Saturday, March 19

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare …. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord

Jeremiah 29: 7, 12-14a

Prayers For Those Who Have No One to Pray for Them

For children without a family.

For the childless who long for children.

For the enslaved and the trafficked.

For the homebound and weary.

For the missed and the missing. For the sick and the dying.

For those who have no family left who remembers them.

For those separated from or who have lost their families.

For the speechless and those who cannot speak up for themselves.

For the innocent and those who are denied due process
and are imprisoned.

For immigrants and minorities denigrated by politicians.

For innocent children whose elders
would teach them hate and prejudice.

For all people despised for the color of their skin.

For those bullied and scorned for being different.

For those who despise and scorn and bully and hate and belittle and enslave and imprison and traffick even though
we find it extra hard to pray for them.

For the arrogant who are so hard to abide even though
we assume we are not at all like them.

For ourselves lest we forget.

And Lest we forget we are not perfect.

Lest we forget to name our daily blessings.

Alinda Wasner

Friday, March 18

Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?"

Mark 8:29

When I considered the question “Who is the Christ?” the words “friend" and “companion” came to mind. I have always tended to think of him as a human being. Jesus came from humble origins and spent his life and work among the common people. This seemed to make him more approachable to me in prayer. He endured much pain and grief in his relatively short life. This helps me to feel that he has understanding and compassion for our problems. Because of his experiences, he is readily accessible to us for guidance during difficult times.

During my life as difficult problems arose, I always prayed for the strength to face the problem and do what needed to be done.

And now if I may digress... When I faced a crisis in my life a year and a half ago, I prayed and while outwardly, I seemed able to carry on physically and mentally, for the first time I was experiencing emotions of vulnerability, apprehension, and fear. Was Christ trying to tell me something? Why did my strength seem to falter? I suddenly felt the strength that had carried me through numerous problems in the past was eluding me.

Enter the Presbyterian Women, who with their acts of kindness and concern began to reinforce my strength. How comforting to exchange words with people who had gone or were going through similar experiences and could offer words of hope and encouragement. Gradually my fears began to dissipate and I realized I was not alone.

“Whenever an act of kindness is shown, God is making his presence known.”

I am happy to report God is alive and well among God’s beloved people!

I think Christ was telling me that it was human to experience feeling of inadequacy during stressful times and it was not necessarily weak to lean on others for support. We are all members of the human race, who are experiencing like trials and tribulations of life. From time to time, we all need a helping hand.

Loving God, as we continue to travel the road of life, help us mature and grow in our Christian faith.

Jean Stem

from the 1995 Lenten Devotional

Thursday, March 17

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

John 21:15-17

It was a camp for adults to grow spiritually and to experience the program for senior high youth who normally attended the camp every week of the summer. Our children were with their grandparents, and Jim and I were enjoying some rare time together, just the two of us. In addition to excellent speakers and good food we para-sailed around the lake, water skied, slid down a mammoth water slide and canoed to a small island for breakfast at sunrise. So it’s no wonder that we thought, “Why not try sailing?”

Our first trip around the lake was exhilarating, but suddenly a strong wind came up and we tried everything we had been told to do and more to get back to shore. It was in vain, and the boat capsized. Using the little bit of emergency knowhow we had received at orientation, we were able to right the sailboat and get back in. Then some people in a much larger sailboat came by and began to yell directions to us in boating terms that we didn't understand. We tried to follow their advice but with little success. Finally, a young man in a motorboat arrived and helped us put down the sail and towed us back to the dock. Relieved to be on solid ground again, we thanked him and ran to dry off and get warm.

That evening after supper we were singing in front of the fireplace before the evening meeting began. As we sang “Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?” we looked up and realized that the young man leading the singing was the same person who towed us to shore that afternoon. The words to the song took on a new, deeper meaning for both of us.

Ever-present loving God, thank you for the many, many ways you reveal yourself and your plans to us. Help us to be aware of your presence in our lives today and help us to be your hands for others. In your Son's name. Amen.

Suzanne Bates

from the 1995 Lenten Devotional

Wednesday, March 16

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

As we once again follow Christ’s footsteps to the cross this Lenten season, we are invited to reflect on our lives and our journeys here on earth. This past fall, a friend introduced me to the writing of John O’Donohue, an Irish poet, teacher and Celtic spiritualist. In his book “To Bless the Space Between Us: a Book of Blessings” (2008) he invites us to be open to receive the many blessings that are offered to us as well as to share blessings with one another. In his chapter “Beginnings” he concludes one of his matins, with the following invitation

May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,

Clear in word,

Gracious in awareness

Courageous in thought,

Generous in love.

As I ponder these words in my heart each morning, I’m finding them to be my guiding inspiration to live in love with joy and hope as I receive God's gift of each new day.

Lord, Jesus Christ, you called your disciples and now us to go forward with you on the way to the cross. Thank you for being our guide on this sojourn - may we learn to live with more kindness each day. Please open our hearts to receive your love more fully that we might share your light of love, peace and hope to all with whom we encounter each day. Amen.

Barb Linnenbrink

Tuesday, March 15

Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth

Psalm 46:10

BE STILL! LISTEN TO GOD!

I spent two months last summer trying to “be still." From June 3 to July 30 I kayaked down the Mississippi River. The fastest I was ever able to travel was 7 miles an hour. It took me two hours to break camp each morning and an hour and a half to set up camp at night. If a storm brought lightening I had to sit and wait. If a barge arrived at a lock before me, I had to sit and wait. If I couldn't paddle there I had to walk or sit and wait for someone to give me a ride.

All the sitting and waiting and traveling at a slow pace gave me plenty of time to pray. Plenty of time to "be still" and listen for God's call. Plenty of time to focus on my relationship with Jesus Christ. Plenty of time to learn to take a step toward letting God into every part of my life. Plenty of time to learn to live for today and let God take care of tomorrow.

Then I came back to the "real" world. Coming back was much harder than going. It was at least five weeks before I could carry on a conversation at anything close to normal speed. I needed someone to help me drive-I couldn't take in all the signs at a fast enough pace. The world was a speeding train and I was having a hard time jumping back on.

Actually, I wasn't trying very hard at all. I didn't want to get back on the train. I had discovered a life that was calm, a life that was not full of much worry, a life that had enough room for God and a life that allowed me to trust that God was watching over me. I didn't want to let that life go, I didn't want to become so busy that I would have to say to people and God, "I know you need my help today but I can't help you 'til next Tuesday."

I'm still trying to stay off that train. It's extremely hard. Life in this "real" world begs you to be busy. But, I'm fighting it every step of the way.

Lord, help us all to learn to "be still and know that you are God."  Walk us through our busy times. Show us places where life can slow down and we can live for today and give tomorrow to you. Amen.

Joelle D. J. Wickens

from the 1995 Lenten Devotional

Monday, March 14

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

John 3:16

GOD’S LOVE: UNCONDITIONAL

As a child of God and as a youth director the most important message that I want to get across to young people is that God loves us, caes about us, is with us ALWAYS and God’s love is UNCONDITIONAL. There is nothing we can do or say that will stop God from loving us. Well, this may seem like a simple message, but believable is another story.

Young people are living in a society where they feel judged by how they look, speak and perform. “If I could only swim faster...” “If only I didn't speak with a lisp...” “If only I were skinnier...” If only I were smarter or got better grades my parents would...” Sounds absurd? Almost a day does not go by when I do not hear a comment similar to one of these.

The truth is there is no subject that Jesus spoke more about than LOVE. Take a moment to reference this: John 3:16, Matthew 22:37, Matthew 6:25-34, John 17:23, Matthew 5:43–47, Luke 6:35, John 15:9. The list goes on and on.

As we continue the journey to the cross, let's not forget its powerful significance. God loved us so much that he sent his only son to die for us!!!! Also, take a moment to share this powerful love with someone else, child, young person, parent, neighbor, etc. We can never share God’s love too much!!!!

Dearest Jesus, I pray for young people of all ages today. Help us to know that your love is unconditional and help us to share this love with others.

Gretchen Lima

from the 1995 Lenten Devotional

Sunday, March 13

For it was by hope that we were saved;but if we see what we hope for, then it is not really hope. For who hopes for something he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8: 24-25 (Good News Bible)

Cancer- a word none of us want to hear but probably most of us will hear at least once in our lifetime. Cancer has touched my life too many times. Most recently with my husband, Ed. A routine doctor visit brought us to a colonoscopy which brought us a cancer diagnosis.

We were shocked as he is not old enough for yearly colon screenings but certainly old enough to the non discriminating world of cancer.

However, as our journey began, I felt different. I watched my mother in law fight for 18 months until she passed away in July and I watched my mom slip away before that in 2012. All the teams of doctors told us the same thing- we can't stop the cancer but we can make them comfortable. Both of these amazing women fought a tough fight and remained positive until the very end.

Ed's doctors told us from the beginning that the cancer Ed has is very treatable and that the goal will be to make him cancer free. Can they do that? Well, we are finding out that yes they can. Since undergoing 28 radiation treatments and oral chemotherapy, the surgeon can no longer see the tumor in the scope. He is confident that he can remove the tumor and reattach the colon with minimal loss of tissue. This is huge- paving the way for a long and bright future.

Surgery has been scheduled and we are entering into Phase 2 of our journey. I can't help but wonder as God gives us only what we can handle, did this happen now for a reason?

I want to believe God's time was now during Lent, a season of renewal and restoration, a season of HOPE.

Lord, Watch over all of us in this season of Hope. Be with those who are sick and need your comforting arms and those that care for them. Remind us that you only give us what we can handle. In Jesus' name, Amen

Mary Aho