Monday - July 28, 20225

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

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

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

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

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