some comfort and joy

Epiphany Joy: Trusting in the Lord

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”-Jeremiah 17:7-8

“I realized that it’s not really “faith” or “trust” if I only take the next step when it is clear and laid out in front of me,” I confessed to my friend over coffee. For all my confidence about God’s faithfulness to me and my faithful discipleship, I had stepped into one of the shadow spots in my own life.

Being an Enneagram One, I thrive with a plan. I have plans about how to make plans. I have back up plans for my back up plans. I pride myself on being prepared. It’s how I cope with uncertainty, maintain some sense of control and manage anxiety.

As you go through your day, notice when you feel anxious or worried. When those times come, take a moment to pause and offer the concern for God’s care and keeping. You may choose to mark these instances with a simple hand gesture (folding your hands in prayer, making the sign of the cross on across your shoulders and chest, or turning your palms face up in front of you) after naming the concern or by repeating a breath prayer of acknowledgement and ascent such as I shall not fear, I will not cease to bear fruit, or Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.

Epiphany Comfort: The Hopeless Heart

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
a puzzle that no one can figure out,
But I, God, search the heart
and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human,
I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
Not as they pretend to be.” Jeremiah 17: 9-10

Today is Valentine’s Day. The day of emotions, love, and feelings. All we need is love, and other beautiful sayings.

Feelings are beautiful and connect us to others. Our feelings can help us in our creative endeavors. Feeling empathy for others is a gift to the recipient. And, also, our feelings can lead us astray, cause us to behave in our worst patterns, and leave us exhausted and confused. As Jeremiah points out, the heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful.

Thankfully, God sees our hearts and isn’t perturbed. God knows the wandering of our minds. Creativity can be expressed in many ways. Including creative problem solving in relationships and out-of-the-box thinking as we relate to our loved ones.

What relationships is God calling you to examine today? Can creative thinking help you to change your own ingrained ways of relating to others?

God, who gets to the root of things, renew our hearts and minds, help us to relate with authentic kindness to the people you have placed in our lives. Grant us clear minded thinking about our own behaviors and transform us through the creative spark You placed in each of us. AMEN

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Epiphany Joy: The Comfort of Home

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness. -Psalm 84:10

For me the feeling of being truly at home is one of complete peace. Perhaps it is a feeling of comfort or safety. Of being grounded. In a world filled with excess noise and information, more than we can ever really process or come to terms with, being at home in God’s presence is deeply meaningful. The feeling of being at peace in God’s presence gives us an inner strength to work through the challenges of life around us.

What practices give you this grounded or at-home feeling? When do you feel ushered into God’s presence?

Take some time today for a practice that brings you comfort and grounds you in the peace of God.

Some ideas:

Take a winter walk with warm comfort items bundling you up. Notice God’s handiwork even in the barren season of winter.
Sit quietly, light a candle, and invite God’s presence.
Slowly breathe in and out deeply five times. Breathe in God’s presence. Remind yourself that God is with you in your present situation.
Enjoy a cup of tea. Pay attention to the aroma as you sip. Remind yourself that God’s presence is like a permeating, pleasant odor.

Comfort Kit Note: If you purchased our Epiphany Comfort Kit, this would be a great time to enjoy some of the tea!

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Epiphany Comfort: True Home

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.” -Psalm 84:10-11

This time last year, I (Sher) was beginning the packing process– decluttering the house and “quieting the space” in anticipation of a potential buyer’s tour. I was also counting the weeks until the end of my job; sorting through the files, books and reflections I had gathered in my dream job that I had anticipated keeping for many more years.

As these places I had carefully curated over time became more sterile and bare, my own soul felt stripped down, too. Grieving what was being lost seemed to overwhelm what pieces of hope and joy there were to be found in dreaming about what might be.

This marked our family’s seventh move; it’s not like we hadn’t done this before. I knew what to expect, and yet, each season brings its own joys and challenges, possibilities and disappointments.

The Psalmist reminds us that our true home, our happiest place, is in God’s presence. The good news is that God is always present with us. God goes ahead of us preparing the way. God accompanies us through changes and transitions. God covers us from behind, protecting and mending. When we tune our attention to the divine, the epiphany moment is that anywhere can be our true home.

God may I notice your presence surrounding me, and may I find comfort and peace in place you have set me. Amen.

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.

Epiphany Joy: Shake it off

“When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove (Jesus) out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.” –Luke 4:28-30

One way resistance is revealed is through the responses and reactions of others. There’s a delicate balance in being open to counsel and feedback and standing in your truth and calling.

Sometimes the invitation is not along not the path of least resistance. Sometimes the work requires courage. Often, things get harder before clarity is revealed. How do you know when to release and when to push forward?

Take a few moments and seat yourself in a comfortable position. Bring your hands to chest level and gently begin to shake them (as if you are trying to dry them off). As you move, reflect on times that you have allowed the reactions of others to alter your response to God. In this time of thought and prayer release this angry resistance and envision the space between your hands as the path forward, allowing you to go on your way to fulfill your calling.

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.

Epiphany Comfort: Being Unpopular

“He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”. . .All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” Luke 4:21,28-30 (NIV)

Being actively disliked isn’t usually a way of life we seek. In fact, my particular personality type bends over backward to be liked. I hate leaving relationships in limbo or causing disturbed waters with others. Sometimes, I have trouble keeping realistic expectations for myself, putting too much on my plate, in order to win the love of others.

So, this story is hard to understand. Why do the people dislike Jesus? Why does he seem to provoke their hatred on purpose? What good can come from that?

While this scripture may be tricky to comprehend, it is clear that Jesus wasn’t too concerned about others’ expectations, reasonable or otherwise. He is clear on His call and the urgency of the work ahead. Throughout the gospels Jesus reaches out to others in creative and unexpected ways to bring healing and hope to the people around Him.

God, As we travel through this life grant us the wisdom to quiet the critics in our head and instead listen to the certain hush of love and acceptance that You speak to us. Give us courage to step out from under the expectations of others and extend that same grace to those around us. AMEN

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Epiphany Joy: Take a picture!

“Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee… He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone…he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”- Luke 4:14-15 &18-19

Taking pictures, whether of loved ones, nature, or personal projects, offers a chance to reflect on life as we try to capture the moment or thing that has brought us into God’s presence.On Monday we reflected about the “come and see” combined with the “go and tell” aspect of our spiritual life. As you enter into God’s presence this week and notice where God is leading you, consider recording some of what you are experiencing through photography.

Then use the picture to “go and tell”. Use the moments you captured as a way to tell someone else about what God is doing in your life.

Here are some ideas for “go and tell”:

Actually show the picture to a friend and tell them about your experience.

Frame and display a beautiful picture that will help others know about your God-moment just by enjoying the photograph.

Another fun way to share would be on social media with the #somecomfortandjoy. After you post your picture, be sure to check #somecomfortandjoy to see what others have shared.

If you don’t enjoy photography, consider what other creative endeavors remind you of God’s presence and also allow you to express God’s faithfulness in your life to those around you. The possibilities are endless!

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Epiphany Comfort: Come + See, Go + Tell

The push pull of “come and see” and “go and tell” are part of the story from the nativity. The Epiphany invitation was equal parts both for the Magi.

As Jesus begins his ministry, the same dynamic is at play. His teaching and ministry of presence was invitational: come and see. Crowds gathered as he broke open the word, performed miracles and traveled with his band of disciples. And in return, the call of discipleship was to go and tell. Those impacted by Jesus’ ministry were compelled to share what they had heard, seen and experienced.

We are invited to this same kind of movement in our discipleship journey. In this Epiphany time, how are you embodying the Magi’s experience? Spend some time reflecting on each of these components of the faith journey.

Come: The Holy Spirit invites you to enter into the presence of God. When do you experience God’s nearness? How do you come near to God?
See: Notice the movement of the divine in the places God has invited you. Where is there movement or growth? What is sparking around you?
Go: What have you experienced as you have paid special attention to God’s presence in your life? Where is God inviting you to “go” (it may be a place, a relationship or a way of being)?
Tell: How are you talking about what God is doing in your life? How are you articulating what you have seen of the work of the Spirit around you?

May your Spirit of inspiration and revelation guide and direct my being and doing in these days of Epiphany. Amen.

**If you have the Epiphany Comfort Kit, use your field notes book to capture your thoughts and reflections on the journal questions.

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.

Epiphany Joy: Bulbs

“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.” Psalm 36: 7-9

Sometimes it is all about hope and timing. Epiphany certainly leads us in this direction. Sunshine and water are symbols we often associate with springtime, but here they are in the season of Epiphany. A new revelation, a new way of seeing the world. Something new out of the darkness.

Flower bulbs, of course, are the perfect symbol for this time. Quietly waiting beneath the soil. Collecting water and waiting for warmth to bring forth a beautiful blossom.

Towards hope and timing, try one of these practices this week:

Plant a bulb if the ground is soft enough. Or even put some in the fridge and then grow them on a sunny countertop, coffee table, or windowsill.

Spend some time thinking about or planning your spring garden.

Journal about the following questions:
What are you anticipating during this season of epiphany?
What are some dreams you have for the future?

If you have the Epiphany Comfort Kit, use your field notes book to capture your thoughts and reflections on the journal. This week would also be a great time to either plant or force your bulbs.

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Epiphany Comfort: Water and Light

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!” -Psalm 36:9-10

In my neck of the woods, these are long days of cold and darkness. The flash and excess of Christmas decor is reduced to the pine garlands and twinkling white lights, a nod to the hope and light that the season of Epiphany offers.

Both light and water are powerful symbols within faith circles. Illumination and renewal. Cleansing and rebirth. Possibility and revelation.

In this season, like plant bulbs, we rest in the darkness, awaiting the thaw, the water and the revelation of the light that will bring us into bloom and flourishing. Like the wise ones who sought the Messiah, we may carry the revelation and understanding with us along the way, awaiting the full manifestation of its meaning and impact.

The water of the fountain of life and the light that illuminates truth are gifts that are accessible to us for nurture and sustenance as we engage in the challenges and opportunities of each day.

May the fountain of living water and the illumination of Your bright star provide the encouragement and inspiration we need to navigate the things this day holds with everlasting and steadfast love. Amen.

We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.

Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.