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)
Peter Steinke writes these words about anxiety: "When we are flooded with anxiety, we can neither hear what is said without distortion nor respond without clarity." My sense is that now is a time in which anxiety levels are high. It certainly feels like we are "flooded with anxiety." So, how do we respond? It is not easy in times like these. And yet, we may be able to hear words that can bring some clarity to how we respond. The words above from the Psalms are some of my favorite -- providing comfort in the midst of the storms of life.
Last week, in response to "storm" of the coronavirus pandemic, we chose not to meet for worship and canceled all church sponsored activities for now. We did this out of concern for the health of our church members and in response to the request by Governor Kemp for faith communities to consider not meeting for worship.
However, this Sunday we will be worshiping online. Your staff has been working together to create a new worship experience specifically for this occasion. You should be able to view the worship service beginning this Sunday morning through a link on our church website at jcpcusa.org. I'm asking all of us in the church family to gather "in spirit" Sunday morning as we worship God together in our homes.
Sunday's online worship service will include music, prayer, scripture, a sermon, and the opportunity to give. Throughout the season of Lent, we have been focusing on Bible passages from our Old Testament. This Sunday I have decided to break with that pattern and share a message I'm calling "Social Distancing." It will be based on Matthew 22:35-40. My hope is that it will give us some clear guidance for how to live in times such as these. Please make plans to join us and pass the word along to those who might need some grace and hope.
Prayer for Today
Gracious God -- our light, our salvation, and the stronghold of our lives -- help us when we seem to be overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. You made us. You know our strengths and our weaknesses. Enable us to live into our strengths. And lift us up in our weaknesses, that we might live the lives you give us without being overcome by fear. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ, our Lord and our Savior. Amen.
We are in the season of Lent and the past few days have been a mix of emotions and change. There are many messages we see and hear and some of it may be tremendous. It is sometimes hard to tune out all of the excess. You may be already overwhelmed by all that will take place in the coming days. I would invite you into a new space, or maybe you have already found it.
What story do you have to tell? From your life so far, the lessons you have learned. The traditions or special moments that you spent with family members during the Lent and Easter season. In our culture, lots of people are sharing stories on social media, through television, and other technology. I am going to invite you to share our story, the life of Jesus Christ and its impact on your life and our world.
So how do we help children, youth and adults in our community find themselves within the Lent & Easter story? Find some time where you can look into the eyes of another person and invite them to share some of their story. Then share part of your story and how Jesus Christ has made an impact on it.
I believe we have the best story in the world to share. You may be overwhelmed with resources to us during this time at home or you may be looking for how to continue being the church.
On that site, I will be updating with resources on the home page that myself or other staff members recommend.
Prayer for Today
I give thanks, Gracious God, for all of those people over two thousand years who have inspired others and played their part in passing on to generation after generation the living heritage of their faith. Especially I give thanks for those who lived their faith through difficulties and blessings. I pray that I may continue to grow in my faith and love through good times and bad. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Fear is in the air. I can't remember in my lifetime a series of events like the ones that have unfolded in the past week. Sporting events shuttered, air travel grounded, school systems closing their doors and Sunday worship services migrating on-line. The primary catalysis is the fear of the corona virus.
While I don't like my life being dictated by fear I found myself reflecting on other times when fear permeated our souls. I thought of 9/11. I thought of the great recession. I was talking with Heidi as we were planning worship and I remember visiting a patient in the hospital back in 1987 who was suffering from a strange, unknown illness. Later, it was named AIDS. Through each of these "outbreaks" of fear, we persevered and rose above our fears. I don't want fear to win. I want faith and the belief we will rise above to win the day.
Yesterday if we would have worshiped together we would have prayed the following confession. I chose this prayer several weeks ago yet before the corona virus fear took hold. While fear and worry are wrong in and of themselves, both can take us to dark places. Remember God's light shines in the darkness so have faith.
Eternal God, you call us to seek first your kingdom and you promise to provide for all our needs. We confess; however, that we fall short in our faith. So often our anxieties lead us down paths that are non-productive. Our worries can consume our thoughts and we fret about things that never seem to happen. Rather than experiencing delight in the gift of today, we wallow apprehensively about the concerns for tomorrow. O God of grace, free us from our anxiety and grant us peace of mind so that in the gift of this hour and the blessings of this day, we might come to know you more deeply and rest in the assurance of your promise that nothing can separate us from your great love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
May God lessen our fears, heal the sick, comfort the grieving and create a vaccine to stop Covid 19. In the days and weeks ahead let's call upon our better angels and together we shall rise above!
Prayer for Today
God of Grace; we lift our burdens to you and ask for deliverance. Free us from irrational fear, equip us with the knowledge of how to remain healthy and touch those who are ill with your healing touch. Amen.
You might know what it's like. The bills keep arriving after a medical procedure-from the anesthesiologist, the surgeon, the lab, the facility. Jason experienced this after an emergency surgery. He complained, "We owe thousands of dollars after insurance. If only we can get these bills paid, then life will be good and I'll be content! I feel like I'm playing the arcade game Whack-a-Mole"-where plastic moles pop up from their holes, and the player hits them wildly with a mallet.
Life comes at us like that at times. The apostle Paul certainly could relate. He said, "I know what it is to be in need," yet he'd "learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" (Philippians 4:12). His secret? "I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (v. 13).
When I was going through a particularly discontented time, I read this on a greeting card: "If it isn't here, where is it?" That was a powerful reminder that if I'm not content here and now, what makes me think I'd be if only I were in another situation?
How do we learn to rest in Jesus? Maybe it's a matter of focus. Of enjoying and being thankful for the good. Of learning more about a faithful Father. Of growing in trust and patience. Of recognizing that life is about God and not me. Of asking Him to teach me contentment in Him.
Prayer for Today
God, You are good and all You do is good. Teach me contentment in You. I want to learn. Amen.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5
Ever caught a dragon? I hadn't until my son convinced me to download a game on my phone. Producing a digital map mirroring the real world, the game allows you to catch colorful creatures near you.
Unlike most mobile games, this one requires movement. Anywhere you go is part of the game's playing field. The result? I'm doing a lot more walking! Anytime my son and I play, we strive to maximize every opportunity to nab the critters that pop up around us.
It's easy to focus on, even obsess over, a game that's crafted to captivate users. But as I played the game, I was convicted with this question: Am I this intentional about maximizing the spiritual opportunities around me?
Paul knew the need to be alert to God's work around us. In Colossians 4, he asked for prayer for an opportunity to share the gospel (v. 3). Then he challenged, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity" (v. 5). Paul didn't want the Colossians to miss any chance of influencing others toward Christ. But doing so would require truly seeing them and their needs, then engaging in ways "full of grace" (v. 6).
In our world, far more things vie for our time and attention than a game's imaginary dragons. But God invites us to navigate a real-world adventure, every day seeking opportunities to point to Him.
Prayer for Today
Jesus, thank You that You're constantly at work in the people around me. Help me to make the most of every opportunity I have to demonstrate Your love and grace. Amen.
Finn, a Siamese fighting fish, lived at our house for two years. My young daughter would often bend down to talk with him after dropping food into his tank. When the topic of pets came up in kindergarten, she proudly claimed him as her own. Eventually, Finn passed away, and my daughter was heartbroken.
My mother advised me to listen closely to my daughter's feelings and tell her, "God knows all about it." I agreed that God knows everything, yet wondered, How will that be comforting? Then it occurred to me that God isn't simply aware of the events in our lives-He compassionately sees into our souls and knows how they affect us. He understands that "little things" can feel like big things depending on our age, past wounds, or lack of resources.
Jesus saw the real size of a widow's gift-and heart-as she dropped two coins into a temple collection box. He described what it meant for her as He said, "This poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. . . . [She put in] all she had to live on" (Mark 12:43-44).
The widow kept quiet about her situation but Jesus recognized that what others considered a tiny donation was a sacrifice to her. He sees our lives in the same way. May we find comfort in His limitless understanding.
Prayer for Today
God, thank You for knowing me completely and loving me. Help me to feel Your comfort when I consider Your infinite knowledge of my life. Amen.
In recent weeks, I have been considering fear and bravery and what that looks like in my life. Today I was reminded of these words from Barbara Brown Taylor, "I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light. Things that have saved my life over and over again. So that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light."
What can we learn about the ways of God when we cannot see the way ahead, are lost, alone, frightened, not in control or when the world around us seems to have descended into darkness? What carries you through to the times in the light?
As you reflect today, I invite you to consider these words from Barbara Brown Taylor, Dr. King and the Apostle Paul.
"God is more present to our vulnerable, open night-time selves than to our pre-occupied daylight selves." Barbara Brown Taylor
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness' has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God is seen in the face of Jesus Christ."
Go into this day being aware of all of it and finding ways to be light for others in the midst of darkness.
Prayer for Today
Prayer from Thomas Merton:
"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone." Amen.
Do you have a street named after you, a highway perhaps? Do you have a city or a town that bears your family name and to which you can trace your ancestry?
When I'm driving through North Georgia, I notice so many roads bearing family names and I wonder what those people are like and what they did to warrant the road be named in their honor.
My last name, Kuhlhorst, is a rather strange last name in that there aren't many Kuhlhorsts in the United States and therefore I don't believe there is a street, road or town named Kuhlhorst. Since the Kuhlhorst family hails from Germany I looked on a map of Germany and low and behold I found Kuhlhorst! Bravo, Kuhlhorst family, bravo!
The name of any place has meaning. In the Bible, the stories of faith are connected to the name of the place in which the story occurs. Take for example Exodus 17:1-7. Moses had led children of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness as part of their liberation, freedom from Pharaoh's oppression.
Sounds good on paper but think about it with me. The wilderness doesn't have infrastructure; no plumbing or running water. It reminds me of traveling in the Nevada desert and seeing signs that say you'd better get gas here because there's nothing for over 100 miles. What were God and Moses thinking by bringing thousands of people out into nowhere without a well or an outhouse?!! Egad! You know what happens at the end of the day when folks are hangry (hungry, angry and tired); they quarrel and complain and that's what happens at the end of the day in this story. So, Moses named the place Massah, testing place, and Meribah, quarreling.
So, I wonder since the place is called Massah and Meribah do testing and quarreling have a place within our faith? Come listen to the sermon this Sunday and we will explore this question together.
Prayer for Today
As we grow in our relationships, Loving God, help us to see that growing pains are necessary and teach us how to repair our relationships when our quarreling results in hurt rather than understanding. Amen.
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
-Proverbs 19:21
Jane's plans to become a speech therapist ended when an internship revealed the job was too emotionally challenging for her. Then she was given the opportunity to write for a magazine. She'd never seen herself as an author, but years later she found herself advocating for needy families through her writing. "Looking back, I can see why God changed my plans," she says. "He had a bigger plan for me."
The Bible has many stories of disrupted plans. On his second missionary journey, Paul had sought to bring the gospel into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus stopped him (Acts 16:6-7). This must have seemed mystifying: Why was Jesus disrupting plans that were in line with a God-given mission? The answer came in a dream one night: Macedonia needed him even more. There, Paul would plant the first church in Europe. Solomon also observed, "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).
It's sensible to make plans. A well-known adage goes, "Fail to plan, and you plan to fail." But God may disrupt our plans with His own. Our challenge is to listen and obey, knowing we can trust God. If we submit to His will, we'll find ourselves fitting into His purpose for our lives.
As we continue to make plans, we can add a new twist: Plan to listen. Listen to God's plan.
Prayer for Today
All-knowing God, give me the faith to listen to You when my plans are disrupted, knowing that You have a greater purpose for my life. Amen.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
-Jeremiah 29:11
My Ash Wednesday this year was a little different. I've preached more often than not on Ash Wednesday in my first decade of ordained ministry. It's a meaningful service to me. I had not often attended an Ash Wednesday service as a kid, but came to understand them in college and seminary. And at my first service in Colorado, I dipped my thumb in a bowl of ash and oil and looked up to see a woman from the congregation I'd come to know and love. Her family had given me kitchen and living room furniture they were getting rid of when I moved there. I literally didn't have a place to sit in my new apartment that was from this kind older couple. She had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor, the same type that took the life of her daughter years before. I made the sign of the cross on her forehead, knowing it may be her last. Her eyes met mine, watery, and she seemed equally aware. I managed the words, "from dust you have come and to dust you'll return."
That and similar memories have established this as a day I look forward to each year. Circumstances this year meant that I'd be headed to the hospital for a scheduled delivery of our third son a few weeks early, and a day before Ash Wednesday. When Ash Wednesday arrived, our newborn son Marshall was in the NICU and my wife in a room in labor and delivery. I was splitting my time between those two rooms and becoming quite familiar with the staff and nurses. As I passed the nursing station at lunch, I noticed a chaplain giving ashes to the nurses there. I paused, told him I was a pastor and asked if he had time for me and my wife on his rounds. He did. I was deeply grateful not to have missed that humanizing and spiritual moment that marks me and the calendar each year.
A few hours later, I went back to the NICU to wait for my youth who has become an ordained elder this year to come visit Marshall. I looked down at him and the score of wires and tubes leading to his crib. I felt my forehead where the ashes still remained and pressed my thumb to them. Then I softly marked Marshall's forehead as he slept and spoke the words. I was well aware in that moment that hundreds of our friends from JCPC, my home church, folks connected to me as pastors and faith leaders here and abroad, and connected through social media were praying for his health. But in the moment, I was also aware of his life and mine, both in God's hands and both ready to serve a purpose. I remembered the encouragement of my youth from the Sunday before to trust God in those moments, no matter how brief or how long and to know those plans would be for good things, even if they were hard.
I doubt any Ash Wednesday will ever be so memorable as this one, but I'm grateful it comes each year. I hope you'll mark it with me next year and be marked by the reminder. And I hope it centers you in God's call on your life as it does me.
Prayer for Today
God, be with me this Lent. Mark me, claim me, remind me, and call me. In your son's name, I pray. Amen.
