About the Author

Jill Maisch - as a writer, speaker, missionary, and educator - has a tendency to wander upstream... against the more comfortable current of social and spiritual complacency.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

"Brain Break" - Published in The Upper Room 1/22/2018

Background
I've taught science in middle school since 1995. Our school has what's called a "rotating block schedule" which means we see a different five of our seven classes each day... with each class lasting 70 minutes. That's a long time - for the students and for the teacher! I started building in a short 'brain break' several years ago. The students love it and those two minutes give me a breather as well. I've also learned it's OK to spontaneously take a short break from my busy day to pray, read a devotion, reflect on Scripture, or just sit quietly with God.

Scripture Reading - Psalm 121:1-8 (NRSV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

Focus Scripture - Psalm 121:1-2 (NRSV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where wily help come? My help comes from the Lord..."

Brain Break

     My announcement of "Brain break!" always brings relief and joy to my students. As a teacher, I have found that 13-year-olds are unable to sit through 70 minutes of even my most engaging science lessons. They need a break! A two-minute brain break gives them the opportunity to get out of their seats, stretch, or walk across the classroom to chat briefly with a friend. When we begin class again, the students are relaxed, refreshed, and ready to learn more.
     I have found that a brain break can also provide me with some much-needed relief during a long stressful day. I can give myself a few minutes of peace by moving to a quiet place where I can pray, read a passage of scripture, or simply rest in God's comforting presence.
     A couple minutes alone with God in the middle of a hectic day might be enough to help us feel spiritually restored, physically revitalized, and ready to move on. When we feel stressed and overwhelmed, we can take a brain break - some time apart with God.

Prayer
Thank you, God, for the peace and comfort you bring us even on our most stressful days. Amen.




"Come Out!" - Published in The Upper Room 4/4/2014

Background
This devotion was extremely difficult to write because it deals with some very painful memories. In fact, I held on to it for several months before I finally got up the nerve to send it to The Upper Room for consideration. After it was published, I was surprised by how many people wrote comments. They thanked me for being vulnerable - for exposing the painful struggles they or someone they knew were also dealing with. They said it meant a lot to know they were not alone and that there is hope. I'm glad I followed God's nudge to risk sharing my experience... to tell my story.

Scripture Reading - John 11:28-44 (NRSV)
When [Martha] had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”  And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.  He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Focus Scripture - John 11:43-44 (NRSV)
[Jesus] cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."


Come Out!

     Our house was in foreclosure, I couldn't pay the bills, I had been denied public assistance, and I had three young children counting on me. I was angry, ashamed, and afraid. I felt emotionally and spiritually dead.
     When I desperately cried out to God for help, I felt God say to me, as Christ commanded Lazarus, "Come out!" Through my tears, I could sense God's loving whisper, "You don't need to hide in shame. Let your friends and family know what you're dealing with. I'll walk through this with you."
     Trusting in God, I realized that my fear of being judged was unwarranted. When I talked about my situation with my family and with Christian friends, I received love and support. They helped unbind me from fear and shame. For the first time in many years, I was free. I could move in a positive, healthy direction, knowing that God was and always had been by my side.
     Whenever we are bound by anger, shame, or fear we can cry out to God and trust God to be with us. We can be unbound and free. A wonderful world waits fr us, as do the people who love us and need us.

Prayer
Dear God, free us from shame and fear, and lead us into a new life. Amen.

The Inn Was Full

Martin Luther wrote these words almost 500 years ago... words that challenge us even today.


"Cranky and Unappreciative?" - Published in The Upper Room 10/31/2013

Background
I thoroughly enjoyed the five winters I served at the cold weather shelter in Westminster, Maryland. Each Friday from November to March our group would help clients sign in to the overnight shelter starting at 7PM and we'd check through bags and backpacks for weapons and drugs. We would also provide and serve a hot meal, hand out toiletries, and then stay until a local deputy arrived around 11PM. I got to know many of clients. 'Electric Man' was convinced that his shoes set off sparks as he walked across the floor and he was constantly checking his food because he was sure the government was putting stuff in it so they could track him. Before his paranoia got the best of him, he worked as a physicist and we used to have long conversations about all things science. 'Bandana Mike' was a cranky guy who seemed to always want to pick a fight with someone. We got along, though, because we were fans of the same football team. I usually wore my Redskins hoodie because I knew that way I wouldn't have any trouble with him. Ha! Serving at the shelter was more about building relationships than anything else. That's what I decided to write about...

Scripture Reading - John 21:15-17 (NIV)
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

Focus Scripture - John 21: 15 (NRSV)
Jesus said to [Peter], "Feed my lambs."


Cranky and Unappreciative?

     When I began serving at a homeless shelter, I assumed the guests would be appreciative. But several complained about the menu and others snatched their plate in silence. Most met my smile with sideways glances that spoke of wariness and distrust. I though angrily, How dare they treat me this way! They don't even know me!
     Then I heard God speaking through my frustration: "Jill, do you know them?" The next week I began to actually sit and eat with the guests. I asked, "How are you" and took the time to listen - not only to what was said but also to what was not said. I heard the sadness in the tone of voice, observed the forced smile, and was touched by the eyes glassy with tears. I learned names and heard stories. Those I once saw only as grouch and ungrateful became sisters and brothers - each with their own unique pains of the past, fears of the present, and hopes for the future.
     In our reading for today, Jesus gave Peter some very specific directions about shoeing his love for Christ by serving others: "Feed my lambs... Tend my sheep". We are called to feed and tend to even those who, at first, seem cranky and unappreciative.

Prayer
Dear God, help us discover how we might tend to the physical and spiritual needs of the people around us. Amen.


"Where God Wants Me" - Published in The Upper Room 11/14/2012

Background
I decided to write a devotion about the numerous interruptions to my daily schedule. I usually make a detailed to-do list for the day without much wiggle room for anything else. One day I realized maybe these "interruptions" were actually opportunities to share the love of Christ with others. What if interruptions are part of God's plan for me that day? You never know!


Scripture Reading - Luke 10: 25-37 (NIV)
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denariiand gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Focus Scripture - Luke 10:27 (NIV)
He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your soul and all your strength and with all your mind' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"



Where God Wants Me

     I find interruptions to my daily routine frustrating, especially when I'm on a tight schedule. This morning I was interrupted on several occasions. At the grocery store I encountered a clerk who was abrupt and somewhat rude. I asked how he was doing, and a story of anger toward a family member came tumbling out. Later I sought out a co-worker for advice. After answering my question, she tearfully told me of the recent death of her mother. At lunchtime a group of students asked if they could eat in my classroom. They had been teased, and they feared the bullying would continue in the cafeteria.
     But were these really interruptions? Or was I simply where God wanted me to be? Often we rush through our busy days with blinders on, oblivious to the needs of others. Jesus commanded us to love those we meet each day. It takes little time to love our neighbor by listening, being compassionate, or offering sanctuary. The grocery clerk is my neighbor, and as I left he was smiling. My co-worker is my neighbor, and she thanked me for allowing her to express her grief. My students are my neighbors, and they left their lunch break happy and more confident.
     If we look at our days for opportunities to spread Christ's love to all we meet, we'll often find ourselves exactly where God intends us to be.

Prayer
Help us, dear God, to see the interruptions of our life as opportunities to share your love. Amen



"Unfinished Pots" - Published in The Upper Room 9/18/2011

Background:
This devotion was inspired by my friend, Marilyn Sakeva, who lives in the Hopi community of Polacca, Arizona. We met at Hopi Mission School in Kykotsmovi the summer of 2006 where she was the school's office administrator. I and the rest of our United Methodist Volunteers in Mission team from Maryland had never been to Hopi before and we knew absolutely nothing about these amazing people or their fascinating culture. We stayed at Hopi Mission School for a week sleeping on air mattresses in the gym, fixing our own meals in the school kitchen, and helping out around the school. We did light construction and electrical work, cleared tumbleweed from the playground, and sorted Campbell's soup labels for a new school bus. We also invited local people each evening to join us for dinner and to begin teaching us about Hopi history, traditions, and culture. One evening, Marilyn shared a pottery demonstration with us. In her soft, gentle voice she explained how she gathered her own clay, demonstrated how she hand-built the pots, and showed us how she mixed her own paints and fashioned delicate paint brushes from yucca. She explained the meaning of the various symbols she chose to paint on her pots and described how she fired them in the traditional way using dried sheep dung. Clearly she was a gifted Hopi potter but through many conversations that week I also came to admire Marilyn's deep Christian faith. Our group has continued to serve in Hopi almost every summer for the past twelve years and I'm pleased to say that my friendship with Marilyn has continued to grow to where we talk, laugh, cry, and pray with each other. We consider ourselves sisters (qööqa) and I treasure that connection as a precious blessing!

Reading - Psalm 139:13-16 (The Message)
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration - what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

Focus Scripture - Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 


Unfinished Pots

     Most of the Native American pots that sit on my shelf I purchased because I see them as works of art. But my most valued pot is an unfinished one. It was given to me by my Hopi friend, Marilyn, three years ago. She gathered natural clay herself from the mesa near her home, worked the clay, and formed the vessel.
     During the week I was there we had become close friends, and the morning I left she hugged me, not knowing if we would ever see each other again. She pressed the small pot into my hands and tearfully whispered, "I didn't get the chance to finish this, but I want you to have it." I value this pot the most because of my relationship with the one who lovingly created it.
     As I get older, I sometimes look in the mirror and feel like an unfinished pt. At first glance I notice only the fading hair and additional wrinkles. I question my value. Nothing can stop the aging process, but we can turn from the world's definition of beauty and focus on what the Bible says makes us truly valuable. The Bible tells us that God is the potter and we are the clay (Isa. 64:8). As with my unfinished pot, our true value is in the one who created us. Our Potter not only formed us at our birth but continues with loving hands to mold us into a new creation each day.

Prayer: 
Dear God, thank you for fashioning us in love. Amen.