Befriending and Blessing

Posted on by Betsy

Last week I had a wonderful opportunity to speak to the women at Peachtree City United Methodist Church on the subject of “filling your cup with light.” I thought I would share a bit of my talk with you today. Yes, that is me being lazy!!

Henri Nouwen wrote a wonderful book called, “Life of the Beloved.” In it, we discover his two-fold approach to dealing with the everyday darkness in everybody’s lives. He counsels two things: one is to “befriend” it, and the other is to “bless it.”

In the first instance, he suggests we befriend our brokenness by embracing it, acknowledging it, and owning up to it. This is far preferable to running away from it. The first step to healing is not a step away from the pain of brokenness, but a step toward it. Attempting to avoid, repress, or escape the pain is like cutting off a limb that could be re-attached if it only had proper attention.

Nouwen asserts that our human suffering need not be an obstacle to the joy and peace we desire, but instead it can become the means to it. But he cautions, we can’t do it alone. We need someone to stand with us in the darkness, to shine their light into our situation and remind us that there is peace beyond the anguish, life beyond death, and love beyond fear.

The second thing Nouwen suggests we should also “bless” the darkness that breaks us by bringing it under God’s blessing for our lives. We were reminded that God is the source of all of our blessings. Seeing our brokenness as another blessing of God changes our perspective. It forces us to look for what God is doing in our situation and look away from our pain.

So Nouwen invites us to consider how God can use our brokenness to bless others…in other words, to consider that surviving the darkness makes us ready to be “blessed to be a blessing.”

Nouwen wrote this:

“The powers of darkness around us are strong, and our world finds it easier to manipulate self-rejecting people than self-accepting people. But when we keep listening to the voice calling us the Beloved, it becomes possible to live our brokenness, not as a confirmation of our fear that we are worthless, but as an opportunity to purify and deepen the blessing that rests upon us. Physical, mental or emotional pain lived under the blessing is experienced in ways radically different from those things lived under a curse, which can be felt as a sign of our worthlessness and can lead us to a deep depression—-even suicide.”

By understanding our situation as part of everything that God allows rather than a curse upon us, we force ourselves to look at what God is doing, and how that might eventually turn out. We become self-accepting in that moment, seeing ourselves as he sees us: Beloved. Trying to find fault and blame turn into acceptance, which helps us heal. And when we do, we become blessed to be a blessing to others going through the same thing.

Paul teaches the church in Corinth about being blessed though their troubles so that they may be a blessing to others:

2 Corinthians 1 (Common English Bible )

3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. 4 He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God. 5 That is because we receive so much comfort through Christ in the same way that we share so many of Christ’s sufferings. 6 So if we have trouble, it is to bring you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is to bring you comfort from the experience of endurance while you go through the same sufferings that we also suffer. 7 Our hope for you is certain, because we know that as you are partners in suffering, so also you are partners in comfort.

Are you suffering or troubled today? Count your blessings.

For Charlie and Mano by Wende Pritchard

Pushy Mamas

Posted on by Betsy

I have had the pleasure (and sometimes the discomfort) of observing motherhood in my congregations, family, and neighborhood. I am convinced that we mother the way we were mothered. This Christmas, my oldest asked for books for her children. I saw a direct line from that request to how I raised her and to how I was raised. Reading has always been a top priority in our families, and afternoons spent lounging under blankets for family “read-a-thons” are some of my favorite memories of raising her, and of my own childhood. What patterns or practices can you see in your family that have been passed down?

Another thing that I have noticed in my family is a tendency for mothers to be somewhat pushy. Not in a mean, demeaning, or aggressive way, but in a way of showing deep confidence in our children and not letting up on encouraging them when they are about to give up on themselves. “You can do it! Try again! Don’t give up!” are things we say to our children because they were said to us.

Call us pushy, we don’t care. Pushy mothering is holy.

Today’s lectionary passage is about Jesus’ first miracle. That should be the star of the show: For the first time ever, Jesus revealed his divine nature in public and transformed water into wine. But this time around, let us focus on his pushy mother. I think even John would be okay with this: Notice even before he mentions Jesus’ presence at the wedding, he tells us “Jesus’ mother was there” as if to say, “pay attention to Mary.”

John 2 (The Message)

2 1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”

4 Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

Has your kid ever said, “Don’t push me” to you? Did you ignore it? I did. So did Mary. I love John’s comment that “she went ahead anyway.” You go, Mary!

5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.

8 “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.

9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

I will boldly assert that as divine as Jesus was, we have Mary to credit with this first miracle. Even God Incarnate needed a push from someone who believed in him even more than he believed in himself at that moment.

So push on, Mamas. Encourage, equip, cajole, support, and don’t take “no” for an answer. Your belief in your child may be all they need to succeed. And mother-love is a miracle in and of itself.

So go be Mary.

11 This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Morning Miracle by Michelle Robertson

Better News

Posted on by Betsy

Twice last week I had an unexpected phone call from a loved one. In both cases, my first thought was that something was terribly wrong. I answered with trepidation, not knowing what was about to come. Fortunately in both cases, the caller immediately let me know that they were not reporting death or disaster but rather calling with incredibly good news. One reported a miraculous remission of her cancer. That was the sweetest, most uplifting news I have had in a long time. The other reported that she was making arrangements to fly down to see me in a few weeks and would run the last 5 miles of a Half Marathon with me to help me “over the line.” If you run long distances, you know what a blessing that will be. Listening to my audible book will only take me so far!

It seems to me that there isn’t enough good news going around these days. The horrific wildfires in California, the uncertainty of a new administration poised to take over our country in a matter of days, the changes in social media that are happening right now, and even the price of eggs seem to dominate our daily experiences, conversations, and our minds. Let’s face it: January comes with its own special challenges. A women’s event where I am scheduled to speak was postponed due to snow. In Atlanta. Go figure!

David wrote a beautiful psalm about what to do when the bad things seem to be overwhelming and overshadowing the good things. He wrote this in his later years, after he had experienced a fair amount of wickedness and evil. Listen to his counsel today as you consider where to turn when the bad seems to be winning:

Psalm 37 (New International Version)

 Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses will be destroyed.

23 The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Look again at the beginning of verses 1, 3, 7 and 8. Here is what David is saying:

Do not fret.

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Commit your way to the Lord.

Be still.

Refrain from anger.

Truly, this is the better way to deal with all the bad news! David was right.

Of course, my favorite verse is verse 23: “The Lord makes firm the steps of one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall.” Good news for this runner! And if I do stumble, now my friend will be there to catch me.

What did you hear today in this Scripture? Are you focusing too much on the bad news? Can you be a source of better news to somebody today?

Remember, the Lord upholds us all with his hand. May we reach out a hand to uphold someone else.

S N O W by Kathy Schumacher

Atlanta Readers, Take Note!

Posted on by Betsy

Ladies, you are invited to join me in a one-day retreat at the Midway United Methodist Church in Alpharetta, GA. We will talk about the inDWELLing of God in our hearts and our lives. God has always desired to dwell among us, from the first tabernacle in the wilderness to the final indwelling that came with Christ. Beginning with the broken fellowship of Eden to the present day, God has been pursuing us. Will we be caught? Topics include:

Where are you spiritually, and how can you shore up your “temple within”?

What distracts us from God’s plan?

What happens when we put God in a box?

What does body image have to do with our understanding of ourselves as God’s temple?

Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. Register today by clicking the link below the graphic.

https://subspla.sh/8tkw8jb

Wet Wings

Posted on by Betsy

Behold the lovely cormorant. These waterfowl are common in central Florida, and they live along lakes that provide them with fish feasts. This fellow took a lively dip into the water, caught his breakfast, and then perched along the shore on a rock to dry out his wings.

You see, wet wings don’t fly.

The water adds weight that makes it hard to lift the wing, and so the bird must patiently spread his wings out and wait for the air to eventually dry out his feathers.

There is a lot to be gleaned from his behavior.

So often we approach a situation with wet wings, not realizing that time and air will assist us if we are patient enough. When we look at a problem with the cumbersome burden of the past, the weight of our sin, or the heaviness of anxiety that is strong enough to immobilize us, we fail to do what we were meant to do: To soar.

Isaiah 40 (Evangelical Heritage Version)

But those who wait for the Lord will receive new strength.
They will lift up their wings and soar like eagles.
They will run and not become weary.
They will walk and not become tired.

Did you catch that? Wait. Wait for the Lord. Wait for your roiling emotions to settle down enough to think more clearly. Wait for God to intervene, and don’t try to take matters into your hands until he does. Wait long enough to pray and listen to his answer.

Just wait.

Are you troubled this morning by something you can’t control? Are your wings heavy with regret or indecision? Do you believe God has a plan? Just wait.

God desires that we soar like eagles who fly with grace, ease, and joy. Maybe in order to do that today, we’ll need to stop and dry out our wings. May we find new strength in the waiting so that we can move forward with energy and purpose.

Wet Wings

Whole Trust

Posted on by Betsy

On January 12th this year, most churches will celebrate Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptizer. It is common to have a rededication of your baptismal vows on that Sunday, where we contemplate what was said by us or by our parents. The charge from the pastor is, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” I am thankful that my parents had me baptized as a baby in the Huntington, Pennsylvania Methodist Episcopal Church many decades ago. Do you remember your baptism?

One of my favorite parts of the liturgy is this:

We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior,
put our whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as our Lord,
in union with the church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations, and races.

These are great statements for us to consider today. Do you confess Christ as your Savior and promise to serve him as Lord? That means more than just receiving the benefit of being saved. I mean, everybody likes that first part! But it also requires making him Lord of your everything: Your attitudes, your resources, how you spend your time, what you post on social media, how you speak to people who don’t agree with you, how you drive on the freeway, how you tip servers… if you take this seriously, you are promising to make him Lord of your everything.

It also asks if you will serve Christ in union with the church with everyone who is sent to you. Think about your church participation. Are you actively serving, or are you just a spectator? If you take this seriously, you are promising to serve God in a meaningful way.

But the best part is when we affirm that we are putting our whole trust in his grace. Think about that for a minute. Is there anything that is more trustworthy than God’s grace? People, institutions, governments, relationships, etc. will all let us down. But not God. We understand grace to be the unmerited favor and unconditional love of God for us. Do you know what that means? It means that you can’t earn his grace, but neither can you lose it if you return to him with a repentant heart. If you take this seriously, you are making the bold choice to put your whole trust in God’s grace.

As you go about your day, ponder this. Christ invites us to love him with our whole heart. Are you worthy of that trust?

Oh, Christmas Tree by Michelle Robertson

Just Passin’ Through

Posted on by Betsy

Today’s lectionary passage from Isaiah is one of my favorite Scriptures. I recently read this to the Southern Shores firefighters at their Firefighter Academy graduation, as the words are perfect for their commitment and dedication to their calling to put themselves in harm’s way in order to save lives.

As I read it again this morning, it occurred to me that many of us are passing through some type of incendiary event in our lives right now. Addiction, incarceration, divorce, job insecurity, abuse, marital distress … there are fires all around us that threaten to undo us.

What kind of fire are you in today?

Isaiah 43 (New International Version)

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

To be known and called by name by the One who created the universe is a heady thought. That God knows me that well and promises that my particular situation will neither consume me alive nor drown me in the depths of the sea is something I can’t fathom. But yet, he loves us that much.

3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.

At the time of this writing, the nation of Israel had been gathered up and taken into captivity in Babylon. God allowed that to happen because of their disobedience. They had walked away from him, and he allowed them to keep walking. Yet this prophecy foretells a time when they would be returned, restored, and redeemed. This is a timely reminder to us that even when we walk away from the Lord, he will follow us and continue to woo us back into his will.

6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” God won’t spare us from the trials we endure but instead promises to walk through them with us.

Are you in a firestorm today? Look around. God is there, too. You’re just passin’ through.

When You Pass Through the Waters by Michelle Robertson

Circumstance And Mud

Posted on by Betsy

The story is about a young boy whose only line in the Christmas play was to announce that the three kings came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. He practiced and practiced, but on the night of the play he was so nervous he completely forgot what to say. And so he said the only words he could think of that sounded like the ones he had memorized, and what came out was, “The three kings came, bearing gifts of gold, circumstance, and mud.” 

Well, almost.

The Visit of the Magi

Matthew 2:1-12 (New Revised Standard Version)

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi  from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

The young thespian had it almost right, though. His interpretation is kind of appropriate for how we came to our reading today, isn’t it? We have an opportunity to share our gold as an offering to those who need it today, regardless of whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. And to be sure, each one of us has a bit of mud that needs cleaning off.

What life circumstance are you facing today? Are you ready to give it over to God? Is there any mud staining your soul this morning that you could ask Jesus to clean? Are you ready to share your provision with someone in need?

Wherever you are, no matter what you are facing, Christ invites you to bring your circumstance in the sure and certain faith that his blood can wash away all your mud.

Star of Wonder by Becca Ziegler

Fleeing

Posted on by Betsy

Many of you made nice comments about my recent picture of my writing partner Georgia, so today I thought I would share a Georgia story. When she was a younger girl and her hearing was intact, she was absolutely terrified by fireworks. Georgia is not bothered by storms, thunder, Nor ’easters, hurricanes, etc, but when that high whine of something about to explode happens, she takes her 100lb. body and tries to find the smallest place of safety in the house. We have spent many a July 4th huddled with her in the kneehole of the built-in desk of our guest room. On New Year’s Eves in the past, my husband has had to sit with her on the laundry room floor until the jubilation was finally over. Georgia will turn 15 in a few weeks and one of the mixed blessings of aging is that she is now completely deaf. Guess what? We had the most peaceful New Year’s Eve last week. The fireworks in our neighborhood went completely unnoticed by her, and for that, I am grateful. And by the way, dogs can figure out DSL (Dog Sign Language) pretty quickly, especially when you are announcing that dinner is ready.

Where do you go to escape? When the cacophony of stress threatens to deafen you, when your eyes have seen more tragedy than joy, when your heart breaks with the absence of your one true love, where do you flee?

I hope you flee to God. I pray that you know that in any circumstance, God is a sound-proof rock cave that can withstand any type of assault … whether it be physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual.

Listen to how the psalmist put it:

Psalm 71 (Common English Bible)

I’ve taken refuge in you, Lord.
    Don’t let me ever be put to shame!
2 Deliver me and rescue me by your righteousness!
    Bend your ear toward me and save me!
3 Be my rock of refuge
    where I can always escape.
You commanded that my life be saved
    because you are my rock and my fortress.

4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked;
    rescue me from the grip of the wrongdoer and the oppressor
5     because you are my hope, Lord.
    You, Lord, are the one I’ve trusted since childhood.
6 I’ve depended on you from birth—
    you cut the cord when I came from my mother’s womb.
    My praise is always about you.

I don’t know what is about to explode in your life right now, but I do know where you can go for shelter. God’s power is available to deliver you and save you from all manner of evil, slander, wickedness, oppression, and harm. And explosions.

Flee to the Rock, and you will find hope.

Ready to Flee by Kathy Schumacher

2025

Posted on by Betsy

It is so strange to type 2025! How long do you think it will take before we actually get used to writing it? It usually takes me until about St. Patrick’s Day.

My prayer for you is that 2025 will be a year of joy, peace, and understanding. I pray we all grow closer to our Lord through our vigilant and constant reading of his Word. Won’t you join me?

It has been my humble honor to write these devotionals every day. I would not do it if you weren’t reading it. Thank you for all your words of encouragement, challenge, affirmation, and friendship.

I cherish each one of you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! from all of us at At Water’s Edge (that’s me and the dog).

My Writing Buddy