The Lily Letters

The art of Solitude Psalms 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.[a] He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness[b] for his name's sake.” Back in January, I had the most spontaneous idea ever. I decided to book a hotel room away from my parents for the weekend for Valentine's day. This specific resort may or may not have been next to my house. During that weekend I was able to reflect and hear more from God and also relax from being busy with my job and school. There were different times where Jesus took time alone to pray and to spend time with God. This introduced the spiritual discipline of solitude, where we intentionally withdraw ourselves from our daily routines to focus on God. Richard J. Foster states that Solitude can help: 1. Free us from distractions 2. Find our true selves 3. Communicate with God 4. Develop Hope. Some simple ways we can practice solit...

The following devotional is adapted from a sermon titled "That All My Know," given by Rev. Jennifer Mullins at Gayton Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia on October 13, 2024: Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-37; 41-50 David and Goliath is one of the top recognizable stories around the world, whether in secular or religious circles. So recognizable that it is a popular trope in pop culture. For example, have you ever seen or heard a story or show that depicts: The little guy standing up to a bully... A ragtag, underdog team winning the championship against the favored yet despised team... A small lawyer winning a case for a small town against a large corporation... These are the David and Goliath stories we all know. We love the fearful becoming courageous, the weak becoming strong. After all, we want the giants in our own lives to fall. It inspires us. Yet this is not the actual point of David and Goliath. Instead, here are 4 major lessons more importantly gleaned fr...

We all struggle with spiritual discouragement and lethargy. Some days our circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, and we struggle just to pray. Many times we just don’t feel like doing the things we know we should. For one reason or another, God sometimes seems far off and unreachable. David faced times like these in his life. The Psalms are filled with verses that express his despair and feeling of abandonment. Yet the Psalms also give us the key to living victoriously during the dark periods of life. Let’s take a quick look at Psalm 119:89-95*. “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Your ordinances…” My circumstances or feelings have not changed God. He is the same God today as He was when He hung the stars in the sky, led the Israelites through the Red Sea , and fed the five thousand. “For all things are Your servants…” All things, ...

Confession: I made a huge mistake during my time as an active sister in SAO. During my senior year, I was so hyper focused on the picture perfect life: meet my boyfriend, get engaged prior to graduation, graduate, and get married. However, that was not the case. I remembered going to our formal during fall semester without a date. I could have made a choice of savoring the moment and dancing with my friends, however, I just sat there pouting because it felt like everyone else had a date. I made the mistake of being hyper focused on this perfect picture life. I definitely broke one of the teachings Jesus taught. “ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”- Matthew 6:33 Instead, I was seeking first the kingdom of me and all the things that I really needed such as friendship, and a community was being taken away. A couple of years after I had graduated, my hyperfixation was hurting the ones I love and I felt so far away from G...

Scripture readings: Acts 1:4-10 and Romans 10:9-15 ACTS 1:4-10 NIV 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ROMANS 10:9-15 NIV 9 If you declare with...

On behalf of the National Sisterhood, Happy Easter, my beautiful sisters! For those who celebrate Easter today or later (I see you, my Eastern Orthodox sisters), I wanted to share some thoughts of our wonderful Savior with you, to remind you of His goodness and grace as we celebrate His resurrection and the new life He brings! Jesus Christ is: R - reconciliation. Jesus has made it possible for all of those who call upon Him in earnest to be restored to God. (Romans 10:13; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 1 Peter 3:18) I - immanent. God is both a participant in all of His creation as well as distinct from it. "Immanuel" is this immanent God with us, and through Jesus we have the Word made flesh for His ultimate glory and for our salvation! (Ephesians 4:6; Psalm 139:2; John 1:14) S - sacrifice. Never take for granted His own knowledge of His self-sacrifical love for you and me. If we weren't worth saving, He wouldn't have surrendered to walk the darkest path to a humiliating, pai...

Matthew 7:7-8 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." I once heard a story about a man that was traveling for work. When he arrived at his destination & walking around, he noticed that no one was wearing shoes. On multiple occasions, he approached individuals and asked if they believed in shoes. Every time, they told him “of course we believe in shoes.” “Then why don’t you wear them,” he asked. All but one person answered “That’s a good question.” One man pointed to a building down the street & said “That building is a shoe manufacturing facility. Once a week, we visit the facility, & the owner tells us all of the benefits of wearing shoes. We believe in shoes, but we just choose not to wear them.” Sounds silly, right? But we’re not that far off. Every week, we worship with believers. We beli...

“Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God” “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? an any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek fir...