By Pastor Dan Chun

(Today’s devotional is a re-post of Pastor Dan’s June 1st devotional, which touches on gratitude––an appropriate topic as we close this Thanksgiving week.)

Proverbs 8:30 then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 

I like Proverbs 8. In this section, the writer talks about how God has created the heavens, the earth, and the oceans, and we were right there with Him. In verse 22 it says that "the Lord created me at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of long ago." Yes, the beginning of humankind was right there in His original plan. God always wanted us to be with Him. He delights in us daily, and we can rejoice with Him forever.

In yesterday’s devotional I talked about how doing the Daily Examen of St. Ignatius of Loyola can help us be close to God. But today, I want to say there are some things we can do daily for our health, which will make God happy because the healthier we are, the closer we will feel His presence.

Brooke Anderson, an organizer and photojournalist based in the Bay Area, wrote these six daily questions that we can ask ourselves in quarantine. I believe if we were to follow this advice, we would feel stronger physically, emotionally, and, yes, spiritually because God wants us to take care of our bodies and souls. He wants us to daily do good, feel good, and sense His presence. 

It begins with being grateful daily. 

DAILY QUESTIONS:

1. What am I grateful for today?

2. Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?

3. What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today?

4. How am I getting outside today?

5. How am I moving my body today?

6. What beauty am I either creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?

Try it! And let me know how it goes.

Prayer: Lord, indeed you want us to create and cultivate and invite others into Your presence. May we be healthy vessels of Your love. In Christʻs name, Amen. 

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By Pastor Dan Chun

People ask me often, “What is the will of God?” 

Here it is in our verse for today: “Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 )

How many people know this is the key to the will of God? Well, you do now. ☺

Why would this be Godʻs will? Because I believe that in God’s infinite wisdom He knows the advantage of saying thanks in all circumstances. He knows that always having a thankful heart makes one constantly positive. They can see Godʻs hand in everything. As a result, negativity encounters the “antivirus” called gratefulness and repels it. Pessimism meets the “vaccine” of thankfulness and blocks the disease of despair. Toxic ungratefulness can lead into bitterness but then finds a barrier of constant gratitude that thwarts the nagging personal poison of “Why me, Lord?”

When one always looks for a reason to say mahalo to the Almighty, it makes one aware that God is there ... and over there .... and up there .... and near here. Giving thanks in all circumstances can bring joy, hope, and peace because we see God more in everything.

Being thankful is an attitude. Itʻs a CHOICE to be thankful. It doesnʻt come naturally. But after we decide to make it a discipline, you will be amazed to see how much more steady and resilient your life will be. 

Try upping your gratefulness every day. Remember itʻs the first step in the Ignatian Daily Examen, which many in our church practices. The five steps of the Daily Examen spell the acronym GRAFT:

1. Give thanks. 

2. Review the day hour by hour.

3. Apologize.

4. Forgive others and receive forgiveness.

5. Turn it all over to God – your worries, sufferings, plans.

Our Bible verse says we should not have only one day in the year of thanksgiving .... but 365 days of thanksgiving. Oh, a holiday of Thanksgiving is indeed good because it can remind us that we should be thankful to God for all of the other days of the year. It can be like a New Yearʻs resolution that from here on I shall live a lifestyle of being thankful. It can be a springboard for a better life. 

Why arenʻt we thankful all the time? Maybe too busy, too buzzed, too belabored by the burdens of life. But when life gives us a flat tire, know that gratitude is a wonderful jack that can lift us up. Ah yes, the jack of Jesus. He lifts us higher. May we fall on our knees and say thank you to the one who deserves our gratefulness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for all of the great things You have done for us. Forgive us for being blind to or being ignorant of Your presence and Your desire to bless us and love us. Forgive us when our antenna canʻt seem to detect Your love. We commit to be thankful constantly, every day, for it is really for our own good ... and it is .... Your will. In Christʻs name, Amen. 

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By Rene Toyota, Childcare Administrative Coordinator

If I had my way, I'd hibernate during (or maybe even time travel through) Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Every year during this season I would grumble, complain, whine, and cry to my husband about not being able to be with family during the holidays. I have a huge family, but they're all scattered and mostly on the mainland. I hate it when I scroll through Facebook and see my mom, stepdad, brothers, and sisters, with all my nephews celebrating together, singing karaoke, laughing, hugging, and eating. It makes me feel so alone. And when you’re dealing with anxiety and depression, it makes it 100 times worse. 

Oh, and then to add to that, there's “Mr. Budget,” (aka our family budget). I'm not too fond of him. I mean, come on, Christmas is when everything is on sale! And new gadgets are being released! It's the best time to shop! But my husband, who is the Christmas money rule-maker, and “Mr. Budget” always ruin Christmas shopping thrills.

But this year is different. During this crazy pandemic, God has been teaching me more about gratitude. He opened my eyes and had me see and breathe in all that He has blessed me with. Here are some of the things He's showed me what I should be grateful for:

• A home to stay in during lockdown with lots of food to eat. 

• Internet for Zoom meetings, my boys' online schooling, and online small groups.

• Electricity that keeps the internet running.

• A job at First Prez that I can grow at, and full of God-loving, God-fearing people. A job that helps provide for my needs––internet, electricity, water, etc.

• I have my kids, who drive me insane almost every single day but who are a gift from God. (Did I mention that they’re boys?)

• A car to hide in when I need time alone.

• I have a hard-working husband that needs me to step on his back and hyper-volt his aching neck and shoulders. He also cooks.

• And most of all, I have God who loves me. He's with me all the time. He equips me and provides for my needs daily. And He knows me inside and out. 

God made me see the good, the bad, and the ugly, but mostly the good. Most of all, He lovingly instilled in me a strong desire to give back to Him through our generosity journey. 

Now I told you how I'm not too fond of “Mr. Budget,” so after Christmas, I refuse to have him around. Sadly, though getting rid of him will make it hard for me to be consistent in my giving. But this time around, God provided me with a solution. And now that I know I'd be able to put God first in my finances, it opened up a whole new world of gratitude within me. This kind of gratitude makes the butterflies in my heart flutter and bring joyous tears to my eyes. I can't stop praising Him!  

So If you're struggling during this season, whether you are in a place of joy, sadness, loneliness, loss, or heartache, or maybe you're dealing with Mr. Budget and trying to decide whether or not giving fits your finances during this time, here are a couple of promises from God’s Word:

"God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:9)

"He will give you abundance in all things so that you will be able to share freely with other people." (2 Corinthians 9:11)

If you can't see all the GOOD within the BAD, look to God and ask Him to open your eyes and have you breathe in all that He has given you. Ask Him to create in you a desire to give freely. Believe me. It really does open you up to a whole new world.

You are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. AMEN.

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By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship

If you read my devotional from yesterday (entitled “There You Are!”), you know that I had another meaningful experience at CPK, which led to a meaningful memory, which led to a meaningful conversation with First Prez members Jim and Carole Hickerson to confirm that memory, and which led to so much MORE! 

After Jim confirmed that I had remembered his story right, he said, “I thought you were asking about another story that had to do with The Lord’s Prayer.” And as he recounted the story, I did remember!

After two or three years of being a prisoner of war (POW), there was another occasion for yet another “quiz,” which meant the POWs were going to “get beat on.” They had to put on their long sleeves and long pants for the quiz. The guards came by that day and told Jim to put on his long sleeves and long pants. Then they told him to lean against the wall with his arms stretched out, hands against the wall, legs pulled back. Jim was not allowed to speak or move. After a while, standing that way got awfully hard. His legs were hurting and his arms were hurting. Then at one point, he just whispered to himself The Lord’s Prayer: 

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.”
“Thy will be done ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” 

It hit him all of a sudden. “Wait a minute! God’s here! He’s here! And the knowledge of that truth just washed over me, and I knew I was gonna be okay,” Jim said. “When they came and got me, I went for the “quiz,” which wasn’t as bad as I thought it could have been. I felt so much stronger and better knowing that God was there with me.”

So much of Jesus’ ministry was sharing stories and parables. Sometimes we can connect to a story in a way that simple bullet points or scientific theories can’t. I’m a person who loves a good story. I can read a good book over and over, watch a good movie again and again. And I love to share time with friends and family, listening to them tell true stories about their lives. Stories of pain and heartache, stories of love and bravery. Real life. 

It’s Thanksgiving this week. There are many crazy difficult things going on in our lives, in our state, our country, throughout the world. But 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 

I’m looking for and finding opportunities to thank God, to tell Him how grateful I am. We’re gonna be okay.

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears,
All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass. He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world! Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
(Lyrics to the Hymn “This Is My Father’s World)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You. Just thank You. Amen.

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By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship

Yesterday was a rough day. It had started with my reading my Jesus Calling devotional book, something about how I was supposed to be joyful. The passage mentioned “exceeding joy.” Advent will be here in the blink of an eye. Can you believe it? Advent, the coming of Jesus, the hope of the world. There should be joy to the world and, yes, exceeding great joy. 

Jesus, the hope of the world. My hope is that I truly believe with every fiber of my being that He is THE hope of the world–– my personal hope for each day, my todays, my tomorrows, for eternity. 

And yet some days are just so difficult and filled with challenge after challenge, so it’s often a challenge to find the “exceeding joy” in moments like yesterday. Hard to find the hope. Yesterday was one of those days. 

So I went to CPK and was thankful to be the last person they let into the restaurant for the night (thank You, God). I’ve only gone there a handful of times over the past few months. But after going there for decades, I pretty much know everyone on staff. One employee came by and asked how I’ve been doing. He was wearing his mask, of course, and for a few moments I had no idea who I was talking to. But then, as I kept looking into his eyes, there was an immediate recognition of who he was! And I said out loud, “Oh, THERE you are!” We talked for about a minute more, then he went back to work, and I went back to having dinner, reflecting on the interaction. And immediately, a memory came to mind. 

I’m not surprised this memory came back to mind. I’ve literally thought about it almost every day since March, since the “lockdown” began. It’s a memory of First Prez member Jim Hickerson’s testimony from a few years back. It’s a testimony of an experience during his first few weeks of being a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam, at the “Hanoi Hilton,” I believe they called it. 

This was right after he was shot down, and the treatment he and the other prisoners of war received was very severe as they tried to break him down and gather information. On this particular day, Jim had just been interrogated. They had been trained to only give their name, rank, and serial number. But they were beating on him so much that he said more. And after it was done, he was returned to his isolation cell feeling so guilty and in the depths of despair. All of a sudden, there was an air raid, and bombs started falling. The bombing was so bad that the guards high-tailed it out of there. Plaster was falling off the ceiling of his cell, and Jim fell to the floor. Prisoners were not supposed to communicate with each other. But when he hit the floor, he looked through the space beneath the door across to the other side of the hall, and he saw a pair of round blue eyes, indicating it wasn’t a guard! It was another American POW named Bob Frishman. 

Bob asked, “Did you tell them anything?”

Jim said, “You get very honest when you’re in the depths… I said, yeah, I did. It wasn’t easy, but I did.” 

Bob said, “Don’t worry, everyone has. Just get yourself ready for the next fight.”

Jim said it was like relief washed over him because he was feeling like the only one who had betrayed his country. 

I called Jim today to make sure I got his story right. I spoke with him and his wife, Carole, and asked if it was okay to share this in my devotional. He said yes, happy to share his story. It was a great conversation, and I told him how meaningful his story has meant to me over the years, on so many levels. 

And the reason I wanted to share this is because every day during this pandemic, when I think of how hard it is, I truly come back to remind myself, “Roz, get over it. Pull yourself together. It’s not like we’re in the middle of war, not like you’re a POW like Jim Hickerson or Jerry Coffee (another First Prez member) was. You’re not at the Hanoi Hilton. It’s not as if you’re in Auschwitz.” 

And then I remember both Jim and Jerry, and how much I respect them and love seeing their smiling eyes! I don’t know how they have such smiling, warm, loving eyes, after all, they’ve been through. But they’ve chosen something somewhere along the way to be loving rather than bitter.

There is much we cannot do these days. But there is so much we CAN do. We are not in war. We are not prisoners. There are some crazy difficult times many of us are going through. This isn’t easy. But…

Yesterday I thought I was having a rough day. Until I put it into perspective. 

Heavenly Father, 
Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth You have for me
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unlock and set me free
Silently now I wait for You,
Ready, my God, Your will to do.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine! 

(Verse 1 of the Hymn “Open My Eyes That I May See”)

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By Rosella Shishido, Communications Ministry Coordinator

There’s a Nigerian proverb that goes: “It is the heart that does the giving; the fingers only let go.” So clever, and so true. It’s the heart behind the giving that truly matters.

With our church’s focus on generosity these last three weeks, I’ve become more curious about the kind of generosity the Bible teaches. And the more I read and prayed, the more I realized there’s still much to learn, to put into practice. And so I’d like to share with you today some of these new insights that I hope to grow in my own life. If you know these already, then consider these next three minutes a refresh!

1) A better understanding of “if you sow generously, you’ll reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6)

I’ve often associated this verse with getting back money for the money we give away. But if we are to consider the metaphor the apostle Paul used here of sowing and reaping, he’s referring to a farmer planting seeds. When the farmer plants seeds, he’s not expecting to get seeds back, is he? He’s expecting fruit to result from the seed.

Yes, the blessing from what you give may be money back in return, but the bigger blessing will come in a different form, a much better form. In this case, being generous will result in us having changed lives. We become better people who reflect the character of God, and people who bear the fruit of the Spirit––love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

2)  Trust is required. Both ways.

I’ve learned and have heard many times that being generous is a result of trusting God as our provider. We give even when we may not have much because we trust that God will meet our needs and will not abandon us. True indeed.

But God requires us to be trustworthy as well. Everything belongs to Him; we are just the overseers, the stewards. Can I be trusted to care for, nurture, and develop the people, the material things, the environment, the opportunities, and the talents and skills that God has entrusted to me?

3) Investing in the work of the church is a way of affirming that only Jesus can bring the hope our world needs.

I learned this from Pastor Tim’s Nov 15th sermon where he mentioned the sacrificial giving Barnabas made in Acts 4:32-37.  

To quote Pastor Tim: “Only Jesus, working in and through His church, was going to bring the ultimate hope, Barnabas’ world needed. That’s the conclusion he came to. That’s why he sold property and brought the proceeds to be used by the church. He wanted to be a part of bringing God’s Kingdom from heaven to earth.”

Going back to the Nigerian proverb, it’s definitely about more than what we give––whether it’s time, money, or material things. It’s about being giving, being willing and ready to give to others for their benefit and, as a result, to bring honor to the Lord.

Prayer: Father, help me to grow my faith and my heart more and more each day toward generosity. I want to be the kind of person who lavishly gives their time, talent, and treasure. I want to be generous like You, where giving to others is a delight and not a duty. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

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By Karen Makishima, Director of Ohana Ministries

I was in a conversation the other day with someone who is completely turned off by Christians. He went on to say that “these people” are very judgmental and are only concerned about winning their argument.

I asked him not to put me in that category. “I want to be a Christ follower,” I said, “someone who knows how to love well and responds to others as Jesus did and does. I obviously don’t get it right all the time but this is who I want to be.” 

Like my friend, many people have this image of what Christianity is or requires of us. This walk leaves us empty, judgmental, and void of love. Many are spiritually blind to God’s goodness and mercies towards us and others. 

Some of us are on a path to deconstruct this image. This is not the life that Christ called us to. Part of this deconstructive process can begin by reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and asking the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see how Jesus responded to the situations He was in. If we are going to be followers of Christ, it is imperative to know who Christ is and what His heart is for. 

In First Prez’s Ohana Ministry we are beginning a Pray for Me initiative, where Scripture will be prayed over every family for one school year by three different prayer warriors from three different generations. Part of this initiative is the 3 S’s discipleship process––See, Savor, and Share – where together we are on a quest to discover what the heart of Christ is like and to share what we find with others.

It is Jesus’ desire for us to SEE His goodness, kindness, mercy, faithfulness, and love in all of life’s situations. 

Prayer: “Jesus, open our eyes that we may see Your goodness.”

We SAVOR it for all its worth with thanksgiving, praise, and adoration. 

Prayer: “Jesus, we praise You for who You are and Your tremendous love for us.”

It is out of the overflow of our savoring that we want to SHARE freely with others. 

Prayer: “Jesus, give us courage and boldness to share with others who You are.”

Would you join me on a journey to SEE, SAVOR, and SHARE the heart of Jesus that is all around us?

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By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

Pastor Steve gave another super sermon the other week. I’ve heard the story of the Saul (who became Paul) on the road to Damascus before, but never saw how important Ananias was in Saul’s transformation. Ananias brought God’s healing, community, and purpose to Saul transforming him from a persecutor of the church to a planter and grower of churches.

This inspired me to re-read Acts 9 to see how I can be more like Ananias.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision.

‘Ananias!’ he said. ‘Here I am, Lord,’ he replied.

11 ‘Get up’, said the Lord to him, ‘and go to the street called Straight. Enquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. Look – he’s praying! 12 And he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming and laying his hands on him so that he can see again.’

13 ‘Well, Lord,’ replied Ananias, ‘I’ve heard about this man from several people . . . all about how he’s done wicked things to your holy people in Jerusalem . . . 14 and now he’s come here with authority from the chief priests to tie up everybody who calls on your Name!’

My prayer: Lord, help me “get up” to see the Saul’s around me. Help me to see behind the “hearsay.” Let me see how they are hurting, depressed, or without direction. Remind me that You are hearing their cries and want to send them help through me. But Lord, I’m like Ananias; I’m scared. I don’t think I’m the right person to help.

15 ‘Just go,’ replied the Lord. ‘He is a chosen vessel for me, to carry my Name before nations and kings – and the children of Israel, too. 16 I am going to show him how many things he is going to have to suffer for the sake of my Name.’

My prayer: Lord, help me to realize that You have a vision and mission for everyone, including the Saul’s. Help me to trust that You are planning to do great and mighty works in each and every one of them.

17 So Ananias set off, went into the house, and laid his hands on him. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘the Lord has sent me – yes, Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – so that you may be able to see again, and receive the holy spirit.’

18 At once something like scales fell off his eyes, and he was able to see. He got up and was baptized. 19 He had something to eat, and regained his strength.

My Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to obey You and “just go”. Help me to lay hands or reach out, to connect. Help me to call them brother or sister, to show that I am family. Help me to pray for their healing, and help them to see that God has a plan for their lives, that God will bless them to bless others. In the Name of the One who is telling me to “just go”––Jesus, Amen!

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By Marianna Meachen, Director of Care Ministries

Not too long ago I waited for a friend to pick me up outside of a restaurant, after dropping off my car for its annual service. I noticed a homeless woman on the street surrounded by many trash bags, which I assume held all her possessions. She was on the sidewalk, but there was ample room to walk past her. 

After a while I saw a mom and her little boy walk past the homeless woman. They stopped as they reached the corner. The mom reached into her cloth shopping bag and pulled out a small box of something. She handed it to her son, who walked back to the homeless woman and offered it to her. The homeless woman looked at the box, but waved the little boy off. He walked back and his mother put the box back into her bag.

The mother and her son began walking away, but once again they stopped. The mother reached into her bag one more time, and this time pulled out what looked to be a can of something to drink. The little boy walked back to the homeless woman and offered her the drink. This time she took it and smiled at the boy, who smiled back. He walked back to his mother, who put her arm around her son’s shoulder, and they started walking away. Still smiling, the little boy turned around and waved to the homeless woman. She returned his wave and smiled back.

Such a simple gesture of kindness and generosity, but with large impact. I was blessed as I watched a mother teach her child to be kind, loving, and generous. 

If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

As Jesus-followers we agree we should live generous lives. At the same time I feel we often wonder, how much do we have to give to keep God happy? We want someone to give us an answer that is concrete, an expectation. But God’s word tells us to live beyond the boundaries of numbers. We are to give as much as we can. God doesn’t want us to give out of guilt or fear, but to live charitably out of faith.

Our generosity doesn’t just apply to our finances either. God has given us gifts and talents. Do we hide them and just use them when we feel we have the time? Do we deny them and leave it to someone else to do the work that we have been gifted to do?

We are halfway through our Raise the Sails generosity journey. This journey is one of discovery to step out in faith and use all we have been given by God. Matthew 10:8 says “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” These may not be gifts God has given you, but you can give in so many other ways. 

I would encourage you to spend time in prayer this week before our Commitment Sunday on November 22. Ask the Lord what He would have you do. The commitment cards we have talked about our financial giving, but it’s a lot more than just finances. It’s about having faith in the Lord and trusting Him for our provisions and our future. 

Write down the specifics of your commitment and sign it. Encourage each person in your family to do the same, and then post it somewhere in your home where you can be reminded of how you’re responding to God’s generosity toward you. I know that at the end of this journey, our hearts will be full and our world will be better for it.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have given us each so much. Let us use what You have first given us, and let us be cheerful givers as we fulfill Your plan for our lives. Let us give as freely to others as You freely gave to us salvation and love through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We ask this all in His Holy name. Amen.

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by Kathy Makuakane, Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor

(Today’s devotional is a re-post of Kathy’s June 12th devotional about God’s generosity toward us, timely for this week as we continue with our Fresh Wind sermon series and small group study on generosity.)

The resident manager informed everyone in my building that the water would be shut off for six hours. What an inconvenience!

I decided I had better prepare. I would shower and get completely ready for the day well before the shut-off time. I would also need to store some water for washing hands and a few dishes, for drinking, and for filling the toilet tank. It surprised me how difficult it was to come up with what was necessary so I wouldn’t be left “high and dry.”

The process showed me that I take my easy access to water for granted. That realization first caused me to feel somewhat ashamed of how spoiled I am, but then came a growing sense of gratitude.

I remembered how three years ago, on a two-week mission trip to drought-stricken Africa, there was no running water or plumbing in the area we were at. We used hand sanitizer––a lot––and pit latrines and pumped water from a well to take a “bucket shower” every three days. We got used to it and we did fine. We had everything we needed and then some.

Even so, I had forgotten how easy I have it here. My thoughts slowly expanded to other overlooked blessings in my life: food, electricity, transportation, communication, and on and on. The Lord provides everything I need and a whole lot more. Even in a pandemic. Even in a shortage. Even when what I’m used to is removed. I stood for minute, looking at my inconvenient containers of water. These containers were an overlooked blessing.

It dawned on me that this is an earthly example of the countless gifts Jesus offers us. Whatever we need, He offers more than enough. Not just things for our bodies, but things for our minds and things for our souls. Have you ever thought about how many friends you have? How many Bible verses you can read? How many times God has opened your eyes to His love? Start making a list and it will be longer than you expect. The ultimate gift He offers is salvation,  eternal life with our loving Creator. And all we have to do is ask.

“Yes, indeed—God is my salvation. I trust, I won’t be afraid. God—yes, God!—is my strength and song, best of all, my salvation!” Joyfully you’ll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation. And as you do it, you’ll say, “Give thanks to God. Call out his name. Ask him anything! Shout to the nations, tell them what he’s done, spread the news of his great reputation! (Isaiah 12:2-4)

Oh, how God loves us! He hovers over us like a parent on Christmas (that would be a whole other devotional!), enjoying the child’s delight to discover gifts under the tree. We are precious to Him, and He is tremendously generous. 

Can you sit with that for a moment? Can you discover and list some ways He is revealing his heart for you? What are some overlooked blessings God has given you?

I’m still making my list.

Prayer: Lord, You are such a generous and loving Father. It is absolute joy to get even a glimpse of how much You care for us. But when we take the time to discover some of Your gifts that we have overlooked, we are overwhelmed. We can never complete the list! Thank You for loving us so very well. Thank You for offering us living water that wells up in us to eternal life. Amen.

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By Pastor Steve Peich

Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

It has been good to hear of late that a vaccine might be developed soon that can help stem the tide of our modern plague. It has taken vast amounts of money and untold labor to achieve this task. However, not all things that can bring much help, hope, and healing requires such effort or investment. Sometimes a single, small act of good can really change the course of things. 

Amid a cholera outbreak in mid-19th century London, as panicked residents fled one hard-hit neighborhood (Soho), a doctor named John Snow calmly entered the storm of illness. He deduced that the source of hundreds of deaths was a single contaminated water pump. In an effort to get people not to consume water from that pump, he persuaded authorities to remove the pump’s handle — a single, small strategy that ended the outbreak in that area. 

Of the many simple things we can offer people, which is in “our power to act” on a regular basis, is an encouraging word. When I studied sports medicine in college, I learned how encouragement goes a long way in building confidence in an athlete and bringing out optimal performance. Ever since then, and especially with my family and with those whom I serve as a pastor, I would try to be generous and immediate with encouraging words. It continues to amaze me how something so simple changes a person’s day.

When you see something positive in a person, even a small something, that catches your attention this week, make it a spiritual discipline to speak a “good” word of encouragement to them as soon as you can. Don’t wait till a later time. More often than not, we never circle back around to do it. As the writer of Proverbs says, give the “good… while it is due.” You would be amazed how many people go through an entire week and never hear an encouraging word at work, school, home or even at church. The absence of such “good” words in a person’s life eventually starves the spirit and wears down our souls. 

In my tenure as a pastor, I have long seen the ill-effects of the lack of this one simple thing. Husbands and wives who have ceased expressing regular words of appreciation. Parents who seem to only scan for what their kids are doing wrong. Supervisors or teachers who are miserly in their verbal encouragement, thus creating resentment and diminishing confidence in their workers and students, etc. 

We may not ever cure a disease and help an entire neighborhood or nation, but we do have the “power to act” with an encouraging word in every sphere of our lives. And folks, trust me, that is a great power. 

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see small acts of goodness in those around me today. And open my heart to be generous and immediate with my words and attention. May they all hear You through me. To You be all the glory, amen.

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By Chaz Umamoto, Worship Ministry Support Coordinator

Lately, I’ve been on this journey to understand the heart of God. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I don’t know the God who knows me as deeply as I may think. In these 10 years of my journey of faith, I’ve read and studied and listened to countless sermons, but I still ask myself: Do I really know God’s character? Do I really know what He loves, and cares about? I’m trying to approach reading the Bible through fresh eyes, with childlike curiosity. 

In this pursuit, my small but mighty small group has been going through the book of Leviticus. Together we’ve been looking at the Law God gave Moses. So we’ve been deep diving as a group learning about patterns in Scripture, compound word studies, and cultural contexts to inform our reading. It’s been such an amazing and unexpected experience from a book in the Bible I’m sure many would avoid. 

This past week I learned that the heart of the Father truly desires our worship. There is nothing in His being that requires it, but He loves our worship. He loves being in a relationship with us, and He doesn’t require us to be squeaky clean to worship Him. 

In Leviticus 7:12-14 I found out how God set aside one type of offering amongst many that are specific to worship without any strings attached. The fellowship offering, as some translations put it, is as close to us worshiping God privately or corporately. He prescribes no penalty for worshipping Him, but he does give two simple instructions: that the people were to present both unleavened bread and leavened bread. 

In all of the other ritual gifts and exchanges, God had very detailed instructions as well as consequences. The person who is offering any sort of sacrifice would’ve understood that the grain or meat was being given in their place, which is why it had to be ritualistically prepared. But for worship, God said He wants both leavened and unleavened loaves of bread. 

Now I could be wrong, but I’m taking this to mean that He’ll take it all. He welcomes everyone who worships Him. Whether you have shoes or no shoes on, long hair or short hair, tattoos or no tattoos, jeans or slacks, Republican or Democrat, He is calling all of us to be in a relationship with Him and to praise Him for being our Papa. 

He wants us to come just as we are.

Prayer: God, You are and forever will be an easy Papa to please. Forgive us for taking Your words so lightly and without childlike yearning. Help us to see more of Your heart and Your intentions in the things You do in the world around us. We need more and more of You, and less and less of ourselves. I pray that You would draw us closer with all of our messy baggage, and clear our long list of conditions that keep us from experiencing Your presence, and Your goodness. Amen.

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By Matt Yamamoto, Director of High School Ministry

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

We finally know who will be president in 2021. The last time I wrote the devotional, I was writing not sure of who the president was going to be. It took some time, but we finally got there. In that devotional, I challenged us to be examples of peace during these stormy times, and I am here to challenge us again.

Our nation has never been in the hands of a single man, even our Commander-in-Chief. It has always been in the hands of our true Commander Supreme––God, who’s our Creator, Father, and Savior.

Our money and our government buildings are emblazoned with the words, “In God We Trust.” To me, this is what distinguished us. We once recognized that the true pecking order of our nation was God first, then the president. It was the humility to acknowledge that we were blessed because of God. Ultimately it was not the work of our hands or the words we spoke that brought us to our place in the world, but it was God.

Please be assured this is not a call to arms to have the Bible put back in public schools or placed under hands in the courtroom. What I am challenging each of us individually and all of us corporately is to search our souls and ask ourselves, “In whom or what are we putting our trust?”

Do I put my trust in the president of the country? Do I put my trust in my 401K? Do I put my trust in myself? If the answer is anything other than God, then I would implore you to take some time to dig down as to why that is. And when you get to the center of it all, do as 2 Peter 5:6-7 says: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

What our nation needs now more than ever is unity. It will not happen between people who identify themselves by political party or nationhood, but by our allegiance to Jesus. As the church we can be “the light of the world,” and the “city on the hill that cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14) that God is asking us to be in this trying, political, social, economic, and epidemiological storm. 

Prayer: Dear loving Father, we need you now more than ever. Forgive us for putting our faith in anything but You. Help us to be your people, showing the world that peace and unity are possible. Please bless the Fresh Wind Prayer Walk this Saturday, and let it be an exercise in our trust in You and unity within our church. Amen.

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By Pastor Tim Shaw

Winter camping has been one of the outdoor activities I have really enjoyed. What I have in mind when I say “winter camping” is backpacking on snowshoes or backcountry skis in the middle of winter. The first time I went on one of these snowy expeditions with a group of friends I did not have any experience skiing with a 40-pound pack on my back. I quickly earned the affectionate nickname “Timber” because of the number of times I crashed. 

I know it sounds crazy to most people but I actually love camping in the snow. Yes, it can get really cold and, yes, you can spend a lot of time in your sleeping bag on a long winter’s night. To mitigate those below freezing temperatures, one of the things I learned to do was boil some water, fill a Nalgene bottle, tightly secure the lid, and throw it in your sleeping bag about 30 minutes before bed. When you jump in your sleeping bag, it will be a toasty 120 degrees in there. Perfect!

On one moonless night while camping near Carson Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, I looked up and saw that the night sky was ablaze with stars. I was stunned by the sheer number of stars that I could see. Away from the light pollution of any nearby city, I was in awe of how bright the sky was. There were countless stars overhead, reminding me of the greatness of the One who created it all. I was once again amazed that the Creator of the Universe knows my name, cares about my life, and loves me. 

King David must have had a similar experience because he wrote this in Psalm 8:3-9 (NLT):

When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers—the moon and the stars You set in place—what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them?

Yet You made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority—the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.

O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth! 

God has entrusted so much into our care. He has made us His undershepherds and has called you and me to care for what He created. That certainly includes all the animals David lists in his Psalm. But it includes so much more. We have been entrusted to care for the planet on which we live and we are called to care for all the people who live upon it. They, and everything on the Earth, belong to God, and He has charged us with the responsibility of stewarding it well.

Pete Grieg, commenting on this Psalm, wrote, “Whenever I catch a glimpse of the greatness of God — whether it’s under the stars or singing a song in worship—I find myself simultaneously diminished to a place of greater humility, and exalted to a place of greater authority. Without worship, I would be doomed to choose between insignificance or arrogance. When I kneel I learn to rule.”

That last sentence has challenged me to remember that it is only as I kneel before God, acknowledging who He is and who I am, that I can become the kind of servant leader God calls me to be, the friend and family member He wants me to be, the member of society that my country needs me to be. The One who flung the galaxies into space is also the One who came to our small, beautiful planet in Jesus, and who died for the sins of our world. That act of sacrificial service on our behalf will forever outshine all the stars of the universe. So, let us kneel before this One who has given us life, and learn to shine like stars in our world. As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to Christians in Philippi:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16 TNIV)

Prayer: Loving, gracious, merciful God, I kneel before You in humble gratitude that You have made a way for me to be in a relationship with You. Thank you for all that you have done and are doing for me. Teach me how to be one of your undershepherds, showing your love to others and bringing your shalom to Your world. Amen.

Yielding Prayer (by Pete Grieg)

Father God, I receive Your love for me;
Send me out to love the world for You.
Jesus Christ, I believe You live in me;
Send me out to show the world it’s true.
Holy Spirit, I perceive Your presence in my life;
Send me out to serve the world with You.

Amen.

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By Pastor Dan Chun

Romans 14:1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. (The Message)

As your pastor, you know that I hold the unity of our church as a high value. We are multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, a cross-generational bunch of women, men, youth, and children. And we are Republicans, Democrats, Green Party, and Independents. As I write this, I do not know the final results of the election. But it doesn’t matter. Whoever wins the elections there will be groups of people who are sad or glad and have strong emotions and opinions of how the outcome should have been. 

But it is so clear in our Scripture for today that even if we think we have the right perspective and others do not, we must be gracious. Our text says, “Don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with – even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department.” The Bible couldn’t be any clearer. You may have strong beliefs on who should have won. Maybe there will be a long legal battle on the count of the vote. But as another version of this verse says: “Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. (Romans 4:1, NRSV)

So, if you are strong in faith and you are conversing with people who are weak in the faith or of no faith, don’t quarrel! People come to Christ through loving relationships. Leading people to Christ is the goal. Helping other people become more mature in faith is the goal. Winning a political conversation is NOT the goal. So in the words of the great saint, the apostle Paul: “Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1 )

May we be known for love during this season.

Prayer: Lord, may we be filled with Your Spirit. May love be our language for today and beyond. In Christ’s name, Amen. 

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By Matt Yamamoto, Director of High School Ministry

That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:35-38)

I wish I could see the future.

As I write this devotional, Wednesday, Nov 4th, is coming to an end and the election results are still not in. Perhaps when this is published on Nov 6th, we will still be waiting to know who will be our next president, or perhaps we found out last night. It doesn’t matter where you get your news from, today the headline was the same everywhere––it’s too close to call. All-day long we watched as leads shrank in alarming ways for both candidates.

The tension is so real. It’s the first time in my relationship with my wife that we had dinner with the TV on. It doesn’t matter who your candidate is. It seems like the underlying message is that the world is going to end if the other guy wins.

As I considered what to write about for today’s devotional, I thought to myself that this is so characteristic for 2020. I am so ready for this year to be over. It’s the same thing that I thought in 2019, and then we got 2020.

I felt the Lord leading me to the passage where He calms the storm, and I argued, “But, Lord, while it is so appropriate for this year, that story is so overused.” It is so true though. We are in the midst of a storm, and not just any storm, but one in which we are yelling, “Don’t You care if we drown?!”

Wave after wave has crashed over the boat: the Australian forest fires, COVID, George Floyd & the riots, murder hornets, the West Coast wildfires, hurricanes, so many hurricanes, including Douglas here in the islands. Remember that? That was only four months ago.

And now the elections.

As I reluctantly turned to Mark 4 to read about Jesus calming the storm, I couldn’t help but envy Jesus’s ability to be so calm in the midst of the crashing waves. I want that peace and tranquility in my life. That’s when I felt the Lord telling me,

“That peace is meant to be yours.”

I always thought that Jesus’s ability to be so calm in that moment was only possible because He is God. But while I was revisiting this story, I felt God telling me that He wasn’t sleeping because only He could. He was sleeping because  He wanted to set an example for us, to show us what may be impossible to us but what is possible through Him.

In the midst of all of the storms of 2020, God wants us to be so confident in Him that as wave after wave is crashing around us and the rest of the world is drowning, we will be at peace. It won’t matter who wins the presidency. God is victorious.

That peace is not meant for us to drown out what the rest of the world is reeling from, but to be a beacon of hope for others, a city on a hill. Those around us should be asking us, “Why aren’t you freaking out?”

And our response should be, “Because I have Jesus.” 

Prayer: Dear loving Father of peace and calm, thank You for the example that You set for us. Even though You were in the direst of situations, You were at peace not because You were the only one who could be, but because You wanted us to see that we could all be at peace in the direst of situations. This year has been so tiring, and many of us are barely keeping our heads above the water, yelling, “Don’t you care if we drown?” Please take our hands in Yours, help us to our feet, and show us how even the biggest problems are little to You. Amen.

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By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 44 … So everyone escaped safely to shore. (Acts 27, 39-40, 44)

Years and years ago, my Sunday School teacher took me and another student sailing on a 20-foot racing sailboat. Since then, I continue to love the whole idea of sailing. It’s the “engineer” in me. I’m fascinated to see how much sailing has evolved from biblical times through today. In times when the Apostle Paul was sailing, the ships were made of wood and could only sail at a fraction of the speed of the wind. Today, hi-tech boats are made of carbon-fiber, fly above the water on wing-like foils and have computer-assisted controls. With these advancements, modern boats can actually sail faster than the speed of the wind!

Even with all these advancements, sailing a boat is still essentially the same today as it was in biblical times. The sail provides the power, the rudders provide the steering, and the anchors are the brakes. 

In Acts 27, we see sailing in a life-and-death situation. The Apostle Paul was aboard a sailing ship that was caught in a severe storm. It was so bad that the ship was in danger of breaking apart, suddenly capsizing, and crashing against the reef. The crew desperately tried to lighten the ship by throwing precious cargo overboard. They lowered the sails to avoid getting tipped over by the powerful storm gusts. They lowered the anchors to try slowing the ship. But none of these worked. 

Then God showed them a beach that they could reach. They cut off the anchors so they could get moving, lowered their rudders so that they were pointed at the beach, and they raised their sails so the wind would blow them forward. Though it was rough, and the ship was destroyed, God brought each and every one safely to shore.

We are in a stormy time right now with the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic downturn, and the polarizing elections. It’s a scary time. There is danger to our health, our finances, and for our country. I think this passage of Scripture is telling me to put my trust in God. God is showing me that even though we’re going through tough times, He will bring each and every one to safety. I think the Lord is saying I need to cut off my anchors that slow me down, to stop being anxious, and to stop second-guessing and doubting. I think I need to lower my rudders, and direct my attention to the Lord, to read more, listen more, and meditate more on His word. I think I need to raise my sails, to use the blessings that God is giving me to move ahead to help and bless others.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to cut off the anchors of my doubts, set my rudders to the course that You set, and raise my sails to catch Your blessings to bless others. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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By Pastor Steve Peich

(Today’s devotional is a re-post of Pastor Steve’s Sept 24th devotional. We find the message of being
peacemakers as timely and appropriate for the times we’re in.)

“But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ ...” (Ephesians 4:15)

Several weeks ago I preached (in part) about being people who live and speak the truth with God, each other, and ourselves. Because of time constraints, I could not get into something that is crucial to being people characterized by living and speaking the truth. That something is, confronting well. 

For some people even reading the word confrontation feels unpleasant. Too many of us have long been scarred by confrontations that have gone south. I know I have. I have been screamed at, cussed at, and cut off relationally in several instances - and that’s as a pastor! But I have also seen how it can deepen a relationship and create a healthy work environment. 

One of the reasons why we Christians avoid confronting so much is that we have a misguided idea of what confrontation really is. For me, the most basic meaning for confrontation is simply this: Addressing what needs to be addressed in a relationship. That’s really the whole basis to the idea. It’s not at all about telling someone off or getting in someone’s face (despite what we may have seen modeled by our families or bosses). It is simply addressing something between people that needs to be addressed so that greater health and growth is an outcome, where wrongs are righted and a strong relationship is created.

There was a professor at a seminary I went to who wrote a book called: Caring Enough to Confront. From the title you can grasp the premise of the book. We confront things because we care enough about a relationship to protect it from deterioration. In fact, the author, David Augsburger, coined the term, ‘Carefrontation’ to express more accurately what confrontation is really all about. This is one of the reasons why Paul says to speak the truth in love. Without that in play, we end up spewing instead of speaking. 

Spewing is an unfiltered stream of angry expression. It may be all true, but it will shut me down and close my ears to the truth you are saying in a fraction of a second. You may be right, but I don’t want to talk to you anymore about it.

So again, we don’t confront because we are committed to making a point. We confront because we are committed to making peace. 

Bottom line, if there is more than you in the room you will have many opportunities for hurt, pain, misunderstanding, and disagreement. To avoid this, you must avoid people altogether. So keep in mind, a healthy relationship is not one that is conflict free, but is conflict faced. 

So how is your truth-speaking lately when it comes to confronting others? Are you a point maker or a peace maker? Do you speak? Or do you spew? Are you holding back from speaking to the detriment of your emotional and spiritual well-being? What would be one thing you want to address with a spouse, friend, co-worker, child, in-law, etc.? Write it out and pray about how you can speak that truth in love. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the courage to speak, but the godly character not to spew. Grant me the wisdom to make peace, instead of just making points. Help me not to swallow my pain, but speak my truth. In Your Gracious Name I pray, Amen.

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By David Free, Deacon

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalm 17: 8)

King David, the writer of the Bible verse above, prays to the Lord, asking Him to keep him as the apple of His eye. To be the apple of someone’s eye clearly means that we are being gazed upon and watched closely by that person. 

So when David asked God to “keep me as the apple of Your eye,” he was asking God to keep an eye on him and not lose sight of him. David was asking that God would regard him as one would a cherished child, the object of great affection. And because he was the apple of God’s eye, David also asked for God’s protection: Hide me in the shadow of Your wings. Just as a mother bird protects her young by covering them with her wings, David was seeking shelter. David knew, even as he was making these heartfelt requests, that God would answer his prayer. He was confident that God would show him the wonders of His great love.

We can have that same confidence that David had. We, too, can be assured that God hears our prayers. We can know that He will answer them. And because we are the apple of His eye, we know that He will protect us. 

That doesn’t necessarily mean we will escape from every painful circumstance and difficulty that comes our way. But it does mean that as cherished ones in His sight, God will guide us through those circumstances and help us withstand them.

So today, let’s pray that He will keep us as the apple of His eye, that He will hide us in the shadow of His wings. That whatever our current yoke happens to be––fear of disease, financial situation, relationships––we can have faith, just as David did, that He will see us as the apple of His eye and hide us under His wing, offering us safety from the woes of the world.

Prayer: Loving Father, I pray that You will look at me and smile, then claim me as the apple of Your eye. I will follow Your statutes, I will live the life You intend me to live, I will love as Your son loved. I will do Your bidding - all for the privilege of being the apple of your eye. But when I am weak, when faith and hope grows dim, please Father, hide me in the shadow of your wings. I am only a child and desperately need Your guidance and Your love to weather the storm. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Bible trivia: Do you know that the phrase “the apple of His eye” appears in four different books in the Bible? You can find it in Deuteronomy, Psalms, Proverbs, and Zechariah.

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By Jenny Sung, Executive Coordinator

I love a good conversation. As a lover of quality time, my favorite moments in life are quality conversations. I love conversations with my kids, especially when they teach me a new term or introduce a new point of view. Seeing the world from their perspective is fascinating, and I realize we always have more to learn and reflect upon. God made each of us quite unique.

Conversation is good, but how often do we really engage in dialogue with vulnerability, active listening, and conversational reciprocity? How well do we really know someone unless we’ve given the safe space to engage in edifying and meaningful conversation? When we make space to sit and share, we can learn to cherish one another’s thoughts and opinions, whether it’s about art, theology, social dilemmas, political views, or the challenges of life. 

I love conversations at the Alpha Course, where people share their doubts, questions, and beliefs about life and the Christian faith. Alpha has taught me to be more comfortable engaging in honest conversations about God with non-Christians. I have to admit, I have some anxiety about having conversations with non-Christians about God. Will I alienate them? Tell them something that seems so cliché? Make me look stupid? Make them feel judged? It’s easier to have conversations about anything else––a good movie, Netflix, food, work. It’s safer, less risky. But honest and meaningful conversation does take risk, a willingness to skate on thin ice and fall, even as you know that the bedrock of love and faith in Christ won’t move. Do I dare let go and let God? 

Absolutely.

Educator and New Testament scholar Donald Juel said this about genuine conversation: 

"The gospel truth, for which the church has regarded the Bible as a reliable source and norm, matters only when it enters bound imaginations and frees people who have no hope and dare not dream of living abundantly. But if people are to hear a strange new word, someone will have to learn their language and speak with them. Genuine conversation is required, and conversation is risky.” 

He continues to say, “Disagreements are not a sign of community breakdown, but of life. The possibility of edifying conversation in the face of differing opinions, however, requires a measure of trust and goodwill- the result, the church claims, of the presence and work of the Spirit.” (Juel, Donald. “Your Word is Truth: Some Reflections on a Hard Saying”)

Ephesians 4:29-32 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In the midst of uncertainty and challenge, it can feel risky to trust God and the work of His Spirit in the world. But we must hold trust and goodwill as regular parts of edifying conversation, forgiving one another, just as Christ forgave us. As we live in tenuous and uncertain times, let us hold firm to the ministry of grace and compassion. If God is real, if Jesus has indeed overcome death and died for our sins and reconciled us to God, then there is always the hope of reconciliation and liberation in meaningful and edifying conversation.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Kingdom work of grace and compassion in the world. May we practice grace, kindness, and compassion in all our conversations, listening well, and building up one another to benefit others. May Your kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

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