Saturday, March 25

 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

You are the light of the world. A city build on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5: 13-16 (NRSV)

These were the verses we chose to guide us on a mission trip to Mexico last June. I had no idea, walking through the Cancun airport in our bright t-shirts embossed with a salt shaker and light bulb, how guiding those words would be.

At the construction site for the school, the local Mexican workers, clad in their flimsy sandals, shined their light upon us. We, the work boot clad mission team, shined it right back on them.

With Lucio, it was his infinite patience. He taught us how to build walls with mortar and cinder blocks. Lucio was cheerful and bright even when sections of our wall needed to be taken down and re-built.

Brightness surrounded Juan and his infectious friendliness. We were able to joke constantly, oblivious that we weren’t fluent in each other’s language.

At times, our team was the salt of the earth. We were a well-oiled machine, manually mixing cement, no easy task, passing buckets along the chain to elevated Jevahirian boys pouring columns.

The brightest lights and tastiest salt may have been at Vacation Bible School. The smiles on the local Mayan children’s faces were contagious. The language barrier disappeared while we did crafts and played games. At times, it was difficult to ascertain who was having more fun, the kids or us.

Bright and tasty God, thank you for guiding us to be the salt and the light. Amen.

Julie Wagner

Friday, March 24

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.

Psalm 5:7

. . . a house is not a home . . . home sweet home . . . make yourself at home . . . home away from home . . .

These phrases convey the idea that “home” is a very special place, evoking feelings of comfort, warmth, rest, safety, and security. Many of us are blessed with the stereotypical kind of home; a house, family members in and out, surrounded by familiar possessions. There are also those who discover a home in a different way, possibly through a group setting where they have found understanding, acceptance, and tolerance. Still others find that special place in a work/volunteer environment where they are appreciated, included and find great satisfaction in their achievements.

But what of the people to whom home means dysfunction, fear or shame? Where will those without a physical home find rest, peace and safety? What of those who are afraid to return home, for fear of rejection? Through our belief in the Grace of God, we all have a home, welcoming and loving, offering sanctuary and forgiveness. Let us all be listening for those who are searching for home.

I want only to come closer to you. I leave at the door everything that pulls me away from you - all my failings and fallings, my deceptions and rebellion. I want only to come closer to you. Lead me into your innermost room. Draw me in the intimacy of awe until I know you more and all that I am is held in you. Then will I sing for joy! And I will know that I am not alone; I am in the company of friends in your house of love and praise, covered with your favour, shielded by your blessing. I am coming home.

Written by Silvia Purdie, Resources for Life and Faith, 2016

Sue Delpup

Thursday, March 23

I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.

Genesis 22:17-18

At the beginning of this year, we were asked to pull a star from a basket to find a word that we would meditate on through 2017.  My word was "Blessings".  As I contemplated the word, my first thoughts were things like "count your blessings" and to be mindful and thankful for the blessings in my life.  During Lent, we wait and watch for the ultimate blessing, our reconciliation with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  In Galatians, Paul tells us that "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us … in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."  As I continued to dig deeper into the concept of blessings, however, I was struck by the fact that stopping with the recognition of our own blessings falls short of the ultimate reason for being blessed.  As we see in the blessing of Abraham in Genesis 22, not only will his offspring be blessed, but "by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing."  Genesis 12 also emphasizes that we are blessed in order that we may be a blessing: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."  So, during this Lenten season, as we await the ultimate blessing, by all means, count your blessings.  But take it a step further and ask yourself:  "If I have been blessed, what am I going to do that will bless others?"

Heavenly Father, we know that we are richly blessed, and we are thankful for those blessings, especially the gift of joining the family of Abraham through Christ's death and resurrection.  Help us to take the next, critical step of taking those blessings and being a blessing to others.  Show us daily who and how we may bless "all the nations of the earth" as well as the people you place right in front of us.  In the name of Jesus, who gives blessings to all, Amen.

Ben Kohns

Wednesday, March 22

Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.

I Thessalonians 5:12-18

In this letter (which may have been the first of the New Testament writings), Paul instructs the Christians of Thessalonica how they should live. His advice is not easy to follow. One of the hardest is to be joyful and thankful in all circumstances.

When life brings trouble-conflict at home, school, work, church: sickness, pain, and death; personal, financial, world crises of one kind or another-it is practically impossible to feel joyful; though I cry out to God for help, I find the idea of thanking God, no matter what, beyond me.

The key may be in the word "feel." Though I don't feel thankful, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I can be thankful. Like love and joy, thankfulness does not depend on how I feel. The love that desires for the other what I desire for myself results in action I may not feel like doing, but which tries to follow the example of Jesus. Joy results from the conviction that God works in and through everything that happens. Love, joy, and thankfulness are volitional, not emotional.

When, by God's grace, I thank God for the faith that enables me to pray, and that Christ walks beside me in joy, sorrow, or despair, that the Holy Spirit prays for me, that nothing can separate me from the love of God, I can then express my confession, complaints, petitions, and intercessions, knowing that God hears and answers.

Gracious and merciful God, help me to remember to be prayerful at all times, no matter what. Grant me grace to learn from all that happens and to witness to your goodness. In the name of our redeemer Christ. Amen.

Ginnie Spurr, 1996

Tuesday, March 21

 We know that in everything, God works for good with those that love him, who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Transformation

At the end of seventh grade, my one-room country school was closed for lack of enough students to justify the hiring of a teacher.  The five remaining students were transported to "town school," a building for Grades 1 - 12, about 3 miles away.  

In those days, the rural schools combined the upper grades (5 and 6; 7 and 8), teaching alternate texts in alternate years.  For example, the 7th and 8th graders learned 8th grade arithmetic, English, and spelling and 7th grade history, geography, and science.  The following year they would learn 7th grade arithmetic, English, and spelling, but 8th grade history, geography, and science.  To compensate for this arrangement, the town school assigned me to attend the classes I had not been taught the previous year.  This meant moving from one classroom to another to accommodate the plan.

Not only was I the new kid, but I was a "country kid," and considered an outsider among the  "town kids," a very "unpopular" category.

As it happened, the geography study that year included Australia, with unusual animals, including the "Duck-billed Platypus,"  which we considered "ugly."  Typical of children, my classmates decided that I deserved this description, and they began to call me "Platypus."  Two or three girls were kind to me and I managed to live through it, of course.  By the time I was in high school, I had made friends and lost the pain of being called Platypus.

Many years later, I was married with children and one day my husband came home from a business trip with a gift for me.  It was a furry white stuffed animal in the form of a platypus.  I could not believe that this creature had shown up in my life again!  My children had many stuffed toys and I decided to claim the platypus for myself, never telling anyone this story about it, but always cherishing the realization that a painful memory can be turned into a symbol of love and caring. Thanks be to God.

Gracious and loving God, help us to remember that though we may not understand your ways, we trust in your loving kindness, goodness, and care at all times.  Amen.

Ginnie Spurr

Monday, March 20

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 (NRSV)

Many years ago, when I was embarking as an AFS exchange student to Quillota, Chile, Dr. Glen Harris (our pastor at First Presbyterian) gave me a New Testament with this passage highlighted.  Since then this has always been one of my favorite Bible verses.  It has three parts that instruct us on how to live.

let your light shine before others

We should be a light and not be in darkness.  To do this we must seek the way of the Lord and reach out to others.  It also means that we are not to hide this light “under the bushel basket.”  As we seek the way of the Lord, we are filled with His Spirit and we are to let this Spirit shine through us in our actions.

so that they may see your good works

We need to constantly strive to do good works, because that is what God desires.  Others are watching us, because we proclaim that we are Christians.  When we stumble, others will see this and decide it is OK or conclude that we are hypocritical and being a Christian is no big deal.  But when we do what is right and good we glow and send forth a great light that says we are loved and so are you.

give glory to your Father in heaven 

When we glorify our Father in heaven by doing good works in His name, others will see the good works and Jesus’s love flowing through us and want to also give glory to the Father by doing good works and rejoicing.

This is how Jesus wants us to live and spread the Good News by being an example through our lives of the saving power of His Grace.

Dear Lord, Let me live my life glorifying God and letting my light shine forth and so that others may see it and then turn to glorify you also.  Holy Spirit guide me so that I can spread the Good News of Jesus sacrificial love to save us.  In Jesus name, Amen.

David Zimmer

Third Sunday, March 19

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

Philippians 4:6-8 NIV

One thing in life, whether we like it or not, is that change will happen. We tend to fear change and become anxious about it because we are not in control of life - God is. Change is real and necessary. Yes, Presbyterian Woman at First Presbyterian Church will no longer be active after May, 2017 - but we must embrace change and believe that out of this transformation, something good and meaningful will be formed . With God in control, we can (should) easily let go of our angsts and have our hearts be open to the amazing opportunities that come along with change.

I am a woman and I am a Presbyterian. I have friends that are women and are Presbyterians. Voila! We are and always will be Presbyterian Women!

To quote John F. Kennedy - "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. "

Dear Heavenly Father, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

Kim McGlynn