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Lent Devotional Booklet 2019

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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our sermon and group study theme during Lent this year is

Surrender. Often people talk about what they are going to “give

up” during Lent. There’s a common practice among many

Christians of fasting or not eating a particular food one enjoys

during this 40-day period of time. At the heart of this practice is

a desire to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us when he

died on the cross. But this year we will end our Lenten journey

with Jesus’ prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane: “not my

will but yours be done.” The definition of surrender is “to give

oneself over to something.” Jesus surrendered any and all

personal desires and gave himself over to God’s will being done.

This Lent, how might we, too, align our desires with God’s

desires. How might we surrender our will and align them more

with God’s will?

Pastor Beth Warpmaeker

This year we’ve added a family-friendly activity at the end of

each daily Lent Devotion. You’ll find the family activity

written in purple after each day’s prayer. When available,

the page number for the Bible story in the Spark Story Bible

is also listed so young children can follow along too. We

highly recommend the Spark Story Bible for young children,

and you can contact Sara Ray (sray@kinsmenlutheran.org)

for more information.

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Here’s a way to shape your devotional time. If you’d like to learn more

about Faith5, please visit their website at www.faith5.org

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March 6, 2019

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Joel speaks of a time when Israel faced devastation. He reminds them that they have turned away from God’s ways and become unfaithful. As a result of their sinfulness, God abandoned Israel and surrounded them with punishment. Sometimes our days can feel like God is gone and disaster surrounds us. We trudge forward, not looking back, pushing our way through the mess of daily life. We may even give up and decide that God is punishing us. But in the midst of moving we sometimes forget to surrender and listen to the quiet voice of God that can always be heard within the disaster. We live in a world broken by sin, but we also have the promise of love, hope and restoration. Joel reminds us to return to God with our hearts and not our garments. We can always come before God with our pain. In fact, God wants us to come to him as a whole person, full of sin and pain and love. God sent us Jesus, who took our sin upon himself and we can feel safe returning to him, even with all our messiness. As a mother and senior daughter, this topic feels appropriate. The senior year feels like a marathon and we have our “eyes on the prize.” With our lists, our tasks, our hopes, triumphs and disappointments we trudge through the days. There are times when our tunnel vision allows us to turn away from what is important, and we feel that loss and loneliness. It is during those times when it’s so important for us to stop and really look at our direction. We have to remind each other to trust in God and the path he is providing for us. We return to what is right and good and we feel the peace that comes with the surrender. We are truly thankful for the small, quiet voice that is always there. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this season when we are reminded to surrender and return to your word. The love and peace we find through you is a gentle comfort to us in our rushed lives – Amen.

Amber & Spencer Walker

Today’s bible verse says “return to me with all your heart.” How do you

plan to return to God during Lent this year? Make a plan with those

around you for a day, time, and place to do devotions together. Do

something that makes your space feel holy—take off your shoes, light a

candle, drink a cup of tea. You could even have devo time with someone

over the phone!

5 March 7, 2019

Psalm 51:1-17

Surrender: cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority

Biblical definition of surrender: that a believer completely gives up his own will and subjects his thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of a higher power

Our reading for today was written after Nathan, the prophet, confronted David about Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1-10). In verse 5 of the reading in 2 Samuel we can see the deeply passionate man that David was. When David was confronted with this, he readily admits that he has sinned (vs 13).

But David had a relationship with God and remembers all of the good things that God had done in the past for him. So he immediately turns to prayer – pouring out his soul. The words in Psalm 51 are very familiar to us and poetic in nature. He pleads with God, confesses to God, and asks God to make him new. He wants to experience again the joy that he has had in his relationship with God and promises to praise him and ‘sing aloud of your deliverance.’

Vs. 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

How wonderful it is that we have a God that accepts us as we are. Every morning we can thank him for a new day and ask for his help in guiding us through the day. We can, like David, plead for a clean heart and a new and right spirit. And then, like David, live a life that teaches others of God’s love.

If you have access to The Message translation (or on the computer) I encourage you to read that. It is David’s beautiful poetic prayer in today’s vernacular.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Amen.

Darlene Boggs

Find something to wash together! Maybe it’s your hands, your dog, your

car, or even that load of laundry that’s been patiently waiting. Work

together! Just as you wash your item, God washes us with the waters of

our baptism.

During Lent, Kinsmen is gathering items for personal care kits for

Lutheran World Relief to help people cleanse themselves. Bring some

items with you this weekend! See page 51 for more details.

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March 8, 2019

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

The scripture text today is about the grace (salvation) God gave to us Christians through the finished work of the cross by Christ Jesus. St. Paul calls us ambassadors of the kingdom. The picture of “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20) is especially helpful in understanding the nature of being workers together with him. Working together with the king grants the ambassador great deal of privileges called ‘grace’. Yet, the ambassador himself has no power or authority or agenda on his own. The king delegates power and authority to the ambassador, reveals his agenda to the ambassador, and expects the ambassador to fulfill that agenda. It is very important to understand that to get this partnership deal accomplished, the ambassador must ‘surrender’ himself under the supremacy of the king. Surrender means to voluntarily yield one’s position to the control or possession of another; i.e. the ambassador to the king. Paul knew that it is not easy for humans to surrender their wills to another. It is for that reason that he pleads with us Christians not to receive the grace of God in vain. To receive the grace of God in vain may mean to receive the goodness and favor of God, and yet hinder the work of grace in one’s life or community. God doesn’t want us to become passive with His grace. Paul knew that God gives His grace, we work hard, and the work of God gets done. Many Christians struggle at this very point. (Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it?) The answer is, “Yes!” God does it and we also do it. Hence “God’s work; Our hands”. We have to trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work; and work as hard as we can! That way, God’s work will be accomplished. If we neglect our end of the partnership, God’s grace doesn’t accomplish all that it might, and may therefore be given in vain. God forbid! Thank You Lord for Your grace. I surrender all of me to You Lord! Take more of me; and give me more of You that I may never take Your grace in vain. Amen!

Edith Chuta

Every year Kinsmen has a special Sunday called “God’s Work. Our

Hands.” On that Sunday, we serve our neighbors in the community.

How can you use your hands to do God’s work today?

7 March 9, 2019

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-20

During Lent we are once again invited to embark on a journey with our Savior, a journey that is not going to be easy because it will teach us even more about our human incompleteness, but also a journey worthwhile as we discover the infinite love of God toward us in Christ Jesus and the amazing grace that we can possess through his suffering, death and resurrection.

In the reading from Matthew, Jesus reminds us of how important it is every once in a while to examine the condition of our inner life. He also teaches us how to live out our faith in such a way that it is pleasing to God and also brings blessings to us and our neighbors. As we try to live out our calling as his disciples and his ambassadors in this world, the key issue is not how pious of an impression we may be able to give of ourselves to the people around us, but how we nurture our inner life. We all know well that in order for a tree to grow and to flourish, its invisible part, its roots need to be healthy. They also need to be in good soil so that they can transfer nutrients from the soil to the tree. Without properly functioning invisible part, the roots, the visible part of the tree will eventually wither and die.

In the same way taking care of our inner being, our personal spiritual life and the nourishment it gets, giving more time in our daily schedules for Bible reading and prayer is also vital for our outer wellbeing and life as Christians. And if our roots are functioning well, if our souls are receiving the nourishment they need, our outer lives can produce the fruits that are pleasing to God and also good for our neighbors.

I’d like to encourage us to see this beginning new season of Lent not as a dull and demanding time of self-denial, but rather as a positive chance and challenge to grow in our faith, to make a difference not only in our lives but in the lives of so many of our neighbors. Remember that it is the love of Christ, who willingly took the cross and suffered and died for us, that is calling us to embark on this journey.

Heavenly Father, shine your truth and light into all areas of our inner life, cleanse our hearts and nourish us through your word and your Holy Spirit, help us to be a blessing to our neighbors near and far, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jaakko Jyrkama

Spark Story Bible page 278

Who has taught you how to pray? What’s your favorite way to pray?

When has your prayer been answered?

Check out our Facebook page for a link to some new ways to pray today!

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March 10, 2019

Luke 4:1-13

Temptation is all around us at all times. It can be something as simple as being

tempted to eat the last cookie when you’ve already had more than you need.

Temptation can also have more serious consequences like going somewhere

that you know you should probably not go to, but it sounds fun or it will give

you some sort of relief. In the text from Luke, Jesus has been traversing

through the desert for 40 days, and the devil is trying to get Jesus to save

himself by turning a stone into a loaf of bread. The devil also tells Jesus to

throw himself off of the temple and have God save Jesus. Jesus does not give

into the devil’s temptation, and instead, surrenders to God and puts his trust

in God that God will save and protect Jesus.

The word surrender can be thought of as a negative word. It is often used in

war where one side surrenders to the other. Surrendering can be perceived as

being weak. Though in the case of surrendering to God, we are putting our

faith and trust fully into God. It is not a sign of weakness. We are not perfect

people, and we all give into temptation every now and then no matter how

severe the temptation, but if we surrender to God’s love and power, we are

entering into a life of love and peace.

Dear God, thank you for giving us the opportunity to have faith and trust in

you. Continue to watch over us as we go through life with one another to be

the best disciples of you that we can be. In your Son’s name we pray, Amen.

Jillian Miller

Spark Story Bible page 248

Spend some time cooking together today or this week. Pick out a meal

together, and go grocery shopping together if you can. As you’re

cooking, pray for those who are hungry and thirsty, and thank God for

the great food you have.

9 March 11, 2019

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91

Whelp, I’m done. There you have it. After those introductory verses, all the reflection and thought I have on this beautiful Psalm is pretty redundant. But I have a bit more space on the page and hope to ruminate with you all for a bit. The beauty of Psalms always touches me. The intent that they are sung, and sung together, as an invitation to contemplate and process the words and stories of God. To help us view our relationship with the Holy One. To give us a guide, a place to look, to lean, to love.

The words in versus 9-16 serve as the foundation to begin a surrender. What more could we ask for? Accept, love, dwell in the Lord. With that comes the simple, and oh so powerful, promise of protection. My tent will be okay. What is my tent? Maybe it’s my home made of wood and brick. Or maybe it’s deeper than that. My tent (my shelter) is in my family. I have a lovely set of relations and a wonderful family of choice. We are bound together to support each other in body and soul. We are all protected with love of each other and of God.

But here in Psalm 91, we are not offered just protection. That’s the thing. Look, there’s success in our undertakings. Personally, I’m not planning on trampling lions or serpents, but I may take on a project where I need more guts than I have. I have a champion. Thank you, God.

Even more, here in Psalm 91 we have a base for a relationship with the Lord. This is not a one-way street. We love God; God loves us. Whoa. The Lord says to call and we will be answered. Answered and satisfied. And honored. Wow. And ultimately brought to salvation. For this we sing thanks and praise. We also know that it’s okay to surrender to our love for God. This comes with rewards which touch us now and some we cannot even fathom yet.

A prayer to our God: Dear Lord, we hear your voice in the song of the Psalms. Yet we hesitate to believe that that our connection to your promise is so easy and so valuable. Please touch us through your words and have patience as we travel on the path to understanding and appreciation of your gifts. We pray in the name of your greatest gift of love, Jesus Christ. Amen

Michelle Ivey

God is our refuge and our fortress, so let’ s make a fort today! Read

today’s passage in your fort. How do you dwell in the shelter of God?

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March 12, 2019

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

What do you trust? Photographic evidence? News from the onion? Chain emails about making fast money or ghosts? In the age of photoshop, fact checking, and basic internet literacy, there come questions about each of these examples. So we trust in the ethos of certain people, which can also prove to be ill-advised.

Before you reach for your tinfoil hat, it should be said that there are plenty of good and trustworthy people in the world, chances are you go to church with a lot of them. But, to err is human, which is why ultimately our faith is in God. What is most striking about Psalm 91 is the absolute and complete trust the speaker has in God. The speaker knows for certain that regardless of the misfortune that should befall them, God will provide for them and support them.

Which leads me to my second question. In what do you have that much trust, to be absolutely certain that without fail you will be secure? This is a difficult question for many people to answer because we tend toward caution. Nobody wants to be let down, and as a result we can be apprehensive when it comes to trusting completely. However, our faith in God should be absolute. With God we have nothing to hide, fear, or hold back; and as a result, we can trust God.

This psalm is reassurance that as long as we pursue our goals with the faith of God in our hearts, we will be where God means for us to be. Our trust in God should be rooted in God’s love for us, it should be powerful and unfailing. God sent his only son to die, so that our sins would be forgiven. God forgives and loves us, put your trust in him.

God, help us trust you. Amen.

Wade Ivey

There’s a hymn called A Mighty Fortress is Our God. What similarities

can you find in Psalm 91 and the lyrics from that song?

11 March 13, 2019

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Even though we are in the season of Lent and focusing on Jesus’ story in the

New Testament, there’s always something to be learned from the first five

books. However, Deuteronomy is definitely the most boring. Unlike the other

narrative books, Deuteronomy is Moses’ teachings to the Israelites after 40

years in the wilderness. The book operates as a how-to manual on

worshipping God. It’s a sharp contrast to the other books that catalogue the

epic stories of biblical heroes and the Israelites oppression in Egypt. Among

these teachings is instruction on bringing summer harvests to the temple in

order to worship the Lord. Out of the Israelites’ plenty, there was always

something carved out to give over to God. Despite narrowly escaping from

their enslavement in Israel and weathering through 40 years in the wilderness,

Moses still urges the Israelites to praise God and they do. Even in times of

harvest, they remember the hardships they faced and how the Lord delivered

them from their struggles. Our God is one that stands by us in the low times

and the good times, whether we want Him there or not. Regardless of what

we are facing, our God is always with us. For that, we give thanks.

Let us pray: Dear God, thank you for being with us through times of bountiful

harvest and times of trouble. In our good and bad days, we turn to you for

thanks for what we have and guidance for the future. Continue to be with us

through toils and celebrations. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Lauren Grobe

Did you know the first five books of the bible are called the Pentateuch?

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

penta = five

What else do you see that comes in groups of 5?

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March 14, 2019

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

I remember growing up and planting a garden every year with my dad. We would start with tilling the ground and planting seeds of various vegetables. We would water and tend to the garden and then the plants would start to grow. My dad would always take the first of the vegetables, the first fruits, and give them back to the ground and I never really understood why he did this. He was giving thanks back to God and these vegetables on the ground would feed other parts of creation that would eat them. This text in Deuteronomy is about the first fruits. It tells of giving thanks to God for the wonderful abundance given to the children of God. In the reading, we get the message of giving God thanks for the harvest that creation has produced. This harvest is given as a gift to all people. The seed is planted and watered; we don’t see the process of the seed dying in order to give life to a plant that produces the wheat, corn, grapes or whatever crop has been planted. God calls for us to give thanks with those first fruits and in this celebration to share with others the abundance that has been given to us.

If you keep this in mind, you are reminded of Jesus dying for you in order to give you eternal life and free you from sin and death, and you are also now free to do as God calls you in helping to provide for your neighbor. In your abundance, remember that it is a gift from God. The gifts and talents that come to you through the Holy Spirit, are from God to help us to enjoy all of creation in unity with all of God’s children.

Let us pray. Gracious God, we give you thanks for all that you have provided for us in your wonderful creation. May we remember that it is You who we are to give our thanks and praise for the abundance in our lives. May we always keep the needs of the less fortunate in mind as we come to you in prayer and may our actions show others that we are children of God in providing for the least among us. Amen.

Rudy Flores

Where do you see new life growing around you? Go on a walk and thank

God for all the new things growing—green grass, flowers blooming, trees

with buds, and the new things God is creating in you!

13 March 15, 2019

Romans 10:8b-13

Surrender to me can have many different connotations. An act that you are forced to do with a bitter heart, or the blissful peace that can be found in just letting go. I take comfort in letting go of things that I have no control over. I didn’t used to. I used to worry, and fret, and ‘what if’ myself into misery. Until a pastor from my youth, Don Carlson, sent out an email prior to Hurricane Rita. Hurricane Rita was to be Houston’s version of Hurricane Katrina (according to the news outlets). I was afraid for our city, my family, and of the unknown. I think many people were feeling like Chicken Little. . . The sky was falling! In his email, Pastor Carlson reminded us that God is in control of all things, and to take a moment to breathe, pray and lean on your faith. The timing of the Lord is perfect. In that moment, I felt my heart change, and I surrendered the fear. I surrendered the ‘what ifs.’ I took a breath and prayed.

In Romans 10: 8-13 Paul writes, “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart; if you confess with your heart that God raised him (Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved.” He continues to say . . . “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him, “For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Maybe your own personal Hurricane Rita is the state of affairs in our country, maybe it is the health of a loved one, maybe it’s the uncertainness of the future in general, or maybe it’s something in your past that you are having a hard time forgiving. During times when you feel as if you have no control of the outcome remember, The Lord is generous with his comfort no matter who you are, or what you may have done. Surrender to him. God’s got you.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us and offering comfort in times of need. Please help us to remember to seek you in times of uncertainty knowing that you are here for us always. In your Holy name, Amen.

Ali DeLuca

The Lord is generous to all who call on Him. Make a list of all the things

God has given you and give God thanks! Post the list somewhere visible

to revisit when you’re stressed and continue to add to it!

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March 16, 2019

Romans 10:8b-13

I read Romans 10:8b-13 several times for several days. Each time I read it my mind fixed on a different word or section. First it was SHAME. BELIEVE shouted out next. The phrase ‘NO DIFFERENCE between Jew and Gentile’ edged into my brain. ‘Lord of all... RICHLY BLESSES all who call on him’ formed a refrain.

Lent is a spiritual season of preparation. A soul spring cleaning if you will. Coming into corporate church as an adult provides me with unique perspectives not always apparent to those raised religiously from childhood.

I have observed many prepare themselves through temporary denial of favorite things. I go a bit deeper with mine by identifying and discarding those things that keep me separate from my Lord.

I had to surrender so much embedded bitterness to experience the healing power of hope through forgiveness as I cleared out items from my life’s closets. Shame was the first piece of mental baggage to go. I threw in self-hate to keep it company. I picked up another big bag and filled it with all the past circumstances I couldn’t change. This made room for the foundation of belief in my Lord’s love that I was no different than anyone else in his eyes.

Opening up my heart and filling it with Christ’s love blesses me richly every day in one way or another. Thanks-living allows me to appreciate all these things in such a way that when bad things happen, I have all that I need to deal with them.

Precious Lord, be with me as I prepare myself for you. Help me to make plenty of room for you in my life by discarding those things that clutter and hide you from my sight – in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Patti Suler

Using your recycling or boxes you have around the house, make a tower.

Label each part of the tower with things you want to give to God. Patti

gave her bitterness, shame, and circumstances she can’t change to God.

What will you give to God? As you knock over the tower, think of

handing those things over to God.

15 March 17, 2019

Luke 13:31-35

These verses express the sorrow and compassion that Jesus had for the people of Jerusalem. It starts with some Pharisees warning Him about Herod’s desire to kill Him. Were these Pharisees really concerned for Jesus? No, they have been against Jesus for months, trying to trap him so the Romans could get rid of Jesus. They also did not want Jesus to go to Jerusalem. They had seen Jesus there and were afraid that more would follow Him as before.

In verse 32 Jesus tells the Pharisees to go tell Herod that He will continue doing his work and on the third day will reach His goal. What was His goal? I believe it was dying on the cross on the third day.

Jesus talks about the Israelites killing the prophets that God sent. I don’t know if you have ever thought of Jesus as a prophet, but He was “The Prophet” that Moses references, the greatest prophet.

Jesus being God in the Flesh had such a love for the Israelites and compared that love with a hen that gathers chicks under her wings. This reminds me of the story of a forest ranger that came upon a standing burned up bird on the ground after a forest fire. After seeing this, he knocked the charred bird over. To his surprise a number of small birds fluttered out from their charred mother. The mother could have flown to safety but instead gathered up her young and sacrificed herself. What an example of Jesus love for each of us.

In verse 35 Jesus talks about their house is left to you desolate, I think this is talking about what happened after Christ died on the sins and the temple destroyed in 70 AD. Israel became most desolate.

But not all is lost, Jesus promises that we will see him again and all will be made new. How is that possible for us today? Well, once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit will come inside you and God will dwell with you.

O gracious Lord full of mercy and love for all people, help and guide each of us to seek a closer relationship with you every day through prayer, and studying your Word, the Bible. Amen.

Steve Feldman

Jesus was brave in today’s bible story. Jesus was making some powerful

people very angry, and Jesus knew if he went to Jerusalem there was

going to be trouble. But he also knew that God was calling him to go, so

he went.

When have you been brave? When have you followed God’s call to a

scary situation?

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March 18, 2019

Psalm 27

Today’s reading from Psalm 27 declares God’s faithfulness. This psalm is about

not losing faith and not being afraid:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?”

Men and women should not be afraid of anything. GOD is always with you in

your darkest trials and tribulations. As Christians we know that fear can take

over our lives. Living in today’s chaotic world, things become more and more

dangerous and we are afraid of both the known and the unknown. We are

often afraid of what the future holds for us. We are afraid of losing our jobs,

family, and health. In our lives as Christians we need to focus on GOD and his

confidence that will protect us from all evil. Why are we at times fearful

knowing that GOD is on our side? As the psalm goes on, we read that GOD is

our light. He protects us and guides us. We aren’t alone in this world. We find

our strength from him. We have to try to find a way in this world, find our light.

To me, in this world we are not alone. GOD is here with us and will guide and

protect us. We need the strength of both ourselves and GOD. Life is fragile and

feeble. A lot of times we become discouraged and weighed down with worries

and troubles. With GOD’s strength, we are given supernatural support and

divine power to carry on through life.

Dear LORD protect all of your children and watch over us with your guiding

grace and love. Amen.

Tanya Klages

The CEV (Contemporary English Version) translation of Psalm 27 might

be easier to read with little ones.

Write your own psalm (poem) tonight. David says God is light and

salvation. What is God like to you? Share your psalms with us on social

media!

17 March 19, 2019

Psalm 27

The first trip I took with my wife after our honeymoon was to Maui in October of 2013. Several months earlier, I submitted my first draft of the trip schedule to Jackie and asked what she would like to add to the schedule. Her response was a bit telling. She looked at me with a slightly stunned look and said: “This... is a lot.” She wasn’t wrong. I had each day broken down into different activities to maximize the usage of time for the duration of our stay on Maui. “I just want to make sure we get to do everything,” I replied, “because we may not be back here for a very long time—if at all.”

As irony, luck, or fate would have it, we would end up returning to Maui twice more within the next five years alone...

I’m a planner—to a fault. I need to have a plan in place so I can manage my expectations and ensure that the time isn’t wasted. I’m reluctant to fully relinquish that control to someone else or make last minute changes. So when I reflect upon our Lenten theme of surrender, you have to understand that this is quite the stumbling block for me.

Psalm 27 is a triumphant declaration by King David that he has nothing to fear because God “is [his] light and salvation,” and “the Lord is the stronghold of [his] life.” I sometimes wonder how such a psalm would be written if I were the author. Would I be extolling the virtues of outthinking my enemies—residing in a fortress of prudent planning—instead of trusting in the shelter of the Lord? Perhaps it is fortunate that I don’t have armies to command or enemies hemming in around me. Still, it is important to reflect on the faith of King David and his willingness to trust in the Lord and ask only to dwell in His house.

I know that this is something I will need to meditate especially hard on this Lent. While I do not have enemies or armies to contend with, there are certainly aspects of my life I need to stop over planning and put faith that God will see me through to the other side. What sorts of things do you need to surrender to God and instead simply dwell in the shelter of the Lord?

Heavenly Father, You are my light and my salvation. One thing I ask is that I may dwell in Your house, sheltered in Your love. Please grant me the faith to surrender my will to Yours and trust in You. In Your holy name I pray, Amen.

Andrew Hanson

David writes that the Lord is his light. The days are getting longer! What

does the sunlight look like early in the morning? What does it look like

late at night? Just like we know the sun will rise and set each day, we

know God is with us always.

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March 20, 2019

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

The last time you made a promise to someone, did you happen to cut a bunch

of animals in half and then make a path between the animal parts to walk

through? Great, we have something in common, I haven’t done that either.

But Abraham does this to make a promise with God. To seal the “blood oath,”

the parties involved would walk between the animal parts essentially saying

that if the promise is not kept, this will happen to my body. My younger self

though a pinky promise was the most serious oath, but this blood oath is

gravely serious.

But Abraham falls asleep, and God, represented by the “smoking firepot and

flaming torch,” passes through the animals and makes the promise alone. This

life-altering promise is fully reliant on God, not on Abraham.

As we approach Easter, we are considering another blood oath made for us by

this life-altering God of ours. Again, this promise of everlasting life is reliant

on God, not on us. That’s the Good News.

It’s the season of Lent. During this time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving,

what do you feel called to do in response to this incredible blood oath that

God has done for us?

Creator God, we know you keep your promises. From Noah and the rainbow to

Abraham and the stars, your creation reminds us of your promises daily.

Amen.

Sara Ray

Spark Story Bible page 30

Sometimes it’s hard to see the stars in Houston, but how many can you

count tonight? Stars are fascinating! Do some research together and see

what you can learn about stars.

19 March 21, 2019

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

This passage contains God’s promise to Abram (not yet renamed Abraham) that he,

himself, will have descendants as countless as the number of stars in the sky. Abram

says he believes God and the Lord “reckoned it to him as righteousness.” God then

tells him he will possess the land God has brought him to “out of Ur of the

Chaldeans.”

In the very next verse, Abram asks “. . . how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

There is no mention of Abram’s believing or righteousness this time. How quickly we,

God’s people, forget and doubt!

The passage goes on to describe a strange instruction from God to bring various

animals, which Abram splits in two (except the birds) and puts the halves on opposite

sides of a trench, where the blood will collect. In a very informative narrative by Ray

van der Laan in a video series called “That the World May Know,” by God walking

through the blood, through a vision of “a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch,” He

was making a blood oath and showing Abram this promise cannot be broken. This

was a one-sided, unmerited, unconditional act on the part God.

Does this remind you of another word? GRACE.

It’s difficult to identify the notion of “surrender” in this story of Abram, but God was

not done with him yet. The more famous interaction between him and God involves

the directed sacrifice of his son Isaac. When (the now renamed) Abraham proves his

obedience to follow God’s most difficult instruction, full surrender to God’s will was

demonstrated. The choice was made, the reluctance was overcome, trust was

realized, faith occurred.

Surrender has never been easy, in our nature, immediate or without reason. Being

required to surrender, such as in war, signifies defeat. Choosing to surrender to God

signifies faith.

Heavenly Father, we praise you for your faithfulness to your promises. We confess

our tendencies to doubt and want to maintain control. We thank you for your

patience, persistence and love for each of us. We ask you to help us choose to

surrender to your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Joie Folkers Spark Story Bible page 30

When was the last time you made a promise to someone or someone

made a promise to you? Was the promise kept?

How did that feel?

20

March 22, 2019

Philippians 3:17-4:1

I read in today’s scripture that Paul is calling on me to follow his example in living for Christ. Simply put, I must surrender my life and those things which keep me from living a life that is true and pleasing before God. What I must remember is that I am now a citizen of Heaven and no longer of this world. I have accepted Christ and am now a foreigner in this land in which I reside.

Even though I am destined to live here until I am called to my home in Heaven, I do not have to live as this world lives. I can live a life that is pleasing to God by being an example to all around me. I can refrain from judging others, using course language, tearing others down to build myself up, and simply love everyone like I love myself.

Will I be looked upon as if I were different? Most assuredly, because by my actions and behavior, I will not be the same as many around me. However, I will be living a life that is pleasing to my God simply because I have surrendered my life to Him. Most all of us know someone living here from a foreign land. They have different customs, languages and ways of doing things. I must however accept their differences and allow them to live in peace.

This is all that is required of me as Heaven’s citizen. I will strive to be accepting of others, share about my Savior, while not being obnoxious and be a beacon of hope for a lost world.

Heavenly Father help me each and every day to release myself unto you for I am indeed a citizen of your Heavenly Home and look forward to the day I am home. Amen.

Billy Pickett

Play a game of follow the leader! This can be an active game around the

house, or you can play a more relaxed version at the dinner table with

simple motions.

Who are the leaders you follow in your every day life? How do they

remind you of God?

21 March 23, 2019

Philippians 3:17-4:1

The foundation of this passage is Paul’s explanation to Philippian Christians that faith saves us, not work. In his letter, written from prison, Paul calls the Phillippians to follow his example in a Christ -centered Earthly life, as that will bring us closer to the ultimate call; a life with God in Jesus Christ.

The recognition that there are enemies of the cross, whom live for the God in their stomach, reminds me that sin and temptation are realities of a life on Earth. In my own life, it is the sin, mistaking compulsion for freedom, that keeps me from realizing a life with Christ. Christians are often lured to indulge in the best this world has to offer because they cannot imagine the glory that awaits true citizens of heaven. When I devote myself to actualizing my faith, continuing a conversation through prayer and devotion with Jesus; then I and my Christian family, accept that God makes us citizens of heaven and strengthens us through hope in our coming Savior Jesus Christ.

The passage inspires me to persevere in my faith. Jesus persevered on Earth through excruciating tests of faith and humanity, so that I may live a full life on Earth, and in Heaven. Paul calls us to “stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” Despite the times I have acted as an “enemy of the cross,” my faith in the Savior will bring me a heavenly home, on Earth and in Heaven. Faith priorities go beyond the physical body.

Dear Lord, what a wonderful privilege to be part of Your heavenly family as one of Your children. Thank You Father for all the grace and love that you have poured out on me to make me one of Your heavenly people, and to give me an heavenly inheritance. I pray that throughout the rest of my life on earth I may glorify Your holy name in my conversation and conduct, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Stefanie McIntosh

We are called to stand firm in Christ, so here’s a game to practice

standing firm!

Two people stand an arms-length apart (can actually put hands on other

persons shoulders to make sure of the distance). Players should keep

their own feet together.

Then players put their hands in front of them, palms facing out. The two

players then try to make the other player lose their balance (i.e. move

their feet). The only thing players are allowed to touch however is the

other player's palms.

22

March 24, 2019

Luke 13:1-9

This text from Luke it a heavy one. Jesus talks about two disasters -- one an

instance of state-sanctioned terror, one a random accident. Both saw people

snuffed out with little warning and for no apparent reason. Both kinds of events

lead the rest of us to realize how precarious our existence is. Jesus implies that

the victims did nothing wrong, nothing that caused their demise. He

characterizes life as just nasty, brutish, and short. Although these events might

allow Jesus an opportunity to defend God against charges of mismanaging the

universe, he does not go that route. Jesus only implies that we must not equate

tragedy with divine punishment. Sin does not make atrocities come. They just

come.

The parable in the second half reinforces ideas from the first half of this passage.

A cultivated yet unproductive tree may continue to live even without bearing

fruit, only because it has been granted additional time to do what it is supposed

to do. Unless it begins to bear fruit the result will be its just and swift destruction.

Like Jesus' earlier words in response to the recent tragedies, the parable warns

against false reassurance. Just because you have not been cut down, do not

presume that you are bearing fruit. The tone of the parable shows that patience

and mercy temporarily keep judgment at bay. The role of the gardener offers a

crucial characterization of this patience and mercy. The tree has not been left to

its own devices. Everything possible is being done to get it to act as it should. God

does not leave people to their own resources. God is with all of us through

tragedy and will give us the tools and the love to grow fruit and be prosperous,

which is Good News.

Dear God, we regularly fall short of your desire and intentions. Invite us to turn in

repentance, sorrow, and gratitude that we may use the time you have given us to

love others as you have loved us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Cody Miller

Spark Story Bible page 372

Try some figs this week! What do they taste like to you? If you’ve eaten

figs before, try a new fruit or vegetable this week and learn

how it grows.

23 March 25, 2019

Psalm 63:1-8

When was the last time you longed for something? Like really actually longed

for it, not just missing your couch and TV when at work or school. But missing a

family member that passed away or missing a relationship that has ended. That

type of longing is formed through relationships and this psalm teaches us we

should have the same longing for God.

“O God, you are my God, I seek you.”

We need God, his love is as important to us as food and water. He is important

to us in a spiritual way not just an intellectual way. We must get our fill of love

from God by participating in Holy Communion and having a relationship by

praying to him, not only reading his word (although that is important). God has

helped us through so much and satisfied us with great lives, so we should praise

him. Whatever the way you praise God is, by going to church on Sundays or

Wednesdays, joining a small group to dive deeper into his word, or by reading

and taking in his word on your own time, find time to do that today or this

week.

I relate to this Psalm and what is says about praise when I reflect on my time as

worship director at Camp Hope. Being worship director, I not only got to praise

and worship God in my own different way, but I got to lead and teach others

how to also. Giving these kids a start a start in their faith meant the world to me

and all the other staff at camp.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us lives full of fullness and love. Thank you for

our family, friends, and possessions that you have blessed us with. God, help us

remember what the meaning of this Lent season is, it's for you and your Son to

save our sins and help us continue to praise you with joyful lips throughout this

time. Amen.

Cassie Miller

Today’s bible verses mention different body parts throughout the

passage. How many body parts can you find?

How can you praise God with your whole body?

24

March 26, 2019

Psalm 63:1-8

Psalm 63 was written by David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. David

was on the run from King Saul who was looking to kill him. Theologian

Matthew Henry reminds us “the best and dearest of God’s saints and servants

may sometimes have their lot cast in a wilderness, which speaks them lonely

and solitary, desolate and afflicted, wanting, wandering, unsettled and quite

at a loss what to do with themselves. All the straits and difficulties of a

wilderness must not put us out of tune for sacred songs, but even then it is

our duty to keep up a cheerful communion with God.”

Three years ago this month my father passed away, and I really struggled with

the loss. My father was a Christian man and I knew I would see him again one

day. But even so, I couldn’t seem to find comfort after he passed. I was in

this “wilderness.” I had learned many years before in my bible study that “the

best way out of the pit is to praise God.” It seems counter intuitive, but just

like David does in verses 1-8, I focused on thanking and praising God.

Something happens when even in our struggles and grief and pain we thank

God for our circumstances. We gain a new perspective, and as in my case,

comfort comes. The joy of living returns. Like our Lenten theme “Surrender”

we give our thanks and praise to God, and He takes on our burdens and our

worries.

Lord, we know that there will be times in our life when we are in the

“wilderness.” And it will seem like You have abandoned us in that wilderness.

But help us to remember to stay focused on You. To remember to praise and

thank You in all of our circumstances. In Jesus holy name we pray. Amen.

Doug Wittenberg

On March 15 you made a list of things God has given you and you gave

God thanks for those things.

Add to your list things you want to praise God for!

25 March 27, 2019

Isaiah 55:1-9

I love the way this psalm begins. David is writing this psalm after having done

a terrible thing, and the guilt he feels is overwhelming. He had slept with

Bathsheba (the wife of his good friend Uriah, who David had sent to the front

battle lines, knowing he’d be killed). The adultery and murder, among other

things, weren’t specifically mentioned by David, but he recognizes them and

holds himself accountable, making him unclean in front of God. Then David

shows his trust in God; he knows that, unlike man, if he surrenders his will,

repents and admits his wrongs, that God will take him back into Himself and

pardon David’s wrongs.

He sounds like someone selling hot dogs “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to

the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine

and milk without money and without price…” He wants people to understand

that what God offers (unbounded mercy) is available to everyone. Humans

hold on to sin, and it keeps coming up. This guilt, then, that we hold onto,

prevents us from being in full relationship with God.

But “my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the

LORD. God’s ways are higher, and God’s thoughts are higher than our

thoughts,” David writes.

But we have to come to terms with our sin; we have to go to the hot dog cart,

pull out our wallet, and admit to God that we have done wrong. God will then

forgive anyone who surrenders their willful heart and admits their wrong. Of

this David is sure, because he has lived it out. It’s not that God just gives away

hot dogs; God is waiting for us to surrender our own will to His will, to repent

and admit our wrong, and allow ourselves to take the mercy He offers. David

understands that it is a sure thing, and want everyone to know that it’s there.

Father God, we all fall short of Your glory. Help us see our sin for what it is,

surrender it to You, and accept the forgiveness that You are waiting to offer.

Denise Cook

What would you buy if you had a million dollars? Do you think that

would make you happy?

This Isaiah passage reminds us that God’s love is for everyone, and it

cannot be bought with money or earthly things.

26

March 28, 2019

Isaiah 55:1-9

On the headboard of our bed sits my baptism certificate. Back in 1979, after a seminary professor asked our class if any of us knew when we were baptized, (I did not know!) I asked my mother if she had it somewhere on file. She did. And she sent it to me. I was baptized in a little white frame church in the Upper Peninsula town of Crystal Falls, Michigan, on October 2nd, 1955; two weeks after I was born. I framed it and it has been “watching over me” as I sleep every night since. In the morning, I try each day to look at it when I wake up; then pause, for just a moment… to remember. Then I step into the shower and let the waters flow over me. There is nothing like it in the world to me. Simple and sweet; I come to the waters.

This Lenten season, Isaiah calls to us from Chapter 55: 1, “Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” And in verse 7 he calls to us even more strongly; “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.”

Lent, for me, has always been about Grace. Abundant, generous, amazing Grace for all who open themselves up to wallow in it. I am haunted by the waters of baptism because it is such a mystery, such a gift that I don’t deserve, surely, but when I open myself up to such a love, I am transformed. God’s mercy touches me deeply: Daily. Hourly. Every minute of each day. And each time I take the moment to remember, Isaiah’s words speak volumes, from vs. 9: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Meanwhile…Come to the waters.

Dear God, thank you for calling me out from the waters of Baptism and gifting me for this amazing journey, filled to the brim with your love and grace. Fill my heart with the desire to keep me turned toward you.

John Boldt

Make a sign to put over your bed to remind you that you are a beloved

child of God. Maybe your sign is plain and simple, or maybe your sign

needs glitter and sequins. Either way, you are a beloved child of God,

called through the waters of baptism and on a journey with God!

If you are not baptized yet, please contact Sara Ray

(sray@kinsmenlutheran.org) or one of our pastors, and they will be

happy to begin that journey with you!

27 March 29, 2019

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

The most striking part of this reading to me was the phrase “He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” While we are familiar with the concept that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle, I think it’s also important to understand the God gives us obstacles to face in life, but he also provides us the endurance to deal with the pain. The word used for test here can also be translated into ‘temptation’ from the original Greek.

I always imagined that when faced with temptations in life, they would be obvious to spot. The temptations listed in this passage, idolatry, immorality, testing God, all seem like obvious mistakes. However, the temptations we face in our lives are often much more subtle. We are too often tempted to procrastinate, overwork, under nourish ourselves, and self-destruct. God not only helps us endure trials and temptations, but he also wants us to care for ourselves. He not only steers us away from the wrong, he also pushes us toward the good. God works in mysterious and unfathomable ways. When we are faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, instead of beating ourselves up for not being strong enough, we should treat ourselves kindly and remember that God helps us endure and will show us the way.

Let us pray:

Dear God, we surrender to you when we feel we are being tested beyond our strength. Remind us to steer away from life’s everyday temptations and to take care of ourselves. Thank you for your steadfast love. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Lauren Grobe

Do you have any tests this week? Maybe you have a test in school, but

maybe there will also be a test of your character or your kindness.

Remember that God is with you no matter what! Make a mark or put a

sticker on your hand that reminds you God is with you always, even

during a test!

28

March 30, 2019

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

This passage makes me think of a caring parent trying to protect their child.

”Please don’t wear your fancy shoes to the playground because you can’t play very well in those shoes and I want you to have a fun time with your friends.”

“Please stop dancing while I’m helping you brush your teeth so I don’t jab you with your toothbrush.”

“You can have 5 jelly beans because eating that whole bag might make your tummy hurt.”

The rules I make as a parent are warnings from history, either my history or my daughter’s very recent history. And it even states that in verse 6: “Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.” I obviously want better for my child, as I’m confident my parents wanted better for me, too.

But if my daughter is anything like me, she’ll want to learn some lessons for herself. She’ll need to learn some lessons for herself. I can’t protect her from everything.

The Good News comes at the end of verse 13: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength.”

Dear God, you want the best for us so you give us rules to follow like a caring parent does. You call us your children , and there is no better title. Amen.

Sara Ray

What is a rule you had to follow today? Was it easy or hard to follow the

rule? Why do you think the rule was made?

If you could make any rule for the world, what would it be? Why is that

rule important to you?

29 March 31, 2019

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Today I read again the parable of the lost son. How he took his inheritance, left home and squandered it through loose living. Only after losing all and hitting rock bottom did he swallow his pride and return home to find all was forgiven.

In 1989 when my son decided that it would be in his best interest to live somewhere else I was put in this same type of situation. While I was not happy with his adult decision, I reluctantly agreed and allowed him to go as he pleased. As a result, I did not hear from him for many years. My only recourse was to surrender him to God and pray that he would be safe. Many years later, he called home one afternoon wishing to talk.

He had met a woman and was seeking my blessings. He also wanted advice on what might lay in store in marriage. Namely, she had children from a previous marriage and since this was how he came to be my son, he wanted to know how hard it would be. We talked at length and while he did not return completely, it did open the door. Later we grew into a great relationship that lasted until his death in 2012.

I honestly believe that had I not surrendered him to God’s care, that our relationship would never have been as good later on. I do not always know what to expect when I surrender myself and situations to God. I have to trust that He knows best and wait for His blessings.

Gracious Father, help me to trust you in all things, to be mindful of your glory, and to know that you have my best interest at all times. Today, I surrender __________, to you in your Blessed Son’s name, Amen.

Billy Pickett

Spark Story Bible page 378

When you have been welcomed? Maybe it was after a time away, or

maybe it was when you were brand new to a place or a situation. How

did people make you feel welcome? How can you be a welcoming

presence at your home, school, and church?

30

April 1, 2019

Psalm 32

Sometimes it can be difficult for us to admit that we were wrong. It may be that we don’t understand what we did was wrong, or we understand, but refuse to admit it. In Psalm 32 the writer, David, says in verse 5 “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Admitting to the person that you wronged, that you had wronged them is only half of the battle. You still need to ask God for forgiveness. No matter what you did he will absolutely forgive you, but he won’t unless you repent and ask for his forgiveness.

Personally I have hurt people, but refused to acknowledge what I did was wrong. When I was in 5th grade, one of my friends fell in the middle of a cheer and hurt her wrist. Because this friend was known for overreacting at times, I dismissed her injury and even made fun of her for being a “drama queen.” The next day I found out that she had actually sprained her wrist and needed to go to the doctor to make sure it wasn’t broken. Of course I felt bad for making fun of my friend, however I just pretended that everything was fine. Finally, a few weeks later, I realized what I had done was wrong, and apologized to my friend. Unfortunately because of this it took awhile for me to regain this friend’s trust again. Now, part of this story was just normal 5th grade friend drama, and it’s a pretty insignificant story in the whole scheme of things, but this was one of those moments where if I had a time machine I would love to go back and change. I feel like I could have had a much better relationship with that friend if I had apologized sooner.

Admitting what you did was wrong, and asking for forgiveness is a very hard thing to do. Even if we decide to ask for forgiveness, we don’t know how the other person will react. It takes a lot of courage and bravery to ask someone for forgiveness. One of the best things we can do to make this easier is to talk to God first. If we admit that we were wrong to God then we’re already halfway there. We need to have the courage to admit what we did wrong to whoever we wronged, so that it doesn’t further ruin our future relationships.

Dear God, thank you so much for always forgiving us no matter what. Please help us to have the courage to admit what we did wrong, and be forgiven. Please help us to see our mistakes, and learn from them to be a better person. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

Colgan Nash

Colgan shared a personal story about forgiveness with us today. When

have you forgiven someone? When were you forgiven?

Which was harder?

31 April 2, 2019

Psalm 32

Forgiveness is prevalent throughout Psalm 32. David details his suffering resulting from his transgressions and then seeks remediation via his request for forgiveness. Acknowledging his request, the Lord forgives and blesses him. David obviously needed, sought and asked for forgiveness as part of his relationship with God, but in this traditional Old Testament perspective, it is one-sided and all about him (David).

Jesus’ teachings bring a deeper meaning to our Father’s forgiveness plan during his Sermon on the Mount. Second only to loving our God with all that we have and are, we are to love and forgive others as we ourselves desire to be loved and forgiven

Universal forgiveness of others’ actions against me? This is the sticky part. Growing up outside of a church environment, I was taught that people are accountable for their actions. Actions have consequences. Punishment is often a consequence. Forgiveness is conditional and not always even available after amends have been made.

These are opposing viewpoints. I have spent decades struggling and learning about the depth of God’s love. I grew up in a broken condition and seek repair. Like all broken things, it takes finding the pieces, putting them back together and then gluing them into place. Sometimes there are pieces missing or they don’t fit right. God’s love puts it all back together, but the glue – that sticky stuff – is made from forgiveness.

I can only become a vessel filled with God’s love once I surrender all the bad stuff that is inside me. Through faith, my beliefs grow from his desire to make me whole through that love. Forgiveness is the process.

Holy Father, help me to always look to you and let go of everything else, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Patti Suler

Psalm 32 verse 7 says “You (God) are a hiding place for me.”

Play hide and go seek! For the older crowd, hide an object around the

house and see who is first to find it.

What does it mean to you that God is a hiding place for you?

32

April 3, 2019

Joshua 5:9-12

The meaning of ‘surrender’ may be associated with giving up in a battle or trouble when someone breaks “man’s laws.” When we ‘surrender’ to God, we acknowledge that what we “own” belongs to Him. He is the giver of all good things, and it is our responsibility to care for them. But we must ultimately admit God is in control of all things, including our present circumstances and surroundings; and He gives us all earthly and divine blessings, most important is believing that God came into the world as Jesus Christ and ultimately suffered His death and resurrection. Relating ‘surrender’ to Joshua 5:9-12, the suffering, the shame of slavery, and the humiliation of control by the Egyptians to the Israelites, was finished. The circumcision of those born during the wandering in the wilderness and now in their own land Canaan shows God was fulfilling His promise which is seen through the healing of the men, as uncircumcised men could not participate in the Passover Celebration. God had honored His promise of providing food as the Israelites wandered in the desert and fresh crops in the ‘promised land,’ Canaan. These events, as shown in Joshua, can provide hope for individuals who may be experiencing states of desperation, hopelessness, and feeling that God has left them. We feel that God has placed us in a small memory/assisted living group home to not only share our life experiences but show how God provides, He is always near even if He is not felt. Even though not everyone is wandering for forty years, God is still with us and we have been called to explain that although each may have to wait, but she or he will receive the promised fulfilment in Joshua 5 in God ‘s own time. Being reconciled to God today means acknowledging that God still works His salvation for us and that we need to be brave enough to let go of the past to rediscover and experience the Father’s love whatever our situation or history. Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to further understand our need to surrender our lives to You. Let us speak with those near to us who are lost in their ability to live in their present circumstances. During this Lenten Season, give all the ability to release the past and rediscover the future. Amen.

Sue and Don Dunshee

Read Exodus 16:1-8 (Spark Story Bible page 90) to help you understand

the manna that Joshua was talking about in the passage today.

33 April 4, 2019

Joshua 5:9-12

I remember an assignment I had to do for one of my seminary classes. I had to

reflect on the time periods of my life and pair a Bible verse or story with each

stage. This was an extremely helpful exercise (I encourage everyone to do this

at some point) because it helped me reflect on how God had been active—in

very different ways—throughout each stage.

At one point in my life it felt like I was engaged in a wrestling match with God.

The story of Jacob wrestling with God at the Jabbok River (Genesis 32) came

to mind for that time. At another point, it felt like God was calling me to

something new, so I reflected on 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ,

there is a new creation.” It was amazing to realize that God had been present

in so many different ways.

The Israelites experienced this change in how God was going to be active with

them in the reading from Joshua 5. God had been providing for the Israelites

by feeding them manna as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years living

as nomads. Before that, God was the liberator freeing them from slavery in

Egypt. Now God was going to be present with them in a new way as they

settled in the land.

What milestone moment are you experiencing at this time? Reflect on the

ways God has been faithful in the past.

Let us pray: God, I give you thanks for your presence in my life. Open my eyes

so that I may see you leading me, guiding me, and being present during this

next period in my life. Amen.

Pastor Beth Warpmaeker

Yesterday you also read the verses from Exodus about the manna and

the quail. What food do you wish would fall from the sky? Do you have a

special food that you get to eat when you travel?

34

April 5, 2019

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has

gone, the new is here!” —2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

A couple of weeks ago, I was leaving school and not paying attention that I

was still in a school zone, I hate to admit it, but yes, I was speeding. I

probably would not have even realized my poor choice had I not seen the

police officer sitting in the median. I knew he saw me too so I immediately

pulled over. I knew I was in the wrong and I was ready to pay the

consequences. After my confession and after the officer checked my driver’s

license and insurance, he told me “Mam, I am just going to give you a written

warning. Please watch your speed. These elementary parents are really

getting onto us for not doing anything so we will be out watching. Have a

good weekend.” All I could think about was how this officer showed me grace.

He could have written me a ticket but he chose to give me another chance.

It made me think about what God did for us. God took our sin upon the cross

when Jesus died for us. Even though we were dead in our sin, through Jesus’

sacrifice, our sin is not counted against us and we are no longer separated

from God. The relationship between God and us is no longer broken. That

officer gave me a second chance that day to make things right. God does that

for me and you every day. His mercies are endless and we can live in the

knowledge that through Christ we are made new. One of my favorite praise

songs is “Jesus Messiah.” It starts by saying:

“He became sin, who knew no sin

That we might become his righteousness

He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing, love so amazing”

Today, be encouraged to share that amazing love with others.

God of grace, thank you for loving us so much that you would give your one

and only Son to die for us. Help us to share the Good News of Your love with

others we encounter. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Kristen Schulze

Look up the song Kristen mentions in her devotion today, and listen to it

together. What sticks out to you? What is God saying to you?

35 April 6, 2019

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Reading 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, I remembered the story of Mario, a young man

from Guatemala with very low social status in his country. Mario from a very

young age was involved in thefts, consumption and distribution of drugs, etc.

As a young man he was caught by the justice system and imprisoned for

several years. While in jail Mario began to hear about Jesus Christ and that

made his life change completely. He said everything was new to him after he

met Christ.

Then I asked myself if I could see what is new in my life. How do others know I

am a new person in Christ? My faith, my love for others, my kindness, my

patience is the new thing I have in Christ. I understand that what we could

have been or done in the past is no reason for Christ not to receive us with

open arms and transform us into new people. We only need to surrender to

Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for transforming my life, for making me a new person. Help

me Lord to bring your transforming word to all. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Deacon Einstein Gonzalez

Be creative today! Use what you have—playdoh, pens, markers, pens,

etc.—and make a new creation! What would your new creation do?

Where would they live? What language would they speak? What food

would they eat?

We are a new creation in Christ—thanks be to God!

36

April 7, 2019

John 12:1-8

To me this passage speaks to the heart of worship. I’m impressed by Mary’s posture of worship. I see her broken and contrite heart in her actions – her weeping, her using her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet, her not caring what the others thought about her actions. And I see her extravagance of worship in the cost of her gift. It was a cost so large that others scoffed at it. Jesus, on the other hand, commends her actions. He sees her heart of love, humility, repentance, and worship. What drove her to these actions that day, we will never know for sure. But Jesus deems her actions as good.

This speaks to my heart, because I too have been to the point of tears before in prayer asking for forgiveness of sins and healing of emotional wounds. Maybe you have been there too. I know that I have been forgiven much and therefore I have been moved to love God much. I am reminded of the lyrics of the song Alabaster Box sung by CeCe Winans (songwriter Janice Sjostran).

I can't forget the way life used to be I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound And I spent my days Poured my life without measure Into a little treasure box I thought I found Until the day when Jesus came to me And healed my soul with the wonder of His touch

So now I'm giving back to Him All the praise He's worthy of I've been forgiven and that's why I love Him so much

And I've come to pour My praise on Him like oil From Mary's Alabaster Box Don't be angry if I wash His feet with my tears And I dry them with my hair You weren't there the night He found me You did not feel what I felt When He wrapped His loving arms around me And you don't know the cost

Of the oil in my Alabaster box

Jesus, may we never forget the cost of our sins that you paid for on the

cross. Remind us of the sins we need to humbly repent of, and of your great love

that is poured out on us when we come to you with a contrite heart. Help us to

come to you like Mary did with extravagant worship and feel your loving

response. Amen. Benita Engle

Spark Story Bible

page 444

What is the most

precious or

important gift

you’ve ever been

given? How would

it feel to give that

gift away?

37 April 8, 2019

Psalm 126

We are getting married in the Fall and are currently in the process of planning our wedding. We have spent hours, no, days, maybe weeks, even months, picking the perfect location, vendors, colors, flowers, drinks, food, invitations, photographers, favors, guests lists, and everything in between. These have been some of the most exciting days spent together, but also some of the most challenging. The phrase “the devil is in the details” comes to mind. We love making the decisions together, but it can be hard and we can struggle. We find that there is a tendency to get lost in the details of the wedding, we focus on flower arrangements and linens, and we lose sight of the important things and the promises we are making to each other and to God. Psalm 126 speaks of the Lord giving Joy to his people, and doing great things for them. He reminds us that even though we may struggle with the details, the Lord will reward us with His love, and give us Joy. We are reminded to surrender ourselves, our desires, and our struggles, to God, so that he can restore our fortunes, and will be there for us when we need Him. We know that God will always welcome us with open arms when we return to Him. God, we come to you with open hearts. We ask that you remind us to not lose sight of your word, and that even when we struggle, if we surrender ourselves to you, we will be filled with your Joy. Amen.

Jim Hughes and Kayla Mulkey

Many songs have the word “joy” in them. Look up some of your favorites

today and enjoy the music!

38

April 9, 2019

Psalm 126

Suffering is experienced everywhere in our daily lives, and often times we are

reminded of our grief. When our sorrows bear down on us, we think that the

hard times are never going to end. However, these experiences and times of

trouble do not last a lifetime. We receive a message of hope, allowing our

sorrows to turn into “shouts of joy.”

In the first three verses of the psalm, we are encouraged to look back at the

many ways that God has helped us in the past. There are many times that God

put forth acts of restoration. We see this with Sarah and Abraham with the

birth of Isaac. We see this with the reunion of Joseph and Jacob and the

brothers. We also see this with the people and the land of Canaan after the

Exodus. As we see with these acts, emotions of joy and celebration are

brought about. There are often times that our sorrow is bearing too much on

us that we ever wonder if we are going to laugh, have fun, or just enjoy

ourselves again. However, God provides us with a message of hope that

things will get better.

In the last three verses of the psalm, we are encouraged to have faith that

God will continue to help us. This faith allows us to weep for joy when dry

riverbeds are running with torrents of water. This faith allows us to shout with

joy when we get things we did not expect, like those who plant things

expecting nothing, yet receiving a harvest. God helps us in whatever way we

may not even realize we need it, and for that we are able to shout for joy!

Dear God, allow us to have the faith to know that you will continue to help us

whenever we need it the most or even least expect it. Allow us to find the

many reasons to shout for joy at your great works even in the midst of our

sufferings! Amen.

Hannah Schatz

When you’re at a meal with other people today, take turns telling

everyone something that brings you joy. See how many times you can go

around the table with everyone answering. Thank God for it all!

39 April 10, 2019

Isaiah 43:16-21

This passage from Isaiah begins with imagery from the exodus out of Egypt.

We might have visions of Charlton Heston, as Moses, in the movie The Ten

Commandments leading people through the parted sea. But, we must not

forget that it was God’s power over both nature and military might that made

the exodus possible.

During the time this passage was written, Judah was suffering from Babylon

rule. God’s salvation, as evidenced in the exodus, must have seemed so

distant. With little hope in the present, people lived in the nostalgia of the

past. So, in verse 18, the prophet commands them to “forget the former

things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah then describes a new future for their

lives—another redemption.

This reminds me of this quote: “Even though there are days I wish I could

change some things that happened in the past, there’s a reason the rear-view

mirror is so small and the windshield so big, where you’re headed is much

more important than what you’ve left behind.” Whatever mistakes or regrets

you have in your past, surrender to God’s grace. Do not concentrate on the

past, but use the lessons of the past and the faith that God has brought you to

this place to transform your present and future.

As Moses and the Israelites surrendered to God’s commands and were led out

of Egypt, so too must we surrender to God’s will for our lives so that we may

view the present and future with expectation, not fear.

Thank you God for reminding us that Your grace and power have sustained us

in the past, will see us through the present, and guide us into the future.

During times of change and uncertainty, help me surrender to Your will.

Amen.

Renee Alfaro

God is doing a new thing in this passage and within us every day. Try

something new today! Maybe a new food, talking to a new person,

trying a new skill. How did it feel to try something new?

40

April 11, 2019

Isaiah 43:16-21

Do you ever feel stuck? I do. We can feel stuck in routines, stuck in bad habits, stuck in ways of life that are leading us nowhere and stuck in ways that are even destructive. Do you ever feel stuck? I do. It’s frustrating because you know that you are stuck but cannot seem to find your way out.

Now it’s a gross understatement to say the people of God felt stuck in Egypt. They weren’t stuck. They were trapped, enslaved and oppressed by an unjust system. They cried out in their suffering and God heard them. And you know how the story goes. There was a burning bush, Moses was sent, Pharaoh said no, God sent the plagues, Pharaoh relented and then pursued with his armies all the way to the bottom of the sea. The people of God had been liberated and set free. God heard their cries and they were delivered.

The people of God remembered this exodus story for generations. The people of God are still remembering this story. Each Passover celebration is a remembrance of God’s deliverance.

Today’s reading from Isaiah is a reminder of what God can do. The people of God were stuck again, this time in Babylon. They had been exiled to a far-off land. They wept by the rivers of Babylon. God again heard their cries. And God again reminded them of what God can do.

The words of Isaiah remind the people of what God did in Egypt. “I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea.” Even all those chariots and horses could not get in the way of what God was doing.

In today’s reading, Isaiah reminds the people of the deliverance provided in the past. And, behold, God is about to do it again. Isaiah proclaims that there will be a path through the wilderness to lead them home from exile. They will be delivered from captivity once more. God is doing a new thing.

We can think about the waters of baptism as our exodus. In baptism we were delivered and set free. We believe that we were joined with Christ in baptism. As we passed through those waters, our old ways were put to death in Jesus’ death. We rose with Jesus from those waters and were delivered into his resurrection and life. When we were stuck in sin, Jesus delivered us through forgiveness. When we were overcome with evil, Jesus overcomes evil with good. When death had power over us, Jesus delivers us to eternal life.

When we feel stuck and trapped, we return to the promise made to us in baptism. We remember God’s deliverance. We remember what God did in those waters and what God will do again.

This Lent our theme has been about surrendering. Sometimes we have to recognize that the reason we have remained stuck is because we keep trying to get unstuck all by ourselves. So let’s surrender our stuck-ness to God. Let’s surrender and admit that we still do need God to deliver us. Let’s recognize that God is about to do something new.

Lord God, thank you for giving us the power to be the children of God. Deliver us from thinking that we do not need your deliverance. Free us from where we find ourselves stuck. Help us to welcome the new thing you are doing in our life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pastor F. Mark England

Looking forward to the next week, what new thing do you hope to

accomplish? In the next month? In the next year?

41 April 12, 2019

Philippians 3:4b-14

One day an acquaintance that I didn’t know well said to me “You are so busy; how do you find time for God?” After an awkward pause, I recited my lengthy resume of my church involvement. Then she politely told me I hadn’t answered the question. I am a precise type and that didn’t set too well. I took her comment seriously and reevaluated my spiritual priorities, putting my own relationship with Christ first. This took a surrender of time and energy devoted to something else, and talk about a “work in progress,” I am still working on it today!

In Philippians 3, Paul has all the right credentials to be righteous; his pedigree, his education, even being a Pharisee. He certainly achieved perfection according to the law of Moses. Yet Paul regards all of his accomplishments as a “loss” or “rubbish.” I believe this is based on his desire to gain righteousness through faith, rather than through the law.

Paul wants to let go of his past and begin a new life in Christ; one in which he truly knows Christ Jesus well enough to feel his pain and suffering and resurrection. That doesn’t mean he has to die on the cross, but he experiences a “death” of his old self and a “rebirth” of himself so closely bound to Christ in spirit that he in fact realizes a spiritual death and resurrection.

When I was asked that pivotal question, I had to take a reality check of my spiritual well-being. I felt as if I was living at a specific point between my past and my future. To me, letting go of the past doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I still have my treasured memories and some I would just as well forget! My newfound life or resurrection was freedom from the past and merely meant that my history and accomplishments no longer define me. Only God can tell me who I am and what I am called to do in his name.

Paul admits he has not achieved his “goal” but is “pressing on” and “straining forward to what lies ahead.” Just as Paul presses on, I must actively pursue my righteousness from God based on faith. Paul likens this journey to an ongoing earthly race in which the runner who keeps his “eye on the prize” and doesn’t look back will stay on track to win the prize. What is the prize? A living, loving relationship with Christ beyond this life on earth, so keep running and actively growing in faith. Never give up, the prize is great.

Dear God, help us to know the difference between righteousness of the law and the gift of righteousness by faith in God so that we may actively seek a personal, heartfelt union with Christ and hear his calling for us. Amen.

Laurie Froebel

Sometimes making time for God is as simple as recognizing where you

saw God today. So, where did you see God today? Write it here or share

it with a friend.

42

April 13, 2019

Philippians 3:4b-14

A few years ago, as I was being interviewed for a potential professional

award, I was asked the requisite question – what words of wisdom do you

have for young women pursuing their careers today? Without hesitation I

said – ‘allow yourself to be vulnerable sometimes.’ I’m reminded of that

experience as I ponder today’s text and consider the theme of “surrender.”

When I was told later the reason I did not receive the award was because of

my answer, I wasn’t surprised. That concept is very counterculture. Certainly

“vulnerability” – much like “surrender” --can carry some negative

connotations, but for me allowing myself to be vulnerable means stopping

how I’m doing things in the ways that our culture and traditions dictate, and,

open myself up to receive and be perhaps made new through the words and

wisdom—and grace -- of others. I think this is exactly what Paul is trying to

say to the people of Philippi -- whatever you think you have become as you

followed the rules and lineage of this culture in which you live – well, it’s

rubbish. Our “reward” comes when we let it go, surrender it all and allow

ourselves to be liberated from that which fetters us. It’s scary, though,

because we may also be wrenched from all that is known a