Women of Welcome: Songs of Welcome Devotional

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A God Who Sees (Me & Lucy) Jason Upton His love is strong, and won’t let go He holds us with His sacred heart And even when we’re far from home There’s a God who sees right where you are

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READ O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:1-4, 7-10

R E F L E C T: God sees you and knows you, even when you feel far from home. Sometimes, that is literal homesickness, and sometimes, that might mean feeling lonely, like an outsider, or far from God, who is our home. How does this influence the way you view and treat those far from their physical home? God’s love and presence are with immigrants traveling to new lands just as much as with you. How are you showing compassion and extending hospitality?

D AY T W O

God of All Nations Ellie Holcomb Every language, every color, you and I are sisters and brothers.

We’re all children of the Father.

Praise to the One who created us all!

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READ All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name.

Psalm 86:9

R E F L E C T:

Ask: How does recognizing that every person, regardless of language or color, is a child of the same Creator shape your approach to those different from you? How does it change the way you show up online or in person?

D AY T H R E E

Upside Down Kingdom Jodi Jewell x In the upside down kingdom That You have made The last will be first The least are the great When we show compassion We are most like you Help us do unto others As You would do

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READ: No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

R E F L E C T: When you think of the last or least in this world’s eyes, who do you think of? Can you take a moment in silence and consider those who are pushed to the margins in your community and remember that those are the people Jesus calls first in the upside down Kingdom of God. How does God’s “upside down kingdom” challenge your views and family priorities? Does it change the way you define success or how you spend your time?

D AY F O U R

Refugee — Live Common Hymnal, David Brymer, Latifah “God is not untouchable, Jesus bared his heart and soul.

Our eyes have seen the invisible.

Now God is one of us.”

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READ: Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; he took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,[d] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:6-8

R E F L E C T: David Brymer wrote this song after visiting Northern Iraqi Kurdistan and meeting displaced people there. Here’s what he said about that trip: “It was my fifth trip to Northern Iraqi Kurdistan. I had found myself yet again in this strange country with a strange language, strange at least for a bornand-bred American boy who could count on one hand his trips outside the States. How I got there was as curious to me as anyone else who asked.. what was it about this war-torn country that was so compelling?

From the start, it was a love story. In 2014 a friend of mine reached out one September

afternoon by text, a kind-of cryptic text: Northern Iraq, 100 hours of prayer, ISIS, no guarantees, free plane ticket, let me know.

One thing led to another, and I woke up in the Middle East in my mid-thirties realizing this was a different life trajectory than I could have guessed in my twenties. As I began to realize what was happening during that first and fateful whirlwind trip, that my heart was opening up to a place, a people, a purpose.. and as I began to listen to stories of tragedy and loss that i could not comprehend, I saw faces weathered by the sun, creased by sorrow and sadness, sharing what little they had with me, a foreigner, even as they were

strangers in their own land, a people who no longer had a home.

And as if a dam broke within me I saw the beauty of the incarnation, the salvation story that was nice and pretty in the West, but in reality was dirty, painful and completely absurd.

God, born to parents who would spend their first 8 married years as refugees, raising a refugee son, a son that was but wasn’t their own, the Son of God. And from this panorama of the Gospel before me, the song Refugee was born.”

– Source In what ways does recognizing that “God has a face, God has a name” deepen your connection to Him?

D AY F I V E

Knows My Name A New Liturgy** LISTEN:

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READ: But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.

O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

R E F L E C T: How does believing that God has called you by name and claims you as His own impact your sense of identity and worth?

D AY S I X

Dear Young Mother Jodi Jewell “Tomorrow’s a new day, who knows the things you’ll face.

I pray you find a home where you feel safe and you belong.

For tonight I pray you sleep.”

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READ: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29

R E F L E C T: One of the qualities of Christ’s heart is gentleness. How might you show gentleness today? Is there anyone that comes to mind to whom you could offer rest and compassion? Maybe someone like the young mother in the song?

D AY S E V E N

Brother The Brilliance "When I look into the face of my enemy, I see my brother.”

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READ: “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Matthew 5:43-45

R E F L E C T: How does seeing the face of a brother or sister in your enemy challenge you to live out Jesus’ command to love your enemies?

D AY E I G H T

Neighbor JJ Heller Sometimes it’s easier to jump to conclusions Than walk across the street It’s like I’d rather fill the blanks with illusions Than take the time to see

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READ: One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits.

They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Luke 10:25-37

R E F L E C T: What keeps you from “walking across the street” and showing compassion, even to those who may seem different or distant from you? Pray about the things that hold you back, the things that prevent you from showing up well for others you disagree with.

D AY N I N E

See How Good It Is (Psalm 133) Wendell Kimbrough, Sandra McCracken When God's children live as one By the Spirit we become The open arms of God To a world in need of love

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READ: How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.

Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion.

And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.

Psalm 133

R E F L E C T: Ask God to show you any relationships where you are contributing to disharmony.

Are you willing to take a step toward unity?

How can you actively create harmony within your community among friends and strangers?

D AY T E N

Instrument of Peace The Porter’s Gate Where is there hatred let me sow love Where there is darkness let me sow light For in the giving we shall receive And in the dying we’re given life

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READ: God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9

R E F L E C T: In what areas of your life can you become an “instrument of peace”? What role do you think God has equipped you to play in the work of peacemaking?

D AY E L E V E N

Weary Traveler Jordan St. Cyr Weary traveler, restless soul You were never meant to walk this road alone It’ll all be worth it so just hold on Weary traveler You won’t be weary long

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READ: He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31

R E F L E C T: How do you find strength in God when you feel weary and worn down by life’s challenges?

Take a moment to remember and reflect on a time Jesus carried you in the midst of a hard season or situation.

Now, consider the weary travelers who have fled their homes looking for a safe place.

Will you pray for new strength for them?

D AY T W E LV E

Whosoever Rend Collective Whosoever needs a shelter Needs a Savior, come in closer All who wander, every outsider You are safe here, whosoever

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READ: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

R E F L E C T: Sit for a moment and dwell on the word unconditional.

You are loved unconditionally.

How does the depth of that word minister to you today?

D AY T H I R T E E N

At My Table JJ Heller If you’re broken, you are welcome If you’re outside looking in If you have no place of your own My door is open, it’s always open

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READ: Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet[a] in the Kingdom of God!” Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’

Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the

lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”

Luke 14:15-24

R E F L E C T: It’s hard to carve out margin in our everyday lives, but seeing and inviting people into our lives is part of our calling as Christians. How can you create a space in your life where those who feel powerless or overlooked are welcomed and embraced?

D AY F O U R T E E N

Citizens Jon Guerra I need to know there is justice That it will roll in abundance And that you’re building a city Where we arrive as immigrants And you call us citizens And you welcome us as children home

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READ: For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me.

I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Matthew 25:35-36

R E F L E C T: Practically speaking, are you caring for the hungry? The thirsty? The stranger? The imprisoned?

Reflect on how you are living out your faith in today’s world.

D AY F I F T E E N

Find My Way Home Brotha Minista, Melanie Waldman Search my heart.

Search my soul.

Lead me home.

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READ: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24

R E F L E C T: Spend a few moments inviting God to search your heart and soul. Ask Him to reveal areas that need to be aligned with His love and compassion for others.

D AY S I X T E E N

No Outsiders – Rend Collective You’re our refuge You have no borders When I was a stranger, knocking at Your door You took me in With no questions, and no conditions When I was a sinner, running from Your grace You called me friend You called me friend

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READ: So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

Ephesians 2:19

R E F L E C T: Does knowing that God welcomes you without conditions inspire you to extend the same unconditional welcome to others? If not, what holds you back from this kind of radical welcome? Take a minute to talk with Jesus about these things.

D AY S E V E N T E E N

El-Roi Jodi Jewell, The Halls No longer cast out There is no more other He is peace He is peace He welcomes us in As sister and brother He is peace He is peace He is peace He is peace

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READ: Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife.

(This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)

So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt.

The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”

Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.

The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise

his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.”[a] She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 16:1-14

R E F L E C T: We’re told God is the “God who sees.” Do you believe this? What are some areas of your life that feel unseen? Spend some time asking God to help you feel seen in those spaces.

D AY E I G H T E E N

If Not Now Carrie Newcomer I see sorrow and trouble in this land Although there will be struggle we’ll make the change we can If not now if not now tell me when

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READ: Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

James 4:13-16

R E F L E C T: God intended your life for this exact day and time. We are to be agents of prophetic peace and love, so much so that we influence and inspire our communities and culture. What part can you play in creating change for hearts and minds in this season of your life?

D AY N I N E T E E N

Oh Dreamer The Brilliance Come every weary soul Find your haven, Liberties for all, who can breathe free Oh dreamer Teach us to see again Oh children We wanna see again

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READ: Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:33-34

R E F L E C T: Do you think Christians are living out this calling to love the stranger well?

If we understand how much God loves the sojourner, how does that change how we see, talk, and feel about those not native-born and more vulnerable than most?

D AY T W E N T Y

Let Not the Needy Be Forgotten Bret Hesla, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Pray what is the task For people of faith when those Who flee for their lives Arrive to permanent second class?

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READ: The wicked will go down to the grave.

This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God. But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

Psalm 9:17-18

R E F L E C T: When sharing a bit about why he wrote this song, Bret Hesla wrote, “Some of us need sanctuary, some of us can provide it. Here’s hoping we can join together and all be healed.”

How do you find sanctuary, and how often do you invite others to share with you in that practice?

D AY T W E N T Y- O N E

Goodbye Road Johnny Swim, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Penny and Sparrow Strangers, outcasts, artists and thieves Misfits, legends and lost refugees We may not be where we thought we would be We made our home down Goodbye Road

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READ: “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert.

Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.

I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

Isaiah 43:18-21

R E F L E C T: We all experience failure – our own failings, the failings of others, the failings of systems.

Sometimes, the path we thought our life would take feels far away. Where are you finding hope and renewal right now?

D AY T W E N T Y-T W O

Refugee King Liz Vice, Hannah Glavor Stay near me LORD Jesus when danger is nigh And keep us from Herods and all of their lies I love the LORD Jesus, the Refugee King And we sing and we sing and we sing

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READ: After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

“Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death.

This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.

Matthew 2:13-15

R E F L E C T: How does the story of Jesus’ early flight to Egypt inspire you to act with compassion and justice towards modernday refugees and those in need of sanctuary?

D AY T W E N T Y-T H R E E

Suitcase JJ Heller Wish I could take you In my suitcase To every city Every new place It doesn’t really matter where I travel to My journey starts and ends with you

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READ: I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

Psalm 139:7-12

R E F L E C T: JJ Heller wrote this song about the most challenging part of her job as a musician: saying goodbye to her children when she hits the road. This calls to mind many reasons mothers may say goodbye to their children – for short leisure periods, for time on the road due to their vocation, or to move to a new land to make a better way.

In all of these scenarios, God is present with us. How has the presence of God carried you and given assurance when you’re far from your home?

D AY T W E N T Y- F O U R

No Country John Mark McMillan I feel the tremors, the rumors of war Upon the surface of my door And I’ve got no place to call my country I’ve got no place to call my country anymore

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READ: God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam.

Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Psalm 46:1-3

R E F L E C T: In what areas of your personal life are you experiencing upheaval? In what ways is our society experiencing unrest?

What practices help you feel grounded and secure in your faith?

Now, consider those who truly have no place to call their country anymore. Say a prayer for them.

D AY T W E N T Y- F I V E

See the Day Liz Vice I wanna see the day when we stand tall And the heavy hand of oppression is finally gone May that day be today when together we say Precious, LORD, come lead us on

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READ: “I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.

I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.

I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.

Away with your noisy hymns of praise!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.

Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.

Amos 5:21-24

R E F L E C T: What does justice look like? Would you be able to spot it, or more importantly, the absence of it in your community? How can you actively participate in the active flow of justice right where you are?? What might you have to sacrifice, learn, or reprioritize to pursue justice in your community?

D AY T W E N T Y- S I X

All Ye Refugees Sandra McCracken Oh, refugee, I did not cast you out In death and broken ground, salvation springs My body and my blood, the healing that you need Come and receive, hmm

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READ: “Is anyone thirsty?

Come and drink— even if you have no money!

Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?

Why pay for food that does you no good?

Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.

You will enjoy the finest food.

Isaiah 55:1-2

R E F L E C T: God freely offers you His love and support. How can you embody this posture of freely given love to refugees and strangers in your city?

D AY T W E N T Y- S E V E N

Song for the Refugee Kellie Haddock Love rejects the fear of other.

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READ: Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other[b] because he loved us first.

1 John 4:18-19

R E F L E C T: The artist of this song, Kellie Haddock, wrote this song with the hopes that listeners would share it with their own communities, with the prayer that we would be a generation “marked with genuine love and compassion.”

If your church closed tomorrow, would your community notice?

Would they feel the impact?

How is your church currently reflecting the welcoming love of Christ in ways that meet community needs?

D AY T W E N T Y- E I G H T

Refugee Steve Bell We think of him as safe beneath the steeple Or cozy in a crib beside the font But he is with a million displaced people On the long road of weariness and want For even as we sing our final carol The hounded child is up and on that road Fleeing from the wrath of someone else’s quarrel Glancing behind And shouldering their load And shouldering their load

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READ: But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne.

He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Psalm 9:7-10

R E F L E C T: Spend a few moments meditating on the fact that God is a refuge for the oppressed. How does this change the way you view God? How does this impact how you respond to hurting people in your community?

D AY T W E N T Y- N I N E

He Is Among Us (The Least of These) The Porter’s Gate, Zach Bolen You’ll find Me with the ones without a voice The forgotten and ignored My blessing is on those who love the poor Will you open up the door?

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READ: And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 25:40

R E F L E C T: How does recognizing Christ in the “least of these” impact how you serve others?

D AY T H I R T Y

Jesus, See the Traveler Sara Groves Jesus, see the traveler On their long hard road See the mother, see the father See the child, have mercy on the traveler

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READ: Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.

When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel[a] as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

He keeps every promise forever.

He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.

The Lord frees the prisoners.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.

The Lord loves the godly.

The Lord protects the foreigners among us.

He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

Psalm 146:3-9

R E F L E C T: Today, find comfort knowing that the Lord frustrates the plans of the wicked and lifts those who are weighed down. What weighs on your heart that needs to be laid down? What wicked ways need the Lord’s hand to dismantle? Pray for these things in your personal life and throughout our nation. God, have your way.