I remember stepping out of a rural church on a cloudless moonless night and seeing the heavens stretched out before me. It took my breath away. Our mission team was in southeast India. I had brought the message in a rural concrete church building that had only recently been equipped with a power line. The service was slightly marred because I had forgotten to take off my shoes at first and no one had reminded me of my mistake. It went against their acceptable way to worship. Americans don’t think of their church floors as holy ground. The people were gracious and forgiving.

It was dark outside after the service except for the headlights of the cars as they were leaving the area. The vastness of the Milky Way is indescribable. Artificial lights have robbed us of our ability to truly see the heavens like our ancestors could see, even 50 years ago. City lights, floodlights, and security lights reveal what is close around us, but fade our views of the night sky. 

Psalm 19 points us to the universe as we stand in awe of the silent heavenly praise that can be witnessed from any and every place on our planet. Look for tonight’s glorious display of six planets dancing in a chorus line across our crisp skies, to be joined by a seventh planet next month. Behold the sun running its victory laps around us declaring the majesty of our Creator.  Soon the magnetic poles of the sun will switch, creating a beauty best seen through the latest satellite images from NASA. How many ways can we declare the qualities of the Word of God? It is sweet, good and beautiful news shining with clarity in the ruggedness of a world of constant breaking bad news. And what about our own words.  How fitting are the everyday words we speak or think. My definition of worry is deep meditation on one’s fears.  

The psalmist concludes with three humble prayers. It is that last verse, that concluding prayer, which convinced me to develop the habit of praying Psalm 19:14, basically each day, but especially when facing high pressure situations and conversations. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

(Adapted from Bro. Darryl’s Reflections for the Center for Congregational Ethics, for January 24, 2025)

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​As believers we can find ourselves involved in situations or conversations that may be delicate or difficult. We may want to help but are hesitant because we do not want to make matters worse. These may be divine appointments, where you are the right person to bear witness to a receptive person at just the right moment.Many of these conversations center on medical issues or personal relationships. In a message about mental illness and mental health issues, I once outlined these six guides for holding compassionate conversations that I always seek to practice.

Meet people where they are, not where you think they should be. Compassion starts with respect and dignity.

Listen to their story. Be slow to talk or give advice. Let them unburden in the moment. Listening is the time to keep quiet and understand what they may be communicating. 

Remember, you are not their doctor. Even though medical, psychological or other symptoms may be expressed, or your opinion sought, you are not their doctor.

Set reasonable time and place limits. With deep issues, some people can be overwhelming in their need for conversation. Compassionate conversations are best when held in appropriate places, for agreed upon lengths of time. For example, if you have only 15 minutes for a conversation, agree upon that time frame at the start, or set a better length of time for later. 

Offer an in-the-moment prayer. Ask them how best to pray. Do not always assume that you know what prayer you should offer on their behalf. Ask them, and then pray for that request right then.

Leave them with a word of hope and grace. Conclude your conversation with encouraging words of hope and grace.Point them to Jesus.

Galatians 6:2 reminds us to Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.Compassionate conversations are not always easy, but they can ease the load, shine a light in the darkness and provide a friend for the journey.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Prepare for your divine appointments. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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My New Year’s tradition has become finding a word of the year that expresses my hope and shapes my thinking for the months ahead. This year I have settled on the phrase, Choose Joy. I believe that I may be running a low-grade depression, like most everyone I encounter these days, because of the dreariness of a constant stream of bad news everywhere. I need a refocus for 2025. It is always appropriate to grieve, cry, and face sadness, just like any of the other emotions we experience every day. I just want to remind myself to choose joy as often as possible.

Joy is a choice of rebellion against the doom-scrollers. Joy is radical when the crowds around you wallow in the muck of tedious complaints. Joy is not necessarily optimism, but optimists look for the joy. Winston Churchill is often quoted as saying, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”  I clipped an article once on The Seven Qualities of an Optimist:  1) They express gratitude. 2) They donate their time and energy. 3) They are interested in others. 4) They surround themselves with up-beat people. 5) They do not listen to naysayers. 6) They forgive others. 7) They smile. 

Optimist is not a Biblical word, but joy is. To me the seven qualities listed here reflect a Biblical lifestyle of  joy and faith. Those who live by faith, joy, and hope express gratitude to God and others every single day. They donate their time, energy and money in service and ministry. They are genuinely interested in their neighbors. They surround themselves with likeminded believers and mentors. They pray about the critics and the discouragers. They forgive and forgive. And they take joy in walking everyday with their Lord. This is more than positive thinking; it is confident living. It is more than seeing the opportunity; it is embracing the very call of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Choose joy. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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Our neighbors across the street from us have added a spotlighted outdoor nativity scene that is classier than ours. Much classier. We still have not gotten ours unboxed. It has been a busy month.  Many of the houses around us are decorated with all kinds of lights and displays, with an occasional star mounted up high. Santa and the reindeer are everywhere. So are snowmen and multicolored trees. But the display on the lawn or in the window does not mean much unless the Christ of Christmas is in our heart. Each year I look to some of my favorite carols to point the way to our newborn King.

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. The unsuspecting town, filled with grumbling taxpayers and weary travelers, becomes the focal point of God’s divine plan of redemption. The King is coming.

Come Thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free. From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. The King is born with a kingdom mission of forgiveness, salvation and grace. Cast your deepest, darkest burdens before Him, and He will give you rest.

O come, desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind. Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. The King, who is the Prince of Peace, longs to heal the broken-hearted, mend broken relationships and fill the world with Good News of great joy. Trust His word. Trust His love.

Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for a slave is our brother, And in His name all oppression shall cease. The King’s life example, His unmatched wisdom, His cruel death on our behalf, and His resurrection overcoming all sin, guilt and even death itself, cause us to bow before Jesus, The King of Kings, and honor His Great Commandment to love others as He loves us.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. For He alone is worthy!  And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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