Today reflect for a moment on the turning points, or stepping stones, in your Christian life that has brought you from birth to this moment. These may be fairly few in number, five to eight, probably not more than twelve. Examples maybe – I was born, I faced an illness, a friend nurtured me, etc. List your turning points with a sentence or phrase saying what each turning point represents to you.

The exciting thing is, you do not have to wait for a turning point! We should not sit around hoping for a change, a break, a winning lottery ticket, for something to happen. We really have it in our power to turn that corner, to make the change, to start things going in a different direction. We should never think we are too old to make a change that it is too late to begin again. We do not have to go along with unhappy conditions nor accept ill-health as our lot. The turning point comes first of all, “in us” not in some outer circumstances. Base this Christ confidence on Philippians 4:13, “l can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Winston Churchill went back to his old public school when he was old and famous, to give the graduation address. All the names were called. Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” was no doubt murdered by the high school band. Sir Winston rose to give his speech about what he had learned in eighty years of public service. He cleared his throat and gave the shortest commencement address on record. He said, “Never give up! Never give up! I say, Never give up!”

Let us pray: God of love, we thank you for turning points that enable us to move ahead and become more like Jesus. Fill us with hope and joy that we may never give up. Bless us so we may be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Back before refrigeration, people used icehouses to preserve their food. These icehouses had thick walls and no windows. In winter, blocks of ice were cut from frozen streams and lakes, covered with sawdust, then moved inside.

One day a man lost a very valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He looked and looked, carefully sifting through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. Even his co-workers searched, but with no luck. However, a young boy who heard about the dilemma slipped into the icehouse during the lunch hour, and before long came out with the watch. The workers were amazed and asked how he found it. The boy responded, “I closed the door, got down in the sawdust, and lay very still. Then, in the silence, I heard the watch ticking.”

I love this story because it serves as a metaphor. It reminds me that so often in life we want to hear God’s voice, God’s guidance, God’s direction, but rarely are we still enough to hear.

Let us pray: Loving God, we long for a healthy, centered life. We want to walk on your paths and follow your ways. Sometimes we find ourselves searching for answers, searching for something deeper, searching for something more. We know you are near. Help us to set aside space and time to simply be in your presence and to truly listen for your voice. Open us again to your Spirit. Amen.

Before World War II, in a small French country village, there was a beautiful marble statue of Jesus with his hands outstretched before him, standing in the courtyard of a quaint little church. During the War, a bomb struck nearby and broke the statue to pieces.

When the fighting ended the village members of the little church set about to find the pieces of the statue and to reconstruct it. As they patiently set about their task, even the scars seemed to add to its beauty in their eyes. But, to their dismay, the fragile hands had been pulverized. “A Christ without hands is no Christ at all,” someone said sadly. Someone else suggested that they try to get a new statue. Then another person in the group came up with an idea that fostered great excitement. He suggested that a brass plaque be attached to the statue’s base that would read: “I have no hands but yours.”

Way back in the 1500’s Christian mystic, Teresa of Avila put it this way:

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Let us pray: Loving God, there is a tremendous amount of need in the world around us – even close to home. While we recognize that we can’t solve all the problems, or meet all the needs, in small ways we can make a difference. Help us to be the hands, the feet, the eyes of Christ as we go about our lives today and every day. Amen.

There is an old Calvin and Hobbes comic where Calvin and his friend Hobbes are zooming down a hill in their wagon. Calvin says, “I thrive on change.” “You?!,” his friend replies, “You threw a fit this morning because your mom put less jelly on your toast than yesterday!” Calvin clarifies, “I thrive on making OTHER people change.”

The truth is, most of us don’t like change. We get used to our regular habits, routines, and rituals. Some of these are helpful and important. But we can get stuck in ruts. We can become stubborn to our own hurt. Sometimes we actually dig our heels in and resist changes that may truly be helpful.

In the book of Revelation, all of the letters to the seven churches end in this way, “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

The Spirit speaks to the churches. The Spirit speaks to us as well, if we have ears to hear.

Listening is a primary practice for spiritual formation. When we make time and space to listen for God’s still small voice, we open ourselves not only to God’s guidance but to deeper strength and courage as well.

Let us pray: God of Hope, we thank you for loving us exactly as we are – right now. And, we also thank you that you love us too much to let us stay this way. You have promised to make all things new – even us. Be present to us in the changes we face. Form us more and more into your image, that we might take hold of the life that is truly life. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six-year-old class. After explaining the commandment to “Honor thy father and mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”

Without missing a beat one little girl answered, “Thou shall not kill!”

Isn’t it true that so often we get the angriest at those closest to us? Sometimes we end up saying words or lashing out at family in ways that we never would with other people. Unhealthy outbursts can slowly erode our relationships. “Thou shalt not kill” is a good place to start, but for healthier families, we can take it much further.

The apostle Paul once wrote, “Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

In some families, it often works better to “sleep on it” and then talk it out the next morning. I believe Paul’s point is twofold. One, do not allow your anger to lead you to hurt yourself or others. Two, do not harbor it inside too long.

When angry, may you take the time to sit down and talk it out. May you express your disappointment or hurt in ways that can ultimately lead to reconciliation. And, always ask for help if you need it.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we admit that we expect a lot from those we love. Sometimes we expect too much. We want healthy relationships. We want to give and receive love and admiration and joy. Help us, O God. Give us the patience and the courage that we need to channel our anger into appropriate conversation. May our families be the center of your grace and love. Amen.