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.
The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?
– Psalm 27:1, NIV
Session Highlights - April 19 , 2021
All Elders and Staff expressed joy over our Easter worship experiences. Whether you attended the tent service or attended one of our other services, Easter Day was moving, and our worship together a symbol of hope as we emerge from the virus restrictions.
All teams are reading plans for startup of indoor worship on May 2nd with Sunday School and Small Groups to quickly follow. The Worship Ministry Team will disseminate a guide to our congregation about returning to in-person worship
Nine new members (eight confirmands and one adult), including two by baptism, were added to the JCPC church family in the past month. The Session was also informed of two deaths: Carol Dahlenberg on March 24th and Norma Van Buren who died on February 3rd.
The annual review of our Session minutes by Presbytery took place and our minutes were described as accurate and exemplary.
Year-to-date income and expense balance is a positive $17,191 -- which includes JCPC receiving a refund of $9,053 from the EILD loan program.
CanCare Atlanta is searching for a new CEO.
The Connecting Ministry Team will staff the next “Fifth Sunday” in May for a “biscuit giveaway” prior to worship services.
We are moving forward with the installation of equipment in the Great Hall and Chapel which will provide for live online worship services.
The Missions Ministry Team continues to prayerfully discern options for the use of the new major gift. The Blood Drive collected 8 units of blood and HealthSouth forwarded a certificate acknowledging JCPC's consistent support.
The Health Team reported on changes to our existing HVAC that will significantly improve airflow to the new buildings for in-person worship beginning May 2nd. Covid epidemic metrics are still favorable for reopening the campus in a staged approach, beginning with an 11:00 o'clock AM worship service on May 2nd.
Prayer for Today
Thank you, God, for the life of Johns Creek Presbyterian Church that continues on even through these difficult times. Thank you for our elders and staff who make up our Session -- for their faithfulness and seeking to discern your will and direction for our church. Guide them and us by your Holy Spirit -- that we may faithfully do your work in our world. We pray this in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
-John 10:11
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
-1 John 3:16
In several Christian denominations, this Sunday is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The lectionary readings for this day revolve around this theme of Jesus being the Good Shepherd. The lectionary psalm for this day is the familiar Psalm 23, "The Lord is My Shepherd." As we are not that far past Holy Week, we remember his death and see clearly now what Jesus meant when he said "A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
But while that statement still hangs in the air, the writer of 1 John suggests an action is required from us: "We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." What does that mean??? Jump in front of a speeding train to save someone? Maybe... but maybe not that dramatic... the writer continues: "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." Ouch!! In other words, put your money where your mouth is... if we're going to call ourselves Christians, we need to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk, and live the life. Are we not his hands and feet, as members of the Body of Christ?
I don't know how aware you are of your actions, but oh, how miserably I fail at this sometimes! There are days when I can't even be kind to my own family members... or let a stranger in front of me in traffic... or worse... I'm sure we all have days where we are wandering aimlessly, as lost as sheep!
We live in a culture where it's so easy to be self-centered and look the other way when helping another might be painful, or even just inconvenient. Yet, isn't the act of helping someone a way to share the love of God? And doesn't it draw us closer to our Good Shepherd, in return?
Prayer for Today
Jesus, we are grateful that you are our Good Shepherd! Open our eyes each day, making us more sensitive to the needs of others, and help us to follow your example. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
-Jonah 1:1-3
"Before he built rockets for the Nazis, an idealistic Wernher von Braun dreamed of space travel. He stargazed. You know what he said when the first V2 rocket hit London? 'The rocket performed perfectly. It just landed on the wrong planet.'"
The book of Jonah doesn’t record what Jonah said to God when he got word from the Lord to head to Nineveh, but it does record what he did. He took off on the next boat in the opposite direction. I like that the book doesn’t indicate God told Jonah directly. It says, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah.” For those of us who have heard or felt God’s calling by less direct means in our lives, we can relate. Perhaps a job offer that brings us new joy and fulfillment, a relationship that others champion as a perfect match, a difficult kid or coworker you know needs your empathy or encouragement or counsel that feels like the Lord calling us. Werner von Braun, famous scientist forced to work for the Nazis, saw firsthand the tragedy of something intended for good heading for the wrong destination.
And that leads us to Jonah. Some calls are a joy, and some are uncomfortable, challenging, or even terrifying. And when they’re the latter, we run the other way. When we clash with friends and family, when we watch news stories about people we look down on, avoid difficult colleagues and coworkers, we are running for Tarshish. We can hardly claim not to know God wants us to be loving primarily to those who are difficult to love. In fact, from Jonah to Jesus, we find God telling us to focus our time and energy on loving those who are hardest to love first.
This begs that important guiding spiritual question of our faith, maybe the most important one... who am I struggling to love? For most of us, that list quickly forms itself. Other times, our fellow believers call our attention to those we have ignored or neglected. But between our own self-introspection, our faith family and trusted spiritual mentors, the word of the Lord comes down to us. In those moments, we can choose to flee or choose to go where God calls. The good news is that God promises hard journeys, but good endings when we do. The end is always love and reconciliation. We get the choice of destination when we set sail. Who is God calling you to seek out this week? And which way will you choose to go? Will we flee or find purpose?
Prayer for Today
Lord, through reflection and the help of my faith family and mentors, help me find where you are calling me to be and to whom you are sending me. Be with me in the journey. Amen.
Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies. Even though I've seen it multiple times, and I know how both the real story and the movie end, I'm still anxious every time I watch the movie. Will they make it back to earth safely after their spacecraft heading to the moon suffered a major explosion? There is one point in the movie in which it dawns on the experts in Mission Control that when the explosion took place, it may have cracked the heat shield that was designed to protect the capsule from the extreme heat upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere at a very high speed.
There is a time of radio blackout as they burn their way through the Earth's atmosphere and slow down enough to deploy parachutes in the hope that they can land safely in the ocean. Everyone has to wait and wait and wait to find out if the astronauts have made it safely through the atmosphere. Those few minutes seem like an eternity, but when they finally hear the voice of the astronauts who have come through safely, Mission Control and everyone watching on TV erupt in elation! I get choked up every time I watch that pure joy.
This past Monday night, I shared with our Session that we're finding reentry into our buildings, and everything related to trying to return to a sense of normalcy in the life of the church, is more complex than we thought. Perhaps it's because we've been so focused on simply surviving the pandemic, but now every discussion we have about how to come back and meet together safely involves questions no one had thought about before.
And yet, we had a taste of the pure joy of elation on Easter Sunday when some of us met for worship in the tent on our ballfield. I look forward to when worshiping together becomes the normal practice for most of us. But until then, I appreciate your patience and your prayers for our leadership that continues to seek to do the right thing in the right way for all of our church family.
Prayer for Today
Thank you, God, for getting us this far through the pandemic. We realize, Lord, not everyone has made it through. We mourn and grieve for those who have lost loved ones, health, jobs, and many other things. As we re-enter this new way of living and loving as followers of Christ, guide us in your grace and mercy. We pray this in the strong name of the Risen Christ. Amen.
This isn’t a tapestry. It is not a painting. It is the most detailed image of a human cell to date obtained by radiography, nuclear magnetic resonance and cryoelectron microscopy.
Each and every human has trillions of cells that make up their bodies. What an amazing and beautiful creation from God. As I let that sink in for a moment, I read this quote in a recent book (1,000+ Habits of Happy, Successful Relationships) from Authors Marc and Angel Chernoff write, “The time you invest in creating both healthy relationships and healthy mindsets about your relationships can affect almost everything else you do in life. It’s how you can truly make a difference in the world.”
In a time when we may feel helpless or clueless about how to make a difference in our world, start here.
Their theory explains what we have all seen in some of our relationships when we practice being present, making connections, and sharing acceptance – not just in our relationships with others but also in our relationship with ourselves.
“As we all know, the world we live in does not provide the time, space, and conditions for making these types of important relational investments. Therefore, we must CHOOSE to make time for words and actions that bind us together, carry us through, and brighten our days.” (Rachel Macy Stafford)
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Prayer for Today
Creator God, Thank you for the intricate details in your creation of human beings. Help us to be open to see your handiwork in those we encounter this day and find ways to be present, make connections and share acceptance. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
One of the key words that is often used while studying to become a Stephen Minister is compassion. The word “compassion” is mentioned in the Bible at least forty-six times. The definition of compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is hurting, in pain, or has misfortune, and is accompanied by a strong desire to help the suffering. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of someone with true compassion. Not only did Jesus have compassion and heal people from physical suffering; he also showed the greatest compassion for humankind when died on the cross for our sins.
It's not always easy to show compassion, especially if we feel like the person may deserve their misfortune. The Bible verses below teach us that compassion is a true mark of Christian character. Another great example of someone showing compassion and grace is the story of the prodigal son. The verses below include the story of how a father showed compassion to his son. Go and do likewise, so that you can show the world how Jesus has changed you!
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” - Luke 15:20
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” - Colossians 3:12
“And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’” - Exodus 33:19
“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” - Isaiah 30:18
“They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.” - Isaiah 49:10
“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” - Isaiah 49:13
To whom will you show compassion today? How will you show compassion?
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, send your Spirit to help us be patient and gentle today. Help us to act with humility, compassion, and kindness towards others, as you do with us. Please guide us, so that we can guide others -- so they will see the abundance of grace and love you have for us. In your Son’s name we pray. Amen.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
-John 20:1
Mary Magdalene is mentioned as having been the first to visit the tomb of Jesus after his crucifixion, either alone or with others. As Saturday is the Sabbath for Jews, the first day of the week is a Sunday, and also the soonest since the Crucifixion that Mary or anyone could’ve done any “work”. So we see that Mary couldn’t even wait until it was light, and instead, took off in the wee hours of that first Easter Sunday to go to the tomb. So why was she going there? In Mark 16:1, it says that Mary, along with two others, took spices to anoint the body.
So now we’ve established the who, where, when, and why of the story. Except I think there’s more to the “why”. I have always heard that Mary being the first person at the tomb was both a sign of her faith and yet another example of how God breaks expectations, in other words, breaking gender stereotypes of the time and having Mary be the first to go and also the first to see the risen Christ. But I don’t actually think Mary ran to the tomb because of her faith.
If she had faith, she would’ve believed Jesus when he said he would be risen. Instead, she was probably a complete train wreck and might have been wondering if Jesus was really who he said he was. She had either forgotten or lost faith in what Jesus had said, but having become so close to Jesus, she wanted to pay her respects and anoint his body. Perhaps she wanted a chance to say goodbye. Maybe she needed closure. Just a week earlier, Jesus had triumphantly entered Jerusalem, and she probably couldn’t believe all that had happened in just a week.
She ran to the tomb because she did not believe he had risen, and yet, despite her doubts, Jesus appeared to her first. She witnessed Jesus’ ministry, his miracles, and then his cruel death on a Roman cross, and yet, she still doubted. If she doubted and yet Jesus still came to her, then it should give us encouragement when we, who have believed on faith alone, have our own doubts. It’s okay to have doubts and uncertainties, and God is right here with us anyway.
Prayer for Today
God of Promises, you offer us truly unconditional love and limitless blessings, and yet we doubt. We turn away when we hear your voice, but you keep calling us by name. Thank you for never giving up on us. Amen.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.
-John 14:16
On a recent visit to see my niece and nephews, my mother brought some small gifts, including a toy that launched little whirlybirds in the air. My niece loved retrieving the small disc each time it landed. The first time, she brought it back in her mouth. Her nana explained it was dirty outside and she was not allowed to put it in her mouth. She nodded. And came back again with it in her mouth. Nana explained the rule again. A third and fourth time, she returned with it in her mouth. Nana said, “if you keep doing this, we can’t play with this toy any more. It’s a rule.” This time, she brought it back in her hand. Nana ask, “Did you put it in your mouth?” Innocently, she replied, “Not when you were looking.”
Oh how much we are like my young niece, even as adults. When no one is looking, the accountability is gone. As followers of Christ, we are promised not only the accountability of our fallible faith family, but the omnipresent Holy Spirit. And in this passage we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is not categorized as a warden or guard tower, an all-seeing, all-watching eye, or hall monitor. No, Jesus indicates the Spirit is an advocate. What good news for us. God, who could be eternally watchful, playing constable, judge, and executioner, instead chooses to send us the only member of the justice system there to take our side, aid our cause, defend us, and restore us to the community.
It speaks volumes that the final words from Jesus are not that he’s headed to heaven to watch our every move, but that he’s going to prepare a place for us and send us this advocate. This is Jesus saying, “I know it’ll be so hard that you’ll need help, and I’m sending it. But I know that with this new helper, you’ll be able to walk in my way. So I’m going home to get it ready for your arrival.” This should comfort us, and should inspire us to rise to the challenge. It’s tempting to only follow Jesus when someone else is watching. But we Christians are called to live our whole lives for God, leaning on the Spirit for help. So one day when the Lord asks if we did what he taught us, we can say proudly, “Even when you weren’t looking.”
Prayer for Today
Lord, you promised your advocate would be with us to help us along the way. Help me to trust in that promise and rely on the Spirit to do good in this world, even when no one is looking. Amen.
This Sunday is Preschool Recognition Sunday. Normally we would be indoors and we would have some of our preschool families joining with us for worship, but since will not be able to do that, we will be asking Lisa Lucas, our Preschool Director, to share a few words and introduce a video that highlights the life of our preschool. With the pandemic, this has been a challenging year. Because of Lisa's leadership and the wise direction of our Preschool Board and our Session, we've been able to make it through safely and provide a quality education for our preschool children and their families. So, in the spirit of our upcoming Preschool Recognition Sunday , I want to share with you the story I heard from the perspective of young boy:
A little boy was afraid of the dark. One night his mother told him to go out to the back porch and bring her the broom. The little boy turned to his mother and said, "Mama, I don't want to go out there. It's dark." The mother smiled reassuringly at her son. "You don't have to be afraid of the dark," she explained. "Jesus is out there. He'll look after you and protect you." The little boy looked at his mother real hard and asked, "Are you sure he's out there?" "Yes, I'm sure. He is everywhere, and he is always ready to help you when you need him," she said. The little boy thought about that for a minute and then went to the back door and cracked it a little. Peering out into the darkness, he called, "Jesus? If you're out there, would you please hand me the broom?"
Have you ever had a time when you knew in your head that Jesus was everywhere, but your heart felt otherwise? I know I have. Sometimes we all feel that way, no matter what our age, but children are often the ones to be honest about it.
I hope you will come this Sunday as we honor our Preschool in worship. I think you will be glad you did!
Prayer for Today
Thank you loving God, that you call us children of God. We thank you for all the children in our preschool, in our community, and in our world. Help us all to love and protect our children so that they may grow to be the women and men you created each one of them to be. We pray this in the strong name of your son, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
As air travel has been slowed down or halted for many of us over the past year. I was thinking about this place today. Nearly 20 years ago, I was in Iona, the tiny isle where Christianity touched Scotland for the first time. Columba, the Irish monk built an abbey church there. A nunnery came later, and then for many generations, Iona was a mission outpost for western Scotland. It was first discovered when an Irish monk hopped aboard a boat with no steering system convinced that God and providence would wash him ashore where he needed to be.
It is now a place where many tourists and pilgrims travel. I spent 3 days there with a group of Presbyterian college students reflecting, worshipping, and experiencing community in a very new way. One of the parts of my experience there that sticks with me is the silence. There were very few mechanical sounds on the island, maybe one car, sometimes a lawn mower, but that was about it. I had an opportunity to hike with our group around the island one day. We traveled to the rocky beach, where Columba first encountered this small island. I learned that many of these rocks are some of the oldest in the world. They were there long before I arrived and will be there long after I leave.
Have you experienced moments when you are reminded that each day is a gift? Knowing this, how do you want to live your life? Always busy, working on the next project, chore, or errand? Or with an attitude of unhurried trust and joy being immersed in the current moment?
This verse continues to bubble up in me through the sea of events over the past year. “God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
As reminder of my experience on Iona, I have a picture of one of the Celtic crosses that I found on the island. Each time I stop to take a look at it, these experiences come rushing back and I attempt to reclaim the rhythm of my journey and the messages that God revealed.
