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    Church of the Nativity

    Daily Devotional

    Voices From the PewMarch

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    As the deer longs for the water-brooks,

    so longs my soul for you, O God.

    My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God;

    when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

    Psalm 42:1-2

    Prayer is our connection with God, the discipline that helps our souls stay aligned with Gods will. Dailyprayer is the most basic of Christian disciplines, helping us remember that God is present in all the joyoussorrowful, mundane, and ordinary parts of our lives. By maintaining a steady diet of daily prayer, we lear

    to open our hearts and minds to Gods will, and grow to recognize Gods voice as it speaks in our hearts.

    Most of us, however, stay so busy so much of the time that it is hard to make time for daily prayer, or evenwhen we make time for it, it is hard to keep our minds focused. One way to approach this problem is to

    begin with daily devotions. This collection of daily devotions, spiritual exercises, and prayers was created

    a group of people from Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Scottsdale. These are prayerful people who havfound ways to share the prayers of their hearts with you.

    I hope that as you begin to use this book, you will find your mind enlightened and your heart opened to thpresence of the living God, for whom our souls are athirst.

    Many thanks to Lani Sambach, the editor of this collection, and Mina Rafferty for her assistance.

    In Christ,The Rev. Susan Brown Snook

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    March 1.

    Spiritual Exercise

    Worship this week. Really worship. Use Saturday evening to begin

    preparing for worship. Set aside a time of solitude when you can

    reflect on the power and the glory of God. Meditate on His love for

    you. Go early to church and spend time worshiping and thanking

    God. Pray for those around you that they might be moved by God

    during the service. Above all, allow yourself to truly feel the

    presence of God moving among the people.

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    March 2. David Bolger

    Luke 17: v. 5-6. The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith! And the Lord said, If you had faith

    as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,

    and it would obey you.

    Weve all heard those verses all of our lives, but until I was blessed to become part of Church of the

    Nativity a little over 2 years ago, I never took the Lords admonition personally. But in the last two years,

    I have learned that faith is best demonstrated by action. For me, there is no better place to put faith into

    action than here at Nativity. What the mustard seed has come to mean to me is that my newness, my

    size in terms of the length of my affiliation with this parish really has nothing to

    do with my opportunity to serve to put my faith in action. And I believe this is

    true for anyone who chooses this church as their own. Whether youre a mustard

    seed like me or a sycamore tree in terms of how long youve been in this

    Nativity community, the door of service is open and the light of faith is always on.

    If you want to serve, there are no waiting lines or seniority lists, and tenure isnt

    required. Whether you have a lot or a little time or treasure to give, whether youre

    reading this after a few weeks, a few months, or a few years at Nativity, you have a

    place and an opportunity to have your faith increased through your actions. Just

    listen. Just ask. And it will happen.

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    March 3.

    The kind of religion that God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull, and lifeles

    wouldings those weak inclinations that lack convictions that raise us but a little above

    indifference. God, in his word, greatly insists that we be in good earnest, fervent in spirit, and that

    our hearts be engaged vigorously in our religion: Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (Rom.

    12:11)

    And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? To fear the Lord your God, to

    walk in his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all

    your soul (Deut.10:12). This fervent, vigorous engagement of the heart is the fruit of a real

    circumcision of the heart that alone has the promise of life. And the Lord your God will circumcis

    your heart, and the heart of your children, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with al

    your soul that you might live. (Deut. 30:6)

    Jonathan Edwards Religious Affections

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    March 4.

    Jesus the Very Thought of Thee

    O hope of every contrite heart,O joy of all the meek;

    To those who fall, how kind thou art!

    How good to those who seek!

    But what to those who find?

    Ah, this No tongue nor pen can show;

    The love of Jesus, what it is

    None but His loved ones know.

    Bernard of Clairvaux

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    March 5. Jean Mesropian

    Yesterday is history,

    Tomorrow is a mystery,

    And today is a gift;

    Thats why they call it the present.

    Eleanor Roosevelt

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    March 6.

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    March 7. David Deppen

    One of the most serviceable images of the Christian life is the Journey the

    Pilgrims Progress. And if our life is a journey, then Lent is a particular and specialeg of that progress a journey within a journey through a wilderness. The fortydays of Lent are meant to contrast with the fifty days of Easter the fast before thfeast the time of contemplation, of taking private stock of oneself, before the joyforgiveness and rebirth promised in the Resurrection. This journey into thewilderness is like the forty days our Lord spent alone preparing Himself for His

    public ministry. It is a time to evaluate life and recommit ourselves to our Christiacalling. All that Nativity offers in its Lenten program is intended to help you inmaking your particular journey more meaningful. I invite you to approach this Lenten journey as mature or maturing Christianmen and women. May you grow in it to a new and richer understanding of Godslove in the gift to us of His Son.?

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    March 8. Shelley Byrnes

    He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with allyour soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love

    your neighbor as yourself.'"

    (Luke 10:27)

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    March 11.

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    March 12.

    Lent is a promise of hopeof a way out of whatever darkness we may find ourselves in. Not

    because of Lent, but because of what lies at the end of Lent. Easter! The Queen of Seasons!

    The promise of new life, of rebirth, of the death of winter and the death of sinyes, and the

    death of death itself. Easter is the goal; Lent is the way. And because Lent is a lengthening

    process, a process of growth and change, Lent provides us with wonderful opportunities for

    dealing with our lives in new and more positive ways.

    Of course we can skip Lent altogether by ignoring it. Then we run the risk of missing all that

    Easter promises and brings with it. But when we make the investment to keep a holy Lent in

    the words of the Prayer Book by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-

    denial; and by reading and meditating on Gods holy Word, into better, more spiritually-

    attuned and mature Christians. Lent is not just an optimal exercise for the devout it is for us

    all. Go for it!!!

    My Dear People

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    March 13. Joy Wiseman

    St. Paul in Phillippians 4:8

    Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,

    Whatever is pure, Whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable;

    If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

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    March 14.

    Though you couldnt tell by watching him at youth group, David had a social anxiety disor

    He struggled in social situations to the point that he avoided school dances, sporting events, and

    parties. When in an uncomfortable situation, he would hyperventilate and start shaking. Sometim

    he would even pass out.

    David later explained that church was the one place that he felt comfortable. When asked t

    think through what made his church experiences different, he said, I cant really explain what m

    this place different, but I know that I feel Gods love when Im with these people.

    Christian community is powerful stuff. Its hard to describe because, in many ways, Gods

    for us is beyond words. The difference here is the Holy Spirit in our midst, transforming our livescalling us to love each other as God loves. In praying for each other, we declare Gods power in o

    lives. We bear each others burdens and feel the depth of relationships that can only come throug

    living together as disciples of Christ.

    Holy One, thank you for brothers and sisters in Christ who show your love to me and challenge m

    be your disciple. May I love and challenge others to serve you today and always. Amen.

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    March 15.

    St. Augustine helps give us insight into moral theology. He points out

    that we all have the dilemma of conflicting wills. We are at odds with

    ourselves, a house divided. Because we are stamped with the image ofGod, we long for the good, the true, the beautiful. Because we live in a

    good world gone bad, we hanker after the distortions of Gods good

    creation. We try by sheer willpower to seek the good but we fail, always

    fail, because the will is in conflict with itself and is in need of redemption

    Merely to think good thoughts or to desire good things is not enough. We

    need as Augustine and Paul before himthe transforming power of Jesu

    Christ alive and present among us. Then our conflicting wills can come

    under the rule of the divine Arbitrator.

    Richard Foster Devotional Classics Seasoned with Love

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    March 17

    Spiritual Exercise

    Loving our neighbor, says Bernard of Clairvaux,

    keeps our self-love in check. This week make an

    effort to lighten the burden of those around you,

    beginning with those with whom you live. The

    invaluable gift of listening is a great way to start.

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    March 18. Shirley Cope

    But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,

    Long suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

    Psalms 86:15

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    March 19.

    Self-reliance is a difficult thing to let go. From a young age we are taught and often exclaim

    that we can do things all by ourselves. But there are times when we need to cling to

    someone else, to put our trust in one who does not fail. God loves us and offers a refuge like

    that of a bird that covers its young with its wings.

    When we begin to put our trust in God and practice giving that trust daily, it becomes

    second nature. We can rest assured that God really is our refuge and our fortress in hard

    times and in good. Its a choice we make to be willing to give our trust to God.

    Where do you put your trust? In the things that you can gain on earth? Or in the God who

    created the earth?

    Holy God, thank you for being a fortress and refuge in times of need as well as in times of

    joy. Help me to trust you more, to seek after you instead of seeking after my own desires.Amen

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    h h ll

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    March 21 .Shelley Byrnes

    The Parable of the Lost Son

    11 Jesus continued: There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father,

    Father, give me my share of the estate. So he divided his property between them.13 Not longafter that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered

    his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole

    country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that

    country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that

    the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.17 When he came to his senses, he said, How

    many of my fathers hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set

    out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against

    you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired

    servants. 20 So he got up and went to his father.But while he was still a long way off, his father

    saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and

    kissed him.21 The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no

    longer worthy to be called your son.

    Continued on the next page

    M h 21 i d

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    March 21,continued

    But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his

    finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Lets have a feast and

    celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they

    began to celebrate.25 Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he

    heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going

    on. 27 Your brother has come, he replied, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he h

    him back safe and sound.28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father

    went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, Look! All these years Ive been

    slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I coucelebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with

    prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!31 My son, the father said, you are

    always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this

    brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

    Luke 15: 11-32

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    March 23

    Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.

    Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,

    and to our god, for he will freely pardon.

    Isaiah 5

    March 24

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    March 24.

    Spiritual Exercise

    Allow Christ to rescue you, as he did Paul, from the wawithin. Resolve not to resolve, but instead, resign. Le

    Christ have control of the struggle within.

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    March 26. Brad Haase

    Father, I abandon myself into your hands;

    do with me what you will.

    Whatever you may do, I thank you:I am ready for all, I accept all.

    Let only your will be done in me,

    and in all Your creatures -

    I wish no more than this, O Lord.

    Into your hands I commend my soul;

    I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,

    for I love you Lord,and so need to give myself,

    to surrender myself into your hands,

    without reserve,

    and with boundless confidence,

    For you are my Father.

    prayer of abandonment - charles de foucauld

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    March 28. Jeff Jameson

    The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the leaof these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. MT 25:40

    We are all so blessed in many, many ways. Because God is in everyone, w

    must lift up all those around us and as this powerful passage displays, our

    charge is to ensure even the least of our neighbors shall be served.

    March 29. Shelley Byrnes

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    a c 9. S e ey y es

    No human activity draws us more deeply into the heart of God than

    prayer. And no way of prayer places us more solidly into the affairs of

    human life than intercessory prayer. This is as it should be. Love of god, of necessity, leads to love of neighbor. They are not two

    commands, but one.

    As we learn to love people truly love them we will desire for them

    far more than it is within our power to give them, and that will drive us a

    the more deeply into prayer for them. The converse is also true: the morwe pray for people the more we will come to love them. Here, then, is a

    penetrating test of our devotion: if we do not pray for people truly pray

    for them how can we say that we love them?

    Richard Foster Devotional Classics

    March 30.

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    He Maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

    He leadeth me beside the still waters.

    Psalm 23:22

    March 31.

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    Spiritual Exercise

    Each day this week set aside fifteen minutes for solitude and

    meditation. Relax from strain and stress and simply rest in Gods

    presence.


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