SATURDAY, MARCH 17

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, 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.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

My Aunt helped me through many difficult times soothing me with the words “This too shall pass.”

When I think of the toughest times during my life, I know how true these words are and know I would not be who I am had I not experienced tough times. Now, as an adult, the difficult times may seem insurmountable, and so many people I know are experiencing something in their lives which is weighing heavily on their minds and in their hearts.

Know that the community of this church is here for and with you. Don’t be afraid to reach out and open up to someone. There are so many caring staff and parishioners ready to help and befriend. You are not alone.

Getting involved in church activities opens up opportunities to meet more of these wonderful people. Chuck and I volunteered to assist in reviewing a book on parenting with the confirmation parents. Through these Sunday meetings we have met and experienced insightful discussions with a great group of parents whom we never may have met if we had not volunteered.

I wish for you to find joy and a reason to laugh and smile each day!

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.

(The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Neibuhr)

Heidi Wilkinson

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

1 Samuel 2:1 My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God.

POWER OUTAGES

In Canada at our cottage the power often goes out during storms. Sometimes the darkness lasts for only a minute or two until a master engineer somewhere flips a crucial switch.

In Bloomfield Hills at our condo, however, when the power goes out during a storm it is often out for hours, days… even weeks before it is restored.

How long does it take when your power goes out? What does it take to re-generate it?

It’s customary to lose our personal power due to life’s unexpected twists and turns: In families, in relationships at work, at home or even at play.

Where can we turn? Where do we turn?

My prayer is that my restoration times become shorter, dear Lord. When I lose power within, help me to regain it. Become my Master engineer, restoring me by Your Grace; reminding me to seek Thy help in my darkness. Amen.

Janet Munson

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

1 Corinthians 13:13 So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

LOVE WINS

What a lovely title for a book! As we look at our world and see all the strife around us, we wonder will we survive. The answer is YES! because of God's plans for us and Jesus' teachings to manifest these plans through love. How many times does humanity have to go to war and when will it stop?

This is a quote from the book The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw depicting the second World War. A minister spoke after services in France in 1943:

"Love," the old minister was saying, "is the word of Christ, and it admits of no divisions, no slyness of calculation, no diversity of interpretation. We are told to love our neighbors as ourselves, and our enemy as our brother, and the words and the meaning are as plain as an iron weight in the scale in which our actions are balanced."

Dear God, please help us to remember that Christ gave his life for us on the cross so that we would have salvation, and we must remember his teachings … love thy neighbor, both here and around the world. Only LOVE will bring PEACE. Amen.

Barbara Buchanan

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Mark 1:12-13 The Spirit drove him out into the wilderness where he stayed forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels waited on him.

There is a group of around thirteen "mature" men who gather on the third Thursday of the month to study scripture and drink a brew or two. As a text for study, they use the scripture from the worship service on the previous Sunday which provided the basis for John's or Amy's sermon that morning. It has been my privilege to join them and provide some leadership. Recently we got onto the subject of temptation.

Jesus was in the woods to sort out questions about how he would do God's work, whether there was a way to present good news without getting killed over it. Could he avoid the pain of taking on the powers of the empire and losing the battle? He was faced with hard choices.

How are we tempted? We good faithful church people try to live lives in accord with the Gospel. We, too, face hard choices. Does the end justify the means? Do we confuse Christian faith with American nationalism? Do we follow a good idea so long that it becomes a bad idea by thinking too highly of it?

We attempted to integrate our discussion with John's sermon which was titled Even Heroes Need Help. What rescued Jesus were the animals, which were good animals protecting him from fear of the unknown, and the angels who supported and guided him. When we listen to other faithful voices we become corrected from falling into the excesses that turn good motives into bad tactics.

Creator God, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Help us to keep our faith at the center of our lives, and keep it there. Amen.

Hank Borchardt

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Many of my friends from seminary seem to have such wonderful “call stories.” Some of them seem like they belong in a Cecil B. DeMille movie. Mine was much less dramatic…just this feeling of being nudged for seven years. And unlike many of these friends, I was very uncertain as to where this call was taking me. So many people heard God’s voice so readily and clearly, it seemed, and I was envious.

I prayed so often to hear God speak to me, to let me know I was on the right path, and give me a clue where this was headed. I often joke that I’m looking for a billboard in the sky with blinking lights and God’s message to me. After all, I’m not getting any younger, God!

One particular night after rushing out of work to get to school on time, I was standing in the pouring rain, 113 pages behind in reading for class, and I couldn’t get the code to open the seminary door. All I could think was, “God, what in the world am I doing?” I was so frustrated! And God spoke to me. There was no doubt about it. God said, “Go in and get to class.”

I laugh when I think of it. No angels, no drum rolls, no pat on the back or encouragement – just “Go in and get to class.” And I realized then that I had gotten exactly what I had asked for. An answer. Stay the course.

It’s hard when answers don’t come in the form we are looking for, or packaged the way we want. And I have learned that although God answered me clearly that night, I receive answers to questions all the time if I just open my ears to hear and my eyes to see.

Loving and ever faithful God, Help me to remember that you often light our paths with a little spark; a spark that gives great light if we just open ourselves to be led by it. Amen.

Joanne Blair

MONDAY, MARCH 12

Mark 10:14 “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

Elizabeth and I went through life’s challenges raising three wonderful children. Our youthful energy substituted for lack of a guidebook. I vaguely thought my later years would be for relaxing and exiting gracefully. But God had other plans.

Grandchildren awakened my urge to teach them about the world. Everything they want to experience excites me. And I dedicate myself joyfully to share what I know, and learn alongside them when I don’t know. At a local science museum, I find the same deep satisfaction leading young children to understand the world around them.

Family friends lost their 9-month old baby, Delaney Rose, this year. Her parents tell how much she taught them about life in that brief time. They also say they will now see every child as God’s blessing to us. That message guides my life.

God of clarity, thank you for putting children in our lives. May their amazing open hearts and minds move us to share ourselves fully. Amen.

Dexter Snyder

Psalm 119:76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant

Today is the 12^th anniversary of my young grandson’s death. Today I read my daily devotional. The subject was God’s loving comfort.

Coincidence? No. God’s blessings come in many ways. Be aware. Be receptive. When we are in need of comfort there is no better time to realize the power of God’s presence within us. He has told us the Holy Spirit is our comforter.

Talk to God. Ask God. Trust God. Thank God.

Father, in our time of tribulation you are always with us. In the name of Jesus we thank you for your steadfast love. Amen.

Nancy Therasse

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

Matthew 26:74,75 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”

The words for one of our recent Lenten hymns were written in 1965 by David W. Romig who served several Presbyterian churches in New York and is honorably retired from Downtown Presbyterian Church. They seem appropriate for our Lenten Book this year.

When We Are Tempted to Deny Your Son

(The Presbyterian Hymnal #86)

When we are tempted to deny Your Son,

Because we fear the anger of the world,

And we are few who bear the insults hurled,

Your will, O God, be done.

When we are tempted to betray Your Son,

Because He leads us in a harder way,

And makes demands we do not want to pay,

Your will, O God, be done.

When we forget the cross that held Your Son,

And would avoid the burden of this life,

The cry for justice and an end to strife,

Your will, O God, be done.

When doubt obscures the victory of Your Son,

And faith is weak and all resolve has fled,

Help us to know Him risen from the dead;

Your will, O God, be done.

“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed beyond your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Irv Poston