Grace Church 2013 Lenten Devotional

Grace Church
2013
Lenten Devotional
In this second annual Lenten Devotional Booklet,
members, staff, and friends of Grace United
Methodist Church, Greensboro, N. C. share parts of
their faith journey. We invite you and your family to
use these daily readings as a stimulus for your own
spiritual growth during this Holy Season leading up
to Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013.
We are grateful to everyone who had a part in the
production of this booklet. We especially thank our
Church Office Manager, Nina Risi, whose skills and
willingness to go the extra mile (or two or three) in
putting our contributions into booklet form made
this project possible! The booklet is also available
on the church website: www.grace-methodist.com.
The Adult Spiritual Formation Team:
Jane and Harry Long, Co-Chairs
Sandy Crossley
Jay Braxton
Lynne Lewallen
Courtney Willis
Louis Timberlake
Ash Wednesday, February 13th
Grace Church
Luke 4:1-13
“What are you giving up for Lent this year?”
When I was in youth group in high school, I remember the whole giving up
something for Lent thing as being basically a big competition. “I’m going to
give up chocolate!” Well, I’m going to give up all desserts!” “I’m going to be a
vegetarian for Lent!” Now, for those of you who are vegetarians, I have the
utmost respect, but my high school self would have found that impossible. No
way was I going to top that one.
Traditionally, Lent is a season of preparation. Starting on Ash Wednesday, we
begin a season of forty days in the wilderness of life, preparing for the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ. Lent is an opportunity for us to shed the distractions from our lives and truly consider the significance of a God who would
dwell among us, demonstrate incredible love through sacrifice, and bring about
new life with resurrection. In the midst of the busyness of life, we easily lose
sight of the magnitude of this message! So, how might you prepare yourself as
we move into this season? What are the distractions you need to shed? I
have plenty.
This year, I’m going to try something that I have never done during Lent and I
invite you to join me, if you are interested and if health-wise, it is a safe decision for you. I am going to try fasting from everything but water for one day a
week during each week of Lent. Fasting is an ancient practice that helps us to
consider the distractions and excesses in our lives. It is a common Lenten
custom and, in the Bible, is strongly associated with demonstrating humility
before God. Through fasting, we become more aware of our desires; the
struggles that we experience help us to reflect upon our need for grace and for
God.
Now, fasting from food isn’t for everyone, so I invite you to consider how YOU
might participate in this season of preparation. At the least, I encourage you
to take advantage of this devotional book that the Spiritual Formation Team
and Nina have so graciously put together. The devotionals in this book were
submitted by people within the Grace Church community. These are honest,
thoughtful reflections written by your friends and neighbors. So, take a few
minutes each day with this book, read the accompanying scripture passage,
and let’s journey through the season of Lent together.
Prayer: O God who meets us in the wilderness of our lives, help us to shed
those things which draw us away from you. Together, move us towards the
pain of the cross, the sorrow of the grave, and, ultimately, the joy of the empty
tomb. Amen.
Contributed by: Louis Timberlake
Thursday, February 14th
Proverbs 3:5
Grace Church
Matthew 11:28-30
Jeremiah 29:11
True confession; I am a “Worry Wart”. I worry about the children, the grandchildren, my health, their health, my economy, the nation’s
economy and
every other thing I can think of. And sometimes when I’m having a really
good day I worry about what might be about to happen to ruin that perfection.
It’s exhausting and I am weary. Constantly fretting about things I can’t control
will damage my health, shorten my life and wrinkle my face. I know this to be
true.
God must be so frustrated with me (another worry!) because in the Bible
there are hundreds of beautiful verses telling us to trust in Him (Proverbs 3:
5), lean on Him, and give Him all of our troubles (Matt. 11: 28-30). Why is it
so hard to follow those simple guidelines?
I don’t have the answer, but I do have a plan. In 2013, and hopefully for the
rest of my life, I am going to place my focus on those verses that tell us that
God is waiting to take all of our worries and fears. I’m going to pray about it,
meditate on it and practice it. Because God has plans for me, plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). And I
want to be around to experience it.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for being there for us, always waiting patiently to take our worries and fears. Forgive us when the need to control our
lives causes us to forget. Amen
Contributed by: Sandy Crossley
Friday, February 15th
Grace Church
Matthew 7:12
Do for others what you want them to do for you. This is the teaching of the
laws of Moses in a nutshell.
As we prepare to observe Easter, perhaps we should take a look at our role
in the church. Jesus said that he came into the world not to be served but to
serve. As Christians, we are called to service by giving of ourselves, our time,
our talents and our wealth! Our service and giving help our church have an
effective mission and ministry.
Recently listed in the bulletin were the names of 26 members who serve as
leaders of the Church Council Team. They along with many more who serve
on the various teams carry on the business and plan and carry out the programs and activities of the church.
Our sanctuary was beautifully decorated for Christmas. A number of volunteers were involved in putting up these decorations and taking them down and
storing them, for use next year.
Sixteen people recently returned from Haiti where they spent a week helping
those people who lost most or all of what little they had in recent storms.
These volunteers took with them 50 suitcases of much needed clothing, toys
and school supplies for these people.
Those who teach Sunday School classes and lead small group discussions
make a difference in the lives of our children and all of us. Volunteers prepare
and serve breakfast to around 100 homeless people on Tuesday mornings.
This is only a partial list of the many programs and activities carried out by
Grace Church volunteers. We owe our sincere thanks to all the
volunteers
who make a difference in the lives of so many.
Prayer: Lord, make me ever mindful of the needs of others. We thank you for
those who give of their time and talents to help those in need. Amen.
Contributed by: Homer Sink
Saturday, February 16th
Grace Church
Matthew 25: 31-46
I am a goal-oriented person. This in itself is not a bad thing, however,
sometimes I get so caught up working toward a goal that I miss opportunities
that come up in everyday life. Sometimes our walk with God can be like that.
It is easy to get so caught up wondering about and working toward what we
think God’s grand purpose is for our lives that we can miss opportunities to
serve God along the way.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to serve as Grace’s Lay Delegate to the
Western NC Annual Conference. One of the conference activities was a
service honoring retiring pastors. As each pastor was recognized, a slide
show of highlights of that person’s career was playing. Occasionally there
would be slides of really big events - maybe ordination, or receiving an award,
or speaking before a large crowd. But most of the slides showed what must
have been everyday work for these pastors - preaching to a room that wasn’t
full, playing with children at what looked like picnics or Vacation Bible Schools,
enjoying lunch with senior citizens, performing weddings.
Looking back on their careers, their fulfillment of their calling from God, these
pastors realized that the major highlights were probably not where they made
the most difference in people’s lives. It was the everyday work - showing up
when an activity was held, taking the time to say hello to a parishioner and
asking about how her week had gone, preaching a sermon that was hastily
written during a crazy busy week - that added up to guide people on their
walks with God. Those pastors were faithful in the “small things” that God put
in their lives to do.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the people you put in my life every day. Help
me be aware of how I can use small encounters to be Your hands, feet, and
voice. Amen.
Contributed by: Lynne Lewallen
1st Sunday in Lent, February 17th
Grace Church
Romans 15:4-5
Paul’s letter to a group of believers in Rome has always been a source of
comfort for me. God is described in so many different ways in the Bible, but I
have always preferred Paul’s description of patience and comfort. It’s very
reassuring to know the mistakes I make every day are not only understood
through God’s patience, but He even will provide comfort though I often don’t
deserve it.
Patience has become a particularly important (ongoing) lesson for me since
my son was born. While I may sometimes lose patience because of a
misplaced toy or stained carpet, I find myself most at a loss in trying to help
him develop his emotional maturity. Much like myself at that age and maybe
even now, my son is very emotional and tends to be very self-critical. Simple
mistakes addressed by parents or teachers are often met with tears or temper
tantrums. For this reason, it’s difficult for me to know he is learning from
mistakes, which is something I desire greatly for him.
Though I struggle with this daily, when I turn to God I find comfort. When I
ask for it, He provides me patience. Whether its advice from my own father or
an unexpected call from a friend; God provides the support when it is most
needed. I have found I need but to ask.
Prayer: God, please grant me the patience to know your will in my life, and
the courage to see it through.
Contributed by: Chris Gregory
Monday, February 18th
Grace Church
2 Corinthians 4:6
Foster and I sat side by side at the Canterbury School Christmas program,
“Lessons and Carols.” At times, he rested his head on my shoulder, held my
hand or leaned up against me with his warm, little shoulder. Every now and
then, we would whisper observations to each other. We even talked about
Grace’s own Mary Virginia who was a guest vocalist that evening. Each time
she sang, her voice rose above the crowd in an angelic way and we would
exchange knowing smiles as if it was our little secret that we knew her.
Towards the end of the service, I whispered to Foster how beautiful the chapel
was. He looked up and said, “Yes, Mommy, but you should see it in the
daytime when the sun is shining through the windows. It’s really, really pretty.”
My little man was right. Canterbury’s chapel is positively stunning, especially
during the day when the stain glass is backlight by the sun. I got teary that
night, cuddled with my son in that crowded chapel glowing in the the warmth of
Christmas and swimming in Mary Virginia’s uplifting voice. Foster reminded me
that God’s grace and beauty are all around us. Sometimes we just need a little
backlight from the “son” to notice it.
Contributed by: Tiffany Crenshaw
Tuesday, February 19th
Grace Church
Ecclesiastes 1:8
The book of Ecclesiastes is one of my favorites. It is one of the Wisdom
Teachings in the Bible, and I really appreciate that it doesn’t try to make
wisdom into little pithy sayings. We all know that kind of wisdom doesn’t
always hold up. An apple a day does not always keep the doctor away. Life
might be easier if wisdom could be boiled down to what is black and white, or
what is easy. Yet, life is so much more complex and difficult.
Today’s text reminds us that life can be wearisome. We wonder if we will
ever be able to take care of our bills, stop worrying, find ease in our
relationships, enjoying a fulfilling vocation, lose weight, or simply find peace
in our lives. We pray constantly for a world where violence, hatred,
inflammatory speech and division are par for the course. Today’s verse
reminds us that life is oftentimes wearisome. Yet, it also reminds us that no
matter how heavy the day, God’s grace continually surrounds us.
Everywhere our eyes look, we can see examples of God’s grace – through a
small kindness from a stranger, the warmth of sunshine, the beauty of a
snowflake, the good taste of a simple home-cooked meal, or the touch of a
loved one. We constantly see and hear the love of God filling each and
every life.
During Lent, it seems we especially like to focus on the difficult times, on
sacrifice, on doing without. This Lent, let us remember the constant signs of
God’s grace and love surrounding us, especially when life seems
wearisome.
Prayer: God, bless the people today who are weighed down by difficulties,
and help me to have my eyes and ears open to see and to hear your grace
and love in the world. Amen.
Contributed by: Amy Rio-Anderson
Wednesday, February 20th
Grace Church
Zechariah 2:13
After a childhood spent exclusively in south-central Virginia, I have been
blessed in my adult life with the opportunity to travel. Through my work, I
have also been able to take my family to some far-away destinations, which,
at times, have entailed long plane rides. Without exception, when the
wheels touch down, I immediately say a silent prayer thanking God for
delivering my family safely to our destination. But once at the destination,
rarely have I taken a moment to pause and see God working all around me.
As Eckhart Tolle writes, “Once there is a certain degree of Presence, of still
and alert attention in human beings’ perceptions, they can sense the divine
life essence, the one indwelling consciousness or spirit in every creature,
every life-form, recognize it has one with their own essence and so love it as
themselves.” As entertaining as I find it that a human being is writing about
“human beings” in the third person, Mr. Tolle still makes great point.
Like many I suspect, I reserve those moments of prayer for the Wish List:
please keep my family safe, please help Mr. X who has the flu, please help
me get through this next presentation, etc. But in this exercise, am I simply
asking God to do my will, rather than making myself a vessel for God’s will?
While I doubt I will ever discontinue my brief prayer at touch down, I have
made it a goal during this season to stop, watch and listen, instead of doing
all the talking.
Prayer: God, for too long I have obsessed with seeing my will done around
me. What’s on your mind? [REMAIN SILENT]…
Contributed by: Jeremy McKinney
Thursday, February 21st
Grace Church
John 14:2 (KJV)
In earlier years as a Christian, I tended to be quite cynical when reading the
Bible. I would read something and be completely convinced it could never
have possibly happened. I “couldn’t see the forest for the trees” so to speak.
I often let my cynicism prevent me from getting the biblical message of the
Scriptures.
I have also struggled with the concept of Heaven. I have never doubted the
existence of a divine afterlife. It’s just that the concept has been difficult for
me to grasp because of my nature and human limitations.
Recently I read a book that changed all of that for me. In this book, a brain
surgeon describes his amazing journey into the divine realm while in a deep
coma. Those in the medical community familiar with the condition that
caused the coma stated that the odds against coming out of it were millions
to one. If that miracle occurred, then he most certainly would live his remaining years in a vegetative state. Most of his brain function had shut down.
After seven days, this doctor came out of his coma, in a modern medical
miracle, with all of his faculties completely intact.
There are two compelling reasons, from reading this, that I will never again
doubt the wonderful afterlife that awaits us all. First, this man was of the
medical/scientific community, a community in which many doubt the
existence of a divine presence. Secondly, this doctor was a neurosurgeon.
He had certifiable proof from his colleagues that the portion of the brain that
controls emotions and dreams had completely shut down. I am convinced
that God was with this man through his coma and saved him so he could tell
his story.
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for giving us your son, Jesus, whose death
and resurrection gave us the keys to your eternal heaven. Amen.
Contributed by: David Shoulberg
Friday, February 22nd
Grace Church
Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
Before I became a true follower of Christ, I used to rely solely on myself and
my resources to get through life. I made all decisions on my own, from my
own understanding of what was best for me. Needless to say, I made some
gigantic mistakes by following this path, and needless to say, I am still living
the consequences of those mistakes.
Now I understand that God has a plan for each of our lives and that we need
to choose to put our lives in His hands. In everything we do, we need to
“take it to the Lord in prayer” as the song says. Now that Christ is the center
of my life, I have learned to turn to the Lord in prayer every time I have a decision to make, every time I have a problem, every time life gets too much—
and He is always there to help me and to guide me. He gives me strength,
courage, and wisdom, and I rely on Him for everything. I am confident that,
with Him to guide me, if I will listen to Him, for the rest of my life I won’t make
any more of those gigantic mistakes.
Prayer: Dear Lord, let us always turn to You for help in managing our
relationships, our problems, our sorrows, our decisions, our very lives. In
Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Contributed by: Sylvia Graham-Shoulberg
Saturday, February 23rd
Grace Church
Psalm 5:3
We are busy people. When we are busy, it is essential to be aware.
Because we are constantly called to distraction we can triumph simply with
observation, with what the Bible calls “watching,” and the Buddhists call
“mindfulness.” If we have grown too inwardly focused, “watching” will call us
to see more than ourselves, even more than the world around us. We are
participants in a cosmic drama, the rhythm of which we often don't hear.
Lately we've felt a rhythm of change from ice to warm “outdoors” days.
We've seen some gorgeous sunsets, ever northward from the Winter
Solstice. Very early this morning I enjoyed the freezing full moon, which
caused the icy landscape outside to glow. The rhythm of the change in
seasons can be heard, too—if we can observe. If you're like me you dread
those long dark mornings and early dark cold evenings. BRRRR. But we
know something certain. We know that this rhythm moves us to spring, to
Easter, to resurrection. Tenebrae reflects the darkness which makes Easter
so much sweeter. This rhythm of spacetime calls us to observe, to be
mindful...to seek the emptiness in which we might hear God's voice.
Prayer: God, thank you for the rhythm by which you remind us to hear your
voice, as we rejoice in your resurrection with each new day. Amen.”
Contributed by: Kim and James Jordan
2nd Sunday of Lent, February 24th
Grace Church
Isaiah 40: 29-31
Life has been full of changes for the Sibley family in the last
several years, as with all our families I am sure.
Lost jobs/found
jobs, high school graduation/college, aging parents going through
transitions, kids not being kids anymore, bad knees and backs, and the
list goes on.......
Sometimes all of these changes can be a bit
overwhelming! I guess that change is always going to be a constant,
but so is God's love, mercy, and healing. In knowing this, I find the
encouragement and strength to manage all our transitions. I know that
life will continue to be full of changes and few things will remain
stable for us. Stability does not mean lack of change, but continued
belief that God is with us in every circumstance.
Isn't it great to
know that God is in control and will help us through our trying and
stressful times?!!
Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for your constant and awesome love. Thank
you for walking with us during our many transitions and giving us the
strength to not be afraid. You alone know our struggles and continue to
give us what we need to be strong, even when we feel weak and weary.
Amen!
Contributed by: Wendy Sibley
Monday, February 25th
Grace Church
John 16:33
2012 was a year filled with tribulation, grief, and suffering. Innocent lives
were tragically lost leaving many of us, including me, to question why such
senseless suffering is occurring on a daily basis. Each time members of our
community and nation have had significant loss, I immediately turn to God’s
word to find comfort, solace, and any sense of hope in the aftermath.
Although I still have questions in loss and tragedy, it is comforting to know
that God did predict hard times. He said “we will have tribulation” but you
“may have peace.”
Peace will come to those who believe that God has overcome the world and
he can and will provide for all of our needs. Our Lord and Savior has
consistently been involved in my life and I have seen his results in our
community following great tragedies. He delivered communities out of darkness and floods, he has helped shape new legislation, he will deliver our
economy out of recessions, and he will rescue each and every one of us
when we see him again. Our God is the Almighty Savior and Prince of
Peace and we have all seen the tribulations but we have to remember the
miracles that ensue in the aftermath.
Prayer: Dear God, we understand that you have predicted tribulations for our
community but thank you for the promise to deliver us from those difficult
times. Help us to be patient with your work and have the faith to turn to your
word when we need guidance and direction. In your name we pray, Amen.
Contributed by: Jay Braxton
Tuesday, February 26th
Grace Church
Hebrews 6:10
Most days, even though some days are harder than others, we do something
kind for someone else. It could be doing a favor for someone, filling
backpacks, feeding the hungry, volunteering in a classroom or even helping
your own children. In this scripture we learn that God always sees the good
we do for others. He sees our motives and knows when we are helping
others we are honoring his Holy name. God sees every effort and knows the
love in our hearts. Helping others is such a gratifying feeling. What a great
way to use your time and energy! Not only do you feel better about yourself
but the rewards are lasting and eternal.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for giving us the energy to help others in the
world. We realize that even though sometimes we feel that are efforts are
ignored you always see the good we do for our fellow Christians. We will
continue to show our unconditional love to other people as you do for us
each and every day.
Contributed by: Jamie Braxton
Wednesday, February 27th
Grace Church
Luke 6:36
It’s the week before Christmas, and I am in line at the post office with my
three children. Two patrons in front of me is a man on his cell phone. He
has cursed so many times and so loudly, the kids have gone from thoroughly
amused to slightly frightened. The woman at the front of the line is standing
with her two year old son, who at this point has touched every Priority Mail
label, and puffy envelope in the place. He makes one final break for the
Christmas Stamp display and she spanks him. My blood pressure rises. I’d
like to grab them both by their collars and launch into a full monologue about
how awful their behavior is!
As I run through the monologue in my head, I realize this is not the reaction
God wants from me. My journey as a Christian leads me to realize these
people are being human, just like me. Instead of judging them, I should be
praying for them. At a minimum, extend them a small fraction of the grace
He extends to me every day.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy. Please help me to
recognize those who need my grace today. Let me extend to them at least a
fraction of the grace you extend to me.
Contributed by: Gwen Clayton
Thursday, February 28th
Grace Church
Luke 22:39-44
Each Sunday in our church, we pray together that God will “lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
With this simple petition, we
acknowledge our weakness as sinful human beings and our inability to resist
temptation apart from God’s special help and grace. I don’t know about you,
but I’m comforted to know that when I make this request, in Jesus I have a
God who understands what I’m going through and sympathizes with me in
my struggles. See him here, agonizing in the Garden over whether he has
what it takes to drink the cup that the Father has prepared for him. He
knows what it’s like to be tired, anxious, and plagued by self-doubt. Even
more, the same Lord who commands us to pray for strength in temptation
has endured temptation himself.
How could such a God fail to rescue us, his beloved children, when we are
struggling? Because our Savior has been “tempted in every way, just as we
are—yet was without sin,” we can approach our Father’s throne “with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our
time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that because your Son, Jesus,
has been tempted in every way that we are, we can approach your throne of
grace with confidence. Give us grace this Lenten season that we might become more like him each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Contributed by: Matt Price
Friday, March 1st
Grace Church
Romans 5:6-11
I woke up relatively early the morning after the first snowfall of the year to go
out and explore the winter wonderland. I made my way to a park just as it
opened to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. As I was walking, I noticed a
lovely sight. A small branch growing out of the ground had a pine needle
hung between two twigs. The ice had formed around the pine needle
creating a crystal necklace to adorn the already snow-covered branch. I
moved in for a closer look. What I saw took my breath away – the branch
was covered with thorns!
God began to speak to me in that moment, saying: “See how I have adorned
this thorny branch with beautiful clothes. So I have done for you. Even
when you are in the midst of sin, My grace is present. You are that branch.
My grace is the snow.”
The words of Romans 5 rang like a symphony in my ears as I rejoiced at the
thought of God’s overwhelming grace. This is what the season of Lent is
about. It is not a time of self-evaluation for the purpose of beating ourselves
up. It is a time to marvel at and live into God’s grace that covers our
sin – even when we are still in the midst of sin. It is dangerous news to a
world that lives in the extremes of legalism and carnality, but it is good news
to the believer who is desires to experience more of God.
Prayer: God, thank you for the gifts of grace that You bestow upon us each
day. Help us not to take Your grace for granted, and clothe us with Your
righteousness so that we may be examples of Your love and grace to a
hurting world. Amen.
Contributed by: Mary Virginia Dunnam
Saturday, March 2nd
Grace Church
Proverbs 19:21
Often times we think we've got our lives all figured out. We've got goals for
our families, jobs, finances, etc. and a game plan set to achieve them. And
then life throws you a curve ball. You lose your job, you experience the loss
of a close loved one, you get some tough medical news. Or in our case find
out you are having twins! It can be difficult to take a step back and adjust
when the neatly laid plans you came up with get thrown out the
window. How will our family cope with the loss of my job? Why did God
allow my loved one to pass away? What do we do now that the doctor has
given us this news? How are we going to ever handle two newborns?
It can be terrifying when we feel like we are not in control. We feel safe
when we can answer the questions that run through out worried
minds. However, we cannot possibly know all of the answers. Our plans
give us comfort, but God's plans for us are often different. We need to be
open to the challenges and adventures that life presents so that we can
realize God's purpose for each of us.
Prayer: Lord, let us always be comforted by the knowledge that you are
always in control in our lives. Amen.
Contributed by: Heather and Michael Cosgrove
3rd Sunday of Lent, March 3rd
Grace Church
James 1:2-4
The other day I was thinking about pain and why we have to endure it. The
emotional pain I feel when others betray me, the pain I feel when a loved
one is sick, or the pain I feel when I am sick often tests my faith and makes
me feel like giving up.
I reflected on my youth and how hard I worked to get better at tennis. At the
beginning I struggled to deal with the physical pain. I would panic and get
really anxious. Then I would have the same desire to just quit. Over time I
began to see the value in this pain. I learned to persevere though the pain
because I knew it was short lived. More importantly I knew that it was
necessary to become the best tennis player I could be.
These thoughts have helped me against the pain I inevitably encounter in my
life. I take comfort knowing that God will use those painful experiences to
help become closer to the person I am called to be.
I pray that everyone can find the same comfort and understanding of pain. I
hope that everyone can find the faith that even during our most painful
experiences God walks with us, comforts us, but most importantly, grows us.
Contributed by: Brooke Caraher
Monday, March 4th
Grace Church
Luke 8:15
When she was four or five, my daughter became very curious about God and
Heaven. Like most of us, she was mystified and captivated by the afterlife. I
remember her telling me that when she dies, she will cram all of her toys into
her pockets so she can take them with her. Of course, I didn’t care to dwell
on the thought of my daughter making a premature trip to Heaven. But I
found the image of stuffing our pockets and “carrying” possessions with us to
be interesting.
No matter what the afterlife is like, we do want to make sure we are bringing
something along with us: good hearts and tired hands. I like what Luke 8:15
says about “producing a crop through endurance.” Life does require
endurance, doesn’t it? It’s easy to feel that in our hectic lives and in what can
be a very challenging world, we just don’t have enough physical or emotional
stamina to make a difference. Endurance helps us remember to be thankful
for our blessings. It enables us to be good and honest people who dedicate
our hearts and hands to the Lord, in big ways and small. And in the end,
unlike the toys, that’s something we can take with us.
Contributed by: Andrea Spencer
Tuesday, March 5th
Grace Church
Romans 12:9-18 (NIV)
Love in Action
9
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be
devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the
Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with
those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low
position .a] Do not be conceited.
17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes
of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone.
Footnotes:
Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
The attached scripture has been on my refrigerator ever since Courtney
Willis shared it with us at the Mom’s Retreat. It really struck a chord with me
when we discussed it in our study group - but upon some real reflection --- it
has meant so much more in the past few months. Each week I have tried to
meditate on a different verse. Each week I am amazed at how it somehow
applies to a scenario I have seen or experienced. Just like those believers in
Rome, Paul is reminding me how to behave, urging me to be committed, and
to love one another. Paul’s guidelines are not complicated- but simple. Best
of all, they have been transforming.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that as we meditate on your words, your thoughts, your
life — I pray that we would be transformed, that we would be more like you.
Amen
Contributed by: Alexis Williams
Wednesday, March 5th
Grace Church
This is my daily "To Do & Don't" List. I have it taped to my vanity mirror and
read it every morning.
Do:
Begin each day with a promise to respect others.
Sit down and talk quietly.
Listen carefully to what others say.
Look for things to appreciate in others.
Give praise out loud for the good you see in others.
Tell others they are good, good enough, and lovable.
Tell others they are worthwhile and important to you.
Speak in a quiet voice even when I disagree.
Pass up chances to insult, attack, or criticize.
Let others have responsibility for their lives while I take responsibility for
mine.
DON'T:
Look for things to criticize.
Make fun or laugh at others.
Make faces or roll your eyes.
Tell others how to run their lives.
Insult others.
Put people down in front of others.
Act superior.
Sneer.
Tell others they're weird or crazy.
Say others are bad, not good enough, or unlovable.
Say others don't belong, or you wish they were dead.
Call others names like fat, stupid, or worthless.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to remain calm and patient with others today and
treat them with the same respect that I deserve to receive. Amen
Contributed by: Joe Matthews
Thursday, March 7th
Grace Church
2 Corinthians 12:9
I have always struggled with the word "sufficient". I understand basic the
dictionary definition of course - adequate for the purpose; enough (from
Dictionary.com). But I've always been conflicted about what I associate with
that word, and how that association affects me.
Whether I was trying to please my parents as a young child, or trying to
perform at a consistently high level in my work, having my efforts
described as “sufficient” always left (and still leave) me and my
perfectionist tendencies feeling profoundly empty. Regardless of people’s
intent when giving that feedback, what I infer is that my efforts were just
barely enough to get by, and that neither I, nor my efforts, are anything
special.
So every time I think about God’s grace and how it is sufficient for me
(2 Corinthians 12:9), I have to radically change my attitude about that
troubling word by focusing on what it is that is sufficient, which is God’s
grace.
When I do that, I begin to let go of my worldly focus. I start to think about
how unfathomably big and amazing this gift is that we have been given. I
reflect on my overwhelming blessings in this life, and the promise of what’s
next. And then I understand God’s grace can only be described as
sufficient, as we truly don’t need anything more than that.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for much for the gift of grace that you have
given us. May we enjoy that gift as it is all we could ever need. Let us also
make sure we try to share our gift with others. Amen.
Contributed by: Mark McKinney
Friday, March 8th
Grace Church
Ecclesiastes 3
My earliest memory of this verse is the song version “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by
The Byrds in the mid-1960’s – when there were only two kinds of popular
music; Rock … and Roll.
As a young child, these words spoke to my love of the dramatic seasons
experienced while growing up in northern Minnesota – the awe of nature,
the mystery of the Earth’s rotation, and how events come to pass. They
speak to me as loudly today as then, suggesting the epic nature of our lives
and our collective, earthly, human existence; that matters of the world and
God’s plan sometimes play out over days beyond our own – through
millennia and perhaps even across all time itself.
I am fond of this series of verses for its Old Testament quality, which to me
is “everyone’s Bible”; Jew, Muslim and Christian … more about mysticism
and less an argument about fact, history or a claim to the truth. Faith is
belief, not proof.
In essence, I think it suggests that fortitude, balance and patience are
virtues for dealing with what we may, or may not be, experiencing in our
lives … that looking ahead or seeing a situation through is sometimes the
best answer to life’s challenges. Allowing one to stay present, open and
prepared for what comes next, be it positive or negative. There is a cycle to
all aspects of our life experiences that faith enhances.
Contributed by: Kevin Spencer
Saturday, March 9th
Grace Church
Proverbs 22: 6
One of the great joys of being a part of Grace in recent years is the hoard of
children who are here on any given Sunday. What an awesome blessing;
and at the same time, what an awesome responsibility. For all of us who
are parents, the challenges are myriad.
Several years ago, an acquaintance of mine related a story about his fouryear-old son. It seems that this family has a dinnertime regimen like the
one at our house. Before each meal, we hold hands and the table and say a
short prayer. My friend told me that one evening as they prepared to say
the blessing, he glanced down at his son’s hand (which he was about to
grab), and noted that it was smudged and dirty. Not just a little…but a lot.
“Allen, did you wash your hands before you came to supper?” The little boy
looked up at his dad, scowled a bit (the routine was familiar), then climbed
down from his chair. As he trudged down the hall towards the bathroom,
Allen was heard to mutter: “Jesus and germs. Jesus and germs. That’s all
I ever hear in this house…Jesus and germs!”
There comes a time for every parent where a reality will hit like a stomach
punch. It is this: Your children will be spending more time each day outside
of your presence and sphere of influence than they will with you. Many of
those influences will not be good. That is why it is so critical that children
be disciplined (in the very best sense) in the early years. And as it was for
Allen, Jesus and germs isn’t a bad place to start.
That you choose to make Grace Church a part of your life, and that you are
introducing your children to Jesus and the loving and caring Body of Christ,
speaks volumes. Getting everyone up and dressed on Sunday morning isn’t
easy. Driving back to church for a special program isn’t always convenient.
Serving on a church committee or teaching a Sunday school class may not
be your favorite use of time. But in the end, these and many other things
demonstrate your discipline. Children will pick up on that to the extent that
YOUR discipline will become THEIR discipline. Hopefully this will nurture a
lifelong relationship with Christ and the church…and carry on from
generation to generation.
Prayer: Gracious God, help me to understand discipline as a good thing. Let
me be disciplined to be a better parent and to lovingly direct my children
especially in the ways that will lead to a lifelong relationship with you. Amen
Contributed by: Kent Williams
4th Sunday of Lent, March 10th
Grace Church
Isaiah
55:9
Isaiah 55:9
Sometimes in life our plans do not go as "planned."
Sometimes it's
uncomfortable and not what we had "planned." Sometimes we have to move
out of the way, we have to be flexible, and we have to adjust. It might look
different than what we had "planned" but something amazing could result
from it. Often times God has a hand in that and we are called to listen. I experienced that this past Christmas season!
I had heard that nothing was offered for the hungry on Christmas morning so
members of Grace began planning to do a breakfast for the hungry. Many of
us committed to carrying out this meal felt so strongly that God was calling
us to do this. We were filled with passion, excitement, and a deep desire to
show God’s love to those less fortunate on this special morning. We
advertised it all over Greensboro…at Grace, the ARISE Breakfast, and other
local agencies. We even had a huge banner outside of Grace! Then, 11
days before Christmas, I received a phone call from a very nice lady named
Mary. She informed me that she heads up a breakfast for the hungry on
Christmas morning from 9-12 am at West Market Street. I thought, “What?
We had asked around and everyone said that nothing was offered.” Mary
expressed concern that if we had two breakfasts during the same time, that it
may hinder attendance at ours, which was to be at 10 am. And to top it off,
they had done this for the past 4 years, had volunteers lined up, 200
blankets and gift bags to pass out, and so on. I immediately felt a sense of
panic, “What in the world were we going to do? We had already planned so
much of this? How were we going to back track? Was this the right thing to
do?”
All of these questions raced through my mind. But this very gracious woman
offered to partner with us, to be a team, and to collaborate to make even a
bigger impact.
After a great deal of thought, consideration, and
conversations with others, it was very clear that we were to join with her. It
was an amazing morning! About 200 hungry friends joined us and we had
about 25 from Grace come to serve and visit with the hungry. After all of the
planning, all of the worrying, and all of the plans being changed, God’s spirit
filled me through it all and showed me that sometimes we have to just be
flexible! Sometimes we have to move out of the way and let God’s spirit lead
us, even if it goes against what we have planned!
Prayer: God of unending peace, help me to stay calm in life's chaos. Help
me to be still and listen to your voice in my life. Surround me with your
peace and open my eyes to your goodness in everything! Amen.
Contributed by: Christina McCord
Monday, March 11th
Grace Church
Mark 11:24
Sometime ago, while going through my mother’s mementos, I found this
poem which I keep taped in my daily appointment calendar. Although she is
no longer with us, I feel these words which were meaningful to her, speak
just as clearly to us today.
TIME TO PRAY
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't take time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me
And heavier came each task.
“Why doesn't God help me?” I wondered.
He answered, “My child, you didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy and beauty
But the day toiled on, grey and bleak.
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, “But, my child, you didn't seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence
I used all my keys at the lock
God gently and lovingly chided
“My child, you didn't knock.”
I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
Author Unknown
Contributed by: Carolyn Hylton
Tuesday, March 12th
Grace Church
Psalm 46:10
Sometimes my days seem to whiz by. I try to make good use of my time, but
I’m out of time before I know it. Amidst the noise and activity, my feeling of
God’s presence comes and goes faster than I can even think about it. And
my prayers – well, they fly about as I find myself thinking of many things that
are on my mind.
As I dash about doing the things that seem important, I sometimes pray as I
go. Sometimes when I see needs, I pray then and there without even
slowing down. But Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still--“to be still and know that I
am God.” When Jesus calmed the storm on the sea, the water became still
and there was dead silence. Elijah was not moved by the thunderous
earthquakes and storms and fire, but he heard God speak in a still small
voice. The Shepherd led the psalmist beside still waters. And Jesus himself
went into the still, quiet wilderness to commune with God.
I know God is in the midst of my life. But I must be still more often and try to
discern His will for me. I have to be quiet in order for Him to get through to
me. And when I am quiet and center my mind and heart on Him, He speaks
gently to me, and I do know that indeed He is God.
Prayer: God, thank you for your presence with us. Help me to be still more
often and to feel your presence that is always with me. Amen.
Contributed by: Jane Long
Wednesday, March 13th
Grace Church
1Thessalonians 5:17-18
There are many Bible verses that tell us there will be trials and tribulations in
our Christian lives that are there to he;[ us grow spiritually in patience and to
know that God is with us as we go through these times (Romans 5:3-5) and
how important prayer is during these time (1Thes 5:17-18).
One of these times in my life was when my Mother experienced what the
doctors called “old-age dementia”/ A difficult and heart-breaking time as
through the five years I watched this beautiful, loving, creative person
change. She had been a wonderful, caring wife, Mother, Grandmother and
Great-Grandmother, a dedicated Christian, active in her church, sharing her
faith and there to help others.
She accompanied Dad on a Mission Trip which included Haiti in her 70’s.
Back home, she gave talks to Church groups, sent items back to Haiti as
needed and sponsored children so they could attend school.
A difficult and helpless time for me as there seemed nothing I could do to
help her. Loving, kindness, even communicating with her was hard because
most of the time, she did not know me. It was hard to pray. I kept asking
why, why, why? Oh, God, Jesus, where are you?
One night as I sat with her in the bedroom – she required monitoring 24/7 –
she sat up in bed and sang the first verse of Amazing Grace, a favorite of our
family and of our Grace Church family. Her words were very clear and the
tune almost perfect. She sang the first verse and then said, “Oh, my, there
are more verses but I can’t remember all the words.” Then she hummed four
verses and lay back on the bed.
Our Heavenly Father and Jesus were definitely there that night and I felt their
presence as never before. I knew they had been with Mother and me all the
time and all would be well with both of us. I could already feel the dark cloud
lift away. They supplied the experience I needed at the right time.
(Continued on next page)
Wednesday, March 13th
Grace Church
Mother went to her Heavenly Home a few weeks later. I continued to feel the
comfort and to give thanks for her and the sharing of her life with me. We
were able to verbally communicate one more time. I was telling her it was
alright for her to go home – she looked at me and said, “Are you coming with
me”? I answered, “No, but I will be coming later.”
The comfort and love continued through her service of Praise and
Thanksgiving and as she was laid to rest next to Dad – her faithful Christian
partner in life for almost 60 years.
Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, as we remember that you are always
with us in all circumstances and to give thanks for we know you will never
leave or forsake us.
Contributed by: Audrey Boyd
Thursday, March 14th
Grace Church
Matthew 18:20
It is often difficult for our family of four to actually get out the door at 8:30 am
on a Sunday morning. We have usually had a breakdown or two by the time
we walk into Graceful Grounds. But by the time we leave, our whole family
seems to be refilled and ready for the week ahead. Why is this? How can we
walk into church grumpy and stressed and leave smiling and fulfilled? I truly
believe it is because of the wonderful church family we have found at Grace.
I did not grow up going to church so I wasn’t sure what it would be like
“having” to be somewhere every Sunday morning. I had my doubts that we
could actually attend church consistently. Do we really need to be there
every week? Over the past two years I have realized what a true blessing
Sundays have become for our family. We are welcomed with smiling faces,
feel closer to God, connected with others, and we get to watch our children
growing in Christ.
It is still hard to get out the door every Sunday but we are thankful and
blessed to have a church home.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for our wonderful church. Please help us to
continue to grow in grace. Amen.
Contributed by: Amy Jenkins
Friday, March 15th
Grace Church
Philippians 4:6-7
We live in anxious times, everyday is full of second guessing ourselves... I
was in a rush yesterday and got my kids Happy Meals for lunch. Their health
and well being are my sole
responsibility- how could I set them up for
bad eating habits? Many of us are preparing to send our children to
college. What will happen to them in this environment over which we, as
parents, have no control?
The world around us is changing drastically. We're losing jobs or not getting
the anticipated raise. How will the bills get paid? Every day the news is full
of horrifying tragedies
spanning the entire globe. Where can we go that
is safe? These are all part of the world we live in.
We could worry ourselves sick over them, and a million other stressful
things. But we also can live above anxiety by drawing closer to God, who
grants peace in the midst of the most severe of situations. Through prayer,
and drawing closer to God, we have the power of peace. It is a peace that
overcomes anxiety and transcends all understanding.
So, let us not be anxious about anything, but through prayer we present our
troubles to God and allow his peace into the midst of our troubled lives.
Prayer: God, the world brings anxiety to each of us. May we give this to you
as we seek to live in your power and peace. Amen
Contributed by: Cameron Holcomb
Saturday, March 16th
Grace Church
Psalm 100:1-2
I love music: classic rock, country, hymns, French pop, Broadway musicals,
singer-songwriter, 80’s hits… it’s all good. I sing in the car. I sing in the
shower. I sing while I do housework. I sing while I put my kids to bed. In
the middle of a conversation, someone might happen to utter the phrase,
“rumor has it,” and I find myself compelled to break into an Adele song. The
emotion that comes from the spoken word is nothing compared to the
emotion that songs and singing can bring. Music cheers me up, it calms me
down, it energizes me, and it brings me to tears. Without fail, the big notes in
Broadway numbers riddle me with goosebumps, and if I’m actually in the
theater, the sheer power of the song can move me to tears. During Sunday
worship, the sound of a roomful of people joined in song connects me to God
in a way very little else does.
I am so thankful that when God created humankind, he gave us the power of
music. To sing, the only thing you need is words: no instrument, special
room, or certain conditions required. You don’t even have to be good. You
just sing. It’s a reminder to me that our relationship with God is the same
way. We can connect with him at any time, any day, any way. We might not
know exactly what to say, or we might feel a little awkward at times, but it’s
okay. He can hear the song in our hearts.
Prayer: Dear God: Please help me to remember that you are as easy to
carry around in my heart as a song. When I find myself singing, I will know
that you are with me, hearing my sung praises. Amen.
Contributed by: Elizabeth Owens
5th Sunday of Lent, March 17th
Grace Church
James 4:8
I came across this passage during the period of time when I was having
difficulties with starting a family. During this time, not only was I extremely
frustrated but also very depressed. I felt like I was surrounded by this dark
cloud. Although I had grown up in the church, this was the first time in my
life where I felt God really “speak” to me. I started to really believe that God
had a plan for me and that I had to trust in him.
Although it still took me a long time to have my first child, I felt like
remembering this passage helped me in so many ways. Now, 3 children
later, I use this passage almost every day of my life. Any time life is hectic or
when I am just feeling down, I feel this passage helps me get though the
day.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for always being present; and for the reminder
that all we have to do is turn toward you for comfort, strength, and direction.
Amen.
Contributed by: Jennifer Smith
Monday, March 18th
Grace Church
Mark 11:24
During my early adulthood, I was faced with a challenging family situation.
Stressed and confused, I started to drive around town. Luckily instead of
driving in circles, I felt compelled to drive to my childhood church and there I
sat in the parking lot and prayed.
In difficult situations, we often think to go to God in prayer. However why is it
that we so often forget to go to God in prayer throughout the day? As a stay
at home mom there are some many moments that test my patience, my
physical ability, and my sanity. A wise friend and fellow mother encouraged
me to take all challenges during the day to God.
As encouraged in Mark 11:24, no matter the situation as long as you lift it to
God and have faith, you will receive his glory. In these brief times of prayer, I
find the strength to continue the day even if the circumstances do not
change. I feel power and to change my own outlook on the situation.
Prayer: God I pray that I will take the time daily to seek your guidance and
comfort and turn the power to you as well as praise your name for the blessings of the day. Amen.
Contributed by: Jillian Angel
Tuesday, March 19th
Grace Church
1 Corinthians 10:31
My kids are “in the moment” about everything they do throughout the day.
Why do they run everywhere? Don’t they know they can walk? Why do they
have spontaneous dance parties in public? Don’t they know people are
watching? Why does it take 15 minutes to put on a pair of pants and why is it
so funny? Don’t they know to stand and put their feet in the holes instead of
dropping to the floor onto their backs and sticking their legs up in the air?
Why do they pick the perfect moment to bother me and demand a cuddle?
Don’t they know I’m busy?
Reading this passage, I am sorely reminded of my own shortcomings and
my lack of “living in the moment” with the intent to glorify God. There are so
many things I do during the day that I complain about or choose not to
receive gratification from, and in this way, I feel deeply flawed. However, I
know as a Christian I have the chance to ask for forgiveness and to make
conscious decisions each day to enjoy the blessings God has bestowed
upon me. I often forget that just like my own kids, I too am a child of God and
have been given the opportunity to recognize and experience all of the
simple joys and wonders of this world.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for my beautiful and spirited children who
love life and love YOU. Please forgive me for not always recognizing the joy
and beauty of this amazing life. Help me to be more like them and live each
day to glorify YOU. Amen.
Contributed by: Katie Lindsay
Wednesday, March 20th
Grace Church
Psalm 51:10
My life has been a journey of hills and valleys. Fortunately, by the grace of
God, there have been many more mountain tops than low places. But the
valleys still come and, when they do, my faith is tested. It’s a lot easier to
trust God when life is “going my way” and all seems right in my universe.
When problems and challenges seem insurmountable, I feel sometimes that
God has forsaken me. When illness happens to me or to someone I love, I
find myself asking, “What did I (or he or she) do to deserve this?
At such times of doubt and fear, I often pray the prayer of the psalmist:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within
me.” I have found, over and over, that God is always with me, and when I
call upon Him, His Spirit will supply whatever I really need to deal with the
crisis at hand.
The words of Henri Nouwen (A Cry for Mercy) have enriched my life and my
faith journey:”...You said also, ‘Pray even when you do not feel attracted to
it.’ Yes, Lord, I will try to pray, even when I am afraid to face You and myself,
even when I keep falling asleep or feel as though I am going around in
circles, even when it seems nothing is happening. Yes, Lord, I will pray - not
only with others, not only supported by the rhythms of the choir, but also
alone with You. I will try not to be afraid. Lord, give me courage and strength.
Let me see myself in the light of Your mercy and choose You.”
Prayer: “Lord, may your Spirit strengthen and enable me to face whatever
life brings, and may my response to every challenge reveal a deep and abiding trust in Your gracious providence. Amen”
Contributed by: Harry Long
Thursday, March 21st
Grace Church
Ephesians 2:10
My life has been focused on doing good and helping others. Whether
delivering food to less fortunate adults and children, helping out at my son’s
school both in the classroom and on the PTA, volunteering here at Grace in
the children’s ministry, or caring for my family, I am fulfilled every day.
For many years, I had never looked at this as a calling from God, but instead
just being a good and decent human being. As I have begun to learn more
about the Bible in recent years, verses like Ephesians 2:10 help me
understand that to do good work and give of ourselves is a calling from God.
We have been “created in Christ Jesus to do good works” and, to use a well
worn and thoughtful phrase, to be the hands and feet of Christ.
I hope that as you look inside yourself you can find ways to give of yourself
and your talents and be fulfilled like I am on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s the
smallest gestures that mean the most to others and allow them to be filled
with love. I try and remember that every day, and hope you can too. This is
important work for us all, but I do know it can sound a bit daunting and
overwhelming, so I would like to add a small prayer that I like to say to
myself when I am stressed and feeling like I am stretching myself thin:
Prayer:
Dear God, please let me remember that I am a very fortunate
person who was put on this earth to help others and my family. Remind me
to be thankful and giving every day. Amen.
Contributed by: Kendall Tomalas
Friday, March 22nd
Grace Church
John 1: 1-4
In middle school I believed that God was a white man in the sky. Not
surprisingly, he looked a heck of a lot like that guy on the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel or Santa Claus. In high school I started looking at the world
and asking the usual questions about why God makes bad things happen to
good people. I didn’t get any satisfactory answers.
I first remember reading John 1 in college, I was at a point in my spiritual
journey when I had decided Christianity was…well…questionable at best. I
was calling myself an agnostic, but was interested in Buddhism and earthbased spirituality.
These words created for me a bridge back to Christianity. For me, they were
the first time I can remember thinking of the Bible as a metaphor outside of
the parables told by Jesus. My religion professor explained to us that
theologians interpreted this scripture as referring to Jesus Christ, but I found
it affirming that the Greek translation of “the Word” could mean “an
expectation,” “an opinion” or “a plea.”
So is God a muscular man with a loincloth or a puppeteer or some secret
magic word that created life, the universe and everything? I haven’t a clue.
Yet I believe in the uplifting expectation shown to us through Jesus Christ his words and his works. I believe in the positivity of a faith that inspires us
to do good because we believe, rather than to do good to prove we are
worthy.
Heavenly creator, we are inspired by words all around us: the
Prayer:
words of great authors, leaders, poets and musicians. Thank you for creating
humankind to be inspired, often beyond that which words can express. Help
us to feel your inspiration and to live out your expectation for our lives.
Amen.
Contributed by: Whitney Gregory
Saturday, March 23rd
Grace Church
Micah 6:8
Scripture is full of stories and poems and laws that spoke to a people who
loved God thousands of years ago, and they can still speak to those of us
who love God now. But it's easy to get bogged down by the verses...by the
enormity of scripture...by what can seem like a lot to remember and by some
ideas that make us uncomfortable.
However, in that vastness of knowledge and wisdom (and even some pretty
crazy stories), sometimes it can be helpful to pin down one or two verses
that really inform the way we live. Micah 6:8 is one of those verses for me.
God has shown us what is good. Through reading scripture, and listening to
the Holy Spirit's voice, we can know what is good. And, instead of a long list
of rules we must obey, God's expectations of us are fairly simple...
Act justly- be compassionate toward others, concerned for what is right and
good.
Love mercy- live benevolently and forgive others
Walk humbly with God- in lining up our lives with God, all else should fall into
place
Even though this verse comes from the Old Testament, we see that Jesus
Christ himself lived a life that modeled the principles in this scripture. With
God's help, it is my heart's desire for my family to live in a way that models
these words.
What verse is important to you and your family? What verse informs the way
you live and the choices you make? If you have not taken the time to
consider this before, Lent might be a good opportunity to do so.
Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for showing us exactly how to follow you
and have lives that glorify you. Forgive us when we forget how simple it can
be to turn to scripture for direction and guidance. Please help us to act
justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you every day. Amen.
Contributed by: Courtney Willis
6th Sunday in Lent, March 24th
Grace Church
Philippians 4:8
It has been a real joy to me to be a part of putting together this Lenten
Devotional. I have been so blessed by the words of strength and
encouragement, witnessing Christian struggles and the grasping tightly to
the grace which guides us through the most difficult of times. I have felt the
Spirit leap off the pages, straight to my heart on several occasions.
Awesome! Thank you for the opportunity.
If left to my own devices, I tend to spend too much time thinking about the
“what-ifs” of life, working my way through the branches of the “worry tree”,
trying to anticipate the outcomes of a given situation, to be prepared to face
whatever the situation of the day might be. It can be exhausting and it is
generally an exercise in futility. I struggle to remember that while I am limited
in what I can control around me , I always have control of what is going on
“between the ears”, so to speak. What I think about is clearly a personal
choice.
Lent is a time for conversion. It’s a time for a conversion of heart and mind
which can only draw us closer to our loving and gracious God.
As a Lenten discipline, I want to grow in the ability to put God's word into
practice by giving up this focus on the challenges and, instead, as Paul
instructs us, to focus on ‘what is true and honorable, what is just and pure,
what is pleasing and commendable, to seek out those things of excellence
and worthy of praise’ and think about these things. As I put these thoughts to
paper, I can already feel a lifting of a burden. “Go and try it my way”, the Lord
is calling to me. How can I resist?
Prayer: Loving God, I pray that during this Lenten season you will create in
me a desire to always focus on those attributes which are of You. Help me to
see them in myself, in those around me, in what you have me do and in the
circumstances of our world and Your creation.
Contributed by: Nina Risi
Monday, March 25th
Grace Church
Philippians 4:13
In the Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia there stands a tall yellow
birch tree, one of many in that enchanted forest. What makes this particular
tree so noteworthy is that it is growing on top of a huge boulder. The roots,
wrapped tightly around the rock as they reach for the soil below, resemble
the tentacles of an octopus. The “Magic Tree”, as it has been christened,
stands tall and proud in a clearing just off the Twin Pinnacles Trail.
I often wonder how that tree managed to grow and thrive with such an
enormous barrier in its way. How did it get that way and what miracle of
nature allows the tree to continue to stand in spite of the challenge it faces?
I like to think that the Magic Tree is a gentle reminder from God that “we can
do all things through Christ who strengthens us”. And, no matter what the
size of our “boulders”, if we put our faith and trust in his word we will find our
way around them.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the many ways you show us that
we are not alone in our struggles. Forgive us when we become so engrossed
in our “boulders” that we fail to see your messages of hope. Amen.
Contributed by: Sandy Crossley
Tuesday, March 26th
Grace Church
Proverbs 22:2
The first house that Tricia and I purchased was an old log home that had
been moved from Central Virginia to Northern Virginia. The logs were reconfigured to a nice cozy structure with three bedrooms, a single-car garage,
and even a root cellar. We had about four acres of land with lots of trees,
plenty of space for a garden and plenty of privacy. For us, it was paradise.
About 100 yards away, across the private road/driveway that led from the
rural state road to our house lived a couple, Donnie and Betsy. They were
the type of folks for whom it was difficult to ascertain age, but we judged
them to be slightly older than us. Their house, built of field stone and cinder
blocks, was set back into the woods. In the yard leading to their house were
several rusted shells of ancient vehicles, and under a small copse of trees
was a hand-pump for a shallow well. A bathtub sat beside it.
Over time, we got to be friendly with Donnie and Betsy. They were at first
quiet and private, a bit reticent probably because they were afraid of how we
might judge them. As we were to learn, they had built their house from scavenged materials. The hand-pumped well was their only running water, carried to the house in buckets. The floor of their home was dirt, and their bathroom was a privy situated on the downhill side of their sloping property.
Their only income appeared to be from odd jobs that Donnie picked up, and
their education was minimal. Yet for all this, they seemed supremely happy
and were generous even with their paucity of worldly goods.
One thing that struck us was that every summer a seemingly countless
stream of nieces and nephews would come to visit the childless Donnie and
Betsy. We got to talk and play with many of these children, and they absolutely loved this adventure where they were loved and had acres to play and
explore. It was obvious that visiting Donnie and Betsy was the highlight of
these children’s lives. In short, we had never seen so much contentment
(absolute joy would probably be a better term) than we did in Donnie and
Betsy and their extended family.
In 1985, we decided to move back to North Carolina; we were expecting our
first child, Tyler. It was sad to sell and leave our log house in the country,
and even sadder to say good-bye to Donnie and Betsy, probably the most
genuine people we’d ever known. But there was happiness, too, in that
Donnie and Betsy were expecting a baby. Through letters, we learned that
their little girl was named Crystal. They were especially proud, a few years
later, at how smart Crystal was and how successful she was in school.
(Continued on next page)
Tuesday, March 26th
Grace Church
The last time we saw Donnie and Betsy before we left, they presented us
with three carved walking sticks and a whittled dog statue. They were
Donnie’s handiwork. Currently when Tricia and I take daily walks, I carry one
of those prized sticks, and the dog has a treasured spot on our shelf. These
serve as constant reminders to us of two people who taught two collegeeducated teachers that all of us are children of God and that wealth can be
measured in many ways.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the many people you place in our pathway.
Let us not be quick to judge those who may be different, but let us see the
worth in all your children. Amen
Contributed by: Kent Williams
Wednesday, March 27th
Grace Church
Matthew 21:12
In our physically and sometimes emotionally comfortable worlds its often
easy to assume Jesus was a 'take all comers' Lord. And in so many ways he
is just that. Jesus wants us to enter God's love as is, warts and all.
But fortunately for His kingdom we are not done at that point.
Jesus didn’t overturn the tables and cleanse the temple in order to show his
might. He didn’t do it in order to justify today’s “means to an end” use of
violence in society. If his purpose were to do those things he’d have certainly been far mightier in his cleansing. Rather, Jesus is once again
providing us an example of how to live the way God would have us lead our
lives. Jesus cleansed the temple because he knew that commerce in God’s
house was a distraction to the purpose of the temple. Likewise, it is our
responsibility as Christians to cleanse our temples of tables where we are
distracted from God's purpose for our lives.
God, through Jesus' example, very clearly instructs us to hear his calling and
actively respond. And friends of Grace Church, this means it’s time for all of
us to so some listening, take time for discernment, and then engage in
cleansing of our lives of those distractions which handicap our mission.
I know, cleansing is hard. There are so many material possessions and
distractions which I use each and every day to help gauge my sense of
worth, how hard I've worked and basically anything else but what God has
truly called me to do with my talents.
So how can I reconcile these two lives? One I am clearly called to lead which
involves creating a more Christ-like existence for all those to which I am
called to minister. And another in which I am trapped by culture's
expectations of me?
In the end, there is only one way: get to work and stop making excuses for
myself. So today let’s take time to listen for God’s calling and actively discern
what that means. And then friends, let’s get to work cleansing what is in the
way of our fulfilling that calling.
Prayer: God, please give me the courage to hear your calling, discern its
meaning, and do something about it.
Contributed by: Stephen Willis
Maundy Thursday, March 28th
Grace Church
John 4:14
About 10 years ago, I was doing some consulting work with Habitat for
Humanity, which at the time had their offices in Grace's basement. Mary and
I were newly married and had been church-searching for a while, but not
finding a good fit anywhere. One day, after a meeting in the basement, I
stopped on my way out of the sanctuary building to get a drink from the
water fountain in the lobby. I distinctly remember that water tasting
absolutely fantastic. It was just cold enough – but not too cold – and it was
clean; it didn't have the metallic flavor that water fountains often produce.
This story isn't just about that refreshing water.
Because that first sip was so refreshing, I took a moment to have another. In
that second moment, I decided to sneak a peek of the church that I had
visited for meetings at least a dozen times, but had only seen the
basement. When I stepped into the sanctuary – our beautiful sanctuary – it
reminded me of the church where Mary and I got married. That night, I
suggested to Mary that we check out Grace UMC as part of our church
search. A few weeks later, we attended for the first time and never looked
back.
I have no idea if we would have ended up at Grace otherwise, but every time
I walk past that water fountain I stop to take sip. I am often brought back to
that moment and I say a quick thanks to God for the gift of that water.
Contributed by: Jeff Kerrigan
Good Friday, March 29th
Grace Church
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
In my first year of teaching, I had to face several major hurdles that would be
difficult for anyone, but especially for a young, inexperienced teacher. The
one that had the most impact was losing one of my teaching assistants in a
car accident one morning on the way to school. It was one of the most
terrifying events of my life because I had to suppress my own fear and sadness to be strong for my students, staff members, and parents. As an
inexperienced 22 year old, I felt alone and betrayed by God. How could
something so terrible happen to me during my first year of teaching? In times
like this it is easy to turn away from God and wonder why me? Why now?
Where is God? In recent years many of us have dealt with these similar
feelings during personal tragedies as well as major national catastrophes.
God speaks to me through music, often times it’s the wonderful songs our
Agents of Grace or Chancel Choir sings on Sunday morning, but other times
it comes from songs on the radio or suggestions from friends. During the
tragedy my first year teaching, I found the song Homesick by Mercy Me, and
it has stuck with me ever since. It was the first song that truly embodied all of
the feelings and emotions I had at that time, and made them seem
acceptable and real. These are the lyrics that really spoke to me:
Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now
(Continued on next page)
Good Friday, March 29th
Grace Church
During Lent, I take time to remember those who have gone before me and
are living with our God in Heaven. I spend the days praying for these
persons and their loved ones. It gives me a designated time each year to
remember the pain, yet focus on the joy that comes from serving such an
amazing God! It helps me feel connected to Jesus’ disciples and try to
imagine what they may have been feeling so many years ago.
I challenge you to take time to remember friends, loved ones, and even
complete strangers during this Lenten season. Our God is a God of comfort
and strength in times of trouble. Hold on to that, and remember that you are
never alone, no matter how dark and gloomy the days feel.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for loving us and for wrapping your arms
around us during times of heartache and sorrow. We know you are a God of
comfort and healing, so please be with us during our times of doubt and
struggle. Thank you for sending your son to die on the cross for us, and for
helping us remember that sacrifice you made.
Contributed by: Kelli Staples
Saturday, March 30th
Grace Church
Matthew 27:57-66
From The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language
By Eugene H. Peterson
Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus,
arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.
Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean
linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and
rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb.
After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with
Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he
was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb
sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and
steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then
we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.” Pilate told
them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So
they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.
•
++++++++++
The next day Jesus rose from the dead. The Risen
Lord appeared before his followers, who proclaimed
“The Lord is Risen! Hallelujah!”
Let us gather in His House on Easter Sunday to
celebrate His resurrection!
NOTES
NOTES
Grace United Methodist Church
Reaching, Teaching and Unleashing People for Christ
438 West Friendly Avenue - Greensboro, NC 27401
www.grace-methodist.com
336.272.2171