together, we remember that despair is loud but not sovereign. Together, we practice hope, not as denial, but as defiance.

The world may feel fractured, but the Spirit is still moving. Love is still organizing. Justice is still rising. And this community remains a sanctuary for your whole, honest self.

If you need support, please reach out. If you are strong right now, help hold space for someone who is not. This is how the Body of Christ works.

No, we are not OK.

But we are beloved.

We are connected.

And by God’s grace, we are becoming.

With you in hope and honesty,

Rev. Neil

Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas, Senior Pastor

Tuesday - March 10, 2026

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:00:23 GMT

READING

“Today we can leave the governance of the universe to God.” - Martin Luther

WORDS OF HOPE

Have you ever noticed how many times you are asked a question that begins with “What are you doing….?” What are you doing this weekend? What are you doing tonight? What are you doing for spring break? What are you doing after church? What are you doing for dinner? What are you doing for Lent? What are you doing to make the world a better place? What are we doing?

I don’t consider myself to have a Type A personality, but I do live each day with a somewhat lengthy To-Do list. The funny thing about my list is that I don’t write down the absolute “have-tos” for the day like feed the dogs, teach my classes, take my medication, I write down all the things that take up time but don’t really have to be done today. And then I judge my day and myself by how successful I was at accomplishing all the things on that list. The reality is that no ill will come to me or anyone else if I fall short of checking every single thing off that list today. And yet, I feel like not doing it all diminishes my “goodness”. I am certain that I am not alone in these feelings.

When my youngest daughter was a toddler, bedtime consisted of me singing the song “Seek Ye First,” by Karen Lafferty, many many times. The text is based on various passages from the Gospel of Matthew.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God

And His righteousness,

And all these things shall be added unto you.

Allelu, Alleluia!

Ask, and it shall be given unto you;

Seek, and ye shall find.

Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.

Allelu, Alleluia!

Man shall not live by bread alone,

But by every word

That proceeds from the mouth of God.

Allelu, Alleluia!

In those days of parenting a small child, singing these words with her were often just another thing to cross off my to-do list. Get the baby to sleep so I could get all of the other things done that were still left on my daily list. Looking back now, thirty-three years later, I realize that the times spent singing this song over and over with my daughter were God speaking to me through the voice of a little child, a small voice pleading with me to “seek-y” first the kingdom of God, a message that both she and God knew that I needed to hear.

How different might our days be if we more carefully curated our to-do lists and made the top item to seek first the kingdom of God? How might our relationship with God be strengthened if when we are asked what we are doing, we respond by saying, “sitting quietly in the presence of God?” How different might we feel if we left governance of the universe to God?

PRAYER

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 9, 2026

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:00:21 GMT

READING

Spiritual Hymn:

"Follow Me", lyrics by Ira F. Stamphill:

I traveled on a lonely road and no one seemed to care.

The burden on my weary back had bowed me to despair;

I oft complained to Jesus how folks were treating me,

And then I heard Him say so tenderly,

"My feet were also weary, upon the Calvary road;

The cross became so heavy, I fell beneath the load,

Be faithful weary pilgrim the morning I can see,

Just lift your cross and follow close to me."

"I work so hard for Jesus" I often boast and say

"I've sacrificed a lot of things to walk the narrow way,

I gave up fame and fortune, I'm worth a lot to Thee"

And then I hear Him gently say to me,

"I left the throne of glory and counted it but loss,

My hands were nailed in anger upon a cruel cross,

But now we'll make the journey with your hand safe in mine,

So lift your cross and follow close to me.

Oh Jesus if I die upon a foreign field someday,

'Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay,

"No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die"

These are the words He gently spoke to me,

"If just a cup of water I place within your hand

Then just a cup of water is all that I demand.

But if by death to living they can Thy glory see,

I'll take my cross and follow close to Thee.

WORDS OF HOPE

I love the old-time hymns. They bring to mind the best parts of my growing up years in church. Much of my church experience was full of guilt and shame. But the hymns are full of great wisdom.

What wonderful theology "If just a cup of water I place within your hand. Then just a cup of water is all that I'll demand."

How wonderful to put your faith in a God who won't ask you for more than you have to give! And in my life each time I have trusted God with what I had, God blessed me with more!

During your practice of Lent, I hope you will be able to find a song of faith that moves you to a closer walk as you follow Jesus’ example on this earth.

PRAYER

Wonderful God, thank you for giving us your faithful promises to always be with us.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn, CoH Volunteer

Friday - March 6, 2026

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:00:21 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 2:14-16

For Christ himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

WORDS OF HOPE

We live in fractious and divisive times. Political polarization between progressives and conservatives has widened so much over the past several decades that compromise is nearly impossible. Americans increasingly get their news and commentary from different algorithmic media ecosystems, making dialogue more difficult. Questions about race, immigration, economic inequality, religious identity, and gender roles have become focal points of intense disagreement.

And yet, amidst this division, there are countercurrents of cooperation. Local communities, service organizations, faith groups, and civic groups continue to work across differences to address practical needs. More recently, we have seen such collaborations in the Twin Cities area and in local municipalities that have banded together to support marginalized communities and oppose the takeover of inappropriate facilities for detention centers. These efforts remind us that division, though powerful, is not the only force at work in our common life.

In the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul offers the imagery of a “dividing wall of hostility” being torn down, teaching that the gospel removes barriers—ethnic, cultural, or social. The church is called to live out this unity, not rebuild the walls Christ has already torn down.

Today is World Day of Prayer. The chief purpose of this Day is to unite Christians around the world in prayer and informed action for peace, justice, and the needs of others. The movement encourages ongoing compassion, understanding, and support for ministries that uplift communities and address human need.

This present time continues to be fractious because our disagreements are sharp, identities feel threatened, human lives are endangered, and trust is fragile. In many instances, that division may not or should not be bridged; we must be clear-eyed and resolute about standing up to injustice and speaking out when peace is threatened. But even so, we remain open to Paul’s words and to the purpose of the World Day of Prayer, which calls us to dismantle the “dividing wall of hostility” and to seek, wherever possible, the patient work of rebuilding understanding and common ground.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you are our peace. Break down the walls that divide us and reconcile us to one another and to you. Put to death the hostility in our hearts and make us one in your love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Easter Generosity: Lighting Project Update

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:54:44 GMT

Lighting Project Update

Easter is the sacred celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus and the moment when new light and living hope break into the world once again.

This year, that light will shine in a beautiful and tangible way as we unveil new sanctuary lighting on Easter Sunday, enhancing and renewing our shared worship experience.

The Lighting Project is one of the most significant capital improvements in the Cathedral’s history. It modernizes and elevates our sacred space while thoughtfully highlighting the enhancements completed during Project FaithLift just a few years ago.

The impact will be both immediate and meaningful:

Our choir and orchestra will be able to clearly see their music.
The Esperanza side of the sanctuary will be fully opened and integrated into worship.
The chancel will be enriched with new stage and broadcast lighting.
Our online worship community will experience greater brightness and clarity.
The Cross will shine with renewed brilliance.
The sanctuary will offer greater flexibility for diverse worship services and community events.

This project is more than a technical upgrade; it is an investment in the future of our Cathedral and in the ministry we share together. We are deeply grateful for the generous seed funding from the Jim Hurt Estate, which made it possible to begin this important work.

As we celebrate the Light of Christ this Easter, we invite you to make a special Easter offering to help us complete and fund this transformational project. Your generosity will help ensure that our sanctuary reflects the beauty, excellence, and hope we proclaim. When you consider your donation, here is a thought. There are 191 new lights in the project. A generous gift of $191 or any amount would be greatly appreciated.

Gifts may be made online through Realm or by check, with “Easter Lighting” noted in the memo.

We look forward to welcoming you this Easter, and to sharing together in the radiant light that fills our sanctuary and our hearts.

Thursday - March 5, 2026

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

WORDS OF HOPE

My first job as a teenager was working at Six Flags Over Texas in Ride Operations, assigned to the Spelunkers Cave. The industry calls this type of amusement park attraction a “dark ride” which takes took you through a long winding trough that tells a story of the mystical, pointy-headed Spelunkers in their daily routines, similar in a way to Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Another dark ride is Space Mountain, but it’s a roller coaster set in a dark building. I have ridden it enough that I thought I was pretty familiar plus it isn’t terribly fast, I recalled from my dozen or so rides before.

Then there was the time my then-partner and I had travelled to France. We had the opportunity to go to Disneyland Paris. We were not really roller coaster people , but I talked him into Space Mountain, because what could be different from its American counterpart? We had boarded and got buckled in when I noticed the sign saying this is a roller coaster-type ride in the dark with high-speeds, sharp turns, and corkscrew twists. I thought “High Speed. Oh no.”

I turned to apologize for the mistake that was about to happen. I managed to barely get out the words “I am so sor...” as our heads were plastered against the seats as it took off into the dark; zero to 60mph in 4 seconds; now a completely new experience, with no clue about what happens next. Life is sometimes like that, whether at home, or work, or with new people.

Of course, we survived the afternoon, better or worse, nauseated, mostly in the rain, which didn’t help him forgive me any sooner. It was trial and error with good intentions, lessons learned. We later found Pirates of the Caribbean was much more our speed, but I had some convincing to do this time to gain back his trust since this adventure was a safe, cute, traditional storybook pirate story, transporting us back in time, up a waterfall, canon firing, villages pillaged, and ending with no nausea. Mission accomplished.

No matter how you view going into the dark unknown, you always have a choice. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. You may choose to stay in the darkness or walk into the light. You can take a chance and be optimistic for a rewarding new life-adventure or stay the same with the old and familiar.

Generally, most of us prefer the safe and familiar, or at least the reassurance that we won’t be too worse for the wear if we take risk walking (or riding) into the dark. Lent is a good time to consider that kind of walk, that walk of faith. What do you do in your life? Do you walk in faith?

I invite you to be present in this moment wherever you are today in your life’s journey. Are you ready? Deep breath, eyes open, and let’s take one step forward and say this aloud: “Here we go!”

PRAYER

Loving God, there are so many times I’ve begun again and again, repeating the same mistakes, forgetting what I’ve learned. Today, I invite you to guide me on the next part of my journey, however dark and unknown it may seem, because you provide the light I need to see me through to a successful end; to grow in faith with you. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - March 4, 2026

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:01:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ezekiel 36: 25-28

I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

WORDS OF HOPE

This passage from Ezekiel sounds a lot like the rite of baptism. I guess it shouldn’t be surprising since Jews of the time of Ezekiel, which was during the Babylonian exile, took ritual baths, Mikvahs. These were used as a purification ritual, and most likely were the roots of baptism. The idea that after this ritual cleansing you had a new heart and spirit sounds like the spiritual renewal of Baptism to me.

Considering that I am reminded of my own Baptism. I was sprinkled not immersed but the significance was just as profound. I knew it was not magical, but symbolic, yet I still felt changed afterward. It gave me a reference point to remember, a stake in the ground of my spiritual journey and it meant a great deal to me.

I like the prophets of the scriptures. They spoke in visions, metaphors and sometimes rants, but their words resonate with me. Like the one “shouting in the wilderness”, the prophets often are trying to get the attention of a people who have lost their way. Their words and actions are wakeup calls intended to be guideposts to a better life.

Maybe that “sprinkling” Ezekiel speaks of was meant more as a splash of water in the face, to get the attention of his listeners as well as a cleansing.

PRAYER

May we hear the words of the prophets as both cleansing waters and a splash in the face to wake us from our slumber as we move through the world. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - March 3, 2026

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 19.6-8

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give God glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and the bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s reading is a joyful one, especially coming from the Book of Revelation, a collection of scripture usually known for its disasters, deadly decrees, and dastardly dragons. In its typical poetic language, the passage refers to the happy ending longed for by its original readers who had lived under various incarnations of oppression and national dysfunction for their whole lifetimes. The subject is the holy union of God’s Church with their Christ.

The church is pictured as the bride decked out in the finest white linen, which stands for the pure and righteous acts of God’s holy people. All is well, not a weed among the impeccable blooms in God’s eternal garden. The writer of Revelation tended to deal in absolutes. In this case, absolute goodness has finally overcome absolute evil.

In our present day, and from our point of view, we can often easily determine exactly who is good and who is evil on the world stage. It is fair to see leaders of countries who unabashedly invade other nations as evil. So many of them even look as if they have been cast for the part. It’s also easy to label anyone who supports or promotes these leaders as being evil. We can congratulate ourselves for being the good guys, the flowers of the world’s garden threatened by their weeds of ruin.

It is no challenge to recognize and condemn these obvious villains, but what happens when prejudice, bigotry, envy, or hatred define and denounce us as the evil ones? Undeserved or not, almost everyone on the planet is a weed in somebody else’s garden. I know I am and you probably know a few disagreeable gardeners yourself.

So, one of my favorite weird holidays is National Weed Appreciation Day, when we recognize that some weeds are quite beneficial in our ecosystem. They can even be nutritious herbs for food. Some of them even have healing properties. Remember, the weeds have the same Creator as the Gladiolas and we can rejoice and be glad that even though we may sometimes be judged as weeds, everything has a purpose in God’s Creation.

PRAYER

Help me to know who I am and guide me to know your purpose in my life. Remind me that even though I may be judged by others, the final judgment is yours.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 2, 2026

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:00:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 10.22

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

WORDS OF HOPE

Of all the spirits I have encountered, Guilt, is the worst. If you can defeat Guilt, then you will overcome every evil. Guilt teaches you that you have to hide to protect yourself when the only danger is forgetting how to fly. It is better to take the easy way up the mountain.

If you only forgive the deserving, then you are a poor judge, for God forgave without discrimination when Jesus gave himself for the forgiveness sin. Consider that before we ever had a chance to repent, Christ died. He forgave us before we ever earned our forgiveness. Could there be any guilt if we taught that we are born forgiven, or does God require payment? How then does a person earn forgiveness? God, knowing your mistakes from afar off, gave us Jesus on the cross not to condemn us, but to say, “I love you”, to anyone who was listening.

If God loved us before we loved God, then we were already forgiven. Guilt is not the absence of a mistake, but it is the presence of an accusation with the desire to condemn. Do not accuse the blood of Christ of not being enough to forgive everyone, for his gift was for everyone. Why then, does guilt remain? It is altogether confusion. Parents punish their children to teach them discipline, not to imply that they are worthless. God is not saying that you are worthless, but the cross says that you are worth more.

When you realize your worth, no one can ever make you feel guilty again. It is time to forgive yourself because God already did. God never stops loving you no matter how many mistakes you make. Beware those who teach that love is given to the deserving, for no one deserves, yet God loves everyone…this is the heart of what Jesus taught.

PRAYER

God,

Help us to accept Your love and learn to love ourselves. Free us from guilt and the desire to make others guilty. Thank You for the message of the cross. May we never forget. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - February 27, 2026

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:21 GMT

SCRIPTURE

J ohn 1. 3-5

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

WORDS OF HOPE

This is the last devotion for Black History Month. I specifically asked to be able to write this devotion because I have a concern about Black History Month, and Hispanic history month, and Pride Month and any other month that has been designated to honor the history of any people in the United States. Although I easily fit into the category of privileged white guy, my concern is not “why is there not a white history month?” Let me see if I can illustrate my concern through a story from my life.

After some years in the business world, I decided to go back and get my teaching certificate. As I was an English major in college, that is where I started, even though I had spent my years in business working with computers. In my fourth year of teaching, I had just moved to a new school in a new district. This is back in the days when part of the language arts curriculum included an entire block of study in mythology. And to be fair, we were not limited to Greco Roman mythology, but we also read some stories from Asia, Native America, and Africa.

This was when it was understood that studying mythology would teach students why narcissist are called narcissists, and where the days of the week got their names, and why the volcano near Mexico City is called Popocatépetl; and would not teach paganism. But at some point, that was no longer deemed necessary; but back then it was still part of the curriculum. As we approached the end of the mythology unit, my colleagues and I were brainstorming ideas about how to bring it to a close. I suggested that perhaps we could read Langston Hughes well known poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. I felt it brought into modern terms the flow and the placement of story in the same way the Ancient myths we had studied had done.

But I was told that while it was a good poem, we could not use it. Not because it was inappropriate to the subject. Not because it was not part of the written curriculum. I was told we could not use it because we were in November and we “could not study a black author until February”. In other words, the works of black authors, had to be segregated into the month designated for them.

I was fairly new as a teacher, although I was a bit older than the fresh out of college teachers. And frankly, if it were today, my first response would’ve been that perhaps Langston Hughes had another poem we could read during Black History Month, which would allow us to use “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” in November. But I was new and did not do the right thing.

So now, perhaps, you see my concern about these various designated months. There is a tendency to remove the people‘s being honored from the day-to-day world in which they worked, and in which they worked to this day. We segregate people and do not recognize them outside of “their” month. It implies that those works can not possibly influence what goes on day-to-day. It goes farther and implies the same of the authors and the culture of those authors. There is the possibility that people can say “your month has not yet come yet I don’t need to worry about you“ or “your month is passed you’ve had your turn“

So as we close out Black History Month, I ask that you stop and consider the contribution that all people, regardless of skin color, place of origin, or belief system, have made to the everyday world in which we live. Relegating those contributions to one month a year without recognizing them in the day-to-day and flow of the world and history would mean, skipping over the contributions not only of writers, but of scientists and inventors and space, explorers and business people and politicians and the people who labor day to day in factories and fields that sustain all our lives.

Don’t let that happen.

And also, go find a copy of “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and read it.

PRAYER

Loving God, you have given life and love to all people. You created all people in their many manifest forms. Help us to see that of you in every person we meet, looking past the superficialities of the physical world and seeing each human being as a valuable loved creation of God.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Thursday - February 26, 2026

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:15 GMT

SONG LYRICS

From the dawn of Texas skies/Robes of saffron start to rise,/Walking safely mile by mile,

/Carrying peace in every smile.

Wind is whispering on the road,/ “Spread your love across the world.” Silent prayers in every stride,

/Hope becomes their gentle guide.

Step by step we carry peace,/Let the suffering slowly cease./Hearts awaken, fears release.

/Together we walk for peace.

Step by step in harmony,/Boundless love for all to see/Let compassion never cease.

/Together we walk for peace.

Song written by Snehashis Priya Barua https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGQFC709qLs

WORDS OF HOPE

With her mother’s hand on her shoulder for encouragement, a small girl holds out a flower to the saffron-robed monk. He looks kindly into her eyes, smiles a gentle smile, and speaks words known only to the two of them. The monk is the Venerable Bhikkhur Pannakara, leader of a group of 19 Buddhist monks who have made their 108 day, 2300 mile Walk for Peace. He would become the voice for this holy band as they walked mile after mile, sometimes through treacherous winter weather, suffering a car accident which would send one monk to the hospital for a leg amputation, and companioned by Aloka, the spirit-dog who would be by their side in his own “robes” of cold weather vests and sweaters, who paused for head scratches, belly rubs, and treats, and who was sidelined for a while by knee surgery. But through it all the monks’ faithful commitment continued, carried on prayer and the welcome of thousands of people in this country.

A man in a wheelchair, yearning for more independence, joins the group for a week and finds the embrace of community. A stage four cancer patient feels a life force in this pilgrimage that helps him bear the diagnosis. As the devotees of peace pass through rural towns and urban thoroughfares on their trek from Fort Worth to Washington DC, people of all ages, ethnicities, and religions press their palms together prayer-like and bow in reverence. They hold posters of blessing and gratitude and speaking peace. Some offer gifts. As the group progresses, the crowds begin to grow. Hospitality blooms in the shared experience, the meals offered, the stories exchanged.

Something profound is happening here and, like the bleeding woman who would touch the hem of Jesus’ garment to be healed, the wounded of our nation, torn by division and hostility, come—in person and virtually.

In gatherings along the way, the Venerable Pannakara speaks of our need for mindfulness—the key to peace-- to calm the disorder of our monkey minds. He urges us to put away our phones more, to breathe peace and walk in loving kindness and compassion. Rather than waking up with anxiety and fear, he invites us to a new mantra: Today is going to be my peaceful day. * In confidence, he asserts that if each person just takes a second to ask if this [word or action] would hurt anyone, the world would already be kinder.

The monks are clear that this walk is not a protest or even an advocacy. It is a spiritual offering. People feel it and are deeply moved.

As we begin our own holy season of Lent, I pray that we might make our own commitment—to return to God with all our hearts and to breath in peace, breath out compassion.

PRAYER

Holy God, May these seeds of peace flourish in us and through our acts of loving kindness. May we together walk for peace. Amen .

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*This link holds a brief but powerful teaching on this mantra by the Venerable Pannakara. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXVq7pfgCQk

Wednesday - February 25, 2026

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:00:35 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 17. 5-7

But the Jewish religious leaders were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Whenever you meet someone new who has the same name as someone you admire, does an image of that earlier person immediately come to mind? The images are more vivid when the name is unusual and not a popular name from the Bible. We usually know several people by names such as Mary, John, Elizabeth, and David.

In this narrative from Acts 17, we meet a person with an unusual Bible name: Jason. This was certainly not an unusual name in the first century world of the Apostle Paul, but it was inspired by a Greek hero, not heroic Hebrew names like Joseph or Miriam. Jason was famous as one of the first of the mythic Quest themes of Greek storytelling; the quest for the Golden Fleece. But the Jason of this Acts story was referred to by Paul as his "countryman" which meant fellow Jew, and he lived up to his Greek "hero’s quest " name through his actions on behalf of the early Christian culture.

Jason was an early follower of "the Way" of Jesus, and he demonstrated his faith by providing shelter and protection for Paul and his companions in their travels and by suffering the torture and fines of the oppressive Roman Empire. He was a victim of a culture of state-religion rule, the law recognizing only Caesar as both Emperor and God. Jason's heroic defiance was reminiscent of his Greek namesake's unwavering faith to his deity, Hera, the Queen of the Mt. Olympus hierarchy.

The Jason of Acts never lost his faith, both in this story and in other mentions within the letters of Paul. Early extra-biblical writings continued to follow his mission, as he underwent continued harassment and imprisonment by Rome, but finally ended his career heroically by becoming a powerful Bishop of the infant church.

I ‘ve known several Jasons in my life and each of them has shared the same sort of goals and determination as their Greek and Hebrew examples. Though there is nothing magical about our names, a review of their origins can be a source of inspiration. We are usually named after admirable people. (I have never met a Jezabel or a Caligula!)

My name, Daniel, means "God is my Judge.” It is both a reminder and a comfort. But even if our name of origin is not one we might especially like, we have the opportunity every day to make it one future generations will remember.

PRAYER

May our names, either by birth or ones we have chosen, forever honor you. Thank you for Jesus, the name we most admire, and whose Way we will always follow. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - February 24, 2026

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 30:11

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

WORDS OF HOPE

We are at the beginning of our Lenten journey, forty days during which our responsibility as Christians is to turn toward our God, leaving behind those things that hinder and distract us from our relationship with God. This is a season to undertake practices such as prayer, fasting, study, meditation, and denial of those things that separate us from God and our church. The reward for having kept a Holy Lent is receiving fully the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Lent is often seen as a dark and depressing time in the church year. And yet, it is the season in which we are allowed, even encouraged, to be somewhat self-centered. It is the time for us to focus on our personal relationship with God. Lent is the time when we make right our hearts and minds so that we can continue faithfully to do the work of the church. The personal work that we must each undertake during these forty days can be difficult, but it also brings profound joy. What better thing is there for our spirit than the joy that comes from making right our relationship with the Holy One?

The verse above from Psalm 30 describes what happens to us as we make our way through Lent. Sackcloth was a scratchy uncomfortable fabric made with either camel or goat hair. It was worn by those who were mourning or who were showing repentance before God. Though we don’t see people walking around in sackcloth, we do hear people talking about or even visibly wearing the misery of turning away from things they have “given up” for Lent. God will turn that discomfort into gladness. We may also mourn some things that we have to remove from our life because they compromise our relationship with God. Here too, our mourning of the loss of worldly things is turned into a joyful dance celebrating God as our dance partner.

This brings to my mind the Shaker hymn, “The Lord of the Dance,” written by Sydney Carter in 1963. He bases this hymn on the older Shaker tune, “Simple Gifts,” written in 1848. Carter’s lyrics are Jesus’s version of “dancing through life.” Jesus dances in the joyful times, but he also dances through his darkest hours. He desires that we have the strength to do their same…with him as our dance partner.

As today’s prayer, I share Sydney Carter’s lyrics. The words alone are powerful, but I encourage you to listen to the music…and to dance.

PRAYER

“Dance, then, wherever you may be,

I am the Lord of the Dance,” said he.

PRAYER

I danced in the morning

When the world was begun,

And I danced in the moon

And the stars and the sun,

And I came down from heaven

And I danced on the earth,

At Bethlehem

I had my birth.

REFRAIN:

Dance, then, wherever you may be,

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,

And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,

And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he

I danced for the scribe

And the pharisee,

But they would not dance

And they wouldn't follow me.

I danced for the fishermen,

For James and John

They came with me

And the Dance went on.

REFRAIN

I danced on the Sabbath

And I cured the lame;

The holy people

Said it was a shame.

They whipped and they stripped

And they hung me on high,

And they left me there

On a Cross to die.

REFRAIN

I danced on a Friday

When the sky turned black

It's hard to dance

With the devil on your back.

They buried my body

And they thought I'd gone,

But I am the Dance,

And I still go on.

REFRAIN

They cut me down

And I leapt up high;

I am the life

That'll never, never die;

I'll live in you

If you'll live in me -

I am the Lord

Of the Dance, said he.

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8c3-GMOs10

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - February 23. 2026

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:00:10 GMT

READING

Lord God, as I light this small votive candle, may it be light from you.

From an old Franciscan votive prayer.

WORDS OF HOPE

Many of us light a lot of candles and offer many reflective prayers during the Lenten Season. Today’s reflective reading is from an old prayer which I discovered several years ago when I lived as a Franciscan brother in San Francisco. Once, while waiting for Sunday worship at the Cathedral, I wandered into a side chapel off from the nave. There, I found a votive candle stand for prayer. On the wall and in the flickering light above the candles, I noticed a framed prayer. It was a copy of a prayer discovered many years before in the Cathedral of Tours, France.

Candles or some type of torch or lamp have always been part of the human experience of worship. Being raised as a "nearly candle-less" Baptist, I had almost no experience with the powerful symbolism which candles may have for quieting and focusing the spiritual life. That changed in a dramatic manner when I lived with the Franciscan brothers in Dorset, England.

The chapel was an ancient stone barn, dark without windows, and utterly quiet as I was the first brother to arrive for morning prayers. My duty was to light several hanging votive candle lamps, and then sit quietly. In the still quiet and flickering light, I opened my soul to Jesus and we communed in prayer.

If you have never experienced meditation and silent reflection before a lighted candle, I suggest you give it a try. Perhaps repeat the words of today’s simple prayer and then wait for God’s inspiration or perhaps consolation. In a small side chapel years ago, I had given fire to the wicks of those candles, and now they symbolized the living and illuminating presence of Christ coming into my soul to speak and guide.

In that flickering quiet presence, my soul became like the wick of a small candle and ready to be set aflame by Christ. Today, may your soul be open to receive the flame of Christ's teaching love.

PRAYER

Lord God, quiet my mind and open wide my heart to receive your words. May they penetrate deeply into my soul and transform my daily life so that I will live in harmony with your desires for me.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - February 20, 2026

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:00:17 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

WORDS OF HOPE

There are tons of narratives, verses, and songs about clutching onto hope in times of trials and turmoil. Even the Greek story of opening Pandora’s box which unleashed extraordinary chaos and pain in the world, uncovered a tiny hidden bird who promised there would always be Hope!

As a little girl, I met a woman with a very noticeable limp who explained she had endured unthinkable cruelty in a Nazi concentration camp as young child. She said no matter how bad it got; she was determined to live and never give up hope. I will always remember her words. “If you ever lose hope, its because you let it go, no one can take it from you”.

I cannot think of a more pertinent need for hope than in these unusual times where unity becomes divided by politics, fear, and control. Rebellion and crime are often started when people lose hope.

Scripture suggests we be patient in times of tribulation and remain in constant prayer. Often, I am personally hoping God will swiftly answer our prayers for peace and civility.

Sometimes our greatest weapon is hope! When Britain’s legendary leader Winston Churchill was asked what his country’s greatest weapon had been against the Nazi regime of Hitler during World War II, he did not hesitate for a moment. He promptly replied, “It was what England’s greatest weapon has always been – hope.”

I have read that a person can live forty days without food, about four days without water, four minutes without air, but only four seconds without hope.

Right now, may be the most perfect time to be a messenger of hope with something as simple as a kind word of encouragement. Just offering a positive word of hope might be the thing someone needs most.

Maybe we should turn this epidemic of monumental chaos and fear into a “a monumental epidemic” of spreading hope. Who knows, the infusion of passing on hope to loved ones and strangers might begin a circle of hope that keeps everyone’s spirit going!

PRAYER

Creator God let your promise of hope give us the strength to reassure others of your inclusive love, this day and forever more. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Thursday - February 19, 2026

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jonah 3.1

Then the word of Yahweh came to Jonah a second time: “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach to them the message I told you to share.”

(Full passage: Jonah 3 1-10 (Inclusive Bible)

WORDS OF HOPE on Iwo Jima Day

Today is Iwo Jima Day. I am too young to know what it truly meant to fight in World War II, especially in its final and most devastating months. I did not land on black volcanic sand beneath a sky filled with fire. I did not carry orders that demanded violence while promising freedom. I did not watch friends disappear in an instant. To claim that understanding would be dishonest. And yet remembrance does not require firsthand experience—it requires humility. It asks us to pause, to honor lives lost, and to sit with the truth of what war takes from the human soul.

Remembrance is not meant to glorify war. It is meant to sober us. It confronts us with the cost of violence and reminds us that war always takes more than it gives. On this day, honoring those who suffered and died matters deeply. Their lives should never be reduced to symbols or used to justify future violence. True remembrance resists romanticizing sacrifice and instead calls us to learn from it.

But remembrance is never only about the past. It presses into the present. It asks how we will live now. I live in a world shaped by the aftermath of war—a world where violence has not ended but has become easier to justify, easier to ignore, and easier to fund. As I stand in the 21st century, early in 2026, my spirit is drawn not toward militarism, but toward peace. I feel called to resist the normalization of war and to choose the way of nonviolence.

I name myself, without apology, as a pacifist. Nonviolence is not weakness; it is moral clarity. Pacifism does not deny suffering or ignore injustice. It refuses to answer harm with more harm. It is the conviction that violence may overpower bodies, but it cannot heal hearts, restore dignity, or build lasting justice. The means we choose to shape the world we create, and peace cannot be born from systems designed to destroy.

Nonviolence is not passive or naïve. It is active and demanding. It requires courage to interrupt cycles of retaliation and restraint when vengeance feels justified. It calls for truth-telling, protest, solidarity, and love that refuses to become what it opposes. Nonviolence does not avoid conflict—it seeks to transform it.

I embrace the word hippie as a spiritual posture rather than a stereotype. Flower power, for me, is a commitment to peace, justice, and love. My bumper stickers speak those values openly. Hippie beads hang in my car, small reminders that even ordinary spaces can carry intention and witness. My clothing reflects simplicity and a refusal to clothe myself in fear or domination. These are not performances; they are practices—ways of aligning daily life with deeply held convictions.

The music of the 1960s counterculture still shapes my imagination. Those songs remind me that love can confront war, that dissent can be faithful, and that choosing peace in a violent world is not foolish—it is necessary. In a culture that treats violence as practical and compassion as unrealistic, choosing gentleness becomes an act of resistance.

War’s harm reaches far beyond the battlefield. It displaces families, creates refugees, wounds children, and scars the earth itself. Long after fighting ends, war lingers—in bodies, memories, and systems built on fear. And yet we live in a nation that can always find resources for weapons and conflict, while struggling to care for the unhoused, protect LGBTQIA+ lives, welcome immigrants, or ensure dignity for the vulnerable. This is not just a political problem; it is a spiritual one. What we fund reveals what we value.

The story of Jonah reminds me that God is not committed to destruction. Nineveh is spared not through force, but through repentance and the turning away from violence. Mercy interrupts what seems inevitable. The story insists that people and nations can change, and that violence is not the final word.

Honoring those who fought and died at Iwo Jima does not require glorifying war. True remembrance asks whether we are willing to choose another way. To remember faithfully is to commit ourselves to peace. To grieve honestly is to refuse to make violence sacred. And to follow the God of mercy is to believe that nonviolence is not a dream for another world, but a calling for this one.

PRAYER

God of peace, come into our wounded world. Where war is normalized, teach us repentance. Where violence is justified, awaken compassion. Where fear governs decisions, plant courage rooted in love. Shape us into people who choose nonviolence, who resist empire without becoming what we oppose, who carry peace in our words, our bodies, our cars, our homes, and our daily lives. Let peace begin in us, and let it ripple outward— into our communities, our nations, and our world.
Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Reed Kirkman

Wednesday - February 18, 2026

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:00:53 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 51:1

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn
and to the quarry from which you were dug.

WORDS OF HOPE

Knowing where I came from is important, especially in my faith journey. Isaiah speaks of the “rock from which we were hewn” and in my case I feel that is my history being raised as a Jew.

My family were Reform Jews. We didn’t keep Kosher and our brand of Judaism was what we would call Progressive today. My mother was raised Christian and she converted when she married my father. She did her best to become a Jewish Mother, sometimes almost stereotypically so. But, the unique blending of faiths gave me a surprisingly strong foundation to build on.

What I tell people now is that since converting to Christianity and joining Cathedral of Hope I have become a better Jew. What I mean is, Jesus was teaching Judaism. He was a Jew. He is often referred to as “rabbi” in scripture if you are looking for proof. Jesus was the first progressive Jew, and that’s why his teachings resonate with me so strongly.

As I head into the Lenten season, the ashes on my forehead remind me of the quarry from which I was dug and the dust which someday I will again become. It is not a bad thing to know our impermanence. It reminds us of that which is eternal and something that transcends all divisions and descriptions.

PRAYER

May we build our faith on a strong foundation and understand that God’s grace will support us in whatever we do.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - February 17, 2026

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:21 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 3.28

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

Understanding

On this Black History Month, we see a lot of division in our country, but we also are experiencing a time of quest for unity. If humanity is to come together, then it will be with the effort of humble people who try to understand one another. When you try to understand others, those same people will try to understand you. Most friendships that last happen because of the effort that was put into the relationships. Whatever you give is what you eventually get back.

Someone who seeks to understand you is that much more likely to get your understanding than someone who shows little interest in your thoughts and feelings. The many who spend their lifetime trying to be understood often never get anywhere because if everyone is speaking at the same time, then there is no one listening.

Wanting to be understood is not bad, but if your happiness depends on another’s approval, then what will you do when they criticize you? There are great people who are never understood in their own lifetime, and after they are re-discovered by the next generation, are spoken very highly of. The more you are able to understand others, the more you’ll be able to speak to your generation. Being understanding is not about what you know as much as it is about your attitude.

By listening often, you show that you value others and teach others to do the same.

It is extremely lonely when no one around you understands you, but it is not something you can force. If you never listen to others, then who will listen to you? Listening is not just about being silent; listening in making an effort to see what the other person is seeing. It does not mean that you must always agree or never have something to say.

Instead, show that you care. This may mean that you have to wait a while to be understood, but don’t give up hoping that you will be one day. You may find only one person who truly understands you and you’ll be doing better than some great people who never found anyone who was able to. Always remember, God understands you, and you never have to go far to find God.

PRAYER

All knowing One, You are not understood by many, and yet, You love us. Help us to be as patient. When we are overlooked and criticized falsely, please remind us of our own worth. Bless You Spirit, because You know who we are. May we feel the love You have for us, and may we be at peace within ourselves. Bless You Jesus, the One who knows what it means to be misunderstood. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - February 16, 2026

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 7:33-34

Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt. –

WORDS OF HOPE

In the seventh chapter of the book of Acts, the disciple known as Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin and made to testify. For the length of the chapter, Stephen tells God’s story of salvation from Abraham to Joseph to Moses, including Moses encounter with God on Mount Sinai. It’s a familiar story to us, especially if you’ve seen Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments or sang the song We Are Standing on Holy Ground while holding hands at the end of Cathedral of Hope’s worship service.

For Black theologians, the concept of Standing on Holy Ground isn’t necessarily reverential or worshipful. For Howard Thurman, James Cone, and other Black theologians, “standing on holy ground” is not a call to retreat from the world, but it is an awakening to God’s presence in the midst of struggle, suffering, and resistance.

God says to Moses that she has seen the oppression of Her people in Egypt. He has heard their groaning. They have come down to set the people free. The burning bush appears while Israel groans under Egypt’s whip. For the disinherited, standing on holy ground means reclaiming dignity when the world says you have none. The ground becomes holy, says Howard Thurman, when a person refuses to accept degradation and listens for the divine underneath the noise of oppression.

For James Cone, Black suffering in a racist society is precisely where God speaks and acts. Holy ground is slave quarters, jails, protest marches, and halls where truth is spoken to power. The ground is holy because God shows up where pain is real. It’s where God identifies with the oppressed. I have seen them. I have heard them. I am coming to set them free.

In the Black church tradition, holy ground is communal and embodied. And you don’t go tippy-toe on it; you testify on it. Shoes come off to acknowledge that God has already claimed this space. God is already present where liberation is being demanded.

In these days where Minnesotans toes are freezing, that ice covered sidewalk is holy ground. Wherever Black men and women have stood before the baton and the dogs, that street is holy ground.

The question is this: When and where are we being called to stand in solidarity with God, remove our shoes, and stand on holy ground.

PRAYER

Holy God, you see the suffering of your people and hear every groan, and you make holy the ground where courage, resistance, and hope take root.

Open our eyes to recognize your presence in places of struggle, and give us the courage to stand in solidarity, to remove our shoes, and to refuse the lie that any person lacks dignity.

Send us, as you sent Moses, to stand where liberation is needed, to testify to your justice, and to walk with you until all your people are free. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - February 13, 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Mark 12:28-31

One of the scribes came near…and asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

WORDS OF HOPE

If You Want to Love Others, Love Yourself Very Well

Empathy—the ability to understand and to share the feelings of others—is essential to the development of the human condition. Respected anthropologist Margaret Mead knew this.

When Dr. Mead was once asked what she considered to be the signs of the beginning of civilization, she pointed to a healed femur, the large thigh bone. It had been uncovered at an ancient archeological site. Someone had broken their femur, which meant certain death. They couldn’t run away from predators, forage for food, or go to water for drink. Someone had to care for them for the many weeks it took the femur to heal.

Compassion, empathy, steadfast care are marks of civilization—humanity at its finest.

Various spiritual traditions have known that too. For both Judaism and followers of Jesus, the greatest commandment is to love God and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The healthy child that has been nurtured and loved has an innate gift of self-love, compassion, strength and empathy.

Sometimes, childhood wounds can cause us to shrink under the weight of shame. When we are burdened by childhood experiences of doing wrong or being deeply wounded by others, this weight can be carried well into our adult life. This requires mindful self-compassion. Our intentional focus of healing ourselves through grounding, connection, seeking help, and letting go.

When we are consciously caring for ourselves, both physically and emotionally, we strengthen our connection with our Higher Power and with others. From there, empathy, compassion and love can grow and flourish and we become healthier, attractive and more fulfilled human beings. Such work can transform a community, a nation, a world.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. uplifted the identity and value of people of color as equally worthy of respect and dignity. His wisdom was not merely about lifting the lives of black people. Dr. King aimed at liberating society and culture from oppressive beliefs and systems that kept civilization from flourishing. It is an ongoing journey and each of us plays a role we dare not forget.

If you want to love God and others, love yourself very well.

PRAYER

Holy One, may I love myself well enough today so that my self-acceptance spills over to uplift the life of someone I know or meet. May it be so. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley, LPC

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - February 12, 2026

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:10 GMT

READING

“We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.” Ella Baker

“Justice cannot be attained until those who are not afflicted are as outraged as those who are.” Ella Baker

WORDS OF HOPE

Born in 1903 in Norfolk, Virginia, Ella Baker is known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.* Her inspiration to stand strong in the face of oppression came early in life hearing the narratives about her maternal grandmother “Bet” Ross who was born into slavery in Halifax, North Carolina. One impactful story was how her grandmother refused to marry the man her slave owner had chosen as her husband, an act of personal integrity and resistance she would pay for with a beating and a sentence of hard labor in the fields. But it did not break her. She could always rally herself to attend to the celebrations at the plantation and dance until the early hours of the morning--evidence that her spirit was unbowed. Her mother set an early example of activism in her work with the Black Baptist Women’s Missionary movement, women who aspired to the values of strength, humility, piety, and selfless service. The values imprinted themselves in Ella and her siblings traveled with her for meetings.

In high school and college at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, Baker would distinguish herself, graduating as Valedictorian and already engaging in resistance against unjust policies. In a time when the voices and vision of male leaders overshadowed women, she became a power and presence. In the 1920’s she traveled to New York to engage in social justice work and was swept up in the fervent artistic and intellectual life of the Harlem Renaissance. She held offices in the NAACP whose 117 ^th anniversary we celebrate today, becoming the highest-ranking woman as National Director of Branches, but she felt the organization was too bureaucratic and out of touch with the lives of ordinary black people. Later she helped organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. After the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, catalyzed by Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger, Baker co-founded In Friendship to help support activism in the South and provide for the needs of those who had been incarcerated in protests. She did not forget “the nameless cooks and maids who walked endless miles for a year to bring about the breach in the walls of segregation.” Throughout her life she dedicated herself to the economic struggles of ordinary people, securing voting rights, nonviolent resistance, and organizing at the grass roots level.

Developing young people’s gifts and skills for leadership was another of Baker’s passions. Rather than encouraging the young black college students who had protested segregated lunch counters in Greensboro, NC, to join SCLC, as Rev. Dr. King envisioned, she invited them to a meeting at her alma mater Shaw University, a gathering which would lead to the formation of The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Such notables as Diane Nash, Marion Barry, and John Lewis were among these next generation leaders and all found her extraordinarily compelling. Howard Zinn, another of the respected elders of SNCC, remembers that one day as protesters were being released from jail, he saw Baker not exercising her rhetorical skills in the media spotlight, but sitting alone at a table, talking to each person, asking What do you need? Do you need a meal? Medical Care? Funds for being off work? In SNCC they spoke of her as Godmother and Fundi, a Swahili term that translates one who passes along skills from one generation to another.

In a time when many political leaders are practicing erasure of the past of people of color and LGBT+ folks, let it be an act of resistance that here we resurrect the memory of this remarkable leader of the Civil Rights movement.

PRAYER

Grandmother, let your voice and vision come to us today, guiding us in the path of justice and non-violent resistance. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Tuesday - February 10, 2026

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:31 GMT

READING

… Don't speak of love

while practicing hate

with tools of fear….

Rev. Gerald Dillenbeck

WORDS OF HOPE

I looked at the prompt for today’s devotion, “All the News That’s Fit to Print Day,” and thought to myself, “Well, this is going to be a very short reflection.” It is easy to make a list of what I consider “news” that is unfit for print; what do I consider print-worthy news? What do I consider “good news”? My thoughts went immediately to the Good News given to us in the Gospels of Jesus. Perhaps the most important good news that Jesus shares is the words of The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10), spoken during his Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Shortly after his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus spoke the words to a crowd, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” These words mark the beginning of his life as a preacher. The Sermon on the Mount, however, is said to be his first sermon. This led me to try to understand the difference between preaching and sermonizing. The two actions are used synonymously by many. Some say, however, that the distinction is that both are persuasive speaking, sermons are specifically delivered by a clergy person in a religious context.

I then found an explanation that seemed to clarify things a little more for me. Preaching is intentionally persuasive and plays to our emotions. Sermons, on the other hand, are intended to convey information, facts, without the specific intention of eliciting an emotional response. I don’t know how accurate this distinction is, but it makes sense to me as to why Jesus’s words in Matthew 5 are called a sermon. They are informative words that Jesus is imparting to the crowd. They are the good news, the news worth printing.

In these words of the Sermon on The Mount, or The Beatitudes, Jesus makes eight statements. He doesn’t use “scare tactics.” Jesus doesn’t speak of consequences. He simply makes eight statements. As we read them today, they are eight powerful statements, eight powerful statements that, if you think about it, are the sum of all of Jesus’s teaching throughout his ministry. Would the world perhaps feel a little more gentle and a little more hopeful if those who support public display of the Ten Commandments instead wanted to display, and more importantly to believe and live by, Jesus’s words from the Sermon on the Mount?

PRAYER

Dear God, let us give thanks for all those who were and are living examples of Jesus’s words and teaching, those who exemplify peace, pureness of heart, those who show mercy and a hunger for righteousness, those who mourn, those whose resilience rises as meekness. Today we remember with gratitude especially Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, James Varick, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Mary McLeod Bethune, Marion Anderson, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ruby Bridges, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barack Obama and all those brothers and sisters of color whose lives have made our world a better place for all of us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - February 9, 2026

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:00:14 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 10:12 The Good News

God loves everyone equally. It does not matter the color of your skin or how you identify.

WORDS OF HOPE

My hero of hope for today is Cheryl Browne.

Cheryl Browne, first African-American contestant for the title of Miss America in 1971.

Cheryl Adrienne Browne was born in New York City in 1950 and studied dance at LaGuardia High School in Manhattan. After high school, she moved to Decorah, Iowa to study dance at Luther College. After winning the Miss Decorah contest, on June 13, 1970, she beat 19 white contestants to win Miss Iowa, making her eligible to compete for the 1971 Miss America crown.

Cheryl became the first black woman to compete for the Miss America title, the first African American contestant to make it to the final, even though competition rule number seven, instituted during the 1930s, which read: “Contestants must be of good health and of the white race,” had been abolished 30 years before in 1940.

Her win as Miss Iowa and appearance at the Miss America pageant generated criticism in newspapers, the Miss Iowa pageant board, and to Browne herself. The criticisms ranged from her ethnic background to the fact that she had only lived in Iowa for a short time before entering the competition. In a newspaper interview Browne stated that she was “surprised that Iowa, with its conservative traditions, silent majority, and small black population (1 percent of the state's 1970 population of 2,800,000) was the first state to pick a black girl as its representative.”

Years later, speaking about her appearance in the contest, Browne said, “Iowans were very accepting of me, but I think it took the country by surprise to realize that it was a young woman from Iowa who became the first African-American contestant. I don't feel I personally changed the pageant, but I feel that my presence expanded people's minds and their acceptance. And, in subsequent years, they were much more open to African-American candidates [...] I didn't feel hounded by the press, but it was obvious that security was tight —especially at Convention Hall rehearsals when our chaperones weren't always present.”

The 1971 Miss America title was won by Phyllis George.

Cheryl Browne graduated from Luther College in 1972. She later married Karl Hollingsworth, worked in the financial industry, and had two children.

We owe a lot to all our Black siblings who had the courage to be the "firsts" in our nation to break the color barrier. I am thankful to God for giving them the courage to step out and endure all they did for the sake of being first. It was a long time before commercials and television shows and billboards had representation of people of color. It was difficult for them to break into a world controlled by white people! And churches were the worst! I often heard it said that the Sunday 11am hour was the most segregated hour in America.

PRAYER

God of all people, I am so glad that the song of my childhood is true, even if my church did not practice it. Jesus loves the little children- red and yellow, black and white all are precious in Your sight! Help us love all your children. Not just during Black History Month.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH volunteer

Friday - February 6, 2026

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:00:13 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 3:13-16

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

WORDS OF HOPE

Many of us find ourselves drawn to wholesome and uplifting characters and people. We’re drawn to the inherent goodness of Superman (and the actor David Corenswet who plays him), the unwavering optimism and kindness of Ted Lasso (and the actor Jason Sudeikis who created him), the smart and kind Elle Woods (and the actress Reese Witherspoon who played her), or the tough-love patriarchal Uncle Phil (played by the equally cool and supportive James Avery). These characters not only entertain and inspire, but in many ways, they make us feel seen, heard, and understood.

We admire and often want to be like “nice” people who see the world through optimistic eyes, living a humble and selfless existence. When the apostle James asked the piercing question “Who is wise and understanding among you?”, his answer was not found in blustering fools who coexist comfortably with injustice, but among those whose life showed wisdom through a “gentleness born of wisdom”.

Rev. James H. Cone, a pioneering American theologian and founder of Black Liberation Theology, argued that Christian wisdom must be measured by its solidarity with the oppressed and its resistance to systems that degrade human dignity. Any “wisdom” that coexists comfortably with “bitter envy and selfish ambition”, Cone insisted, is not from God. It is the source of disorder and evil. Wisdom that protects power at the expense of people is, by biblical definition, false.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” This peace is described by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the presence of justice. Black theology reminds us that peace is not a concept, but something practically made. It is created through courage, truth-telling, and communal love.

The apostle James, the Rev. Cone, and Dr. King invite us to examine the wisdom shaping our words, decisions, and relationships. Are we producing humility or self-protection? Mercy or control? Disorder or life? How can we cultivate a wisdom that does not boast, a peace that does not lie, and a courage that does not dominate?

PRAYER

God of truth and justice,
strip from us the false wisdom of envy, ambition, and self-protection.
Teach us the humility that shows up in merciful deeds
and the courage that stands with those pushed aside.
Plant in us your wisdom from above—
pure, peace-making, and full of life—
so that our lives may bear a harvest of righteousness.
Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - February 5, 2026

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:00:13 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 1:5 (NIV)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

WORDS OF HOPE

I was once called a “Pollyanna” on social media for an attitude that was too optimistic and perhaps too cheerful. I quickly realized that judgment was surface level, based on a single post, and couldn’t touch what runs much deeper in me. I sent my friend a private reply, saying I could understand how she might see it that way. But I also explained some origins of my optimism.

I didn’t grow up in a particularly happy household. We lived under the constant threat of my father’s unpredictable behavior. He was both an alcoholic and bipolar. At least one of those conditions wasn’t his fault and bipolar medications were a few decades away. As to the alcoholism, he came from an era when heavy drinking was accepted, even encouraged, as well as the notion of men ruling the roost with an iron fist; those days when discipline often crossed into what we would now call abuse. We never knew what mood we'd get.

When someone lives that way, it’s hard to trust the rare moments of calm, or the sudden bursts of happiness that can tip into mania. Looking back at childhood photos and my grandfather’s 8mm home movies, I notice a consistent optimism on my face. I wasn’t hiding my feelings, exactly—I had found refuge in creativity and comic books. That world became my escape, and, I think, my survival.

There was also something inherent in me, a defiance of the depressing household climate. Some of us are born into circumstances that force us to develop inner light early. I know I sublimated those feelings by escaping into my fantasy world of writing and art. What we create in our minds often shapes our emotions and actions.

Today is Optimist Day. What stories of your own past have taught you to be optimistic today? We live in a fragile world. These are violent, unpredictable times and the actions, the hopes, of your younger self should spark the same optimism many of us had in our childhoods. It’s ok to dream, to have visions of a better world, to know that silver linings are still not out of style.

I recently watched the movie Pollyanna again and better understood the word’s origin. I’m a little prouder now to wear that label— and I should remember it more often. So should all of us. Everyone needs a smile. Even our darkest moments are temporary.

PRAYER

My Creator, I know I find it difficult on some days to be a beacon of hope to the people I encounter, so I ask that you help me see past my own despair as a bridge for somebody else. In your name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - February 4, 2026

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:00:25 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 6:24-25

“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.”

WORDS OF HOPE

This is from the passage in Luke often called the “Sermon on the Plain”. In it, Jesus doesn’t seem too fond of rich people, more specifically greed. Because of this I don’t hear this quoted much by folks preaching “Prosperity Gospel”.

Seems to me Jesus was not a fan of transactional faith. It feels too much like a business arrangement and for me my relationship with the Divine is not a business model. I believe Jesus was encouraging us to weigh the importance of possessions in our pursuit of happiness and grace. Things hold no permanence, but faith and God’s grace are eternal if we open ourselves to that miracle.

I was reminded of this recently when I saw a building that had always been a fixture in my life’s history being imploded to make way for something else. That edifice that seemed so solid and permanent was gone in seconds. What remained for me were memories of it and the people and events surrounding it. Those cannot be blown up and carted away. It is those memories that I find much more valuable than the building. Like my faith, they are contained, not in an edifice, but in my mind and to some extent my soul.

PRAYER

Eternal God, may we receive your grace and hold it fast to our souls for it has more value than any earthly riches. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - February 3, 2026

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:00:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 13:10

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

WORDS OF HOPE

Throughout my years of teaching Bible truths to children, I used the memorization technique of acting out Scriptures with broad body motions. Of all the scriptures we learned, I hoped that the one they would take with them into the world was Jesus’ Love Commandment covering love of self, love of neighbor, and therefore love of God through practicing those virtues. The motion we used for “love your neighbor” was creating a large circle with both arms. My final question to them each Sunday was, “And who is your neighbor?” “The whole world!” they would eagerly respond.

That statement still holds true and will never change. Jesus came to fulfill the complex laws of the Prophets and he fulfilled them through preaching love, the greatest power on Earth. Yet, in the course of human history, loving our neighbor seems to often take a back seat to the glorification of power. Our most foolish and egocentric leaders in every era have practiced that obsession through invasions and wars against our neighbors. Some of them, from the Crusades until now, have even identified themselves as Christians. What happened to Christian love?

Cole Arthur Riley is a spiritual educator at Cornell University, best known for her book This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us . She is the creator of Black Liturgies, which integrates Black culture with spiritual practices, centering on themes such as liberation, lament, and justice. Her discernment and wisdom speak to all of us. She has this to say about love and power:

“One of the greatest problems of history is that the concepts of love and power are usually contrasted as polar opposites. What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive and that love without power is sentimental and anemic.”

Riley’s observations are profound. Love is not just a good feeling we talk about in Sunday School. It is an action, a spiritual practice, the most powerful gift God has ever given. How we’re going to use that gift is up to us. In our personal relationships, in our prayers, in our social media posts, we must never abandon or squander the power of love. But, who can possibly benefit from our persistence? Our neighbors; The Whole World.

PRAYER

God of Love, God of Divine Power, in our communicating, we are sometimes tempted to adapt the age-old rhetoric of hatred and distrust that surrounds and distracts us. Remind us of your greatest gift. Guide us on the path of love for all that Jesus paved for us. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - February 2, 2026

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

READING

Rev, Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love.

WORDS OF HOPE

A Cause Worth Fighting For

Today, on this first day of Black History Month, we find ourselves in an argument as old as civilization itself. This argument has been repeating itself, beginning again in every generation, every nation, every city, and in every home.

But this argument isn’t happening between two opposing parties. In truth, it is rare for anyone to be as good as they appear or as wicked during a war. People tend to live according to the passions of their convictions, and in doing so, tend to feel justified.

And bludgeoning someone with one’s convictions becomes a never-ending cycle–escalating over time, demanding greater costs and greater sacrifices. However, true justice has always been hard won, has always needed to be defended, and has always yielded itself to morality.

We need not merely the appearance of the moral high ground, but rather the examination of what exactly the moral high ground is.

When faced with a seemingly insurmountable climb, Martin Luther King Jr.’s biggest obstacle was not the opposition, however, but his own heart, and how many times must a man who was publicly shamed, shackled, beaten and berated every time he left his house…

How many times must he have been tempted to give in to his wrath? How would he have been able to successfully lead a movement using only the weapon of love if he had? At the end of the day, we won the argument because we won the battle over the heart; and if we need to ask ourselves what love is or what goodness looks like, then remember that Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was modeling himself after Christ.

PRAYER

Merciful Creator, though we are tempted to give into wrath, it is because of our sadness and despair that makes the temptation the most terrible battle for us all. But You are greater than

our circumstances and Your salvation must certainly come. Fill our hearts with Your love like a healing balm and deliver us from temptation.

Bless you, God,

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order fo St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - February 11, 2026

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:30:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 15:15

I have called you my friends, because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Abba God.

WORDS OF HOPE

An ongoing question for early Christian leaders revolved around the influence that Jesus the Christ had on their belief in one God. Three descriptive actions came to mind. Jesus was Revealer of God, Redeemer of humankind, and their Lord.

From the beginning, he became famous among the villagers for his wise and holy words which told of God's love, forgiveness, and divine welcome, as well as for words of correction and encouragement. By these words and the way he related to others, Jesus revealed much about his Abba God.

Jesus revealed God's loving nature as he encountered everyone - rich or poor, powerful or outcast. He revealed God's patience and understanding of human frailty as he gently led and taught his disciples. Jesus revealed God's offer that all could enter the Kingdom of God and live under divine sovereignty. He revealed the tender, healing care of God as he reached out to heal all manner of illness.

Before Jesus walked among us and called us his friends, it seemed that God was very distant from the common person, but now the Divine's presence seemed to walk with them, talk to them, and eat meals with them. Jesus' life offered the opportunity to have an intimate relationship with God. Now with the revelation of Jesus, all those who sought a true relationship with God could find divine presence in their daily life.

These are several aspects of the Holy One which Jesus revealed to his followers, but his divine influence was certainly not confined to those he called his friends in the first century. That presence is still flourishing in us today. How about you? What other characteristics of God are revealed to you through the life and ministry of Jesus?

PRAYER

Loving Creator, as we encounter the rich, the poor, the powerful or the outcast in our own lives, may we show them your patience and understanding revealed through the tender healing care of Jesus.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - January 30, 2026

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:00:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Timothy 5:17-24 New International Version

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning, you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.

WORDS OF HOPE

Honoring the Work, Finding the Joy

In today’s reading, Paul offers practical wisdom for life together in community. He speaks about honoring leaders who work diligently, holding one another accountable with fairness, and living with integrity that does not hide behind appearances. At first glance, this passage may feel heavy, concerned with discipline, responsibility, and seriousness. Yet beneath it all is a profound respect for work done well and lives lived honestly.

Paul understands something important: how we treat work, and the people who do it, matters deeply to God.

On this Fun at Work Day, we are reminded that joy and responsibility are not opposites. The call to honor faithful labor does not mean work must be joyless or burdensome.

Instead, when work is rooted in purpose, respect, and shared commitment, it becomes life-giving. Fun, laughter, and connection are not distractions from meaningful work; they are often signs that the work is healthy.

Paul cautions against rushing to judgment and against ignoring harmful behavior. Integrity, he reminds us, eventually reveals itself, both the good and the bad. This is true in our workplaces, our ministries, and our daily lives. When we act with care, fairness, and humility, our work reflects God’s justice. When we allow joy to exist alongside accountability, our work reflects God’s abundance.

Today, as we celebrate fun at work, we can pause to give thanks:

• For colleagues who labor with integrity.

• For those who serve faithfully, often unseen.

• For moments of laughter that strengthen community.

• For the reminder that God is present not only in solemn responsibility, but also in shared joy.

May we honor one another’s work, practice fairness and grace, and allow joy to remind us why our labor matters. In doing so, we bear witness to a God who delights not only in what we do, but in who we are together.

PRAYER

God of purpose and joy, bless the work of our hands and the people with whom we labor. Teach us to honor one another, to act with integrity, and to find joy even in responsibility. May our work reflect your justice, and our joy reflect your love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas

Senior Pastor

Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ

Thursday - February 29, 2026

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:12 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 15:12

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

“Love requires sacrifice because it demands something from us that selfishness refuses to give. The more we love like Jesus, the more it will cost us. But the more it costs, the more it transforms.”

--post from Wholy Christian

WORDS OF HOPE

On this wintry morning, I could easily have rolled over and gone back to sleep. But Sage’s soft whine pierces my foggy mind, and I know that the steroids she’s on to heal the hematoma on her ear can lead to accidents in the house if she’s not let out soon enough. So I roll out, give her kisses and a morning treat, and let her out the back door. Then it’s time to feed her, armor myself against the cold, fill her treat bag, put on her “vest” (harness) and get her lead. I smile broadly as she skitters down the steps in her soft aqua and lavender sweater spashed with snow flakes and hearts and an oval of Anna and Elsa from Frozen in a sisterly embrace centered on her back. It was one of the many gifts the women at the Marshall Animal shelter showered upon us on the day of her adoption, February 15th, 2025.

When this sweet dog with the pensive eyes came into my life nearly a year ago, I knew that she had been picked up off the streets, had been in the shelter for over a year, that she was recovering from knee surgery, and that her wonderful foster mother had begun the rehab. But the surgeon directed that two to three walks a day were imperative for full recovery and that I needed to continue that regimen for months. What I didn’t know was that Sage would require more care than I had imagined—a good bit of medication, the care of our regular vet, and an ongoing relationship with an integrative veterinary specialist to assess her mobility issues and plan a therapeutic program which includes twice a month laser treatments. Was I ready to be a dog mom to a special needs dog? Not really, but love would not allow me to return her to the shelter.

When a dog has been in a shelter for as long as Sage, it requires a long period of adjustment, patience, trust-building, and learning who she is—and not who you imagined your ideal dog would be. Early on Sage showed herself to be sweet, delighting in the world of smells, and friendly with other people and dogs. Walking with her through the neighborhood she would practice what someone calls the “Sage flop”—just suddenly lying down in someone’s yard when she reached the limit of pain or tiredness in her legs (and/or was stalling getting back home!) Neighbor after neighbor has “granted” her yard privileges.

Watching the weather report is a regular activity now—looking to get advance notice of storms because she is terribly thunder-phobic, quaking in fear and hiding in close places until her medication takes hold. Such fear tears at my heart, so I put on Native American flute music and sit with her, stroking her fur until she begins to calm down.

The call to love—whether a child, a partner, friend, or animal companion—sets a claim upon our lives. Once we have said yes, we’re called out of ourselves to offer all the time and money and care we can give. It’s costly, this sacrificial loving as Jesus loved. But for many of us, once on the path, there’s no going back.

PRAYER

Holy God, Keep leading me on the path of Love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - January 28, 2026

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 6.9

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is Rubber Ducky Day, which may seem to you like just another of those random daily holidays that we observe to entertain ourselves. To me, it has a multitude of definitions and the most important one is reflected in today’s Scripture reading about the rewards of hard work.

I have a long-time friend at this church who has one of the most impressive collections of rubber duckies on the planet, bath toys of every shape and size imaginable. They are just one of the ways she and her wife spread joy- and spreading joy is not an easy job these days, but they do not grow weary in doing good; they do not give up!

The duckies also remind me of another acquaintance from many years ago, the incredible puppeteer and producer, Jim Henson. I met grew to know at several Puppeteer Conventions. We shared the love of doing good things for children. Jim made the Rubber Duckies famous through the classic Sesame Street song, “Rubber Ducky, You’re the One” sung by Jim’s Muppet, Ernie. Jim, too, through all the enormous challenges of TV and Movie production, never gave up, always worked for the good, and left an incredible harvest to the whole world.

After Jim Henson was gone, the roll of Ernie (of Bert and Ernie) went to several other puppeteers throughout the years. One of them, a brilliant performer named Billy, is a long- time friend as well. I met him when he was 20 about 20 years ago and immediately found out that working for the Muppets was his lifetime dream. He worked for years perfecting the voices and classic moves of several of the characters, all the while saying that he knew the odds of getting an audition were probably 100,000 to one, but he would not give up.

I knew that he probably was being conservative about those odds, but Charlie, my business partner, and I would not let the odds hold back our constant encouragement to our friend. And, thanks be to God, in due season, Billy got the job. Billy was now Ernie. After 8 years with Sesame Street, he moved on to other adventures, but he left them with an iconic treasure: the original Henson Rubber Ducky!

So, whether you are a tireless church worker, a potential world-famous mogul of an entertainment empire, or a kid with a dream, carry that verse from Galatians with you always. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” And don’t forget to hug a rubber ducky today, if one happens to cross your path.

PRAYER

God of Love and realized dreams, may we never give up, never tire of doing good, knowing the act itself never stops blessing the receiver and giver alike. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - January 27, 2026

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:20 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. -

WORDS OF HOPE

A few weeks ago, we commemorated the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Baptism is a pivotal moment in the life of a Christian. It is the moment when we are marked as Christ’s own, take up his armor, and become a minister of Christ’s gospel. Some big promises are made when we are baptized. We promise to renounce the evil forces in the world, affirm faith in the trinity lived out through the church, and to live a life rooted in the teachings of Christ. Just as Jesus’s baptism, at around age 30, marked the beginning of his public ministry “and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17), so too is it the beginning of our journey with Christ. If we truly live to fulfill our baptismal promises, there is much fear and trembling along the way. Following Christ is not easy and it’s not always comforting.

We can find comfort in the unconditional love of God given to us through Christ, but as baptized Christians, we are called to also share and grow that love. Sharing God’s love means standing up to evil, fighting for justice, proactively caring for the marginalized, protecting God’s creation and all that inhabit it, and proclaiming the good news of Christ in all things. Taking on these responsibilities is unsettling and scary. Taking on these things can be uncomfortable. Being a Christ-follower does cause fear and trembling. But as we say when we are baptized, I will do these things that are required of me with God’s help.

What we need to remember is that God is always near to help us, but we need to be willing to do the work. Much of that necessary work is done inwardly. A daily discipline of prayer and study roots us in Christ. Another helpful practice is a Daily Examination of Conscience, a time to reflect on our relationship with the Holy each and every day. There are many ways to do a daily self-examen. I have used this simple form for many years. At the end of each day, I reflect and journal on these three questions: What have I done today for God?, What have I done today with God?, and What have I done today to God? From this practice comes joy and gratitude, but it also sheds light on the places where I need to both offer and ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings. With that, I am equipped to meet the next day, listening to and working with the God who is working in and through me in order to fulfill God’s good purpose.

The act of getting baptized is short and merely a beginning to the much longer and more challenging lifelong challenge of being baptized. We have the opportunity throughout the liturgical year to renew our baptismal vows. We can also revisit them ourselves anytime we are struggling with God’s call to us and our response.

PRAYER

Loving God, today I remember the promises I made in baptism. Wash over me again with your grace, cleanse my heart, and kindle the joy within me that comes from loving and serving you. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - January 26, 2026

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:00:14 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 9:10

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

WORDS OF HOPE

Many years ago , in the black and white days of the 1950’s, there was a television quiz show hosted by Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. It was called Who Do You Trust? and the premise of the show was for a married couple to be asked a question and then decide between them which could be trusted with the right answer. The show was originally called Do You Trust Your Wife? but as society was gradually becoming more enlightened, at least the veneer of sexism was beginning to be peeled away.

The question the show’s title asked is still as black and white as the series. These days, Who Do You Trust? -Your spouse, your business associates, your news sources, your local and national leaders? Trust is like walking across a rope suspension bridge wiggling in the wind. You carefully eye the condition and size of the ropes, look down into the deep canyon below and gulp. Fear floods your mind; arrival at the other side seems to be a bit uncertain. A friend walking with you says: ": Go-ahead, don't worry, it's safe. I've walked across it a hundred times."

Do you take the step forward and walk, or do you sit down and decompress in fear, going nowhere? Your friend may be trustworthy or may just want to get you out of the way. It all boils down, using the proper grammar, to whom will you trust? Some people go through life trusting in wrong advice, while other people put trust in no one but themselves. The decision to choose your source of trust, the compass of your life, is the most important choice you'll ever make! Who is your source of trust?

Thousands of years ago, the Psalmist answered that question this way: "O Lord, my God, give light to my eyes. I trust in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because you have dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13-3, 5-6)a

PRAYER

O God, you have dealt bountifully with me every day of my life. May I sing of my trust in you like the Psalmist of old as I rejoice in your steadfast love. AMEN

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - January 23, 2026

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 7.12

So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.

WORDS OF HOPE

Religious Freedom Day

On this Religious Freedom Day, I pause to reflect on what it truly means to live faithfully in the 21st century—a world where belief can sometimes be a matter of life and death. Across the globe, countless people cannot worship freely. Some gather in secret, whispering prayers under the cover of night, meeting quietly in hidden homes, or seeking sacred spaces far from the eyes of authority. Their courage reminds me that the freedom to worship is both precious and fragile.

Religious freedom is not just a right; it is a responsibility. A responsibility to defend those whose voices are silenced, to protect the vulnerable, and to act boldly in the pursuit of justice. I think of those who flee violence: refugees forced from their homes, immigrants seeking sanctuary. These are God’s children, carrying fear, hope, and faith with them, often leaving behind everything familiar. They remind us that freedom of worship is meaningless if it is not paired with the freedom to live, to exist safely, and to pursue life with dignity.

When did the stranger become dangerous? When did hospitality become suspicion, welcome become threat, and faith become a tool of domination or exclusion? Too often, governments, institutions, and even churches have weaponized faith to control or marginalize.

But God calls us to a different path: to see the stranger as sacred, to honor their journey, and to recognize the Divine in every life. Individuals are criminalized for who they are, for whom they love, and laws increasingly protect narrow definitions of faith while endangering those who do not conform.

This is not the Kin-dom of God. This is not how God embraces. True faith is not about fear or domination. True faith is about radical love, justice, and standing courageously with the oppressed, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. True faith calls us to act, to speak, and to resist systems that oppress others under the guise of holiness. Faith is relational. Love for God is not a checklist, a duty, or a law to obey. It is a living, breathing connection—a dynamic relationship between our hearts and the Divine.

God is still speaking, still moving, still calling us into deeper love, deeper justice, and deeper solidarity with all creation. God’s voice is present in the cries of the oppressed, the silent prayers of those worshiping in secret, the resilience of those fleeing danger, and the courage of communities who rise despite injustice. God is calling us to lean into discomfort, to act when action feels risky, and to love when love feels costly. To follow God is to listen, to respond, and to act in ways that bring love, mercy, and healing into the world.

PRAYER

God of all peoples, on this Religious Freedom Day, we pause to honor the courage of those who worship in secret and the suffering of those who flee violence. Thank You for speaking to us still—in ways both quiet and thunderous—reminding us that You are relational and that You love us as we love You. Teach us to honor You by honoring all Your children. Help us resist coercion, defend the persecuted, and live boldly in love. Open our hearts to strangers, seeing in every face Your presence. Strengthen us to stand with those fleeing violence, to embrace those marginalized, and to embody the justice, mercy, and radical hospitality You call us to share. May our lives be living testimonies to Your ongoing voice, Your ever-present love, and Your call to build a world of freedom, justice, and radical inclusion. May we never grow complacent, never turn away, and always remember that every act of love, no matter how small, ripples into Your Kin-dom. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Reed Kirkman

Thursday - January 22, 2026

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19:13

Then children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is Celebration of Life Day. This holiday of unspecified origin is a day set aside to celebrate children and grandchildren. The Bible, and Jesus in particular, mention children a lot. If you go to one of the online Bibles and do a search on the word children, you will be very surprised how often children are mentioned. As the passage above indicates how important children were to Jesus. And this is not the only place in the book of Matthew where Jesus references his children. In another verse, he says that unless you become like small children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. He refers to peacemakers as the children of heaven in what has become called the Beatitudes.

Too often in our world today, children suffer because of the callous disregard for the self-centered actions of adults. Famine, war, abuse and disease often affect children most since they are the least capable of doing anything about these things. Often children are disowned by their families because of their sexual orientation or their beliefs.

And to be fair, many children are adopted in the loving families. Many people work with children as teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides. And these people, whether they realize it or not, are doing God‘s work.

For your devotion time today, celebrate the children in your life. If possible, share the day with a child, grandchild, niece or nephew. Here are some suggestions from the National Day Calendar.

• Read a book with a child.

• Get on the floor and put a puzzle together.

• Build something with your child.

• Invite all the cousins to play board games.

• Bake cookies and decorate them. Even the smallest child will learn something.

• Make popcorn and watch a movie.

• Tell the story of how the grandparents met.

• Get out the art supplies and create.

PRAYER

Magnificent Creator who we look to as our parent, give us the mind and heart of children so that we may come to you through Jesus as little children, open to learning, open to loving, open to being loved.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker.

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clair

Wednesday - January 21, 2026

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:00:58 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 9.14-17

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “The wedding attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are ruined, but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Having achieved the status of being “vintage” at age 75, I sometimes feel like one of those “old wineskins”. I think sometimes it’s good to hear the words of scripture anew and look at them as though I have never seen them before. Then let them speak to me fresh.

For me that means I have to put away my “little Golden Book of Bible Stories” and read the words as an adult, with all my life experience included and yet I try to read them, listening for a new message. I find I can be old and yet still have the ability to preserve the “new wine” of the Scriptures.

These words speak to me and give me the hope I need to face the day. Reading them I feel like Jesus is with me, his voice a soft whisper in my ear. He lets me know I am part of that wedding party, and I am filled with gratitude that I can still find truth that resonates with me in words written millennia ago. Not the simple words of a story, but underlying truths that are eternal.

PRAYER

May I always find myself as a new wineskin ready to receive the new wine of God’s word. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - January 20, 2026

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 4:7 CEV

God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

WORDS OF HOPE

Paul was writing to the Philippians who were under control of the Roman Empire in what was known as the ‘Pax Romana’ (the ‘Roman Peace’) where no-one was allowed to disturb the peace. So, one sure way to safeguard compliance, was to install a professional army ensuring everyone complied, and anyone rebelling, was crucified or murdered.

While times are a bit unsettling today, we are reassured through numerous versus in the Bible, hundreds of books, and pod casts which explain the many ways one can become more peaceful. There are even herbs, potions, symbols and air fresheners designed to create a more peaceful presence. However, none of these external factors can bring the kind of inner peace that is promised when we release our thoughts and give our fears to God.

I read a story about an artist who painted a roaring waterfall, under a dark sky with lightning all around. At closer inspection he had included a bush at the edge of the falls and painted a tiny bird nesting peacefully on her eggs. The art was titled “peace”. The artist illustrated the bird in this small bush who was waiting patiently to birth new life even in the midst of chaos.

PRAYER

Creator God, in the midst of our chaos give us the courage to change our heart and mind with your supernatural, calming, assurance of peace. In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Monday - January 19, 2026

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:00:23 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 8:36-39

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

WORDS OF HOPE

The Spirit meets people on desert roads. Waters of grace and acceptance are always close at hand.

In Acts 8, Philip encounters the Ethiopian eunuch on a lonely stretch of desert road. The eunuch is powerful in the court of the queen of the Ethiopians and faithful enough to journey all the way to Jerusalem to worship. And yet their body marks them as different. According to religious tradition, they do not fully belong. Their devotion is real, but their access is restricted.

Still, there they are—on the margins, reading scripture aloud, hungry for understanding, thirsty for grace.

Author and theologian Christina Cleveland, in her book God is a Black Woman invites us to imagine God as a trans Black woman: a God who knows what it is to be surveilled, dismissed, excluded, and yet to remain fierce in love. A God whose body has been declared “out of place,” whose wisdom has been ignored, whose presence has been policed—and who nonetheless shows up precisely where life is hardest and hope feels most fragile. On that desert road, it is this God who draws near: not enthroned in the temple but walking alongside a seeker whose body has been deemed a problem.

When the Spirit sends Philip to the eunuch, Philip does not interrogate their worthiness. He does not demand conformity or correction. He does not ask them to leave parts of themselves behind. He listens. He shares the good news of Jesus. And then, without hesitation or condition, Philip baptizes them. The chariot stops. Water appears in the wilderness. Joy erupts.

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke often of the “beloved community”—a vision of God’s future breaking into the present, where dignity is not rationed and justice is not delayed. Acts 8 is a beloved-community moment. On that road, the arc of the moral universe bends—not because institutions finally caught up, but because the Spirit refused to wait. The eunuch asks the question that echoes through every liberation struggle: “What is to prevent me from being baptized?”

God’s answer is immediate and holy: Nothing.

For trans and gender-diverse people, Acts 8 proclaims a tender and revolutionary truth. Your body does not disqualify you. Your identity is not a barrier to grace; it is an invitation to it. Baptism was never about fixing bodies or erasing difference. It was never meant to restrain joy or delay belonging. Baptism names what has always been true: you are already claimed. Already beloved. Already held by a God who knows marginalization from the inside.

Roadblocks were never the Spirit’s idea. Neither were borders around joy. The Spirit who hovered over creation, who led people out of bondage, who met a eunuch on a desert road, still moves today—calling us toward freedom, dignity, and love that refuses to be fenced in.

The Spirit meets people on desert roads. Waters of grace and acceptance are always close at hand.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - January 16, 2026

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:00:26 GMT

READINGS

“This is the air I breathe, This is the air I breathe, Your Holy presence living in me.”

( From the song, Breathe, by Michael W. Smith. Lyrics by Marie Barnett - 2012)

“The whole problem is to establish communication with one’s self.” E.B. White

WORDS OF HOPE

Breathe. Love. Hope. Act.

Pause where you are for a moment, and as best you can take a deep breath in. If you are congested or otherwise compromised, breathing may not be as easy for you. Still, you are breathing or you’d be dead!

Take a deep breath in now—and briefly hold it. Then slowly release the air back into the world.

You are connected to the world through your breath. Feel the connection.

We are connected now, whether you are listening to a narrator giving voice to my words aloud or are reading these words with your own vision. A connection has been made.

Human beings are designed for connection. It is in our DNA. It is the reason that solitary confinement is a far worse form of punishment than any other for those imprisoned. It is why orphaned babies fail to thrive if they are not given touch, attention and affection.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by life, pause and focus on your breath. If you are troubled by social injustice, political discord, or government that seems unresponsive to genuine human need, take a breath. You are not alone and you are not powerless, though it may seem that way.

The Spirit of God is at work for good, despite human suffering, conflict and turmoil. That truth doesn’t imply that everything gets resolved exactly as we would like or as timely as we would hope. Creation has been set in motion by the God of Grace who values Free Will and Liberty greater than control. Therefore evil, too, must exist.

Dr Martin Luther King calls our attention to Theodore Parker’s now famous observation, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

Breathe. Do lovingkindness. Work for justice. Stay connected with yourself, your Higher Power, and the Spirit that moves, empowers and births Hope from despair.

Breathe. Love. Hope. Act.

PRAYER

Come Holy Spirit and stir up a fresh wind to blow over our nation and all the world. Refresh us, empower us, redeem us, that we might rise, empowered by Love, to seek Justice in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

DrGK.org

Thursday - January 15, 2026

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:17 GMT

READING

Every January, we perform this ritual together. We shake off the indulgence of the holidays and brace ourselves for improvement. We tell ourselves that this will be the year we get it together…that any mess was temporary…that with the right plan, the right habits, the right mindset, we can finally become the person we were always supposed to be. This is not a small thing. In the United States and Canada…, New Year’s resolutions have become a kind of secular sacrament—an annual recommitment to the belief that limits are a problem to be solved. But what if they aren’t? –Kate Bowler, “A Resolution for People Who Are Already Doing Their Best”

WORDS OF HOPE

Kate Bowler expresses a perspective that we would do well to examine. At the beginning of every year, we are barraged with advice about New Year’s resolutions from all our communications modes. Searches turn up the following: “New Year, New You,” a flurry of entries with varied numbers of “best” resolutions—from 18 to over 100, “achievable” resolutions, resolutions “that you’ll actually keep,” fun resolutions, resolutions that will inspire you, and so on. In addition, there are essays on why we make them, why we break them, and even neuroscientific analysis. And now we have apps that can help us measure our progress and mood daily. (The premium version of one starts at $39.95 and gets you access to professionals, daily tracking, analysis and more.)

Overwhelmed yet? Several years ago I stepped away from making resolutions in favor of New Year’s prayer, listening deeply throughout the year for the Spirit’s guidance and periodically taking stock. This year, though, Kate Bowler’s reflection struck a chord in me. A religion professor at Duke Divinity school, writer, and podcast host, Bowler also is a historian of American self-help. Her research suggests that over and over again the message we hear is “the only limit is you. If you could just overcome the mental block, the laziness, the lack of discipline, then the “real” version of your life could begin.” Particularly for those who struggle with perfectionism, this message can feel like massive bullying. In 2015 Bowler’s perspective changed radically mostly from being diagnosed with stage four colon cancer at the age of 35.

“The fantasy of unlimited agency collapses quickly when your life includes chronic illness, caregiving, grief, uncertainty, or responsibilities you didn’t choose. Which is to say, we are all ushered into the “fellowship of the afflicted” (as Margaret Feinberg calls it) one way or another.”

This year she suggests trying to practice “limited agency.”

“I don’t mean the kind of resignation that says, “oh well.” I mean the kind of clarity that comes when you’ve hit the edge of what you can do and you stop pretending otherwise. Limited agency is the humility to admit, I don’t get to steer the whole story, paired with the courage to say, but I can still choose something.

It’s a celebration of small, real choices made inside real constraints. Not a fantasy of transformation. Not a dramatic reinvention. Just the steady practice of asking: what is mine to do, and what is not?

Sit for a moment with how those last paragraphs strike you. Does defensiveness rise up inside? No way; I can do a lot more than that! Does curiosity arise, wondering if there might be something helpful in her perspective? Do you find a truth about your own life—and the burden of constant striving? Something else? I invite you to take whatever comes up into prayer and listen for the voice of the Spirit.

PRAYER

Oh, You who know us better than we know ourselves, guide us lovingly into a life of wholeness and purpose. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday January 14-2026

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:01:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 11.1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

WORDS OF HOPE

As we enter another New Year, I can remember quite a few years with better beginnings. Even though we hear a lot of stories about hopes and dreams, I know it will take faith, assurance about what we do not see, to make them reality. I’m reminded of a story about the author John Kennedy Toole who wrote A Confederacy of Dunces. Toole had attempted to shop his book around to a few publishers but was continually rejected.

Wikipedia reports: “Toole submitted Dunces to publisher Simon & Schuster , where it reached editor Robert Gottlieb . Gottlieb considered Toole talented but felt his comic novel was essentially pointless.” Despite several revisions, Gottlieb remained unsatisfied.” After the book was rejected by other publishers, Toole shelved the novel for good. He had run out of faith. He left home in 1969 on a cross-country journey. On a stop in Biloxi, Mississippi , he took his own life. He was 31 years old.

This was not the end of his story, however. The rest of the story is about faith of another kind. It was tragic that Mr. Toole had given up so soon.

The faith to make this happen came from Toole’s mother, Thelma Toole, who believed in her son’s work and knew it was destined to be shared. She was relentless in her search for a publisher for over 10 years. After many failed tries, Thelma finally brought the manuscript of A Confederacy of Dunces to the attention of novelist Walker Percy , who was astounded by its wit and originality and was instrumental in finally getting the book published.

In 1981, John Kennedy Toole was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. A mother’s faith had made it all possible.

So, at a time in our troubled world when hope sometimes seems like a dream, remember Thelma Toole. What we achieve depends not only on the faith we have in ourselves, but also the faith and encouragement of the ones who love us.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, had that kind of faith in her son too, from singing of his glory before his birth through believing in his compassion and gifts as an adult when he turned water into wine. Even after his Ascension, Mary was there in that upper room, leading women of faith in the establishment of her son’s early church. That’s true faith, a mother’s faith. Who, in your own life, could use that kind of encouragement? Do you have the strength to show them a mother’s faith?

PRAYER

Faithful God, it is a blessing from you to do anything that achieves a positive result. Sharing our gifts and talents are blessings that have the greatest return. May we continue to offer hope to others knowing the faith you have in us.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - January 13, 2026

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:00:08 GMT

READING

Mute Potato

by Billy Collins

Before introducing it to a pot

of boiling water

I caught a medium-size

Idaho potato

staring up at me

with several of its many eyes.

WORDS OF HOPE

I bet you are wondering why we are talking about a potato. It’s not so much the potato that is important here; rather it is the eyes of that potato. The “eyes” of a potato are growing points. As long as they are dormant, they cause no harm when ingested. However, once these buds become green and and begin to grow, they produce the toxic compound solanine. Though toxic, preliminary research has found solanine also to be an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-cancer agent. Darkness and light.

The eyes of potatoes are so-called because of their resemblance to the structure of human eye. Have you ever looked up at the clouds and seen a face? Or seen a face in vegetables? On the moon? In paint swirls or textures on a wall? This phenomenon is called pareidolia, meaning that the brain is perceiving a recognizable shape, often a face, in abstract visual stimuli. Think about the toast on which people see the face of Jesus. This phenomenon of finding eyes and seeing faces on random objects is part of our human defense system. It helps us with social cues and in detecting the threat of predators, the theory being better to perceive eyes that prove to be safe rather than miss those that are dangerous to us. In his poem Mute Potato , Billy Collins simply acknowledges that he saw the eyes of the potato. It is up to the reader to decide what he saw in those eyes.

Matthew 6:22-23 from The Message reads, “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!”

During the holidays, I received Holy Communion several times from a relatively new Episcopal priest. After the first time, something didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was wrong. The second time I received communion from this person, it felt like the communion wafers were being dealt like playing cards at a black jack table in Vegas, quickly and with a subtext of keep your hands moving. It was after my third encounter with this priest that I finally figured out what was causing my discomfort. They did not make eye contact with me or anyone else that they were communing. “If you open up your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light…”. I was surprised at how much such a seemingly small thing affected my spirit as I partook of the sacraments. Reflecting on my experience, I think at some level I felt like I was holding my hands up to the darkness rather than reaching toward the light.

As I walked away from the altar rail, my initial feelings were that I had been gypped, that somehow this experience was less than what it could have or should or what I wanted it to be. Then, from that darkness, loudly came a message. If we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth, we also need to have the eyes of Jesus, eyes wide open to truly see the people on earth as Jesus sees us.

As Christ-followers, we don’t have the luxury of closing our eyes to avoid seeing those in front of us or the pain, the destruction, the injustice, the inequality, the corruption, the hatred…the muted potatoes…all around us. We must keep our eyes wide open to be an effective conduit for God’s love. We can’t serve others as did that close-eyed priest. “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” Proverbs 7:2.

Did Collin’s see open or closed eyes when looking at that Idaho potato? Maybe the better question is what did the potato see when looking up at Collins?” And what do we see when we look at the “pot of potatoes” in front of us each day?

It’s better to see a pareidolia than overlook the face of a single child of God.

PRAYER

God of light, open my eyes so that I will see and acknowledge all that you have created. Help me to be Your light in this dark world. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - January 12, 2026

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above

WORDS OF HOPE

Life is like a white elephant gift exchange. Not the gift you asked for or expected. Just a surprise gift.

Throughout my life I have received "gifts" or assignments that seemed kind of strange when they came to me! But a lot of them were on-the-job training for life assignments ahead of me.

Me becoming president of city PTA in Abilene and an officer in State PTA when my denomination was saying women could not be strong leaders. Receiving foster boys soon after the birth of each of my daughters. God calling my husband and me to teach a single again Sunday School class just as our marriage was falling apart and when I didn’t really believe in divorce! There was always some strange thing I encountered that led me to a journey or future job in my life.

God leads us and prepares us for so much of our life if we just try to take each opportunity as a teaching opportunity. Even the process of a marriage break up is a lesson - hard as it may be. Discovering that my husband was a closet alcoholic was an earth-shaking shock for a lifelong Baptist! I never drank alcohol at all! It was a big issue for a Southern Baptist Preacher. And a big lie like that was the breaking point in our marriage!

Each journey I traveled, God had prepared me in some way. And God was always present with me. And I could see, in hindsight, the training God had given to prepare me for each new step of faith. Like the White elephant gift, not the answer I expected from my prayers. But God’s gifts are good even though it was not the way I expected it! I don’t know what my future holds. But I know God holds my future and I trust that I will continue to be guided to the best gifts.

PRAYER

God of perfect gifts, help us understand that some gifts do not seem so perfect when they arrive, but with your love and guidance they become for us your perfect gift. Make us grateful every day for all your gifts, both great and small.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - January 9, 2026

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:00:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 9:11-14

The Lord said to Ananias, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

WORDS OF HOPE

A crew of zealots with orders in their hands and hate in their hearts enter the city. For the established citizens, this is cause for celebration, for these violent men are here to arrest and harm those who do not belong among the privileged. They are led by a particularly extremist man who is an upcoming star in the administration. He is loyal to the despotic leadership and has a reputation for cruelty and efficiency. His current mission: To arrest and harass anyone who dares oppose those in charge.

This could be a description of what is happening in cities across this country when ICE and DEA agents descend into neighborhoods. However, it is a narrative about what is about to happen when a man from Tarsus named Saul, with authority from the chief priests, arrives in Damascus.

However, on his way to that city, Saul of Tarsus has an encounter with the risen Christ who confronts Saul with the question “why do you persecute me?” Suddenly, Saul finds himself blinded and led to the city where he ponders for three lonely days and nights the dramatic appearance of Jesus and his future life as a blinded man.

Meanwhile, a faithful follower named Ananias receives a command to go to Saul, the very man known for breathing threats and violence against the church. However, where Ananias sees danger; God sees purpose. “Go,” the Lord says, “for he is an instrument whom I have chosen.” God does not deny Saul’s past. Instead, God reveals a transforming future shaped by grace.

Ananias goes. His courage is quiet but costly. He enters the house, lays hands on Saul, and calls him “Brother.” With that single word, Ananias embodies the gospel—naming kinship where others would only see threat. Sight is restored, the Spirit fills Saul, and baptism follows. Healing flows through obedience.

Acts 9 reminds us that God often heals and calls through ordinary believers willing to trust beyond their comfort. We are not asked to approve of harm or ignore wisdom, but to remain open to God’s redemptive work—even in people and places that unsettle us. Sometimes the miracle is not only what God does in them, but what God forms in us as we go.

PRAYER

God of surprising grace, give us ears to hear your call and courage to follow. Help us trust your vision when ours is limited by fear. Make us instruments of healing, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - January 8, 2026

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:00:10 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 3.3-4

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and humanity.

WORDS OF HOPE

Love can consist of many gifts, but what is a gift that is not given? Unless the gift is given it can never become what it was meant to be. One does not smile from the inside, but it stretches across the lips from cheek to cheek for all to see. When we smile at others, we give a gift that comes from the heart. Then, once that gift is received by another, her love grows and responds with a smile of her very own. She will have then learned to smile, and not only that, but will find someone new to give her smile to.

Today, there are many smiles all around the world because God first smiled at us. God created us because God wanted someone to give that love to; God wanted to show that smile to the Creation. The love of God gives life, otherwise, why would God have ever given the gift? Love hurts sometimes, and we all hurt sometimes. A baby cries when she wants to be held. Once the baby is in the arms of her mother, however, she stops crying because she craved love. As the baby lives off the mother’s milk, so too does she need love from the one who gave her life.

Milk is for the body, but love is for the spirit. Jesus said, “Humankind shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” The “word” that Jesus spoke of is, in essence, the love of God. Without love, God’s words would be soundless, unheard, and of no effect. If God made humankind because God wanted to give us a gift, then we, by nature, were meant to receive that gift. My Earthly father taught me that love is not love unless it is given, because love has always been, and always will be, an expression of the heart.

PRAYER

Bless You Lord for Your precious love. You smiled at us, and now, we smile too. Protect these hearts that learned how to smile so that we, in kind, can give it back. Thank You for showing us the way. You have so much love for us, but it is not always understood. Help us to understand Your great love toward us. Show us how to love others as You have loved us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - January 7, 2026

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:00:55 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 3:18-19

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s passage comes from a letter of Paul written to the Ephesians. It is a prayer that ends the letter and is given to encourage hope within the readers. Probably written while Paul was in prison in Rome around AD 62, it resembles other Pauline letters and was essentially an “inner-office” memo to the church in what is now Turkey.

Though the message was for a specific group of believers, the sentiment still resonates with me today. The idea that “the love of Christ surpasses knowledge” speaks volumes. It tells me that God’s love is something mystical, something beyond my meager reasoning.

I have thought about this a lot recently as I look at the newest photos from the Vera C. Rubin telescope. The images are the highest resolution ever taken and reveal a vastness of the universe that puts in perspective how small and precious life on Earth is. They also fill me with awe at the inconceivable fullness of the universe.

My power to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of creation reminds me that I can never know it all, and that is alright with me. I am content to marvel at creation and live in the mystery of it all. It’s mystery also reminds me that the spirit of love and creation which I know as God is always with me, even in the vastness of our universe.

PRAYER

May we find the spirit of God in our lives and the love of Christ which sustains us. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - January 6, 2026

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 6:25-27

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

WORDS OF HOPE

Happy New Year! Who’s ready to do a little house cleaning? When I was young, each church revival service would include my pastor's admonition that we must "clean out every closet in our life and let God's Spirit fill all of our life". To a little boy, it was very dramatic; however, it took teenage years and older experience for that to really have potent meaning.

If we are honest, we all have areas of our life in which God does not rule. The entrances to those "closets" are blocked by old junk which we have piled up there for the purpose of keeping those areas private and off-limits from outside change. They're our personal places of unforgiveness, greed, dishonesty, etc. (you can fill in the etc. yourself). We all know that the Holy One is a God of absolute perfection, purity of goodness, forgiveness, love and kindness. And that God wants our lives to manifest as much purity of motive and action as possible for us to achieve. Now, there is the rub... "for us to achieve".

Even with our best efforts, by ourselves we usually fail to fling open those closet doors and let the goodness and forgiving light of Christ Jesus flood those spaces of living. It requires divine help and forgiveness for us to unstack and remove the piles of junk (excuses, delays, distractions, etc.) which have blocked God out of those life areas. With the help of divine power, you can pitch out a lot of garbage which is not worthy of a garage sale and thus open wide all aspects of your life to God's presence.

The Holy One can work only in areas of life which we make available for the divine living presence! We need to regularly seek out those closeted areas and pray that God's presence will "fill every nook and cranny" of our life! And a brand New Year is the perfect place to start.

PRAYER

Throughout 2026, may the Living Presence of Christ Jesus fill every nook and cranny of my being to grow me to be a more effective and faithful servant of yours.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - January 5, 2026

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 1.9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading wraps up the first chapter of the Book of Joshua and references the transition of the leadership of the ancient Hebrew people after the death of Moses. Joshua had been Moses’ assistant, confidant, and communicator of the commandments throughout most of their wilderness wanderings. He was now given the honor and task of leading them into the Promised Land.

Today we interpret the Promised Land in many ways. In Christianity, the Promised Land is spiritually and metaphorically symbolic of divine promises fulfilled. In Judaism and Islam, it is seen as the same divine fulfillment, except literally, and the land they are talking about is the same land. Therein lies the conflict as God-ordained ancestral homes become geopolitical conflict.

That was the problem facing Joshua as he was about to step into a much-coveted territory that would begin a 3,000-year long dispute that has yet to see a viable settlement. He had to be strong and brave, without fear, and had to guard against discouragement. To be confident that his God would be with him throughout his journeys and military confrontations within this new homeland he had been promised.

How much of the Book of Joshua is fact and how much of it is retro-fitting God’s will into a conflict over territory we can’t ever know, but the Book does teach us that even in what may seem to be an impossible situation we can be encouraged to aspire for the same strength, bravery, courage, and drive that Joshua demonstrated in this book about wars within ourselves and with others.

This is Twelfth Night, the last night of Christmastide, and we stand thankful for the gifts of God during the now completed year. As we stand at the beginning of another New Year, as fresh as Joshua was as he received the mantle of Moses, we must remember that eternal promise made to him is the same one made to us today: “the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 2026 is our current Promised Land from God. The rest is up to us.

PRAYER

God of Promises, thank you for the opportunities, challenges, lessons, and learnings, trials and triumphs of the exciting year before us. May we always carry the assurance that you will be with us wherever we go. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - January 2, 2026

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:00:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

WORDS OF HOPE

On this Friday, January 2nd, the celebrations are still not over for a lot of us since it begins a holiday weekend. But, the holidays are not always a happy time for so many people, but over the years, I have been blessed with the ability to put the bad memories behind me and gravitate toward the things that have warmed the holidays of my life.

It’s a New Year, but still Christmastide, and although none of my grandparents are still alive, there are so many “Santa Claus – time” things they did that stick out in my mind. Today we have things like Pinterest to look at all the visuals of what some people call “Vintage Christmas” where we can relive some of our generic favorite memories. But my memories are specific.

My maternal grandmother created so many indelible holiday memories, certainly without knowing it. She probably didn’t realize that making granny’s popcorn balls would be a memory that would literally stick with me forever. One year I think she might’ve been behind schedule when she asked all the grandkids to butter up their hands and help her make popcorn balls, which we had enjoyed almost every year when she was alive. It’s amazing what those 15 or 20 minutes did for me as we had been given the honor to help make her famous holiday treat. We felt important, useful!

In fact, none of us realizes what a simple smile or friendly gesture does for someone this time of year. We don’t really know what’s going on in somebody else’s world. But my grandmother’s lesson is one that I became very conscious of at this time of my life when I see Sunday school kids I taught years ago, all grown up and out of college, some of them with children of their own. Those kids are the same age their parents were when I had the privilege of being a small part of their lives.

I am fortunate to still know many of those kids of yesteryear and hear them reminisce about the good times we had together. My grandmother would never know the warmth she created in my childhood would be my favorite holiday memories today. She taught me, without words, that each of us could be the creators of happy times now that will be the treasures of someone’s future.

In this New Year, what is something you or I can do that might forever enhance or change someone else’s life? If we live our lives with Jesus’ love model as our guide, it’s usually not something that we’ll think about ahead of time. That was my grandmother’s way. She loved us. I’m sure sharing those buttery popcorn treat moments we treasure now were her own reward. And she was truly creating many future Happy New Years for the ones she loved.

PRAYER

May each of us today be someone’s happiest holiday memory tomorrow. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - January 1, 2026

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 10:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 4.16-18

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

WORDS OF HOPE

A Poem for the New Year

We are Eternal

My steps in the sand go very deep.

And forgive my defiance,

But you are not my god to

Tell me otherwise.

If a house fly lives for two days,

Assuming it dies naturally,

Then assuming I die naturally,

It is as though millennia are passing.

And time,

Being relative,

No longer matters.

Though I see that it matters to you.

In this known universe,

Countless “trees” seem young and old.

But the “forests” are really continuums.

See the forest from the trees.

How many organisms live and die in

Milliseconds?

How many stars live and die in

Millions of years?

Don’t ask,

“How long is eternity?”

Eternity is how many steps

Can be taken in a perfect circle.

If you can perceive

Your agedness,

Then tell me,

How does a fly measure time?

PRAYER

From John 17.3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - December 31, 2025

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:01:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 21.1-2

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading is from the Book of Revelation. It’s been called by several longer titles such as the Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John the Divine and incorrectly referred to simply as Revelations (plural). The “John” referred to is undoubtedly not the Gospel writer John who wrote the gospel of Love. Most of the book is about the bad guys being defeated and punished by a variety of angry angels and monstrous composite animals.

However, the creators of these daily lectionary readings showed mercy in choosing this New Years’ Eve passage. They skipped to the happy ending. This is apocryphal literature, which was almost always directed to the persecuted masses, and spends a lot of time picturing their oppressors suffering a lot, and finally ends with the victims being much richer and more privileged than their rulers ever were.

Revelation is specifically directed to the early Christian churches who, along with the Jews of the first century, had suffered through many years of prejudice, ethnic hatred, Totalitarian rule, and an emperor who was literally worshipped as a god. This idea of their world having “passed away” and replaced by an idyllic new world was standard prophetic language used by Isaiah, the Apostle Paul, and even Jesus on occasion to award their depressed audiences with a glimmer of hope.

Isn’t that the way a large percentage of people feel this New Year’s Eve? But, I’ve had similar feelings on this occasion in previous years; regrets for failures, big and small, for things I have done, but usually for things I never got around to doing. Add to that the dissatisfaction with the government, the decrease in civility in our interactions with our neighbors; you know the list. The first century Christians’ lists were much longer.

In the days Jesus walked among us, God was thought of as an anthropomorphic deity who sat on a throne above the clouds. Jesus preached that this wasn’t the case, that the Spirit of God was always among us available to guide and inspire us, to forgive us for our shortcomings and teach us to forgive others and ourselves. God would not be seated on a throne descending from above in a golden cloud city. Jesus made that concept archaic. God was beside them then and is beside us now. That knowledge gives us hope for every New Year.

PRAYER

Forever-present God, thank you on this New Years’ Eve when we can reflect on the state we have made of the world and our lives. May this ending of an old year remind us that there is never an ending to your love and guidance for us as we precede with hope to a better new one. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday December 30, 2025

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 15:12 (NIV)

My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.

WORDS OF HOPE

It’s almost a New Year and time to get back to the basics. Jesus talked about love many times. He lived his life, coming from a place of love and he died for all of us, because he loved. In this scripture, he is saying, I command you to love each other like that! I admit, I am a bit daunted when I face this challenge.

As I see it, that leaves no room for me to pick and choose which, among his children, we will love. It leaves no room for us to mete out little bits of love. This is full out, love, as we have never loved before. We cannot count the cost.

We cannot just love with our hearts. We have to love with our whole beings. That's a bit overwhelming, but God has provided the miracle of the Holy Spirit to make up for our human weakness. There is no limit to what God can do through us if we let ourselves be challenged beyond limits. I know that I have seen God transform lives, and give hope where there was no hope.

I believe God can use committed people who trust him, to create change in our families, our communities and our world. It can happen if we love as Jesus Loves.

PRAYER

Beloved God, God of Amazing Love, I read your word, and I feel excited and challenged. I feel small when I consider what big things are needed. But I know you, God. I know you will make me brave when I am afraid. I know you will put people in my path who need your love. Help me to do what is needed rather than what I think I can do. Help me to love bigger than I know how to love. Help me to love as you love. I give myself to you. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Monday - December 29, 2025

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:00:14 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts1.8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

WORDS OF HOPE

Anticipating the beginning of the year, we begin to think about the type of spiritual fuel we will need to empower our daily life with others. When we read today’s Scripture, we stop at the divine gas station and get our tank full for the new day's opportunities. But, before we head out from the station, we may need some advice about current traffic conditions or problems... get some help to travel the route. Consider this prayer:

"Christ Jesus, may I go forth next year to be and to do your divine will in all the opportunities you give me each day."

In the days the Greek Scriptures were written, servants were foolhardy to go out into the daily marketplace and expect to accomplish their master’s request if they were not accompanied by a recognition or authorization from the master for whom they worked. Similarly, we cannot expect to do God's business without the divine living presence with us. It's that simple! If we don't recognize the need to live our active lives with God's constant presence, we venture forth on our own and without that divine loving presence.

Now, the real problem is not one in which God chooses not to work with and through us; rather, it is our constant need to recognize that we must have the living presence of God to facilitate our life actions! For that reason, we need to pray each day and be very mindful that we seek God's presence to be expressed in all that we do. God is very willing to go with us, but we cannot ignore the divine presence’s help.

It's so easy to get caught up in the moment's actions, thinking that we have it all figured out, and forget about God's always-present help for the situation. Each day, we need to think about our self in the plural - we together – act and speak with others. And the "we together" must always be God and us!

PRAYER

Christ Jesus, may we TOGETHER go forth this day to be and to do your divine will.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - December 26, 2025

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:00:13 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 6. 8-15

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’ And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

WORDS OF HOPE

December 26 is an interesting day in the church and secular calendar. It is Saint Stephen's day in Western Christianity (December 27 in the Eastern orthodox.) It is the day which Stephen, one of the first chosen leaders of the disciples was martyred. In the passage immediately before the one above, Stephen has been chosen as one of seven to help with the distribution of food among all the disciples. Stephen is described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Essentially the seven were chosen because the Apostles were not able to handle the duties of the day today and also preach the gospel.

In the United Kingdom and many parts of the former British empire, today is Boxing day. Is the day on which servants and tradesmen were given a Christmas box containing a little money, a small gift, perhaps some food leftover from the Christmas table. This seems to be an appropriate thing to do on the second day of Christmas, (the 12 days of Christmas last until January 6 with the arrival of the Magi). The first day of Christmas is the great gift of the birth of Christ, the second day, is a day to recognize and give something to those who perhaps have less than we do. Or at least two people who work very hard so that we have more than they do. Just as Stephen became a servant, (a waiter at the table, as the previous passage says), so we have many of those who serve. Boxing Day gives substance to that recognition.

Today is also Thank You Note Day. It is intended for handwritten thank you notes to be produced and to be sent. With email and text messaging and various electronic means of greeting ‘cards’ we have perhaps lost some of the simple joy that comes from receiving a handwritten note in the mail placed on our front door. I personally admit I'm a sucker for this. Since I was a small child, I have loved going out to the mailbox to see what has arrived. I don't know if I got the same sort of serotonin boost that they claim people get when their phone dings, but I suspect that's exactly what happened.

I am old enough that within a week of having received a Christmas present, my mother made me sit down and write thank you notes. This is something that I fear we are losing in our society. And I will bluntly state that this is a bad thing.

So today as a devotion I ask you to sit and make a list of people who are giving you something not just for Christmas but throughout the entire year. Sit down and write them a thank you note. You may be thanking them for a physical gift; or you may be thanking them for a job well done; support or love or friendship. These too are valuable gifts. If you can, send it through the Postal Service or deliver it yourself.

And in all of that, don't forget to thank the God who brought those people into your life. Don't forget to thank the God who sent Jesus to show you a way to God.

And try with great devotion, prayer, and meditation to make your thanks more than an obligatory action (like many of mine that my mother made me do) that is a true heartfelt thanks for things, small and large that have been done for you in your life this last year.

PRAYER

God of gifts, God of life, God of all, thank you for this world and all that is in it, and all the people with whom we interact each day. Help us to see that of God in every person so that we may be thankful for their presence. Bring to us the thankfulness that we need for our friends and our enemies that we may all come together in peace.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Thursday - December 25, 2025

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 10:00:15 GMT

LYRICS READING

Be born in me, be born in me.

Trembling heart, somehow I believe that you chose me.

I’ll hold you in the beginning. You will hold me in the end.

Every moment in the middle make my heart your Bethlehem.

Be born in me. Sung by Francesca Batistelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eimaffzsLk

WORDS OF HOPE

It’s been a season of waiting, of longing, of calling out for Emmanuel to come—into our world, into our lives. And Francesca Batistelli’s beautifully rendered song, a contemporary imagining into Mary’s heart-cry as she awaits the birth of Jesus, provides a resonant reflection for this Christmas Day.

In the first stanza of the song, Mary acknowledges her desire for order, but thrown into confusion about the encounter with Gabriel, her anxiety and uncertainty about her worthiness surface. But this is not a process of logic where she weighs pros and cons. No, before her “head agrees,” her “heart is on its knees” in awe and humility and she feels the sacred blessing: “Holy is he, blessed am I.” With “trembling heart,” “somehow” she believes she was chosen, and by the ending of the song, her surrender is complete.

Centuries ago, the German mystic and philosopher Meister Eckhart boldly asserted that the nativity means little if Christ is not born in us in our time and culture. We are meant to be the mothers of God, a God who always needs to be born. So we, like Mary, pray, “Be born in me, be born in me”--sometimes from a place of pure joy, sometimes in confusion or doubt, or from deep sorrow or desperation at the state of our world. To become a Christ-bearer is to know an expansion of the heart, to become an embodiment of a love that risks vulnerability, that expands the boundaries of our lives, that “wraps [themself] inside the unexpected so we might know that Love would go that far.” It is a love that journeys to the margins to bring home the excluded and oppressed and is emboldened to seek justice on their behalf.

This has always been the story: the Divinity at the center of the universe who so yearns for their creatures that we are conceived and held in love always, with a caring which does not abandon us—even when friends do, or a beloved dies, or troubles come, or evil manifests its ugly face in the world. We have been fashioned in this love, through this love, and for this love. So when we act in and live out this compassion, we become Mary, birthing Jesus over and over. In no way is this about worthiness. God loves us, and there is nothing that can make God love us more and nothing that can make God love us less.

This is the good news of the message of Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate this day. May we all give thanks and praise. Blessed Christmas!

PRAYER

Divine Love, help us remove any impediments and heal any wounds that would diminish our embodiment of your radiant love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - December 24, 2025

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:01:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 21. 1-7

Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah and had said and did for Sarah what had been promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

WORDS OF HOPE

On this Christmas Eve, as we anticipate the birth of Christ into the world, today’s scripture reading reminds us of another miracle birth to the two people who were the founders of our faith. Sarah and Abraham had been promised a child for many years and in fact Sarah was about 90 years old when the birth of Isaac finally occurred. Isaac’s name means “Child of Laughter” and Sarah hoped that everyone who ever knew of the story of his birth would share the same kind of joy that she had experienced. These would certainly have been Mary’s wishes as she gazed on that baby in the manger.

That manger in which the newborn Jesus lay no longer exists. Long ago, it fell into uncertainty or the weather of time. But spiritually at each Christmas season, it continues to draw us into its presence and offer weary humanity it's redeeming hope.

The poet and writer Marty Haugen put it this way: "Holy Child within the manger, long ago yet ever near; Come as Redeemer to every stranger, calm our hope for every fear. Once again, we tell the story how your love was shown. Holy Child within the manger, lead us ever in your way, so that we see in every stranger how you come to us today. In our lives and in our living give us strength to live as you did, so that our hearts may be forgiving and our spirits strong and true."

Now in this Christmas season, that welcoming stable manger is found everywhere hearts and lives are open to God's divine embrace.

PRAYER

I pray that each of us will be richly blessed by the kiss of the Christmas message, and may it invigorate our Christian witness to the world. As we meet others, may we be that shining light first shown to us by the Christ child. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - December 23, 2025

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

WORDS OF HOPE

During this time of year when we are surrounded by images of elves and reindeer and snowmen and Santa Claus, and, yes, Jesus too (though he hasn’t been born yet), the most important “character” of this Advent season is often overlooked. In fact, this entire time of year for many is just a big blur of red and green amidst a mad rush to Christmas morning. If we want to properly celebrate Christmas, we must first fully participate in this season of Advent, a season of prayer and reflection, of waiting, of recognizing and honoring both the faith and example shown to us in Mary.

One of my favorite parts of worshipping in the Anglican tradition is that this passage from Luke, known as the Magnificat or The Song of Mary, is a regular part of the Daily Office of Evening Prayer; it is the canticle said or sung after the first reading every single day. Though I see these words almost daily, they seem to stir my soul more deeply during this Season of Advent. Because the Magnificat is an integral part of the service of Evening Prayer, it has been set to music by many composers, further “magnifying” Mary’s words, words that she spoke to her cousin Elizabeth after the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was the bearer of The Messiah. (If you are looking for some music to help you pray your way through these last few days of Advent, do an internet search for settings of the Magnificat.)

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” If only we could all speak these words with the honesty and commitment with which Mary does. Amidst the fear and uncertainty that came from being told that she, a virgin, was pregnant, Mary was able to sing these words from a place deep in her soul, the manifestation of her profound faith, a faith marked by humility, absolute trust, and awe. She proclaims this faith in the words, “he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”

Mary continues on with words that could be seen as a foreshadowing of The Beatitudes. She proclaims that the proud have been scattered by their thoughts, the mighty have been brought down and the humble exalted, the hungry have been filled and the rich sent away empty. Mary declares these things as one who has seen them firsthand and knows them to be true. She was not only talking to Elizabeth back in the first century; she was also speaking to us. We are one of all those generations to come that “will call me blessed.”

As this season of Advent comes to a close and we prepare for Christmas, let us maintain a place in our hearts for Mary. May we welcome the Christ-child not only amidst wrapping paper, lights, and reindeer hoofs, but with the same awe, wonder, and responsibility to care for him as did Mary and Joseph on that night in Bethlehem.

A PRAYER

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with you, untroubled maiden.

You are blessed among women,

you who brought forth peace to people

and glory to the angels.

Blessed too is the fruit of your womb,

who by grace made it possible for us to be his heirs.

(An adaptation by Matthew Fox of the traditional “Hail Mary.”

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and St. Clare

Monday - December 22, 2025

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:00:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 33. 17-18

Your eyes will see the king in his beauty

and view a land that stretches afar.

In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror.

WORDS OF HOPE

Isaiah’s Prophesy today is an excellent introduction to Christmas week and points to the entry of the coming Messiah. But what about the here and now? At any time in your life, have you asked “Why am I here?” “What’s my purpose?” Or maybe “I’m alive, now what?” I think about these questions constantly.

As I look around my house, and anticipate the addition of even more gift items, it’s obvious I have accumulated lots of things, usually souvenirs centered around a happy memory or experience. Lots of keepsakes that have become props to jog my memory for friendship, perhaps vacations, or memories I’ve become too attached to. I have asked myself: do these things serve any purpose? Those are all about yesterday. They don’t offer me any meaningful clue about why I am here today.

Why do I keep things? I know there are lots of people who don’t particularly like having stuff; those minimalist folks find happiness in other ways. I appreciate their philosophy. Maybe when I look at my mementos of good times past, I consider the times that relieved me of stress, anxiety, or sadness and I wonder if I lose “the things” will I forget my happy experiences? Our yesterdays can serve our todays and today, as usual, I’m considering my deeper role, my purpose.

If I were placed here on Earth to serve anything outside of myself, am I doing this right? It’s hard to say. Living a life less planned and more spontaneous has served me well but has it served others? I’ have looked at an old keepsake now and then, an old Christmas gift, perhaps with a little silent prayer of thanks in mind and related an optimistic story about it to a friend.

I’m often rewarded with a smile on that friend’s face. We live in a time when too many of us wear despair on our faces. A sense of optimism should be high on the “purpose of life list” each of us should carry. A smile is a powerful gift these days. It’s a worthy purpose. I’ve learned that happy stories about old gifts actually can serve an important use, sort of like props with a purpose. Maybe, at least, I’ve discovered one of the reasons I was put here.

If that makes you think I know something special, I don’t. And now we’re full circle. I have rediscovered I have no solid answers. I do know, however, that my eyes have seen Isaiah’s “king in his beauty” arrive for quite a few Christmases in my past and that should bring purpose to all our lives. That’s a story of joy worth sharing.

PRAYER

God, in the great mystery that is life, help us to know how to find our purpose, so that we might be used to create a spark, offer guidance, or give someone a Christmas gift of an optimistic story, or even a simple nod of “I see you.” Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St Francis & St Clare

Friday - December 19, 2025

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE:

2 Samuel 7:18–22 (The Inclusive Bible)

“Then David went in and sat before YHWH and said: ‘Who am I, Sovereign YHWH, and what is my family that you have brought me this far? And even this was too small a thing in your eyes, Sovereign YHWH, for you have also spoken about the future of your servant’s house… How great you are—Sovereign YHWH! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.’”

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is Arabic Language Day, and something in my spirit stirs. I find myself thinking about theGod who refuses to be captured by one culture, one holy book, one tradition, or one familiar tongue. I think of David sitting before YHWH, stunned that the God of all creation would speak to someone like him. And I realize: God never stopped surprising us. God never stopped speaking in ways bigger than our expectations. Jesus spoke Aramaic, the cousin of Arabic—two languages shaped by the same desert winds, shared roots, shared rhythms. When Jesus preached, comforted, healed, and blessed people, he did so in a Semitic tongue full of poetry and ancient beauty. His voice would not have sounded like a Shakespearean monologue; it would have sounded like the language of fishermen, farmers, mothers, laborers, travelers, and the poor. A human language for a human God.

That truth comforts me deeply: God speaks in the languages of the people, not the languages of empire.

And God is still speaking—through Arabic, Hebrew, English, Navajo, Yoruba, Hindi, Mandarin,and the thousands of living languages carried in human breath. God speaks through texts like the Qur’an, the Bhagavad Gita, the Torah, the Gospels, Indigenous stories, Buddhist sutras, and the wisdom passed from grandmother to grandchild.

God speaks through all who bear the Divine image—queer voices, trans voices, immigrant voices, refugee voices, disabled voices, child voices, tired voices, joyful voices, and voices that tremble but speak anyway.

And then there is Arabic itself—a language I find breathtaking. Something about its script, theway the letters swirl like rivers and the vowels glide like silk, moves me. Its poetry feels ancientand alive. When I listen to Middle Eastern or Arabic music, it transports me. I feel like the veilbetween worlds thins, and suddenly I am standing somewhere holy—somewhere older, deeper,and wider than anything I can describe. And then there is the Adhan, the Islamic call to prayer. Driving to work in Plano, Texas, sometimes I get lucky. Sometimes, if the timing is just right, I hear the Adhan rising from the Plano masjid. I slow down—not just the car, but my soul. I watch people walking toward worship, shoulders relaxed, steps steady, their hearts set toward God. The masjid’s architecture glows softly in the morning light—curved, calm, dignified, beautiful.

I am not Muslim. And yet I love hearing the Adhan.

It reminds me that somewhere, right now, someone is stopping everything to pray.

To breathe. To remember who they are and who God is.

It grieves me that Western culture has trained so many to fear what is unfamiliar—labeling

Arabic, Islam, and Muslim communities as “dangerous” or “evil.” That lie feeds xenophobia andIslamophobia. It harms real people. It blinds us to beauty.

Because when I hear the Adhan, I don’t hear danger. I hear mercy. I hear peace.

I hear a reminder that Christians desperately need our own call to prayer—a call that interrupts noise, ego, and fear, and summons us back to God.

And as a Christian and an LGBTQIA+ ally, I know I am called to be a bridge. Not a perfect one. Not a heroic one. But a faithful one. A bridge between Christians and Muslims.

A bridge between queer people and churches that have yet to fully love them. A bridge between those who fear difference and those who embody it. A bridge between God and God’s beloved children. Being a bridge means listening when others dismiss.

Honoring what others fear. Standing with Muslim neighbors, queer neighbors, trans neighbors, immigrant neighbors, and anyone whose truth is misunderstood or despised.

Because the God who speaks through Arabic also speaks through:

• Hindu mantras naming Ishvara, the indwelling Divine

• Buddhist chants calling on Amitabha, the boundless compassion

• Sikh prayers proclaiming Ik Onkar — God is One

• Indigenous songs honoring Creator and Great Spirit

• Church bells echoing across city streets

• Queer and trans voices claiming holy dignity

• Protest chants crying out for justice and liberation

• Refugee stories filled with courage and heartbreak

Oceans breathing, forests singing, mountains humming their silent praise

God is still speaking—through languages we understand, languages we fear, and languages we have yet to hear. God speaks through every culture, every people, every prayer, every cry for justice, every breath of hope. Arabic Language Day reminds me that God’s voice is far more expansive, more colorful, more multilingual, and more surprising than anything our narrow worldviews can contain. God invites us into a Kin-dom where every language, every identity, every faith, every person belongs.

SHORT PRAYER

God of all Names— YHWH, Allah, Adonai, Elohim, El Shaddai, Ishvara, Dharmakaya, Great Spirit—Open my ears to hear You everywhere. Teach me to honor Arabic and the beauty it carries. Teach me to hear Your call in the Adhan, in bells, in chants, and in silence. Make me a bridge of compassion, justice, and understanding—especially for Muslim, queer, trans, and immigrant neighbors. Calm my assumptions, soften my fears, expand my love. Lead me into Your Kin-dom of radical welcome, courageous faith, and holy diversity. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Reed Kirkman

Thursday - December 18, 2025

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:00:23 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 1:38

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

WORDS OF HOPE

She said yes!! These are words we usually hear from an engagement proposal and in this circumstance, it was Mary, who out of complete blind faith, said “YES” to Gods call. Mary, an ordinary girl, planning a wedding with her fiancé, took a huge leap of faith, trusting Gods word when it was the most uncomfortable. She responded to the angel, “let it be according to your word” then a messenger appeared with the news, and she agreed to have a child that would literally change the course of mankind.

She had unwavering faith in a God she had never seen yet knew the moment she leaned into that faith; all would be well. I personally believe I have faith, I say I practice faith and assure others walking in faith is the ultimate connection to God. Yet Mary’s faith is a stark contrast to anything I could ever imagine.

Mary simply “believed God” and that was enough for her. She was an ordinary woman who set her heart toward godly purpose. God’s Word became more important than her comfort, more powerful than doubt, ridicule, shame, or loneliness.

Mary’s unwavering faith continued when there was no place to give birth, bright stars lit up the skies and kings showed up to worship the child with gifts of gold. Little did she know her faith would take a different course at the eventual sacrifice of this child’s life.

The theory of faith is easy to follow, while living in faith is challenging. Surrendering to live as a vessel for God, holding onto an unbelievable promise, no matter what the outcome, is the ultimate expression of faith. It points out that our purpose is to be filled by a divine power that will enable us to carry out God's plans and be conduits spreading Gods love. It’s so awe-inspiring to know a self-sufficient God would deliberately choose us to serve.

PRAYER

God, just like Mary, teach us to trust in you when we least understand, believing the blessing will ultimately overshadow the cost. In Jesus name. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Wednesday - December 17, 2025

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:00:11 GMT

READING

Zechariah 8:16-17

These are the things that you shall do: speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.”

WORDS OF HOPE

The Prophet Zechariah is speaking to the people of Israel and about God’s promise to restore Jerusalem. It is something many of the Old Testament prophets speak of, Rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and a return to the glory days of that city.

He also gives some advice for people and it’s very similar to the advice given by Jesus.

He admonishes people to seek justice, speak truth and make peace. A very simple message with a very simple goal. It’s the same goal and advice we receive from the Ten Commandments and considering Jesus was a Jew it’s not surprising that his teachings were similar.

Essentially these words offer a framework for living a good life and creating a healthy community. They are words that are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Perhaps if we took this to heart we could really bring the kingdom of heaven to earth.

PRAYER

May we listen to the words of the prophets and take their advice for living a good life to heart. In that way, may we find peace, happiness and abundant life.

Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - December 16, 2025

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jude 17-25

But you, beloved, must remember the words previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

WORDS OF HOPE

If ever there was a set of instructions for being a Christian, there is no doubt in my mind that this part of the epistle of Jude would be included. What stands out to me? It’s their somewhat simple direct instruction on how to deal with having mercy. There is a reflection of the prayer, we call the Our Father. In that prayer, it says, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

In this passage, we are told to look forward to the mercy of Jesus when he comes and have mercy to others. Specifically hear the mercy is to be shown, it seems, to those who are having trouble accepting or understanding Jesus‘ message. And all of this opens with a warning about those who will not listen to the message at all and who scoff and cause the division.

The epistle of Jude was not written specifically to any one group as were, for example the letters to the Romans or the Galatians. And as such, it is not geared towards any specific issue or a problem that one group of Christians is having. It is meant to build up all Christians.

The last part of this letter which is the last of the entire epistle, is referred to as a doxology. A small, short prayer praising God. For me, it is one of those verses from the Bible that is short, to the point, and makes an excellent focal point for meditating on the word.

PRAYER

Merciful Savior. We revel in your mercy and we live in your forgiveness. Help to keep us from falling; help to remove the blemishes of sin that we might have so that we can indeed be in the presence of your glory with rejoicing Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - December 15, 2025

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 5:14-15

And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

WORDS OF HOPE

Buried within this story from Acts chapter five is a quiet, extraordinary beauty—a hidden gem of Scripture that invites us to pause, reflect, and discover the deeper wonders often overlooked.

The stories of ‘signs and wonders’ being done had made Peter and the other apostles popular among the people. The positivity of their ministry and their miraculous acts not only made them visible but brought others into their community of believers. And so moved by the stories and rumors of healing, people carried out their loved ones to the street, hoping that Peter’s mere shadow would pass over them.

In Hebrew thought, the “shadow” can represent the presence of someone powerful and sacred. Just as touching a high priest’s robe or other objects could mediate God’s blessing, so too the shadow symbolized an indirect contact with holiness and healing.

Such extraordinary faith in the blessings passed down through human agents gave hope and healing in a hopeless and sick world. The apostles, being the conduits of God’s blessings, confirmed that the message of Jesus was true. It was the combination of God’s power and the faith of the people that brought such blessing to ones who so desperately needed it.

All from a mere shadow.

As you hear and digest this hidden truth, think about the people around you and even the chance people whom you will pass along the way. People and situations that so much need a shadow to pass by. Just as Peter’s shadow was a conduit for God, our very lives, actions, and witness can channel God’s blessings to others when aligned with Him.

A person known to me refuses to let their feet hit the floor before they are done praying for the loved ones in their lives and for the places in which they will find themselves that day. Then, they move gracefully through the day, being ever more keenly aware of how their ‘shadow’ is bringing love, peace, healing, and blessing.

How can our shadows bring healing this day? How can we be a channel of blessing today?

PRAYER

Lord,

May our lives, like the Apostles’ shadows, carry Your presence, healing, and blessing to those around us. Help us walk today with faith, bringing comfort, hope, and Your love in every step. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - December 12, 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 25:1-5 (New English Translation)

O LORD, I come before you in prayer.

My God, I trust in you.

Please do not let me be humiliated;

do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me.

Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated.

Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.

Make me understand your ways, O LORD.

Teach me your paths.

Guide me into your truth and teach me.

For you are the God who delivers me;

on you I rely all day long.

WORDS OF HOPE

“Which One Are You?”

It was simply a loving mother and her teenage daughter who were taking a drive to the big city, but it was a trip that would be life changing. They lived in a small, East Texas town, and were driving to Dallas so that the daughter could participate in a group for transgender youth sponsored by Resource Center Dallas. The Resource Center supports LGBTQIA+ people with safe places, friendly faces, supportive programs, healthcare, and housing. The daughter was transgender.

Transgender persons are our neighbors, siblings, teachers, athletes, first responders, clergy, physicians, soldiers, artists, laborers and other everyday people whose physical gender differs from their own gender identity and experience. They live, laugh, dream and cry as do most any human. And like most human beings, they long for acceptance, understanding, respect, and to be treated equally and fairly. Bullies and closed-minded people are their greatest threat.

Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann was a beloved pastor, esteemed Bible scholar, prolific author, and a prophetic voice. He wrote the devotional book, “Celebrating Abundance,” that we read for Advent last year here at Cathedral of Hope. In it he quoted from Psalm 25 and observed that there are three kinds of people:

Those who know too much.

Those who expect nothing.

And those who know what to expect but do not know when.

Those who know too much are consumed with shaping the world in their preferred image. For them, things should be according to their narrow norm and in compliance with their religious beliefs. Anyone who looks, thinks, behaves or believes differently than their definition of “normal” is to be stifled, suppressed or, better yet, considered invisible and eliminated.

Brueggemann writes: “They know too much and reduce God’s freedom to the timetable of their ideology.” [p. 36]

Those who expect nothing are comfortable in their own ideas and affluence. They do not expect the Gospel to be made real and are simply annoyed by those spouting timetables or rigid expectations and requirements for salvation.

Then there are those who know what to expect but do not know when. They know from the teachings of Jesus that love of neighbor is the core of the Gospel, and apart from that we cannot truly love God or follow in the path of Christ to bring about a just society (the realm of God). They know this is true, but don’t know when it will be realized.

So, this Advent, we live and act with the abundance of God’s Grace, the mercy of God’s love, and the hopeful expectancy that Christ brought into the world. Christmas is coming and it is more than a day to be celebrated, but a reality to model and live into for all the world to see.

PRAYER

Come, Holy Spirit, and so touch the hearts and lives of both doubters and believers that justice may roll down like waters, and abundant grace might wash away our scarcity of thinking, living, loving and sharing. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - December 11, 2025

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:00:15 GMT

READING

“Let every heart prepare him room.” (“Joy to the World”)

WORDS OF HOPE

When someone dear, someone treasured is coming to visit, excitement leaps in my chest. Memories come unbidden--of times we’ve spent showered in nature’s glory, leaning into intimate conversation and laughter across meals or on road trips or settled into couches while stroking well-loved animals, memories too of faithful companionship in sickness and loss. Waves of gratitude wash the shores of my heart. I stock the fridge with food and clean the house, though anyone who knows me is used to being “rolled” for dog hair before leaving. The scent of balsam and cedar fill the air and bright flowers rest in small vases on bedside tables.

Now the waiting begins. The tender- hearted waiting.

So how can we prepare—especially in this season of frenzied activity-- for the most treasured guest of all, for the Christ who is born in us? The line from “Joy to the World” gives one direction: Let every heart prepare him room. Thomas Merton would invite us into a contemplative spiritual practice which includes solitude and silence, a “prayer of silence, simplicity, contemplative and meditative unity, a deep personal integration in an attentive, watchful listening of the heart.” In a world where we are deluged by words and images, it can be unsettling at first to release our dependence on this input, but, ultimately, it clears the way for the voice of Love.

According to Archbishop Oscar Romero (may his memory be a blessing), a certain kind of inner disposition opens us to Advent birth: to experience our poverty, our need and longing for God. If we are so full—of ourselves and/or the world’s privilege—it is difficult to acknowledge our need and therefore make room for Christ. Isolating self-sufficiency, vanity, and pride all inhibit the holy growth.*

Perhaps the simplest way of all to prepare him room is to earnestly call out to him, cry out for him--as people have done for centuries: Come, Lord Jesus, Come—or to sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

This spiritual “pedagogy” allows us to slow down enough to ponder what is really important and to settle into who deep down we are called to be—the divine Christ-self to be offered in service to the world.

PRAYER

God of Advent, make our hearts your Bethlehem.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr Pat Saxon

*(From Romero’s homily for his Advent Mass, December, 1978)

Wednesday - December 10, 2025

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 1.75-79

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare God’s ways,

to give the people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

the dawn from on high will break upon us,

to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

WORDS OF HOPE

These days, there are multiple passionate reviews, both pro and con, being exchanged about the two-part movie version of the Broadway musical, Wicked. Either way, the story takes us to a place beyond ourselves, visiting another incarnation of the marvelous Land of Oz. I think today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel does the same thing. It is classic lyric material that would be an excellent beginning of a classic Broadway musical.

These intro lyrics climax with the all-time hit, the Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) as she rejoices about the Advent of her own Holy son, followed by the spectacular refrain of glory from the heavenly host (1:14), and reinforced by the Song of Simeon, that declaration of prophesy fulfilled in the infant Jesus (1:29-32).

We’ve heard the Overture in the first Chapter of Luke. In his foreshadowing, the priest Zechariah’s solo praises the imminent birth of the Prophet who will introduce Mary’s son to the world. The Prophet will be Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s own miracle child: John the Baptist.

The operetta’s atmospheric theme is the unconditional love the Creator is about to visit upon the earth through the coming of the Christ, the Redeemer of All. In the 1939 movie on which Wicked is based, as the Wizard of Oz is about to present the testimonial heart to the Tin Man, he defines unconditional love as the work of “Good-deed-doers” an attribute the Tin Man has consistently modeled throughout Dorothy’s perils.

Luke’s opus, as do most of the greatest of musicals, teaches us a good lesson and makes us want to be like the story’s most positive characters. Like the Oz epic, do we want to be the Tin Man and his two unique companions who were willing to give their lives to save Dorothy? Are we good deed doers?

If we read and meditate on today’s words of Luke, contemplating the “tender mercy of our God”, how can we resist humming Luke’s lyrics by following the example of Jesus, especially in the upcoming season? There is a capacity crowd of our neighbors out there in the real world desperate for good deeds. Our unconditional love in practice can be our joyful overture to their world.

PRAYER

God of Grace, may we be generous good deed doers of your tender mercy and guides along your winding road to peace. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - December 9, 2025

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:00:20 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 15.14-21

I, myself, am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So, from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,

and those who have not heard will understand.”

WORDS OF HOPE

We’ve all gotten those emails or seen a social media post where we have read some meaning or attitude into them that may not have been intended by the writer. It is sometimes hard to translate words delivered to us in a two-dimensional inanimate form into words that are being spoken from the heart and soul of a feeling human being. Sometimes when I read the words of the apostle Paul, I interpret them as being somewhat boastful …”Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again…, He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God.” Why does he think I need to be reminded? And doesn’t each of us who claims to be a Christian have the duty to proclaim the gospel of God? I often wonder how I would respond if I encountered Paul on the street today. And how would he interact with me and other people he’d meet?

My trigger response to the above passage comes from my error in reading first century words from a twenty-first century mindset. Today there are all kinds of people out there proclaiming that they have been given THE priestly duty of proclaiming the Gospel and wanting us to believe them to be speaking and doing the work of Jesus while, in reality, only glorifying themselves—not God. Such behavior elicits an immediate negative reaction in me. I have to step back and remind myself that Paul was not like those today that treat their faith as a superficial accessory. He truly believed that everything he was doing was in the service of God. Paul was a successful evangelist, spreading Christianity to the Gentiles and building churches throughout the Roman Empire. He went about his mission with a rare kind of humility. Paul was genuine.

Though he lived nearly two centuries ago, Paul’s words and actions are still relevant and serve as an example for us now. As an apostle, Paul was dedicated entirely to a life of service and hard work. In everything he did, Paul strived to reflect his faith through acts of humility and love. This is what we each need to do as well. We too have a duty to proclaim the gospel of Christ throughout our daily lives.

When we read the words of Paul in their New Testament, it is important for us to think about the time and place in which they were written. What was their meaning and intent to the original audience? Then, we can think about what their meaning and application are to our daily life.

PRAYER

Gracious God, help me to see and appreciate your servants who have come before me. May I learn from them to be a faithful example of your peace, hope, joy and love. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - December 8, 2025

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:00:09 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 1:5

He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.

WORDS OF HOPE

Did you celebrate Nation Adoption Day Nov 21, 2025? I was lucky enough to get to celebrate in the most amazing way! There were 22 family members & three firefighters and one lucky baby and a very nice Judge in Tarrant County Court.

My granddaughter and her husband have been doing foster parenting for the last couple of years. They had one baby girl for over a year, but her parents did the required things to qualify to regain custody. They also did a rescue foster for another little girl.

And then came the call of a "Baby Moses" baby! A tiny baby was left at a fire department! There is no penalty for someone surrendering a child to a fire department! They will secure necessary medical help and alert the necessary authorities to find a new home for the child. Our baby was so tiny she needed immediate treatment at a Neo Natal ICU where she was treated until she was stable! My granddaughter and her husband were spending time bonding with her during her time there! And when her weight reached the magic numbers, they took her with them to their loving home! And everything was done to make her their child.

Tarrant County had Disney Princesses and Bluey and even Glinda and Elphaba in attendance for us and other families receiving adoption on this wonderful day.

God has been in the process all this time. My granddaughter and her husband were confident that God had a child for them and tried to follow God and trust in God's timing even when the answer to their prayer had been "not now!" They will go back to Foster Parenting children in a few months and see where else God leads them.

And I am blessed to be Great Grandmommy to this bundle of joy! God has blessed our whole family.

Being Foster Parents is a wonderful, but challenging calling. I adopted my son. I was a Foster Parent two times to young boys when my own daughters were very young. And I was also involved in care of children when I managed two different Boys' Ranches many years ago! I have many friends who are blessed to be adopted.

God creates families in many ways. I am thankful for all of them.

PRAYER

God of all creation, I thank you for Foster Parents, Adoption Parents and the gift of being a parent, a grandmommy and a great grandmommy. I am thankful to you for being my heavenly Parent!

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - December 5, 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:00:35 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 13:16-25

So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: Fellow Israelites and others who fear God, listen.

WORDS OF HOPE

He self-describes as an “unattractive little man with a nasally, professorial voice.” He is an unassuming introvert who prefers time behind the cover a book or watching great old movies. He is proficient at playing the tuba, having once been a member of the University of Michigan Marching Band. Even with his name, he prefers the unassuming moniker of ‘Bob’ rather than ‘Robert.’

When you go to hear him preach, however, you are met with a giant. In his Presbyterian robe and stole, he settles into his pulpit and one cannot help but be enraptured by his ability to drop you into the narrative. He is a brilliant homiletician, opening the passages of scripture to the listener in such a way as everyone in the room can understand. After 30+ years in that same pulpit, Bob continues to open scripture and reveal a Savior who, like him, is unassuming, brilliant, graceful, and loving.

When he steps up to the podium, he starts with a short explanation of the Scripture he is about to read. Then, as he is about to begin, he stops and looks lovingly at the assembled congregation. Purposefully and intently, he pauses, then says: “Listen.”

Wherever your mind was before that moment, your focus is immediately drawn towards this unpretentious man with the nasally voice. Your inner monologue about your shopping list, your uncomfortable shoes, the noisy child two pews over, and the strangers in the back pew ceases. With the word “Listen” spoken intently and resolutely, you turn your attention to the scripture about to be read and the homily about to be shared.

When Paul begins his sermon in Pisidian Antioch, he gestures to the assembled Israelites and Gentiles and summons them to himself with one word: Listen. And listen they did, hearing Paul recount God’s sovereign action in Israel’s history, in the wilderness and in the period of Judges and Kings. Paul invites his listeners to remember the story they belong to—a story shaped not by their achievements, but by God’s faithful initiative. Eventually, Paul’s words lead to God’s ultimate act of faithfulness: the sending of Jesus, the promised Savior.

He stood before them and reminded them that the starting point of faith is simply this: “Listen.” Before God calls us to act, God calls us to pay attention to what He has already done.

Amid a culture that pressures us to perform and a smartphone-driven world where our attention is always drifting, Pastor Bob, the Apostle Paul, and the still small voice of God calls us into a posture of humility and receptivity. How can we tune in when the voice beckons us with the word ‘Listen’?

PRAYER

Lord, quiet the noise within and around us so we may LISTEN and truly hear the story of Your faithfulness. Teach us to listen with humble and open hearts, ready to receive the grace You so gently speak. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Tuesday - November 4, 2025

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 5. 1-6

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person.

WORDS OF HOPE

We hear a lot of discussion these days about enormous wealth verses the plight of the poor. The writer of the Book of James does not hold back in his condemnation of the lifestyle practiced by the worst of the selfish rich in his community.

People who follow a faith- based lifestyle, rich or poor, are taught to do good, be honest and caring toward others without a thought of being given credit. Some people do a lot of good but always want to be recognized for their deeds. For example, they may give a sizable donation to build a homeless shelter, but they want their name attached to the project. They need to be recognized for their philanthropy. I am reminded of this gospel story:

Jesus was sitting with his disciples in the Jerusalem Temple while people were passing by and placing money into the offering chest. Many rich people placed in large sums of money and their coins made lots of noise. Then a poor widow passed by and deposited two tiny copper coins, worth less than a penny today. In Mark12.41, Jesus commended the widow's generosity and told his disciples:

"This poor widow has put in more than those who are rich. For they contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."

Her gift to the offering didn't make noise as it fell into the treasury chest. Her offering came from a quiet and humble heart which acknowledged the goodness of God who was the foundation and source of her livelihood. Likewise, when we pray giving thanks for the love that we share with one another, we should also give praise for God's love. For God's goodness and love is the source of the Christian's expression of goodness to others.

The goodness that we express is only a reflection of the pure goodness of God.

PRAYER

Gracious God, as I reflect on how I want to begin each new day

of life with you and others, may I be more faithful and consistent in my life's

witness to your redeeming love and care. Open my eyes to the opportunities

which you will provide whereby I can help others find you as a rich source of

comfort and guidance for their life. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - December 4, 2025

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 22.1

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

WORDS OF HOPE

Greed is an inglorious miseducation which teaches us that the difference between less and more is our happiness. The assertion is that those with less are poor and that those with more are rich. Ironically, the acquisition of wealth is thought to lead one to happiness; however, endeavoring for wealth which cannot be enjoyed after one’s years are spent acquiring it is a bitter venture only realized by the time it is too late to get the time back. This is poverty: spending your whole life trying to get rich and gaining nothing but regrets and the desire for more time in the end.

Our true wealth is the time we have to spend with the ones we love. We have time to discover the beauty of this world, to build relationships, and to leave this world better than we found it. None of these things require money to attain more than the requirement of our time. Happiness is inexpensive but time is priceless. Yet, for every one person who finds satisfaction there are nine hundred and ninety-nine who want more. This is blindness: there is enough food in the world to feed everyone, but people are dying of hunger.

There are people who live modest lives. They may wear the same clothes every day and only eat what they can grow but are smiling from within out of an abundance of wealth that few understand. It is long overdue that humanity asked the honest question...why? Why do we need so much? We have the resources needed to meet the physical needs of every living person on Earth but lack the vision to make it happen. Jesus once warned us that it profits us nothing if in the end, we gain the world but lose our souls.

PRAYER

God our provider,

Teach us not only to desire what we have, but also, to share what we have with others. Keep us from the path of confusion, and from trying to monopolize wealth and happiness. Grant this world the true riches of Your love. Let Your companionship be treasured far more than jewels. Help us, to not only see our own needs, but also, the needs of our neighbors. Bless You, for You provide all that we need and more than we desire. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - December 3, 2025

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:01:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 24:23-24

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

WORDS OF HOPE

Sometimes I think we are all looking for a Messiah, someone to come in and fix everything. And we want it to happen fast. Maybe that’s why politicians who claim to have all the answers seem so popular. After all, messiahs make everything so much easier.

We can feel free to make a mess of our lives if we believe there is an easy fix. A “get out of jail, free” card. A magical solution to everything.

We can feel free to continue to sully the earth and destroy the environment, as long as we believe some outside force will magically make everything better. Isn’t that what some preachers tell us?

If I read the words of Jesus correctly, he never really says any of that, and he warns us of false Messiahs, prophets and tricksters.

He doesn’t even claim that for himself. What he offers us is a way. A way of living and behaving that can bring heaven to earth.

It is not cheap salvation, but a process that takes time and work and most of all an ethical compass that reminds us, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

PRAYER

May we remember that we are God’s hands here on earth. May the words of Jesus guide our work and our lives that we may indeed bring the kingdom of heaven to earth.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - December 2, 2025

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:00:12 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 57.1

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me; for it is in you that my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge.

WORDS OF HOPE

The Israelite King Saul was hunting to kill the young warrior David who had sought refuge and hid in a distant cave. Sometimes the world around us may be turned upside down with dangerous threats and loss. Like David, we too need a sure and safe refuge to anchor our lives and quiet the worries of our heart.

The world may offer potential solutions or mind-numbing options, but David models for us the best solution for these moments of crisis... turn to God's loving care. You may hide under the protection of God’s wings and still get scratches and a nosebleed, but you won't end up mortally wounded! In all things, give praise to God!

In I Chronicles 16:8-9, we read: "Give thanks to the Lord, call on God's name, make God’s deeds known among the people. Sing, sing praises to God." David didn’t stay hidden in that cave. After he fought the Philistines and recaptured the Ark of the Covenant, he brought it safely back to Israelite territory and ordered celebrations. This verse begins a hymn of praise to God. Since then, many official statements and hymns have been composed to praise and thank God.

But, what about your personal life experience? Is it filled with genuine thanksgiving to the Creator God? What is your personal hymn of praise? Each of us receives more blessings per hour than we can count. Do thanks flow off your tongue giving thanks and praise to our Lord? Praising God's nature and love is the basis of our spiritual life.

From ancient rabbinic literature it is said: "In the world to come, all sacrifice [and offering] will cease, but the sacrifice of thanksgiving will remain forever; equally, all confessional statements will cease, but the confession of our thanksgiving to God will remain forever." Let it be so in our lives.

PRAYER

Lord God, as I journey through daily activities, may the multitude of these divinely inspired words help me to focus on your desires for my life. Keep me safe and on the right path with you. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - December 1, 2025

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Nehemiah 8. 2-4

So, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand…And he read from it facing the square … from early morning until midday, in the presence of the women and the men and all those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood all the Levite Priests. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it, all the people stood.

WORDS OF HOPE

All of us have heard a sermon, or perhaps many sermons, that have truly transformed our lives. The Bible, especially the Hebrew Scriptures, has its share of sermons, too. This one delivered by Ezra the scribe transformed the lives of an entire nation. And all he did was read aloud the Books of Moses. The people were profoundly changed by the Word of God. Nehemiah, the first Governor of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, likely recounted this Hebrew Scripture event as a first-hand witness.

As a background to the story, the people, after many years in Babylonian captivity, had just returned to their homeland. Many of them had not had the opportunity to hear a reading of their own Holy Scriptures for decades. The young among them had never heard it. Ezra’s public reading was more in the nature of the headline act at a rock concert. A special stage had been constructed for the event and his backup vocals were a team of venerable Levites, the famous tribe of priests who could answer scripture questions on the spot.

It was a Revival even beyond the level of the legendary Billy Graham Crusades from the middle of the last century. Ezra’s formula was one of faith in the power of the word when read aloud, accurately interpreted, and applied, to inspire spiritual renewal. He was building a cohesive community with a shared commitment to follow God's laws of mutual love.

The event also reminds us that this was a time in the history of the children of Israel when their patriarchal society gave way to welcoming all women as well as young people who were old enough to understand the message. All were included. Some were shocked, saddened by their years of neglecting their own scriptures, but Ezra reminded them that the ultimate purpose of God's Words is to inform us of the salvation they bring.

Today, we have the privilege of hearing God’s message read every Sunday at church, and being a literate society, every day in our own homes if we choose. The next time you are asked to please rise for the reading of the Gospel, remember that Ezra’s congregation stood from early morning until noon to hear the reading of God’s Word. In your own life, whether in church or during those voluminous conversations on social media, do you stand for the Word of God?

PRAYER

God of Salvation, may your Words always be our own Words and may they always be words of Hope. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - November 28, 2025

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Job 38. 4-7

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

WORDS OF HOPE

I love today’s excerpt from Job, with God as the divine architect laying out the Earth as a work of art. All of us can be artists, designers of our own lives. Some of us even do it for a living. For as long as I can remember, my artistic ideas usually didn’t come to me inspired by just one or two things. Life isn’t that way. I am blessed to come up with concepts I’ve been calling “idea clusters” for the last few years.

Looking back, the first time this happened to me was probably while I was in the third grade. I had a formulaic idea of how to draw superheroes and fast cars. Superheroes dreams came out of watching multiple Saturday morning cartoons. Drawing race cars and hot rods was inspired by one called the Wacky Races. All were inspirations to create my own original concepts.

The ideas flooded my brain, often well past my bedtime, and the sketches and lists began. I had such a strong inclination for getting the ideas down because I learned quickly if I let it go, the next morning I would have forgotten those inspirations. I’m still that way. Having ideas so strong that I need to keep detailed notes to make sure I could revisit after a deadline.

In our very anthropomorphic concept of God, I’m in wonder at all the creation ideas that sprang forth, as if God wouldn’t be able to sleep until the ideas were manifested. But remember, God did rest on the Seventh Day! That’s more human and less Divine than I can get my head around.

I don’t know how our world came to be. I’ve seen clusters of asteroids and meteors form planets and moons on the science channel. Theoretically, something had to manifest in the way of natural causes for these celestial bodies to form. Genesis defines it as Divine Creation. Science suggests that the raw material was stardust.

Isn’t it humbling to imagine that we are literally made of Stardust? -Those clusters of particles that beg for a purpose from an almighty Creator. Raw materials in God’s idea

clusters. Is Genesis somehow literal in saying humanity was made from dust? God’s stardust? It sounds prophetic, doesn’t it? Is that what happened?

And here WE are…another miracle, God’s works of art in this thing called Creation. That’s probably enough to ponder for a day. What idea clusters do you have? Are you making a list?

PRAYER

Wonderous Creator, today, may I join the morning stars to sing together and shout for joy with the angels of the wonders of your Creation. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - November 27, 2025

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:00:20 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Thessalonians: 5:18

“Give thanks in all things.”

WORDS OF HOPE

This Thanksgiving Day I am grateful for holy resistance.

For all the ways we say NO to the forces of empire which seek to overwhelm us with one unjust edict after another, with one abuse of justice after another, with one attempt to silence free speech and peaceful protest after another.

I give thanks for the myriad ways of resistance.

For taking to the streets to cry NO KINGS, for cramming legislative halls with our bodies, for court filings, and for going to jail if that’s what it takes.

But for the quieter ways of resistance too.

For refusal to have our joy and our hope and our peace and our love stolen from us. Refusal to deny the holiness of our bodies, our identities, the spark of the divine in each of us. For God said, “You are good.”

I give thanks for our grief which is a resistance to a culture so enslaved to production, to busyness that we are too often asked to suppress our sorrow, pull ourselves together and get back to work.

For the grief which, even when complicated, honors the sacredness, depth, and everlasting connection of our relationships.

For attending to our grief during the holidays, in resistance to succumbing to the expectations to overextend ourselves, to not setting healthy boundaries, to being silent about our loss, to not speaking their names.

For resisting the Christian platitudes about grief we are offered—not out of intentional harm—but still harming in ignorance.

I give thanks for those who help us resist—by making space for grief traditions at our tables, by inviting us to share a memory, by helping plant a tree in our loved one’s memory, or companioning a friend on her journey to scatter ashes if she wishes, by witnessing to our love and loss (and grief needs to be witnessed), By knowing now and forever that all grief is sacred. *

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for holy resistance.

PRAYER

Holy God, Cultivate in us all the ways of holy, healing, loving resistance. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*For local support: Faith and Grief at Faithandgrief.org

The following links offer insights into grief processing:

Dr. Alan Wofelt: The Art of Cherishing During the Holidays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obimo3V6uLo

David Kessler and Michelle Martin in conversation on processing grief in a world of constant crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4cr1BU7r-0

Wednesday - November 26, 2025

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:00:47 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, a day for gratitude and peace, but the peace of God does not exist in a time or place, is not defined by how we feel at any given moment but is the companion that travels with us on a journey with two roads. One road is traveled internally, and the other, externally. If peace existed in a specific time and place, then we could not exist outside of it. If peace were defined by how we feel, then we would have no reassurance when our feelings changed.

Jesus promised to give us his peace, and at the same time, aforehand told us that we would face trials and tribulations. To understand that we can have peace with tribulation, we must first understand how the peace of God differs from human peace.

God’s gift of peace is the reassurance of God’s presence in our lives. In essence, it is because of that presence that we do indeed have peace. The companionship of the Christ, Spirit, and God’s loving hands that covers us bear fruit in us unto peace. This great love works in our lives fulfilling God’s purpose to prosper us.

It is not limited nor temporary. Even in the depths of despair, God our peace, is with us. Our helper leads us to victory over the battles we fight every day in our hearts. When winds of change blow like a hurricane all around us, our God is a mighty defense.

On the inside, we must choose every day whether to love ourselves, forgive our enemies, and often, trust in what we cannot see. God is speaking to our hearts every day and we must choose to listen or not to listen. On the outside, we face a world that with each revolution brings new trouble.

God does not always prevent trouble from happening to us but strengthens us when it does. Trails may come but God has overcome. It is because of our relationship with our Creator that we can have the peace of God. Truly, our peace never leaves, for God is everywhere.

PRAYER

God our peace,

Bless You, for being with us when we could not see You and for never letting us travel alone. Praise You, for You command the storms in the world and in our hearts to be still. By Your companionship, we are mighty conquerors. In Your loving arms, we are at peace. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - November 25, 2025

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:23 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Thessalonians 3:13

And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

WORDS OF HOPE

I often dismiss my college level classes by telling my students to “go out and do the next right thing.” It used to be that this statement was more about making good choices than actually knowing what was right. The other day, a student, who had heard me say this to the class many times, was the last to leave. They waited around to ask me, “How do I really know what is right?” The current climate of life in our country, amplified by the influence of social media, most certainly has blurred our perception of right and wrong and good and evil.

My friends have an older neighbor who fell ill and was hospitalized for several weeks. The neighbor lives alone with two dogs. My friends and other neighbors stepped up to make sure that the dogs were cared for by someone actually taking them into their home. Others maintained the yard and did a much-needed cleaning of the home’s interior so that it was welcoming upon their return. Most people would consider these as acts of care and kindness. Unfortunately, that was not the case in this situation. The recipient of these intended acts of goodness was angry at everything that had been done. “The yard didn’t need to be whacked down to dead twigs. The dogs didn’t need to be groomed. I was going to clean the house when I got home.” My student’s question about how do we really know what is right suddenly became more momentous.

As a follower of Christ, I have always believed that Jesus tells us, in Matthew 7:12, exactly what doing good looks like— “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”. Seems simple, but based on my friends’ experience, it’s not. What do we do when what we thought was good and right is not perceived as such? Or, the contrary, when what we see as not right is perceived as good? Paul’s letter to the Romans has an answer for us. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

As you go about your days, pray for guidance, be an example of peace and love to the world, and go forth and do the next right thing.

PRAYER

Loving God, guide my words and actions as I greet this new day. Grant me courage and strength to move through my day showing kindness, patience, and love to others and to myself. Teach me to always be a reflection of your goodness. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - November 24, 2025

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

WORDS OF HOPE

Within the Genesis story of Earth' s creation and the unfolding of the human experience, God saw great beauty and expanding potential for our loving relationship with the Holy One. The creative act endowed humanity with freedom of choice. The descendants of Adam and Eve often chose a lifestyle pattern which was compatible with divine hopes while many more ignored the opportunity to walk in the ways of God. Then, from the descendants of the righteous man, Abraham, God chose to demonstrate the Divine's nature and purpose toward humanity.

However, even those Israelites often failed to live according to God's desires. It was an era when so many were frightened and dismayed, but the creation was not to be abandoned by God. Creation would be redeemed. And from the family of Jesse, King David's father, would arise One who would restore humankind's relationship with God.

Throughout the centuries, we have been given hope and courage by so many hymns that remind us of that truth. "Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tenderest stem hath sprung, of Jesse's lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night… True human but very God, from sin and death God saves.” -from a 16th-century German hymn.

Do you remember this hymn by Bob McGee? "Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel, which means God with us and revealed in us. God continues to offer us this incredible, loving gift of Emmanuel to draw us into close relationship with the Holy One. God in us, God with us and God to act through us.

As Thanksgiving approaches, what a joy it is to be grateful for this gift of divine wisdom that empowers us to bless the world. What a fantastic gift which is freely offered to each of us by the loving Creator.

A THANKSGIVING SEASON PRAYER

Almighty God, we give you thanks that you will sustain and guide us through uncertain periods of life. We can place complete trust in your constant presence and love in our lives. Strengthen us to listen and respond to your voice. And may our confidence in your guidance allow us to comfort and help those around us who experience fear and need. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Friday - November 21, 2025

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 1:3–9 (Inclusive Bible)

Blessed be the God and Parent of our Savior Jesus Christ! By divine mercy, we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us.

We are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this we rejoice, even if now for a little while we have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of our faith—more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although we have not seen Jesus, we love them; and even though we do not see them now, we believe and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for we are receiving the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is World Television Day, and I find myself daydreaming about moments I never actually lived through. I’m too young to have seen The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, but I can picture it like it happened yesterday: living rooms packed with teenagers, jaws dropped, hearts racing, everyone leaning into that flickering black-and-white screen as if the entire world depended on it. I can almost hear the screams, the squeals, the wild excitement—especially when that first chord of “I Want to Hold Your Hand!” or “Twist and Shout!” hit. And then there’s the other side—the parents, muttering over their dinner, half exasperated, half secretly curious: “Turn that off! That noise is giving me a headache!”

Television has always been this magical, slightly ridiculous bridge between generations—a place where wonder, rebellion, and music collide, and grown-ups just don’t get it.

Television is a paradox, much like life itself. On the one hand, it connects us in ways nothing else can. It can make distant victories feel like our own—a last-minute touchdown, a jaw-dropping performance, a story that makes us leap from our chairs, fists pumping, hearts soaring. It can bring history into our living rooms, letting us witness suffering, joy, and beautywe might never see otherwise. It can make us feel part of something bigger than

ourselves—whether we’re watching alone in pajamas with a mug of something warm (and

maybe spilling it, because clumsiness is real), or with family and friends, sharing laughter,

commentary, and playful arguments about who’s right. And sometimes it’s as simple as curling up with someone you love and binge-watching a show late at night, finding comfort in stories that make us laugh, cry, and feel just a little less alone.

But television can also be heavy. The news—especially lately—can be relentless, a constant drum of fear, outrage, and heartbreak. I’ve felt that weight. I haven’t watched the news since the recent election. I needed a break—not to ignore the world, but to protect my heart and my spirit, to reclaim my ability to love, notice, and be present. I needed to breathe, to reconnect with life in its raw, immediate form. I needed to sit with friends and actually hear their laughter without my mind chasing the next breaking story. I needed to listen to music, write, feel a cat purring in my lap (who sometimes thinks my keyboard is a pillow), and just let my thoughts stretch and breathe. And in doing so, the ordinary became extraordinary. Television, like life, is messy. It can inspire, teach, and unite—but it can also exhaust, distract, and wound.

On this World Television Day, I honor both sides. I honor the sparks of wonder that make our hearts race, and I honor the courage it takes to step away, to turn it off, and fully step into life—into conversation, into laughter, into presence, into the little moments that remind us why we’re here. The quiet spaces between broadcasts, headlines, and scrolling feeds—that’s where life happens. That’s where music drifts from a neighbor’s window, where someone smiles at a stranger, where love—messy, patient, radical love—takes root. That’s where hope feels tangible, even in a world that’s loud, chaotic, and sometimes impossible to navigate.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of television we all need more of: the kind that teaches us to live fully, love deeply, and breathe freely, even when the world outside is screaming for our attention. Because life, at its best, doesn’t happen on a screen. It happens in the pauses, in the laughter, in the moments we choose to look up and see the world—really see it—for ourselves.

PRAYER

Holy One, thank You for the ordinary moments that turn out to be extraordinary—sunlight, laughter, warm drinks, music, and yes, even the glow of the TV. Help me know when to step back, when to rest my mind, and when to open my heart. Teach me to notice You in the stillness, in stories, in faces, and in quiet joy. May I live with love, awareness, and a little humor along the way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Reed Kirkman

Thursday - November 20, 2025

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:00:13 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 11:1

A new branch will grow from a stump of a tree; so, a new King will come from the family of Jesse. The spirit of the Lord will rest upon that King.

WORDS OF HOPE

Faithful followers of Christ are compared to the olive tree because their roots will travel far, often standing alone on rocky hills withstanding weather at its most harsh and Jesus knew this better than anyone!

Noah received an olive branch to let him know the flood had ended. Many emblems of the olive branch are used today symbolizing strength and peace.

Not that I’m comparing a Gay bar to this topic but in the 70’s when it was fearful and illegal to gather as gay women, we all met at a bar called “The Olive Branch”. It offered peace and solitude for us at times of unrest. Like other folks, we sought a peaceful place where we could freely gather without fear.

Similar to our lives, the olive trees begin to mature around 10 years old, start to peak at 50 years and continue to produce an abundance of olives even when they are hundreds of years old. When the trunk becomes large and old, branches are trimmed off, leaving what appears to be a dead stump. But the next year, fresh shoots spring from the old stump, and soon a new and vigorous growth of branches will produce an abundance of olives. Symbolically, just like that tree, our words, actions and lack thereof will continue to bear fruit for endless generations.

As Christians, we have Jewish roots, and Jesus is our Jewish Branch. When God broke down the wall separating Jews and Gentiles, it wasn’t an invitation for the Jews to become Gentiles; instead, the Gentiles were invited to join the Jews, Gods people. The olive tree can be a constant reminder that Jesus is our branch. The beautiful olive tree reminds us of God's love and expectation to consider that ALL branches are wholly connected to the Holy source of God.

PRAYER

Creator God of beginnings and end, embolden us with courage to extend an “Olive Branch” to ALL humankind, reminding us we are ALL created by the same breath of life! In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Wednesday - November 19. 2025

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:00:44 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 66:14-16

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;

your bodies[a] shall flourish like the grass,

and it shall be known that the power of the Lord is with his servants,

and his indignation is against his enemies.

For the Lord will come in fire

and his chariots in a whirlwind,[b]

to vent his anger in fury

and his rebuke in flames of fire.

For by fire will the Lord execute judgment,

and by his sword on all flesh;

and those slain by the Lord shall be many.

WORDS OF HOPE

Sounds like a lot of smiting and slaying, and it’s verses like these that assure me that the Bible is written in many voices by many people.

Isaiah was a prophet, at least according to tradition, and his book was written both before and after the Babylonian exile of the Jews, which pretty much confirms that the writings were by different people.

Much of the work is angry and wrathful, which is no surprise since the Hebrews were captives in Babylon, so I take a lot of the fire and brimstone as the hyperbole typical of prophets trying to get people to listen.

Today, those words sometimes make it hard for me to hear the message, which I believe is a reminder to stay true to our belief in God and be assured that God’s plans will come to pass, just maybe not on our time frame.

If anything, he speaks to me of patience, and that is something I can always use.

PRAYER

God of many names, may we hear the words of the prophets and understand their context as well as their overarching message. As the Prophet Isaiah wrote of the message he received from God, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it. I am making a way in the wilderness. and streams in the wasteland.”

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - November 18, 2025

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

WORDS OF HOPE

This passage and Ephesians has always been one for me that has seemed antithetical to the Christian message in many ways. Gearing up for war; gearing up for battle? I know I’ve seen churches who dress children up in cardboard versions of Roman armor labeled in a way that matches this passage.

But if I look at it more closely, I begin to realize that we’re not talking about going to battle necessarily. After all, it does say that to strap on the preparation of the gospel of peace implies going forward in a peaceful way. And except for the sword, most of these items are defensive; they protect you from what comes at you.

So why would a Christian writer, whether it is Paul or someone else, use this imagery? I think two things need to be considered. First, he’s writing to the Ephesians. Ephesus in Asia minor had always been at a point of battle. Alexander, the Great had stopped here. The Persians had come here. The Greeks had fought here, and finally the Romans had taken control. Lots of armies moving through.

So, the imagery of soldiers is one that would resonate with the Ephesians. There may not have been a time in the memory of anyone when soldiers were not around. And the Ephesians were not Jewish. So many of the Jewish images used in other letters, and the gospels would not have the same resonance as this.

But immediately following this militaristic description of evangelism, is a call for prayer. Indeed, the military description ends with the Spirit which is described as a sword, which is the word of God. And the call for prayer says to pray at all times in the Spirit. This positioning of ideas is clear. Just as all of the armies that have come through and have brought the sword to bring what they saw as the truth of their system; now Christians use the word of God to bring the truth of salvation. This would reinforce to the Ephesians; how different the new message of Jesus is from the old message of conquest and tyranny.

There is one other thing about armor. When someone is wearing armor, or even a uniform, it is obvious to everyone who they are. Not only does it show that they are prepared, protected, and serving their government. The armor of God shows that we are prepared, protected and serving God. And so, the letter writer reminds us that what people know of God is what they see in us.

PRAYER

Dear God, help us to always show ourselves as followers of your Christ. May we be prepared. May we be protected. May we, and faith, and peace go forward to show others your love and salvation. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

Monday - November 17, 2025

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:19 GMT

SCRIPTURES

Revelation 7:9

..after this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

The scene is a dimly lit bar & grill and it’s Sunday night around 9:30pm. There’s a small stage in the front corner, a large floor with table seating, a bar area with barstools, and booth seating on the far wall. In the back corner, there’s a table for two, but it’s reserved for someone very special.

We showed up way too early, which meant we got to hear the musicians on the stage jam a little before the downbeat. It also meant that from our booth, we could watch people come in. Among the first to arrive were two trans women, who grabbed a table near the bar. Then a middle-aged woman came in and started arranging tables together for a birthday celebration. There were young people whose ID showed they just turned 21 and old people who are probably up past their normal bedtime. Some people were dressed up to perhaps to impress a new friend, and others were in old t-shirts and faded jeans. There were black people, white people, Native American people… persons of every ethnicity, age, economic status, and gender identity.

This place is Bunker’s Music Bar & Grill on the North Loop in Minneapolis. And every Sunday night since 1987, a band known as Dr. Mambo’s Combo drops some wicked and unmistakable Minneapolis funk-soul. The band reflects the crowd, members being older and younger, black and white, dressed up and dressed down. Back when he was still alive, a Minneapolis native known as Prince would sit in the back corner and sometimes make his way on stage. The empty table for two in the back corner is still reserved for him.

We found ourselves at Bunker’s because the tour guide at Paisley Park, the waitress at another bar, a server at a local restaurant and my niece all said that Dr. Mambo’s Combo was not to be missed.

At one point, during a break between sets, Kas motioned to the room and said, “Churches should look like this”.

A place where anyone and everyone is welcomed and accepted, where you can shed the identity that the world puts on you and be completely yourself. You’re tied together by rhythm, cadence, and transcendence, so there are no cliques, castes, cabals, or inner circles. Of course, we’ll move over and make room for you. Of course, you can sing along to Steve Wonder or Chaka Khan or Janet Jackson.

It was shortly after Kas’ comment that I started imagining a middle eastern man in an outer robe and tunic. He was laughing with the trans women, dancing with the birthday girl, and chiming in to James Brown. I think Jesus loves a good party and adores diversity. I want to be at that party too.

PRAYER

God of all,

In Christ, we are one—

no divisions, no barriers, only love.

Open our hearts to see each person as beloved,

to honor differences and celebrate unity.

May we live as one body, guided by Your grace.

Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - November 14,2025

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

WORDS OF HOPE

Creating Space for Hope

There are times on the journey of life when we wonder about this thing called hope.

Your 17-year-old son is diagnosed with terminal melanoma.

The neighbor next door takes his own life, leaving his spouse to provide and care for their four children ages 3 to 11.

At age 62, your position at work is eliminated and there are few prospects for your area of experience.

Despair can seem more familiar than hope at times.

The writer of Lamentations declares: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for the Lord.’” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

When I was at a particularly low place in my life, I recall the words of a friend who said, “You can choose to get bitter or better.” Hope chooses the latter.

Hope is more than wishful thinking; it is an intention. We choose—we declare our intent to create space for hope to exist and to thrive.

The gifted poet, Emily Dickinson, struggled with depression most of her life and never lived to see her works published. Still, she penned the words, written in the mid 1800’s, that endure still:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

PRAYER

Holy One, may we leave space—indeed, create space—chiseling it out of rock if necessary, for your precious gift of Hope. Holy Spirit come, dwell with us and make it so! Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

DrGK.org

Thursday - November 13, 2025

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:00:09 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

WORDS OF HOPE

The morning Joyce died a dear friend came to the hospital and would stop at nothing before she wrapped me in her arms and held me while I wept. She stayed with me as I walked through the official leaving of her body, grown cold to my touch, and then followed me home to make toast—the only thing I could eat. Then she cleaned out the refrigerator so that there would be room for casserole-comfort. I know intimately the relationship of loss and kindness of which Naomi Shihab Nye speaks in her poem:

“Before you know what kindness really is/ you must lose things,/feel the future dissolve in a moment/like salt in a weakened broth./What you held in your hand,/ what you counted and carefully saved,/ all this must go so you know/how desolate the landscape can be/ between the regions of kindness.”*

How desolate a landscape indeed. We are sadly seeing in our country right now cruelty and hatred of a magnitude which still shocks and horrifies, sanctioned even at the highest corridors of power. So, this morning on World Kindness Day let us commit ourselves to an ethic of kindness.

Recently, I heard a conservative pastor say that you don’t really have to agree on anything to be kind. If we accept the truth in that assertion, kindness can become one of the paths back to each other.

Contrarily, looking at the roots of the word “unkind” are telling. “Uncynde” in Old English means “unnatural, not in accord with the regular course of nature.” Therefore, our unkindness is unnatural, not living in accord with our God given nature. In our unkindness we do not see that “no [person] is alien” to us, to paraphrase John Donne’s famous poem.**

Kindness begins when I see you, witness your struggle, discomfort, or pain, and something inside of me stirs in the heart—compassion, empathy, desire to alleviate suffering—and moves me to turn that feeling into action.

Kindness, then, whether the simplest act of opening a door for someone on a walker, comforting a young person who has been excluded at school, taking meals to our unhoused neighbors, or committing ourselves to the long faithfulness of a critically ill friend’s care, is the resilient spiritual thread that weaves us together in our humanity, helps create kindred out of strangers, brings heaven closer to earth.

To return to our poet: “Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,/you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing./You must wake up with sorrow. /You must speak to it till your voice/catches the thread of all sorrows/and you see the size of the cloth.”

When we understand the size of the fabric of world sorrow, or as Fr. Richard Rohr calls it, “the tears of things,” it’s as if we cannot do anything other than take kindness with us every day—“like a shadow or a friend” (Nye).

PRAYER

God whose steadfast loving kindness transforms our hearts, “For as long as space endures/And for as long as living beings remain/Until then may I, too, abide/To dispel the misery of the world.”*** Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*A link to Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem https://poets.org/poem/kindness

** John Donne, “No Man is an Island”

*** The quoted part of the prayer is the Dalai Lama’s.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:01:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 15.1

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

WORDS OF HOPE

Although it may not seem very spiritual, I sometimes wonder how certain things smelled back in the days of the Bible. I imagine there were lots of familiar smells such as fires burning while people cooked, anointing oils, wine, and various smells in nature, but for the ancient Bible days, I can pretty much stop there.

Recently, somebody asked on a social media page about what they remembered of things and places past while living in Arlington, Texas, the city where I grew up in my teen years. I remembered a little country store called Granny and Granddad’s. Suddenly I was taken back in time and remembering very specifically how that little store smelled when I first walked in. It was the home of old wood, candy, popcorn, and whatever hot foods they were serving that day.

My mind then wandered off to other places. Another location I remembered was Wyatt’s cafeteria where I could distinctly pick out the olfactory pleasures of fresh coffee, chocolate cake, roast beef, and brown gravy.

If three is a charm, the third place was a toy store in North Dallas called Booth’s Toys. I really don’t know how to describe those smells that were in the store; maybe nothing more than brand new boxes of games and plastic model kits. The smells contributed so much to those treasured few minutes of just walking into a magical place with no intent of doing anything but looking at all those wonderful toys.

Those smells created some kind of inspiration deep within me. Maybe it was anticipating the toys of my birthday, the plastic masks of Halloween, the holly and candy canes of Christmas; or just the idea of living in some kind of mystical fantasy paradise.

I don’t really know how to label those feelings. What matters is all of these things combined created indelible memories. I was inspired. It’s how we tell our stories, share memories, and reminisce about the days that we have delegated as ideal. Yet, all of this gives context to relate my memories to yours.

When I think of those remote people of history who wrote the texts of what we’ve come to call the Bible, I wonder how their familiar smells and dwelling places may have inspired them to write about the things they did. How would we have been affected by writing in the fresh smelling outdoor sunshine? Would we write a Psalm of praise? How about the Apostle Paul breathing damp mold smells in a tiny dark Roman jail cell or David writing while hiding in a cave from the tyrannical King Saul? Would we write about social justice?

If they could afford it, did the writers smell burning bee’s wax or favorite foods cooking nearby? Would those fragrances inspire us to write about loving the people we call our families? We’ll never really know, but I’m convinced the fragrances of their world were as influential to them as ours are to us.

PRAYER

Loving Creator, I’m thankful for the people you inspired to give us a tiny glimpse of their world. It fascinates us and influences us so much that we are still reading and interpreting their messages thousands of years later. Help me to be aware of the sights and smells of the world around me and to be conscious of my own words. Will what I say or do today be worth remembering in a hundred years, let alone next week? May your world live in my words.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - November 11, 2025

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today in the United States we observe Veterans Day and in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom, Remembrance Day. This day commemorates the end of World War I and honors the services of all military veterans over time. This day has deep meaning to me as my dad served as a Captain in the Navy.

As a child, all I knew about my dad’s job was that he “drove ships.” On a hot summer day when I was seven, I said good-bye to him like I did each day having no concept that he was leaving for a year to go to Vietnam Nam and there was a real possibility that he would not come home. By the grace of God, he did return to us…two weeks later than expected as he delayed his return to accompany the remains of my mom’s cousin who lost his life in the service of our country.

I wore two POW/MIA bracelets for five years. In 1973, when the POWs from the Vietnam Nam War were released, my dad was stationed in Hawaii. Honolulu was the first American soil that these servicemen set foot on upon their release. I was there to meet each plane as it landed at Hickam Air Force Base. One of the men whose bracelet I wore was on one of those planes. I was able to greet him, welcome him home, and give him his bracelet. I saw this soldier before his own family did. Even with this deeply moving firsthand experience, at eleven I could not fully comprehend the enormity of war and the sacrifices of these servicemen. To this day, I still have the second bracelet on our home alter and pray that one day his family will have closure.

I’m not sure it is possible for any civilian to truly grasp the experiences, commitment, and sacrifices made by our service men and women each and every day. Today, Veterans Day, is the day set aside for all of us to think and pray about this.

After twenty-six years of service on the seas, my dad retired from the Navy and was blessed to enjoy thirty more years in civilian life, though he was always called “Captain” by those who knew him best. Eleven years ago I stood by his flag-draped casket and listened to the gun volley and Taps played by a young sailor. I felt viscerally the respect being given to him. A few days later, I read the tributes written by friends and those that had served on ships with my dad. Many of them spoke of him as a strong and fair leader and a good example. Those made me proud, but did not surprise me. I also knew my dad as fair and as strong leader. The one note that has stuck with me was the one that simply said, “Thank you, Captain, for getting us home safely.”

At home, my dad never talked about the hard and the ugly side of being in the service. To this day, I have no idea the circumstances for which he was awarded The Bronze Star for heroic service. Perhaps that sailor who thanked my dad for getting him home safely does. Dad only talked to us about the places he sailed and, more importantly the people with whom he made those journeys.

As I think about my dad on this day, I realize that my way of seeing him and his service is similar to the way I have seen Jesus through my life. As I child, I sang “Jesus Loves Me” but had no concept of the depth of those words. Metaphorically, I think I was seeing Jesus also as “the driver of the ship”, and just as with my dad, I was not cognizant of all that the “job” entailed. And just as I finally understood the depth of my dad’s service as he was being laid to rest, I had a similar moment in my faith journey where I became fully aware of what the promises made by Jesus to the world and to me through his life, death, and resurrection truly mean. As I read and reread the stories of Jesus’s ministry, Jesus, like my dad, focuses on the people he meets more so than the difficulties that he encounters. Now, as I look forward, at the end I want to be able to say to Jesus, “Thank you for getting us home safely.”

On this Veterans Day and Day of Remembrance, take time to offer respect, gratitude, thanksgiving, and prayers for all veterans who are serving and have served in the armed forces and for their families.

PRAYER

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and

keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home

and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly

grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give

them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant

them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From The Book of Common Prayer 1979

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Monday - November 10, 2025

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:00:25 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 1.2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

WORDS OF HOPE

I have lived most of my life in parts of Texas where there are a lot of non-English speakers or second language English speakers. But this October was the first time I have spent a good bit of time in a country where English was barely spoken. Or maybe in previous times I was in a group and did not interact that much with the locals.

It is a very different feeling to be "the foreigner" who does not speak the language. Thankfully, you did not need to speak the language to take Uber in another country! Your travel destination is already loaded for you.

Portugal is an amazing and beautiful country. On the day our daughter had to travel to another city for an important meeting, we managed to find an American restaurant with English menus and a waitress who spoke English! They had American hamburgers and 8 ice cubes for my Coke Zero!

I am too old at 78 to learn a new complicated language. I can hang freshly washed clothes on an indoor hanging rack! I would be scared to hang them out my window, like a lot of people did. I might drop our underwear onto someone's patio!

I could learn to carry salt & pepper for my eggs with me. And I sure could learn to enjoy their coffee, but I think it might add pounds!

The only time not speaking the language was a problem was at the airport when we were leaving at 3am! We could not see where Lufthansa airline was and did not see signs. The only English-speaking person was a homeless person hanging out at the airport! He was very aggressive and hung onto Barb but got us to our check-in area. There was no security anywhere in sight, either.

I have a different perspective for people who find themselves where they do not speak the local language! I am the old momma who needs her daughter to make sure I get back correct change when I buy something using actual local currency!

Those that know me know I will post Thankfulness posts each day in November! This year my thankfulness has broadened! I have traveled to a new country and have a better understanding and care for people who cannot speak the local language! Especially in this time when their citizenship may be challenged by someone speaking a language that may not be their first language.

PRAYER

God of all people and all languages, thank you for showing me how it feels to be on the other side of the language barrier. Thank you for helping me know that you love me and people of all languages.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - November 7, 2025

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:20 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 2:8

The priests did not ask,

‘Where is the Lord?’

Those who deal with the law did not know me;

the leaders rebelled against me.

The prophets prophesied by Baal,

following worthless idols.

WORDS OF HOPE

There’s a certain kind of rejection that feels more painful, more insidious than others. It’s the kind of rejection that occurs when you pour yourself out for someone and they take advantage of your kindness. It’s that moment where you realize the love and care that you showed in their hard times was selfishly forgotten when things got better for them.

God speaks to this deep ache of being a forgotten friend. Being brought of out slavery, through the wilderness, and into a promised land of abundance, God’s people became so accustomed to comfort that they forgot to ask, “Where is the Lord?”. Their hardened hearts wandered, and they sought meaning and security in things that could not sustain them. They chased after empty things and became empty themselves. And God ached for them.

How often do we go through the motions of faith and forget to ask, “Where is the Lord in this?” In worship, service, and ministry, we can become so focused on managing outcomes, maintaining institutions, and following our own plans. And yet, God calls us to return, to be grateful, to be humble, and to trust in Her.

Jeremiah’s words caution us against finding our worth and security in our own plans—trusting in ourselves or in idols that hold no power. Yet they also extend an invitation: to seek the Lord again and again, not by clinging to the past, but through a renewed and living trust. We are called to release what cannot give life and to place our full confidence in the One who can.

Let us pray.

PRAYER

You are always faithful and loving, Lord Christ, giving gifts even and especially when we need you most. Forgive me when I forget to ask “Where are YOU in this?”. Call me back to your company. Let my work, my worship, and life be a reflection of the abundance that you have given me. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - November 6, 2025

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:00:12 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Joel 2. 28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

WORDS OF HOPE

We sleep at night not knowing the journey our soul is making. Usually, we do not remember our dreams. Sometimes, however, we remember in the morning what was happening underneath the cover of darkness we call the night. We plant seeds deep into the dirt not knowing which direction the roots grow. When we dig, we discover the countless roots that lie hidden underground spanning all directions. If there is anything the darkness of the night or the depth of the Earth has taught me, it is that sleeping things move and buried things grow. To put it another way: progress is not limited by what we can see.

Sometimes, the world seems to be in an endless night of sorrow buried in its own despair. Nevertheless, as each day passes, the next generation is coming closer and closer to inheriting this Earth. Everything that we have planted, the good and the bad, is going to bear fruit to the future. Bitter and sweet fruits are sure to grow according to what has been planted, but I trust that the sweet fruit will always be preferred over the bitter. We always desire for our children to have better, to live better. In this way, each generation that comes into its own leaves behind the promise for a better future.

It was not even a hundred years ago that a gay, black man who struggles with mental illness would not have had the simple opportunity of writing these words, but here I am, the fruit of my foremothers and forefathers. I am proof of their progress despite centuries of injustice, cruelty, and evil. Our children are the evidence that what prevails in this world are our collective hopes and dreams. Like those who came before us, we must give our children everything, all of our love, and anything worth passing onto the future. We must demonstrate our love by believing in our children, for they are the greatest part of us.

PRAYER

Spirit of hope,

It is often that we are so limited by what we can see. Despite that, allow our hopes and dreams to go beyond every barrier and obstacle set before us. Grant us the simple joy of leaving behind what we ourselves have inherited, this thing called love. We trust You, although we do not see You and we love You even when we are buried in the night. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - November 5, 2025

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:00:38 GMT

READING

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ” . . . “If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian.”

Quote attributed to Gandhi.

WORDS OF HOPE

Long before I converted to Christianity, I read a lot of Eastern philosophy. Among the books I read was “Gandhi on Christianity” a collection of essays and writings from him about the Christians he came to know.

I also read a good deal of work by Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, and scholar of comparative religion. He was a monk in the Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky. His books gave me insight into the Eastern religions and how they all seemed to have similarities.

Having come from a Jewish upbringing, a lot of what religions like Taoism, Buddhism and others taught felt surprisingly familiar in their views of the Divine and more specifically how to achieve enlightenment and live a good life.

When I examined the teachings of Jesus, I found much the same thing. It seems that great thinkers, prophets and teachers all grasped that bringing heaven to earth was not a magical thing, rather the product of contemplation followed by doing the actual work. Jesus tells us this over and over and His message resonated with me enough that I decided to follow His way.

Perhaps, if more people who professed to be Christians actually followed Jesus we would have a better world. The divisions we perceive between various religions are minor when we look at their essence.

PRAYER

Great Divine Power, help us to find a way to your love and strength to do the work to bring heaven on earth. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Monday - November 3, 2025

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Mark 6.47-51

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

WORDS OF HOPE

Following the life of Jesus, Mark continually reports the most remarkable of events in the most casual of ways. He writes in succinct news reporter terms, sharing only the facts without commentary. He would never be able to find a job on the legacy networks today. His favorite word is “immediately”, never troubling us with superfluous details. Mark just reports the news.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus notices the disciples’ difficulty with the oars. Later, he casually walks on the water to check out the situation and is about to stroll on by when he hears cries of fear from the boat. We are informed that the men are believers in ghosts, which heightens their fear, so “immediately” Jesus calms the situation down, first his friends and then the storm.

Mark concludes that the astounded boat crew does not have any spiritual understanding of who Jesus was or what had happened. Earlier that day, they had witnessed Jesus feeding thousands of hungry people from a basket of bread and fish. They readily believed that the apparition on the lake was a ghost but, were unable to accept the conspicuous fact that they were in the presence of God. Their hearts were hardened.

Are our hearts hardened these days? Are we so numbed by sensationalized news or political partisan rhetoric that it will take a storm to wake us up to the presence of God in our lives? If this story teaches us anything, it is that God is ever present, always aware, hears our cries, and then moves as God moves.

Mark, in his succinct accounts, never gives us a formula for gaining immediate access to God. He simply states that in any situation, God is always there beside us. The rest of the story is up to us. And that’s the way it is. Mark’s news reporting at its best.

PRAYER

Ever present God, you have stilled countless storms in our lives. Please help us to remember that you will always be there beside us for the next one. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - October 31, 2025

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:42 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19.14 But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'"

WORDS OF HOPE

Do you have any favorite Halloween memories? Growing up, I knew from shopping with Mom, when Halloween was approaching. We’d see all the latest costumes fresh on the racks. The big names were Batman and Superman for the boys, then Batgirl and Supergirl for the girls, if you wanted to be a superhero.

The littler kids could be Casper the ghost, or maybe a Smurf. Then there were the usual suspects of a witch, gypsy, hobo, or vampire. I remember one year I got the mask for Frankenstein’s monster; no pullover costume that would have been labeled “Universal’s Frankenstein’s Monster” just the mask so we could make the costume at home.

A few of my friends grew up in super conservative Christian homes. Their churches had Halloween parties labeled Fall Festivals and they had to dress as their favorite Bible character. No ghosts or witches allowed! They might be sent out as Jesus or maybe Samson. God knows they could have raked in the candy if they thought about calling the mummy costume Lazarus. Then they could also have trick-or-treated in the real world, too.

How sad for those kids whose parents weren’t well-versed enough in their Bible knowledge to know the Good Book talks about the Witch of Endor and the Ghost of Samuel. Even Jesus’ disciples believed in ghosts, since they first thought Jesus was one when they saw him walking on water.

Then real horror began to strike door to door trick or treaters as sick adults began to put pepper or drugs in candy, and many of the more caring churches, like Cathedral of Hope, began to sponsor Trunk or Treat and supervise the source of the candy. (And no restrictions allowing Bible character costumes only.) Halloween parking lot events are often scheduled in full daylight. Sort of takes a lot of the spooky magic away, but safety is the prime directive.

But modern kids will never know what we had back then. Halloween was cool. And most of the neighbors knew each other. There were incentives to creatively dressing up if you wanted to get the best candy! Halloween was earned and every Bit-O-Honey and Tootsie Roll you got were the fair wages of participating in ghoulish delight. Halloween adventures and costumes are still some of my best childhood memories. I hope children now will have wonderful Trunk or Treat memories as well. Anway, Happy Halloween!

PRAYER

Creator God, thank you for giving us imaginations and the incentive to use them. Thank you for opportunities to enrich the lives of children and be part in creating a few positive childhood memories. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - October 30, 2025

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:00:37 GMT

READING

An ancient Church Doxology

Glory to God our Creator, Glory to Jesus, Revealer of the

Divine, Redeemer and Lord, and Glory to God's Spirit, indwelling, enabling

and sustaining.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s meditative reading emphasizes some of the characteristics of the three

Divine manifestations of the Trinity (Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit). It makes us

more conscious of their significance whenever we say this or a similar

doxology with prayers or hymns.

In fact, if we add it at the beginnings and at the ends of our prayers each day.

It represents a wonderful way to clear our minds before we proceed with whatever

is on our minds to speak to God about in our meditative times.

It’s a way to sustain our consciousness of the Divine One at the conclusion of prayer.

Our God is indwelling, enabling and sustaining. "Amen", which means "be it so" to affirm your prayer statements, does not carry the same lasting impact of the holy which this doxology might. If we memorize these words of worship and use the doxology often, reviewing them aloud or silently, as we go through routine moments of life, it is a great way to "stay connected" to God even in busy times.

As we say this doxology of divine praise, we should be conscious of what it really is

- a hymn of praise! We should hang on to the thought of each word... savor each

word like a good piece of Godiva chocolate, and get all of the sweetness out

of it! Our God is indwelling, enabling and sustaining.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for loving and giving us your help to be examples of your love to others.

We acknowledge that you are our Maker, in whose Hand we are held, and in whose Presence we live. O God, may I obediently listen to your guiding voice. Glory to God, our Creator; Glory to Christ Jesus, Revealer of the Divine, Redeemer and Lord; Glory to the Holy Spirit, indwelling, enabling and sustaining. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be into eternity. Glory be to God! Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - October 29, 2025

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:01:10 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Exodus 2:1-10

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews ’children, ’she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes’.

So, the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages. ’So, the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and she took him as her son. She named him Moses,‘ because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’

WORDS OF HOPE

While I am normally a great lover of irony, today’s passage from Exodus and the current state of the world, have an irony that I wish I did not have to see. Many things about the passage stand out in comparison with the world today. A family seeks refuge for their young son who has been born into a situation where the authorities (Pharaoh) are trying to destroy the firstborn sons of the Hebrews, because they have become so numerous. The irony comes in that refuge was found in the very household of the Pharaoh.

As no doubt, we all know, this son of the Hebrews becomes like a son to the Pharaoh. He bears no outer characteristics that make it impossible for him to advance in the Egyptian hierarchy. Pharaoh's sister has no problem seeking out and finding the Hebrew mother of this child in order that she can suckle him.

And so today, in the Middle East for example, we find that still in that part of the world (and too many others) conflict is still happening often for much the same reason; there are too many of them there. And no doubt if we were able to look deeply into the events of those places, we would find people who, like the Pharaoh's daughter ,are taking in anyone from either side who needs help.

And if by some chance, you know someone in one of those places or anywhere in this troubled world, use the miracle of technology to greet them, to let them know you care. Perhaps that will encourage them to do the same. Perhaps that will spill over to people in places where personal communication can preserve peace.

PRAYER

Hello God. I greet You today and ask that You bring a heart for peace to everyone everywhere. May they learn that the simplest acts such as a simple greeting, can make the world You have given us a better place. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Tuesday - October 28, 2025

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 11:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 92 1-4

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands, I sing for joy.

WORDS OF HOPE

In the early 1900's in Louisiana, land was sold in square acres. That worked well except that the actual earth is curved and does not conform to traditional square measurements. Here and there a pie shaped bit of land was used to make the correction. That area was designated as "no man's land." It could be used by anyone although no one could actually own it. A family settled on one of these. They built a small house and created a meager living from selling firewood in a nearby town.

One morning after giving thanks for their food, their mother told her family that the food they were eating was the last in the house. Heavy flooding prevented them from getting into town to sell wood or buy supplies. She urged them not to worry, for God would provide what was needed. Years later, they remembered their mother singing as she washed the dishes and went about her chores.

The children kept brushing aside their fear, reminding each other that God would provide. "Mama said so." Sure enough, a little after noon, a tall man in a flat bottom boat arrived bringing a load of groceries. Mr. Miller, a farmer, explained that God told him to bring the food. The grateful family thanked him profusely as they carried the supplies inside. Mr. Miller insisted he could take no credit. He was only doing as God had bid him, and it was all God's bounty anyway.

This scenario played out again and again until the floodwaters receded. Afterward, Mr. Stafford put firewood on Mr. Miller's porch each time they carried some into town. Mr. Miller, not willing to take payment for something God told him to do, kept bringing more food from his farm. Future generations would refer to this as "The Great Reverse Feud". Mr. Stafford told his children to find ways to help the Miller family in any way they could. Though, I did not know the story then, the "feud" was resolved when I, the granddaughter of Mr. Miller, married Mr. Stafford's grandson.

Today, I am grateful for the gifts of generosity and gratitude. I believe these twin gifts are the seeds of great happiness and joy.

PRAYER

God of my Fathers and Mothers, Sisters and Brothers, May I be ever mindful of your blessings and your bounty. Grant me a caring heart and generous hands. Make my life a celebration of all that you are and all that you have given me. I love you, God. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Monday - October 27, 2025

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:00:59 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 6. 1-4

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So, the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

WORDS OF HOPE

This is an interesting passage to think about. Widows, in other words the least fortunate among them, were being overlooked because of lack of time and resources among the original 12 Disciples and their immediate followers. The factions of the Early Church began to complain that not enough was being done for the ones they favored. The leaders just were not doing their jobs! Certainly, in the modern church, no one has any cause to complain about anything. (That may be alternative truth, but it’s a nice dream.)

We haven’t changed that much in 2,000 years and some complaints, in the form of well-considered observations, can actually inspire changes for the better. In Acts, we are not aware of the degree of heat in their discussions or the tones of voice of either the Hellenistic or Hebraic Jews. But we know that the church leaders did listen to what was being said and took action to rectify the situation. Their solution: They were too busy ministering the word to wait tables and someone else should do that. Maybe they hadn’t read James’ pastoral letter that stated “true religion” was feeding the widows and orphans? (Perhaps he hadn’t written it yet.)

I’m sure Luke, who wrote Acts, had no intention of making the church leaders look bad. This is a story about the birth of volunteerism. The solution was to appoint other willing people to share the responsibilities. The early church was a family. Each member had specific gifts and the only requirement was to choose from among them ones who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. This narrative exemplifies the equal importance of every member of the Body of Christ and why it is important to choose the right person for the right job.

As the church in Acts continued to grow, the leaders did faithfully spread the Gospel, but also spent much of their time waiting countless tables, nurturing the Spiritual growth of the followers of Jesus Christ. Then as now, the most revered leaders emulated the humble behavior of the greatest Servant who was ever among us.

PRAYER

Open our eyes to see the unlimited callings available to each of us in your house. Give each of us the Spirit and Wisdom to find our own.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - October 24, 2025

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:00:41 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Timothy 3:10-15

You, however, have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance. You know the persecutions and sufferings I have endured, and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will face persecution, while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the sacred scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

United Nations Day

Today, October 24th—United Nations Day—I pause to remember that we are part of a world bigger than ourselves. The UN was formed with a vision: that nations could come together for peace, dignity, and justice. That vision reflects the heart of God—the God who created every culture, every language, every person, and delights in our diversity. God’s love has no borders. God’s love flows into every life, every community, every nation, and into places we are still learning to see.

When I read 2 Timothy 3:10-15, I hear a call to live faithfully with courage, love, patience, and endurance. Faithfulness is not easy. It asks me to speak truth when silence is safer. It calls me to stand with the marginalized even when it is risky. For me, living faithfully means being a straight ally—standing beside my LGBTQIA+ siblings: lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and nonbinary people—who too often hear the world or even the church telling them they are not enough. I choose to use my voice, my presence, and my actions to reflect God’s radical, inclusive love.

At Cathedral of Hope, I see this love lived out every week. Here, the welcome is real, the table is wide, and every person is affirmed as beloved. Every time I worship here, I am reminded that God sees everyone, and that I am called to stand with those who are pushed aside. Being an ally is active, not passive. It is showing up at Pride, amplifying voices that have been silenced, confronting prejudice in family and community, and standing up wherever injustice appears.

On this United Nations Day, I remember that God’s love does not stop at my city, my church, or my country. God is present with refugees crossing borders, with trans youth seeking safety, with queer people living where their love is criminalized, and with all who are denied dignity or justice. If God’s love truly knows no borders, neither can my discipleship. I am called to stand in solidarity locally and globally, to resist systems of oppression, and to embody justice wherever I can.

I know being an ally is a lifelong practice. I am still learning, still making mistakes, and still discovering how God is calling me to grow. I choose to listen, to act, to celebrate the joy and resilience of my LGBTQIA+ siblings, and to reflect God’s love in every word, every action, and every decision. Every day, I recommit: to live boldly, to love courageously, and to stand for justice. God’s love is bigger than any nation, border, or label—and that love calls me to courage and witness.

PRAYER

God of all nations and all people, Thank You for creating this beautiful, diverse world. Thank You for Cathedral of Hope, where I see Your radical love lived out. Thank You for calling me to stand as a straight ally, to support my LGBTQIA+ siblings, and to resist injustice. Help me to live faithfully, to speak truth courageously, and to act with patience and endurance. Strengthen me when the work feels heavy. Remind me that silence is never the answer.

May my life reflect Your radical, inclusive love—a love that knows no borders, embraces every child of God, and draws all nations, peoples, and communities into Your Kin-dom of justice, peace, and hope.

Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Reed Kirkman

Thursday - October 23, 2025

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:01:04 GMT

READING

“For the beauty of the earth,/for the beauty of the skies,/for the love which from our birth/over and around us lies./Lord of all to thee we raise/this our hymn of grateful praise.” * Folliott S. Pierpoint

WORDS OF HOPE

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! comes easily to my heart and mind and lips in these early autumn days, as a mild cool front has swept through North Texas. In summer’s lingering heat, I yearn for my favorite time of the year when temperatures drop and I can leave both doors open and the breeze flows through the house. Walking out on the deck, I stretch out my arms in greeting and want to imprint everything I see and feel. Oh My God!

---the neighborhood deer, their path curving in front of the house, headed for their morning feeding of corn. The soft eyes of does, the velvet budding antlers of young bucks, the bold yearling who looks straight at me and begins to cross the road as if to connect, then, seeing Sage, suddenly stops and returns to the fold. Oh My God!

---a large male bald eagle soaring over the house, then perching high on a pine bough, regal, watchful over his domain….OH MY GOD!

---a hummingbird flying onto the deck near me, but not as close as Jill’s spirit-bird which brushed my cheek after she died. Oh my God.

---the water lapping at the edge of the lake, waves upon waves upon waves.

---obsidian black night sky with constellations beyond naming spread across an endless vista….

---the Super Harvest Moon lingering in the morning sky tinted with dawn’s rose and bluish watercolor wash…Oh My God!

---the liquid, trusting eyes a loving dog who rolls over for a belly rub….

---the sounds of silence. oh my God.

---at Hurricane Creek, the mystic place, morning’s soft light glints through oak and pine. The energy of holy presence draws forth tears, speaks to me in song of the goodness of God, reassures me that They are here, with me, in me, and will not leave me….Oh, my God, Oh, my God….The phrase softens into tears, and then no more words, only felt, oh my God….

***

I had meant for these images, these awe bursts, to be private, mine alone, but reconsidered. Given the level of moral injury we are exposed to every day in our culture, as

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone asserts, we all need regular spiritual practices that are grounding, healing, and which return us to the source of light, goodness, love, and peace.

So here’s one of my lists—born first of simple noticings, taking in anything which stirs and opens my heart in awe or moves me to tenderness or creates a rush of gratitude, “punctuated” by an exclamation of Oh My God! Or quieter, oh my God….

This morning I invite you to enter your own awe-burst experience. It will lift your heart and remind you that the earth is filled with the glory of God.

PRAYER

I give you thanks, O God, for all the ways your Grace meets us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*link to a John Rutter version of the hymn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlBkpAm3fhw

Wednesday - October 22, 2025

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:02:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 5.10

And the God of all grace, who called you to eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

WORDS OF HOPE

In the uncertainty of our times, Hope is what the world needs. We are losing so much, so fast. For some, it is their darkest days. Paradoxically, it is when things are at their darkest, when vision shows you a picture of something horrible, that somehow, the tinniest speck of light offers hope. There is one treasure in my mind that I esteem more than anything. It is a memory of a few years ago and begins in a time much like this, in chaos.

In the summer of 2017 I was walking aimlessly down an unknown street in the middle of the night. I was looking for Jesus, but I had no idea of where to start. With only the moon and stars to guide me I walked for hours in unrecognizable neighborhoods. Some people might have considered me heartbroken, but it was more than that; I’m used to being broken. This was a boy looking for the light in a pitch-black maze. My faith was fighting harder than it ever had in looking for someone I knew very little about.

“Go home,” it was a whisper.

I submitted to the voice and I still remember feeling a strange peace the whole way home. I should have been lost, but I made it home exerting no more effort than it took to walk. After my long walk I went to sleep and had a dream that I have thought about every day since that night. Jesus was waiting for me in a beautiful garden sitting on a rock. There were flowers every one or two feet apart from each other in various colors ranging from lavender to tangerine. I walked through these flowers to the loveliest tender loving person wearing a robe of pure white.

As I got close to Him, I could actually feel His love, not just for me, but for everyone. That, in and of itself, was the greatest gift I ever remember receiving. In that love, was the hope that I had with all my heart been searching for. This love did not care about our religion, face, or shame. This love was the reason; my reason, and my hope. When I looked at His face I plainly did not understand. In a single moment, His face had the appearance of everyone and anyone you could ever imagine wearing a modest half-smile.

If you want to see hope, then look in the mirror and smile, because to me, Jesus looks like you.

PRAYER

Oh, Creator God, Holiest of Holies, your majesty cannot be put into words. Guide these hearts that gather close to You today. Let us find hope when all seems lost. Let us remember that our precious hope is inside all of Your children who were made in Your likeness. Let us remember that our hope is Your love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - October 21, 2025

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:01:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 5:7-8

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See

how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop,

patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be

patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

WORDS OF HOPE

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend about the

fact that they were feeling let down, betrayed, abandoned by God

right now. These thoughts stemmed from some things that were

perceived as being unfair in their personal life and general

unhappiness with a God that would allow our world to be so filled

with cruelty and hatred. Though I certainly understand the place

from which my friend was coming and on the surface share these

same curiosities about how God is currently moving in the world

right now, my response to this person was to say that I do believe

that God is working for our good, that God dislikes the ways of

God’s pople even less than we do right now, and that I do firmly

believe that God will sort all of these things out in divine time.

That in the end, those who can be patient and stand firm in their

faith will “inherit the world.” My friend responded almost instantly

with, “I don’t have that kind of patience.”

The voices in my head seemed a little confused by the words I

spoke. I am an idealist and idealists are not known for our

patience. The words, “God will sort all these things out in divine

time” came from my mouth in that moment, but they were not my

words. Generally, I am not a fan of things happening in God’s

time. I don’t have that kind of patience! These words were

God’s words spoken both to me and through me.

Later that evening in my own quiet meditation, this scene from

earlier in the day kept running through my head. I came to the

realization that the kind of patience that I was talking about is the

kind that is enveloped in hopeful expectation, not immediate

gratification, and is a mark of a deep faith. The willingness to

accept that God is in control, to trust God’s process and timing

and, the hardest part, to be grateful for the journey, is to stand like

the farmer and wait for the land to yield its valuable crop.

All that said, my patience and my faith ebb and flow sometimes

hour by hour. There are many moments where I feel defeated

and alone; then, these feelings are countered by moments like I

had when talking to my friend, moments where I feel strong,

empowered, resilient, and like I can persevere, endure, and hold

fast to my faith long enough to see this mess to its end, believing

without a doubt that God will take care of me. I also believe that

God will take care of you. “I remain confident of this: I will see the

goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart. and wait for the Lord.” ( from Psalm 27)

PRAYER

Patient God, Lord, please help me to live with patience

as I wait on your divine timing. Remind me that in

doing so, my faith grows stronger and my heart grows

closer to you. May your spirit continue to work in me

so that through this patience I may be a reflection of

the peace, love, and understanding that you desire for

all of your people. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St, Clare

Monday - October 20, 2025

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:00:37 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 119:105

O God, "Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path."

WORDS OF HOPE

Today's reading leads us to evaluate how we walk with God in our daily lives. We must seek God's "word" to find our life's path in harmony with the divine desire for our life. Fortunately, God has not hidden these desired principles in some dark and obscure corner of reality. This verse tells us that we have been provided a searchlight to successfully find them... "a lantern for my feet and light upon my path".

If you've ever been surrounded by the profound darkness of a moonless night while camping in the woods, you know the value that a lantern can be for your walk to the outdoor privy. It doesn't illuminate the whole scene in front of you, but it shines enough light on your feet that you don't trip on something and fall down. It will guide you through the little, moment-by-moment steps of life. This verse continues and tells us that the word (desires) of God will light up our whole path throughout life, not just step-by-step, but the whole trajectory of our life. Divine wisdom and teaching will be like airport landing lights which are seen at a distance and lead us straight ahead.

Psalm 119: 111 tells us: O God, "your decrees are my inheritance forever; truly, they are the joy of my heart." The God-given principles for a life in harmony with divine desire are a gift to the Christian, just like an inheritance in the life of a family's heir. These divine instructions become a treasure to guide a healthy and contented life of inner peace and joy. By following this guidance, an individual can live in harmony with God today, through all future tomorrow's and into an eternal presence with the Divine One.

However, like a family inheritance, the Christian can't pick and choose among the gifts (divine principles) of the inheritance and still expect to live in peaceful harmony with God. In life, walking with God means walking in step with God!

PRAYER

Lord God, may your Spirit teach me to develop a more vibrant spiritual life which is surrendered to you. And may I walk hand-in-hand with you this day. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Friday - October 17, 2025

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:00:54 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Timothy 2. 22-25

So, flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting all opponents with gentleness.

WORDS OF HOPE

Feeling any youthful passions lately? Before images of The Blue Lagoon come to mind, the author of the pastoral letter addressed to Timothy was probably not writing about teenage love in a 1980 movie. Sometimes attributed to the Apostle Paul, 2 Timothy’s wise teacher is more likely using “youthful” in the context of “immature.” Regardless of our chronological ages, none of us is immune to immature behavior occasionally.

This is true of myself anyway, because immature behavior is usually born of anger, and we live in a time when anger, outrage, and disgust are not strangers. That is the best reason to always have today’s Scripture’s brief words of advice on call in our cellphone notes, or even better, in our memories.

We live in a Nation when politics and religion are frequently discussed, sometimes combined into one package, and anyone with definite viewpoints about either is usually labeled an extremist. It’s an atmosphere that “breeds quarrels” where opponents are immediately labeled pure evil and facts are often of no consequence, producing those “foolish, ignorant controversies” Timothy is warned to avoid.

As much as most of us, and I am one, would prefer to completely avoid such confrontations, our commitment to the faith, love, and peace of Jesus should and must be voiced. But that is the point at which those “youthful passions” must be left behind in favor of an internal prayer prior to speaking:

PRAYER

Lord, remind me that I am your servant. Before I speak I. must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, and correcting my opponents with gentleness. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - October 16, 2025

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:00:59 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

WORDS OF HOPE

A person I admire and model, Albert Einstein, always dared to imagine, think out of the box and view life with openness. His innate curious nature led him to ask “why” and challenge the norm on many levels. He was indisputably brilliant yet demonstrated a deep humanitarian desire to help others. During his life he witnessed immense poverty and injustice yet genuinely believed that a conscious person of value will give more than they receive.

At a young age he challenged the rigid expectations of school where he refused to accept conventional wisdom. He famously said, “Blind respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”

I can identify with Einstein! In high school when I would ask “why” regarding an injustice I witnessed, or questioned control from religious leaders, I was told to mind my tongue. They said my life would be challenging if I continued to ask questions and think out of the box. I vowed right then to constantly think “out” of the box and always maintain the courage to ask “why.”

Einstein understood the laws of the universe though he also believed in a God beyond comprehension and valued the interplay of science and ethics. Jesus’ spoke of the divine reality that while accessible, still remained a mystery.

Einstein used his influence to advance causes beyond physics, such as speaking out against racism in the United States, advocating for peace, and guiding generations of younger scientists through his teaching. His desire to expand humanities’ understanding of the universe was never driven by his need for personal acclaim.

Jesus challenged religious authority, hypocrisy, social norms and confronted religious legalistic interpretations to stop oppression. Einstein, who vocally condemned militarism, and nationalism, believed questioning authority was more about choosing truth over tradition than rebelliousness for its own sake. He believed authority may demand obedience, but progress happens when someone dares to ask “why”.

PRAYER

God of ALL creation, as followers of Christ, let us continue to ask “why” and then be still to hear you answer. In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Wednesday - October 15, 2025

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:01:29 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 10:5-8

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁼ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

WORDS OF HOPE

When I went to Baylor University, it was still a very Southern Baptist School. I was the only Jew on campus that first year and immediately became the target for every divinity student who was working on their “witnessing” assignments. I wish I had read this passage in the New Testament back then, I could have diffused their ardent efforts by claiming I was a Samarian.

Today, as a Christian, I read this exhortation by Jesus through Jewish eyes and it is certainly not about making converts, it is about preaching and healing and doing good works. I think Jesus was not trying to build a church, but bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. That is a much bigger assignment than making converts or as the divinity students said, to “accept Jesus as my own personal savior.” I might have been more amenable to their message had they spoken about activism and benevolence, much like Jesus did.

It took finding a church where Jesus words were taken as assignments to go out and make the world a better place before I considered converting. Strangely enough, the Rabbi who taught me as a young Jew, urged me to go out and make the world better, protest wars, end inequality and seek peace and reconciliation. It’s important to remember Jesus was speaking as a Jew, not a Gentile or Samarian.

PRAYER

May we hear the words of Jesus ring in my ears as we go forth to make our world better for everyone.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - October 14, 2024

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:01:02 GMT

MODERN READING

"God is not a Christian. God is not a Jew or a Muslim or a Hindu or a Buddhist. All of those are human systems which human beings have created to try to help us walk into the mystery of God."

"I experience God as the source of life calling me to live fully, the source of love calling me to love wastefully, and the ground of being calling me to be all that I can be."

- John Shelby Spong. - A New Christianity for a New World

WORDS OF HOPE

Recently in our small groups we have discussed how in the Rob Bell book “Velvet Elvis”, the idea of there being only one path to God might not be truth. The small group in which I participate has had this discussion on and off since we first started meeting.

The late Bishop John Spong, who I sometimes referred to as a patriarch of progressive Christianity, has hit the nail in the head. God wants people live fully. God gave people life that they might live life abundantly as Jesus says in the Gospel of John. God is a mystery and we must walk towards an understanding of that mystery down a path that we can follow.

And we need to be mindful of the fact that the path is of our choosing and in many ways of our making. We create systems to help us understand the way to God. All of them are valid if they lead to God‘s love. Any of them may have ways of proceeding to God that any of us might make of use on our journey to God.

Instead of criticizing someone else’s path, perhaps we should look at it and say to ourselves that seems to be valid and say “I will try that”. So, if you find the rituals of liturgical churches bring you to God; follow that path. If in addition, you find that five specified times a day for prayer as in Islam; follow that path. And nothing and no one should tell you that you can’t do both.

The three Abrahamic religions and Buddhism and Sikhism and Hinduism all have some provision for the ones who are less fortunate, those in need, those who hurt. That part of the path is not distinct, but is a commonality that could be a place for community.

Prayer beads are used in many faith traditions; not just the Roman Catholic rosary that so many people think of when they think of praying with the string of beads. Buddhist, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and many branches of Christianity have some form of prayer beads available to them. And while they are all used somewhat differently and take different forms, there is again a common practice.

So, I invite you to take a moment and look into some of the practices of other faith traditions; even of other Christian traditions. You may find something in there that speaks to you in a way that you had not thought possible.

Search for the thing that helps you live life, fully and abundantly, as the Bible says Jesus meant for us to do. Whatever path you have chosen to follow to God, do not be so narrow-sighted that you cannot see and take advantage of the lights that others use to illuminate their path.

PRAYER

God of hope God of love, God of mercy God of light; help us on our path to reach You. Help us to understand that others may have a different path, but they too, are searching and working their way to You. And bless all of those who in peace and love are reaching out to You.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clar

Monday - October 13, 2025

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:00:49 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 26:24-25

At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable…”

WORDS OF HOPE

It is easy to be impressed with persons of quick wit and knowledge who can debate and discuss in any forum. Persons who can formulate an argument or response quickly to offer a counter to whatever is being proffered. People who have that ability are often admired for their capacity to “put someone in their place.”

In the 26th chapter of Acts, Paul stands before Governor Festus and King Agrippa, sharing his own story and the hope of resurrection. Festus interrupts: “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!”

Paul’s response is calm and confident: “I am not out of my mind… what I am saying is reasonable and true.”

Paul refuses to respond to this mocking with fear or insult. His witness is not about winning the debate but speaking the truth with grace and conviction. It’s boldness without bitterness. It’s composed and poised. Even while wearing chains in defense of his faith, Paul wishes for Agrippa the peace and knowledge that he has without the very shackles in which he himself is bound.

Christian witness is not about winning arguments. That’s a faith of mind and not of the heart. Christian witness is about speaking truth with loving grace and heartfelt conviction. And speaking that truth not only with words, but with actions of love.

We find ourselves in a time where argument and debate are honored above dialogue and conversation. Where winning is more important than relationship. How can we enter spaces with conviction and with love?

PRAYER

Lord, give us the courage of Paul—to speak with clarity, humility, and bold conviction even when others mock or misunderstand. Where we hesitate, soften our hearts. Where we shrink back, empower us. And like Paul, help us see even our hardest moments as opportunities to point others to true freedom in Christ. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - October 10, 2025

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:01:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:32- The words of the Apostle Paul

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” --The words of Jesus, The Gospel of John 13:34

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

WORDS OF HOPE

“Coming Out”

When you grow up in a family, culture and religion that doesn’t accept you as you are, you learn adaptive strategy to survive. I was 43 years old when I came out to my wife of 14 years whom I genuinely loved. She knew I struggled with depression, anger and people-pleasing, and it was obvious that she was unhappy both in our relationship and her role as a pastor’s wife. There was no “other person,” no “boyfriend” or lover, but that didn’t make it any less painful. Betrayal trauma comes in many forms.

24 years earlier, when I was in college, I met with the campus psychologist and told him I thought I was gay. He minimized my feelings—my reality—and pointed out how greatly my life would change if I were to follow that path. I didn’t speak of it again.

I knew that I was called to some type of helping profession and explored teaching, psychology, emergency medicine, and finally answered a spiritual calling to attend seminary. I sought ordination as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, the church where I had grown up and fallen in love with God.

At my first full-time appointment as pastor, I fell in love with the sister of the youth minister. She was beautiful, creative, diligent and I knew we could make a life together. We dated briefly, I asked her to marry me, and we sought premarital counseling to better prepare. I told the pastoral psychotherapist what I had only hinted about to my fiancé, that I thought I was gay. He laughed and told me that I was not gay. He said that all men sometimes have those feelings and that I needed to stay the course.

I knew that I was called to be a pastor, that I wanted a companion for life’s journey, and that I deeply desired to be a father. I was 29 when we married. Our first son was born 3 years later. A second son followed 4 years later.

I immersed myself in my work and achievement—the family and cultural ethic I had learned well. The bishop appointed me to larger multi-staff, multi-campus congregations. At times I sacrificed my family’s happiness on the altar of “pastoral ministry.” Being a “dedicated pastor” meant interrupting family vacations to officiate a funeral or tend to a staff crisis. It was an absurd ranking that went: “God first, others second, family and self last.” As if God was pleased with neglect.

I recall arriving home one Christmas day, exhausted from conducting 7 worship services in the span of 24 hours. I was greeted by an equally exhausted and irritable wife and two disappointed sons wondering why they had to wait to open their presents. Merry Christmas indeed!

I came out to myself at the same time I came out to my wife. My family, culture, and religion all said that I couldn’t be gay and be a Christian pastor so I continued to suppress my reality and identity following our divorce. That would come out sideways in angry mood swings.

Years later, I left parish ministry to open a counseling and consulting practice. I was outed to my bishop and forced to leave the United Methodist Church [which has since abolished the prohibition of homosexuality in ministry]. Welcomed by the United Church of Christ, I continue to serve as a clinical pastoral psychotherapist and guest pastor/speaker.

October 11 is National Coming Out Day. Authenticity is vital to human development and genuine relationship, and it comes at a cost. Situations and circumstances can make adaptation necessary. Homosexuality is much more than merely sexual orientation. It is about identity, creativity, empathy, connection, expression and grace. Yet, homosexuality is still a felony in some countries. What is the penalty for crushing the human spirit?

In God’s realm, which Christ proclaimed, there is room for all. May it be so.

PRAYER

Come, Holy Spirit. Open our hearts and minds to what you have been doing for millennia: Using the diversity of creation and expression to weave a rich tapestry of life and the human experience. Grant us the courage, faith, hope and love to live peaceably in the realm you’ve created. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - October 9, 2025

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:01:12 GMT

READING

“All human beings have three lives: public, private, and secret.” Elizabeth Gilbert

WORDS OF HOPE

Spoiler alert: This reflection gives away significant plot details for the film Moving On.

As a fan of “Grace and Frankie,” I gravitated to the movie Moving On, a recent Netflix offering. Claire (Jane Fonda) and Evelyn (Lily Tomlin), were college classmates who have grown apart over the years and meet again at the funeral for Joyce, a mutual friend and Evelyn’s former roommate. From the beginning tension exists with Joyce’s husband Howard (Malcolm McDowell), tension that breaks through the surface when Claire cooly tells him that now that Joyce can’t be hurt by it, she intends to kill him. Her reasons for this radical act lie buried. It is but one of the secrets in the movie--secrets which have shaped who the central characters are, impacted their intimate relationships, and directed the course of their lives.

Evelyn voices her secret early on when she makes an unscheduled tribute to Joyce at the wake and reveals that they were lovers during the end of their college days and shortly thereafter. Though both Howard and his daughter say this is a lie and mock her, Evelyn’s truth telling is a pick ax that chips away at a facade of their supposedly perfect marriage. Later, Evie tells Claire that she was married to a woman, Annette, but that she died soon after. Claire expresses a halting regret that she had not known the woman Evie loved, nor known of her sorrow.

In the film Claire seems closed down, controlled, lacking affect. Even her former husband doesn’t know why she left him many years ago. As they renew some sense of closeness during the rituals of the weekend, she can only tell Ralph (Richard Roundtree) that something bad happened that made her mute and blind to everything good in her life. But she breaks off without exposing the secret that traumatized her. Only her therapist and Evie know the source of the pain and damage which still festers decades later. As the plot unfolds, however, she confronts Howard with the devastation of his drunken, violent rape of years ago. Like many abusers, he denies the act. The deep wounding of the long-held trauma erupts in Claire’s relentlessness to hold Howard accountable and punish him.

Ten-year-old James, the grandson of one of the other residents of Evie’s assisted living facility, also holds a secret—perhaps even from himself. When his parents come to visit, he is left to his own devices and finds a safe haven with Evie who is a counter balance to the grandfather who wants to teach him how to play ball and shoot a gun and thinks there is something wrong with him. She has discerned that this child is at least a softer, artistic boy who enjoys playing dress up in Evie’s clothing. The gift of a pair of sparkly rhinestone clip-on earrings delights him, but her tender affirmations are even more affecting.

A later scene demonstrates his parents’ anger at Evie’s influence on James, but she stands her ground saying that she wishes she were his grandmother—that she would bake him cookies and tell him every day how perfect he is. Tears rimming his eyes are the only reply. Though we do not have any indication that James understands what gender fluidity is—he does know that the way he is fearfully and wonderfully made is not like the stereotypes into which his family tries to force him.

Of all the moments in the movie, this one was most poignant for me—perhaps because so many of us who are gay would have given anything for someone to hold our faces in their hands, look lovingly into our eyes, and say, “You are perfect, just as you are.” And I pray that someone will do that for our young people so that their lives do not have to be lived in the shadow of secrecy.

PRAYER

Oh God, to whom all hearts are known and from whom no secrets are hid, heal us from the assaults to our dignity and personhood and hold us in your precious love forever. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - October 8, 2025

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:01:33 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

WORDS OF HOPE

With Earth' s creation and the unfolding of the human experience, God saw great beauty and expanding potential for our loving relationship with the Holy One. The creative act endowed humanity with freedom of choice. According to the Book of Genesis, some individuals generally chose a lifestyle pattern which was compatible with divine hopes; while many more individuals ignored the opportunity to walk in the ways of God. Over many generations, disobedience and evil ways were chosen most often. From the descendants of the righteous man, Abraham, God chose to demonstrate the Divine's nature and purpose toward humanity.

However, even those Israelites often failed to live according to God's desires. It was an era when so many were frightened and dismayed. Even with the threat of increasing sin, the creation was not to be abandoned by God. Creation would be redeemed. And from the family of Jesse, King David's father, would arise One who would restore humankind's relationship with God. Throughout the centuries, we have been given hope and courage by so many hymns that remind us of that truth. "Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tenderest stem hath sprung, of Jesse's lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night. This flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True man but very God, from sin and death he saves.” -from a 16th-century German hymn.

Do you remember this hymn by Bob McGee? "Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel. God with us and revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel." God continues to offer us this incredible, loving gift of Emmanuel to save us and draw us into close relationship with the Holy One. God in us, God with us and God to act through us. Because of this gift, our relationship with God may become intimate and eternally unbreakable. It is a gift of divine wisdom and presence to empower us to bless the world. What a fantastic gift which is freely offered to each of us by the loving Creator. Only one question remains... have you received this gift, opened it up and let the light of God motivate your life?

PRAYER

Almighty God, we give you thanks that you will sustain and guide us through uncertain periods of life. We can place complete trust in your constant presence and love in our lives. Strengthen us to obediently listen and respond to your voice. And may our confidence in your guidance allow us to comfort and help those around us who experience fear and need. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - October 7, 2025

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:01:36 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:32

Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

WORDS OF HOPE

With all of the violence that humanity is inflicting upon itself in today’s world, people are confused, hurting, and angry. We are left trying to figure out how to manage our heavy hearts and go forward as followers of Christ.

The first step toward healing our hurting hearts and souls is forgiveness, something that may seem difficult at best if not near to impossible In light of all of the ugliness we are facing. The above passage from Ephesians, however, is clear that we should forgive both quickly and thoroughly. To do this, we must understand what forgiveness actually requires of us. We often hear the saying, “forgive and forget” as advice to move beyond hurt, trauma, and actions that are unjust. The forgiveness given to us by God in Christ does not ask us to forget. It asks only that we release from our hearts the desire for personal retribution. “Let go and let God.” Forgiveness does mean we endorse sinful behavior. It does not negate the natural consequences of one’s sinful actions. Forgiveness frees us from the burden of having anything to do with such consequences. That is all left to God.

Offering forgiveness also does not mean that all of our feelings of hurt or anger will disappear. We don’t have this kind of control over our feelings. Rather, forgiving others is a way for us to responsibly manage our feelings. That said, it is not necessary to apologize for having them.

Ultimately, forgiveness is love in action—love of self, love of neighbor, and love of God.

The final stanza of the anthem “All the Beauty of the Lord” by Gwyneth Walker (based on text by Frederick William Faber) sums up these thoughts:

“If we could love more simply, ever living by the Word,

Then our lives would be enlightened with the mercy and the kindness,

with the healing and forgiveness, with the sweetness and compassion,

all the beauty of the Lord, all the beauty of the Lord!”

PRAYER

God of mercy and compassion, guide my heart to that place where I can forgive quickly and thoroughly. And in so doing may I come to truly know the power and meaning of your love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - October 6, 2025

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:01:17 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 62:5

My soul, wait only upon God; for my expectation is from God

WORDS OF HOPE

Fall teaches us about expectations. In Texas every year we are filled with hope that September will bring us cooler weather (maybe lower 80's or something so we can enjoy outdoors in comfort). We long for September 22 to arrive and bring us Autumn that is longed for after our steamy summer!

Those of us who have lived in Texas all our lives know better! But Facebook has made it worse. The beautiful fall pictures cause us to long for that coolness and beauty of Autumn. But we also fail to remember the reason we live in Texas is to keep us from suffering brutal winters in those places that have beautiful autumn scenes!

Life's let downs are usually from expectations we have built up.

Expectations can lead to disappointment, but it is important to remember that this is a natural human experience. Setting realistic expectations, managing our control, and avoiding comparisons, can minimize the likelihood of disappointment and embrace the unexpected turns of life.

Expecting complete happiness is not realistic. But working on planting joy in our life and soul can sustain us when life brings circumstances that can dampen happiness.

Maybe by the end of October or in November we will have some desirable temperatures. By December we may even have some days of pretty Autumn color! But by then our expectations will probably be focused on Christmas!

So, enjoy the pictures on Facebook, if you can't take a fall leaf viewing tour! And remember why you live in the South! Try not to covet other areas’ weather!

PRAYER

God of all good things, help us to be careful of our expectations! Help us find reality in our expectations! You bless us with so many things. Help us be more thankful. Help us enjoy the part of our world where we are!

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

Friday - October 3, 2025

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:00:53 GMT

SCRIPTURE

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. - Colossians 1:9-10

WORDS OF HOPE

In a recent video chat meeting, my spouse and I met with a couple of friends over video chat to get some advice on a decision that we were considering. We did our research before the call, brought lots of questions to the forum, shared our own perspective on the situation, and then listened carefully to the information they shared and the advice they proffered.

It was a very encouraging conversation, and our two friends were very nurturing and understanding. It was not only a good source of information, but a bit of a therapy session as well. At the end of the call, one of our friends offered something we were not expecting. They offered to pray with us.

With a gentle voice and connected spirit, she prayed for us, our situation, and for protection and guidance. It had been some time since someone offered to pray for me and her voice and her prayer were a balm.

Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-12 reminds us of just how deeply intercessory prayer can shape things. A prayer that not only asks for help but asks God to transform hearts and minds, so that we can more honestly follow Her.

Just as our friend prayed for a ‘circle of protection’, Paul’s prayer reminds us that life’s challenges require God’s might, inviting His power into our daily life and the lives of those we love. It’s a reminder that strength, endurance, and joy are both empowering and sustaining.

And then our friend’s prayer pointed to gratitude. I think she knew that when we pray for others, we focus not just on needs or difficulties, but on God’s blessing and purpose.

Like Paul, her prayer was intentional – praying for us to know God’s wisdom, protection, perseverance, and joy and encouraging us to have a heart of thankfulness.

This is how we are to pray for others. Prayer is both a gift to God’s people and an invitation for God’s participation in the work of their lives.

PRAYER

A prayer from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - October 2, 2025

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:01:23 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 46. 1-3

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

WORDS OF HOPE

Dear God,

Hear us. Fear is all around and rage abounds more than mercy. These hearts have hardened. We would never love our enemies now. We are in so much pain for all that we have lost, losing more and more each and every day.

I remember a time when things were simple. We knew who our enemies were. Now, many don’t realize that we’re fighting ourselves.

Open our eyes to see wisdom again–to love our enemies without sacrificing our freedom. To resist evil but never ignore it. And to heal.

We are sick with grief and sick of grieving. We are oppressed on every side. The meals no longer satisfy when the children go hungry.

The nights are robbed of peace with the sounds of bombs exploding overseas. And joy, could we feel it without feeling ashamed, for many are falling all around us.

Wake us up Lord, bring us to our senses! We should not be fighting each other! We should not be asleep at the gates! Oh, how we lament…

Remember your people, oh God, for the flock scatters and goes its own way in want of a shepherd. Remember your people, and save us from ourselves.

Amen.

MEDITATION DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - October 1, 2025

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:01:45 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19.11-12

Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Jesus is talking about divorce and then adds this strange mention of eunuchs. A eunuch was not just a man who had been castrated, but also men who chose not to reproduce were often considered eunuchs. He speaks of them living for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and that makes me wonder if this is not an allusion to transgender people.

Anytime I dig deep into the sayings of Jesus or many of the prophets I find words that through my lens reveals a lot of queerness in the Bible. I’m not talking about condemnations but subtle affirmations that pop up when I read them closely.

So often queer peoples feel that scripture is irrelevant to their lives, and since it has been used as a weapon against queer folk it’s hardly surprising. Being queer myself I felt that way for a long time until I looked at the words again but took off the filter of the heteronormative world and read the books of what we call the Bible through my own eyes. Queer eyes.

PRAYER

God help me to shake off the filters that keep me from seeing the good and awesomeness of your creation.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - September 30, 2025

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:01:10 GMT

READING

Shine through me and be so in me, that every soul with whom I come into contact may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see not me but only you, Jesus, and give you glory.

-John Cardinal Newman

WORDS OF HOPE

What does being a witness for Christ mean to you? The Christian witness is not egocentric, and she does not wish to magnify herself by the action of her witness. Rather, she hopes that the loving care with which Christ has graced her life, will be evident to the needy person and provide an experience of God's loving presence to others. As a Christian (Christ in and through us), our witness should reflect the Christ presence which blesses our life. The more we allow God's Spirit to fill and enliven our lives the more clearly God will be reflected in us. When others experience your love and care, may they see less of you as a person, but more of Christ Jesus reflected in your act of witness.

Cardinal Newman also says, "Stay within me and then I will begin to shine as you shine; so, to share as to be a light to others, and that light, O Jesus, will be all from you. It will be you shining on others through me. As we meditate on that part of the prayer we can understand that it speaks about the nature of our witness which allows God's loving presence to be reflected through us. Let’s concentrate on the phrase: "stay within me". A bold and effective Christian witness must be consistent!

The light from a lighthouse is not turned on intermittently nor does its brightness vary. It is consistent in its brightness and motion. Its electric power source stays on! We best witness for Christ if we "keep the power on". That requires us to keep "plugged in" and fully aware of God's voice and desires for all of our life. We must be attentive to God's presence in the big events of life and the little, mundane things of our daily routine interactions. This is what God desires of us. The Spirit wants to stay with us and empower us to reflect the Divine in our witness to others. May we keep the Christ light shining consistently in our lives today!

PRAYER

Sweet Jesus,

Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may be only a radiance of your life. It will be you shining on others through me.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - September 29, 2025

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:00:58 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 3.20

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s reading from Revelation is a refreshing pause in a Book filled with visions of Seven Headed dragons, scorpion women, a lion with multiple serpent tails, Prophets that look like toads, punishments, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and pits of fire. Yet, the midst of it all, the writer takes a break and suddenly sees Jesus saying, “Lets have brunch and be friends.”

The writer is called John of Patmos and is certainly not the same John to whom the Gospel is attributed. Their language and style of writing don’t begin to match, and the Gospel writer John is often called the Apostle of Love, the one Jesus declared he loved best. The Book has been known by several names, the longest being “The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Seven Churches of Asia” and the “Apocalypse of John” being the shortest.

It is seen by many as the center of their eschatology (a theory of the end of things or the End Times). If someone simply calls it Revelations (plural) their theology considers it to have been written to reveal happenings directly affecting us in the current era.

I’m not sure what the Book is all about. Neither was Martin Luther, who simply discarded the entire Book from his Bible. I do know it has been used for centuries to scare quite a few people into believing they were the one-and-only End Times Generation who had better shape up or feel the sting of the scorpion women. I also know it was written to seven churches in Asia, not to any other generation, including ours. They probably actually understood the symbolism of those scary monsters.

We have our own share of scary monsters these days and the Book of Revelation does still speak to us in one way. No matter what degrees of trials and troubles we may be facing, one promise remains constant. Jesus is always there, knocking at the door, inviting us to be friends, offering a snack and reminding us there is always hope even when we fear the monsters will never go away. That is the authentic Revelation of true comfort.

PRAYER

Thank you for Jesus whose Gospel of Love helped his generation interpret the writings of the Ancient Hebrews and whose everlasting friendship is always at the door to guide us today. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Friday - September 26, 2025

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:01:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 4.10

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

WORDS OF HOPE

I’m a big fan of Elton John. I began listening to him early in his career, not realizing until much later, how tumultuous his life was on so many levels in the early 70s. He dealt with coming out as a gay man, family life, music business, and all the random, unexpected things connected to following his dreams. As most are aware, he is a prolific songwriter and singer. I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert in the late 90s. This morning one song of his auto-played for me on YouTube; one of my favorites, Tiny Dancer. The lyrics and context were timely.

The video itself related to many things but what struck me was my own interpretation of the phrase “tiny dancer in your hands,” which, to me, is about responsibility we adults have to the children of the world. As adults we are responsible for the things we say and do, especially focusing on what our children witnessed in all of us.

Jim Henson was often quoted saying, “….the world doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to the children, we only borrow it.” which is so true. Those tiny, inspired dancers, artists, scientists, doctors, environmental protectors, and yes, even those tiny ones soon to be politicians… In all of them lies stewardship and change. Let’ ask ourselves, what is it that we imbue to them as their adult counterparts? What is it that we set as examples for how we interact with them, how we adults manage our every-day lives, and invariably create for their world?

Whether I am a “kid person” or not; whether we are given the gift of teaching and understanding them, we have the job of demonstrating life; all with the ups and downs, better or worse. I invite you now to remember yourself at five years old; then 12 years old, perhaps even at 16 or 17 years. What would you have had adults do around you that made your world better?

In his endless enterprises and innovations, Walt Disney formulated ideas of how to create situations in which both parents and children could enjoy and experience growth together. His primary goal was to allow us to get in touch with the child within all of us. I’m sure you could make your own list of what that means to you. Then, take a good look at what children are facing today. How do we connect with them in the NOW? Those tiny dancers are counting on each of us. They are watching us closely and they don’t care whether we are their parents or not. We are all their teachers.

PRAYER

Help us to remember that one of Jesus’ followers most frequent titles of respect for him was “teacher”. May we revere and honor that title in our daily encounters with the tiny dancers in our lives.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - September 25, 2025

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:01:19 GMT

READING

“The greatest spiritual practice isn't yoga, praying the hours, or living in intentional poverty, although these are beautiful in their own way. The greatest spiritual practice is just showing up, being present to what is real, to what is actually happening.”

Bishop Allan Bjornberg

WORDS OF HOPE

A recent sermon by Nadia Bolz-Weber posted on substack is titled “Another Expletive Deleted Day of Violence in America.” (except the expletive wasn’t deleted!) In it she centers Mary Magdalene as one who shows up—even when the institutional violence of empire tortures the one who had freed her from her inner “demons” and showed her a love beyond imagining. Though it must have been devastating, she is fully present at the foot of the cross and mirrors that love back to Jesus, her heart broken open. Days later, “when it was still dark,” she shows up in hope at the tomb and meets the resurrected Christ.

Showing up comes in many forms. It can be as simple as caring for your grandchildren when their parents are drooping with exhaustion. Or it could be participating in one of our meal programs, praying with others, traveling to Austin to be a voice against injustices to LGBTQ+ people, gathering with others for Life group meetings to grow our faith, and marching against the creeping authoritarianism of our times. A Sunday commitment to worship is yet another important practice.

Sometimes showing up can feel necessary to our survival and wellness—getting out of bed to go to an AA meeting, summoning the courage to open a dark door to face child abuse in therapy, speaking the truth in love at a time of conflict in a relationship. Showing up can even mean summoning the courage to face the future after your beloved has died.

One of the hardest parts of showing up is facing the painful reality of a loved one’s condition but being there anyway: sitting by the side of your partner in a chemo lab, again and again, standing by a young adult child whose judgment lapse has been costly, faithfully visiting a parent who is slipping into the shadows of dementia.

Sometimes showing up means sitting down, as indicated in a powerful eulogy turned prophetic message by Bishop William Barber for Maj. General Joseph O’Neil. O’Neil was one of the Greensboro Four whose lunch counter sit ins catalyzed the Southern Freedom movement in 1960. Barber issued the call for direct action, such as peacefully sitting in at legislators’ offices—and being arrested if needed, in these dire times.

How will you show up in this time which desperately needs you?

PRAYER

In times when we want to retreat into ourselves, O God, show us the way to show up in the name of Jesus, the one who healed, taught, loved, and spoke truth to power, even when it meant facing death on the cross. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - September 24, 2025

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:02:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 4:17, 19, 21

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.... We love because God first loved us... The commandment we have is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters.

WORDS OF HOPE

When chaos surrounds us. We need not be overwhelmed, confused, or helpless. We just have to keep finding more ways to love others, especially the "others" among us. Whether someone voted differently than us, or someone is a different race or someone worships in another church, our challenge is the same. We must find more ways to love, and we do this by finding ways to bless them with the same generosity that God has blessed us.

There is a lot in the news about trans people lately. Some of us have had Transgender sisters and brothers who have lost their lives because they were misunderstood and hated. As we recall their names, I remember their courage in sharing their truth even though it was met with hostility and hatred.

It is important to remember that while their deaths were caused by one or more persons who "othered" them, they were also loved and are now mourned. I wish to offer comfort to their loved ones. I also ask you to join me in loving and blessing our transgender siblings. They are not "others". They are God's beloved children.

The following poem was written by Jeanne Medina to honor a member of Cathedral of Hope. With permission from the author and recipient, I offer it to honor our entire transgender community.

Revealed

Looking Eastward

I see your gentle

Blue-grey feathers

laying low across the sky.

Then,

the Earth moved!

The still-hidden sun

revealed

your full glory!

Blue-grey feathers

turn Powerful Pink

before my eyes,

and dance

upon the horizon

of this

New day!

PRAYER

Dear God, please help us love one another in Jesus's name. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Tuesday - September 23, 2025

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:01:57 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 from The Message

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

WORDS OF HOPE

I first read the above passage in several more “traditional” translations of the Bible; my initial reaction to it was not a positive one. The following is from the translation in New International Version : “To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.”

As I reflected on my personal reaction to these words, I realized that there were two things that immediately bothered me. First, I don’t like the use of the word “win” when talking about new followers being brought into Christ’s fold. And secondly, in the NIV translation, Paul’s thoughts and actions sound inauthentic, like someone I could not trust to be who and what they claim to be. Knowing that this was not the intended message of this passage, I sought out means to help my understanding.

I found the clarification that I needed in the translation in The Message . The tone in these words feels totally different to me. Now Paul is portrayed as a servant, in the same way Jesus is a servant, rather than one who is seeking to “win” or dominate people. It is also clear that he maintains his values as a Christ-follower at all times, but seeks to understand the experiences and points of view of those whose lives were different than his. Now I read this passage as an example of an empathetic Paul.

The word empathy was first used in 1909 by the psychologist Edward Titchener, so it is no surprise that the word itself is not biblical, but empathy is a foundational principle throughout the Bible. God’s character and Jesus’s ministry are living examples of empathy. “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) is the shortest passage in the Bible yet it carries with it the deep understanding that Jesus had for the emotions of Mary and Martha as they grieved the death of their brother, Lazarus. It is this kind of love and care for all of our neighbors that we as Christ-followers are commanded to emulate.

In current times, empathy is seen by some to be a weakness rather than a holy attribute. Empathy requires that we allow ourselves to feel the pain and sorrow of others, but it also gifts us with sharing joy by the same means. Empathy asks us to try to understand thoughts and experiences for which we have no context. Empathy calls us to listen to everyone. Empathy demands that we look for the face of God in all people. Empathy is something that we each promise to practice when we take our baptismal vows and become followers of Christ.

That said, practicing empathy is hard. It makes us vulnerable. It makes us hurt. It makes us sad. It removes the option of dehumanizing individuals and groups so that we don’t have to acknowledge or listen to them. It can make us feel weak. Empathy is also evidence of being a Christ-follower.

PRAYER

God of understanding, Open my heart to the pain and joy of others.

Help me to listen, not just with my ears, but with a heart that seeks to understand. Let my empathy be not only emotion, but action. May it guide my hands, shape my choices, and build bridges where there now are walls. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - September 22. 2025

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:01:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 119:111

O God, "your decrees are my inheritance forever; truly, they are the joy of my heart."

WORDS OF HOPE

Have you been able to spend any time in solitude lately? Not solitude as a state of loneliness or abandoning our community, but as deliberate times we set aside to be still and to listen for the voice of God. Cole Arthur Riley, in her book, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us, has this to say about Solitude:

“Solitude can be a profound teacher. It can teach us how to hold ourselves—how to affirm ourselves and listen. How much is the sound of your own voice worth? And yet, we were made for belonging. Maybe you’ve heard it said that you need to learn how to be alone before you can be with someone. I say you have to learn how to be with and part of something in order to know how to be alone. I think it is only out of a deep anchoring in community that one can be free to explore the solitary.”

In my times of solitude, I contemplate on the God-given principles for a life in harmony with the divine desires or decrees that are a gift to the Christian. It’s just like an inheritance in the life of a family's heir. These divine instructions become a treasure to guide a healthy and contented life of inner peace and joy. By listening for this guidance, an individual can live in harmony with God today, through all future tomorrow's and into an eternal presence with the Divine One.

However, like a family inheritance, a person can't accept it one day, reject it the next, and expect be a happy heir to the family's treasures. Likewise, the Christian can't pick and choose among the gifts of the inheritance and still expect to live in peaceful harmony with God. We need to live a consistent lifestyle which is willing to be molded by God’s desire to change our words and actions. In life, walking with God means walking in step with God! Who knows? In solitude, you might even find your calling.

Cole Arthur Riley concludes: “Some callings come to you only in memory, some come only on the mouth of someone you trust. Some don’t need to be heard in order to be lived. And not all calls come from outside of you.”

PRAYER

Ever present God, may we always be alert and ready to hear your voice, from times of solitude, from our own intuitions, or from the voices of our trusted community. In Jesus’ guidance,Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - September 19, 2025

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:01:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 4. 11-12

Brothers and sisters do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who can save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

WORDS OF HOPE

Today the daily lectionary reading is about judging each other. It is written by James, who is widely believed to be one of Jesus’ brothers. He would certainly have been familiar with the results of gossip and slander. This is a classic passage on the subject in the first century, a tumultuous time for the faith community. The church first started compiling these daily Bible readings in the 7th century, but has human nature changed since that time? What would they know about human nature today?

After a quick look at social media lately, I would say they knew quite a lot. I don’t know if people in those days made self-improvement lists like we often see on Facebook but refraining from constantly judging one another should be high on most of our lists. The writer of the Book of James gets to the point right away, calling our constant judgment of one another slander, which has become an expected behavior pattern among politicians and news commentators.

Whether our behavior is focused politically or not, judgment of our neighbors has become a common practice in our society and James reminds us that judging against our sisters and brothers is judging against the law itself. To what law is he referring? Many scholars believe it is his own brother’s law that he sees being broken. What was Jesus’ only commandment to us? -To love one another…and in doing so, to love God and ourselves.

We often read social media posts routinely containing highly inflammatory remarks, turning private disputes into a public broadcasts and personal name-calling into published slander. The situations could easily become expensive and time-wasting court cases simply because of forgetting the simply stated law to love one another.

Obviously, human nature has not changed since the first century, but the internet has afforded us the opportunity to spread our slanders much quicker. It’s easy to judge the evils of social media, but the evil lies in its misuse. Resolving not to judge, on or offline, is a much more productive use of our time, which can be better spent reflecting on the law of James’ brother.

PRAYER

Thank you for the gifts of the technology that can be the blessings or the curses on our lives. May we be guided by your love that always dwells within us. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - September 18, 2025

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:01:23 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 1. 12-14

…in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

WORDS OF HOPE

Can you recall standing on the playground, lined up with all the other kids from your class, waiting for some “appointed” captain to pick their teams? It didn’t even matter what game we were going to play, most stood anxiously as the choosing began. I know I was mumbling under my breath “pick me, pick me” because no one wanted to be an afterthought or picked last.

The good news, we are not an afterthought in the mind of God who says, “I guess you will have to do, you’re not my first choice, but there you go…” Instead, it is the exact opposite.

Before the beginning of the world God chose us to be in relationship. And every act of God since then is to remind us we were “predestined ” to be adopted as children, to be welcomed into Gods family.

We are part of the purposes, the plans of God, and we can feel joyful, confident and blessed knowing we were chosen because we are loved.

As the church song says: “Count your blessings name them one by one and you will be amazed at what the Lord has done.”

Paul counts his blessings and rejoices knowing he was chosen by God, adopted into the whole family, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just by being born, we are all uniquely stamped with fingerprints that no else ever has been nor ever will be given.

PRAYER

God of all creation, as we count our blessings and name them out loud giving you the glory, let us remember to share our joy with ALL humankind. In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Wednesday - September 17, 2025

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:01:17 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 94: 1-3

Lord, you God of vengeance,

you God of vengeance, shine forth!

Rise up, O judge of the earth;

give to the proud what they deserve!

O Lord, how long shall the wicked,

how long shall the wicked exult?

WORDS OF HOPE

The Psalms are song lyrics. They were meant to be sung I believe and as such they often express the frustration and anguish of the composer. In this case it is frustration, and one whose words I could echo almost on a daily basis.

Seems the wicked are indeed exult, parading their misdeeds and boasting and blustery. It is nothing new, apparently, since these words are thousands of years old. The good news is that most people who deal in spinning evil end up being caught in their own web. The psalmist would consider that Divine retribution, since their vision of God was very much black and white.

My view of the Divine is much less one of a vengeful God who rules by might, but a loving power that persuades through example. Sometimes that persuasion takes longer than I would like, but that timetable is not under my control.

PRAYER

God of love and serenity, grant me patience and grace, that I may carry your love forth by example and not succumb to vengeful acts.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - September 16, 2025

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:01:30 GMT

READING

"Many proposals have been made to us to adopt your laws, your religion, your manners and your customs. We would be better pleased with beholding the good effects of these doctrines in your own practices, than with hearing you talk about them".

~Old Tassel, Chief of the Tsalagi (Cherokee)

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is the Trail of Tears Remembrance Day. If you don't recall from the history class somewhere, the Trail of Tears was at a time when the United States forcibly removed the Native American Cherokee peoples from their homeland in the southeastern part of the United States. They were moved from Georgia and other parts of the South to reservations in Oklahoma. This was prompted by Americans who wanted land and the discovery of gold in Georgia.

The quote above sums up for me the entirety of Christian Nationalism from the viewpoint of its victims. The early 19th century was the birthplace of Manifest Destiny, the belief that descendants of European Christians, mostly Protestant, assuredly white, were given the right by God to spread their superior culture, religion, and way of life from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

They further believed that the indigenous tribes they encountered would be better served (as would their own economy) by adopting the ways of the immigrant Europeans.

Clearly Chief Tassel has been exposed to this concept. And the interesting thing to me is not that he objects to the culture, or the religion, or the way of life. His objection comes from someone trying to impose those things on him and his people when they themselves do not evidence that they live with any of those things either. Basically, he says we don’t see where they’re doing you any good; so why would we expect these things to do us any good?

Bringing in this concept forward, we need to stop and think about two things. We live at a time when many people are trying to force upon us certain things that they feel are necessary for all of us to be “saved”. And yet many of those folks do not live in a manner that shows that they follow those things. To me the most available example is the large number of people who insist that the 10 Commandments, be part of our education system when they barely follow any one of them with any diligence or faith.

But the other thing we need to stop and consider whether we, and believe me when I say we includes me, live up to the lifestyle that we profess. We say we are followers of Christ. We need to be sure that we live into what it is we say. Or like Chief Tassel, the people we are trying to introduce to a Christ-like life who question our sincerity.

So as you go through your day think of the words of Saint Francis who is reputed to have said “preach often, sometimes use words”.

PRAYER

God of all people, help me be an example of Your love. Give me the grace to be an example of the Christ in this world so that others might see You in all I do. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - September 15, 2025

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:00:34 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 17: 4-5

As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

READING

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 2

WORDS OF HOPE

A few months ago, Kasandra and I saw the musical & Juliet. It’s a vibrant pop musical that reimagines Shakespeare's tragic heroine Juliet choosing to live after Romeo's death, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

The musical keeps the sentiment of ‘a rose by any other name’, but it expands on this idea to show that, in reality, names and societal labels do have power and can significantly influence identity, relationships, and outcomes. Names are not superficial but deeply embedded in our society and are difficult to overcome.

Perhaps the bravest person I know is my non-binary child Orion. In a culture where trans people are vilified and their identity has been officially rejected by the State, they shine like a star. They continue their Library Science studies, run a produce department at a grocery store, care for their cat Toothless, and love people unconditionally. They embrace themselves and care deeply for others. Yes, I am an extremely proud papa.

There’s a Biblical embracing of name changes as being sacred. The name changes often accompany transitions in identity and calling. This aligns powerfully with queer experiences of gender and identity affirmation. Abram becomes Abraham and Sarai becomes Sarah. Jesus renames Simon to be Peter. Saul becomes Paul. These moments resonate with people who have wrestled with their identity and emerged with new, truer names — not as rejection of the past, but as holy affirmation of who they are becoming.

From a queer biblical lens, changing your name is a sacred act of becoming, affirming the divine image within. Mirroring biblical transformations, changing one’s name becomes a testimony of resilience and truth. It says: “I have wrestled, I have survived, I have seen God, and I will be who I will be.”

Last month, my niece Abigael wrote this in her Facebook feed: Tomorrow morning, I'm participating in the Rite of Blessing a New Identity at St. John's. The transformation that God has done in me since moving to Minnesota 6 years is too amazing to put in words. I am so grateful for the parts each of you have played in my life. The Holy Spirit is wild and free, but when you chase after Her with your whole self, all fear and falseness fall away, and all that remains is love.

In that transformation of name and identity, in that affirmation of becoming, the rose might smell even sweeter.

PRAYER

Blessed are You, Source of Becoming, who calls us by our true names, even before we speak them aloud. Like Jacob becoming Israel, like Sarai becoming Sarah, like You, O God, who said, “I will be who I will be” — we rise into our name with courage, with pride, and with You beside me.
Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - September 12 , 2025

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:01:18 GMT

SCRIPTURE

The Revelation of John 21:1-5

“See, the home of God is among mortals.

God will dwell with them;

they will be God’s people,

and God will be with them and be their God;

God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”

WORDS OF HOPE

The End or the Beginning?

What is going on in your life now? Do you see yourself at a particular place, stage or phase of your life? Is it a time of beginnings?

Beginnings can happen repeatedly. Beginnings occur whether we are young or old or in the middle of something or some time. Even the word “begin” starts with the word “beg” which evokes a plea or asks for something that is not yet. Beginnings are opportunities.

Beginnings are opportunities to start something, give something, receive something, create something, invite something or someone into being. Notably, the word beginning is often associated with the word “new,” which evokes a freshness and youthful energy that brings anticipation of what is yet to be.

Anyone can turn the page and write the words, “The End.” It takes intention, creativity, and effort to turn the page and write a new chapter. Beyond that, it requires sacrifice and the desire to bring positive change in the world to make that chapter not just another chapter, but one that becomes a legacy.

When a faith community that had been established generations ago found itself dwindling down to only a handful of people, a choice had to be made. The congregation could do nothing until the last remnant of folks died or were no longer able to sustain what they collectively had. They could choose to close and write the words, “The End,” on their history.

Instead, they chose to rethink their ending to make it a legacy, not merely for their own benefit but potentially for generations to come.

They gifted their large and aging building to a much larger congregation in need of space with which to launch a satellite community. This larger church had the financial resources to make the necessary repairs and refurbishments the building so desperately needed. Just over a year later, from the ashes of a declining congregation, rose an inviting new home for new generations of people seeking to establish spiritual roots and holy connections.

Followers of Jesus are called to embody hope, to practice resurrection of spirit and community, to live out redemptive Grace that sees new beginnings in endings and works to make it happen. We can do it with our own lives. We can do it collectively as a group or community, small or large.

Transformation starts with divine connection. It is guided and sustained by the fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit. Transformation moves forward by the compelling faith that love and perseverance can outlast despair.

PRAYER

Come, Holy Spirit, and freshen our lives with new beginnings and the vision, faith, hope, love and connections to make it so. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - September 11, 2025

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:01:01 GMT

READING (LYRICS)

Kiss today goodbye,

The sweetness and the sorrow.

Wish me luck, the same to you.

But I can't regret

What I did for love, what I did for love.

Look my eyes are dry.

The gift was ours to borrow.

It's as if we always knew,

And I won't forget what I did for love,

What I did for love.

Gone,

Love is never gone.

As we travel on,

Love's what we'll remember.

Kiss today goodbye,

And point me toward tomorrow.

We did what we had to do.

Won't forget, can't regret

What I did for

Love….

-Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban*

WORDS OF HOPE

The day after Labor Day a post by Barbara Brown Taylor appeared in my inbox—always inspiring to read. One topic she touches upon is how we stratify people in hierarchies by their answer to the question: What do you do for a living? There’s quite a different reaction to “corporate litigator” and “septic pump truck driver.” Then she quips that she’s going to say “taxidermist” the next time she’s asked.

She tells a story of traveling in an Eastern European country and talking with a person whose “body lit up” when he talked about the boy’s soccer team he coached. He shared that he liked winning, but even more “watching boys learn to play to each other’s strengths instead of relying solely on their own.” When Taylor said, “What a great job,” he said, “Oh, no, my job is on an assembly line. This I do for love.”

We hear so much talk today about vocation and finding our calling, but too often what we love can’t provide a sustainable living. We can, however, follow our hearts as an avocation. A friend’s son loved acting and musical theater with a passion that lit him up inside and filled him with joy. While he was able to engage in theater in high school and college, he couldn’t make a living in acting. But he did the next best thing. He got connected with local theater troupes and put his whole self into any part he played. It’s what he did for love.

Upon reading Taylor’s reflection, my head was filled with the song “What I Did for Love” from “Chorus Line” whose lyrics are above. I would invite you this morning to ask yourself what it is that you do for love? Gardening, walking dogs, gazing at the stars, cooking, playing cornhole with friends?

Perhaps we could ask the question a different way as well: What do you do for love of God? Maybe like me you can remember a time in your life when, in the fullness of gratitude and with an aching yearning in your heart, you wanted nothing more than to serve God—using your time and gifts in feeding the homeless or teaching children or praising God in music. Not a “responsibility” but something so dear to you that when you had to miss doing it, there was a hole in your week.

If for whatever reason there is nothing right now that you do for love or for love of God, I’d encourage you to pray about it and to imagine yourself “following your bliss” as Joseph Campbell put it. And then take the steps to get involved in the thing you can’t forget, won’t regret doing for love.

PRAYER

“The gifts are ours to borrow,” O God, given by you in love. May we sing “what I did for love” with our very lives. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*Link to the song sung by Stephanie J. Block https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XxXzj332v8

Wednesday - September 10, 2025

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:01:17 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 24.1

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

WORDS OF HOPE

A World of Mirrors

Is it a blessing or a curse that we know what we look like? I am thinking of the animal world, specifically the three growing kittens we feed on the porch. (The Tabby Twins and Tipper) I know they can see their own reflections as they gaze into the glass door. Do they know it is themselves? Do they care? I doubt it.

Like the rest of the animal world, they need no mirror. They know an empty stomach. They know needing to fill it. They know cold and warmth. They are not consumed by the inevitability of sickness, age, or death.

I pondered a Bible verse in Genesis about God saying we have created humans in “our own image” giving the reader a riddle about who “they” are after whom we are created. We know how we look obsessively; our own image. We further that notion by wanting to have less weight or more weight, more this, less that. When we look in the mirror, do we look like God?

The passage urges us to us ask the question, what does God look like? I know what I’ve been told; all about God in human form being Jesus. I don’t think I look anything like Jesus. But analyzing further, could God be part human and part animal like those ancient Egyptian deities, the ones who concentrated on what they did, not how they looked?

In the human world of our self-imposed drive to look younger, have more energy, and, by every means, attempt to defeat death in the process, we might look in that mirror and ask What doesn’t look like God? Rather than How does God look, we should be asking Who is God? I could simplify the whole thing by saying God is Love, the love that surrounds the humans with their questions and the kittens with their Kibbles.

Every day at feeding times, I know how blessed the kittens are to not have to ask, or to know, but only to be. Maybe that’s what the Almighty meant in saying “Be still and know that I am God.”

PRAYER

God of our Creation, as we look in our mirrors, may we see your love of the world and all that is in it reflected in our eyes. May the kittens of our lives always teach us the joy of being a part of it. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - September 9, 2025

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:01:16 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 139:17-19 from The Message

Your thoughts - how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! I couldn't even begin to count them - any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! And you murderers - out of here!

WORDS OF HOPE

A few weeks ago, I celebrated my fifty-ninth first day of school. I began kindergarten at age four and have been in a classroom in some capacity or another every year since then. I spent many years as a student before becoming a professor. I also raised two girls who were educated in both private and public schools; so, I have experienced education from every side of the desk. It goes without saying that much has changed in education during these past fifty-nine years. I’m not sure that the majority of it has been for the better.

Today marks the observance of International Day to Protect Education from Attack. “ The day was established by a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly, calling on UNESCO and UNICEF to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict. The resolution proclaiming the Day was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62 countries. The General Assembly resolution affirms that governments have the primary responsibility to provide protection and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels to all learners, especially those in vulnerable situations. It further emphasizes the need to intensify efforts and increase funding to promote safe and protective school environments in humanitarian emergencies by taking all feasible measures to protect schools, learners and educational personnel from attack, refrain from actions that impede children’s access to education, and facilitate access to education in situations of armed conflict.”

This declaration was written to address education primarily in war-stricken areas. Sadly, it is needed as well in schools that are not in declared war zones.

One of the things that has changed the most during my life in education is that students and teachers no longer feel safe at school. Passing a math or spelling test is far less worrisome than will everyone make it home safely at the end of the school day. Though it may be further below the surface, many enter their places of worship each week with these same worries. Like our schools, our churches, mosques, and synagogues have also had their sense of being a place of safety shattered.

The most beautiful of God’s thoughts is that of love. Indeed, no human mind can fully comprehend the vastness of God’s love. It is our responsibility as children of God to become lifelong learners when it comes to growing in our understanding of God’s love. It has many facets. It can look, sound, and feel many different ways. One thing that I am certain of is that God’s love creates for us a feeling of safety. For all those that want God in our schools, let that be the God of safety, the God of love. How much more would our students learn if rather than practicing regular lockdown and armed intruder drills we were required to practice love thy neighbor drills.

I doubt I will live to see it, but I pray hard for the day when schools feel safe, when all the scary drills are no longer necessary, when students, teachers, and parents don’t begin each school day wondering if this will be “the day” it happens at my school.

PRAYER

“And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! And you murderers - out of here!” Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - September 8, 2025

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 4:6-7

…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

So many of us are anxious during this stressful political time. It makes me uncomfortable that politics is more divisive than it ever has been.

There was a time when my marriage wasn't legal. We were so happy when the time came that we could be legally married. But now we have threats against our marriage again.

And so many of my friends at church in the trans community literally have active bills in the State and National political stages that affect their lives almost every day! It breaks my heart. Hate should not be legislated!

Most people are concerned about our healthcare, especially older people. It seems health in America and around the world is in jeopardy.

It is hard to find peace and joy in these turbulent times. I have a Facebook page called Jan's Joy that I use in addition to my personal page that I try to promote daily joy in the world! It is my life mission. But promoting joy has become a little more difficult in these times.

The verse above tells me to be thankful and to pray no matter what! And that God is able to give us a peace that is beyond understanding!

I claim joy as well. I believe joy is a state of peace deep within our soul that sustains us despite external circumstances. No matter how turbulent our life may be, we can hang on to the lifeline of God's joy deep within us.

If we constantly cultivate that joy through our walk with God, it keeps us sane in a world that has lost its mind!

An old church camp song I used to sing says:

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart;

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay.

(by George W Cooke)

And it must be based on this scripture because the second verse says I've got the peace that passeth understanding down in my heart.

So, I encourage you to remember the "secret" to having Joy and peace is to pray and be thankful. And it will guard our hearts and minds!

PRAYER

God of Peace and Joy, we pray giving thanks for your presence in our lives that helps us find that peace that surpasses our understanding and keeps us sane in troubled times.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - September 5, 2025

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:00:54 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Colossians 4:7-8

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and

fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may

know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming

with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you

everything that is happening here.

WORDS OF HOPE

Scripture is littered with little known people with difficult to pronounce names that have

made a big difference. In the last few verses of the fourth chapter of Colossians alone,

Paul ends this epistle mentioning Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Barnabas, Justus,

Epaphras, Nympha and Archippus. One can suppose that if Tychicus or Onesimus

were as well known as the Apostles Bartholomew or Thaddeus, we might not only know

how to readily pronounce their names, but there might also be a Tychicus Memorial

Hospital or an Onesimus University!

What can we know about Tychicus and Onesimus? They were ordinary men who

became trusted messengers.

Tychicus is mentioned beyond the 4 th chapter of Colossians, having also been

mentioned in the 20 th chapter of Acts and the 6 th chapter of Ephesians. He’s described

as a “faithful minister and fellow servant”, having been trusted with messages that were

critical before written communication was widespread.

Onesimus was a former slave who became honored as a “dear brother” to Paul.

Including Onesimus as a helper was radical in a society where slaves had little status.

In verse 15, Paul sends greetings to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

Including her in his letter is profound, as Paul recognizes not only her hospitality, but her

leadership as well. In a patriarchal culture that gave women minimal recognition, Paul

knew that leadership by lay people, including women, were central to the early church’s

growth.

This closing section of Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae (say that word 10 times

fast!), isn’t just a list of names. It reflects the relational, collaborative, and sacrificial

nature of the early church. It shows us the importance of partnership, unity across social

and ethnic lines, prayerful vigilance, and spiritual encouragement. It also shows us that

Christianity is meant to be communal, not just personal.

Each one of us, whether we have an unpronounceable name and/or a perceived

marginalized status, have an important place in the continuing story of the gospel of

Jesus Christ. We are called to work together, love each other, give sacrificially, pray

continually, and live joyfully.

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for the faithful servants who quietly build Your Kingdom through

encouragement, prayer, and perseverance. Help us to be like them—steadfast in our

calling, generous with our gifts, and devoted to others in love. May we complete the

ministry You have entrusted to us, for Your glory alone. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - September 4, 2025

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:00:44 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 139. 1-6

You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

5 You surround me,

behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Psalm eloquently addresses the mystery of God’s omniscience, an attribute impossible for the human mind to comprehend, at least on the divine level. But do you have anyone in your life, a partner or a close friend, who sometimes seems to have that gift, too?

You know the person; the one who can finish any sentence you start, the one who knows whatever ingredient to hold or add ordering for you at a restaurant, the one who knows how you’ll vote, when you’re ready to end a visit with a third person, what you think is hilarious, what could make you sad.

I have a friend, my best friend, who has a favorite movie quote answer to every question I ever text to him, such as- Question: Do you think he’ll like the idea? Answer: (I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse) Question: What do you think of this place? Answer:(Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.)

Question: How do you think this will turn out? Answer: (May the Force be with you.) Question: What’s taking so long? Answer:(Houston, we have a problem.) Question: Is this party boring you? Answer: (I see dead people.)

In the space of this devotion, I don’t have room to continue the list but you get the idea. He knows exactly what I think is funny and knows he will not have to explain what is from The Godfather and what is from The Sixth Sense. He knows me.

We sense the presence and workings of God in so many aspects of the people around us, the love and wonder in a child’s eyes, a kind word from a stranger, an act of forgiveness, an understanding nod, but the Psalmist says that God’s Omniscience is too “lofty” for us to ever understand. In its entirety, I agree. Yet, through those special people in our lives who finish our sentences or know exactly the right movie quote to lift our spirits, an all-knowing God doesn’t seem too lofty after all.

PRAYER

Parenting God, it is comforting to be reminded that you are not only ever-present, but ever understanding of every aspect of who we are. Through your love, may we get to know ourselves a little better, too. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - September 3, 2025

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:54 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 3:1

They say, if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord.

WORDS OF HOPE

Aside from a massive dose of slut shaming in this passage, the message is clear. If Israel had turned away from God many times would God accept them again?

Later in this same scripture, Jeremiah writes:

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”

It’s a very wordy and evocative way to say that God’s love will still be there for those who turn to Him. It is essentially the same message Jesus speaks, that God’s love surpasses human understanding and extends to all people.

It’s a message that I need to remember on a daily basis.

PRAYER

No matter how far we have strayed from the path God has shown us, we can always return, no questions asked. For that we can be truly grateful. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - September 2, 2025

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:15:48 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ecclesiastes 9.12-18

For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.

I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me. There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siege works against it. Now there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. So, I said, ‘Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.’

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded

than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one bungler destroys much good.

WORDS OF HOPE

I came across the above passage while searching for some Bible references to quiet. There are many, and many that we are probably well aware. But this one was new to me. And the thing that struck me, the most was the short parable in the center about the small city.

Admittedly, there is a contradiction that I do not understand where it first says that the wise man’s wisdom delivered the city, and then it says his words were not heeded. Clearly, the city was delivered; someone listened to the wise man. But the words of the wise man delivered the city from the siege.

Nonetheless, the last four lines are words that I’m sure we should heed. Quiet words of wisdom not only are effective, not only are useful, but are also comforting. We are in a stage of time where shouts from all directions create such a cacophony of anger and distain for others that we do not hear the quiet words of wisdom.

And not just those words of wisdom from outside ourselves. We can also miss those quiet words of wisdom within ourselves; that still small voice that that calls us to be the best, or at least to try to do the best that we can with what we have. Each of us has life experiences, stores of knowledge and internalized wisdom that gives us the ability, hopefully, to discern wisdom versus folly.

So, I encourage you today to take some time, maybe even set aside time for several days to listen to the quiet voices, whether they are within or without. Do not let the shouting drown out the wisdom that you know you have.

PRAYER

Great Creator help us to hear the quiet voices that lead us to wisdom. Bring up within us that part of you that resides quietly within all of our hearts. Help us to drown out the shouting and replace it with your loving voice. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

Monday - September 1, 2025

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:00:32 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 16.1-2

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to God, you are my Lord”. All that I have which is good is provided by you.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Lectionary from Psalm 16 is a short one. It is always helpful to read the passage specified for the day several times, reflect on what you have read, and then take time for personal prayer to God, taking the time to be quiet and seek to hear the voice of God as a part of our reflection.

Consider the fact in reflecting on today’s reading that the Disciples had become accustomed to seeking refuge in Jesus. For three years, Jesus had been present to teach and comfort his followers before the bottom had dropped out of their lives. He had died, been buried, resurrected, and two of them had told of his reappearance to them on the road to Emmaus.

Confused and in fear, they met together in a room with a locked door. Then suddenly, the resurrected Jesus appeared to them in that locked space and said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Reflect on Jesus’ words, “I do not give to you as the world gives”. What is the usual rhythm of giving or supplying which is common in our world? It is a give and take, a time of contentment and then sooner or later a time of uncertainty or fear.

In sharp contrast, God’s loving peace is constant! That peace referred to by Jesus is an anchor which always holds us. It is our shalom at all times. It is not the world’s give-and-take system. It is the peace of Jesus, now, tomorrow, and forever.

PRAYER

Morning by morning, our God, may we seek your will in our lives. With your divine presence and guidance, help us to recognize the needs of others and extend our hands and heart, to bless their lives. And in all that we are and do, may you be glorified. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - August 29, 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:00:51 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 5. 1-18

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading was written by the Apostle Paul during one of the many times he had been arrested and thrown into jail through the efforts of the religious establishment. He was literally in chains. In Paul’s day, jails were more like caves, unventilated basements, holes in the ground where prisoners lived in darkness and filth and were chained to the walls. This was Paul’s situation when he wrote these words and the words.

When I was in Seminary, I was told that asking questions about scripture was a valuable practice. We learn through our inquiries of who, what, where, when, and why in respect to anything we study, but one question the professors advised we should never ask about the Bible was “How?” This usually applied to the accomplishment of miracles. How did Jesus turn water into wine? How did a serpent talk? How did Jacob roll away the one-ton stone from Rachael’s well?

But, along with these magical-sounding events, I always wondered “How did Paul get his hands on the parchments, ink, and quills plus the Scribe he needed to write those letters- and in pitch blackness?” “Don’t worry about it” was the standard professor’s answer.

The questions I should have been asking was “How did Paul have the grace and character to center so many of his prison epistles on the forgiveness of the people who had condemned him to chains in the first place? How did he reconcile the triumphs of the false teachers, the envious, the selfish, and the ambitious who continued to stir up trouble while he was powerless in prison?

Paul answers that “How” question in the first sentence of today’s reading: “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.” Paul knew how to turn the worst of times into the best of victories for Jesus’ message of love. He had learned to react in any circumstance as Jesus would react. No physical circumstances and no mental torture could eclipse the shining truth of the life of his Savior. And because of this he rejoiced.

PRAYER

Patient God, today we ask one more “how” question: How do we react today when our defense of the Gospel of love and inclusion is challenged? May we answer our own question by praying how do we strive to react more like Jesus? Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - August 28, 2025

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:00:34 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 34: 18

God is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

WORDS OF HOPE

I just finished the text of a talk for a Faith and Grief gathering about the death of my closest friend of over 50 years. Writing it has been more difficult than I thought because as I have returned to remember the weeks and months leading up to and following her death on Christmas morning 2021, grief has re-emerged—as well as some warm and wonderful memories. This particular time of loss was different for me because first I buried my sorrow in part because of a desire to be present for Janet, Sis’s wife. But as the months passed, the pressure of “unattended sorrow” built, and when a new grief struck—the unexpected death of my sweet dog Charley--I knew I needed help.

Grace led me to just the right person—a spiritual director very skilled in grief, and through our work together, grief began to move through me. During this time I attended a Faith and Grief retreat in the hill country and experienced a powerful cathartic experience. The text speaks of it, saying, “One afternoon while walking up the long incline to Cathedral Hill, I began talking to God out loud and sobbing uncontrollably, my heart broken wide open, coming to the realization that I had buried my grief because I could not stand to face the loss of all that Sissi had been to me in the course of my life.”

Though the pain of the heart broken open will bring us to our knees, I believe with Parker Palmer that it can open us to “largeness of life, a greater capacity to hold our and the world’s pain and joy. Heartbreak can become the vessel of compassion and grace, enlarging us for empathy and attuning us to the suffering of others.” https://couragerenewal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/PJP-WeavingsArticle-Broken-OpenHeart.pdf

Palmer proposes that the process by which this happens involves 3 main steps: First, in a world where we are expected to reply “fine” when asked how we are, “we must learn to name and acknowledge our suffering to ourself and others,” to become vulnerable. And we need to find companions who can witness to our pain and not try to “fix us.”

Second, once we have named and claimed our suffering, “we must move to the heart of it, feeling the pain of it fully rather than following cultural practices of numbing, fleeing it by distractions, or blaming externals.” May we never underestimate the daily courage it requires to take this path to learn what our grief has to teach us and come out on the other side.

“Third, if we are to learn from our suffering, we must create a micro-climate of quietude around ourselves, allowing the turmoil to settle and an inner quietude to emerge, so ‘that of God within us’ can help us find our way through. Nurtured by silence, we can stop taking our leads from the voices of ego and world and start listening to the still, small voice of all that is Holy.”

Our spiritual communities can become key places of support in our death-denying culture. May we, as in all else, follow Jesus, the man of sorrows acquainted with our grief, in this counter-cultural healing practice.

PRAYER

God of the broken hearted, draw near in the pain of our own personal losses and the pain from the death blows to dignity, freedom, and peace that have been let loose on the world. Teach us how to grieve well and in compassion seek justice. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - August 27, 2025

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:00:37 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19:13-15

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

WORDS OF HOPE

Last year, as I indulged in some holiday shopping, I observed parents struggling to shop with children. While that can be an absolutely delightful experience, it is often not. My heart went out to the crying toddlers and their stressed-out parents. Today I want to share a story on behalf of all the children in our community and their parents who would love to parent more peacefully.

I was teaching a two-day parenting course when I stressed the importance of being a friend to their child's excitement. (Listen up. This applies to the child within each of us as well as our offspring). I described entering a store with a toddler who spots a display of balloons.

"Balloon!" cries the child with hands outstretched.

Now, the parent has to make a choice. Some will start a lecture on why the child cannot have everything they see or want. Others will try to ignore the child. Some will respond with a stern "No!"

The wise parent will choose none of the above things, as those options fail to befriend the child's excitement. Rather the parent can join the child's delight in the balloons and say, "Oh yes, look at all the pretty colors! Perhaps name some of the colors. (Keep pushing the cart.) If the child expresses a wish to have one, the parent can say, "Oh, wouldn't it be fun to have a whole bunch of them? How about a room full, or a house full? How about a sky full?"

The cart keeps moving. Something else will no doubt catch the child's attention and the game can start all over. If the child insists they actually want something, the parent can take out a handy little book containing the child's Wish List, and dutifully record the wish. These wishes can be reviewed often to see which ones remain to be fulfilled on birthdays or other special occasions.

One doubting couple assured me I had not met their four-year-old, if I thought such a thing would work. Before the next day's session they took the child to a store they knew had just such a display of balloons. They returned the next day to report. Their daughter had cried, "Balloon!" just as expected. The mother responded by saying yes, they were pretty. Then she said oh, wouldn't it be fun to have a whole bunch, etc. The little girl agreed then said, "I wanted you to see them." The mother thanked the child for showing her the balloons. The parents learned that their child was not as demanding as they had thought, and they all enjoyed their shopping experience with no tantrums.

I wish for all children and their parents such happy times, filled with excitement and loving moments.

PRAYER

Loving God, help us to be mindful of the "least" among us. Help us to value every moment we spend with each other. Help us to notice the parents who struggle, and the children who are hurting and sad. May we take every opportunity to support them and offer our love even as you have loved us. Grant us peace on earth and in each of our homes. We love you, God. We appreciate all the loving moments that you have given us. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Tuesday - August 26, 2025

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:48 GMT

READING

Mindful

Every day

I see or hear

something

that more or less

kills me

with delight,

that leaves me

like a needle

in the haystack

of light.

It was what I was born for -

to look, to listen,

to lose myself

inside this soft world -

to instruct myself

over and over

in joy,

and acclamation.

Nor am I talking

about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,

the very extravagant -

but of the ordinary,

the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.

Oh, good scholar,

I say to myself,

how can you help

but grow wise

with such teachings

as these -

the untrimmable light

of the world,

the ocean's shine,

the prayers that are made

out of grass?

- Mary Olive

WORDS OF HOPE

I just returned from a cruise, during which I saw gorgeous parts of the world that I’d not visited before, ate delicious food, experienced talented entertainers in some high-tech shows, and met some interesting people. When I returned home and people asked about my trip, my immediate response was that it was relaxing. That answer stems from the one day, a “sea day,” where I spent its entirety alone on the balcony in my cabin reading, writing, thinking, praying, listening, and drinking mediocre decaf coffee.

The only thing to see was the vastness of the ocean, which could be viewed as nothing or as everything. During these hours, I was reminded that God doesn’t need spotlights and fanfares, glitz and glamour, the powerful and the extraordinary to be revealed; in fact, it is quite the opposite. God works through the ordinary, the small, the mundane, the weak, the powerless, the seemingly insignificant moments, and people. This is why each day we must “see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in a haystack of light.”

Moses was a shepherd in the fields when through an ordinary bush, made extraordinary by God, Moses was instructed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God chose an ordinary man on an ordinary day through an ordinary bush to do extraordinary things.

The same is true of the disciples of Jesus. They were ordinary men chosen by Jesus to spread the good news. Jesus “authorized” them to heal the sick, cast out demons, and baptize. This was quite a career change for this group of a tax collector, zealot, and fishermen.

Jesus transformed ordinary water into fine wine at the wedding of Cana and he transforms a boy’s simple meal of five loaves of bread and two fish into enough food to feed five thousand. Again, ordinary things that become extraordinary through the power of God.

These examples in Scripture, the words of the poet Mary Oliver, and, for me, my day surrounded by simple things, remind me that we need to take pride and comfort in the mundane that is the everyday. God greets us in the soapy dishwater, in the carpool lane, during the boring meeting. God meets us in the toys we are picking up for the hundredth time, the can of soup we are opening, in the trash bag we are carrying to the curb. God is the everything amidst the seemingly nothingness. “Oh, good scholar, I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these—“

PRAYER

God of All, grant us the wisdom to cherish the ordinary as a sacred space where Your love dwells. Teach us to find joy not only in the extraordinary but also in the seemingly simple and mundane, knowing that it is there that Your grace often shines the brightest. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - August 25, 2025

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:25 GMT

READING

"You can be sure if you have to walk on a stony life path, God will provide you with strong shoes."

-Corrie Ten Boom

WORDS OF HOPE

Do you sometimes feel you have been walking on life’s stony path far too long? You are not alone. In times as chaotic and uncertain as ours, the Christian writer, Corrie Ten Boom is one of my most often read spiritual mentors. In the 1940’s, during Nazi control of her city of Amsterdam, her parents’ home provided shelter and care for many Jewish families until her family was betrayed and sent to a concentration camp. She was able to survive though her family tragically died there. Years later, in adult life, she became a Christian author and world-wide lecturer.

We are painfully aware through her story that becoming a Christian does not guarantee us an easy life. We suffer the slings and arrows of adversity like everyone else. Like others, our bodies are frail and subject to accidents and disease. However, we do have a loving God who journeys through life with us, providing guidance and care.

Earlier humanity which worshiped stone or wooden gods could only imagine that those divine images or idol of their gods understood life's pain and difficulty. In contrast to that uncertainty, Christians are reassured by the living example of Jesus who actually walked among us: who loved, cared, rejoiced, and wept with his followers. We know that our journey through life's hardships is not a solo trek; rather, we can trust in the steady presence and helping hand of Christ. In her book, Tramp for the Lord, Ten Boom observes: "Happiness is not dependent on certain events happening; rather, on relationships in those happenings."

Truly entrusting ourselves to Christ insures that we will be equipped and strengthened to handle the obstacles we may encounter. We will be given strong and durable walking shoes. However, it's our choice either to put them on or reject them and continue life in flip-flops!

PRAYER

Lord Christ, I give you my love and thanks that on my life's journey you desire to be with me to guide and comfort. Thank you for the assurance that you walk hand-in-hand with me and will in my final steps draw me to your eternal self. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St.Clare

Friday - August 22, 2025

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 23:5

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

WORDS OF HOPE

God My Provider

A person will work their whole life getting richer, and by the end of their life, never know what it was to be rich. Why spend years for what you will only enjoy for days? So long as we have time, we have wealth, for a person’s happiness is in how they remember their time. Seeing as no one knows how much time they have can anyone afford to waste it? We lack time more than we lack money.

The one who has little is not poor and the one who has much is not rich, but the one who finds happiness is satisfied. There are people living in mansions who cannot buy it and there are people living in clay houses who would never sell it. If you can count it, if you can measure it, then its value is limited. Happiness can neither be counted nor measured; by this, we know that it is priceless. Therefore, do not waste your wealth, that is your time, on trying to be wealthy.

For once the money is spent, you will need more. Many people never enjoy peace because they think that they do not have enough money. They forget that its very purpose is to be spent, and if not spent by them, then by someone else after they are gone. No one keeps their money. Life does not begin when you have it, but when you wake up and begin your day. At the start of the day, we are gifted with time. How will we spend it? God has already considered everything that we need so that we may have peace in the world. Be at rest, for God will provide.

PRAYER

Jehovah Jireh,

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - August 21, 2025

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:00:21 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 5.3-9

In Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate at the pool, a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

WORDS OF HOPE

It’s August, the month in Texas when many of us look to a refreshing dip in the pool as our savior from the heat! The Savior’s pool mentioned in today’s scripture lesson was thought to have genuinely miraculous healing powers by the people of Jerusalem. It was visited often by the infirm. The man who was not able to walk would have been a typical visitor. His exchange with Jesus is interesting on several levels and inspires some questions.

Had the man actually been coming to the pool for thirty-eight years? If so, who had been bringing him there since he could not walk? Couldn’t they also have carried him into the pool and not just deposited him there beside it? When Jesus asks if he wants to get well, instead of enthusiastically saying “yes”, he immediately starts making excuses about why he has not been able to get into the water, saying that no one will help him in and besides, everyone else breaks in line ahead of him. All in all, it’s simply not his fault. Everyone else is to blame.

I’m sure you are not one of them, but I have known a lot of people throughout the years who are masters at making excuses. I could list a few politicians. George Washington Carver once said, “Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” You probably know a few expert excuse-makers, too. They are usually people who, consciously or subconsciously, want to fail. Failure requires a great deal less work than success.

Jesus’ reply to the invalid is succinct. “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!” He didn’t waste time commiserating with the man about the cruel fate that surrounds him or condemning the selfish attitudes of the other pool patrons. He didn’t give the man a chance to elaborate on his excuses. It would seem that the man was shocked into action because not only was he immediately cured, but he also didn’t need any magic water to do it.

Are you prepared to let Jesus shock you into action today? Are you ready to share the priceless gift of encouragement with someone who is discouraged, despondent, and down to their last excuse? Jesus didn’t judge or care about excuses. He just did what needed to be done. Considering the amounts of circumstances in all of our lives that are catalysts for excuses, you’ll probably have the opportunity soon to give someone a helpful nudge, too.

PRAYER

May we always follow the example of Jesus, being healers and never contributors to the adverse circumstances of life. As your followers, we have no excuses. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - August 20, 2025

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:00:37 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 27: 1

On that day the Lord with his cruel and great and strong sword will punish

Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will kill the

dragon that is in the sea.

WORDS OF HOPE

The image of slaying dragons is a strong one and perhaps something that might

work better in a fantasy book than scripture, but Isaiah was a prophet. Prophets

often spoke in fantastic imagery and it does what he intended in my opinion, he

got our attention.

He is speaking of a future time when Israel is reestablished, and the Temple is

rebuilt. It is a passage that is intended to bring hope to those who are oppressed

and exiled. Perhaps we can look on it in more personal terms.

We all have dragons in our lives that need slaying. Leviathans of worry, debt,

depression, illness; creatures that can take over our lives and block out everything

else.

I listen to Isaiah and hear a message of hope, that with God’s guidance, I can get

through whatever troubles I face. I might not triumph over them, but I can take

away their overwhelming power and relegate them to a more realistic

perspective. I can live my life following God’s path and let those dragons take

care of themselves.

PRAYER

May I find the strength God gives me and may it be present in my every waking

hour.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - August 19, 2025

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:20 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 7: 44-53

Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David, who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling-place for the house of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says,

“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?

Did not my hand make all these things?”

‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.’

WORDS OF HOPE

Sometimes we have a propensity for seeing God as very small. We wish to shrink God into a box that fits our biases and prejudices. We all heard this said in sermons and teachings before. And I will admit that sometimes I do this still.

And even though the passage above talks about the Israelites shrinking God into a temple, it is still tiny compared to the size of what God has made. At least that seems to be the meaning of the first part of this quotation.

The juxtaposition of words about fitting God into a small space directly before a rebuke for not listening to the Holy Spirit is not accidental, I think. Just saying that the listeners are uncircumcised in heart and ears is a clear message. Circumcision was a sign of belonging in the Jewish tradition. Being uncircumcised in heart and ear is a metaphor for not understanding or not truly accepting the teachings of Jesus.

It is a greater rebuke because it implies, to me, that not accepting or living by the example of Jesus is the same as murdering him. Just as the prophets of more ancient times were betrayed and murdered. Indeed, although not specifically mentioned here one would throw in John the baptizer as a prophet or contemporary to the writer of this passage and those listening.

So perhaps trying to fit God into a little box whether that box is as large as a temple or a small as our own imagination, has more to do with putting ourselves in a box, and thinking that the box has God in it with us.

PRAYER

Gracious God, the universe that You have made is vast, and yet we know in our hearts that even that cannot contain You. Break us out of the boxes that we put ourselves in when we try to restrain you to a world of our making.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker.

Order of Saint Francis in Saint Clare

Monday - August 18, 2025

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:00:40 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 4:17-18

But the path of the just is like the shining sun,

That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

The way of the wicked is like darkness;

They do not know what makes them stumble.

WORDS OF HOPE

As an adverb, the word “just” is one of my least favorite words:

You’re not hurt… It’s just a scratch.

Why are you upset? I was just making a joke.

It’s just four easy payments of $49.99.

Can you just wait a minute?

While the adjective form of the word just can mean exactly (as in “That’s just what I needed”) or recently (“She just left the room”), it drives me crazy when it's used to mean only or merely. In this usage, the word just is minimizing and deceitful. Whether is shows up in everyday speech or in advertising, when the word just is included, I tend to feel defensive or put on notice.

As an adjective, however, the word just is one of my most favorite words:

She is a just leader who treats everyone fairly.

This was a just judgement that brought equity to the situation.

The path of the just is like the shining sun.

In these two verses from Proverbs, the writer paints a picture of the life of a just or righteous person as a journey that grows clearer, brighter, and better over time—just like the sun rising from dawn to full daylight. It suggests spiritual growth, clarity, and increasing blessing for those who walk in God's ways. Whereas verse 19 shows the life of the wicked: one of stumbling, confusion, and distance from truth, often without awareness. It’s a vivid metaphor—light vs. darkness, clarity vs. confusion, and wisdom vs. folly.

I’m struck by the divergent paths in these verses: One filled with the growing light of a sunrise and the other shrouded in deep darkness. As we walk with God, She makes our path clearer and clearer, like dawn to noontime. When we walk apart from God, it’s total and utter darkness, stumbling and disconnected.

If we would but just seek wisdom, clarity, and purpose, God invites you to walk the path of the righteous. It doesn’t mean perfection—but direction. It’s about walking toward the light, trusting that it will grow brighter with each step.

PRAYER

Lord, lead me on the path of righteousness, where Your light shines ever brighter and guides my every step. Keep me from the darkness that causes confusion and stumbling and help me walk in the clarity of Your truth.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - August 15, 2025

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 10:39 (NRSVUE)

But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls.

WORDS OF HOPE

“Curiosity and Friendship”

I met them both when I was six years old in first grade. My family had just moved to Fort Worth over two months after the school year had started. Not only was I a newcomer, but almost everyone in my class had attended Kindergarten together and so knew each other well. I was an outsider.

Two boys made a difference. The first I met on my first day. He approached me with a friendly smile, offered his hand to shake mine and said, “I’m Chad Davis.” It was a warm welcome on a cold November day in first grade.

The following Sunday, my family went to the local Methodist Church to see if it was a fit for our family. To my surprise, Chad was in my Sunday School class. He even invited me to his house for lunch! Sitting with him was his friend and neighbor, Jesse Cockerell. Chad introduced us. Jesse was friendly, shook my hand, and welcomed me to the church. He also offered that his father was a dentist if I needed one. I didn’t, but it was good to know.

Chad and I became fast friends. We rode bikes, played at his house, and his parents took us out on their boat and taught us to waterski. Jesse’s parents moved across town years later and he went to a different high school. 23 years after I met him, he was the best man at my wedding and years after that I officiated his wedding. Chad would have likely been a part of all that, but he was killed our senior year in an auto-pedestrian accident.

Today is Best Friends Day. At a time when there is much tension and combative conversation on social media, in politics, and in society at large, may we be curious to listen to others and learn about them. May we welcome strangers, extend a hand of greeting, show compassion, live with empathy and strive for good will.

Curiosity is the antithesis of judgmentalism. Curiosity opens us to consider people as they are rather than judging them with a preconceived expectation or bias. When we choose to be curious, we bypass criticism and negativity and consider what possibilities and opportunities may be at hand in any given moment.

I am striving to cultivate greater curiosity in my life and relationships. Who knows what good may yet come of such a practice?

PRAYER

Dear Jesus who loves us, help us we pray, to be curious people, who follow your Way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley, LPC

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - August 14, 2025

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:00:24 GMT

READING

In Celebration of the Life of Andrea Gibson

(8/13/75-7/14/25)

Lines from their words of inspiration:

“When nothing softens grief, may grief soften me.”

“When I realized the storm was inevitable, I made it my medicine.”

“In the end, I want my heart to be covered in stretch marks.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Many years ago a student introduced me to Andrea Gibson—a queer

spoken word poet and eventually poet laureate of Boulder, Colorado. Like

so many who were drawn to them, I found power in their wrestling with

LGBT+ issues in a language that was bold, fresh, achingly sensitive, and

vulnerable. They deplored customary binaries of all sorts and once said

they thought their gender would be changing up until the time of their

death.

Several months ago I was re-introduced to Andrea via their Substack posts

with poetry and the most stunning photographs of the Colorado landscape

where they live with their wife Megan and three well-loved dogs.

Several years ago, Andrea was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the disease

which would claim their earthly life. They speak openly of having feared

cancer all their life, but once the bell had tolled, they experienced a spiritual

transformation, seeing through the eyes of love and gratitude even the

smallest things. During their treatment, part of them wanted to keep the

pain from readers, but with characteristic courage, they stepped through

the door of silence to voice their truth. One compelling poem during this

time is “MAGA Hat in the Chemo Room.” The work begins with anger that

MAGA man has violated the rules of the chemo room forbidding clothing

with political slogans—a rule Andrea adheres to though almost everything

she owns signals her values. Their honoring “clothes neutrality” is in part an

acknowledgement that everyone in the room is struggling for their lives. In

the course of the poem, anger gets transformed into compassion for each

person in the acute awareness of shared mortality. Andrea also imagines

that the Holy Trinity reveals God’s nonbinary nature and that in heaven

gays will enter first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCX-0zJTEbk

After Gibson’s death, tributes poured in from all kinds of people—artists

and poets, collaborators and friends, the Governor or Colorado and readers

who have been impacted by their work. Linda Williams Stay tells how her

son Aiden once took her to see Andrea in an amazing performance and

how he continued to share their poetry as a way of helping her understand

his experience as a young transgender man. The morning of Andrea’s

death, Aiden called to tell her and together they grieved this loss. He

sobbed, “Andrea saved my life, mom.” Linda responded, “I know.”

Months before her death, Andrea wrote a moving poem to their wife Meg

called “Love Letter from the Afterlife,” in which they assert: “Dying is the

opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of

light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here

than I ever was before.” Oh, that each grieving person could know such

intimate resurrection.

https://stephaniecarney.substack.com/p/love-letter-from-the-afterlife (text)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmZHLvq-gDg (spoken)

A documentary of Andrea’s life “Come See Me in the Good Light” showed

at the Sundance Festival this year and garnered the Festival Favorite prize.

It will be shown on Apple TV+ this fall.

Rest in power, Radiant Spirit.

PRAYER

God of Expansive Love, Before [we] die, [may we] be somebody’s favorite

hiding place, the place they can put everything they know they need to

survive, every secret, every solitude, every nervous prayer, and be

absolutely certain [we] will keep it safe. [We] will keep it safe. Amen.

(Prayer adapted from Adrea Gibson’s words.)

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - August 13, 2025

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:00:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 16.24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

WORDS OF HOPE

Throughout my volunteer days of teaching Sunday school, also known as Children’s Church, I was always sad to witness any time that a parent would say something limiting to a child. Without realizing, they were often living out their personal dreams and whatever else they projected about themselves into their kids.

We all do that either to ourselves or to others, but to a developing child smack in the middle of self- discovery, words can be lifelong curses. I’ve heard “You can’t do that!” more times than I can remember. What might seem like a momentary setback can and often becomes “I will never do that again” to a young person. Children are gifted with many intuitive and natural talents, often out of the blue.

I remember my high school art teacher telling me I could do many things with my talent if I just got over a shade of laziness. Sadly, all I heard was “you are lazy.” Looking back, I can now realize that it was often the assignments that were lazy. The reality was and still is, motivation often comes from stimulation, not from boredom. I was sometimes not stimulated by assignments. That later translated to having a client who’s payment was dependent on me pushing through the process to meet the deadline, even if it was boring. Other times, I might give even more to a project if it was something I loved and in which I found a shared interest.

Our words and the words we hear carry strong magic. We must shield ourselves from those word curses and guard against cursing someone else’s bliss. A child being told they can’t play piano may never learn how or they might prove they can learn in spite of the criticism.

I have learned that the word-spell cast by my art teacher carried a lot of irony forward in my lifelong passion and career in art. I am fortunate to have ignored the supposed curse of laziness and realized some of her assignments were just uninspired.

Solomon said “There is nothing new under the Sun.” We have to find ways to either recreate an old, boring thing or know when it’s time to discard it. What are some thoughtful words you can use to inspire yourself or others? What kind of new positive spin can you give to someone who might need a little push?

PRAYER

May the words of my mouth always be inspired by the love in my heart. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C.Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - August 12, 2025

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:13 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 24:1-13

See, the Lord is going to lay waste to the earth

and devastate it;

he will ruin its face

and scatter its inhabitants—

it will be the same

for priest as for people,

for the master as for his servant,

for the mistress as for her servant,

for seller as for buyer,

for borrower as for lender,

for debtor as for creditor.

The earth will be completely laid waste

and totally plundered.

The Lord has spoken this word.

The earth dries up and withers,

the world languishes and withers,

the heavens languish with the earth.

The earth is defiled by its people;

they have disobeyed the laws,

violated the statutes

and broken the everlasting covenant.

Therefore a curse consumes the earth;

its people must bear their guilt.

Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,

and very few are left.

The new wine dries up and the vine withers;

all the merrymakers groan.

The joyful timbrels are stilled,

the noise of the revelers has stopped,

the joyful harp is silent.

No longer do they drink wine with a song;

the beer is bitter to its drinkers.

The ruined city lies desolate;

the entrance to every house is barred.

In the streets they cry out for wine;

all joy turns to gloom,

all joyful sounds are banished from the earth.

The city is left in ruins,

its gate is battered to pieces.

So will it be on the earth

and among the nations,

as when an olive tree is beaten,

or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.

WORDS OF HOPE

We often turn to the Bible when we are in need of comfort, reassurance, and hope. The

above passage from Chapter 24 of Isaiah offers none of those things. This passage

tells of a God who is going to lay waste to the earth, scattering its inhabitants, and

turning joy to gloom. This will be done because people have disobeyed the laws and

they must bear the guilt. And, no human will be spared, regardless of their position in

society.

This is one of those passages that is intended to show us the duality of God…and the

duality that we as Christians also should have…the balance between the active and the

contemplative, the inward and the outward manifestations of our faith life. They reveal

that God sometimes gets angry and we too may need to act through righteous anger at

times.

As a Franciscan, the words of the prayer inspired by St. Francis nourish and guide my

daily contemplative life…

Peace Prayer

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

These words speak to the inward, the contemplative side, of our faith. St. Francis

certainly had his times of inward reflection, but much of his lived faith was a also a very

outward and active one. He preferred to be amongst the poor, the disenfranchised, the

sick, the lonely, even the non-believers.

So how do we pray about our active life of life? How do we pray about our righteous

anger?

I recently saw a prayer written in the style of the familiar prayer above that addresses

the more active side of our faith, a “reverse” prayer of St. Francis, a prayer that calls for

us to create disturbances in the name of God. These words are attributed to Rina

Wintour and Pat Levercombe:

Disturbance Prayer

“Lord, make me a channel of disturbance.

Where there is apathy, let me provoke.

Where there is compliance, let me bring questioning.

Where there is silence, let me be a voice.

Where there is too much comfort and too little action, grant disruption.

Where there are doors closed and hearts locked, grant me the willingness to listen.

Where laws dictate and pain is overlooked…

Where tradition speaks louder than need…

When we refuse to take control of our spiritual growth…

Our own mission…

Our own poor…

Disturb me, O Lord,

Teach me to be radical.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may seek to DO justice rather than talk about it,

To be WITH as well as for the poor,

To love the hard-to-love as well as the lovely,

To kiss the children of the poor rather than the feet of the crucifix.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in walking-with that we truly understand.

It is in challenging evil that we achieve justice.

It is in the struggles of life that we touch eternity.

Lord, make me a channel of disturbance.”

God calls us sometimes to peace and calmness and at other times to dissatisfaction

and even anger, to times of creating disturbances. These two sides to God are shown

to us throughout Scripture.

PRAYER

Lord, grant me the wisdom to know when you need me to be a channel of peace and

when you need me to be a channel of disturbance. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - August 11, 2025

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:00:17 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with

thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which

surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

So many of us are anxious during this stressful political time. It makes me uncomfortable that politics is more divisive than it ever has been. There was a time when my marriage wasn’t legal. We were so happy when the time came that we could be legally married. But now we have threats against our marriage again.

And so many of my friends at church in the trans community literally have active bills in the

State and National political stages that affect their lives almost every day! It breaks my heart. Hate should not be legislated! Most people are concerned about our healthcare, especially older people. It seems health in America and around the world is in jeopardy.

It is hard to find peace and joy in these turbulent times.

I have a Facebook page called Jan’s Joy that I use in addition to my personal page that I try to promote daily joy in the world! It is my life mission. But promoting joy has become a little more difficult in these times. The verse above tells me to be thankful and to pray no matter what! And that God is able to give us a peace that is beyond understanding!

If we constantly cultivate that joy through our walk with God, it keeps us sane in a world that has lost its mind!

An old church camp song I used to sing says:

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart;

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay.

(by George W Cooke)

And it must be based on this scripture because the second verse says: “I’ve got the peace that passeth understanding down in my heart.” So, I encourage you to remember the “secret” to having Joy and peace is to pray and be thankful. And it will guard our hearts and minds!

PRAYER

God of Peace and Joy, we pray, giving thanks for your presence in our lives that helps us find

that peace that surpasses our understanding and keeps us sane in troubled times.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - August 8, 2025

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 4:11-13

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in

need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in

any and every situation... I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

WORDS OF HOPE

From the movie of the same name, Melvin Udall, played brilliantly by Jack Nicholson,

walks out of his therapy session visibly frustrated. He’s clearly agitated and doesn’t feel

like the session helped him. The office is filled with other patients waiting for their turn.

In his usual abrasive and socially awkward way and in a moment of cynical honesty,

says:

“What if this is as good as it gets?”

In these frustrating times, we too might feel this raw expression of despair. No matter

the effort, we fear that things might not improve. It’s an easy and frequent trap to fall

into.

I’ve had the privilege of escorting adolescents and young adults into impoverished

places to help them see the face of Jesus in the eyes of the poor. Whether that’s soup

kitchens in New York City, rural Oklahoma trailer parks after a tornado, or Central

American slums in the aftermath of a hurricane, it’s always been my experience that if

you want to expose young people to the person of Jesus, take them to the poor and

marginalized.

There is a fair amount of despair and heartache in those voices and behind those eyes.

You can see and feel that despondency in the feeding ministries of Cathedral of Hope.

But there is also a great deal of gratitude and gladness. From the family that invited

teenagers into their United Nations temporary shelter in Honduras to serve them dinner

and sing together to the Appalachian trio of brothers who told hysterical (and sometimes

inappropriate!) stories to middle schoolers late into the evening, you find contentment

and joy in the hearts of Christians who are in need.

They do this because they resonate with the words of Paul in his letter to the church in

Philippi: I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

It’s easy to feel despondent and fearful right now. And for good reason. It’s

heartbreaking to watch as those with so much now grab for so much more. It’s damning

to see entire cultures of people being persecuted and harmed. It’s alarming to know that

systems that once protected the vulnerable are being disassembled. Melvin Udall may

have felt justified in his belief that nothing was going to change and in his sense of

hopelessness.

But Paul reminds us that whether we are in need or have plenty, whether circumstances

are dire or favorable, we have the strength of Christ to carry us through and the promise

of grace to carry on to another day.

PRAYER

Gracious God,

we thank you for the beauty of creation,

for the gift of life, and the love that surrounds us.

In joy and in sorrow,

in success and in failure,

help us to see your hand at work

and to give thanks always.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - August 7, 2025

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:00:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 7.31-35

“To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.’… Nevertheless, Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

WORDS OF HOPE

I spent many years of my life as a Minister for Children and as a teacher, conducting art museum children’s workshops and lectures. I have always admired a child’s freshness and eagerness to learn. Jesus famously reminded us that we must have the faith of a child in order to discover the central message of his teachings, but in this passage, he is challenging the people of his generation for being stubborn and childish. Is he contradicting his usual teaching? No, he praises being open and fresh as a child, but denounces adults who act childish, which is the dark side of being childlike.

Childish people are never satisfied. They create their own specific rules without sharing them with others and are quick to condemn anyone they judge has having broken them. They refuse to listen, learn, or change and take much pleasure in name-calling, bullying, and ridiculing.

They are impossible to please because all that brings them pleasure is criticizing those who can’t possibly live up to the standards that only they are qualified enough to follow. When they break their own standards, and they often do, they are experts at making excuses, including re-defining their own versions of the truth. They are prone to tantrums.

It’s helpful to identify the specific group of childish people Jesus was addressing in this particular encounter. He wasn’t talking to a mixed crowd of average people on the street, nor was he condemning the usual list of thieves, women of questionable intensions, or corrupt government bureaucrats that were high on the first century’s list of undesirables. He was speaking to their religious leaders.

This short narrative is a typical example of Jesus’ ministry. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus never wastes his time confronting or condemning admitted sinners, but a great deal of his time challenging people who are certain that they were not. Then as now, people who appoint themselves as models of doctrinal perfection inevitably fail miserably and assume the roles of those children on the marketplace, denouncing, ridiculing, and blaming everyone who will still pay them any attention.

Jesus, however, does not leave his listeners hopeless. Regardless of the failings of certain self-serving groups, Jesus reflects on the Hebrew Scripture personification of Woman Wisdom, saying that overall, her children will eventually recognize and turn away from the failures of those toxic influencers. Jesus’ steadfast faith in a humankind created in God’s own image never faulters.

PRAYER

May we have the clarity of a child’s faith as Jesus beacons us to follow as adults the mind- cleansing path of Woman Wisdom. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - August 6, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 12:22-26

He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more

than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they

neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God

feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of

you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are

not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?

WORDS OF HOPE

This passage has always been both one of my favorites and one of the most

problematic in scripture. I love the reassurance Jesus gives us that we do

not need to worry about tomorrow. However, I always wondered if it didn’t

give some folks the impression that we can just sit around and God will

provide if we do absolutely nothing.

If read carefully, it becomes evident that Jesus is not saying “do nothing”.

The ravens may not have a storehouse, but they still fly about searching for

food. They don’t concern themselves with worrying about what comes after

this life. They live in the moment and enjoy God’s grace and bounty.

Perhaps that is Jesus’ message, to live in the moment, for today, and not try

to store up our days trying to extend our lives or worrying about what will

come after this life. As he says, “which of you by worrying can add a single

hour to your span of life?”

At some point we have to trust God and get on with living.

PRAYER

May we use our time here wisely and revel in the grace given us by God, and

may we live our lives fully.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - August 5, 2025

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

READING

"At the beginning of each day, after we open our eyes to receive

the light of that day; as we listen to the sounds that surround us, we must

resolve to treat each hour as the rarest of gifts and be grateful for the

consciousness that allows us to experience it."

(J. McQuiston from his book, Always We Begin Again)

WORDS OF HOPE

In the morning, as the alarm clock sounds that awful ring, what's your immediate

response to it? Do you try to reach the snooze button on the alarm, or do you smile

and say, "Good morning"? Well, I bet it's clear how most people react. Generally, how

would you react?

If your life is built around a fairly routine pattern or you're going through a difficult

patch of hardships, it might be difficult to joyfully greet another day with the same

old trials and tribulations. Most people either stagger out of bed trying to wipe the

cobwebs from their mind, or they jump out of bed with 1000 thoughts about the

day's potential activities racing through their mind.

Today, let's develop a better way to awaken and greet a new day. As you awake,

pause and open your eyes to receive the light of a new day, open your lungs to receive

a deep breath of it, and open your life to receive the new opportunities which will come

your way. Greet the new day as a special gift from God with unexpected blessings that

will come your way. The new day represents the gift of continued life, and that, life itself,

is the rarest gift of all!

These suggested responses to awakening represent a pattern of mindfulness by

which you can welcome a renewed day of life into your experience. But it does

require that you be consciously aware of your greeting to enter this new realm of

activities and experiences, and willing to encounter somethings new or at least

filled with renewed opportunities and human interactions. Let's start each day with

enriched mindfulness about the divine gift of life which it offers to us!

Good mornings begin the best of days.

PRAYER

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - August 1, 2025

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 17. 5-7

But the Temple religious leaders were jealous, and…attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring [Paul and his companions] out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king; Jesus.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Whenever you meet someone new who has the same name as someone you admire, does an image of that earlier person immediately come to mind?

In this narrative from Acts 17, we meet a person with an unusual name for the Bible: Jason. This was certainly not an unusual name in the first century world of the Apostle Paul, but it was inspired by a Greek, not a Hebrew hero. Jason’s fame centered on the quest for the Golden Fleece and afterward many Greek babies shared that name. But the Jason of this Acts story was referred to by Paul as his "countryman" which meant fellow Jew, and he lived up to his Greek "hero’s quest " name through his actions on behalf of the infant Christian community.

Jason was an early follower of "the Way" of Jesus, since that is how the early church defined themselves. He demonstrated his faith by providing shelter and protection for Paul and his companions in their mission travels and by suffering the torture and fines of the oppressive Roman Empire. He was a victim of a culture of state-religion rule, the law recognizing only Caesar as both Emperor and God. This biblical Jason's heroic defiance was reminiscent of his Greek namesake's unwavering faith to his deity, in his case, the goddess Hera.

The Jason of Acts never lost his faith, both in this story and in other mentions within the letters of Paul. Early extra-biblical writings continued to follow Jason’s mission, as he underwent continued harassment and imprisonment by Rome, but finally ended his career by becoming a powerful Bishop of the infant church.

I have known several Jasons in my life and each of them has shared the same sort of goals and determination as their Greek and Hebrew namesakes. Though there is nothing magical about our names, a review of their origins can be a source of inspiration. We are usually named after admirable people. I was of course named after the Prophet Daniel. What was the origin of your name? Even if our namesake is not one we might admire, we always have the opportunity every day to make ours a name future generations will remember.

PRAYER

God, of many names, may our own names, either by birth or ones we have chosen, forever honor you. Thank you for Jesus, the name we most admire, and whose way we will always follow. In Your Spirit, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - July 31, 2025

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 11: 33-34

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"

WORDS OF HOPE

This beautiful and profound scripture truly outlines the depth of God. It’s overwhelming and exciting to think how God, the creator of ALL has access to and possesses absolutely everything. It is amazing to consider that outside of our love, faith and devotion, nothing is ever expected.

God is a vast mystery to our human minds which are always trying to figure out what makes the universe work so well. I remember looking through a telescope at the Milky Way, walking along the edge of the Grand Canyon and seeing a comet for the first time. Each of those held me in awe of the wonder and majesty of how God now possesses and always will, everything. Absolutely nothing is beyond God!

Maybe Paul's point in this passage simply reveals that God is truly amazing! So rather than trying to understand "why" or “how” God works, we could simply stand in wonder at the "depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God...His paths are beyond tracing out."

Since trying to figure God out is impossible, maybe it would be better to just relax. Give thanks and appreciate what God has done and will always do. God’s wealth is unfathomable, unreachable and beyond human understanding.

No matter how far down into God’s wealth or into God’s wisdom or into God’s knowledge you go, you never get above or beneath God. God’s riches, wisdom and knowledge are so far beyond our grasp that we can’t give or tell God anything new. No wonder we are often mystified, perplexed, and amazed by this amazing God of grace.

It’s uplifting to know that God doesn’t actually owe us anything but instead, freely gives us everything!

PRAYER

Creator God of amazing wonder, we give you thanks and praise for the majestic beauty of life and most of all, for the gift of Jesus Christ in whose holy name we pray. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Wednesday - July 30, 2025

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Titus 3:2

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy to all people.

WORDS OF HOPE

Do you remember when the word 'woke" started being used? I don't know the exact date. At first, it seemed innocent enough, maybe even positive. Its origin was in the black community and meant “informed” or “aware”. It didn't take long for it to become a pejorative term, as insults to progressive thinking. Supposedly clever memes popped up reviling it. Other, progressive memes appeared too. "Being WOKE is a natural state of being kind and considerate people" one meme says.

All of us think differently about the life and purpose of Jesus. I love the idea that we are welcome at Jesus’ table, which allows for the colorful tapestry of people who are all invited to break bread and be part of the loving God.

Was Jesus woke?

The radical Jesus was anything but conventional. He was the first to point out hypocrisy in the church, while making the unpopular claim he and God are one and the same. I've come to view this as Jesus' own metaphor for humanity; that we are all the expression of the living Creator, whatever you might think that is. Are we part of natural evolution? Do we have a divine purpose?

This brings us back to our discussion of “Woke”. Are you woke? Here is a list of 10 symptoms of what somebody cleverly called "woke mind virus”:

1. You read books and don't burn them.

2. You embrace science.

3. You are willing to change your mind when new information becomes available.

4. You understand most issues aren't black and white.

5. You believe in true equality for all people.

6. You like to share.

7. You embrace cooperation.

8. You respect others' rights.

9. You believe culture and the arts have value.

10. You care for the planet and all of its life.

To me these are “Jesus-virtues”. Have you given any thought about which of these you embrace? The reality is whether you consciously practice all or none of these things, the list can be used to divide us; another of those “us and them” lists. The single question I ask myself is what is my divine purpose?

PRAYER

Creator of All, woke or not, help us to understand love, compassion, cooperation, and empathy which happen to be exactly the values that Jesus taught, and that the first of these is love. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - July 28, 20225

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:00:01 GMT

READING

"Let me preach to you without preaching, not by words alone but by my life example; by the captivating force and sympathetic influence" [of Christ's presence in my life]. John Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)

WORDS OF HOPE

The words in Cardinal Newman’s prayer are often thought to be attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. I'm not sure that he actually spoke them, but I am certain that he lived them. As a young Baptist boy, I was urged to memorize many Bible verses, including a string of verses from Paul's letter to the Romans (the Roman Road to Salvation). I was supposed to use these as a preaching tool in witness to others. The whole effort was nerve-racking and often caused me to shy away from any opportunity to witness about Christ's love.

Not emphasized was the last half of the above prayer line... "not by words alone; but by the captivating force and the sympathetic influence of what" Christ is in me. It is our active example of loving care which best preaches Christ’s nature and its offer as a comforting source to others. Remember that God's welcoming hand of forgiveness, love and care usually begins at the end of the sleeve of your shirt or blouse. We reflect it; we present it, and when received by others, God does the healing work.

If there specific portions of this sentence of prayer which had extra meaning to you, it’s probably God's Spirit talking to you about your life’s need for a more vibrant spiritual life. Sometimes we can meditate on one sentence of prayer and concentrate on that as a point for spiritual growth. Think about these things and be aware of divine urging. The result can be an ascension of the soul.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, help me to spread your sweet fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may be only a radiance of your life. Shine through me, and be so in me, that every soul with whom I come into contact may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see not me but only you Jesus and give you glory. Stay within me and then I will begin to shine as you shine; so, to share as to be a light to others, and that light will be all from you. It will be you shining on others through me. Let me preach you without preaching, not by words alone, but by my life example; by the captivating force and sympathetic influence of what I am which is the evident fullness of love my heart and life bears for you." Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - July 25, 2025

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 6.13-17

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness… With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

WORDS OF HOPE

Decades ago, I remember my grandmother sitting at her ancient Singer sewing machine, finishing one of the hundreds of little shirts she routinely made for a local Baptist Orphan’s Home, while quoting today’s reading from Ephesians to me. She loved the colorful symbolism and knew the word pictures would remind me of the brave Round Table knights and Sherwood Forest rebels whose adventures inspired my imagination in those days. Lancelot and Robin Hood never failed to douse the flaming arrows of the evil ones.

She was also quick to remind me that the list of weapons was symbolic and what Paul was talking about was the power of the Word of God. She mentioned the Apostle Paul in a familiar tone, as if she had gone to high school with him. Observing her silver-gray hair, pulled back into a bun, I thought she probably had. Now, being about the same age she was then, I know she wasn’t that old after all, but her wisdom was.

One example of her eternal wisdom was another observation she made about this passage. “You don’t have to go too far from home to watch out for those flaming arrows.” She was referring to her ongoing religious debates with her sister, my Aunt Nora, about how a good Christian should behave. Nora was our Presbyterian church’s self-appointed expert on proper religious tradition. (She was also the church gossip.) I overheard one of these sessions from another room once. I remember Nora lecturing my grandmother about not always standing up with the rest of the congregation during appointed times of the worship service. “I’m old, Nora,” was my grandmother’s only comment.

“I don’t care how old you are,” Aunt Nora retaliated. “A good Christian always stands up!”

My grandmother thought it over briefly and then casually replied. “Then why do you stand up?”

I left the other room to avoid being discovered doubled over with laughter.

Today, my grandmother’s words are still with me. There are more flaming arrows flying now than I can ever remember, filling the air, the airwaves, and social media with hateful words and accusations as to who a true Christian really is, but more frequently who isn’t. It takes the whole armor of God and sometimes even an old Singer sewing machine to remember the difference.

PRAYER

Thank you for the power of your words and the generations of your followers who have lived their lives by them. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - July 24, 2025

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:00:17 GMT

READING

“… [T]he light of compassion brings people out of hiding, out of unease and fear. The light that invites courage and renewal and resilience. That is light worth spilling. And it is the light of Grace.” Terry Hershey

WORDS OF HOPE

The air was dense with moisture and the pines vibrant with new growth as Sage and I set out on our early morning walk. Since Sage is a super-sniffer, ambling was our pace, and I delighted in lingering for birdsong, the sound of waves lapping the shore, and the touch of a cool breeze on my skin. It was a sweet morning already, but when we rounded the path not far from the house, a sight stunned me into silence. About 10 or 12 of our local deer lay in a semi-circular shape around my neighbor’s yard, having slept there during the night. When they sensed our presence, some lifted their heads, but did not bolt or run. Nor did Sage bark, though her attention quickened.

An Edward Hick’s “Peaceable Kingdom” in miniature, the scene might well have been accompanied by Handle’s “Sheep May Safely Graze.” But there was something even more touching about this particular scene in this particular place. My neighbor’s husband had died unexpectedly a few years ago from an aggressive brain cancer, and her own cancer had recently returned. Her doctors said there was nothing more to be done. My heart felt an aching tenderness that these beautiful does had come where they were needed, and I hoped that they offered some healing through their trust and gentleness.

The next morning Sage roused me while I was still lazing in bed. I reached over, stroked her fur, and received a bounty of morning kisses. Then I rolled out of bed, grabbed a cup of coffee, and got ready to take her for our ritual walk. She followed the scents of night creatures—possum, raccoon, deer, cats and dogs mostly-- and soon we approached our neighbor’s property. The deer were gathered round again—but this time standing, alert, waiting for their share of deer corn that Cheryl was tossing to them.

Because we both had our dogs with us—hers a tiny Yorkie off its leash—we hailed each other in country greetings and I proceeded on my walk. I thought of Jesus’ direction to Peter in the book of John: Feed my sheep, and smiled an inward blessing for her nurture of these soulful creatures.

The morning we left the lake Cheryl was at her post again, casting corn to the hungry herd. With the drive ahead and a less than restful sleep, I almost just waved and moved on, but as so often happens now, my GPS homes in on compassionate connection. I turned toward her and we talked of our dogs and her family who had come from California to visit, some of whom were still there. Gently but directly, we approached the subject of her cancer and whether the medications were keeping the pain under control. “I will hold you in prayer,” I said. “See you next time.”

At this time in my life, these moments of pure presence, these moments of radical tenderness move me more than I can say. They are part of an ongoing transformation of the heart that is at once mystery and wonder, yet another touch of Grace for which gratitude and service to others are the most fitting responses.

PRAYER

So much is still rough cut and unpolished in me, O God, but your mercy and grace have fashioned this tender-heartedness that reaches out toward others as trees do the sun. And for that I give you thanks and praise. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - July 23, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:10 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Amos 9:5-7

The Lord, God of hosts,
he who touches the earth and it melts,
and all who live in it mourn,
and all of it rises like the Nile
and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt,
who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
and founds his vault upon the earth,
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the Lord is his name.

Are you not like the Cushites to me,
O people of Israel? says the Lord.
Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt
and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?

WORDS OF HOPE

Cushites? The prophets insist on making references that we folks of the 21 ^st Century don’t understand. I guess it sometimes takes a little digging to find exactly what they are talking about.

In this case the Cushites are a people of Africa, specifically from the “Horn of Africa”, modern day Sudan. They still exist today and they are important because Moses is said to have taken a Cushite wife, Zipporah. It’s a story you won’t hear told in a lot of white southern congregations, because it implies that Moses’ wife was black. In Biblical accounts, Moses’ sister and brother criticized him for marrying Zipporah.

Prejudice and racial bias is as old as the Bible, but that is no excuse. Amos says that the Lord treated the Cushites much like Israel, and showed favor to them. This and other biblical stories make us ask ourselves how much longer shall we perpetuate these biases? It seems pretty clear to me that Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery in the Exodus from Egypt still leads us today out of the slavery of prejudice and hatred.

PRAYER

God of Moses, Zipporah, Miriam and Aaron, lead us in your way and guide us through the modern-day wilderness of bigotry into a land of freedom for all.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - July 29, 2025

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:10 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:29-31 New Revised Standard Version

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

WORDS OF HOPE

My high school English teacher was a tall, imposing woman with red hair who made sure that her students not only remembered her, but all that she taught us. I don't suppose that we remember everything she taught, but I am sure that, to a person, we all remember these words:

"There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it behooves all of us to be kind to the rest of us." I don't remember to whom she gave credit, perhaps Robert Louis Stevenson. Others have used very similar words to convey the same meaning. This quote enters my mind frequently, especially when I am the one in need of grace.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians was a little more direct. He is not just urging us to be understanding of our fellow travelers on this earth but directing us to behave better than our temptations would lead us. "Let no evil words come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up ...so that your words may give grace to those who hear."

That is a powerful thought. Our words can give grace to those who hear?

So often I wish for money or more time, more strength, or more talent to serve those in need. But grace? One of the most precious gifts that God has granted me is mine to give freely and often!

PRAYER

Beloved, Merciful God, You have loved me so much and blessed me beyond measure. I love you back and I am eternally grateful for your gifts. Help me, Dear God, to be as loving to others. May I find and recognize opportunities to build up someone and to speak grace to all who hear my words. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Tuesday - July 22, 2025

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:00:12 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 2.9-11

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is National Be a Good Teammate Day, a day to reflect on how to be a good teammate and the importance of expressing gratitude for the contributions made by all members of a team. Teamwork has been crucial over the past few weeks during the rescue and recovery work following the devastating floods in TX. Teams from many states as well as our neighbors in Mexico have been working tirelessly to save lives, bring closure, and restore hope to families and communities whose lives have been changed forever. Every single person who has served in any capacity during this difficult time is an integral part of a team that is bringing light to the darkness.

There are the first responders who saved lives and those who recovered bodies. There are people who have rescued, fostered, and reunited pets with their families. Many individuals have sifted through the wet muck finding photographs, stuffed animals, blankets, and quilts, making an effort to find and return them to their owners. Many people and agencies have been called to feed and care for all of those working in the devastating areas. There are many facets to the work going on in the flood-ravaged area, but each has a common goal…to bring hope and healing, through their gifts, to hurting people. All of these people are members of a single team of brothers and sisters working together for the good of their other brothers and sisters.

When we think about the notion of a team, often the first thing that comes to mind is a sports team. The goal of a sports team is always clear and always finite. The goal is always to win. Each player on the team knows what their job is to facilitate that. If they are successful, they celebrate. If not, changes may be made to the team for the next game. Like much of life these days, this picture of teamwork happens in short blips of time—start to finish being measured in halves, quarters, innings, and final scores.

Being part of a team whose goal is to carry the light of Christ has no kick-off time, or time-outs, or substitutes. It does not desire to create winners and losers. Being on this team means that we are working to spread the light of Christ all day every day. We are not called to beat down an opponent, but to build up others and share our love for and with them. We often find our best examples of what it means to be part of this kind of team in the midst of disasters.

My prayer is that we can carry the lessons and examples shown to us by those working in the flood area into calmer days. Can we also care for our brothers and sisters who live with food and shelter insecurity because of daily inequality and injustice in our world? Can we show the same love, compassion, and desire to help those whose loss and suffering does not consume the daily news cycle?

The love of Jesus is infinite. As a team of Christ followers, we have both the capacity and the responsibility to care for all our brothers and sisters every day. May we learn from all of those who are working tirelessly to bring light into the darkness of the communities along the Guadalupe River.

PRAYER

Christ Jesus, source of eternal light, I pray that you will work through me to bring love and hope to those living in darkness and that I will reflect your light to all those around me. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - July 21, 2025

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:00:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the orphan, plead the widow’s cause.

WORDS OF HOPE

“Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness and pride of power and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear rather than too much. Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now. Christians should take a stronger stand in favor of the weak rather than considering first the possible right of the strong.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This verse and Bonhoeffer’s words together call us to wake up from complacency. Isaiah 1:17 is God's call to Her people to live out justice—not as an abstract value but in practical, risky, countercultural ways. Bonhoeffer reminds us that true Christianity confronts violence, pride, and injustice—not quietly but boldly.

Reading carefully this Scripture, we find that we are urged to “learn” justice. To many of us, learning and practicing justice may not be natural. Isaiah urges that it is something we must intentionally pursue, practice, and grow into. Bonhoeffer agrees when he says that “Christians are doing too little” and “Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power”. Bonhoeffer adds urgency to his plea: Christianity should "shock the world" with its care for the weak and resistance to power worship. I believe that’s a deep challenge for us today.

Perhaps like many of you, I struggle sometimes to figure out what I should do to protest in this difficult time in our country’s history. Do I join a protest march? Do I physically confront persons or systems that oppress? Do I write my representatives who will most likely ignore my pleas for justice? Am I to be revolutionary instead of respectable?

How difficult it is to embrace a bold, justice-centered, countercultural Christianity—one that challenges power and sides with the oppressed. How frightening it can be to answer a prophetic call to action and social responsibility.

I don’t know that I have a clear answer—for myself or for you. But what I do know is this: I will keep choosing to stand with those on the margins, especially within this faith community. I will continue to show up, to make myself available to feed the hungry, to be

present where there is need. Even something as simple as holding hands in my interracial marriage becomes, in its own way, a quiet act of defiance—a public witness against division.

I pray that each of us, in our own way and with our own gifts and ability, find those ways to honor Isaiah’s and Bonhoeffer’s words. And that we accept the strength and courage God is ever so willing to give us to do it.

PRAYER

God of justice, Help us to stand with the forgotten, to speak when silence is easier, and to love with courage. May even our smallest actions reflect your kingdom. Align our hearts with yours, and make us faithful in the work of compassion and justice. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - July 18, 2025

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 33:18

“God’s eye is on those who show God respect, the ones who have hope for his steadfast love.”

WORDS OF HOPE

What Will Your Epitaph Be?

I can think of no better tribute for one’s memorial service, concluding line for an obituary, or inspiring epitaph for a tombstone than the simple words: “They Brought Hope.”

Paul’s words to the early Christian community in Corinth proclaimed: “Now faith, hope and love remain, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13). I have made the case that HOPE is the greatest –though I see no need to rank them. Each are magnificent elements, admired qualities and great truths of life.

I elevate HOPE because hope still gives us buoyancy when faith and love are not present, or at least not felt. I have often quoted the first stanza of Emily Dickinson’s wonderful poem, “‘Hope’ is the Thing with Feathers”:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all –

(from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, edited by Thomas H. Johnson, ed., Cambridge, Mass.: The Belknap Press of Harvard University press, Copyright © 1951, 1955, 1979, 1983 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Hope looks ahead and anticipates what is not yet, not seen, not realized, not quite fully believed but still possible. From the Christian perspective one might simply say, “God is not yet finished.”

That is what the wise mentor said to the young man who had exclaimed in a time of despair, “My life is ruined!” The wise and thoughtful soul calmly replied, “You don’t know that; your life is not over yet.”

God is not yet finished. Remember that in your darkest times. It is not an empty promise of everything always resolving as you would like, but an eternal truth of God at work bringing the redemptive out of the seemingly hopeless.

However we conceive of God, we can better glimpse the eternal through the Gospel accounts of the divinely human Jesus. Jesus lived and demonstrated that God is at work for good in the world. Jesus’ life proclaims hope both boldly and simply.

Whenever you think there is no hope, remember: There is yet the “third day;” there is yet the empty tomb; there is yet more light to be revealed.

PRAYER

Holy One, give us the tune to sing when we have no words, and may the song crescendo with eternal hope. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary G. Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - July 17, 2025

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 73.26

My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

WORDS OF HOPE

The Waters We Carry

Moments, times, but especially, people. We wish we could hold onto them all. And we feel emptier, like a piece of us missing, when they’re taken away. Though we feel their absence, we aren’t lighter because of it. Because loss is the heavier emotion you only begin to notice when there’s something you’re carrying, something you’re holding onto.

These have always been the rules of the wheel of fortune. Like a waterwheel, loss rises to the top when it’s full. Carried by the momentum of the river, the waterwheel is both giving and taking away.

Fortune, like the river, baptizes everyone. However, some carry more of this indiscriminate force. Each barrel will have a time of great weight, when one’s loss is full–because the child cannot stay a child, stay at home, or go the whole way with the parents they have. The wheel of fortune turns as do we, from children to full grown.

But it is only by falling that the waterwheel turns, the bird flies, and people fall in love. When we release ourselves of our loss, when we let go of what we’re carrying, when the wheel continues to spin carried by the Spirit of the river–life begins again…

Life always begins again, somewhere. And we all return to the river in time.

PRAYER

May we always remember that nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - July 16, 2025

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:22 GMT

READING

"Worry is like a rocking chair, it keeps you moving but doesn't get you anywhere."

-Corrie Ten Boom

WORDS OF HOPE

In today’s world, we seem surrounded by worry and some worry much more than others. Haven't all of us known a person who seems to worry constantly and tends to talk something to death? They get an idea fixed in their head and then can't let it go; chewing on it both night and day, but never able to "spit or swallow". If truth be known, haven't each of us done that, and where did it ever get us? No resolution, no peace, no action or settlement of the matter...it only leads to distress and lost opportunity to be truly effective.

It's easy to tell that worried person to get over it and stop the rocking chair of worry. But that rarely slows the hurtful process for those who worry. For Christians, we still have things which enter our lives and can cause worry. However, a solution is available. Quiet down and take a few minutes to talk to Christ, not necessarily a formal prayer, just a little conversation with Christ. Ask for guidance in the matter, for wisdom and strength...and the patience to wait for the divine solution.

I guess that when we become followers of Jesus, he could have demanded that we saw off the rockers on our chairs; however, with the rocking chair intact we still can exercise our legs a bit while we seek his guidance and help in these troubling matters.

A common matter about which Christians worry is their failure to do all that they assume God wants from them. They hang onto their past and allow its weight to distance themselves from God's presence. But ours is a forgiving God. If you can't trust God's mercy, the problem really is a failure to accept divine forgiveness.

So, the worry goes on, sometimes for years, and with it grows a greater gap in one's relationship with God. We all need to give God credit for being far more loving and merciful and allow God to forgive us.

Corrie Ten Boom stated the matter this way. "God takes our sins, our failures, past, present and future, and dumps them into the sea. Then God posts a sign for us which says, NO FISHING ALLOWED

PRAYER

Merciful God, guide us to worry not excessively and to pray for Christ's help incessantly! Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - July 15, 2025

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:00:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 3:11-17

For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him?

WORDS OF HOPE

This passage of scripture is one that I tend to think of as being somewhat hazardous. The hazard is that it has the potential for being used as a measuring stick against other people. It is too easy to read this passage and look at someone else and judge them. Especially the last line in discussing worldly goods. I can almost hear someone saying “I’m looking at you”!

But the passage begins by saying this is the message you’ve heard. We are to love one another. It talks about how the world will come to hate those who love. But that those who live in love have eternal life. There is no doubt in my mind that the writer is speaking to the reader in a way that turns this passage into a self-examination.

Many Christians today seem to use biblical passages as a measuring stick for other people’s actions. Personally, I think the only thing that particular measuring stick should be used for is measuring yourself. And please don’t think I’m not equally guilty about what I’m going to say; because I am. Too often, I think we ask “how can those people” believe what they believe or act as they act and call themselves Christians or Christ Followers? Too often I asked that about others.

So, what questions should we be asking? Only ones that begin with “Am I loving”. Am I loving God? Am I loving my neighbor? Am I loving myself? Am I loving my enemies? These are the questions to ask each day.

John writes later in this letter that one who abides in love abides in God, and God in them.

PRAYER

Loving God, be with me each day and when needed, slap me upside the head. Let me see you in all persons; to love You, my neighbors, myself, and especially my enemies. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - July 14, 2025

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:00:09 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 2.5-6

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the realm he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

WORDS OF HOPE

James’ brief instructional letter of Wisdom to the early church is my favorite writing of the New Testament (Greek Scriptures). Tradition tells us that the writer of the Book was likely the half-brother of Jesus, and I can easily imagine the two of them having casual conversations during firewood gathering and other household chores. They would discuss events of the day and the attitudes of their world.

Jesus would ask his brother about his thoughts on the Pharisees showing excessive favor and awarding honors to their rich donors while dismissing poor widows who could not afford to give even a mite (worth less than a penny) but who gave it anyway to the Temple’s funds. “Such a woman is rich in faith!” Jesus would declare to his younger brother.

James would remember Jesus’ words throughout the years as he watched him scorned, accused of blasphemy, of being a traitor to his faith, and finally being crucified as an insurrectionist to the tyranny of the Empire. I can also imagine a brother’s usual relations with a sibling turning into worship after the Resurrection. It’s those words of worship that we read in his epistle to the early church.

The wisdom in the Book of James is therefore the wisdom of his brother Jesus, remembered from countless conversations they had before either had ever heard of Simon Peter, Mary Magdalene, Judas, or the Apostle Paul. To me, the plain talk of James gives us a clue about the essence of his brother’s message:

Honor and help the poor and marginalized so that you may be rich in faith. Those who are rich in gold who are exploiting them are exploiting you as well. They are blaspheming the holy name of the One to whom you belong.

This is the central message of the Book of James, and I believe of his Holy Brother as well.

PRAYER

May we always remember that Jesus called us his brothers and sisters, too, and that all we say or do brings either honor or dishonor to the family of God. Help us to be rich in faith. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - July 11, 2025

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 7:10

But God was with Joseph and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So, Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

WORDS OF HOPE

In Acts chapter 7, we see Stephen brought before the Sanhedrin and put on trial. Back in chapter 6, we learn that he was one of seven men chosen to make sure widows and other overlooked people were cared for in the daily food distribution. While this might have seemed like a simple or even thankless job—basically making sure everyone got their fair share of supper—Stephen, full of God’s grace and power, went far beyond that. He performed amazing signs and wonders among the people, showing that even everyday acts of service can become something powerful when God is at work.

That didn’t sit well with some people who grew jealous of Stephen, so they stirred up trouble, made up false accusations, and dragged him into a trial. But that was all the opportunity Stephen needed. Standing before the Sanhedrin, he launched into a bold retelling of Israel’s history, highlighting God’s constant faithfulness—and how, time and again, the people resisted what God was trying to do.

In Acts 7:9–14, Stephen talks about how Joseph’s difficult circumstances were completely turned around—he went from being sold into slavery to becoming the governor of Egypt and overseeing Pharaoh’s entire household. It’s a powerful example of how God can take something meant for harm and turn it into something good, bringing purpose and blessing even out of unfair or painful situations.

As chapter seven continues, Stephen confronts the religious leaders, accusing them of being stubborn and blind to God's ongoing work throughout history. He compares them to their ancestors who rejected God's messengers, pointing out that they’ve gone even further by betraying and killing Jesus. His bold truth-telling strikes a nerve, enraging the Sanhedrin.

Frequently, we too can cling too tightly to tradition and ignore the truth that keeps us from seeing how God is working right now. Just as Stephen talks about how the people of Israel kept turning away from the prophets, we can become just as stubborn — just like the religious leaders were doing with Jesus.

This narrative is our reminder to stay open to God’s direction, even when it pushes us out of our comfort zone or challenges what we’ve always believed.

PRAYER

God of grace and truth,

Thank You for working through ordinary acts of service and turning them into something powerful. Like Stephen, help us to be faithful—even when it's difficult or when others misunderstand us.
Give us courage to speak truth with love and humility, and keep our hearts open to Your direction, even when it challenges our comfort or traditions.

Teach us to see Your hand at work, especially in situations that feel unfair or painful. Remind us, as You did with Joseph, that You can bring purpose and redemption from even the hardest moments.

Help us not to resist Your Spirit, but to follow You boldly and faithfully wherever You lead.

Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - July 10, 2025

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 GMT

READING

“This is the air I breathe. This is the air I breathe, Your holy presence, living in me”….Marie Barnet

WORDS OF HOPE

Recently, an article in the New York Times reported on a scientific study that found that “the patterns of breathing through our nose are so distinctive that it may be possible to identify us by our breath alone.” If measured for about 24 hours, it reveals a distinct “breath print.” How amazing that it could be so!

As I sat with the wonder of this discovery, I began to remember lines from Genesis about God breathing God’s breath into Adam, and then I recalled songs such “Breathe” which asserts that we breathe the very breath of God.

James Finley, one of the core teachers for the Center for Action and Contemplation, had come to this conclusion through personal experience as a young Cistercian monk during his time at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky (where Thomas Merton was his spiritual director). He was praying the Psalms in the loft of the barn, and as he breathed in the air, he had the insight that “what we tend to think of as the air is actually God. In a subtle, interior way I sensed that I was walking back and forth in the atmospheric, all-encompassing presence of God, who was sustaining me breath by breath.” Sustaining each of us breath by breath.

The sheer intimacy of this reality is achingly beautiful and can, if we allow it, crack open our oft-protected heart to embrace the mystical encounter.

For Finley, “the most intimate depth of this awakening moment was a simple awareness that God, who was sustaining [his] life breath by breath, knew me through and through as mercy within mercy within mercy.”

This kind of awareness should give us pause: It is not the kind of thing we just experience and then run to the grocery store or keep scrolling through news threads. Sacred presence lives in us, exchanges the flow of life with us, sustains us in love.

And so I wonder if, in some sense, these breath measurements could be said to capture the billions of manifestations of God’s breath, with each of us so fearfully and wonderfully made?

My head swirls with the implications of it all—and I feel like I did when I first saw the images of the Webb telescope. Unable to comprehend it all—but struck with awe and holy wonder.

PRAYER

Breathe in us, Breath of God, Fill us with life anew, that we may love what you would love and do what you would do.* Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*(adapted from “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” by Edwin Hatch)

Wednesday - July 9, 2025

hhaberman@cathedralofhope.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:00:13 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Kings 61-7

Now the company of prophets said to Elisha, “As you see, the place where we live under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, and let us collect logs there, one for each of us, and build a place there for us to live.” He answered, “Do so.” Then one of them said, “Please come with your servants.” And he answered, “I will.” So, he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his ax head fell into the water; he cried out, “Alas, master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. He said, “Pick it up.” So, he reached out his hand and took it.

WORDS OF HOPE

This is a really enigmatic story that is hard to make sense of for me. Floating axe heads?

I like to find a piece of every scripture in the lectionary that I can relate to, or that can be the basis of a story, but this one was tough.

I thought about it for a long time and then came to the conclusion that perhaps the relevance was there in plain sight. The man chopping down the tree was so enthusiastic or frantic that his axe head flew from his axe and landed in the river. He literally “lost his head” in his enthusiasm.

I can certainly relate to that. Sometimes, I find myself so carried away with the action of a situation that I lose my head and get lost. The details become flustering, and I can’t find a spot to center myself.

Elisha breaks the problem down to a simple action. One that had magical results, but one that I can take with me. When I become overwhelmed and flustered, I can toss that metaphorical stick in the river, watch the ripples spread out and eventually find peace. At that point my head floats back to me.

PRAYER

At times when I am overwhelmed, let me remember that God will help me center myself if I only take a moment to pause and watch and listen. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - July 8, 2025

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:19 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 16:11

Honest scales and balances are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are God’s work.

WORDS OF HOPE

I have just returned from a trip to Ireland with my daughter, her husband, and my four- and six-year-old grandsons. To experience the new and different through the eyes of children is both nourishing and refreshing. We did quite a bit of driving. The first thing the boys asked was, “Why is the steering wheel on a different side from Mommy’s car?” This was not an unreasonable question, though I found the wording quite telling. They didn’t say “wrong side,” but rather “different side.” This question was followed by, “How long until we get to where we are going?” The response, “About 170 kilometers.” As you might imagine, the next question that came was, “What is a kilometer?” Thus began a week of teachable mathematical moments.

The six-year-old is a math whiz and entertains himself by doing math problems in his head. He spent the remainder of our trip doing the conversions between kilometers and miles. His fun was expanded when we stopped at our first shop and he learned that the Irish use euros rather than dollars and thus he was presented with more math equations to solve.

I share this story because today is Math 2.0 Day, a day set aside to highlight the importance of math in our lives. Though I am thrilled with this little guy’s ability to solve these math equations, I am more thrilled that he never thought the differences in another country were “wrong.” Both boys readily accepted kilometers and euros, as well as biscuits and jumpers, with no judgement or criticism; these were just new, different, fun, and perfectly acceptable, ways to see the world. It may seem like a small thing, but in an age where even the slightest differences in lifestyle, looks, or beliefs can cause such divisive thoughts and actions in our world, I felt blessed by being in the presence of true child-like wonder…and acceptance.

This experience made me wonder when it is that we lose our ability to see and embrace difference as something exciting, as something worth exploring and understanding, as something that expands our lives rather than threatens and diminishes it. Coincidentally, we also happened to be in downtown Dublin during the Pride parade and celebration. Though our little boys don’t understand all the significance of Pride celebrations, they do understand the general meaning and were thrilled to find themselves in the midst of all the rainbows, something that is familiar to them.

If only we could all accept difference and see it as a gift, as a means to growth, knowledge, and blessings. If only we could cultivate understanding and appreciation by exploring our differences. Like my grandsons, we would learn that 170 kilometers is not as far as 170 miles, and be grateful.

PRAYER

God of all things measurable and immeasurable, help us to keep an open mind and open heart so that we can learn from all that we experience. Remind us that you are the maker of all things, familiar and unfamiliar, and each is a gift to us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - July 7, 2025

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:14 GMT

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

Friday - July 4, 2025

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:00:00 GMT

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

Thursday - July 3, 2025

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:00:08 GMT

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

Wednesday - July 2, 2025

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:04 GMT

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

Tuesday July 1, 2025

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:02 GMT

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

Monday - June 30, 2025

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

WORDS OF HOPE

God’s GPS

What God has planned for you nothing, no person, no force on Earth or in heaven, no demon, absolutely nothing can stop it from coming to pass. You may be doubting whether or not you are going to get the money you need, that college degree, the house that you have always wanted, or the baby that you keep seeing in your dreams, but if God wants you to have it, then it is already yours.

You can relax. Stop doubting. God has something special for you that isn’t for anyone else. Just because you do not see it, does not mean that it is not on its way. This is the GPS. No, not the navigation system in your car. This is God’s Postal Service and it is fast, reliable, and always on time.

If your dream has not arrived yet, then that does not mean that you should give up on your dream. It could mean that something is not ready yet. When God wants to bless you, God wants to make sure that you are ready for the blessing. The bigger the blessing the bigger the preparation. When we stop trying, stop believing, and stop seeking we sometimes stop what God is trying to do in our lives.

Time will pass and another opportunity will present itself for you to achieve your dream. This is not a coincidence but God trying once again to bless you. However, if we keep turning away, ignoring the signs, then eventually we will become deaf to God’s voice urging us to keep trying.

God does not do all the work. God opens doors but it is we who must walk through them. Take a chance on investing in yourself. There are always going to be risks, but you are not taking the risk alone. God will be there guiding you. If you are not meant to have something, then you will know because the distance between you and what you are seeking will keep getting further and further apart.

It will feel like something is pulling you in another direction. That could be God leading you towards another path. Do not be discouraged by this because it is always the case that God’s plans are better than our own. Keep fighting for your dreams; it may take years, but the rewards are greater than you can even imagine.

PRAYER

Spirit of Wisdom,

Give us discernment for the journey, patience for the waiting, and gratitude when we finally receive the promise. You have loved us before we loved You and have plotted our course. We praise You, not because You give us gifts, but because You give us the assurance of Your love. Help us to be as steadfast in our faith inasmuch as You are steadfast in loving us. We pray by Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - June 27, 2025

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1:28-31

God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. ’God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. ’And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

WORDS OF HOPE

The population of the Earth is well over 8 Billion. That is a lot of people and it is fair to say that if people have failed to follow God’s instructions in most things, we’ve done a good job with ‘fill the earth’.

There are some interesting things to note. God uses almost the same language about blessing, being fruitful and multiplying a few passages earlier; before the creation of humans. Similar words are spoken to Noah as he departs the ark. God again says things of this nature when talking to Abraham about Isaac and Ishmael.

But just as we have gone overboard with multiply, humans have taken subdue and dominion a bit far. We often treat this place with distain. The heat we are living under is a result of that distain. Our resources, plants, animals, air, water are all in peril. We conduct wars which not only destroy people but also animals, plants, habitation, the earth itself. We tear up the earth to mine the materials for our lives.

I do not know what the original Hebrew word in the Bible was that was translated as dominion. But I do know that the root of the word dominion is domus, Latin for home.

So, as we contemplate the world and the huge number of people in it, keep in mind and your prayers all the people of the earth. This place is our home and is meant for everyone. There are a lot of us and many, perhaps most of us have great needs in basic survival. Pray for our home, where we all live.

PRAYER

Creator, you made this place and all the universe to be home for your creation. May we come to love and cherish Your creation as the gift you mean it to be. May we remember that this is our home.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Thursday - June 26, 2025

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:00:00 GMT

READING

“In indigenous ways of thinking, we don’t call these natural resources. We call them relatives. They are beings, people, which share their gifts with each other and us. When someone shares their gifts with you, your first response is gratitude, and that gratitude cements a response of love.” Robin Wall Kimmerer

WORDS OF HOPE

I slide my fingers slowly over the inside of her outstretched arm, smooth and brown, learning, as with a lover’s hands, each part of her. A low curved ridge curls over a shallow trough —the sinew and ligament of her limb-- and border the long muscular shape. The word “limb” arcs the synapses of the brain to suggest that we are both limbed beings, kindred, Sisters.

Sister crepe myrtle has been rooted in my back yard for years. First planted as a small scrub, she has grown wildly, her crown shaped eastward—as some of the sunlight has been absorbed by a much larger hackberry tree which overshadowed her. Still, her rangy arms stretch in their own design over my yard. She is not “aesthetically pruned”, as some like to do, and tiny scratch marks from 1000s of squirrel journeys cover her trunk, but to me she is beautiful in all seasons with her fushia blossoms in summer, orange-red tinged leaves in fall, and polished bare branches in winter.

Though I have always been of Nature’s tribe, stopping to behold the tiniest purple flower in the grass and listening raptly to the joy-song of the wren, I have realized that even this deep appreciation is objectifying in some sense—I the observer, they the other, I the witness, they the witnessed. At this time of my life, I am seeking to learn, pray into, and practice an even deeper spirituality of relationship with the natural world.

One of my teachers in this school of relationality is Robin Wall Kimmerer-- plant ecologist, scientist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass , and wisdom-carrier of the Patowatomi people. Kimmerer notes that nowhere in our conservation dogma does the word love appear. And yet for her love based in gratitude is at the heart of things. The task is to invite people to love the world, as we will sacrifice to save what we love.

She references an ecopsychologist who asserts that we have a “species loneliness”—separate as most of us are from the living world. And, from the stories that people have shared with her, many are feeling an almost desperate longing for renewed connection. Kimmerer believes that the earth too is lonely for us and yearns to be in loving relationship.

Now, in this time she calls the Great Remembering, we are recalling what it was like to hold the earth in love and be held by her. May we learn our lessons well and become not just stewards of the land, but her lovers.

PRAYER

Oh God, who loved and blessed all creation, animate in us the devotion and love necessary to sacrifice for the preservation and flourishing of the living world. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - June 25, 2025

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:00:19 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 11.32-35

When Mary [of Bethany] reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” she replied.

Jesus wept.

Centering Prayer : Lord God, quiet my thoughts and open my spirit to receive your words into my soul. May they find rich opportunity to grow and nourish my spiritual journey with you. Amen.

WORDS OF HOPE

We live in a harsh society in which compassion sometimes seems out sync with our daily lives, but hear these words: "God is full of compassion and mercy, come let us adore God." This phrase forms an introductory statement to a Franciscan morning prayer which has been prayed for centuries, and its message represents an essential aspect of the Christian journey.

Let’s look at the word compassion . From its Latin origin, it is a compound word: com meaning with and passio meaning sympathy; to be in sympathy with, suffer with, experience the distress or sorrow of others. Referring back to that introductory phrase ("God is full of compassion"), it means that God experiences our suffering alongside us. This is a startling pronouncement about the character of the Absolute Sovereign God of this universe.

Earlier humanity viewed God as very distant, up in the heavens and away or out of reach for human beings. However, Jesus revealed to us a God which is close, nearby, whose Spirit can live with and in our daily experiences; a God which also senses our sorrow, pain, loss and even our joy; a God which wants to be a true participant in our full life. God wants to live our daily life, step-by-step, in intimate relationship with us!

Jesus is the great revelation of this divine nature as expressed in human form. The Gospel of John (Chapter 11) gives the account of Jesus’ response to the emotional pain experienced by the sisters and friends of Lazarus who had died. When he arrived, Jesus found them in deep sorrow and crying over the loss of this friend who was such a good man.

"When Jesus saw them weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved." As he approached the tomb, we read the shortest verse in all the Bible: "Jesus wept". Jesus felt their pain and sorrow. As a human, Jesus genuinely expressed sorrow for the loss of Lazarus' friendship and cried as we might do in that experience. Jesus demonstrated to us in human form the depth of God's compassion at Lazarus' death and the family's grief.

As the Franciscan prayer phrase reads: "Our God is full of compassion", let us adore the compassionate God who knows us and who loves us so much and wishes to experience that love in an intimate relationship with our full life.

PRAYER

God of all, today, may we strive to practice the same compassion for others as you have forever felt for us.

Devotion Author

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - June 24, 3035

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 8:1-4

Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:

“To you, O people, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

WORDS OF HOPE

During a recent time of morning prayer and meditation I found myself struggling with how to face the day. On my mind was a laundry list of questions—Why are things in the world the way they are? What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to feel? What information is true? What is real? And the list went on until finally that still small voiced pierced through my chaotic thoughts and whispered, “what one thing do you need right now/?”

This one question erased all the others. I sat with it for what seemed like an eternity thinking about an answer…wisdom. The word wisdom rang out clearly in my head and heart. Though my answer was definitive, upon further reflection it came with more questions…what is wisdom and how do I find it?

Wisdom is not knowledge. Wisdom is not truth. Wisdom is what leads us to knowledge and truth. Wisdom is a lens though which we experience life. In one of his daily meditations, Franciscan priest Richard Rohr writes:

“One of the keys to wisdom is that we must recognize our own biases, our own addictive preoccupations, and those things to which, for some reason, we refused to pay attention. Until we see these patterns (which is early-stage contemplation), we will never be able to see what we do not see. Without such critical awareness of the small self, there is little chance that any individual will produce truly great knowing or enduring wisdom.”

“To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind” writes Solomon about wisdom in the above passage in Proverbs. It struck me when reading this and then thinking about the words of Richard Rohr that it is not wisdom itself that we seek; she is there before us at all times. But rather, we must seek to find a space for wisdom to dwell within. Those biases that we carry, the judgement that we harbor, the meaningless distractions that we allow to punctuate our days, the false sense of comfort we seek in worldly things all take away from the place where wisdom desires to live and grow.

In Chapter 3 of Proverbs, Solomon writes, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge God, and God will make straighter your paths.” This is where I find myself right now, learning to trust in a bigger way. Amidst all that is going on around us, we must maintain our trust in God remembering that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and God’s thoughts are not ours.

PRAYER

Loving God, help me to navigate my days not relying solely on my own limited understanding, but trusting in your infinite wisdom. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - June 23,2025

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

I Corinthians 1:27-29

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

WORDS OF HOPE

Being a fan of the works of Aaron Sorkin (think The West Wing, A Few Good Men, Moneyball, The Newsroom), I find myself wishing I could wake up one morning with the rapid-fire dialogue plus the witty and intellectual banter of one of his characters. Particularly in academic situations, I want to have the banter of President Josiah Bartlett or Anchorman Will McAvoy.

Instead, I wake up as the same old me. Writing better than I speak, I can’t recall names when I want to and struggle to put together coherent sentences in the moment.

If scripture ever had an Aaron Sorkin character, it would be the Apostle Paul. He is classically trained, a citizen of Rome, well-traveled, and able to debate among the Greeks and in the Synagogue.

Yet here, in 1 Corinthians, Paul makes the assertion that the message of the cross is “foolishness” and “a stumbling block” and “a weakness”. He offers a radical redefinition of value and meaning. While human wisdom often seeks logical explanations and strength, Paul insists that God's plan operates on a different plane, one that subverts worldly expectations.

Paul asks rhetorically, “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law?” and argues that God has made the wisdom of the world foolish. This is not a rejection of intellect, but rather a critique of pride and self-reliance. The Jews want miraculous signs, the Greeks want solid philosophic thought. Instead, Paul presents a “Christ crucified” which makes no sense to either group.

This inversion is intentional. God does not conform to human categories or expectations but acts through ‘foolish’ means to fulfill God’s purposes. While human wisdom often seeks logical explanations and strength, Paul insists that God's plan operates on a different plane, one that subverts worldly expectations.

I still want to wake up one morning with the witty banter of an Aaron Sorkin character. But even more so, I wake up every morning knowing of God’s good grace and humbly accepting that God’s wisdom is greater than anything I could imagine.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to trust in the wisdom of Your cross, even when it seems foolish to the world. Teach me to boast only in You, knowing that my strength and salvation come from Your grace alone. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - June 20, 2025

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:00:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Habakkuk 1: 1-3

How long oh Lord, must I cry out for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you “VIOLENCE” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife and conflicts abound.

WORDS OF HOPE

One evening after watching a news report where folks were being arrested at a peaceful demonstration, I literally said out loud, “Really God, where are you during this absolute insanity of injustice? Are you just going to idly sit by and let the destruction happen?” I wondered if I could stay where I am, keep the faith and maintain my calm.

While researching the Bible for the answers, I discovered it’s full of folks who felt the same way and found this current situation in our world is really nothing new.

In my quest for biblical support, I found solidarity and optimism in the story of Habakkuk. He wrestled with this problem as all around him injustice and fear were running rampant. He too was infuriated by how the wicked always seemed to prosper. He felt like God was just hanging out, doing nothing about all the evil happening around him, and after all, wasn’t that God’s job!

So, he cried out as well and petitioned God to do something and stop the chaos. It’s a remarkable story about faith, patience, and God’s timing. In the end, God declares he will deal with evil and restore justice. Habakkuk learns to trust God and live by faith, even in the face of adversity.

His experience reminds us though the world may be filled with evil and suffering, God's ultimate plan of justice will triumph even when things seem uncertain or difficult. This includes both the punishment of the wicked and the restoration of the righteous. While I unequivocally believe God will prevail, I am just wondering…..God, could you please hurry?

PRAYER

Creator God of ALL, give us the stamina to maintain our faith, the courage to stand up to adversity and the wisdom to know your word will prevail! In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Thursday - June 19, 2025

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:00:09 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 26:20 NIV

Without wood a fire goes out.

WORDS OF HOPE

The Serenity of Silence

Today is Juneteenth, the day slaves in Texas finally learned they were free long after the end of the chaos of the Civil War. Today many African Americans gather in silent prayer to honor the occasion. Silence is not the absence of chaos but the presence of control. Rage is chaotic, so too is lust; neither of which need sound to be present. To quiet the storms in our hearts, we need only bring order to the confusion. One can stay silent only by showing restraint. A teacher should instruct by considering what she or he says.

Every manner of thought passes through the mind, every kind of emotion is felt in the heart, but if each thought were said and every emotion expressed, then even in sleep there would be no rest. Silence bridals the tongue and reins in the heart. It does not always stop the fire within, but it keeps the fire from spreading.

Consider silence when you do not know what to say. It is better to say nothing than it is to say the wrong thing. How good it is to sleep in peace. It is hard to sleep under a bridge while a train is passing by. Likewise, let your words offer the listener rest and try your best not to argue. Anger without control ruins relationships but anger with control sees the end of it.

There are times when we cannot stay silent, for a pot will boil over if the lid is kept on for too long. However, if we are patient and wise, then we will choose the manner in which we speak and the time. Many monks meditate in silence. Some have found silence so valuable that they even take a vow of silence, meaning that they live their entire lives without speaking.

Perhaps, this is the reason why they never go to war. How can there be a fire with nothing to burn or how can there be an argument without words? Quiet places are quite peaceful. There is music all around us, and we can hear it only if we are listening.

PRAYER

Gentle Spirit,

Teach us wisdom. Help us to understand. Some of us do not know peace. Grant us the serenity of silence. Let our minds be at rest and our hearts be still. Bless You, for always making a way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - June 18, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Daniel 1: 11-16

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So, the guard took away their choice of food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

WORDS OF HOPE

During the Babylonian exile, the Hebrews adopted a lot of customs and learnings from the Babylonians. This story of Daniel, the same one who was rescued from the “lion’s den” is one I never really examined, but it contains an interesting nutritional observation. Daniel, in his quest to keep what we now call the Kosher Laws refused to eat the food provided and insisted on a diet of simple vegetables and water. Not surprisingly after a few weeks, he was healthier than the others who had been eating what was most likely non-kosher meals and meat, I would guess pork.

It’s a biblical argument for a vegetarian diet, but more importantly, it is an illustration of how Daniel followed his traditions as the others adopted those of the Babylonians. Not everything about a new culture is positive, nor is it negative. It is just new, and as such may or may not be a good thing.

The story reminds me to be open to new experiences and ideas but to not discard all my old ones. After all the old ones got me this far.

PRAYER

May we always be open to new ideas yet still be guided by God’s grace and wisdom.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Monday - June 16, 2025

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:00:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 13.10

Where there is strife, there is pride,

but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

James 3.17

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Sirach 11:1,3

The wisdom of the humble lifts their head high. The bee is small among flying creatures, but what it produces is the best of sweet things.

WORDS OF HOPE

There is so much speculation, so much misinformation, so many outright lies floating around our multitude of news sources these days, we long for some good old-fashioned words of wisdom. Where do we find it? You and I should both know the answer to that: The wisdom literature of the Bible, both in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures of the Protestant Bible, and in the Apocryphal books of the Roman Catholic version. Sirach is one of the best known of these books. The words are from the great wisdom teacher, Ben Sira.

But wisdom, even then, came with a price. Here it is clear that Ben Sira was teaching a group of young men who probably were more privileged in society. Their families may have had enough wealth that the boys got better schooling and were not forced directly into the common labor market. It would have been quite natural that they might fall into the sticky grip of pride; especially, when speaking or teaching other men of less means.

However, the danger of pride is not limited to them. How can it affect us today? The character trait of humility is based upon proper acceptance of who we really are and of valid respect for the worth of the other person's life and knowledge. The Psalms and Proverbs are filled with many admonitions for humility, and it was a major trait given example in the life of Jesus. Certainly, it is not a character trait which is given much value by today's onslaught of self-promotional behavior.

However curious enough, humility when linked with wisdom is an admired trait when seen in the life of a deceased person. Who gives much honor to the person whose eulogy states that he was an arrogant fool? However, the humble departed soul is revered and remembered for the acts and words of kindness by which that person showed respect for others.

The essence of wisdom boils down to a valid acceptance of the equal worth of every human. That’s how God views all of us, worthy of divine love; why can’t we see others as God does?

PRAYER

Creator of all, help us to remember that the wisest among us are also the humblest. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - June 13, 2025

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:1-3 (The Message)

In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

WORDS OF HOPE

Get Going and Use the Gifts You’ve Got!

The writings of the Apostle Paul come alive in this contemporary paraphrase of the New Testament by American pastor, Eugene Peterson. There is an importance, an urgency to these words. They call us to the task of living out our journey on the path that the early disciples simply named, “The Way.” It is the path God calls you to travel.

Where does that road go? It is a journey that is unique for everyone, yet similar. Whatever our gifts, we are to “pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love.” We are admonished to see beyond differences and quickly mend fences. Wow! Does that sound relevant and needed today!

Verses 4-6 continue,

“You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.”

Then, just when you think Paul’s message is describing some overly homogenized social melting pot, there is verse 7: “But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.”

You may be struggling right now, but don’t ever succumb to the falsehood that you don’t have gifts that this world needs.

Cultivate the discipline of a grateful heart. Offer loving kindness to someone who is ignored or rejected. Be the hands and feet of Christ through service, compassion, speaking up, and taking a stand when it matters.

We can’t fix everything or save everyone. God doesn’t expect us to. God expects us to use the gifts we were given to bring hope and light to troubled people in tough places. Get going, and remember to use the gifts you’ve got!

PRAYER

Dear Jesus who loves us, help us we pray, to use what we have, be who we are, and follow Your Way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - June 12, 2025

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19:13-14

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Images of child labor populate the fiction of Romantic and Victorian England in works such as William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” and several of Charles Dickens’ novels including David Copperfield. With the surge of industrialization, children often had their innocence stolen by harsh, abusive, and perilous situations. While his father was in debtors’ prison, Dickens himself worked 10 to 12 hours a day, separated from his family in unhealthy conditions in Warren Blacking Factory. In his autobiography he described the place as "a crazy, tumbledown house with rotten floors and staircase, dirty and decaying, with rats swarming down in the cellar.” https://editions.covecollective.org/content/memory-trauma-and-poverty-child-labor-charles-dickenss-david-copperfield

Today, World Day against Child Labor, tragically highlights that this deplorable situation still exists across the globe. Though the UN adopted a goal of ending child labor by 2025, some 160 million youth are subject to the practice, some of the worst manifestations of which are slavery, forced labor, trafficking, and the recruitment of children in military service. *

In the US in 2025, states are going in both directions—with some strengthening protections and others loosening. For example, in January Illinois limited the number of hours that children and youth can work during a school week to 18 and blacklisted certain types of employment: cannabis dispensaries, the adult entertainment industry, gambling establishments, and gun ranges. **As well, harsher penalties for violations will be enforced.

On the other hand, according to the Economic Policy Institute, lawmakers this year proposed legislation in Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio that would undermine federal laws on child labor, minimum wage, and worker health and safety protections. “These proliferating state challenges to federal law are laying the groundwork for more extreme and dangerous Project 2025 proposals to allow employers across the country to hire children for hazardous jobs or to allow states to opt out of various federal labor standards like the minimum wage.”***

Texas child labor policies are actually quite extensive and can be found at the link below.**** EPI lists Texas as one of 14 states which had enacted stronger policies for

protection in the years 2021-2024, but did not list specific ways for the states. Of course, enforcement of the statutes is crucial. Given the weak enforcement of safety in the foster care system, neglect in labor enforcement might be suspected as well.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer once said that “the test of the morality of a civilization is what it does for its children.” The young are one of our most vulnerable populations and more easily controlled and exploited. Any endangerment or violation of them--physically, psychologically, mentally, spiritually-- should wound us all and stir us to justice seeking. Jesus reserved some of his harshest statements for those who harmed children: In Matthew 18: 6 he asserts, “If anyone causes one of these little ones…to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Let all who have ears, let them hear and take heed.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/un-calls-for-urgent-action-as-world-misses-2025-goal-to-end-child-labour

**https://www.newsweek.com/child-labor-laws-changed-five-states-2008126

***https://www.epi.org/blog/coordinated-attacks-on-state-labor-standards-are-laying-the-groundwork-for-dangerous-project-2025-proposals-to-undermine-all-workers-rights/

****https://www.twc.texas.gov/sites/default/files/fdcm/docs/whcl-75s-twc.pdf

Wednesday - June 11, 2025

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:00:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Mark 6.47-51

WORDS OF HOPE

I love the writing style of the author of the Gospel of Mark. Following the life of Jesus, Mark continually reports the most remarkable of events in the most casual of manners. He also writes in succinct, competent news reporter terms, sharing only the facts without long commentaries. He would never be able to find a job on the national networks today. His favorite word is “immediately”. He never dwells on anything at length or troubles us with superfluous details. That is not true with Matthew, Luke, or John who each had a specific agenda for selected audiences. Mark just reports the news.

In the above story, Jesus notices the disciples’ difficulty with the oars but is in no hurry to reach out to them. Later, he casually walks on the water to check out the situation and is about to stroll on by when he hears cries of anguish and fear from the boat. We are informed that the men are believers in ghosts, which heightens their fear, so “immediately” Jesus calms down first his friends and then the storm.

Mark concludes that the amazed boat crew, as usual, does not have any spiritual understanding of what had happened, even though they had just witnessed Jesus feeding thousands of hungry people from a basket of bread and fish. They readily speculate that the apparition on the lake is a ghost but, are unable to accept the conspicuous fact that they are in the presence of God.

Are our hearts hardened these days? Are we so weary of sensationalized news or political party reports that it takes not just a storm, but a tsunami to wake us up to the presence of God in our lives? If this story teaches us anything, it is that God is ever present, always aware, hears our cries, and then moves as God moves. Mark, in his succinct accounts, never gives us a detailed formula for gaining immediate access to God. He simply states that in any situation, God is always there beside us. Isn’t that enough?

PRAYER

May I always remember the many storms that have been stilled in my life and that you are unfailingly there beside me for the next one. Amen

DEVOTION

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - June 10, 2025

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:00:11 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

WORDS OF HOPE

At our last meeting, our Cathedral of Hope small group was discussing the state of things in our city, state, country, and the world. Instead of spiraling into despair, we had a serious discussion about what we as individuals or as a small group can realistically do to make our world a better place not just for us but for everyone. We came to the conclusion that we will do the best we can to be conduits of God’s love wherever we find ourselves.

Today is “Be A Miracle In Someone’s Life Day.” One definition of miracle is, “a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings welcome consequences.” As I thought about our group’s conversation and this definition, I was struck by the realization that in today’s world, acts of kindness and caring amongst strangers seems like a miracle of sorts.

Maybe our group description of ourselves as conduits of God’s love can be expanded to include miracle workers. Maybe through our acts of sharing God’s love with friends and strangers alike, hearts will be softened, voices will be heard, barriers will be removed, and unity will have a chance. Our constant prayer is for such a miracle.

If each of us becomes mindful of the needs of others and does the Gospel work of offering help and support to our neighbors, miracles will happen. Though no single one of us can “fix” things on our own, our individual acts of compassion, generosity, and kindness will combine and form a positive ripple in our world. That is the miracle of God’s love.

Our group is a group of twelve. (The significance of that number is not lost on us.) We have made a commitment to ourselves, one another, our community, and our God to share God’s love at all times, to make the ripples, to believe that we can be a part of making miracles happen. Our hope is that each of you will join with us. Together we can make small ripples into tidal waves. “We impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit…”

PRAYER

In the words of the psalmist, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1). May our work, prayers, and love become the stuff of miracles. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - June 9, 2025

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 48:9-10

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.

WORDS OF HOPE

In this season of flowers and rain God's amazing majesty is overwhelming. Watching the rain fall and seeing the Earth refreshed is such a special feeling. Nothing compares to a Spring shower.

As we were waiting for guests to arrive at the DeGolyer house a few weeks ago, we kept the front door open so we could enjoy the majestic rainfall out in the Arboretum beyond our doors! The display was spectacular! Soft gentle rains at first, but later the loud claps of thunder reminded us that God's blessings sometimes come gently and other times the rains and blessings pour down at an enormous force.

And for those of us in Texas, we know that after the Spring rains, and storms, there will be a long stretch of dry season! We learn to be thankful for each shower. Thankful for the moisture and thankful when it is just moisture and not destructive winds or hail or tornadoes! And we must learn to have fortitude and patience through the long dry spell that is likely ahead!

My smartest neighbors do not battle with nature, they have native plants and don't try to defy Texas weather by planting a lawn that won't survive our weather without constant watering! But most of us still try to produce a green carpet out front and moan how hard it is to keep it pretty. Ours was planted when we moved to our house 22 years ago, so we go with it. But it is a battle against nature most of the growing season!

Our lives are like the weather also! There are times when it seems God's blessings come in abundance. We are filled with joy and gratitude for all the beautiful gifts and other times there are periods when it seems we lose friends to death and long term illnesses and struggles and life becomes a challenge.

Just like the long rain drought in Texas, we must remain faithful and continue to praise God for past blessings and future blessings even when we are not feeling those showers of blessings right at that moment. We can keep watering our thirsty lawns of our lives and remain faithful and remember to meditate on God's unfailing love and praise God during rain or drought!

PRAYER

God of gentle rain and raging storm and droughts, help us to be faithful whatever season of our life we find ourselves going through. You are always with us and blessing us even when we don't always realize we are receiving your daily blessings of life and breath.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - June 6, 2025

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 44:4

For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields.

WORDS OF HOPE

I’ve lived in Texas most of my life. There was a time in my childhood when I really looked forward to summers in Texas. Of course, a big part of my love of summer was summer vacation from school. But I also loved riding my bike, going to Rangers games, playing baseball, climbing trees, and swimming in the Randol Mill Park pool or in whatever lake my uncle set his boat. I didn’t mind the heat all that much and I have a plethora of freckles on my shoulders to prove it.

As I got older, relentless Texas summers became less enjoyable and more onerous. Mowing lawns, coaching countless softball games, and getting into a car that felt like an oven changed my mind about 100-degree days for days on end.

Now, I look for shady spots in parking lots and know which buildings have decent air conditioning. My daily walks with my dog occur before sunrise. I don’t even want to leave the house in the afternoons. Texas summers leave this old body drained and sapped.

Perhaps we are living in times where every bit of news, every circumstance, and every set of hurdles are just wearing us out like August in Texas. After a long day or week or month of making your way in this world, you find yourself spent. Like some of the plants on my back porch when I forget to water them, you feel wilted and drained.

I have some good news for you. Even as you read this, even as you wipe the proverbial and actual sweat from your brow, water is being poured out.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

The people of God knew what it was like to be worn out and exhausted. They knew the helplessness of a drought of the soul that feels like a drought in the land. They knew what endless summers felt like and what a blessing it was to get rain and relief. Which is why God said to them and also says to you: I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground.

If the words ‘tired’ and ‘parched’ are your words right now, recall the times that heavenly refreshment fell upon you in the past. If you feel worn out and exhausted, look for those gifts that are being poured on you all around you. Find that friend, colleague, trusted pet, or dear one that pours water on your thirsty ground. And give thanks to God for pouring water on your weary soul.

PRAYER

Lord, we come before You with hearts that thirsts—

thirsts for Your presence, Your truth, Your peace.

Pour Your Spirit upon us,

like water on the dry and weary land.

Let Your blessing fall upon us,

like gentle rain on tender shoots,

that we may grow strong in You,

rooted in Your grace, bearing the fruit of righteousness.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - June 5, 2025

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 6:5, 9-11

For if we have been united with him (Christ Jesus) in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his... We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died once [as a physical human being], but the life he now lives, he lives to God. So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in [the resurrected] Christ Jesus.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading are some words of Paul to the young Christians in Rome. Today, if you ask people: "What will happen to you when you die?" Often, you get a blank stare which resembles the eyes of a deer in the headlight of an approaching car. Some will say: "I'll go to heaven"; whereas some will freely admit that they believe they already have a reserved spot in hell. However, a significant group will have no answer or they will talk about fading away in sleep to nothingness, nonexistence.

Each of these individuals is deeply invested in their current life circumstances, their health, possessions and prestige; however, they seem to have made little investment (limited interests) in their existence after death. There will be an existence after death for each human. Even those who spurn the welcoming embrace of a loving God will not evaporate into nothingness at death. An afterlife experience was guaranteed at the moment of universal Creation; because our universe was created with an ultimate purpose. And that divinely inspired purpose is for humanity to have an authentic and intimate relationship with the Creator God!

Nothingness after death has nothing to do with it. We were created to be in relationship. Paul often preached that our relationship with the Creator God should be like the vibrant relationship Jesus had with his Abba Parent. The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates to us that such an authentic and vibrant relationship with God is not stamped out by physical death; rather it is resurrected into a new and more vibrant relationship which has no end. We are offered an eternity to be spent in the presence of God or not.

Jesus' words of love, his life and resurrection guide and inspire us along this path to an eternal relationship with God. It is my hope that every week of Eastertide has blessed you, and the resurrected presence of our Lord will guard you throughout each day as the Season nears its close.

PRAYERS

All praise be yours, O risen Lord, from death to endless life restored, both you and our Maker, we adore and Holy Spirit ever more." (Easter doxology to Jesu dulcis memoria.)

"Yours, O God, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. Alleluia!" (An ancient acclimation of praise)

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - June 4, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:00:03 GMT

READING

Yechezkel 3:21

“Nevertheless if thou warn the tzaddik, that the tzaddik sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast saved thy nefesh.”

Orthodox Jewish Bible

WORDS OF HOPE

This is a passage from Ezekiel, one of the major prophets in the Old Testament. Like many of the prophets, he is warning the people of Israel to mind their P’s and Q’s. To stay righteous and to listen to the word of God which he believed he spoke. The Jewish Bible uses a lot of Hebrew words in its translation because they are more specific and color the language in a more authentic way.

The “tsaddik” is usually translated as a righteous person and logically if they heed the prophet's words and stay righteous they will live. And for Yechezkel by warning them he saves his “nefesh”, which translates roughly to “neck”. So, the motive for him to prophesize is to ‘“save his neck”, hardly a righteous motive.

What I find speaks to me in this passage is that idea. Sometimes the path you believe to be following God’s guidance can also save your neck. But it can also save the lives of those you interact with.

Altruistic motives are admirable but often practical ones are equally worthy.

PRAYER

May we listen for the quiet guidance of God in our lives, even though it may not be revealed in dramatic ways.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - June 3, 2025

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Joshua 2.1-2

Then Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent two spies to Jericho. “Go, look over the land,” he said. So, they went and entered the house of a harlot named Rahab and stayed there.

WORDS OF HOPE

The routine sexism and degrading language in some of the Old Testament stories is sometimes hard to take. Most of us know the story of Rahab, an innkeeper of Jericho whose bravery and clever maneuvering gave the Hebrews one of their most famous victories. Her actions in the story gave no indications of her being a prostitute, but because she was a successful self-employed woman, the writer presumed she must have been. How else could a single woman support herself? If we take the time to read the story we discover Rahab was actually an innkeeper.

Words can be killers. The great poet and commentator on life, Dorothy Parker proved that statement to be true countless times. In answer to a question about her opinion on horticulture, she once said “You can lead a horticulture, but you can’t make her think.” It was a deliberate pun, begging for a laugh, but I love what she did with clever words. Unlike the misogynist writer of Joshua, Dorothy Parker was funny. Still is. I can look up any quote from her and get a giggle or become lost in thought. She had a lot to say about what she observed, mostly about the hypocritically snobbish and ultra-rich culture where she did her work. She didn’t hold back, and she seemed always quick to make her point.

But before I leave Rahab’s story behind, I was talking to a friend once about her observations on famous Bible prostitutes. My quite liberal friend made me almost spew my absinthe one day. (OK it wasn’t absinthe it was coffee. However, since I was talking about Dorothy Parker, I thought it was more appropriate for the story.) Anyway, she said something to the effect of: “People get up in arms about that Bible harlot Jesus saved from stoning and sent on her way.” My friend said the fact that this was a self-employed woman was inconsequential. The real harlots were the men who wanted to stone her. They had betrayed their faith in a God of love and forgiveness. Profound! She’s right.

In many ways Mrs. Parker had a lot in common with Jesus. You might think I’m off my rocker. Do people still say that? Jesus was eloquent but plain-spoken in addressing his world. If we really take note of the freedoms Jesus’ actions and words were expressing, it’s easy to see Jesus was often not politically correct, was he? He had a thing or two to say about the hypocrisy of the religious snobs of the day as well as their oppressive laws.

The liberation theology in Jesus’ public speeches was ultimately empowering to the powerless. The difference is in his time if you said certain radical things, you could get killed, but in Dorothy Parker’s time, her critics reasoned she was probably just drunk. It eased the sting of the truth.

In retrospect, Jesus did tell us we don’t need a strictly defined, rule-giving God. Look around. We eat well at our cafeteria of spirituality… a little if this and a little of that. Whatever serves our appetite. He described the simplicity of a one-flavor- fits- all kind of God and forget all the rest. Choose love. In fact love IS the only flavor. That’s easy enough.

PRAYER

Give us the courage of Rahab and the perseverance of Jesus to use words to their best advantage, words that respect all people and words that manifest your love. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - June 2, 2025

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 26:20 NIV

Without wood a fire goes out.

WORDS OF HOPE

The Serenity of Silence

Silence is not the absence of chaos but the presence of control. Rage is chaotic, so too is lust; neither of which need sound to be present. To quiet the storms in our hearts, we need only bring order to the confusion. One can only stay silent by showing restraint. A teacher should instruct by considering what she or he says.

PRAYER

Gentle Spirit,

Teach us wisdom. Help us to understand. Some of us do not know peace. Grant us the serenity of silence. Let our minds be at rest and our hearts be still. Bless You, for always making a way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Friday - May 30, 2025

Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 23:39-43

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

WORDS OF HOPE

These few verses are found in Luke's account of Jesus' passion on the cross. He had been crucified with two thieves hung on crosses beside him. The holy Jesus had suffered the exhaustion of his betrayal, trial, torture and now the pain of being nailed to the cross. Death of his body was close at hand. And yet, he must endure ridicule from one of those thieves and many individuals who traveled by the site of the crucifixion. It seemed almost too much to deal with. Almost a time to curse and spit if there had been only enough energy left in his body. Maybe it's a time to sink within one's own body and shut out all the noise and evil action around.

However, one of those thieves recognized Jesus' holy nature and pleaded that Jesus would remember his confession: "I have been condemned justly but this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus could have been consumed with his own agony, but instead, he responded to that thief: "Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

There's a real lesson for us in these few verses. In times of deep pain and loss in our life, there usually are others around us who also are in agony and may not have an adequate relationship with God. They may not have the assurance of that divine loving presence which can lead them through the current trial. In such difficult and self-consuming moments, we are still servants of Christ, and still asked to witness to God's loving and forgiving care.

It is during such moments, that our words and actions have their greatest strength to tell of divine grace. It is then that we can extend to others God's offer of peace to a weary humanity. As followers and proclaimers of the blessed love of God, never do we have the right to "crawl into our own shell of comfort" and ignore the pain of those around us! May we always take the example of Jesus' promise given to this dying thief. We can do no less than Jesus!

PRAYER

Gracious God, as we reflect on the example of Jesus' experience, strengthen us to be more faithful and consistent in our life's witness to your redeeming love. Open our eyes to the opportunities in which we can help others find you as a rich source of comfort and guidance for their life. May this week be filled with God-given opportunities for us to express God's love.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - May 29, 2025

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 13:31-35

At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:31-35

WORDS OF HOPE

The passage above is most often associated with Maundy Thursday, as it is Jesus’s words to the disciples at the Last Supper. It was also the Gospel reading in the common lectionary for the Fifth Sunday after Easter. Why are we reading it again so soon? Because the words of Jesus here are important and worth repeating…over and over and over. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

I recently had an annual checkup with my cardiologist. In our general conversation, he was touting the benefits of The Mediterranean Diet. When I got home, I did a little research about what exactly is The Mediterranean Diet. The food components of this diet were not surprising—fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, poultry, limited red meat and sweets—but I was pleasantly surprised by some of the information that was included in the more thorough articles, details of this “diet” that went beyond just what goes on the plate and into the mouth.

The Mediterranean Diet is not a diet in the way that we have come to understand that word; rather, it is a lifestyle, a way of living that values and thrives on community and social engagement especially around meals, laughing often, moving “naturally” (not specifically intentional exercise, but walking in your daily life and getting up from in front of the TV and computer), and living simply.

I realized that many people approach Christianity like they do the commonly held understanding of a diet. If I only consume the “right” things—read and inwardly digest the Bible—my faith life will be healthy and good. This approach fails to take into account how we are nourished by the food we eat and how we live outwardly as Christians every day. Focusing more on self rather than on community, it overlooks, or perhaps even ignores, the “new commandment” that Jesus gives to his disciples.

The meal that Jesus and his disciples shared on their last night together is certainly important to the “diet” of our Christian faith, but our consumption of the bread and wine on Sunday morning is not all that there is to the story. The post-communion prayer in the Episcopal Church ends, “…Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord.” The food that we consume is only one part of living a full and healthy life, spiritually or otherwise. We partake of the communion bread and wine to remind us of Jesus’s promises to us and to give of us nourishment and energy to do the work that Jesus has called us to do.

The example and the commandment that Jesus left to his disciples is one of service, presence, and love. Jesus was fully present with them on that night. He washed their feet. He affirmed his love for them. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another…” So be it.

PRAYER

Blessed Jesus, you gave us this new commandment to love one another. Feed, nourish, strengthen, and guide me in my daily life so that everyone I encounter feels love and knows that I am your disciple. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - May 28, 2025

Wed, 28 May 2025 14:15:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 1.30

By God’s doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.

WORDS OF HOPE

There are days when I feel numb. Texas weather can do that to us. The days are getting warmer, heat is draining, and it can leave me feeling empty, waiting for the next good thing to happen. I avoid the news as a rule, especially these days. My opinion about too many things is easily reduced to how I’ll vote the next time there’s an election, but this isn’t a review about political ramblings. It’s about profound emotions that come and go with or without much effort.

Emotions often exist as a summation of life experiences, the triumphs, and disappointments; the random joy, anger, and sadness that define life on earth. I confess I’m usually an optimistic brain type. Like Lady Gaga’s “Born That Way”. We have a certain predetermined overriding attitude that makes us naturally feel one way or the other. The recipe of chemicals within each of us that both gives us insight in our fellow Earthlings, and as ego determines, a microscopic glance into our often-predetermined moods. I like to think I’m in control of that, but am I?

Truth is, I know too well what situations I’ve caused to happen, the failures and successes of personal history that brought me to this day, because of what my thoughts and actions create. I own my creation no matter how tough or how lax I’ve been on myself and I live the life I created and must face my own profound happiness, anger, and even sadness.

Sometimes, I have to accept the fact that my mood is the sum-total of randomness, much like the weather. The Texas heat is the “Sun total” of its ability to give life, sustain it, and by a scientifically measurable way, offer us nourishment.

The Son of God does the same. Christ is not a time traveler, but a voice for all time. Christ’s wisdom and insight into our humanity is profundity in itself. The mystery of the Word that became flesh, offering his example of living, and becoming our redeemer is a wonderful, but abstract idea, giving a path of hope, helping us deal with the unexplained or the follies of living. If we dare listen to that Word, we are given God’s Door for an exit; an exit from emotional strife, dependency, sadness, the complexities of life and the ability to let go of the tiny details and embrace simplicity itself. To love, to forgive, to create, and embrace the most elusive thing granted to all of us, to calm down and simply BE.

PRAYER

Thank you that, regardless of environments, circumstances, or the state of our current emotional lives, your love and wisdom are always there to guide us and to redeem us. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - May 27, 2025

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:00:14 GMT

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

I am by my own admission and the admission of others, an absolutely atrocious wrapper of presents. When I was younger, I somehow or another was able to do an incredible job. But as I’ve grown older, I seem to have lost that skill. I’m not sure why or how.

Today is cellophane tape day. Once upon a time cellophane was the brand name in the United States for what we now commonly referred to as Scotch tape. But over time the word became genericized because of its use to describe all forms of such tape. But in the United Kingdom, that trademark has held. And so, it was in the Harry Potter books there was a substance called Spellotape which could be used to fix many of the problems that the wizarding world experienced.

This was changed to Scotch tape in the American version of the book and the pun was lost. So, while I wish I had spellotape to slap onto my gifts so that they would be repaired in the wrapping, this does not exist.

My wrapping is helped by tape. It holds the paper together, wrinkled, perhaps torn, perhaps patched. And even when I manage to recreate the great job I did when I was younger, tape is the essential substance that holds it all together. It is what makes the gift at look presentable.

I think the Apostle Paul in the passage above and then several other passages throughout the New Testament, sees the Holy Spirit in a similar way. Sometimes, if we only try to use the gifts God has given us, we still don’t manage to look like a perfect package. We have good days. We have our bad days. And we have those days when we manage to do a great job of being God’s representative here on earth. But regardless of how we present ourselves, the Holy Spirit holds us, wrinkled, perhaps torn, perhaps patched. But still a gift of God.

PRAYER

Gracious and merciful God, thank you for the Holy Spirit, the comforter who keeps us together in our hardest times and in our roughest times and in our best times. Allow us to let the Spirit do its work so that we may do your work upon the Earth. I’m in.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - May 26, 2025

Mon, 26 May 2025 09:00:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 17:20 NIV

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

WORDS OF HOPE

The Angel in the Mirror

What would happen if we removed the toxic people from our lives, encouraged ourselves, and understood that God was intentional when God made us? Would we then have any reason to ever be jealous of others, be overly critical of ourselves, sabotage our own success, or have a negative outlook on life? What is underneath the insecurity that plagues so many of us? We can see the consequences of it and may even be able to give good quality advice to others, but when it comes to taking that advice for ourselves or dealing with our own insecurity, we often shy from the thought of facing ourselves.

“The mirror never lies” is an old saying that many of us know very well. It suggests that our eyes can see the truth when it is shown to us. When we look at ourselves, however, we doubt, lack self-confidence, and fail to understand our own worth. Although we may see with our eyes, it is with the heart that a person believes.

Thus, it is our hearts that have the final say on how we feel about ourselves. Every insecurity has a heart condition attached to it, for our ability to love or hate ourselves has to do with our emotional wellness. So then, how does the sick become healthy and how do we look in the mirror and love the person staring back at us?

We try. Every tree starts out as a small seed before it grows into its full size. By itself, the seed won’t do anything. It must be planted, watered daily, and given lots of light. Even then, progress is slow and small. Slowly, but surely, it grows roots, becomes a small sprout, gets taller and taller, until it is at last a huge tree with many branches and much fruit.

If you cut it down, if you stop watering it, and if you refuse to give it light, then you will never know the greatness of your seed. You don’t have to understand your worth all at once, but in time, your seed can become a forest.

PRAYER

Great I Am,

You see us. Though we hide in the darkness of our own sorrows and cut ourselves with blades of our own making, You see us. Even though we have been blinded by our failures and made deaf from the screams of our critics, You say, “I have made you in my own image.” Help us overcome, for we will remember You and praise Your name. If we are Your children, then grant us the grace to believe the truth, for nothing hidden will stay hidden. Even Your love towards us, we cannot deny. Shine Your light so that we may see. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - May 23, 2025

Fri, 23 May 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 7. 1-9

Jesus was staying in Galilee. He did not wish to go to Judea because the Jewish leaders were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now, the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So, his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret ...

WORDS OF HOPE

Does your family tell you what to do with your life? Today’s Scripture reading is a good indication that Jesus’ family sometimes did. We know that the brothers referenced are indeed his blood relations, not his spiritual family. We often use the terms “brothers and sisters” today for other members of the Christian community but, it is clear that there is a distinction made here between “Brothers” and “Disciples”, one as Jesus’ birth family and the other as his followers.

I am always fascinated by the prospect of growing up in the same house with Jesus as an actual brother. The few times the Gospels ever refer to Jesus’ at-home relationships, we get a good idea that his siblings were not his fanboys. Proximity does not equal closeness and his siblings never seemed to have much of a clue as to who he was or what his purpose might be. Since they were related to him however, they felt it was their family duty to tell him to do what they determined was best for him. Sound familiar?

They certainly had a good idea that their brother was extraordinary. When they speak of his works, we know they must have witnessed him doing some pretty amazing things around the house and they became impatient, not understanding why he was hanging around the old town and not seeking fame and fortune in the big city…especially during a huge festival where he was certain to have a large audience. Shouldn’t someone with his gifts want to become “widely known”? He was sure to bring fame to the whole family! Sure, the jealous Jewish leaders were busy plotting his death, but wouldn’t the prospect of being famous be worth taking the chance?

The difference between us and Jesus is that we never read about him throwing a tantrum and yelling, “It’s MY life!” at his meddling brothers. He knew who he was even if they didn’t. That is the lesson he still teaches us. Our families are always generous with advice, some of it actually good, and we should be grateful for their intentions, but if we follow Jesus, we should already know the way that is right for us. He did tell us to love all of our neighbors, even the ones who are related to us. Besides, some of them are good cooks.

PRAYER

Help us to love and appreciate our families, both of birth and of choice. May we remember that all of us are the beloved children of the same Divine Parent. Give us the patience of Jesus. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - May 22, 2025

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:16 GMT

READING

“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet shatter every closet door.” Harvey Milk

WORDS OF HOPE

It is ironic that this morning, when I am called to write a devotion that comes out on Harvey Milk Day, I read a NYTimes article on a Pee Wee Herman documentary shown at Sundance this January. Essentially, Paul Reubens, the actor who eventually took on the persona of Herman, speaks of getting involved with an attractive man in the 70’s, moving in and beginning an intimate relationship, but then, feeling that he was losing his identity, ended that relationship, and decided to go back in the closet. According to Mark Harris, “The shock is that, out of what he acknowledges was “self-hatred” and “self-preservation,” as well as ambition and the practical impossibility of surviving as an out Saturday-morning children’s star in the 1980s, he hid his true self even from many close associates and friends.” (NYTimes, May 12, 2025)

Harvey Milk, on the other hand, was a visionary civil and human rights leader who was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. “Milk’s unprecedented loud and unapologetic proclamation of his authenticity as an openly gay candidate for public office, and his subsequent election gave never before experienced hope to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people everywhere at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility and discrimination.”* One of his successes was mobilizing to defeat Proposition 6, a California ballot initiative which would have mandated the firing of teachers who were openly gay. Milk felt strongly that we had to come out to fight for our rights: “We are coming out to fight the lies, the myths, the distortions. We are coming out to tell the truths about gays, for I am tired of the conspiracy of silence, so I’m going to talk about it. And I want you to talk about it. You must come out.”

Milk received regular death threats and knew that with the animus in some circles there was the possibility of his getting killed. One of the multiple copies of his will includes a directive “in case of my assassination” and included the quotation at the beginning of this reflection.

On November 27, 1978, Dan White, a disgruntled former city supervisor, assassinated both ally-mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk. But instead of curtailing the LGBT+ movement, it helped fuel greater commitment to claiming our rights.

The juxtaposition of these two stories-- along with the resurgence of intolerance and hostility particularly toward the transgender community fueling the passage of bills and executive actions-- has raised the possibility of some people feeling the necessity of going back into the closet or not risking coming out. And this morning I worry that we will harshly judge folks who feel that they need to choose safety.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I want us to be loud and proud, to speak and write, and to advocate and protest for our rights. But I don’t want to see what has happened in some circles about the Israeli-Arab crisis—the labeling of anyone who does not support Israel 100 percent, no questions asked, as anti-semitic. As followers of Jesus, we must give each other more respect, care, and love than that.

PRAYER

Justice Loving God who created each of us “fearfully and wonderfully,” help us push back against all that would oppress and turn back the progress we have made. And help us honor and support each other –even when our choices about whether we can live out loud and proud-- are different. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - May 21, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 21 May 2025 09:00:13 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Leviticus 19:13-14

“You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”

WORDS OF HOPE

These are part of the commandments given in Leviticus that are often overlooked by people with only a cursory understanding of the Holy Scriptures. They are often dismissed as the Levitical Code and relegated to something only the priests followed, and indeed a lot of Leviticus is arcane and not particularly relevant to today’s world. Yet there is wisdom here that is tough to overlook.

We live in a world where stealing and defrauding workers seems to be a “business model” and keeping money as long as possible and as much as possible is a national pastime. Maybe it’s time we took some of the scriptural commandments to heart and rather than just posting them on walls, we tried to understand their meaning.

That last line in particular sounds like a biblical version of DEI. Funny how thousands of years ago the writers of this book knew it was morally wrong to make things inaccessible to those with disabilities. Inclusion and equity is the message of Jesus as well. He didn’t turn people away because they looked different or had disabilities or were outcasts of society. He opened the way for them and welcomed them with open arms.

I am reminded of a friend of mine when I was growing up had polio. His family had built a swimming pool in their back yard so he could do exercises in the water and improve his muscle condition as he recovered from the disease. Swimming pools were a rare luxury in the 1950’s and my friend was generous. He welcomed me and my friends over to his house to swim whenever he was there. He modeled grace, even though he was profoundly disabled, and I never saw his disability as something to be shunned.

PRAYER

God of many names, may we deal fairly with all we come in contact with, and may we use our skills and actions to remove stumbling blocks to your grace. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - May 20, 2025

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4: 21-24 (NLT)

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

WORDS OF HOPE

I was ten years old when I chose to become a Christian. I thought I would automatically think and act like the new person I was supposed to be. That idea did not last long. I still had some pretty uncharitable thoughts. I was still tempted to lie when I thought it would be to my advantage. In short, I discovered following Christ meant I had to put some effort into being Christ-like. Over time, I learned that it is definitely worth the effort. I also learned that the "Jesus Way" makes my life easier and more rewarding.

My brother Butch told me an interesting story illustrating how this works in everyday life. He was approached by a customer looking for something in the department next to his. He had just received a message that his supervisor wanted to talk with him, but he decided to help the customer first. Together he and the customer located what was needed, but a necessary component was on a top shelf. He was about to search for a ladder to access it when "George," the person in charge of that department, returned. Butch showed him what the customer needed and asked if George would finish helping the customer so Butch could respond to his supervisor.

"You have a ladder in your department. Get it, and help the customer yourself," George responded sharply.

Butch admitted he had several thoughts about things to say or do. Still, he recalled that he had prayed that morning for God to guide him in all his interactions that day. So, he said, "OK," and helped the customer.

The next day, he prayed for God's guidance and grace as he started his day. He specifically asked God to help him deal kindly with the troublesome co-worker. Towards the end of the day, Butch saw an opportunity to finish cleaning and tidying his area early. Then he went to George and said, " I've finished early in my area. Can I help you with anything?"

Astounded, George said, "I have never had anyone offer to help me, especially after how I treated you yesterday." He apologized for his behavior. Butch accepted the apology and said he had often needed grace from others too. Together they attacked the tasks in George's department. Now, they help each other when they can.

That story illustrates the "Jesus Way" pretty well, as I see it. It is easier to meet an unpleasant encounter gracefully if you have started your day in communion with God. Notice that I did not say that my brother, the "Christian" in this story, is a role model for all to follow. He is not. He is human and my brother, so I know there are plenty of other times he has been the one in need of grace. And God is always there for him, granting grace as needed.

I love the story because it reminds me that God can create some delightful endings from the mess in our daily lives. We don't have to quit our jobs to serve God, and we don't have to speak from a pulpit to deliver a powerful message.

PRAYER

Beloved God, Thank you for providing encouragement through our fellowship with one another. Thank you for your infinite grace and for making our lives better. Help us to remember that every person we encounter and every situation is an opportunity to practice love and grace, as you have taught us. Multiply your love through us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Monday - May 19, 2025

Mon, 19 May 2025 09:00:09 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 11:20-21

Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

WORDS OF HOPE

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

In Acts chapter 11, we read about the church in Antioch, a community of believers that emerged as a result of the scattering that followed the persecution triggered by Stephen's martyrdom. As the believers dispersed, they spread across regions including Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch.

It was in Antioch, as in so many places, where the Good News took root and prospered because of the faithfulness of the followers of the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand guided them in their speech and in their actions.

Indeed, throughout the book of Acts, we discover that the scattered and persecuted church integrated spiritual practices and material generosity. Prayer, worship, evangelism, and fellowship are closely knit together with care for those in need. We read at the end of the 11th chapter that they respond to the Spirit’s leading to provide for a prophesied famine.

We see that in our own faith community, where these believers respond not only on Sunday mornings, but on every day of the week in feeding the hungry, caring for children, rallying to causes, and so much more.

It is in the midst of this narrative about faithfulness and response, teaching and serving, evangelism and outreach, that the final words of Acts 11:26 are: “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch”.

When we model our church life after the first-century believers in Antioch—living as faithful disciples, discerning and responding to the Spirit, remaining mission-focused, and treating our material resources as deeply connected to our spiritual lives—we reveal to the world a clearer and more compelling picture of what it truly means to be “Christian.”

PRAYER

When we mirror the church of Antioch, walking faithfully in step with the Spirit, hearts attuned to the call of mission, hands open in generous surrender, seeing no divide between soul and substance— then, and only then, Lord Christ do we offer the world a glimpse of the name “Christian” in all its truest, most radiant beauty. Help us to do so. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday- May 16, 2025

Fri, 16 May 2025 09:00:04 GMT

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Thursday - May 15, 2025

Thu, 15 May 2025 09:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 107. 1-3

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good;
God’s love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.

WORDS OF HOPE

When I am overwhelmed with sorrows from one report after another, reports of economic hardship, wars, and of loss, there is something that helps - I remind myself of what I'm grateful for. And I thank God for providing it.

I won't stop thanking God, even though there's so much despair, because as long I can find something to be grateful for - there is hope.

When there is death, I'm grateful for God's promise of eternal life.

When there is loss, I'm grateful to God for leading me to more.

When there is pain, I'm grateful to God because something must come of it and the pain won't be in vain.

When there is devastation, there is salvation.

And when my world goes to sleep with labored breath, I have dreams of a time when there is light and lofty laughter.

I'm grateful because it is better to be raised with praise than buried with a curse.

What are you grateful for?

PRAYER

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. ...

-Meister Eckhart

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - May 14, 2025

Wed, 14 May 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

WORDS OF HOPE

My first job as a teenager was working at Six Flags Over Texas in Ride Operations, assigned to the Spelunkers Cave. The industry calls this type of amusement park attraction a “dark ride” which takes you through a long winding trough that tells a story of the mystical, pointy-headed Spelunkers in their daily routines, similar in a way to Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Another Disney Park dark ride is Space Mountain, but it’s a roller coaster set in a dark building. I had ridden it enough that I thought I was pretty familiar with it. It wasn’t terribly fast, I recalled from my dozen or so rides before.

My then-partner and I had travelled to Paris. We had the opportunity to go to Disneyland Paris. We were not really roller coaster people per se. But I talked him into Space Mountain, because what could be different from its American counterpart? We had boarded and got buckled in when I noticed the sign saying this is a roller coaster-type ride in the dark with high-speeds, sharp turns, and corkscrew twists. I thought “High Speed. Oh no.”

Of course, we survived the afternoon, better or worse, nauseated, mostly in the rain, which didn’t help him forgive me any sooner. It was trial and error with good intentions, lessons learned.

Life is sometimes like that, whether at home, or work, or with new people. No matter how you view going into the dark unknown, you always have a choice. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Or you may either choose to stay in the darkness or walk into the light. You can take a chance and be optimistic for a rewarding new life-adventure or stay the same with the old and familiar.

Generally, most of us prefer the safe and familiar, or at least the hope that we won’t be too worse for the wear if we take the risk of walking (or riding) into the dark. It takes courage, determination, but most of all, a lot of faith to enter boldly into the unknown.

PRAYER

God of light, help us to be present in this moment wherever we are today in life’s journey. Are we ready? May we take deep breaths, eyes open, take one step forward and, trusting in your presence, say this aloud: “Here we go!” AMEN

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - May 13, 2025

Tue, 13 May 2025 09:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 9:32-35

As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

WORDS OF HOPE

I do believe in a loving God who has the power to heal, but like many I struggle sometimes with the who, what, when, and why of the miracle stories like this one about Aeneas. In my lifetime I’ve witnessed both the “miracles” and the disappointments attributed to God. And, I still experience the profound “why” each time. The cliche answer, “It is God’s will,” to my pleading questions is not acceptable to me. I know that I can never understand the mind of God, but that does not stop me from questioning, thinking, and praying to somehow increase my understanding of God’s power in the world. This process has led me to ask why stories like the healing of Aeneas are included in the Bible.

This may sound a bit heretical, but my first reaction to this story is that it is a big marketing scheme, perhaps even a pyramid scheme. Peter is out to make his quota of new followers for the day. Healing a paralyzed man certainly would cause people to believe in what you were selling. This makes perfect sense in a society where followers of Jesus were new and few. The question remains, however, what is the meaning of this story for those of us living now, when there are over two billion Christians worldwide?

As Christians, we call ourselves “people of hope.” Our hope is grounded in the promises of our God, many of which are made to us in the resurrection of Jesus. This hope is what feeds our faith. Without faith, we are left only with fear. Without something bigger than ourselves towards which to turn during our darkest times, we are left to be consumed by our fear and its many ugly faces.

In trying to make sense for myself of the healing of Aeneas, I started thinking about it like a trip to Vegas…or a trip to the gas station to buy a lottery ticket. As we put that nickel into the slot machine or hand over our dollar to the gas station attendant, we believe that this could be our time; we can hit the jackpot, that this moment can be part of a miracle story. Most of our stories don’t end by hitting that jackpot, but our faith in the possibility doesn’t waiver. We keep believing… Why? Because we have seen other people win and we know it is possible…just like the people of Lydda saw a paralyzed man rise up and walk and now know that it is possible. Witnessing such things strengthens our hope and faith in what is possible.

This brings me to another observation about this brief passage from Acts.

Though we may not witness such miracles every day, many opportunities for them do occur. Instead of putting ourselves in the place of Aeneas, what if we assume the role of Peter in this story? It was through Peter, a human being just like us, that Jesus healed Aeneas. Each day, Jesus also works through us in this same way to be agents of good deeds and perhaps even miracles. This is the hope to which we all must be open. Through our life and work in Christ, we have the ability, and the responsibility, to bring hope and faith to others. This is what Jesus desired of Peter and it is what he asks of all of his disciples, including us.

PRAYER

God of all that is possible, help me to be open to opportunities to share your love, to have courage to speak your truth, and to remain steadfast in hope and faith each day. Amen."

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - May 12, 2025

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 40:8

"Do not dream interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me."

WORDS OF HOPE

I'm sure that you remember the Bible story of Joseph, the young and precious son of Jacob. Because of sibling jealousy, he had been sold into slavery by his brothers and carted off to Egypt where he was sold once again as a slave in the house of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's chief officers. There, he was given special new duties, responsibilities which he faithfully performed.

How do you handle unexpected responsibilities in your life? Sometimes, in life's transition periods, we have opportunities and responsibilities which are completely unplanned. How many of us make the most of them? Back to our story, yet another unwelcome surprise awaited Joseph.

One day Potiphar's wife tried to seduce the young and handsome Joseph to have sex with her. He refused to deviate from faithful service to his Egyptian master. So, the humiliated and aggrieved wife falsely claimed that he had tried to rape her. For her lie, he was placed in Pharaoh's prison; where for more than two years, he still conducted himself honestly. Although he longed for release and did not understand why God might allow this injustice, he persisted in a faithful, God-fearing lifestyle. He trusted God would find a way.

God's way for his release was derived from that steadfast adherence to a good and productive life, even in difficult circumstances. The Cupbearer and Baker of Pharaoh, who also had been imprisoned, were given dreams. When they asked Joseph if he knew of anyone who could interpret dreams, Joseph, as quoted in the passage above, said: "Do not dream interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me," He was sure that the faithful God of his life would give him the correct interpretation.” When the Cupbearer was released, he forgot about Joseph. It seemed that all hope of release was lost, but Joseph continued a God-fearing lifestyle waiting in prison for two years.

Then one day, Pharaoh also had a troubling dream which none of his counselors could interpret. The Cupbearer remembered Joseph and asked that he be released to respond to Pharaoh's request. God gave the faithful Joseph the correct interpretation. Not only was Joseph released from prison, but he was made the chief counselor and second in command to Pharaoh; he became the Chief Steward of Egypt.

Because Joseph had been persistently faithful to God, even in difficult times, he was honored with a powerful political position and his wisdom saved Egypt and his father's family from starvation during seven years of famine.

So, what does the story tell you about enduring transitional times of loss and uncertainty? We may not be offered a post in the Federal government that would allow us to clean up our present mess, but we can be assured God will always remain faithful to us regardless of any circumstances in our lives.

PRAYER

Always , even in difficult times, may we be persistent in living a faithful God -inspired lifestyle! Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - May 9, 2025

Fri, 09 May 2025 09:00:12 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

WORDS OF HOPE

“What I Am For”

Optimism is contagious in a wonderfully transformative way. When we meet someone with a positive outlook on life it is as if we have stepped into a brighter place. If we are self-aware, we will notice that our mood lightens. There is a shift in perspective. The possibility of being receptive to fresh viewpoints and new ideas increases.

Optimism broadens the tunnel vision of pessimism and keeps an eye toward hope.

As the Psalmist might put it, because I trust in the LORD, I choose to follow God rather than worry.

Pessimism is invasive and corrosive. It can eat away at your spirit and swallow your hope.

With so many things in our nation and world changing in ways that bring distress and even harm, it is understandable to be against that which disrupts or erodes. The danger is, we begin to view the world through a narrow lens. We focus on all those ideas, decisions and viewpoints that we object to—that we are against. We become defined by what we stand AGAINST.

The better question is, “What do we stand FOR?”

When we shine the spotlight on love, justice, compassion and equity the dark side of fear-based or authoritarian actions is more clearly seen. When we state what we are FOR it makes clear the reason why change is required of those things we find objectionable.

When the frog is in the kettle and the heat is turned on it is vital that someone call attention to what has changed by reminding us that we all need cool water. If we don’t, everyone can get burned.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus who loves us, help us we pray. May we call out the turmoil and point to your Way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary G. Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - May 8, 2025

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:00:03 GMT

READING

“When life implodes in loss, it takes with it the future we thought was ours. The future can feel like a bleak, black hole.” Lisa Appelo

WORDS OF HOPE

Why the disciples did not recognize the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus is a salient question to wrestle with, and it can also offer insight into our own difficulty sensing the presence of the risen Christ in our lives today.

To refresh the story: As two of the disciples are journeying from Jerusalem after Holy Week, they are discussing “all these things which have happened”—the traumatic events they have just witnessed (Luke 24: 14). They are joined by a “stranger” who asks what they are talking about as they walk along, but Luke says that “their eyes were kept” from recognizing him as Jesus (16). When they tell him what they are talking about, the gospel indicates their emotional state: “They stood still, looking sad (17).” As they continue, they invite the “stranger” to come and stay with them, since nightfall is near. They only discern Jesus’ identity—their eyes being opened-- as he shares the breaking of the bread with them.

So what kept their eyes from seeing the resurrected Jesus? Certainly, one response might be that Jesus looked different after he was “changed from glory into glory.” However, in most of the artistic depictions of the narrative, Jesus is not imaged as all that different from the disciples—no halo, luminousness, or altered physicality. He is often dressed differently—in white mostly and sometimes with a headcovering/shawl on his shoulders, but many times not even that.

For me, the story speaks subtly but powerfully about the nature of the intense grief and disorientation in which the disciples were living. The recent days of injustice and violence, denial and betrayal. The days of witnessing Jesus’ torture and death by the state. The death of their prophet, leader, companion and brother, the longed-for Messiah, the one in whom all their hopes lived. Now gone.

Like an ocean wave, the intensity of grief knocks us off our feet, bringing us to our knees. It impacts not only our emotions—but our bodies and mind. Our immune system is often compromised. Sleep habits are disturbed. We may eat too much or too little, seek substances to dull the pain, isolate ourselves. Energy is depleted. But equally important are the effects on the brain, a condition now called “grief brain.” Mary Francis O’Conner, one of the chief experts on the subject, asserts that “grief is tied to all sorts of different brain functions we have, from being able to recall memories to taking the perspective of another person, to even things like regulating our heart rate and the experience of pain and suffering.”

Another significant interpretive dimension to the story is the effects of witnessing the torture of a beloved one. Dr. J. Carey Jackson asserts that 30% of people who have experienced violence show symptoms of PTSD. And in remembering violence against themselves as opposed to violence against another, “it is not their own suffering that haunts their nightmares, but the faces of others being tortured that they grieve most and can’t shake.” One possible manifestation of this is Cleopas’ reactive response when “the stranger” asks for a recounting of the events. Are you the only one who doesn’t know what’s happened here, he snaps, as if to deflect having to describe the pain he saw. However, Jesus’ continued presence and holding the story of the disastrous events allows the expression of the disciples’ suffering, helping it move through them.

After an unimaginable and catastrophic loss, the road to Emmaus may be our own road. Our resistances to taking it all in, to “seeing”it—is understandable in human terms and verified by neurological processes. Telling our stories, bearing witness to one another’s grief helps us heal in the long run.

PRAYER

Risen Christ, Hear the anguish of our losses and be our healing balm. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - May 7, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 07 May 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 5:9-11

For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

WORDS OF HOPE

The story of Jesus preaching from Simon’s boat and the immense catch of fish is one that is told often. I find the interesting part that when Jesus called James, John and Simon to be his disciples, they left their nets and boats behind. The idea of catching people is often interpreted as “making converts” in our times. Yet, Jesus followers were not “making” or “catching” anyone. Jesus never forced anyone to follow his way, he merely laid out the plan and people were drawn to it by attraction to his teachings and that of his disciples.

The message of Jesus is a gentle yet compelling one. He asks us to give up our nets and “catch people” through the example we live. Our very lives become the beacon that draws others to us.

When I was a child, my mother used to often tell me that doing something right was “setting an example”. In fact, she urged me to live my life that way.

I often asked her, “an example for who?”

Now I know the answer. An example for anyone who finds my life worth following and replicating. Jesus is stating the same message, over and over he gives us the keys to the realm of heaven, and they are not physical keys, but a way to live our lives. By doing so we model heaven on earth and that is more valuable than any net.

PRAYER

May we follow the example of Jesus and bring about a better world. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - May 6, 2025

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 26.15b-18a

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light…’ ”

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading is about the life-changing encounter the Apostle Paul experiences on the road to Damascus during which the voice of the Risen Christ commissions him to a ministry that will define the rest of his life. Jesus is direct, succinct, and leaves no doubt as to the direction Paul will be taking.

Several references are made about what Paul has seen and will see, because, in fact, as this declaration is made, Paul cannot see at all. He has been blinded by the sudden flash of light that is the presence of Christ in the rolling clouds before him. Paul has been traveling, probably by horseback, with a company of Roman soldiers, on his journey of persecution. His targets: Anyone who proclaims the teachings of Jesus and follows him in their words and lives.

Works of art throughout the centuries have intensified the dramatic event depicting Paul thrown from his horse and on his knees, stunned by the light of glory. The voice tells him he will be a witness of what he has seen and will see of Jesus, opening the eyes of others in the process. But, Paul is blinded, unable to see Jesus at all, and in his recollection, has never seen Jesus in the past either. We can only try to imagine his confusion or ever putting ourselves in his bewildering situation.

But, like Paul, how many times have we turned a blind eye to the presence of Jesus in our lives? How many times have we failed to see the face of Christ in the hurting, bewildered, or desperate among us? Paul had been blind countless times to courage of the Christ in those he had mercilessly persecuted, silenced, and imprisoned. Aren’t many of us in the same situation today? What will it take to knock us off our horses?

Paul became the most influential of all the Apostles following this life-altering encounter, so the story leaves us with hope. We have the opportunity daily to become more active in proclaiming the words or living the life of Jesus every time we acknowledge the needs of the least fortunate among us or stand up for the humanity of the most persecuted. You know who they are. We can see them as our sisters and brothers through the eyes of Jesus, and with the guidance of Jesus, bring light back to their darkness.

PRAYER

God of Mercy, in a world gone dark, help us to travel the way of Jesus this day, that we may see his face in the ones you love most, the vulnerable, the despised, and the forgotten. May others see his face in us. By the Light of Christ, AMEN

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - May 5, 2025

Mon, 05 May 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 41:10

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.

WORDS OF HOPE

When I picked my word of the year at Cathedral of Hope for 2025 I was very excited to see it was “Restore”!

Double Knee surgery was my New Year commitment! After putting it off for three years, I finally agreed to surgery and scheduled it for January! I needed to be restored. The warranty on the old knees had expired several years ago.

It is amazing the amount of dependence on others that double knee surgery leaves you!
I had an Upgraid team who texted daily. My doctor was amazing and has the best record for avoiding infections! Nurses were outstanding and so caring and encouraging. PT was great at home and outpatient. My Prayer groups are the best! And Barb was an amazing nurse at home and took on the job of helping me bathe and putting on my socks and had an incredible spreadsheet for my pill schedule to be sure we kept pain at bay as much as possible and she kept the ice bags on my knees and every other chore that had to be done for our household!

Our Irving Circle brought food & helped get me up all the stairs and into the house when I arrived home from the hospital! And prayed nonstop for my recovery.

God was present in all these amazing people who were responsible for getting me through the process of double knee surgery! All of us needed God's help for this process!

It is a strange feeling to be totally out of control of your household! I had no idea what was in my fridge! I was only in the bedroom and living room propped up in my recliner with ice on both knees!

It is now three months later I can hardly remember the pain, but am sure pleased at the progress. I can walk well and only need help getting in and out of vans and other unusual places! I have been able to give tours at the house at the Dallas Arboretum and have volunteered as a photographer at the Veritex golf tournament!

Some days I overdo and still need an extra nap and a mild pain pill. I am not completely healed, but so much better than my old knees were! And improvement continues where every day was worse with the old knees!

God gave Barb lots of patience to make it through having to do everything for me without strangling me! Or maybe she was just too tired!

It took all our friends and their prayers and kind helpfulness to get us through this time. Once again, I am aware what a precious gift friendship is.

PRAYER

God of all good gifts, I praise you for the miracle of modern medicine that allows new knees to extend quality of life! And I praise you for amazing friends who provide food and prayers and helping hands to help through difficult times! And I thank you for always being there through all the difficult times!

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jan Nunn

CoH Volunteer

Friday - May 2, 2025

Fri, 02 May 2025 09:00:12 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 6:1-4

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

WORDS OF HOPE

When we enter the scene of Isaiah 6:1-4, we are presented with imagery that is both awe-inspiring and overwhelming. The prophet Isaiah recounts a powerful vision of God’s majesty and holiness. He describes seeing the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Surrounding God are seraphim, calling out to one another in worship, proclaiming, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." Their voices cause the temple's doorposts to shake, and the entire temple fills with smoke.

This is widely regarded as Isaiah’s call, or perhaps rededication, to prophetic ministry. Standing in the temple of and in the very presence of God, Isaiah rightly is struck by his inadequacy and unworthiness in the presence of a God whose holiness has been repeated with the words “Holy, Holy, Holy” by the seraphs.

However, what starts this almost psychedelic panorama of powerful imagery and majesty is a rather mundane historical reference to when this vision takes place for Isaiah. It begins with the words: In the year that King Uzziah died. For those keeping track, that would have been around 740 BCE.

King Uzziah had ruled the kingdom of Judah for over 50 years, bringing prosperity, stability, and military strength to the nation. For those who read this prophet’s story, they knew that his death likely signaled a time of uncertainty, anxiety, and political change.

What the people of God needed in such an uncertain time was a stability point. Isaiah prophesying such a dizzying and magnificent vision provided a contrast between an earthy king passing and the eternal reign of God. Even as good leaders (and bad leaders) vacate their seats of empire, Isaiah and the rest of us are given a vision of God still on the throne – high and exalted – reaffirming that God’s sovereignty transcends human rulers.

This is reassuring and comforting knowledge especially in these days: While kingdoms rise and fall, God’s rule is unshakable.

Isaiah’s account of this vision stands as a powerful call to ministry—not only for him, but for us as well. We are explicitly and urgently called to partner with God in rising up against empire. In support and defense of our marginalized siblings, we sing to God in God’s Temple: Here am I! Send me!

PRAYER

Let us pray a paraphrase of a prayer by theologian J. Clinton McCann, Jr.

Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth,

Just as you majestically revealed yourself to Isaiah to ready him for your message, ready our hearts too—so we may hear your voice clearly and step into our purpose with passion and resolve. Let your glory break into the world, wild and unstoppable like smoke and flame. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who gave everything to fulfill your will and make us holy. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - May 1, 2025

Thu, 01 May 2025 11:00:07 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 65:5

Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation.

WORDS OF HOPE

Are you ready to experience something awesome? Today is May Day, a time when we look around us and celebrate the springtime of God’s Creation. 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!

What awesome things are you inspired to do today? Often, we think about matters of social justice as inequality of opportunity, education and income among various groups or races of people. Hence, we set out to change the structure of society to better fit its needs. Although emphasis can be on change of policies toward better practices, as Christians we should seek to become involved in God's concept of justice which has its foundation in the existence of harmony among all humans.

The word "harmony" is derived from the concept of things "fitting together, joining in good order". God's desire is that human society will participate in a "seamless process" of receiving: giving and caring for: sharing so that everyone experiences the full blessings of God's magnificence. As we give a cup of cold water to those weakened by thirst, we should "fit" their other hand into our loving hands of help.

We should join not only our self but also our resources in harmony with their needs to bring them peace and relief. Harmony is more than "just getting along with others". That's cheap harmony... cheap social justice. We Christians are called to practice divine-style harmony/justice which results when we interact with all others and share ourselves in peace, love, humility and the full blessings of God. In doing this, we can each truly be one of God’s awesome things!

PRAYER

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - April 30, 2025

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:00:15 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 2.7-11

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard…Whoever says they are in the light and hates their sister or brother are still in darkness. Whoever loves their siblings abides in the light, and in them there is no cause for stumbling. But those who hate their brothers and sisters are in the darkness and walk in the darkness, and do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded their eyes.

WORDS OF HOPE

Why so much hate? That is not an uncommon question in our turbulent world. In a recent discussion with an old friend, in his frustration over the current political and ideological differences that plague our country, he concluded that “It’s time for a divorce!” He went on to say that in lieu of a bloody civil war, the most logical solution for our country is to divide into Red States and Blue States, with independent systems of government, but with interstate trade agreements. In his estimation, the ability to love one another is beyond the realm of reality. My friend is a highly intelligent and well-informed individual, but he is not a person of faith.

The writer of 1 John lived in oppressive, tyrannical, and dangerous times beyond our scope of understanding, but through it all he was a person of faith. In the letter to his readers, he doesn’t have to immediately state the text of the “old commandment that you had from the beginning.” By the time of the writing of this very late New Testament epistle, they had it engraved on their hearts from their earliest memories of being members of their faith community. It takes John three- and one-half chapters to finally write down the words, “Love One Another.”

This was Jesus’ most difficult teaching to many of his generation and maybe even more difficult to ours. Those three words are infinitely simple to say but unquestionable challenging to practice. The commandment leaves no options. There were no exceptions as to who the recipient of love was to be in John’s community. Though not as inclusive as “Love your neighbor” which included not only the immediate community of believers but the whole world, the words then and now command us to love people who we cannot possibly like.

Where does that leave our present community of followers of Jesus Christ? I can never like a person who practices injustices and preaches hatred, but I must love that person as one who has been blinded by the darkness. Jesus’ light was already shining then and is in no danger of flickering out now, especially when we take his words, his commandment, seriously. He didn’t say to love only those who return your love. That is not a relevant issue to a Messiah who loved the ones who condemned him and nailed him to a cross. His love was unconditional and so should ours be. It is the only way for the people of the Light.

PRAYER

Loving Parent of All of Us, before we react to, revile, or reject any of your children, our sisters and our brothers, teach us to look on them through your eyes and think of them through your heart and mind. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - April 29, 2025

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:08 GMT

SACRED READING

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

—Saint Francis of Assisi

WORDS OF HOPE

Recently I was given a card with this prayer on one side and a painting of St Francis on the other. I was already well aware of it, but the new card is a nice gift. Of all non-biblical verses this may be one of the most famous. It is read at 12 step programs; has been set to music as a church hymn, has been sung on Christian and secular albums, and even has been to Broadway in “Come from Away”.

I noticed today is World Wish Day. It celebrates the first wish ever fulfilled by the Make a Wish Foundation. A young man with leukemia, who wished to be a police officer was granted that opportunity.

But while looking at my prayer card gift, I realized that it is in fact a wish list. Look at the first line, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”; and from that point on there is a litany of the things that one would wish to be able to do.

We often say that we “wish” we could be more like Jesus. We sometimes say we “wish“ we knew what to do to live a more Christ-like life. Saint Francis has given us the answer. But he knows that we need to do this with God‘s help. And so he begins by expressing the simple wish to become an instrument of God‘s peace. That is how one lives a more Christ-like life.

PRAYER

Great Creator, echoing Saint Francis, make me an instrument of your peace. Set my mind such that I do not need to recall all of the things that Francis asked to be allowed; but install them in my heart so that they can become as natural as breathing. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - April 28, 2025

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:00:05 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 14. 27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

WORDS OF HOPE

Ripples in a Small Pond

Consider peace. Lao Tzu gave the formula for peace when he said, “If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors. If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.”

The individual directly affects the world. When there is war in the heart, there is war in the world. Each individual has the power to affect this world positively or negatively, and either way, we have to live with the consequences.

When a person has no values, the world will have less values, and in the end, our world will have no value. We are plagued with corrupt world leaders because it is us who are creating them. Unless we realize that we are all living in a world made smaller by our connectedness and that one pebble causes ripples in the whole of a small pond, then the world will never be at peace and the surface of the water will never be still. When you do not value life, all life, everything alive will be in danger from you.

The gravity cannot be underestimated because your life and what you choose to do with it, matters. Believe that you can affect this world, change this world, and better this world. We are contagious creatures. Our love is just as contagious as our hate. The common denominator behind Lao Tzu’s formula was you and me.

PRAYER

Divine Spirit,

As the world suffers from one plague after another, we realize that we are all connected. Help us to live with love towards all that You made. Give us the grace to love ourselves and be at peace. Bless You Great Spirit. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - April 25, 2025

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:22 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 24:13-34

That night at supper table the stranger took the loaf of bread, and he blessed it, broke it and gave it to each of them. Immediately, their eyes were opened to recognize him as their beloved Master Jesus! With that recognition, Jesus disappeared from in front of them.

WORDS OF HOPE

People celebrate Eastertide for many reasons. The ancient pagans celebrated this time of new birth for earth’s plants and animals. It marked a new beginning and refreshment for their lives after a long cold winter. Early Christians added to this tradition their remembrance of Jesus' resurrection and their promise of new and eternal life with him in heaven.

That hope broke loose the chains of the old and opened new prospects for growth in their spiritual lives. In the little town where I grew up, Easter Sunday was such a time. Added to those thoughts of celebration was the possibility of a new suit and shoes to wear to church for my brother and me. For our mom it was a new hat and for our dad, it probably meant a leaner wallet to pay for all of it.

The family would assemble at someone's house and a dinner with far too much food was always gorged down by happy celebrants. Easter Sunday was anticipated and celebrated with great joy. No one wanted to miss Easter. We are still in the Season of Eastertide. What does the Easter Season mean to you ? That's a really important question to ask oneself and get a good solid answer. Does its meaning seem to be a superficial celebration, or is it an opportunity to reflect on the hope and joy of relationship with God now and forever?

Does it encourage you to plunge deeper into a spiritual journey with guidance of the Holy Spirit? Does it confirm and strengthen your desire to live a more vibrant life following the teachings of Jesus? Meditate about this for a few minutes before you begin today's activities. How will it change what you do and say around others? Will these thoughts improve your Christian witness to the world?

PRAYER

My God, I come before you in this moment of quiet. I want to be fully present to you so that you can speak to my soul and enlighten my mind. Motivate my hands and feet into ministry which honors you, and in all things that I do and all that I am, may you be glorified and manifested into this world. May your presence which is expressed through my life become a blessing to others. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - April 24, 2025

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

READING

“Betrayal by strangers is hard enough, but betrayal by those closest to you is a killer. It destroys trust, it robs the past, it deadens the heart.” Barbara Brown Taylor

WORDS OF HOPE

He’d been with Jesus for the long haul—for the healing of the blind and the feeding of the multitude. He saw him turn water into wine at the marriage at Cana, witnessed Lazarus wakened from the tomb, walked hundreds of dusty miles talking of the kindom. He was not a fringe member of the followers, but a trusted disciple, the manager of the money, the one who kept food on the table and provided for the poor (Taylor).

And when the disciples gather for the Passover meal, Judas sits in the inner circle, his feet freshly washed by his servant-Lord. Jesus calls him out—though not by name: “One of you will betray me,” “one whom I have given this bread when I have dipped it in the dish” (John 13: 21, 25).

As betrayal pierces his heart, Jesus stays at the table. He feeds Judas and stays at the table rather than casting him out from the fellowship. And even after Judas’ dark purpose sends him into the night to collude with those who would crucify Jesus, his Lord offers a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” And, oh, what an extraordinary love it proves to be.

Taylor continues: “Judas is indispensable to our understanding of holy communion….His presence is our lasting reminder that this is a meal not only for the good, the right, the faithful among us, but also for the crooks and double-crossers, the spies and imposters. It will reveal us for who we are…and that knowledge may send us into the dark, dark night.

But it may also allow us to stay put, clinging to the edge of the table for dear life if need be, or better yet, clinging to the presence of the Lord at the head of the table, whose faithfulness does not depend on ours and whose death-defying love knows no end.”

PRAYER

For all the times we betray others and ourselves, we thank you, O Christ, for your redemptive love. For all the times we cling to you for dear life, we thank you, O Christ, for your wondrous love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Tuesday - April 22, 2025

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:07:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 18. 20-21

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Have you ever tried to force someone to tell you something before they were ready? On this First Tuesday of Eastertide, I think about the many questions various people would ask Jesus without understanding that his complete answer may have been so complex, the meaning would be lost in translation.

Jesus kept things simple in his confused and frightening world. He instinctively knew what they would understand or not. It reminds me of the Jack Nicholson line from A Few Good Men in which he played a military Colonel confronting Lieutenant Tom Cruz, "You can't handle the truth!"

Jesus was the master of his own instinctive timing; he knew what was appropriate; Do this today, Do that tomorrow. The bottom line was for him to fulfill the promises of the bigger picture while creating a sense of freedom and understanding of their world, as he had come to see it.

For those who manage groups of people or delegate information, with any luck, we follow a certain criterion for communication; from what is not enough information to too much information. Today's news is the prime example of how we must not be inundated with things that don't matter in the moment, but focus on the hope of tomorrow; the very essence of our faith.

Things may look darkest before the dawn, but the sun is always shining, even on the cloudiest of days. As you think about our world in its darker days, remember we have faced greater challenges and bigger dangers.

During the months of the Pandemic, we knew that the world would never be the same. This sounded bleak, yet we had been given an opportunity to tell the future story in its brightest outlook. We knew there would be loss and sacrifice, but together we forged a better future.

Now, during Eastertide, we remember Jesus’ greatest Sacrifice, but we don’t have to wonder about the outcome. We can now handle the truth because we have been gifted with all the facts. The questions have been answered. Eastertide is here.

PRAYER

God of Resurrections, help us to be lovers of your truth and ambassadors of your hope. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - April 23, 2025

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:07:08 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 2:13-17

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

WORDS OF HOPE

In the last few days, we have experienced the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. If we have been fully present to these days of Holy Week and Easter, we have encountered many emotions, with the faith that now we are each filled with resurrection joy and hope. Like those on the road to Emmaus we too are thinking and talking about everything that has just happened. I often wonder exactly what words the disciples used to talk about their firsthand experiences with the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.

Though I like to think that I have the words to express what is in my thoughts and on my heart, as I bask in the resurrection light, I find my own words inadequate to describe the journey I have just made—a journey from darkness to light, doubt to faith, despair to hope, and sadness to joy.

As today marks both the birth and death dates of William Shakespeare (April 23, 1564-1616), it seems fitting to turn to poetry as a way to help digest and “discuss” what many of us may be feeling as we make our way through Easter Week. These are the words of Brazilian theologian Rubern Alves (1933-2014).

What is Hope?

What is hope?

It is a presentiment that imagination is more real

and reality less real than it looks.

It is a hunch

that the overwhelming brutality of facts

that oppress and repress is not the last word.

It is a suspicion

that reality is more complex

than realism wants us to believe

and that the frontiers of the possible

are not determined by the limits of the actual

and that in a miraculous and unexpected way

life is preparing the creative events

which will open the way to freedom and resurrection....

The two, suffering and hope, live from each other.

Suffering without hope

produces resentment and despair,

hope without suffering

creates illusions, naiveté, and drunkenness....

Let us plant dates

even though those who plant them will never eat them.

We must live by the love of what we will never see.

This is the secret discipline.

It is a refusal to let the creative act

be dissolved in immediate sense experience

and a stubborn commitment to the future of our grandchildren.

Such disciplined love

is what has given prophets, revolutionaries and saints

the courage to die for the future they envisaged.

They make their own bodies

the seed of their highest hope.

Source: Hijos de Maoana (Tomorrow’s Children), Rubem Alves,

Salamanca, Spain: Ediciones Sigueme, 1976.

We each have a unique story of our journey with Christ. Each of our stories demands unique words. And, those words may change each time we experience the the Resurrection story. My hope for myself and for each of you is that during this Eastertide, we each take time in prayer and meditation to find our words, to write our stories on our hearts, and speak them out into the world as seeds of love.

PRAYER

Creator God, you are the author of my story. As I journey through these days, help me to discover the depths of your love and grace. Teach me to walk humbly in your footsteps, to live with purpose, and to carry your light and love into the world. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - April 21, 2025

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1.1-4

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now, the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light. And there was light, and God saw that the light was good and separated the light from the darkness.

WORDS OF HOPE

Happy First Monday of Eastertide! “But”, you might say, “Easter was yesterday and the chocolate eggs are already gone.” That would be true, yet in the wisdom of our spiritual ancestors, the story of the Resurrection is too glorious to be concluded in just one day. We have a 40-Day Season of Easter ahead of us.

After Christmas Day, we celebrated the 12-Day Season of Christmastide to reflect on Jesus’ birth, but the creators of the Church Calendar are giving us even more time to contemplate the world-changing events of the Redeemer’s sacrifice and resurrection. The forty days also coincide with the amount of time the risen Christ was among us before the Day of Ascension.

It is no coincidence that today’s lectionary reading is the first nineteen verses of one of the Bible’s most beautiful examples of Hebrew poetry, the story of Creation. It begins the entire library of books we call the Hebrew Scriptures. The first four verses parallel the Christmas story of the coming of the Light to the world.

Eastertide is the time of year to remember the Light of Christ could shine on the Disciples in physical presence at any random moment, even when they least expected it, at a meal, on a fishing trip, strolling down a road; never announced, always inspiring. Today, we have the opportunity to experience that Light, too; to experience the presence of Jesus, maybe through the eyes of a child, the greeting of a long-time friend, the prayers of a stranger on social media, the longing of a person in need.

Remembering that we are in Eastertide can be our greatest motivation to be conscious of living out the Light of Christ ourselves for all those diverse neighbors of our lives. This 40-Day Season can serve as a warmup to being the physical presence of the love of Jesus in a season that never ends.

PRAYER

May the coming Days of the Easter Season transform each of us celebrate the Living Christ by enriching all the ones who surround us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - April 18, 2025

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 19:30

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is Good Friday, a day of reflection and gratitude for the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. When Jesus spent his last moment on the cross, he wasn’t looking for instant gratification he was fulfilling his sacrificial commitment to God. When the sacrifice was complete and not a second sooner, Jesus stayed the course, bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

As a young girl in the 70s and 80s, I witnessed the give it to me "now" culture. Frozen TV dinners coupled with the introduction of microwaves meant my physical hunger could be satisfied immediately. We could cook an entire meal in literal minutes. Wasn’t the same as Mom’s home cooking, but it satisfied my immediate hunger.

Cordless phones and instant photos from a camera helped build a generation where technology quickly filled our needs. Today, instant gratification has become a lifestyle! We are inundated with immeasurable amounts of data that can distribute our thoughts in a nanosecond to absolute strangers. Even modern medical treatments claim to cure our ailments quickly while credit cards give us everything with just a tap.

So often we hear about folks being depressed if they only get a few likes on social media. As believers in Christ, we don’t need to worry about how many followers we have, we just need to make sure the one we are following is the inclusive God of everlasting life.

Reading scripture and praying may lack instant results but we are always guaranteed a message we can embrace in the midst of a society that feeds us lies. Jesus laid his life on the line because we are loved, not because we are perfect, but because He is gracious.

Next time you’re impatient to wait 3 minutes for food, stop and remember how Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice by hanging on the cross for 3 Days to become our eternal bread of life!

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for your sacrifice and for the time Jesus spent living out the promise of your love for the sake of ALL humankind. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Thursday - April 17, 2025

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 41.10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

WORDS OF HOPE

Never Alone; A Meditation for Maundy Thursday

God is a companion more desirable than a million friends. It is better to be alone with God than it is to be surrounded with much company and no fellowship with the divine. God is the friend that never leaves you and never forsakes you. Who is a better friend than God?

I have had many friends, and many times we parted ways because of our differences, but God will never abandon you. Why should I be lonely when I am not alone? God is everywhere. Where I am God is. God is with me on top of the mountain and is with me when I am in the lowest valley. In the shadow of death God is with me; therefore, I will not fear.

No one can make you feel lonely without your consent. If you are convinced that you are alone it is because you agreed to the suggestion. Seek God and you will find your best friend. A person with a million friends has little remembrance of their need of God. I would rather be popular with God than be popular with much of humankind. This is not to say that companionship is not to be desired.

Companionship is good. When we do good unto others it is as though we are doing it unto the Lord. Fellowship is not to be forsaken, and the opportunity is a precious gift from above. However, to have fellowship with God is far more desirable of an opportunity.

To have a lot of company is a gift, but so too is isolation. Many friends bring much happiness. Isolation gives you the opportunity to sit down with the Hole One. Pray for understanding. Isolation is not a curse, but an opportunity. The love of God far surpasses romance. Intimacy with God develops when one is alone with God. The Lord’s love is the greatest love; therefore, choose God.

PRAYER

My God and dearest friend,

Show us that You are here right next to us. Comfort us with Your words of love. Teach us wisdom and incline our hearts towards Your presence daily. Thank You for never leaving us. When I am aware of Your presence, all is well with my soul. Keep our eyes on You always. Bless You Lord for these gifts of time with You and companionship. We love You God. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - April 16, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 13:21-26

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close to his heart; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So, while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So, when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

WORDS OF HOPE

This scene is much more than a foreshadowing of Jesus’ betrayal, it gives an intimate glimpse into the personal lives of the disciples. It’s easy to imagine everyone sitting and in the case of one, reclining across Jesus’ lap, close to his chest. An intimate meal among very close friends and one that seems not only personal but sensual.

I like knowing that Jesus and his chosen family were human. That they ate, drank and slept together as they traveled around teaching and healing. I find their humanness is what makes them believable, not the miracle stories, but the small impressions the gospel writers give.

I believe in Jesus. I believe in his teachings and his words and his presence in my life. Had he not been depicted as a human, I would find the scriptures harder to believe.

PRAYER

Holy One, who gave us the prophets, who gave us your commandments, who brought Jesus into the world, I give you thanks. Without your word and Jesus, my life would be less filled with love and grace. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - April 15, 2025

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 2:15

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

WORDS OF HOPE

On this Holy Tuesday, as Jesus made his words and presence known among every level of the population of Jerusalem, let’s consider the wisdom in this prayer by John Cardinal Newman:

"Dear Jesus, help me to spread your sweet fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may be only a radiance of your life. Shine through me, and be so in me, that every soul with whom I come into contact may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see not me but only you Jesus and give you glory. Stay within me and then I will begin to shine as you shine; so, to share as to be a light to others, and that light, O Jesus, will be all from you. It will be you shining on others through me. Let me preach you without preaching, not by words alone but by my life example; by the captivating force and sympathetic influence of what I am which is the evident fullness of the love my heart and life bears for you. Amen"

Were there specific portions of this prayer which had extra meaning to you? That's probably God's Spirit talking to you about your life’s need for a more vibrant spiritual life. The phrase that stays with me the most from this prayer is: "Dear Jesus, help me to spread your sweet fragrance everywhere I go." When I was a kid, we used a common phrase to describe another kid whom we disliked: "he's a stinker!" It may have become part of our vocabulary from the old Our Gang movies, in which one little nuisance boy was named Stinky.

Have you ever wondered if your presence, words and actions within the group might be given a similar label? As we go about our life, we emit an emotional and “spiritual fragrance" which has an effect upon other people. Will it be good or "stinky"? All of us have known individuals whose fragrance spreads gloom, doubt, suspicion and gossip. However, a life filled with the Spirit of God has a very different fragrance. Each Christian is like a rose bush which God planted in the individual’s daily life. The loving life of Christ shines upon its leaves and urges each rosebud to open its petals wide to let the sweet scent of God's love perfume the whole garden area.

I’m reminded of the words from 2 Corinthians 2:14-15; "But thanks be to God, who in Jesus Christ always leads us... and through us spreads in every place [we go] the sweet fragrance that comes from knowing Jesus. For we are the aroma of Christ among those” [with whom we have contact]. (II Corinthians 2:14-15)

Will our aroma be one of kindness, forgiveness, love and acceptance which is the scent of God to a needy world?

PRAYER

“Let me preach you without preaching, not by words alone, but by my life example; by the captivating force and sympathetic influence of what I am which is the evident fullness of love my heart and life bears for you." Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - April 14, 2024

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 12:1-3

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

WORDS OF HOPE

When you read the first 11 verses of the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of John, with whom do you identify? Who are you in this narrative?

Are you Lazarus, recently raised from the dead by Jesus? One moment, you’ve experienced the pain of dying and the moment of death. The next moment, you’re home with your sisters, reclining at the table and eating food, things you thought you’d never experience again.

Are you Martha, moving about the kitchen and the dining area? One moment, you’re grieving the loss of your brother and the loss of any status in the community. The next moment, you’re serving food to your once deceased brother, to your miraculous friend Jesus, and the rest of the men who are disciples of Jesus.

Are you Mary, pouring a pint of your treasured perfume on the feet of Jesus, wiping his feet with your hair? One moment, you would give literally anything to have your brother back. The next moment, you’re so moved by gratitude and worship that you literally give everything you have to anoint the feet of the miraculous Savior.

Are you Judas Iscariot, complaining that extravagance was literally poured on the rabbi? One moment, you are wondering if you’ve taken too much from the money bag for yourself instead of the poor. The next moment, you can’t imagine how much more could be in that bag of money, if it weren’t for that woman’s gratitude.

Are you a member of the crowd, hoping to catch a glance of the itinerant and miraculous rabbi and the man whom he raised from the dead? Are you looking to see the miracle for yourself? Are you hoping for a miracle in your own life? Could the rabbi possibly do that for you?

Are you one of the chief priests who feel ever more threatened by this Nazarene named Jesus? One moment, he’s a bothersome rabbi who is distracting the people from your selfish agenda. The next moment, he’s raising a man from dead and receiving a grateful anointing that you’ve never received?

As you walk with Jesus during this Holy Week, find yourself in the story. Read about the people in the story and wonder if you don’t see your own life in theirs. Immerse yourself and see the Passion narrative in a new way.

PRAYER

Let us pray. From the Collect for Monday of Holy Week in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - April 11, 2025

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Exodus 3:14a

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Being the Love That Others Can See

“The God who is—the I am who I am—cannot act apart from love!”

That quote is by William Paul Young, author of the book, The Shack. Young put those words in the mouth of his divine, incarnational woman-of-color character, “Papa,” who spoke them in both the book and the movie by the same name. God is love and God does not—cannot act apart from love. Such is the nature of this Holy Mystery who gave birth to all Creation.

Love is the primary ingredient of Creation. Love gives birth to life in all its diversity, complexity and abundance. When we are at our best, that is when divine love shines through.

Humans are perfectly imperfect people who can aspire to live into our capacity for good. And when we do, the world is better. Lives are changed. Hope and healing and laughter become abundant. All because of love.

Scary things can happen in this world. Earthquakes shift everything and shake us to our very core. Fear-driven ideas of scarcity and change cloud people’s thinking, giving rise to authoritarian leaders. These fear-mongers announce that they have the secret answer to make the world better. They point fingers at who is to blame and stoke hate, division and fear to accomplish their goals. And the realm of Heaven-on-earth that Jesus describes becomes tarnished by a false narrative and self-serving ideals.

Only love can change that.

John the Evangelist writes in 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Paul Young has reminded us, “The God who is—the I am who I am—cannot act apart from love.” Follow Christ’s lead and do the same.

PRAYER

Holy One, may we be the faith that Jesus lived so that others may see and believe. In the holy name of the love that is pure Grace. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - April 10, 2025

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

READING

“The places of the greatest disruption in my life have surprisingly been, too, the occasions of the most profound gifts. The seasons when I have allowed myself to feel my broken heart, and to know my woundedness, are the times when my compassion for the world has deepened….” Christine Valters Paintner

WORDS OF HOPE

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” I quip to a friend as we pass in the Narthex at yet another Celebration of Life service. Yet another for a beautiful-souled person in our congregation, a servant of God. Yet another for family and dear friends who are bereft, hearts broken open in love and sorrow. Yet another for those who will walk the night corridors robbed of sleep and awaiting the dawn.

Truth is all of us are carrying layers of unresolved grief. When we do not honor our sorrow, it gets blocked and distorted. Add to this all of the losses and assaults to dignity and freedom we as a community and country have faced in the last months, and it’s a wonder we can function at all.

Recently, I wrote a set of beatitudes for a disenfranchised grief round table calling for a resistance to suppressing our grief, trying to hold it all together. This morning I offer them as an invitation to speak the truth of our mourning together.

Blessed Are We Who Mourn

Blessed are we who mourn,

who no longer muffle our cries in the night

but by daylight and in the company of others here

claim our sorrow, sorrow unacknowledged

by our families and communities, sometimes even by ourselves.

The death of an incarcerated neighbor, a favorite aunt,

a gay partner, a mentor, childhood friend, a beloved animal companion.

The death of a student, a miscarriage, a shattered marriage,

a son’s death by suicide.

Blessed are we who mourn

loss of livelihood and purpose,

loss of mobility and health,

loss of house and home,

loss of faith and hope, our field of dreams,

loss of those with whom we used to mourn.

Blessed are we who mourn the assaults

upon the safety and dignity of the queer community,

upon those who look different,

love differently, pray differently,

upon the poor and marginalized,

upon all who feel endangered this day.

Blessed are we who mourn

world sorrow—the devastation in

Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, the Sudan.

The apocalyptic climate disasters of fire,

flood, earthquake, and tornadic winds. No, we cannot

simply build again. Trauma imbedded within,

we cry out our lament in protest and mourning.

Blessed are we who mourn,

and we give thanks that we are not left companionless,

but are held in the wide mercy of God

and in this good company of faith.

Amen.

PRAYER

Midwife of our weeping, hold us in times of grief and loss. Be with us as we give expression to our love. Amen.

(-from A Different Kind of Fast, page 174)

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - April 9, 2025

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 5. 27-32

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up, left everything, and followed him. Then, Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

WORDS OF HOPE

This story from Luke is pretty straightforward. First of all, Jesus stepped outside of the expectations of the established religious leaders. He saw a tax collector, sitting at his task of collecting taxes. This was not a former or reformed tax collector, but one clearly practicing his trade. For whatever reason, this was not a respectable profession. Still, Jesus bid him, "Come, follow me".

Levi, the tax collector, left his tax booth and followed Jesus, just left his job, and followed Jesus! Then Levi puts on a grand banquet, inviting a whole slew of tax collectors and other friends to introduce to Jesus.

It seems like Jesus couldn't make a move without the church leaders complaining. They went to his Disciples and asked why Jesus was sharing a meal with such disreputable people. Jesus stepped in and answered for himself. He made no apologies for the company he kept. He made it clear that He was here for those who needed him. It did not matter then, if the person was worthy of Him. Of course not, none of us are worthy until He makes us so.

It is important that we do not exclude or shun those whom we judge "unworthy". No matter what any of us have done or not done, we are worthy because God is a god of love and grace.

PRAYER

God, we are grateful that you sent your son Jesus to show us the way to live for you. Let us follow in his footsteps. Help us to remember that we are worthy and so are the ones we call "they". When we are tempted to judge others or shun their friendship, may we choose to love them, care for them, and share the good news that they are worthy and welcome to God's love and grace. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Tuesday - April 8, 2025

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 2:18

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18

WORDS OF HOPE

This passage from the first letter of John is the first time that the word “antichrist” is used in the Bible. The functional modern understanding of antichrist seems to be that an antichrist is any person or force that opposes Jesus or the Christian church. John describes an antichrist specifically as a person who denies that Jesus is the Christ. I see two sticky issues here for those of us who are followers of Christ today.

The first may be semantics, but all those who are not followers of Christ are not against Christ as the prefix “anti“ suggests. It simply means that they have a different understanding and perception of the role of the historical Jesus. As Christians, I think we must ask ourselves why this is a problem for us. Why does it matter that others have chosen to follow another spiritual path? The love that we believe comes to us from God and the Son should be enough to sustain and protect us.

Secondly, to believe that a force in and of itself can be an antichrist seems problematic. Except in the case of the force of Mother Nature, a force is something set into motion by a human action. The force itself has no belief for or against Christ. The problem comes with believing that on one end of the continuum we can have an antichrist that is an unthinking and unfeeling entity, then on the other end there is Christ, the living embodiment of humanity and divinity who thinks and feels so deeply. It seems to me like we might need to be more careful about defining the true faces of the antichrists about which John is warning.

The world is full of many people who act in ways that we see as antithetical to the ways of Christ. Indeed, by John’s description, some may be seen as antichrists. There are also many people who don’t consider themselves to be followers of Christ, but lead a life based in the principles that exhibit the same principles taught by Jesus. Are these people antichrists? Then there are those who with their words say they are Christians but with their actions defy the teachings of Jesus. Are these people Christians? As the hymn by Raymond Scholtes says, “they will know we are Christians by our love.” Christians are those who in their hearts believe in the love and power of Jesus and in their lives spread this love to the world.

PRAYER

Loving God, in the name of your loving son, Jesus, guide me through my day such that my thoughts, words, and actions clearly acknowledge that I am a Christ-follower. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - April 7, 2025

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 16.33

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

WORDS OF HOPE

In these times, the world is experiencing world-wide political pressure many of us have not ever experienced. A lot of us are in despair, but I like looking at the silver lining of things. This opportunity is no exception.

In a world that moves too fast and is often too social, it is necessary to remember the more peaceful times and take the opportunity to savor them. A very good friend lived this out by example when he purposely chose to slow down and savor his favorite foods. When I think of this, my mind is flooded with the things for which I’ve lost the savoring touch, not just of certain foods, but mundane routines, chores, self-care. I invite you to savor this very moment for a start; then pause and think of other things you would love to savor again.

Did you make a mental list? Think of just one example. When was the last time you considered savoring it? Since I don’t know your list, I’ll share mine and a little of my method. I’m imagining heavy raindrops falling in slow motion. The feeling of them falling on my face and enjoying being wet. Not too cold; not too warm.

Then I move on to the usual. When I go to the gym, I tend to be on a mission to finish as quickly as possible. I’m neither present nor relaxed into that quality time of self-care. But imagine thinking about the muscles you’re using and focusing, not on being finished, but simply being present in mind with your body.

What’s another ordinary thing to savor? Is it dusting, washing your car or gardening as a meditation? Many of us take time out for regular times of prayer, but do we savor those times? During these current frustrations and changes in the world, we’re invited by change itself to reinvent the ways we live and to enjoy the peace of those moments.

PRAYER

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which we were called in one body. And may we be thankful in savoring the gift of that peace.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - April 4, 2025

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 2:29-30

So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

WORDS OF HOPE

Little known and hard to pronounce Epaphroditus plays a key role in biblical history. While the Apostle Paul is in prison, the Philippians put together a “care package” and sent it to Paul via Epaphroditus. Going above and beyond the call of duty, Epaphroditus becomes seriously ill in his fervor to serve the Lord by taking care of Paul. When he recovers, Paul sends him back home with much joy and relief. In his hands, Epaphroditus delivers the original manuscript of the book of Philippians to the church in Caesarea Philippi.

Paul is so taken by the eagerness, selflessness, and faithfulness of Epaphroditus, he thinks of him not as just a messenger, but as a “brother”, a “co-worker”, and a “fellow soldier.” Epaphroditus modeled the mind of Christ by putting the “interest of others” before his own.

We know people like this in our own lives. We find Epaphroditus in our serving ministries, creating meals, waiting on tables, delivering food, and offering a listening ear. We find Epaphroditus making Spring Break packages for at-risk elementary children to take home and enjoy. Care packages are shared from the front seat of Epaphroditus’ car to the homeless and hungry poor on the sidewalk.

Wherever you see a person serving behind the scenes, without notoriety or fanfare, you see eager Epaphroditus. Many times, it is a servant like him who stands by the person who is burdened with and called to leadership. Offering not only the care package from the community, but a strong shoulder upon which the leader can lean on.

Too often, these selfless servants can run themselves so ragged that they themselves can become in need of rest and recovery. All the more reason, says Paul, to rejoice and be glad that any given Epaphroditus is in our lives.

In just a few short verses of Philippians, Paul lifts up the example of a servant who labored on his behalf. We give thanks for Epaphroditus and those people who stand by leadership with a helping hand, encouragement, and love.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the example of Epaphroditus, a faithful servant who gave his all for Your work. His dedication, courage, and love fora others remind us of the selfless life You call us to live. Lord, may we be inspired by his commitment, offering our lives in service to You and to those around us. Strengthen us in times of weakness and help us persevere, just as Epaphroditus did, always seeking to honor You in all that we do.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - April 3, 2025

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Romans 15:5-13

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

WORDS OF HOPE

A commitment to live as God desires for your life begins with your commitment of each day and yourself to be obedient to divine help and direction. Think about the day ahead of you as if it were a day trip driving to an assigned work responsibility.

You have made yourself ready to go, then what happens? Do you sit down in a comfortable chair and do little about what actions come your way, or do you go out, get into your car, and set out on a day of opportunities and activities? As you get into the car, you must be mindful about going to work and getting the work done. Is there enough gas in the car's tank to get you there and back?

You probably need to get more gasoline, but from which gas station? Some people behave as if they can fill their car’s tank with some of their own home brewed, but left -over, morning coffee. Others seek the cheapest and maybe questionable source of fuel for their car.

However, wisdom suggests that it is best to trust your driving life with a single gas station that will always provide you with quality and powerful auto fuel. And which single gas station is that? Your decision to hook up to its fuel pump is one of the most important decisions you'll make all day!

For a successful spiritual day of activity, you must acknowledge that God provides the best, most trustworthy and powerful fuel energy you can use to succeed each day! The best daily spiritual fuel I have found is the recitation of the prayer below. It could be your prayer, too. Each morning as you say this prayer, you acknowledge God’s provision and commit to "hook your spiritual tank" to God's source of powerful fuel.

PRAYER

Lord God, quiet my mind and open my heart to receive your words of guidance, so that today you'll be glorified in all that I do and all that I am. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - April 2, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 9:10-11

On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. Then, taking them along, he slipped quietly into a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God and healed those who needed to be cured.

WORDS OF HOPE

Jesus sneaking into a city seems strange, but he had become a celebrity, and everyone wanted to see and hear him. I suspect Jesus and his apostles got overwhelmed with crowds and yet we see Jesus welcomed them and began teaching.

For a celebrity, “slipping quietly” into anywhere is impossible. I’m sure their lives are exhausting having to face the constant barrage of fans, yet some of them do it so well it seems effortless.

It reminds me of a time when I met George Burns. He was having dinner at The Palm restaurant and as I walked by his table I noticed him and said hello. I briefly told him how much I admired his work and then started to leave.

Graciously, he shook my hand and asked my name. We chatted for a few moments, and I will never forget it. He could have been annoyed, but he showed me grace.

Jesus did the same thing. Not only did he start teaching and healing people, in later passages he feeds five thousand with a few loves and a couple of fish. His hospitality and grace are the point of that story. I believe the miracle is secondary to his attitude for me.

Exhibiting grace and modeling kindness goes a long way toward bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth.

PRAYER

May I learn hospitality and grace and exhibit it to everyone I meet.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

April 1, 2025

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 42.5

Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk in it,

WORDS OF HOPE

The Future

I believe that we are beginning a blessed new adventure. It feels as though we have started it without even realizing it. The world is demanding honesty, integrity, and virtue from the citizen to the leaders of our nations. The Earth is saying, “Stop polluting my seas, land, and air.” The creatures are fighting for survival on every continent. Anyone who is listening can hear the cries for change, but we are already changing. The proof can be found in our children. Has there even been a generation like there is now with children who are so wise?

It has taken my whole life for me to learn to love myself, however, children now are learning to love their uniqueness. When people love themselves, they can love one another because we reflect what is inside of us on the outside. Greater love is in the next generation, and for this reason, I realize that the future is full of wonderous possibilities. All over the world children are fighting for equality, our planet, and for the lives herein. Where did they get this wisdom? I see now that we did not fail. Perhaps, it was through our many failures and struggles that we, as a whole, learned what better really was; however, it is our children who will show us what better looks like.

We must give our children everything we have. God bless the children! Not everything we left for them will make life easier for them, but the challenges they face will give them the endurance to keep pressing forward and the gratitude to protect what they have. We are not the most advanced civilization. It has not been born yet. Our job of teaching, protecting, and loving our children yet remains. Our most precious treasure is our children.

Therefore, we must teach them that nothing is impossible for them and to never stop dreaming. Above all, we must demonstrate the power of love by believing in them as we believe in God.

PRAYER

Abba God,

Our children need a good teacher. You gave us the gift of our children. Help us to show your love so that our children may know you. Without Your love, there is nothing to be gained in this world. Therefore, let every soul know You tenderly. Bless You Abba, because even when things are buried in darkness, greater light is waiting to break through. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 31. 2025

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 54.1-10

“To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again.
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

WORDS OF HOPE

Isaiah’s words from God are comforting today, considering the hill-shaking turbulence we human beings constantly visit upon our planet, whether it is drilling for fossil fuel or destroying forests for urban expansion and cattle pastures. Disturbing the peace just seems to be a part of human nature that will always be with us, yet God’s unfailing love and compassion for us remains constant and unshaken in a world still comparable to the Days of Noah.

Whenever I have told the story of Noah and his family to children, their reaction to the part about the corruption that preceded the Great Flood has usually been rather passive. They are familiar with the whole story and are waiting to hear the part about the animals, all of whom were blameless in the acts of humanity that led to the judgment. Children look forward to seeing the animals peacefully parading to the ark where they will be kept safe and secure thanks to God’s love and respect for them.

I have never lost my childhood affinity for animals and my respect for their essential roles in a healthy ecology grows by the day. The ones we get to know best are also reminders of so many of God’s attributes. A faithful dog’s unfailing love for us will not be shaken. I also found this to be true of a cockatoo who was part of my life for over 40 years. A slumbering cat on the front porch is the image of peace, trust, and comfort.

With no animal living in my house these days, I’ve developed a minor zoo on that porch, with late night visits from opossums and racoons who share the food I first left there for neighborhood cats. Now I leave treats especially for them as well. I live in a wooded neighborhood that had been their exclusive environment for countless wildlife generations. Peace offerings of food are the least I can do in a covenant of cooperation with God’s Creation.

PRAYER

Thank you for your unfailing love for every member of your Creation. May we strive to exemplify your compassion to every species, including our own.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - March 27, 2025

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 09:00:02 GMT

READING

Contemplative practice is a “heart-centered knowing that is receptive rather than grasping, intuitive rather than logical, and a slow ripening rather than a quick fix. In this inner spaciousness we begin to transform our wounded and broken places to remember our original wholeness. Slowly we become people who live in and respond to the world through love. Becoming people who live in the fullness of love is the deepest hunger of all. “ Christine Valters Paintner

WORDS OF HOPE

In this year’s Lenten book study, deeply rooted in contemplative practice, one of the weekly exercises is lectio divina, a type of holy reading, for passages from the desert fathers and mothers. Recently after a story in which Abba Arsenius is held up as an icon, Paintner asks us to “imagine that [the Abba ] blesses you with simplicity and openness. He extends his hands to you and offers the gift of a handmade empty clay bowl. Receive it in your open hands and spend a few moments pondering the inner spaciousness the bowl creates.”

I didn’t have to imagine; I knew that bowl: my Hopi Heart Bowl, as I call it, brought back from the Old Oraibi community in Arizona many years ago and used in classes and groups over decades to hold prayer requests, forgiveness needs, and the names of loved ones who have died. This season I sit with it during my morning prayer time. Running my hands over its sides, I feel the contours of the cool clay and seek out the one hairline crack in the upper edge. I remember standing in the home of the woman who made the bowl with her own hands. She was not a famous potter, but one who lovingly created it and painted the black heart designs in the Hopi style. When I discovered the crack, for a moment I was tempted to set it back on the shelf, but quickly, without fully knowing why, decided to purchase it—beautiful and flawed together.

Now I hold it before me in prayer asking God to let its emptiness teach me what I need to know this Lent. Emptiness—what is it to me? Lack, or need, or loneliness—being without, a kind of poverty. And yet there’s an openness and spaciousness as well. At these associations, tears gather along my eyelids—both grief and gratitude flowing. To try to stop the pain that comes, we often fill up our bowls with media addictions, food, multi-tasking, working ourselves into exhaustion. But here is a call to allow the pain of this emptiness that I might know the fullness of what only God can give.

As I open to the meaning of this practice during Lent, one scripture from Philippians 2 comes clearly to mind: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”

PRAYER

This Lent, O God, let us sit with open hands, empty hands before you, that our hearts may be transformed in your love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr Pat Saxon

Wednesday - March 26, 2025

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 13:20-21

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

WORDS OF HOPE

I find it amazing that the images that Jesus uses in his parables are timeless, that they are equally as relevant to us in 2025 as they were back in Jesus’s day. As an avid bread baker, I particularly like this one. Over time, I have read it several ways. I used to interpret the yeast as the Holy Spirit working in and through the flour, which is metaphorically us. But lately, I have decided I would rather see myself as the yeast because yeast is a living organism, albeit a fungus, that needs care and feeding, as I do. The flour then is the world around me. A loaf of bread is the result of how I interact with the world around me.

In the making of bread, yeast consumes sugars and starches and produces carbon dioxide. This happens during a fermentation process that requires the careful combination of ingredients with the yeast…and time. The resultant carbon dioxide then gets integrated into the dough’s structure and causes the bread to rise, determining its height, density, and taste of the loaf.

Just as yeast does, we consume what we are fed. If fed properly, we are activated and work within “the dough” to create a well-leavened, well-raised, world around us. The teachings of Jesus become our sugars and starches. Through our time of prayer and study, the “fermentation process,” we are fed and nourished so that we can do our part to mix with “the flour” and create a beautiful world. Yeast that is not fed well, that is combined with water that is too hot or too cold or too little or too much salt, will die. We too will die spiritually when we are not nourished by the word of God and do not giver it time to work, to ferment, in our souls.

Carbon dioxide is the good that comes from the fermentation process of well-fed yeast acting with the flour. Through our “fermentation process” with God, the Holy Spirit bubbling up in us works through us so that we can become the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

Seeing carbon dioxide as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit may take some more thought. This may be a good point of reflection on this day, National Science Appreciation Day.

Biblically speaking, yeast is associated with sin, hence the reason that the Passover bread is unleavened. Perhaps this is another reason to see myself as the yeast. I am human therefore I am with sin. Despite this, in a healthy environment in which I am free by God, just like the fermented yeast in a leavened loaf, I can do good things in the world.

Enjoy a good piece of bread today. As you taste it, think about its humble start - the grain in the field, water, salt, and the fungus known as yeast and how they all work together over time to create something healthy and beautiful. While savoring the bread, meditate on the idea that the kingdom of God is “like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds [of flour] until it worked all through the dough.”

PRAYER

Creator God, nourish me and work through me so that I can do my part to help the world around me truly be the kingdom of God. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - March 25, 2025

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:03 GMT

READING

The proper study of Man is anything but Man; and the most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity. -J.R.R. Tolkien from The Tolkien Letters

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is Tolkien reading day. Most of us were familiar with his works are probably thinking of The Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was a prolific writer and not only wrote fiction, and a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary but was a great communicator through letters. He was also a devout Roman Catholic.

The above quote from one of his letters caused me to reflect on the life of Jesus and those we think of as Saints. To me the quote above is almost the backwards way of describing the servant leader we think of when we think of Jesus. Of course Jesus didn’t really need to study humankind; he was well aware from the beginning of the nature of humanity. He does not want to boss his followers around, though he did ask them to do things. And he didn’t particularly seem to seek the opportunity, but by his very nature attracted people to himself.

But I am also reminded of a story from the life of Saint Francis. It was a time when Francis actually bossed someone around. One of Francis’s followers, Brother Rufino, was ordered to go preach. Although Rufino came from one of the most prominent families in Assisi, he asked to be excused as he did not see himself as one to stand in front of a crowd. Francis became upset and told Rufino that not only would he preach, but he would preach naked as he had come into the world. Rufino obeyed and went into the pulpit in the Assisi without clothes. The congregation began to laugh at him. In the meantime, Francis began to reconsider what he had done. Reflecting on Rufino’s quick obedience, the second time, and on the fact that he had asked the son of one of the most prominent families in town to stand naked before everyone, Francis stripped naked, went to the pulpit where Rufino was and began to preach so marvelously, even though he was without clothes, that people in the congregation began to weep.

In rereading the story of Saint Francis in light of Tolkien’s statement, I almost wondered if that story was something that influenced Tolkien. Tolkien is not deriding leadership; he is demeaning being a boss, a power seeking control freak. I’m certain most of us can think back to people who we called our bosses. Some of them were bosses; some of them were servant leaders. At least I hope you can say that; fortunately, I can.

So, in your reflection time today, think back to those who were “in charge” over you. Think about the lessons you can learn both from the bosses and from the servant leaders. Reflect back on the life of Jesus and this story of Saint Francis. And keep them in mind whenever you find yourself thrust into a position of leadership.

PRAYER

Gracious God, you have given us examples through Jesus, and those holy people you have sent to be examples to us in our lives. Help us to always live up to these. May we always strive to be servants; and when we are called upon to be servant leaders.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

Monday - March 24, 2025

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:45:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Samuel 2.8

God raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
God seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.

For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them God has set the world.

WORDS OF HOPE

I’m sure you don’t need to be reminded that we are living in turbulent times. Every day the news reports are trials on our patience, determination, and faith. I often look to scriptures to review the lives of role models who exemplified those virtues and today that honor goes to one of the most patient of them all. No, I’m not talking about Job. Today’s Scripture reading is an excerpt from the Song of Hannah, one of the Hebrew Scripture’s greatest songs of praise and worship.

Hannah’s song is often quoted as a prototype of Mary’s prophetic elation in the Gospel of Luke, not only about God’s power and mercy, but also about the coming of their own sons. Hannah was about to give birth to the great Prophet Samuel and Mary to Jesus.

It is significant to note that the Bible’s four greatest songs of Adoration are attributed to women. Probably the oldest chosen for inclusion in the Old Testament was the Song of Deborah, the Prophet and Judge, and the other is the Song of Miriam, another prophet and the sister of Moses.

Hannah’s faith and patience as well as her words would have been well known to Mary’s Jewish community. She, too, was to be favored by the birth of a miracle child. Hannah, like Sarah before her and Mary’s much older cousin Elizabeth, was far beyond her child-bearing years when she gave birth to Samuel, who was to be the Hebrew people’s last great Prophet and Judge.

Hannah is not as well-known as so many other Bible heroes, but her name is important to remember these days. She is, indeed, our model of patience, determination, and unwavering faith. Even Mary of Nazareth looked to Hannah as her inspiration as her soul magnified the Lord and her heart rejoiced. Both women still inspire us to do the same.

PRAYER

God of the Prophets, we give you thanks and praise this day for the women whose steadfast faith changed the world; for Miriam, Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary, and so many others who taught us how to be patient, and finally, how to rejoice. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - March 21, 2025

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 5: 1-2

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

WORDS OF HOPE

Sometimes I do find it personally difficult to like folks who are unkind or mean spirited, and to this day, I can remember my mother saying, “if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all”! While there doesn’t seem to be scriptural directives which command us to “like” everyone, there are many versus where we are told to love others. Actually, there are 2 simple great commandments, love God and love people. Jesus said most commandments hang on these scriptures which are the foundation to our faith.

Love God, Love people…that sounds easy until we hit a spiritual brick wall thinking if we don’t like someone how can we love them. That’s where Agape love can be exercised.

This type of love is not based on any conditions or expectations. It's a love that accepts and supports, regardless of circumstances or action. Agape love is lived out through actions. It involves acts of kindness, compassion, serving others, and forgiving, even when we don't feel like it.

The Bible tells us we can be assured of God’s love because Jesus gave his life for us. Since love is an action, not a feeling, we are free to love folks with whom we have no feelings at all. It’s a good thing God’s love is not based on feelings because that unconditional love towards us is constant, unwavering and eternal. When God asks us to keep the commandments of love, it is the same kind if love that God gives to us without expectations.

It appears in scripture Jesus did not like everyone when we read about his disdain for religious hypocrites and those who imposed injustice. Yet we know Jesus loved them because he sacrificed his life for ALL humankind, not just those he loved.

PRAYER

God, when we struggle with folks whom we don’t really like, let us, look past the feelings and demonstrate the actions of love we are called to share. In Jesus’ name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Thursday -March 20, 2025

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Joel 2. 28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

WORDS OF HOPE

PRAYER

Spirit of hope,

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - March 19, 2025

hhaberman@cathedralofhope.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 13:22-24

Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

WORDS OF HOPE

Sometimes Jesus’ stories confuse me, and I suspect that is intentional. Jesus invites us to tease out the meanings in some of his stories and in doing so we get much more than just a nice aphorism.

What could prevent someone from entering a narrow door?

The image I get is that perhaps those seeking to enter the kingdom of heaven were taking too many of their worldly goods. Perhaps this is Jesus doing his version of that in-flight announcement we have all hear many times, “In an emergency situation, where the crew tell passengers to evacuate the aircraft, it is vital that everyone follows the crew's instructions and leaves the aircraft as quickly as possible. That means leaving all cabin baggage and belongings behind.”

I believe he is also saying it takes work to get through that narrow door, the work He assigned to us in almost all his teachings.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” (Matthew 25:35-40)

If we do the work and leave behind all our possessions, we will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven, which I believe means creating heaven on earth.

PRAYER

May we be ready to enter the narrow door carrying only ourselves and our good works with us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - March 18, 2024

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:03 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 16:7-8

I will bless the Lord, my God, who gives me counsel and comfort. Because you are at my right hand [and in my constant presence], I shall not live in fear.

WORDS OF HOPE

In the New Testament’s pastoral letter, I Peter 5:7, the writer encourages Christians in Rome near the end of the first Christian Century: “Cast all of your anxiety on God, because God cares for you.” They lived in a time of extreme uncertainty filled with persecution, possible forced exile, torture and death. Things had been turned upside down and that down-side wasn’t pleasant!

Some of us today may feel that our world has met a similar fate; one which is filled with anxiety and fear. It is easy to say, “I’ll cast away my fear and let God take care of things”. But, I Peter 5:6 tells us to “humble yourself under the hand of God”. We need to devote our lives to God’s will and purpose. Then we can cast-off our anxiety and be assured that God will guide us through these uncertain times.

During Lent, I hope that each of us can meditate on these words of comfort from Psalm 27. “The Lord is my [guiding] light and my salvation; what shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of what shall I be afraid?” One thing I have asked of the Lord, and I will seek after it: to live with the presence of God all the days of my life.

I meditate on the words: “Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path”, even when the path meanders through my anxiety. I know that God will never give me up to fear and I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord, if I look hard enough in the world around me if I am intent in my search and if I have patience. I especially meditate on verses 13 and 14 of that Psalm: “Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage.”

PRAYER

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. May I always remember, God, you are my Lord. All that I have which is good is provided by you. Help me to always reflect on your blessings even in these times of distress.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 17, 2025

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 10:1-2

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Long before Saint Patrick became linked to leprechauns or cheap, green beer, his legacy as a missionary to the Druids in Ireland serves as a powerful symbol of faithfulness to the Great Commission.

Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century. As a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and brought to Ireland, where he was enslaved for six years. During his captivity, Patrick turned to his Christian faith for comfort and strength. Eventually, he escaped but later felt called to return to Ireland as a missionary. He spent many years preaching the Gospel, converting thousands of Irish people to Christianity, and establishing churches, schools, and monasteries across the country.

I grew up in the Episcopal tradition, where they venerate the saints of the church. Anglicans follow the example of the saints to strengthen their own faith and character. These models of virtue, compassion, and dedication to God serve as an example for us to follow.

Whether it is the more commonly known examples of Patrick or Valentine or Nicholas, or the lesser-known Paul of Thebes, Bede, or Rasso of Andechs, the examples of these saints teach us about resistance to empire, perseverance in times of persecution, agency to influence our environment constructively, and maintaining zeal for the mission ahead.

In these times of resistance and uncertainty, where rapid changes and societal transformation seemingly happen daily, perhaps reading and reflecting more about Saint Patrick, the Holy Innocents, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Carlos Acutis and other inspirational figures would give us some insight into how we can be saints in our own space and time.

My favorite hymn, also from the Episcopal tradition, is I Sing a Song of the Saints of God. The last verse sums it up well.

They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still; the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will.

You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea; for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.

LET US PRAY

(from the breastplate of Saint Patrick)

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - March 14, 2025

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 3:17 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

WORDS OF HOPE

“Living the Faith”

Paul had guts! Call it courage, ego, or “street cred,” the Apostle Paul courageously encouraged the Christian community living at Philippi to imitate him, and those who travelled with him, if they wanted to know what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. I find that both admirable and frightening.

I have pastored several Christian congregations over a span of three decades. At each of those churches I distinctly recall “hedging my bets” as a pastoral leader and role model. Upon arrival I introduced myself as an imperfect servant leader and admonished them not to put the pastor or my family on a pedestal. I told them that I preached the entire Gospel, not just the part that I could consistently live up to. I called them to aspirational living, serving and giving. Encouraging them to be, do and give more, even at times when I felt that I could be, do and share more than I did.

It is not my intention to be either self-effacing, or worse self-shaming, by what I’m telling you.

Perhaps I was striving for perfection and recognized that I frequently fell short. No human can be perfect. More importantly, I wanted to distinguish aspirational living from being perfect.

We simply cannot perfectly follow Jesus. Those who attempt to, or who practice perfectionism as a personality style, often become both self-destructive in their thinking, and simply annoying to most authentic people.

I believe that Paul’s intent was to offer an example of loving, serving, giving, and obedient Christian discipleship. Such an example may be perfectly imperfect, but it points to a better way in this “me-first,” “keep-all-the-money-you-can,” “only-look-out-for-your-own-self” type of culture that we live in.

Jesus came to show us a better way. When we reflect that, we are being as courageous as Paul in offering others the chance to follow.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus who loves us, help us we pray, to live life authentically, and follow Your Way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - March 13, 2025

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT

READING

“Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy. Come see the tender faithfulness of God.” Marty Haugen

WORDS OF HOPE

Reading about The National Park Service’s orders to remove all references to transgender and queer people from its website for the Stonewall National Monument filled me with both fury and sorrow. And it has me thinking not only about all of the “erasures” of our history (Native Americans, women, people of color) but also about how we ourselves have practiced forms of erasure, self-censorship, and disowning of parts of ourselves. It’s as if we have our own internal Big Brother, seeking to suppress whatever society or our family or our partners would not find acceptable, would not find lovable. While we will take to the streets to protest such disregard for our identities by governmental forces, often we do not champion our true selves in the same way when some internalized voice in us is the oppressor.

In a recent sermon, Nadia Boltz Weber tells of a time in 1996 when her new husband was an intern at a church in Oregon, and in her desire not to mess things up for him, she tried to be as normal as possible. So, she covered her tattoos, took out her tongue ring and even wore clothes from The Gap. As well, she tried to pretend she “didn’t have a past, that she liked small talk, and that her heart wasn’t a little bit dark.” Her self-denying plan didn’t work, and I, for one, am grateful, for no one has taught me as much about God’s grace as this pastor by bringing her full self to her work— including her past, her addictions, failures, and her “dark” heart.

Writing this piece on Ash Wednesday, I’m seeing more clearly a difficult tension in our work during Lent. It’s a time in the liturgical year in which we practice self-examination and honesty before God, but this pursuit can turn to a self-flagellating litany of all our faults. I experienced this painfully the other day in a prayer session in which I once again confronted my lingering perfectionism. Having begun as radical honesty, the part of me that is a harsh task master began a “then there’s this and this and this” in a process which didn’t stop at honest confession, but re-wounded already tender parts of a younger self who disappointed important others.

Christine Valters Paintner, our Lenten guide, says of the wilderness: It is a “metaphor for those places we need to wrestle and ultimately soften toward ourselves, bringing lavish compassion to the things we struggle with, and listen for ancient wisdom to practice our way into a renewed way of being.” Can you remember the days when we thought that just by discipline and self-control we could clean up our act? Paintner’s approach of self-compassion is healing and provides a re-orientation for this season.

Boltz Weber presses even further reminding the incarcerated women to whom her sermon was delivered that the Ash Wednesday scripture from Joel calls listeners to “return to God with all your heart.” Your broken heart, your resentful heart, your heart that aches to trust, your angry-as-hell heart, your protected heart, your grieving heart, your warrior’s heart for justice…and more and more…In God’s wide mercy, God not only receives your heart—whatever its state—but loves your heart and desires your healing and wholeness more than you can ever imagine.

PRAYER

This Lent “may you remember that you are dust, yes, but dust that is holy, crafted by the hands of the Creator, held in love and formed for good.”* Amen.

(*Sarah Bessey)

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - March 12, 2025

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 3:8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you.

WORDS OF HOPE

I was ten years old when a Sunday school teacher told me about Jesus and said He wanted to be my friend. She said he would be closer than a brother. My older brother was my hero. He was the one who took me to get my shots before starting the first grade, assuring me it would hurt, but just for a little while. He also taught me to read and write so I could be "smart" when I started to school. When little boys teased me about my "crossed eyes", my big brother made sure it did not happen again. Oh yes, if Jesus could top that, I was all in.

As years went by, my hero brother, who was six years older than me, was not always close at hand. At one point he even refused to speak to me for several years. Eventually he decided being close was more important than being right, and I had no trouble welcoming him right back into my heart where I had reserved his space all along.

My Sunday School Teacher was right. Jesus had remained my constant and ever-present "closer than a brother" friend through it all. There was even a time when I questioned all that I had been taught about God. Of course, some things needed to go. Those were the ideas of men and women who probably meant well but, were misinformed about the teachings of Jesus. For a while, though, I threw out my faith along with those teachings.

Fortunately, I realized my error, and asked Jesus to forgive me and be my friend again. He had never stopped being my friend any more than I had stopped loving my brother. He was patiently waiting for me to draw near to Him.

During these often stressful and busy times, when we can’t always be with our friends in person, we don't have to worry about how we communicate with our friend Jesus. He’s always there!

PRAYER

Dear God, thank you for loving us so much and for sending your son Jesus to be our teacher and friend. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to guide us. Today, help us to be fully tuned in to your spirit. Help us to be true friends to Jesus and to serve you in all the ways you choose to use us. We will answer your love with joy and laughter and praise. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Tuesday - March 11, 2025

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:01 GMT

READING

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us, only sky

Imagine all the people

Livin' for today

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion, too

Imagine all the people

Livin' life in peace

You

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

lyrics by John Lennon

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is Dream Day, a day when we are encouraged to actively ponder and pursue our dreams. It was created to inspire people to believe that we should reach for our dreams regardless of age or other perceived obstacles. This notion of dreaming requires us to actively participate in both creating and executing our dream.

In the Bible, dreams are mentioned in many places, but they are all dreams of the night, taking place in the sleeping mind. Sometimes these dreams have significance and are thought to be the voice of God speaking and other times they come with warning about being against God. Sometimes they are metaphorical; sometimes they are straightforward. Other times, they have no significance. These are not the kinds of dreams about which Dream Day or John Lennon are speaking. Both are addressing dreams that

we have while fully awake and alive, dreams that we have given over to much thought and prayer, dreams that we must engage with mentally, physically, and spiritually.

“Imagine” was released in 1971, a tumultuous time in the world. It has been an anthem of troubled times for over fifty years. Lennon’s dream set forth in this gentle ballad speaks just as deeply to us today as it did in 1971. As you might expect, some of the lyrics were/are problematic to some Christians. Imagining no heaven, no hell, and no religion shakes the foundation of their Christian belief. If there is no heaven or hell, how can people be forced to abide by a particular religion’s doctrine? The threat of eternal life in one place for “good” people and a different, less pleasant, one for “bad” people no longer exists. Let’s think about Lennon’s dream.

In addition to imagining no heaven, hell or religion, Lennon also invites us to imagine no countries, nothing to kill or die for, no possessions, and no greed or hunger. These are the very things that cause pain and strife amongst God’s people and ultimately separate us from God. Lennon goes on by asking us to imagine a brotherhood of man, all people living for today, and all people sharing all the world. Perhaps Lennon has articulated the very dream that God has for all of God’s children.

As we journey through Lent, this sacred time of fasting and praying, let us imagine theosis, our union with God. Jesus journeyed in the wilderness for forty days to prepare himself for ministry. The wilderness of Lent prepares us to fully celebrate the resurrected Christ at Eastertide, to then fully participate in the divine nature of God’s love in the here and now. When I think about what this looks like in concrete terms, I find myself envisioning the world that Lennon speaks of. For guidance on what this dream looks like in action, perhaps we can find an example in Don Quixote’s words to his Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha,

“To follow that star

no matter how hopeless,

no matter how far,

to fight for the right

without question or pause,

to be willing to march,

march into hell

for that heavenly cause”

PRAYER

Loving God, help me to imagine the world that you desire for us, your children, and guide me so that I can do my part to make your dream for your people on earth become a reality. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 10 , 2025

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:14

… we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.

WORDS OF HOPE

I have a very good longtime friend, although I don’t see her as much as I used to, her presence and personality still linger in my mind. Without revealing her identity, let’s just say her name is Sue.

One hot and humid day I asked Sue if she was going to the pride parade. But the answer I got made me laugh. “You’re not gonna see me there. I don’t do heat! I stop doing heat a long time ago.“ She was clear-cut. Decisive; a stake in the ground for saying this far, no farther. I will I not allow myself to experience the discomfort of being in the Texas summer heat because I cannot control it.

It was beautifully orchestrated and well thought out. It made me think of what things in my life could I put on the chopping block in the same manner as Sue’s declaration about the heat. Do you have those things? Have you ever made a decision about something or even someone that just needs to be gone from your life, forever and ever?

It might be certain foods, or places you’ve been, or it might even be negative people, or a specific kind of experience you never want to have again. Sue didn’t know that day that she initiated in me some sort of a carefree, liberating feeling that can just be said for those things I’m done with… “I don’t do that!” I owe nobody an explanation for my decision and I’ve made it and that’s final.

Sue’s honest answer reminded me of the time that the religion of a fear-based exclusive church ceased to be a necessary component of my life. “I don’t do fear. I don’t do exclusion. I don’t do hate.” I had said to myself. They didn’t recognize the Season of Lent, but what an appropriate time of year to give up that brand of poison.

That was not the only chopping- block experience in my life, but it was one that opened a new world for me. In your Lenten journey this year, are you meditating about life and granting yourself the choice necessary to move forward without any kind of regret or looking back?

What’s on your chopping block today?

PRAYER

Loving God, remind us every day that we are no longer living as children, confined by rules we do not understand, prisoners of doctrines devoid of your love, crafted in deceit for the benefit of a few to the detriment of many. Help me to declare, “I don’t do that.” Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - March 7, 2025

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 86:8-10

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

WORDS OF HOPE

The first Friday in March is designated as World Day of Prayer. This worldwide movement was initiated and continues to be carried out by women, who in over 170 countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. Through this day, women affirm that prayer and action are inseparable, with the motto being: Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action.

The most notable fact about World Day of Prayer was that it was founded and continues by women. Throughout culture, country, race, and space, women know best that both informed prayer and prayerful action are what save children, bring peace, restore relationships, and nurture charity.

The other noteworthy awareness is that it is not prayer alone, but prayer must be paired with action. “Action without prayer winds up in a ditch” said theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. “Prayer without action winds up in a ghetto.” World Day of Prayer affirms that prayer and action are indissoluble. Again, women best know that when the prayer is over, it’s time to get to work. Fr. Ronald Rolheiser in his book The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality says this: “To pray as a Christian demands concrete involvement in trying to bring about what is pleaded for in prayer…Our prayers need our flesh to back them up.”

Finally, it is the assertion that it should always be Informed Prayer. In these days, we are greatly and daily informed of the issues for which we need to pray and how that prayer should lead us to action. As we find people and systems that are weaponized against immigrants, trans people, people of color, women, and educators, the notion of informed prayer is even more important.

We give thanks for this World Day of Prayer and the women throughout the world who call us to Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action. In a time such as this, we should find ourselves on our knees and then find ourselves moving toward justice.

PRAYER

Dear God, we come together in unity and gratitude, acknowledging the strength that lies in our shared faith and the power of prayer to heal, uplift, and inspire. On this World Day of Prayer, we ask for guidance in fostering peace, justice, and compassion in our world. May

we be instruments of love and understanding, bridging divides and embracing our common humanity. Help us to act with kindness and humility, standing in solidarity with those in need, and working towards a world where all people are treated with dignity and respect. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - March 6, 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Exodus 3:7-8, 10

I have observed the misery of my people who are slaves in Egypt... I have heard their cry [for help]... I know their sufferings... I have come to deliver them [from slavery]. So, come with me, I will send you (Moses) to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt.

WORDS OF HOPE

The way we worship and live out our spiritual practice can be threatened by major national and world events. Many of us are facing hardships or fears these days which can have the effect of disrupting our established religious practices. The question is what is happening to the pattern of our worship and faith practices? Is something new and creative born from the events around us? In the turmoil of our daily lives? Many people quietly ask: "Where is God's help in all of this?”

An answer can be found in the history of Israel. The descendants of Jacob were enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaoh, and their life was closely regulated by Egyptian overseers. From morning to dark, they labored in ever worsening conditions preparing materials for Pharaoh's construction projects. Meanwhile, the Hebrew, Moses, had escaped a death sentence and was living in the desert of Sinai.

One day while attending his Midianite father-in-law's sheep, he saw a burning bush and heard God's voice speaking to him in the words of the Above verse from Exodus. Here, God shows us how the divine purpose can change a bad situation into something which is good. God's transformation of bad to good is often accomplished when we humans listen to God's plan and act as co-participants in the necessary action. And the Season of Lent is a good time to start.

Infrequently does God act alone in such social transformations. Those of us who listen and follow are required participants. We must be willing to fit our life and effort into God's plan for the changes we seek. Many of us have already had years of practice in growing spiritually during the days of Lent. Are we listening for God’s inspirations to change even the small aspects of daily life and worship in order to transform this time of Lent into a good future guided by God’s love?

PRAYER

Lord God, our current world is bound up in uncertainty and fear. Even if change has not affected our current daily activity, we all have family and friends who seem to be swallowed by the events of the day. Lord, give us the wisdom and strength to keep our life anchored in your loving presence and purpose for each of us. And as you hold each of us tightly in your caring embrace, may we reach out to encourage and help others so that they too will experience your loving guidance. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - March 5, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Issaih 58:6-9

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Lent begins. Every year I try to observe the season by fasting from dawn until dusk. I allow myself only liquids. It is a yearly practice that I consider a spiritual discipline and if focuses me. I try to use the time I would have spent eating breakfast or lunch, writing. Contrary to what some people believe, writing is not something that comes easily. It is somewhat painful and requires all my concentration. Part of that is because of the fact that I have dyslexia, so reading and writing are both activities that take a lot of concentration for me.

As I sit writing this devotion, I realize that having the extra time gained by fasting is a blessing in itself. The surprising extra blessing is that I lose weight. Not the sole purpose of my fast, but I consider it a bit of a perk.

This year I think I shall follow Issah’s advice and use what I would have spent on food to give to those in need. It is also a little perk to keep me motivated.

PRAYER

May we find in these days of Lent a renewed connection with the Divine and find spiritual food to fill our lives.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - March 4, 2025

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 51.10

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

WORDS OF HOPE

A Clean Cup

The Season of Lent invites us to take the time to reflect on our spiritual renewal as we look toward the event that changed world history. There yet remains the option for a better future. Instead of being the victims of unwanted change, we must strive for progressive change and be the cause of it. Change is often imposed on us, but when we become the architects of the change we want to see, it is no longer oppressive. For too long humanity has underestimated its own power.

Certainly, humanity has achieved great things. We have reached the stars, harnessed the power of lightning, and have found new ways to prolong human life. One would observe that humanity is always finding exciting solutions to difficult obstacles.

No matter how much we achieve, when we clean the outside of a cup, and the inside is dirty, there is no point in drinking from it. Humanity has the outward appearance of being an advanced civilization, but on the inside, we are always at war with ourselves. Has anyone ever asked the honest question, “If humanity is so advanced, then why aren’t the people happy?”

Certainly, the question has been asked before; so then, why has nothing changed? Have we become so advanced that children are bought and sold as property, there is a war somewhere every year, and some people would rather take their own life than keep on living? We forgot the most important part of life: that each of us needs love to survive. Love is not for the few, and it is not for the most deserving; love gives to everyone without prejudice and at no cost.

Without love, life is not worth living. The greatest miseducation of the world is that we put more value in what we can get for ourselves than in what we can give to others. A world in which everyone cares more about others than they do themselves is a world where no one is ever alone, forgotten, abused, or neglected. This is love, and it could be our greatest achievement or our greatest loss. It is a dream now, but so was putting a man on the moon.

PRAYER

Loving Creator, we truly want to better ourselves, but we do not know how. So much effort is spent on making life easier, but not better? If there were magic words I could say, then I would say them, but no words I can say will make this world into what I want it to be. Only Your love can save us. Bless You Lord, for I know that Your love can accomplish all things. Show us the way we should take, and let us not fail. Thank You, God. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - March 3, 2025

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Acts 10.11-16

[PETER] saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading is about one of those strange and colorful visions that are much more likely to happen in the narratives of the Hebrew Scripture Prophets than in the Book of Acts. The Apostle Peter is praying on his roof when suddenly Heaven literally opens up to lower a sheet filled with live animals. Such drama!

What can we learn from this strange event? First, the readers of Acts believed that Heaven was a place where God lived just beyond the clouds overhead. Second, Peter’s people were not vegetarians, third, they were selective of their diet because of old religious laws, and fourth, Peter was as hard to convince as ever to change his mind.

Even though the first century readers had no problem accepting miraculous events in their stories, they also would have known that this one was not just about a bagful of livestock. It was about being open to change. That’s where we come in. How many of us identify with Peter, a man so set in his ways that God was obligated to dazzle him three times with the vision before Peter finally got the message?

Change is seldom easy or instant. Declaring previously forbidden foods as legal cuisine was actually about accepting gentiles, the people who regularly ate those foods, as welcome members of an inclusive and expanding body of believers. This was a foreign concept to Peter, just as it is to many people who self-identify as Christians today.

It would seem we should have the advantage over Peter, who was learning to enrich his faith for the first time in history. We’ve had a couple of thousand years to become accustomed to the radically liberal teachings of Jesus, and to recognize and respect the beauty of humankind’s diversity, both among our denominations and alongside the world’s other faith systems.

But change is still a frightening concept to many of us. What can we do to help our neighbors embrace change? Simply by embracing change ourselves; by being open and understanding to those who cannot or will not. As always, by following Jesus’ example of being the change, not just talking about it. And, most important, by not waiting for God to drop a bag of animals out of the sky to do it for us.

PRAYER

God of Diversity, we have a lot of work ahead of us to fulfill your initiative of being your ambassadors of inclusive love. Show us the most constructive way each of us can play our parts in changing fear into trust and hate into love. As Jesus leads us, Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - February 28, 2025

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Thessalonians 4.13-18

New International Version

Friends, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. Accordingly, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of Christ, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For Christ will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet in the air. And so we will be with God forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

WORDS OF HOPE

Believers Who Have Died

These writings of those to the early church in Thessalonia are designed to encourage the believers to have hope in the future and to what will come of those who have died. It seeks to reassure them that they will be resurrected, and we will be reunited with them in heaven.

Since being called as Senior Pastor here at Cathedral of Hope I have had the honor of officiating at many funerals, memorials and celebrations of life. Each time I have this opportunity to minister in this way, I am struck with the awesome responsibility of being available to those who are left behind, those who mourn and grieve. This sense of deep loss is shared in the community, and we have the unique opportunity to remember them, as well as to embrace the giftedness of how each person leaves their mark.

I have a belief that their spirit lives on as we not only remember them but come to understand how their life has helped to shape ours. I can think of so many who, in my time here have helped me become a better person and their spirit lives on in me.

Of course, the writers, Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, point here to a time when Christ will come again and take those who have been faithful ahead and into heaven, reunited, to be with God. This belief in the end times now seems important. There was hope, a belief that Christ would return in their lifetime and, as time was passing it was essential that they not give up hope but remain faithful. The biblical text is not crystal clear on all the details, but it offers the bold hope that all those in Christ — living and dead — will be there on the day when he will come again in glory and then dwell with him forever.

For many Christians this “reward” is a motive for “doing good” and ensures their place in heaven. While this might be a worthy hope, I have come to believe that, regardless of what happens in any future glory, my motive for living in the presence of Christ is centered in the here and now and not in any future promise of heaven.

As we enter the season of Lent, we do so with an invitation to slow down and notice the world around us. Lent is marked by a season of fasting, purifying ourselves as we prepare for Easter. Here at Cathedral of Hope we will be invited into a different kind of fast. It is a fast designed to feed our true hungers, embracing simplicity, a fuller presence in the moment.

I believe that we are hungry for a better world NOW and our faith directs us in the ways of justice – to change the world today, knowing that this creates a better world in the future. To co-create a new earth that is like the one that we hope for in heaven.

As we enter the season of Lent and, at the same time our Muslim friends enter the season of Ramadan, which is also marked with fasting. May our shared prayer be focused on creating a better world, marked by the values of our faith. May we become more empathic, less self-centered, and more grateful to God for the world around us, and the blessings bestowed upon us. May we find an increased sense of peace and happiness and enthuse these gifts into our personal lives, impacting those around us and ultimately, the world.

Whenever I conclude a memorial service, I reflect on how their life has changed me. May we be so blessed when our time comes, that others will know how our life has changed them.

PRAYER

God of Lent, as we take time to fast and pray, reflect, and prepare for the great feast of Easter, may we find spiritual food for our journey that will lead us to be a part of the re-making of our world in the here and now as well as in the future. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev Dr. Neil G Thomas

Senior Pastor

Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ

Pronouns: he/his/him

Thursday - February 27, 2025

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 4

Love is patient, love is kind…

WORDS OF HOPE

I thought I would never get over grieving Charley’s death. My sweet rescue boy who died of pancreatic cancer in June of 2023. Since that day I’ve been a kind of Ancient Mariner in the neighborhood, attaching myself to folks walking dogs and telling my tale of woe as well as inviting myself to friends’ homes to play with their pups. But recently I started just to look at shelter websites and rescue organizations on line, including East Texas. And for some reason, amidst all the diverse and wonderful creatures, one face captured me—a midsized greyish dog , with a spread of white across her neck, and white blaze on her face. A thoughtful face, fitting for a dog named Sage.

With subtle heart-openings day by day, I decided that after Christmas I would go visit the Friends of Marshall Adoption Center and meet Sage. When I got there, the volunteer who greeted me was over the moon excited since Sage had been with them for over a year—their longest resident. No one could understand it because she is a sweet and loving girl. I discovered that Sage was in foster care while recovering from knee surgery a few months ago. Her foster mom Amy brought her to the center to meet me, and everyone was hoping that she would be adopted out. Anticipating bringing her home, I had packed up a sack of new toys and treats and brought a bed for her, but because she had a post-surgical check up in a few weeks, we thought it best to delay and let Amy continue to keep her. Patient love, I kept hearing in my head. Patient love.

Amy was a wonderful foster mom who would have adopted Sage in a heartbeat except that she and her husband already had 3 large “boomer children” and one aging dog. But we kept in close contact. I’d send queries about Sage’s personality, medical issues, and progress. Amy would answer and include pictures and videos that I would moon over. (Embarrassing, I know. Grandparents, you understand!) In the interim, I “puppy proofed” the house, looking for everything toxic (moving Christmas poinsettias up higher) or too enticing for a dog to resist—like shoes and trash baskets with no tops. I replaced pickets in my old fence—caring less about how they looked than that they would hold up against the pressure of canine shoulders on a scent. All the while, the tide of anticipatory love grew stronger.

Valentines weekend I drove out to pick up Sage. Though thunderstorms were forecast for the day, it was clear when I got there and began to reconnect with the volunteers who filed out in numbers to say good bye to this sweet girl. There were lots of tears—of gratitude and relief (one more dog saved) and affection. And then we loaded her into the car and started home. Her forever home.

In the few days that we have been together, her personality has been emerging as we share a space and take the 3 walks a day necessary for her rehab. She is curious about everything and loves to sniff, not with just a passing whiff, but with the attention of a mindfulness master: she causes me to stop to smell the roses, behold the golden glory of pansies, and turn my head upward at the cooing of a mourning dove, as she watches and listens.

Now, who rescued who?

PRAYER

God of patient and kind love, call us to make room in our hearts for creature kin who, though wounded, have so much love to give. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - February 26, 2025

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 17:3-4

So, watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Carpe Diem! Seize the day! We’ve all heard this phrase many times, I suspect. It’s offered to encourage us to make the most of the present day, to not get bogged down in regrets about the past or fears about the future. The phrase carpe diem as it is understood today is thought to have been taken from a line in one of Horace’s Odes, dating from 23 BCE. The complete line is “carpe diem quam minimum credula postero,” which translates as “pluck the day trusting as little as possible in the next one.”

It is interesting to me that we have shortened Horace’s sentiment by dismissing the part about trusting as little as possible that there will be a tomorrow. I don’t think that these words are meant to instill fear or anxiety, but rather to remind us that we must live in the now and be fully present to that living. As Jesus says to the disciples in the above passage, “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.” The sin is in the past; forgiveness is in the present. Forgive now as you may not have that opportunity tomorrow.

When times are good, “seizing the day” is an easy and enjoyable thing. But what about on the hard days? The bad days? The ugly days? The days when it feels like we are the ones being seized by life itself? As difficult as it sounds, these are probably the times when we need to fervently seize the day.

On the evening of April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was scheduled to lead the Memphis sanitation workers, who were striking over poor wages and working conditions, in a prayer service and rally. As the evening approached he was physically and mentally exhausted. King asked a close friend, Ralph Abernathy, to address the people for him so that he could stay at the hotel and rest . When Abernathy took the podium by himself, mayhem ensued in the crowd, prompting him to contact King and ask him to please come. Martin Luther King came and addressed the crowd, speaking for over forty minutes. This would be his final speech as he was assassinated the next day on the balcony of the very hotel room where he had hoped to rest on this night.

What would Martin Luther King, Jr. have missed if he had not taken the podium that night? What would the world have missed if he had not seized that day, April 3, 1968? Much like Jesus in his final days, King knew his days were numbered. Taking the podium on that night gave him the opportunity to bid farewell to the nation, though the Memphis sanitation workers and the nation were unaware that this was the case.

Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero. Pluck the day trusting as little as possible in the next one…even when this is hard to do.

PRAYER

Loving God, even when my day is hard and my prayer seems only for a better tomorrow, help me to seize this day and make it the best that I can. Remind me that in making this choice, my actions have the potential to make today, and maybe tomorrow, better in some way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Tuesday - February 25, 2025

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ecclesiastes 9.12-18

For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded

than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one bungler destroys much good.

WORDS OF HOPE

PRAYER

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.

Monday - February 24, 2025

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 38.19-20

Many have become my enemies without cause, those who hate me without reason are numerous. Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s Scripture reading is one of many titled A Psalm of David and could easily have been written by King David himself, considering the subject matter and degree of frustration the writer pours into his lyrics. The Psalms were written as song lyrics and I can imagine the music for this one being a heavy Wagner opera, not a Little Mermaid overture.

I can’t count the times I’ve been asked how something written (in this case) about 2,800 years ago in a different culture could have anything to say to us today? My answer is that the words were written by humans, and we are humans with the same kinds of hopes, dreams, adversities, joys, disappointments, and surprises in our culture as they had in theirs. They felt the same raw emotions that we are feeling now.

The Psalms remind us to never keep those emotions locked up inside of our minds and souls until they eventually destroy us, but to express them to ourselves, to the ones we love and trust, but most of all, to God! The Psalmists had no problem with releasing their inner selves, even when the presumed perpetrator of their griefs was God. They yelled at God all the time. Did God hear them? Yes! Did their stories always have happy endings? You know the answer to that.

A common happy-ending thread in most of the Bible narratives, however, teaches us that when the families, nations or tribes were unified in their determination, their purposes were accomplished. When they were feuding or fragmented, they failed. How does that fact effect our lives today? Do we have enemies we had considered our friends, who repay our desire for justice and truth with baseless accusations and hatred?

What would the Psalmists have us do? Yell at God? Blame others? Blame ourselves? Write a sorrowful song? Fine! Do all of that. The ancients were honest with their emotions and went through that whole list of positive and negative responses to what they considered as hopeless situations, but hear the words of the last lyric of today’s reading: “I seek only to do what is good.” That was God’s Commandment and Jesus’ lifelong practice, and he always did it to build the community. And that community survives today in you and me.

PRAYER

Empathetic God, you have listened patiently to our laments for thousands of years. You have never abandoned us. You are with us now. Guide us today as we seek together to do only what is good, what is right, on the path first walked by Jesus. It is in His name we pray. AMEN.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Claare

Friday - February 21, 2025

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 6: 20, 21

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

WORDS OF HOPE

While helping a friend load up the car with boxes, we headed to a storage unit shaped like a castle. I bust out in laughter when I read the sign “Welcome to Cram a Lot”. What a great metaphor! We came a lot to cram a lot…there’s a song in this somewhere.

Apparently, storage units in the US are a 53bn dollar industry and growing. Storing our “stuff” has become very valuable for companies who hold onto items that many have forgotten what’s in the boxes they packed.

Then I thought about the multiple photo albums and various boxes of stuff Ive been lugging around for years. It’s been taking up space with pictures of people and places I don’t remember as well as a plethora of other “things” which are from days gone by. While we can’t erase the past or deny its existence, we can let go of it in ways that promote healing and growth.

Jesus invites us to let got of material things that keep us stuck both physically and spiritually. By cleaning out the debris of negative thoughts, letting go of old hurts and even friends who are holding us back we open the space to have a deeper relationship with God.

In speaking with like-minded folks, we discussed how enjoying the moment, sharing memories from the past and letting go of the ones that keep us imprisoned is the best gift we can give ourselves and others.

I know when I feel free of fear, doubt, regret or other negative thoughts, I have more energy to freely share.

There is immense freedom when we lighten our load, feel the joy of life and breathe a sigh of relief from carrying burdens. It’s the internal peace God intended for our lives. It’s free, and always there with an infinite promise of peace!

PRAYER

Everlasting Creator of life, as we unpack and repack our problems, let us remember when we ask, you promise to carry our burdens away! In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Thursday - February 20, 2025

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 30.18

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore God will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for the LORD!

WORDS OF HOPE

True North

“We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,

Dr. King believed that true justice was more inevitable and within reach, detours sometimes, but in time–finds a way. That “long arch that bends towards justice” is often, hard to see… As you’re waiting to arrive–to this inevitability–it’s hard to believe you’ll actually get there. But somewhere, deep in your soul, something is refusing to get extinguished–a flame of hope.

Change, in the same way, takes time to make its appearance known. What will be isn’t known until it becomes and the future is life’s greatest mystery. And yet, it cannot stay a mystery. We know that time must move forward–this, too, is an inevitability.

To perceive time, one must remember that it is only temporary. Your “true north” is moving you forward through time, so that everyone will receive what is owed to them. Eventually, everyone will inherit the world they created. The good will be very good and the evil must bow to it.

PRAYER

Loving Creator,

Do not let our differences be what destroys the souls of the nations, but restore our dignity, heal our hearts, and answer our calls for justice. All we desire is peace between neighbors. Dissolve our fears, and in its place, grow friendship. Enlarge our hearts so that we can meet our enemies with love. There is so much resentment, pain, and suspicion but nothing is more powerful than your forgiveness. We all need you to help us end this terrible cycle of hate and light our way to togetherness, trust, and most of all, love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - February 19, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 11:52

“Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Jesus has a lot of criticism for people claiming to be experts in the law. He was not talking about lawyers, but priests, specifically the Pharisees who would be mist aptly compared to “fundamentalists” of today. He saw them self-righteously following the letter of the laws of the Holy Scripture but missing the meaning of them.

They contented themselves to follow and preach rules about behaviors but neglect fundamental justice and love and grace. It’s easy to get lost in a maze of rigid rules and forget that sometimes thinking outside the box is the answer. Jesus thought “outside the box”, and encouraged his disciples to do so as well.

He healed the sick on the Sabbath, dined with sinners, comforted lepers, spoke with women, and overturned the tables of the money lenders. He saw a lot of the religious rules as getting in the way of people loving God and each other.

He recognized that people wanted to be closer to God but sometimes those rigid religious laws got in the way. He encouraged people to find God by showing God’s grace and compassion to others.

PRAYER

May we seek to follow God’s guidance and bring about justice and love and grace in our world.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - February 18, 2025

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 14:1,3

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me, where I am, you will be also.

WORDS OF HOPE

Our Firm Foundation

In the days before his death, Jesus prepared his disciples to continue walking in the spiritual truths and path which he had taught them. His followers were entering a period of great uncertainty and total disruption. Have times changed that much?

The disciples were afraid of the evil forces which threatened Jesus' life and also what would be the consequence for them. Could they weather the danger which lay before them? Jesus told them that he would never abandon them in life or death. Today, we continue to rest in the assurance that Jesus will always be with us.

However, there is one condition which was asked of the followers, "believe in me". That belief is not just a mental agreement. It is a confident assurance in the trustworthiness of Jesus. Trusting in him, Jesus would lead them through those dangerous and uncertain times.

It's the same story today, Jesus will care for us and lead us into new opportunities ahead. But, like the disciples, we must trust in the faithfulness of our Lord! "When through the deep waters I call you to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow, for I will be with you in trouble to bless you and sanctify your deepest distress."

In these days ahead, may our confidence in the trustworthiness of God's care be expressed in all our daily activities. May the Peace of God be with us.

PRAYER

To you, O God, I lift up my soul, in you I put my trust! I know you will not let me be humiliated or triumphed over by these adversities and fears. As Psalm 25 tells us:" Even in these uncertain times, "teach me your way and show me your path" to follow... "For you are the God of my salvation and in you I have placed my trust all the day long." Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - February 17, 2025

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

I Corinthians 15:21-22

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. I Corinthians

WORDS OF HOPE

For seven years, I was a part of the Bethany Oratorio Society, a group of musicians that has performed Handel’s Messiah on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday since 1882 and Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion on Good Friday since 1929. This group of Kansas town folk, high school and college students, college faculty and hired soloists have kept this tradition alive for nearly 150 years.

During my time in the Society, I was under the direction of Elmer Copley, a towering man of intellect, musical talent, and pastoral care. He directed the 400 voices, the master organist, and the orchestra with precision and passion.

In the third part of Handel’s Messiah is sung Since By Man Came Death, a recitation of 1 Corinthians 15:21-22. Taking the librettist’s cue, the chorus starts in A minor and it sounds like a funeral hymn, singing of Adam’s fall and our mortality. Then suddenly, it switches to C major and is sung like a victory shout, singing of the resurrection through Christ. This is done twice for each of the two Biblical verses. Those two verses by Paul, combined with Handel's musical brilliance, powerfully proclaim a theology of resurrection.

I recall how Professor Copley insisted that in the funeral sections of the song, we were to sing a hard letter “D” for the words “dead” and “die”. And we sang those words sforzando, meaning with a sudden strong emphasis. He wanted the audience to understand the sudden and vicious nature of death and how helpless we are to its power.

He equally insisted that we should sing the victorious sections of the song with musical cheer and volume. The words “by man came also the resurrection” and “we shall all be made alive” are not to be sung timidly or clinically, but with the joy of knowing that in Christ we are alive.

Juxtaposing death and resurrection twice, Handel musically switches back and forth between these two extremes. Going from Grave tempo, a cappella singing and complex harmonies in A minor to an Allegro tempo, with full orchestra and a simple harmony in C major.

When space provides, give a listen to this chorus from the third part of Messiah, hearing the preaching of St. Paul, George Fredrick Handel, and Dr. Elmer Copley. Hear the finality of death and the joy of resurrection. Know the fall of Adam and the risen Christ. Feel the finality of grave and the celebration of the empty tomb.

And if you sing along, don’t forget the hard “D”s and sforzando volume!

PRAYER

Lord God, thank you for the promise that in Christ, all will be made alive. Help me to live my life in a way that honors you and reflects the resurrection of Christ to those around me. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - February 14, 2025

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

I Corinthians 13:11-13 (Common English Bible)

“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become an adult, I’ve put an end to childish things. Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known.

Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.”

WORDS OF HOPE

“Maturity in Love”

They have been together 58 years. Until recently, they lived in the same house for 57 of those.

They have built a life of relationships, work and service, devoted to each other and to Christ whom each encountered separately when they were boys. The God whom Jesus revealed to them is their anchor. Their church is their spiritual haven as well as their social homebase. It is through church where they connect with so many who matter most to them.

They’ve persevered, overcoming a culture that rejected the notion that two men could be faithful, loving husbands. They have worked hard to earn and save and give, extending their charity to help others along life’s journey. Their compassion endures through the work of benevolent organizations they have supported.

Together, their individual and collective passion for music, antiques, nature, art, fine collectibles and estate jewelry has enriched their lives and those of the people who share their interest or have been their clients.

To get a good look at transcendence, you have only to gaze upon such mature, loving and committed relationships. They reflect the transcendent nature of holy love. It is pure, persistent, stubborn, patient, untiring, enduring and righteous. It is also imperfect, because we are human.

One of my most favorite definitions of marriage is simply: “Two wonderful and imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.”

Today is Saint Valentine’s Day, a time to celebrate love and friendship and to call to mind the true nature of genuine love.

Thank you Fred and Roy; two perfectly wonderful and imperfect people who have refused to give up on each other.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus who loves us, help us we pray, imperfectly human, we still seek your way. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - February 13, 2025

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

READING

“His law is love and his gospel is peace.” “O Holy Night,” Placide Cappeau

WORDS OF HOPE

Sometimes, Grace, in her tender care, sends love letters. May we open our hearts to these poetic words today.

The following piece was written by Carlo Caretto from Letters from the Desert.

Don’t worry

about what you ought to do.

Worry about loving.

Don’t interrogate Heaven

repeatedly and uselessly saying,

‘What course of action

should I pursue? ‘

Concentrate on loving instead.

And by loving

you will find out what is for you.

Loving you will find peace.

Loving is the fulfillment of the law

and should be everyone’s rule of life;

in the end

it is the solution to every problem,

and motive for all good.

Another remarkable expression of love comes from a post by Diana Butler Bass.

What Comes Next

by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Love relentlessly.

—Diana Butler Bass

Love relentlessly, she said,

and I want to slip these two words

into every cell in my body, not the sound

of the words, but the truth of them,

the vital, essential need for them,

until relentless love becomes

a cytoplasmic imperative,

the basic building block for every action.

Because anger makes a body clench.

Because fear invokes cowering, shrinking, shock.

I know the impulse to run, to turn fist, to hurt back.

I know, too, the warmth of cell-deep love—

how it spreads through the body like ocean wave,

how it doesn’t erase anger and fear,

rather seeds itself somehow inside it,

so even as I contract love bids me to open

wide as a leaf that unfurls in spring

until fear is not all I feel.

Love relentlessly.

Even saying the words aloud invites

both softness and ferocity into the chest,

makes the heart throb with simultaneous

urgency and willingness. A radical pulsing

of love, pounding love, thumping love,

a rebellion of generous love,

tenacious love, a love so foundational

every step of what’s next begins

and continues as an uprising,

upwelling, ongoing, infusion

of love, tide of love, honest love.

PRAYER

Relentlessly Loving God, heal and redeem us as you fill every cell of our being, that we may be made brave to love as you love. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - February 12, 2025

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 22:19 (NIV)

But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength, come quickly to help me.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Kumbaya

The words “kum ba yah”, are a rough translation of a prayer/song beseeching God to “Come By Here”, the cry of enslaved Africans living on islands just off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. I can hardly imagine the pain and despair that inspired such a heart-wrenching prayer, but I know it was more devastating than anything I have ever experienced.

I remember joining hands with my college mates in the sixties and seventies, singing that very song with tears streaming down our cheeks. It is true that our pain was not so wretched as those who first sang those words, but we too were begging for justice. We were still yearning to see our fellow humans treated with respect, justice and dare I say, even kindness.

American slang has reduced the phrase “Kumbayah” to refer to an idealistic and unrealistic reach for harmony without meaningful action. I feel really sad about that for it seems to me to belittle the origins of the song and the efforts of the peace movements of the fifties, sixties, and seventies. Surely, we must honor all of the cries of those who came before us and all of the efforts. Though we still struggle, and we still must act, we must acknowledge those on whose shoulders we stand.

Our concerns have broadened to include other people who have been singled out as not deserving love, respect, and equality. I confess that even when I do what I can to change this, it is not near enough. I feel compelled to reach for the hands of my fellow followers of Jesus, so that we may join in a desperate prayer for God to “Come By Here!” It is the most effective thing we can do while we search for other ways to partner up with God to make it so!

PRAYER

Oh God, my ever-present help when I feel helpless, We need you now. Help me to see and do the things I can do to make a difference in this world of pain and injustice. Still, I know that my efforts alone are but a tiny though important part of what needs to be done, that needs to happen. So, I am asking, God, for miracles and mountain moving stuff. Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya. Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya. Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya. Someone's crying Lord, kumbaya, Someone's dying Lord, kumbaya, Someone’s praying Lord, Kumba!

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Tuesday - February 11, 2025

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

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

Monday - February 10, 2025

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 3.17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

WORDS OF HOPE

Jesus was a man of many names and titles in the Bible. Name above all names, Prince of Peace, Son of man, Son of God, The Light, The Way, and so on. My favorite way to think about him has to do with his interactions with humankind.

I often think of Jesus as the greatest symbol of divine direction of how we human beings should treat each other. Jesus paid the ultimate price with his life to liberate us from our so-called sins. So, Liberator is my favorite title for Jesus.

To liberate us was perhaps his greatest feat; liberated meaning we are free to move about our lives with the function to carry out the work of love. That seems to be a tough one for us. We define it in many ways and often by how we choose to dole it out according to our convenience.

But the word itself carries significance for me as I remember all those friends and acquaintances I’ve crossed paths with who may never have realized what their presence in my life did for me. I think of my best friend who often liberates me from the concerns of the day by making me laugh so hard I literally forget my little troubles for a few minutes.

I think of my early boyfriends and partners who had no idea their function was to offer relief of some sort. The perfect positive charge over the negative. I can list specific friendships in my life in which neither of us realized at the time we were liberating each other from prejudices we may have suffered; from self -doubt, addiction, sadness, loneliness, sickness, disability.

Whether you have a devout belief in Jesus as the redeemer or maybe as your favorite liberator, look around you. Look back. Who played the Jesus role in easing your stress? Who do you lean on in times of trouble? Who were your liberators? We all have them. Ultimately that’s the job of each of us, isn’t it? What can you do today that may liberate someone of their troubles? Do you think of yourself as a liberator?

PRAYER

Thank you liberating me to be the liberator of others. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - February 7, 2025

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

James 1:17.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shifting shadow.

WORDS OF HOPE

Her name was Luna.

My children picked her name, but let me embellish it, so I named her Bella Luna Lovegood. She was mostly Shih Tzu, but she was also a bit Terrier and a whole lot of sass. Luna joined our family when a family friend said that their frequently traveling daughter didn’t have the heart leave Luna in an apartment for long periods.

As a puppy, Luna was relentlessly playful. So much so that she occasionally drove my children to sit on the kitchen counter to keep Luna from biting their toes. Eventually, Luna grew up and mellowed out. Of all the dogs I’ve known, she was the most independent and most demanding… very much like a cat. She loved walks, but didn’t want to walk so much as want to explore and sniff things. At the dog park, she didn’t so much interact with other dogs but wandered around and surveyed the landscape.

As she grew older, Luna became very chunky, lost many of her teeth, lost her sense of hearing, and suffered from bladder stones. But she loved treats, was excited to meet people, especially children, and loved routine, especially bedtime.

As you may have guessed, several ailments caught up to her and we had to put Luna down. It was the day after Christmas.

Luna taught me that we don’t “own” our pets. She was far too independent for that. Instead, she taught me that she was a present to be treasured and shared, like the presents we unwrap on Christmas morning. She insisted that she was a gift and we should all be gifts to one another.

The apostle James reminds us that every good thing is a gift from God above. Luna was a gift from God that taught me about the nature of God. Being affectionate, playful, inquisitive, funny, and loving, every little thing Luna did reminded me of the goodness of God. Also, being occasionally stubborn, aloof, and demanding also reminded me of the sometimes-challenging nature of God. Luna showed me that most of the best and worst aspects of our pets are shadows of the care, love, and stubborn nature of God.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is a God of all comfort and comes near when our hearts are broken. I’ve leaned heavily on those words throughout my life and most recently with Luna. Thanks be to God for the gift of Luna and thanks be to God that she walks a little closer to me now.

PRAYER

Gentle Shepherd, thank you for the gift of Luna and for the gift of all of our animal friends who have been in our lives. Show us how grieving this loss can be an act of worship, acknowledging your good gifts. Thank you for being present with us as we walk through the difficult times and remind us that every good and perfect gift is from you. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - February 6, 2025

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:00:06 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 6.45

A good person brings good things out of the good stored up, and an evil person brings evil things out of the evil stored up. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

WORDS OF HOPE

Do you consider yourself to be a good person? In the morning as the alarm clock sounds that awful ring, what's your immediate response to it? Do you try to reach the snooze button on the alarm, or do you smile and say, "Good morning"?

Well, I bet it's clear how most people react. Generally, how would you as a good person react? If your life is built around a fairly routine pattern or you're going through a difficult patch of hardships, it might be difficult to joyfully greet another day with the same old trials and tribulations.

However, those first moments of each day offer us the opportunity to set the stage for whatever we hope our day will become. Most people either stagger out of bed trying to wipe the cobwebs from their mind, or they jump out of bed with 1000 thoughts about the day's potential activities.

Let’s consider a better way to awaken and greet a new day. As you awake, pause and open your eyes to receive the light of a new day, open your lungs to receive a deep breath of it, and open your life to receive the new opportunities which will come your way. Greet the new day as a special gift from God with unexpected blessings that will come your way.

The new day represents the gift of continued life, and that, life itself, is the rarest gift of all!

These suggested responses to awakening represent a pattern of mindfulness by

which you can welcome a renewed day of life into your experience.

But, it does require that you be consciously aware of your greeting to enter this new realm of activities and experiences, and willing to encounter somethings new or at least filled with renewed opportunities and human interactions. Let's call on that good person within us and start each day with enriched mindfulness about the divine gift of life which it offers to us!

PRAYER

Lord God, help me to quiet my mind and open wide my heart to your wise voice guiding my life this day. May I surrender myself more to your will and share your loving care with all those I meet today. May I resolve to treat each hour as the rarest of gifts and be grateful for the consciousness that allows me to experience it. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - February 5, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 1:11-12

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

WORDS OF HOPE

The prophets in the Old Testament are always seeing visions and hearing God speak to them. I guess that’s why they are prophets.

Much of what is written and attributed to these mystics is somewhat opaque to us especially if we don’t know the context or the history of the period in which they were written. One thing is clear, Jeremiah believed God was speaking directly to him and he conveyed that message to the people.

I have always identified with the prophets. I was born “en caul” or “with a veil” a rare condition at birth that my grandmother said was a sign I would someday have the gift of prophesying. I would never pretend to be on the same footing as Jeremiah, but I do often find myself reading what I wrote and am surprised by it, almost as though the words were not mine.

I believe we all have this ability if we only open our minds and let God flow through us. It’s not something that we can consciously do, but when it happens it seems mystical. I firmly believe God speaks through each of us, in our words and actions if we let that happen. Following the words of Jesus is a good way to open ourselves up to that.

PRAYER

Loving and mysterious God,

May you use my hands and voice and actions to bring about your kingdom on earth. May I follow your guidance in Jesus’ teachings and find an abundant life.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - February 4, 2025

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:00:04 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear…”

WORDS OF HOPE

From the Battlefields

In an unknown hour, at a moment not of your choosing, and an unknown direction, with an unfamiliar appearance–and an overwhelming force¬–fear…waits for its hour, a moment of its choosing, in a direction it knows, by design–and will strike. And its weapon will falter and betray them…

What are you protecting? And whom? That is your resolve, and this is your strength. Love has never died; neither has it ever been vanquished off the face of the Earth. More than any other emotion, we return to love; parents and children, spouses for one another, teachers and students, first responders and their communities, and more–we all keep pressing into the unknown for someone we care about.

And love continues to be passed down from generation to generation. Without love, a house, a community, a town, a country…could not stand, for there would be nothing to build upon strong enough for true bravery to exist. Without the bravery of many people who came before us, who faced terrible evils–none of us would be here, now.

True bravery isn’t about one’s ability to win–it’s about facing anything and everything even if you think you can’t because, despite one’s weaknesses, it is not just simple bravado; it’s imperishable love. When fear stops you from moving, love charges forward against any enemy that stands in its way. And what’s meant to stop you becomes the very thing causing you to move. Every day, we have the chance to be brave for someone else, someone we care about, someone who can’t be brave for themselves. Rest assured when fear strikes–we’ll be ready for it.

PRAYER

Almighty God,

We praise You! For we are safeguarded by Your unfailing love for us. And Your mighty Spirit rests within us. Let Your love be our strength in the hour that our fears come upon us. Be the sharpest blade and the impenetrable shield. Help us to be courageous for this generation and the next. Thank you, God, amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - February 3, 2025

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 2.6-8

Yet we speak wisdom among those who are mature, although not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew it.

WORDS OF HOPE

When I was in college, the pop wisdom writer of the day was Kahlil Gibran. I’ve read a few hundred other gurus’ writings since that time, but I still remember much of what he had to say. One of my favorite quotes is this one:

“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.”

Most great wisdom writers remind me of Jesus. And Jesus often reminds me of writers who are wise. All of them have similar attitudes about rulers; the ones who consider themselves so wise that we would have little hope for survival without them to guide us or direct how we should live our lives. The Apostle Paul knew the type.

Paul wrote regarding the first century rulers who governed by the wisdom of that age, the misguided and distorted worship of power. They were clueless about the wisdom of God as preached through Jesus’ message of Love. His was the wisdom of admitting vulnerability; knowing when it’s all right to cry at the death of a close friend like Lazarus.

Jesus’ philosophy also provided room for good humor as he continually told parables laced with irony, the highest form of humor in his day, and his respect for children and their purity of faith is central to his teachings. His ways of living and loving were unknown to the insecure and humorless power brokers who would ultimately demand his crucifixion.

Paul predicted to the Corinthian church that such people would come to nothing, and he was right. He was speaking to the first century, but his wisdom permeates all generations, even influencing a ruler now and then. The power of love will do that.

PRAYER

May we always seek your wisdom, the wisdom that cries but also can laugh through difficult or uncertain times. May the child’s faith that lives within us lead us to it. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - January 31, 2025

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 12 (NRSV)

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

WORDS OF HOPE

I have heard this scripture since I was a child. I have incorporated it as an intention for my daily living. When I fall short, I try to correct the failure. It was somewhat of a shock when someone told me they did not want to be treated according to how I wished to be treated. They wanted to be treated as they wished to be treated.

That made perfect sense when I thought about it. It is a matter of perspective. To truly love someone, we must acknowledge them as a unique and wonderfully made person, separate from ourselves. Jesus taught us to love others as we love ourselves. That means I want for the other what they want, not what I want for them. I must get to know what they want before doing what I can to contribute.

That doesn't mean I should scramble to give everyone what they say they want. It does mean I don't send flowers to someone who is allergic to them. They would be happier to receive a picture with a message that says, "Thinking of you and sending you this rose that will not make you sneeze." Of course, chocolates might be good too.

When I pray for others, I will pray for God to grant the desires of their hearts, for God will know better than I, and perhaps better than they, what will satisfy their deepest longings.

All this sounds frivolous, but I think it is very important. I think it matters that we love one another as well as we can.

PRAYER

God of Love and Mercy, help me to do better at loving others. Help me to get outside of myself, to listen carefully, and to sincerely love them as they wish to be loved. May your will be done in all of us. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Thursday - January 30, 2025

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Psalms 148:12-13

…young men and women, old people and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for God’s name alone is exalted; God’s splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Crossing Paths

A Poem by

Jonathon McClellan

Here and now,

Feels like everything.

Sometimes,

It’s what you want to change and

Sometimes,

It’s what you want to stay the same.

But change always wins

Until you wish for things to stay the same

Again.

The children have to grow up

And the old ones leave us behind.

We wish we could go back

Or lengthen the time

Just a little while longer–

To hold someone

Again.

Somewhere, in green meadows

We’ll cross paths

And dance like children–

Even though we’ll both be old.

Then we’ll see that time’s

True intent

Was to give us stories to tell–

When we meet each other

Again.

PRAYER

Abba God,

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - January 29, 2025

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 4.38-39

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So, he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s account from the Gospel of Luke is one of many narratives that point to the resilience of women throughout the history of the Hebrew people. Here we meet Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law who Jesus heals of a high fever. She could, justifiably, have stayed in bed to recover her strength after a serious illness, but she immediately chose to spring up and practice the most revered ministry of the day: Hospitality.

Being the matriarch of the house, she was not about to designate that holy tradition to anyone else, not even her own daughter. Though she lived in a patriarchal society, she was one of a long and distinguished line of women who knew their roles in directing and perpetuating the history of the chosen people as promised by God to Sarah and Abraham. Consider the examples she had the honor of following.

The first was Sarah herself, who made sure her son Isaac would be the next designated leader of their tribe, as did Rebecca after her, whose son Jacob would become the father of the 12 tribes, and much later, Bathsheba, whose son Solomon would never have seen the throne without the authority of his determined mother. We also remember the Hebrew Scripture stories of the wise women of the Bible: Miriam the Prophet, Deborah, the Prophet and Judge, Huldah the Prophet, Anna the Prophet, and Abigail, whose courage and empathy tamed an army.

Their patriarchal husbands, brothers, and kings never failed to follow the leadership of these wise women. Like most patriarchs today however, their main pursuits were starting and losing wars and acquiring as much leverage over their neighbors as possible. The world has always needed more matriarchs in charge.

Ani DiFranco, American-Canadian singer-songwriter, makes this observation: “I sincerely believe patriarchy to be at the root of all of our social diseases and feminism, it's antidote, to be a prerequisite to peace on earth. Feminism provides an alternative way that focuses on and prioritizes relationships and de-emphasizes hierarchy, separation and domination.”

To that I say: Amen

PRAYER

Thank you for the women in our lives and in the lives of our ancestors who have taught us to pay attention to the needs of others while nurturing the wisdom and growth of us all. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - January 28, 2025

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

READING

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So, the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. 'The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared' (Luther).”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

WORDS OF HOPE

What do you think of when you hear the word community? School community…golf course community…neighborhood…retirement community…underserved community…marginalized community…faith community? The word community carries with it an assumption that all those that are part of a particular community have commonalities. These may be defined by age, race, occupation, government, hobbies and interests, shared circumstances, religious beliefs, etc. Today is Global Community Engagement Day, a day when differing communities are invited to purposefully engage with one another.

It is a natural thing for us to find “our people” and build or become part of a community that nurtures, comforts, and provides a safe place for us. In the passage above, however, Bonhoeffer, quoting Luther, says that we as individuals and our communities need to be living amongst those who we may call enemies. In a world that is currently so divided, many of us find ourselves existing in small communities or perhaps even seclusion. Admittedly, some days it seems much easier to live this way. But, is this how Jesus calls us to live?

Peacefully co-existing with those with whom we have little to nothing in common is a true test of our character and our faith. There is no question that this feels at times next to impossible; however, it is how we love our God and how we love our neighbor as ourselves. It is the thing that Jesus calls each of us to do.

As you go about your day, consider what community means to you. How do you and the communities of which you are a part engage with others around you? In cases where it feels difficult or even unsafe to have face to face interactions, we can offer prayers. When we pray, it helps to remember the humanity that we all share. Even when praying for a perceived enemy, add the words, “my brother” or “my sister” to the person’s name or the organization. We live in a world where it has become acceptable and easy to dehumanize people. Reminding ourselves that we are all brothers and sisters takes a step toward bringing our communities closer together.

PRAYER

Loving God, help me to never forget that you made all of us and we are all brothers and sisters in your eyes. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - January 27, 2025

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 4.16

…We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

WORDS OF HOPE

Jesus famously said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Do you love yourself? No one knows you better than you. Are there aspects of yourself you find hard to love? I’m making an effort to consider truly loving myself unconditionally, including my flaws, because that’s what makes me who I am. It’s taking a long time for me to love and appreciate myself. After all, I’ve been through a lot with “me.” But I’m getting there.

If the essence of God is love, is the comforting feeling I’m getting coming from God living in me? So many questions and I’ll admit it’s abstract Faith. I’m not sure if I have any answers for you but for myself, I’ve created the most wonderful, perfect image of the living God.

It’s difficult to interpret and navigate this expression of God because I know daily that question gets bigger and bigger. What is God? Does God love me? Am I capable of loving in a world that sometimes seems absent of God’s love and protection? These are tough questions, to say the least.

I stopped believing that aspect of God interceding in every minutia of Earth’s daily events. We see calamities all around us; wars, violence, lots of injustice. Things that might look like the absence of love. But it’s not true. You are here. You are not just an expression of God’s love. YOU are that love. YOU take it with you and use it to bring to the lives around you.

It’s compassion, it’s empathy, it’s action, it’s you. How does it feel to be loved? It feels the same as giving it and in time or an instant, that precious gift all comes back. You are the eyes, ears, arms, legs, and action of expressing God’s intent of love.

If you’re feeling unloved today, stop worrying about your flaws give yourself a break. Charge your battery with some self-care. Love yourself first, then share it.

PRAYER

May I accept the miraculous grace of your love this day and be your love in the lives of those around me.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - January 24, 2025

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 14:33

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…”

WORDS OF HOPE

Some time ago, after knowing in my gut I was being called to serve, I got caught in the abyss of “what should I do next” As I began to question myself it left me doubting which way I should go. I had exhausted known avenues of researching the situation, talked to lots of people for advice until it felt like the answers were floating further and further away.

As I ask others for their opinion, naturally, everyone had advice which made me doubt if I was actually headed in the right direction at all.

Just when resolution was at hand, doubt would come flying in, I would question my decision, get confused again, then start re-thinking the process all over. Even though I had been asking God for help, I finally quieted my mind, went to God in prayer and this time without my own agenda.

I consider myself a fairly ambitious person and sometimes when I feel moved by God, it lights a fire in me so hot I’m ready to throw caution to the wind to conquer the world. Maybe the same happens for you, so many thoughts and ideas run through your mind that you can’t write it all down fast enough. Have you ever gotten so excited about a dream or vision that you take off running full speed only to find yourself running ahead of God?

The media today seems purposely filled with confusion, lies and doubt. Right is being called wrong; many want to influence others according to their agenda making lines of communication blurred across the board. While so much of it is designed for control and to keep folks confused, in truth, God never intended for us to live that way. Learning to stand firm on the truth, know who we are in Christ, listen for the call God has on our lives and stop living in fear is the real action that will change our lives forever!

PRAYER

God as we bear witness to confusion, let us evoke your everlasting promise of peace and Mercy that will be freely given when we remember to ask. In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Thursday - January 23, 2025

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 10:00:02 GMT

READING

“We are neuro-biologically hard wired to make sense of our hurts as fast as we can. And if we can come up with a story that makes sense of it, our brain chemically rewards us for that story whether it is accurate or not.” * Brenee Brown

WORDS OF HOPE

Many years ago, in a group on forgiveness I facilitated, one of the men stepped forward to share the story of his disastrous fall from an administrative role at a college because drugs and alcohol had held him in thrall. Of his downward trajectory, he confessed—honestly and vulnerably— the harm he had done to people who cared for and believed in him, helped advance his career, mentored him, and tried to help free him from his addiction. As he shared, he regularly used the phrase: “The story I told myself was….”It was a phrase that he learned in recovery work, a phrase that helped him claim personal accountability for his actions as he healed.

Since that time I have pondered and examined some of the stories I tell myself. Just recently I took the opportunity to explore an old narrative, one which began with some validity, but, when unexamined, got cemented as truth when perspectives had changed over time. It was part of a coat of armor I had put on after a person blamed me for hurting a good friend of theirs. No question there was hurt—to both parties—but in the friend’s estimation, I was the Wicked Witch of the West. So I withdrew, avoided interaction—justifying the response that she didn’t want anything to do with the Ogre-me.

Brenee Brown asserts that it is important to take “reckoning” about the things that hook us emotionally: “We can’t chart a new course until we find out where we are, how we got there and where we want to go.” This inner work is important to our growth and wellbeing, our relationships, and our resilience to recoup from setbacks. Her process includes acknowledging our feelings and getting curious about what’s behind them (eg. Why am I being so hard on everyone? Or why am I feeling insecure here? ) In another step, she encourages us to write down the answers to the following prompts: The story I am making up—What are my emotions, my thinking, my body, my beliefs, my actions. She calls this place in the process getting ready to “rumble”—to poke and prod our findings. **

In a time of prayerful examination early one morning, I uncovered how this story I convinced myself of derived from old wounds as well as feelings about personal integrity and issues of belonging. The inner work definitely stirred up some old feelings, but has started to help me write my own story with new clarity, accuracy, and freedom.

PRAYER

Liberating God, You lead us from illusion to the truth which sets us free. Grant us the courage to seek new narratives as we partner with you to author our lives. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

*A short video with Brenee Brown and Kylie Lewis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eicjG9ilmfg

**An extended explanation of the process: https://www.oprah.com/omagazine/brene-brown-rising-strong-excerpt

Tuesday - January 21, 2025

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

READING

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give Him,

Give my heart.

-Sacred Words From “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Georgina Rosseti

WORDS OF HOPE

The poem “In the Bleak Midwinter” has been put to music and is often song around Christmas time. Some years ago, I was thinking about it and realized that Christmas is only four days or so past the beginning of winter. So, I looked it up and midwinter is technically mid-January to mid-February; in other words starting right about now.

The above quote from this poem is the final stanza. And I think it is a good reflection on our relationship with Jesus and God. We tend often to think of what we can give to God in terms of material or financial gifts. The poem seems to indicate those two things in terms of the lamb and the wise men who we know brought gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh; they did their part. And certainly, those are important. But it is also important that whatever gifts we bring come from the heart.

This is what I believe is meant by being the church. Not so much the tithing, not so much the time, or service. Being the church means sharing in the heart of Jesus. That giving spirit, that loving spirit that Jesus exemplified throughout his life.

Giving our heart to God means we are prepared to listen for God‘s guidance, whether we are alone in our room, in service to others, or among other worshipers in church. And it further means that we are prepared to act on that gentle tug, or that slap upside the head that God gives us.

So, as I reflect on this time after Christmas, after Epiphany, before the Pentecost, in the bleak midwinter, I stop to think whether my heart is in the right place to walk with Jesus. And if it is all those things whether giving or serving will naturally flow from the heart.

So for reflection, I invite you today to sit back for a moment, stop, and think about Christmas just passed, Epiphany just passed, and what is to come. We should all ask ourselves “is my heart ready to give?”

PRAYER

Dearest Creator, who stands with us through the bleak midwinter, the renewal of spring, the blaze of summer, and the slowdown of the autumn, accept our hearts. Help us to keep our hearts in a place where they are acceptable to you, and we are comfortable in giving them.

Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Weber Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Monday - January 20, 2025

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 1.9

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

WORDS OF HOPE

In these early days of the New Year, there are many obstacles before us. One has become almost epidemic in today’s world: Greed. Greed is an inglorious miseducation which teaches us that the difference between less and more is our happiness. The assertion is that those with less are poor and that those with more are rich.

Ironically, the acquisition of wealth is thought to lead one to happiness; however, endeavoring for wealth which cannot be enjoyed after one’s years are spent acquiring it is a bitter venture only realized by the time it is too late to get the time back. This is poverty: spending your whole life trying to get rich and gaining nothing but regrets and the desire for more time in the end.

Our true wealth is the time we are given to spend with the ones we love. We have time to discover the beauty of this world, to build relationships, and to leave this world better than we found it. None of these things require money to attain more than the requirement of our time. Happiness is inexpensive but time is priceless.

Yet, for every one person who finds satisfaction there are nine hundred and ninety-nine who want more. This is blindness: there is enough food in the world to feed everyone, but people are dying of hunger.

There are people who live modest lives. They may wear the same clothes every day and only eat what they can grow, but are smiling from within out of an abundance of wealth that few understand. It is long overdue that humanity asked the honest question…why? Why do we need so much?

We have the resources needed to meet the physical needs of every living person on Earth but lack the vision to make it happen. Jesus once warned us that it profits us nothing if in the end, we gain the world but lose our souls.

PRAYER

God our provider,

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - January 17, 2025

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

“You all belong together because you all belong to Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:28d (EasyEnglish Bible)

WORDS OF HOPE

“Connection”

I first spotted her when I was looking out our kitchen window that faces the front yard. Our house is at the end of a curve of the long street that runs through our neighborhood. It was a warm, sunny, Texas fall day, and she was making her way along the concrete sidewalk, stopping at each house to lift the lid of the water meter and take a reading.

I turned to the refrigerator to grab a plastic bottle of water and quickly went to the front door, opening it just as she was arriving in front of our home. I called out to her as I stepped out onto the porch, “Would you like a bottle of water?”

She looked up and called out with a disarming smile, “I am just reading your meter,” apparently assuming I was questioning her presence in my front yard.

I repeated my question but worded it differently, “Would you like to have a bottle of cold water?”

“Oh, yes!” she immediately replied, this time, with a tone that conveyed both gratitude and relief. “I am really thirsty!”

I met her halfway in the yard and handed her the cool refreshment. ”You’ve got a big job!” I observed.

“Yes,” she said. “They drop us off and I didn’t think about grabbing some water before I worked this neighborhood. Thank you.”

“Be safe, and thank you for your service,” I offered. She continued her duties as we parted, and I returned to my home.

It was a small, seemingly insignificant encounter, yet one that is memorable for me and perhaps for her. An act of kindness. An opportunity for human connection. A memory of relief provided by a home-dweller whose empathy led to an unexpected act of service. A reminder that she is not just peering into damp, dark holes in the ground but is part of a larger system that provides residents with safe drinking water. On this day, one of them bothered to return the favor.

Neuro-anthropologists tell us that humans are hard-wired for connection. We need each other, and long for a connection with the mystery that is the transcendent—the Divine—as well. When we remember this, our journey is better.

What connection will you make today? Perhaps you’ve started by reading this.

PRAYER

Holy One, Divine Presence, nudge us from our mundane routine to be curious, to notice, and to be open to opportunities for connection. In doing so, may we find sacred moments to hold close and may they give us energy and courage to discover more. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley

Pastoral Psychotherapist

drgk.org

Thursday - January 16, 2025

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 43.19

Behold, I will do something new,

Now it will spring forth.

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.

WORDS OF HOPE

The first month of the New Year is close to half over and some of our diaries and journals

are already filling up. How about yours? How has your New Year been so far? Are you treating others well? How are you treating yourself?

"Be gentle with life this new day and use the Light of life to live fully in this time.”

-J. McQuiston)

Each new day consists of a series of events which can never be repeated in the exact same way. With each sentence you speak, you get just one chance to speak respectful love to the other person. Later, if you realize that the words were too sharp or inappropriate, your apology still leaves the interaction marked by less goodness. Therefore, we must handle each human interaction with "gentle care", because each is delicate, momentary and

unable to be fully repeated.

Each interaction represents an opportunity for the Light of God to shine into someone's life. For the Christian, this is a special responsibility, because by our words and actions God asks us to shine the divine wisdom and love into this world. "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine into others, so they may see your good words and actions and give glory to God in heaven." -Matthew 5:14,16

PRAYER

May the living presence of Christ Jesus fill every nook and cranny of my being to grow me to become a more efficient and faithful servant for you this day. My Lord, may your loving presence fill my life and spill forth to all those whom I meet this day. Lord Christ Jesus with your living presence in me, may we go forth together to be and to do those opportunities which you place in my life. And in all that I am and all that I do, may you be glorified, your presence be manifested to the world and others be blessed. Be it ever so. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - January 15, 2025

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:03 GMT

JEWISH PROVERB

Focus on the bagel not the hole.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is National Bagel Day and since I was raised in a Jewish household bagels have always been part of my culinary tapestry. Having a nice hot toasted bagel with a schemer of cream cheese and on special occasions a slice of Nova Scotia lox, a few capers, a slice of tomato and some onions…nirvana!

As we head into the new year, there is a lot I could worry about, but that worry does me no good since it has as much substance as the bagel hole. The future is unknown and because of that my worry about it won’t change a thing. Instead, I can concentrate on the substantial blessings I have and use my energy to work towards a better future for my community and family.

The other lesson I get from the humble bagel is that of toughness and resilience. A good bagel is more than a roll with a hole, it is bread with attitude. Boiled and baked it manages to stay delicious and still maintain a little resistance. It is adaptable, becoming a sandwich sometimes, or just a between meal snack, A nosh.

Perhaps we could all learn a lesson from this simple food and focus on the blessings God has given us without complaining about the things we don’t have. Gratitude is an exercise in growth. It helps us savor the richness of our lives and the goodness of God.

PRAYER

God, help me appreciate your blessings and to use them as you see fit to bring about a better world for everyone. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - January 14, 2025

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

READING

“Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” -Rainer Maria Rilke

WORDS OF HOPE

The above passage is from Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, which he wrote to the aspiring writer, Franz Xaver Kappus, between the years 1903 and 1906. On this World Logic Day, it seems appropriate to think about this idea of questions and answers and how they co-exist within our faith.

A simple definition of logic is the study of how we can reliably increase our knowledge and understanding of the world. How do we go about that? Logic requires us to analyze ideas, circumstances, and arguments through reason rather than through beliefs. This may make it sound like logic and faith are opposing ideas. Is faith logical? As Rilke says, “Don’t search for answers…someday…you…will gradually live your way into the answer.”

How would our approach to reading scripture change if we looked at the Bible not as a big book of edicts and rules that when memorized and rigidly followed guarantee us the good life, but rather as a source for responses to our thoughtfully and well-reasoned questions?

The burden then is placed on us to ask the appropriate questions as to how we should live our faith. Doing so gives us a personal context for what we read. We must then use reason and logic to analyze the biblical responses and determine how we can best live through our questions in our daily lives.

So many Christians believe that they must have all of the answers in order to live a right and holy life. I think quite the contrary. When it comes to our faith, once we believe that we have all the answers, we stop seeking, we stop learning, and we stop growing. When we stop growing, we essentially stop living. That is not what our God desires of us. God wants God’s children to thrive, to keep moving toward the light throughout all our days.

Asking questions is important. Learning to live with our questions is how we grow. Living our way to the answer is…

… PRAYER

Loving God, hold my heart as I grow with and through my questions. Guide me toward right paths. Redirect me when I go amiss. Remind me that right answers are not nearly as important as right questions. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - January 13, 2025

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Judges 4:6b-9

“Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.”

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

WORDS OF HOPE

The fourth chapter of the book of Judges describes the story of Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel. In this chapter, Deborah delivers the Israelites from the oppressive King Jabin of Canaan and his military commander Sisera. Holding court under a palm tree, Deborah summons Barak, a military leader, and 10,000 men to battle against Sisera and his better equipped and well numbered army.

What is profound about Deborah’s story in Judges 4-5 is that in a time when leadership was almost exclusively held by men, she not only leads Israel to victory, but she serves as an arbiter and judge to the people. So revered as wise, strong, and decisive, even Barak won’t go into battle without her.

Debroah is but one example of where women demonstrate strength, leadership, and agency in a patriarchal society.

Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, is a leader and prophetess, her voice being important in the biblical narrative.

Queen Esther exemplifies courage and agency, risking her life to save the Israelites from extermination. Ruth’s story of loyalty, initiative, and redemption plays a pivotal role in the ancestral line of King David and Jesus.

The women at the cross and the Empty Tomb stayed with Jesus when the disciples fled and were the first to discover the empty tomb and declare ‘Christ is risen’!

The Samaritan Woman at the well becomes one of the first evangelists, spreading the news of Jesus’ revelation to her community. In Romans 6, Phoebe is known as a deacon and benefactor of the church. Priscilla, in Acts 18 and Romans 16, teaches Apollos the way of God more accurately, which is a role that was often reserved for men.

Even though the Bible structure is influenced by a patriarchal worldview, these stories and more portray women as stronger, wiser, and more courageous than even their contemporaries. They bring agency, voice, equality and challenge gender norms. And in Deborah’s case, made sure that everyone knew it was a woman who should get the honor and recognition. Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

Mother God, we seek the courage, strength, and wisdom of Deborah and all the women of scripture. May we, persons of all genders, be strong in faith, willing to stand for justice and righteousness, and never hesitate to speak Your truth when it is needed most. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Friday - January 10, 2025

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ecclesiastes 1. 1-2, 8-10

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

WORDS OF HOPE

This well-known message of boredom and despair is not the most optimistic inspiration for the New Year, but chosen by the compilers of the daily lectionary for some good reasons. The first logical connection to all generations would be to ask, “Isn’t this exactly how you’re feeling about now?”

Let’s be honest. We’ve been through the most turbulent and exhausting election in my memory, and I have experienced a LOT of highly contested and wearisome political years. Many worked diligently and continually for their candidate only to see them lose by a miniscule 1.5 popular vote margin leaving campaigners to look back on their hours of toil and simply declare, “Utterly meaningless!”

We then plunged into an Advent Season, still exhausted and less inspired than usual, but still forging ahead in the year’s busiest shopping, event planning, and event attending weeks, complete with out-of-town guests, decorations, and banquet meals. Looking around us at all the recycled decorations and endless holiday ad campaigns, we groaned, “Is there nothing new under the sun?”

Then came the New Year’s parties. More of the same. “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time,” moans Eccelsiastes.

And that’s what I love about the Bible. It was written by real people with real problems who weren’t afraid to be honest about their feelings. They even yelled at God in the Psalms and in the case of this passage from Ecclesiastes, at their families. The first line identifies the author, the son of David, a king in Jerusalem, perhaps Solomon. We don’t know, but whoever the writer was, he had 18 brothers and probably as many sisters, each competing for recognition and royal heritage; a family literally at bloody civil war with each other.

Who wouldn’t finally collapse in a heap, quill in hand, and scroll in bold ink strokes, “Meaningless!” And that was where the thesis began that would characterize the whole book which, being real life, did not conclude with the expected happy ending.

But from our side of history, we remember that this was the family whose line would climax in the birth of Christ, the Redeemer of all. It turns out that the turmoil and family feuds had a happy ending after all and marked the beginning of a new era for the rest of the world.

And that’s where the world still is today. The peace of Christ and the example of the life of Jesus are eternally with us. Meaningless? Never! Let’s have a little rest and then proceed with our Happy New Year together!

PRAYER

Loving Creator, as we sometimes look around us and ask ourselves “What does it all mean,” thank you for providing the answer in Jesus.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Thursday - January 9, 2025

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

READING

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn,

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return.

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true,

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you…

(Steven Schwarz)

WORDS OF HOPE

I’m sure I am not the only person singing songs from “Wicked” these days or hearing them in my head like sacred mantras. Especially here at the turn of the year, a reflective time for many of us, I am thinking about those who have changed me for good.

Frankly, in my long and full life, even naming them would be an expansive process—parents, siblings and relatives, beloved partners, teachers, colleagues and students, spiritual mentors, and my counselor who “saved” my life. Then there’s the forest grove of dear friends who, through the years, have loved and companioned me across a wide spectrum of experiences: finding love, the death of beloved people and animals, discovering our callings and the challenges of pursuing them, professional successes and disappointments, justice seeking, illnesses and restoration. Though the death of some of these has caused deep pain, it has, with God’s grace, led me to a ministry of grief and opened me to a new way of loving them--in memory and in their spirit-presence. Medical practitioners of many types have changed me for the better—better health and mobility—and some have even had the rare impact of laying a hand upon my heart. And I cannot forget Ida, who held me in her arms, soothed my fears, and shaped me and my brother when my mother nearly died in childbirth with her youngest son.

Creatives of all kinds—particularly writers such as Toni Morrison, Shakespeare, and Mary Oliver, as well as spiritual guides—such as Barbara Brown Taylor, Cole Arthur Riley, Richard Rohr, Jim Finley and other Center for Action and Contemplation writers, have transformed me and embedded their powerful words in my life and writing. But the same is true of artists of all kinds—actors, singers and dancers and creators of musical theater and painters and photographers—just to name a few. I remember how deeply impactful their generosity was during the pandemic especially the videos of their readings of favorite poems or singing songs of hope. They lifted up a frightened populace.

And if you have ever shared part of your grief story or spiritual journey with me, sitting across a table or in the embrace of prayer, know that I am who I am today because of you. The mosaic of our sacred lives is annealed in tender sharing.

God is at the center of it all, the God whose call and claim upon my life shepherded me home after a long wandering in the wilderness. The God who was once only “outside of me,” but now is closer than breath and that I know as the love that will not let me go. And will not let you or any of us go.

PRAYER

God of all that shapes us for good, no thanks can begin to touch the grace of your extravagant love. But move us still to speak our gratitude and to touch others’ lives for good. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - January 8, 2025

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

JOEL 2.28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

WORDS OF HOPE

Children will see visions; grown-ups will dream dreams. This scripture is also quoted in the Book of Acts and I like it! The fact is, children have clarity of visions about things, and their surroundings, much more often than they are credited. Children can learn to play musical instruments, sing, and learn a new language because their brains are less full of grown-up clutter.

Children are complex thinkers. They are barometers for their surroundings. You know when they are happy, when they’re sad, or when things in their world aren’t going the way they would like.

My personal philosophy is to look at things from a child’s perspective. But not from a childish perspective; a grown-up, wiser version of having lived in the world, not retro engineering my life to keep things simpler. It works for me in my life and in my faith…But what does this have to do with dreams?

I love dreams and remembering them. I frequently ponder the questions “what is the meaning of dreams? Why do our brains need to dream while we are asleep?” I believe the complexities of life both seen, and unseen must be sorted out. We don’t get an instruction manual for how to live our lives. But we do get dreams to help process the accumulated events and experiences in our lives for one reason or another… Probably many reasons.

From my child’s perspective, I believe dreams are sometimes visitations from real people, alternate realities, abstract constructs of our brains sorting things out, or all of the above. Once I had a weird dream of George Harrison, who was a member of the Beatles. He was pleasant and said nothing but seemed to be visiting. I don’t have any connection to him other than having read later he was the quiet Beatle.

I wondered after waking up if it was a visitation because it felt so real. Did I need to sort something out? Did George Harrison arrive to bring me a comforting, quiet message? It certainly fit the situation. If the Beatles were united in anything, they were all about love and peace.

I don’t know anything except the feeling I had for the next few days was very comforting and calming. Perhaps that message of simplicity helped me get through various situations that were causing stress. That explanation is enough for me.

Like children, we are always looking for a happier, feel-good answer to life’s challenges. Sometimes the answer for you might be to slow down, feel the peace, and don’t take things so seriously. That’s good enough for me. How about you?

PRAYER

God of dreams and visions, Jesus was known for saying Peace be with you. May we have the faith of a child and envision Jesus saying that to each of us, whether we are awake or especially when we are sleeping. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Charlie C. Rose

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Tuesday - January 7, 2025

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 6.19-20

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.

WORDS OF HOPE

Some thoughts about Love for the New Year

When you love someone, it’s like that person–at any moment–has the privilege of entering the sacred temple of your soul. In a way, they become the priests charged with preserving it.

I’ve learned the hard way, that people are people–regardless of how much you trust them with the task. No one is perfect or holy, but they tend to do the best they can.

Your temple, the place where you house your innermost thoughts and emotions, can be desecrated–even by those who have good intentions.

Your feelings are like the sacred artifacts of your temple. A good priest will preserve them on a shrine and keep them out of reach from laypeople, tend to and polish them, and protect them from thieves and brigands.

But it is you who has the most sacred task of being the high priest of your temple, because ultimately you live there, and it is your home.

Therefore, love and care for your temple, for it is the refuge of your very soul.

PRAYER

Loving and merciful Spirit, you have given us the most precious gift of love. Let us not bury it within ourselves. Help us to be vulnerable, and if we are injured for the sake of love, heal our hearts. Open our eyes to see the countless opportunities You have given us to love, and may we get it back a hundred-fold. Bless You Great Spirit for all that we shall receive. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Jonathon McClellan

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - January 6, 2025

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

WORDS OF HOPE

It’s a New Year and a new day. How will you live your life that is uniquely you this year?

Theologian J.McQuiston says "If you want to live the life that only you can live, do good for others, and when you have done good, you'll have life abundant." That sentence contains two powerful messages. You have a unique opportunity to live goodness into those experiences which will be part of your new day in a New Year.

No one else can step into that day and live your part of it. You, alone, live out the opportunities which come your way. Don't plan to sit on the sideline and expect someone else to fill your necessary role in those life interactions. Your participation is vital! The creation of this new day awaits you and your response.

But, how will you respond to events as they happen moment by moment? Will you tend to react in a manner which reflects caution, self -protective fear or anger? Will you be unwilling to share much of yourself with those who relate to you, or will you let the loving goodness of God flow through you to bless the other person's life?

In each of your conversations and interactions, you may be the only source for God's wisdom and loving care to be expressed! And when you allow the divine presence to be part of your every word and act, you too will be richly blessed. In order for God to pour blessings through you to enrich the life of others, your life will be filled with special blessings. (Like a pitcher must be filled with water before it pours water into the waiting glass. And those blessings which you will spill into the life of others will be good because their source is the all-goodness of God.

PRAYER

Lord God, help me to quiet my mind and open wide my heart to your wise voice guiding my life this day of the New Year. May I surrender myself more to your will and share your loving care with all those I meet today. Be it ever so. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St Francis and St. Clare

Friday - January 3, 2025

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 8:16-18 The Message

No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.

WORDS OF HOPE

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let is shine.

The song “This Little Light of Mine” was a powerful anthem that gained significant prominence during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, becoming a song of hope and defiance against injustice that still resonates today. When the counter-protesters at the Unite the Right rally in August 2017 sang this song, activist Reverend Osagyefo Sekou tells the story that “I just I just broke into 'This Little Light of Mine.' The tensions went down... and it shook the Nazis. They didn't know what to do with all that joy. We weren't going to let the darkness have the last word.”

Jesus begins with the parable of the lamp in Luke 8:16-18 and Matthew 5:14-16 by saying that a lamp should not be hidden under a jar or bed but placed on a stand so that those who come in can see the light. Jesus’ teachings are to be shared openly, not hidden away. Nothing hidden will remain secret, and everything will eventually be revealed.

We find ourselves today in a time where sharing ‘this little light of mine’ is needed more than ever. We know that in seeking the light and sharing it, the world can see the better way of justice, freedom, and peace taught to us by Jesus.

We also know that when we let our light shine, the darkness of injustice is exposed. Those fearing the light of Jesus’ justice know that the light brings everything out into the open and they don’t get to have the last word.

Perhaps most importantly, this teaching of Christ in a protest anthem does more than tell the gospel truth. When we sing this song and let our light shine, we do so together, feeling a little more empowered, a little less alone, and a lot more free.

How can we let our light shine today and in the days to come?

PRAYER

Living God of justice, freedom and peace… We pray that, by Your Spirit living and breathing through us, we would be light and love in a world that desperately needs Your hope. Teach us to shine Your light and push back the forces of darkness that surround us. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - January 2, 2025

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 12:00:04 GMT

READING

"When we rise from sleep let us rise for the joy of the true work that we will be about this day; for every day carries the potential to bring the experience of heaven. Have courage to expect good from this new day."

(J. McQuiston)

WORDS OF HOPE

It’s a New Year! What type of "work" do you expect in this new day? If your mindfulness is limited to anticipate only the routine "humdrum" of the usual which the world throws at you, you may miss the opportunity to work with God today. Keep the workings of God in your new day!

Expect divine opportunities to pop up at unexpected times throughout your usual daily activities. Don't limit your chances for meaningful interaction with God to a brief prayer at meals or bedtime.

The Holy Spirit wants to guide you through interactions with other people, help you develop your goals for the new day, and strengthen you with the personal resources you'll need to succeed. If you mindfully approach all the day's activities with the perspective that God will work with and through you, the day will be transformed into a series of opportunities for spiritual growth and blessings for both you and those with whom you interact.

What a blessed day that will be!

"This is the day our God has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it", and rejoice in all of the opportunities which God will give me today to be with the divine presence in times of quiet and acts of ministry. (Psalm 118:24)

PRAYER

Lord God, help me to quiet my mind and open wide my heart to your wise voice guiding my life this day and throughout this New Year. May I surrender myself more to your will and share your loving care with all those I meet today. Be it ever so. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donald (Luke) Day

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - January 1, 2024

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:00:02 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Ecclesiastes 2:9-13

So, I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure from all my toil, and this was my reward from all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

So, I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the king’s successor do? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.

WORDS OF HOPE

As the new year begins, I look at my past year and consider what I have accomplished. Being semi-retired I am no longer worried about deadlines and projects and getting things done. Yet I still keep busy, writing and speaking and working…hey! I was supposed to be retired?

I look around my house and see lots of things I collected in my lifetime and each are perhaps valuable, but the memories attached to them are worth much so more. The things are just material goods, but the memories are the real value.

I see a lot of folks who are in powerful positions surrounding themselves with things as well. Private jets, industries, mansions and yet I suspect many of them are paupers when it comes to wisdom and memories. Their pursuit of wealth and power is the folly spoken of by the prophet. They are chasing after the wind.

Perhaps we all are chasing the wind sometimes, and as the new year begins we might take a moment to pause and examine what really matters in our lives. Let us find the wisdom spoken of, and release our grip on the wind.

PRAYER

God of wisdom, grant us vision to appreciate the joys and memories you have given us and let us seek your wisdom in the new year ahead. Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Tuesday - December 31, 2024

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

John 13: 35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

WORDS OF HOPE

The thirteenth chapter of John tells the story of how Jesus prepared his disciples for his own death. He washed their feet, not because they were dirty, but to show that no one was more important than the other, not even Jesus! He was providing an example of the kind of love He would be expecting of each of us. In verse 35, Jesus spoke again of loving one another. He said that everyone would recognize us as followers of Jesus when they see how we love one another.

Note: People cannot see our feelings, but rather the evidence is in our actions. This is a little complicated. Sometimes we do not feel what we recognize as love. Out of our commitment to Christ, we do the loving thing. The feeling often follows! Sometimes we find ourselves acting out of habit rather than love. We excuse the behavior as being "only human," as if God were blaming or shaming us. God does neither. Even so, we want to love better.

Perhaps we can start with the blaming and shaming behavior. In today's world, this way of thinking is rampant. As a litigious society, we have perfected the art. Every news story wants to know who was at fault. Every political faction wants to point a finger at someone who "got it wrong".

I once learned a valuable lesson regarding blame. On the first evening of a dance class, the instructor told us to decide now which of us would be at fault for each of the future classes. He said he did not want to hear, "He or She stepped on my toes or did not do that step right, etc." Brilliant! On the way home, my husband and I decided we would choose up days of the week and employ that strategy for our whole relationship.

That was one of the most enlightening and useful lessons we ever learned. It changed the dynamics of our lives dramatically. One of us would start to blame or shame the other for something. The other would sweetly ask, "What day of the week is this? The appropriate partner would acknowledge that they were absolutely at fault, no matter what evidence could have been provided in their defense. His days were Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Mine were Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Sunday was God’s day, and would be blame free. I can't tell you how many arguments this avoided, how much more peaceful our lives became. It taught us how silly, unnecessary, and destructive blame is. We can love better!

PRAYER

Dear God, You are the fountain of love from which our own love is fed. Let us be filled with your love so that it overflows to those who yearn to feel such a love. Let us face this New Year with new courage to love more, to love better than ever before. In the name of Jesus Christ, who showed us the way, we pray.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Carole Anne Sarah

Monday - December 30, 2024

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Mark 13. 33-37

Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a homeowner going away who leaves the house and puts servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. "Therefore, keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If the owner comes suddenly, do not be found sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

WORDS OF HOPE

Many years ago, I was a member of a church that was heavily invested in Prophecy of the End Times. We often heard about it in sermons, and we regularly sponsored Prophesy Seminars, luncheons, Men’s Prayer Breakfasts; anything that would make us stop and think, “Jesus is coming. Look busy!” The overall theme was, Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

I was of the mistaken notion that the purpose of apocalyptic literature was to terrify its readers into shaping up and letting all their friends know converting to Christianity was a limited time offer. I now believe the opposite is true. Apocalyptic writings were reminders to their readers to have confidence in their faith as they were preparing to face some upcoming hard times.

Mark attributed these warnings and encouragements to Jesus who speaks in future-tense about events that have already happened. They were prophecy after the fact. Jesus speaks of the future destruction of the Temple and the coming persecutions, which according to Mark13.13b had already happened. But Mark’s community needed to hear these predictions from Jesus himself. For them, the Apocalypse had already begun.

In emphasizing “Watch”, Mark is reminding his congregation that the triumph of Jesus is imminent in their upside-down world where they were playing against the odds. They were surrounded by oppression and persecution from the Roman Empire and the corrupt religious leaders of their day.

Today, we know that their stamina and faith did endure, or we would not still be here carrying on their good works. That brings up the second point about apocalyptic literature. Not only is it not meant to scare us into cleaning up our acts, but it’s also not about us at all.

Mark is speaking to the needs of his own community, not predicting events that would come to pass in 2,000 years. How would that be encouraging or relevant in their bleak situation? What would our self-serving Prophecy seminars have meant to them? Yet, generation after generation, the Christian community has confidently stated that they were the special ones living in the End Times. Now it’s our turn. In the latter part of the last century that notion sold a lot of Prophecy books. But through the diligence of faith Mark talked about, we have survived false prophets and are now on the cusp of a New Year of dire predictions. How many of them will come to fruition is still conjecture. But we are ready.

Another prophecy thread that has continued unbroken throughout the years, is found in Mark 13:3-6 and 13:21-22, stating the central danger to his community is believing that a leader besides Jesus himself is the long-awaited prophet who will usher in the Realm of God on the earth. Just as this was not true in his generation, we can be confident that it is false in ours as well. The first century’s lesson of discernment still teaches us. We will not be caught sleeping.

PRAYER

In the coming year, may we watch for your presence in the unfolding events of our lives and may our spiritual ancestors’ example of perseverance through faith be our comfort and our guide.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - December 25, 2024

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 2:16

They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph and the baby as He lay in the manger.

WORDS OF HOPE

It was just before Christmas a few years ago as I stared lovingly at my newborn great, great niece. I marveled as nurses, parents and the likes bustled all around her to ensure everything was going well. Clearly, she had command of their attention as she was taking her new breath of life. Her tiny little being was both powerful and vulnerable at the same time. I knew when I gazed at her precious face, I was welcoming the core of love.

Looking at her, I reflected on the importance of the Christmas story and how Jesus, as the vulnerable little baby, required the same sort of care as any other newborn. He was entirely dependent on others for his life and at the same time, embodied the power of Christ.

He was fed and loved by his mother, born into a community that cared for him and encouraged him in the path for which he was called. Jesus, as a baby, implies a certain vulnerability which theologian Carter Heyward describes: “Vulnerability is the giving up of control, the turning of oneself over to the common life, not to be absorbed, stepped on, or negated, but rather to experience ourselves as co-creators of the world we want and believe in.”

Mary felt pain and gave that part of her life out of love. She was committed so this baby could one day feel our pain and give his life so ALL humankind would know God’s everlasting love.

Just like birth, our lives are both beautiful and messy, and through the birth of this Christ child, we have been filled with the promise of hope and everlasting life.

Baby Jesus, both "Christ” and child, sent to reveal Gods plan and share the ‘Good News’ became God in the flesh and personified the power of being vulnerable, surrendering to the will of God.

PRAYER

Creator God, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, give us the wisdom to see that you came into this world as a baby; helpless, poor, marginalized and needing refuge so we can fulfill the same needs in others. In Jesus name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Donna Jackson

Tuesday - December 24, 2024

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:00:00 GMT

SILENT NIGHT

Silent Night! Holy Night!

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon godly tender pair

Holy infant with curly hair

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at thy birth

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Brought the world gracious light

Down from heaven's golden height

Comes to us the glorious sight:

Jesus, as one of mankind

Jesus, as one of mankind.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

By his love, by his might

God our Father us has graced

As a brother gently embraced

Jesus, all nations on earth

Jesus, all nations on earth.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Long ago, minding our plight

God the world from misery freed

In the dark age of our fathers decreed:

All the world is redeemed

All the world is redeemed.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Shepherds first saw the sight

Of angels singing alleluia

Calling clearly near and far:

Christ, the saviour is born

Christ the Saviour is born.

Translated by Bettina Klein

WORDS OF HOPE

The lyrics for this quintessential Christmas carol were written in 1816 by Joseph Mohr, a Catholic priest. Mohr’s original German text was inspired by a winter walk that took him through the streets of Salzburg during the nighttime quiet. It wasn’t until two years later that Joseph Mohr shared his poem with his friend, Franz Xaver Gruber, who then set the text to music with a guitar accompaniment.

“Silent Night” was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 with Joseph Mohr singing and playing the guitar with the choir of Saint Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. This carol was introduced to others by an organ builder who took a copy of the music and shared it with some traveling singers. Having been translated into over 300 languages, “Silent Night” now has become a beloved part of Christmas celebrations all over the world.

As you read the above words of this carol, you may have found that some of them sound unfamiliar; that is because the typical English version contains only three verses—one, two, and six above. Though the three verses that we typically sing paint a beautiful image of the night of our Savior’s birth, the omission of half of the Joseph Mohr’s original text drastically changes the story that he wrote. Verses 1, 2, and 6 describe the night of Jesus’s birth. 3, 4, and 5 tell of the meaning of the birth of the Christ child.

Verse 3 reminds us of the humanity of Jesus…”Jesus as one of mankind.” We often forget this aspect of Jesus. He walked as one of us and gave us the example of how we are to navigate this world as “one of mankind.”

The fourth verse is a celebration of freedom and peace. Joesph Mohr wrote this poem just as the Napoleonic Wars were ending. Salzburg was one of the last places to be freed from Bavarian occupation. Mohr’s words, “Jesus, all nations on earth” are offered as a prayer of thanksgiving for the peace and freedom that Mohr and the people of Austria have been gifted.

Though Austria at this time was primarily a Roman Catholic state, there were those who were still practicing pre-Christian rituals. Though it was the Catholic Church’s stance that these souls needed to be “saved,” Mohr himself is believed to have been a bit more liberal in his thinking, which led to the text of the fifth verse, which conveys Mohr’s belief that God will redeem ALL of the world.

“Silent Night” is often sung as the final carol or hymn of Christmas Eve services. Aside from making that service a bit longer, what would happen if we all entered into our Christmas celebrations with the message of the complete poem in our hearts? Rather than singing only of an image of a single night, what if we were to include thoughts of Jesus the human being who was sent to bring freedom and peace to all nations and humankind by a God who loves all nations and all humankind? By including these typically omitted verses, “Silent Night” goes from being about an image we see with our eyes to something we can feel deeply in our souls, a feeling that amplifies the meaning of the carol’s final words…”Christ the Savior is born.”

PRAYER

“Christ the Savior is born. All the world is redeemed. Jesus, all nations on earth. Jesus, as one of mankind. Jesus, Lord at thy birth. Sleep in heavenly peace.” Amen.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Wednesday - December 18, 2024

blklthrjkt@aol.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 25:35

…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today is International Migrant’s Day. The United Nations declared the day to highlight the contributions made by the roughly 272 million migrants, including more than 41 million internally displaced persons, and the challenges they face.

It resonates with me because of the history of my family. My Father was a first generation American. His family came to this country after migrating from Prussia to England, to Canada and finally settling in Chicago. My paternal grandfather left eastern Prussia to escape the Tsar’s army which was conscripting men to bolster their forces.

He went to England and was going to send money back for his wife, my grandmother, to follow him. Eva, my grandmother, was impatient and was also a gambler. The butcher who lived below her flat asked her to join him in buying a lottery ticket since he considered her as “lucky”. She apparently was and their ticket won. She used her winnings to move herself to London to join my grandfather.

While there she once again bought a lottery ticket and her luck held out. She used the winnings to move the family, which now included a child to Canada and then to Chicago where she gave birth to two more children, one was my father.

Eventually she moved her family to Dallas where she opened a restaurant downtown and served thousands of Dallasites her delicious cuisine.

Because of that story, I have always respected and welcomed migrants who contribute so much to our culture, our economy and our lives. As the scripture reminds us, our history is one of migration. From Moses to Jesus, we have moved many times and each time the story only got better. It’s right that we should pause and reflect and honor those migrants who have shaped our lives.

PRAYER

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God of Jesus and Mary and Paul. Let us always welcome the stranger and treat them as we would be treated. Let us remember their difficult journeys that brought them here.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman

Friday - December 13, 2024

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

1 John 2. 18-20

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s reading was a very popular scripture in a church I regularly attended over 40 years ago. Any Bible verse that made mention of the scary and world-ravaging Anti-Christ was an assured high attendance catalyst for any of the Prophesy Conferences that were continually held there. It also meant high bookstore sales of the ‘Left Behind’ series or the ‘Late Great Planet Earth’, because it was the last hour and we were cautiously advised to be spending the last minute of it cramming for that ultimate final exam: The Last Judgment.

Curiously, no mention was ever made of the facts that the urgency in the letter of 1 John’s last hour was 2,000 years ago, not next week, and that he was referring to the antichrist not as a slimy individual who was determined to rule the world, but as anyone who turned away from the teachings of Jesus.

Looking back, I recall that the world did not end 2,000 years ago, or 45 years ago either, and the planet Earth still has a plentiful supply of antichrists, regularly turning away from the precise and loving teachings of Jesus. I count myself among them from time to time whenever I am too stubborn or too lazy to take a little time to love my neighbor.

Jesus’ Great Commandment on that subject can’t be repeated enough, because we seem to be consistently deaf to it. Do you want to be certain you are not the Anti-Christ? Then, love God with all your being and live that love by loving your neighbor as yourself.

So, who is your neighbor? Jesus once answered that question with one of his most memorable parables, but today I consulted a website dedicated to being good neighbors. They even have a pledge about being a good neighbor to the world beginning at home:

I pledge to be the "good neighbor." With the goal of becoming a more connected and caring community, I will be a person who lives with kindness and concern for my neighbor.

I’ll take the first step by connecting with neighbors and introduce myself. I will practice the "good neighbor mindset" to make connections, invitations, stay aware, and be available to my neighbors. Good neighbors make great neighborhoods.

PRAYER

Thank you that we do not have to be frightened by prophesies of doom into service to you and your eternal initiative of loving those around us as you have always loved us. Thank you for the plain-spoken and comforting message of Jesus. May I never forget that the whole world is my neighbor.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - December 13, 2024

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:00:01 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Amos 8:4, 11-12

Hear this, you who trample the needy

and do away with the poor of the land,

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,

“when I will send a famine through the land—

not a famine of food or a thirst for water,

but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

People will stagger from sea to sea

and wander from north to east,

searching for the word of the Lord,

but they will not find it.”

WORDS OF HOPE

Today’s assigned Lectionary reading from the Book of Amos is profoundly appropriate to our times. Amos lived around 700 years before the times of Jesus and self identified as a shepherd who was called to preach. He humbly stated that he was not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, since there were many professional prophets in those days who made a living flattering corrupt national leaders while ignoring their grossly immoral behavior. Amos did not want to be remotely identified with them.

I doubt that any of those privileged leaders would have mistaken Amos as being a team player anyway, after reading his opening declaration directed to “you who trample the needy and do away with the poor.” Remember, the literacy level was far below 10% in those days, with most people unable to even write their names. The writings and prophesies were directed only to the eyes and ears of the elite.

Amos gets straight to the point, quoting the words of God given to him in a vision, describing the result of corruption sanctioned by their prophets for hire. No matter how earnestly the people were to seek the wisdom of the Word of God, it would not be found in that land.

The central theme of the Book of Amos speaks out against the nation’s gross disparity of wealth between the elite few and the starving poor. Amos preaches to the degenerate leaders and their sycophant supporters about inevitably being brought to justice by an omnipotent God’s divine judgment. Amos pulls no punches.

Drawing a parallel between Amos’ sober words and the situations that characterize our world today is painfully obvious. The hopeful difference is that his warnings are not limited to those who would ignore them or shield them from public knowledge. We can read. And what we have read is the history of the downfall of those ancient civilizations whose leaders ignored the warnings of genuine prophets. If we take their words seriously, hope will always be alive in us.

PRAYER

May our prayers lead to action in the healing of an ailing world.

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Dan Peeler

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Friday - December 6, 2024

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 9:1-2

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

WORDS OF HOPE

Early in his ministry, Jesus calls the Twelve and he sends them out to proclaim the realm of God and to heal the sick. Jesus instructs them to travel light: no walking staff to aid the journey, no bag to bring things or to collect things, no bread to eat and no money to buy bread. They are to rely on the hospitality of the poor.

While they are present in a town, they stay as long as they are welcomed. That could be for days or that could be instant rejection. And if they are rejected, shake that dust of their feet (I hear Taylor Swift in the background) and don’t give it another thought.

These instructions put the Twelve in the place of depending on God for provision and guidance and relying on others’ hospitality. Perhaps this is to help the Twelve to be focused on the mission, perhaps this is a test of faith. This dependency on what God and neighbor provides shows a simplicity and urgency of their mission. The emphasis is on spreading the Good News with humility and, most importantly, trust in God’s provision. All of this is preparation for the larger work they will undertake later.

Perhaps the message here is easy for us to understand and hard for us to implement. When it comes to spreading the Good News and bringing healing to those around us, this narrative speaks to clearing away those things that drag our focus away. It can cause us to longingly cling to our own understanding and our own sense of propriety. We cleave to our own knowledge so dependently, that we find ourselves dragged down and hindered by hubris and self-reliance. And that’s when doubt about our calling and mission creep in.

What we often overlook is the powerful statement in the first verse of Luke 9, where Jesus gives His disciples "power and authority to drive out all demons and cure diseases." This is a tremendous gift from Christ, and we should recognize the weight of it. We are called to take seriously the empowerment He offers for His mission, remembering to be grateful not only for the authority He bestows upon us, but also for the hospitality and support of others who help carry out that mission.

In this passage, we are challenged to clear away distractions, resist self-reliance, and embrace the empowerment Christ offers, understanding that our calling is not only a privilege but also a responsibility, requiring both gratitude and trust in God's guidance.

PRAYER

Loving Savior, help us to trust You fully, relying on Your provision and the hospitality of others as we step out in faith. Teach us to travel light, free from distractions and self-reliance, and to remain focused on the mission You've entrusted to us. May we move forward with humility and urgency, confident in Your guidance, and willing to go wherever You lead. In Jesus' name, Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Thomas Riggs

Thursday - December 5, 2024

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Luke 8:15

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

WORDS OF HOPE

The United Nations has proclaimed December 5 as World Soil Day. “Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link with soil. Over 95 percent of our food comes from soils. Besides, they supply 15 of the 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential to plants. However, in the face of climate change and human activity, our soils are being degraded. Erosion disrupts the natural balance, reducing water infiltration and availability for all forms of life, and decreasing the level of vitamins and nutrients in food.”

The above passage from the Gospel of Luke is the final verse from Jesus’s explanation of the parable of the sowers in which he talks about the relationship between seeds, their environment, and their growth and ability to thrive. As Jesus says, the seeds are the Word and the good soil is our hearts. What if we take a portion of the statement above about world soil day and replace the word soil with hearts… “Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link with our hearts…. in the face of “climate” change and human activity, our hearts are being degraded… .” Jesus’s parable is as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago, perhaps more so. Caring for our “interior soil” so that the Word has a healthy place to take root is imperative as we navigate today’s difficult climate.

I saw a meme the other day that said, “Stop walking around with a mouth full of scriptures and a heart full of hate.” I believe that this is exactly what Jesus was talking about in the parable of the sower. Scripture that never makes it from the mouth to the heart is like seeds that rest in dirt rather than fertile soil. Scientifically speaking, soil is a living organism and dirt is not. Thus, we need a heart filled with soil so that the seeds of the word will grow and flourish, rather than one filled only with dirt where they will shrivel and die. Healthy soil does, however, contain some dirt, perhaps a reminder of the mortality of all living things. The following poem sums this up.

Dirt Is Dead

Dirt is dead,

a lifeless mixture

sand,

silt,

clay,

rocks,

and pebbles,

an abiotic community.

Dirt is dead.

Soil is alive,

a life-sustaining ecosystem

worms,

insects,

fungi,

bacteria,

and dirt-

death-

an integral part of life.

Soil is alive.

And “all we are

is dust

in the wind.”

-Kris Baker

What grows in our hearts determines the nature of the dust that we become.

PRAYER

God, create in me a fertile heart, one that is prepared to receive your word, one that us nourished by the waters of baptism, and one that is sustained by your light. I pray that my heart will yield a bountiful harvest of love for all that you have made. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Wednesday - December 4, 2024

hhaberman@cathedralofhope.com (Hardy Haberman) — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:00:00 GMT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 1:27-31

Zion shall be redeemed by justice,

and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together,

and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.

For you shall be ashamed of the oaks

in which you delighted,

and you shall blush for the gardens

that you have chosen.

For you shall be like an oak

whose leaf withers

and like a garden without water.

The strong shall become like tinder

and their work like a spark;

they and their work shall burn together,

with no one to quench them.

WORDS OF HOPE

Those pesky prophets. Always speaking of justice and righteousness and then telling us how we will burn like tinder. Don’t they know those oaks were planted by wealthy land owners and those gardens were created as beautiful places for those who owned the land to relax? After all, what is the point of having privilege if you can’t enjoy it?

Perhaps Isaiah is talking about that very thing?

I am fortunate to live in a beautiful city in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood, and yet every day I pass encampments of homeless people under overpasses and in vacant lots. Where is their justice?

There are children who attend the elementary school just down the street who have the only nutritious meal of the day at lunch in that school. Their parents work in dead-end jobs and scrape out a living and can barely afford to put a roof over their head and food on the table…sometimes. Where is their justice?

I believe unless and until we address the root problems of poverty and unemployment in our city, we will go down the road shown by Isaiah. The later verses of his prophecy add this:

How the faithful city

has become a prostitute!

She that was full of justice,

righteousness lodged in her—

but now murderers!

Your silver has become dross;

your wine is mixed with water.

Your princes are rebels

and companions of thieves.

Everyone loves a bribe

and runs after gifts.

They do not defend the orphan,

and the widow’s cause does not come before them.

Maybe it’s time we listened to his voice from thousands of years ago?

PRAYER

May we find ways to seek justice for all peoples and work together to build a righteous community for all.

Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Hardy Haberman