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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.

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.

MEDITATION:

Written by Julie MacNeil.

During this time of COVID, my prayer life has intensified, as I’m sure it has with many others. Being confined to home with no answers to the pandemic and no end in sight, I found myself turning to God on a much more regular basis. Each night my prayer would begin, “Thank you, God, for getting us through another day.” During the spring, which any other year I might not have even noticed, I would sit on the wooden bench at the top of my yard and thank God for the beauty of the earth, for all the blooming flowers, which seemed to be doing their best to make up for me being confined there. By fall, our Women’s Bible Study small group resumed, with a faithful “remnant” meeting on campus to study Revelation. We found great comfort in meeting together. Winter came, and as one tradition after another fell by the wayside due to COVID, my spirits began to sag. But still I thanked God for the health and safety of my family and friends.

My daughter was expecting a baby in January. 2021 arrived, without fanfare or celebration, and I decided to devote more effort to my connection to God. I began to read again the well-known devotional, Jesus Calling. The January 4 entry challenged readers to start a new habit, of saying out loud, “I trust you, Jesus.” Trust was something I struggled with during times of worry or anxiety. I was the person on call to go care for two granddaughters when it came time for my daughter and son-in-law to go to the hospital. My bag was packed, and I slept with my phone next to my bed. I prayed for them every night. At 11 pm on January 6, the phone rang. It was time. I dressed quickly and left the house. As I drove into the dark, foggy night, I felt a twinge of uneasiness. So, I said, “I trust you, Jesus.” When I arrived at the house, all was quiet. Soon I heard footsteps coming quickly down the stairs. They must be leaving soon. The next sound out of my daughter told me maybe God had other plans. The baby was coming NOW!

There was no fear in the hallway, steps away from the car she never quite made it to, only focus on the tasks at hand. My daughter’s focus was to give birth to that baby. My son-in-law’s focus was to call 911. Mine was to not let that baby fall onto the tile floor! So, I put out my hands. Soon the 911 lady was on speaker phone asking questions and giving instructions. I followed them. Within minutes, I saw in my hands my grandson’s perfect little face, and at 1:46 a.m., he slipped out, arms flailing, and yelling his arrival! I had never felt so close to God. EMT angels arrived just then, scooped up the baby, and whisked him and my daughter off to the hospital with my son-in-law following. I sat for several minutes, trying to comprehend all that had just happened. I had trusted Jesus and he was merciful. I will never be the same.

PRAYER:

Written by Ignatius of Loyola, (1491-1556), a Spanish priest and theologian who founded the Jesuits. Jesuits served the Pope as missionaries.

O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things. Amen!

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. Altar of Praise Men’s Chorale. Music written by William Kirkpatrick and lyrics by Louisa Stead in 1882.

MEDITATION:

Written by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), an English Baptist preacher, known as the Prince of Preachers. This is an excerpt from his book “Strengthen My Spirit.”

Love is the spring of true obedience. “This is the love of God that we keep His commandments.” Now a man who is not obedient to God’s commandments is evidently not a true believer; for although good works do not save us, yet, being saved, believers are sure to produce good works. Though the fruit is not the root of the tree, yet a well-rooted tree will, in its season, bring forth its fruits. So, though the keeping of the commandments does not make me a child of God, yet, being a child of God, I shall be obedient to my heavenly Father. But this I cannot be unless I love God. A mere external obedience, a decent formal recognition of the laws of God, is not obedience in God’s sight. He abhors the sacrifice where the heart is not found. I must obey because I love, or else I have not in spirit and in truth obeyed at all. See then, that to produce the indispensable fruits of saving faith, there must be love for God; for without it, they would be unreal and indeed impossible.

PRAYER:

Written by Brendan the Voyager(AD 484-577), an Irish monk. Reputedly he set sail in a small coracle of wood and ox hide from Ireland and ended up in Newfoundland — an amazing achievement in his time.

Help me to journey beyond the familiar

and into the unknown.

Give me the faith to leave old ways

and break fresh ground with You.

Christ of the mysteries, I trust You

to be stronger than each storm within me.

I will trust in the darkness and know

that my times, even now, are in Your hand.

Tune my spirit to the music of heaven, and somehow, make my obedience count for You.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Your Will Be Done. City Alight. Written amidst the COVID crisis as a prayer.

MEDITATION:

Written by Richard J. 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 “Celebration of Discipline.”

More than any other single way, the grace of humility is worked into our lives through the discipline of Service. Humility is one of those virtues that is never gained by seeking it. The more we pursue it the more distant it becomes. To think we have it is sure evidence that we don’t. Therefore, most of us assume there is nothing we can do to gain this prized Christian virtue, and so we do nothing. But there is something we can do. We do not need to o through life faintly hoping that someday humility may fall upon our heads. Of all the classical spiritual disciplines, service is the most conducive to the growth of humility. When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of others and is, for the most part, a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our spirits…William Law made a lasting impact upon 18^th century England with his book, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, urges that every day should be viewed as a day of humility. And how does he suggest that we do this? By learning to serve others. Law understood that it is the Discipline of service that brings humility into the life. If we want humility, he counsels us to “…condescend to all the weaknesses and infirmities of your fellow creatures, cover their frailties, love their excellencies, encourage their virtues, relieve their wants, rejoice in their properties, compassionate in their distress, receive their friendship, overlook their unkindness, forgive their malice, be a servant of servants, and condescend to do the lowest offices to the lowest of mankind.”

PRAYER:

Written by Carlos Carretto (1920-1988), an Italian religious author of the congregation of the Little Brothers of the Gospel.

O high and most glorious God, enlighten my heart.

Give me unwavering faith, sure hope, and perfect love.

Give me deep humility, wisdom, and knowledge,

that I may keep your commandments. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Make Me a Servant. Maranatha Singers. Written by Kelly Willard in 1982.

MEDITATION:

Written by Irene Dickson.

This past year has brought many changes to our lives. For me, deepening my understanding of the Word of God, and what it means to my life, is a positive. From the beginning of lockdown, every snippet of news from the Church has been welcome and up-lifting. Although I miss the contemporary worship in the sanctuary on Sundays, I eagerly sit at the kitchen table with my iPad at 9am to hear the words, praise and prayers, and see the smiling, positive faces of our Pastors, choir and musicians. The daily devotional notes from Church inspire me to reflect more about the meaning of the words. I’ve saved many, and forwarded several to friends, and they too have been encouraged. Fall Bible study meant I read and studied ‘Revelation’ for the first time. I’d been intimidated by other folks’ opinions that it was ‘scary’! I found the study particularly relevant in these COVID times. Instead of being fearful of the text and graphic mental images, I feel optimistic and grateful as the road ahead is clear. I try to follow the teachings of the Bible by being extra patient and kind to my three young adult children when they complain about working from home, not being able to see friends or travel. I remind them of everything we are grateful for, send them many encouraging notes and devotionals, and occasionally I get a word of acknowledgment back! I’ve taken time to reflect and step out of my comfort zone by reaching out to others on the prayer chain, by sharing some of my early life in the Advent Devotional, and by accepting gracefully the nomination to be an Deacon in our Church.  When things get back to ‘normal’ I won’t reflect back on the baking I did or the closets I cleaned- to be honest, I didn’t do much of that! I’ll reflect on the calm and peace, and the time for reflection, study and prayer, and how God, through our Church, has been constant in this time of uncertainty. The resurrection of Jesus reconfirms our hope for the future. 

PRAYER:

A Prayer from the Celtic oral tradition.

You are the peace of all things calm

You are the place to hide from harm

You are the light that shines in dark

You are the heart’s eternal spark

You are the door that’s open wide

You are the guest who waits inside

You are the stranger at the door

You are the calling of the poor

You are my Lord and with me still

You are my love, keep me from ill

You are the light, the truth, the way You are my Savior this very day.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

O Jesus I Have Promised. Orchard Music. The hymn was written in 1869 by John Ernest Bode, an Oxford scholar, poet and hymn writer. This is a modernized version.

MEDITATION:

Written by Christopher Hudson, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Following Jesus.”

The ancient Hebrew word for peace is shalom. And what a terrific word it is! Shalom doesn’t just mean the absence of tense conflict. It means completeness, soundness, security, and well-being. In a real sense, shalom is life the way God intended it to be. The gospel says this: Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) came to reconcile sinners to God.  He lived a perfect life and died a terrible death (in our place) so that we might have “peace with God” (Romans 5:1), and so that we might enjoy the “peace of God” (Philippians 4:7).  From the new life and ultimate shalom he offers, Jesus wants his followers to live as peacemakers in the world: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).  Take a minute to think about your life and your relationships. Where is the peace of God needed?

PRAYER:

Written by Lysa Terkeurst, a contemporary American author.

Lord, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your word which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run to lesser things. Draw me to run to You first.  Help me to run to You first. Help me get into the habit of taking my “overwhelmed” and placing it under your will. Thank You Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

It Is Well With My Soul: Brigham Young University Vocal Point. The hymn was penned by hymnist Horatio Spaffor and composed by Philip Bliss in 1876. They hymn was written following traumatic events in Spafford’s life.

MEDITATION:

Written by Catherine A. Welch, a contemporary author.  This is from her devotional in Hope-Full Living.

When a whistling kettle calls us, we don’t ignore it. If we do, the boiling water keeps roiling until all escapes as steam and leaves the kettle bone dry and scorching hot.  Lent is like a whistling kettle calling to us. You’re losing spiritual steam! Hope, joy, and peace are escaping. Turn back to God! Lent calls us to stop the roiling—clinging to past sins or denying our sins—before we become spiritually bone dry. We can refresh our souls by hearing and accepting God’s Word. Let us reflect on Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection with an honest and good heart. We can bear good fruit. With patience and God’s grace, we can do better loving God, ourselves, and others.

PRAYER:

Written by William Bright (1824-1901), an English ecclesiastical historian and Anglican priest.

O most loving Father,

you want us to give thanks for all things,

to dread nothing but losing you,

and to cast all our anxiety on you

because you care for us.

Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties

and grant that no clouds of this mortal life

may hide from us the light of that love

which is immortal,

and which you have shown us

in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Through It All: Hillsong Worship. Written by Morgan Reuben Timothy and  released in 2002 on Hillsong’s album “Blessed.”

MEDITATION:

Written by Peggy Stackle.

The old hymns of the church are where I first learned theology.  Yep, I’m a traditionalist and it’s the old hymns that taught me how to sing God’s praises.  One of my happiest memories was standing up to sing during the Sunday worship service at Hollywood Presbyterian church.  I was between my mother, an alto, and my dad, a base, and being immersed in amazing sound in harmony.   What Wondrous Love Is This, is an American folk hymn. The words were published about 1811 in a camp meeting songbook.  The words from the first stanza include: “What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the heavy cross for my soul, for my soul, to bear the heavy cross for my soul.”  This is what Lent is all about.  It’s an astounding feeling knowing that God loves each of us as He does.  How do we deal with that?  How can we return His wondrous love?  The answer is easy, the implementation isn’t.  We demonstrate our love for God in our relationships with others.  This has been made more difficult during this time of pandemic.  In order to preserve our health, we have to give up being around each other.  We must meet by Zoom – NOT a fan.  Human touch has a healing effect.  One of the best things you can do when visiting the elderly or someone who is living alone is give them a hug. I’m a hugger and I’m part of a group of huggers.  So here’s a hug for you: (8).  You’re the 8, the hug is parenthetical.  God’s love for you is real.

PRAYER:

Written by Columba (521-597), an Irish abbot and missionary who spread Christianity through Scotland. He founded the Abbey of Iona, which was a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries.

O Lord, give us, we beseech You, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, our God, that love which can never cease, that will kindle our lamps but not extinguish them, that they may burn in us and enlighten others. You, O Christ, our dearest Savior, yourself kindle our lamps, that they may evermore shine in Your temple, that they may receive unquenchable light from You that will enlighten our darkness, and lessen the darkness of the world. Lord Jesus, we pray that You give Your  light to our lamps, that in its light the most holy place may be revealed to us in which You dwell as the Eternal Priest, that we may always behold You, desire You, look upon You  in love, and long after You, for Your sake. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

What Wonderous Love: St. Olaf Choir.

MEDITATION:

Written by Dallas Willard (1935-2013), an American theologian, philosopher and author.

To fulfill the high calling that God has placed upon us in creating us and redeeming us, we must have the right inner substance or character. We must come to grips with who we really are, inside and out. For we will do what we are. So we will need to become the kind of people who routinely and easily walk in the goodness and power of Jesus our master. For this, a process of “spiritual formation”—really, transformation—is required. Spiritual formation for the Christian is a Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self—our “spiritual” or invisible aspects of human life—in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself. In the degree to which such a spiritual transformation to inner Christlikeness is successful, the outer life of the individual will become a natural expression or outflow of the character and teachings of Jesus. We will simply “walk the walk,” as we say.

Christlikeness of the inner being is not a merely human attainment, of course. It is, finally, a gift of grace. Nevertheless, well-informed human effort is indispensable. Spiritual formation in Christ is not a passive process. Grace does not make us passive. Divine grace is God acting in our life to accomplish what we cannot do on our own. It informs our being and actions and makes them effective in the wisdom and power of God. Hence, grace is not opposed to effort (our actions) but to earning (our attitude). Paul the apostle, who perhaps understood grace as none other, remarks on his own efforts for Christ: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). The supernatural outcome that accompanies grace-full action stands out.

PRAYER:

Written by Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), a Spanish priest and theologian who founded the Jesuits. Jesuits served the Pope as missionaries.

As he sat by the river,

the eyes of his understanding began to be opened;

not that he saw any vision,

but he understood and learnt many things,

both spiritual matters and matters of faith and of scholarship,

and this with so great an enlightenment

that everything seemed new to him.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

In the Cross of Christ I Glory: Kelvedon Green.  The text of the hymn is loosely based on Galatians 6:14. The hymn was written by John Bowring in 1825. The first line of the hymn is inscribed on his tombstone.