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Written by Alistair Begg, a contemporary Scottish pastor. This is an excerpt from his book “Truth for Life.”

We live in a society permeated by discontent. Commercials condition us to be envious. The real issue, though, is not so much the society we live in but the state of our own hearts and minds. We’re drawn away from contentment by so much which clamors for our attention: titles, possessions, influence, or fame. Yet all of these and more seek to rob us of any sense of joy in what God has given us, persuading us that it will never be enough. The case is never-ending. Paul, though, could say not only that he was content but that he could be content “in whatever situation I am.” This is what everyone is searching for! What was the secret, then? It was to ground his sense of self and his outlook on life in the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul didn’t champion a stiff upper lip in the face of hardship or offer a false gospel of self-sufficiency. No, his contentment was the result of bowing his heart and mind to God’s will, no matter what conditions he faced. Not everyone has lived on both sides of the street. Not everyone knows how the other half lives. But Paul did. He knew what it was to be warm and fed, and he knew what it was to be cold and naked. If he had derived contentment from his circumstances, his life would have been a constant roller-coaster ride, leaving him intoxicated by wonderful luxuries one minute and overwhelmed by their absence the next. Such a fickle spirit would have neutralized Paul, making him unable to serve Christ.  Paul was a normal man with normal needs. In a letter to Timothy from a dungeon in Rome, Paul wrote, “Do your best to come to me soon…bring the cloak…the books and above all the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:9, 13). He had been deserted by others and lacked certain possessions. Yes, Paul wanted things like clothing, books, and company–but he knew he would be fine without them, for his peace rested in something greater. Like Paul, your contentment can and should ultimately be grounded in your union with Jesus. Refuse any ambition other than belonging to Him and remaining entirely at His disposal. When you know Christ and how wonderful He is—that He is your all in all, more precious than silver, more costly than gold, more beautiful than diamonds and that nothing you have compares to Him—the way you view your circumstances, and the measure of your contentment will be completely transformed.

Prayer:

Written by Nicki Koziarz, a contemporary author and teacher.

God, help me love the life I live right now. Show me the good things I often overlook and help me be content with what I have. Forgive me when I compare myself to others, forgive me for longing for things outside of you and your kingdom. Thank you for loving me right where I am, right as I am. Help me keep my eyes on you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Written by Celeste Bailey from the Village Church.

One of Merriam-Webster’s definitions of exile is “the state or a period of voluntary absence from one’s country or home.” Even though this applied to my situation when my family and I escaped the civil war in Lebanon, my true exile was actually an exile from a fellowship with fellow believers. In high school, I was very much involved with The Navigators ministry in Beirut – Bible studies, worship meetings and fellowship.

When we fled to Cairo thinking that we can stay until the war is over, it was difficult finding a community of believers in the short time we were there. After a little over two months, my family and I arrived in New York City. Trying to acclimate to a new culture and the “American” dialect of English took time. I felt discouraged on many occasions and my desire to spend time with the Lord diminished. I missed having the fellowship and encouragement of other believers.  Several months later, my sister and I moved to Ocala, Florida to live with my brother and his family. It was a very difficult time, but I contacted the Navigators ministry in Colorado Springs to find a fellowship close by. They were able to connect me with a wonderful young woman who lived in Ocala. She introduced my sister and I to a Presbyterian Church where she was a member. The church became my family during one of my most challenging times. Through their love, prayers and support, my relationship with the Lord was restored, and I no longer felt ‘exiled’ from the family of faith.

Praying and having fellowship with like-minded people is essential to our Christian growth and stability. The author of book of Hebrews communicated this clearly to the early Jewish believers in Hebrews 10:24-25:“and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is from the Knowing Jesus website.

Lord, help me to be an encouragement to others in the same way that You have sent many little encouragements to me along the way. There have been times of weariness and times of fear and times when I have felt ready to give up, but always at the right time there was a short note or a simple call or a little token of Your love for me, which You sent by means of the many people that You have lovingly placed in my life. Thank You also Lord, that You are our God of encouragement, and that we have Your indwelling Holy Spirit to help and to comfort in times of need. Teach me Your way and Your will and help me to always heed the gentle promptings of the Spirit of Comfort within my heart, so that I may not miss an opportunity to be a minister of Your encouragement to others in times of need. Oh Lord, more and more I long to breathe You into my very being and be saturated with Your love and grace, so that I may be equipped to breathe out Your love and joy and help and support and encouragement to all with whom I come in contact. Show me Lord, how I can best be an encouragement to others, and may life point others to You and never to myself. May I decrease as You increase more and more in my life. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Written by Allan Anderson, from the Village Church.

When movie producers or stage play consultants believe a sequel to an original play or movie may have commercial success, eventually a sequel becomes a reality.  The original idea remains generally intact but the players (actors) are chosen for their appeal and ability to re-enact the story. Most of us seldom think of “living in exile,” and yet the breadth of this word covers a broad range of identities.  One that recently comes to mind is the effect of the world’s recent COVID virus challenge.  All would agree, it drastically affected lives, habits, economics, and leadership throughout the world.  A retrospective study of the last three years seems to offer similar times, not only today but back to Biblical times in events such as the Exodus or the Exile of the Jews to Babylon.  The study of these two examples could easily be compared to our experiences with the pandemic in our rapidly changing world. Both of these stories required a presence of leadership and learning in order to emerge successfully to a more desired and recognized state of being.  While Moses receives the credit for leadership in their escape from Egypt, the prolonged exile in Babylon offered experiences and new leadership recognition.  An Assyrian king, whose benevolence allowed the Jewish leadership to re-establish the role they were supposed to play as God’s chosen people, arises.

COVID  clearly challenged all of us to both experience and discover new ways to return to normal life.  The illness presented a medical challenge that was clearly new in its identity and demanded a global pursuit to find a way forward. Around the world, all people felt the effects of being exiled from family, friends, education, and work. As a result,  prayers for God’s help came from individuals and faith communities in an unparalleled fashion. In adverse times, it is often difficult to quickly or clearly see our God and any actions that are being taken.  Yet today, as the Pandemic subsides, it is easier to understand that God’s presence and regard for his children helps guide us to the answers that have brought us out of modern exile and towards an increasing  return to a life of faith, commitment, and promise for the future.

PRAYER:

Written by Kenneth L. Carder, the author of today’s meditation.

O God, grant us an assurance of your presence amid our time of exile; mend our brokenness; forgive our inequities; restore our hope; and empower us as instruments of your peace. In the name of your Son, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

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Written by Mark Zimmermann, a contemporary writer.

Mark Labberton, in The Dangerous Act of Worship, outlines two paradigms that the Christian church lives under: The paradigm of exodus and the paradigm of exile. The exodus paradigm has had an enormous impact on the American Christian church in that “the United States was established by those who were leaving various kinds of bondage to pursue religious and spiritual freedom.”  And Scripture does indeed support the exodus paradigm. As Paul states, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). The concept of the exodus paradigm is that we are passing through this earth on the way to our real home in heaven. The exile paradigm, on the other hand, is about settling as strangers in a strange land and doing all we can to live out our calling in the midst of a culture that is not in line with our belief system. In this paradigm, we realize that we are “to be signposts, to be salt, to be light in the world. Exile allows us to hold on the slow and steady path toward God’s re-creation.”  Scripture aligns with this paradigm as well. St. Peter says, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12). So, which is it? Exodus or exile? Labberton makes it clear: “Jesus calls us to both domains of life. Both exodus and exile are God’s intention. Both are to be our experience. Both are needed, and both have meaning. Both are to be a part of our daily living and it takes both to make the fullest sense of God’s purposes and plan. Enjoy your time therefore in exodus AND exile.

PRAYER:

Written by James Lowry, a contemporary retired pastor and author. This is from his book “Prayers for the Lord’s Day.”

Lord God, forgive us. Unlike the psalmist, when we walk through the shadow of death, we sometimes fear evil. Unlike Paul, we are not always sure that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Unlike John of Patmos, in the midst of injustice we do not always see a new heaven and a new earth. Forgive again, we pray, our feeble use of the faith you give, and restore to us the hope of trust and the trust of hope. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Submitted by the Village Church Mission Commission.

Psalm 137:1,4. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion… How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

Do you hear in the poignant words of this ancient psalm the lament of the Israelites, the exiles, the refugees? Do you see the despair on the faces of those who have lost their homeland and have nowhere to turn, who look for solace, but cannot bring themselves to sing the Lord’s song?

In San Diego County we do not have far to look to find those whose lives have been uprooted by war, by violence, by turmoil. They come to us seeking a place of safety, of asylum, and a chance to rebuild their lives. Jesus said to take care of the strangers in our midst. At Village Church, we take this command seriously. Our Mission Commission has built relationships with two local organizations who welcome asylum seekers. These are Safe Harbors and the Alliance for African Assistance. In the last two years, we have helped them resettle Afghan and Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers from other countries.  We invite you to pray for and think about how you can help the exiles on our doorstep. Join with us in helping those who flee to us for shelter to “sing the Lord’s song in a strange land.”

PRAYER:

Written by David Platt, a contemporary pastor and author.

In this foreign land, in these difficult days, God, we pray that you would draw us closer to yourself. That you would make our worship life even more rich and more full as a result of being taken out of that which is normal. We ask these things because we know you desire them. We know your desire to show yourself strong on behalf of your people, to provide for your people. And we praise you for that. We praise you for your grace. And we just say together, we don’t want to miss it. We want to draw closer to you today. So, help us to sing your song in a foreign land, in difficult days. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Rev. Jan Cook, Associate Pastor at the Village Church.

The concept of exile involves leaving one’s place of belonging and being cut off from that which you have claimed as home. What a disorienting experience. It is a kissing cousin to grief. The recognizable landmarks are gone, the familiar is strange and decidedly unfamiliar, and an unrelenting yearning gnaws at you in your waking as well as the darkest part of night. I was born in Brawley, California, which is a small farming community in the Imperial Valley. I was raised in Brawley, Mendota, Fresno, Salinas, Modesto, Coalinga, and many other places along the fertile beltway, where my family, as migrant workers, followed the harvest. There was a sense of normalcy about this nomadic lifestyle when we were in the workers’ camps but outside of those camps, in the schools and the markets and shops and everyday town life, we were outsiders. I experienced an emotional exile, a shutting out, from the fabric of society that had planted roots and established long-term relationships with people and with place. The deep yearning to belong was imbedded into my soul.  Among the many ideas, beliefs and perspectives that took shape in those years was the transfer of place being a location to place being relationships. I came to identify my belonging with people rather than with geography. To this day, when I feel homesick, I recognize I am missing my mother, my father, my sister, rather than any house or town we had spent time in. This has made it easier at times to let go of material roots and invest in time with the people I love. My perspective of place as people positioned me to encounter Jesus Christ as a place of belonging. I had always had a deep sense of “other” in my life. This “other” gave me the understanding that my story was part of a much larger story and that I shared a larger story with all people. When I was introduced to Jesus Christ at age eleven, I recognized the “other” that had been a part of my life before I knew the name or the stories, and I knew that the exile was over and I was at last home.

PRAYER:

Written by Jan Cook, author of today’s meditation.

Creator God, I was shaped and formed by your loving hands and your holy breath awakened me into this world. I praise you and my spirit is lifted as I witness your grace-full movement in the world. Lord, the Psalmist reminds me that “there is no place I can go where you are not there, already waiting,” this comforts me and gives me the courage to step into the hard places of life. You lead me to be unafraid because you walk beside me, behind me, before me, I am embraced by your Presence. In you, exile does not exist, for wherever you are is my home. May I this day, loving God, be a worthy voice of welcome and love to all those who are lonely and estranged. May I this day, gentle Savior, be a force for reconciliation and justice, and may I this day, intimate Spirit, be a calming and comforting presence for the hurting, the grieving and those who seek your face.

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MEDITATION:

Today’s meditation is from Exile International, which helps children abducted and orphaned by the war in DR Congo and Uganda.

Aude is a brilliant university graduate, pediatric nurse, Biblical counseling master’s candidate, and former child soldier. Though Aude is now pursuing his passions and serving his community through the practice of medicine, his story was not always this peaceful.  In 2005, Aude was captured and enslaved by the rebel group CNDP. After six months of training, he obtained ranking within the military group and was forced to begin countless looting operations that often ended with blood on his hands. One afternoon, after two years of enslaved misery, a rebel leader asked those who were unhappy and wanted to go home to come forward. Some thought it was a genuine idea, but those who stepped up were killed immediately in front of the entire army. Aude stood helplessly — watching many of his friends lose their lives in front of his eyes. Deeply traumatized, all Aude could do waspray that God would save him. His prayers were answered in 2007 when he was rescued by government soldiers and reunified with his community. Four years after his initial capture, Aude received the life-saving trauma counseling and holistic rehabilitation he needed to heal from his wounds of war. The education, leadership training, and discipleship Aude experienced paved the way for his future dreams to become a reality — providing opportunities for him to learn about everything from science to theology in a safe and loving environment. Aude’s life has been transformed. He is now a leader for peace in his community — serving others and sharing the love of Christ with war-affected families. In addition to nursing at a local clinic, Aude is now pursuing a master’s degree in Biblical counseling to further serve survivors of war, helping them heal from emotional trauma in addition to physical illnesses and injuries. Aude recently married a wonderful young Christian woman who is also a nurse! From slave of war to leader for peace, we praise God for the difference Aude will make in his community and nation for years to come.

PRAYER:

Written by Benedict XVI (1927-2022), Pope of the Catholic Church from 2005-2013.

God grant that violence be overcome by the power of love, that opposition give way to reconciliation, and that the desire to oppress be transformed into the desire for forgiveness, justice, and peace.  Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Debra Paxton-Buursma, a contemporary professor and author.

St. Patrick, a Roman by ancestry, lived along the English coast in the fifth century AD, 350 years after Christ. This was a time when others in Egypt, Italy, and Istanbul were choosing to retreat from the world in their search for God. Despite his grandfather’s role as a cleric and his father’s status as a Christian nobleman, young Patrick distanced himself from Christianity, embracing all the world had to offer—that is, until he was kidnapped by pirates (the stuff of movies!) and brought to what we now call Ireland. Exiled from home and family, without the luxury of technological advancements, St. Patrick was enslaved and immersed in a pagan culture of witchcraft, spells, and spirits. In response, he reached for the thing he took for granted as a kid: the love of Christ. In an exile with massive loss and incomprehensible threats, Patrick found God real and present, and he immersed himself in a spiritual journey. In time, Patrick escaped, returned to England, received formal training in the church, created a following of monks, embraced a deepening understanding of a trinitarian God, and headed back to Ireland as a missionary despite constant threats on his life. Patrick was credited for evangelizing Ireland and became known as St. Patrick, celebrated every March amid shamrocks, corned beef, and sauerkraut. No one really knows if Patrick actually penned the prayer; however, legend has it that this prayer of protection, the Lorica, was recited when he and his band of monks traveled about preaching. On one particular trip to the king’s court, Patrick became aware of druids lying in wait to ambush and kill Patrick and his monks, so they chanted the sacred Lorica. The druids reported they never saw St. Patrick and his monks that day and instead only saw a gentle doe followed by several fawns—thus the title of the prayer: “The Deer’s Cry,” which would be later called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.” St. Patrick’s exile brought him into communion with Christ, into a place for discerning bold actions, and into a creative testimony: a prayer for protection that witnesses to the presence and power of trinitarian God. The prayer inspired by St. Patrick’s exile experiences intersects with our places of exile. 

PRAYER:

Written by St. Patrick (AD 385-461), a Christian missionary and bishop who served in Ireland.  This prayer is known as the sacred Lorica.

Christ to shield me today against poisoning, against burning, against drowning, against wounding. … Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Lyn Lloyd-Smith from the Village Church.

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, All Other Ground Is Sinking Sand.

The parable of the wise and foolish builders was a foundational story in my childhood. I was drawn to the imagery; I saw myself standing on the rock that was Jesus while the swirling sand around me was washed away.  And now, as I think of the theme of exile, I come back to this story.

Life had taken me many places, most recently to Southern California with its earthquakes and wildfires, sparkling ocean, and glorious summers. My moves have always been by choice, I have not faced the difficulties of the refugee, I am free to return, I can stay in touch with my loved ones. Yet, there are elements of exile that are common to all those who have left their homeland.  You can never truly leave, and you can never truly go back. Those foundations that were built within your culture and country continue to play an important role in your life and you must adapt, sometimes with difficulty, to where you find yourself. If you do return, you find that those adaptations have changed you and your home has moved on since you left it. The disorientation can be profound.

I go back to the parable of the rock.  I had always thought of that rock as being static, unmoving, but rather than immovable, I now understand it to be unchanging. The thing about building your life on Jesus is that, like the floating foundations, built to withstand the Californian earthquakes, the rock does not change, it moves with you, keeps you orientated, and when the tremors of life come, your true and constant homeland is in Jesus and his endless love for you.

PRAYER:

Today’s Prayer is written by Paul Dhinakaran, a contemporary leader of  “The Jesus Calls Ministry” and education leader in India.

Loving Father, Thank You for teaching me this truth about who You are. Lord, You are the Rock of the Ages and my Rock in whom I trust. Satisfy me with Your finest blessings and all spiritual blessings, especially Your very nature and to be built upon You so that I will not be moved. I give You all glory. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Today’s meditation is from the Heartlight website, which provides positive resources for daily Christian living.

Moses learned the bitter reality of losing his status and his place of privilege in Egypt. We can’t fully imagine everything Moses lost moving from the palace of Pharaoh to the wilderness of Sinai. God often lets life humble a person before he uses that person mightily. John, the Baptizer, was raised in the wilderness.  Jesus worked in obscurity as a carpenter’s son for thirty years before his ministry, and then still had to face forty days in the wilderness. Paul, the apostle, trained to be a rabbi, then had his life dramatically changed. He spent nearly a decade and a half in the wilderness of obscurity in the biblical record. Life humbled Moses, yet God did not waste those forty years in the wilderness. His experience while leading sheep in Sinai prepared him to lead God’s people. The places and problems he faced in that wilderness prepared him to lead God’s people through that same wilderness. So, if you find yourself in a wilderness time in your life, remember that God will not waste your struggles. He will use your hard times to hone your faith and prepare you for his future!

PRAYER:

Today’s prayer is by the same author as today’s meditation.

Give me strength, O LORD, not to waver or quit in my wilderness times. Give me courage and faith to keep following you no matter where you lead. I commit to faithfulness and courage while I depend on your Holy Spirit to empower and transform me. I ask and pledge this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

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