Welcome to the Sunday devotion. During this time let’s clear our minds of the things left undone on our to-do list. Clear our minds of those frustrations that distract us. Are we hoarding any anger or disappointment? Focus on breaking free of worries and burdens. Letting go means we can focus our mind and heart on God and open our hearts to experience compassion. And forgiveness. Whether in silence or out loud, say this: “God, I come to you. Help me open my life to you.” Take a breath and say it again. Breathe and say it a third time.
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As you open space for God, start allowing yourself to reflect and identify all the good things about yourself and seek to acknowledge your giftedness. Do you accept and acknowledge that you are special and have gifts to offer to the world? Many of us feel we do not have a special gift or talent. Perhaps we‘ve overlooked them. Perhaps we are too focused on wishing for a gift that we see in someone else. Do you fall into one of these categories? In Romans 12:6 we are told “Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given.”

I remember speaking at church about sharing our gifts and talents and it caused me to once again wish that I could sing with a clear and beautiful voice. There was a woman at church whose voice I loved. It was magical and I dearly wished to have such an amazing gift. But then I assessed the kinds of things that were my gifts. I do have the gift of creativity. I find ways to incorporate drama, puppetry, poetry, and Christian clowning into my ministry and I realized how much I enjoyed offering this gift. So would I want to trade my creativity for a voice that could sing so beautifully?  I realized that the answer was no. I didn’t want to give up my creativity. So I was content and truly appreciative to God for giving me my gifts.  

Next I reflected on valuing others for their unique gifts instead of feeling frustrated about their weaknesses.  We need all the gifts to make up the body of Christ. “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” So build each other up and help one another recognize and celebrate the value of all persons.

Recently in our congregation we focused on the gift we all have when we share in the ministry of presence. With that gift we enjoy the Blessings of Community, the Unity in Diversity and Worth of All Persons – all part of the Enduring Principles of Community of Christ. (https://cofchrist.org/about-us/)

 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10). As we identify and value the gifts of every person, we are building our relationship with Jesus Christ and, in turn, building our relationship with God. Make it a goal to share with someone today, the value of their presence in your life. Make a phone call. Send a text. Recognize and honor them as God recognizes and honors you.

Welcome to the Sunday Devotion. As I take a breath and turn my focus to this devotion, I reflect on this week’s worship theme, “Reach Out In Faith”. The scripture that comes to mind immediately is the story of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. “ Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, “If I can just put a finger on his robe, I’ll get well.” Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: “Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you’re well.” The woman was well from then on.” (Matthew 9:20-22, The Message)  How do we relate this to our lives today?”

There are so many examples of people who came to Jesus, reaching out in faith. Have you ever found yourself reaching out in faith to Jesus? Were you sick and needing healing? Or were you facing a situation where you reached out in faith asking for help? What were the outcomes?

How about when others need assistance? Who do you respond to? There are many on the street corners holding up a sign, asking for help. Do you reach out in faith to help? Do you find more comfort when others’ lives seem to align with yours? When an unknown visitor walks into your congregation, do you automatically reach out in welcome? What if the person comes in with a plastic bag or three of their belongings and they obviously haven’t taken a shower in days or weeks? Wouldn’t this also be an act of reaching out in faith? Who do you invite to go to lunch with you after church?

Who are the “sinners” that our society rejects? Do we blame people for their lack of resources? Do we blame the homeless for their homelessness? Are there people in your life’s sphere that suffer mental illness? How can you help? They may need professional help, but they also need your acceptance. They need to feel they are a person of worth. How would Jesus treat those people today? Do our actions show that we are truly followers of Jesus?

One winter season I was working at a homeless shelter dishing up plates of food. At first, the many faces going through the dinner line were quiet, politely responding when I greeted them. On the third day, their responses were more personal about their lives. They recognized me and felt more comfortable about sharing. They began to feel their answers mattered, and I learned how one was trying to drive across several states to get to family but his car broke down and he had no money to get it fixed. A couple men were jobless and working on getting their GED so they could find better work opportunities. I volunteered to tutor them with English grammar, and, in appreciation, they insisted on walking me to my car to ensure my safety. We mattered to each other.

Reach out in faith. Then reach out again, and again. Jesus continued his ministry with those who were poor, marginalized, and rejected. The Worth of All People is one of Community of Christ’s Enduring Principles, in addition to Unity in Diversity and Blessings of Community. As followers of Jesus, we apply what we learned from his example – these are enduring principles for all of us to live by. Live the active life as followers of Jesus, the Peaceful One.

​(Author: Bonnie Barber)

Each of us may have one part of the three whom we address when we pray, ultimately believing we are talking to our one God. I have observed friends pray directly to Jesus. I’ve seen some speak to the Holy Spirit and others address God directly as our Father (often referred to today as Our Heavenly Parent). How do you address the Divine in your prayers and conversations?
 
Personally, I pray to God, and see God as my Creator, my Friend, and my Companion in my life’s journey. I find each of these descriptions in the Trinity. God, my Creator, I first find within the history and stories of the Old Testament. God is all powerful and has been with us forever and always. I find the humble and incredible personal love of God in the New Testament walking in human form as Jesus, showing us God through parables and loving peace-filled actions.  And I look to the Holy Spirit daily because the Holy Spirit came to walk with us daily as a promise from God when Jesus left this earth.
 
This is my reflection on how I view God as one and as Three-in-One. How I address God in my prayers today is not the same as it was yesterday and it is not the same as it will be tomorrow. That is because God provides for our needs and will be strength, compassion, love, guidance and whatever I need at any point in my life’s journey. This is what I pray for you – that you find God and all that God has given you in whichever of the three speaks to you. This is what Paul said to the people of Corinth in his letter (2 Corinthians 13:13). “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
Author: Bonnie Barber

Welcome to the Sunday Devotion. As we face a new week, let us put ourselves into the shoes of the first Christians living in Corinth. Paul wrote in his first letter to them, encouraging them to appreciate their various gifts, yet acknowledging their differences, their diversity as Jew and Gentile. His words identified issues that created the differences, much like we have today. It was, no doubt, often a situation of we versus them. What kind of labels do we apply today?

Why do we make such distinctions? Think of the labels we apply today. If you identify with a label (i.e., group) below, make a mental note where you fit the description.

• People who like to get up early in the morning to get an early start on their day.
• People who need their morning cup of coffee to energize.
• People who like to watch fashion trends and new innovations.
• People who like to work with their hands to make things.

Where do you fit into the above groups? If you fit in, how do you view those who do not? Do you see the advantage of both the included and those not included?

In 1 Corinthians 12:10-13 (Bible version: The Message), we are told, “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful.”  Paul goes on to further say, “We are each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he [God] has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of [Jesus] resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink.”

As we see the many parts of our own body: eyes, hands, feet, brain, etc., and know that they do marvelous works when put together in one body, so do we all benefit when we experience unity in our diversity and the blessing of community, two of Community of Christ’s Enduring Principles. Live life knowing “we are better together.”  Do not draw lines between us where we cannot see the strength and promises and hope and peace of unity together.

To once again view the boxes that we often put people in and see the differences and the strength of getting rid of those lines that separate us, watch this video https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&ei=UTF-8&p=don%27t+put+people+in+boxes+video&type=E211US105G91768#id=1&vid=b00294ec2aaa5c9b0d035ddd43331995&action=click

Thank you, God, for helping us correct our vision where we only see differences and instead be the expanded body where we practice unity and love. Amen.
 

Welcome to the Sunday Devotion. We celebrate Mother’s Day today. On Mothers’ Day social media overflows with pictures of mothers and wonderful tributes. I join many others in remembering my mother – her kindness, her wisdom, her perseverance and determination. So many adjectives come to mind. Take a moment to reflect on your mother or a mother-figure that you admire.

Many years ago, my pastor asked me to offer a testimony about my mother using a scripture that expressed something about my mother. I struggled a bit with that. Google didn’t exist yet. What came to my mind was not a set of adjectives, but an action. I found my mother in Jesus’ words, “Feed my sheep.”  My mother was ready to offer a strong, yet quiet, determination to “feed” the sheep in Jesus’ flock. I remember her working so hard to welcome others to a meal at our house. She was always ready to provide what was needed, whether it was food, encouragement, or opportunities. She worked hard to provide a life where people had the opportunity to attend church and be fed by the word of God. This was the woman who during World War ll sat up all night in the church building to keep it from becoming a dance hall. So I offered the scripture, “Feed my sheep” to paint a picture of my mother.

I did use Google this time to find scriptures that offer characteristics of mothers and mother-figures. I say mother-figures because I think it is important to acknowledge that not everyone has a positive mother in their life. But hopefully everyone has found someone who has been a mother-figure (female or male).  I offer the following scriptures to help us find those special characteristics of a loving, wise, and devoted mother.

In Proverbs 1:8-9 we find this reference to mothers: "Pay close attention, my child, to your father's wise words and never forget your mother's instructions. For their insight will bring you success, adorning you with grace-filled thoughts and giving you reins to guide your decisions."

In another Proverbs scripture (Proverbs 31:25) we find a wonderful description of a mother: "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." I must admit, when I read this one, I laughed at the reference “she can laugh at the days to come”.  A few weeks ago, I sat with a couple of my adult children sharing memories of their antics when they were small, and also their escapades as teenagers. We may laugh at these teenage adventures now, but the adventures of teenagers are not so funny when we first experience them.

In 1 Peter 3:4, we read this advice to mothers, "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

We commend the loving characteristics of mothers and mother-figures today. Pay attention to the characteristics of someone devoted to God and God’s love. Those are all characteristics of people we need in our lives. It is important that we ALL proudly be mother-figures and offer God’s love, grace and generosity. These are characteristics that show no gender. Be thankful today for “mothers” who make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. And be ready to be that person for another.
 
(Author: Bonnie Barber) 
 

Many years ago, my pastor asked me to offer a testimony about my mother using a scripture that expressed something about my mother. I struggled a bit with that. Google didn’t exist yet. What came to my mind was not a set of adjectives, but an action. I found my mother in Jesus’ words, “Feed my sheep.”  My mother was ready to offer a strong, yet quiet, determination to “feed” the sheep in Jesus’ flock. I remember her working so hard to welcome others to a meal at our house. She was always ready to provide what was needed, whether it was food, encouragement, or opportunities. She worked hard to provide a life where people had the opportunity to attend church and be fed by the word of God. This was the woman who during World War ll sat up all night in the church building to keep it from becoming a dance hall. So I offered the scripture, “Feed my sheep” to paint a picture of my mother.

I did use Google this time to find scriptures that offer characteristics of mothers and mother-figures. I say mother-figures because I think it is important to acknowledge that not everyone has a positive mother in their life. But hopefully everyone has found someone who has been a mother-figure (female or male).  I offer the following scriptures to help us find those special characteristics of a loving, wise, and devoted mother.

In Proverbs 1:8-9 we find this reference to mothers: "Pay close attention, my child, to your father's wise words and never forget your mother's instructions. For their insight will bring you success, adorning you with grace-filled thoughts and giving you reins to guide your decisions."

In another Proverbs scripture (Proverbs 31:25) we find a wonderful description of a mother: "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." I must admit, when I read this one, I laughed at the reference “she can laugh at the days to come”.  A few weeks ago, I sat with a couple of my adult children sharing memories of their antics when they were small, and also their escapades as teenagers. We may laugh at these teenage adventures now, but the adventures of teenagers are not so funny when we first experience them.

In 1 Peter 3:4, we read this advice to mothers, "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

We commend the loving characteristics of mothers and mother-figures today. Pay attention to the characteristics of someone devoted to God and God’s love. Those are all characteristics of people we need in our lives. It is important that we ALL proudly be mother-figures and offer God’s love, grace and generosity. These are characteristics that show no gender. Be thankful today for “mothers” who make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. And be ready to be that person for another.
 
 
 

Welcome to the Sunday Devotion. I come in such thankfulness for the blessings of fellowship, friendship and love of my faith community. It is so strengthening to share the faithfulness of united hearts. I was blessed to attend Community of Christ’s World Conference this last week where roughly 60 countries were represented. The delegates in front of me represented the Pacific Islands and before we adjourned the conference, I had been blessed by Rajini from the Fiji Islands and Ral from Hawaii, whom I had never before met. I saw friends whom I’d lost touch with several decades before, a woman who had been a youth when I served as Youth Group Leader about 40 years ago. I reunited with friends who had lived in the DC area, but who now resided in Florida, Arizona, Ohio, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state.
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I share this because I want to testify about the value of being in a faith community following the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Peaceful One, with hearts united in purpose. Together we advocated for the refugees, examined our role in Climate Change, and addressed our responsibilities while having difficult conversations of racial, ethnic and gender injustice. Do you have such a community, one in which you can grow and offer opportunities to others to grow in Christ-like behavior and values.

The disciples had such a group as they traveled with Jesus. It must have been such an amazing bond of “family”. Their conviction of faith, although severely tested, was strengthened by having one another – a strong lesson for us today. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we read, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We need each other. We find great value and strength in our community of faithful believers. In Romans 1:11-12, we are told, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. In Romans 12:5 we are told, “so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

This is the strength of participating in a faith-filled community. It doesn’t preclude us from reaching out to others who have not pursued or been introduced to a spiritual path. But as one body we gain strength, knowledge, and a treasure of gifts that enhance our abilities to do more in Christ’s name.

Seek the fellowship of a faith community. Find the light of Jesus in others. Then share it with the world.