Saturday, April 1

 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

When my oldest child was born and I struggled to comprehend all the expectations and responsibilities motherhood brought, a friend of mine gave me a copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's A Gift From The Sea. Although finding time for myself was a challenge, I managed to steal a few moments each day to enjoy and recognize the wisdom of this priceless book:

For to be a woman is to have interests and duties, raying out in all directions from the central mother-core, like spokes from the hub of a wheel. The pattern of our lives is essentially circular, we must open to all points of the compass; husband, children, friends, home, community; stretched out, exposed, sensitive like a spider’s web to each breeze that blows, to each call that comes. How difficult for us … to remain whole in the midst of the distractions of life, how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces tend to pull one off center; how to remain strong, no matter what shocks come in at the periphery and tend to crack the hub of the wheel.

During this Lenten Season, it is truly wonderful to recognize that as Christians we have Jesus as “the hub of our wheel.” Through Him we have no need for anxiety, even if at times we are overwhelmed by all that is expected of us. We never have to “do it all” alone. All we have to do is ask and the Good Shepherd is always there to guide us.

How often I turn to you, Gentle God, when I feel overwhelmed by all that is required of me. I am always amazed at the peace Your presence brings when I am overcome by stress or exhaustion or frustration. All I need to do is turn my thoughts to you to feel refreshed and renewed. You are always there for me, shepherding me through my daily work. Open my eyes to the ways I can serve you best. And in this season of Lent, let me keep you and the gift of your Son the focus of my days, for it is only with you that any of us find the balance we need. Amen.

Liz Sheridan, 1996

Friday, March 31

… Love your neighbor as yourself. 

Mark 12:31  New English Bible

Several years ago a woman had office space in the high school library where I worked as the media specialist.  A constant stream of students crossed the library to see her throughout the day. More gathered there after school, too.  Curious, I introduced myself and learned that Mona was a parapro from the County, assigned to work with ESL students, those for whom English was a second language.  Indeed, virtually all the students who visited her were Muslim teens from Bangladesh.  Mona was an immigrant herself, moving with her family to the USA from Egypt after graduating university, marrying, and having two children. And Mona was Muslim, too.

Mona asked me for resources for her students and we struck up a friendship.  Soon we were walking the indoor track after school together, getting in a little exercise while we shared family stories and our faith journeys.  No one else in the high school made an effort to make Mona feel welcome, even though she did a terrific job helping those ESL teens struggling with chemistry or history or English lit.  Mona would read the assigned novels--The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men, Shakespeare!-- and work through the themes, characters, plots, and so on, so she could help her students make sense of these foreign writings. Mona worked long hours, sat in on her students' classes, rarely took a lunch break without six kids hovering around asking for help.  

As we walked and got acquainted, I told Mona that I had always been interested in world religions and was happy to get to know a Muslim woman personally.  We found we had so much in common--love of language, devotion to family, interest in travel.  What a surprise to learn we shared the same birthday!  Mona loved to analyze people according to the Zodiac signs.  She was delighted we are both Leos and would let me know how a Leo responds to various situations.  "Of course you are doing six things at once, Diane," she would laugh. "You are a Leo! That's what we Leos do!"

After 18 months, I was transferred to the elementary school and Mona eventually left the district and pursued special certification at MSU.  She worked and traveled to classes in East Lansing for three years. She now teaches Arabic at an Arabic school in Sterling Heights.

Back in the grade school, I made it a point to be more aware of the many Muslim students.  I bought books written in both Arabic and English so any non-English-speaking parents could read with them.  I learned more about Ramadan and taught lessons about the holy month and its tenets.  I reminded teachers ordering pizza for a class treat to be sure some were cheese only, no pepperoni.  Small things.  But they seemed to mean a lot to my students.

Lately I find myself wondering how many of our country's leaders have a personal friend who is also a Muslim.  Have they shared family stories?  Swapped recipes?  Walked together? Exchanged holiday greetings? Shared a hug?

Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor."  Couldn't be more direct or simple.  Why is it so hard?

Dear God,  help us to find ways to love, to show our love, to share our love. Real ways that make a real difference in the world.  Amen.

Diane Falconer

Thursday, March 30

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Deuteronomy 6:5 "

When I was young I had a red autograph book with different colored pages that people had signed. I took this book to the hospital when I had my appendix out. My Dad wrote on a green page: "Your cheerfulness is catching the same as love that's true. Remember this, my darling, whom you love, loves you.” That has stayed with me all these years and I realize how true it is. Relationships with people are so important. As Christians we know we have the LOVE of Jesus with us and in us. God loves each one of us. He gave us Commandments to live by and sent Jesus to teach us to love one another.

I do believe we are filled with the Holy Spirit and I do believe in miracles, but reality set in when I learned the sad news about my sister, Nancy. Her cancer was terminal. My sister and I traveled to see her and I thought "what shall I take her?” Then I remembered my favorite verse my Dad wrote. Yes, I took cheerfulness.

Dear God Our Heavenly Father, this Lenten Season, help us to stay in closer touch with You. Help us to realize how precious life is and to remember how important cheerfulness and love are for one another in our relationships. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Kerry Butters, 1996

Wednesday, March 29

  Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.

Psalm 119:50

It is Well with My Soul!

Recently I attended a memorial service and one of the selected hymns was “Peace Like a River, It is Well with my Soul”. I was comforted singing the words knowing that the person whose service it was for was now at peace. His soul was “now well.”  My thoughts drifted back to my own father’s funeral service when the very same hymn was chosen. Alzheimer's no longer plagued his soul and precious peace was now his! Then at mom’s funeral, a few years later,  the same hymn came to mind, no longer would her mind be ravaged by such an unforgiving disease.  This was a cause for rejoicing despite our family’s sorrow. Our Savior as He suffered on the cross achieved that same peace, His soul returning to His Father.

These words also speak to us in our own lives, not just at death. Regardless of our plight, we are promised peace as we seek the support of our Lord through prayer. He will comfort us through the darkest times and light our way with his love. Be confident knowing our souls can be at peace, it is a promise.

Our Heavenly Father during our darkest times illuminate our paths so that we are reminded of your love for us. Give us strength to follow your ways, comforting others in need as you have comforted us. Thanks be to God.

Lyn Martens

Tuesday, March 28

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 RSV

TRUST in HIM

My daughter is a senior in high school this year.  Today is her 18th Birthday.  She is an amazing young lady and wrote this poem six years ago.  I treasure every moment of her life.  There was a time I was not sure I would ever have a child.  But God’s voice inside of me kept telling me to TRUST GOD.  I trusted him through all the procedures for eight years.  It was the hardest struggle we shared together as a couple.  It seemed like everyone was having children but us.

Appreciate You

If you don’t like how you look don’t change
You should love how you look
When you don’t do your best work
Try harder next time

You should love how you act
You should realize how amazing you are
Try not to care what others think
Just be the way you are

Appreciate You

By Grace Sleder

Sometimes we fail to trust God and let this world distract us from God and HIS love for us. I trusted God and HE brought us this AMAZING daughter into our lives.  She is the answer to many years of PRAYER and TRUSTING.  We gained strength from our faith in God who is always with us on this journey.  Trust is at times a struggle between this world and God’s world.  Some days it is a challenge to wake up to so much uncertainty.  Trusting God has always been a challenge and I know I have to trust him today and only today.  Try to go to a quiet place and shut out the noise of this world. Try everyday to just trust him.  Give him your worries and challenges today, and let HIM make straight your path, Just Trust.

Dear Lord, help us to TRUST you more.  Give us the strength to get through this day praising you with thoughts, words, and deeds as we journey through this world of uncertainty in need of hope, love and joy!   

Kathleen Sleder 

Monday, March 27

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3a

There is a Robert Burns poem that has been a favorite in our family for many years. It is titled “A Grace Before Dinner” and we often use it for that, but it is useful in many other ways as well. For example, it often seems appropriate as a request for help or an expression of appreciation. It goes as follows:

O Thou, who kindly dost provide

For every creature's want

We bless thee, God of Nature wide,

For all thy goodness lent;

And, if it please thee, Heavenly Guide,

May never worse be sent;

But whether granted, or denied,

Lord bless us with content

These words took on new meaning for me when our daughter, just turning fourteen, faced a life-threatening illness. During those terrifying weeks she was in the hospital, the line, “for all thy goodness lent,” went over and over in my mind. I then realized our blessings are lent to us by a loving God and we have to accept His will, whatever may come. Fortunately, he blessed us with her full recovery.

As this prayer helped us through that great difficulty, it is equally effective in expressing great joy such as witnessing some beauty of nature which is beyond words.

Nancy Barker, 1996

Fourth Sunday, March 26

 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior … Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.            

Selections from Isaiah 43:1-5

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH

Some memories from childhood make such lasting impressions.  When I was around ten or eleven years old, I saw a television program with a woman in a choir robe. She stood before one of those painted stained glass church windows movie sets. She had a page boy hair style.  She sang with such clarity and conviction, “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.”

At the time I didn’t know that this moving music was an aria from Handel’s Messiah.  Nor was I aware that the phrase came from Job 19:25.

But I vividly remember how I wondered, “How does she know her Redeemer?” “ How does she experience the way that her Redeemer lives in her everyday life?”

This has been a perennial question that’s stayed with me throughout these years. So, how do people know that their Redeemer lives???

Over the years, I’ve found that this assurance can come in a variety of ways.

I know that My Redeemer lives when I see children in foster care find their forever families—and experience people’s lives redeemed in tangible, everyday ways.

Our worship services are filled with meaningful scriptures, prayers, sermons, moments for mission. All witness to the reality that Our Redeemer lives!

In those quiet, solitary times of prayer, I sense the Presence of our Redeemer who lives in ways so beyond my understanding.

I know that my Redeemer lives when I hear or read scriptures like “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name.” (Isaiah 43:1-5)

And, I know that my Redeemer lives when my heart, mind and soul are moved by the music and words of hymns—especially as sung together by our congregation like, “I Sing of Love Unknown, My Savior’s Love to Me”.. or ”Love Divine, all Love’s Excelling, Joy of Heaven to Earth Come Down..”  During some Sunday mornings, I stop singing to hear these words come from all the others around us.  Such faith is contagious!

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:4)

Kate Thoresen, Parish Associate, Foster/Adoptive Families Partnerships