A 40-day Lenten JourneyRoad to the Cross

A publication of Fairmont Evangelical Covenant Church901 Woodland Avenue, Fairmont, MN

507-235-6407

A 40-day Lenten Journey

Copyright Informa onRoad to the Cross2015 Fairmont Evangelical Covenant Church

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmi ed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without the ex-press wri en permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Fairmont Evangelical Covenant Church, 901 Woodland Avenue, Fairmont, MN 56031.

Scripture quota ons are from The Holy Bible, New Interna onal Version.

Devo onals by Jen Kahler and Liz Wheeler.

Some prayers have been adapted from the book of prayers provided by the Fairmont Covenant Prayer Team.

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Table of Contents

What is Lent? Page Merge Page Day One 7 Day Twenty-seven 37 Day Two 8 Day Twenty-eight 38 Day Three 9 Day Twenty-nine 39 Day Four 10 Day Thirty 40 Day Five 11 Day Thirty-one 41Stop Day Thirty-two 42 Day Six 13 Day Thirty-three 43 Day Seven 14 Cross Traf c Day Eight 15 Day Thirty-four 45 Day Nine 16 Day Thirty- ve 46 Day Ten 17 Day Thirty-six 47 Day Eleven 18 Day Thirty-seven 48 Day Twelve 19 Day Thirty-eight 49One Way Day Thirty-nine 50 Day Thirteen 21 Day Forty 51 Day Fourteen 22 Day Fifteen 23 Day Sixteen 24 Day Seventeen 25 Day Eighteen 26 Day Nineteen 27 Yield Day Twenty 29 Day Twenty-one 30 Day Twenty-two 31 Day Twenty-three 32 Day Twenty-four 33 Day Twenty- ve 34 Day Twenty-six 35

Note: Sundays are not included in the 40 days of Lent. Therefore, there are no readings for Sundays.

LentWhat is It?

Day One

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

What does Lent actually mean? And why do we observe it?

"Lent" is derived from the Old English term which means lengthening of days, or the coming of spring. Lent is recognized as 40 days beginning on Ash Wednes-day and ending on the Saturday before Easter. However, the Sundays during this period do not count in the 40 because each Sunday is like its own mini-Easter. The 40 days references the time Jesus spent in the desert praying and fasting after He was baptized by John (Matthew 4).

Ash Wednesday, as the of cial beginning of the Lenten season, is a time for us to purposely re-connect with God as we recognize our mortality, repent of our sins and return to Him.

Ash Wednesday is so called because of the ashes seen on the foreheads of those who have been to an Ash Wednesday service. The ashes are a sign of mortality ("ashes to ashes") and repentance (Jonah 3:8). The ashes tradition-ally come from the palm branches used during the prior year's Palm Sunday service. The pastor then mixes these ashes with a little oil and places these ashes in the sign of the cross on the forehead. It's symbolic of the palm fronds being waved in joy at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem being turned into ashes of sorrow a week later and the conquering power of Jesus' resurrection from death on a cross.

1. What is one of your favorite Easter memories?

2. When you hear the term Lent, what comes to mind?

3. What are your goals for doing this 40-day study? What do you hope to accomplish?

Lord, I am a sinner saved by grace. Thank you.

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Day Two

When you fast,do not look somberas the hypocrites do, for they dis gure their fac-es to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and

your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

Typically, Lent includes a focus on three things: fasting, prayer and service or almsgiving.

The purpose of fasting during Lent is to help purify your body, simplify your life and spend more time with God. Anything we eat or see has the potential to pollute us. Garbage in, garbage out! What are simple ways to limit some of that pollution during Lent?

When people think of fasting, most minds probably think about abstaining from food, and thats certainly a good way to do it. But a food fast isnt the only way you can do this.

What clutters your calendar? What television shows could you fast from? Could you do an electronics fast and abstain from your smartphone, tablet or PC for entertainment purposes? What will you do with that extra time youve now gained? Its tough to say yes to spending more time with God when youve already maxed out the available time in the day. You need to say no to some-thing else rst.

1. Have you ever fasted before? If so, what kind of fasting have you done?

2. What are you willing to give up during the next 40 days to simplify your life?

3. What will you do during this extra time you now have to grow closer to Christ?

Lord, simplicity sounds so nice! Please help me to focus on you as I try new disciplines to grow closer to you.

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Day Three

This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13

Prayer gives many people stage fright! What do you say to a holy God you cant see? It doesnt quite feel like talking to your best friend. And what about praying out loud? Its scary for kids and adults alike!

While Jesus did give us an example of how to pray, there really is no right or wrong way to talk to God. My daughter Emily laughed the other day while we were praying because I thanked God for coffee, one of my comfort foods. Nothing is too small or too impossible to bring to Christ. Hes our biggest en-courager, cheerleader and prayer warrior!

During Lent, add something new to your prayer time. If you dont normally pray, perhaps make a goal of thanking Him for three things today, four things tomorrow, and so on. If you are already comfortable praying, perhaps create a new habit of praying while you brush your teeth or praying for someone be-fore you call or text them. Being comfortable with God in conversation will only bring blessings.

1. How do you feel about praying out loud?

2. What is one way you plan to deepen your prayer life during the next 39 days?

3. Start right now! Pray out loud with whomever you are doing this study with! If youre really nervous, just pray the Lords Prayer listed above or the prayer listed below.

Lord, thank you for the chance to have conversations with you on any topic at any time.

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Day Four

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you

did for me. Matthew. 25:25-36, 40b

On average, it can take between two and eight months to really solidify or automate a behavior. These 40 days of Lent are a great time to start replac-ing old life-suffocating patterns with new life-giving behaviors such as fasting, prayer and service!

I heard a story recently about a church whose members were convicted about the need to tithe, but they were a very poor congregation. So they gave of what they had--clothes and shoes and blessed a congregation even poorer than they.

Service and almsgiving during Lentor giving from your wealthis an attempt to identify in a small way with Christ's sacri ce on the cross. Troy Cady, in his Lenten devotional Faith, Seeking Understanding, put it this way: "By actually participating in these spiritual disciplines, one is attempting to understand the wonder of salvation more classically by experience, rather than by a mere reading of books."

This Lent season, look to connect with Christ through experiences and time with Him. Don't just know about Him; know Him!

1. What is one area in which you feel your family is very blessed?

2. How can you use those blessings to bless others?

Lord, all that I have is Yours.

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Day Five

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

While it somehow got this negative reputation, Christianity is not about ap-pearances or a show of counterfeit goodness. The church is made of humans and is therefore inherently awed. Why, then, should there be any pretense that Christians are perfect? Our instruction manual, the Bible, even tells us we are imperfect and that we can't even accomplish anything on our own!

As you proceed through Lent, ask the Lord to humble you, to remove ourselves so there is more room for God. As St. Anselm said, "Jesus, Jesus, forget the pride that provoked you; see only the beggar that invokes you."

As a family, pray that you would be real and vulnerable about your faithwith your family, with friends, with fellow church goers.

1. What do you think will be your favorite part of Lent: fasting, prayer or service?

2. What ideas do you already have in mind for observing Lent? Which ideas do you want to put into practice as a family?

3. Pray together as a family that God would allow you to be real about your faith even if it seems intimidating.

Lord, help me to be who You have created me to be.

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STOP! The Sabbath

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Day Six

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORDs holy day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will nd your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 58:13-14

Stop. Big red signs posted at nearly every intersection in town in at least one direction. Lets be honest nowhow many of you actually come to a complete stop when you get to one? Okay, yes, if theres a car coming, you kind of have to. What about the rest of the time though?

God created for six days, and then God rested from the work of creation on the seventh day. God also included that Sabbath rest for the rest of us (get it??). However, we tend to treat our Sabbath rest like we treat our stop signsrolling through it slowly but not necessarily coming to a complete stop.

One of the traditions of the lenten season is to give up somethinga form of fasting. Its common to give up things like chocolate, sweets, coffee, and the like. However, the point of giving up things is to realign ourselves with God. What if we gave up busyness for a week? What would that look like for you?

God, help me to see the things in my life that keep me from spending more time with you. Quiet my heart and allow me to rest in your presence. Amen.

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Day Seven

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to nd a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had

gathered there. Acts 16:13

One thing we can look forward to when we rest is having more time to listen for Gods word in our lives. Praying to God is good, even great but just like any conversation, sometimes we have to stop talking so we can listen and hear what God is saying to us.

What would it be like if we allowed more time in our prayers to listen to God instead of just talking to him and telling God what we want and feel? Consider taking 5-10 minutes during your day to listen to God. Open a time of prayer by telling God you want to hear what he has to say to you. Then, just quiet your heart and listen.

God, we want to hear You. Sometimes, the noise of the world is so loud. Quiet our hearts and minds amidst the chaos and help us to actively lis-ten for Your voice. Amen.

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Day Eight

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your eld or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I

am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:9-10

Sometimes, what we give isnt necessarily about nding something extra, but instead, leaving something we might want but dont really need. There were many provisions set forth in the Bible in regards to caring for the poor, the lone-ly, and the foreigners. One such provision was gleaning. This meant that the people who had groves and vineyards and elds would leave a portion of the harvest for those that had little or nothing. When they had nished their har-vest and taken their rest, there was something left for others. It was not needed and would not be missed. Sometimes, providing for others is as simple as only taking what we need for ourselves and not letting greed have a hold on us.

God, let us rest in the fact that You will provide enough for us. Allow us to trade our spirit of greed for one of contentment. Amen.

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Day Nine

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Are you overconnected? One of the reasons we nd it so hard to rest sometimes is that with our TVs, radios, computers, smartphones, cell phones, iPads, and other devices, we are never really alone. Even when we arent around any other living beings, we are still surrounded by the world, which is at our ngertips.

Could you go a whole day without being connected? Consider doing a me-dia and technology fast sometime this week. Only use technology when it is truly necessary, for instance, if you are a parent that needs to pick up a child or if you need to be on a computer for your job. Put away the smart phone, dis-connect the computer, unplug the cable. Spend a day only talking to people in person, read a book instead of watching the TV mindlessly.

Before wireless internet, we were still always connectedto God. Spend your media fast doing as Paul suggestedpray continually. Find time away from your devices to reconnect to the God who is always there. God has more bars than the best internet connection around, and God will never be less than 100% power.

Ever present God, help us to see You shining bright in a world that does such a good job of trying to overpower You. Give us reminders today to talk to You in prayer and to seek Your advice before we search for answers elsewhere. Amen.

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Day Ten

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-2

Sometimes, we nd rest simply by walking through the doors of our church on a Sunday morning and gathering to pray and worship with other believers. Spend time today praying for those that gather with you on Sunday morning. Here is a place to start.

Father, we pray for all those who come through the doors of this church. May they feel Your mighty presence in all that is going on in their lives. Help us to feel the hurts they have, anoint us so we can minister to those hurts.

I pray for Your blessings and mercy to make You, the Most High, our dwell-ing place. May we nd refuge under Your wings, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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Day Eleven

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his com-

mands are not burdensome 1 John 5:2-3

Speaking of service while discussing the Sabbath may seem a little bit contra-dictory. If we are resting, that means we are not working, right? That is true, but there are ways we serve others that do not necessarily involve us doing our daily work.

Part of our duty and joy as followers of Christ is to follow the commandmentsone of which is to remember the Sabbath. That isnt the whole command though. The full command is, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. What does that mean for us as we strive to serve others in the name of Christ?

Truly, I think one of the best ways we can serve others on the Sabbath is to ob-serve it. We can show others that being busy for the sake of being busy is not good for us. We can show others that we can be good stewards of our time, which will allow us that Sabbath rest. We can pray for others as we spend time with God, lifting them up in prayer.

Rest is good, but it is not the purpose of the Sabbath. Helping others is good, but it is not the purpose of the Sabbath. So what is?

Ezekiel 20:12, 20 says, Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy...Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.

We hear God best when we allow ourselves to be quiet and quiet our minds as well. Part of our service as Christ followers is serving God in the ways He com-mands.

Quiet our hearts today God. Help us to be good stewards of our time so that we can spend time with You. Amen.

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Day Twelve

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will nd; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks nds; and to the

one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

One thing we will be encouraging you to do at the end of every seven days is to take time to re ect on the theme and how it and the verses relate to your life. One easy way to do this is to consider a simple evaluation: StopStartCon-tinue.

It is tting that we explore this for the rst time in regard to Sabbath and rest, since the rst thing we are to do is stop. Here is an explanation of the re ection process:

StopNow that you have new information, what in your life are you realizing is ineffective or not useful? What habits should you be stopping?

StartUsing what you have learned, what would you like to incorporate into your daily life?

ContinueNot everything has to change. The continue portion acknowl-edges that there are some things in our lives that we are already doing well. What are you doing that has been good? How can you be sure to keep doing that?

God, so much of taking the time to rest is about allowing ourselves to nd out who You have created us to be.

Pull out your Bible and pray the words of Psalm 139 today.

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ONE WAY to Know God Better

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Day Thirteen

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures ev-

ery day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

Get a candle and light it. Have one person at the table put his hand above the ame and describe to everyone else what it feels like.

1. Is having someone describe the feeling and power of the ame the same as actually experiencing it?

2. How does that experience of feeling the ame change your understanding?

3. How can you relate this to knowing about God and actually experiencing God?

In Acts, Paul and Silas travel to the synagogue in Berea. They begin sharing the message of the Gospel with the Bereanswho then begin double-checking what Paul is telling them with the Holy Scriptures.

ONE WAY for us to know God better and to know His will for us is to investigate the Scriptures. Knowing what is in the Bible and experiencing it for yourself will help you discern what is true and what is false.

What can you fast from today or tomorrow that will allow you more time to investigate the Bible? While you're fasting from that, read Acts 17:10-34 and see the varying reactions of the Bereans, the Thessalonians and the Athenians. Then use the following verse as a prayer and work on memorizing it if you don't know it already.

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

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Day Fourteen

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correct-ing and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thor-

oughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17

The Scriptures have so much purpose and value. It's a very practical book! However, we need to know what's in it for it to be of any use.

Spend time today reading through Psalm 51, a Psalm written by King David af-ter being confronted by the prophet Nathan after David sinned with Bathshe-ba and then had Bathsheba's husband murdered. Explore and discuss what it means. (If you are doing this with younger children, you may choose to just read Psalm 51:10-17.) After discussing it, write down a verse from that passage that struck you and pray it back to God.

O Lord, open our lips; let our mouths declare Your praise.

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Day Fifteen

Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

What color is kindness?

In The Angel Tree, Lucy is a sixth-grader who is blind and looking for a Christ-mas miracle to save her dog who is dying from cancer.

In describing Lucy, the author writes, "The labels brown and purple were not something Lucy, who had been blind her entire life, could imagine. But the words, like so many others, had their own texture and tenor and even their own taste in her mind. Purple was the sleekness of her satin bedspread, a low C ringing out from the piano, the soft sweetness of a banana. Brown was the warm down of her comforter, a bow drawn across the strings of a cello, the richness of chocolate-covered raisins."

How would Lucy describe the color of kindness?

1. What does kindness taste like? Why would you describe it like that?

2. What is the texture of kindness? Why?

3. What is the color of kindness and why?

Using your descriptions of kindness, what act of kindness can you show some-one else this week as an act of service to God?

Lord, help us clothe ourselves with kindness, humility and gentle-ness. Amen.

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Day Sixteen

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Fasting from food isn't the only thing we can fast from that will help draw us closer to God.

How about a fast from bitterness or grudges? Awhile back, Pastor Dan used the illustration of a backpack that was slowly lled with miniature boulders. After time, the weight of the pack became unbearable. Carrying around the weight of unforgiveness becomes too much to carry and always acts as a bar-rier between us and God.

The Bible says to bear with one anothereven when we're being grouchy, pas-sive-aggressive or whiny. And it says to forgive. What kind of grievances should we forgive? Whatever grievances. Any and all grievances. We are to forgive as Christ forgave us.

1. What has Christ saved you from? What has He forgiven?

2. What else to you need to ask Him to forgive?

3. Now, to whom do you need to show that same kind of forgiveness?

Lord, we humbly say thank You for the mercy and forgiveness You repeat-edly demonstrate toward us.

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Day Seventeen

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3

"It is the Discipline of prayer that brings us into the deepest and highest work of the human spirit. Real prayer is life creating and life changing...To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us." ~ Richard Fos-ter, Celebration of Discipline

The Bible tells us that if we believe, we will receive whatever we ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22). However, the understanding behind that is that, as we pray, our minds will be transformed, and we will begin to think God's thoughts with Him. So when we are praying, we are actually praying God's thoughts and desires back to Him. We are no longer praying our own sel sh prayers. "To ask 'rightly' involves transformed passions," Foster writes. We desire the things He desires, love the things He loves, will the things He wills.

Soren Kierkegaard once said, "A man prayed, and at rst he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening."

Take some time to pray the following questions. Then, just listen and see what God wants you to hear.

1. Lord, what is Your will for us as a family?

2. Lord, what would please You?

3. Lord, what can we do to advance Your kingdom?

Now, with the members of your family who have done this exercise with you, share what you think the Lord was telling you.

Lord, give us ears that we may hear what You want to reveal to us.

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Day Eighteen

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

What makes you cry? Hallmark commercials? YouTube videos showing people paying it forward? Sad stories in the newspaper?

What makes your soul cry? My soul cries when I hear about children being torn apart mentally or physically. My soul cries when I see how many tantalizing ways are being crafted to pull my children into sin. My soul cries when I know I have wronged another and need to humble myself and apologize.

Todays verse tells us that those who mourn because of the stain of sin will be comforted with a sense of peace and pardon. Perhaps a good example of this is when Jesus welcomes Peter back to His fold in John 21.

It may not sound manly, but crying is a good thing. The absence of tears is an indication your soul is dead. More poetically, "the soul unable to weep is likely petri ed," says Troy Cady in his Lenten devotional Faith, Seeking Understanding.

Cady then likens us to beggars, beggars who are enriched by God's mercy and goodness. He then asks, "What can we give to another out of that spiritual abundance?"

Almsgiving, or giving money, lets someone else, someone downtrodden and perhaps weary, know that you see them, that you value their worth as a hu-man being. This goes along with service in the Lenten disciplines.

As a family, discuss one speci c way you can bless another person or family through giving a gift. The gift could be money; or, it could be time or a gift of your talents. Then make a plan to follow through on this plan within the next seven days.

Lord, prepare the hearts of those we want to bless, that they would see You and accept the gift readily.

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Day Nineteen

...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah

40:31

In the last few days, we've covered a lot of ground! Clothing ourselves with kindness and humility, recognizing that the Scripture is good for teaching and rebuking, learning and practicing forgiveness. There's a lot to this Faith thing, and we are always a work in progress!

Growing up, my mom had a sign on the back of her bedroom door. It read PBPGINFWMY. It stood for "Please be patient; God is not nished with me yet."

Hopefully, this whole process of delving into the Scriptures and doing so with practical application isn't overwhelming you with how multi-faceted this rela-tionship with God is. Instead, we're praying that this experience gives you the sweet taste of how deep, rich and satisfying this faith walk can be to your soul.

1. As a family, talk about the last six days of the Lenten study. What part has been most memorable?

2. Review the memory verse you studied on Day Thirteen (page 19): Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).

3. Pray together. Out loud. With each person taking at least one turn. Thank the Lord for something, praise the Lord for something, and then bring prayer requests to Him.

Thank you, Lord, that no matter how long we live, we will always be learn-ing something about you. Please help our faith stay strong and vibrant; let it not become stagnant.

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YIELD Your Life to God

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Day Twenty

Then Joshua said, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.

Yes, we are witnesses, they replied.Now then, said Joshua, throw away the foreign gods that are among you and

yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.And the people said to Joshua, We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.

Joshua 24:22-24

That triangular sign. Its kind of nicethose yield signs take the place of stop signs when a full stop isnt required, or when there is traf c entering from an-other direction and one side needs to allow other vehicles to enter. Yield is all about allowing the other inwhomever that might be.

If youve ever been on the freeway in busy traf c, you know what a wonder-ful thing it is to be allowed to enter the ow of traf c by a kind motorist. They yielded to you, allowing you to continue your journey.

Sometimes it is we who need to yield to another. We need to step back, to re-linquish control. Sometimes others yield to us, and when that happens, we need to take care not to get a big head. One thing we always need to do though is to yield to God. God has our best interest in mind, and we need to be sure to allow God to do work in our lives.

What do you need to yield to God today?

God, take us, mold us, make us Yours. We give ourselves to You. Amen.

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Day Twenty-one

Then I said:LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be at-tentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father s family, have committed against you.

Nehemiah 1:5-6

When we work to yield to God in our lives, sometimes we have to work through things that are keeping us from Godprideful or sinful parts of our lives that make us think we dont need God because we are good enough on our own, or we cant be with God because our past is too awful. A quick glance through the Bible can be reassuring for that last partGod can do amazing work with some people with pretty horri c pasts. Just ask Paul.

As I was preparing this devotion, I came across a very tting acronym PRAY: Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield.

Praise God for the blessings God has provided, repent for the things that are allowing you to push God away, ask God to intervene for you, and then, YIELD. How cool! Part of this prayer is allowing God to work in our lives. It can be scary, but oh the things God can do with our lives when we submit!

Use the PRAY acronym today as you pray.

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Day Twenty-two

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,

worth only a few cents.Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of

her poverty, put in everythingall she had to live on. Mark 12:41-44

Yielding to God doesnt always mean just our hearts and minds. Sometimes, God asks us to release our hold on other parts of our lives too, trusting that God will provide when we dont stockpile things for ourselves in case of a rainy day.

For some people, giving a little extra isnt a big deal; for others, it can be fright-ening and might mean we dont have something we need if we give it to an-other. Giving doesnt always have to be monetary either. I would be willing to bet that each of us has some extra clothing, an extra pair of shoes, or maybe a spare bed or dresser or desk that is just taking up space.

Take a little inventory today. Is God calling you to give a little extra, maybe to a local service organization, or to your church, or maybe even something like sponsoring a child? Maybe God is calling you to simplify a bit and to put some of your extra possessions to good use for another who needs them. If you are wondering where your items might be needed, talk to a local church, the Sal-vation Army, or maybe even somewhere like Options Pregnancy Center. God can do so much when we yield our lives and our belongings!

Release our hold on our lives and our things. What we have, our life, our breath, and everything else is a gift from You. We thank You for them. Help us to use all of it to glorify You. Amen.

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Day Twenty-three

When Esthers words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. And who knows but that

you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though

it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. Esther 4:12-16

Part of yielding or submitting to God is preparing our hearts and minds for Gods work in us. Sometimes we do this through prayer, but many times in the Bible, as with the story above from Esther 4, people prepared their minds and bodies by fasting, sometimes alone, sometimes with others.

The idea of giving something up for Lent comes from the idea of fasting, a part of Lent which was mentioned during STOP. Have you ever done an ac-tual fast from food though? For some people, that isnt an option, but for most healthy individuals, a day of fasting is not harmful. If you have fasted before, consider devoting a day during Lent to fasting, perhaps allowing yourself juice or water, but no food. If you never have before, consider committing a day for fasting and prayer to God. If you want, you can even donate whatever money you would have spent on food or snacks to a local charity or cause or to your church.

God, help us to submit to You in body, mind, and spirit. We want to com-mit ourselves to You. Amen.

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Day Twenty-four

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will

come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:19-20

As we strive to yield to God, sometimes one of the hardest things to yield is our own will. That will is what leads us to sin against God and against others. Some people struggle with alcoholism, pornography, abusive tendencies, stealing, drugs, and many other things. Sometimes, that sinful will gets us in trouble with mans law in addition to Gods law.

Just as often. however, others of us struggle with nding our place when oth-ers in our lives struggle with those same things, whether family, friend, or ac-quaintance. We dont know how to relate to them, how to help them, or how to pray for them. We all struggle with sin. All of us. Some of our sins might not be as publicbut they are still sins and still separate us from God. Pray to God for freedom from those sins, and for compassion for others who struggle as well.

Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are incarcerated in prisons and jails. We pray for their well-being and safety. We pray that a copy of Your Word be made available to every inmate. We pray that when they find themselves alone, they will seek You. As Revelation 3:20 says, when You stand at the door of their hearts and knock, they will, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, answer that call. Guide them through this difficult time. Give them wisdom, strength, and clarity of mind to hear Your voice. Return them home as changed people from this experience. Also Lord, bless their families during their absence. I pray this in your holy, precious name, Jesus. Amen.

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Day Twenty- ve

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bod-ies as a living sacri ce, holy and pleasing to Godthis is your true and proper wor-ship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renew-ing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will

ishis good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

"To yield anything means simply to make over that thing to the care and keep-ing of another. To yield ourselves to the Lord, therefore, is to make ourselves over to Him, giving Him the entire possession and control of our whole being. It means to abandon ourselves; to take hands off of ourselves. The word con-secration is often used to express this yielding, but I hardly think it is a good substitute. With many people to consecrate themselves seems to convey the idea of doing something very self-sacri cing, and very good and grand; and it therefore admits of a subtle form of self-glori cation. But yielding conveys a far more humbling idea; it implies helplessness and weakness, and the glori -cation of another rather than of ourselves. ~ Hannah Whitall Smith

Yielding to God means admitting that our life is no longer ours, but instead, has been entrusted to God for care and keeping. Nearly always, that means our lives become purposed to serve others and further the Gospel in our world.

Service does not always have to mean heading to a soup kitchen or going across the country or across the world on a mission trip. Those things are good and are needed, but can often give us a false sense that we are unable to serve unless we can do something so grand.

We can serve where God has placed us. We can serve by listening, by teaching, by giving, by leading. Where can you use your God-given gifts to serve in your own back yard? Go and do it. If you need some help, talk to a friend or pastor.

God, I want to serve You. Open my eyes to the needs around me, and give me the courage to reach out. Amen.

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Day Twenty-six

Dont you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obeywhether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death,

or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16

Sometimes, I have to admit that another has already said it better than I can. Oswald Chambers put it this way:

"The rst thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what con-trols and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be...Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.

If a child gives in to sel shness, he will nd it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of break-ing the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is I must have it now, whether it is the lust of the esh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has anointed Meto proclaim liberty to the captives (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1).

When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like, you will know you cant. You will nd that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, He will break every fetter, while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any persons life.

I want to yield to You, God, and not to any other. May this be my prayer every day. Amen.

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MERGE Your Life With Gods Will

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Day Twenty-seven

In his defense Jesus said to them, My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working. John 5:17

Weve talked about aligning our passions and desires with Gods passions and desires. This week, lets look closer at ways we can do that.

In Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God, one of the author's main tenets is to see where God is already working and go join Him. Even today, God continues working in our world.

Today or tomorrow, do a food fast for one meal. Use the time you would nor-mally use to eat to instead read through Psalm 27 slowly and with meditation. Then spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord to show you where He is working.

Lord, thank You that, although we are a corrupt generation, You have not given up on us or left us destitute. Thank You for continuing to pursue us. Amen.

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Day Twenty-eight

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24b

In our story today, Jesus is confronted by a concerned parent whose son is pos-sessed by a demon. The boy thrashes about, throws himself into res, convuls-es. The disciples have already tried to exorcise the demon to no avail. At last, the commotion brings Jesus over and He asks the father how long the boy has been this way. At the end of his response, the father then tacks on this state-ment, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!"

Jesus quickly replies, " If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes. Immediately the boys father exclaims, I do believe; help me overcome my un-belief!

St. Anselm understood that faith and belief need to come before understand-ing and comprehension when he wrote, "I do not seek to understand so that I may believe, but I believe so that I may understand." Faith wouldn't be faith if we understood it, studied it, dissected it and could create reproducible out-comes. The Bible says it this way: Now faith is con dence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

In what areas of faith do you struggle? Be honest about your faith struggles with those gathered with you and then present these struggles to God in prayer.

Lord, in Matthew, You tell us that if earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, how much better at gift-giving is our Heavenly Father! Lord, thank You for wanting to bless us with good gifts. Today, we ask You to help us as we struggle in areas of faith. Lord, help us overcome our unbelief!

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Day Twenty-nine

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are dif-ferent kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but

in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. I Corinthians 12:4-6

Fairmont Evangelical Covenant Church has a variety of commissions and min-istries. We have Sunday school for children and adults, we have musicians who work on the worship team, and we have elders who pray for the congrega-tion, visit the sick and take leadership during the worship service. These are just a few of the ways people minister to those in our church.

In addition, many members of our congregation are also involved in other min-istries outside the church such as leading prison Bible studies, mentoring area youth, going on mission trips and volunteering at camps.

Two days ago, you fasted, read Psalm 27, and prayed God would show you where He was already working. Now, as a family, read James 2:14-26, a passage written by one of Jesus' brothers that talks about how people know our faith is real and alive by the deeds our faith produces. And faith without actions is dead. [This does not mean our salvation comes through deeds; this passage is saying that our deeds are a natural result of our salvation.]

After you've read the passage, discuss where you think God is leading you to serve. Will you serve as a family? Will each of you have individual pursuits?

Lord, even today you are working. We are available and willing. Put us to work, too!

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Day Thirty

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may bene t those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29

When I was growing up, this verse was posted by the phone hanging on our wallthe old kind with the 20-foot spiral cord that stretched through most of the house. While I and my siblings didn't always follow that rule, the visual re-minder did ingrain itself into my memory.

Yet, not all people abide by this rule. If you've ever watched American Idol, you've heard some pretty blunt and snarky responses come out of Simon Cow-ell's mouthde nitely not "helpful for building others up."

How many times have you remade yourself as a result of another person's criti-cism? Did you want to be more popular? Get a promotion? Troy Cady once wrote, "Poems become wretched pieces of art in the hands of too many critics." God created you in His image; have you let others remake you in theirs?

Today, take a fast from molding yourself to t others' expectations. Explore who God really wants you to be. Neil T. Anderson, in his book Freedom in Christ, makes some Truth statements from the Bible about who we really are. Some of these are "I am loved," "I am content," and "I am adequate." These truths help combat those old lies that say you are unlovable and just not enough. [You can nd the whole list here: http://bit.ly/FECCLent1.] Christ makes us more than enough!

1. What changes have you made because of lies that others or Satan have told you?

2. How will you combat those lies?

3. What changes will you work to undo based on what you hear God telling you?

Lord, thank You that we are "a great big bundle of potentiality." Please help us to hear the truths in Your whispered voice among the dissonant noise of the world.

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Day Thirty-one

Dont let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. I Timothy 4:12

I've always loved this verse, especially as a youth. It showed me that I had a role in the church; it gave me power to be an example. It didn't matter that I was young or very short. I was still important in the body of Christ. And now I value this verse for what it means for my daughters.

But it also speaks to us who may no longer consider ourselves young. Be radi-cal! Be bold! Be strong and walk in faith and victory! For the Lord our God is with us and has called us to live without fear or shame.

Spend some time in prayer as a family about setting an example for others. Pray that you may be bold and unashamed in sharing the Good News of sal-vation with others.

Lord, help us to be workers who are not ashamed of Your gospel, who know how to wield the Sword of the Spirit.

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Day Thirty-two

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9We love because He rst loved us. I John 4:19

When our family moved to Chicago so Dan could attend seminary, it was a big, hairy, scary deal. The main breadwinner quit his paying job to pay to go to school. How on earth were we going to make it?

During the course of those three years, we were repeatedly in awe of the great abundance God showered on us. Dan and I learned to say thank you gra-ciously as, time after time, others paid our rent, helped get our car xed, sent us on dates, and babysat our kids for free. Dan graduated without us accumulat-ing any school debt. Miraculous!

But accepting the gifts others wish to bestow on you, allowing others to serve you, is very humbling. It takes the control out of your hands; it goes against the "American way" of self-suf ciecy. Christ never called us to be self-suf cient. He never told us to live life alone. Instead, the Scriptures say, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one an-otherand all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

We need each other, and we need to learn to be willing to accept that encour-agement, that love and those good deeds that others are wanting to lavish on us.

1. So, how can you "spur one another on" in your own family?

2. How will you encourage others in the body of Christ this week? Be speci c.

3. How will you choose to react the next time someone wants to bless you and your family?

Lord, we do see what great love You have lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! With Your grace, help us to love and be loved.

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Day Thirty-three

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John

8:31-32

If you haven't already, take a moment to look up and print off the Truth state-ments (http://bit.ly/FECCLent1) we talked about earlier this week. (If you don't have a printer, you can ask the church of ce for a copy of these statements.)

As we go through our last week of Lent before celebrating Christ's triumph over sin and death, fast, pray, serve and be served from a position of freedom. You are free in Christ! You are his beloved! You are cherished! You are prized! You are valued! You are not condemned!

Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:35-36

Thank You, Lord, that we are free indeed. Amen and amen.

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CROSS Traf c Does Not Stop

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Day Thirty-four

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a g tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, May you never bear fruit again! Immediately the tree withered. Mat-

thew 21:18-19

It seems almost appropriate that we speak of Jesus hunger and the empty g tree as we explore fasting on this day one. It wasnt intentional fasting though.

This weeks theme is where this whole series began. I was driving home one day, and I stopped at an intersection before turning on to the highway and saw those words. Cross Traf c Does Not Stop. The wheels of my mind were turning, and as so often happens, I started thinking about the possibility of a new teaching series for my students. I so enjoy using metaphors and object lessons.

Holy week is upon us. In just a handful of days, Jesus begins his very literal jour-ney to the crosshe will not be prevented from completing that journey, even though he may want to so he can escape the agony.

Palm Sunday has come and gone, and Jesus is in the nal days before his cru-ci xion. The reality is, nothing we can give up will ever come close to helping us embrace and understand the sacri ce Christ offered for ushis very life. Even so, our small sacri ces may help another to better understand what Christs sacri ce meant as we do our best to live our lives for Christ.

Usually, when Lent is over, we go back to life as usual. Is there something you might choose to give up for good? What has God been teaching you through this journey?

God, Your sacri ce through Your son is something I will never complete-ly understand. Thank You for giving up so much for me, a sinner. Help me to live a life that shows gratitude for what You gave for me. Amen.

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Day Thirty- ve

Jesus replied, Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the g tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you

ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:21-22

Many prayers were offered by Jesus during the last week of his ministry. Some were so passionate and deep that it is said Jesus sweat drops of blood. He was sorrowful and troubled, felt alone. We see some of the most human feelings of Jesus expressed in some of his last moments on this earth. It is dif cult to watch, dif cult to comprehend.

Who in your life are you praying for in earnest right now? Is there someone whose troubles are overwhelming you, whose pain and suffering is breaking your heart too? Make extra time this week to offer them up to God.

The words of Grace Adolphsen Brame have always been comforting to me: The voice inside me says, Do you realize how bad the situation is? What dif-ference can you make? Who do you think you are?

God answers back to say, That is not the issue. Do what you know to do, and let me give you each thought and each word as you need it. Just be a voice, a presence, a hand, a pair of eyes that communicates for me I love you, and I will never ever leave you. I will be with you always. Then help them learn to pray in trust."

God, sometimes we see the pain in the lives of others and we feel helpless. Teach us to lift them to You in prayer, and to entrust them to Your care. Amen.

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Day Thirty-six

Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the

morning to hear him at the temple. Luke 21:37-38

What can we give back to God? Our meager offerings pale in comparison to the great gift God gave to us in His Son. God doesnt need what we have, but God does want what we have. These words are adapted from Rick Warren. It is a simple but direct way to look at the importance of giving as a part of our relationship with God.

First, my giving expresses my gratitude to God for the past. When we give back to God, we show that we appreciate God and we love God.

Second, my giving expresses my priorities in the present. The way people spend their time and money reveals what is important to them. Jesus said, For wher-ever your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Do we give God our rst fruits, or what is left over?

Third, my giving expresses my faith in God for the future. We trust God with our eternal salvation. Do we trust God enough to tithe?

God, You have given us so much. May we live our lives as a thank You for all you have done. Amen.

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Day Thirty-seven Maundy Thursday

On the rst day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sac-ri ce the Passover lamb, Jesus disciples asked him, Where do you want us to go

and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my dis-ciples? He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make prepara-

tions for us there. Mark 14:12-15

Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday. This day commemorates the Passover Meal shared with Jesus and his disciples, often observed with a Seder meal. The meal uses different food items to remind those eating of the events that took place in the book of Exodus during the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. It also represents the initiation of Holy Communion, which we observe today. The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for commandment.

One of the other signi cant parts of that passover meal was the conversation amongst the disciples about who it was that would betray Jesus. Each in turn seems to ask, Is it I?

Lent, as a time of re ection, is often dif cult, because if we are honest with our-selves, we see things in ourselves that we scarcely recognize. Where in our lives do we betray Christ?

God, forgive us for the parts of our lives that deny You. Help us to see them and repent. Amen.

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Day Thirty-eight Good Friday

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Greetings, Rabbi! and kissed

him. Jesus replied, Do what you came for, friend. Matthew 26:47-50

Today, there is much cross traf c. Disciples, onlookers, family. Many have come to see Jesus hanging on the cross, the event that was foretold. The name Good Friday has always felt so wrong to me. Perhaps the darkest day of Holy Week, it is dif cult to accept the death of Jesus as good, even though we know it is not the nal word.

Jesus is betrayed, condemned to death, sentenced, and cruci ed. The words of Matthew are dif cult to hear: Do what you came for, friend. Jesus, knowing what is going to happen, probably before Judas even knew himself, still calls Judas friend. Jesus washed the feet of every one of his disciples, even Judas. Jesus still loved him.

The words of How Deep the Fathers Love for Us express the torn emotions this day brings. We too can hear our voices among those that condemned Jesus.

Behold the Man upon a crossMy sin upon His shoulders,

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him thereuntil it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me lifeI know that it is nished.

Good Friday is good because, as terrible as the day was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter.

It is nished. Amen.

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Day Thirty-nine Easter Vigil

Take a guard, Pilate answered. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how. So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting

the guard. Matthew 27:65-66

The pain and hopelessness that must have been felt on the day following Christs cruci xion must have been incredible.

We dont hear much in scripture about that day, other than the scripture in Matthew 27 which tells of the the soldiers doing what they could to prevent the body of Christ from being stolen by his followers. They feared that they would take the body and say that Christ had been resurrected.

John even speaks of the disciples being locked in an upper room together, afraid of the Jewish leaders. Fear and despair gripped his followers. What now?

God, comfort us when we fear, reassure us when we feel hopeless. We know that You felt pain as You lost Your Son. We know You suffer with us when we are in pain. Amen.

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Day Forty Easter

The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was cruci ed. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told

you. Matthew 28:5-7

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!!

I cant help but post the words of an Easter hymn as we celebrate the glorious resurrection of Christ. Death has not won. Sin has not won. Christ has risen!!

Christ the Lord is risn today, Alleluia!Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!Sing, ye heavns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Loves redeeming work is done, Alleluia!Fought the ght, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

You are risen as You said. Thank You for saving us! We love You! Amen!

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