Our 2008 Daily Lenten Devotional

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.                                                                                                                                                       - Romans 8:28 

Del and I have been visiting a member of our church who has limited physical abilities because of a stroke. Her physical abilities may be limited, but her mental abilities are not.  When we spend our hour with her, she responds with warmth.  She sees the humor in a passage being read to her. She remembers good times with her husband and family and expresses these thoughts as she is able.  She always thanks us for coming.  We should thank her. 

We may wonder how God is working for good here, but through this woman who loves Him, He has shown others how to deal with adversity and never lose hope.

Prayer:  Dear Father, sometimes it is difficult to understand that you have a plan for us.  When our problems seem overwhelming, help us to realize that we can turn to You for comfort knowing You will always be with us, and that You work for the good of those who love You.  Amen.        

by Shirley Perkins

______________________________________________

He will feed His flock like a shepherd: he will gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His bosom. 
                                                                                                         - Isaiah 40:11

In times of trouble and disquiet many of my thoughts turn back to my childhood and the lessons I learned in boarding school in the Himalayas and from my parents who were missionaries in India.  Learning from them, God has always been my mentor and my friend.  Ray’s and my first child died from a congenital defect when she was 17 months old.  Out of that tragic phase of our life I have learned that if you turn to God and ask for His help good can come even from tragedy.  God himself, in letting His only son die on the cross, is the supreme example of how one can live, love and learn.

Prayer:  Thank you dear Lord that in loving you we can live a full life and share your love with the world.

                                                             by Liz (Templin) Alley

_________________________________________________

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”         
                                                                                                            - Luke 4:8

Many people feel that the only way one can worship God is in church on a Sunday morning.  Think about it: one is there only a couple of hours, one morning a week.  Jesus wants us to “worship and serve” the Lord throughout the whole week. 

Every time you smile at others or make others laugh, you have brightened their day and served God.  Every time you let others know that you have thought of them, you have brightened their day and served God.  Every time you do something for others, you have brightened their day and served God. 

All of this takes the greatest gift we can give to another-our time.  What is five or ten minutes of our time compared to the feeling of importance and knowing that someone has remembered them?  This will last them a lot longer than the time it took us to do the deed. 

We all live busy lives, hardly having any time for ourselves.  But all of us could find ten minutes a day for others.  We will still have 23 hours 50 minutes for all the things we feel are so important.  Think about it: what can be more important than serving God by brightening another’s life? 

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help me to find more time in my busy schedule to serve you by helping others.  Amen.

                                                                      by Susan Smith

_______________________________________________

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

                                                                                                         - 1 Peter 5:7 

The praise song "Cares Chorus," which led me to this passage in Peter, is only one of many that have had a profound influence in my personal walk with the Lord.

He speaks to each of us in unique ways.  Seeking to hear God’s word and to know God’s presence has led me on a meandering trail.  The destination is a profound peace.  We find that He knows our needs and cares for us in every situation.

The essential step for all of us is to seek Him first.  He does not intrude into our lives; we must first welcome Him. Praise songs have been my way of talking to Him and welcoming Him into my heart.  He hears my words as  "I Sing Praises to His Name," "I Love You Lord," "Draw Me into Your Presence," " He is My Peace," and so many more.  It is my hope during this Lenten period that you too can find a way to make Him a welcome companion as you meet the challenges of your daily life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we seek to find you in as many ways as there are people.  We know that you are there for us and care for us whatever our need or situation.  We want to welcome you into our hearts, this day and every day.  Amen.
                                                                                                    by Karen Landes

_______________________________________________________________ 

Then spoke Jesus again unto them saying, “ I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

John 8:12

There is a familiar painting by William Holman Hunt of Jesus standing in front of a door covered in vines.  This door has no opening from the outside. The only admittance is from the person standing within.  I find this a powerful image as Jesus asks us to ask, to seek and to knock and know that the way is full of light and life with him.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, send your light and love that it may shine through us into a hungry world.  Amen.

                                                                                                by Sheila Knauer

_______________________________________________________________

“Now concerning spiritual gifts . . .  there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.”

                                                      - 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-5

So begins my favorite chapter of the Bible. We all have gifts or talents, granted by our loving God, which we are to use to honor Him. No one of us is without some kind of spiritual gift. Sounds easy – like something we would tell even the smallest child. But even as adults, identifying our gifts and using them to honor God isn’t as easy as it sounds.

First, we each have to identify the gifts. Are you musical? Gifted with the ability to lead others? Can you teach? Can your hands sew, cook, build, heal the sick? Maybe you’re obsessively organized – or even bossy (some have said). Could this be a gift?

Then, those gifts must be applied to honor God. For me, applying God’s gifts takes trial and error. So I try this ministry and volunteer for that committee. I listen to a friend, or reach out to a stranger. Sometimes I clearly see how I honor God. Other times, I learn patience or humility – not necessarily the path I expected, but a gift just the same.

In this Lenten season, write down the gifts you believe God has given you. Then ask someone else, someone who knows you or loves you, what your gifts might be. Now look around you for a new way to honor God with the gifts He has given.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts You have given me. Sometimes I am scared, sometimes I am confused about how to use those gifts. Please guide me in all I do, so that I honor You.    Amen.

                                                                                        by  Kelly Karrenbauer

_______________________________________________________________

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.                                                                                      
- Matthew 21:22 

            One day as I was playing golf I noticed a tender lump on my left hand.  It was not too bothersome but at times it would send a pain down my hand.  I didn’t think too much about it until it started to get slightly larger.

             I had a good friend who was an orthopedic surgeon so I asked him what my lump could be.  He carefully looked at it, felt it and very matter-of-factly said, “You have what is called Dupuytren’s Contracture.”  I thought to myself, “That is an impressive name for such a small lump.”  I then proceeded to ask him how it would affect my hand and if there was anything that could be done for it.  His answer was that my hand would begin to draw up in a claw-like manner as the tendons began to shorten.  His other statement was that I could have surgery.  This was not too appealing to me.  In my own mind, I felt there must be another solution to this problem other than surgery.  A couple of weeks later we had dinner with him, his wife, and his partner. His wife asked me how my hand was and told me to show it to his partner and ask him what he thought it might be.  Right away he gave me the same answer as my friend. 

            The real test of my belief in God was at hand.  Every day I would rub the lump and pray that God would remove this thing from the palm of my hand.  The rubbing and praying went on for weeks and one day I looked at my hand and the lump was gone.  A miracle had taken place right here and now.  I would pray that I believed God would heal this lump if it were His will.  Thanks be to God, it was His will.

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for healing my hand and strengthening my belief in you.  May others know that you are here in this world healing as you did in times past if only we would believe and pray for the healing in your name.  Amen.

                                                                                                  by Luann Alleman

_______________________________________________________________

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.                                                                                                                                                      - Romans 8:28

I do love God and I know he has truly blessed my life.  This little verse has a very special meaning to me.  It has given me strength and courage to face all the peaks and valleys of my life, with God carrying me every inch of the way.

Peggy Gibbons

________________________________________________________________

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.                                                                                                                                                                            - Galatians 6:9 

I was given a refrigerator magnet with the above verse after I had served as an officer in the UMW.  Let us not become weary in doing good. 

I was working part time, had a young family and was very active in our congregation.  I was in charge of the church kitchen for fund-raising meals.

When I read the verse I thought, "How right you are.  I am weary."  As Christians we all become weary in doing good for others.  We need to remember what John Wesley tells us the obligation of a Christian is:

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can. 

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for speaking to my heart.  We are never done doing good in your service.  Let us remember to do for others as long as ever we can.     Amen.                                   

                                                                                                 by Barbara Davey

_______________________________________________________________

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say Rejoice.  The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
                                                                                      - Philippians 4: 4, 7

We all know the hymn "Amazing Grace."  However, there is a verse we rarely sing.  The words say, “The Lord has promised good to me.  His word my hope secures.  He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures." When our daughter, Mary, had cancer 20 years ago, she chose these words as her focus.  We have shared them many times over the years.  We sang them together when Glenn was being given his “New Life” at Christmas two years ago at Mayo Clinic in cold Minnesota.  And in the summer of 2006, we sat by Mary's bedside as she was dying of recurring cancer and sang them to her even when she couldn’t speak.

Our faith sustains us.  Faith can be defined as belief without need of certain proof.  When Mary pleaded with doctors to remove her life support so she could die, I asked her if she wanted to be with her dearly loved brother, Stephen, who died in 1994.  Her eyes said, “Yes.”  “The Lord has promised good to me.”

Glenn says “privilege." God’s gift to us, our privilege, was to be with both Stephen and Mary as they began their own new lives-New Beginnings.  It is our privilege, our gift, to be the grandparents to Mary and Brian’s six children.  Those in college tell us they enjoy mail, especially “cookies would be good, grandma!”  (No raisins for Connor, please.) 

As we walk through life’s valleys, our hope and faith remind us that we are walking “through."  We have been and are supported by many faithful friends and family in our life’s journey.  His word our hope secures.  He is our shield and portion.  Our faith endures. 

Prayer:  Dear God, as we journey “through” life’s valleys, lead us to remember your gift to us in your son, Jesus Christ.  As our lives touch each other, may we remain aware of our privileges and secured hopes.  Amen.                                                                                           
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  by Helen Iossi

_______________________________________________________________

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.  “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “Why do you call me good?”  Jesus answered.  “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother." “Teacher,” he declared, “all these things I have kept since I was a boy.”  Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack," he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”  At this the man’s face fell.  He went away sad because he had great wealth.
                                                                                                   - Mark 10: 17-22 

What was the one thing this man was lacking?  In my eyes, it was the suggestion of being totally dependent upon faith and a willingness to serve God.  All too often a pocket full of money brings about a sense of security.  Jesus presented too high a price tag for this young man.  What value are you willing to place on your faith and trust in God? 

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for being in my life and showing me that being wealthy isn’t everything.  Help me to understand what I must do to inherit eternal life and to always have faith and trust in you.  Amen. 

                                                                                                 by Brian Lochbihler

________________________________________________________________

“…serve a living and true God and wait for his Son from heaven…”                                            I Thessalonians 1:9-10

"…pray without ceasing...”                                 I Thessalonians 5:17

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is overflowing with support and wise counsel to the Gentile believers as they wait for the return of the risen Jesus.  These words are just as relevant to me today as I live my belief that Jesus is my Savior and that He will return.

As Paul reminds his readers, these are not his words, but are “God Words:”

        WE SERVE GOD WHEN we accept the resurrected Christ and look for His return and claim His promise of eternal life.

        WE SERVE GOD WHEN we “encourage and build up one another.”

        WE SERVE GOD WHEN we “help the weak.”

        WE SERVE GOD WHEN we “always seek to do good to all.”

        WE SERVE GOD WHEN we “pray without ceasing.”

This last admonition, one of Paul’s many, is truly helpful to me.  When I work through a situation and “live as a child of the light” (I Thess. 5:5), the outcome honors God when I remember to pray my way though the problem.  If I am connected to God in prayer, He works to change my heart into one that sees my peers with the loving, patient, kind heart of Christ.  Then and only then can I serve God.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you sent Jesus as the example of how to love and treat others so that I can serve you and proclaim your love to the world.  May my lips always whisper prayer to you, God, and keep me focused on your ways.                                                        

                                                                         by Mary Beth Thomas

 P.S.  Thrill your heart and mind this Lenten Season and read all five brief chapters of I Thessalonians. May your heart be "strangely  warmed” by the Holy Spirit.  

______________________________________

Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others.                                                                                                        Matthew 7:1-2

It is very easy to sit back and judge others.  The world judges people without even knowing a situation.  Kids at school judge one another without even taking the time to get to know the person, or to know his or her real story. People judge others based on their ethnicity, clothes that they wear, gender, age, or even where they might live.  There is much to be said about the old saying, “do not judge a book by its cover.”  Everyone has gifts and strengths, and it is important to focus on the good qualities in others, and not just on their weaknesses or appearance.

Prayer:  Dear God, help us to take the time to get to know others and not to judge them based on their appearance.  Help us to stand up for those who are being excluded because others have judged them in a negative way.  Help us to learn to accept the differences in others because these differences create individuality which makes everyone special, because there is no one else like them.  Amen.

by Emily Richards

___________________________________________

Peace I leave with you; peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid.

                                                                         John: 14:27 (KIV)  

The dreaded orange barrels were lined up, implacably channeling traffic into one lane, and slowing everyone down to a crawl.  I was in my usual frantic hurry, deeply resenting these obnoxious obstacles that seemed to be everywhere.

So I opened up one of my daily conversations with God and asked Him to please make the line of orange barrels short this time so I could rush on with my life. There was no answer and the traffic slowed even more. But finally I realized my breathing was more even, my mind wasn’t whirling, and I was actually enjoying the lovely countryside sliding slowly by.

This was God’s answer! He gave me an interval of peace I had not known I needed.  He showed me that when I can’t easily get around the orange barrels of life, I should just take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.

Prayer: Dear God, you are constantly reminding me that you hear every prayer – but answer them in your own time and in your own way.  I feel your presence every day, nudging me ever closer to understanding your plan for me in this world. Continue to cleanse me of selfish thoughts and open my heart to your heavenly grace so that the peace you give unfolds into a blessing to those around me.  Amen.                                                                     
                                                                                       by Linda Tippitt

________________________________________________

... but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.                                                                                      Romans 5:3-5

            It is after much prayer that I write this devotion for you. I am not a gifted writer. I’m just a simple man with a very unglamorous life. I initially wanted to write about another verse that I cling to so often in my life: “For nothing is impossible with God."  (It’s found in a few different places in the Bible. I’ll choose Luke 1:37.) But I changed my mind because I’m figuring out that God has a plan to bring us completely to Him.

                 This plan at times can seem very difficult, but it’s very necessary. God has asked my wife and me to adopt children whom the world considers broken. It is not a fun job. Life can be very difficult and our God allows us to go through these difficulties. Then life gets even more difficult and still our God allows us to endure these troubling times too. Has our God abandoned us? Has He sat back and enjoyed the show?

                 Our great and glorious God has held us through it all. He has held us as we were anguishing over our difficulties. You see, we called out to Him. We praised Him through these storms that we call our life. We are learning more than we ever thought we could and certainly doing more than we thought possible. We are able to bear more than we ever thought we could because our God never disappoints us. His grace has sustained our hearts and nurtured our souls.

                 You cannot one day wake up and decide that you want to become a pilot and then immediately go fly a plane. Nor can you build a relationship that has any sustenance without taking the time to endure life together. Jesus wasn’t placed on this earth as just an adult; no, He was born as a baby, grew up as a boy, and then lived as a man. He went through much suffering; He endured the cross which showed each of us what He was made of, and as He took His final breath He provided hope for all of us. He was a simple man who led an unglamorous life to show us that God loves us extravagantly. 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, let me always remember that nothing is impossible for you. You are always here with me Lord. Allow me to become your obedient and faithful servant. Provide me with faith and hope, and let me remember that with your love and grace, I can live life with perseverance, strength, and character each and every day. Amen.                                     

                                                                              by  Scott Smith

______________________________________________

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you will be also. 

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:1-3, 18 

Special memories I treasure are my grandfather reading to me from the family Bible. He told me stories about the galleries of scripture illustrations in the front of the book.   I feel so blessed to have had him in my life!  Both my sister and I know that we got our spiritual foundation from “Pappa.” 

We would sing duets in our church in our small town in North Carolina. A favorite was “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.” 

Years later when I went to visit Pappa, he gave me the family Bible because he said he knew I loved it so.  I will always cherish what he taught me and the times we spent reading scripture together. 

As an adult, I remember the sadness I felt at funerals of loved ones who have passed on. I think about Jesus’ words in verse 18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for sending your son into the world to guide us in our daily lives. Help us to be worthy of his love. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.                                                                        

                                                                               by  Joan Kahler

_________________________________________________

So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. Let us do our best to enter that place of rest.

Hebrews 4: 9-11

Many of us (myself included) spend an extraordinary amount of time working, playing, volunteering, and staying busy. The day seems to disappear with driving the children to activities, making it to committee meetings, and getting our work done. You fill in the blanks for your daily activities that occupy your day. I have been thinking a lot about this lately after reading about meditation and idleness in a book titled How to Be Idle. The author states, “It is easy to become, in the words of Thoreau, a slave-driver of yourself.” It became apparent to me that my choices on how to occupy my time are a form of self- inflicted slavery. The realization that I have chosen this busy life made me stop and search for answers to this dilemma.

The passage in Hebrews tells us that God is waiting for His (busy) people. He wants us to enter that place of rest and have a relationship with Him. During our times of labor, we do not always have time to sit quietly and listen. God is patient and He is waiting. These words said to me to let go of the work I have on my agenda, listen to what God has to say, and appreciate what He has provided.

Prayer: Let each of us find that today is a good day to rest and find peace with God.

                                                                         by Sue Wannemacher

_________________________________________

Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.                                                                Matthew 11: 6

In Matthew Chapter 11, John the Baptist has been imprisoned by the evil King Herod.  With his life in jeopardy, John sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he truly is the Messiah.  Shouldn’t John know, without a doubt, that Jesus is the Christ?  After all, John had been present at His baptism, during which the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove, and God audibly proclaimed Jesus as His son.  But perhaps John’s crisis of faith is understandable; if Jesus is in fact the Christ, why wouldn’t he use his power to save John’s life?   Jesus answers John’s question with a statement of fact: the sick are healed, the dead are raised, the poor are ministered to.  But more importantly, he answers John’s implied question with a hard truth: I’m not coming through for you this time, but you will be blessed if you do not lose faith on account of this.

We, like John, often question God’s plan when faced with hardship and suffering.  In such times, remember that Jesus did not come to save us from pain and suffering, but from meaninglessness.  He died on the cross not for our comfort in this world, but to secure for us a place with Him in eternity.  If we keep our trust in Him despite the worst that this world can give, we will one day enjoy a reward greater than we can imagine.   

Prayer:  Dear Father, we ask that You would bless us in this life, but even more importantly, that You would strengthen us in our times of trial, and help us to be a blessing to You and to others.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

                                                                                            by Travis Rasor

___________________________________________

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”   

                                                                          Matthew 6:25-27

I confess that I am a worrier.  As a young person, I spent a great deal of time worrying about my career, where I would live, and about whether I would ever meet that special someone that I could share my life with.  Now as a wife and mother of two young boys, I find myself worried about my family and friends.  I worry about their health and well-being.  I worry about our community and about whether I am making a difference in the lives of others.  Anyone who picks up a newspaper or turns on the evening news understands that there are lots of things to worry about.  Thoughts about wars, famines, the economy, and global warming could keep us up worrying night after night. 

Jesus tells us not to worry.  Nothing can be gained from worrying.  It is exhausting and steals joy from our days.  Today let’s practice turning over our worries and concerns to God.  Let us rest peacefully in the knowledge that God is in control and is lovingly taking care of all of us.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for reminding us not to worry.  Thank you for hearing all of the concerns of our hearts, so that we may experience Your peace.  Amen.

                                                                         by Anne Mullins  

_______________________________________ 

Freely you have received, freely give.  

Matthew 10: 8

At our Thanksgiving table, we bowed our heads and offered thanks to God for the many blessings we have received from Him.  As we were about to dig into the turkey, our four grandchildren were a bit surprised to receive an envelope containing cash---with an understanding that they, in turn, use the money to help others.  We talked about “giving” as being an essential element of Thanksgiving.  We encouraged them to keep their eyes and ears open during Advent Season and then reach out, in whatever way they saw fit, to address a need. 

In the following weeks we heard touching stories about helping a family at school, assisting a homeless person near their church, buying mittens for kids, and contributing to various charities.  They experienced true joy in passing on the gift.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for your grace so freely given to me.  I acknowledge that all I have is a gift from you.  Nudge me to respond to your gift of love by freely giving to others.  Amen. 

                                                                      by Bob Town

________________________________________________

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.                                                                                 Deuteronomy 31:6

I had the privilege of serving on the second Katrina work team to New Orleans in October of 2006.  While there, I witnessed such destruction that to this day I still cannot comprehend it.  The emotion and thought that kept creeping into my mind and heart the most was that of emptiness.  We saw blocks and blocks of empty, shattered homes that seemed to represent the lives after the storm of those who had lived there.

One day, while our team was putting up drywall in an elderly woman’s home, a neighbor came up to one of our team members. It was obvious that this woman was in need of others to share her story with.  If you have ever served on a work team you know that often the most important work you can do is not with your hands but with your ears.  Adamma took us to show us the remnants of her home and to share her story.  Katrina had seemed like the final straw to her.  She was an immigrant from a warring country in Africa.  Her husband had been shot and killed while they were fleeing the country together. She showed us the scars on her leg where she had been shot. She had survived this ordeal, settled in New Orleans with a good job and had finally owned a home of her own only to lose everything to Katrina.

Adamma became quiet and then began to sing a haunting tune.  I can’t recall the exact words but it began quietly with tears streaming from her eyes, “Oh Lord, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Her emotions were raw.  Then a look of calm came over her and she sang, “I know my God has not forsaken me because he is always at my side. It was I who left him.”  I don’t think that I have ever seen the presence of God more than at that moment in Adamma’s eyes.  Shattered though her life was, her faith would see her through.

Prayer:  Oh Lord, our God, help us to remember that you will never forsake us.  No matter what nature or mankind can throw at us you will be there to pick up the shattered shells of what is left.  For it is by your grace, through faith, that we are mended.  Amen. 

                                                                                   by Diane Baughman

_________________________________________

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him.  Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God.” 

                                    Luke 18: 15-17

 I have always been impressed with the unquestioning and complete faith of children of the church.  They believe with a faith and bear witness with a faith with a purity and accepting attitude that adults can seldom match.

Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these, that the faith of children expresses the level of trust and innocence that is to be sought by all believers so they might have entrance into the Kingdom of God.

What happens to us as we grow older?  The world and our peers test us until we become cynical and often lose that depth of faith that we had as children.  But Jesus implores us to maintain that level of faith that we had as children.  Unquestioning belief in Jesus and his message is what is required of us and is attainable.  Return to the faith of the children of the church, the children of Jesus, this Lenten season.

Prayer: Gracious Lord and Father, we strive to come to you as children of faith, with unquestioning belief in you and your Son’s message of grace attained not by words or deeds, but by faith in You.  Grant us the serenity to come to you again as children of the faith.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

                                                                                            by Gary Wilson

_______________________________________________

Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

Romans 12:2

Paul is talking to the church at Rome when he urges the people to not conform to the world around them, to the idol worship and sacrifices.  He wants them to reform their thinking and habits to the teachings of Christ their Lord. 

Just as God said to Joshua in Joshua 1:9, “…be strong and courageous…"  Joshua was urging the Hebrews to cross the Jordan into the land God had promised, not to listen to the negative talk around them, not to conform to their ideas.  Follow God’s promise.  

In today’s world it’s the same; we must not conform to those things or happenings around us, but we must be transformed by renewing our minds and following God!

Prayer: Awesome and mighty God, help us to listen to your word for us to transform our minds and hearts to your teaching and not conform to the world around us.        Amen.
                                                                          God Bless, Wes Johnson

_____________________________________________

But I have had God’s help to this very day and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike…                           
                                                                                                Acts 26:22

My husband and I were traveling home through the mountains of North Carolina one dark evening with our two babies when our headlights went out.  As Ransom tried to stop the car, I feared we would plunge over the side of the mountain.  When the car stopped we realized we were about two feet from the edge.

Soon a car, the first we had seen all evening, stopped.  The driver looked and then came over because he said he saw me holding a baby.  (The interior lights worked).  He said he would lead us to a service station and we were to follow him as he drove slowly down the mountain.  At the station we offered to pay him for his time and help, but he refused saying it was his pleasure to help people.  Then he left without giving us his name.

We felt we had been guided by one of God’s angels.  Ask me if I believe there are angels among us, to help and guide us, and my answer would be yes.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, my faith was strengthened that night as I felt you delivered us from what could have been a disaster.  I believe you sent that man to us.  Your love and caring comforts us.

Thank you for showing me that true joy comes from helping others.  It is comforting to know I have your love and help everyday.  Yours in Christ, Amen.

                                                                         by Joan Harris

_________________________________________________

…their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
                                                                                            Matthew 13:15

Years ago, Miss Helen Keller, blind and deaf from infancy, appeared as a guest of the Blind Society in Cleveland, Ohio.

Anne Sullivan Macy, her teacher, was with her.  She demonstrated how young Helen had learned to carry on a conversation by touching with her sensitive fingers the lips and throat of another person.

Mrs. Macy asked Newton D. Baker, chairman for the evening, to carry on a conversation with Miss Keller by this method.  He remarked to her that blindness is the greatest human handicap.  Quick as a flash she replied, “Ah, but what is worse is to have eyes, and not to see!”

In the world today we need greater understanding and deeper concern for our fellow man.  We need the ability to see as Christ sees, and the sensitivity and compassion of His heart.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy many blessings and everlasting love.  Open our hearts in understanding that we may see Thee with clear vision and always do Thy will.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

                                                                                    by Ruth Rudduck

_______________________________________

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are different kinds of service, but the same Lord; there are different kinds of workings, but the same God works all of them in all people. 

I Corinthians 12:4 - 6

All the gifts are intended to build up members of the Christian community.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

For some the Spirit has drawn them to sing in the choir.  For some the Spirit has drawn them to preach. For some the Spirit has drawn them to donate large sums of money. For some the Spirit has drawn them to teach.

But what if I can’t carry a tune, or what if I am afraid of public speaking, or what if I don’t have much money, or what if teaching gives me the creeps?

We all have an inner voice which tells us what we should do.  It’s the gift from the Holy Spirit, a different one for me and a different one for you.

We can help with missions both local and global.  If you can’t build a Habitat House, or go to New Orleans, or go to Africa, or go to Russia, you can support those who do.

Perhaps you can serve on one of the dozens of committees we have here at Epworth. Or perhaps there is a new ministry that you are being called to start.  Isn’t it good to know that there are different strokes for different folks?  Isn’t it time you gave some muscle to your ministry?

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help me to clear up the clutter in my life, and to get down to what is truly important. Lord, speak for your servant is listening.  Here I am--send me.  Amen.

                                                                                   by Devin McConnell

___________________________________________

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”                                                                   Luke 6:20

Dear Heavenly Father,
Many of us live in a world filled with love, luxury, and Your blessings.  We take Your gifts for granted because they become part of our daily routines, or become secondary on our list of priorities and busy schedules.  Although our lives are richly blessed, some people are not as fortunate as we are; these people live on the same earth, in the same country, and even in the same city as we do, but these people’s lives are filled with hate, poverty, and oppression.  However misfortunate the lives of the poor are, I know You have a plan for everyone and love even the neediest of Your kingdom.  Please watch over the least, the last, and the lost of the world today, and show the poor that they are blessed and loved as much as those whose lives are showered with Your blessings. In Your Heavenly Name I Pray, Amen. 

                                                                                    by Cameron Burmeister

_______________________________________________

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”                                                                                                               Jeremiah 29:11

God created every one of us for a unique and special purpose. Before the foundation of the world, He laid out an exact plan for our lives. And in this plan, He has marked encounters and trials along our paths. These moments are not ordinary. They are destiny-altering moments designed to set you along the path He has planned. It took both of us a long time to figure that out. How many times over the years have we questioned a difficult situation, or feelings of loneliness and struggle, or worrisome nights spent awake with sick children? It says in Ecclesiastes 9:11 that “time and chance come together for every person.” To us, that means we’ll have opportunities to meet the right people, opportunities to advance in our careers, opportunities to fulfill our dreams because God has already pre-arranged it to be so. Although we may not see all those good fortunes right now, there are moments of favor and wonder marked for our future. For now, we cherish the blessings already discovered along our path and try to focus on removing the clutter from our life so that we can hear the still, small voice.

Prayer: God, thank You for ordering my steps. Thank You for making a way when there seems to be no way. I choose to step out today with faith and expectancy so that You can move in my life. I trust You with my destiny and thank You for fulfilling every need of my heart today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.                          
                                                                   from Jeff and Mary Roesti

__________________________________________

Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you?  Or don't you care?  Can't you see how kind He has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?
                                                                                            Romans 2:4   

 It is comforting to know that our God is patient, kind, tolerant, and forgiving.  He gives us many chances to turn from sin.  When we sin he is always there to accept us and forgive us and to exhort us to keep striving.  "The Lord is merciful and gracious;  He is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love." (Psalm 103:8)   These are images that are comforting to me and an example of behavior to model with family, friends, co-workers, everyone.  It is very hard to forgive, it is hard to admit failure, but we must do both on our journey.  If only it would be as easy as thinking, praying, and writing about it.  With God as our model we can all work on being slow to anger and being full of unfailing love. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gifts of love, tolerance, and forgiveness.  Thank you for your patience with our sinful ways and for always accepting us back to Your arms.  We do not deserve these gifts from You.  Help us as we try to model your behavior: slow to anger and rich in kindness.  Amen. 

                                                                                         by Mark Burton

_________________________________________

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name.  Make known His deeds among the peoples.  Make them remember that His name is exalted.  Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things.  Let this be known throughout the earth.

Isaiah 12: 4, 5

This verse reminds me of the joy of rejoicing in the Lord through song.  A renewal of spirit serves as a reminder of the glorious things the Lord has done.  In this season of renewal we are encouraged to see all that the Lord has given us from the smallest flower to the grandest mountain.  We are called to renew our commitment to Him and called to exalt in Him through our words and actions.  We are reminded that this renewal of faith will keep our relationship with God strong.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help us renew our relationship with you by showing your abundant grace all around us.

                                                                       by Holly Wasylkowski

_____________________________________

Jesus said unto her, “ I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”                                                                            John 11:25

           When I received the invitation in the mail to write a devotion for the Lenten devotional book my first reaction was that I just don’t have time for this!  After some careful thought I reconsidered and called my mother-in-law for help. She has been and will always be the spiritual adviser in our family. I thought if anyone could help me with this task she could.  I am not a Bible scholar nor have I taken any Disciple classes. These things have always gotten pushed to the back burner to do later. So this task was difficult for me.

            Few of us will ever be called on to actually give up our lives for those we love, but what are we willing to sacrifice? Time? Energy? Words?  Our own wants and desires?

            Jesus gave everything for us and in return sometimes we let Him and ourselves down. Maybe it is time for me to take the time and really get to understand Jesus and the sacrifice that he made. I know that I will try harder to give more of my time and energy towards doing what Jesus wants me to do.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we journey through this season of Lent, we come to you in prayer. We realize how much we depend on you. Walk with us; help us to have the courage and the strength to reflect on our lives and act as you would have us act. Give us insight on the meaning of life, death and the resurrection of Jesus. Help us, guide us, show us your way so we may look forward to the promise You gave us.                                                           

                                                                                       by Nancy Pollock

__________________________________________

For I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me. The righteous will then answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!’                                                                        Matthew 25:35- 45

These verses have become the mission statement for Church and Society Committee at Epworth. Church and Society is charged with providing for mission in the Toledo Area, and as a member of this committee I am so very impressed with the deep sense of responsibility that radiates from the individual members. We are a team of “do-gooders” who have a strong desire to carry out the mission of Church and Society both on a personal basis and on behalf of Epworth.

It seems that we are surrounded by the “me” culture in our society today. “What’s in it for me?” This is a selfish portrayal looking only inward, never outward. Yet it is good to know that there is a quiet group of people who strive to feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, clothe the naked, and visit the sick. Without a great deal of fanfare and attention, the people of Epworth carry out the mission handed to us in Matthew 25.

Prayer: Lord, I am touched by the thought that whatever I do for the least of my brothers, I also do for You. What a profound statement, so simple and yet so elegant. Lord, help me to see the needs of the least important of your brothers. Help me to see beyond my own self-centered desires. Help me to be a giver and not a taker.                                                                          
                                                                                                      by Tom Shirk

_________________________________________________

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

                        Mark 11:24

I have often been told that God answers all prayers, although sometimes we don’t get the answer we want.  The above verse from Mark makes it seem like we can pray for anything.  According to my study Bible, our prayers often focus on what we want, but Jesus set an example for us by praying for God’s will.  When we pray we need faith in God, not faith in the object of our request.

In the movie “Evan Almighty,” Morgan Freeman (who portrays God) notes the following: 

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient?

If he prays  for courage, does God give him courage, or does He give him opportunities to be courageous?”

By adopting this viewpoint in my own life, I am better able to see that the prayers I thought God didn’t respond to were actually responded to in His way.  When I learn to accept His way and see these opportunities in my life, amazing things happen. 

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I know you hear my prayers.  Help me to see the situations and opportunities you present to me each day as you answer those prayers in Your own way.  Help me to continue to grow as I learn to follow Your will instead of my desires.  Amen.

                                                                            by Tami Norris

__________________________________________

A soft answer turns away wrath, but