Tuesday - November 25, 2025

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

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

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

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

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.