Friday Devotion with Kim Wu
I know I have a spare tire somewhere in the back of the car, but I never think about it and have no idea how to even get it out, much less exchange it for a flat tire. I suppose in an emergency, I could pull out the manual and figure it out, but for now it is out of sight and out of mind.
Corrie ten Boom, a Christian who helped Jews escape the Nazis during WWII by hiding them in her home, once asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Do you view it as essential in navigating your life and helping you get where you want to go, or is prayer something that you don’t even think about most of the time, unless there’s an emergency in your life?
I’m an early riser in the mornings, and over the past several years, I have worked to develop the habit of starting my day with a devotion and some time in prayer. It wasn’t easy at first to stick to it, and my prayers initially felt awkward, but I wanted and needed a deeper prayer life. To stick to the car analogy, I had a flat tire, and that spare tire became essential to keep me going.
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In the Anxious for Nothing study, Max Lucado encourages us to be specific in our prayers as a way of lessening the burden of anxiety, as well as to help us see God at work in our lives. Anxieties are often seen as threatening because they are ill-defined and vague. Naming them helps us bring them down to size and hand them over to God. Expressing gratitude in our prayers helps us remember all that God has provided for us and trust in His sovereignty and care. It’s hard to be grateful and anxious at the same time.
What I have also come to realize is that my prayers, as daily two-way conversations with Jesus, enable Him to reorder my life as He directs my steps and opens my mind to see things differently and make better decisions. I’ve taken complaints to Jesus, and He has worked on my heart to bring my will under submission to His. My heartaches have become His, and He gives me strength and courage to face them.
But my prayers don’t just benefit me. Through them, Jesus enables me to love better and serve others better. A committed prayer life on my part is the best thing I can do for my family, my friends, my community, and my church.
Monday Devotion with Cindy Osborn
As COVID-19 drags on, it can be consuming. Social media doesn’t help. I try to be positive. When I think I’m okay, the unthinkable happens; the senseless killing of another black man. I’m feeling helpless, angry. I have no answers, just feelings of anger, grief and more helplessness.
Our youngest is missing her friends, unable to celebrate her college graduation with family. Another daughter, the strong and fearless one is brought to tears as she witnesses firsthand violence and protests in Philadelphia. Shops outside her apartment burn, she sees anger like never before in her life. When your strong-willed precious adult daughter is brought to tears in fear and sorrow; that rattles a mom. Knowing that your youngest is feeling like her life is stalled and all your attempts to turn that frown upside down aren’t working, it can break a mama’s heart. There are many mamas feeling so much worse; hungry babies, babies that have been tragically killed. The enormity of it all is overwhelming.
Friday I noticed something that gave me that flicker of hope; a God wink. On my porch in the sun, a planter with a peeping sprout. Our youngest who is feeling blue, planted green beans. A sign that she is looking to the future filled with opportunities; growing life, hope.
Saturday we spend time with family celebrating our granddaughter’s first birthday, celebrating life. We sing happy birthday and laugh at her excitement. Hearts brim with love looking into those beautiful blue eyes that sparkle with joy.
During Sunday worship, our pastors search for the right words to bring us some sort of hope, they ask us to remember our baptismal covenant.
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
Then our daughter in Philadelphia calls. “Mommy, there are people in the streets cleaning. They’re my neighbors! Mr. Rogers always said to look for the helpers.” Tears creep up, tears of hope and promise.She is now shopping at stores that have experienced vandalism; she is a helper too.
Just when I think I’m getting the message, God sends me one more. Monday at my front door is a bag of Bugles. No note. I know they are from Paige. Somehow she knew I needed this. Bugles were our go-to snack as kids. We filled them with onion dip and ate them like ice cream cones. Paige and I have experienced a lot of life together. And somehow she placed that bag of Bugles on my porch at just the right time. I simply love you, Paige.
Helpers that do the work of Christ bringing us hope that there is good in the world. There is life in sprouting green beans and in the celebration of family. Faith that we have the power given to us all by God to make this world a better place.
Dear Lord, Guide, Guard, Direct Us and Help Us Be Nice, Amen!