The Refrigerator Door

By Marilyn Travis

I don’t know why, but I have lately become fascinated with what I find on refrigerator doors. I spent a few minutes in an online search and found I am not the only person interested in such things. In fact, there are several articles available from various sources:

 •  Woman’s Day: “What Do Your Refrigerator Doors Say About You?

 •  theKitchn.com: “What Your Refrigerator Décor Reveals About Who You Really Are”

 •  Fridge Psychology (I’m not joking!): …celebrates the refrigerator doors…that are the collage of you.

My mother-in-law has so many items posted on her refrigerator I can hardly tell what color the fridge is. Her refrigerator is completely covered with photos, artwork, and clippings showcasing her grandchildren. One look at her fridge and you know how much she loves them.

My daughter’s refrigerator has quite a few photos of family and friends on various adventures, most in which she participated. She values her friends and family and the memories they share. The photos are placed in a random pattern. She likes her place to look casual and comfortable.
 
Our son, a true minimalist, has nothing on his refrigerator. He hates clutter in any form!

Our refrigerator has just a few items posted on it. I don’t like clutter either, but I feel compelled to post a few things in a neat, orderly way. The right side of my fridge has two magnets. One says, “I (heart) Chihuahuas.” The other is also a magnet describing any dog, but of course mine has a picture of a white chihuahua. The other side has a couple of helpful measurement equivalents sheets held up with magnets painted with miniature mountain scenes, and a couple of magnets with scripture written on them holding a picture I cut out of one of the Sunday bulletins. I cut out the words from the refrain of “My Chains Are Gone” and glued them to the picture. It holds special meaning to me. Frank and Donna Pinson sang “Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone” at my mother’s memorial service. It was beautiful and special. One look at my refrigerator and you know we love Elwood, our chihuahua, mountains are important to us, and we are people of faith. When I look at my fridge I am reminded that God is faithful, I am saved, and God’s mercy and grace rain down on me every day.

I began to ponder – if our refrigerator doors reveal so much about our personalities and interests, how much more does our personal demeanor, our behavior and our language communicate who we are and what we believe? Many verses in the Bible refer to how we should “clothe” ourselves as Christians.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Romans 13:14 …clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Let’s pray: Lord, please clothe me in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Please help me to be the person you intend me to be. Thank you for your grace, your forgiveness and your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

I hope you enjoy “Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone,” performed by Chris Tomlin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8

Beauty from Ashes

By Cathy Ramsey

This is a devotional I submitted over a year ago. This prayer written by Debbie McDaniel reminds me that God is holding me in his arms and will protect me if I keep him as my life priority and trust him with all my heart. It is hard when we are going through difficult times here at home and are struggling with pain of the knowledge that fellow Christians are suffering horribly in faraway places.

A Lenten Prayer for God to Bring Beauty from Ashes by Debbie McDaniel

“To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61:3

As we walk through this season of Lent, we’re reminded again that sometimes… life is hard.

Sometimes it hurts.

Sometimes it’s dark.

And it leaves its mark, like ashes of grief, in the deepest parts of our souls, where no one but God can really see.

Yet even in times of ashes and struggle, even when we think we’ve been forgotten in our seasons of waiting, God is still there. And He is bigger. 

As believers, we can still hold on to hope.

For He never intends for us to stay stuck in our sin, pain, or deep sorrow. He heals and restores, He calls us onward, He reminds us that in Him, we have great purpose and hope.

There is beauty and greatness behind every mark of darkness. The ashes will fall away, they don’t stay forever, but His greatness and glory shine forever through every broken place and flaw we’ve struggled through.

Jesus conquered death. He lives forever. He reigns in glory. And we have victory in Him.

Take courage dear friends who are facing deep battles. He is greater than any enemy we face in this life. We overcome because He has overcome and our lives are hidden in Christ. May God cover you with peace, may He bring healing in the face of hard news, may He bring deep, abiding joy that makes no sense to the world, may He bring comfort and care as He wraps you in His arms. The God of miracles fights for you today, and He is Mighty.

There's still beauty ahead...straight out of ashes. Christ redeems. Grace.

Dear God,

In this season of Lent we’re reminded of our own difficulties and struggles. Sometimes the way has seemed too dark. Sometimes we feel like our lives have been marked by such grief and pain, we don’t see how our circumstances can ever change. But in the midst of our weakness, we ask that you would be strong on our behalf. Lord, rise up within us, let your Spirit shine out of every broken place we’ve walked through. Allow your power to be manifest through our own weakness, so that others will recognize it is You who is at work on our behalf. We ask that you would trade the ashes of our lives for the beauty of your Presence. Trade our mourning and grief for the oil of joy and gladness from your Spirit. Trade our despair for hope and praise. We choose to give you thanks today and believe that this season of darkness will fade away. Thank you that you are with us in whatever we face, and that you are greater than this trial. We know and recognize that you are Sovereign, we thank you for the victory that is ours because of Christ Jesus, and we are confident that you have good still in store for our future. We thank you that you are at work right now, trading our ashes for greater beauty. We praise you, for you make all things new.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Release, Receive, Return

 By Donna Winchell 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG)

During our Fall retreat at the Franciscan Retreat Center, I had the opportunity to walk the labyrinth at the back of the campus. It was a very narrow pathway constructed with stones. It had only one entrance, then moved back and forth through a series of curves ending in the center – the heart of the labyrinth – a place for prayer, meditation and centering on God. Moving back and forth, I returned from the center to the entrance, which was now the exit, back to my daily routine.

Looking back on this spiritual experience, I realize that the labyrinth walk is a perfect metaphor for our human journey through life, full of twists and turns, long stretches, then more twists and turns, but never a dead end; just a path leading to the center and back. It requires making no decisions, just trusting in God’s guidance the whole time.

The labyrinth walk involves several stages which seem perfect for this Lenten season. As we walk, we are seeking God’s guidance and direction along the journey; moving towards Him while opening our hearts to His love and mercy. It is a time to Release, a time to Receive, and a time to Return.  

Walking with God in the labyrinth, taking time to meditate and pray, is our opportunity to leave behind anything that is not God. It is a contemplative time when we are able to release to God our anxiety and burdens, and to share our joys and needs with Him. It is a time to receive God’s blessings and all of the love God so wants to share. It is a time to return with gratitude knowing God is guiding us through all of the random twists and turns, providing us strength and support as we exit once again to our everyday busy lives.

If you desire a means for growing closer to God this Lent, join me in stepping into the labyrinth. Invite God to walk with you as you meditate and pray. You can walk the labyrinth with your mind and your heart, or you can use the image on this devotional to trace the labyrinth with your finger.

Start by moving inward, “walking” slowly, clearing your mind, meditating, praying, asking God your questions and listening for His response until you reach the center. In the center of the labyrinth, take as much time as you want with God, and then begin moving slowly outward. Upon exiting the labyrinth, thank God for walking with you and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to serve others and to prepare you to be His light to the world. Take some time to reflect on your walk and journal your experience, and ask yourself what else is God inviting you to do.  

Walking the labyrinth at Lent, and throughout the year, provides the opportunity to pray and notice how God is present with us, releasing anything that is hindering our relationship with Him and providing a chance to welcome a new way of staying closer.

Let’s Pray: Almighty God, we are so grateful for this opportunity to release all that is within us on our winding journey to You. We have emerged enriched by Your blessings and Your love. May we continue to savor this special time, remembering that You always guide us on our straight paths and through all the twists and turns that we encounter. We know that we forever belong to You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Good Enough?

By Barb Batt

During this Lenten season, I am examining my character weaknesses, and praying for God's help to improve them. One of my constant challenges is when I compare myself to others and feel bad that I don't measure up. I found the following March 16th devotional in The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer, which really spoke to me on my struggles.

All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. Galatians 6:4

I know someone -- I'll call her Pat-- who was married and had three children. She was a full-time mother and homemaker, but unless she had help cleaning her home once a week, she struggled to get everything done and remain peaceful.

Pat had a friend named Mary who was also married and had five children. Mary worked outside the home two days a week and did all her own housework, cooking, and laundry with no outside help. Actually, it seemed Mary was more peaceful and less temperamental than Pat, even though she had more to do.

Pat felt very bad about herself because she just could not seem to get everything done without help. In her thoughts and conversations, she constantly compared herself with Mary. She put herself under so much pressure that she became difficult to get along with. She carried a burden of guilt most of the time, and it started affecting her mood and her health. She finally came to understand we are all different, and that is perfectly acceptable. She did not need to be able to do what Mary did in order to approve of herself.

Are you comparing yourself to someone else? Let go of that! God created you, and He doesn't make mistakes!

Lord, free me from the guilt and shame that comes from comparing myself with others and not measuring up. I am joined to Jesus today, and I will give Him my very best. Amen

Peter's Sword

By Pat Russell

John 18:10-11  Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear.  The slave’s name was Malchus.  Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath.  Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Matthew 26:51-54  Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen this way?”

Luke 22:51  But Jesus said, “No more of this!”  And he touched his ear and healed him.

This morning I spent time listening to a meditation on this story of Jesus in the Garden when Peter took out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave.  This happened just after Judas ushered in a crowd of soldiers to take Jesus away. This was definitely a “one-two punch” for Jesus. 

Jesus’ response was amazing.  As he put the soldier’s ear back on, he told Peter that this was not his way. I imagine that he must have held Malchus’ head in his hands as he did this.  His “enemy” had a name and was a lowly slave.  Jesus said something that really spoke to me: “If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.”  And then, Jesus let the soldiers bind him and take him away. He did not fight violence with violence, but he walked into violence with a peace and centeredness that was like none the world had seen.  

During this Lenten season, I have carried a burden for the people of Ukraine and the surrounding nations.  I know that you have also.  My prayers have been for God to intervene and stop the Russian army from this horrible work.  I want God to rise up and make himself known.  I want him to pull out his sword and cut off the “ear” of Russia!  

And so, this was my prayer earlier this week: “I confess to You that I am doubting Your work these days in this horrible, destructive war!  Why have You not stopped the Russian army from this undeserved destruction of Ukraine?  It’s the same as Afghanistan.  I don’t understand how You do things in this world.  We have all these psalms and stories about Your care and protection, and yet there seems to be no end to the evil work in this world.  What do I do with this contradiction?  I am disappointed in You.  I’m disappointed in me for my lack of confident faith.”

I am like Judas, I want Jesus to act NOW to establish his kingdom; I am like Peter, too, in that I want Jesus to FIGHT for his kingdom!  I have an agenda and I want God to follow it! But today, today I saw something very deep and true about the Kingdom of God.  Just as Jesus walked into his arrest, into his torture, into his crucifixion with a calm and purposeful heart, willing to sacrifice himself, He is walking into this war. The Kingdom of God is present in this war.

He is walking into this war through individuals and groups who give their lives for others, who rescue the perishing, feed the poor, care for the dying, give up housing for refugees, listen to broken hearts, set people on a path to safety, shelter others in the buildings, hospitals, busses and on the roads.  Instead of running away from the danger, these people are walking into the violence.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus in this world and anything anyone does for the least of these, they do it for Jesus. As He walked towards the cross not away from it; so must I.

Does that mean that I don’t want this war to end?  Not on your life. I will continue to pray for its end.  I will support in prayer and in any way I can those who walk into the violence.  But closer to home, what this also means in my small part of this world, is that I will endeavor to keep my “sword” sheathed when my agenda is not being followed.  I will endeavor to walk forward in my life with a calm, purposeful heart of love remembering Jesus.  The Kingdom of God is alive and well in the here and now.

Jesus, I lift up to You those who are walking into the violence of this world knowing that life is more than winning the battle.  It is sacrifice for another, as You so powerfully showed me in the Garden. I would cut my enemy’s ear off with my words or my attitude or my judgement.  You healed your enemy.  You moved forward into the darkness with calm certainty as to who You are and what You were called to do and be for me.  May I become more and more like You.  Help me to put away my “sword” of what I want to happen and follow You to the cross of my own life. May I live as a citizen of Your Kingdom today.  Amen

 

Let it Go!

By Marilyn Travis

I originally wrote this devotional in the summer of 2020. I think it is appropriate to share it again with you in this time of Lent, especially keeping in mind Becca’s message on Sunday regarding repentance. I’d like to say I no longer struggle with my temper, and though I have made progress I still have a long way to go! I’m thankful for the Lord’s mercy, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and my husband’s patience!

Let it Go!

My week was next to perfect. I was enjoying wonderful daily walks with Elwood. A beautiful blue bird swooped down landing right next to me, unafraid. The cactus is in bloom. We got to see our children and grandson Alex this week. It was all lovely. Mitch and I were enjoying our garage sale, seeing several friends and neighbors, minding social distancing but reveling in face to face encounters.

Then it happened. We posted pictures of our sale on social media.  We sold an antique sideboard we had inherited to the highest bidder. A sentimental extended family member saw the post and wanted the sideboard. Mitch and I were smack dab in the middle. So much for my near perfect week.

I will ease the tension right now and let you know that all turned out well. We were able to cancel the sale and deliver the sideboard to our family member. I should also let you know that everyone in this little drama behaved civilly. Our family member was devastated at first and tearful, but never raised her voice. The person we sold the sideboard to said she understood that family was more important than business. Mitch was upset that we had caused someone else emotional pain and felt guilty about having to back out of an agreement, especially since half payment had already been made.

Did I say everyone in this scenario was civil? I confess I was angry, indignant, enraged! I ranted and raved about how unfair it all was. Didn’t we have a right to dispose of a piece of furniture that had been in our home for thirty years? How dare this person make Mitch feel so upset! We were enjoying each other’s company, reveling in the day’s activities until this issue ruined everything! I haven’t been so angry in a very long time. I felt entitled to my anger. I felt we had been treated unfairly. I felt justified in my rage.

What came next? Conviction.  I should rephrase the question to “Who came next?” The Holy Spirit. He spoke to me through Mitch. Mitch has such an even temperament. He is always there to help me set my feet on the ground after I lose my temper, which is more often than I like to admit! Mitch reminded me that love is unconditional, that family is important. He asked me to let go of my anger and resentment. He asked me to choose love.

I thought I had.  I prayed about it and I slept well. That morning before watching and listening to our church service, I sat to write in my journal. What poured out of me onto the paper was a recount of all the anger, indignancy and rage I’d felt the morning before. This time my rant was on paper. I’m surprised the pages didn’t burst into flame!

What came next? Conviction. Again I prayed. I felt the Spirit clearly asked me to let go of my anger. I felt better after spending some time in prayer, so I started writing again. The second sentence I wrote was “I thought I was finished venting, but evidently I’m not…”

I’m so thankful that God is patient. After a couple more pages of ranting I finally wrote “Oh man, I have GOT to LET THIS GO! Maybe I should set out on foot from our house and climb a fourteener to see if that helps!”

That was not the answer, but something had shifted in my attitude. I tried something different. I tried staying quiet and listening. I asked the Spirit to reveal my sin, instead of me confessing what I believed I had done wrong. I came to realize that the anger, resentment and indignation was a result of being self-centered and dishonest. I was not thinking about anyone but myself. I felt guilty because we did not offer the sideboard first to family members, though we knew we should. We had planned to just hide the fact it was gone, but I posted pictures on social media that showed the sideboard in the background. I had been caught in the middle of a deception. Our plan fell apart because of my actions. I didn’t want to deal with the fact I had been dishonest. I didn’t want to believe I had been dishonest – after all we weren’t going to lie, we were just going to hide the truth! I didn’t want to face the ugly facts about myself and my choices so I chose to get angry and throw blame on the innocent. I had to truly confess everything. It was not fun. It was not easy. It was emotionally draining. It was also wonderful. I am so grateful now that I got caught. Spending so much energy trying to justify my actions and my emotions was not only exhausting, it was separating me from God.

Ephesians 4: 29 - 5:2 holds special meaning for me today:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I thought about sugar coating this story, so I wouldn’t look so bad. I want people to believe I would never do such things, never lose my temper, blame the innocent or try to get away with deception. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only imperfect person in the body of Christ, though, and I hope sharing my stories will help you to not feel alone in your own struggles.  

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

 I am truly at peace. God is good. Thanks be to God!

“How beautiful it is to learn that grace isn’t fragile, and that in the family of God we can fail and not be a failure.”
                       – Gloria Gaither –

 P.S. Here's the song by Francesca Battistelli.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzkBkCihiT8 

Keeping Vigil

By Cathy Ramsey

Mount of Olives, in East Jerusalem

Lent is a traditional time for keeping vigil—an attentive openness to the work of God in our lives and throughout the world. But what does it mean to keep vigil today, when most of us no longer adhere to the strict discipline of late-night prayer?

Scripture Reading: Luke 22:39-46 (NLT)   Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There He told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from Heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

At last, He stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Heather Hughes explores three features of the practice of vigil that make it important for our discipleship not only during Lent, but also through the Church year.

 • The enhanced awareness typical of late-night wakefulness. Think of waking up in the middle of the night when noises sound louder and you are hyper-sensitive to your surroundings. Intentional times of vigil employ this nighttime alertness to become more attentive to God’s presence in the world. Thomas Merton notes the link between enhanced sensory awareness and the spiritual attentiveness characteristic of keeping vigil. In “Fire Watch,” he reports that guarding his monastery from fire through the night became “an examination of conscience in which your task of watchman suddenly appears in its true light: a pretext devised by God to isolate you, and to search your soul with lamps and questions, in the heart of darkness.” Keeping vigil is never an end in itself; it facilitates this kind of encounter with the living God.

• The responsibility of being fully present. Keeping vigil engages our natural bodily response to moments of intense love, fear, sorrow, compunction, or awe. At a loved one’s deathbed we cannot sleep or eat as the gravity of the situation overrides our basic physical needs. Our sense of what is truly important impels us to be fully present, without seeking distraction or escape. Likewise, keeping spiritual vigil cultivates our sensitivity to what is most significant in life—reminding us that we do not live by bread alone. We are fully present before God, as we are with loved ones in times of suffering or joy.

 • Complete obedience to God’s will. Christ’s praying in Gethsemane is the pattern for our keeping vigil. As he is fully present to the Father, he discerns the Father’s will through prayer and maintains obedience to the point of death. Like the disciples in Gethsemane, we are called to pray with Christ—to stay spiritually awake and to keep watch in compunction for our own sin and sorrow for the world’s need. This is not an easy task, as even the disciples abandoned Christ, falling asleep from grief.

Hughes commends practices to help us to keep vigil—ancient disciplines like corporate prayer, fasting, almsgiving, examination of conscience, and lectio divina, and creative activities like fasting from artificial light or committing to draw or write.

Lent is a special time to keep vigil. As with Christ in Gethsemane, we have the agony of apprehending, wrestling with, and accepting God’s saving will for the world and for our individual lives. We are given the opportunity to become fully awake to a world that requires Golgotha (Calvary), but is also given the empty tomb.

The Prayer of St. Ephraim

O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, vain curiosity, lust for power, and idle talk. But give to me, thy servant, a spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love. O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother; for blessed are thou to the ages of ages. Amen

Rarely Herd sings a beautiful piece about Jesus:

https://youtu.be/Xi5VwzIGrxk

Resource: Christian Reflection A Series in Faith and Ethics. Heather Hughes, the author of this study guide, serves as Publication Specialist and Project Coordinator of the Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University. © 2013 The Center for Christian Ethics.  www.baylor.edu;

The Desert

By Phil Wood

In Christian tradition, although the season of Lent is observed during the 40 days leading up to Easter, it is actually patterned after the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert prior to beginning his ministry.

In Matthew, chapters 3 and 4, we see that immediately after he was baptized by John, and affirmed to the world by a voice from heaven declaring, “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased,” Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

After forty days and forty nights of fasting, Jesus was hungry. It was then, at his weakest moment, the tempter came to him. We all know the story. Jesus faced and overcame every temptation. After the devil departed, angels came and attended him, and Luke tells us “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread about the whole countryside.”

So, what does this have to do with Lent? Well, during Lent we recognize that the ministry of Jesus now continues through us. And like Jesus, we too must face our temptations so we can be ready for whatever the world throws at us. During Lent we engage in practices that allow the Holy Spirit to transform us more into the likeness of Christ.

According to Ruth Haley Barton, “Jesus’ ministry on earth was very short, so perhaps one such experience was enough for him, but for me, and perhaps for all of us, I need Lent to come around every year so the Holy Spirit can drop the plow and help me dig a little deeper into my own patterns and motivations to see what still needs transforming!”

So Lent is less about giving up chocolate or beer, and more about facing our more serious temptations and transcending them through practices and disciplines that are more in line with God’s intentions.

Setting aside time every day for reading and meditating on Scripture, for praying Scripture, and sitting silent before the Lord is one such discipline.

Fasting from food is another. I definitely do not recommend fasting for forty days and forty nights, as Jesus did. One day is a good way to start. But even one day helps us to see that we do, indeed, have the strength to set aside things that we may hold too dear in our lives. It helps us “fashion our own desert” where we can focus on God and realize our complete dependence on him.

We each have a ministry and, just as Jesus was called to spend 40 days with God in the wilderness, facing his temptations, so we are called during Lent to spend time with God in the wilderness. Call it preparation for the ministry that lies ahead for each of us — ministry to our families, our children and grandchildren, ministry within our circle of influence: our congregation, our friends, our culture, even in political circles.

“We have to fashion our own desert where we can withdraw every day, shake off our compulsions, and dwell in the gentle healing presence of our Lord. Without such a desert we will lose our own soul while preaching the gospel to others. But with such a spiritual abode, we will become increasingly conformed to him in whose name we minister.  (Henri Nouwen)

“Friends, if there has ever been a moment when we…need to fashion our own wilderness so our motives can be purified for God-ordained ministry, the time is now. If there has ever been a moment when we need to be able to see through to what is really going on spiritually so we can reject the temptations of the evil one, the time is now. If there was ever a moment when we need to be strengthened by angels of God in the wilderness places of our lives, the time is now. And if there was ever a time when the world needs [us] to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in order to carry out the purposes for which we have been anointed, the time is now.” (Ruth Haley Barton)

Invitational question: Can we fashion our own wilderness so that what happened to Jesus in the wilderness can happen to us? (RHB)

Lord God, you sent your son to bear our sins on the cross. And he has made it known that we are to take up that cross daily so that his light, his compassion, his unconditional love may be brought to bear on our troubled world today. Teach our hearts, Lord. Equip us for ministry. Help us to shake off the worldly ways that encumber us and become the hands and feet of Christ. In his holy name, amen.

 

Trust the Author

By Donna Winchell

 

⁴ “O Lord, make me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am!

⁵ Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing before you.” (Psalm 39:4-5)

Stories entertain, inspire, teach and can be a rewarding bonding experience. My friend Dina reads to her granddaughter the same story about a Rottweiler puppy every afternoon before nap time; and we are all enriched and connected through the wonderful stories Becca shares with us each Sunday.

We all have a story to share, a biography about our relationship with God and how He has worked in our lives. Each of us is special and unique and our story may include pages sometimes full of excitement, sometimes filled with sadness or anxiety, chapters with periods of peace and hope or chapters we would like to remove altogether. The one consistent chapter in our stories, common to each of us as Christians, is that we are all sinners separated from God by sin; and through Jesus we have gained our salvation through His death on the cross. We have been redeemed because of Jesus’ death itself, and through His sacrifice He began the restoration process:

“²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatian 2:20).

If you share your own story with sufficient candor will it be the story you hope to reveal? It is possible if we allow God to write our story.

Lent is the perfect time to focus on God and with the help of the Holy Spirit to look back on past chapters – especially the times when we didn’t love like we should, when we failed our responsibilities or when we were centered on too many other things; settling for a life distanced from Him. Let this week be a special time to pray and discern what is keeping you from your story reflecting the righteous person you want to be. Invite God to help you search your heart and soul to see what is needed to refine your story moving forward. 

“The point here is not to rehearse every sinful moment of your life, which is impossible anyway.  Instead, invite God to lead you through your life history and reveal those moments in which you failed to love God, others, or yourself.  You may consider specific events or people, or reflect on more general attitudes or patterns of conduct.  In your reflection, notice the contagion of sin:  how my sin affects my world and others around me.”  (O’Brien)

When a chapter in our story contains a trial or challenge, God allows it for our spiritual good. Knowing this and acknowledging our wrongdoings will help us to be spiritually rejuvenated and through the very choices we make in our lives we will be able to tell our story the way we want it to be told. "I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6).

Because of Jesus, our redemption chapters are revealing our journey of transformation and growth. It takes time and commitment in this journey with God, but it’s worth every beautiful step. I love that He is helping us write each chapter and uses the things we go through to teach us, to help build our storyline to be a reflection of God for His glory. Our ultimate goal is to experience a union with Him in the same way that Jesus was one with the Father.

Even though we can’t see the ending yet, God wants to help author our story to completion. By aligning our lives with God we will honor Him in each page; and it is the blessings of God’s grace, love and forgiveness that will lead to that perfect ending – a glorious eternity united with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, we know you have a purpose for our lives and that You are the writer of our story. We trust in You and pray for the wisdom to discern what changes we need to make to overcome our shortcomings because we want our life story to reveal Your grace, love and mercy; and bring You praise and glory. We pray that you will help finish our story and complete the redemptive work You have begun in us. In the wonderful and precious Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

Finding Your Joy

By Barb Batt

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

During these difficult times, I find myself looking for some joy and peace in my life to offset the challenging daily news.

One of my sources of joy is volunteering at a local ranch that offers equine therapy to mentally, emotionally and physically challenged children and adults. I am the side walker for the client while she is on the horse. I really enjoy this position as I get to interact with the client as I walk on the side of the horse. My client is a young mentally and physically challenged girl. She is given a soft steering wheel toy while she rides. We ask her to turn the steering wheel to the side where the horse should turn. She is so enthusiastic when she says, "Turn left!" or "Turn right!" I am so filled with happiness from interacting with my client. Her simple joy of riding the horse radiates to anyone who is near her. She is not aware of her disabilities while she is riding the horse.

I found the following words from the March 14th Jesus Listens devotional prayer by Sarah Young:

"You have been showing me that hope is like a golden cord connecting me to heaven. This cord helps me hold my head up high even when multiple trials are buffeting me."
 
During this Lenten season, try to find the joy and peace that sustains you during these turbulent times. It can be as simple as taking a walk in our beautiful countryside.

Let's pray: Father God, help us to remember the joy found in the wonderful world you created. Keep us from focusing on this broken world. Remind us that you never leave us, and you are protecting us from dangers. In your powerful name, Jesus. Amen

May Today There Be Peace

From Marilyn Travis

I came across this blog entry from St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minnesota, September 23, 2010. I found it particularly timely and the two poems referred to here especially meaningful in this time of Lent. I invite you to take some time with this. As poet Minnie Louise Haskins suggests, “put your hand in the hand of God” and go forth!

 

May Today There Be Peace Within

September 23, 2010/blog

“Don’t be anxious,” Jesus tells us in the Gospel (Mk 6:34). But frankly, I’ve been wondering how we are supposed to do that in this terrifying world in which we live. I sometimes wake up in the 3 a.m. “hour of the dragon” and am faced with some of the challenges facing people of every nation and the very health of fragile earth.

I could list all those things that seem to be going wrong around us, and so could you. I could tell stories of people I know and love, stories from my Sisters and our guests in the monastery that underscore the risky world we live in. So could you from your own experience. You and I know we sometimes sit around and spin the risk until we are looking at a catastrophe. So what are we to do?

In 1908 the poet Minnie Louise Haskins published the poem “The Gate of Year,” part of a collection titled The Desert. Her poem was widely acclaimed as inspirational, reaching its first mass audience in the early days of the Second World War. Those of us who lived some portion of those years, or who have since studied that time in history, know that it, too, was a risky time threatening mass destruction of the world. Haskins wrote in part: “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’ So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. “

What was there in that poem that caught the imagination of people of all nations? For those of us who believe in a God who desires only our good, it seems an affirmation that we can trust God. In our times of anxiety, it seems a better light and safer way than anything else.

St. Terese of Lisieux, born 85 years before Minnie wrote her poem, offers us comparable words of trust in the midst of this age of anxiety:

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Sbm.osb.org/2010/09/may-today-there-be-peace-within/

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

By Cathy Ramsey

 

Do we run to God first in time of trouble? Do we turn to prayer instead of worry when something goes wrong? Isn’t this what it means to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”?

From www.angelusnews.com – Archbishop Gomez:

Lent is a good time to remember what we are here for, and to once again center our lives on our purpose.

“Be holy as your Father in heaven is holy,” Jesus commanded. And St. Paul said, “This is the will of God — your sanctification.”

God wants us to be holy, to be saints. This is God’s will for you and for me; this is his plan for every person. And he orders his creation according to his purposes, which is our sanctification and salvation in Christ.

It is simple. It is beautiful. It is the whole truth about our lives. It is the whole truth about the world and about history.

Our challenge is to trust in Jesus, to believe in his love for us, to believe that he has a plan for our lives, and to entrust ourselves totally to him, seeking his will in all things.

We enter into Lent for a second year now under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. Since last Lent, we have seen our lives disrupted and disordered by this deadly disease. Our faith has been tried and tested in many ways.

My prayer this year is that we will make this Lent a time to renew our trust in the Lord, to strengthen our confidence in God’s personal love for each one of us.

Through our prayer, our sacrifices, and almsgiving, I hope that we can come to a new awareness of God’s presence in this pandemic, to understand that even through the suffering and pain, God is carrying out his plan of love. He is still working to make us saints.

In the Scriptures, trust in the Lord is the constant call and command to believers. Trust in his holy name. Trust in his word. Trust in his steadfast love, his mercy, his saving power. We cannot rely on ourselves. God alone must be our rock and our refuge, our help and our shield.

God’s providence, his plan for creation and his tender care for us, is at the heart of Our Lord’s teaching. In the Sermon on the Mount, he speaks of our heavenly Father feeding the birds in the sky and causing the wildflowers to grow.

Jesus teaches us not to worry about our lives — not about what we will eat, what we will drink, or what will happen tomorrow.

Our Father knows what we need, Jesus tells us. And if we seek his kingdom first — “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” — we can be confident that God will give us every good gift.

Jesus teaches us to see that everything comes from the loving hand of God and there is nothing that happens in our lives — including the tragedies, disappointments, and sufferings — that is not either willed by our Father or permitted by him for our sanctification.

These are hard truths, and many of our brothers and sisters are haunted by this question of how God can permit suffering and somehow bring some unseen good out of it.

But Jesus says that in our Father’s loving plan for creation, not even a little bird falls from the sky that he does not know about and care about. And as he reminds us, each of us is worth far more to God than the little birds!

God is in charge, in the world and in our lives. What we cannot understand today, we will understand tomorrow. The scandal of evil, the innocent who suffer, the hardships that we and our loved ones must endure — in everything God is working according to his mysterious and loving purposes.

We need to grow in our trust in the Lord. We need to entrust ourselves more and more to his tender care and seek more and more to do his will in everything. 

The best way to grow in trust is through prayer. Learn to pray with the psalms, especially. These are the prayers of people who trust in God and seek his will even in great trials and sufferings.

You should make little acts of faith often during the course of every day. Pray: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you!”

Know that Jesus is with you, by your side at all times. Know that he is arranging everything out of love for you. Trust in the Lord who will never abandon you in your time of trial.

Pray for me this week and I will pray for you.

How Great Thou Art by Reba McIntyre         

https://youtu.be/JkAHoDCfIUg

 

 

Who Do You Say I Am?

By: Donna Winchell

 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” – “behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:14, 29).

I have come to realize that when a song gets stuck in my head, it excites my brain into giving it full attention. For the past 3 months, I have been listening to various renditions of the song “Mary Did You Know”, contemplating and reflecting on the lyrics. God’s design for our lives often includes symbolism as ways for us to unite our hearts and minds; and there is no denying God as Creator and why His Son came to earth. I think the last two lines in this beautiful song are especially worth focusing on during Lent. 

“Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven's perfect Lamb?

That sleeping child you're holding is the Great I Am” 

These lyrics are a powerful reminder for us that Jesus is the perfect Lamb that takes away the sins of the world and saves all who call on His name. Throughout scripture we are provided with many lessons from Jesus including His “I Am” statements found in the Gospel of John. These statements are a continuation of what God told Moses in Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 

Jesus’ metaphorical “I Am” statements often complemented His miracles and were intended to give the miracles meaning, demonstrating His teachings. They illustrate lessons for us with comparisons. With these statements, we are invited into a relationship with Jesus as He solidifies Himself as fully God and fully man, showing us both the personal and the eternal nature of God. Jesus uses this figurative language and interjects wisdom with these metaphors to help us better understand His character. He tells us……“I Am”..…….the Bread of Life (John 6:35), the Light of the World (John 8:12), the Door (John 10:7), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), the Way the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) and the Vine (John 15:5). 

Jesus is our Sustainer giving us what we need and supporting us spiritually as the means in which to gain eternal life. He is the Illuminator bringing the energy of light into our dark world banishing the darkness as He guides us. He is our Protector and the way to salvation – there is no other door to eternal life except through Him; since doors that exclude Jesus are established by the evil one. Jesus is our Caretaker watching over us, willing to lay down His life for us, but it is imperative that we are known by Him. He is our Life-giver bringing us from death into eternal life. He is our Truth & Way guiding us through life’s difficulties; the only way to the Father. And Jesus is the True Source of Life for all believers as we abide and remain rooted and connected to Him. 

Imagine Jesus asking you the question this Lent “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29). What feelings or thoughts arise within you as you ponder His question? What qualities of Jesus are you drawn to and need at this stage of your life? What emotions are you feeling right now? How are you connecting with Him? Open up and share your feelings. Jesus, the “I Am” – we need Him in so many ways, and He is always ready to be whatever we need Him to be in our lives. 

Following are a few questions you might want to use for reflection:

* Do you think that Jesus, the bread of life, can truly satisfy you? How? 

* Is your relation with Jesus a door to opportunity or a closed door blocking you from what you desire. Why? 

* What are some practices that help you maintain your connection to Jesus? What other things can you add? 

Jesus is our Savior –  the Great I Am – the Messiah-God in human form – our self-sustaining God who is, and who was, and who is to come. 

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, We pray that You will meet each of our individual needs today. Shine Your light and dispel any darkness in our souls. Shelter and protect us from anything that You have not approved; lead us, guide us and drive away the many distractions in our lives that keep us from being centered on You. Jesus, help us to know you more intimately this season, love You more intensely and follow You more closely. Amen 

 

Nicodemus

By Phil Wood

Please open your Bible and read John 3:1-14. And keep it open for reference as you read through the following meditation.

Nicodemus was curious. He had heard about the many signs Jesus had been performing there in Jerusalem during the Passover celebration. He was probably there at the Temple when Jesus came and, you know, stirred things up.

Maybe Nicodemus was actually listening, and took note when Jesus called the temple his "Father's house." Perhaps he, too, remembered the messianic prophecy of King David who said, "Zeal for your house will consume me." I believe Nicodemus suspected that Jesus was the Christ. So he came to Jesus, though he did not want others to know.

And the two of them were engaged in a discussion about things of the Spirit, things that Nicodemus was obviously struggling to understand, especially the notion that one must be born again...in order to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was a linear, literal, black-and-white kind of guy. He knew all the rules. But the concept of entering a second time into his mother's womb, well, it just kind of freaked him out.

Then Jesus dropped this one on him. Jesus said, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

I wish we could have seen Nic's face.

Nicodemus was probably aware of the story Jesus was alluding to, when Moses and the sinful, grumbling people were wandering in the desert. But I'm pretty sure Nicodemus had no idea that by talking about being "lifted up," Jesus was referring to his own death, when he would be lifted up on a cross, and later lifted up in resurrection, so that God's people could be rescued from their persistently recurring sin – once and for all.

The story of the serpent being lifted up in the wilderness goes something like this. After about 38 or 39 years of wandering in the desert and grumbling, God finally said enough is enough. Well, he didn't really say that, but...he sent snakes.

You can read the story in Numbers, Chapter 21. But I'm going to paraphrase. The Israelites were traveling along the route to the Red Sea to go around Edom (basically because the Edomites had made it clear that if the Israelites tried to pass through their land they would come out and kill them). So the Israelites were going the long way – the scenic route, as it were – and the people "grew impatient." Impatient! And they spoke against God and against Moses, and they said (again), "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

So God sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. In their suffering they realized once again how much they needed God's mercy. So they came to Moses saying (and remember I’m paraphrasing), “Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?! Now we know that we sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us."

The people see that their sin has led to suffering. They submit to God's sovereign rule and repent. Moses prays for them...and God, in his never-ending mercy and love, gives them a way to be saved.

God told Moses to make a snake out of bronze, lift it up, set it high on a pole. And people who have been bitten by the serpent, if they lift their eyes to this symbol, will live. And so it was.

Even in this early time in the life of God's people, God here foreshadows his plan for the ultimate salvation of his people. In this "lifted up" bronze serpent, we see an anticipation of what would happen when Jesus was "lifted up" in crucifixion.

And now when we look again at this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, we begin to see that when Jesus is lifted up on the cross, and lifted up from the grave, it will not just be to rescue us from the suffering resulting from our most recent sin, it will make available to us a new life. An eternal life that begins when we lift our eyes to the one who is lifted up. A life that comes with the power to overcome sin. A life that comes with the power to act rightly, and do the things God has planned for us to do since the beginning of time.

Nicodemus no doubt went away from this encounter with Jesus still struggling to comprehend what Jesus was saying. But the word was at work in him. And by the time he had gone through the first Lent, the original 40 days leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, a time of terrible soul searching that must have just torn him apart, he came away repentant, made new.

He witnessed Jesus being lifted up and was healed. He came with Joseph of Arimathea, bringing myrrh and aloes, and took the body of Jesus away from the cross, bound it in linen cloths with the spices, and placed him in a tomb in the garden.

This is the stuff of Lent.

Lord, as you did with Nicodemus, bring us out of the darkness and into the light. Amen.

 

Take My Life

By Marilyn Travis

This morning I invite you to take time to meditate and pray on this passage from Psalms. I am also sharing the poem “Hell-Bent,” written by Susan Delaney Spear, and a link to the hymn, “Take My Life and Let it Be.” Read or listen to each one at least twice and take time to pray and listen for God’s forgiveness, healing, and direction. I am striving to seek God’s will in my life. I want my will to be aligned with His will. It’s a process for sure – a journey. I’m grateful that I’m not alone in this journey. I’m sharing it with each of you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Hell-Bent

Hallow my eyes

Which envy things others possess:

A friend’s distinct talent,

A colleague’s success.

Hallow my ears

Which are deaf to the facts:

The cycle of poverty,

Inhumane acts.

 

Hallow my lips

Which embroider a story

To tear others down

And bring myself glory.

 

Hallow my arms

Which are quick to embrace

The lovable, powerful

But shun the disgraced.

 

Hallow my feet

Which skirt paths of danger,

Evade paths of sacrifice

And penniless strangers.

 

Hallow my heart,

Ambiguous, discontent,

Doggedly stubborn,

And strangely hell-bent.

 

       Susan Delaney Spear

 

Take My Life and Let it Be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Byp7aK2DA

Calm in Chaos

By: Cathy Ramsey

 

Do you feel like there is a lot of chaos in the world? Does it feel like a storm is raging all around us? Ukraine, children starving in Afghanistan, COVID 19 isolation and economic impact, high prices, stock shortages, illness or injuries for ourselves, family and friends are all the things in our lives that can feel so overwhelming.

I find it calming to watch it snow, watch and hear the birds singing, walking through a flower garden or the forest in the mountains, listening to my favorite music, and watching the dogs sleep peacefully.

But, above all, I find it the most calming to pray and read scripture. The Bible has so much scripture that tells us how much God loves us and protects us. These are just a small percentage of scripture that teaches us about how much God cares about us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. Psalm 138:7

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.  Psalm 32:7

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. Psalm 5:11

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:3-4

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Prayer

God, Heavenly Father, you showed us how much you love us and how dedicated you are to protecting us from danger when you gave us Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Lent reminds us of your great sacrifice. We have proof every day that you watch over us and protect us in small ways, in big ways, and in miraculous ways. Your word brings us calm in a chaotic world. We are so thankful for your blessings and for your love. Please help us to remember not to take our blessings for granted every single day. Please help us to know you and to trust you. Please help us find calm in the chaos of our world. In Jesus’s name we pray.

This is a beautiful song about seeking God for finding calm in the storm:

 https://youtu.be/e9Snw0Xkgtshttps://youtu.be/e9Snw0Xkgts