SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23

By Faith, Abraham Offered Up Isaac – Genesis 22:1-14

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt-offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.’ Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘Father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.

When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt-offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lordit shall be provided.’

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22

In Christ Shall All Be Made Alive – 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘All things are put in subjection’, it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21

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)

The silent waiting room of the doctor’s office was almost filled with people when a breathless young woman arrived staggering in carrying a woman on her back. She deposited the woman on a chair and sat down breathing heavily. Suddenly the woman got up and took a few steps. The young woman sighed and said, “Mom, you told me you couldn’t walk.” She tried to settle her mother down but her mother restlessly threw her legs over the arm of the chair.

I sat there wondering what I could do. Could I be of any help?

I talked to the daughter and asked if I told a story would it distract her mother and help her quiet down? The young woman said she thought not, but she would love to hear a story. I proposed telling the Gingerbread Boy story. The young woman sighed and got out her cell phone. She showed me pictures of a smiling person making gingerbread cookies a year ago. It was her mother.

Somewhat embarrassed by this atypical behavior in a medical office, I began telling the story. I had gotten into it when they were called back into the examining rooms.

The young woman graciously said to me, “You are an angel. God sent you to me today.”

I was very glad I had overcome my reluctance and had offered to try to be helpful. Perhaps this is an example of a Christian act of reaching out and letting your light shine.

Our Heavenly Father, may we seek opportunities each day to reach out and be helpful to others, letting our light shine as Christians. May we put our beliefs into action. Amen

Diane K. Bert

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.   It does not insist on its own way …  (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)

This is my 43rd Lenten season at FPC.   Lent is an awesome time of the year for me.   Maundy Thursday … Good Friday … Easter Sunday …  WOW!   What a powerful few days.   Lent is truly awesome.

But this Lent is my absolute happiest.   You have made it my happiest.   Thank you.   This is indeed my best, most meaningful Lent.

I can almost hear some of you saying, “What did I do.   I don’t even know this guy.

Over 43 years, you have helped turn this church into the kind of church I have always wanted.   Everybody’s Church.  

When I started, FPC was pretty formal.  Children were not allowed in the sanctuary during our services.  All kinds of people were welcome.  As long as they were white, Anglo-Saxon Presbyterians.  Being anything but straight was incomprehensible.  If you were in a wheelchair, you could forget about being in the choir.  Unless one of the large basses carried you up piggy back and another one carried your chair.

You get the idea.   We were pretty formal.

Look at us now.  When I hear a child’s voice yell out in one our services, I hear the voice of God.

When I see someone of color, I know we were meant to worship together.   No.   Live together.   When I hug someone who isn’t “straight,” I thank God for creating all kinds of people.   When I take someone up or down on one of our elevators, I thank Jesus for showing us the way.   And when I see our new logo and hear John repeat our vision statement, I thank you over and over and over again.

With the help of the best minister I have ever known and one of the best staffs in the world, you have made FPC the church I have always wanted.

Thank you, dear Lord, for helping us see the kind of church you want us to be.  A church where all are loved.   Help us to know that as we go forward, we are creating on earth a piece of what your heaven must surely be.   Amen.

Hal Bay

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.   (Proverbs 17:17)

Friendship

A friend recently shared a reading from Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen.   HIs words resonate with me, and so I want to share in a devotional.

In essence, Nouwen tells us that friendship is one of the finest gifts we can share with one another, and it extends beyond our common interests and goals.   Friendship is shared one to another over time and in both the good and not so good circumstances.  

I would add that true friendship is never one-sided.   Rather, it is mutual with one person actively being there for the other on one occasion, and the roles reversed on another.  

God sent Jesus into the world to save us from our sins.   God also sent this Son who shows us the way to treat one another...not just for a moment, but forever.   Friendship endures time, space, and circumstances.

Do we strife to be that friend who loves at all times, regardless of how hard that sometimes might be?

Dear Lord, thank you for teaching me what it means to be a friend.   Help me to remember every day to be that friend to others.   Amen 

Sarah Krug

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Choose you this day who you will serve.   (Joshua 24:15)

I hesitated to make my decision about what to eat in the restaurant.   I was reminded of the "smart choices" on the menu by the little pictures on the side.   I usually prefer the richer, high caloric, sweet foods which are not the best choice for my health.   Today, as hard as it was to decide, I finally chose to keep my resolution to eat healthy and ordered the "smart" meal.

While waiting for my meal, I cleaned out my purse and found a picture my daughter made.   When the waitress returned with my food she saw it and noted that her children's papers and photos were in piles in her living room waiting to be put in albums.   Interestingly, the day before I had moved my children's photos into my living room to do the same thing.   I was surprised the waitress and I had done exactly the same thing.   All we had to do was make a simple decision to put the photos in the albums, but until then, they would stay in piles.

When the food came, it was so good that I closed my eyes to enjoy it.   Because I had made a decision to eat healthily, I was rewarded with good things.   I made a decision and the food was delivered.

Isn't it the same way for spiritual decisions?  We make decisions to respond to God's invitations and God will deliver positive results.   God's invitations are all around us, but are we responding to their urgency or do we do nothing because we think we don't have time?  What are you hesitating to do that is only a decision away?  Are you being asked to get involved in a church or community project, to write a note to someone, or make a phone call of encouragement.   Do you need to decide to read scripture or devote time to prayer?

The waitress returned and said, "When you are ready, I'll take this," and placed the check on the table.   I thought about how much the Lord waits for us to be ready to ask Him to take our issues, excuses, and problems from us.   Why are we hesitating to decide to choose Him and all His ways?  What burden are you holding on to that you can decide to give to God?  Make a decision each day to follow God and He will do the rest.   Just decide and let go.

Dear Father in Heaven,  thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for me.   I choose you to obey.   I give my heart, my thoughts, my ways, my all to you today that I may do what you want me to do.  Please guide me into the right decisions and actions.  In Jesus’ name.   Amen.

Malinda Smith

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17

The Spirit helps us in our weakness.   We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.   Who then is the one who condemns?  No one.  Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  (Romans 8:26,34-35)

Paul and Romans

Ever have trouble putting prayers into words?  I sure do.   Maybe we're in good company.   Here are some reflections by Prof.  C.  K.  Barrett on the 8th chapter of Paul's letter to the Church at Rome:
He suggests Paul is telling us that our experience of the gospel depends not on our intellect nor feelings but on God.   We are to “set out to produce a large family in the image of Christ as their elder brother”.   Further, if God has willingly given up His son, what would God possibly hold back from us.   He tells us that “if God is for us, who can be against us?”  Perhaps he is saying if God is for us, we can afford to return generosity for ill will.   Paul asks not how can we believe that, but, in the light of God's great gift to us, how could we believe otherwise.
But some would believe otherwise.   Even we might compromise our belief by thoughtlessly withholding generosity.   But Paul will have none of it.   He (Paul) like the author of Hebrews is keenly aware of Christ's sacrifice for us.   But both authors see sacrifice as part of the human condition.   And, hasn't it always been that way?
So, Paul says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”  Isn't the answer obvious:  only we ourselves.   Only I can choose not to accept God's gift.   But, God, please give me the faith to recognize it in the good will of others.

Father God, Help me to accept your generous support of my all too human efforts to be a generous member of the fellowship of your believers.   Amen.

Ross Stuntz