Tuesday - February 11, 2025

Kris Baker

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

Need More Inspiration? Read our Daily Devotions

Friday - August 1, 2025

By Dan Peeler • August 1, 2025
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

By Donna Jackson • July 31, 2025
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

By Charlie C. Rose • July 30, 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

Monday - July 28, 20225

By Donald (Luke) Day • July 28, 2025
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

By Dan Peeler • July 25, 2025
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

By Dr. Pat Saxon • July 24, 2025
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
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