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MEDITATION:

Written by Carla Harding, a contemporary Christian author and director for 24-7 Prayer across Great Britain.

God’s plan for humanity was always community. But the messy reality is that things don’t always go to plan. Relationships become fractured, even broken. The challenge when this happens is that Jesus doesn’t just kindly suggest it could be a good idea to fix them. He commands it as a prerequisite of my worship. My heart cannot be reconciled to God unless it is reconciled with others. How is my heart today? Am I holding any bitterness, negativity, or unforgiveness toward someone I know? Where is there division in my community? Is there bitterness, negativity, or unforgiveness within my family, among friends, or between racial or religious groups?

Jesus says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” [Matthew 6:14-15].  Challenging words!  Jesus suggests that there is a connection between my willingness to let go of offence and the desire to punish others, and in my openness to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and see more clearly who He is.  Jesus’ kingdom vision is a community who are collectively pursuing purity of heart through confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

PRAYER:

Written by Carla Harding, author of today’s meditation.

God, I am so thankful that Your vision for reconciliation is so much bigger and more beautiful than my own. Today, I invite You to transform my relationships and community for your glory. Purify my heart so that I can, “bear with others and forgive…as You have forgiven me.”

MUSIC MEDITATION:

A Heart That Forgives. Kevin LeVar.  Written by Kevin LaVar in 2008.

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MEDITATION:

Written by John Wesley (1703-1791), an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist. He led a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. This is an excerpt from “The Classics of Western Spirituality” series.

Get these three Principles fixed in your hearts: that Things eternal are much more considerable than Things temporal; that Things not seen are as certain as the Things that are seen; that upon your present choice depends your eternal lot. Choose Christ and his ways, and you are blessed forever; refuse, and you are undone forever.

PRAYER:

From the Gregorian Sacramentary, a 10th century illuminated Latin manuscript ascribed to Gregory 1.

O God, the Protector of all that trust in You, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Your mercy; that, You being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

My Worth Is Not In What I Own. Keith and Kristyn Getty.  Words and music written by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty and Graham Kendrick in 2014.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Douglas MacLeod, a contemporary pastor and author.

In 2018 a team of boys in Thailand were dramatically res­cued after being trapped for weeks in a cave. But one brave rescuer died in the process. As a trained Navy Seal, the man who died was well aware that the rescue mission was dangerous—and he did it anyway, along with the other rescuers. Jesus begins to teach his disciples what lies ahead—that he must suffer and be killed and then rise again—and Peter finds this mission to be harsher than expected. Jesus also begins to teach what it means to follow him. It is not about adopting a set of theological statements, signing a membership contract, or living by a moral code—although those can be good things. It is about sharing the good news that Jesus is Lord and is the only way to salvation. It’s about knowing that this path can be dangerous—and doing it anyway. In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that a disciple focuses only on Jesus and not “the road which is too hard for us. . . . He leads the way; keep close to him.” In the Jewish tradition of following a rabbi (teacher) and going everywhere he went, the saying was “May you be covered in his dust.” That’s the effect of spiritual tailgating! As disciples, we are called to walk the challenging path of discipleship. And Jesus will always be right there with us.

PRAYER:

Written by Jerome (347-420), a Latin Catholic priest, confessor, theologian and historian.  He translated most of the Bible into Latin.’

 Lord, You have given us Your Word for a light to shine upon our path; grant us so to meditate on that Word, and to follow its teaching, that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Follow Me. David Kauffman. Written by David Kauffman and based on Luke 9:57-68.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Richard Foster, a contemporary author and founder of Renovare, an interchurch movement committed to the renewal of the church. This is an excerpt from his book “Freedom of Simplicity.”

Silence frees us from the need to control others. One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. A frantic stream of words flows from us in an attempt to straighten others out. We want so desperately for them to agree with us, to see things our way. We evaluate people, judge people, condemn people. We devour people with our words. Silence is one of the deepest disciplines of the spirit simply because it puts the stopper on that.

PRAYER:

Written by Asheritah Ciuciu, a contemporary author, speaker, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries.

 Oh Lord, You know my heart better than I know it myself. You know my struggles and You hold each hope and fear in Your caring hands. Teach me, LORD, to be still and to know that You are God. You are in Your holy temple; let all the earth, including my mind and heart, be silent before You, resting in Your sovereignty. Like Elijah, teach me to wait for Your still, small voice and quiet the earthquakes and blazing fires in my life. Replace my restless doing with inner calm, and help me, like Mary, to sit at Your feet in quiet adoration even if there are a million things clamoring for my attention. Just as You spoke over the tumultuous sea and storms, so speak over my heart Your shalom. “Peace. Be still,” You said to them, and immediately they quieted. Teach my heart to cease striving and to know– to yada, to have an intimate and deep, personal, first-hand experience–that You are God. Help me cultivate a quiet heart, like a baby content in its mother’s arms, no longer coming to You with a “gimme” spirit but instead calmly nestling against Your heart. Help me find quietness and happiness in intimate communion with You. You will be exalted over all the earth, and You’ve got the details of my day covered. I can rest in You. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Sacred Silence. Tom Booth.  Written by Tom Booth in 2003.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Peggy Stackle.

Fasting has not been a discipline of the Presbyterian denomination. But other traditions associate fasting with the season of Lent.  Here’s a little history of the practice from the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church: “Fasting, which was rigorously practiced in Judiasm and by the disciples of St. John the Baptist, was recommended by Christ both by example and teaching.  It was observed by the Apostles and in the early Church regular weekly fast days soon developed.  The fast of Lent…lasted originally only two days. During the early centuries the observance of the fast was very strict.  Only one meal a day, taken towards evening, was allowed, and fleshmeat and fish, and in most places also eggs and lacticinia (foods made from milk) were absolutely forbidden.  From the 9^th century onwards the in the West, the practice began to be considerably relaxed.  The hour for breaking the fast was gradually anticipated to three o’clock in the afternoon, and by the 15^th century it had become the general custom even for religious to eat at noon.  By the Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini (1966) in the Roman Catholic Church the obligation to fast was restricted to the first day of Lent and Good Friday.”

A coworker of mine was a Chaldean and in that tradition they fast regularly.  There is a soup/drink that they have on fast days.  It will never make the 100 best recipes on anybody’s list.  It was a relief when she told me that those over 50 are not required to fast.  It gets into too many health issues.  If you are motivated to try fasting for Lent, it’s best to check with your doctor first. “As a penitential practice, fasting is designed to strengthen the spiritual life by weakening the attractions of sensible pleasures.  The Lord Himself coupled it with prayer, and in the lives of the saints the two almost always go together.”

PRAYER:

Written by Henri Jozef Nouwen(1932-1996), a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian. This prayer is from “A Cry for Mercy: Prayers from the Genesee.”

 How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death? Yes, Lord, I have to die—with you, through you, and in you—and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess…. I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Forty Days and Forty Nights. Journeysongs. The music for the hymn is attributed to Martin Herbst (1654-1681) and Paul Heinlein (1626-1681). The present harmonization was by William Henry Monk (1861).

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MEDITATION:

Written by Philip Yancey, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Discovering God.”

Too often theology is viewed as stuff for hermits to think about. When there’s nothing else to do, then is the time to ask abstract questions about God. Such a notion would have exasperated the apostle Paul. To him, theology was worthless unless it made a difference in how people lived. Thus, after laying out the most thorough, concise summary of Christian theology in the Bible, he turns his attention at the end of Romans to a down-to-earth discussion of everyday problems. Paul’s own life offers a good example of how to make theology practical. In fact, he wrote the lofty book of Romans while traveling to raise funds for famine relief. By collecting offerings from gentile Christians for the sake of Jews in Jerusalem, Paul modeled the kind of unity sorely needed by both groups.  Romans 12, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2), needs no special commentary or study aids. The problem lies not in understanding the words, but in obeying them. Paul is describing what love in action should look like. Once more he uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate how diverse parts can work together in unity. The Romans, both Jews and Gentiles, associated the word “sacrifices” with the lambs and other animals they brought to the temple for priests to kill on an altar. But Paul makes clear that God wants living human beings, not dead animals. A person committed to God’s will is the king of offering most pleasing to God.

PRAYER:

Written by Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), founder of the Poor Clares, a community dedicated to poverty, simplicity and service.

 I come, O Lord, unto Your sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in You, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Your holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to You, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Your majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Living Sacrifice. Chris Christian. Written by Chris Christian and based on Romans 12:1.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Howard Thurman (1899-1981), an American author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader.  This is an excerpt from his book “The Inward Journey.”

We are never under obligation to achieve results. Of course, results are important, and it may be that that is the reason effort is put forth. But results are not mandatory. Much of the energy and effort and many anxious hours are spent over the probable failure or success of our ventures. No man likes to fail. But it is important to remember that under certain circumstances, failure is its own success. To keep one’s eye on results is to detract markedly from the business at hand. This is to be diverted from the task itself. It is to be only partially available to demands at hand. Very often it causes one to betray one’s own inner sense of values because to hold fast to the integrity of the act may create the kind of displeasure which in the end will affect the results. However, if the results are left free to form themselves in terms of the quality and character of the act, then all of one’s resources can be put at the disposal of the act itself. There are many forces over which the individual can exercise no control whatsoever. A man plants seed in the ground and the seed sprouts and grows. The weather, the winds, the elements, cannot be controlled by the farmer. The result is never a sure thing. So, what does the farmer do? He plants. Always, he plants. Again and again he works at it – the ultimate confidence and assurance that even though his seed does not grow to fruition, seeds do grow and they do come to fruition.  The task of men who work for the Kingdom of God, is to Work for the Kingdom of God. The result beyond this demand is not in their hands. He who keeps his eyes on results cannot give himself wholeheartedly to his task, however simple or complex that task may be.

PRAYER:

Written by Sam Hargreaves is a contemporary music and worship leader and author.

God, we hold seeds in our hand. We see smallness, weakness, insignificance. You see potential, growth, significance. Tiny seeds grow by your power into huge trees. They provide food for the hungry and homes for the birds. From the darkness of the earth springs forth your life, your harvest. Your Kingdom is like a tiny seed. When we look at your church, and our own lives,
we see smallness, weakness, insignificance. You see potential, growth, significance. Give us eyes of faith and willing hands to see your Kingdom grow in us. May we feed the hungry with food and the bread of life, welcome the homeless into your family, and gather the harvest you love has provided. In Christ’s name and the power of the Spirit we commit our lives to you again. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Sowing the Good Seed. Philip Hare. Written by Jennifer Berens and Phil Cross in 2017.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Arlene Stamper.

I like to start my mornings by reading scripture and inspirational stories on my iPhone.  After church service one day a few years ago, my friend Barbara Naas told me about The Bible in a Year. Since I had not ever read the Bible back to front…I thought it must be an impossible task to do!  I decided to get the App. Since then, I have read passages from the Old and New Testament, and Psalms every day.  I have learned so much and been brought closer to God thru his words and teachings. And Yes!  It is possible to read the Bible in one year!

For many years now, I also have taken my passion for making quilts and participated in a program called Prayers and Squares. This organization asks quilters to sew together a quilt top.  The top is “sandwiched” together with batting and backing. A heavy thread is used to take stitches thru the quilt layers, and the ends are left free to be tied with a square knot.  As each knot is tied, a silent prayer is said for someone in special need, who then receives the quilt.  Every time I make one of these Prayer Quilts I thank God he has given me this gift of quilting to help others. 

PRAYER:

This is a prayer by the apostle Paul from Ephesians 3:17-21.

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, acording to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!

MUSIC MEDITATION:

In Christ Alone. Anthem Lights. Written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend in 2001.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Valerie E. Hess, a contemporary author, speaker, and musician. This is an excerpt from her book “Spiritual Disciplines Devotional.”

When we read and study to increase our knowledge and understanding of the living God, we must do so with an attitude of humility and repentance. As we read the words, we must let them read us so to speak. We must never use the discipline of study as a purely fact-finding mission. We must use it to be transformed by those words.

Negative examples of lives that don’t match knowledge include healthcare professionals with unhealthy lifestyles, counselors whose personal lives are a mess and financial managers who can’t control their own debt load. Such people have not let the words they preach transform their own lives. As we study God in Scripture, books, and in his work in the world around us, we must ask ourselves how his hand is moving in our lives and how we may be called to respond to him. We must learn to handle the word of truth correctly by taking what we see and hear, and through prayer learning to use it for good first in our own lives before applying it to others.

PRAYER:

Written by Robert Wood, a contemporary American pastor and author.

Why is it that I think I must get somewhere, assume some position, be gathered together or separated apart in the quiet of my study to pray? Why is it that I feel that I have to go somewhere or do some particular act to find you, reach you, and talk with you? Your presence is here – in the city – on the busy bus, in the factory, in the cockpit of the airplane; in the hospital – in the patients’ rooms, in the intensive care unit, in the waiting room; in the home – at dinner, in the bedroom, in the family room, at my workbench; in the car – in the parking lot at the stoplight. Lord, reveal your presence to me everywhere, and help me become aware of your presence each moment of the day. May your presence fill the non-answers, empty glances, and lonely times of my life.  Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Thy Word. Amy Grant. Written by Amy Grant and Michael Whitaker Smith in 2015.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Ken Shigematsu, a contemporary pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his book “God in my Everything.”

Thomas Merton says the most pervasive form of violence in the modern world is busyness…not drugs, not guns, but busyness.  The Chinese character for busy combines the pictographs for heart and death, suggesting that busyness kills the heart. Time flows in seven-day cycles. God’s design, as we see in the creation story, is that we work for six days and rest for one. When we violate this rhythm of rest, we damage ourselves and deprive those we love.  Ironically, most of us feel that we are too busy to take time for a Sabbath day once a week. Perhaps you agree that Sabbath is a good thing, even important, but actually practicing it on a weekly basis is more difficult. When was the last time you stopped work and really unplugged from all your electronic gadgets for a day—or even part of a day?  Sabbath reminds us that God invites us to stop. In fact, it’s more than an invitation—it’s a command. Wayne Muller wisely says, “We stop because it is time to stop. Sabbath requires surrender. If we only stop when we are finished, we will never stop—because our work is never completely done…Sabbath keeping is not merely good advice for you to lead a nicely-balanced life.  It is a practice that is knit into the created order.

Sabbath gives you permission to stop from your busyness and simply be. To paraphrase Mark Twain, “Our busyness is like the weather. Everyone complains about it, but no one does anything about it.” Instead of complaining about our busyness or assuming it’s just a fact of life, we need to ask ourselves why we are so busy. Sabbath helps us to question our assumptions. The truth is we may be busy because we feel a need to validate our worth. Sabbath gives us a chance to step off the hamster whell and listen to the voice that tells us we are beloved by God. The Sabbath heals us from our compulsion to measure ourselves by what we accomplish, who we know, and the influence we have. Sabbath enables us to define ourselves less by our achievements and more as beloved daughters and sons of God. As we become more aware of how much we are cherished as children of God, we grow in our trust of God.

PRAYER:

Written by Peter Greig, a contemporary writer and church planter. He cofounded the 24-7 prayer movement around the world.

May this day bring Sabbath rest to my heart and my home. May God’s image in me be restored, and my imagination in God be re-storied. May the gravity of material things be lightened, and the relativity of time slow down. May I know grace to embrace my own finite smallness in the arms of God’s infinite greatness. May God’s Word feed me and His Spirit lead me into the week and into the life to come.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Thy Holy Sabbath Lord. Cherubim Sounds.  A hymn from the 1880s.

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