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In Honor of My Mother, Lelia Hilda McGill, On What Would Be Her 112th Birthday

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On November 20, 2025, my mother, Lelia Hilda McGill, would have turned 112 years old. Though she has been gone for many years, her life, strength, and remarkable spirit continue to shape me every single day. This is my tribute to the woman who gave me life—and taught me how to live it.

A Childhood Marked by Hardship

Mother, Me, and Stephen, my son

Mama was born in Eucutta, Mississippi, one of seven children in a rural family that worked hard for everything they had. At just seven years old, her life was shaken by a tragedy that would have broken many people: her father was killed in a fight with his own brother over a cow. My great-uncle threw the hub of a wagon wheel that struck my grandfather, and sepsis took his life soon after.

With her mother overwhelmed and resources scarce, Mama was passed from relative to relative, never having a place to truly call home. Finally, at age thirteen, she was placed in a reformatory school. She stayed until the ninth grade, then left to work as a maid.

Life did not deal her an easy hand—but she kept showing up, kept working, and kept believing that something better was possible.

A Love Story Born in Unexpected Places

Mama met my father while working in the home where he was boarding. Daddy was forty—a widower whose wife had died from stomach cancer. Mama was nineteen. Their courtship lasted just three weeks. They married quickly, and their first home was a railroad car, because Daddy was an engineer on the Dummy Rail Line for the Wausau Lumber Company.

Daddy was also an alcoholic, but Mama was a woman of deep faith. Raised in the Eucutta Presbyterian Church, she was religious, steady, and firm in her convictions. She eventually put her foot down: if he wanted a family with her, the drinking had to end. And it did. Slowly, Daddy began attending church, and eventually he became a preacher.

Her faith didn’t just change her life—it changed his.

A Life of Work, Sacrifice, and Love

Mama and Daddy bought a farm and raised five children. I was the youngest of the bunch. Life on the farm was hard, and Daddy, for all the changes he made, could still be abusive—physically and mentally. Mama endured more than any woman should have to. But she endured it with strength, and she gave her five children steady love, safety, and encouragement.

She worked in the fields, kept the house spotless, cooked for the whole family, and somehow managed to keep joy alive in our home. To this day, I can almost smell her banana pudding, pineapple pudding, and fruit cobblers baking in the oven. Her biscuits were soft, warm, and unforgettable. She used to tell us, “We might be poor, but we can be clean,” and she lived that motto out every day.

Mama hummed and sang while she worked, her voice drifting through the house like a gentle balm. Her favorite hymns were What a Friend We Have in Jesus, In the Garden, and The Old Rugged Cross. Those songs became the soundtrack of my childhood—and the anchor of her soul.

For many years, she never drove. But when Daddy died—when I was fourteen—she got her driver’s license and went to work to support our family. She became a nurse’s aide at the charity hospital, and later a dorm mother at a school for the mentally handicapped. She poured herself into those children, teaching them how to take care of themselves. She won awards for her work, but the real reward was the dignity and compassion she gave her students.

A New Home and a New Season

In her seventies, Mama bought herself a three-bedroom brick house—a dream she had worked toward for decades. That house was her pride and joy. She kept the yard full of flowers, just as she kept her heart full of laughter and faith. She read her Scofield Bible faithfully and never missed church. No matter how hard her life had been, she always found something positive to say.

And her smile—her smile could light up a room.

The Final Years

In her mid-eighties, Mama suffered a fall that caused bleeding in her brain, which led to dementia. Even then, the tenderness she had lived her whole life with seemed to shine through the fog. She would look at me with that same gentle expression—the one that had carried me through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

Mama always allowed me to make my own decisions. And when a choice didn’t turn out well, she never said, “I told you so.” Instead, she’d simply say,

“Learn from it and grow.”

That was her way—grace always over judgment, patience always over anger, and love always over fear.

I Miss Her

As I look back on her life—her childhood pain, her resilience, her faith, her laughter, her songs, her sacrifices, her quiet wisdom—I realize how much of who I am came from who she was.

I miss her deeply. But I carry her with me: in the choices I make, in the love I give, and in the hope I hold onto when life gets hard.

Happy heavenly birthday, Mama.
Your legacy lives on—in me, in our family, and in all the people whose lives you touched.

Growing Up on a Farm in Greene County, Mississippi: The Foundation of My Life

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A reflection by Roy Pearson

I grew up on a small farm in rural Greene County, Mississippi, during the 1950s—a world far removed from the conveniences and noise that surround us today. Ours was a life of hard work, simple pleasures, deep roots, and lessons that would quietly shape the direction of my entire life. I was the youngest of five children: Sue (1935), George (1937), Ted (1940), and Hilda (1946) came before me. I arrived in 1949, the last one in a long line of siblings who were already seasoned farmhands by the time I learned to walk.

My parents’ story began long before I was born. Mama was just 19 and Daddy was 40 when they married in 1933. Their first home wasn’t a farmhouse at all—it was an old railroad car in the Wausau Lumber Company Camp. Daddy worked as an engineer on the rails that hauled logs to the big sawmill in Laurel, Mississippi. It was a humble beginning, but it was theirs. And like so many families of that generation, they built a life out of grit, faith, and whatever the land would give them.

By the time I was two or three, Daddy bought a farm in Greene County. That farm became the world where my childhood unfolded. We raised a huge garden, not only to feed ourselves but to ship vegetables to farmers’ markets around the nation. We tended cotton, watermelons, corn, and sugar cane. We kept milk cows, pigs, and chickens. There was always something to be done, something growing, something needing attention. Life on the farm had a way of teaching responsibility before a boy could even spell the word.

I was curious from the very beginning—always exploring, always asking questions—even though I had one significant fear: snakes. We had a creek running through our property, and Hilda and I often spent our summer days there. She swam; I only waded, keeping a wary eye out for anything that slithered. One day I caught what I thought was a snake on my fishing pole. I dropped the pole, ran home in a panic, and breathlessly announced that a snake was attacking my line. Daddy and my siblings followed me back—only to find an eel thrashing at the end of my hook. I became the object of teasing for days, but the story still makes me smile.

My imagination grew alongside my curiosity. Daddy always seemed to have spare lumber lying around, and my friend Danny and I “borrowed” some to build a church of our own. We managed to hammer together a floor, but the walls never materialized. I appointed myself the preacher and delivered sermons to Danny with all the seriousness I could muster. I was only mimicking Daddy’s style—strong, simple, and steady—but I had no idea that preaching would eventually become my calling after Daddy passed away when I was just fourteen.

Some of my earliest memories are of accompanying Daddy to funerals. He had only a fourth-grade education, yet he carried a gift for preaching that came straight from the heart. His sermons rarely lasted more than twenty minutes—he believed the Word didn’t need embellishing. Mama had a much harder time keeping me still in church; her pinches were legendary. But even while squirming in the pew, I listened. I watched Daddy minister to families in their grief. I observed his compassion, his humility, and the respect he earned from those he served.

Those nine years on the farm were more than a childhood—they were seeds quietly planted in the soil of my life. Farming teaches you to look closely, to ask questions, to search for answers in the rhythms of nature and the wisdom of those who came before you. It teaches you patience, perseverance, and faith. And it taught me to love learning—to look beneath the surface of things, both in the world around me and in the Scriptures that would shape my future ministry.

Looking back now, I see clearly that the creeks, the cotton fields, the vegetable rows, the old lumber scraps, and even the fear of snakes were part of the foundation God was laying in my life. The farm raised more than crops—it raised a boy who would one day become a pastor, a seeker, a teacher, and a lifelong student of truth.

Those early years in Greene County remain some of the richest soil my life has ever known.

Growing Up in a Country Church in Mississippi

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A Reflection by Roy Pearson

I grew up in the red clay hills of South Mississippi, where farming shaped our days and faith shaped our lives. My father was both a farmer and a preacher—a bi-vocational calling that was very common in those days. He pastored anywhere from two to five small rural churches at a time, driving between them when we had a car, and walking the miles between them when we didn’t. Some weekends he walked all Saturday just to make Sunday possible.

Those churches—white-painted, wooden-framed, and planted deep in the poorest state in the nation during the 1950s and 60s—were the backdrop of my childhood. They were simple places, but to me they were sacred.

The Soundtrack of the Country Church

If there was one thing country churches had plenty of, it was music. Our worship services were filled to overflowing with Southern Gospel singing—the kind that shook the rafters and stirred the soul. Much of it came from the old Stamps-Baxter shape-note hymnals. People sang parts not because they had formal training but because they had grown up reading the shapes—hearts, diamonds, squares—each one telling them what note to sing.

My father believed in happy music, the kind that lifted tired spirits and gave poor, hardworking people a taste of hope. We sang “Jesus, Hold My Hand,” “The Royal Telephone,” “When We All Get to Heaven,” and many others that still echo in my memory.

And while many preachers of the era believed in long sermons, my father didn’t. He preached his heart out in about twenty minutes. “People can only absorb so much,” he would say, “but they can sing all day.”

A Church With No Nursery, No Children’s Program—Just Family

There was no nursery, no children’s church, no programs or performance. Worship was fully intergenerational. Women sat in the back to feed their babies or lay them on pallets made of quilts on the wooden floor. Children squirmed beside parents and grandparents, soaked in every sound and every story.

And almost every week, children would gather down front during the service. We’d quote Scripture verses, sing “Jesus Loves Me,” or march in place to “I’m in the Lord’s Army.” It didn’t matter if we sang on key. It mattered that we belonged.

Dinner on the Grounds

On special occasions—Homecoming, Revival, or Fifth Sunday—we held what we called “dinner on the grounds.” The church had no kitchen, so the women cooked at home and brought everything in heavy dishes wrapped in towels. Long tables were built outside especially for these feasts.

If heaven has a buffet, it might look like those Mississippi church dinners. Fried chicken crisped just right, chicken and dumplings thick with love, potato salad made from family recipes handed down like heirlooms, fresh vegetables straight out of someone’s garden. And the desserts! Coconut cakes with seven-minute frosting that tasted like a cloud, coconut pies, apple pies, and banana puddings that disappeared in minutes.

My father had his own strategy: “If you want to be first in line,” he said, “just agree to bless the food.” He was rarely second.

A Simple Church With Simple Means

We had no indoor plumbing. Behind the church stood two outhouses, and everyone used them without complaint. In the summer, the building became an oven; hand-held fans from the local funeral home kept the air moving. In the winter, propane space heaters glowed like small suns along the walls.

Most families walked to church, sometimes several miles. Many had only one pair of shoes, so they would carry them and walk barefoot until they reached the church steps. For communion services, when we observed Feet Washing, the water had to be changed often from washing the dust off tired, calloused feet.

We were poor—every one of us—but our poverty never stole our joy.

Joy, Celebration, and Real Faith

What I remember most about the country church is that despite the hardships—poverty, heat, cold, long walks, and missing modern conveniences—the services were filled with celebration. There was a deep sense of joy and hope that came from people who believed God was real and faith was essential.

We didn’t have much, but we had each other. And week after week, in those simple wooden buildings, my love for the church was born.

Today, when worship can be polished, programmed, and professional, I often think back to those country churches in South Mississippi. They taught me that faith doesn’t need perfection—it just needs sincerity. Music doesn’t need to be flawless—it just needs to be heartfelt. And church isn’t about buildings—it’s about people who gather to believe together.

Those early years shaped me, and the memories stay warm. They remind me that God has always been present in the simplest places, among the humblest people, doing the quiet, steady work of grace.

Returning, Restoring, and Reigning: How Today’s Scriptures Speak to Our World

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Daily Office Readings:
Psalm 119:97–120; Joel 2:12–19; Revelation 19:11–21; Luke 15:1–10

A Reflection by Roy Pearson

Today’s Scripture readings form a powerful mosaic of God’s heart—His call to return, His joy in restoring us, His invitation to stand firmly in His Word, and His promise that Christ will ultimately defeat all evil. In a world marked by anxiety, conflict, and spiritual drift, these passages offer clarity, comfort, and courage.

Anchored in the Word (Psalm 119:97–120)

The psalmist’s words overflow with love for God’s law:
“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

In an age overwhelmed by conflicting opinions, constant noise, and rapid cultural change, the Word of God remains our anchor. It gives wisdom beyond our years, purity in a polluted world, and stability when circumstances feel shaky.

The psalmist contrasts the faithful with the “double-minded”—those divided between God and the world. This struggle is just as real today. Psalm 119 calls us to sincerity, clarity, and wholehearted devotion. When fear rises, when evil seems to press in, God’s Word becomes our refuge and shield.

A Call to Return and the Promise of Restoration (Joel 2:12–19)

Joel’s message is urgent yet tender:
“Return to me with all your heart… rend your heart and not your garments.”

The prophet cuts through outward religious performance and invites God’s people to deep, internal repentance. And the moment they turn back, God reveals His heart: gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.

Our world has its own “locusts”—economic strain, social fragmentation, moral confusion, despair, and fear. Joel reminds us that the answer is not panic or resignation but repentance. When we return to God, He restores what has been lost. He brings healing to what was devastated. Renewal is not only possible but promised.

Christ the Faithful Judge (Revelation 19:11–21)

John’s vision of the Rider on the white horse is a stunning revelation of Jesus Christ as the victorious King. His eyes blaze with fire. His name is Faithful and True. He wages war against evil—not against people, but against the systems of deceit, oppression, and corruption that destroy lives.

In a world where injustice often seems to overshadow righteousness, this passage reminds us that Christ will have the final word. The “beast” and “false prophet”—images of political and spiritual deception—do not endure. Christ’s truth, Christ’s justice, Christ’s kingdom will prevail.

This gives the Christian extraordinary confidence. We do not cling to optimism; we cling to a King.

God’s Joy Over the Lost (Luke 15:1–10)

The religious leaders grumbled because Jesus welcomed sinners, so He told two parables: the lost sheep and the lost coin. Both reveal the same truth—God actively seeks the lost, and heaven erupts with joy over a single sinner who repents.

These parables speak directly to the heart of God. He pursues the wandering, the hurting, the overlooked, the burdened, and the ashamed. No one is too far gone. No heart is too cold. No situation is too tangled.

In a time when society often writes people off, Jesus shows us a Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to chase after one—and rejoices when He brings them home.

The Church today is called to embody that same grace: to welcome rather than exclude, to seek rather than judge, to celebrate rather than condemn.

A Unified Message for Our World

Taken together, these readings create a unified and timely message:

1. God calls us back to Himself with sincerity (Joel 2).

No more divided loyalties. No more empty gestures. Real return.

2. God’s Word steadies us (Psalm 119).

Scripture shapes our decisions, protects our hearts, and lights our path.

3. God seeks and restores the lost (Luke 15).

His grace is relentless, personal, and joyful.

4. God will bring justice and victory through Christ (Revelation 19).

Evil will not win. Christ reigns, and His kingdom is unshakeable.

A Closing Reflection

These passages invite us to examine our hearts, return to God, anchor our lives in His Word, and join Jesus in welcoming the lost. And they call us to live with unshakable hope: no matter how dark the world feels, Christ the Faithful and True will ultimately bring justice, peace, and renewal.

God is still restoring.
God is still seeking.
God is still reigning.

And He is still calling us—today—to trust Him with our whole hearts.

Title: Living Faithfully in the Day of the Lord

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A Reflection on the Scripture Readings from the Daily Office: Joel 1:15 – 2:11, Psalm 78, Revelation 19:1-10, and Luke 14:25-35 by Roy Pearson

Title: Living Faithfully in the Day of the Lord

Introduction

Each day, the Daily Office invites us to pause and listen to God’s voice through Scripture. The recent readings — from Joel, Psalm 78, Revelation, and Luke — carry a unified message: God is calling His people to remember His works, awaken from complacency, and live faithfully as disciples of Christ in a world drifting far from Him.
Though written across centuries, these passages speak with one heartbeat: Be ready. Be true. Be steadfast in love and obedience.

1. Remember and Teach (Psalm 78)

Psalm 78 calls us to look back — to remember God’s mighty acts and to tell them to the next generation. Israel forgot His faithfulness and fell into rebellion, but God’s mercy endured.

Today, we live in an age of forgetfulness. The noise of technology and self-promotion easily drowns out remembrance of God’s goodness. Yet, the psalm reminds us that spiritual vitality depends on remembering. When we rehearse God’s works — in our prayers, families, and worship — faith deepens and hope is renewed.

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.” (Psalm 78:4)

2. Awaken to the Lord’s Call (Joel 1:15 – 2:11)

Through the prophet Joel, God sounded a trumpet of warning. The “day of the Lord” was near — a time of judgment and awakening. The devastation Joel saw in his day mirrors much of what we witness now: broken systems, moral confusion, and a planet groaning under human pride.

But Joel’s message was not despair; it was invitation. God calls His people to return with all their hearts, to repent, and to trust His mercy. When crises shake the world, the faithful are not to panic but to pray — to become instruments of repentance, hope, and renewal.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion… for the day of the Lord is coming.” (Joel 2:1)

3. Worship and Hope in God’s Final Victory (Revelation 19:1-10)

In Revelation 19, heaven erupts in praise: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns!” Babylon — the symbol of worldly arrogance and corruption — has fallen, and the marriage supper of the Lamb has come.

This vision assures us that God’s justice and love will prevail. No evil empire, ideology, or power can stand forever against His kingdom. As followers of Jesus, we are not to fear the future but to live as His Bride — pure, faithful, and ready. Worship is our weapon and our witness in a world chasing false gods.

“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9)

4. Counting the Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)

Jesus’ words cut to the heart of modern discipleship: following Him requires full surrender. To “carry our cross” means to put His will above comfort, reputation, or possessions.
In a culture that prizes convenience and compromise, Jesus calls us to authentic commitment. We are to be salt — preserving truth and adding godly flavor to the world around us.

True discipleship may cost us relationships, success, or popularity, but the reward is eternal: fellowship with Christ and the joy of His kingdom.

“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27)

Bringing It All Together

These readings form a divine rhythm:

  • Remember God’s faithfulness (Psalm 78).
  • Repent and awaken to His call (Joel 2).
  • Rejoice in His victory (Revelation 19).
  • Remain faithful in costly discipleship (Luke 14).

This is how we live in “the day of the Lord” — not with fear, but with faith that endures, hope that worships, and love that acts.

Reflection Questions

  1. What spiritual “forgetfulness” might God be calling me to correct?
  2. How am I responding to the signs of God’s call to awaken and repent?
  3. Do I live each day as one invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb?
  4. Have I truly counted the cost of following Jesus in my daily life?

Prayer

Lord God,
You are faithful through every generation.
Wake us from complacency and teach us to remember Your mighty works.
Purify our hearts, renew our worship, and strengthen our discipleship.
May we live ready for the day of the Lord — faithful, hopeful, and true.
Through Jesus Christ our Savior and Bridegroom we pray. Amen.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May His Spirit awaken your heart to truth and joy,
and may your life shine as a witness to His coming kingdom.
Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Amen.

Living Honestly Before God and People: A Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22

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“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 (KJV)

The Apostle Paul’s closing words to the Thessalonians serve as a timeless call to discernment, integrity, and holiness. He encourages believers to “prove all things”—to test what is true, genuine, and godly—and then to “hold fast that which is good.” This means not simply accepting everything we hear or see, but measuring all things by the Word of God. In doing so, we learn to avoid not only evil itself, but even the appearance of evil.

In our day, when deception, compromise, and moral confusion abound, Paul’s words are a needed reminder that followers of Christ are called to live transparently—honestly before God and man.

Providing Things Honest in the Sight of All Men

Paul also wrote in Romans 12:17 and 2 Corinthians 8:21:

“Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

This means that our conduct should not only be right before God, but also appear right before others. The integrity of a Christian life is seen in how we handle our relationships, our finances, and our responsibilities. When we deal truthfully—with our words, our money, and our promises—we reflect the character of Christ to a watching world.

In a time when dishonesty, manipulation, and cutting corners have become normalized, God still calls His people to be examples of righteousness. Our lives are living testimonies. When others see consistency between what we say and what we do, they are drawn to the truth we profess.

Owe No One Anything But to Love

Paul continues this theme in Romans 13:8:

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another.”

This verse speaks to more than just financial debt; it touches every area of human relationship. We are not to carry unresolved obligations—whether emotional, moral, or spiritual. Our only ongoing “debt” should be love, because love fulfills the law of Christ.

Living in love means being responsible, truthful, and faithful in all dealings. It means we do not take advantage of others, nor do we live in a way that brings reproach upon the name of Jesus. Whether in business, friendship, or family life, our goal is to demonstrate the kind of love that seeks another’s good above our own.

How This Applies to Our Lives Today

In a world of shifting standards and blurred morality, these scriptures call us back to simple, steadfast principles:

  1. Discernment – Test every teaching, motive, and decision against God’s Word before accepting it as truth.
  2. Integrity – Live honestly and transparently, ensuring that your actions reflect your faith both privately and publicly.
  3. Responsibility – Fulfill your obligations—financial, moral, and relational—with diligence and honor.
  4. Love – Let love be the guiding motive in all things. Even when the world fails to act in love, God’s people must not.

When we live this way, we not only protect our testimony but also become lights shining in a darkened world. Our lives then point others to the faithfulness and goodness of God.

A Closing Prayer

Lord, help me to walk in truth, to prove all things by Your Word, and to hold fast to what is good. Teach me to live honestly before You and before others, and to owe no one anything but love. May my life reflect Your light and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Great Banquet: God’s Invitation to a Selfless and Inclusive Life

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A Reflection by Roy Pearson on the Gospel Reading from the Daily Office for Monday, November 10, 2025

Reflections on Luke 14:12–24

In Luke 14:12–24, Jesus shares two powerful teachings that reveal the heart of God’s Kingdom. He challenges our motives for generosity and shows us the danger of ignoring God’s invitation because of worldly distractions. These words speak as strongly today as they did two thousand years ago.

1. Giving Without Expecting Return (Luke 14:12–14)

“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors… But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.”

Jesus was dining at the home of a Pharisee when He delivered this lesson. In that society, hospitality was often motivated by social status — people invited those who could return the favor. Jesus turned that idea upside down.

He calls His followers to give and serve without expecting repayment. True love and generosity are not based on social benefit or recognition. They flow from a heart transformed by God’s grace. The “poor, crippled, lame, and blind” symbolize those who cannot repay — yet are precious in God’s sight.

Application Today

In our world of networking, reputation, and self-promotion, Jesus reminds us that the most Christlike generosity expects nothing in return. He calls us to welcome the forgotten, to show kindness to those who cannot repay, and to love purely for love’s sake.

2. The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15–24)

“A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests… but they all alike began to make excuses.”

In this parable, the host represents God, and the banquet symbolizes His Kingdom — the joy, grace, and eternal fellowship offered through Christ.

Those who were first invited made excuses: one had bought land, another oxen, another had just married. These represent the many distractions — work, possessions, relationships — that can cause people to turn away from God’s call.

The host then opens the invitation to “the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame,” and later to “those on the highways and hedges.” This shows God’s open invitation to all — especially those society overlooks.

But it ends with a sobering truth:

“None of those who were invited will taste of my banquet.”

Those who refuse God’s invitation out of self-interest or distraction will miss the joy of His Kingdom.

3. The Message for Today

A. God’s Invitation Is for Everyone

No one is beyond God’s reach. His grace is not limited by wealth, status, or background. The Kingdom of God welcomes everyone — especially those who have been rejected or forgotten by the world.

B. Beware of Excuses

Modern life offers endless distractions — careers, finances, entertainment, comfort. Jesus warns that even good things can become excuses if they keep us from responding to God’s call.

C. The Church’s Mission

The Church today must mirror the heart of the host — going out into the streets, the margins, and the broken places of life to extend God’s invitation. The banquet is not exclusive; it is open to all who will come.

D. A Call to True Discipleship

To follow Jesus means to live as the host lived: inviting, welcoming, and giving without expectation. It means being a reflection of God’s generous love in a self-centered world.

4. Living the Banquet Life

To live the “banquet life” is to live generously — not only with our resources, but with our time, compassion, and hospitality. It means making room in our lives for those who cannot repay us, and saying “yes” to God’s daily invitation to come closer to Him.

Reflection Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Thank You for inviting me to Your great banquet of grace.
Forgive me for the times I have made excuses or chosen comfort over commitment.
Teach me to love and serve others without expecting reward.
Open my eyes to those who are overlooked, and help me to extend Your invitation of hope to everyone I meet.
May my life reflect the generosity and joy of Your Kingdom.
Amen.

Blessing

May the Lord fill your heart with compassion for the forgotten,
Strength to love without reward,
And joy to live every day as one who has accepted His invitation.
Go forth and share His banquet of grace with the world.
Amen.

The Fall of Babylon: A Warning to Our Age

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A Reflection by Roy Pearson on the New Testament reading from the Daily Office for Monday, November 10, 2025

Reflection on Revelation 18:15–24

“The merchants of these things, who gained their wealth from her, will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn and cry out: ‘Woe, woe to you, great city… For in one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’”
— Revelation 18:15, 17

The Meaning of Revelation 18:15–24

This passage describes the final collapse of Babylon, a symbol of the proud and corrupt world system that stands in rebellion against God. In John’s time, Babylon was a prophetic image of Rome, the empire that grew rich through exploitation, idolatry, and violence.

The merchants and sea captains mourn not because they loved the city’s people, but because their profits vanished overnight. Their sorrow reveals where their hearts truly were—rooted in wealth and comfort rather than righteousness.

The angel’s dramatic act of throwing a millstone into the sea shows the total and irreversible judgment of God upon all that is built on greed, deception, and bloodshed. Babylon’s music, light, and celebrations are silenced forever. What once seemed indestructible is gone, because it was founded on sin.

In the end, Revelation 18:24 gives the final reason for Babylon’s downfall:

“In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”

Her wealth and splendor were not innocent—they were sustained by the suffering of others. God’s justice prevails because He cannot overlook such evil.

The Message for Our Time

Although ancient Babylon and Rome are gone, the spirit of Babylon lives on in every generation. It appears wherever humanity exalts wealth, power, and pleasure above God’s righteousness.

1. A Warning Against Materialism

We live in a culture that celebrates consumption and luxury, often at the expense of others. Like Babylon, modern societies build towers of wealth while the poor are overlooked. Revelation 18 warns us that no economy or empire built on greed will stand.

🕊 Application: Ask God to help you hold possessions lightly and to invest your life in what is eternal—faith, love, mercy, and truth.

2. A Call to Justice

Babylon’s judgment reminds us that God sees the cries of the oppressed and the exploited. Systems that profit from injustice will one day fall before His throne.

🕊 Application: Followers of Christ must live differently—seeking justice, showing compassion, and refusing to be complicit in wrongdoing.

3. A Reminder of False Security

Babylon’s merchants thought their prosperity would never end. But within one hour, all collapsed. In our time, nations trust in financial systems, technology, and power. Yet Revelation reminds us that only God’s Kingdom endures.

🕊 Application: Place your security not in worldly success, but in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

4. A Celebration of God’s Justice

While the world mourns Babylon’s fall, heaven rejoices because righteousness has triumphed. Evil will not reign forever—God will make all things right.

🕊 Application: Take heart in this truth. Even when injustice seems to win, God’s justice is certain and eternal.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father,
You are holy and just, and Your judgments are true.
Deliver us from the spirit of Babylon—
from greed, pride, and the love of worldly wealth.
Teach us to live with compassion, humility, and integrity.
May our hearts be set on Your Kingdom,
where righteousness and mercy reign forever.
Strengthen us to be witnesses of Your light
and builders of Your peace in a world filled with darkness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

A Closing Blessing

May the Lord keep your heart free from the spirit of Babylon.
May He open your eyes to eternal treasures, not temporary gain.
And may your life shine with the justice, love, and truth of Christ,
until His Kingdom fully comes and His will is done on earth as in heaven.
Amen.

🌿 “Restore Us, O God”: A Reflection on Psalm 80

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A Reflection by Roy Pearson on Psalm 80, the Psalter for November 10, 2025

Scripture Reading:

“Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.”
— Psalm 80:3 (NRSV)

Introduction

Psalm 80 is a heartfelt cry from a wounded nation longing for God’s presence once again. Written by Asaph, this psalm captures Israel’s deep grief over national suffering and spiritual decline. It’s not only a prayer of lament but a plea for renewal — a longing for God to shine His light again upon His people.

Though written centuries ago, its message speaks powerfully to us today. It reminds us that when our lives, our communities, or even our nations feel broken and distant from God, the path forward begins with repentance, humility, and a heartfelt cry for restoration.

1. God, Our Shepherd (Verses 1–3)

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel… Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

Israel addresses God as their Shepherd — the one who guides, protects, and provides. The people feel lost, but they remember who He is. They ask for His face to “shine” upon them, echoing the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24–26: “The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.”

Today: We too can pray for the light of God’s presence to shine into the dark corners of our lives. When we feel unseen, unheard, or spiritually dry, we can call on the same Shepherd to guide us back to safety.

2. Tears of Sorrow (Verses 4–7)

“You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.”

The psalmist recognizes that God has allowed hardship to come upon His people — not to destroy them, but to call them back. Their suffering becomes the soil in which repentance can grow.

Today: Our tears, too, can become prayers. In seasons of loss, conflict, or confusion, God invites us to seek His face rather than run from His correction. Through our brokenness, He prepares the ground for renewal.

3. The Broken Vine (Verses 8–13)

“You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.”

God had planted Israel like a vine in the Promised Land, meant to bear fruit for His glory. But now, the vine is broken, unprotected, and ravaged by enemies.

Today: The Church is God’s vine in our time. When we drift from His Word, when love grows cold, or when we forget our purpose, the vineyard suffers. Yet Jesus reminds us in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” True fruitfulness comes only when we remain in Him.

4. The Plea for Revival (Verses 14–19)

“Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see… Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name.”

The psalm ends with a repeated refrain:

“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

This is more than a wish for better days — it’s a plea for spiritual revival. Israel longs not only for relief but for renewal of faith and purpose.

Today: Psalm 80 becomes our own prayer for revival — in our hearts, our homes, our churches, and our world. We ask God to breathe new life into His people, to restore joy, unity, and holiness, and to heal our land.

Living Psalm 80 Today

  • Personally: Ask God to restore the joy of your salvation. (Psalm 51:12)
  • In the Church: Pray for renewal — that believers would return to genuine faith, humility, and love.
  • In the World: Intercede for nations torn by conflict and sin, that God’s mercy might bring peace and transformation.

When we cry out, “Restore us, O God,” we join a long line of faithful people who refused to give up on God’s mercy — and He never fails those who turn to Him with a humble heart.

Closing Prayer

Shepherd of Israel,
Shine Your face upon us again.
Restore what is broken in our hearts and in our world.
Where we have drifted, bring us back.
Where we are weary, renew our strength.
Where we have grown cold, rekindle our love for You.
Turn our tears into joy and our weakness into worship.
Restore us, O God of hosts; let Your face shine,
that we may be saved.
Amen.

🌾 A Call to Wake Up: The Message of Joel 1:1–13 for Our Times

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A Reflection by Roy Pearson on the Old Testament Reading for Monday, November 10, 2025 from the Daily Office.

Introduction

The book of Joel opens with a sobering picture — a nation brought to its knees by disaster. What begins as a description of a locust plague quickly becomes something far deeper: a spiritual wake-up call. God is using the devastation to draw His people’s attention back to Himself.

Though Joel wrote thousands of years ago, his message still echoes through our world today. In a time of global turmoil, environmental challenges, economic uncertainty, and moral confusion, the call of Joel 1:1–13 remains the same — wake up, repent, and return to the Lord.

The Meaning of Joel 1:1–13

1. God’s Word to a Troubled Nation

“The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel.” (Joel 1:1)

Joel begins by affirming that his message is not human wisdom but divine truth. God Himself is speaking — not merely about locusts, but about hearts that have drifted away.

2. The Total Devastation

“What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten…” (Joel 1:4)

The prophet describes complete ruin. Each wave of locusts strips away what the previous one missed, leaving the land barren. It’s a picture of compounded loss — physical, emotional, and spiritual. Joel tells the people to remember and retell this lesson to future generations, so they will never forget what happens when a nation turns away from God.

3. Wake Up from Spiritual Sleep

“Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!” (Joel 1:5)

The prophet calls out those who have become numb to reality — not only through wine, but through distraction, comfort, or indifference. The message is urgent: Wake up before it’s too late.
God sometimes allows our comfort to be shaken so that our hearts can be stirred.

4. A Time for Mourning and Reflection

“Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her youth.” (Joel 1:8)

Joel compares the nation’s sorrow to a young bride who has lost her beloved. The grief is deep and personal. Even the priests cannot bring offerings, for the fields have yielded nothing. Worship itself has been interrupted — a sign that spiritual and material life are inseparably connected.

5. A Call to Repentance

“Despair, you farmers… Put on sackcloth, you priests; mourn…” (Joel 1:11, 13)

Every group — workers, leaders, and spiritual guides — is called to humble themselves before God. The way forward is not through human effort but through repentance and dependence on the Lord.
Only then can the nation be healed and restored.

Application for Today

Joel’s message is timeless. Though we may not see locusts devouring crops, we face “locusts” of our own — broken relationships, moral decay, social division, and spiritual dryness. God still speaks through the storms of our world, asking us to return to Him.

1. God Is Calling Us to Wake Up

Many today live in distraction — focused on entertainment, success, or comfort. But Joel’s words pierce through the noise: Wake up and see what God is doing! The hardships of our time can serve as holy alarms, calling us back to prayer, humility, and obedience.

2. Recognizing God’s Warnings

Crises — whether personal or national — are not just random. They remind us of our dependence on God. Like the locust plague in Joel’s day, they strip away false securities so we can see what truly matters: our relationship with Him.

3. Restoration Is Still Possible

Later in Joel, God promises:

“I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten.” (Joel 2:25)
That promise still stands. When we repent and return to God, He brings healing, renewal, and even greater blessings than before. What the enemy or the world has taken, God can restore in His mercy.

4. Return to True Worship

The priests could no longer bring offerings because the harvest was gone. Likewise, when our hearts are dry, even our worship can feel empty. Joel reminds us that true worship flows from a heart surrendered to God, not from ritual or routine.

Reflection

Take a moment to ask:

  • What “locusts” have invaded my life — things that have drained my peace, faith, or joy?
  • What might God be teaching me through these challenges?
  • How can I turn my focus back to Him today?

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
We come before You humbled, knowing that without You we are lost.
When life feels barren or broken, remind us to turn our eyes to You.
Forgive us for our complacency, our distractions, and our pride.
Awaken our hearts to Your truth, and restore to us the joy of Your salvation.
Heal our land, renew our spirits, and make us a people who honor You in all we do.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessing

May the Lord awaken your spirit to His presence,
Renew what the locusts have eaten in your life,
And fill your heart with peace, faith, and gratitude.
May you walk each day in awareness of His mercy,
And may His light guide you through every storm.
Amen.