Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church Lenten Devotional 2021

Through daily devotion, we can draw nearer to God. We read our Bible, coming across scripture we haven’t read in a while, some we’ve never read at all, and other passages that are a well-worn path in our brain. The reflections written by members of our congregation allow us to experience scripture through different lenses and perspectives.

Take time for yourself and your faith life by “devoting” a few minutes each day to read the verses of the day, the devotion and prayer.

The front cover is an opportunity to complete some meditative coloring. Coloring can provide stress-relief and help you to relax.

Thank you to all who wrote for our Lenten Devotional.

Ash Wednesday February 17, 2021

Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17 Psalm 51: 1-17 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Lo and behold, Ash Wednesday might be an occasion for public expression and internal personal celebration if we are not mindful. We sit in our pews quietly reflecting on the season and await the big moment. You know the moment I mean, the ashes! We want the ashes! At the altar rail, we get smudged! There is something about the ashes that makes us feel apart from the outside crowd. You might think of them as roses from God, a badge of honor, a declaration or something along those lines. However, focusing on the ashes and ourselves can lead us astray. The ashes do not make us better Christians; it is the quiet meaning of the ashes that we should focus upon. But, unfortunately, if you settle into this very rosy understanding of your own self, the reading from Matthew comes along to hit you upside the head: “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them...... but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Whether you depart with a smudge, a grease spot or look like a coal miner at the end of Ash Wednesday, remember the gospel poses a question—what is really important?

Prayer: As a child I craved attention. As an adult things haven’t changed much. Please help me to remember the true meaning of love and faith. Keep my heart, mind and life in the true spirit of your grace and love. Amen

Charles Miller

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Psalm 25:1-10 Daniel 9:1-14 1 John 1:3-10

John, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote the Gospel of John which is an account of Jesus' life in order to get people to believe in Jesus. His letters written to those believers in 1 John, 2 John and 3 John tell the Christians how to live. All of us, as believers, shouldn’t have to be told how to live if we truly follow Jesus. Sadly, today, listening to news, reading headlines in newspapers and all the nonsense on social media, yes, we do need to be reminded how to live if we are going to follow Jesus as we promised. In these verses, John tells us that God is light and in Him there is no darkness. If we walk in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from the sin we confess to Him. Thinking about my sisters and brothers here at Reformation, I am so proud to say I am a part of you. As a congregation we do walk in the light. We experience some dreary days when sad things happen in our families but the rest of our fellowship here at Reformation picks us up, takes our hands and helps us walk to and through the light. The ministries we do such as cooking and serving at Opportunity House, Family Promise, Exeter Food Pantry, Clothing Bank, making quilts for Lutheran World Relief and Grief Share, just to mention a few, with all those ministries we are helping to place light into those who need love and care all the while enjoying the fellowship with each other. If John were able to come here and visit with us today, I am sure he would have a smile on his face and say, “You people here at Reformation get it! Keep walking in the Light and showing others the way.”

Prayer: Jesus, during this time of Lent as we focus on your death on the cross so that our sins are forgiven, we also thank you for showing us the way to live and to John who reminded us how to live like you. Be with us as we continue our ministries here at Reformation and help us to bring others to you. Amen.

Judy Zettlemoyer

Friday, February 19, 2021

Psalm 25:1-10 Daniel 9:15-25a 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Reading this verse, I immediately think of our mission: To Preach, To Teach and To Reach. Our background in the faith should give us the courage to stand fast against hard times and use that courage to defend the truth of the gospel and pass along that message to all. This passage states there may be times when people will not listen to the word of God and instead listen to false teachers who tell us what we like to hear instead of the truth. They want people to say nice things that won’t trouble their conscience so they can go away feeling good. We have experienced that more than ever this past year in an increasingly hostile world. The sharp differences in the media, each trying to lead you on what they consider the “right” path. Some people will turn away and instead of responding to reason or conviction, they will rebel against it. They stumble through false ideas not knowing what to believe. This verse shows us that it is not simply surviving or enduring hard times, but maintaining our Christian values and perspective. Have patience with those who resist, despite the frustration we may feel. Being a music lover, I try to find songs to reveal my thoughts. I have found “Faith of Our Fathers” to be meaningful. Especially the following verse: Faith born of God oh call us yet, Bind us with all who follow you, Sharing the struggle of your cross Until the world is made anew Faith born of God, oh living faith, We will be true to you till death.

Prayer: Jesus, let your light shine before us that we may see past the daily clouds and be reminded of your good works. Help us share with others the true teachings of our Father in heaven. We pray earnestly for your help to be faithful servants. Amen

Sue Dobroskey

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Psalm 25: 1-10 Psalm 32 Matthew 9:2-13

“Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord, point out the right road for me to follow.” Psalm 25:4 When I was in my mid-20’s my grandmother called and asked me to come see her. It was a Saturday, and I was always happy to visit. It took about a half hour to travel to her home. I got in my car and started on my way. Obviously, my mind and car were on autopilot because before I realized it, I was on the route to work in the opposite direction from my grandmother’s house. The road I was on was limited access so I had to drive well out of my way before I could turn around and head in the right direction. No cellphones at the time, so my grandmother was concerned that an hour had passed, and I still had not arrived, but she laughed with me at my mistake. I think I often do the same thing with God. I live my days on autopilot. I do the routine, comfortable things, rarely challenging myself or stepping off the beaten path. Have I stopped to listen to where God is leading me? Have I taken the time to consider alternate routes for my life? We all know that God is there to lead us. But have any of us been listening? Are you spending your life on autopilot? Maybe it’s time to let God lead the way.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Open my ears to Your words. Show me the right path. I’m listening. Amen

Karen Hawk

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Genesis 9: 8-15 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Peter: 18-22 Mark 1: 9-15

In Genesis 9, God has established a covenant with Noah to never again send a flood to destroy the earth. Then a rainbow appeared in the clouds as a sign of the covenant. What a beautiful sign this was for Noah and his family after spending almost a year on the ark with all those animals. I always remember the 40 days that rain poured down on the earth but forget that they had to spend a lot more time in the water and then on top of a mountain while the water on the earth dried up. It sure makes our time in a COVID quarantine or waiting for a large snowfall to melt seem short in comparison. Reading the story of Noah, his ark, the flood, and then God's covenant with him is amazing. But even more impressive is seeing this in action. Just last weekend Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) had a free weekend showing of the Noah play from Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster. I have not seen the live version at the theater but was impressed with the film that was made of it. I recommend looking into their services as they offer these films at random times. It really lets you visualize the scale of the ark and think more about the day to day life of living on it. It was a huge project to tend to all the animals and there was no escape or rest from it. It took a strong faith for Noah to hear God's word and put his full trust in him. It was no easy task that God had set for him and his family. But God promised to be with him during this challenge and then made the covenant with Noah and all his descendants. So we continue to live in this covenant today and are reminded of it each time that we see a rainbow in the clouds.

Prayer: God, we thank you for making a covenant with Noah after the flood and continue to keep it with us today. Not only have you saved all people from an earth-ending flood, but you promise to be there with us though all our challenges in life. Your love endures and we must trust in your plan even if we don't always understand it. Amen.

Dan Bergey

Monday, February 22, 2021

Psalm 77 Job 4:1-21 Ephesians 2:1-10

“For by your grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 My mom was right! I was the baby of our family. My siblings were never home. I complained, “Mom, I have nothing to do. I’m all alone.” Her reply, “Ruth, you’re never alone. Jesus is always right here with you.” I’m grateful for mom planting that seed into my head. As a youngster I went to Sunday School and found Jesus in songs, stories, the Bible, and even games. As I matured, I found Jesus calling me through daily meditations and found that we need to act and follow Him. He is here. We are to obey and have a relationship with God. Jesus’ examples are to be humble, kind, pray unceasingly, love our neighbor, etc. All that stuff is sometimes annoying; but, God loves us, understands us, and through His Son, saves us daily. He is here. Yes mom, I know Jesus is with me. As Martin Luther put it, “For grace alone you have been saved”. Prayer: Merciful God, thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to your saints and sinners and thank You Jesus for saving us by your love, hanging on that cross. Amen

Ruth Blatt

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Psalm 77 Job 5:8-27 1 Peter 3: 8-18a

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” Job 5:9 “Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77: 13-14 In Max Lucado’s new book, You Are Never Alone, he shares the story of a woman named Barbara. Barbara had been a gymnast until the devastating effects of MS took hold of her life. For 16 years her condition worsened, ultimately leaving her nearly blind and confined to a hospital bed. One day a friend of hers called into a Christian radio station requesting prayers for Barbara. 450 listeners wrote letters to Barbara’s church, saying they were praying for her. One Sunday, as her aunt was reading several of the letters to her, Barbara suddenly heard a man’s voice behind her saying, “My child, get up and walk!” (There was no man in the room) Barbara told her aunt, “God just told me to get up and walk. I know he really did. Run and get my family!” In the moments that followed, all in the room witnessed the amazing miracle, as Barbara leaped from her bed and stood on her legs which had not supported her for years. She was able to breathe without oxygen and her sight had been completely restored. It’s hard to grasp the magnitude of what happened in the room that day—the power of God so visibly displayed! Today’s verses from Psalms and Job remind us we have a limitless God who works in powerful ways, accomplishing things we can often hardly imagine or comprehend. We have a God who can be entrusted with our greatest needs and concerns, and who does not abandon us even when our doubts and pride challenge our dependence on Him. And we have a heavenly Father who wants us to ASK boldly and BELIEVE confidently in his ability to transform our lives in miraculous ways! Thanks be to our marvelous God!

Prayer: Gracious God, Forgive us when we allow our doubt or fear to overshadow our trust in your awesome power. We thank you for the wondrous ways you work in our world and in our lives. And we thank you especially for the miracle of our salvation offered to us through your son, Jesus. Amen.

Nadine Blackburn

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Psalm 77 Proverbs 30:1-9 Matthew 4:1-11

I don’t know much about Agur (whose words are recorded in Proverbs 30), not anything really, but his words seem relevant today. In the Contemporary English Version, he cries out to God saying, “I am completely worn out! How can I last?” This sounds familiar to me as we all experienced a very trying year in 2020. Looking ahead to 2021, I think we will see some return to ‘normalcy’, although I’m not sure what that means anymore. Agur tries to keep it simple for us. He asks two things of the Lord: 1) to make him an honest man, and 2) to give him what he needs, no more and no less. I think those are some good requests that we should pause to think about. First - being honest, not lying to ourselves or to others, is always a good thing. Honesty is the foundation of most relationships. It helps us to trust one another and to grow or mature as a person. Without honesty, where would we be? Who would be with us in our lives? How would we feel about ourselves? Second – only get or take what you need, no more or no less. He warns that if he has too little, he might doubt in God, or if he has too much, he might deny that it was from God. Too many times ‘things’ become a distraction, whether you have too much or too little. It’s in finding the right balance that we can be at our best in worshiping, praising, and serving our wondrous God!

Prayer: Oh God, thank you for helping us get through a tough year (2020). Please stay with us in 2021; give us what we need to grow in a deeper relationship with you and others. Help us to find the right balance in life so that we stop worrying about the ‘things’ of this world and focus our attention on serving you! Amen.

Michelle Karasek

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Psalm 22: 23-31 Genesis 15: 1-6, 12-18 Romans 3: 21-31

Martin Luther, as a young friar, spent his days in prayer, study and worship. Nevertheless, he wrote “that I was a sinner before God with an extremely distressed conscience…I did not love—I hated!— the righteous God who punishes sinners.” Later, Luther’s deep study of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans changed his thinking and gave him solace after learning: “the righteousness of God is revealed through faith… ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’” (1:17). St. Paul goes on to write in today’s reading, we “are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith.” (Romans 3: 24-25) Amazing! Righteousness is a gift! God’s grace—his love freely given—brings about faith which results in salvation. With this understanding, Luther writes, “At this point I felt that I had been completely born again and had entered paradise itself through wide open doors.” In 1524, Luther wrote the hymn “Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior,” sharing the peace of mind he had achieved, knowing we are justified by faith. An excerpt: Lest this ever be forgot, he Offers to us his own body In a bit of bread to eat And in the wine his blood so sweet… So believe with faith unfailing This meal is for all the ailing, Those whose hearts are sore distressed By weighty sin and anxiousness… “Come to me,” invites the Savior “Let me care for you forever.”

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, in faith I thank and praise Your unmerited grace. You do so much for me. Amen.

Donald F. Smith, Jr.

Friday, February 26, 2021

Psalm 22:23-31 Genesis 16:1-6 Romans 4:1-12

Psalm 22 verses 23-31 express feelings of praise and adoration towards the Lord. It talks about how the Lord deserves to be honored and glorified because of his good will and his mercy. The speaker talks about how the Lord does not “despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted.” This means that the Lord takes mercy on all his people and respects them. He does not hide his face from these people but instead looks at them and listens when they cry to him for help. The speaker recognizes the Lord as the ruler of the Earth because of this. He claims that everyone on Earth will bow down and worship the Lord in a feast that will leave future generations singing praises to the Lord. These verses are celebratory verses meant for people to recognize the glory of the Lord. It shows that no matter who you are, what you look like or what you are going through, the Lord will always listen to you and support you when you look to him for help. He won’t judge your affliction and instead will take care to help you overcome it. He does not hide from you and does not attempt to run away from your troubles. In return, we celebrate these good deeds and glorify him through feast and praise for generations and generations.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask you to keep your ears open for everyone who cries to you for help and that you will not look on them in shame but instead care for them and nurture them in their time of need. Help us to celebrate your glory and mercy for generations to come in a great feast. We ask this in your name, Amen.

Katherine Kerchner

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Psalm 22:23-31 Genesis 16:7-15 Mark 8:27-31

A year ago today I was discharged from the hospital after having a stroke. The diagnosis not only surprised me but also several people, my family physician being one, because nobody ever pictured me as having a stroke. I remember lying in bed wondering, “What next? Who will take care of Herb?” After several interruptions by hospital staff doing their job, I thought, “OK, Judy. From little on up you were taught and you believe that you are in God’s hands so turn it over to Him.” As this Psalm tells us, He will not ignore the suffering, He will not turn away and He will listen to our cries for help. I can truly say that I lived that. The neurologist entered my room dressed in his blue attire and asked me what I was doing. I explained to him that I couldn’t touch my fingertips to my thumb but I was going to keep trying. It was a voice I heard in my head that told me to do it. That evening about 5:30 the same doctor came into my room dressed in a suit, white shirt and tie. He told me that he never goes back to see a patient after he makes the rounds but all day I was on his mind and he had to come back and ask me what made me do what I was doing. He never saw that kind of determination in any stroke patient. First I showed him that I could touch all my fingertips to my thumb. His response to me was, “that is a miracle.” He asked again why I did that. I told him that I had a conversation with Jesus and He told me to believe and not to be afraid of what was going to happen to me, that I would be OK and to try to touch my fingertips to my thumb and so I did. I could not believe my eyes when I read this choice I had for today.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you so much for the suffering you did for all of us on the cross. Thank you for being with me and guiding me through my health challenge. Please use me to help others believe in You and to appreciate all You have done for us. Amen

Judy Zettlemoyer

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22:23-31 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38

Faith is the theme behind today’s readings. Faith so dedicated that it wavers for nothing, even when it exceeds rationality. Some people would say that ranges from naïve ignorance to an irresponsible disregard for reality. We see this type of unwavering faith at work in Abraham’s belief that God will keep his covenant to provide him a son with his barren wife Sarah. There is certainly a good case to be made about the irrationality of that belief, considering that Abraham was 99 years old, and Sarah was 90 years old. Science will tell you that to bear a child at that age is about as close to impossible as it gets, and to believe it will happen suggests the believer has a deficiency in worldly wisdom or informed judgment. But we know that faith isn’t always (and normally isn’t) rational, and that often puts faith at odds with science. The message you often hear is that our society is as divided as it’s ever been. Though I think our country is far from the point of a second Civil War, there is certainly truth to the statement that there is division between the (sometimes unwavering) beliefs people have. The division between science and religion isn’t a new one, but it feels as if you’re expected to choose one or the other. Science or religion. But why does it need to be one or the other? Why can’t you combine the best elements of each, and have both? At one point in our history, religion was used to explain the unexplainable, but as our knowledge and understanding grew through scientific discovery, scientific theory replaced more and more of what religion previously explained. Because of its truth, objectiveness and rationality, I don’t think science can (or should) be ignored. But because of all the irrationality in life science can’t explain, I would say neither can religion. A dedicated, unwavering faith at times may not be rational, but the belief in something beyond our understanding is also not simple minded or unsophisticated. As we read, Abraham was rewarded for his dedicated faith in the covenant, which didn’t weaken even when he couldn’t understand how the physical limitations could rationally allow for Sarah to bear a child. Earlier this month, we saw a Super Bowl commercial featuring the U.S. Center Chapel, a small chapel strategically located in Kansas at the geographic center of the contiguous 48 United States. The chapel is free to visit, never closes, and doesn’t restrict anyone from entering. The ad was fittingly created and narrated by Bruce Springsteen, who has spent his career writing music about his vision of life in America. I think we would all benefit from a better understanding of the other side, and a closing of the divide between science and religion, among other things. Sounds like a good place to start would be a visit to that chapel where, as Springsteen so eloquently says, everyone can come “meet in the middle.”

Prayer: Lord, grant us the wisdom to recognize the existence of things beyond our understanding, the willingness to hear beliefs different from our own, the patience to find the common ground, and the strength through all trials to hold on to our dedicated faith.

Andy Dobroskey

Monday, March 1, 2021

Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45 Genesis 21:1-7 Hebrews 1:8-12

So, I’m reading through the texts for today’s lesson. I came away feeling strengthened and confident after reading the text from Hebrews. The author affirms the strength of Jesus as well as declares the longevity of His Kingdom. The author also strengthens the connection between the Father and the Son, acknowledging Jesus Christ as the one who “…laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” (Hebrews 1:10) How often do we separate the two (or three for that matter)? I also found it somewhat funny that I’ve also taken for granted that, even though Jesus lived over 2000 years ago, the idea that Jesus would remain forever. Verse 12 states: “…But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” I pray every morning to Him, knowing that He is there; however, not always “knowing” that He is there. How about you?

Prayer: Lord God, strength and comfort, You were there in the beginning and continue to be there for us always. Fill our soul with courage and our heart with love as we give you thanks for taking this journey on earth with us as we look forward to the day when we will join you in Your eternal Kingdom. Amen. Carl Kerchner Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45 Genesis 22:1-19 Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-19

“Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” Psalm 105: 1 When you get past the horror of considering how the LORD could so grievously test Abraham with the command to sacrifice his son Isaac, it’s possible to realize the power in the LORD’s returning Isaac to Abraham and his grace to none the less provide for the sacrifice. I heard this phrase, Abraham’s words to a worried Isaac, “the Lord will provide” frequently growing up. When I was uncertain, and when we as a family were uncertain about whether we’d have what we needed, my Mom could be heard saying simply, “the Lord will provide.” This stuck with me. It evolved over time into my own kind of mantra, “It will all work out.” And this is so in our life. Through good times and bad, the Lord has provided, it has all worked out. The last several months we have all been tested. Now, we’re not being asked to sacrifice out only son, yet we are being asked to sacrifice. And this sacrifice is costly. The sacrifice we are making, changing how we live, wearing masks, working to contain a deadly virus is not for ourselves but for the health and well-being of all. Others are sacrificing by exposing themselves to illness by working in health care, retail, grocery sales and the like. This exposing ourselves to risk for the sake of others is also sacrifice. And it is all difficult. How shall we know how it will end? The truth is we don’t and likely won’t know. Will this change us all for the better, or will we become even more separated. What I know is this, I give praise to the Lord for it every day. In Christ, all things work for good. It will all work out. The Lord will provide. You can bet your life on that.

Prayer: Gracious and loving Lord. Assure us deeply of your abiding presence in these testing times. Give us faith to know that you hold all things and that this too will work out. Thank you for the many ways that you have and continue to provide in our lives. Amen

Greg Stoddard

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45 Jeremiah 30:12-22 John 12:36-43

Celebrate God’s wonderful works by singing, shouting and dancing. If you can’t sing or dance that’s ok. And, if you were taught that it is impolite to shout… Hmmm. You can still celebrate God without using a soapbox. Giving people the benefit of the doubt, saying hello to strangers, being kind to all people are all forms of evangelism and ways to acknowledge God is good. It does not come easy. Our lot in life is to more easily remember the foolish and evil things than God’s good works. Being blinded by sin is “our choice”. We need to stop focusing on our failings. Asking for strength from God will make it easier to seek Him. Our reward is His grace freely given. FREELY GIVEN! Through His strength we can be strong. The Israelites were led out of Egypt because of their trust in God and, thereby, protected by Him. The goodness of God is beyond our comprehension. Trusting in the Lord will allow us to experience our own “manna from heaven”. It is not material things but the peace that inhabits our soul that compels us to live among one another and appreciate humanity and be strengthened by the love of family and friends.

Prayer: Lord, give us the strength to trust in You and stir us up to celebrate you and share Your goodness with others in our own way. Amen

Rich Hawk Thursday March 4, 2021

Psalm 19 Exodus 19: 1-9a 1 Peter 2: 4-10

I am writing this Lenten devotion on a Sunday morning. It is just beginning to snow and we are expecting close to a foot of accumulation. I am trying not to see the problems and hassles of a winter snowstorm but rather I am trying to focus on the life and beauty and peace of the season...the living stone of Christ. This is the perfect example of Jesus Christ as the living stone in our lives....a perfect contrast for our mortal minds. I chose this scripture also because a large part of who I am now is a daily example of Christ the living stone. Most weekends I visit the small albeit beautiful Garden of Devotion where most of Gregory’s ashes are buried. I am two and a half years into this journey of healing. The living stone contrasts that battle inside of me is realizing that the stone that bears Greg’s name is leading me to give thanks for the eternal life that is promised by Christ. Is it difficult? Yes, very. Verse 10 states “once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Thank you God for your grace and mercy. We are a blessed people.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for provoking our mortal minds to understand the holy contrast of life and death. Keep a watchful eye over us as we process and deal with difficult life circumstances. Amen.

Lisa Sokoloff

Friday, March 5, 2021

Psalm 19 Exodus 19:9b-15 Acts 7:30-40

We look at a passage from Exodus. This passage is when God talks to Moses and tells him to tell the people waiting at the bottom of Mount Sinai to prepare for his coming. One thing that stood out to me was how not only did the Lord want the people to consecrate themselves, but he also wanted the people to abstain from sexual desires. This relates to Lent since, like the people preparing themselves to see God, we also have to cleanse and prepare ourselves for the resurrection of Christ. During Lent, we are told to give up something we like. Some people usually give up sweets, coffee, or junk food. Yet, while doing so, some people do this in hopes to also lose weight or get fit. The meaning of the fasting and abstaining then gets lost underneath people’s desires. We need to understand the whole purpose of the 40 days of abstinence is to help us not only be physically but also mentally and spiritually prepared for Christ. We need to clear our conscience from temptation and other worldly desires and just think about the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I would like to pray for guidance as we are in the midst of our Lenten journey. I pray for us to have a clear conscience and for you to wipe away any temptation or worldly desires that might draw us away from you. Let our minds only be filled with thoughts of you as we await the resurrection of Christ. Amen.

Roxanne Mikel

Saturday, March 6, 2021

Psalm 19 Exodus 19:16-25 Mark 9:2-8

“The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 God’s glory is found all over his creation. All we need to do is look. Stars at night remind us that God is in his heavens. Psalm 47 tells us He knows them by name. He knows us by name. His handiwork is proclaimed in the sunsets like Christ’s light of the world. Our light shines when we listen to woes of others and say we’ll pray for them. His rain falls and nourishes the food we prepare for Opportunity House. His flowers grow pretty so we may cheer others lying sick. He gave us commandments to follow so we can be safe. He gave us hearts to love our neighbors. We all are part of his handiwork. He made us.

Prayer: Father, we are happy to be in and around Your creation. Teach us how to care for it and to be thankful, humble, kind, do justice, and loving to all you have created. Amen

Ruth Blatt

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22

The Ten Commandments-if you're like me, we have had these memorized from days spent in Sunday School and Confirmation classes. We even remember the number assigned to each Commandment. I find it interesting that in the Lutheran Study Bible right above this reading from Exodus is a chart comparing the 3 ways various faiths have these Commandments numbered: the one used by Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Christians comes from Augustine, the fifth-century bishop. The other two charted variations are Jewish and the third is Reformed Anglican, and other Protestant traditions. The Ten Commandments are also listed in the 5th chapter of Deuteronomy and echoed again in Leviticus 19 where we see the familiar words, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Several times in the New Testament Jesus gives this same command. The Psalm for this day also refers to the law of the Lord with words such as decrees, precepts, commandment and ordinances all meant for our instruction.

Prayer: Lord, we are thankful for the ability to commit to memory the commands by which you have taught us how to live, and we pray for families who struggle today with loved ones who are losing the ability to remember things that we now take for granted. Amen.

Shelby Rutherford

Monday, March 8, 2021

Psalm 84 1 Kings 6:1-4, 21-22 1 Corinthians 3:10-23

When I first read Psalm 84, it made me feel good. Something I am looking for and something I am looking forward to. I think this Psalm has given many people hope for thousands of years. Right now – all of us need something to look forward to, to cling to. The world is a mess! I really don’t know how people who don’t believe in God function? At least we have God. But we need to keep hearing the good news and talking to him. Maybe more often now than ever. We are not going to do this alone. As a community and with God’s love, he can pull us through this mess. “For the Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11

Prayer: Lord, protect us all from what is here, and what may come. Keep us in your good graces and let us keep hearing your good words. Amen.

Pam Schneeberger

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Psalm 84 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19 Hebrews 9:23-28

This psalm is often titled something like “The Joy of Worship in the Temple,” and it certainly makes the point that places are important to our faith. The Temple in Jerusalem, of course, was central to the faith of the Jews - it was where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, where the priests prayed for the nation and performed sacrifices, and where the people made pilgrimages and celebrated festivals. Several key points in Jesus’ ministry happened at the Temple. And, after a year of living with the pandemic, many of us long to be in places that we miss - church being one of them! It will be a great day when we can fully gather together again in worship, in person. But it’s important to realize that we have a different perspective on what God’s ‘dwelling place’ is. Rather than God being limited to a particular place or building, Jesus taught frequently about the Kingdom of God being in many places - and, in the end, in all places. God’s Kingdom and God’s presence, according to Jesus, are like yeast leavening bread, a seed growing into a gigantic plant, and a whole host of other things - and it is even within us. There’s a reason that the prayer Jesus taught us has the phrase ‘thy Kingdom come’ in it, because he wanted us to be on the lookout for it. And finally, since God created all things, all of creation reflects and contains the glory of God! So we trust that God is with us no matter where we are - at home, at work, while traveling, while worshiping via livestream or with a recording, anywhere. We can take great joy in the fact that we are never far from God’s Kingdom. Amen!

Prayer: We thank you, Lord, for your presence in our lives, no matter where we might be. Help us to trust in the promises of Jesus, and to take comfort in the companionship of your Spirit. Amen!

Pastor Metzloff

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Psalm 84 Ezra 6:1-16 Mark 11:15-19

"Better Is One Day" – Matt Redman How lovely is Your dwelling place Oh Lord Almighty, My soul doth long And even faints For You For here my heart Is satisfied Within Your presence I see beneath The shadow of Your wings Better is one day in Your courts Better is one day in Your house Better is one day in Your courts Than thousands elsewhere

These lyrics from Psalm 84 speak of being satisfied in God’s presence – a place available to all of us. While we are still socially distant, what better place to be? Our Lenten journey is toward the cross, toward forgiveness, grace and peace. When we make the choice to move into God’s presence – by praying, reading scripture, singing/listening to Christian songs and/or by ministering to others – our anxiety, stress, frustrations, worries, nightmares and fears become less overwhelming. Forgive someone. Help someone. If you cannot do this in person – write or call. You will be spreading God’s love and you will be distracted from your worries. You will be blessed as you bless another.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You are our Almighty God! Please give us the will and the strength to seek your presence. Help us to bless ourselves as we bless others with your mercy, love, forgiveness and grace. Amen.

Kathy Austin

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Genesis 9:8-17 Ephesians 1:3-6

This has been my very favorite passage in the Bible for a long time. Way back when I was a little girl going to Sunday School at Bethany Lutheran, my Sunday School teacher with the name of Gloria Gibson, later to become Gloria Gerhart, (yes, you know her) did the lesson on Noah’s Ark over several Sundays. I remember coloring a rainbow and being told that when it rains we should look in the sky and sometimes we will see a rainbow. Always remember that is God’s promise to us that God will never destroy His creation by water again. That means we won’t have to build an ark and fill it with all the birds and animals we see. She spent time on the word promise and what a promise is. It is easy to make a promise and then so quickly we forget it. We allow other things to get in our way of our promise. God hasn’t done that at all. That promise made so many, many years ago still holds true today. Yes there have been hurricanes and flooding but when the waters recede there is still life to go on and an ark wasn’t built for that to happen. The promise is still there. I am asking you to do two things. First make a promise between you and Jesus that you will always believe and trust in Him by putting Him first, attending church on a regular basis, remembering He died on a cross so that our sins are forgiven. Second, when it rains, go outside and look for the rainbow, and recite these words to yourself, “I do set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the promise between me and the earth and every living thing on the earth.” Now ask yourself, how are you doing with your promise to Jesus? Do you see rainbows or clouds? P.S. Thanks, Gloria, for being a fantastic Sunday School teacher and a member of Reformation.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise You made to us about destroying your beautiful creation by water. Thank you for the beautiful rainbows we see in the sky. Help us keep our promises to You and guide us to be better caretakers of your beautiful creation. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

Judy Zettlemoyer

Friday, March 12, 2021

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Daniel 12:5-13 Ephesians 1:7-14

How can “they” do this? Why can “they” get away with that? In our deeply polarized nation, these questions are asked on both sides of many issues and conflicts. As I read the passage from Daniel, I was struck by verse 10 that says “Many shall be purified, cleansed and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand”. So are we the wicked ones or the wise ones? Are “they” the wicked ones or the wise ones? How are we to know? My hunch is that we can’t know. There are good and Christian people on both sides of any issue in conflict today. So what do we do? We all are products of our experiences and families and we often assume that others have a similar experience as a base. One thing that 2020 brought to the forefront is that our baseline assumptions are not necessarily similar. The color of our skin, the area of the country we grew up in, our citizenship or a myriad of other factors change the reality that we know from that of others. There’s a book called Anatomy of Peace that is deeply meaningful to me. One of the tenets it discusses is that as soon as we start thinking of people as “they” or “them” we are objectifying them and losing sight of that person as a person. We have put that person in a box – liberal, conservative, good parent, bad parent etc. We have made a judgement. And then we tend not to revisit that judgement. Anatomy of Peace suggests that the way to move forward is to ask questions and work to remain in relationship. Maintaining our curiosity and learning instead of acting from our assumptions.

Prayer: Holy God, help us to work each day to understand those with different perspectives and to continue to persevere in the work as Jesus has taught us – feed the hungry, comfort the grieving, help those in need. Help us to stay in relationship and work together in support of your kingdom. Amen.

Teri Stoddard

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Numbers 20:22-29 John 3:1-13

Before I choose one of the readings for the day, I like to read all three to see how they share a common theme. From these readings, I felt that the shared theme was that we need faith, not one that was proven to us, but one that is based on all that has been shared with us through the readings in our Bible, being able to know and feel God’s presence in our lives. This psalm was one of thanks, knowing that God is good and His love endures forever, but He wants a relationship with us. What is so amazing is that God loves each of us no matter what we do or say even when we turn our backs on Him. As our loving Father, He never abandons us. With faith, our paths seem much more manageable. No, it’s not without struggles, but we know that God sends us earthly angels to help us get through. I felt that when Brett was born. The outpouring of so many people through cards, calls, and gifts showed me that I was not alone on this new path. I thanked God for all His support and I did get through my initial fear. I do continue to pray for Brett and his future, but I know God will always be there. Brett has his Heavenly angel with him always, and I do give daily thanks to God for that. May we all keep our relationship with God through Christian friends, church services, and Bible readings and studies, always being open to the gifts and blessing God has for us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, We thank you for always being with us, even at times when we seem to be lost. We thank you for the supports you send our way when we are confused. Help us remember to come to you, believing you know the way for us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Karen Montag

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3: 14-21

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

I don’t know about you, but when I read scripture, I try to put myself in the story, especially when I find myself being critical of the response of the people. Of course, we have the benefit of hindsight and knowledge of a whole lot more of the story, but even so…our amazing Heavenly Father is so compassionate, long suffering and merciful both then and now. Wandering in the wilderness had to be a real character building test for the people. How well did they do? Numbers 21:4-9 is a vivid snapshot for us to consider. They became impatient and complained about pretty much everything. There were consequences for this behavior – followed by confession and repentance. Almighty God in His compassion and mercy made a way for the people to be saved. This is ancient Biblical History! Repetition is frequently necessary for us to learn, isn’t it? Frequently, stories found in the Hebrew Scriptures are repeated, in some form at least, in the New Testament. Do you see the connection in John 3:14-21? Jesus and Nicodemus are having a very intimate “one on one” Bible study lesson! Jesus refers to the story in Numbers knowing that it would be very familiar to Nicodemus. Once again, “the Message” is compassionate, longsuffering and merciful. In the desert a snake was lifted up on a pole but now the Son of Man, Jesus, would be lifted up on a cross as the Way to Eternal Life. Hallelujah! Where do you find yourself in the story? I hope and pray safe and secure in the Precious Gift of Salvation.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us so much that you were willing to sacrifice Jesus to make a way for us to be Redeemed by His Precious Blood. We have been made “alive in Christ” if we choose to trust and believe. Hallelujah! Amen and Amen

Judy Plica

Monday, March 15, 2021

Psalm 107: 1-16 Exodus 15: 22-27 Hebrews 3: 1-6

“But Christ the faithful Son, was in charge of the entire household. And we are God’s household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident in our hopes in Christ.” Hebrews 3:6

I love the imagery of Jesus as the head of the household. Household is sort of an old-fashioned word. You don’t hear it used much these days. But when I hear it, I think of my mom and home. It was a place where I was safe. Home is a place of safety, comfort and love. My favorite childhood memories include warm soup on a cold night, fresh sheets off the line, a gentle touch on a scraped knee, and a bright light shining out the window as I walked home in the evening. Mom provided these and so much more. Now think about Jesus as head of the household. He provides those same things, safety, comfort, and love. He is our haven in a storm. He feeds our soul with His word, He comforts us when we are sick, lonely, or scared. He is a light to find our way. What a blessing!

Prayer: Gracious Lord, Thank you for the many blessings you bestow on us. Safety, comfort, and love are just a few of those. It’s not always easy, but I put my trust in your loving hands. Amen.

Karen Hawk Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Psalm 107:1-16 Numbers 20:1-13 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Most likely, you have heard the phrase “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” It is a comment that is often intended to comfort and encourage someone who is suffering greatly. I think this verse in 1 Corinthians is the basis for that phrase. I’ve heard it myself just recently, as I’m writing this devotion as we are suffering the pain of my mother-in-law’s death, during the family’s planning of her memorial service. I didn’t find it helpful at all. Not only is it often not helpful to someone suffering, I don’t even think it’s true! Writing this devotion has given me the opportunity to read this verse in context with the rest of the passage. In it, Paul doesn’t seem to be talking about trials or suffering. He is talking about temptation to sin – that we won’t be tempted to sin beyond what we can bear. This makes more sense to me. The phrase implies that God is imposing suffering on us intentionally, perhaps as a trial or a punishment. And if the suffering is more than we can bear, perhaps there is something wrong with our faith, leading to guilt and shame. I don’t see God that way, especially since there is enough suffering for us in this world as it is without God singling any of us out to impose additional suffering. And I know that some of us do experience suffering beyond what we can bear. One only needs to look at the number of suicides to see that. A verse that I find more helpful and comforting in times of suffering is, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”(2 Corinthians 12:9). This verse assures me that there is nothing wrong with my weakness or lack of ability to handle suffering. It assures me that God will give me all the grace I need during times of suffering, and my weakness drives me to His strength. And it gives God the glory.

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, you promise that your grace is sufficient for us. We are weak, and you are strong. We trust that you will give us all the grace we need in every situation we face. May the power of Christ rest on us all. Amen

Elisha Barnett

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Psalm 107: 1-16 Isaiah 60: 15-22 John 8: 12-20

All three of the scripture readings for today speak about bringing us out of darkness and into light. As we’ve navigated our way through 2020, and now the first months of 2021, how often we’ve longed to reach “the light at the end of the tunnel.” I’m reminded of a story about someone walking through the woods on a very dark night, carrying a small lantern. They would like to see the path ahead - to the end of their journey, but the lantern lights only enough for them to take one step at a time. Finally, they reach their destination. God lights our path in that same way – step by step. So often we get impatient and wish God would shine a giant spotlight into the future. We question God’s timing and want to see more clearly what lies ahead. This is where our faith is tested. God’s grace has brought us through whatever threats and challenges we have encountered in our lives thus far, and He has promised to be with us always. Just like the little lantern in the woods, His light will be enough - even more than we need - to travel our own path to the end. As we mark these days of Lent, we must take time to give thanks and praise to the Lord for so graciously traveling with us and lighting our way. Prayer: Dear Lord, Forgive us for our restlessness and impatience. Deepen our faith and strengthen us each day. When we fear the darkness around us, help us to remember that You are always beside us, shedding light and leading our steps on the right pathway. Be with us now and forever. Amen.

Joanne Scattergood

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Psalm 51:1-12 Isaiah 30:15-18 Hebrews 4:1-13

As most readings go, these three fit together beautifully. In the first reading, we hear a plea from King David for forgiveness for his adultery with Bathsheba, and in the second reading from Isaiah, we hear how if we trust in the Lord, the Lord will show us kindness and mercy. Then, in the third reading from Hebrews, we hear about the ‘rest’ that God has promised all of us. We hear of how “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The world we live in can be very tumultuous – the daily ups and downs, challenges and struggles of life can be very daunting and exhausting. The decisions we make today have intended and unintended consequences for tomorrow. We are reminded of two things by these readings: 1) that God knows what is in our heart regardless of the outcome, and 2) He provides protection, kindness, mercy, and rest when we turn to Him. “And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.” (Hebrews 4:13) During this Lenten season, we are called to take accountability for our decisions and choices we made in our lives. If we repent (change our minds and our hearts), turn to Him for forgiveness, we will have the ‘rest’ that we so long for.

Prayer: Lord, please help us to recognize the places in our hearts that need to change. Give us the courage and strength to ask for your forgiveness, so that we may finally feel at peace in the daily turmoil that life throws at us.

Michelle Karasek

Friday, March 19, 2021

Psalm 51:1-12 Exodus 30:1-10 Hebrews 4:14 – 5:4

This passage speaks of Jesus as the “Great High Priest,” which is a role that we’re pretty unfamiliar with nowadays. In ancient Israel, priests, and especially the High Priest, were quite different from modern pastors. They led worship, yes, but were also charged with doing things like sacrificing animals at the altar (I haven’t killed any goats, personally), burning incense (I have done that, but not very often), and interceding with God on behalf of the people (I do that, too - but you can also pray directly! I encourage you too!). And, once a year, on Yom Kippur, the High Priest - and only the High Priest - entered the most sacred part of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, to offer atonement for his sins and the sins of the nation. All in all, the job of High Priest was pretty distinct from what today’s pastors do, and very different from what everyday folks did. That’s why the writer of Hebrews makes some of the points that they do (and I say ‘they’ because there’s debate as to whether it was a man or a woman). They say that Jesus can sympathize with us, because he was fully human - in fact, a carpenter who was raised in a small town and hung out with regular people. They say that Jesus was tested as we are, because not only was he tempted in the desert, but he also endured all of the unpleasant parts of life as well: sickness, sadness, frustration, grief. And they say that because of this sympathy and that testing, we can boldly approach Jesus, expecting mercy, grace, and help in time of need. This is most certainly good news!

Prayer: Jesus, our great high priest, we thank you for your humanity - for enduring all that we do, so that in your power and majesty you can still know what it is to be one of us. Help us to boldly claim our kinship with you. Amen!

Pastor Metzloff

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Psalm 51:1-12 Habakkuk 3:2-13 John 12:1-11

Habakkuk was a prophet living shortly before the Babylon invasion. During the reign of Jehoiakim, the people found themselves surrounded by evil within their own city of Jerusalem. On the verge of destruction by a powerful invader, the Israelites wondered why their God had abandoned them. In his faith, Habakkuk asks God to allow the people to witness glorious deeds again. Though he knows the Lord is angered with His people, Habakkuk asks for mercy for those who have been faithful.

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; Habakkuk 3:2

Though it sometimes seems that God is silent in our time of need, unconcerned with our troubles, we fail to remember the mercy that God has already bestowed on us. Habakkuk is reminding us that God has a plan to provide justice. We must have faith in God’s plan. There are times when God wishes to reach us, to open our minds, to turn us around. We may need to be pushed to our limits before we open ourselves to him. With so many negative events this past year we might feel God has abandoned us. We might even question whether God is punishing us. But God’s plan to bring us back to Him may be just what we are experiencing. This is the time to open our hearts to God.

Prayer: Wise Lord, when challenged by the unexpected, your people do not turn to You first. In our fear we often turn on each other, listen to lies, blame each other, make poor choices. Pour down your mercy on us. Open our hearts to your word and give us the strength and wisdom to persevere.

Kathy Miller

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33

I must confess that though I start each day with scripture and prayer, it’s been many years since I’ve read the Psalms start to finish. I find myself skipping to the few that I relate to best. Psalm 51 is one of my go-to prayers. Let’s be honest, no matter how hard we try, sometimes we lack the needed self-control to think the right thoughts. We can allow our frustration with this world to drive us to angry words. We sometimes forget to be tolerant of those around us, the list goes on and on. That being said, Psalm 51 is one that I return to, because it helps me shed the load of my sin and reminds me that I have to let them go. I am reassured that once I have confessed my sins to God, He does let them go. Without this truth I feel that I would sink deep into sadness and hopelessness. God will hold no grudge on a contrite heart. A sincere apology and repentance are so cleansing and freeing of the burden sin puts upon us. Let’s remember that God creates in us a new heart and blots out our iniquities.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for helping us to see our sins and feel remorse when we fall short. Thank you for your mercy that allows us to confess and move forward to do better. Thank you for lifting the cloud that sin holds over us and being our light for each day. Amen

Jackie Morrissey

Monday, March 22, 2021

Psalm 119 9-16 Isaiah 43: 8-13 2 Corinthians 3: 4-11

When reading this chapter of Isaiah, I was reminded that there is only one God and that He is with us every day. He grants us grace in all that we do. This may be hard to remember during the ongoing Covid restrictions. My husband and I have been very lucky during this time as we both have been able to continue to work (from home) and have remained healthy. Unfortunately, that is not the case for many people. I recently noticed on social media, people are commenting that for the second time, they are celebrating their birthday in the Covid era. As a matter of fact, today is my mother’s birthday (Happy Birthday) and we cannot get together to celebrate. It is frustrating that we are unable to gather with family and friends to celebrate special days or even worse, when a loss occurs. This has been referred to as the ‘new normal’. I must confess, I do not like that terminology; but it looks like I’ll have to get used to the ‘new normal’.

Prayer: Dear God, Help me to know that you are always with me no matter what I am going through, good or bad. Amen

Melanie Bechtel

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Psalm 119:9-16 Isaiah 44:1-8 Acts 2:14-24

For the last seven years, I’ve compiled and edited our church’s Advent and Lenten devotionals. I’ve read everyone’s words multiple times over the course of a day or two as I complete this project. And then, I rarely commit to the daily devotion, because I’ve consumed all of your wonderful words as I worked. But because I’m only reading your writings, I’m not reading the accompanying scripture. When I was in college, I was the president of our chapter of Lutheran Student Movement for a year. Each week, I would send out a message with a scripture reading and short devotion. My college Bible has tons of Post-it flags and underlining. At times, I find myself opening that Bible and re-reading those highlighted verses. Today’s Psalm pushes me to do this again, and perhaps even follow along with our daily devotion this season. The Message reads, “How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.” Psalm 119:9-10

Prayer: Dear God, always encourage us to read your word. Bring us together in conversation, study, and growth as a community. Amen

Sarah Hawk

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Psalm 119:9-16 Haggai 2:1-9, 20-23 John 12:34-50

While reading through these passages certain phrases stood out to me: “Be strong and work, for I am with you.” Haggai 2:4 “My spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” Haggai 2:5 “…for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:23b You are chosen; you are loved! As a disciple of Christ your response is to share that love with others. Through the power of the Holy Spirit you can gain the strength to do God’s work. You need not fear because God is with you. If you do not feel God’s presence – pray to God to increase your faith - your sincere prayer will be answered. You were created with skills that you can share with others. These skills don’t have to SEEM remarkable. They BECOME remarkable when you bless others with your time and talents. A friend of mine was praying, “Oh God, here’s a great opportunity to grow my husband’s faith.” Years went by and then God created an extraordinary situation which did, indeed, cause her and her husband’s faith to grow. At that point my friend, truly humbled, prayed to God for forgiveness. She had put God in a box, restricting her idea of how powerfully God can work. She declared: “God’s idea was WAY better than any idea I ever had to grow my husband’s faith!” They now minister to others together.

Prayer: Dear God our Father, thank you that we are your chosen children. Please increase the faith of those who feel lost. Help us to pray for your strength through the Holy Spirit to do Your will. Guide us in blessing others with the talents and skills you have given us. Open our hearts and minds to your presence and love. Thy will be done. Amen. Kathy Austin Thursday, March 25, 2021

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Deuteronomy 16:1-8 Philippians 2:1-11

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 This verse, one of my favorites, was brought to my attention again last year when a calendar arrived that had a Bible verse done in colorful calligraphy each month. I saved the page with this verse and have it prominently displayed on a bulletin board in our dining room to remind me daily how God intends for us to approach each day that we are given on this earth regardless of what each day may hold. For me this verse keeps popping up in various forms; back in the 80's we taught the song "This Is The Day" by Les Garratt to the students in Vacation Bible School, and the lyrics are a simple repetition of verse 24. Finally, during our many February stays in Florida years ago, the pastor at the Lutheran church we attended, after any announcements would start by saying, “This is the day”…and we in the congregation would automatically join in for the rest of this verse. I am always surprised at the many ways that God's word comes alive to us. In the past few months I have been using a prayer found in our red hymnal p. 72 entitled "Grace to receive the Word", and I close with it.

Prayer: "Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, which you have given us in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen."

Shelby Rutherford

Friday, March 26, 2021

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Jeremiah 33:1-9 Philippians 2:12-18

In exactly six months, I’m getting married! As many of you have witnessed, Andy and my relationship started at church and strengthened through church. This community has always been so supportive of our relationship and I know that this church will always hold a very special place in my heart and in our relationship. In Psalm 118, The Message reads, “Blessed are you who enter in God’s name – from God’s house we bless you! God is God, he has bathed us in light. Adorn the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! You’re my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. Thank God – he’s so good. His love never quits!” When we got engaged, people started asking about all the wedding details. We didn’t always have those specific answers, but it was without question that our ceremony would be at Reformation. There was no other choice. This church has been my home for 32 years and the people, my family. I know that, with our family behind us and our faith, His love never quits! We will forever be surrounded by this church’s support and the Love of God. And for that, I am thankful.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your continued presence in my life. Continue to walk with me into a new chapter and be with everyone as we all journey through life. Remind us daily that Your love never quits. Amen

Sarah Hawk

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 Mark 10: 32-34, 46-52 Jeremiah 33: 10-16

“His faithful love endures forever.” Imagine that! No matter what happens in our lives God Loves us. It may not look like that when we see what has happened around us. We think we cannot go on. God has given each of us inner strength, that God within. It is deep within us to keep moving ahead and trust in our faith. God will restore the prosperity of this land. God’s word always endures the storms of life. “The Lord is for me so I will not be afraid.” It is better to trust in the Lord and ask for his guidance in all areas of our lives and for our country. The next time you hear the wind blowing and rustling the leaves and the snow falling silently listen for a while and you can find guidance from God. Getting connected to nature should be part of our everyday life. Do you ever just look up at the sky and watch the clouds float by? They can help us relieve anxiety and stress. Just try it and see how the clouds can settle your weary soul. God will use nature to remind us that “His faithful love endures forever.”

Prayer: Oh God and Heavenly Father, Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed: courage to change that which can be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

Cindy Shirey

Palm Sunday March 28, 2021

Mark 11:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 14:1 – 15:47

This section of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi is often called the ‘Christ Hymn,’ and in most Bibles it’s set apart from the rest of the text in stanzas, as if it were a poem. That makes sense, as song lyrics (and hymn lyrics) are really a kind of poetry. And this poem is a beautiful one, tracing in just a few words the humility and sacrifice of Jesus, all the way to his death on the cross, as well as God’s subsequent exaltation of Jesus. In other words, the motion of the poem is down, to the lowest possible point, and then up, to the highest. And the reason Paul writes this hymn for the people in the church at Philippi is to encourage them - to be like Christ. We see that in the short verse that introduces the hymn: “Let the same mind be in you…” We have an example in Jesus of how to live - obediently, humbly, and focused on others rather than ourselves. This is by no means easy, of course, but we also have the Spirit of Jesus to guide us on the way.

Prayer: As we enter into Holy Week, this year, Lord, help us to live as you would have us live - following after Jesus, and trusting that you are with us. Amen!

Pastor Metzloff

Monday, March 29, 2021

Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 36:5-11 Hebrews 9:11-15 John 12:1-11

How much do you really care how people perceive you to be? Too much...not enough? Why do you do what you do for Jesus? Do you serve him because it helps others or is it of selfless devotion? Mary didn't anoint Jesus' feet out of duty. It was a selfless act of devotion. She used a very expensive perfume. She must have known how expensive it was. She didn't seem to care what Judas thought. Did she foresee the death of Jesus? Did she see who Jesus really was while at his feet and hearing his words? Mary had the smell of the nard in her hair as she used it to wipe Jesus' feet. Everywhere that Mary went you were sure to smell the scent of this expensive perfume. A scent not known to most people. Can others smell the scent of Christ on you? What would it smell like? Love, joy, peace? Perhaps patience, kindness, or goodness or maybe even gentleness or faithfulness. People that come into our church should smell the scent of Christ on each of us. As I look around our congregation, I do smell the scent of Christ around me and this helps me to also want to smell of the scent of Christ. We are all blessed!

Prayer: Lord, please help to give us the motivation that Mary had to give selfless devotion to you. Help us to smell the scent of Christ in all of us and let us listen to your words as Mary did. Amen.

Wendy Burnish

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 71: 1-14 1 Corinthians 1:18

During the Exile in Babylon, the Israelite’s leaders were removed in chains to Babylon leaving the rest of God’s chosen people scattered over a wide area of the eastern Mediterranean. This separation added to a crisis of identity and faith, a divergence in their collective understanding of God. Isaiah, an unlikely server of God, had been commanded to bring a message of hope to the Israelites, to “restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel...” Isaiah 49:6. Isaiah cries out to the whole of Israel (and the world), “Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations.” Isaiah 49:1 The long exile from the promised land is to end, but this is not just about geography, but a renewed faith and their relation with God. It is through faith in God, an adherence to his word, that a people, a nation, a world can breach their differences and come to a common understanding, living not for ourselves but for all of our brothers and sisters. This has been a difficult year on our health, psyche, and our relationships. Separation has caused a divergence in our understanding of our relationships to God and each other. It has brought out the worst in some and the best in others. Lines have been drawn and battles have been fought throughout the world, even within our households there is discontent. It is time for us to be brought together again, to restore our faith in God through prayer and reflection.

Prayer: Lord of all nations and all people, in this season of reflection, help us restore a true faith in You. Give us the strength to endure this pandemic with the grace You shower on us all, that we may enjoy the peace and harmony that comes from You alone.

Kathy Miller Wednesday March 31, 2021

Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 70 Hebrews 12:1-2 John 13:21 -32

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me: His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. The above few sentences make me think of a recent, hard to handle day. While no one at the meal understood Jesus’ words, I was hoping that my words would not be too confusing. The dreaded time came for me to tell my 89 year old mom with dementia that we had to move her from one care facility to another. I accepted the responsibility to be the “bad guy” of us 4 children, since I’m the youngest, and closet to her. Explaining to her in the car that care became too costly in her current place made me feel like I betrayed her. Judas knew he was going to betray Jesus and Jesus knew it too. I prayed for days for God to give me the right words to make her understand that what I had to do was out of love, not betrayal. I asked her numerous times, “do you trust me.” Her response was always “yes.” Even so, I felt like a traitor and took the blame for the family. With Jesus’ love, she accepted the news better than anticipated and I saw light at the end of the tunnel. Family members continue to call and encourage mom that soon, she’ll be participating in social activities, sitting outside in the sunshine, and adjusting to her new home.

Prayer: Ease our burdens and provide times of rest and refreshment. Give us the energy necessary to fulfill our tasks. Grant us the strength and extra grace to be able to handle things we might not normally be able to handle. Help us not to lose our joy and give us moments of laughter.

Lynn DeAcosta

Maundy Thursday April 1, 2021

Exodus 12: 1-14 Psalm 16: 1-2, 12-19 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 John 13: 1-17, 31b-35

Over the years Maundy Thursday has become one of my most highly anticipated services of Holy Week. I love that we walk quietly to commune together in candlelight. It is the only time of year when we give communion to each other. In Jesus’ time, this day was an intimate time with His disciples. Jesus washed their feet, shared the Passover meal and received the first communion supper. He gave them words and examples of how to proceed with His ministry. “So now I am giving you a new commandment. Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” John 13:34 When Jesus stooped to wash His disciples’ feet, He was showing them and us the humility we would need to love others. We may not need to wash someone’s feet today, but we certainly can do laundry for a sick family member, drive an elderly person to a doctor appointment, or donate food and clothing to those in need. The list is endless. Just look around you. All of this is easy when we let God’s love flow through us to others.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your words and examples that we can use to model our lives. Open our eyes to the needs of others. Humble our hearts to do Your needed work. Help us to stoop to wash our neighbor’s feet. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Karen Hawk

Good Friday April 2, 2021

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 10:16-25 John 18:1 – 19:42

I love Lent! I especially love Holy Week – and Good Friday most of all. That may seem strange to you, but I need to be reminded of just how costly and extravagant my salvation “gift” was to Jesus. I don’t ever want to become complacent and take the Gift for granted. Remembering the story keeps that from happening for me. The discipline of reading more deeply the Scriptures for these devotions helps me to see “gems” I may have overlooked before. This can happen with the passages I’m so familiar with, I humbly admit. Here are my “gems” for your meditation as well: Isaiah 53:5 & end of verse 12: “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.” “For He bore the sings of many and made intercession for the transgressions.” Can you put yourself in this message? It is a very humbling experience! Hebrews 10:16-17: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds.” Can you imagine? Then He adds, “Their sings and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hallelujah! What a Savior! As you contemplate these words, I suggest that you read Hebrews 10:1-15 for deeper meaning. John 19:19 & 22: “Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. It was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek! Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’” Amazing! Pilate witnessed for Jesus! That’s our “calling”, too!

Prayer: Lord, help us to be willing to “Go to Dark Gethsemane” and watch with You at least “one bitter hour” and “turn not from Your griefs away” and learn from You, Jesus Christ, to pray. Amen

Judy Plica

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Romans 6:3-11 John 20:1-18

I think I chose Romans because in John 20, the reading shared the resurrection of Jesus and his appearing to Mary, but I enjoy reading Paul’s writings because he tries to explain what faith means to him and why he feels this way. His writings are easy to read and understand. In this letter to the Romans, he explains that once we are baptized in Jesus, we are baptized in his death, making tomorrow the most glorious day in our Christian calendar. Christ is risen. Christ has risen indeed. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Paul explains that just as Christ was resurrected, so shall we. So easy to say, but not always as easy to believe. When I do my morning devotions, I always ask God to not only forgive the sins I am aware of, but more importantly, the sins that I am not aware of. Jesus died to sin, so we can be forgiven of our sins through the grace of God. Such a wonderful gift, given freely by our Father. May we know the blessings that come with Jesus’ resurrection. May we thank God for such a beautiful gift, every one of us, needing only to ask. Almost sounds too easy. God wants us to be forgiven of our sins because He is our Father. May we know that He will be waiting for us to enter His kingdom.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the love you have for each of us to send your only son to die for us. We thank you for giving us a chance to ask for forgiveness even when we don’t think we deserve it. May you help us to remember the grace you give us, so we may forgive others the same way. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Karen Montag

Easter Sunday April 4, 2021

Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Mark 16:1-8

“. . . and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” That’s an odd way to end the most important story that’s ever been told, isn’t it? The story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, God’s victory over sin and death? It seems very strange to let things stop there, and yet that’s what Mark seems to have done. Now, in most Bibles, there are two (rather strange) sections after this, usually titled something like ‘The Shorter Ending of Mark’ and ‘The Longer Ending of Mark.’ And perhaps I’ll talk about those in the sermon a bit, but for now it’s enough to say that those sections were probably added later, perhaps much later, and that the original story ended abruptly, with ‘they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.’ Why? Well, one answer is that part of the original text was simply lost. Perhaps. But I would suggest that Mark, the gospel writer, did this intentionally. He wanted the story to end suddenly, and unexpectedly, because he wanted you to be a part of it. He wanted you to be amazed, and excited, and interested, and maybe even afraid . . . and to wonder what you were going to do with the story. “He has been raised” - Jesus is alive again! What will you do about it? Prayer: Lord, the good news that you were raised caused terror and amazement . . . but while the women at the tomb were afraid, they clearly conquered their fears - for we have heard this great good news, even today. Help us to conquer our fears, and tell others your story. Amen!

Pastor Metzloff