Tag: devotional

Heart of a Planner, Wisdom of Erasable Ink

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As I sit here, just after eagerly unwrapping my new paper 2025 planner, I can’t help but smile at the irony. You see, I’m a devoted planner – someone who finds deep joy in neatly writing out schedules, goals, and to-do lists. I love crossing tasks off a to-do list. I love keeping record of my plans and even add in extra silly holidays like September 19’s “Talk Like a Pirate Day.”

And yet, I always reach for my erasable pen when I put ink to paper. Why? Because life has taught me a valuable lesson, one that echoes the wisdom found in Proverbs 16:9:

“People plan their path, but the LORD secures their steps.” (CEB)

This verse reminds us that while we may chart our path with the best intentions, it’s ultimately God who guides our journey. (Remember the plans you thought you had made in 2020?) My erasable pen serves as a humble reminder of this truth. It allows me to plan with purpose while remaining open to the divine redirection that often comes our way.

Similarly, Psalm 37:23-24 offers us this reassurance:

“A person’s steps are made secure by the LORD when they delight in his way.
Though they trip up, they won’t be thrown down, because the LORD holds their hand.” (CEB)

Just as my erasable ink allows for changes without marring the page, God’s guiding hand ensures that our missteps and changed plans don’t define our journey. Instead, they become part of the beautiful, sometimes messy, always grace-filled story God is writing with our lives.

As you reflect on your own experiences, consider:

  • When has God redirected your carefully laid plans in unexpected ways?
  • How have you seen God’s divine hand at work, even in moments of apparent setback or change?
  • What lessons have you learned about balancing careful planning with openness to God’s leading?

Embracing the Unwritten Future

As I look at my new planner, pages crisp and empty, I’m reminded of the blank canvas that each new day presents. With my erasable pen in hand, I’m prepared to write, erase, and rewrite as needed. This practice has become more than just a planning method – it’s a spiritual discipline that keeps me humble and open to God’s ongoing work in my life and ministry.

Here are some final thoughts to consider as we navigate the delicate balance between planning and trusting:

  1. Plan with Purpose, Hold with Open Hands View your plans as a compass, not a cage. Let them point you in the right direction without restricting God’s ability to lead you on unexpected adventures
  2. Find Joy in the Journey Remember that God is as interested in the process of our growth as God is in the outcome. Each erased plan is an opportunity to draw closer to God and understand God’s ways better.
  3. Trust the Master Planner When our plans change, it’s not a sign of failure, but an invitation to trust more deeply. God sees the bigger picture and is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

As you go about your week, I encourage you to plan with intention but to hold those plans loosely. Write your goals and dreams in your planner, but keep that erasable pen handy. For in the erasing and rewriting, in the adjusting and adapting, we often find the most profound moments of God’s grace and guidance.

May your steps be firm, your heart be open, and your plans be ever-aligned with God’s perfect will. And remember, even when life seems to erase our carefully laid plans, God is writing a story far more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

Holy God, we love to plan out the course of our life and we love to have some sort of sense of control in a world that sometimes seems chaotic. Help us to trust that you have a divine plan for our lives. We pray that you will direct our steps and we will be faithful to follow. Amen.

Blessings, ESJ

Always a Work in Progress

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Always a Work in Progress

Publishing a book is an interesting and vulnerable process. Teaching a Bible Study based on your own book is an odd joy and so humbling.

Realizing there is a big typo – that’s a bit embarrassing.

If you are one of the sweet souls who bought the first edition of my first ever book, and you are teaching a Lent study, thank you for your grace.

Here are the correct reflection questions for Session II:

10-20 mins: Scripture Reading and Reflection

  • Read Mark 12:28-34 aloud.

“One of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

 Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

The legal expert said to him, “Well said, Teacher. You have truthfully said that God is one and there is no other besides him. And to love God with all of the heart, a full understanding, and all of one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more important than all kinds of entirely burned offerings and sacrifices.”

When Jesus saw that he had answered with wisdom, he said to him, “You aren’t far from God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

  • Lead a reflection on the scripture.
    • What resonates with you in the Great Commandment?
    • How does the command to love God and neighbor challenge and inspire you?
    •  Love is not just a sentiment. Love is a commitment to the well-being of others. Reflect on the call to love beyond the surface.
    • How does this scripture passage relate to the vision statement “We are followers of Jesus, seeking the loving, just and free world God imagines for all people”?

Blessings to you, dear ones.

Link to the book:

http://Loving, Just & Free: A Six-Session Wesleyan Bible Study https://a.co/d/4FXHGpz

I Wrote A Book This Year

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My Book is Currently “In Review”

Here’s the story behind the book:

In November 2023, I attended a core leadership meeting for the Central, North and Northwest Conferences of the United Methodist Church.

Bishop Saenz unveiled a vision statement and strategic priorities for the conference.

Vision: We are followers of Jesus, seeking the loving, just and free world God imagines for all people.

Strategic Priorities:

• Champion Children & Youth

• Maximize Care & Healing

• Pursue & Embrace Diversity

• Multiply Jesus Followers

• Tell Our Story

A member of the team said offhandedly, “Wouldn’t it be great if someone would write a Bible study on our vision statement and really unpack what it means?”

I agreed & was sparked by the suggestion. Here is that book.

It is my prayer that this 6-session Wesleyan Bible Study, “Loving, Just & Free,” not only explores a powerful vision statement, but also transforms hearts and minds as it incorporates meaningful discussion and creative offerings.

I also had so much fun writing, editing, and creating this project. It is a joy to create meaningful work! May it be a blessing.

http://Loving, Just & Free: A Six-Session Wesleyan Bible Study https://a.co/d/4FXHGpz

Final Lent Devotional: Ending

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Ulster Project Tearfest

As I scroll through my camera roll looking for images of endings, a sense of melancholy overwhelms me. There are so many endings – moving, graduations, seeing loved ones for final goodbyes. The harder ones are the recent unexpected endings: sports seasons cut unexpectedly short, church buildings full for the last time before quarantine, early ending to a school year.

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.

A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.”

We can take heart in knowing that every ending can also mark the beginning of something new. The picture with this message is from the Ulster Project Tearfest. In Ulster Project, American teens host Northern Irish teens for a month full of activity. The teens form deep, lifelong friendships and learn to love one another like family, which makes the inevitable saying “goodbye” a tear-filled event for everyone. While we are sad about saying goodbye to things and people we love, we can take heart in knowing something new will come…and we can be grateful for having had the opportunity to love so deeply.

As resurrection people, we know that the worst things are never the final things. And as in resurrection, we know that, although goodbyes can be hard, we have a promise of new and beautiful things to come.

As we close our Lenten photo challenge devotional series, I bring you a Seneca quote made famous in the 1990’s song “Closing Time”:

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

Lent Devotional: Cloud

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Midday at New World UMC, Arlington

In the book of Hebrews, there is a reference to something called a “cloud of witnesses.” In chapter 12, it says “So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.” What does that phrase mean to you? A cloud of witnesses is not something we might talk about often, but it is the reason that we are here together.

From the very beginning, people of faith have been sharing their stories with one another. As generation passes on the story to next generation, the lineage of our faith continues. Because people of faith shared the songs, stories, scriptures, and theological ideas with their family, friends and neighbors, we know the same stories today. We have our faith heritage today because people before us passed it to us.

We are each indebted to a heavenly throng of people who endured their own journeys of faith. Personally, I’m grateful for the women and men of faith who made it possible for me to be a clergyperson today. As we, the Body of Christ, endure our current circumstances, may we be encouraged to run our race with faithfulness.

Scripture Reading: “ so then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfector. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God‘s throne. Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up.” -Hebrews 12:1-3 CEB

Prayer: Holy God, thank you for the people of faith who came before us (our cloud of witnesses) and shared their stories. May we be encouraged to share our faith with one another. For Your glory we pray, Amen.

Reflection Questions: Who is it in your life that has shared faith with you? How did you learn what you know about God? Who can you share your story with?

Sunset at Iona Abbey, Scotland

Lent Devotional: Shadow

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“This is good, and all good things cast shadows.”

-Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World

Life in the dark shadows can seem frightening, yet God is faithful to be with us even through life’s shadows. As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death in Psalm 23, we take comfort that God’s rod and staff are with us. In the shadow of God’s wings, we are protected from destruction.

Shadows are also necessary in full beauty. In art and music, the best masterpieces include both light and shadow. In life, we must endure the hard times so that we may full appreciate the joyful. The greatest shadows are often found cast by the greatest goodness. As we move into the shadow of the crucifixion this week, we can rely on the promise that the light of resurrection will shine on the other side.

Reflection Questions: What are the shadows you are feeling in your life right now? When has life seemed its darkest? Where do you find promise of light and God’s protection?

Prayer: Holy God, we thank you for your promise to protect us and guide us when life seems dark and uncertain. Lead us to be lights for others who may be stumbling in the dark. We love you. Amen.

Scriptures: Isaiah 49:1-17, Psalm 91

Lent Devotional: Justice

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“This is why it’s especially important for those of us who come to the Bible from positions of relative social, economic, and racial privilege to read its stories alongside people from marginalized communities, past and present, who are often more practiced at tracing the crimson thread of justice through its pages.”

-Rachel Held Evans, Inspired

I am finding it difficult to write about justice today. What we are all enduring now, a global pandemic, feels terribly unfair, doesn’t it? Yet it is something that ties us all together.

We are learning each that we have more in common than we thought – we are equal. Even though we try to separate ourselves from others, this coronavirus outbreak makes no distinction between nationalities, races, cultures, religions, occupations, socioeconomic status. The virus does not ask who it infects about their accomplishments, their religious beliefs, citizenship status, skin color, sexual preference or gender.

In our humanity, we are all vulnerable.

In our common humanity, this outbreak reminds us that, even though we make great efforts to highlight how different we are from one another, we are inextricably tied to one another. We are dependent upon one another and our actions affect the whole. While this has always been true, our perspective may change as we see glimpses of both the best and worst of humanity. It is my prayer that we as people of faith emerge from this with a new sense of community.

My heart aches with the tenderness of this truth: Each and every life is sacred, precious. Each and every day is a gift, not to be taken for granted. We can love one another best by all working together to limit the spread of a virus. As we move slowly through the days ahead of us, may we be people who honor one another with love and justice, kindness and generosity. May God be glorified by our actions.

Scripture for today: Psalm 146, Acts 9:1-20

Reflection Questions: How is it with your soul? What is something you can do today to help someone in need? Who do you need to talk to today?

Prayer: Holy and loving God, our hearts ache as we consider how our world is hurting today. We pray for your loving arms of comfort to surround us. Heal those who are sick and brokenhearted. Help us to be agents of healing, justice and mercy for your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lent Devotional: Remember

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Can you remember when God carried you through something very difficult?

Every week, members of New World United Methodist Church come around a table at a local family shelter for an evening of fellowship, prayer and creating art. Residents in the shelter are there for many different reasons – job losses, deaths in the family, fleeing domestic violence, unexpected illnesses or other expenses.

Art brings people together. The act of creating art has a powerful way of bringing about calm, healing and empowerment. We choose to create art with residents of a local shelter because many of the families are in desperate need of space for calm, connection, dignity and love.

Each week we have a different project and a different theme. In the picture, we are creating very special prayer beads, “ebenezer beads.” You might recognize the word “ebenezer” from the hymn “Come, Thou Font of Every Blessing.” My favorite verse goes like this:

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy help I come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home

What in the world is an ebenezer, you ask, and why are we raising one? The Hebrew word literally means “stone of help.” The song is a reference to the book of 1 Samuel:

Samuel took a stone and set it up . . . and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”  1 Samuel 7:12

In the story, Samuel is raising a special monument in gratitude for God’s faithfulness as the Israelites defeated the powerful Philistines. Samuel wants to make sure that all who come to this place remember what God has done for God’s people. We are called to remember.

In our prayer bead project, each participant was invited to include a few handmade beads made the week before. As they pray with their beads, these special beads serve as a reminder that God will faithfully bring each family through life’s difficult times of transition.

May we all remember that God is faithful.

Prayer: Dear God, we remember the times in our life when you brought us through difficult circumstances and we thank you. We pray for people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Lead us to be messengers of your mercy, love and grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Suggested Scripture:

I’m grateful to God, whom I serve with a good conscience as my ancestors did. I constantly remember you in my prayers day and night. When I remember your tears, I long to see you so that I can be filled with happiness.I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that this faith is also inside you.Because of this, I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands.God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled. 

2 Timothy 1:3-7

Reflection Questions:

Remember a time you went through something difficult. How did God bring you through that? How can you thank God for God’s faithfulness?

 

 

Gift – A Christmas Thought

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I’m writing this just after midnight, technically Christmas Day. The house is peaceful, kids asleep while Dennis, my mom and I quietly visit. Probably because I had so much to prepare for preaching two days in a row, all of the presents have been wrapped and ready a while now. I can’t remember a Christmas Eve wrapped up so early before (pun intended).

The real gift is that we kept the holiday relatively simple. Our kids are pretty wonderful, so I’m looking forward to a fun morning of Lucas’s excitement and the rest of us keeping the magic alive. It is such a joy to be the parents of our kids.

Another gift was the chance to help lead Christmas Eve worship earlier tonight. I’m honored to be part of the staff at New World UMC.

And perhaps the biggest gift of all was seeing our family friend Allan in worship. He is part of the Kenyan family I mentioned in my sermon & I’m deeply grateful God placed his family in our lives.

My prayer for each of you is the gift of knowing that God is real, God loves you & you, dear reader, are worthy of love. May you find space in your heart and home for the holy.

Merry Christmas to all….and to all a good night!