Saturday, March 28

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

This verse has been floating around in my head since I started thinking about working on this year's Lenten Devotional. And to me, that verse sounded so much better written like this:

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

Do you see what is missing?

I really don't like being in the limelight. I prefer working behind the scenes. I never wanted to be a cheerleader!

And then I began receiving your devotions. And I found myself looking at this scripture from another point of view. In those devotions, I saw the light shining in the beautiful people I know (and have known) in my life in this congregation. And I found myself thanking God for you. I realized that God really does speak to me through you, through your faithfulness, your kindness, your support, your sharing of yourself.

It is a big responsibility, modeling faithfulness for someone else. But then I remember Paul's words from another scripture passage:

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

I Corinthians 3:6-7

Thank you, God, for giving me work to do and people to inspire me. Amen.

Charlotte Fischer

Let your light shine ...

Friday, March 27

I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in the darkness.

John 12:46

An Alphabet Of Spiritual Inspirations From The Bible (#6)

Y	Young	Ps  37:25	I have been Young and now am old;  Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken.
Z	Zealous	Titus 2:14	...our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us for Himself His own special people, Zealous for good works.

Rejoice in the Lord  always.  Again I will say rejoice!

Philippians 4:4.

Rejoice in the lordAnd let the joy of jesus shine through

For seven reasons:

His Word
His Birth
His Miracles
His Suffering
His Resurrection
His Gospel
His Spirit

I can't thank You enough for all You have done, are doing, and will be doing. I promise to do my best to follow Your pathways.  Amen.

Sheryl McCristal

Thursday, March 26

The angel said to them (the shepherds), ‘Do not be afraid … I bring you good news of great joy for all people ...’

Luke 2:10

Fear

What is it that causes one to be fearful? Is it because of what we don’t know? In scripture, there are many references to FEAR … which have different meanings.

Psalm 27:1 ~ The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?

Of whom shall I be afraid?

Deuteronomy 6:8 ~ The Lord your God you shall fear!

Reverence

Psalm 23:4 ~ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil.

I will not be afraid.

Philippians 2:12 ~ … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Humbly and with dependence on God’s help

1 John 4:18 ~ There is no fear in love; love casts out fear for fear has to do with punishment; whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

Mark 5:36 ~ ...Jesus said to the leaders in the synagogue, “Do not Fear, only believe”

Revelation14:7 ~ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give God glory …”

Gracious and Loving God, cast out my fear of evil, allow me to believe.

Patricia Lindroth

Wednesday, March 25

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

"You who are heavy laden" – What a morning! Calls from three dear friends, each sharing events that have brought them worry, frustration, doubts and fears – events and feelings that are not common in our daily lives today – real fears and concerns with no ready or easy answers.

As a child I was taught to “take it to the Lord in prayer” and to believe and trust in God's promises. This Lenten season is a good time to look at our own relationship with God. Do we truly believe and trust in God's promises? Are we secure in God's love and guidance in our lives? Are we thankful for what God has already provided and continues to offer each of us?

Gracious God, Open our hearts that we may be truly aware of Your constant and abiding love for each one of us – that we may know you have already taken the heaviest burdens from us-that we are Yours, redeemed through the life, death and resurrection of Your precious son, Jesus Christ. Help us to share that knowledge and Your love with all whose lives we touch. Amen.

Marg Thoms (1993)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden

Tuesday, March 24

Beloved, let us Love one another; for Love is of God, and he who Loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not Love does not know God; for God is Love. (RSV)

1 John 4:7-8

Love is All We Need

During the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation on January 18, 2015 the message was delivered by The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, Director of PC(USA) office of Public Witness, Washington D.C. Dr. Nelson gave a passionate message on Love that struck a chord with me.

One of Webster’s definition of Love is: “a deep and tender feeling of affection for or devotion to a person or persons.” This is only one definition, there are many more along this line. We can show Love in a kind word, a kind gesture, seeing the best in a person, giving support in a difficult time.
Love is a positive, caring feeling. Love is a gift from God. It is the only gift that costs us nothing but can make all the difference in a person’s life. Love can be as simple as: making a meal for someone, giving items we no longer need to someone who can use them, going out of our comfort zone to help someone we do not know very well, but needs someone to care. Love can be challenging and difficult. With a Loving heart, God can use us.

God calls us to be Loving: using our hands to help someone up, using our feet to walk with them through a difficult time, using our mouths to speak kind words, to let them know they are not alone, and using our ears to LISTEN and hear what they are saying. Love is all we need and sometimes it’s the only salve to heal wounds so deep nothing else will do.

Heavenly Father, Help us to be instruments of your Love today. Help us to share the Love you give us to a world of confusion. Help us to be more Loving in our thoughts and deeds to everyone we meet. In Jesus Christ, your Loving Son Amen.

Kathleen Sleder

Monday, March 23

There is the one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through and in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6

When a composer composes a great musical work, he uses three essential elements to create his work. These elements are rhythm, melody, and harmony. God is the composer and creator of our lives. We are each one of his masterpieces. Like the composer, he provides our lives with a sense of rhythm, melody, and harmony.

Rhythm gives our lives a beat and a pulse. We sense this rhythm daily as we go about living and doing our tasks. We find rhythm in our energy and emotion. It keeps us moving, living, and feeling. The source of this rhythm is God. We sense this rhythm in changing of seasons, the rising and setting of the sun and day following night. Yes, life has a rhythm and a beat. It is part of us all.

Melody is the song of life. We each have a song to sing and a story to tell. Our melody or song lets the world know who we are. It identifies us as a unique creation – there's no one else like us. God gives us each a song to sing. He loves all of us. We all have a different song to sing, but our song is important to him and our fellow human beings.

Harmony is when all the notes in a musical work blend together to create a beautiful sound. God's creation is his musical work. Each of us are like a single note in his musical masterpiece. But when we blend our note in unison with our fellow human beings we make a beautiful song.

We cannot live alone. Like the notes in a symphony we have to sound together in harmony to complete God's musical masterpiece.

Oh God, grant that we may live in harmony with you and our fellow human beings. Let our song be one of Joy and Praise to you. Amen.

Loraine Piesko (1994)

Fifth Sunday March 22

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

Romans 8:26

I’m busy – sometimes too busy. Aren’t we all?

Somewhere in that busy-ness I was rushing around “working for God” but forgetting to be with God, and my prayers had become rote.

At Rejoicing Spirits services we always sign and sing the Lord’s Prayer, following the direction of an interpreter. A verse is sung and signed, and then we repeat it. Scott is a man from a group home with limited verbal skills, but I could tell one Sunday that he was interested in, yet struggling with, what was going on.

I asked him if he would like me to help him with the movements and he acknowledged “yes.” So I stood behind him, reached over to take his hands, and we went through the movements together. I was forever changed. It was one of the most incredible spiritual experiences I have ever had.

On that evening, I shared a very intimate moment with Scott, and with God, as we slowly and meaningfully prayed.

Scott gave me the gift of intention. He reminded me of the importance of being connected to another, and of staying connected to God. This gift of intention grounds me and calls me to be present in the moment.

Thank you, God, for putting people like Scott in my life to remind me that the words are not nearly as important as the intent. Help me stay connected to you always, so the Spirit can intercede.

Rev. Joanne Blair

The Spirit helps us