This semester is a busy one y’all! Even still, we can commit to making an intentional break during our week (or day) to spend time on things that matter the most. Last semester (January 2025) was my first semester serving as a volunteer with a wonderful organization called Christian Women’s Job Corps in Waco (CWJC). As I’ve gotten to know the women who participate in this program and even watch a few of them graduate in May, I knew this was and is a worthwhile cause to be a part of. I hope that more people will use their skills, gifts, and talents to help directly and indirectly support the good work that goes on through CWJC.
Last semester, my first semester, I ended up doing these Bible videos each week working through the book of Mark. I completed something for chapter’s 1-8 here. As I contemplated my time for the fall, I shared with the volunteer coordinator that while I wanted to continue to serve here, I needed to do something different during our time together because creating the content each week took a lot out of me. Also, I wasn’t sure if it was really the best thing for me to do for this group with my time. So I agreed to continue to serve, but differently, this semester. (I want to share more about this later as well.)
So for our kickoff Bible Break time together this Fall 2025, this is what I shared with the women who came. I want to share it here with you as well, in case you want to follow along with us using these offerings. May you also take your own ‘Bible Break on Thursdays‘ with God too and be blessed. (Download updated printable for Fall 2025 here. Recorded video of the readings here.)
Bible Break on Thursday’s – Kickoff September 4th, 2025
Welcome!
Quote: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
Sejana’s Introduction
- You’re here for a reason and a purpose. You all have your own backgrounds. You all have your own stories and things that you’ve been through. I know it hasn’t been easy for anybody to be here today. Just consider this, What makes you come alive? Because maybe that’s your gift to your community? Your gift to your family? To this world?
- (I shared how I came to be invited here last year to volunteer at CWJC.)
- I live in Temple but moved here to Texas in late 2020 from South Korea because we are a military family moving every 2-3 years typically. We are due to move again really soon as well. I have two children- one who just left to finish school in Ohio and the other is a senior in high school. I work as a hospital chaplain for 2 hospital systems and I serve my local church as the connections pastor and preach in various spaces. Learn more about me here.
- I love the Lord and I like to present things in a relatable way. I also care deeply about other family members who do not share my same beliefs, so I’ll present some things for you all today to consider. I know that CWJC is a Christian-based organization and so we have this Bible time scheduled in your school week. However, I want you to know that just like how I try to care for all people in my role as a hospital chaplain, accepting them as they are in the time that I am with them, this is how I will be with you today. I trust that God is working in God’s own time with each one of us and doesn’t need my help ‘beating folks over the head.’ So with me, I just want you to know that I’m aware that not all of you may identify as a Christian and that’s okay. I believe that there are different ways that we can go to God and that God can come to us, so I’ll be presenting some of these ways to you today.
Devotion
(I read most of this devotional below from the Episcopal Relief Lent Devotional Holy Saturday, April 19th entry found here, with enthusiasm, during our time together. I saw a few smiles.)
No one grows simply by doing what someone else forces us to do. We begin to grow when we finally want to grow.
Sr. Joan Chittister, The Rule of Benedict
In the film As Good As It Gets, the heroine, Carol, says to her mother, Beverly, “Why can’t I have a normal boyfriend? Just a regular boyfriend, one that doesn’t go nuts on me!” Beverly replies, “Everybody wants that, dear. It doesn’t exist.”
To me, this is the essence of being human. Each of us, in some way, in some corner of our life, wants to be the exception. We want to draw the lucky straw. We want to slide under the wire of having to experience certain parts of being human.
But here is the thing about a common life: all of us struggle. All of us celebrate. All of us have good days and horrible days. We all want to be loved and give love, even if it scares us. And all of us have choices. No matter where we reside in the world, our position in society, our economic status, our gender or our beliefs about God, we all have choices to make every single day about how we will act and react as members of Creation. We humans can never escape the reality that as complicated, messy, emotional, spiritual and physical beings, our actions and reactions affect others—animals, minerals and vegetables—every single day.
Whether we get better at this or become more loving, kinder, considerate, generous, patient, just, flexible and empathetic in these actions and reactions, well, that is up to us. It’s not dependent on our bank accounts, education, churches or families. It depends on us choosing to grow, learn, change and accept what is, with God’s help. Here on Holy Saturday, as we wait for resurrection, it is time to decide. Will we grow? Or will we remain where we are, as we are?
For Reflection
As you wait for Easter, consider where and how God is calling you to grow.
Music Pause
(You are invited right now to take 7 minutes to breathe, listen to this song and/or complete the printed version of this ‘getting to know you’ survey here.)
Student Introductions
(You are all in the same boat, ladies. So I hope that you can get to know one another on this journey and find encouragement through one another to get you through this time together. So please share your NAME and something about you (briefly). We want to hear from everyone. )
- Share something that stood out to you from the quote, the devotion, the song – anything -… share something along with your name with us today. (Feel free to do this below- whoever you are- as well in the comments, if you’d like to leave one with the public from these materials I shared above!)
- (This turned out to be a precious time of getting to know one another and to hear what stood out that each person chose to share. What a beautiful start!!!)
Prayer
(I prayed a spontaneous prayer and blessing over our time together and over their journey through this program.)
I pray for you right now for anyone that might be reading this!
Lord God, you know the needs of each person who may be reading these words today. You know what drew them here and what draws them closer and deeper in fellowship and communion with You. I pray that you will continue to be their Source. May You be their daily bread. May you guide them through the wilderness and equip them for their journey- whether they are the ones leading or following – may they and we all find the time and help us Lord with this – to desire and make the time – to have a Bible Break (on Thursdays) with You.
Amen.
CWJC’s annual fundraiser is happening this month, September 23rd, called “Baskets of Hope.” I haven’t personally attended yet, but I probably will this year. Details about this event is on the link below. Will you consider praying for this event with me and supporting this event financially, if you feel led to do so? https://cwjcwaco.org/baskets-of-hope-annual-fundraiser/ Thank you!
(Download updated printable for Bible Break on Thursday’s Fall 2025 calendar is here.)
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