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.
Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
-I Timothy 4:12
You won’t be surprised to see me use this verse from time to time. It’s because I’m continually inspired by them and if you see what they’re up to, you will be too. What have they done now? You won’t believe it. A little background... Like most things in scripture, Jesus holds a higher standard. While the Old Testament demands a 10% tithe to God, Jesus is constantly saying it’s harder to be generous than meet the minimums. He tells the rich young ruler to sell EVERYthing and the widow gives her SINGLE solitary coin. Jesus does not advocate we scrape by. He insists we commit.
It’s easy for us as modern Christians to see everything outside of the 10 commandments as mere guidelines and suggestions instead of a way of life to grow closer to emulating. It’s SO hard for us adults to imagine a life that looks different than everything around us. You know who has great imagination? Kids. Teens. The youth who dream dreams. When we teach them that giving of their time, talents, and treasure is not an adult responsibility for their future selves but an essential part of their young discipleship, they respond with energy, imagination, and love.
Two weeks ago, our youth lesson was on the kind of generosity Jesus pointed to over and over and what it means to be stewards of our resources, time, and even our bodies, rather than owners. From there, we asked the youth to consider everything they have and are as God’s first and what they could offer as a part of their faith journey this year. They filled out pledge cards which were placed on the table this past Sunday. Some committed part of their salary from their part time jobs, some to mission and service, some to VBS volunteering, and some to talking with their parents about being organ donors when they get a license soon.
Although our stewardship season is over officially, we continue to accept pledge cards for several weeks. If you’ve never sat down and taken inventory of the life and resources God has placed on your stewardship, please do so prayerfully. If you’ve never submitted a pledge card or you have but didn’t consider your time and talents as well, consider Jesus is calling you. Be inspired by the example of our youth. And if you wanna sit down and talk about it, call me. I’d love to. Let’s set an example of faith and what together.
Prayer for Today
Lord, make me a generous steward of the time, talents, and treasure you have loaned to my care. Amen.
Paul begins his first letter to the church in Corinth with these words of salutation: “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints . . .”(1 Corinthians 1:2) I find some of the words Paul uses very interesting. For example, he wrote to the “saints” in Corinth. If you have ever paid close attention to what was going on in the Corinthian church, you may remember that it was a congregation about to tear itself apart with divisions. Scholars suggest the group may not have been more than fifty people, but they seem to have more than their share of problems. And Paul calls them “saints?” What’s up with that? They don’t sound very saintly. The Greek root word for “saint” is connected to the word for “holy” and “sanctified.” But these “saintly” people sound more like a holy mess!
We may think of saints in terms of individuals who are perfect. Saints are often depicted in religious art with halos hovering above their heads. But at its most basic level, a saint is simply another word for a Christian – someone like you and me. To be a saint means that we are followers of Christ, seeking in our imperfect ways to grow in our faith. This Sunday we celebrate All Saints’ Sunday. During our services we will remember those brothers and sisters connected to our church family that have died this past year. We also remember that our hope and belief is that death is not the final word. Resurrection is the final word!
Prayer for Today
Gracious God, we thank you for all the saints who have made a difference in our lives. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ -- our hope and our resurrection. Amen.
A decade ago, they didn’t know the name of Jesus. Hidden in the mountains of Mindanao in the Philippines, the Banwaon people had little contact with the outside world. A trip for supplies could take two days, requiring an arduous hike over rugged terrain. The world took no notice of them.
Then a mission group reached out, shuttling people in and out of the region via helicopter. This gained the Banwaon access to needed supplies, crucial medical help, and an awareness of the larger world. It also introduced them to Jesus. Now, instead of singing to the spirits, they chant their traditional tribal songs with new words that praise the one true God. Mission aviation established the critical link.
When Jesus returned to His heavenly Father, He gave His disciples these instructions: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). That command still stands.
Unreached people groups aren’t limited to exotic locales we haven’t heard of. Often, they live among us. Reaching the Banwaon people took creativity and resourcefulness, and it inspires us to find creative ways to overcome the barriers in our communities. That might include an “inaccessible” group you haven’t even considered—someone right in your neighborhood. How might God use you to reach others for Jesus?
Prayer for Today
Father, please use me as You see fit in order that all might turn to You in faith. Amen.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
-1 Thessalonians 5:11-22
As Christ followers, we have been called to a higher mission and it is not just attending church on Sunday. As the sign says when we are leaving the church campus, “You are now entering the mission field.” We, as a group, are representatives of Christ as we go about our daily lives, so everything we do and say reflects the very nature of the Lord we follow.
When life’s struggles or small nuisances impact us, we are still to be faithful to Christ. We need to be especially mindful of the people who do not follow God and would be impacted by our words and behaviors. Some examples might be: people who cut in front of us in line at the grocery store, reckless drivers, those who have differing political views, people who are intentionally spreading misinformation, and people with differing lifestyles, backgrounds, cultures, and values. It is easy to let our ego take the lead, to prove our “rightness” and condemn the “other.” But God did not call us to this kind of righteousness. In fact, we know how Jesus felt about the Pharisees and Sadducees who thought their ways higher and better and more knowing: In Roman’s chapter 3, Jesus called them vipers.
How do we follow through with how Christ has directed us? I think this is especially meaningful in these days and times, because it seems that there is increasing dissonance and tragedy, as well as immense struggles throughout the globe. We must make sure we are growing in our relationship with the Lord by making time for worship, to study the Bible, and to pray and seek the Lord’s guidance. We must reach out to others to support our members and those in need, both locally and abroad. And we should be grateful for those people who our God has sent to us to help us when we are in need. And above all these, we must find ways to love our neighbors as ourselves. After all, it is not by argument or force of will or “rightness” that hearts are changed, it is through the work of the Holy Spirit, in line with God’s purpose. What a blessing for us, that in love and deed, in words, in action and in service, we can be a part of His work.
Prayer for Today
Dear God, Heavenly Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth, We pray for your world Lord, that is hurting and broken. We pray that you would direct us to opportunities to bring people closer to you. We pray for our members, family, friends, neighbors, and community, that you would bless our interactions that we might be glowing examples of your light in the world. We pray for our hearts Lord, that you would lead us towards reconciliation and peace, that we may act as guideposts to Jesus. Lord, may we seek out opportunities every day, in every encounter, to make pathways to you. May our thoughts, actions, and deeds be glorifying to you and may they work for your good during our time on your Earth. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
-James 1:17 KJV
This Sunday, we will be singing a favorite hymn of many, Great is Thy Faithfulness. Two years ago, when we did a survey of our congregation's favorite hymns, Great is thy Faithfulness and Blessed Assurance were tied as the #5 most requested hymn at JCPC, unless you counted that one person listed Great is Thy Faithfulness three times on their survey!
The author of the text, Thomas Obadiah Chisholm, was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky. During his career, he was a schoolteacher, an associate newspaper editor, office editor and business manager, a Methodist minister, and finally a life insurance agent. He wrote more than 1200 poems, many of which became prominent hymn texts. In 1941, he wrote, "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness."
And in 1923, Chisholm sent several poems to Rev. W. M. Runyan, and the rest is history: Runyan later wrote, "This particular poem [Great is Thy Faithfulness] held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry over its message in a worthy way, and the subsequent history of its use indicates that God answered prayer. It was written in Baldwin, Kansas, in 1923, and was first published in my private song pamphlets."
It became a favorite hymn of the Moody Bible Institute, and then became world-famous during the Billy Graham Crusades, often sung by George Beverly Shea. If you want to hear his version, click here.
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not; thy compassions they fail not.
As thou has been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Throughout the Bible, we read account after account of God keeping his promises to his people. God's love, mercy, and compassion overflow from the pages of scripture. As you join us in singing these praises to God this Sunday, remember all that God has done for you, and in thanksgiving, seek ways to extend that kindness and mercy to others.
Prayer for Today
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God our Father. Open our eyes to your great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Bless us that we may be a blessing to others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
-Matthew 5:14-16
A few weeks back, I was at a high school football game as a band parent volunteer. After half time, I went for some food at the concession stand. The lines had not abated. It was the opposing team’s homecoming. Many kids were beautifully dressed in gowns or the cadet uniforms of the young men who escorted the ladies of homecoming court. It was a bit of a happy mob at the concession counter, excited teenagers all a buzz over the night. A group of friends were in line behind me gossiping about who was asking who out and who liked someone else. The line was taking a very long time to move. Then one of the teens behind me noticed their other friends at the front of the line and made a suggestion.
“Why don’t we go up there with them and skip all these people.” And just as quickly as the bad idea was vocalized, and I braced to wait even longer, a voice of reason rang through. One young lady said, “I don’t think that’s how lines work.” I almost turned to high five her. The other kids giggled and agreed. And they remained where they were.
It’s just so easy in our world to justify small ways to break the rules. We can so easily not pick up trash we don’t get quite into the bin, not return a shopping cart, lie about not seeing a stop sign or turn signal or someone trying to merge. And our kids are constantly watching those choices and those of strangers. It’s so easy that we forget that those moments are also the easy ones to witness to a deeper truth, a way of life that puts others first over and over, a way that says we are loved first and choose to love others. Those are the countless opportunities we have to point to that way of life and draw others to that light, to inspire them and make them curious.
This week, keep your eyes open. You’ll encounter dozens of moments to let someone pass you in line, a break in traffic, a door held, a kindness shown, a comment or comeback you don’t say, or maybe speaking up when something wrong is suggested. We light up the darkness one spark at a time. Shine through this week every chance you get. Light up the darkness.
Prayer for Today
Lord, when little opportunities come my way, help me see them and lead with love, so I may be ready for the big ones too. Amen.
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”. . . “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” – John 6:5,9 NIV
These verses come from the story of the feeding of the five thousand. In John’s version of the story, when Jesus asks Phillip where they will get enough bread to feed the hungry people, John identifies who it is with the five loaves and two fish -- a boy right there in their midst. There was a need and God provided someone very unexpected to meet that need -- someone who was apparently there all along.
We have shared with you that we are in transition with our Christian Education staff. While our Personnel Committee is trying to discern our staffing needs, both now and in the future, it was clear that we needed someone to help us bridge the gap until we find the right person(s). Our Personnel Committee began looking at local seminaries to see if there might be someone who could step in on an interim basis. But right in our midst we realized we had someone with experience and training who could fill that role. One could say that's the definition of an interim -- someone who steps in as a bridge to fill the gap.
Colleen Moore, one of our church members, has the gifts and the willingness to serve as our Interim Christian Education Coordinator. She has already been involved in our education program helping lead Vacation Bible school (she is also a good guitarist!), teaching adult Sunday School classes, and serving on our Worship Ministry Team. She has taught sociology at the college level and is also a Commissioned Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church. That required two years of training which enables her, as a Presbyterian elder, to serve churches in a wide range of capacities. Colleen will be our interim until the Personnel Committee finds the right person(s) to lead us in the coming years. I'm grateful for God sending us someone in our midst to fill the gap!
Prayer for Today
Gracious God, you promised to provide all we need to do your work in our world. Thank you for providing Colleen and bless her time of interim ministry with us. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
The three-wheeled taxis of Sri Lanka, known as “tuk tuks,” are a convenient and delightful mode of transport for many. Lorraine, a resident of the capital of Colombo, also realized that they’re a mission field. Hopping onto a tuk tuk one day, she found the friendly driver more than happy to engage in conversation about religion. The next time, she told herself, she would talk to the driver about the good news.
The book of Romans starts with Paul declaring himself as “set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). The Greek word for “gospel” is evangelion, which means “good news.” Paul was essentially saying that his main purpose was to tell God’s good news.
What is this good news? Romans 1:3 says that the gospel of God is “regarding his Son.” The good news is Jesus! It’s God who wants to tell the world that Jesus came to save us from sin and death, and He’s chosen us to be His mode of communication. What a humbling fact!
Sharing the good news is a privilege all believers in Jesus have been given. We’ve “received grace” to call others to this faith (vv. 5–6). God has set us apart to carry the exciting news of the gospel to those around us, whether on tuk tuks or wherever we are. May we, like Lorraine, look for opportunities in our daily life to tell others the good news that is Jesus.
Prayer for Today
Jesus, thank You for making me Your mouthpiece for Your good news. May Your Spirit give me the courage and love to share about You today. Amen.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:4-5, NIV
The Session unanimously passed a motion recommended by the Health Team that vaccinated small group members may meet in small rooms without masks and eat meals during meetings. Non-vaccinated small group member should continue to wear masks and not eat. This will apply to groups of ten or less meeting in the small rooms, and groups of up to twenty individuals meeting in the Small Dining room, Calvin room, or Youth Garage.
The Session unanimously passed a motion from the Mission Ministry Team to donate $31,250, which is one half of the $62,500 anonymous special gift, to support the Duluth Co-op Motel to Home proposal. This new program helps struggling families bridge the gap from residency in a hotel to an apartment.
The Mission Ministry Team continues to evaluate supporting the Memorial Drive mission work with refugees from Afghanistan.
The Session reviewed survey questions which will be sent to the congregation for input related to a new church directory.
Payment of mission support to JCPC mission partners Habitat for Humanity, the Dominican Republic Maranatha Church, and Youth with a Mission Mexico mission house -- were all approved for disbursement.
The Stewardship Ministry Team shared that cost estimates for the retaining wall may now be in excess of $100,000.
Christmas Eve schedule will be a Drive-in worship service at 5:00 PM and a traditional Candlelight Communion service in the Great Hall at 7:00 PM.
There will also be only the online service on Sunday, January 2, 2022.
Operating income for September totaled $89,763 with expenses of $80,728 resulting in a positive difference of $9,035. Year-to-date income totaled $746,045. The year-to-date expenses totaled $750,370. The year-to-date difference is a negative $4,325.
Stewardship Dedication Sunday is this coming Sunday, the 31st.
Prayer for Today
Gracious God, we thank you that we can come together as the body of Christ in this place to do your work and to share the love of Christ in our world. Amen.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
-1 Peter 2:1-3
The passage above opens with a fairly straightforward charge. Of course, we are to rid ourselves of this list of negative habits and behaviors, and I hope that most people would agree that these actions are not good for our society or for ourselves. Take a moment right now to think about the last time you acted in a way that was malicious, deceitful, hypocritical, envious, or slanderous. I can think of a few recent examples from my own life, almost too easily… In these trying times amidst an ongoing, everchanging pandemic, how can we work to keep ourselves from acting out in negative ways?
The next verse gives us a hint at how to work on this. But have you ever been on a diet where, after the initial cravings for donuts, cake, and cookies subsides, you actually lose your cravings for the “bad” foods? Have you ever felt a lack of craving for “pure spiritual milk”? If the desire for God is even remotely like our cravings for food, then there will always be times when the desire is lacking. But maybe it can be like a healthier food option sitting in the fridge beside the cake. Yes we may crave that cake, but knowing that a deeper relationship with God can give us even more meaning, peace, and joy than any dessert can give us the motivation to “reach” for a “slice” of God.
Which leads us to the next verse… have you ever “tasted that the Lord is good”? It may seem like a strange phrase to use, but we find it in Psalm 34 as well. One of many ways we can “taste” God is through active membership in church. While attending (in your car, online, or in person) worship is important, it is only the first step. I encourage you to try out some of the many small groups we have at JCPC – including the Handbell Choir and Chancel Choir! During this Stewardship Season, I hope you will consider all that God is calling you to do, both financially and time-wise. God calls each of us in different ways, but God never stops calling. Are you answering the call?
Prayer for Today
God of Mercy, as you call us over the crashing waves of our lives, help us to hear your gentle voice. Guide us down the paths you have set before us and open our hearts with abundance to share what you have graciously given to us. Inspire in us an ever-present desire for you, and let us take refuge in you, the unwavering foundation of life. Amen.
