SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Genesis 28:13b  This land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants.  

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10  They will suffer the punishment of eternal ruin, cut off from the presence of the Lord and the splendor of his might when on the great day he comes to be glorified among his own and adored among all believers; for you did indeed believe the testimony we brought you.

Banishment

Ha, banishment!  Be merciful, say “death”;

For exile hath more terror in his look,
Much more than death.
(Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene III)

Well there it is:  what's worse than death?  Banishment.  But 'banishment' from where?  

The ancients believed that one's soul was part of the home land.  Even the author(s) of Genesis believed that the essence of men was tied to the land and that the land was important in preservation of their descendants.  

By the time of Shakespeare, 'banishment' was a bit less specific but just as serious, 'worse than death'.

Do we still go along with this idea?  St. Paul did.  Speaking to the people of Thesolonica, he said that banishment from the presence of the Lord was indeed the worst punishment imaginable.  The Jews of the preceding century had surely seen a great variety of punishments.

Do we agree with Paul that the ultimate punishment is separation from God?  And who could bring down that separation upon us?

Think about it.

Prayer:  Father God, we pray that we may always crave your presence and never stray far from your care that is always with us.  Amen.

Ross Stuntz

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Mark 11:22-23  So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says.”

In recent days since the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, we have seen the profound suffering and pain experienced by the Haitian people.  Before the disaster the people were already aware of how it feels to live in poverty.  But this profound tragedy has been so many times worse.  
As was expressed in a poem in Mitch Albom’s latest book, Have a Little Faith, he used this verse by Robert Browning Hamilton:

I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.

Prayer:  Gracious God, we pray that the faith of these people and the spirit they have reflected to so many, will help them continue to be assured that as the song goes, “Nothin’s gonna keep them stranded,” with God’s help.  Amen.

Carol Morrill

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Mark 10:27  Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

We look around and see so many challenges.  For ourselves, how will we pay the bills, care for our family, make the right decisions?  For our leaders, with so many interest groups how will they decide what is truly best for the people?  For our church, how will it respond to the many needs of our community and congregation and still follow Jesus?

Our inclination often is to throw up our arms and say, “We, they, it can never get everything done the right way.”  It is indeed overwhelming if we approach it from our human perspective.  We do not have the ability, wisdom, patience to meet all these challenges.

The good news is that we are not asked to meet all these challenges alone because we will surely fail.  God is with us and “for God all things are possible.”  Therefore approach these challenges knowing that God will take over where we fall short.  Approach each challenge with confidence and do what you can accomplish.  Work with fellow Christians on the bigger challenges.  Pray for the Lord to be with you and trust that he will finish the task.

However, don’t give up, sit on the sidelines, or wait for someone else to step forward.  It is when we are involved, trying, straining that we are best able to feel the Lord working with us to meet the challenges and leading us on.

Prayer:  Dear God, let us be involved in meeting the challenges we face with confidence that You are with us and that with You all things are possible.  Amen.

David R. Zimmer

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

1 Thessalonians 5:11  Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

These instructions were written by Paul to the church at Thessalonica.  It seems that Paul had visited there (Acts 17:1-14) on the second missionary journey, but was not there for a very lengthy time.  However, he realized the Thessalonians need for encouragement in their beliefs and so sent his young friend, Timothy, back to the city while he, Paul, was in Athens.  It would seem Paul was pleased with Timothy’s report and was grateful to learn that the young church community was holding strong.

Encouragement is a very important word.  

Early last fall, Sue Kohns, director of the Children’s Choirs, led the 1st-6th grade choristers in an exercise to develop a motto for what we do.  The children came up with a host of words that they thought were important to choir, and so we developed the following as our motto:

As worship leaders, we will encourage each other and those around us to see God in all we do.

In Chapel Choir, we spend our time not only learning anthems to offer to the congregation, but also in learning what it is to be a worship leader.  We strive to teach the children to encourage each other and, in turn, to encourage you, in seeing God in all that we do: singing anthems and playing instruments as well as simply being young children of God.  

When you see our children singing in the service please know there is a message for you, and it is this:  We want to encourage each of you and all those around you to see God in all that you do!

Prayer:  Dear Lord, we are so very grateful that you know each of us, young and not so young.  Help us always to keep focused on you as we try to encourage our friends and all our congregation to see Your hand in all that we do.  Amen.

Sarah Krug

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

2 Corinthians 12:9  But he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

    This caught my eye while searching for another passage that I was more familiar with.  This action is also true in life.  We give into the familiar and are uncomfortable to search out the unknown.  But what we miss not going for this encounter with the unknown is challenging ourselves to share, grow and change, some of which can be painful and uncomfortable.

Last year, my girlfriend, Mary, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer which was very devastating for her and me.  She is the third person this year in my group of friends that faced many decisions about her life after receiving this news.  After many surgeries and treatment, we have come through this illness as closer friends.  I am not sure that I would have gotten the opportunity to know her on a deeper, almost sisterly level if it were not for this life altering event.  We first became friends when our daughters met at preschool.  The girls have a very close bond, as sisters as both girls have no sisters of their own.  Their relationship has blossomed as well during this time.

We are now focused on helping each other with goals to find the peace, love and grace in our lives.  We do this with our friends, families and those we can seek out everyday.  We walk every day outside if the weather is good and, if not, at a local mall early in the morning after dropping off our girls at school.  We always say hello with a smile on our face and in our voice to other walkers and open ourselves to other strangers chatting like old friends.  We are trying to extend ourselves in our community as caring women.  There are so many lonely people in the world, and we just have to say hello and hope they will respond.

As the scripture tells us, power is perfect in weakness.  So the next time life hands you lemons, make the lemonade and share it with all those who are willing to come over for a cup.  There is always plenty of Peace, Love, and Grace to go around.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help us to be your voice and extend your hands of Peace, Love and Grace to everyone today and tomorrow.  Amen.

Kathleen Sleder

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Mark 10:15  “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”  

Ever wonder why so many people keep having babies?  Certainly no practical person would ever want one.  They really don't do much for you – especially at first.  They demand a lot of your time and attention.  They keep you from sleeping.  They cost money.  They grow up and argue with you.  And you worry about them for the rest of your life.

I'm sure there are a lot of reasons why people continue to have, enjoy, and love them.  I think that they help to remind us of, and add to, this miracle we are living.  How could God create anything so perfect and wonderful (I was like that once)?  How can they sleep so peacefully (we slow down and appreciate anew the world around us)?  Who could ever have accomplished this magnificent creation (I could never have even imagined it)?  How can I love this child so?  Can it really be that God loves me like this?

Verse 16 continues, “And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”  Is this what happens when we receive the Kingdom?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help us to be like little children.  Trusting.  Seeking.  Calm.  Full of wonder.    Waiting.  Humble.  Eager to receive the Kingdom.  Amen.

Carl Fischer

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Psalm 51:10,15  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.  O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

This Psalm asks God to watch over us.  We ask God to show God’s self through us.

One student was reminded of the movie Evan Almighty.  In it, the main character, Evan, tries to run from God’s plan.  But God keeps making small changes in Evan’s life – making him grow masses of facial hair, magically garbing him in biblical-style robes – to encourage Evan to change his life and do God’s will.  Eventually, Evan accepts these changes and lives the way God would have him live.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, our hearts and minds are unclean from factors beyond our control.  We long for your Spirit to guide us back to your path.  Please purify our hearts so we may stay with your plan for us.  We can’t do it alone and need your help.  Amen.

Mark 12:30-31  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

These verses instruct us to love everyone (including God) with everything we have.

One group of students remembered the movie The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  When the Grinch hears the singing of the Whos in        Who-ville on Christmas morning, after he has stolen all their gifts, decorations, and food, his heart grows.  His mindset changes from selfish to compassionate.

We thought about the people of Haiti.  We believe we must give ourselves and everything we can because they are our neighbors.  By loving our neighbors, we love God.

Prayer:  Dear God, help us to give all that we have in loving you and loving each other.  Help us to use the entirety of our heart, of our soul, and of our mind to express this love towards you and towards our neighbors.  Amen.

From the FOCUS Youth Group