Lenten Devotions: 2009-03-29

Saturday, April 4, 2009

[LENTEN DEVOTIONAL] Saturday, April 4

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain” So God granted him what he requested.

When I retired in 1999, my plan was to do many leisure and enjoyable activities: antiquating, refinishing furniture, do some much delayed home projects, more grand-parenting, travel, etc. These were things I could do whenever I decided, since it was going to be on my time.

One month after retirement, I was asked to come back and work as a consultant for about three months. Well, three months ran into a year and three months. During the last month of that assignment, someone from the Presbytery asked me to serve on a committee, indicating that it would be one meeting a month. I had not previously served on a presbytery committee, therefore my naivety played a part in my decision to serve.

It is now almost ten years later and the antiquating, refinishing of furniture has not happened. More grand-parenting has been accomplished. That one meeting per month has now become full involvement in the presbytery. Each time I decided not to serve on another committee, I seemed to have been drawn into yet another commitment.

Last week as I was dusting my bookcase, I saw a book which I had not read for sometime and decided to read it. It was the Prayer of Jabaz. When I had finished reading the book, I began to understand why I continue to serve in the church and presbytery. It is because I am receiving God’s blessing and he is increasing my territory to tell the Good News. The more blessings I receive, the larger my territory; the larger my territory, the more blessings I am receiving. I am now on this Blessing and Territory Ferris Wheel, touching people as I go around, and with God’s help, determined never to get off.

Prayer: O God and King, please expand my opportunities and my impact in such a way that I touch more lives for your glory. Let me do more for you. Amen

Rosy Latimore

-----------------------------------------------------
You can unsubscribe from this list, or change preferences by clicking this link.

Friday, April 3, 2009

[LENTEN DEVOTIONAL] Friday, April 3

FRIDAY, APRIL 3

Matthew 7:7,8 “Ask, and it will be given you; … For everyone who asks receives; … ”

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about my mother, who was a widow for 25 years after the death of my father. Four years ago, when my mother became ill with cancer, I traveled to Maine and we spent a number of precious months together. Part of my time was used for getting the house in order for new occupants. My mother had little items here and there, but perhaps the one that spoke the most to me was a piece of yellowing paper.

That little piece of paper was glued to one of her kitchen cabinets, and it pretty much summed up her understanding and relationship with God. Even though we did not talk much about matters of the Spirit, I felt this little paper gave me an insight into my mother’s prayer life.

Today that little piece of paper is glued to my kitchen cabinet. I see this note each morning, thank God for my mother’s life, and thank God for the knowledge of the words that spoke to her and now speak to me.

      I asked for Strength
            and God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

      I asked for Wisdom
            and God gave me Problems to solve.

      I asked for Prosperity
            and God gave me a Brain and Brawn to work.

      I asked for Courage
            and God gave me Danger to overcome.

      I asked for Love
            and God gave me Troubled people to help.

      I asked for Favors
            and God gave me Opportunities.

      I received nothing I wanted.
            I received everything I needed.

Prayer: Thank you for caring for us and giving us everything we need. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Sarah Krug

-----------------------------------------------------
You can unsubscribe from this list, or change preferences by clicking this link.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

[LENTEN DEVOTIONAL] Thursday, April 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 2

Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor are alike in that the Lord made them all.

God’s Goodness

We have noticed that God doesn’t ask you to prove that you will put your income to good use. We have noticed that God does not turn off our oxygen supply when we misuse his gifts. Aren’t we glad that God doesn’t give us only that which we remember to thank him for?

God’s goodness is spurred by his nature, not by our worthiness. It was asked, “Do we have to help the poor who may have no desire to become Christians?” It was said the answer is one word: “God.”

Dailiness

“Dailiness” is the contemplative life explored by Joan Chittister in Wisdom for the Seekers of Light. This is the idea that every single day each of us should make a new beginning. This is said to be the fine art of getting up every morning for no other reason than it is our responsibility to do it. To carry out all this is to take a peculiar kind of courage.

“Dailiness,” routine, sameness, frees the heart to more important matters. This helps us to begin again and again, day after day, to start over. This brings us back to time with God again and again.

[from Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado. These are daily morning readings that are said to be during the eye of the storm.]

Prayer: Help us to strive continually to be aware of how God demonstrates his love and goodness for us. Help us to realize this overall caring and goodness is for all people. Amen

Carol Morrill

-----------------------------------------------------
You can unsubscribe from this list, or change preferences by clicking this link.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

[LENTEN DEVOTIONAL] Wednesday, April 1

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

Matthew 28:20 And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

When Mother died in 2007, I had said to my brother Bill, “I’m not going to lose touch with our Kentucky cousins just because Mama isn’t here to hold us together.” He readily agreed and so the two of us had a grand visit down there that summer.

On the way home we started planning our visit for the next year. Bill suggested using his timeshares to get two large condos in the Kentucky Lakes area, so we could host a family reunion. Now Bill lives in the Washington D.C. area, and thus began a year of phone calls from Virginia to Michigan to Kentucky and back again. What an undertaking, but such eager anticipation from everyone. I kept saying, “Mother would be so happy we’re doing this.”

Our first “coming together” of the reunion was at the Bardwell Christian Church with many cousins, big and little, awaiting us. The start of worship was even delayed while we hugged not only family, but other church members, too, all happy for us.

Finally, we all calmed down; my brother’s family sat in about the middle of the church. As I started up the aisle toward them, I stopped beside my cousin Allen, who was sitting alone in the last row. Three years ago he had lost his son, and in the Spring, his only brother – who was his best friend, business partner and housemate. (We had both cried upon greeting each other earlier.) I just couldn’t go past him and sit with Bill. So I slid past him and sat in the second spot. Taking the hymnal in front of me, I automatically looked at the dedication page. I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was from Mary M Schoonmaker (Mama) in memory of Barbara M Allen, her older sister and Allen’s grandmother!

Allen and I were overwhelmed. What were the chances of this happening? What if I hadn’t followed my heart and sat there? Soon after another cousin sat on my other side and upon showing the hymnal he said, “I think someone’s very glad you’re here.”

Prayer: Sweet Jesus, you direct us without our even realizing it. Thank you for loving us. Amen.

Kitty Stephenson

-----------------------------------------------------
You can unsubscribe from this list, or change preferences by clicking this link.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

[LENTEN DEVOTIONAL] Tuesday, March 31

TUESDAY, MARCH 31

Psalm 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

When Trials Come

Every year at college homecoming, each class designed a float for the parade. It was in our junior year that many of us worked around the clock stuffing facial tissues into chicken wire frames to flesh out a design of a huge cauldron out of which flowed a large fiery stream. Illustrating the way in which a treasure was produced, it was quite dramatic, and I never realized then, how that image and the words connected to it would often come to mind. Written on the float was this text from Job 23:10, “When tried, I shall come forth as gold,” and we’re pretty familiar with what trials Job faced.

Now there’s no way I have had to endure Job’s experiences, but over the years, there have been different challenges to face – financial, professional demands and changes, illnesses, calls to serve in new capacities – all of which have created tensions and unnerving insecurity. It was in the depths of those moments of overwhelming heartache or even the despair of “How in the world did I get myself into this?” and “Oh, God, help!” that the memory of that verse would come to mind. It became the Spirit’s guidance for my day. Those words during a time of feeling pretty helpless were a comfort. The message acknowledged that there were hard days, but somehow, I was going to get through them and whatever had to be corrected would be “refined.”

God was definitely there getting me through those “demons of the night... and of the day,” calling on the hidden strengths God had implanted, pushing and pulling me to grow or to help others. It wasn’t easy going through the heat of those trials. God has been and is still there, continuing to support and nudge me to another place where God’s love and nurture has been and continues to be an immense blessing.

Prayer: O Lord, Help us to remember that you are always there to share in our joys and trials, to uphold us with your strength, and to comfort us with your love as you walk beside us on the path of life. Amen.

Swid Kirchhofer

-----------------------------------------------------
You can unsubscribe from this list, or change preferences by clicking this link.

Monday, March 30, 2009

[LENTEN DEVOTIONAL] Monday, March 30

MONDAY, MARCH 30

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time, in due season, I shall return to you and Sarah will have a son.

Sarah, as you recall laughed for she thought it was impossible.

Trust in the Lord.
Be patient?

These are recurring themes in the Bible and in life. How many times have we been told

Trust in the Lord.
Be patient?

If you are like most, too many. It is too easy for us, in this day of instant gratification and instant replay, to give up.

What keeps us from trusting one another and/or God?

One of my favorite terms for those distractions that keep us from following God's plan is "Tree Frogs." They interrupt us.

We lose focus of what is important, following each tree frog unless we pull ourselves back toward God's will and not our own.

Prayer: Lord, help us to have patience with ourselves when we wander from God's will to our own will. Show us the way back. Amen.

Maggie Garza

-----------------------------------------------------
You can unsubscribe from this list, or change preferences by clicking this link.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

[LENTEN DEVOTIONAL] Sunday, March 29

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Psalm 105:1-2 O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Attending Presbyterian churches has been ongoing for 75 years now. Calvin Presbyterian Church in Detroit through WWII, Alma College, and then First Presbyterian in Birmingham. I began teaching Sunday School for Mary Clark when her daughter was dying of cancer. This was in our old church on Old Woodward Avenue.

I believe faith and trust in God are two words that are always with me, and I thank God for watching over and guiding me everyday. I am ever thankful for that faith and trust:
in being a chaperone for eight teenagers from our church on a mission trip to Puerto Rico and bringing everyone safely home. I witnessed in two churches in Puerto Rico.
for working with special needs kids and teaching them beyond their supposed capability. Some parents said God sent them to me. That’s an awesome responsibility.
for raising four kids and having them turn into the most caring, loving, helpful and thoughtful kids imaginable.
for the gift of being a grandmother.
in knowing we can host visitors from over the world and religious leaders of different faiths, some of whom told us God sent them to our house. Coming from Muslim imams, the message was inspiring.
for knowing each of Carl’s surgeries and my recent bladder cancer diagnosis would have a positive outcome.
for loving the same man for 61 years and celebrating our 58th anniversary last November.
for knowing God is always with me every day in every way.

Prayer: Loving God, thanks for faith and trust and your guidance everyday in my life. Amen.

Lou Stewart

-----------------------------------------------------
You can unsubscribe from this list, or change preferences by clicking this link.