Simply Soul Searching

Monday, April 8th

Last: to manage to continue (as in a course of action); endure

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NRSV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

“I didn’t sign up for this.”

I imagine all of us have had a few of these experiences at some point in our lives. We volunteer to help with a project and find that the work is more than we bargained for. We finally find the career of our dreams but soon learn that there will be cutbacks, with more responsibilities and less pay. We love working with a team of people, but eventually our favorites leave for other positions. We are disappointed and dismayed when the job no longer matches the job description.

Our previous devotion invited us to launch into God’s call on our lives, to take that first step toward a new vocation or way of living. Sometimes- even when we have been called- we have those same unsettling experiences after we launch. The work isn’t as easy or as appealing as we had imagined. There are disappointments, changes in direction, surprising losses, or unexpected challenges. We begin to wonder if this calling was from God after all. Did we misread the signs? Did we misinterpret the nudges on our heart?

Or has God called us “for such a time as this”? (Esther 4:14)

Maybe we answered the call because we anticipated the joy we would have in using our gifts for God’s service. But maybe God called us because God needed someone to go the extra mile, to keep persevering when others would not! What if these very challenges are the reasons God knew we were the ones to call? What if God called us because God knew we were best equipped to handle the troubles along the way- if only because God knew we would rely on and trust God for the help we need?

Paul’s words to the Hebrews encourage us to run with perseverance the race set before us. We can look to Jesus as our ultimate example, who for our sake endured terrible suffering all the way to his death. God’s call on our lives often requires us to persevere; to last when others don’t and we don’t want to. Certainly there are times when we are wise to surrender and stop. But before we do, could we first prayerfully ask ourselves, “Did God call me for this very challenge? Am I here for such a time as this?”

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Saturday, April 6th

Launch : to put into operation or set in motion : initiate

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NRSV)

Whoever observes the wind will not sow;
    and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.

In my life I know I have missed several opportunities to follow some God-inspired dreams. A few appealing career ideas were tucked into my heart, or suggested by a wise mentor, or even offered directly to me. But I hesitated. At times I lacked the self-confidence to pursue a new venture. On other occasions I didn’t want to spend the time and money to further my education. Most of the time I thought it would be best to wait until later, when I would have less responsibilities. When ‘later’ arrived, I felt that I was probably too late to begin!

Fortunately, God has always been able to take my missed opportunities and redirect me into something new. I did enjoy most of the careers I ended up pursuing. Now I love serving in ministry, writing devotionals, and spending time with our grandchildren after school. God has helped me find other paths to take throughout my life, the way God always works for good in spite of our shortcomings.

When God whispers a special dream into our hearts, we feel excited and inspired- but our inclination may be to wait until the conditions are perfect. After all, we DO want to succeed! We believe we will do better when we have more time or finances or health or less responsibility. It’s not that we don’t want to pursue God’s call on our lives, we just want to be sure we can do it well…

Don’t you marvel at the four fishermen- Simon, Andrew, James and John- who immediately left their nets and boats to follow Jesus when he called them (Mark 1:16-20)?

Through the Spirit, Jesus calls us today, placing dreams within our heart. It’s good to use wisdom and discernment when we make life decisions. But sometimes, like the fishermen, we are called to just set out. The newly-called disciples didn’t know what all was in store. They didn’t even have time to look back, although it seems that wasn’t necessary for them. They trusted that this Jesus would show them, teach them, and go with them on their journey. They only needed to follow HIM.

Has God inspired you to launch a new career, vocation, opportunity, or way of living? Is today the day to begin? Ecclesiastes speaks to us about hesitation. If the farmer waits until the weather conditions are perfect, nothing will be planted and nothing will be harvested! We need not wait until we find the perfect route, perfect conditions, or perfect time. We can venture out in faith today, trusting that we will be shown how and where to take each next step.  We don’t even need to know where this journey will take us. We just need to follow Jesus.

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Friday, April 5th

Psalm 100 (NRSV)

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
 Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he that made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

“Laughter is the sound of the soul dancing.”  ~Jarod Kintz

I am so fortunate to work with a ministry staff who genuinely cares for one another, supports one another, and actually enjoys spending time together. We all especially appreciate how often we laugh together! During our weekly staff meetings, we share ministry concerns, we tend to the work before us, we pray for our church and mission, and we plan the weeks ahead. Yet we still find moments to share a laugh or two. I find that after each staff meeting, I’m refreshed and renewed for service- and I truly believe that our laughter is one reason that I am. Pastor Michael has noted that our laughter is healthy and beneficial for us all. Laughter IS good for the soul!

Laughter is almost cleansing, an act of surrender, isn’t it? When we are joyfully laughing, we set aside the things that have weighed us down, at least for the moment. We open ourselves to a humorous comment or situation, allowing joy and happiness to flood in. We stop taking ourselves so seriously. We are gleefully present to these funny moments and the people who are sharing them with us.

God gives us so many reasons for joy. This beautiful creation. This life we get to live for all eternity. Our loved ones and friends, our companions for our journey. Healing for our wounds and comfort for our sorrows. Even our sense of humor. Most of all, God gave us Jesus, who fully loves, fully forgives, and fully frees us to live a life of joy.

And isn’t there something so inviting about joy? When our youth director Kyle was younger, he decided he wanted to be part of a church mainly because he saw they were having fun in worship. Now he is serving in youth ministry as a devoted follower of Christ. We are called to share the light of Christ’s love, and I believe that light shines best through our joy. Our joy and laughter demonstrate to others how we view the world in a new way, through eyes that see God’s love and glory all around.

Today- even in the middle of Lent- we can thank God for laughter… and for those dear ones who laugh with us.

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Thursday, April 4th

Lapidate: to pelt or kill with stones

John 8:3-11 (NRSV)

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.

Lapidate is a new word for me, one I found when preparing these devotions. The word has an archaic meaning: “to pelt or kill with stones.” The word sounds much nicer than its meaning, doesn’t it?

In this story from John, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman accused of adultery to Jesus, an act punishable by death from stoning. As the poor woman stands there, Jesus pauses and then simply tells the crowd, “Let anyone among you who is without sin cast the first stone.” Everyone drops their stones and walks away. For the moment, Jesus has helped people to rethink their actions and judgments.

It is good that the people dropped their stones. But I have to wonder… did anyone try to understand this woman’s predicament? Did anyone talk with her or try to get to know her better? Did anyone realize that the culture of their time made it nearly impossible for women to make it on their own? Did anyone want to hear her side of the story? Did anyone besides Jesus offer to help her? Did anyone ask, “If I were born under different circumstances, could I be in the same situation?”

It is easier to throw stones than it is to find solutions. It takes less time to judge than to join in friendship. It is more comfortable to distance ourselves than to draw near to those who differ from us.

It is easier to hurl than to heal.

What kinds of stones would Jesus have us drop today?

I think of the stones of judgment, legislation, violence, separation, detention, bigotry and exclusion thrown at immigrants and refugees, women having abortions, people of color, and those whose orientation or gender may differ from ours. All of these people are beloved by God. Jesus tells us to drop these stones, too.

And Jesus asks us to do more than that. He asks us to help foster a world where stones are no longer picked up in the first place. This isn’t easy. It takes time and effort for us to grow in understanding. To work together to help those who are in desperate situations. To check our own insecurities and prejudices. To revisit and research carefully the beliefs we have held for so long. To share our finances, expertise, time and voices to stand up for those who have faced far too many stones already. We are to lay down our stones and never pick them up again. No, this isn’t easy, but what we do for others we are doing for Jesus…

Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. (vs. 58-59)

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Wednesday, April 3rd

Link: to couple or connect by or as if by a link; to become connected by 

Ephesians 4: 1-6. 15-16 (NRSV)

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all…

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

If you are over 40 years old, you probably remember the benefit event and publicity campaign, “Hands Across America” in May, 1986. You may have even participated! “Hands Across America” was organized to increase awareness and raise funds to reduce hunger and poverty in America.  Approximately 6.5 million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen minutes along a path across the United States. The project netted about $15 million for the hungry and homeless.

Wonderful blessings can be accomplished when people unite to help one another. This is an essential purpose of our church communities- to unite as the Body of Christ in loving service for the world. Sadly, we often allow our differences to separate us. We have opposing views, conflicting values, or even angry encounters that tear us apart. As we each take our stance- distancing ourselves from each other- we cannot work to make things better between two of us, let alone work for the betterment of anyone else.

Paul urges all of us, as Jesus’ disciples, to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” God has linked us together as Christ’s body, with every unique part joined and knit together. We are united through the One who is above all and through all and in all. We may be diverse people, but God has intentionally connected us and desires our unity.

How do we maintain unity? Paul helps us here, too. We live the life worthy of our calling! We are examples of patience, humility, and kindness. We bear with one another. We are gentle with each other. We speak truth. We love. We work to help one another and then extend that help beyond our group.

Our worship time is another opportunity to unite as one. We hear God’s Word of forgiveness, love and fresh starts. We share the peace with one another. We come together at the table for our Communion meal. We praise God together. We pray for one another. Worship is a time for all of us to extend forgiveness and grace, surrender our egos, and reconnect as one Body, united in the love of Christ.

We are meant to be together. We are lovingly and purposefully linked by God to serve as one. We may be unique, we may have our differences, but each of us has been linked to create a greater chain, one that God can use to make wonderful differences in the world.

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Tuesday, April 2nd

Lock: to make fast with or as if with a lock;  to hold in a close embrace

Ephesians 1:11-14 (NRSV)

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

I enjoy listening to music on my iPod as I walk each morning. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing is one of my favorite songs, and I especially love this stanza:

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above∗

At Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it, I draw an X with my finger across my heart as a symbolic reminder that it is “prone to wander.” I need the help of the Spirit to keep my heart sealed, to keep it locked in unity with God.

In preparation for this devotion, I found this helpful commentary about Paul’s use of the word seal in Ephesians 1:13:

“In the ancient world a seal was used to signify the genuineness of a document. When goods were being transported, a seal identified their owner and protected them from theft. In government, a seal served as an official emblem of state officials. Paul uses seal as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit’s supernatural work in a believer’s life. It is a sign that we are spiritually genuine, protected, and validated as members of God’s family. ” (Quest Study Bible Commentary, page 1677)

Through the work of the Holy Spirit our hearts are sealed, signifying that we are genuine, protected, validated and beloved children of God! We could never lock our hearts into an obedient relationship with God on our own. Jesus came to give us a better way. He gave us the Holy Spirit- the One whose work in us does the sealing for us!

One of the definitions of lock is “to hold in a close embrace.” Isn’t this such a lovely and fitting way to envision how the Spirit seals our hearts to make them God’s own?

∗(Robert Robinson, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing)

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Monday, April 1st

Lie:  to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive; to create a false or misleading impression

Colossians 3:9-10 (NRSV)

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 

Today is April Fool’s Day, and in many countries around the world it is a time for practical jokes and crazy hoaxes. Most everyone expects to be “fooled” and many try to be tricksters; usually both parties are amused. On this day each year, our lies are excused as part of the fun.

But on normal days, why might we lie to one another? My guess is that for most of us, any lies we may tell would be minor ones to save our reputation or to avoid criticism. Things are great at home. I was late because of a traffic jam. My studies are going well. I missed work yesterday because my stomach hurt. My computer died so I didn’t get that report finished. My career is flourishing. I’ve been too busy to call. The dog ate my homework. We tweak the truth or create an excuse instead of admitting our faults, our troubles, or our failures. We want to appear perfect or at least better than we are.

Only God knows the whole truth about us. God knows exactly what we have done wrong, the troubles we are facing, and the worries in our private lives. Knowing everything about us, God still loves us completely. God forgives us and God wants to help us. We can come clean before God without fear, because through Jesus we know we will remain God’s beloved child forever.

Isn’t God’s opinion of us the only one that truly matters?

As we trust in our awesome God who loves us in our brokenness, we find the freedom and courage to be honest about our failures and faults with those who need to know. We no longer need to lie in order to impress others or pretend all is well. We can ask for forgiveness from those we have wronged. We can “strip off the old self with its practices” of lying or misleading. We can set an example that might enable others to open up for needed support or understanding, too.

Perhaps best of all, our faith communities can become places in which all of us are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of (our) creator. They can become places of honesty and humility in which we offer mutual support, encouragement, wisdom, maturation, and acceptance. They can become places where all are welcome… just as we are.

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Saturday, March 30th

Lead: to guide on a way especially by going in advance; to direct on a course or in a direction; to serve as a channel

Psalm 25:5 (NRSV)

Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation…

Exodus 13:21 (NRSV)

The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.

Every year at summer camp, one of our big events was to play Follow the Leader. The leader, one of our camp counselors, had us tramp through mucky marshes, crawl across dirt and weeds under cabins, wend our way through underbrush and trees in the woods, run across open fields, and finally jump into the lake! We were filthy, exhausted, itchy, and totally spent- but also exhilarated. We had been challenged and we were victorious.

Looking back, I recognize the power of leadership. I was willing to follow my counselor wherever he led us, because these counselors had guided, tended, taught, protected, and loved us all week. I followed him into the most challenging parts of the course because I knew he wasn’t taking us anywhere he wouldn’t go himself. All of us campers had grown to love and trust these counselors, and we were willing to follow them even when the situation seemed difficult or even ridiculous.

Wherever we are leaders- workplace, church, community, team or family- we lead best when we lovingly care for those we are leading. We lead best when we are working toward a goal that includes and benefits everyone. We lead best when we are willing to go with them through all of the challenges necessary to achieve that goal. We lead best when we can look beyond any obstacles and detours by setting our sights on the vision and mission before us.

Most of all, good leaders follow a greater Leader.  I love the example in Exodus of the pillar and cloud God used to direct the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness. Moses was a good leader because God was his leader. Moses went with his people, because he knew God would go with them, too. He was willing to go wherever God would take them because he knew God is the God we can trust- the God who teaches, tends, helps, protects, loves, and works for our good.

As godly leaders, our role is to lovingly guide people toward the One we follow as we work toward our goals. We may not get to take the well-worn path or the easy route or even the one that makes sense. We may find ourselves in challenging situations or places beyond our comfort zone. Still, because we know God is the One we can trust- the One who has loved us all along- we know we will lead best when we follow the best Leader.

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Friday, March 29th

Lavish: to expend or bestow with profusion; squander

Psalm 96 (NRSV)

We sometimes hear about the praises and accolades that are being “lavished” on actors, authors, talk-show hosts, athletes, heroes, musicians and others who have done well and are receiving all sorts of recognition. In these situations the word, lavish is used to convey that these praises are perhaps overdone or are being squandered on someone who is undeserving. The accolades feel too excessive or insincere.   

I wonder if Judas was feeling this way when Mary was lavish in her act of adoration of Jesus. Judas felt the money spent on the perfume could have been spent on other worthy causes. At that point he also had no way of knowing who Jesus truly was (since Jesus’ death and resurrection was yet to happen). Perhaps Judas had even a bit of jealousy there, as we might envy some of these rising stars today. To Judas, Mary’s act was too lavish, too extravagant.

But now we know we could never be lavish enough in our praise to God- for Jesus and for all God has done for us.

Each of us might lavish praise to God with our entire beings- voice uplifted, singing, shouting with everything we have! Still, each of us is only one person among many others who are also praising God- God, who is the Creator of us all. Everyone on earth might lavish glorious praises upon God, and yet we are only one tiny planet in a vast and infinite universe- the universe God also created. ALL of creation might adore God and worship God in unique ways- singing birds, clapping trees, rushing winds, blooming flowers, rising mountains, splashing fish, glowing moon, twinkling stars… and yet God is Creator of all these as well!

Our most lavish praise is a tiny morsel to the awesomeness of God- but the awesomeness of God impels us to offer our praises as lavishly as we can. We cannot help ourselves!

Though our mouths were full of song as the sea, 
and our tongues of exultation as the multitude of its waves,
and our lips of praise as the wide-extended firmament;
though our eyes shone with light like the sun and the moon,
and our hands were spread forth like the eagles of heaven,
and our feet were swift as hinds,
we should still be unable to thank thee and bless thy name,
O Lord our God and God of our fathers,
for one thousandth or one ten thousandth part of the bounties which thou has bestowed upon our fathers and upon us.

– from the Hebrew Prayer Book

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Thursday, March 28th

Lengthen: to make longer; to grow longer

Our word for today is lengthen. We are good stewards of our God-given lives when we do all we can to lengthen the number of our days on this earth. Caring for our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being can help us to live longer and healthier lives. Still, we know that all of our earthly days will be finite.

No matter the number of days, our lives will seem longer and fuller if we live each day abundantly and worthily. I love Michel de Montaigne’s quote about the value of our lives being found in the use we make of them. “Lengthening” our lives comes from filling our days with abundance, not mere busyness. We should fill our days with quality things, things that bless others and ourselves, things that refresh and renew our spirits, things that are of value and worth, varieties of things to challenge or delight us, and things that bless and please God.

Jesus came to give us this abundant life. Jesus frees us from the guilt of our sins, the burdens of our worry, and the weight of our fear so that we may find joy in our days. He gifts us with unique spiritual gifts to use in creativity and service.  He guides us so that we find our purpose and our peace in our daily living. His love holds us through all we enjoy or endure. When Jesus speaks of abundant life- when he says the “kingdom is at hand”- Jesus is offering us all we need to live this earthly life fully and well. And then we get to enjoy eternal life beyond!

May we be mindful of how we spend each precious moment of this day. For these are the moments which add up to our length of days. These are the moments that add up to a life well-lived. These are the moments we can embrace with gratitude, the moments we can fill with significance and meaning. The way we live our moments becomes an offering of thankfulness to Christ, the One who came to give us this precious, abundant life.

All definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Photo credit: Aaron Burden on Unsplash