Welcome to the JCPC Daily Reflections Blog. Reflections are daily devotionals authored by JCPC pastors, staff and members and provide insight, guidance and comfort to help you make it through each day. If you’d like to receive Reflections each day via email, provide your email address.
Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, there's a door that tells a five-century-old tale. In 1492 two families, the Butlers and the Fitzgeralds, began fighting over a high-level position in the region. The fight escalated, and the Butlers took refuge in the cathedral. When the Fitzgeralds came to ask for a truce, the Butlers were afraid to open the door. So the Fitzgeralds cut a hole in it, and their leader offered his hand in peace. The two families then reconciled, and adversaries became friends.
God has a door of reconciliation that the apostle Paul wrote passionately about in his letter to the church in Corinth. At His initiative and because of His infinite love, God exchanged the broken relationship with humans for a restored relationship through Christ's death on the cross. We were far away from God, but in His mercy He didn't leave us there. He offers us restoration with Himself-"not counting people's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Justice was fulfilled when "God made [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us," so that in Him we could be at peace with God (v. 21).
Once we accept God's hand in peace, we're given the important task of bringing that message to others. We represent the amazing, loving God who offers complete forgiveness and restoration to everyone who believes.
Prayer for Today
God, thank You for not leaving me in a place of no hope, separated from You forever. Thank You that the sacrifice of Your beloved Son, Jesus, has provided the way for me to come to You. Amen.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
-John 13:35
"Oh my gosh, we could have been twins today!" The barista at my coffee was so excited to notice my Star Trek shirt peeking out from my rain jacket today. She was dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast, but apparently had simply been able to find her Trekkie outfit. It's fun finding out your friends or people you frequently interact with (my baristas see me a lot) have a common interest. Maybe you are both transplants with a love for the same sports team or college. Perhaps you're both die hard fans of a show or play. Maybe you have both been to concerts of the same beloved musician or collect the same things.
It's common for Star Trek or any one of a hundred niche interests from sci-fi to sewing, hunting or knitting, languages and travel. We seek common ground. Sometimes, that's faith. I've been amazed sometimes to see servers light up when we ask to pray for them and tell me about their church and family. I once befriended someone on a flight over discussing campus ministry and when we invited a third stranger to join us for dinner so he could get a table and make his flight, we soon discovered he was a pastor in Africa back home. Sometimes, people know our faith by our stories, but Jesus tells us that we can and should be known by something else... our love.
We are entering the "holiday season," a secular term for the months of shopping leading to Christmas, one of the major high holidays of our faith tradition. It tends to be busier, colder, darker, and more stressful. It's easy to go out to eat between the busyness and forget that it's just as stressful for the retail workers on minimum wage and the servers working off of tips. They, too, are rushing to buy gifts and make Christmas special in their gatherings, which may be brief or scheduled for alternate days so they can work the holidays. When we interact with folks in these stressful jobs, we have an opportunity to show them who and whose we are. Not by our stories, but by our love.
It may look like patience as they search for a size or we wait in line. It may look like gratitude above and beyond and words of affirmation that we value them as a person. It may look like forgiveness when they are short tempered or not as cheerful or attentive as we hope or forget part of our order. And it probably looks like a big tip. Even if the service was just ok, or maybe especially if it wasn't ok. And it definitely looks like saying, "and to you too," whether they say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. We love and serve someone who came to us not because we deserved it but to show us the fullness of God's love and a better way to live in peace and hope and be joyful. Jesus calls us to be known as his by our love. Make it a goal to be recognized this holiday season as one of his. Often.
Prayer for Today
Lord, I want to be known by your love. Help me to slow down, to forgive more quickly, to express gratitude more freely, to affirm those who help me, and seek to offer kindness to those struggling and stressing, so I'm spotted as one of yours. Amen.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. . ."
- Philippians 1:3-5
Paul writes these words in the beginning of his letter to the church at Philippi. When Paul thinks of these fellow Christians, he is thankful because of their generosity -- not only to him, but of their time and energy in working together with him as partners to do God's saving work. Echoing our "Season of Generosity" theme - they also "Gave to Save."
This past Sunday as the bagpipes played, many of us brought forward our pledge cards during the hymn "Amazing Grace." It was a moving time for me. We don't often have the opportunity to come forward and make such a visible expression of our thanksgiving to God. I am especially grateful to all the members of our church family who made financial commitments for 2020. Your gifts will enable us to partner with God to save those around us. In addition to the members of our JCPC church family, 2,300 "friends" of JCPC are touched weekly by our ministries and those of our partners who meet on this campus - all because of your generous gifts.
We are off to a strong start. So far we have 71 pledges totaling $509,208. This is about 57% of our pledge goal of $892,500. I am so grateful for everyone who expressed their generosity through their pledge. Thank you for caring! If you were not here Sunday, we need you to help us complete our goal so that we can do God's saving work in our community and around the world. We can't do it without your support. Extra pledge cards will be in our Friendship pads in the chapel. Please fill one out and place it in the offering plate this Sunday, or mail it in. You can also make your pledge online to the JCPC website -- www.jcpcusa.org, or through the JCPC app.
This Sunday is All Saints' Sunday. During our worship service, we will remember those in our church family and others whom we have lost in the past year. I hope you will make a special effort to come!
Prayer for Today
Thank you, God, for being so generous to us. Thank you for giving us something to share with others. Use our gifts to make a saving difference in the lives of our church and our community. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
I recently read this quote by Henri Nouwen (In the Name of Jesus, 1989). I have been asking myself this question, do we follow "people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word, and to taste fully God's infinite goodness?"
When you think about the people or leaders that we follow, what characteristics do they have? When choosing who you will follow, what is important to you?
Nouwen gives some helpful priorities as we consider, how we will serve in leadership roles and live our lives as Christians.
He reminds us that it's not just about listening or speaking, there are other senses to consider as well. Think about these actions for a moment, Dwell, Listen Look, Touch, and Taste.
How do you encounter God with more than just your eyes or ears?
Go into this day knowing that you have been claimed by God. May you see the opportunities to lead and have the humility to follow the leaders who are following the Lord's path.
Prayer for Today
Lord, may we always follow and lead in ways that give you glory. Lead us into life through your ways. In Christ's Name, Amen.
A friend gave me a houseplant she'd owned for more than forty years. The plant was equal to my height, and it produced large leaves from three separate spindly trunks. Over time, the weight of the leaves had caused all three of the stalks to curve down toward the floor. To straighten them, I put a wedge under the plant's pot and placed it near a window so the sunlight could draw the leaves upward and help cure its bad posture.
Shortly after receiving the plant, I saw one just like it in a waiting room at a local business. It also grew from three long skinny stalks, but they'd been braided together to form a larger, more solid core. This plant stood upright without any help.
Any two people may stay in the same "pot" for years, yet grow apart and experience fewer of the benefits God wants them to enjoy. When their lives are woven together with God, however, there is a greater sense of stability and closeness. Their relationship will grow stronger. "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
Like houseplants, marriages and friendships require some nurturing. Tending to these relationships involves merging spiritually so that God is present at the center of each important bond. He's an endless supply of love and grace-the things we need most to stay happily united with each other.
Prayer for Today
Dear God, I welcome You into my closest relationships today. Amen.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.
-Psalm 112:5
My two year old niece came down the stairs the other day to head to the playground. She was dressed for the adventure... and carrying a heaping armload of her favorite things. Her mother was taken by surprise, and as she contemplated how to ask her to scale back, my niece proudly announced with a grin ear to ear... "I have too much stuff!" Apparently, this was an achievement, rather than a dilemma.
Perspective is everything, isn't it? She and her mother agreed she had too much. But perhaps not that that was a good thing. I think this is common to us adults too. We acquire perhaps far too much and we are scared to leave any of our favorite stuff behind... or share it... or give it away. Meanwhile, God looks at us and shakes a weary head. Perhaps less fortunate people do too, or people who will have to sort and sell our favorite stuff when we pass away. It would of course be little use to reason with my niece that her armful of stuff will keep her from enjoying her walk or the playground or time with friends. Nor would it help to remind her she may lose some things or maybe having too much is a good reason to give to someone with nothing. But shouldn't those clear reasons be sufficient for us with maturity, age, and wisdom? Those of us with faith?
It's easier to giggle at the logic of a toddler than to buckle down and take our own advice. It's easier to judge or be amused than to take our own advice or God's word and build our life on it. Do we have too much? Enough? If so, can we step out in faith and be generous, watching the joy it brings, rather than walking around with our arms full until we can lay it all down to be buried? I'd rather look at my arms, smile like my niece, say, "I've got too much stuff..." and find people who need it. That's what we will do this Sunday. Come join us.
Prayer for Today
Lord, you have blessed me. Help me to see when I have enough and too much and to be bravely generous, giving thanks to you, trusting in you and not my stuff. Amen.
A while back I heard Scott Weimer, former pastor of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church, talking about a woman who was one of their international members from Kenya. She came down front after a service and she told Scott that she missed some parts of the worship from Kenya. Scott asked what she missed. The woman said that she missed how they gave the offering. In her country, they placed the offering plates down front, and then people danced down the aisle while carrying their gifts up to place them in the offering plate. I wonder how that "offering dance" would go over here at JCPC.
This Sunday is the last in our "A Time to Give - A Time to Save" sermon series. We are asking you to bring your 2020 pledge card forward at the end of the service. Now, you do not have to dance - you can simply join others in placing your card on the communion table. However, if you do want to dance, as long as it is appropriate for worship, you can if you want. (We are not Baptists, you know!) Actually, our Presbyterian Book of Order says this about "prayerful participation" in worship: "Participation in worship may involve a wide range of actions: kneeling, bowing, standing, lifting hands, dancing, drumming, clapping, embracing, or joining hands, anointing and laying on of hands. The gifts of the Spirit are for building up the Church." (W-2.0202)
I hope you will prayerfully consider what "gifts of the Spirit" God is leading you to share this Sunday to build up the Church. I want to invite you to consider giving away a tenth or a "tithe" of what God has given you, so that God can use your generosity to save a part of God's world. Together we can do great things here in Johns Creek and throughout our world! See you Sunday and thank you for your generous support of God's work.
Prayer for Today
Generous God, we thank you for the many blessings of our lives. If we were to try to "name them one by one" as the words of a hymn invite us to do - it would take a very long time. So, today we will simply say thank you. Help us to become more generous in our giving. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ, who gave his life for the whole world! Amen.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I read a reflection this week of the life and routines of Fred Rogers. He was an important part of my childhood as he was to many. The person shared about him and said, "Everything Fred Rogers did was a prelude to- or an outcome of- prayer". She noted how he started his daily routine with prayer and continued it throughout the day during each of his activities.
He lived these words from 1 Thessalonians in a way that can guide us as well. The essence of prayer is relationships, how we connect with God and those around us. Sometimes it is hard to find the words or find the time to stop and pray. Mr. Rogers is one example of how we can continue to pray through each part of our daily rhythm. For me prayer is a conversation with God, sometimes listening, sometimes sharing.
What does prayer throughout your day look like? Are you still in a quiet place? Are you taking deep breathes in a loud, chaotic room? Are you driving down the street soaking in what's around you?
A few years ago, Fred Rogers have the invocation at Boston University's graduation. Here are some of the things he shared with God... what will you share with God today?
Dear God, please inspire our hearts to come ever closer to You. We pray for those who know us and accept us as we are. Those people who encourage us to see what's really fine in life.
We pray for all the people of Your world, our sisters and brothers whose names we may not know but whose lives are ultimately previous in Your sight. With all our hearts, we pray for all of your children everywhere.
And finally we offer our strengths and weaknesses, our joys and our sorrows to your never-ending care. Help us remember all through our lives that we never need to do difficult things alone, that your presence is simply for the asking and our ultimate future is assured by your unselfish love. In our deepest gratitude we offer this prayer. Amen.
If you were on the JCPC campus yesterday afternoon you might have spied this cheery group dressed in their Sunday best! What were they doing in gardening clothes you might ask? Well, they planted 1,000 daffodil bulbs that will blossom for the first time in the spring of 2020.
Daffodils are the official symbol for the American Cancer Association symbolizing hope for a cure. Daffodils are one of the earliest flowers to blossom in the spring and are often associated with rebirth and new beginnings.
Johns Creek Beautification, led by Marilyn Davis, has partnered with CanCare Atlanta, to bring both beauty and hope to Johns Creek by planting daffodils throughout our city! The program is titled Daffodils 4 Hope. The JCPC daffodil planting is the first planting at any Johns Creek house of worship. It is a fitting start in that JCPC is the lead church in developing CanCare Atlanta.
Flowers that blossom around Eastertide have been invested with religious meaning:
Lilies. Perhaps the flower most closely associated with Easter, lilies represent purity and hope.
Tulips. White tulips stand for forgiveness, while the purple represent royalty.
Azaleas. The showy blooms of azaleas represent temperance, or self-control.
Daffodils. Hope for a cure for cancer.
Following our Kirkin' of the Tartans Dedication Sunday service at 11:00 a.m. we will be consecrating the Daffodils 4 Hope. I hope you will be able to join us!
Prayer for Today
Fill your world with the beauty of hope, O loving God, and carry us through our days with the gifts of renewal and rebirth. Amen.
When nine-year-old Willie was abducted from his front yard in 2014, he sang his favorite gospel song Every Praise over and over again. During the three-hour ordeal, Willie ignored the kidnapper's repeated orders to keep silent as they drove around. Eventually, the kidnapper let Willie out of the car unharmed. Later, Willie described the encounter, saying that while he felt his fear give way to faith, the abductor seemed agitated by the song.
Willie's response to his dire situation is reminiscent of the experience shared by Paul and Silas. After being flogged and thrown into jail, they reacted by "praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose" (Acts 16:25-26).
Upon witnessing this awesome demonstration of power, the jailer believed in the God of Paul and Silas, and his entire household was baptized along with him (vv. 27-34). Through the avenue of praise, both physical and spiritual chains were broken that night.
We may not always experience a visibly dramatic rescue like Paul and Silas, or like Willie. But we know that God responds to the praises of His people! When He moves, chains fall apart.
Prayer for Today
"[God], You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel."
