Written by Members of

Emory Grove UMC and Mill Creek Parish UMC

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 (NIV 2011) Ash Wednesday March 6, 2019

“1

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of

the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.

Like dawn spreading across the mountains, a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times

nor ever will be in ages to come.12

“Even now,” declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting

and weeping and mourning.” 13

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is

gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity 14

Who

knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your

God. 15

Blow the trumpet in Zion declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly 16

Gather the people, consecrate the

assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his

room and the bride her chamber. 17

Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the

nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

The Bible is full of literal and metaphorical references to crises, and in many cases the writer doesn’t

mince words – they state clearly that certain crises are punishments for man’s bad behavior, and that

behavior separates man from God. What actions can we take when we feel separated from God? A

common response is to turn away from our sin – WE take an action to repent. It seems the writer of

Joel is, however, encouraging us to take an additional or different step – and that is to turn TOWARD

God – to rely on Him, worship him, lean on Him, re-double our devotion to Him. Verse 15 says

"Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the

house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.“ [NIV]

Liz Haslbeck

Prayer: As we enter this Lenten season, let us actively pursue drawing closer to God and reverently

seek to increase our reliance on Him. Inspired by the writings of Rolf Jacobson; https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=256.

https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=256

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) March 7, 2019 “1

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the LORD, “My

refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High

your dwelling place, 10

no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your

foot against a stone. 13

You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.

15 When they call to me, I

will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. 16

With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.”

Like many of you, throughout my life and even since last Lenten season, I too have endured joy and pain,

deaths and births, close calls, disappointments, and uncontrollable circumstances including a forced 35-day

vacation known as the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. During each of these peak and valley

experiences, the one thing that has remained constant is God. His unconditional love, protection, and

provision for me (you) are continual. God is not just the reader of my (your) story; He is the author of my

(your) story. Whether I (we) recognize it or not, God’s will is always being done.

Psalm 91 reminds us that if we dwell (live) in the shadow of Almighty God, He will protect us from whatever

comes our way. Regardless of how awful or wonderful things are or appear to be, HE IS OUR SHELTER.

When we make the Lord our refuge and we love and trust Him, God will deliver, protect, answer, and rescue

us.

As we examine ourselves during this season, ask yourself, “Are you comfortably dwelling (living) and abiding

(remaining) in the care and protection of the Almighty (Shaddai) or are you a visitor (guest) who only connects

with God on ‘special occasions’ and continues to walk in fear, consumed with worry, and is overwhelmed by

the stresses of this world?”

Sheila Cook

Prayer: Lord, you are my refuge and my fortress, in whom I trust. Forgive me for all the times I believed I

could handle things on my own and did not fully rely upon you. Thank you for giving me long life and showing

me salvation - always delivering, protecting, rescuing and answering me when I call. Amen!

Exodus 6:1-13 New International Version (NIV) March 8, 2019

“6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them

go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”2 God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared

to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,[a] but by my name the Lord[b] I did not make myself fully known to

them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as

foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have

remembered my covenant.6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of

the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts

of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who

brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to

Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

In the Bible, people are often traveling: to visit cousins, to avoid persecution, to find freedom. Mary traveled to visit

her cousin Elizabeth while awaiting the birth of Jesus. Then she and Joseph fled to Egypt to protect their son from

the slaughter of the first born boys. The magi traveled a long distance to see the child they knew was God. The

Israelites followed Moses into the desert, a long trip filled with hardships and dangers, but holding out the hope of

freedom and opportunity at the end. Are there people today being forced to flee their homelands which

are scarred by war or threatened by climate change? Should we who live in comfort and prosperity not welcome

these travelers? Are we not called by God, as Moses was, to help his children find their way?

Denise Barker

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that we are all your children, all part of your family.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+6%3A1-13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-1659ahttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+6%3A1-13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-1659b

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 March 9, 2019

A Time for Everything

3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

I picked this because it is one of my favorite passages. I like it because all of life’s experiences are

mentioned and I find it comforting to know that there is a time and place for all of them. This past year has

had many happy times and many sad times for me, my friends, and my church. How we react to these

challenges defines the kind of person that we are. It is easy to rejoice when we experience a happy event

but it is very challenging to know how to respond to a sad event. Sometimes for either a happy or sad event

what is needed is to provide a listening ear. One way to prepare ourselves for Easter is to decide each day

to provide a listening ear to someone needing one whether for a happy or a sad event. I challenge you as

well as myself to provide that listening ear.

Anna Nevius

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that our actions reflect you to the world. Thank you for being

there whenever we need your guidance. Amen

Genesis 28: 10-12, 17 March 10, 2019

“Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the

night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay

down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching

to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it… And he was afraid, and said,

“How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

In this familiar reading of the story of Jacob’s ladder that we sang about as kids, is referencing what the

Celtic Christians call a “thin place.” Thin places are where heaven and earth are close. This is where

God’s love breaks through so completely that we know without a doubt we are loved. I love being

outside in nature. As a kid my sister called me the “outside child.” When I am surrounded by nature,

watching the sun rise and the world wake up, I am in my thin place. In these times, I feel closest to

God when I pray and open up my senses to what is around me. What I see and feel are special gifts

where I see the true grandeur of God’s creation, that they were put there just for me. During the

season of Lent, I hope you can find your own thin place, where you can quiet your mind and connect

with God.

Jeff Frashure

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to find my thin place to take time out of my busy schedule so I can come to

you and hear your voice.

Psalm 17 March 11, 2019

“They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert to throw me to the ground.…hide me

from the wicked who are out to destroy me…” excerpts of Psalm 17

In several Psalm 17 verses David, the Psalmist, is feeling ‘attacked’ and prays earnestly that God will

rescue him. When you read the entire psalm, don’t you empathize with how he honestly bears his deepest

burdens and worries to God? I’ll bet we all can relate when it seems that such outside ‘forces’ appear, and

we request God to protect us. Those stressors David was experiencing may be different from what we can

relate to, but those for us are no less ‘real.’ And so, like the Psalmist, I implore God to “Incline your ear, and

“hear my utterance!” The stressors of late for me (or those close to me) include a dear wife battling cancer,

who also just lost her younger brother; a cherished parent locked in a memory care unit (and my feeling

guilty we cannot keep her home in a family environment); a son mal-adjusted to adulthood and struggling

with ‘issues’ that You know because You know my heart. These are all happening within our small family;

and I seek the Lord’s protection of those I cherish. Others experience the same difficulties that include

sickness, sorrow, loss; these are issues we all face.

Then we read these verses: “Though you examine me and test me, you will see that I have planned no evil.”

“My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.“ We can remind ourselves that no matter

what happens or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and God gives the promise of hope that things

will be better tomorrow.

Anonymous

Prayer: Dear Lord, draw your attention to the needy that are among us, and assist us in bringing comfort

and support to these precious lives. So that they can be made whole and handle the pain and difficulties

they are facing. May their fervent prayers be attended to and may they gain relief just as you helped David

so long ago from the oppression of his attackers.

Zechariah 3: 1 – 10 March 12, 2019

“I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.

10 And after that,’ the Lord Almighty declares, ‘you will all live in

peace and prosperity, each of you will invite your neighbor to come and enjoy peace and security, surrounded by your vineyards and fig trees.”

Disaster, ruin, death, and destruction. The people of Jerusalem had seen their city overrun by an invading army, watched as many of their families and neighbors were killed, and experienced the turmoil of being taken hundreds of miles away as captives to Babylon. When they were eventually granted the right to return to Jerusalem by Cyrus the Great, a man whose empire eventually extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus River, the Israelites were determined to rebuild Solomon’s Temple which had been destroyed. Beset by opposition and resistance on all sides, the work languished, and it seemed like this building, so central to the community’s identity and life of worship, would never be remade. Through a series of visions and prophesies that may seem strange and unexpected to our modern ears, the priest and prophet Zechariah encouraged the people to complete the work. Rather than berate them for their shortcomings and difficulties, he used positive images, including the coming of The Branch (Messiah) to exhort the people in the face of their troubles. The Temple was completed, and this was the structure that Christ himself visited and worshiped in some 500 years later. This example can be a reminder to us as we face the problems great and small of daily life – if we remain focused on positive images, God will help us through difficult times. Encouragement can be unexpected, it can come from a friend, family member, or even through a chance encounter. Or perhaps today is your day to, as the poet says, “be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud”.

Ben Newhall

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to believe in the promise of your Love, to believe in a positive future, and to be a life-affirming voice for others as we face the pain and difficulties of life.

Luke 21:34-22:6 March 13, 2019 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on earth. Keep alert at all times, and pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” In his public teaching in the temple of Jerusalem, Jesus warns the people of many dangers they will face. Death may come unexpectedly. They must stay alert, be strong, and have faith in God. On Passover, he teaches his disciples to conduct communion with bread and wine. In the evening, he retires to the Mount of Olives to pray. The chief priests and the teachers of the law dislike Jesus’ message, but do not know how to stop him. When Judas offers to identify Jesus to arresting officers, the priests are pleased. Late at night, Jesus is arrested which leads directly to his trial and crucifixion. When a person faces a dangerous threat, the natural instinct is “fight or flight.” In this survival reaction, the heart speeds up; the mind focuses on how to respond; and muscles tense in anticipation of physically resisting or running away. Anyone may experience this reaction some time in their life. Although at one point in his praying, Jesus asks if the threat of death can be taken from him, he accepts his fate as God’s will and peacefully submits to arrest. His absolute trust in God allows him to face a painful death.

Bill Bancroft

Prayer: Dear God, help us to remember the example of Jesus whenever we face challenges to our faith.

Luke 17: 11-19 March 14, 2019

” As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. He was going into a

village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease. They stood at a distance and shouted,

Jesus! Master! Have mercy upon us!”

Leprosy was a contagious disease in Jesus’ time. Unfortunately, there was no cure. Victims of this dreaded skin

disease were driven out of towns and villages and made to leave their families isolated in leper colonies in the poorest

conditions.

Recently our older elementary Sunday school class took a closer look at the story in Luke 17 of the ten lepers who

Jesus encountered between the Samarian and Galilean border. The lepers stood at a distance and cried, “Jesus!

Master! Have mercy on us

“Go and let the priest examine you,” said Jesus. And as they went the lepers were cleansed. The ten men had

recognized that Jesus was the Master, but only one of the ten men- the Samaritan- turned back, praising God and

throwing himself at Jesus’ feet, and giving him thanks.

Then Jesus said, “Were not ten men cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give thanks

to God except this foreigner?”

Jesus performed a miracle, but the miracle of healing in this story

was subordinate to the cleansing of sin. Was the sin of ingratitude

worse than the physical disease?

Jesus’ last words to the Samaritan foreigner were, “Get up and go;

your faith has made you well.” The Samaritan in praising the Lord

was truly whole. He had been made well in his body and in his

soul. It is the thankful nature of the Samaritan’s response to the

Lord’s grace that made this man well.

Bunny Sours

Prayer: Thank you, God, for the grace you extend to us each of every day. Help us to feel gratitude when others offer

us gifts of kindness and generosity. May this story remind us to thank them with a grateful heart.

Luke 17: 11-19 March 15, 2019

“17

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18

Has no one returned to give praise to God except

this foreigner?”19

Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

After our class took a closer look at the story of the ten lepers, the children were asked to make a list of those they

needed to thank for their gifts of kindness and generosity. The children were to identify the gifts as well. Here are their

responses.

Hayden: God for giving me a wonderful world Dad for feeding me Zoe: Mom for cleaning my clothes

Dad for helping me learn

Oriana: Family for love

God for creating the world we live in

Nikolai: God for my family

My nephew for letting me come to his house to play

Lexie: God for making sure I have food, water, shelter, and a family that loves me

Abbey for letting me hug you (sometimes) and for being a good sister

Ana: God for giving me a loving family that brings out my real smile

Mother for giving breath to me and for taking care of all of us.

Ryan: My sister for being my friend

My mom for food

Tommy: God for healing

Mom and Dad for taking care of me

Brooke: God for forgiving me

My brother for being nice to me

Psalm 27 March 16, 2019

“1The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? ... 13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

At times we find ourselves surrounded by rumors, lies, and chaos. The things that we see, hear, and

experience on a daily basis, whether personal or indirect, can leave us overwhelmed and in panic

mode.

In this scripture, David reminds us there is no need to fear. The words ‘fear not’ are mentioned in the

bible at least 365 times; this is at least one time for each day of the year. If God is our light and

salvation, there is no individual or thing we should fear or be afraid of. Fear leads to worrying, worrying

leads to anxiety, and anxiety can lead to unnecessary stress, illness, and depression; and this is not

how God wants us to spend our days. We should not be distracted by our surroundings, but instead we

should dwell in God’s house and continue to praise and worship God for He is worthy. When there is

trouble, God will protect you. This Lenten season, I challenge you to be fearless, FEAR LESS, and trust

God more!

Recommended Praise and Worship Song: “Everlasting God” by William Murphy

Shantel Perkins

Prayer: Dear God, I thank you for this day that you have allowed me to see. When I am afraid of (fill in

the blank with your own personal fear/concern), I will trust in you for you are an everlasting God and will

continue to watch over me all of the days of my life. When I feel anxious, I will wait on you Heavenly

Father, and as the scripture says, “I will remain confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the

land of the living”. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Philippians 3:17-4:1 March 17, 2019

“My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with

such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God.”

Eleven or twelve years old, riding my bicycle home with yet-another basketful of library books, up the hill on a road with

no shoulder. Getting ready to turn left across the road, looking back over my shoulder just as a car came by. “Crunch!”

and a mangled front wheel. What happened?! Apparently the bicycle followed my head. Or as a motorcyclist friend of

mine says, “You go where you look.”

That saying comes to mind when I notice myself focusing on the worst that is happening in the world, or dwelling on all

the possible ways things can go wrong. If I’m not careful, that line of thought (or talk) leads to a downward spiral into

fear and anxiety and despair. The writer of Philippians, on the other hand, had more than enough troubles to be

justified in feeling discouraged and hopeless - unjustly imprisoned after suffering horrendous opposition for preaching

the message of Christ. Yet the author responds with great joy and love, urging believers to remain unwavering and on

track.

What does staying on track in your spiritual life mean for you? For me, keeping my focus on where I can be of service,

seeing what God is putting in front of me to do, listening for the Holy Spirit’s promptings, and not comparing myself to

other people. And when the negative spiral starts? Choosing to remember God’s goodness, losing myself in praise and

worship, and claiming the joy of the Lord as my strength*!

Norma Taber

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for showing us what it looks like to live

a life focused on God and for sending us the Holy Spirit to help us

stay steady in God, no matter what our circumstances. Fill us with

your abundant peace and joy and love. Amen.

* Nehemiah 8:10

(Picture: Road in Autumn, Derwood, MD, 24 Sep 2006)

Isaiah 41:10 March 18, 2019

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you

and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Lately I’ve been noticing so many people who are hurting. Within our congregation there are

people who are battling cancer, others who are in great pain, some who are very ill, and loved

ones who have recently died. There are people who suffer silently, such as those who have an

addiction or who have been sexually assaulted. We notice the pain more in those we know and

love, but there are many in our surrounding area and world who suffer daily for countless reasons.

I ask that we pray for those who hurt. Also, I pray that we try as best we can to reach out to these

people to find ways to ease their pain…a kind word, a written note, a helping hand. Whatever we

do, may it be with love and in God’s name.

Kathy Corcelius

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help those who are in pain for whatever reason that may be. Help me to

be a more compassionate person so that I may ease the pain of someone that I may meet today.

Amen

I Corinthians 10: 1-13 March 19, 2019 “13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” The scriptures have a way of commenting on our personal life style. They bring to our attention challenges and warnings as well as promises and affirmations. I suspect we enjoy the affirmation and promise most. So what is our response, when God’s

presence comes to our awareness? We may feel like asking, “Can God actually meet me in this

situation, especially, when I feel so lost; or when I plateau on the bare wilderness of our wanderings?”

Actually, isn’t it when we feel that pain without description and cannot get our bearings on God’s

activity, that, we tend to think, “Maybe God forgot me?” or “maybe God is punishing me?”

My dear friends, be of good cheer! That pain and the lostness is where God is MOST present in

your life and mine. You see, when the Lord has our full attention, God invites us to taste the grace and

forgiveness of Jesus, the risen Savior. God does NOT meet us in times of desperate need with

condemning judgment.

More exactly, it’s called “Amazing Grace.” When God’s redemptive power finds us in the valley of

despair, it’s there we find new life, renewed faith, a new hope and the call to become agents of God’s

love and acceptance. It’s the call to treat others as God has treated us.

Our scripture teaches us that “no temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But

God is faithful. He won’t allow us to be tempted beyond our abilities.” The blessing of the Lord comes

in the midst of our faults and failures and when our strength begins to fail: we cry out, “Stand by me! O

thou who never lost a battle, Stand by me.” As John Wesley declared to the people called Methodist,

“And Best of All, God is with us.”

Rev. George Aist

Prayer: All that I have and all I ever will is on temporary loan, given for a season like the leaves of

spring that soon enough will rustle in the late autumn winds, for you give with a single intent: that I

might know that you are Giver and Gift, the one beyond any how and every why, One. I didn’t earn and

can never lose, and one that can never lose me.*

* Book of the Heart: Meister Eckhart (Meditation of a Restless Soul).

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28581chttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28581dhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28581e

James 1:1-12 March 20, 2019

“ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete”

When I met with Pastor Warner this past November to plan my mom’s memorial service, he spoke of wanting to “find her in the text.” These verses from James, were verses that spoke loudest because they reminded me so much of her life as one of endurance and resiliency. She weathered so much: born before the Depression, she saw her family lose their home and livelihood; as a teen, she lost a brother (and watched her mother lose a son) to hemophilia; as a young woman, she lost her fiancé days before their wedding; as a mother of 2 young children, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was told she had 3 months left to get her affairs in order. Any one of these may have sent some into a tailspin, but somehow, she persevered through all of these trials. Through her church, her faith, and a new doctor, a miracle happened, and she was blessed with 50 more years, allowing her the delight of seeing both her children and grandchildren grow up. I know that not all who have trials are so blessed, and I know my mom’s trials left life-long scars, both physically and emotionally, but I hope I can take the lesson that trials are not because God doesn’t love us. Grit, determination, and tenacity can all be by-products of trials, as can compassion and empathy- if we choose to frame it that way, which was how my mom viewed it. As my geologist daughter tells me, diamonds are the hardest of all minerals and are formed only under great stress and pressure. Though the trials my mom endured were tremendous, they formed a brilliant, inspiring, love-filled life.

Suzanne Talbot

Prayer: Dear Lord, give us the strength to persevere through our trials, to retain hope, and to know you are with us through the shadows. Amen.

Daniel 3:19-30 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Fiery Furnace March 21, 2019

“19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted.

He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary, 20 and ordered some of the strongest guards in

his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So the men were

bound, still wearing their tunics,[a] their trousers,[b] their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the

furnace of blazing fire. 22 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames

killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He

said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” 25

He replied, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the

appearance of a god.”[c]26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, “Shadrach,

Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and

saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics[d]

were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed

the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

In the 1930’s Louis Armstrong sang and played a popular tune “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego” based on

this scripture, but for me that only tells part of the story, not the key message. Johnny Cash had more insight

with his recording, “The Fourth Man in the Fire.” Both of these tunes are on Youtube. The back story is that

these three men refused to worship a false god set up by the king, a gold statue. Even though this is an Old

Testament scripture, the fourth man in the fire saving Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is, in the opinion of

many, Jesus the Christ.

The message for me is that the trials of life can be successfully dealt with when we have our faith and trust in

Jesus to help us through them. The blazing furnace represents our trials. No matter how terrible trials may be

Christ will be our Savior in times of need if we ask.

Dave Ceely

Prayer – God of Grace and Mercy, we pray that the changes our churches are facing will produce results that

are acceptable in Your sight, and will allow us to continue working together in pursuit of Your Will. Amen

CORINTHIANS 4:16 - 5:5 March 22, 2019

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” - - - “God has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Our lives are full of - - - work and responsibilities; problems and frustrations; failures and hardships; sickness and old age. These are what the scripture calls “our light and momentary troubles.” These are the realities of this world. But God has given us the Holy Spirit to “renew” us, to make us strong enough to face the challenges of life. We are grateful that He has also given us children, family, friends, joys, and love. When we are troubled or discouraged, pray for the Holy Spirit to be close to give us calm and assurance. Pray for Him to show us the way to do God’s will. When we get discouraged, count our many blessings and remember that ”now” is only temporary and we are promised a glorious eternal life. Live with the joy of the Lord in you and trust in his promise.

Jean Bancroft

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to live within us.

Luke 6: 43-45 March 23, 2019 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” God has chosen us, and it is his intention that we be fruitful. Our fruitfulness is rooted in a personal relationship with him. Christ is our example. We need to know who he is and follow him. There is no real hiding of a person’s character, good or bad. What a man or women is will be made known. Our words and actions will be viewed as fruit growing out of our essential being and character. The good person brings good things out of the good stored up in his or her heart, and the evil person brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his or her heart. But there must be unity between the inner and the outer person. Only the good person out of the “good treasure” of his or her heart can produce good. In other words, in a righteous man or women a deeply-rooted honesty and truth will produce that kind of fruit. He or she must cleanse his or her own mind and his heart, acknowledging his or her own mistakes, to bring good treasure. Old Testament theology was very different. The priests and the people were more conscious of what was going into their mouths instead of what was coming out of their mouths. The books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers in the Bible have long lists of specific ways that priests and the people might take on holiness. The rabbis describe Leviticus as The Priest’s Manual. The Priest’s Manual more accurately begins in Exodus, continues through Leviticus, and into Numbers. There you will find long lists of instructions on how and what to sacrifice and when. You will find laws of uncleanness- of animals, food prohibitions, uncleanliness of disease, and procedures for burnt offerings and peace offerings. The Israelites of the Old Testament lived by a set form of religious rites. Their practice was more external than of the heart.

Bunny Sours

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus Christ and for the example that he sets for us. Remind us to be more mindful of what comes out of our mouth than what goes into our mouth. Amen.

LUKE 13:1-9 March 24, 2019

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Then he told this parable: “ A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” “Sir, the man replied, ‘ leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” The passage discusses a couple tragedies – the killing of a group of Galileans at the hands of Roman soldiers and the tragic death of 18 people when a tower fell on them. Even today, we read about tragedies around the world or see them on the evening news. Jesus is telling us that these events can happen to anyone at anytime. It doesn’t matter if you think you are a good person and someone else is a sinner. We must all be ready for judgment day through repentance since death and judgment are imminent. The fig tree parable tells us that even though God is kind and forgiving that in the end he will judge us all. There is hope, though, for us who are willing to repent. The way to salvation is through living a good and just life, an outgrowth of our faith in God and repenting of our sins.

Joy and Brian Camp

Prayer: Lord, please give me the strength to be patient, to recognize the need to repent and to not judge others. Amen.

Romans 2:1-11 March 25, 2019

“Romans 2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge

another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that

God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass

judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?4 Or do you show

contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead

you to repentance?5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against

yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person

according to what they have done.”[a]

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and

immortality, he will give eternal life.8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there

will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then

for the Gentile; 10

but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11

For

God does not show favoritism.”

This is a tricky verse with a lot going on. I am immediately drawn to the footnote of my study Bible which

tells us that this section is about human responsibility and Divine judgment. This section during the letter is

Paul telling to church in Rome to “know its place” or stop doing things that are not your job. For instance the

congregation should not be the ones condemning unbelievers. If you are in Christ do not condemn others

for not being in Christ, but instead center yourself in the love you found and take that love and share it. The

only one who has any right to condemn is God, and trust me, you are not God.

Paul makes a distinction here “first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Verse 9) which is meant to include the

Gentiles (who, for the sake of argument, is what we are). This levels the playing field. Paul makes the point

that it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, God judges the same way.

Take a few moments and meditate on the world today and the calling that Jesus has placed on our lives.

You may choose to focus on all the unrest in the world, all the JUDGEMENT and HATRED in the world, or

you may choose to focus on something a bit happier :) when you are done meditating on that, speak with

God to help you to share his love and protect you from the devil’s grasp which wants us to hate and judge.

Fly With Christ

Andrew Berger

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+2%3A1-11&version=NIV#fen-NIV-27969a

Matthew 6:9-13 March 26, 2019

“Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” Recently I found a page which I had saved from a “Daily Guidepost”. “You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “I”. You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “my”. When you pray the Lord’s Prayer, you pray for one another, and when you ask for daily bread, you must include in brother. For others are included in each and every plea. From beginning to end, it does not once say “me.”” Reading it again, I was reminded of what a great lesson Jesus gave us in this prayer.

Dora King

Psalm 39 March 27, 2019

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered-how fleeting my life

is…” (Psalm 39:4)

If we knew this single verse to be true, really internalized it, what would each day look like from this point

forward? Would we watch what we do and not sin in what we say, as the first verse of this Psalm proclaims?

Would we obsess over accumulating material wealth or be all consumed with the rush of our daily lives? Would

we pause to listen more of what God is saying, follow where He is leading?

In the 39th Psalm, we are reminded that life and death are but a breath apart. We are challenged to consider

how we are spending that time, which is but a moment in God’s eyes, as the writer says. Being still to ask

ourselves these questions is work for Lenten journey. When we quiet the noise and seek to be closer to Him, we

find ourselves better positioned to receive the guidance and affirmation we crave. We remember that our only

hope is found in the One who was sacrificed for our sins and we can focus on acknowledging those mistakes,

repenting, and asking God’s mercy and forgiveness.

When we are moved by repentance and forgiveness we will remember to give thanks. We’ll look around at the

many blessings that have been bestowed upon us and maybe, just maybe, look forward to how we may use

these gifts to be a credit to our brothers and sisters. I am thankful for my profession and all it affords me, but as

40 hours per week creeps to 50 and then 60, am I prioritizing all that is really important? Am I relentless in my

career pursuits while ignoring my spiritual callings? Am I a student, so laser focused on checking all the boxes to

get into the most competitive schools that I’m letting the joy of my youth pass me by? Are we missing it? Are we

missing the opportunities to be close to one another and thereby glorify God? Are our eyes closed to the beauty

that surrounds us? Are we closed off to His true will for our lives?

When the scriptures leave us with more questions than answers, it’s a great start to lean in…get nearer…seek

Him out…correct course.

Shamim Nyakoojo, Monyette King, Shakeela Nyakoojo, and Saha Ikourou

Prayer: Oh God, quiet our minds and give us focus on you. Remind us that time is precious. Help us to discover

Your will for our lives, strengthen our obedience. We are thankful for all you have given; ignite our desire to pour

back out to those around us.

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5 March 28, 2019

“Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and

won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2

Corinthians 4:16-17)

Every morning, without fail, I make my way out of bed and I am embraced not by a warm ray of sunshine or

the fresh smell of my perfectly timed coffee pot brewing. No…wait for it…every morning I’m met with a brand

new body ache. Ouch! A knee, a hip, these days my right ankle… and oh boy let’s not even talk about how

the wrong twist can put my neck out commission for the entire day! Inevitably I say to myself, “I’m way too

young for this”…but am I? And then I chuckle at my fate and limp off to work.

My little morning ache ritual gets a good laugh, but every now and then it does give me pause to consider that

time is indeed marching on (and on, and on). But for every new ache and unwelcomed gray hair that pops up,

I am also met with the cool reserve and calmness that comes with mental and spiritual maturity. I am

reminded that each and every minute, along with all the good and bad that comes with it, is a gift.

The scripture tells us that these earthly vessels we inhabit will be banged up and bruised. We will experience

trouble, large and small. And yet, through all of it as we press forward on the verge of shedding our earthly

cloaks we must remember that we are of the spirit. Our spirits grow stronger and are renewed day by day.

What are we doing to focus on those things unseen that the scriptures mention? How do we strengthen our

spirits, even as our bodies grow weary? Flexing our spiritual muscles is just as important as that morning

cardio. Through times of trouble, when we lean to His understanding, our faith grows stronger: the heavier the

load, the bigger the gains. With enough time and spiritual maturity we can begin to view those trials and

tribulations as the fuel which propels us nearer to God. The scripture says our troubles “produce for us a glory

that vastly outweighs them…” Imagine that! Our God is so mighty, he can use what hurts us to ultimately set

us free. Forever.

Shamim Nyakoojo, Monyette King, Shakeela Nyakoojo, and Saha Ikourou

Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for all things you bring into our lives. We thank you for both the good

and the bad. We thank you mostly for never leaving our side and showing us that that we can be closest to

you even through times of distress. Keep our hearts and minds on those things eternal so we will not grow

weary in the spirit. Amen.

Joshua 4:1-13 March 29, 2019

“4 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Choose twelve men from among the people, one

from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and

carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had

appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the

Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign

among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off

before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a

memorial to the people of Israel forever.” So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of

the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to

their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been[a] in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where

the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained

standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had

directed Joshua. The people hurried over, 11 and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the Lord and the priests came to the

other side while the people watched. 12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front

of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. 13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the Lord to the plains of

Jericho for war.”

In my home I have a curio cabinet filled with trinkets and souvenirs from various noteworthy events and memorable moments throughout

my life. Each one triggers a special memory – a tassel from my high school graduation, and one from college; notes and trinkets from

when my husband and I were dating; an animal’s horn from a high school trip to Scotland; seashells from various beaches and vacations;

a teacup and saucer from my grandmother and many more. At one time or another I have shared many of these mementos and the

associated memories with my children. Sharing the stories, the memories, or details about a special person with them gives me hope that

they too will feel some sort of connection to that part of my past that carries with it an importance in my life and helped to shape me into

who I am today. Hopefully, some day they will pass these and other memories of their own forward to the next generation.

God wanted the Israelites at the crossing of the Jordan into the promised land to mark the occasion in a physical way as a reminder to

them and future generations. He wanted them to tell the story of God’s goodness and faithfulness, of their struggle and God’s provision to

their children and have it carried forward to future generations. Years later, someone would look at those stones and share the story that

had been handed down about God’s love and faithfulness to their ancestors and the journey to the promised land. As followers of Christ,

we are charged with sharing our own stories of God’s never-ending love with our children and others around us. When was the last time

you shared your God story?

Kim Berger

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the many ways which you have showed us your love and faithfulness. You give

us everything we need. Help us to recognize those who need to hear about you and what you have done in each of our

lives. Amen.

Exodus 32: 7-14 March 30, 2019

7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have

become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves

an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your

gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they

are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy

them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he

said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a

mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the

mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring

disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own

self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this

land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his

people the disaster he had threatened.

The setup: God just led his people out of slavery in Egypt and God tells Moses to come hang out with him on a

mountain (Sinai) where God gives Moses the TEN COMMANDMENTS. While all this is happening, all the newly

freed Israelites are bored... and they melt all their gold and make a giant golden calf and begin worshipping it

because they can.

Sometimes it is easy to turn away from God because he takes too long or doesn't answer right away. That is a

struggle, but God answers right when he needs to, which can be 5 years or 5 seconds.

Back to the Israelites:

The (almost) Punishment: God looks down on the Israelites and is about to destroy them for their unfaithfulness

but then Moses speaks with God and quells his anger.

Think of a time where you helped someone with something and they went and thanked someone else for it, giving

them all the glory. How would/did you feel? Probably hurt and angry, and maybe you want to get even with that

person.

Well scripture says God is a jealous God, so there you go he wants us to be with him so much.

Sometimes you need someone to step in and quell your anger like a friend, someone to be your (figurative)

Moses.

Andrew Berger

Luke 15: 11-32 March 31, 2019

“For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!” (Luke 15:32)

Sin, Humility, Mercy, Love, Redemption…wow! Our mediation for today has it all. All that is terrible and

wonderful about our relationship with God and each other wrapped into one story to teach us about grace,

boundless grace. How many times we have felt unworthy? Mistake after mistake, lies on top of lies,

arrogance and hardened hearts…and yet our God can cut through all of this. We serve a God of mercy and

love who can bring even the most lost among us back home.

As Jesus ministered to those around him, he was judged harshly for mingling with sinners. This story of the

lost son, corrupted by greed and arrogance, illustrates that all are worthy of redemption and mercy. Gone

for so long, laid so low by his selfish actions, he is finally compelled to return home to humbly acknowledge

his offenses. Expecting the worst, he is greeted instead by his father’s love and open arms.

We can approach this lesson from both sides by asking ourselves, do we have the capacity to acknowledge

our own transgressions and move toward acts of repentance? On the flip side, are we ready to welcome

those who have offended us back with open arms? Are we striving toward reconciliation?

Sometimes, you just have to say you’re sorry. Sometimes, you just have to accept an apology. How

fascinating that one word can stand as a barrier between so many people. We isolate ourselves on opposite

sides of an argument, until we look up and find ourselves on separate islands miles apart. We cannot glorify

God if we do not show mercy to one another. Every relationship is worth healing. Our journey though Lent is

a not only a time to focus on our connection with God but it is also a time to examine the relationships

around us.

Shamim Nyakoojo, Monyette King, Shakeela Nyakoojo, and Saha Ikourou

Prayer: Heavenly father, help us to build stronger relationships with one another and heal those

relationships that have been torn. Stand by us in the work of reconciliation. Show us how to reach out to

those we have offended and soften our hearts to open to those who have offended us. Help us to speak

love into these situations, help us to navigate toward peace.

Revelation 19:1-10 April 1, 2019

“Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give

honor to him…” (Revelation 19: 6-7)

Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus! He is worthy! If I had to guess, I’d say I hear these phrases at least

100 times (each) during a standard Sunday service. I love hearing them. I love saying them. Who

doesn’t love a hallelujah - shouting good time, after all?

After we come down from the rafters every Sunday, I often wonder what’s everyone doing with ALL

THAT ENERGY we just spent peeling the paint off the sanctuary walls. Did everyone just leave it all on

the field and then go home to eat and take a nap? (Guilty as charged by the way.) Is that it? Or does

giving Him honor come with more to do?

The book of Revelation gives us glimpses into what it will be like when all we will do the livelong day is

sing songs and rejoice in the living God. But if I’m honest with myself, I rarely stop to think about how

my life outside of the sanctuary can also serve as a form of worship. Sure I serve on ministries and

spend time other than Sundays doing “church work” but sometimes it feels like I’m leading two lives in

parallel: “church life” and “world life”. Why are they not blending? They intersect from time to time, it’s

true, but what would it take for me to consciously recognize God’s hand in all aspects of my life?

As we draw nearer to the cross during this Lenten season, we can focus on how our daily living is

consistent with His purpose. If I’m living in His fullness, then every breath I take can be an act of

worship. I am the same person on Monday as I was on Sunday. I can praise God by the way I handle

situations at work, at school, at home, in the community. I can praise God by being obedient, exhibiting

kindness to strangers, being truthful, living with integrity. Every movement I make can be a song to the

Most High.

Shamim Nyakoojo, Monyette King, Shakeela Nyakoojo, and Saha Ikourou

Prayer: Dear God, help me find ways to praise you every day. Guide my thoughts and deeds so they

may glorify you. Let me be an example of your love in the world so others may be drawn to you.

John 4: 10 April 2, 2019 “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” What a wonderful time at our women’s retreat in February! One session was on our whole being and taking good care of ourselves. I came away with goals for both better physical and spiritual health! We talked about drinking more water, eating “real foods”… and feeding our spirits, as well as our bodies. I woke up the Monday after the retreat thinking of Jesus and the woman at the well when he talks about “living water.” So often, we’re running both our bodies and spirits on fumes…yet expecting peak performance! When we’re thirsty or hungry, we often seek what’s quick and easy that tastes good in the moment, or what will give us a quick burst of energy, rather than what will really satisfy us over the long haul. Spending time in God’s word and in prayer refreshes your mind and soul, which are also connected to your body. (In fact, studies have shown that Christians often live longer!) To run the race God has set before us with energy and grace, we need to drink lots of water… not just H20, but lots of “living water”! Remember, when you seek Jesus, He will fill you and truly satisfy your soul in a way nothing else can! And, when “It is well with your soul,” that spring of living water that God gives you will naturally overflow to others.

Tammy Lemley

Father, thank you for the ultimate gift we have in Jesus! Help us to seek you daily in prayer and to fill our hearts and minds with your word and “living water” so that it may overflow to everyone in our lives.

Luke 9 10-17 April 3, 2019

“10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they

withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed

them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.12 Late in the afternoon the

Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and

find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They

answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About

five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”15 The

disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave

thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were

satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.”

The apostles were alarmed that five thousand people had gathered and they feared they would be expected to feed

them. They worried that Jesus, who didn’t seem to understand how economics works, would expect them to share what

little they had They feared more would be expected of them than they wanted to give. It seems a reasonable fear, but

Jesus did not sympathize. He ordered them to make an effort to gather enough food to share and the food seemed to

multiply, Was this a miracle or did folks have extra food that they were hiding out of fear that they would not have

enough to share? When we resent the poor moving to our neighborhood, when we seek to isolate the needy so as not to

be embarrassed by our seeming excess, when we begrudge our taxes being used to feed, clothe, shelter those we

blame for their own hardship, it would seem we need a new miracle or perhaps a teacher to show us how faith leads to

generosity, leads to abundance.

Denise Barker

Prayer: Lord, strengthen us, please, with courage to see what you want us to do and to overcome our fears.

Isiah 43:1-7 April 4, 2019

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the

north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all

who claim me as their God for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’” (Isaiah 43:5-7)

God is with us, no matter what. In this, I hope we are all found confident. No matter what lies ahead, God is

there. No storm will harm us; no flame will consume us with Him by our side. We take this knowledge as our

shield and armor, out into a harsh and unforgiving world and we strive to conquer the day. But as we dig

deeper in to this scripture, we find that not only does God tell us he is with us but also that he has a PLACE

for us.

What does it mean for God to have a place for us? He made a covenant with his beloved people, the

Israelites. He took them from slavery to freedom and gave them their own land. He conquered their

enemies, forgave their sins, kept them while in exile, and restored them over and over.

God has a place and a purpose for each and every one of us, though we may struggle to find it. Sometimes

we find it and rebel against it. Sometimes we may be cast out wander in the wilderness, just like the

Israelites, but we know God was with them every step of the way until they found their way home. So it is

with each of us.

As we navigate our everyday life experiences, we can often get off course. Sometimes we drift so far from

the places where God would have us to be, we can feel like strangers in our own lives. How did I get here?

Who are these people I surround myself with? What am I doing? What is my purpose? I suspect we’ve all

come up against these questions from time to time. With so much set before us in our global society, it

seems the paths are endless.

The world can be a disorienting place but God is our center. When we are unsure and cannot find our way,

all we need do is call His name.

Shamim Nyakoojo, Monyette King, Shakeela Nyakoojo, and Saha Ikourou

Prayer: Dear God, lead me along the path you have set before me. Guide me through the twists and turns to

the sacred place you have for me. Help me to live in the fullness of the purpose for which I was created and

thereby glorify You. Amen.

Psalm 126 April 5, 2019

“1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of

Zion,

we were like those who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes,

LORD,

like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears

will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping,

carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

My Zion: “I look to You!”

On February 8, 2019 at 4am, I was awakened. I stood by my dad’s bedside at 6am and wept as the song, “I Surrender All’ was playing on the television. Little did I know that my dad would die later at 11:51am. Little did I know, that my devotion was being written – some of my notes shared through scripture and prayer from Friday, February 8: Revelation 21:3-4: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Paula Warner

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, little did I know that My Zion, would be hearing this scripture, right by my dad’s bedside and so vividly

watching You take my dad home, his ascent. You restored my dreams of allowing me to not see my dad suffer any more and be taken home to Glory! You filled my heart with laughter and shouts of joy when loved ones showed up, hearing news of babies’ births, sharing heartwarming stories, and cards of comfort and joy! You filled my heart with so much joy as I listened to the witness from those that shared the great things my dad did for them! I witness the same, Lord, for You, have done great things for me! Weeping may endure for a night, but joy does come in the morning! I’m reaping the blessing of having songs of joy. Thank You, Lord, for giving me an endless supply. I am Your people! Thank You, Lord, for the restoration and for loving me so. Wow, You are awesome! Amen.

John 11:45-57 April 6, 2019

“Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some

of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called

a meeting of the Sanhedrin.“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If

we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple

and our nation.”49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at

all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”51

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the

people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed

with his disciples.55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem

for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple

courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and

the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest

him”

Just prior to this passage in John 11, it is recorded that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. On hand to witness the

power of this miracle were leaders of the Jewish community who had come to Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, to

comfort them. Even after witnessing this miraculous feat, many of the Jew’s still succumbed to the culture and powers

of the day, worried about the consequences of believing in Jesus and what they had seen. Thus, begins the plot to

arrest and kill Jesus, eventually leading to His hanging on a cross for all our sins. As I reflect on this passage, I am

struck by its relevance to today and my inability to always trust God with all that I do. Do I always believe and trust in

the God who has literally brought the living back from the dead, or like the Jews of Jesus day, do I give in to the

“Romans”, whoever or whatever they are in our modern day, and stray from an always abiding faith in God? Oh, me of

little faith?

John Wayne

Prayer: Gracious and all-powerful God. Forgive us for doubting, even in your presence, that your power and grace are

sufficient for anything that this world can throw at us. Help us to rely on your power always, to even count on it, as the

only source we need as we journey through our lives on earth. Strengthen us against our worldly fears and desires, so

that we can be the light of the world for you. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5 April 7, 2019

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all Your Heart and lean not on your own understanding”

As a teenager several years ago, this verse helped establish a fundamental principle for dealing with fear,

questions, doubts in all the appointments and disappointments of my life journey. Knowing that God is ever

present and that God is fully aware of all the details was huge and a source of encouragement and

determination.

The shirt in the picture is originally from the country of my

birth in India. It is one my favorite shirts. If you closely

look at the fabric, it is intricately woven using

individual threads. Some threads are perfect and some are

imperfect. I like to wear this shirt because it reminds me of

God, the master weaver who has sought me for a reason

and because several present and past times from my life

include perfect and imperfect events just like the threads

that make up the beautiful looking shirt. Those

imperfect threads represent the numerous joys, hurts,

and disappointments. Other threads represent life

events and milestones for which I am grateful.

God in His infinite wisdom, knows all the intimate

details and the big picture for your life and my life. The

shirt represents the big picture. In order to gain an

appreciation for God’s purpose, meaning and design,

we must put our trust in the Lord with all our heart rather

than leaning in our own understanding.

Samson Selvaraj

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to see and experience your presence and purpose in all events in my life today

and in the future.

Hebrews 10:19-25 April 8, 2019

“19-21

So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the

way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. 22-25

So

let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that

keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not

avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”

Jesus has told the Father that “the kids are alright” so that they may enter into His presence. Further “as

Your will directed me, I have made them clean enough to enter by My three-day excursion into the land of

death and arising therefrom.”

Now, it’s upon us, as children of God, to worship God in a state of agape’ (unconditional love) for our sisters

and brothers in Christ and beyond in our communities. Such love will encourage them to toward a holiness

of being in preparation for the second coming of Christ. The amazing grace freely given by the Father

through the Spirit invites us into the His presence. Let us march forward guided by the will of God.

Dave Ceely

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray that you will remove the scales from our eyes so that we have clear vision of

the ends you would have us joyfully pursue. In Thy Name we pray, Amen.

1 John 2:27-28 April 9, 2019 “27 As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in Him.28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.” On a daily basis we are bombarded with so many different interpretations of the issues that are arising in this increasingly complicated world. Where once we had only to examine events throughout our local community, today with news from around the world getting to us almost instantly, we sometimes feel that our heads are spinning. In a flash, we are made aware of new values, new interpretations of age old truths; acceptance of things that once were forbidden. Sadly there is a universal numbness to the atrocities that are seemingly happening before our very eyes. Should we put aside our old-fashioned beliefs and be more open-minded so that we are accepted in this new world reality? Will our children and grandchildren think we are cool if we say “everything is everything” and “it is what it is” or, “it’s all cool with us?” No. Never. We had an encounter with God one day and God’s promises were revealed to us. Because of God’s grace we received the truth of His Word through the Holy Spirit. We recognized it as the truth, we accepted it, and we made a vow to God that we would be in His service for the rest of our lives. Therefore we know that we have the ability to discern the truth and cannot be swayed from it by anyone. From day to day, we must maintain our fellowship with God, loving Him above all things. We must love ourselves because we are His creation. It is our duty to love fellow believers and children of God. Our belief in Christ is made evident when we live a righteous life and are in love and fellowship with our sisters and brothers. We have to base our walk with the Lord on the truth that God has given us through the Holy Spirit. If we know the truth then we must live by the principles and commandments that God gave us, otherwise we may be leading others astray as we ourselves go astray. So what we learned from the beginning when the Holy Spirit spoke with us, when our old selves died and our new lives began, we must demonstrate in our daily walk.

Carolyn Taylor

Prayer: Dear God, let us never forget our encounter with you when we first saw the light. May we shine brightly as we speak and live the truth that was revealed to us through the Holy Spirit who abides with us and continues to teach us. Amen

Philippians 3:2-12 (ESV) April 10, 2019

“Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh – though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

Paul uses this passage to remind us that our focus should be on knowing and aligning ourselves with Christ, and not on our own success. He explains to us his credibility as a Jewish leader. Paul was a pretty successful guy who had everything going for him – he was doing life “right”. But after detailing the things he had done, he reveals that it all means nothing. None of the things he had been born into or done under the Jewish Law meant a thing in comparison to the life of faith he found in Christ. The way I read it, Paul is basically saying “Hey Philippians – you think you’ve been doing things right? Well look at me – I had power, prestige, and was living life according to the rules. But guess what? It doesn’t matter what I did or how I got there, because it was all of my own doing. I’ve let go of all of the prestige and power I had because the only thing that matters is knowing Christ and becoming more like him. Now, the things I do aren’t because of my own strength or ability, but entirely because of Christ working in me.” The same is true for us – while it’s easy to think that the things we have and the life we’ve built is of our own doing and a source of pride, in truth, all things are from Christ – both our successes and our struggles. Our goal should be only to know Him more, to become more like Him, and to live the life He calls us to.

Holly Whelan

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that all that I am and all that I have comes from you, not my own strength or abilities. Help me to focus on you and give you thanks for the good things as well as the difficult things that come my way.

Isaiah 53:10-12 April 11, 2019

All of these things are important considerations with the social media accounts that are becoming a necessity of

public life. Whether we hope to do business, are a prospective employee, student or employer. Even while staying in

touch with family or friends while traveling--reputation and integrity is important to our social media presence. Our

social image and reputation thrives on the opinion of those connected to our networks.

Today's scripture Isaiah 53:10a (Message), begins, "Still, it's what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain."

This is a description of God's intended plan for our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.

Could you imagine having someone comment to crush you with pain? Could you imagine if it came from the CEO? A

beloved family member or friend? Or in this case--the most powerful force in the Heavens, in the Earth, above or

below the Earth? It came from our Creator and the father of Christ. How motivating would it be to have your own

parents recommend crushing you with pain?

But then we see the intended result in verse 11b, “Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will

make many "righteous ones" as he himself carries the burden of their sins." As we read this and reflect on our own

pride, ego, image, and reputation; would we consider having it "crushed" before beginning day one of our new

pursuit, so that God will be honored, Christ would be glorified and many, many others will be made righteous--

because of our great sacrifice?

Thank Christ Jesus our Lord!! He has done this for us because he loved us and surrendered all, and God granted an

eternal reward. “Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly- the best of everything, the highest honors- Because he

looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own

shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.”(v12).

Phillip Jenkins Sr

Prayer: O, Lord thank you for your complete and total sacrifice, giving all to atone for my sins, Blood washed and

completely covered, I could never repay such a price. Let me see your will in my life today and every day. I pray for

more of your grace and strength and that I rely less on my ego and education. Let my heart be filled with your

compassion.

Psalms 31:9-16 April 12, 2019

“But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your ha