Lenten devotions: April 10, 2014

April 10, 2014                         Psalm 31:9-16

Thursday                                 1 Samuel 16:11-13

                                                Philippians 1:1-11

How easy is it to see something through someone else's eyes?  Not an easy question to answer.  When we look at the world, we tend to judge it from our own perspective.  Our perceptions form our reality.  In the readings today, we hear that it is not our eyes and our perceptions that we should trust but rather that we must strive to see things in God's light.   In Samuel 1, we hear how Joseph is anointed by Samuel.  God speaks to Samuel telling him to resist the urge to judge by what Samuel sees with his human eyes and to wait for God to reveal the chosen one. Joseph is not the biggest, strongest or most lIkely candidate by human standards, but God sees in his perfect light who and what Joseph can be.  In the Psalm, David is in a time of turmoil but his song is one to remind himself to trust in The Lord to lift him up and show him the path.  In Phillipians, Paul addresses one of his beloved communities and his prayer is that their love may abound and reveal to them what God intends.  

Lord, let me not hide in the darkness of my own vision, seeing others and the world through my own damaged and imperfect human lens.  Let me allow your light to wash over me and shine through me so that I can begin to see the world as you intend.  Amen

Dawn Morello

Lenten devotions: April 9, 2014

April 9, 2014                           Psalm 143

Wednesday                             Jeremiah 32:1-9, 36-41

                                                Matthew 22:23-33

How willing are we to give control of our lives to someone else?  For me the answer is quite honestly, very little.  I like to know what is happening, plan what will happen and anticipate the details along the way.  However, as a person of faith, I have to resist that urge to control and be willing to let go and let God reveal to me his plan and call.  I don't think that God has every one of our days planned in detail but I do believe that he is calling us to help fulfill his kingdom here on earth.  We just have to listen, see, and allow him to reveal our path.

In Jeremiah, we see a prophet imprisoned in a land of exile.  Israel has been in exile for some time and things are about to take another negative turn.  Yet God tells Jeremiah to buy a piece of land, deep in the land of Israel's exile.  Why would anyone do such a thing?  It seems crazy.  But when we look closely we see that it is an act of faith.  Jeremiah is asked to resist his human conclusions about what makes sense and follow a radical path.  God knows what he is asking - he has promised to deliver Israel and knowing that he will fulfill that promise - it makes perfect sense for Jeremiah to put down some roots and invest in a piece of land.  In Matthew, the Pharisees are testing Jesus but also revealing their need to know all the details and control the rules.  Jesus has to remind them that they cannot know what heaven will be like.  All their human planning will pass as God's kingdom is fulfilled.

Loving creator, you formed us from the earth and continually show us that trusting you will bring us joy and help us to thrive.  Help us to let go and take the paths that you reveal, even when we can't see where they will lead so that we may flourish in the way that you intend.  Amen.

Dawn Morello

Lenten devotions: April 8, 2014

April 8, 2014                           Psalm 143

Tuesday                                   2 Kings 4:18-37

                                                Ephesians 2:1-10

The second Scripture reading tells the story of a Shunammite mother whose son dies. When she decides to visit the "man of God," her husband questions her choice.  She declares, "All is well."   When she arrives at Mt Carmel, where the "man of God" is, he has his servant greet her.  This servant questions her, and again she replies, "All is well."  She has NO clue what, if anything, will change.  Yet, she CHOOSES TO SEE WITH EYES OF FAITH!  In this particular situation, her prayer is answered.  Her son's "eyes are opened" and she leaves with him.

However, there are times when what we desire is NOT what happens, times when we don't like or even understand why God works how He does.  To me, THAT is when CHOOSING TO SEE WITH EYES OF FAITH is the most critical.  To me, that's the comfort of knowing God's ALWAYS there.  Eyes of faith on the mountain top come much easier than down in the valley and we ALL have the same choice as the Shunammite mother.  Will we "see" what we're looking at with EYES OF FAITH?

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us, especially during the "dead" or "trying" times, to CHOOSE TO SEE WITH EYES OF FAITH and, like the Shunammite mother, declare 

"All is well," knowing how very much You love us.  In Jesus' Holy and Precious name, we pray. Amen.

Debbie Lyon

Lenten devotions: April 7, 2014

April 7, 2014                           Psalm 143

Monday                                   1 Kings 17:17-24

                                                Acts 20:7-12

In today’s reading, God sends the prophet Elijah to the woman of Zarephath  who is facing famine and eventually the death of her son. Often we feel that our spiritual life is under assault by today’s society. It isn’t fashionable to go to church, to have faith in a higher power, to put our future in God’s hands. It is the lack of faith that puts us in the wilderness of unbelief. Yet God our Father is ever faithful and vigilant.

God provides the way out spoken of by Saint Paul. While the mother had given up hope, just as we give up hope about the future of the church and faith, we are assured that God our loving Father will send us a Redeemer who will set us on the path of rebirth into a higher faith, a faith where our lives are restored, our church finds its true mission, and we can live our lives as the beacon of Christ. The “gentiles shall come to the light and kings to the brightness” of our Lord’s rising. Christ is alive, our heart of faith, and we, as God’s beloved children will inherit the life of Christ and live to prosper and glorify our Savior just as the widow’s son was raised to the Glory of God the Father. Praise be to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, for giving us the faith to renew our lives to Thy holy service.

Franklyn Commisso

Lenten devotions:April 6, 2014

April 6, 2014                           John 19:1-16a

Fifth Sunday in Lent                Psalm 146      

                                               

Frederick Buechner (1926)

Life (from Beyond Words)

Life – the temptation is always to reduce it to size.  A bowl of cherries.  A rat race.  Amino acids.  Even to call it a mystery smacks of reductionism.  It is the mystery.

As far as anybody seems to know, the vast majority of things in the universe do not have whatever life is.  Sticks, stones, stars, space – they simply are.  A few things are and are somehow a live to it.  They are broken through into Something, or Something has broken through into them.  Even in a jellyfish, a butternut squash.  They’re in it with us.  We’re all in it together, or it in us.  Life is it.  Life is with.

After lecturing learnedly on miracles, a great theologian was asked to give a specific example of one.  “There is only one miracle, “ he answered.  “It is life.”

Have you wept at anything during the past year?

Has your heart beat faster at the sight of young beauty?

Have you thought seriously about the fact that someday you are going to die?

More often than not, do you really listen when people are speaking to you instead of just waiting for your turn to speak?

Is there anybody you know in whose place, if one of you had to suffer great pain, you would volunteer yourself?

 If your answer to all or most of these questions is no, the chances are that you’re dead.

Lenten devotions: April 5, 2014

April 5, 2014                           Psalm 130

Saturday                                  Ezekiel 36:8-15

                                                Luke 24:44-53

“You are my witnesses”

“Tell me what you saw”, said the police officer at the scene of the crime.   Eyewitness testimony is vital in the solving of crimes.  While perspectives may vary, the sharing of all information allows for a fuller understanding of the events that occurred.

Most days are a blur.  I don’t often pay attention to all the details around me.  What am I missing as I let each day slip by?  What have I failed to witness?

We are each witnesses.  We are given glimpses everyday of God’s love and grace.  Maybe it is in a simple smile or in the sharing of a meal with one who is without a home.  Glimpses of grace can be seen as the love of Christ overcomes the pain of betrayal.  It is revealed as forgiveness is offered and relationships are restored.

We are the witnesses to these glimpses.  We are called to not only open our eyes to see this grace, but to share it with others.  We are Christ’s witnesses. 

What have you seen?  Where have you glimpsed God’s love and grace revealed?  How have you shared your glimpses with others?

Pastor Jen Boyd

Lenten devotions: April 4, 2014

April 4, 2014                           Psalm 130

Friday                                      Ezekiel 33:10-16

                                                Revelation 11:15-19

Read from top to bottom these excerpts from today’s three readings as a single thought on God’s forgiveness and our redemptions from sin.

Psalm 130  A song of ascents

 I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand.  But with you there is forgiveness, . . .

Ezekiel 33:1-16

I take no pleasure in the death of sinners, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation.

Revelation 11:15-19

The time has come for judging the dead, for rewarding your servants . . . and destroying those who would destroy the earth.

Heavenly Father, you are exalted above all else.  Hear my cry of atonement.  Although unworthy, I turn to you for forgiveness.  It is only by your grace, and your only begotten Son, that I have any hope of salvation.  May you take pity on me, and by your mercy, grant me life in the world to come.  In Jesus name, I pray to you.  Amen

Don Icken