Community Prayer Guide | November 2020

Darla Beardsley November 1, 2020

Each month we receive an updated Community Prayer Guide from One Hope ministry network that helps the church draw near to God and pray for various areas of our city life together. We invite you to take time to join hundreds of people who are praying each month for 10 strategic areas that shape our community's culture.

Community Prayer Guide November 2020

“Through the Spirit of holiness (He) was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 1:4

Church
Pray for God’s power and refreshing to be upon pastors, ministry leaders and those they serve.
Pray for pastors, leaders and their families to be strengthened by God’s love and peace.
Pray for God’s people to wisely discern the times and follow God’s leading vs. reacting emotionally.
Pray for Jesus-followers to bring an increased sense of peace wherever they live, work, learn & recreate.

Education
Pray for educators to have sustainable, realistic goals, and wisdom to focus on essential learning priorities.
Pray for encouragement, refreshing, and creative strategies for all educators.
Pray for connections to happen for students/families who have yet to connect with their school this year.
Pray for churches to see and engage the new supportive role they have with schools and families this year.

Government
Pray for God to give grace and wisdom to the new interim Springfield mayor.
Pray for God’s peace and peacemaking-wisdom to be upon all national government leaders.
Pray that local government, business and non-profit leaders cultivate healthy & trusting relationships.z
Pray for the leadership & fruitful implementation of the “TAC Report, a homeless systems transformation.”

Business
Pray for local business leaders to have a healthy work/life balance: personal health, family relationships, etc.
Pray for local business leaders to have perseverance, wisdom and hope to navigate this season.
Pray for local businesses to rebuild, rehire employees, and become profitable again.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1

“And he will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”
Isaiah 9:6b-7a

Arts
Pray for Jesus-following artists to go where God sends them to express their artistic gifts.
Pray for God's wisdom and provision over local theaters & galleries; for peace & safety as venues reopen.
Pray for Christ-honoring artists to be inspired to create art that brings hope & encouragement.
Pray for God’s presence to increase among the artists involved in “Art City,” a local artisans group.

Family
Pray for families as they engage a unique school season: God’s guidance, strength, and peace.
Pray for God to strengthen marriages with joy, agape love, and good communication.
Pray for families to engage in healthy activities, relationships and resources that strengthen them.
Pray for God’s power and peace to be upon families facing mental health challenges.

Health Care
Pray for God to provide a safe vaccine and other effective treatment for COVID-19.
Pray for peace and resilience for health care providers (HCPs) and their families.
Pray for HCPs to have God’s wisdom, strength, perseverance and good health.
Pray for HCPs to provide wise leadership that promotes health and respects life (the elderly and unborn).
Pray for HCPs to be empowered to care for and bring healing hope to those struggling with suicide.

Police and Fire Departments
Pray for more first responders to be hired and for those hired to be of noble character.
Pray for the encouragement, wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
Pray for our community to have accurate knowledge, confidence and peace about how local law enforcement operates with higher standards and different policies (as compared to other cities).
Pray that all First Responders will be “ambassadors of peace,” bringing peace to every situation.

Media
Pray for hope-filled stories to be highlighted in all local media.
Pray for genuine God-transformation stories to be broadcasted and celebrated locally.
Pray for our local news outlets to have clear vision to bring accurate reporting through all types of media.

Sports
Pray for the Lord’s presence to be upon all of UO athletics to reveal the eternal hope we have in Jesus.
Pray for coaches to have strength and wisdom to lead teams while sports seasons are modified.
Pray for God’s guidance for high school/college athletic programs, as they decide how and when to compete.
Pray for the Lord’s strategies for all who oversee youth sports: Kid Sports, YMCA, and others.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:22

Find answers to prayer on our website: onehopenetwork.org/testimonies.

Gratitude | Thankful for God Himself

Jessie Carter October 30, 2020

1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 118:1
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.

There are so many Bible verses about gratitude/thankfulness, in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, many of them are almost exactly the same! 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 118:1, and probably many others, all say to give thanks to the Lord because He is good and because His love endures forever. Amen!

The concerns of our hearts, whether personal, political, or anything else, can be overwhelming and weigh us down. They have for me lately, at least! I think that’s why God calls us to declare our gratitude, so we can refocus our attention on Him. Of course, I don’t think that we should ignore our concerns or the stress that they cause us. We can take these to Him, but with a heart willing to thank Him despite these burdens, and for any silver linings that they come with.

I love how these verses focus us on being thankful for Him specifically, for who He is and how great His love is. We can be thankful for the things in our lives, good news or hope that we see in the world, and many other things. But sometimes we can’t see these, or they just seem too small compared to our concerns, or we get focused on them instead of Him. I think that’s why it’s so important to be thankful for Him, as a foundation of our gratitude.

This morning, I was listening to this song from Everybody Duck in my car. I think it captures the gratefulness for God’s love that the Scriptures above declare. If you get a chance to listen to it, I hope it helps you as it did me to thank Him for who He is.

Lyrics: Great Affection by Everybody Duck

God of my awakening, I thank You for this day
And master of my breath, I thank You for the life to pray
Oh Jesus light behind my eyes, to you this praise I bring
And keeper of my heartbeat, to you rhythm now I sing

Cause I've been seized by the power of Your great affection
Taken captive by the size and scope of Your amazing love
I'm so incapacitated that You'd send it my direction
You fill me up with Your huge love like a hand inside a glove

Architect of joy, all happiness comes from Your hand
Shepherd of my mind, you take the time to help me understand
O Jesus, light behind my eyes, it was for this I was made
Great composer on my heartstrings, now Your masterpiece is played

Father thank you doesn't seem enough for sending Jesus
And Jesus, no word can suffice to thank You that you died
I praise You, Holy Spirit, for it's Your embrace that frees us
One yet three Your love for me the hope I hold inside, inside

I've been seized by the power of Your great affection
Overwhelmed and overcome by all the love You have to give
Saviour, Your bright shining love light warms my soul with it's reflection
You fill me up with Your huge love giving me the strength to live

About the Author

Jessie is an educator, she currently teaches teens and has taught overseas. She is also a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a (long-neglected) blog about the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her trusty sidekick cat, Arwen in the foothills of South Eugene, where she can go hiking within minutes of the sun coming out from behind the clouds.

Miracles Welcome | Miracles Give Me Hope

Mike D'Eliso October 9, 2020

I find MIRACLES to be a daunting topic to write about. Not sure what images come to your mind, but I see Jesus calming the storm after being asleep on the boat, dividing a little boy’s lunch into enough to feed thousands of people, or comforting a grieving mother and raising her child from the dead. I think of the disciples spilling into the streets after experiencing the Holy Spirit or Paul reviving the guy who fell out of the window when he was preaching. I think of today watching video testimonies of men and women with restored sight or marginalized people reaching success despite overwhelming odds and hardships.

I’m not sure that every follower of Jesus sees one of those “biggie” miracles in their lifetime. Not that they aren’t happening today and not that I don’t ask for them. I would just propose that there may be something the Lord teaches in the example of those who came before us. When the Hebrew people were freed from slavery in Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, the Lord taught them to annually remember and celebrate the Passover. When they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, they were instructed to collect 12 large stones from the river bed to construct an altar on the other side as a remembrance. Jesus did the same thing at the last supper. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Those big moments were important and powerful for those who witnessed them as miraculous, and the stories have since been passed down from generation to generation. When people found themselves in the middle of a hardship, they were comforted with the reminders of hope that God did it before and could do it again. You see, Miracles Give Us Hope! This hope for the things unseen.

I often challenge myself to read a Psalm a day. The psalms are full of these “hope in the hardship” remembrance reflections. Psalm 77 struck me recently with this. It starts low:

1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.

7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

And then in the second half the author begins to reflect on God’s previous miracles and feels the hope begin to well up:

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that I didn’t think most Jesus followers necessarily experience the “biggie” miracles. And though that may be true, I do get to reflect back on my own simple, beautiful life. The valleys that God walked through with me remind me of my Healer, the recognition of my failures reminds me of my Savior, and the order in which these events were strung together points me to my Creator.

About the Author

Mike has been serving as an Assistant Pastor at CitySalt Church for over three years, while working as a part time stay-at-home dad to his two awesome children. He loves connecting with people over coffee to hear their story and helping people discover the fullness that God has for them through His Scriptures and His Spirit.

Miracles Welcome | Miracles in the Movies

Mark Beardsley October 2, 2020

When I think about miracles, I find it hard to see them in my life. Miracles in the Bible always seemed momentous: mountains moving, seas opening to allow people to safely pass while drowning their enemies when they try to pursue. Or even smaller miracles of healing and changing water to wine. So when someone references a miracle, I wonder, how many lives were saved? When I lost my job and God granted me a new job when we had just purchased a new home, was it miraculous? Perhaps.

In this context, I thought about what was going on in my life lately, and something came to mind.

In the last year, I have participated in two book studies where we talked about race. These books and discussions put race in the forefront of my mind and this view of the black experience caused me to reflect on the movie The Black Panther and I thought, what a great time for it to come out!

I have been a comic book fan from way back. I have always enjoyed them--the stories of Superman and Spiderman, Peter Parker and Clark Kent. But these heroes were white. I could easily relate to them and their experience. When The Black Panther came out, depicting black culture, the experience of a black hero and an almost all black cast, I was very excited.

Was it a miracle?

Well, no, not really. It was God’s children using their God-given gifts of intelligence and creativity to make something fun and spectacular. I took my nephew to the movie and we both were blown away. Characters ranging from moral to not-so-moral, revealed in fully fleshed-out three-dimensional stories. Led by the performance of a dashing, handsome, humble, and truly amazing actor, Chadwick Boseman.

Was this a miracle?

Not necessarily, although, in one interview Chadwick states that he had been praying for this part since he heard that the movie was happening. Was it a gift from God? Chadwick was quoted as saying, “When God has something for you, it doesn’t matter who stands against it.”

And then, earlier this year, I heard about Chadwick Boseman passing away. He was just 43 years old and died from cancer that had been discovered in 2016. He had filmed four movies playing an action superhero while fighting cancer. I can’t imagine how much pain and struggle he endured while working so hard on these films, and fighting stage III cancer. And he remained positive, humble, and inspiring – a reflection of the character he portrayed. Humble. Inspiring. Inclusive. Loving.

Was this a miracle?

For him to play such an inspiring part in such an inspiring movie at a time when we need heroes, even fictional ones, to look up to—and both the Black Panther and Chadwick Boseman are heroes--I would say that this was miraculous. Not the seas parting for Moses perhaps, but somewhat of a pillar of fire for people to follow. Not manna from Heaven, but something to feed us spiritually.

Art can be fun and entertaining and moving, but some artistic expressions come together to inspire something greater. I believe The Black Panther is such a film. That Chadwick Boseman was able to complete the filming of these movies and see the inspiration they have been for people across the world was awesome.

His passing is a tragedy in this year of tragedies. That he was able to give us his performance as the Black Panther and King T’Challa before he left us, was miraculous.

Rest In Power, Chadwick Boseman

Wakanda Forever

About the Author

Mark lives in Oregon with his lovely wife, Darla and enjoys reading, writing, playing games and working to make the world a better place. He currently serves CitySalt church as a sound engineer and on the church council.

Community Prayer Guide | October 2020

Darla Beardsley October 1, 2020

Community Prayer Guide October 2020

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion…”
Philippians 2:1

Church
Pray for Jesus-followers to contribute relevant resources, healing and hope to those impacted by the fire.
Pray for pastors, leaders and their families to be strengthened by God’s love, power and peace.
Pray for God’s people to wisely discern the times and follow God’s leading vs. reacting emotionally.
Pray for reconciliation, love and strong friendships to grow among pastors and people of all ethnicities.

Education
Pray for wisdom, peace and joy to strengthen school leaders and families, as they do school differently.
Pray for encouragement, refreshing, and creative strategies for all educators.
Pray for students with learning disabilities and/or unstable homes, to be seen & empowered to learn.
Pray for churches to see and engage the new supportive role they have with schools and families this year.

Government
Pray for effective collaboration of government, non-profits and individuals in local fire relief.
Pray for God to intervene in the process and selection of leaders in all local and national elections.
Pray for the Lord’s wisdom to be given to national, state, county and city leaders.
Pray for leaders to have empathy and understanding to recognize injustice and then to bring solutions.

“…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Philippians 2:2

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians. 4:2-3

Arts
Pray Jesus-following artists to go where God sends them to express their artistic gifts.
Pray for God's wisdom and provision over local theaters & galleries; for peace & safety as venues reopen.
Pray for the Christ-honoring artists to be inspired to create art that brings hope & encouragement.
Pray for God to encourage music/art students and teachers as they teach and learn in this unique time.

Police and Fire Departments
Thank the Lord for protecting our police and fire personnel during the recent fires.
Pray for the encouragement, wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
Pray for our community to have accurate knowledge, confidence and peace about how local law enforcement operates with higher standards and different policies (as compared to other cities.)
Pray that all First Responders will be “ambassadors of peace” and then bring peace to every situation.

Media
Pray for hope filled stories to be highlighted in all local media.
Pray for genuine God-transformation stories to be broadcasted and celebrated locally.
Pray for our local news outlets to have clear vision to bring accurate reporting through all types of media.

Sports
Pray for coaches to have strength and wisdom to lead teams while sports seasons are modified.
Pray for God’s guidance for high school/college athletic programs, as they decide how and when to compete.
Pray for the Lord’s strategies for all who oversee youth sports: Kid Sports, YMCA, and others.

“I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.”
Psalm 118:21

Find answers to prayer on our website: onehopenetwork.org/testimonies.

Guarding Your Soul

John Rice September 18, 2020

Introduction:

This blog post was originally posted in the summer of 2016.

This morning I woke up so thankful for the rain. I did a search on our CitySalt website for ‘thanksgiving’ and ran across this 2016 post. It is so relevant for today, I am reposting it.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Enjoy! ~Darla Beardsley

John’s post…

From time to time over the course of the last 15 years I’ve dealt with low back issues. When I’ve done too much of the wrong thing my back will “go out”. To me that means I’ll feel spasms like electric shocks whenever I move just slightly the wrong way. It means I can’t stay in one position for very long, I can’t do my normal work routine, I can barely get in and out of a car, I have to be very careful when sitting down, laying down or getting up from either of those positions. I can’t go out and play. I get grumpy and self-focused and depressed. I absolutely hate it. In so many ways and for so many reasons, I hate it. Did I say “I hate it”? Well, I really do hate it.

I have learned over the years that with the help of good chiropractors, physical therapists and exercise trainers, there are a number of things I can do to help myself out of this bad place. I can ice, I can stretch, I can do certain exercises, I can get laser treatments, I can walk and walk and walk. I can learn to guard my low back by better engaging my transverse abdominals (muscles that wrap around your body below the navel which act like a belt supporting your back). I can also protect my back by keeping good posture, holding my head in line with my back, and using my glutes instead of my low back muscles for stability. I have to be very aware of how I’m moving, but if I’m careful, I can still function fairly well until my back muscles finally relax and get back to normal. I am so thankful for what I’ve learned over the years and especially for the knowledgable people who have helped me so much.

So I was reading in Philippians this morning and I was reminded of how God, as a good and perfect Father (and as The Great Physician, as well) gives us such wonderful instruction and advice for living well. In Philippians He tells us not how we can guard our backs, but how we can guard our souls:

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Wow! He tells us that His peace is what guards our hearts and minds, our souls, and He even tells us what part we have to play in getting that peace. He gives us strategies for guarding and protecting our souls. I love that! There is something we can do. We need to realize first and foremost that He is near us. He has promised never to leave us. Then, rather than worrying and being anxious about things, which we are all inclined to do, He tells us to talk to Him instead.

Bring to Him our concerns and troubles, pray about them, ask Him for what we need and above all, bathe all of these prayers and requests in a pool of gratitude. To me it’s interesting and significant that the little phrase “with thanksgiving” sits right in the middle of this whole section, set off by commas, as if to say this is the key. The key to peace and the key to being free from anxiety.

I read this quote somewhere once which is inspired by Matthew 11:28-30:

Rest is not the absence of labor, hardship or suffering...
It is the absence of guilt, worry, anxiety and lack of meaning.

Fortunately we are not just victims of our mental, physical and emotional states, being passively carried down a stream in which we don’t want to float. God dignifies us with an invitation to participate with Him in such way that we can, at least in some ways, influence the course and outcome of our journey.

Living in a world where there are so many things to worry and be anxious about, it is reassuring that God knows our human tendencies and rather than judge us for our ignorance, foolishness or sin, invites us to let Him take the heavy load and gives us in its place a light load, easy to carry, full of gratitude, peace and grace.

Philippians 4:6-7
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joshua 1:5
I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Miracles Welcome | Thin Places: Seeking God while Parenting in a Global Pandemic

Ursula Crawford September 11, 2020

This summer, the constant background noise of my mind has been the semi-panicked thought loop of: “The schools have to reopen this fall. I cannot have a repeat of the spring.”

Unfortunately for me, this past week our school district made the announcement that fall will be entirely online. I am in a sad/mad/fearful/confused state about this decision. I am angry at the challenges this poses to my family as well as the wide-reaching inequities this exposes — families that can pay for childcare or private tutors will do so. Other families will be left scrambling and be forced to leave kids mostly unsupervised. In many cases, moms will be the ones figuring out how to juggle childcare and homeschooling responsibilities with work, while dads are able to continue working mostly undisturbed.

Children will fall behind academically, but even more seriously, they will be at higher risk for abuse and neglect as support for families reaches an all-time low. Additionally, many kids rely on eating free breakfast and lunch at school 5 days a week. Even when schools continue to provide free meals, families may lack the transportation to come pick up food.

I do take the risks of COVID very seriously and realize that there is no perfect solution. We can’t avoid risk entirely, but we need to minimize it. I adopted mask-wearing in March and wish that everyone would have done so. As one article I recently read stated, “this isn’t rocket science.” We know what we need to do.

I wish so much that I could change the past, that I could wave a wand and our nation could have developed a better response to COVID that would now allow local schools to safely reopen. I wish so much that I could change other people’s choices in the present, that everyone would comply perfectly with mask-wearing and social-distancing so that this nightmare could be over. I cannot change either of those things. I can only control my own response (and sometimes even that seems difficult).

So how will my family get through this next season of remote learning? I’m not sure. Like, really unsure, and because of this, I’ve been praying for help. It’s one of the most basic prayers, “God if you’re listening, please help.” Save our ship.

Since I’ve been praying directly for help more, a few things have arisen. I put my daughter on the list for a fall childcare option that sounds functional, and made plans for my mom to babysit/homeschool my 5-year-old son. I have had a couple of outdoor meet-ups with friends, and just seeing friends in real life made me feel better. A retired K-3 teacher offered to help me with tutoring. My supervisor at work told me they’re looking into ways to support staff with children under age 10.

There aren’t many bright sides to this pandemic, but one idea that’s been resonating with me lately is the Celtic idea of “thin places” — places where the veil between the spiritual and physical world is thin. These are places where we may feel the presence of the divine, or perhaps experience the miraculous.

I’ve been in thin places a few times, or perhaps I should clarify, places that were thin to me. In the trailer where I taught fourth grade at a tiny mission school in northeast Portland, praying with my students daily about their little and big concerns. On a study abroad trip to West Africa, the Holy Spirit seemed almost as present as the smell of diesel fuel permeating the air. Hiking through Mt. Pisgah Arboretum with my family.

Could the idea of thin places also apply to times in our lives, and could this season become one of them for me? Could it for you? I believe that sometimes, when we come to the end of our rope, when our resources are tapped out and we can’t go any farther on our own strength — those are the times when God is able to work most powerfully in our lives.

I certainly feel thinned out, with so much of my sense of control and normalcy missing. What remains when we lose our illusions of control?

Small moments. Great blue herons fishing in the river. Hummingbirds in my backyard. My son giggling. Reading to my daughter before bed. Knowing that I still enjoy spending time with my husband after 16 years together.

Faith, hope, and love.

About the Author

Ursula and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon.

You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.

Miracles Welcome | Miracles Start in the Heart

Jessie Carter September 4, 2020

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Note: If you don’t have time to read this, skip down to the end and listen to the awesome song I posted a link to. It is very inspiring and encouraging.

In times of crisis, I hear this verse a lot (and boy, is our world in crisis now). People draw comfort from it. Sometimes they become zealous because of it, calling everyone to repentance of sin. This is not a bad thing. But I feel like sometimes the focus is not in the right place.

We, as Christians can tend to focus on the more overt sins of “others” - promiscuity, abuse, crime, whatever. Turn from your wicked ways, and our land will be healed. But we forget the first two commands in the verse.

First, we need to humble ourselves. OURSELVES. Not humble others. This involves a willingness to hear from God regarding what we ourselves need to repent of. The answer may be much less obvious things than the “big sins” we focus on.

It could be egotistical pride. Imagine what could be done in our states and countries if all the people, including leaders, worked together in humility! Or if we, including myself, would pray for our leaders instead of complaining about them or making fun of them?

It could be an insensitive attitude: “Why are they so upset? That’s not my fault.” (This is not a partisan statement; I think we’ve all been guilty of this.)

Maybe we need to repent of hopelessness or despair, which is in essence a lack of faith. Yeah, that’s the one that I’m struggling with the most lately. I know in my head that God is in control, but wow, it’s so hard to convince my heart of that sometimes.

That’s why I think the biggest miracles aren’t the obvious things we can see. Sure, the parting of the Red Sea or the feeding of thousands of people from a few fish and bread loaves and things like that are amazing, but I want to challenge us (yup, including me), to seek the unseen miracles. The miracles of the heart. First by humbling ourselves. And then by seeking His face.

This second step is just as abstract and seemingly elusive as the first one. But it is not as hard as we make it out to be. And it is crucial. Come to God with a humble heart, willing to listen. Ask Him where we need changes in our heart. We might not like what we hear. But it is for our best, for His glory, and evidently a necessary step for the wide-scale miracle of healing our land. And best of all, it brings us into a closer relationship with Him! Pour out your heart. The good, the bad, and the ugly. He can handle it. Changing your heart may take time. Hearing from Him may take time. That’s okay. Keep seeking Him. Keep pressing in. Keep an open heart, willing to listen.

And of course, we then need to act on what we hear. Turn our hearts to His ways, not our own. Repent of any “wickedness,” even if it’s not an action but a hardness of heart. Then, we will start to see miracles. Sure, we may not see a vaccine or cure for Covid-19 right away, or economic recovery from the damage done by it. We may not see full racial reconciliation in our community/country/world right away. But we will start to see small miracles in our own heart and in the hearts of those around us. And I believe that those small miracles have a cumulative effect.

We may need to come together as a church or a country in corporate repenting and lamenting our sins. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel did this sometimes, and prophets and other leaders led and took part in a nationwide time of lamenting and repenting, even if the leaders hadn’t participated in the sin themselves. Ezra and Daniel are examples of this. I took part in the Be the Bridge book study here at CitySalt, and the author Latasha Morrison reminds us of this concept. It will definitely take humility and wisdom from God, which is why 2 Chronicles 7:14 starts out with those steps. It’s easy to say “I wasn’t part of that,” but if I have benefitted from it, I can still take part in the lamenting and repenting of it, and be a part of the miracle that God promises in the end of the verse. This is a polarizing concept in our country right now, and I don’t want to make anyone feel pressure for this regarding any specific issue we’re facing. I believe it will come about naturally if we are willing to come to God in humility and seek His wisdom by listening to the Holy Spirit, and acting on that.

I want to leave you with something that greatly encouraged my heart this week. At the Teen Challenge thrift store, I picked up a few used CDs, including a newer Kirk Franklin album. The second song is called, fittingly, “Miracles.” It’s about how we ourselves are God’s miracles. It inspired my thoughts for this post on how the biggest miracles are in our hearts. And it brought me hope and joy. Please take a few minutes to listen to it when you get a chance, because I think it may do the same for you.

Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment Miracles · Kirk Franklin / 柯克富蘭克林 Losing My Religion ℗ 2015 RCA Records a division on Sony Music Entertainmen...

Also, I found this article by John Piper to be helpful in understanding the miracle of God healing our hardness of heart so we can see Him more clearly: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-god-opens-the-eyes-of-the-heart

About the Author

Community Prayer Guide | September 2020

Darla Beardsley August 31, 2020

Community Prayer Guide September 2020

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:7-8

Church
Pray for Jesus-followers to bring love, peace and wise solutions to all areas of our local community.
Pray for God’s love and wisdom for pastors/leaders as they discern how to lead in this season.
Pray for God’s people to wisely discern the times and follow God’s leading vs. reacting emotionally.
Pray for reconciliation, love and strong friendships to grow among pastors of all ethnicities.

Education
Pray for wisdom and peace to guide school leaders and families as a unique school year begins.
Pray for encouragement, refreshing, and creative strategies for all educators.
Pray for wisdom in the state government for allocating funds and for effective school guidelines.
Pray for churches to see and engage the new supportive role they have with schools this year.

Government
Pray for the Lord’s wisdom to be given to national, state, county and city leaders.
Pray for the public to receive & hear clear facts from our local government vs. hearing inaccurate information.
Pray for leaders to have empathy and understanding to recognize injustice and then to bring solutions.
Pray for God to lead the process and selection of the next Springfield mayor.

Business
Pray for local business leaders to have perseverance, wisdom and hope to navigate this season.
Pray for God to raise up business advocates and coaches to support and strengthen business leaders.
Pray for local businesses to rebuild, rehire employees and become profitable again.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Romans 8:27

Arts
Pray for the Christ-honoring artists to be inspired to create art that brings hope & encouragement.
Pray for isolated artists to find connection, encouragement and new inspiration through relationships.
Pray for God's wisdom and provision over local theaters & galleries, for peace & safety as venues reopen.

Family
Pray for God to strengthen marriages with joy, agape love, and good communication.
Pray for families to engage in healthy activities, relationships and resources that strengthen them.
Pray for families as they start for a unique school season: God’s guidance, provision, and peace.

Health Care
Pray for God to provide a safe vaccine, and other effective treatment for COVID-19.
Pray for an abundance of PPE for our community’s health care providers (HCPs).
Pray for HCPs to have God’s wisdom, strength, perseverance and good health.
Pray for HCPs to provide wise leadership that promotes health and good stewardship of local resources.

Police and Fire Departments
Pray for the encouragement, wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.
Pray for our community to have accurate knowledge, confidence and peace about how local law enforcement operates with higher standards and different policies (as compared to other cities.)
Pray that all First Responders will be “ambassadors of peace” and then bring peace to every situation.

Sports
Pray for God’s guidance for high school/college athletics to navigate a season without competition.
Pray for the Lord’s strategies for all who oversee youth sports: Kid Sports, YMCA, and others.
Pray for coaches to be strengthened and have wisdom to lead teams without games.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Find answers to prayer on our website: onehopenetwork.org/testimonies.

Miracles Welcome | Everyday Miracles

Terry Sheldon August 28, 2020

"Do YOU believe in miracles?" exclaimed shocked announcer Al Michaels at the end of the 1980 Winter Olympics hockey match, after the US rag-tag assortment of college players defeated the 4-time reigning champion Soviet team. Was this really a miracle? An underdog long-shot for sure, and with sports and national passion aflame, that heart-stopping ending certainly felt like one.

Faith themes do balloon before us when the big game or other important life issues are at stake. I mean who among us hasn't silently, or overtly in the heat of the moment, prayed for just the perfect outcome?

We've reserved the idea of miracles to a last resort scenario, backs against the wall, with our hopes and dreams on the line. It's also an interesting blurring of the lines between the spiritual and secular. As someone once quipped (probably me), there are way more than a few newly reformed atheists on their deathbed.

But is all this the right way to live? I mean, has our western independence and self-sufficiency kept us at a bargaining, "pact with God" level of relationship - when all other hope is gone? It's even a cultural cliche´, displayed in books and movies: "You know God, I've not always been at my best, but if you come through for me just THIS time, I promise ..." Not sure if any of that has actually increased my (I mean our) odds.

Miracles come with a high cost and should not be treated like 3 wishes from the genie in the bottle. They should remain holy and divine. But in Jesus' time on the earth, they were also sandals-in-the-dust, everyday tools. Sure, his amazing acts demonstrated love and compassion, but they were also teaching moments, with a faith component attached. Not just believe in THE MIRACLE, but believe in Jesus, and enter into and stay in relationship with him and the Father.

How many of us would thrive in or even want to be in a one-sided, superficial relationship? A rhetorical question for sure, because the answer is obvious. Just like our earthly parents, God birthed us, raised us up, taught (and is teaching) us many great life lessons. He also loves to act on our behalf and certainly will bless us with wonderful gifts. But like our earthly relationships, it's all about connection. He deeply desires our company. In cultural-speak, he wants to be there for us. But he also wants us to be with him!

Yes, miracles are as exciting as gazing up at Yosemite's lofty granite towers, but after the adrenaline rush ends, there's still the day-to-day living and relating to our Father. All these subtle moments add up to wholeness. Their sum total is the real miracle.

About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Emotional Well-Being | Moments of Happiness

Sara Gore August 14, 2020

What an uncertain and unprecedented time we currently live in! When it comes to fighting against the disorienting sense of limbo that can come with a pandemic quarantine, I could talk about the importance of structure in our days, and a routine set of self-care goals. But my thoughts are now turned to the theme of dwelling in God’s love and absorbing the assurance and contentment we can experience in His presence, no matter the circumstances.

Psalm 103:8 NLT
“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.”

Before the arrival of Covid-19, I read the biography of a British actress whose work I admire. I had no idea that she was widowed when she was thirty-nine with two sons under the age of nine. And she was five months pregnant with their third son, when her surgeon husband died suddenly of a heart attack at age forty-three. In an interview after her husband’s death, she said “Now I’m the sole breadwinner. I have to try and work non-stop, to make things work.” In that context she also said “I think the difference between finding happiness, or moments of happiness, is how you choose to interpret things. That’s a rather shocking responsibility: that we’re responsible for our own happiness. It’s not those around us.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 NLT
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”

Moments of happiness. I inhaled at the sudden sense of freedom I felt from that thought! This concept helps me accept temporary happiness as something to look forward to. I freed myself from the subconscious pressure of working at achieving happiness as a full-time occupation. I try to focus on recognizing moments of happiness sooner, and to savor them more fully. I prefer to see happiness and contentment as a beautiful monarch butterfly that occasionally lands on my shoulder.

James 1:17 NLT
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”

In times of self-review, I discovered I spent too much time in a subconscious guilt from what I perceived as me falling short of standard adult life goals. I examined which missed expectations were causing all this low-grade guilt, and I almost laughed out loud. My self-expectations were unreasonable, no longer valid, and were certainly not from God. Once I stopped feeling that guilt, I felt so relieved. This helped me slip off the straps of a very heavy backpack from my mental shoulders. I let go of the subconscious practice of trying to earn contentment, and embraced the idea that contentment is a state of being that I choose.

A sense of peace is my new normal and is a much more enjoyable way to spend my time. I realized that feeling happy and content, and feeling emotionally safe and secure, is what I become when I am in the presence of God’s love. His love heals me as I experience His assuring presence. I can let go of all guilt when I feel frustrated and anxious. Feeling discontent or even just “blah” is not a condemnation for having missed the mark. It’s a sign I need to enter God’s presence and receive His healing love.

Romans 8:6 NLT
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

During a recent time of prayer and worship I saw a mental image of a hallway with an inviting golden light at the far end. It reminded me of childhood bedtimes when I couldn’t fall asleep right away. Sometimes I would tiptoe down the hallway toward the living room, and sit against the wall, just out of my parents’ sight line.

I would sit there and see the warm living room light just around the corner and enjoy hearing the hum of my parents’ conversation. I wasn’t close enough to hear what they said. I didn’t need to. I simply wanted their company and it comforted me to be near them. Soon I was sleepy enough to slip back into my bed and fall asleep.

During this same prayer time, I was surprised to internally hear God’s still small voice say “Enter the room!” I understood this invitation and immediately jumped at the opportunity to be in God’s presence. I imagined myself finally turning the corner and entering the room where I wanted to be, in the company of His infinite love. I felt it all around me, warm and comforting on my skin like a warm bath. I sensed God say “You don’t ever have to leave.”

I understood this to be a reminder that I’m never without His love, which accompanies me everywhere. His love never fails and it never ends. As I enjoyed God’s presence, I noticed the walls of this imaginary room faded away and a large open meadow came into my internal sight. I then heard God say “Stay in my love forever.” I’m so very thankful for this Holy Spirit reminder of how rich and secure I am in God’s unconditional love.

In what areas of your life would you like to experience a greater sense of peace and God’s healing love? Walk into God’s living room. He’s waiting for you there.

Psalm 103:12-14 NLT
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust.

About the Author

Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”

Emotional Well-Being | Iron Sharpens Iron

Mark Beardsley August 7, 2020

At the start of this pandemic, there were several memes that came across my Facebook feed about the introverts relaxing and enjoying themselves at home while the poor extroverts ran around the house going mad and lamenting the loss of their freedom to see their friends and coworkers. I chuckled at them, shaking my head. I worried about my wife but I wasn't all that concerned for myself. But as time has gone on and my office has extended their work at home timeline (now out to December 31st!) I started to realize something.

I miss people.

For some of you who know me well, such as my wife, this statement might be a bit of a shock. I am known to be comfortable staying at home, puttering away the hours reading or playing games or writing, relaxing or watching tv. I am pretty comfortable with my own company, you might say. That is not to say that I don't enjoy the company of others, but I don’t need it.

Or do I?

This realization was probably slower to dawn on me, like the proverbial frog in the slowly heating frying pan, thanks to my introverted nature. I, like the frog, start to experience gradual damage over time with the exposure to solitude and my own internal voices and fears.

Thank God that I have a live-in companion in my lovely wife. She helps me realize these dark tides and helps fight them, but it would be horrible to expect her to take care of these alone. Even with prayer and Jesus' presence, I still needed something more.

So I tried some things: meditation, some online writing events, trying to FaceTime my parents. But then, I heard my gym was going to open up and I thought that would be something helpful. My friend is a coach there, who I hadn't seen since the isolation began, and physical exercise would also be a great help to my mental attitude.

But now I had to leave the house and go somewhere in the outside world. It was pretty scary, I must admit. I had anxiety about it and balked at first. But I finally recognized the protocols that they were proposing were good and they were trying to take care of their people. I decided to go. And it was good. I hate exercising, so it's great to be able to have encouragement and a place to do it. And it was good to see my friend and talk to him.

In fact, we also made plans to have coffee. Outside and safely, but still it was great to enjoy his company.

I do believe that God made us for community, but at times I struggle with the concept. But then He reminds me why it is good and by His design.

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

About the Author

Community Prayer Guide | August 2020

Darla Beardsley July 31, 2020

Community Prayer Guide August 2020

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians. 4:6-7

Church
Pray for Jesus followers to bring love, peace and wise solutions to all areas of our local community.
Pray for God’s love and wisdom for pastors/leaders as they discern how to lead in this season.
Pray for God’s people to wisely discern the times and follow God’s leading vs. reacting emotionally.
Pray for reconciliation, love and strong friendships to grow among pastors of all ethnicities.

Education
Pray for wisdom and peace to guide school leaders and families as they prepare for adjustments this fall.
Pray for encouragement, refreshing, and creative strategies for all educators.
Pray for wisdom in the state government for allocating funds and for effective school guidelines.

Government
Pray for the Lord’s wisdom to be given to national, state, county and city leaders.
Pray for the public to receive & hear clear facts from our local government vs. hearing inaccurate information.
Pray for leaders to have empathy and understanding to recognize injustice and then to bring solutions.
Pray for grants to be used wisely to implement solutions & increase services for the mental health crisis.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves
as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34

Arts
Pray for the Oregon Christian Writers Conference to be fruitful in equipping writers for kingdom impact.
Pray for isolated artists to find connection, encouragement and new inspiration through relationships.
Pray for God's wisdom and provision over local theaters & galleries, for peace & safety as venues reopen.

Family
Pray for God to strengthen marriages with joy, agape love, and good communication.
Pray for families to engage in healthy activities, relationships and resources that strengthen them.
Pray for families as they prepare for a unique school season: God’s guidance, provision, and peace.

Health Care
Pray for God to provide a vaccine, and/or other effective treatment for COVID-19.
Pray for an abundance of PPE for our community’s health care providers (HCPs).
Pray for HCPs to have God’s wisdom, strength, perseverance and good health.
Pray for HCPs to provide wise leadership that promotes health and good stewardship of local resources.

Police and Fire Departments
Pray for our community to have accurate knowledge, confidence and peace about how local law enforcement operates with higher standards and different policies compared to many other cities.
Pray that all First Responders will be “ambassadors of peace” and then bring peace to every situation.
Pray for the encouragement, wisdom, peace and safety of those serving in our police and fire departments.

Media
Pray for hope filled stories to be highlighted in all local media.
Pray for genuine God-transformation stories to be broadcasted and celebrated locally.
Pray for local media leaders to have clear vision to bring fair and accurate reporting through all types of media.

Sports
Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom for the high school/college leadership to navigate restarting athletics.
Pray for the Lord’s strategies for all who oversee youth sports & camps: Kid Sports, YMCA, and others.
Pray for coaches to be strengthened and have wisdom to lead teams in this season.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.
1 Timothy 2:1

Find answers to prayer on our website: onehopenetwork.org/testimonies.

Emotional Well-Being | Peace Found in Perspective

Leona Abrahao July 31, 2020

We were winding our way up and over the mountain and back down to the west side of the island, which we are currently calling home. My husband and I were engaging in a gratitude conversation, sharing how blessed we feel. Life could have easily taken a different turn at many points in our journeys, both together and as we were growing up. Why were we spared from a more tragic experience? Why did God guide us and bless us? Who are we to be so fortunate, with so much suffering in this world?

One answer is that we will never know and our goal is to follow God’s guidance so that He can use our journey in intentional ways that we may never understand.

Another answer is perspective. I’m sure there are many out there that would not look at our journey as incredibly fortunate. While you can’t deny the great privilege we have with access to clean water, loving friends and family and so much opportunity, we have had our fair share of struggle.

As we made our way back to a comfortable home where our three healthy and incredibly capable children waited, I realized my perspective could be different.

Now I was pondering this; why am I so blessed to be able to feel blessed in moments of struggle? Even through seasons of sadness, stress, frustration and desperation, somehow we continue to feel so incredibly blessed.

I know that depression has visited so many different walks of life and the specific situation we are in doesn’t always dictate how we feel about ourselves, our current state and the world around us. Sometimes when light is shining right on us, we feel darkness. Sometimes when friends are reaching out, we feel alone.

So all I can really share, in hopes that it will help those struggling emotionally, is what has helped me: Being grounded in faith, surrender and gratitude.

Stay grounded in the Lord through prayer
Surrender yourself, your world, your relationships and especially worldly things
Rejoice that God has a plan and each step has a purpose
Serve others and pray for them
Take action - small and easy steps forward build momentum
Find things to be grateful for - simple and small can build momentum here as well

“I continue to be grateful and always aware that I am in charge of my faith and my perspective,
but not my life.”

In today’s “you can have it all” culture, this belief may not be popular, but I believe in putting God’s plan before any worldly desires. In fact, I aim to cut out worldly desires and let go of dependency on my own dreams to embrace the journey set in front of me. This has filled me with gratitude and joy, even through hard times. Be careful not to just pretend, but to really dig deep and decide what desires can be released and what to pull into focus. In Ephesians chapter 4, starting at verse 17, Paul “insists” we no longer live as Gentiles “darkened in understanding and separated from the life of God” (Ephesians 4:18). Our hope and joy and gratitude comes from our connection to our God.

Ephesians 4:21-24
“Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in the true righteousness and holiness”

This isn’t at all to say we are sad because we’re not living for God. Rather, through sadness we can remain or at least regain our sense of gratitude and joy through a shift “in the attitude of your minds” and rejoice in the truth that we were “created to be like God in the true righteousness and holiness” and that God is in control of the this beautiful creation around us. I surrender my own worldly desires to an all powerful and loving God who created the incredible life that surrounds us, for which I am so grateful.

About the Author

Leona is a wife, mother and traveler who is intrigued by how different people live. Her latest project is exploring ways that different walks of life can simplify, in order to live a fulfilling journey.

Emotional Well-Being | Jesus’ Emotional Health

John Rice July 24, 2020

When our kids were very young but old enough to go to Sunday School, a fellow parent shared that they had taught their child that if he was ever asked a question, any question, by his teacher during a Sunday School lesson, to just shout out “Jesus!” and his answer would most often hit the bullseye. We laughed about that together and in thinking back, there is some profound truth in that! It seems Jesus really can be found as some kind of answer to most any question.

In thinking about the topic of “Emotional Health” for this devotional series, I wanted to go back and look at how Jesus experienced and expressed emotions in Scripture, thinking there should be some good clues for how we should also deal with our emotions. Below are some thoughts.

As recorded in “Psychology Today”, most psychologists would agree there are six basic emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust and surprise. There are many variations and nuances within each of those emotions, but those are the six category headings.

I found Jesus experiencing each of these six emotions in the Gospels, though usually the name for the emotion was not explicitly mentioned.

In John 2, Jesus seemed like he must have been happy at the wedding feast in Cana by 1) turning the ceremonial water for washing into delicious wine for drinking to keep the wedding party going, and 2) he may well have been joking with and teasing his mother when she told Jesus, “They have no more wine.” He replies, “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” Then Mary turns and tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do, apparently knowing Jesus was just teasing her and would truly do something about the wine problem! This possible interpretation was first mentioned by Randi in a sermon awhile back. We don’t know for sure what this exchange was about, but I like this possible explanation because it’s a rare example of Jesus’ levity and playfulness, which would be fitting for him to have had.

Jesus expressed his sadness in John 11:35. At the death of his friend Lazarus. Lazarus’ sister, Mary, came to Jesus weeping, together with many others, and Jesus too was filled with emotion. The shortest verse in the Bible is this: Jesus wept.

In Matthew 26:38-39 Jesus is in Gethsemane with his disciples, he is praying to His Father, because he knows what is about to happen. The Scripture says, “He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.’” Jesus had just said that his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. I think it’s safe to say that it wasn’t just sorrow but also fear that he was experiencing, since he had asked his disciples to keep watch like bodyguards while he prayed.

The well-known temple scene in Matthew 21:12-13 is when Jesus enters and overturns the tables of the money changers and proclaims, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers!’” He is angry that these people are making profit in a sacred space meant to be consecrated for the meeting between God and His people.

Jesus is disgusted at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees when he calls out the “seven woes” in Matthew 23. No other group of people were called out by Jesus for their duplicity like these religious leaders, who paraded around arrogantly as if they were holy, put difficult requirements on the common people, and yet did not even fulfill these requirements themselves.

The last basic emotion is surprise. Jesus expresses surprise in Matthew 8:10 when talking with the Roman centurion, who has asked Jesus to come heal his paralyzed servant. Jesus agrees to go, but the centurion discloses his faith when he tells Jesus he doesn’t need to go anywhere to heal. He can do it right where he is by just saying the word. When Jesus heard this, “he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith!”

So, what can we take away from looking at Jesus’ emotions and how he expressed them? One thing is certain: he didn’t stoically try to hide them or suppress them. Since we believe Jesus never sinned, we can then also say it is not a sin to feel emotions.

Many of us grow up with the idea that some emotions are good and some are bad. We often try to ignore, minimize or deny the ones we think are unacceptable. But doing this usually leads to all kinds of problems, and sometimes physical ailments. We have been created with emotions and they serve a good purpose. They lift us, they lower us, they warn us, they connect us to others, they prepare our bodies to physically respond to a stimulus that could save our lives. They set in motion a chain of chemical reactions that can energize us or calm us.

I’ve heard it taught that it’s not the emotions that are bad, but our expression of them could be. Anger is a good example: anger can give us the energy we need to right a wrong. But it can also destroy if it goes unchecked and dominates without the good boundaries of reason and empathy.

It seems wise to learn to understand why we feel the way we do. This way we can know ourselves better and manage our reactions to people and events. Our emotions aren’t in control, but they also aren’t denied.

And one thing I’ve learned is not to fear emotions. This is how the Lord helped me see this. I had a dream one time that I was a big iceberg right off the beach at Bandon. My family was playing on the beach along with many other people. All of a sudden, me, the iceberg, started to melt and I was terrified that the tsunami-type waters resulting from my meltdown would flood the beach and kill my family. Well, the melting waters barely added much of a ripple and everyone was fine and continued playing! Because of what I was going through at the time, this dream was easy to interpret. My frozen emotions were coming alive and I needn’t worry that they would harm anybody. They weren’t dangerous.

The take-away for me is to let our emotions do their work in us within the boundaries of our God-given reason. Maybe this is part of loving God with all our heart, soul and strength and loving ourselves and loving our neighbors at the same time.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Philippians 2:6-7
Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Matthew 22:37-40
Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

About the Author

John has been an essential component to the life and development of CitySalt since 2004 and, presently, serves as an associate pastor with a focus on prayer, discipleship and spiritual direction in addition to being a regular part of the teaching team. He enjoys the outdoors, water sports, music, reading and especially spending time with his wonderful family and chocolate lab, Gunnar.

Emotional Well-Being | Behave in a Way You Can Be Proud Of

Ursula Crawford July 17, 2020

“Behave in a way you can be proud of,” is a phrase that’s been running through my mind off and on since March. In some moments I am successful and in many, I am not. But still, this phrase encourages me to keep trying.

Yesterday a work phone call began with the customary “How are you?” I responded with a neutral, “I’m okay.” This prompted my co-worker, who I’ve never met in person, to express concern and ask if there was anything she could do to help. I appreciated her tenderness, but at the same time, I wonder if it’s time to just stop asking people how they’re doing if the only answer we’re willing to accept is a cheerful “I’m good.”

Usually I do give the customary answer. But to be honest, at this point in the pandemic, “I’m good,” would be a dishonest response from me. Even “I’m okay” may be a stretch. And considering the pandemic, it probably shouldn’t require an explanation.

But, here’s a more accurate answer. I have been quarantined at home with my very energetic children for three months. I have been working from my home part-time, while homeschooling my extremely oppositional 8-year-old and also caring for my 5-year-old son. Each day is exhausting and emotionally draining, and often involves breaking up a number of physical fights between kids, being screamed at for setting limits on screen time, and locking myself in time out so I can practice deep breathing.

Those are the personal struggles I’m dealing with on a daily basis. Additionally, I’m feeling the collective anxiety and grief of our nation as we face crises on several fronts — public health, economic, and political.

I think we need to be sober and honest with ourselves in this moment. For many of us, these are dark, dark times. Yes, the COVID pandemic will end, perhaps as soon as next year when a vaccine arrives. But we should not minimize the lives that have been lost and will be lost before this is over. And this other pandemic we are now reckoning with, the pandemic of racism, is also far from over, and has also taken many lives. The African American poet Clint Smith speaks to this moment succinctly in his poem “When people say, ‘We have made it through worse before:’”

Sometimes the moral arc of the universe does not bend in a direction that will comfort us. Sometimes it bends in ways that we don’t expect & there are people who fall off in the process...I have grown weary of telling myself lies that I might one day begin to believe. We are not all left standing after the war has ended.

Reckoning with racism forces many white Americans to face an internal ugliness that we would prefer to pretend has never existed. Acknowledging the prevalence of racism in our nation’s past and present, and being willing to look into our own hearts to confront racism that may exist inside of us is a painful ask. It’s a lot to reckon with, in addition to the grief and uncertainty we are facing right now with COVID. We would prefer to keep racism packed away neatly in a dark corner of our unconscious, because it makes us uncomfortable, so we never ever talk about it.

Black people and their allies have brought racism to the forefront of our national conversation lately, out of necessity. Because racism is a life and death issue for them, as we’ve seen in the many murders of unarmed black people by police officers.

For me, being quarantined has felt a bit like being on a really long airplane ride, and now it feels as though the airplane itself might be crashing. COVID is not done with us yet, and neither are our national struggles with racism. How will we make it through to the other side? And do I even trust the pilot?

I had a good conversation with my friend Britni the other day about self-care and she reminded me why it’s so important — you have to put your own oxygen mask on first. You’re not much good to those around you in the plane crash if you’ve passed out from lack of oxygen.

So, even though the people around me need a lot of help — my sweet children who just want to go to school and see their friends, the low-income families I work with who have preschoolers with disabilities — I can’t effectively support any of them if I don’t take care of my own emotional wellbeing. Even though I may want to dive into anti-racist work and contribute to efforts of racial reconciliation, I also cannot do this effectively if I don’t stay grounded in my own self-care.

These are some strategies I’ve been using to nurture my emotional wellbeing. This time is still a huge challenge for me personally, but these strategies are helping me cope:

Exercise. Running, yoga, and walking have been helping me through this season. Did you know that running can be as effective as anti-depressants in treating mild to moderate depression?
Gratitude journaling. I try to write down things I’m thankful for in my gratitude journal before I go to bed. This helps train my mind to focus on positives.
Spend time reading Scripture. Scripture is one important way that God can speak to us and bring us comfort and guidance. One verse that has helped me through challenging times is Isaiah 43, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 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 fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” This verse reminds me that God has a purpose for me and will guide me through whatever challenges may come.
Mindful breathing and contemplative prayer. This is a practice I’ve been trying to adopt recently. I’m struggling with consistency, but this is an area of growth for me. Even when my mind is unable to stay focused enough for contemplative prayer, I benefit from a few minutes of stillness and deep breathing.
Talking about emotions. In May I read the book Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, which is all about emotional regulation. One thing I learned is that just being able to label and express our emotions helps us to stay emotionally regulated. Writing can also serve this purpose.
Practicing kindness. Finally, once I’ve put on my own oxygen tank with these other practices, I can practice kindness toward others (which also in turn makes me feel good). Practicing kindness can look as simple as feeding my children or doing chores around the house, but I’m also thankful that helping others is part of my paid work. During this pandemic, I’ve had the opportunity to coordinate delivery of necessities like food, clothing, and diapers to some of the families I work with. Jesus calls us to “love your neighbor as yourself,” and practicing kindness brings us one step closer to this commandment. Aligning ourselves with God’s commandments is an integral component of emotional wellbeing.

How are you nurturing your own emotional wellbeing during this time? My hope for each of us is that by taking time in this season to do some hard internal work, we can emerge transformed and will be able to look back on this season knowing that we did our best to behave in a way that we can be proud of.

About the Author

You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.

Emotional Well-Being | Independence Day

Darla Beardsley July 10, 2020

I have been dreading this day. I feel heavy and concerned for my family, for others.

The 4th of July - a day when Americans celebrate - independence. Under normal circumstances we get together and throw a party, have a barbecue, watch fireworks. But we are also in the middle of a pandemic. People are tired of being apart. Rebelling, even angry. More people will “break the rules” today. More people will get sick, disease will spread, using our own desire to be close, our desire to be together, to be one, to reflect the Image of God, against us.

I am sad. I am anxious. I feel defeated.

Suddenly the Holy Spirit shows me a different perspective. A different way to see this.

This pandemic has revealed a beautiful fact. In all our brokenness, in all the chaos, in everything that has been twisted, God has preserved His Image in humanity. Not just in the Church, but in all humanity!

In all the time sin has been in the world, it has not been able to destroy the Image of God that is in us all - our desire to be One. To be in relationship.

It has taken a beating since the Garden. It is no longer untarnished and pure, but it is still there. Still strong, even defiant against what the enemy would throw at it. It is strong even in those who do not acknowledge it as God’s Image.

God is greater. In humanity we see that the Image of God is not defeated. We desire oneness and relationship!

Not that I think we should abandon wisdom and be together at all costs. On the contrary, it is my opinion that we are called to wisdom. I believe we need to face this situation as the foe that it is and work together to defeat it. We can assess our vulnerabilities and use our strengths. Those strengths may include patience, self-control, perhaps self-denial for a time. I see those characteristics in Jesus in His time on this planet. The unified goal being to see the enemy defeated once again!

This revelation for me is not about influencing behavior or personal choices during this time. I have my opinions, but it is too big a task for me to tackle what is right for everyone. I am not the judge.

My joy and my hope is in the fact that the Image of God is still alive and well in the human race! Bruised, imperfect, dented, cracked, but alive and well!! Thanks be to God! He is the Victor!

Ok now I sound a bit Christian-ese. Forgive me. I am excited. There is hope for us. God is good. His image prevails in us! He can continue to build on that in us as a planet.

Lord, I pray that you will teach us during this time of forced separation, that seems wise to me for a time to embrace our desire for Oneness that is Your Image reflected in us. Use it into the future as we are able to come back together to bring us to greater unity as a church, city, state, nation and world. Lord, like Job, bless our latter days more than our beginning!

Genesis 1:27 NKJV
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

1 John 4:4 NKJV
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

John 16:32-33 NKJV
32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 17:20-23 NKJV
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

About the Author

Darla loves God and is the Media Communication Coordinator for CitySalt Church. She is a graphic designer and an entrepreneur. Always learning. Eternally grateful for her wonderful and supporting husband Mark and faithful friends who are are pillars of encouragement in all her endeavors.

Mark and Darla have no children but have the privilege of loving a gaggle of ever expanding nieces and nephews.

Emotional Well-Being | Putting it into Practice

Jessie Carter July 3, 2020

“Jesus did not promise to change the circumstances around us. He promised great peace and pure joy to those who would learn to believe that God actually controls all things.” ~ Corrie ten Boom

That quote was in this week’s readings from an old daily devotional by one of my favorite heroes. How fitting for these times! Even if the state of this pandemic is better by the time this gets published, I’m sure the world’s circumstances will still be far from perfect. And even without pandemics, our lives are often difficult no matter how much we try to make them easier or drama-free.

I’ll be honest; I do ask Jesus to change this or that circumstance for me sometimes. I don’t think that’s wrong. He wants us to take our needs to Him. But we also need to trust Him to give us what we truly need, even when He doesn’t change our circumstances.

Philippians 4:6-7 RSV
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Living this out is not easy, though. Once we’ve prayed about something and done our best to trust Him with the outcome of it, how do we train our minds and hearts to recognize and feel this promised peace and joy? Especially during difficult trials, like the one the whole world is facing right now?

I think that can look different for different people. For me, it looks like doing exercises to train my eyes to see gifts that He’s given me that help me with whatever I’m going through at the time. And to take the time to deal with the hard things and negative emotions so they don’t fester and make me cynical or depressed. For me, I’m writing daily gratitudes in a 2020 planner that a friend designed, and writing about my concerns in a journal. But I’m also doing some lists in a notebook that are helping me to process things more visually.

If you’re willing, you can join me for one of these exercises. Grab a pen and piece of paper (or a spot in your journal or even your computer), and make an old-fashioned T-chart of some sort. I’ll make one here, too, and fill it in with some examples from my life. On the left side, title it something like “Concerns” or “Difficult Things.” On the right side, title it something like “Things I’m Thankful For” (or more accurately for me during this pandemic: “Things helping me stay somewhat sane!”). Then, try to fill it in with at least three things in each column. You don’t have to think of things for the right side that answer or counterbalance the left side, but you could.

Things Weighing Me Down Lately

Isolation
Loss of freedom to travel
Worrying about the world (including my friends and family): division, disease and deaths, the economy, etc. Confession: I have been guilty during this pandemic of compulsively needing to check world news on my phone before I go to bed and again when I wake up, just to make sure the world isn’t completely falling apart.

Things I’m So, So Thankful For Right Now

My cat, neighbors, and technology that keep me from feeling too alone
The freedom to go for walks in my neighborhood (and my county now), and the fact that the area I live in is chock full of woodsy trails
My guitar so I can practice playing worship songs, which helps me refocus on Who is almighty, all-powerful, and loves me (Oh, and this sounds trivial next to that, but I’m also grateful for free online guitar lessons)

Now take your lists and talk to God about them. Really talk to Him about them. Tell Him how you feel about the things weighing you down. He loves you and wants to hear it. Then thank Him for the ways He’s blessed you.

Admittedly, doing this once will probably not change your life. It may change your perspective a little. It may not (I speak from experience). But doing this regularly, whether on paper or even just in your mind as you go for a walk, can add up over time. My hope is that you (and I) will gradually experience more and more peace and joy in our daily lives as we turn our concerns and our gratitudes over to Him.

Please feel free to leave comments with what creative ways you are employing to keep your mind and heart healthy these days. I would love to hear them!

Post note: I wrote this post last night. Before I went to bed, I read a devastating story about the plight of a Rohingya refugee woman. This morning I woke up to see the news that protests about race issues are exploding in U.S. cities. I had to take my own advice and journal and pray and ask God to heal this world, and to guide me. I feel helpless as I sit in my cozy little apartment in a relatively safe city while around the world there is reason to fear. So I hold fast to the verses from Philippians. Thank you, Lord, for my safety. Please heal my country and world of the divides that are causing devastation. Guide me to any way that I can help.

About the Author

Community Prayer Guide | July 2020

Darla Beardsley June 30, 2020

Community Prayer Guide July 2020

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ... His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.
Ephesians 2:13-14

Church
Pray for reconciliation, love and strong friendships to grow among pastors of all ethnicities.
Pray for God’s love and wisdom for pastors/leaders as they discern how to lead in this season.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on our entire community to draw people to follow Jesus.

Education
Pray for unity with school leaders and families as they prepare for Fall adjustments and for wisdom and peace to guide them.
Pray for encouragement, refreshing, and creative strategies for all educators during the summer.
Pray for wisdom at the state level for allocating funds, procedures for schools, and that God will bring forth a higher good from the COVID-19 challenges.
Pray for God’s innovation for Project Hope and His provision for supplies to meet many families’ needs.

Government
Pray for the Lord’s wisdom to be given to national, state, county and city leaders.
Pray for leaders to have empathy and understanding to recognize injustice and then to bring solutions.
Pray for newly elected/appointed local leaders to have God’s grace and wisdom as they begin to serve.

Business
Pray for local business leaders to have perseverance, wisdom and hope to navigate reopening.
Pray for God to raise up business advocates and coaches to support and strengthen business leaders.
Pray for local businesses to rebuild, rehire employees and become profitable again.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
2 Thessalonians 3:16

Arts
Pray for God's compassion and comfort to bring healing to hearts through art created during COVID-19 (PAC RIM exhibit, "For Such a Time as This" at the Emerald Art Center, and River Road Art Group "Reflections").
Pray for isolated artists to find connection, encouragement and new inspiration through relationships.
Pray for God's wisdom and provision over local theaters & galleries, for peace & safety as venues reopen.

Family
Pray for good leadership over every home that balances work, school and family all together.
Pray for families to engage in new healthy activities and relationships that strengthen families.
Pray for families to be surrounded with peace, wisdom and support systems.

Health Care
Thank God for low COVID 19 cases locally. Ask God to eradicate it from our community, and pray for God to provide a vaccine.
Pray for local health care leaders to collaborate with each other and have God’s wisdom in their decisions.
Pray for health care providers (HCPs) to have God’s wisdom, strength, perseverance and good health.
Pray for HCPs to bring God’s peace, give grace & speak healing words into every interaction with others.

Sports
Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom for the high school/college leadership to navigate restarting athletics.
Pray for the Lord’s creative strategies for all who oversee youth sports: Kid Sports, YMCA, and others.
Pray for all local athletes to see Jesus and their lives in light of eternity through this and every season.

Be joyful always. Pray continually.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Find answers to prayer on our website: onehopenetwork.org/testimonies.

Emotional Well-Being | Good Grief (and The Art of Being Human)

Terry Sheldon June 26, 2020

We are taught to be our best. To succeed. To learn quickly, sidestep mistakes and achieve. And no matter what, we learn to put on a happy face in public. But when we struggle with deep emotional pain (and we all do), this inauthentic social dance becomes doubly hard with the isolation it brings. And there is always unreasonable pressure to fix brokenness quickly - and move on.

We are all human, as God created us - in HIS image, and sometimes I feel that in our attempts to be better people, and better Christians, we send and receive a message that our humanity is inherently dirty and an automatic source of shame. Our attitudes and actions can certainly be sinful, but are we inherently bad?

We all love to label, and “mental illness” (or the more vanilla--depression or grief), are tossed around to help us try to understand. But it can be viewed as personal failure. Stigmas are an unfortunate byproduct of our social and religious systems, and because of that, I fear most of us don't seek help.

Even in an environment of compassion, making space for someone suffering in our midst can be clumsy and awkward, like the classic - what do you say at the funeral? Sadly, too often that conversation is avoided all together.

Speaking of grief, I used to think of it as an emotional health subset of a subset, applying only to the death of a loved one. Now with my Mom’s recent passing, it seems a lot bigger. Maybe a starting point for real personal change, not just a result of loss. Grief carries with it a lot of extra baggage - guilt, fear, anger, a certain disorientation, and certainly sometimes resignation (depression). But is there any good in it? I believe there is!

I am realizing that my sadness and bouts with depression stem from grieving over something lost. I yearn for something to be returned to its rightful owner. Or it goes even deeper, and farther back in my life, to things promised by friends and family but not received. This has led to gaps in my human experience, a feeling of "have I missed something?”

So beyond our creation story, made in God's image, to our redemption - can we learn something about grief from the life of Jesus?

I find it fascinating that his ministry covered the last three years of his time on earth, but why did the Father bring him here for three decades prior? To simply be human? Since Jesus was God, did he need to be raised and trained as a human child? Did he really need a spiritual apprenticeship in the temple?

All food for thought, but I suspect it had something to do with him leading us not just by word, but by example. He started sharing and modeling to his Jewish culture, then his legacy branched outward to the world. But he wasn’t just a hired actor. He didn’t “put on a show.” God lived his own humanity!

(Whew!)

Yes, Jesus was the absolute ultimate paradox - both God and human, and he experienced and displayed all kinds of human emotions. But did he grieve? In the Garden of Gethsemane, and with his disciples sleeping, he was alone in the night's darkness with his emotions as he anticipated his suffering. In a surprising display of his humanness, he asked the Father for another choice.

And later, on the cross, he cried out in the ultimate agony--separation. Why did the Father leave him alone?

Maybe Jesus wants to show us it's good to grieve. Maybe it's just part of our road back.

Sin and our fall from grace robbed us of many things. Our typical reactions are a misguided substitute for what was lost. It seems our social expectations and shame have diminished us so much that we’ve almost lost the art of being human. We don't like pain, but pain alerts us that something isn't right - for our own good. It's an authentic reaction.

I am learning to view grieving as an organic and positive process, a slow unlocking mystery, to a new level of wholeness.

About the Author

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Community Prayer Guide November 2020

Community Prayer Guide October 2020

Introduction:

Community Prayer Guide September 2020

Community Prayer Guide August 2020

Community Prayer Guide July 2020

CitySalt Church

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