Category: Devotionals

Finding Value in the Wilderness

Susan Carey

I am a podcast junkie. If you open the podcast app on my phone at any given time, you’ll typically find 5-10 podcasts in the queue ranging from current events to politics to self-care to church sermons. I’ve learned so much from the hours spent with various voices while on the road or in the kitchen or on the treadmill, and today was especially eye-opening. Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon began releasing a daily teaching at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and while I’ve only come across them recently, they have been a grounding piece of my daily spiritual disciplines.

Today’s podcast is titled “The Wilderness” and features Bethany Allen, Bridgetown’s Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Leadership Development. In it she explores Matthew 4:1-11 when Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness in preparation for his earthly ministry. Verses 2-4 say, “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” In the remainder of the well-known story, Satan continues to tempt Jesus and Jesus continues to refuse temptation by relying on God’s word. In this battle of good versus evil, good wins.

Allen points out that we often read this scripture with a sympathetic view of Jesus. We assume that he’s at his most vulnerable and weak point and we can only imagine that he’s able to withstand the enemy because he is in fact God. But Allen argues that perhaps our perspective is inaccurate. What if we recognize that Jesus’ time of isolation and fasting in the wilderness actually developed in him the spiritual fortitude that is available to all of us when we are in step with God? 

Allen asks the question, “What if we saw the wilderness as a place of fortification instead of desolation?” I don’t know about you, but I’ve been prone to decry the wilderness seasons of my life because they were so painful. Allen says “we have viewed the wilderness as a rite of passage, the place where we suffer or white-knuckle it, even endure the absence of God’s presence.” But what if that’s not what it’s about at all? In retrospect I see how my wilderness seasons are often the times I feel closest to God. Those are the times, the times when I am most dependent on God, that I grow most profoundly in relationship with him. In my times of thinking God was absent, he most clearly assured me of his presence. And if that’s the case, should we be so quick to run away from those seasons?

Matthew 4:1-11 is a significant text for the Lenten season, the 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday when we remember Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Lent is an opportunity for us to willingly enter the wilderness with Jesus. In the past, I’ve viewed the sacrifice made in Lent as a means of suffering and I engaged willingly because I wanted to experience – albeit on a very minute level – the suffering of Jesus. It felt like the “good Christian” thing to do. And at the end of the 40 days I was grateful to end the fast, often with no permanent change in my habits or my spiritual life. But Bethany Allen’s teaching has given me a new perspective, one of hopeful expectation that when I enter into the wilderness of Lent, I can expect that God WILL show up and in that, I have an opportunity to experience his strength and power in new and profound ways. And you better believe I’ll be watching for it and documenting it.

I don’t know what your experience has been like with Lent in the past, but I invite you to observe it this year. I invite you to examine how you spend your time and energy, both mental and physical. I invite you to let go of a barrier that prevents you from daily encounters with God and to watch with hopeful expectation for the ways he will meet you in your fasting. If you want to extend this to your family as well, I invite you to check out the ‘Observing Lent with Children’ page on our Hillside UMC website. How often do we help our children experience God beyond participating in Sunday worship? Maybe the season of Lent will be the start of a new daily rhythm for your family.

Observing Lent with Children

Can you imagine how God will move when your family as a whole makes room in the daily rhythm to meet with him? I hope you’ll watch for it, document it, and share it. And if you want to check out Bethany Allen’s teaching, simply click the ‘play’ button below and enjoy.

Bridgetown Daily: The Wilderness

Words Matter

Susan Carey

It’s a difficult time to talk about current events with our kids. Would you agree? Depending on their age, we don’t want to frighten them. We don’t want to mislead them. We’re not really sure how we even feel about what’s going on in our country, and we surely don’t want them going to school and repeating everything we’ve said at home. So in truth, we just don’t talk about it. We leave the news turned off, we answer their questions with limited responses, and we hope each day will be better than the one before it. At least that’s how it is in my home.

But what if we’re missing opportunities for valuable conversations about the kingdom of God? What if we’re missing opportunities to influence our children’s faith development as a result of what they witness in current events? As a mom, I don’t want to miss those opportunities. As a citizen of the United States, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to help my children grow up to be informed voters. As a Jesus-follower, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to help my children live their faith and potentially influence this country for the better.

The truth is that we cannot bury our heads in the sand. Our kids are aware of the tensions in our country. If they are in school, I guarantee they are hearing about it, often in adult words spoken from the mouths of children who overheard their own parents. Our responsibility as parents is to help our kids navigate the world and our responsibility as Christ-followers is to help them do so in a way that brings the kingdom of Heaven here on earth. And that kingdom will look much different than what we currently see on the news and experience in our own lives.

So I’m committed to do better and the commitment I make has nothing to do with my political leanings but rather everything to do with what I read in scripture about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.  In the Carey house, with girls who are 12 and 16, we’re framing conversations around Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, and with special emphasis on the beatitudes as our lens for looking at current events and how we should respond. What does Jesus say about how we should interact with others? What does Jesus say about the power of our words? What does Jesus say about the oppressed? What does Jesus say about material possessions? About judgement? About truth? And how do we see those teachings play out in current events today?

 Another great scriptural guide is Micah 6:8, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Imagine the fruit of conversation when we define what this means for ourselves and for our family.  My prayer is that these conversations will help our girls recognize the heart of God, identify those situations that break his heart, and in turn be young women who speak and act the truth in love for the kingdom of Heaven.

Truthfully, we didn’t have these kinds of conversations when my girls were younger. It was a different time and I was in a much different place spiritually. But young children need just as much reassurance and context to understand their world. Last week I listened to a great podcast from NPR’s Life Kit called “What to Say to Kids When the News is Scary” and I cannot recommend it strongly enough for guidance especially with younger children.  You can access both the podcast and a brief article here.

Parenting is no joke, and parenting with the goal of discipling our kids to follow Jesus is even more difficult. Be encouraged. We are the men and women for the job. With the help of scripture, the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and one another as support, we can bring up a generation of peacemakers and world changers….but it starts today.

God, give us the wisdom and the words to lead our children well. Point us to the scritpure, to the life and words of your son Jesus Christ who modeled for us what it means to live in deep relationship with you, to live a servant’s life, to love our neighbor as our selves. God show us how to parent in a way that demonstrates your love for our children and for all children. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Giving the Gift of Language

Susan Carey

This past Sunday, Pastor Paul asked the question “What does it look like to chase after God?” In sharing the story of the magi who traveled thousands of miles to experience the presence of God in the Christ-child, Pastor Paul pointed out seven actions of the magi that we can follow as we seek to chase God in 2021:

  • observe God’s movement
  • enter into the presence of God
  • bow
  • kneel 
  • worship first and at all cost
  • offer yourself
  • obey God’s guidance

As I often do, I walked away from this message considering what it looks like not only to chase after God myself, but also to teach my girls to do the same. We are intentional about raising our girls in a faith-centered home, but it’s challenging and we’re not perfect. I’ve yet to find exactly the right book or podcast or speaker to give me the perfect road map or better yet the perfect words to help my girls, in their very limited experience and thankfully limited heartache, fully understand the magnitude of God’s goodness, mercy and grace. So I fumble my way along. Can you relate?

I want to teach my kids first to observe God’s movement. You might think that since they’ve been raised and active in the church, such observations would be natural for them. But I can tell with full disclosure that is simply not so. We used to ask the question at dinner “How did you see God today?” and we were answered with silence nearly every single time. We did an advent study in 2020 with great scripture readings and devotionals. The girls loved them, but when it came time to apply the reading…silence. And in frustration, I’m tempted to stop asking the questions. Where is the disconnect?

I think the answer is simple: language. It’s no mystery how children acquire language. They speak what they hear. From the time a child is born, parents are intentional to name every action and object to help that child communicate. We look at picture books and imitate animal noises. And we know that children are absolute sponges…to the point that we have to be careful about what we say because it will ultimately be repeated. We know this is true of language acquisition, but do we apply it to faith as well? Do our kids have that language of faith? Have we, as parents, given them the words?

You see, if I want my girls to be able to express how they see God move, I have to give them the words and the only way to do that is to express how I see God move. And it has to be as casual and as frequent as the way I would name objects when they were babies. Talking about God is not reserved for the dinner table or family devotion time. Talking about God is in the car on the way to school, in the line at the grocery store, watching the basketball game from the bleachers.

I’m ready to chase God in 2021 with more devotion than ever before. I want my girls to see it, to hear me talk about it, and to join me in the chase. Will you come along? What if this is the year that we spoke our observations of God out loud, even when it sounds awkward? What if this is the year that our kids learn the language of faith? What if this is the year that we build relationship, not religion, and we invite God into every moment, not just Sunday worship. 

Leave a note in the comments if you’re ready to join me and let’s see what stories we can share of God’s movement in our homes in 2021.

Christmastide

Susan Carey

Have you seen the posts and memes like the one above that begin with “I was today years old when I learned that…”? My first exposure to such a post was a video of a man using a vegetable peeler on a carrot, amazed that he could peel both top to bottom and bottom to top. I was shocked! I’d been peeling carrots my whole life and never had I peeled from top to bottom…it was an epiphany!

Admittedly, I had the same reaction when I learned only very recently that the 12 days of Christmas do not reflect the frenzy leading up to December 25th, but actually begin with Christmas Day and continue through January 6th, also known as Epiphany. This is the day we celebrate the magi visiting the Christ Child and signifying his first introduction to gentiles. So essentially my entire life has been a month long build up to Christmas Day, in recent years tamed by the observation of Advent, followed by the quick post-Christmas Day let down. And my kids have done the exact same thing.

It’s no one’s fault. Christmastide was never discussed in my home nor my early experiences of church.  But now I know better. And if there’s ever been a year to do things differently, it’s this one. The celebration of Christmastide was first set apart by the Roman Catholic Church in 567 and while the season has evolved with time and by denomination, the premise is the same: to rejoice in the Incarnation and share the news of the light of God coming into the world. Traditionally, Christmastide is a time of feasting and carols and light, a response to the waiting and solemnity of our Advent hopes being answered. 

So what if we gave it a try?  What if we spent the next few days with Christmas carols playing in the background, Christmas lights twinkling from the tree, candlelight glowing on the table, and continued intentional time in the Word of God. What if we chose to keep the heart of Mary who didn’t rush to leave the manger but instead treasured up this time with Jesus and meditated on all he came to do and be in this world? 

What if instead of rushing to take down the decorations, return and exchange the gifts, and spend the Christmas cash, we instead feast around the table, snuggle up with our kids for one more Christmas movie or board game, and hold on to the peace that comes with Emmanuel, God with Us. What if for just a few more days we held fast to the prophecy of Isaiah: 

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

a light has dawned

on those living in the land of darkness.

You have enlarged the nation

and increased its joy.

The people have rejoiced before you

as they rejoice at harvest time

and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.

For you have shattered their oppressive yoke

and the rod on their shoulders,

the staff of their oppressor,

just as you did on the day of Midian.

For every trampling boot of battle

and the bloodied garments of war

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child will be born for us,

a son will be given to us,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

He will be named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

The dominion will be vast,

and its prosperity will never end.

He will reign on the throne of David

and over his kingdom,

to establish and sustain it

with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:2-7

If you’ve already reset your home for the upcoming New Year and all that we’re hoping will be different, it’s ok. But is there just one candle you could keep lit? Is there a set of twinkle lights you could drape on a mantel? Could the nativity scene sit out for just a few days more or maybe even permanently?

We are so quick to extinguish the lights of Christmas, but Jesus is the one light that cannot be extinguished. He is the light that drives out darkness. He is the light that brings hope and healing. Will you join me and my family as we celebrate Christmastide and continue to marvel in and share the good news of a King who came for you and me? What will Christmastide look like in your home?

Crowded at Christmas

Jenny White

In our kitchen, we have a bulletin board next to a calendar. We post schedules of activities, work, school calendars, and appointment reminders. Last week as I posted on the bulletin board, I noticed in the center under all the things, a picture my daughter colored. It is a picture of a cross. The colored picture was at one time front and center.

It was very apparent in that moment how this is a reflection of what happens in life. Jesus is front and center but easily gets crowded out by all of the things in our lives. It is no coincidence this happened during the Advent season. At Advent, we are given the opportunity to evaluate and make room in our hearts to receive Jesus.

I thought about the innkeeper in the story of the Birth of Jesus. We all view the story and think bad of the innkeeper for not making room. He did make room just not with the best accommodations. Luke 2:7 NIV “and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them”.

The words “guest room available” stand out to me the most in the scripture. God gave us the gift of Jesus to save us and to live in our hearts. A guest room is temporary and only for a visit. The things in life that crowd out Jesus are all temporary. Activities change, years go by, and appointments are canceled or kept. Jesus stays the same.

I have now rearranged the bulletin board and able to see the full picture. The picture has the words on “Jesus Brings Salvation”. Even though I rearranged the bulletin board or even change my routine, these too are temporary. My life and my heart are the only true reflections of making room for Jesus. Advent is a season and what we get from it can be eternal. As we continue in 2020 and prepare for 2021, how can Advent and Christmas be an internal journey to springboard our eternal journey? As we are excited for what Christmas will bring, let’s make room for the Newborn King.

Merry Christmas!

Jenny White, Director of Early Childhood Ministry

A Living Letter

Susan Carey

Little Eyes Alert: Unless you want me to spoil your child’s notion of classic Christmas characters, this is for grown-up eyes only.

Now that we have the bases covered, let’s talk about letters. Christmas is an important time for letters: Christmas letters or cards to family and friends (but don’t wait around for mine…they’re not coming this year), letters written to Santa and left beside a plate of cookies and milk, and in our house even letters to Zoe the Elf on the Shelf, written on the bathroom mirror in dry-erase marker. And in the magic of the Christmas spirit, Santa and Zoe always wrote back.

It was fun for me and magical for my kids, adding to the wide-eyed wonder of the season and the belief in someone we cannot actually see, yet apparently sees us every moment of every day. It’s easy for our kids to believe and and even trust in Santa Claus and the Elf on the Shelf when we, as parents, coordinate the correspondence. Let’s face it…my kids now know that I am Santa Claus and I am Zoe. And one day, if not already, your kids will know the truth as well. It’s easy for us to create the magic of Christmas, but how do we contribute to our kids’ belief and trust in the One they cannot see but who really does see them every moment of every day?

This past Sunday, Pastor Paul shared the message “Jesus’ Coming and God’s Letters to His People.” Most importantly, Pastor Paul shared that God sent Jesus as his personal letter to the world. But he also shared that we, too, can become a letter of God as we share the hope, joy, love and peace of God with others. As parents, the first recipients of that should be our children, but in my experience, it often feels easier to play the role of Santa Claus than to be a messenger of God. What if I get it wrong? What if I don’t know the words to say? My response: don’t overthink it. Just do it.

The beautiful thing about Jesus, what made his message so effective, was not actually in his words but in his life. Sure, Jesus spoke the words. He said such words as “Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42)  and then HE DID IT time and again as people came to him pleading for healing.  He said such words as “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) and then HE DID IT as he called to God from the cross asking forgiveness for those who crucified him. And he said such words as “It is not those who are well who need a doctor but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13) and then HE DID IT as he invited himself to dine with those others hated and he reached out to touch those whom no one else would touch.

Even if we didn’t have the words of Jesus but only the example of how he lived his life, we would still see the values of God lived out in the flesh. You, too, are the example of God’s values for your children; no words are necessary. I encourage you today to ask yourself the same questions I ask myself:

  • How does my life demonstrate hope in Jesus to my children? How do they see me respond in my own times of frustration or depression?  How do they see me sharing that with others?
  • How does my life demonstrate joy available only through Jesus to my children? Not happiness, mind you, but the pure joy of knowing who I am and whose I am. How do they see me responding in joy even when we can’t gather in person for Christmas Eve service?
  • How does my life demonstrate the love of God given to us through his son Jesus? How do I love my children in a way that is the overflow of God’s love for me? How do they see me show love even in moments of disappointment?
  • How does my life demonstrate the peace in difficult times that comes only from a relationship with God through his son Jesus? How do they see me respond to instances of injustice?
  • How does my relationship with my kids AND my relationships with others model Jesus’ mission  to love the unlovable and to touch the untouchable? How do they see me respond to the homeless beggar on the corner or the addict who relapsed again?

Our kids watch us, they read our every action and, yes, they hear our words, too. May we live with the intention of being God’s love letter to our children, creating an atmosphere in our homes of all that Jesus was born to bring – hope,  joy, love, and peace – both in our own lives and the lives of others.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Have you ever considered yourself a ‘letter from God’ to your kids? What do you find most challenging about that?

The Pressure of Parenting

Susan Carey

I’ve been thinking about the notion of ‘home’ a lot this week, especially after listening to Pastor Paul’s Sunday message. Although Pastor Paul talked about the home that Jesus makes in each of us when we choose to love him as Lord and Saviour, as a mom I’ve been thinking about what kind of home Jesus grew up in. I know the pressure I feel to provide a healthy environment for my own kids, and I wonder, “Did Mary feel that pressure, too?” I’m sure my kids will change the world in their own way, but Jesus is next level.

One of the things that makes God’s selection of Mary so remarkable is the fact that she was average, and in fact poor. Jesus would not be raised in a home of extravagance but rather a home of basic provision. If you want proof, look to Luke 2:22-24: “And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).” The significance is in what was offered because Mary and Joseph followed the law outlined in Leviticus. Purification after childbirth required women to offer a sheep for sacrifice, “But if she doesn’t have sufficient means for a sheep, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.” (Leviticus 12:8). The offering of turtledoves and pigeons reflects Mary and Joseph’s poverty.

So if Mary and Joseph couldn’t offer the King of Kings material comforts and a life of ease, what could they offer him to make them worthy of being chosen by God? I think only two qualifications were necessary: love and obedience. Mary’s love for Jesus is evident even before he is born as she runs to visit her cousin Elizabeth sharing the unlikely but good news of her pregnancy, and even more so when the shepherds visit in Luke 2 and “after seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” I see that Jesus was raised in a home of deep love when his parents search frantically for him in Jerusalem after he camps out at the temple, in Mary’s willingness to release him to live out the ministry and purpose for which he was created, and ultimately as she knelt at the base of the cross where he hang crucified. God knew that Mary would cherish Jesus from beginning to end.

Mary’s obedience to God is evident from our first encounter with her in Luke 2 as she responds to the angel Gabriel: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be done to me according to your word.” Eight days after Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph travel to Jerusalem for the circumcision and presentation of Jesus, and each year following they take their son to the Passover Festival. Jesus is raised in an orthodox home according to Jewish law and in obedience to God.

It didn’t matter to God that Mary and Joseph were poor, for what they lacked in material possessions was outweighed by but what they possessed in their hearts. And that’s all God needed from them; that’s all Jesus needed from them. And that’s all he needs from us as well.  I find this to be both an encouragement and a conviction when I consider the home where I am raising my children. I ask myself where do I place my priorities? Where do I expend my energy in creating a home for my girls? How do I demonstrate my love for them? How do I show them what it means to be a faithful Christian and obedient to God? Am I releasing them into God’s hands and trusting in his plan for them? Am I cooperating with the work of God to prepare them for their own ministry in this world? 

There was a time in my life when I thought providing for my kids meant more things, more opportunities, more comfort, more ease. There is nothing wrong with wanting good things for our kids, but we must remember that there is nothing better for our kids than a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We create the best environment for that when we surround our children with love and models of faithful obedience.  My prayer today is that my own heart would be that of Mary, full of love and obedience and willing to live out both.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. What makes ‘home’ a safe place for our children’s spiritual growth?

Promoting and engaging in holy living

Pastor Paul

“Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

(1 Peter 1:13-16, NRSV). (Also refer to 1 Peter 3:15)

What kind of hope holds you up in uncertain future? The pandemic makes things harder and more uncertain. The scripture rekindles the “hope” in us, which has its origin with Jesus and finds its destiny on “the grace” that he will bring on the day when he reveals himself to all. It reminds us of the significance of a privileged relationship with Jesus our Lord. The privilege is granted to those who choose to hear him, to learn his word, and to believe in his name, the name above all the names in the world and the name that gives power to live as God’s children.

Ask yourself this simple yet fundamental question: “What makes me different from others who do not know Jesus?” Many years ago, Peter answered the question on behalf of us when he truly came to realize who he was and what he was: Peter was chosen by Jesus but denied his relationship with his “Teacher and Lord” (John 13:13); yet, Peter’s unfulfilled love was rekindled by the grace of Jesus rooted on his love and care for his disciples. Having learned the significance of his love-relationship with Jesus, Peter appealed to his fellow believers who lived in Asia Minor where Christian movement was very active. He reminded them of the hope that sprouted when they accepted Jesus as their Lord as they were to endure to the end all sufferings and hardships that would come their way keeping their faith in Jesus. Peter knew that their hope was to be set and guarded on the promise that Jesus would bring on his second coming. He knew what made them different from those who belonged to the world: they were chosen and offered as “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God” (1 Peter 2:5).

While he encouraged fellow believers reminding them of their relational identity, Peter also gave them a lifelong directive to keep them holy and sought to protect from evil ones. He did not want them to be caught off guard: they were to prepare their minds for action just as you are to prepare your mind for action that is needed at any moment for a glorious victory in Jesus. Engaging in this spiritual battle, you set your hope in the hope that will come true and find its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Jesus. Peter clearly distinguishes those who belong to Jesus from those who belong to the world: the former is to promote a holy living because they belong to Jesus, holy, chosen, and precious in God’s sight (1 Peter 1:16; 2:4).

Advent Season is another opportunity to renew and promote our relationship with Jesus in a spiritual journey of taking actions in repentance and reflections on some practical implications of his coming. Today is another time to prepare your mind for action that will keep you on guard for a final glorious victory in Jesus. Even though there are more stress, more troubles, and more uncertainties, you have Jesus who sustains your life for a holy living, and life continues in Jesus. Therefore, remind yourself of what to do. Stay safe! Stay healthy! Stay connected with Jesus and with one another in writing of prayer and care. God is good!

In God’s Grace,
Pastor Paul Lee

Setting the Stage for At-Home Worship

Susan Carey

For the last nine months, online worship has become the norm. While some of us enjoyed a few weeks of worship in the church building during Fall, it appears that online worship is not going anywhere. How has that experience been for you? I’ll go first — online, at-home worship in the Carey house looks like piling on the sectional still likely in pajamas, wrestling with the dogs, cursing under our breaths when the internet connection fails, awkwardly glancing around during the praise music to see if anyone else is moving their mouths — in a nutshell it doesn’t really feel like worship at all. Am I the only one?

Thankfully scripture tells me that even though Sunday mornings don’t feel especially worshipful, God is still very present. Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:20 reassure me: “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” I am confident that God does not judge our bed-head, our pajamas, our unruly dogs…he rejoices that we’ve shown up. However, I recognize that our Sunday morning worship at home does not communicate to God just how much we love and respect him. If you feel that way, too, let me share a few thoughts on how we can better set the stage for at-home worship. 

  • Prepare the Place — When we gather in church, our attention is drawn to the altar. We light candles to indicate the presence of God; we dim the overhead lights to create a close, cozy atmosphere and lessen distractions; we select music to set the mood of worship. What can you do in your own home to create such an atmosphere? Can you light a candle? Can you set up a Spotify playlist to play prior to service? Can you dim the lights?
  • Prepare Your Heart — Attitude is everything and one of the biggest challenges I face with at-home, online worship. What if we invited God into our hearts before the service? That Spotify playlist can be really helpful here; what if you only listened to worship music for 30 minutes before service? What if you prayed the words of Psalm 5:7-8 just before service: “But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies — make straight your way before me.” And then trust with hopeful expectation that God will in fact move in your heart during worship.
  • Prepare Your Body — In my high school teaching days, I always knew when kids were disengaged by their body posture. A slumping teen is a good indication of a disengeged teen, and that’s true for adults as well. Comfort is certainly ok; that’s one of the advantages of worshipping at home. But what does your body posture say about the preparedness of your heart and mind to receive the word of God? Do you need to have your feet on the floor instead of foot-wrestling with your 10-year-old? Do you need to put on real clothes….not necessarily church clothes but at least something you wouldn’t mind having on if an unexpected guest showed up?
  • Participate — I once read that when it comes to worship, God is the audience and the congregation are the actors. We are meant to sing, to pray out loud, to engage in the word. Psalm 40:3 reminds me, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” If I’m not willing to sing, how will others see and fear and put their trust in the Lord? And as a parent, I own that it’s my responsibility to show my kids what worship looks like. If I don’t participate, how do I expect them to learn how to worship? Another difficult challenge of this time is feeling disconnected from the church and its members. The beauty of online worship is the ability to comment during the service…you’re actually encouraged to talk with your friends! So take advantage of the comments section and engage with the message.
  • Take Notes — I like to think that I can remember everything I hear in a Sunday sermon, but let’s be honest….most of what I hear is meaningful in the moment and then forgotten as soon as I leave the church or turn off the online stream. And the truth is that I am incredibly distracted during at-home worship, noticing every speck of dust and hearing every random creak in the house. One way to combat that is to take notes during the message. Not only will that help me stay focused but it will also allow me to revisit the message throughout the week and to continue reflecting and learning. And this is something the entire family can do from the youngest to the oldest. Your pre-schooler’s notes may be drawings of words that stand out to them while your elementary schooler copies the scripture to memorize. It’s not about what it looks like; it’s simply about the intention to be present and to hear from God.  To help you out, I’ve included a couple of notes pages to guide you. Give it a try!
Sermon-NotesDownload
Kids-Sermon-NotesDownload

I miss gathering for worship, but I know that this season is simply that — a season. One day we will gather together for worship again. We’ll greet one another with handshakes and hugs, we’ll stand and sing together without worrying that we’re off-pitch (we all sound good in the universal choir), and we’ll linger in the lobby over coffee and donuts. But in the meantime, we can embrace this season of at-home worship knowing that God is present at all times in all places. We simply need to make the space in our homes and our hearts to welcome him.

I’d love to hear your feedback. What is working for you as you attempt to make at-home worship meaningful? What are you willing to try next Sunday?

God taking notice of His people

Pastor Paul

“23 After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them.”

(Exodus 2:23-24; 3:7-12, NRSV)

This narrative describes a dramatic yet intimate response of God to His people, the Israelites, who were in misery and hardships in a life of slavery especially long after the death of the king of Egypt. Their life in Egypt finds its relevancy to your life where you are in various aspects. They had not chosen Egypt as their residence but were given a life that was inherited from their parents there. Their parents were descendants of Joseph and his brothers who had moved from Canaan to Egypt to survive; they were the children of the immigrants. The life of the Israelites at that time did not have many resources and free options. Many years had passed after their ancestors had immigrated to Egypt; even though many, many generations had passed, they were neither Egyptianized nor mingled with Egyptians; rather, they were still identified as “Israelites” whom the Egyptians treated them as foreigners and even as slaves. Some of them might have engaged in some types of business but could not own it as their possession. Others might have been highly proficient in certain areas of life with great job skills; yet, they were restricted in their promotion at work and limited to what they could do. Many of them must have felt that they were capable of doing many great things and yet chained to shackles with neither flexibility nor freedom. Their life, confused, hopeless, and uncertain as God’s people, is portrayed as “slavery” to the unchallengeable worldly power. Something common to your life?

At some point in their slavery, the Israelites reached a breaking point where they began to “groan under their slavery” and to cry for help desperately (Exodus 2:23). Their cry did not pass without being noticed by God. Two undeniable points are emphatic and perpetual beyond limit to space and time: (1) God remembered His covenant with His people; (2) God looked upon them and noticed their hardships and pain. First, God had made a covenant with Noah (Genesis 6:18; 9:9) and with Abraham (Genesis 15:18 17:2) about God’s care for His people. The act of God’s remembering marks the intimate, caring relationship with them (Genesis 8:1; 19:29; 30:22; Exodus 2:24; 6:5; Psalm 98:3; 105:42; 106:45; 136:23). Second, God never left them alone while they were suffering because of their taskmasters. He paid close attention to their situation where they did not know what to do with their sufferings and their life in slavery to Egypt. Remembering the covenant with their ancestors, God responded to their cry and promised that He would bring them to “a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). Are you holding onto the words of promise as you hear Jesus and follow his lead?

Do you find something here in common with your life? At good times, it may be easy to feel or say that God seems good to you even though that saying may not carry and reflect in your life as much meaning as it should be. In the midst of hardships or life crisis, we may find something different from the good times and yet similar to the situation that the Israelites had experienced in Egypt. If God were the God of eternity, the same God, who remembered His covenant with faith ancestors and paid close attention to the Israelites, would respond to the cry of His people today and in the future. If that were the case, the same God would respond to your cry for help in prayer while you feel desperate and much pain in your life. The COVID-19 outbreak would be one of those situations where people may find God as the God of care, those who hear His voice, following His lead and enduring to the end in their love for Jesus, rather than an unwarranted voice that is rooted on earthly things and temporary measures. Every now and then, we hear some say, “God is in control” referring to the COVID-19 outbreak. What does that mean to you? To some people, it may sound superficial not carrying any tangible connections with the living God. To other people, it may sound serious because they think they have an intimate relationship with God who remembered His covenant with faith ancestors and cared watching over their sufferings.

You may find similarity between the life situation of the Israelites and yours where you are today. Egypt was their residence whereas where you are is your residence; their heavy labor was a daily reality with no warranted assurance whereas your reality is fragile and uncertain as you are stuck in this pandemic right now. Their hope was to depart from their hopeless reality in Egypt and to enter into their destination, the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey, whereas you are a stranger in this world and yet long for a better place, your ultimate destination in heaven (Hebrews 11:13). In the meantime and in this in-between residence, God does not leave you alone just as He paid close attention to the Israelites in Egypt, a symbol of slavery. As you truly believe and live in the living God who said to Moses, “[God] will be with you” (Exodus 3:12), you may experience in due time His mighty hands working through this difficult time and having you carried into where you are to be with Jesus as you unswervingly endure to the end (1 Corinthians 10:13; Colossians 1:11). At the end of the conversation with Moses, God said to him, “you shall worship God on this mountain” (Exodus 3:12). Even in their uncertain situation, God commanded and expected the Israelites to worship Him emphasizing the act of worship as their first duty in the wilderness departing from the slavery to a new life marked by freedom and abundance of fresh food like milk and honey in a promised, blessed place (Exodus 3:8).

Where is your reality now? Where is your ultimate destination? What is your course of life aligned with? Who is the ultimate leader whose voice you are to hear and follow in the midst of confusion and uncertainty? The voice, which Moses heard, is also offered to you; it is your choice to hear and follow for a better, greater life that is abundant and eternal in Jesus, the risen Lord. Now is a difficult time to everyone; yet, their outcomes can be different depending on their choices and their responses to it for God’s glory. God was, is, and will be with His people. Stay safe! Stay healthy! Stay connected with Jesus and with one another in prayer and care. Hold onto the words of promise: “Come to me, … I will give you rest!” (Matthew 11:28). God is good!

In God’s Grace,
Rev. Paul Lee