LENTEN DEVOTION FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 1

Moses said to the Lord, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now...I am slow of speech." Then the Lord said to him, "Go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." But he said "Lord, please send someone else." Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and He said, "What of your brother Aaron?...You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do...and you shall serve as God for him." (Exodus 4:10-16)

Since childhood, we have been told that Lent is a time for introspection, for learning how our behaviors have led to private and corporate crucifixions of the one whose birth we recently celebrated. What is God like? How does God view our complicity or acquiescence in the face of injustice and human caused suffering?

From the passage above, we learn it is God's nature to care and to call. God cares about what is happening and calls people to fix it. God called Moses from the time of his birth to be the liberator of the Hebrews, motivating his mother and the Pharaoh's daughter to save him from drowning in the Nile, and now Moses is complaining and asking God to send someone else! Excuses, excuses! This adds another attribute to our assessment of God's nature: ANGER.

We too have been called by God to fix things that have gone wrong around us and have found excuses to leave it to someone else. Too young. Too old. Too busy. Too powerless. Too tired. God did not let Moses off the hook, and neither will God do that for us. God may send someone else to do it with us, but not for us. What is God's nature? To call again.

God: teach us what's wrong and let us know what is unacceptable in our excuses. Then, give us the friends and supporters to be with us on the road to compassion and justice. Amen.

Hank Borchardt

LENTEN DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29

And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:16)

I caught something highly infectious on the plane coming into Detroit - and I loved it. It had been a long plane ride and people were tired and anxious to get off the plane. After touching down at Detroit Metro and arriving at the gate, all were rushing to get belongings from the overhead bins, so they could be first into the aisle to deplane. Then came the sound a small child's voice giggling, and then laughing. At first, the passengers continued in their rush to leave the plane, but as the child's contagious laughter continued, it infected others on the plane, and bit by bit smiles came to the faces of those who moments before had been intent on mowing down their fellow passengers in their drive to get off the plane.

Everyone stopped for a few moments to listen to the joyous laughter of that innocent child and then slowly picked up the pace and moved on. I have often wondered if others on that plane were impacted as much as I at the momentary stopping of time.

Heavenly Father, Open our ears, eyes, minds and hearts to awareness of those wondrous moments that you share with us each day. Amen.

Connie Dugger

LENTEN DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:52)

Sometime ago I was reading a book and came across the phrase "The Christ in me greets the Christ in you." It was a powerful statement and made me think long and hard.

When I've been patiently waiting for a parking space and someone else takes it, do I recognize the Christ, much less greet the Christ in that person? Do I see the Christ in a driver who dangerously cuts me off? The rapist? The murderer? The child molester? Can the Christ in me greet the Christ in them?

I sincerely want to be a peaceful influence among all people that I encounter, but it's certainly not easy; it's very hard. In those hard moments I turn to God in prayer, asking that my vengeful thoughts be turned into positive thoughts.

As I radiate peace and bless others I bless myself as well.

The Christ in me greets the Christ in you.

My God, my Father, make me an instrument of peace. Amen.

Nancy Therasse

LENTEN DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27

If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23)

My late husband Gene, and I were very active in the Boy Scout program. Our oldest grandson, Chad, joined too, along with his dad. We were pleased and happy that Chad was going to work-on his Eagle badge.

At first, he was very interested in doing the various requirements, but then lost interest when he received his driver's license and a car, a young lady appeared on the scene and soon the eagle badge was forgotten. Gene was disappointed, as he had hoped to see it presented. It turned out he never would as, unfortunately, he passed away soon after.

I, too, wanted him to finish things up, so I discussed it with a fellow Scouter, and he told me, "Once they get a whiff of gasoline fumes and perfume, it's a downhill path." It seemed hopeless, but I felt God would decide if it was to be, and I would put my faith in Him.

Time passed, and one day Chad's mother informed me he had resumed work on his Eagle. He worked very hard. As his project, he cleaned up an overgrown pond that was on his church's property. He and his dad and scout troop cleared underbrush and weeds. They put down a wood chip path and rustic benches around the pond.

When he had completed everything, I was there to see his badge presented, and I wished Gene could have been there, too. He would have been so proud, as was I.

Loving father, bless those who may have lost faith in you, and restore in them belief in your love. Amen.

Wilma Kempf

LENTEN DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me for I have redeemed you. (Isaiah 44:22)

If Lent is about fasting, penitence, confession, redemption and forgiveness, it seems to me that sinning and sin must lurk somewhere in the background. Goodness (or evil) knows, we pray hard and often for forgiveness of our sins - every Sunday at least.

I've always been perplexed by one of the fringe issues of sinning. The Ten Commandments are big time sins, pretty specific. The deadly sins, to me, seem mild by comparison, old fashioned. (Sloth?) We usually know when we have transgressed. Sometimes we pray for forgiveness, when time permits, or maybe it's just a wee transgression hardly meriting an appeal to a higher power. At least we try to teach our children the difference between right and wrong.

But what about NOT doing the right thing that we know sooner or later we should have done? Examples: Ever walk hurriedly past a homeless person and the sign by his cap, "Please Help?" Ever ignore a serious question from your spouse or child? Too busy? Ever witnessed someone cheating a store clerk, the IRS, or health-care insurer ... and kept quiet? Ever passed an auto accident saying to yourself, "Help will surely arrive soon."? Too arrogant to apologize for an oversight?

The Letter of James (brother of Jesus) (4:17) doesn't equivocate. "Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin." Now I know why we pray about sin so much. Perhaps we should be more proactive in our daily life ... be more conscious of others in need ... do the right thing.

Gracious and forgiving God, we confess to sometimes doing the wrong things and not doing the right things. Let your guiding spirit help us to avoid sin, big and small, that we may be redeemed in your sight. Amen.

Dick Judy

LENTEN DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

As I finished my first year as a member of Session, I and the other elders were asked to help with the stewardship campaign by calling people who had pledged in the past but hadn't yet done so, to encourage them to pledge by the end of the year.

Now I know money is a sensitive subject for many people, but I was still surprised by how many different emotions people expressed. Some planned to give but didn't want to pledge. Some were dealing with tight budgets. Others planned to give, but sporadically. There were surely unspoken feelings there too -- maybe not liking to be asked for money, maybe thinking church is a spiritual matter, not a financial one.

In my case, I don't especially like to be asked for money either. But I also like to keep things simple and practical. I want a church to attend. I like an organization where I can discuss the big questions of life with other interested people. I enjoy the beautiful building, meaningful worship, outstanding music, highly trained staff, wonderful programs, the opportunity for mission, and a community where people support each other.

I also know that while the church is a place of religious activity, it exists in the material world. So when pledge time comes, I don't debate with myself. I give what I feel I can afford and I make a pledge so the church has some idea of what its income will be. It's my sign of commitment to this particular place. It's a way of saying, "This is my church. This is the church I care about."

Dear Lord, Thank you for leading us to a caring community where we can be of service. Help us to support it gladly with our time, talents and treasure. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Barbara Hoover

LENTEN DEVOTION FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Faithful God of the living covenant, lead us onward in this new day! (from "Faithful God" by Philip Orr)

Each New Year includes a service of installation for elders and deacons a celebration which promises new beginnings for those who feel called by God to be leaders in the church. What a moving experience to see so many from the congregation gathered in the chancel, connected to one another, hand in hand - generation to generation! Dozens of ordained men and women - black and white, young and old, short and tall, redheads and brunettes, father and son, sister and aunt.

This wonderful service also brings me some sadness, knowing how many of our brothers and sisters we prevent from publicly professing and affirming their calling from God because of their love for another man or woman. The Presbyterian Church prohibits many of us, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, parents and grandparents, from being ordained to serve communion, to help feed the hungry as Deacons, to contribute to decision making at Session meetings, or to assist in baptizing our nieces and nephews.

I believe that as God celebrates our ordinations and installations each January, God weeps that we Presbyterians prevent so many from accepting their calling to serve their Church. If God weeps long enough, maybe we'll listen. In the meantime, I pray that God will continue to help us to recognize that the only thing we have in common is our uniqueness of being perfectly and wonderfully made, just as we are, by our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

May we one day be strong enough and faithful enough to be a truly inclusive Church - not just in word - but in deed and in truth, too. Amen.

Tom Trenney

Note: The anthem, "Faithful God," was commissioned for the celebration of Tom Trenney's five years of music ministry with the loving community of First Presbyterian Church.