Thursday - July 31, 2025

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

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

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